Somewhere at the school playground, Carly’s eyes narrowed as she focused on Laurie, the enemy Ringmaster standing a few meters away. The air between them crackled with tension, the imminent clash promising to be a test of skill and will. Carly could feel the weight of her revolver at her side, a comforting presence in her hand. Laurie, on the other hand, stood with a predatory smile, her chest starting to ripple as sprouts began to emerge, transforming into writhing tentacles.
“I’ve been waiting for this, Vulture,” Laurie hissed, her voice dripping with malice. “Let’s see how well you can dance when the floor is moving beneath you.”
Carly didn’t waste any time. She took a step back, raising her revolver with a practiced ease. She squeezed the trigger, the sound of the gunshot echoing through the space. Laurie dodged to the side, but not quickly enough; the bullet grazed her arm, drawing first blood.
Laurie’s eyes darkened with anger as the sprouts from her chest expanded, tentacles lashing out toward Carly. With a swift motion, Carly leaped back, narrowly avoiding the grasping appendages. She fired again, the bullet tearing through the air and striking one of the tentacles, causing it to recoil with a shriek.
“You’ll have to do better than that!” Laurie snarled, her tentacles whipping through the air with increased fury. Carly darted to the side, her movements quick and agile. She fired off another shot, aiming for Laurie’s body, but Laurie anticipated the move and twisted away, the bullet skimming past her.
Carly’s heart pounded in her chest as she kept her distance, knowing that getting too close would be a fatal mistake. Laurie’s tentacles were dangerous, but they had a limited range. If she could stay out of reach and keep firing, she had a chance. She fired again, this time aiming for Laurie’s legs. Laurie jumped, the bullet missing its mark by mere inches.
Laurie’s tentacles slammed into the ground where Carly had been standing moments before, leaving deep gouges in the earth. Carly rolled to the side, coming up on one knee and firing twice in quick succession. One bullet struck a tentacle, while the other grazed Laurie’s side. Laurie hissed in pain but didn’t slow down, her tentacles whipping through the air with renewed fury.
Carly sprang to her feet, her mind racing as she tried to anticipate Laurie’s next move. She needed to keep Laurie at a distance, but the tentacles were making it increasingly difficult. She fired again, aiming for Laurie’s chest, but Laurie twisted away, the bullet tearing through one of the tentacles instead.
“Is that all you’ve got, Vulture?” Laurie taunted, her voice filled with venom. “I expected more from you.”
Carly gritted her teeth, her eyes locked on Laurie. She couldn’t afford to let Laurie get into her head. She needed to stay focused. She fired again, the bullet striking another tentacle and causing it to writhe in pain. Laurie retaliated, her tentacles lashing out with lightning speed. Carly barely had time to react, throwing herself to the ground to avoid being impaled.
She rolled to her feet, firing as she moved. The bullets struck home, hitting Laurie in the shoulder and causing her to stagger. Laurie’s tentacles flailed wildly, giving Carly a moment to catch her breath. She took a step back, raising her revolver and taking careful aim. She fired, the bullet hitting Laurie square in the chest. Laurie screamed in rage, her tentacles thrashing violently.
“You’ll pay for that, Vulture!” Laurie shouted, her voice filled with fury. She charged forward, her tentacles reaching out to grab Carly. Carly darted to the side, firing as she moved. The bullets struck Laurie’s tentacles, causing them to recoil in pain. Laurie didn’t slow down, her eyes filled with murderous intent.
Carly’s heart raced as she tried to stay out of Laurie’s reach. She needed to end this fight quickly. She fired again, aiming for Laurie’s legs. The bullet struck true, hitting Laurie in the knee and causing her to stumble. Laurie’s tentacles lashed out in fury, but Carly was already moving, her revolver firing rapidly. The bullets struck Laurie’s body, each shot weakening her further.
Laurie’s tentacles flailed wildly, trying to grab Carly, but Carly was too quick. She dodged and weaved, her movements fluid and precise. She fired again, the bullet striking Laurie in the chest and causing her to fall to her knees. Laurie’s tentacles continued to thrash, but their movements were becoming sluggish.
Carly took a deep breath, steadying her aim. She had one shot left, and she needed to make it count. She focused on Laurie, her eyes narrowing as she lined up the shot. “Perfect Shot,” she whispered, squeezing the trigger. The bullet flew through the air, striking Laurie square in the forehead. Laurie’s eyes widened in shock before she collapsed to the ground, her tentacles going limp.
Carly stood there for a moment, her revolver still raised. She took a deep breath, lowering her weapon as she walked over to Laurie’s body. She nudged Laurie with her foot, making sure she was truly down. Satisfied, she holstered her revolver, looking around at the battlefield.
“We did it,” she said softly, a small smile playing on her lips. She turned to rejoin her friends, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As Carly stood over Laurie’s fallen form, breathing heavily from the intense battle, a sudden, sharp jolt of electricity coursed through the ground. Carly staggered, her heart racing, and her eyes widened in shock as Laurie’s body began to twitch and convulse.
Laurie’s tentacles, once limp, started to wriggle and writhe, the tendrils of energy coiling around her like a living force. With a guttural roar, Laurie’s body convulsed violently, her wounds closing up and her strength returning. The previously defeated Undergrounder was regenerating at an alarming rate.
“Did you think you could finish me off so easily, Vulture?” Laurie’s voice echoed with an unsettling mix of triumph and malice. Her eyes blazed with renewed fury as she rose to her feet, fully restored and more dangerous than before.
Carly’s eyes widened in disbelief. She had thought the fight was over, but Laurie’s resurgence turned her victory into a distant hope. Her body ached, her breaths came in ragged gasps, and her revolver felt heavier than ever. She braced herself, preparing for another round.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Laurie’s tentacles lashed out with lightning speed, catching Carly off guard. Carly barely had time to react as one of the tentacles wrapped around her waist, lifting her off the ground. She gasped, struggling to free herself as Laurie’s face contorted with a cruel smile.
“Did you really think you could defeat me so easily?” Laurie taunted, her voice dripping with venom. “You’re just a bird in a storm, Vulture.”
Carly struggled against the tightening grip, her revolver slipping from her grasp. With a strained effort, she kicked out, her foot connecting with one of Laurie’s tentacles, causing it to loosen its grip momentarily. But Laurie was relentless. Another tentacle whipped through the air, striking Carly across the face and sending her sprawling to the ground.
Carly gasped in pain, her vision swimming as she tried to regain her footing. Her revolver lay a few feet away, out of reach. She forced herself to move, dragging herself toward the weapon as Laurie advanced, her tentacles flailing menacingly.
Laurie’s tentacles struck with brutal precision, hitting Carly repeatedly and knocking her backward. Carly’s attempts to dodge were growing weaker as her energy drained. She tried to fire off a few shots, but her aim was off, and Laurie’s tentacles easily deflected the bullets.
With a roar of frustration, Laurie charged forward, her tentacles aiming for Carly’s head. Carly barely had time to roll to the side, but the impact of the tentacles crashing into the ground sent a shockwave through her body. She felt a sharp pain in her ribs, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Laurie’s tentacles whipped around Carly, constricting her movements and forcing her to the ground. Carly tried to push against the tentacles, her hands clawing at them, but Laurie’s strength was overwhelming. She could feel the pressure building, her limbs becoming increasingly numb as Laurie’s grip tightened.
“You’re nothing but a mere annoyance, Vulture,” Laurie sneered, her voice filled with disdain. “Your tricks and your shots can’t save you now.”
Carly’s eyes were filled with a mixture of determination and desperation. She knew she had to fight back, but her strength was waning. She had to find a way to break free, but every attempt seemed futile against Laurie’s relentless assault.
In a final, desperate effort, Carly reached out for her revolver, her fingers brushing against the handle. She managed to grasp it and raised it shakily, aiming it at Laurie through the narrow gap between the writhing tentacles. Her vision was blurred, and her movements were sluggish, but she had to try.
With a strained cry, Carly fired, the bullet piercing through one of Laurie’s tentacles. Laurie hissed in pain, her tentacles recoiling momentarily. Carly seized the opportunity, pushing against the remaining tentacles and trying to free herself.
“Perfect Shot!” Carly shouted with whatever strength she had left. She aimed carefully, despite her blurred vision, and fired. The bullet flew true, striking Laurie in the chest once more. Laurie staggered, her tentacles flailing wildly as she reeled from the impact.
Laurie let out a roar of fury, her body convulsing as she tried to regain control. Carly took a deep breath, her vision swimming as she fought to stay conscious. She knew she couldn’t afford to falter now. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, but she forced herself to move, keeping her revolver steady and her aim true.
Laurie’s tentacles lashed out with brutal force, each strike landing with a sickening thud against Carly’s weakened form. Carly stumbled, barely able to defend herself as Laurie’s relentless assault continued. The Undergrounder’s eyes glowed with a malevolent gleam, and her tentacles lashed out in all directions, leaving Carly with no room to maneuver.
Carly’s revolver slipped from her grasp as she was slammed into the ground. Pain exploded through her body, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Laurie’s tentacles coiled around her, pinning her to the floor. Carly tried to fight back, but her strength was rapidly fading.
Just as Laurie was about to deliver the final blow, a powerful surge of electricity crackled through the air. Laurie’s tentacles recoiled as a new figure entered the fray, her arrival heralded by a crackling bolt of lightning.
Lila, transformed into her Eel Ringmaster form, appeared in a burst of lightning. Her sleek, electric yellow armor glinted in the dim light, and her eyes blazed with determination. Not to mention the black cape. With a fluid, almost serpentine grace, she launched herself at Laurie, her lightning-infused fists striking with precision.
“Eel!” Laurie snarled, recognizing Lila. “So, the Eel decides to join the party.”
Lila’s movements were swift and deadly. Her punches crackled with electricity, and each strike sent a jolt of lightning coursing through Laurie’s body. Laurie staggered under the relentless assault, her tentacles flailing wildly as she tried to defend herself.
“You won’t get away with this!” Lila’s voice rang out, filled with fierce determination. Her fists connected with Laurie’s body, each blow accompanied by a burst of lightning that illuminated the dark surroundings. Laurie’s form was being battered, her armor sparking and crackling under the intense electrical assault.
Laurie roared in frustration, trying to retaliate with her own tentacles, but Lila was relentless. Her lightning-powered attacks were overwhelming, each punch and kick sending a shockwave through Laurie’s form.
Carly, lying battered on the ground, managed to reach for her revolver. With a final burst of effort, she aimed the gun at Laurie. Her vision was blurred, but she focused on the Undergrounder through sheer willpower.
“Perfect Shot!” Carly shouted with strained conviction. The bullet flew through the air, striking Laurie squarely in the chest. Laurie staggered, her body convulsing from the impact.
Lila seized the opportunity. With a determined roar, she charged forward, her fists moving with blinding speed. Each punch was accompanied by a crackling burst of electricity, and Laurie’s form began to shatter under the relentless barrage. Lightning arced through the air, surrounding Laurie in a dazzling display of electrical fury.
The Undergrounder’s body broke apart, each piece disintegrating under Lila’s powerful blows. The once imposing figure of Laurie was reduced to a flurry of shattered fragments, illuminated by the blinding flashes of lightning.
As the last of Laurie’s remains dissipated, Lila’s attacks slowed, and she took a moment to catch her breath. The air crackled with the residual energy of her lightning-powered assault, and the ground was littered with the remnants of the defeated Undergrounder.
Lila quickly moved to Carly’s side, her expression filled with concern. “Carly, are you okay?” she asked, kneeling beside her. Carly, battered and bruised, managed a weak smile.
“I’m... fine,” Carly said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks to you.”
Lila nodded, her eyes scanning Carly’s injuries. “We need to get you treated. Alex is still trying to find Arata. He’s out there searching for him.”
Carly’s eyes widened with concern. “Alex is still looking for Arata?”
Lila nodded. “Yes. He’s determined to find him and bring him back safely.”
Carly nodded, feeling a mix of relief and worry. “Alright. Let’s get out of here.”
Lila helped Carly to her feet, supporting her as they made their way toward safety. The battle was over, but the fight to protect the school was far from finished.