The Venom

War

        Tiger, Jaguar, and Max took cover behind a building, as more cannonballs rained down. "Odd running into you like this." Jaguar said. "Definitely." Tiger replied. Tiger was about to move out of cover, when Jaguar pulled him back. "No. Fighting through that isn't going to get you anywhere." Jaguar said. "What do you suppose I do?" Tiger asked. "This is a war. The Insurrection is nothing but a giant army. Someone's in control of it." Max said. "The boss." Tiger said. "Exactly. We need to take him down, if we're going to have hopes of saving this city." Jaguar said. "I don't know where the boss's fortress is located." Tiger mentioned. Max quickly took a map out of his pouch, before putting it in Tiger's hands. "Jaguar and I spent a fair amount of time on that map. It details everything you'll need to know." Max said. Tiger nodded, and put the map in his pouch. 

        Another cannonball hit nearby, and the force knocked them to the ground. "You'd best hurry!" Jaguar yelled, over the war sounds. Tiger stepped out of cover, and two Insurrectionists rushed him. Tiger blocked one attack, and kicked the other to the ground. Tiger stabbed the first swordsman in the stomach, before digging his second sword into the downed swordsman's chest. Tiger found a stray horse, and quickly mounted it. Tiger rode away as fast as he could, reading the map. "Hope I can make it in time." Tiger muttered, as he rode towards the eastern city entrance. The massive exodus of people created traffic for Tiger to navigate, as the people piled into transport vehicles to leave the city. Tiger moved through the people, and was now outside of the city. Tiger looked towards the distant mountains, where the boss's fortress is meant to be. 

      Madison, Mary, and Hasuto arrived at the battle at the northern entrance. "Tiger! Tiger, where are you?" The group called out. A group of swordsmen rushed at them, and they swiftly dealt with the attacking swordsmen. They continued to call for Tiger, when Jaguar stopped them. "Tiger's out to hunt down the boss." Jaguar said. "What? Alone?" Hasuto asked. "Seems like it." Jaguar responded. The grouped looked at each other, and Max broke the hesitation. "If you want, you can go after him." Max said, with a smirk. "Oh no you don't." Six called out from a rooftop. Six and Hayden dropped down, and stepped towards Mary. "I'm getting you out of here." Six said, rushing Mary away. "What? No." Mary said. Hayden looked at Jaguar and Max, and they turned to run away. Hayden noticed Jaguar and Max had Insurrectionists symbols on the inside of their shoulder capes. "They're Insurrectionist informants!" Hayden yelled, pointing to the two as they ran. 

       Madison's eyes widened, and turned to the others. "Tiger just took a map from them. The boss knows he's coming." Madison said. "We must stop Tiger from getting into trouble." Mary said, struggling with Six. "No." Six said, grabbing Mary by the shoulders. Six picked up Mary, and set her down behind cover. "You are going to get somewhere safe. I'm not losing another family member." Six said. A sudden arrow pierced Six's back. "Uncle!" Mary yelled, as Six fell onto her. Mary looked to see an Insurrectionist archer fitting another arrow into his bow. Mary quickly shot the archer in the throat, and the archer fell from the rooftop, slamming into the street below. Six's breathing began to slow, and Mary looked into his eyes. "Go, get somewhere safe." Six said. "Not without you." Mary replied. "Just go!" Six said, motioning for her to leave. 

     Mary looked at Hasuto and Madison. Tears filled Mary's eyes. "Go get Tiger." Mary said solemnly, as she put the Skulls mask over her face, and she fitted an arrow into her bow. "Mary, no!" Madison yelled, as Mary went to fight in the battle. Madison rushed after her, but Hasuto pulled her back. "Let her go." Hasuto said. Hasuto and Madison mounted their horses, and looked back. Mary shot a swordsman in the throat, and slammed the blunt end across anther swordsman's jaw. Mary dodged under a sword strike, and stabbed the swordsman in the stomach, before kneeing him in the face. Mary was kicked in the side, before stabbing the spike into the side of a swordsman's neck. "Let's go." Hasuto said. The two began to ride away from the battle . The mass exodus crowded the streets, guardsmen were trying to direct the citizens safely, and vanguards were rushing to the battle. "Anarchy is going to breakout if we don't stop this." Madison said. "Meaning the Insurrection get what they wanted." Hasuto said. 

        Half an hour passed, and Tiger approached the boss's fortress. Tiger dismounted his horse, and looked around. A pair of Insurrectionist lieutenants were waiting for Tiger, and they sprung into attack. Tiger blocked and dodged their advances. Tiger slashed one of the lieutenants across the leg. The lieutenant fell to one knee, and Tiger used his second sword to deliver the killing blow. The second lieutenant knocked Tiger onto his back. The lieutenant raised his sword, but was suddenly decapitated by Panther. Panther walked over to Tiger, reaching out to him. Tiger grabbed Panther's hand, and stood up. "Figure you could've done this by yourself?" Panther asked, with a smirk. Tiger shrugged, and Panther motioned for Tiger to follow. "Come on, we've got an Insurrectionist boss to kill." Panther said. The two quickly climbed the side of the wall, and crept into an open window.

       Hasuto and Madison finally left the city, and began the long trek to the fortress. "We've lost Mary." Madison said. "She could still be alive." Hasuto said, optimistically. "She's not in the right mind. She'll be slaughtered." Madison said. Hasuto lowered his head. As they rode, a bolt of lightning struck around them, scaring their horses. The two fought for control, and looked to see Devon and Dante fighting with each other. Devon knocked Dante to the ground, and used his necromancy to shape restraints from bone. "Stay down." Devon said. Dante fell through a portal of hellfire, and appeared behind Devon, kicking him to the ground. Devon rolled to his feet, and they both shot lightning at each other. "I will defend Earthrealm from your evils." Dante yelled. The lightning bolts struck each other, and they both rushed at each other. Dante blocked Devon's attacks, and kicked him in the side before punching him in the face. Dante and Devon traded punches and kicks with each other. Dante punched Devon twice in the face, grabbed Devon by the throat, and slammed him through a hellfire portal, as he rushed after him. 

        Hasuto and Madison saw the event take place. "Two elder gods fighting each other? This is what the prophecy foretold." Hasuto said. "What prophecy?" Madison asked. "Two brothers becoming gods, and fighting with immense power. Supposedly, it'll lead to a cataclysmic event." Hasuto said. "Such as?" Madison pressed. "Let's just say that the event of the 'bombs dropping' that changed Earthrealm millennia ago, was the result of this." Hasuto said. "The event that wiped all living beings from the realm?" Madison asked, her eyes widening. "Exactly." Hasuto said. "Damn." Madison muttered. "We've got to get this Insurrection taken down. Maybe Tiger, Reaper, and Cobra can combine their powers to stop this from happening." Hasuto said. "Here's hoping." Madison said.