The Venom

Loosening Control

Tiger and the group were making their way to the first Insurrectionist fortress. "We're coming up on it soon. Be careful, there's going to be heavy resistance." Madison said. "What's the plan when we get there?" Mary asked. "We must take down the leader. Once he's dead, the rest will scatter. From there, we can move on to the next fortress." Madison said.

The group rounded the corner, to see a large building in the center of a vacant part of the city. Insurrectionists patrolled the street, while others moved the corpses of dead Pacifica guardsmen. "The fortress is that two-story building." Madison said, pointing ahead. "On it." Tiger said.

Tiger rushed ahead, charging into the group of swordsmen. Tiger leaped from his horse, unsheathed his swords, and stabbed a swordsman through the neck with his sword. Tiger turned around, slashing another swordsman through the throat, before stabbing both swords through another swordsman's chest.

Tiger blocked a sword strike, and kicked the attacking swordsman to the ground. Tiger was about to finish off the swordsman, before Mary shot the downed swordsman quickly. "Keep moving. I got you covered." Mary said. Tiger nodded, before continuing towards the fortress.

Tiger rushed closer to the fortress, as Madison kept away any attacking swordsmen from the side. Tiger dodged a sword strike, and quickly snapped the swordsman's neck. Tiger got to the fortress, and struggled with the door. Tiger slashed the door twice, before kicking through it, knocking down the two swordsmen holding the door.

Tiger stepped inside, killing the two downed swordsmen. Tiger dodged under a rushing attack, and Tiger swiftly threw the swordsman to the ground. Tiger kicked the swordsman in the head, snapping his neck, before killing two other swordsmen with his swords. Another swordsman rushed at Tiger, and Tiger blocked the incoming attack. Tiger slashed the swordsman twice across the chest before stabbing the swordsman through the chest.

Tiger sprinted to the center of the room, before stopping to kill two more swordsmen. Tiger looked up at a man leaning against the railing on the second floor. "The child." The leader said. "You know nothing of me to insult me." Tiger called back. "I know the boss is impressed by your efforts. He even wants to execute you himself." The leader said. "That's not going to happen." Tiger said. "I know. That's because I'll kill you myself." The leader said.

The leader unsheathed his sword, and swiftly hopped over the railing. Tiger and the leader clashed swords with each other. As Tiger and the leader fought, two more swordsmen approached them. Tiger blocked one of the leader's attacks, and kicked him in the side. Tiger swiftly dodged underneath a swordsman's attack. Tiger slashed the swordsman's throat with the first sword, before decapitating him with the second. Tiger rushed at the second swordsman, deflecting his sword to the side.

Tiger grabbed the swordman, and used him to block the leader's attack. The leader's sword got stuck in the swordsman's body. Tiger quickly stabbed through the body, and stabbed the leader in the shoulder. The leader stumbled back, and two more swordsmen entered the room. The swordsmen were on either side of Tiger. Tiger split the first swordsman's head with one sword, before stabbing the swordsman behind him.

In another swift motion, Tiger unsheathed his knife, and threw it at the leader. The knife stabbed the leader in the chest, and Tiger rushed closer. Tiger punched the leader twice, before pulling him in, and kneed him in the chest, pushing the knife deeper. Tiger unsheathed one of his swords, decapitating the leader in one swing. Tiger sheathed his sword, and retrieved his knife. "Scratch one off of the list." Tiger said.

Tiger quickly rushed back outside, as the rest of his group fought against many swordsmen. Madison killed two other swordsmen, and Tiger stabbed a swordsman in the back, and slashed another across the throat. "Leader's dead, killed him myself." Tiger said. "Good, gather Mary and Hasuto, and we'll head to the second fortress." Madison said.

Tiger rushed over to Mary and Hasuto, who were fighting beside each other in the battle. Tiger kicked a swordsman to the ground, and stabbed a second through the neck. Tiger pushed the body, ramming his sword through another swordsman's chest. Tiger pulled his sword out, before decapitating another swordsman. "We got to keep moving, the leader's dead." Tiger said. Mary and Hasuto nodded, and they rushed back to their horses, as Tiger followed from behind.

The group rode away, narrowly avoiding an assault from the Pacifica guardsmen. "We're going to have to be cautious of the next fortress." Madison said. "What do we need to look out for?" Tiger asked. "The next leader is very cautious. He may be setting up an ambush for us." Madison said. "Noted." Tiger responded. "Be mindful, keep the leader alive until he spills his info. He has info on the brainwashing facility." Madison added. "I'll keep that in mind." Tiger remarked.

The group slowly approached the fortress. "There. Archers on the rooftops." Hasuto pointed out. Mary fitted an arrow into her bow, shooting one of the archers in the head. Tiger took the opportunity to climb up the side of the building, pulling himself onto the rooftop. Tiger kicked another archer off of the rooftop, and unsheathed one of his swords to deflect an incoming arrow. Tiger stabbed the archer in the chest, and used his body as cover from the next couple of shots.

Mary fitted two arrows into her bow, killing the other two archers. Tiger kept moving, until he got to the rooftop of the fortress. Two swordsmen exited the roof entrance, and Tiger swiftly blocked and dodged each attack. Tiger kicked one of the swordsmen in the side, before slashing him across the throat. Tiger deflected the next attack to the side, before bashing the second swordsman off of the roof with his shoulder.

Tiger entered the fortress from the roof, descending a flight of stairs. Tiger was now in the same room as the leader, who was watching the battle outside. "I can't let them get close to me." The leader said. "You ought to be disappointed." Tiger said. The leader turned around, with a sudden shock. The leader unsheathed his sword, as Tiger approached. The leader swings his sword at Tiger. Tiger blocked two attacks, and dodged a third. Tiger grabbed the leader around the neck, and slammed his head into the wall.

The leader dropped his sword, and Tiger picked up the leader before slamming him onto the ground. "Where is it?" Tiger yelled. "Where's what?" The leader asked. Tiger punched the leader in the face. "The facility? The Knight's program? Where is it?" Tiger demanded. "Northwest! It's northwest beyond the city's walls." The leader said. "Thanks for the info." Tiger said, before killing the leader.

Panther and two other Venom assassins entered through the windows, walking to Tiger. "Seems you've got valuable info." Panther said. "Yeah, what do you want?" Tiger asked. "Cooperation. We'll work together to take down that facility. Meet me at the northern entrance of the city." Panther said. "Sure." Tiger replied. "Also, the guardsmen are going to be here soon, you'd better get your crew out of here. Don't worry, I got some assassins of mine to assist you." Panther said.