The Venom

Pressure

        Tiger morphed into the white tiger, rushing at Hasuto. In an instant, Panther morphed into a panther, and struggled with Tiger. Tiger pushed Panther back, and they both morphed back to their human forms. Tiger dodged several of Panther's attacks, and kicked him in the leg. Panther stumbled, and Tiger swung his tomahawks at Panther. Panther blocked two of the attacks, and Tiger turned his tomahawk, slamming the blunt side into the side of Panther's face. Panther stumbled to the side, and Tiger slammed Panther to the ground. Before Tiger could kill Panther, Madison quickly stepped between them. "What are you doing?" Hasuto asked. "Tiger, I know you care about your friends, especially your own brother. Don't do this." Madison said. Tiger hesitated, lowering his tomahawk. 

        Tiger silently looked at Madison, before turning away. Tiger rushed towards the facility, where more swordsmen were located. Tiger began rushing towards the building. "Should we go after him?" Mary asked. "I feel we should keep out of his path for now." Madison said. Tiger broke through the window, throwing both tomahawks, cutting into two swordsmen. Tiger sprinted at another swordsman, dodging the sword, and dug his claws into the swordsman's neck. Another swordsman approached from behind, and Tiger swiftly threw him over his back. The swordsman landed in front of Tiger, and Tiger snapped his neck, with a kick to the head. Tiger moved deeper into the facility, where the Knights program was located. Tiger watched as several of the experimental knights looked at Tiger, as they were already out of the building. The knights were carried away in the back of a carriage, pulled by a machine. Tiger stood there, as his friends dealt with the rest of the swordsmen. 

       The group approached Tiger cautiously. "Tiger." Madison said. Tiger turned around, facing her. Tiger slowly began to approach her, when the glow in his eyes faded. Tiger collapsed, and Tiger's aura reappeared, before fading away again. Tiger was now back in his Skulls uniform, and he slowly began to stand up again. "Dante must've corrupted him." Panther said. "It wasn't just him. Dante and his evil counterpart, Devon." Tiger said. "Either way, it's safe to bet that this facility is no longer in use." Hasuto said. "The knights got away." Tiger said. "Likely heading back to the boss's side." Said a Venom assassin. "Because of us breaking the connections in Pacifica?" Tiger asked. "More than likely." Madison answered. "We must go after them." Tiger said, before stumbling to the ground. "Not in your current condition. We'll get you back to the hideout, to rest off the strain you endured." Madison said. "Not the Skulls hideout. Take me back to my hideout, in case I turn into that thing again, I don't want anyone to be in harm's way." Tiger said. "Good idea." Madison said. Panther and Hasuto lifted Tiger onto Madison's horse, and Hasuto and Mary followed them out of the area. 

         At the boss's fortress, Drev sat at the conference table with the boss. "What do you mean the Pacifca fortresses are destroyed?" The boss yelled. "I mean its that kid. He's behind it." Drev said. "The kid did that? Some mere child, that you orphaned, took down two heavily armed fortresses?" The boss said. "Yes, sir." Drev said in an embarrassed tone. The boss sighed, before slamming his fist into the table, knocking over his chalice. "I appointed you as my adviser, gave you a portion of my people, and you still can't set yourself straight?" The boss said. "But I-" Drev's words were cut short. "Begone with you." The boss said, motioning him to leave. Drev stood up, and began to leave. "I am giving you another two lieutenants. Take your four total lieutenants, kill that 'Tiger' kid, and get my connections back to the city. If we're going to overthrow that city's government, we need those connections." The boss said. "It'll be done, sir." Drev said, before leaving the room. 

        The boss leaned back in his chair, thinking to himself. The boss's second adviser approached from the other side of the table. "Is there something I can do?" The adviser asked. "Jarek, Drev is on my final nerve. Assemble a team, and get rid of that 'Tiger' kid. He's putting too much pressure on my plans." The boss said. "What of Drev?" Jarek asked. "He's out of commission, you'll be in possession of his force. Whether he likes it or not, you are his successor." The boss said. "Have no worries, I'll make sure to finish what he could not." Jarek said. "You better." The boss said. 

       Tiger rested in his hideout, as Mary, Madison, and Hasuto hung out in the room. "Cozy." Hasuto said. "Could use some fixing up." Mary said, motioning to the boarded up windows. "This used to be a bandit hideout. Guess Tiger believed in hostile takeovers." Madison said. Hasuto looked outside, and noticed five people forming a line. "What's going on here?" Hasuto asked. Mary peeked out of the window. "We'd better move. Now!" Mary yelled. Suddenly, flaming arrows began flying at the hideout. The arrow crashed through the windows, igniting the building on fire. Everyone kept low to the ground, and Tiger quickly rolled out of beg. Tiger rushed over to his gear, quickly slipping on his armor and sheathes, before grabbing his weapons. The fire began to spread, and they all rushed out of the hideout. They dodged incoming arrows, and took cover behind a couple of low walls. Tiger hid with Madison, as Hasuto hid with Mary. "Mary, I need you to cover Madison and I as we get closer to them." Tiger called out. "Got it." Mary called back. Tiger tapped Madison's shoulder. "Get ready to move." Tiger said. Madison nodded, and Mary pulled an arrow out of her quiver.

       Tiger saw Mary shooting arrows, and signaled for Madison to follow him. The two got closer and closer to the archers. Mary managed to hit one of the archers in the shoulder during the conflict. The archers lost sight of Tiger and Madison. In a sudden attack, Tiger killed one of the archers with a cut to the neck. Tiger used the body to block an arrow, and Madison ran around Tiger, kicking the second archer to the ground. Drev unsheathed his sword, and Madison blocked his attacks. Tiger slid past Madison, kicking Drev in the side of the leg. Drev stumbled, and Madison kicked him in the side of the head. The remaining two archers looked at Madison, and an arrow killed the first, and a throwing knife took out the last archer. 

      Drev slammed the back of his fist against Madison's face, knocking her back. Tiger rushed forwards. Drev blocked two of Tiger's attacks, swinging his fist at Tiger. Tiger was hit in the face, and Drev knocked the sword out of Tiger's hand. Tiger was unable to unsheathe his second sword, causing him to start dodging Drev's incoming attacks. Tiger jumped up, kicking Drev in the face. Drev stumbled back, and Tiger struggled with Drev's sword. Tiger pulled on the sword, and Drev fought back. Tiger then headbutted Drev in the face, causing him to let go. Tiger stepped forwards, slashing Drev across the chest twice. Drev's eyes widened, as Tiger thrust the sword at him. Drev clapped his hands around the blade, stopping it. Tiger pushed harder, until they both fell to the ground. Tiger laid on top of Drev, pushing the sword further and further. Tiger felt the sword sink into Drev's chest, with the sound of Drev's breath releasing.  

       Tiger let go of the sword, and rolled to the side, laying on his back. Drev was breathing heavily, from the punctured lung. Drev tried to pull his sword out of his body, but he began to suffocate, and he let go of the sword. Drev's head turned to Tiger, eyes half shut. In a sudden motion, Drev stared Tiger in the eye one final time.