As the bolt of plasma was about to reach Charlie a metal disk flew in front of him, blocking it. The plasma splashed across the metal surface of the drone, the force of the hit made the drone fly backwards slamming into Charlie.

“Fuck.” Charlie yelped as the drone smashed into his head. Immediately he jumped up with his carbine at the ready, I woke up and grabbed for my rifle next to me. Once I felt the cool metal of the pulse rifle I jumped to my feet and scanned the perimeter. Charlie was sprinting for cover with his drone not far behind him, the metal top of the drone glowed with heat. I followed suit and when I glanced back Jack did too.

I arrived at a tree next to Charlie and layed down aim down my iron sight. “Charlie I need a marker light on the fucker.” I yelled out.

“I’m on it.” Charlie yelled back. I hear tapping and soon the drone flew in front of the tree. It scanned the area for a couple seconds before shooting out red beam of light. The light beam hit the air above a tree branch and stayed suspended in mid air.

I quickly moved my iron site to line up with the red dot then fired. A bright blue pulse of plasma sped through the trees and in an instant reached the red dot. The plasma dissipated and the area where it hit shimmered. As soon as the air shimmered the tree branch bent and then the shimmering was gone.

The drone shifted and started to spin its sensors, the beam of light moved and the red dot appeared above another tree branch closer. Then the tree branch bent and the red dot moved again.

‘Focus.’ I told myself and I shifted my iron site in the direction the drone faced. Before I reached the next tree branch I heard a pop to my right and the air shimmered where I had placed my iron site but I was too late and the red dot had already disappeared. ‘Focus.’

‘It’s getting close.’ I thought, sweat flowing down my forehead and back. I found the red dot quicker this time and managed to get a shot off before it lept, both Charlie and I managed to hit that time. The shimmering lasted longer and it was easier to see where it was going to land. “We only have one more chance before it gets to us.” Charlie said as he lined up his shot.

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I nodded then I breathed in as I looked down the iron site. ‘One more chance.’ I breathed out slowly. Confidence filled my mind as I pulled the trigger. When the blue plasma and solid tungsten sabot hit the shimmering intensified then slowly a black armored figure materialized. No skin was showing, the only visible organic part of its body was its dreadlocks. A plasma cannon sat on its shoulder and 3 blades were visible in each hand, extending from the knuckle.

‘The Armor is new and it looks like the invisibility was upgraded to some sort of shield.’ I shook my head and threw my rifle to Jack. “ Take any shot you can get Jack.” I yell at him but don’t look back. “Charlie, support me. I’m the only one capable of holding it off in melee, besides I’m not fast enough to escape.” Then I run forward to meet this new monstrosity.

A thin layer of viscous red energy covered my clawed hands as I sped forward to meet the Predator who was about to make the final jump towards us. I heard a pop behind me and the Predator jerked to the right before facing forward again and making the jump.

‘Only a dent, huh? This is going to be tough.’ The predator lands a couple yards in front of me and I could feel the ground tremble. It slowly stood up, towering over me with its impressive height of 8ft. Another pop sound out from behind me and again the Predator jerked back before facing forward and crossing the distance between us in one quick bound.

In a single blindingly fast slash its metal claws came down upon me. I barely moved to the side before it raked my shoulder and side. Three deep lacerations appeared on my body, one on my shoulder and two on my sides.

“Fuck.” I screamed as I jerked my body back then using the momentum I slashed across its chest with my claws. My claws sliced through the armor with difficulty but I managed to find skin.

The Predator screamed as my demonic essence seeped into its wounds, leaving five glowing slash marks across its body. I jumped away from it in its momentary lapse in concentration. In that instant a pop sounded out and hit the chest where the armor had been weakened.

The Predator roared as the sabot pierced its armor and left an apple sized hole in its chest. I grabbed my shoulder and quickly backed away, blooded gushed down my side leaving me feeling dizzy. Although the pain from the cuts helped me keep awake. The Predator stopped roaring then looked at me. I could not see its eyes but I could feel the rage emanating from it. Without hesitation it charged me and in that moment time seemed to stop for me. ‘I can’t survive this, if it hits me I WILL DIE.’

Then my mind calmed and my body took over, I was like a prisoner in my own body. My body fell forward into a crouch and the essence on my right hand shifted to my wounds. I felt an immense immense burn in my shoulder and side. The blood stop flowing and the flesh burned, the demonic essence cauterizing the wounds. As this is happening my body springs back the my body jumped forward at and angle. My left arm flew out. The Predator and I crossed paths for a moment and then it was over.

I stood still for a moment then dropped to the ground, another three lascarations on my chest. I slowly close my eyes as immense pain floods my senses. Darkness takes me.