Metal Poison: Restless Absolution

Chapter 8

Meanwhile...

[In the middle of the night, Cherry was practicing his sword skills with a wooden dummy on the beach. It was sturdy and made of wooden beams. Even though it was late, he was restless and unable to sleep. Having a lot on his mind, he tried to refocus it into training, but he was letting his thoughts wander. Cherry practiced various slashes at his opponent with his wooden sword. Suddenly he was in a different place entirely. Rather than a calm beach with gentle waves rolling in, he was in a frigid wasteland. Thunder roared in the skies and flurries slashed the air like shrapnel. He was face to face with his opponent, all his friends; Morpho Wolf, War Katzchen, Mirage, Silver Wing, and Sand Shark, they lay defeated on the ground, barely alive. Though his opponent wasn't doing much better. He was weakened with several battle scars compromising his body, which as a Model 1 was a particularly bad thing. The two stood not even five feet from each other, the insanity in Draego's eyes was unmistakable.]

Cryo: Just give up, Draego. I don't want to have to kill you. We can fix this, whatever happens. We'll figure something else out. You just need to stand down, okay?

[Draego made a deep, sinister laugh.]

Draego: Look at you, the fear in your eyes. Reminds me of a certain kit I used to know. Useless and terrified; alone and forgotten; helpless and tormented. It's a brand new, wondrous day! You should be happy for all the plans put in motion, even if you will never get to live to see them come to fruition. Sounds good, Rez?

[Hearing his name be called out like that, Cryo could feel his synthetic heart pounding.]

Cryo: Who are you?

Draego: I am the truth, the way, and the light...

[Cryo clenched his weapon, a firestorm cannon with a massive bayonet and lunged at Draego, who deflected the attack with his power lance. As metal connected with metal, a melancholic ring could be heard across the entire battlefield. The two continued to duke it out. Normally Cryo wouldn't stand a chance against his mentor, but aside from his significant damage, his mind wasn't right either, as if he was trying to fight his impulses. As he saw his mentor break down in a fit of insanity, Cryo saw his opportunity to put an end to all of this. In the blink of an eye, Cryo was sailing down from the sky in a guillotine slash. Draego was able to block it with his lance, but not before Cryo could fire a blast directly into Drago's face with the firestorm cannon. The recoil sent Cryo tumbling backwards, and upon looking up he was faced with an abomination. Draego recovered from the blast, unnaturally straightening his spine after being folded backwards. He made his way towards Cryo with heavy steps as his head burned in a blaze of sulfur. The plating on his head slowly melted away but a shadow of his former mentor remained in the fire. He took a lick of flame and applied it to his lance. Before Cryo could react, he threw it, plunging it deep into Cryo's chest. As his critical systems began to fail, Cryo fell to his knees paralyzed, unable to fight, unable to run.]

Draego: Cry for me little Rezuruke! Cry for me while you still can! Ahahah...

[It was a sick and twisted howl of laughter filled with contempt and scorn. Cryo was sure he was done for. But by some miracle, he fought to stand back up. Cryo spoke in a vexing tone. He no longer stood in the presence of someone he knew.]

Cryo: Depart from me, demon!

[Still impaled, Cryo unleashed an onslaught of slashes against his defenceless enemy. Each cut tore deeper into Draego's chest before he fell to his knees. With one slash he dismembered an arm, and with another, he dismembered the other. Looking up Draego's face had changed completely. With sadness in his eyes he made one final plea.]

Draego: Rez? Is it over?

[Cryo was shocked, but he gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve.]

Cryo: I never knew you.