A bit over one week ago following the climatic end of Nathaniel and June's battle trouble was brewing in Robindale. Right after their jarring exchange of blows that mirrored a heavy rainfall of artillery fire. An event that left enough destruction in its wake to be seen as true disaster another unnerving incident happened. As citizens were bunkering down in their homes scared from what to them feels like a terrorist attack blood curdling shrieks sounded in the distance. Only people who were unfortunately nearby had the opportunity to hear the cries of both men and woman turn into wet beastly wails as their snapping bones reformed under their skin. It was the signal to the start of a tragedy and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of others.
During this time in the basement of an apartment complex near the heart of this incident. Though the effects of Nathaniel and June's fight could be felt from this location it all went completely unnoticed by a man napping on a worn out sofa inside of a boiler room. The couch creaked under his weight as he shifted around in his sleep. The sound of which was subtlety hidden behind the constant rattling from the boiler next too him as gears twisted releasing steam. This all allowed for the man to have a peaceful rest in ignorant bliss even as a series of patrol cars race by outside his window towards the threat.
The blood mist released by Nathaniel permeated the air giving the planets moon Enroth a crimson hew. The moons glow refracted through the blood mist shading the night red a symbol for what's to come. As the night sky turned crimson the glow from outside shined into the window of the basement where this man slept. The red light blended well with his already wrapped bloodstained knuckles making distinguishing the wound in the light difficult. But what wasn't hard to see were the brused ribs partly hidden under a grey jacket that he was currently using as a cover and a light bruise on his face.
For normal people fighting is a last option but for Gage Garboza fighting is what makes his living. He may not be a pro league champ but in the underground rings he's a certified champion. Returning after a grueling bout Gage is recuperating in his home. He may not have an actual apartment or even a proper kitchen but who needs such fancy amenities when you can live rent free while working as a handy repair man.
Gage's life wasn't the most luxurious but he got by just fine. It didn't take all that much to satisfy Gage he could get by with just some bread and a jar of pickle juice if push came to shove. All of which was an actual meal he had to suffer through not long ago.
Though Gage was capable of living a simple life he deep down longed for more then he had, but was lost on the thing he desired was. The topic was like an itch that he couldn't scratch. He wanted to ease this burden but there was also nothing pushing him to actually do so. Well, at least that was until fate came nocking.
In his home Gage continued to sleep undisturbed, rhythmic snoring synced with the turning gears releasing steam. While outside a battle with lives at stake ensured. Tires of patrol cars streaked across the now chaotic streets of Robindale as Pugs all throughout the town responded to the same message repeated over the radio.
"All available units be advised we are experiencing a code black in the midtown shopping district. Quarantine the area until advance assault team can move in".
Inside a patrol car racing down the same street Gage lived on an officer grabbed his radio and responded back. "This is senior officer Jones in Patrol unit 5634 responding to code black we are eta 2 minutes from the location over".
"Unit 5634 be advised unless necessary do not engage threat quarantine and evacuation is top priority".
Code black refers to large scale lanshi attacks inside a city. They were alerts no one wanted to receive but were ever present threat that people were well informed about on how to handle. Officer Jones was about to reply again when suddenly his eyes caught sight of something moving on all fours in front of him on the road. It had a humanoid form as all lanshi do but to Jones's eyes this one didn't look complete. Light shined on this figure showing wringing muscles converge under his arms. The bulbous masses grew until the two tumors sprouted becoming new arms that split apart along with the originals turning the man into an eight arm monstrosity with shifting purple skin and yellow eyes.
Jones for a second shifted his gaze to his partner Murphy that was in the car with him. They exchanged a look that conveyed their thoughts entirely giving Jones all the confirmation he needed to slam his foot on the gas petal jerkin the car forward at an accelerated speed. The lanshi not known for their intelligence but there single minded drive stood in place receiving the charging car directly.
When the two bodies met Jones felt like he crashed into a metal pole instead of a fleshy body. The grill of the car had a similar thought as Jones after the whole front of the car got caved inwards. Though the collision was bumpy Jones had the power of 400 horses on his side which allowed him to win over a contest of strength with the lanshi and bring it along for the ride.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
With the lanshi stuck on the hood of the car like an ornament Jones went fool speed ahead fully intending to turn the lanshi into road kill. The lanshi howled as it barred its multiply fangs at Jones and Murphy who sat comfortably in the car. In anger it increased its grip on the car crushing the front of it like a compactor. With each passing moment the car got more destroyed as the two officers witnessed the lanshi clawing its way forward towards them.
Knowing that the vehicle was wrecked anyway Jones steered the car into the direction of a parked car. The sound of the crash reverberated through the streets as the two cars folded into each other. Jones head throbbed he had thumped it on the steering wheel but at least he came out of the crash looking better then the lanshi.
A river of blood flowed from the creatures mouth splattering onto the car hood. Its body was sandwiched in between two badly damaged cards yet it still wriggled about lively with a lot of vitality. A crash like that is enough to kill a man the only problem is once transformed lanshi are no longer men but beasts from the deep.
Unlike normal people lanshi have stronger physiques, constitution, swim speed, stamina, excluding their run speed on land which is almost always no different from a normal persons and their intelligence which takes a massive drop a lanshi is superior in every way.
Shaken from the crash the two officers took a few moments to collect themselves this was time that the lanshi used to free itself from the cars hold. Though large and bulbous the lanshi's bones weren't crushed in the crash instead this particularly lanshi appeared to have none at all. Like an octopus the creature shimmied its way under the car through the small gaps it was smashed between.
By the time the two Pugs collected themselves the sly beast was gone from their sight. Jones and Murphy both grabbed hold of their side arms the moment they noticed this. Knowing full well those weapons were probable their only life line.
"Shit, where that damn thing go?" Jones uttered.
"It isn't on my side or yours its got to still be under the car".
The two's worry was growing as time passed. A full minute had gone by yet their was no immediate retaliation as they expected. Besides the consistent alarm sound of the car they just rammed, and their own heavy breathing the street was like a grave. There were people who watched on from the window peaking on occasion as they hid but they were no help at all they could only watch as the fate of the two officers unfolded.
The passing moments felt like a well laid out plan by they creature. Like it wanted them to stew in their own fear so their meat would taste sweeter. Needless to say the two got fed up with passively waiting rather quickly.
"Enough of this if the thing hasn't come out yet then it must be two hurt to move. Murphy I'm goanna try and move the car once you see it shoot the thing to oblivion".
Murphy gave an affirmative nod as he cocked his gun. Jones tried to start the car but it only stuttered for the longest time. Jones was about to think the car was completely totaled when the feeling of life flowed from the engine. Without delay Jones reversed the car to their surprise nothing but a large splatter and trail of blood that traced alongside wherever the car moved.
Realization dawned on the two when suddenly the car launched into the air. Unprepared for the sudden flip the two took a hard beating. Broken glass flew at them from all sides cutting their faces as they both dangle prone upside down in the flipped car. The two pugs groaned in pain as they pushed that small problem aside as they desperately searched for their guns.
The tumbling of the car nocked their weapons loose now they were more desperate then ever as the lanshi closed in on them. The car rocked as the creature scurried about above them. Its shifting body made the car begin to cave in. Hurriedly the two reached for their weapons. Murphy was quickest he grabbed his first just in time to hold back the beasts grasp.
Jones's door was ripped from its hinges defenseless Jones was ripe for the taking but Murphy protected his partner. Murphy aimed his gun at the lanshi that sprawled on the ground extending multiple of its strange arms towards Jones. With a few shots Murphy forced the lanshi back. Most of them were in its arms but two shots landed in its right leg. Murphy smiled devilishly as he enjoyed the beasts wails knowing full well what those metal bullets are doing to Its body.
After getting shot the lanshi jumped back on top of the car it screeched as its body burned from the inside. Each bullet inside its body felt like they were 1000 degrees. Its blood boiled and shot out like geysers from the wound, its flesh cooked as its wound cauterized, and its skin broke out in hives. Metal may not outright kill a lanshi or someone else with the curse of the sea but it does hurt them a great deal and zap their strength.
The lanshi just a creature of Instinct didn't think about this it just got more angry and began clawing its way towards Murphy from the bottom of the car. Murphy and Jones unbuckle themselves from the car seat and plopped onto the floor. Jones scurried over towards his gun then laid on his back along with Murphy guns pointed upwards where the knew the beasts head was goanna pop up.
Without fail the lanshi ripped a hole through the car and when Jones and Murphy saw its pretty face they unloaded what they had on it. Like swish cheese the lanshi's face got pumped full of holes. The creature snarled through its shattered teeth spilling its vile blood onto the two officers. With a loud screech the lanshi tumbled down to the floor.
Relief washed over the two officers they had just survived a dangerous encounter with little in the way of injuries to speak of. The fight drained the two mentally more then physically but they still found it in them to celebrate their victory a little as they laughed off the pain.
An experience that came a second time around as the patrol car suddenly flipped into the air. It spun flinging the two officers around like dirty clothes in a laundry machine before crashing into an apartment building. The walls of the building crumble down piling onto the car making it so heavy it sunk into the floor. The perpetrator behind this haggardly stood back up with a swollen and partly melting face. A symbol for a life lesson when fighting against lanshi which is always make sure your target is actually dead before celebrating.