AI Hunter Chronicles: Energized (Season 1)

Episode 61: Briars and Brimstone

Angry Birds Universe 805018358

L4urri3: So, you've been able to traverse the entire island in a day or two, but it takes about the same amount of time to make it through the jungle foliage.

Coja is listening to this as she uses her katana as a machete, slashing through the growing vines and thistles of the jungle, making a path for Epsilon and the two of them to move through.

Coja: Most of the island was not this densely packed with vines. It was easy to cross that, and not have Epsilon catch on everything every ten minutes.

Coja then slows down enough to whisper in L4urri3's ear.

Coja: Also, you know how these things are with the Creator. He probably has a lot on his plate already in addition to what we are doing.

L4urri3: Yeah, no sh#t. I just want to make sure that you have some excuse so that mister zenith of intelligence over there doesn't start asking questions.

Coja: Hey, be nice.

L4urri3: That was me being nice.

It is not long after this conversation that Coja cuts through the final vines and into some sort of clearing. It isn't a pleasant clearing, most of the surrounding area untouched is made of stone, but it is a clearing, nevertheless. A strange thing about this clearing is that in the center of it all is a giant slingshot of some kind, which is pointed out by Epsilon.

Epsilon: A very curious thing.

L4urri3: Yeah, in the game, you launched birds from these things at pigs, like the ones that were transformed into a mech.

Epsilon: That doesn't make any sense. Birds are indeed capable of flight; they shouldn't need to use an oversized slingshot as a means of transport.

Coja: According to the movies, these birds can't.

L4urri3: That movie ruined the franchise you know. It doesn't matter how good it was, it ruined the games afterwards.

Coja: L4urri3, this is not the time to complain about old games.

L4urri3: Right. If what you said about the jungle is true, that means that either that was a really isolated area, or something made all of this.

A sudden rustling is heard within the brambles.

Coja: It's likely the latter. 

From these brambles, a figure bursts forth; an entity seemingly made entirely of brambles, with the exception of its skeleton, which is entirely metal. It glares at the three of them with static filled eyes and lets out an inhuman roar. The entity begins to shoot out tendrils of thorns at the heroes, who dodge out of the way just in time. These bits of bramble then snake around and lunge at them, attempting to ensnare them all. They don't seem to be having much of a problem, as Coja cuts at the vines with her katana, L4urri3 shoots through them with her guns, and Epsilon tears them apart with his hands. Yet as they do so, the vines only seem to multiply around them.

L4urri3: This is getting ridiculous! We're not hurting this guy! We need a better course of action!

Epsilon: Provided.

Epsilon suddenly turns one of his arms into a flamethrower, and begins to blast the tendrils with fire, causing them to burn. Even the entity is caught in the fire, burning away his body and leaving only a metal skeleton. Yet despite all this, the entity is still standing.

L4urri3: You got to be kidding me.

L4urri3 aims her rifle at the skeleton and takes a shot. As expected, the bullet bounces off of it. It gives off another shriek before sending the entirety of the jungle, now covered in flames, towards the three of them. The jungle begins to back them all up together, as both the thorns and the heat dissuade them from getting any closer.

L4urri3: Well, this was nice while it lasted.

Coja: You say this like we are about to die. You forget, some way or another, there is always an exit plan.

Coja gestures behind her, at the giant slingshot which has been untouched by the jungle.

L4urri3: Oh no, we are not doing that!

Unfortunately for L4urri3, they were doing that. Coja hurried L4urri3 onto the catapult, and Epsilon, who is able to fly, pulls onto the sling to launch the two of them.

L4urri3: This is going to suck.

Coja: We'll live.

L4urri3: I know.

Epsilon launches the two of them far into the sky, away from the burning forest. Epsilon, tracking their trajectory, initiates his thrusters and follows after them. However, on the way up, a thorn grabs hold of his tail, keeping him held in place. Thinking quickly, he breaks off the assaulting branch and continues his flight, leaving the vines and grasping tendrils to burn.