The Venom

Troubled

Tiger entered the hideout, where Reaper waited for him. "How's the target?" Reaper asked. "Dead." Tiger said. Reaper noticed Tiger's tone of voice. "Speak what's on your mind." Reaper said. "There's so much I don't understand. I've spent years of my life trying to figure out my path, and how I'm going to make things better, yet nothing's been working." Tiger said. "I remember you telling me about the Insurrection capturing your family." Reaper said. "Yes, and I am no closer to finding any clues on their whereabouts from the target you had me kill." Tiger said. "The targets I've supplied to you, are challenges for you to overcome. They are to teach you to fight, and rely on your individual skills." Reaper said. "I have the skills, but where does finding my family come into this?" Tiger asked. Reaper put a hand on Tiger's shoulder. "Bring down the Insurrection first, then you'll find what you're looking for." Reaper said.

Tiger seemed reassured, and Reaper began to walk away. "And another thing." Tiger started. Reaper turned to Tiger again. "About the Venom, how should I deal with them?" Tiger asked. "I know about your friend's betrayal of the Skulls, and his rebirth with the Venom. Just don't let your emotions decide your actions against better judgement. Don't let it be the end of you, or let it hurt anyone you care about." Reaper said, before walking away. Tiger continued to the armory, where he began to sharpen his swords. Tiger began to get lost into his thoughts. The environment around him began to fade away to darkness, then everything reformed.

Tiger imagined himself back at his childhood home. Tiger walked towards the front door, and began to knock. Tiger heard his mother scream from the second story window. "James! Help us!" Tiger's mother yelled. "Shit. Hang on! I'll be right there!" Tiger yelled back, trying to open the door. Tiger struggled with the lock, before stabbing his knife through the locking mechanisms. Tiger kicked the door open, and two Insurrectionists rushed him. Tiger dodged a sword swing, and stabbed the Insurrectionist in the neck. Tiger used the corpse to block the impact, of the other Insurrectionist's attack. Tiger kicked the Insurrectionist to the ground, and stabbed him in the chest. Tiger let go of his knife, and unsheathed his two swords, before rushing up the stairs.

The door to his mother's room was locked, and Tiger braced his shoulder, bashing the door off of its hinges. Tiger saw his mother on the ground, and the two Insurrectionists with their swords ready. "Stop!" Tiger yelled, but the Insurrectionist executed Tiger's mother. Tiger felt enraged, and brutally slaughtered the Insurrectionists. Tiger felt his anger subside, and a feeling overwhelming his senses. Tiger fell back, onto the ground. Tiger's home faded away, and was replaced by a large open field. "Where am I? Why am I always here?" Tiger thought to himself, as he stood up. Tiger noticed he was wearing different armor, and an unfamiliar style of uniform. Tiger looked around, before a sudden flash of light blinded him. Once Tiger was able to see again, the field was scorched, the sky was dark, and many corpses were laid around the field. Tiger noticed that the bodies were Venom assassins, and Skulls warriors.

Tiger unsheathed his swords, and noticed he had Cobra and Reaper's high frequency blades. "How dare you, I tried to show you the truth." Cobra said, breathlessly. Tiger turned to see Cobra covered in blood, with a cut throat. "You betrayed me, Tiger. After all I've done for you." Reaper said, with a cut throat as well. "I followed my own path." Tiger said, before his vision faded.

Tiger woke up, sitting in a chair in the armory. "What the?" Tiger muttered to himself. "You alright?" Asked a female warrior, as she entered the armory. "Yeah, I'm alright." Tiger said. "I saw your little moment, you took your swords, and looked like you were fighting something imaginary." The woman said. "I was only daydreaming. Nothing more." Tiger said, rubbing his hands. "Sure." The woman said, before walking to the sharpening tool. Tiger stood up, and walked to the map of the Northeastern Lorenzia. Tiger looked at the city of Pacifica, before looking to the Western side, where a large open plain was located. The plain separated Pacifica from Sorenza, and New Phoenix. "There's something here. I just know it." Tiger thought to himself.

Tiger didn't notice the woman looking over his shoulder. "Does it amaze you, how much Lorenzia has expanded over the hundreds of years?" The woman asked. Tiger hesitated for a moment. "Yeah, strange." Tiger said. "New Alexandria, and New Marianne used to be the only cities in the entirety of Earthrealm, but now there's so many cities, towns, and territories all over Lorenzia, and even places across the great ocean like Leonius, and Ralzenia." The woman said. "Interesting." Tiger said. "It absolutely is. I've always wanted to travel around. I'd love to see all the sights in the surrounding cities. Especially West Elizabeth, Faithstown, Handenia, and Halvenia." The woman said. "You must seem very compacted, if you've only been in Pacifica." Tiger said. "Not really, I got to see much of New Alexandria and New Marianne as a kid." The woman said. Tiger nodded his head. "I'm Mary, by the way." The woman said. "Nice to meet you, Mary. I'm Tiger." Tiger said. "It was given to me by my mentor in the Lobo tribe." Tiger said. "Gotcha." Mary said.

Two more Skulls warriors walked into the armor. "Mary, Reaper wants to have a word with you." Said one of the warriors. "I'll be right there, Rayden." Mary said. Rayden nodded, before tapping the other warrior on the shoulder. "Come on, Lee. I bet there's going to be something going on with that Insurrectionist basecamp." Rayden said, before they both left. Tiger's interest was peaked, but Mary began to speak. "Wish I could keep chatting, but I've got to go." Mary said. "See you later." Tiger said. Mary bowed, before rushing out of the armory.

Tiger also left the armory, and caught up with Rayden and Lee. "Hey." Tiger said. "Hey, what's up?" Rayden asked. "Heard you were talking about an Insurrectionist basecamp." Tiger said. "Oh, yeah. A scout pointed out a camp, far beyond Pacifica's walls." Rayden said. "We were just going to meet up with our other three group members for an assault mission." Lee said. "Can I join you guys?" Tiger asked. "Sure, that works considering our previous member was killed in combat." Rayden said. "As much as we'd like to honor him, we still need our group to be up to full strength again." Lee said.

Tiger followed Lee and Rayden to the three warriors. "Here's the rest of us." Rayden said. "That guy over there is Samson." Lee said, pointing to the stronger man of the group. Samson's armor had a bulkier design to reduce the impact from hits, and he was a lot more physically stronger than the rest. "Then there's Charles." Rayden said. Charles's left shoulder plate extended to cover the left side of his neck, to prevent decapitation, and dawned a larger shoulder cape with the Skulls insignia on it. "And Hayden." Lee said, pointing to the last guy. "The lone wolf of our group." Rayden said, chuckling to himself. Hayden had a pair of striking batons sheathed on his left hip. Hayden's armor had many scratches, and dents in it, as well as a large cut across his mask.