Tales of Undeath: The Von Virtus Chronicles

LXIX. Accelerated Evolution

Rel had no time to think -- only to act.

The scene before him was a grim tableau: Punjo, cornered, battered, running out of space to maneuver. The monstrous creation loomed over him, its grotesque, bulbous eyes twitching, its four arms poised to strike.

Rel: "This one's for you..."

With a pounding heart, Rel sprinted forward, his muscles coiling with raw adrenaline. He leaped onto a nearby table, using it as a springboard to propel himself toward the mutant.

The dim light of the laboratory caught the metallic glint of his boot heels -- reminiscent of a particular fighter very dear to him. 

Rel: "Faya...!"

Twisting mid-air, his body became a blur of motion. His right leg snapped forward, boot leading the charge.

His steel heel smashed into the mutant's exposed skull.

CRACK.

A sickening crunch echoed through the chamber as the impact sent a spiderweb of fractures through the beast's already-ruptured cranium. Thick, black ichor sprayed outward as the abomination reeled, momentarily stunned by the devastating blow.

Punjo: "REL?!"

Rel landed in a crouch, flashing a triumphant grin.

Rel: "I know, I know -- before you say anything... you're welcome!"

Punjo's face twisted with anger -- but beneath it lay something else, a renewed surge of adrenaline.

Rel shouldn't be here.

This wasn't his fight.

But now that he was...

Punjo exhaled sharply, cracking his knuckles as he readied his fists.

Punjo: "Plan?!" 

He scoffed, trying to hide an eager grin.

Punjo:"Ye're in over yer head, kid. Plan's simple -- don't get in my way!"

Before Rel could reply, Punjo surged forward.

The mutant was still reeling, but not for long.

Punjo lunged, aiming for a sweeping kick to bring the beast crashing down again.

Dmitri: "FOOL! That won't work twice!"

SPLURCH.

A black tendril shot out from the monster's flesh, latching onto Punjo's leg mid-kick.

Punjo gritted his teeth, his body jerking awkwardly to one side, losing balance.

Punjo: "Tch...!"

The monster steadied itself, its wounds already knitting together, its open skull seething with grotesque new growths.

Then, its entire body convulsed.

Dozens of swollen, milky-white eyes began to burst forth from its head cavity, twitching in all directions, searching, calculating.

With a guttural snarl, it raised two massive, ichor-dripping fists -- intent on crushing Punjo's skull between them.

Rel: "PUNJO! Give me a leg up!"

Punjo's eyes flicked toward him.

For a split second, their gazes met.

And that was enough.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Punjo planted his free foot onto the mutant's thigh -- just sturdy enough to act as a stepping ledge.