The Venom

The Showdown

      Tiger and Panther moved throughout the fortress together. "This place is cleaned out." Panther mentioned. "Everyone's off attacking the city." Tiger said. "Hmm, then the boss should be an easy hit. No one's here to protect him from us." Panther said with a smirk. Tiger returned the smirk, and they continued searching for the boss. Tiger vaulted over a railing, and landed at the first floor of the fortress. Many crates of swords and armor were littering the room. Many were opened and empty, with very few only having one or two swords inside. "Seems like they're intending to succeed, piling all their forces into Pacifica like this." Tiger said. "That doesn't seem right. It's more like they're making a final stand." Panther noted. Tiger thought for a moment, before noticing a large vault in the room. 

      Tiger examined the vault, looking at the many locks all around the outside of the door. "This has to be where that coward is hiding." Panther said, sheathing his sword. Panther walked up to the door, and stared at one of the locks. "These should be easy to get through. Give me some time." Panther said, before breaking a hole in the wall beside the door. Panther reached in, and started messing with the mechanisms. Tiger looked around the room, feeling a presence nearby. "How long until that door's open?" Tiger asked. "Give me about a couple minutes." Panther said. Tiger unsheathed his swords, taking a defensive position. "Is there something wrong?" Panther asked. "Keep doing your thing, someone's close." Tiger responded. "How close?" Panther asked. Suddenly a group of five knights dropped down into the room from the second floor. The knights held their swords at Tiger, and their signature armored visors over their faces. 

     One of the knights rushed at Tiger, and Tiger blocked the attack, pushing the knight away. Another two knights joined the fight, and Tiger kicked one in the side. Tiger deflected another attack, and dodged another. Tiger slashed one of the knights in the leg, and swept another to the ground. Tiger was about to kill them both, when the third knight knocked Tiger onto his back. Tiger heard the click of two locks unlocking. Tiger sprung to his feet, swinging both swords at a knight. The knight blocked the attack, and swung a fist at Tiger. Tiger dodged the fist, and threw the knight to the ground, slashing the downed knight twice across the stomach. Tiger dodged another knight's attack, catching his arm. Tiger flipped the knight over his back, and stomped on his head, breaking the visor. Tiger stabbed his sword though the broken hole, and killed the knight. 

      Tiger rolled out of the way of an attack, and Tiger kicked one of the crate lids into the air. The knight stabbed through the lid, and Tiger grabbed the lid, twisting it harshly. The knight's arm twisted, and Tiger pulled the lid, causing the knight to drop his sword. Tiger picked up the sword, and stabbed it through the knight's chest, before unsheathing his swords again. Tiger heard the clicks of the rest of the locks unlocking. "We're in. Let's move." Panther said. Tiger swiftly decapitated a knight, and kicked the other to the ground. Tiger turned to run, but the last knight grabbed Tiger by the shoulder. Tiger shook himself free, and chopped into the knight's side with his sword. Tiger pulled his sword back out, and stabbed it into the knight's chest. Tiger pulled his sword back out, and followed Panther through the vault door. 

      Tiger and Panther navigated long hallways, before ending up in the boss's conference room. The boss sat at the table, with his arms crossed. "It's over for you." Tiger said. "Don't be too certain. You just got here, and you think you're done?" The boss said. The boss quickly flipped the table at Tiger and Panther, before sprinting out of the room. Tiger vaulted over the table, as Panther ran around. The two chased the boss through another hallway before following him to another large and open room. The boss ran past another group of five knights, before climbing up to a balcony. "Sic 'em." The boss said to the knights. The knights' visors turned on, and they unsheathed their swords, ready to fight. 

     The knights sprung to action, swinging their swords at Tiger and Panther. Panther dodged under an attack, sweeping a knight to the ground, and stabbed him in the chest. Tiger and Panther switched sides. Tiger jumped over Panther, as Panther slid under. They both stabbed a knight through the throat. The final two knights fought against Tiger and Panther, as the boss pressed a button on the wall. Tiger and Panther killed the remaining knights, and they stood beside each other, looking up at the boss. "You two would make fine additions to the Knights program. But I can only take one." The boss said. Tiger and Panther shared confused glances, when another knight showed up, and quickly put one of the visors over Panther's head. Tiger tried to help Panther with the visor, but Panther quickly pushed him away. "Too late." The boss said. "Sic 'em." The boss said. 

       The visor activated, and Panther unsheathed his sword, and rushed at Tiger. "Damn." Tiger said, as he quickly evaded the attack. Panther continued to attack Tiger, and Tiger managed to block each of Panther's attacks. Tiger kicked Panther in the leg, and slashed him across the stomach. Tiger felt a sense of weakness after hitting Panther. Panther lunged forwards with his sword, and Tiger deflected the attack to the side, before kneeing him in the chest. Panther elbowed Tiger in the face, and threw Tiger onto his back. Panther jumped onto Tiger, and they struggled with each other. Tiger punched Panther in the visor twice, before throwing him to the side. Tiger kicked Panther onto his side, and grabbed Panther's sword. Tiger twisted Panther's arm, and pulled the sword from his grip, before tossing it to the side. 

     Panther swung a punch at Tiger, and Tiger blocked it, before punching him in the stomach twice. Tiger dodged under Panther's kick, and Tiger stepped out of the way of the next kick. Tiger stepped forwards, and delivered a heavy front kick to Panther's chest. Panther fell onto his back, and Tiger jumped onto Panther. Tiger grabbed the visor and tried to remove it, but Panther punched Tiger in the face, causing him to lose his grip. "Let me help you." Tiger muttered to Panther. Panther and Tiger looked at each other for a moment, before Panther reached for the sword on the ground. Tiger chased after him. Panther grabbed the sword, as Tiger unsheathed one of his swords. Tiger deflected Panther's attack, and Tiger stabbed Panther through the chest. Panther dropped his sword to the ground, and Tiger slowly lowered Panther's body to the ground, Tiger pulled his sword out of the corpse of his brother, and sheathed it. "Brother, forgive me." Tiger said solemnly, as a tear rolled down his cheek. 

      Tiger stood up, and walked to the center of the room. The boss's laughter broke the silence. "Aw man. What a fight. A boy mercy killing his own brother with no other alternative? What a show!" The boss said, cackling. "You'll die next." Tiger said, angrily. "I don't think so. To the lair with you!" The boss yelled, flipping a switch. A portal opened underneath Tiger, causing him to fall inside. Tiger was transported to a large cavern, with many foreign ruins inside. Tiger fell from a great height, slamming to into the ground below before rolling to a stop. Tiger slowly picked himself up, before looking atop the ruins where the boss stood, before unsheathing an authentic high frequency blade. "You're outmatched. You'll see no victory." The boss said. "You'll see your own blood!" Tiger yelled.