"What do we have here?" she sneered, her voice grating and low. "Looks like I've caught a few stragglers. Syndicate, huh? I didn't think you'd be meddling with our little project here in Utah."
Sky Rider tensed, moving his hoverboard slightly to hover just above the ground. "We're not in the mood for a fight. Let us through, and you won't get hurt."
Rust Reaver laughed, a harsh, metallic sound. "Oh, I doubt that, darling. See, I've got orders. And orders mean you're not going anywhere with these civilians."
Without warning, her hands sparked with corrosive energy, and the metal railings along the alleyway began to writhe and twist, snapping toward the evac team like angry snakes [https://img.wattpad.com/c705176238e561ee71bac0d26fd405ba8476128a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f394f4c394471374a6871373150773d3d2d313438363634333830352e313830623137393735356464623633363539353936333835373336312e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Without warning, her hands sparked with corrosive energy, and the metal railings along the alleyway began to writhe and twist, snapping toward the evac team like angry snakes. Metal pipes and beams peeled away from the walls, corroding and crumbling before morphing into jagged, dangerous tendrils, all directed at them.
"Get back!" Vis shouted, stepping forward and raising a forcefield around the civilians as the rusted metal tendrils crashed against her shield with a resounding clang.
Sky Rider launched himself forward, zipping around Rust Reaver and sending a wave of concussive blasts from his hoverboard, aiming to disorient her. She dodged, her armor absorbing part of the impact as she turned her focus on him, a twisted grin spreading across her face.
"Nice try, boy," she taunted, her voice echoing through the alley. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a wave of corroded metal shards flying toward him, each piece glinting with lethal intent.
Sky Rider maneuvered quickly, dodging most of the shards, but one caught his sides, slicing through padded armor and drawing blood [https://img.wattpad.com/99cabd25af399dc3d94c0a6c03f6336d4b7def42/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5f5a346f6c4677495069716a61413d3d2d313438363634333830352e313830623138653530653732376333363930333833303534373639312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Sky Rider maneuvered quickly, dodging most of the shards, but one caught his sides, slicing through padded armor and drawing blood. He gritted his teeth, darting back to create some distance.
Meanwhile, Nox slipped behind her, moving silently, his knives drawn. He lunged at her back, aiming for a quick, disabling strike, but Rust Reaver twisted, her movements fluid despite her heavy armor. She blocked his knife with a quick swipe of her arm, the corroded metal on her armor snagging his blade and pulling it from his hand.
"Cute trick," she sneered, tightening her grip around Nox's wrist, her hand emanating that same corroding energy. Nox winced as the corrosion began searing through his gloves, smoke rising as the material started to disintegrate.
"Nox!" Vis shouted, her forcefield still holding up against the onslaught of metal tendrils. She took a step forward, channeling her energy into an even stronger barrier around Nox and yanking him free from Rust Reaver's grasp. Nox stumbled back, his wrist smoking but intact.
Rust Reaver scowled, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, you're stronger than I thought.." she growled, both arms raised as the entire alley seemed to respond to her command. Metal debris from every direction started floating toward her, converging around her like armor, forming a jagged, makeshift exoskeleton.
Sky Rider, nursing his injured arm, grinned through the pain. "This lady is really starting to tick me off."
Vis kept her forcefield steady, focusing her energy. "We don't have time for this, Sky. We need to find a way past her."
Sky Rider nodded, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around. "I've got an idea. Keep her attention on you; I'll try to flank her."
With that, he darted to the side, weaving through the shadows, while Vis kept her focus on Rust Reaver. She clenched her fists, extending her forcefield outward, creating a larger barrier that pressed Rust Reaver back, forcing her to struggle against the increasing pressure.
Rust Reaver snarled, her metal tendrils writhing as they tried to break through Vis's barrier. "You think you can hold me off forever? I'll grind you all down to rust!"
Just then, Sky Rider appeared above her, dropping down from the top of a building with his hoverboard, aimed directly at her. Just as Sky Rider dove from above, Rust Reaver's eyes flashed, a wicked grin spreading across her face. With surprising agility, she twisted to the side, avoiding the impact at the last second. Before Sky Rider could react, her metal tendrils shot up like a snake, striking his hoverboard with a brutal swing. The board cracked and sputtered, its circuits shorting out in a burst of sparks before clattering uselessly to the ground.
Sky Rider barely had a second to process the loss of his board before he felt something cold and unyielding wrap around his neck. Rust Reaver's tendrils coiled around him like a vise, lifting him off the ground as she tightened her grip, her expression filled with sadistic glee.
"Gotcha, sneaky boy," she sneered, her fingers flexing as the tendrils tightened even further. "You think you're so clever? Let's see how clever you are when you're gasping for air!"
Sky Rider's hands clawed at the metal constricting his throat, his face beginning to turn red as his lungs fought for oxygen. His helmet's visor cracking, his vision blurred as he struggled, feeling his strength waning.
"Let him go!" Vis shouted, rushing forward, her face twisted in determination. She extended her forcefield, trying to pry Sky Rider free from Rust Reaver's grip, but Rust Reaver merely cackled, her grip unyielding.
"You think a little bubble is going to stop me?" Rust Reaver taunted, her eyes gleaming as she watched Vis strain. "Pathetic. I'll crush him before you even get close."
Sky Rider's vision was starting to darken, his fingers slipping from the tendrils as his strength faded. Rust Reaver sneered, pulling him closer, watching his struggles with twisted delight.
Rust Reaver sneered, pulling him closer, watching his struggles with twisted delight [https://img.wattpad.com/7d7c4f1708225d897a336f9e7e7583cf688860cb/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5f426f717a6c7451554c70336a673d3d2d313438363634333830352e313830623163326266653166366664653138343839333638373236332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
But just then, a dark figure appeared behind her—Nox, silent as a shadow. In one swift, precise motion, he plunged a stake he had just made from a piece of wood nearby into her lower back, twisting it. Rust Reaver's eyes went wide with shock, her grip on Sky Rider loosening just enough for him to suck in a desperate breath of air.
Gasping, Sky Rider took the opportunity, driving his elbow hard into one of the tendrils holding him, finally breaking free and staggering back.
Rust Reaver whipped around, her tendrils lashing out in a frenzy, but Nox was already gone, retreating back into the shadows. He'd made his mark, and she was left bleeding and furious.
"Cheap tricks!" Rust Reaver hissed, clutching her side as she stumbled, her armor corroding around the wound. "You'll pay for that."
Sky Rider, his breath still ragged, managed a smirk as he steadied himself, standing beside Vis. "Looks like you're not the only one who can play dirty," he said, his voice rough but defiant.
Vis raised her hand, her forcefield extending in a wide arc, trapping Rust Reaver within. "We're done here!"
Rust Reaver's face twisted in fury as she pounded against the forcefield, her tendrils crashing into the shimmering barrier, but it held firm. Enraged, she screamed, her voice echoing through the alleyway as Vis turned to the evac team.
"Move! Now!" she commanded, motioning the civilians to keep running.
Back with the strike team, Balor chuckled, his voice dripping with mocking arrogance as he wiped the blood from his cheek. "Come on, is that really all you've got? I thought N.E.M.E.S.I.S. had some real heavy hitters."
Titanstone didn't respond, only narrowing his gaze and letting a faint smirk creep onto his face. Balor mistook it for anger—a spark he thought he could stoke into a full-blown rage. Grinning, Balor swung again, aiming for Titanstone's face with a brutal hook. But Titanstone sidestepped, letting Balor's fist sail through the air, then answered with a punch to Balor's gut that sent a shockwave of pain rippling through him.
Before Balor could recover, Titanstone grabbed his head and smashed his face into his knee. Balor's nose broke with a sickening crunch, blood spurting across his face. He staggered, the mocking glint in his eyes dimming as he processed the force of the blow.
"Did you really think I'd fall for your petty taunts?" Titanstone's voice was calm, almost taunting in its own right. He was more collected than Balor realized, his brutality tempered by a cold calculation that made him all the more dangerous.
With a surge of strength, Titanstone swung a fist down on Balor's shoulder, the impact popping the joint out of its socket. Balor let out a choked snarl, his arm limp at his side as he stumbled back, trying to put distance between them. But Titanstone didn't give him a chance. He was on him instantly, wrapping an arm around Balor's torso and hoisting him up before slamming him onto the ground with a bone-shattering impact.
Stolen novel; please report.
The ground beneath them splintered, dust rising into the air as Titanstone drove his fists into Balor's face, each punch more merciless than the last. Balor's face was a mess of blood and bruises, his smirk long gone as he struggled to defend himself, his one good arm barely able to ward off the blows. Titanstone grabbed him by the throat, lifting him into the air like a ragdoll, squeezing hard enough that Balor's face turned red.
"Is this what you wanted?" Titanstone sneered, his grip tightening as he held Balor suspended. Balor's fingers clawed at Titanstone's arm, desperate for air, but the giant was unrelenting. "You wanted to be a hero? Wanted to play the martyr?" He slammed Balor back down onto the broken pavement, his skull bouncing against the concrete.
Balor coughed, spitting out blood as he tried to push himself up, only for Titanstone's boot to come crashing down on his chest, cracking ribs and leaving him gasping in agony. Balor's vision blurred, the pain searing through him as he stared up at the figure looming above him. He was outmatched. This wasn't just a brute. Titanstone was ruthless, cold, and frighteningly skilled, each attack calculated to break him down, piece by piece.
With one final, pitiless punch, Titanstone buried his fist in Balor's abdomen, the force of the blow causing blood to splatter across the pavement. Balor's vision dimmed, his body slumping as he teetered on the edge of unconsciousness.
image [https://cdn.midjourney.com/e855da71-91b5-4b32-a7bf-2742ec218b94/0_1.png]
Titanstone leaned in close, his voice a whisper against Balor's ear. "Remember this moment, Syndicate scum. Remember who broke you."
Ironjaw's eyes flared with a rare intensity as he watched Balor get brutalized by Titanstone. Without a second thought, he sprang forward, his heavy boots pounding against the cracked pavement as he charged straight at the hulking villain. Titanstone glanced up, his predatory grin barely faltering as Ironjaw closed in, fists clenched like iron hammers.
"Hands off my teammate, jackass" Ironjaw snarled, swinging his fist directly into Titanstone's chest with enough force to crack the air around them. The impact was like a cannon blast, causing Titanstone to stagger back, his grip on Balor loosening just enough for Balor to slip to the ground, gasping.
Titanstone straightened up, a faint look of surprise flashing across his face as he met Ironjaw's intense gaze. Ironjaw's knuckles gleamed where his cybernetic enhancements were visible, each strike carrying a density and power that even Titanstone couldn't ignore.
"Oh? someone with a bit of a backbone?!" Titanstone sneered, though his eyes were more cautious now.
Without waiting for a response, Ironjaw lunged again, delivering a brutal series of punches to Titanstone's torso and face, each blow resonating with bone-crushing intensity. The two traded blows in a savage back-and-forth, the pavement beneath them shattering with each thunderous hit. Ironjaw's fists pummeled Titanstone with relentless fury, forcing him to give ground for the first time.
But Titanstone was far from defeated. With a sudden, powerful swing, he caught Ironjaw off guard, a massive fist connecting with his jaw and sending him skidding across the pavement. Ironjaw barely had time to recover before Titanstone was upon him, lifting him by the collar and slamming him into the nearest wall. The impact left a crater, and Ironjaw's face twisted in pain as Titanstone's fist plowed into his ribs.
Ironjaw gritted his teeth, feeling the sharp stab of pain but refusing to back down. He brought his knee up, slamming it into Titanstone's gut with all his might, causing the behemoth to grunt and release his grip. Taking advantage of the momentary break, Ironjaw launched a powerful uppercut, connecting with Titanstone's jaw and sending him reeling.
"Gotta do better than that, big guy," Ironjaw growled, but he knew Titanstone was far from done.
While Ironjaw kept Titanstone occupied, Solaris finally joined the fray. His hands pulsed with crimson energy, and he aimed a concentrated blast directly at Titanstone's side, trying to force him off balance. The blast exploded against Titanstone's back, scorching his skin and leaving a smoldering burn mark. The giant let out a roar of frustration, turning his gaze to Solaris with a murderous glint in his eyes.
"Oh, I've got plenty for both of you," Titanstone sneered, cracking his knuckles as he squared off against both heroes.
Solaris shot another energy blast, but Titanstone sidestepped, deflecting it with his forearm and closing the distance between them. In one swift motion, he backhanded Solaris, sending him tumbling across the ground. Solaris groaned, barely managing to stop himself from rolling, his head spinning from the impact.
Ironjaw lunged forward, tackling Titanstone and driving him back, trying to keep him from finishing Solaris off. They grappled, each struggling for control, their muscles straining as they traded bone-crushing blows.
Titanstone grinned through the pain, clearly enjoying the challenge. "Finally, a couple of 'heroes' with some bite," he taunted, his voice a mix of amusement and malice. "But it won't save you."
With a brutal headbutt, he staggered Ironjaw and then brought his knee up into his gut, winding him. Before Ironjaw could recover, Titanstone slammed his fist into his face, sending him sprawling.
Solaris, seeing Ironjaw go down, forced himself to his feet and summoned as much energy as he could. His hands glowed bright red, and he focused on creating a powerful, concentrated blast. With a determined shout, he unleashed it, the searing energy beam hitting Titanstone square in the chest and driving him back.
"Back off!" Solaris shouted, putting everything he had into the blast.
The attack hit Titanstone hard, scorching through his outer skin and leaving a charred patch on his chest. But as the energy dissipated, Titanstone looked up, his face contorted with fury, though his body showed little sign of stopping.
He took a step forward, his eyes locked onto Solaris. "You think a little heat's gonna take me down?" With a terrifying snarl, he lunged toward Solaris, fists raised.
But Ironjaw was back on his feet in an instant, intercepting Titanstone with a tackle that sent both of them crashing to the ground. Titanstone struggled, but Ironjaw's grip was ironclad as he rained down punch after punch on his face, each one leaving a bloody mark.
For a moment, it looked like Ironjaw had the upper hand, his relentless onslaught starting to take a toll on Titanstone's endurance.
But with one last surge of strength, Titanstone grabbed Ironjaw's fists mid-punch, forcing them apart. With a roar, he pushed Ironjaw off him and rose to his feet, blood trickling from his mouth, his eyes blazing with a mixture of pain and anger.
"I'm just getting started," he growled, his hands clenched into fists as he squared off against both heroes, ready to finish what he'd started.
Ironjaw and Solaris froze for a moment, their eyes locked on the shard Titanstone pulled from his pocket. The gleaming piece of steel caught the light as he held it aloft, his massive hand gripping it tightly. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, Titanstone clenched his fist around the shard, crushing it into his palm.
A low rumble echoed through the air as his body began to transform.
The first sign was the dull metallic sheen spreading across his arm, like liquid steel seeping into his flesh. The transformation moved quickly, consuming his entire body. Within seconds, Titanstone was no longer just a massive man—he was a towering figure of solid steel, his form glinting in the fractured light of the battlefield. His muscles rippled beneath the metallic surface, his movement unnervingly fluid, as if the steel was merely a second skin.
He rolled his shoulders, the sound of grinding metal reverberating through the air. His voice came out deeper, heavier, with a resonant, metallic edge. "You're not dealing with flesh and bone anymore, boys. Let's see how you handle this."
Ironjaw narrowed his eyes, the realization of what they were up against dawning on him. "Great. Because the first version wasn't tough enough," he muttered, spitting blood onto the ground.
Solaris stepped back, his hands glowing with renewed energy, but even his confidence was shaken. "What the hell is he?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Titanstone smirked, his metallic features gleaming menacingly. He raised a steel fist and slammed it into the ground, creating a shockwave that cracked the pavement and sent debris flying. "I'm the last thing you'll see before YOU DIE!"
Without warning, he charged at them, his speed belying his massive frame. Ironjaw braced himself, stepping forward to meet the charge head-on. Their fists collided in a deafening clash of flesh against steel, the force of the impact sending a shockwave rippling through the air.
Ironjaw grunted, feeling the strain in his reinforced bones as Titanstone's steel body overpowered him. Each punch felt like being hit with a sledgehammer, and it was clear Titanstone wasn't holding back. Ironjaw retaliated, landing a powerful uppercut to Titanstone's jaw, but the metallic villain barely flinched.
"You're tough," Titanstone admitted, his voice cold and calculating. "But not tough enough."
He grabbed Ironjaw by the collar, lifting him off the ground with ease, and hurled him into a nearby vehicle. The car crumpled like tin beneath Ironjaw's weight, and he groaned as he struggled to push himself up.
Solaris took the opening to attack, firing a concentrated beam of energy at Titanstone's chest. The blast struck true, but the molten heat only seemed to glance off the steel surface, leaving it glowing faintly before fading.
Titanstone turned his head toward Solaris, his expression unreadable behind the metallic mask of his transformed face. "Let me show you real power."
He lunged toward Solaris, his steel arm swinging like a wrecking ball. Solaris barely dodged, the fist grazing his side and sending him spinning to the ground. Titanstone followed up with a downward punch, but Solaris rolled out of the way just in time, the ground where he'd been cracking under the force of the blow.
"And You..You're fast," Titanstone remarked, straightening. "But predictable."
Solaris fired another energy blast, aiming for Titanstone's legs, but the steel behemoth leapt into the air, landing with a thunderous crash that sent debris flying. The attack sent Solaris sprawling, coughing as he scrambled to his feet.
Ironjaw charged back into the fight, slamming into Titanstone from behind and wrapping his arms around the villain's neck in a chokehold. "You talk too much," Ironjaw growled, tightening his grip.
But Titanstone laughed, the sound reverberating like grinding metal. "And you're... YOU'RE TOO SOFT!"
With a powerful flex, Titanstone broke free, grabbing Ironjaw's arm and twisting it with a sickening crack. Ironjaw roared in pain but managed to headbutt Titanstone, the impact denting the steel slightly but doing little to stop him.
Solaris, seeing Ironjaw struggling, summoned all his energy into one final blast. His hands glowed white-hot, and he launched a massive beam of energy directly at Titanstone's back. The attack hit hard, the heat and force finally making Titanstone stumble forward, dropping Ironjaw in the process.
Titanstone turned, his steel body glowing faintly from the heat of the attack. His expression twisted into something between anger and amusement. "Not bad..." he admitted, his metallic voice dripping with malice. "But it's going to take more than that to stop me."
Solaris and Ironjaw exchanged a glance, both battered and bloodied. They were outmatched, and they knew it. But neither of them was ready to give up. Not yet.
"You ready for round two?" Ironjaw asked, flexing his injured arm despite the pain.
Solaris smirked, his hands already glowing again. "Let's make it count."
image [https://cdn.midjourney.com/bc843235-c588-41d9-adb6-a260e0097ec7/0_0.png]
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Thank you so much for checking out "Syndicate"! I hope you're enjoying the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Your thoughts and opinions mean a lot to me, so feel free to share your feedback. Whether it's a comment, critique, or just a quick note to say hi, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks again for your support and happy reading!
Whether it's a comment, critique, or just a quick note to say hi, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks again for your support and happy reading! [https://img.wattpad.com/95a8e2e8895d57cbd042d8f1e8a41120ecb30aaf/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f706e6355526734645967574e4b513d3d2d313438363634333736362e313830623666303064633730643966313539323734303134333532322e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]