The Venom

Broken Truth

     Tiger and the group mounted their horses. "You know how to get into Acention?" Hasuto asked. "No, but I'm sure we'll run into Dante very soon." Tiger said. "Then what?" Hasuto asked. "I fight him, and I'm sure he'll use his powers to transport me to Acention, where I kill him and Devon." Tiger responded. "Just please come back safe." Madison said. "For the sake of all of us." Madison continued. "You mustn't worry. I don't wish to disappoint any of you." Tiger responded. "Let's get going. We could find more civilians that need help in the city in the meantime." Tiger said. The group nodded, and they continued throughout the city. 

      By now, the city was nothing more than empty streets, and abandoned buildings. "With city so large and sprawling as this, I never expected to see it so barren. It gives me chills." Mary said. "No exodus of this scale has ever happened to any city like this. Hell, New Alexandria almost never had an exodus with all the wars they've been through." Hasuto said. "It goes to say that this city has ran with almost no difficulty." Mary said. "Which was probably why the Insurrection chose this as a target. They knew the people would abandon their homes, or anarchy would wash over." Madison said. "I only saw the city through the lens of a boy trying to survive. Never really grew too attached to this city, but that's no excuse to not see this as a home." Tiger said. "This city was more than just a home. It was where people ran businesses, bartered with each other for what they needed. The people were helpful and relied on each other for help in tough times." Mary said. "Even the crime wasn't outrageous. The bandits gave some of their stolen supplies to people who couldn't afford to buy their own." Hasuto said. 

    The conversation was interrupted by a couple rushing to them. The man had combed over hair with streaks of grey, and well-kept facial hair. The woman had her hair pulled into a bun, and a cracked pair of glasses on her face. The two were dressed in casual clothing with spots of dust and the man had a couple spots of blood on his sleeve. "Warriors, you've got to help us!" The man called out. Tiger dismounted his horse. "What's the issue?" Tiger asked. "I'm looking for my sons. I know their in this city." The man said. Tiger looked back at his group, who were nodding. "We'll help. You know what your son looks like?" Tiger asked. The couple looked at each other nervously. "Well, we heard that they are adults now. We were prisoners to the Insurrection in a camp, and we heard the boss's adviser say that our sons, James and Aaron, were causing him trouble." The man said. Tiger took a deep breath, and suppressed his emotions.

    Madison walked up to Tiger, and tapped on his shoulder. "You alright?" Madison whispered. "These are my parents." Tiger whispered back. Madison's eyes widened, before returning her gaze to the couple. "Is there a problem? Please tell me our sons are okay." The man said. "Well, here's the thing..." Tiger trailed off. A sudden strike of lightning hit next to them, and Tiger instinctively pulled the couple behind cover. Dante appeared, and summoned a bolt of lightning. "You're going to give me the energy I need!" Dante yelled, throwing a bolt of lightning at Tiger. Tiger dodged the lightning bolt, and rushed at Dante. Dante summoned his twin swords, and clashed with Tiger. Tiger deflected Dante's swords to the side, and swung at him. 

    Dante jumped over Tiger's low swing, and swung his swords at Tiger. Tiger blocked each of Dante's attacks, and kicked him in the side. Dante created a ball of hellfire, and threw it at Tiger. Tiger deflected the fireball away, and transformed into his Primitive State. Tiger punched Dante in the face, and grabbed one of his tomahawks. Tiger swung the tomahawk at Dante, and Dante dodged under the attack. Tiger took his second tomahawk, and swung it at Dante. Dante flashed away from Tiger, and Tiger rushed at Dante again. 

    The couple were being moved away from the fight by Madison and Mary, as Hasuto followed. "That warrior has a familiar look to him." The man said. "I would hope so." Madison said. "Why's that?" The man said. "Because that is you son. The one that escaped capture." Madison said. "James?" The woman said suddenly. "What of Aaron? Why isn't he with James?" The woman asked. "That's a complicated event. Sorry for your loss." Mary said. The woman began to cry, and the man comforted her. "We still have James, we should be grateful." The man said. "I just wanted everyone in the family to come back together." The woman said. "I know. I know." The man said softly.

    Tiger and Dante blocked and dodged each other's attacks. Tiger evaded Dante's swords, before kicking him in the chest. "I'll be the one to save us from annihilation." Tiger said. "Ha! You are just a man. You have no possible way of becoming an Elder God." Dante said. "I don't care about becoming an Elder God. As long as you and your brother are no more, this realm can continue naturally." Tiger said. Tiger and Dante rushed at each other again. Tiger blocked two of Dante's attacks, and rolled under another attack, sweeping Dante to the ground. Tiger morphed into the white tiger, and pounced onto Dante. "Feel hellfire!" Dante yelled, igniting his fist, and punched Tiger in the face. Tiger returning two his human form, and fell onto his back. Tiger threw his tomahawks, and Dante deflected them out of the air. 

    Tiger sprung back to his feet, as the tomahawks flew back to Tiger. Tiger caught his tomahawks, and hooked them onto Dante's swords. Dante tried to free his swords, and Tiger flipped Dante over his back. Dante landed on his feet, and kicked Tiger back to the ground. Dante approached Tiger with his swords ready. "You are in way over your head." Dante said coldly. Suddenly Devon appeared in a flash of light, attacking Dante. "Now that he's softened you up, you're mine!" Devon yelled. Dante and Devon swung their swords at each other. Dante deflected Devon's attacks, and hit him with the pommel of his sword. "Don't be too sure." Dante said, before striking Devon with a bolt of lightning. Devon redirected the bolt, shooting it into the sky. Tiger stood up, and gripped his Tomahawks, before transforming to his next form.

    Tiger's aura appeared, and Tiger transitioned to his Evolved form. Tiger ran between Devon and Dante, slashing them both with his tomahawks. Devon and Dante flinched, and faced Tiger. "The boy's tapped into his Evolved bloodline." Devon said. "He's outnumbered." Dante said. The two gods conjured lightning together, and aimed it at Tiger. Tiger held his tomahawks ready for impact. "Let's send a message." Dante said. "Definitely." Devon answered. Tiger was confused, but then his heart sank as he saw that they aimed their bolts of lightning at Tiger's parents. Tiger's parents stood outside of the building, and Mary and Madison were trying to bring them back inside. "You're not harming my son!" Tiger's father yelled. Dante and Devon struck Tiger's father with their lightning. "Father!" Tiger yelled, before swinging his tomahawk at Devon. Devon blocked the attack, and knocked Tiger to the ground. "You are an unworthy opponent." Devon said.