"... u-uhm-! Uh-!" Verness Red loudly noises, looking forward and seeing an incoming truck. Her eyes wide as Talon isn't slowing down, isn't trying to dodge this truck, isn't- doing anything to prevent himself from crashing full speed into this massive car.
And in that moment, Red... instinctively shouts to the other Vernesses. "J-Jump! Jump, jump-!" Warning them to jump from Talon, quickly.
"Jump?!" Yellow exclaims.
"Jump!" Orange and Monochrome shout out to Yellow, as the other four Vernesses all collectively leap off of the motorcycle. Following Red's lead and instruction as they spring off of Talon and the bike, sending themselves flying away. Either leaping off the left or the right of the motorcycle, quickly getting onto the ground and running far ahead - copying Red's lead when she began running forward.
Yellow, reacting late, stares forward and only leaps off when Talon is only two seconds away from crashing. Springing straight into the air, making sure she remains lined up with Talon and the bike when they inevitably crash into the truck.
However, Talon doesn't just crash into the truck. With his beak aimed forward and the aura surrounding his body- the man completely slices through the truck.
An utterly clean, swift slice. One that has him flying straight forward through the windshield of the truck, and one that the innocent truck driver avoids just in time. The driver leaping out the driver side door on instinct, watching as this freak of nature completely cuts through the truck's seat and goes on to pierce through the cargo itself.
As Talon goes through the truck- the subsequent aura completely splits the truck apart, the bottom of it sent straight down into the ground while the top begins to ascend and fly into the air. Gusts of wind pushing and sending the roof of the truck flying into the air.
The motorcycle separated from Talon as this occurs, ending up launched upward into the air as the front part of the truck's roof lifts it high into the air with great force. Verness Yellow looks to see see the incoming cycle coming from below, quickly reacting to it by clinging to the cycle and sitting in its seat- left the only one driving it as the entire upper half of the truck rises into the air.
The roof is inclined downwards- and Yellow drives it forward and down. A combination of the motorcycle's engine and gravity add additional speed to its movement, reaching a speed that ends up completely raming the bike into Talon's back. Sending him straight downward, now flying at car level- flying straight into the engine compartment of an SUV, right behind the truck itself.
A massive, massive spark sounds out- causing the car to immediately explode and combust upon impact.
"A-AAAH-!" loudly and agonizingly shouts the driver mid-explosion-
... yet, quickly and swiftly pulled away from it. Orange managing to get to the driver in the nick of time, precisely pulling the door open and pulling the man out quickly.
Red's managed to predict something like this when Talon showed no fear in flying into a car. Anticipating Talon doing something to these cars, and instructing the other Vernesses to rush and sprint forward. However- nothing could have prepared them, immediately, for the knowledge of Talon just- incidentally slicing and exploding cars by flying into them...
... except for Orange, whose precise movements and unique creativity allowed her to imagine Talon just obliterating a car.
So, she's the first on the scene to pull the driver out of the car- all of the other Vernesses seeing her example and doing the same, even before they learn Talon can explode cars.
This first explosion, this first SUV that completely explodes upon impact- it sets off a chain of events where Talon continues to fly forward with Quade's body. Distracted momentarily by the fact he's flying into the cars, keeping his face forward- letting out a deranged squawk and screech as he indiscriminately charges forward, ready to cause utter carnage.
Keeping up with him, the other Vernesses quickly move to save as many lives as they could, Orange throwing the driver aside and running in the same direction as Talon's flying to anticipate the next possible act.
Blue took the driver's seat of the next car, a four door hatchback, driving it in reverse and crashing its back into the car behind it. Giving the other Vernesses the slightest of time to react- before jumping out towards the teenage boy she threw out of the car moments ago, and promptly running away with him in her arms- saving him as Talon flies through the car and sets off another explosion.
Red, with the help of Blue crashing the back of the car, was moving as fast as she could. Stuck to her back, bundled up in a ton of silk and string, an entire family of four currently in her grasp- and a literal baby in her arms. The crash sends this car backwards, and Red runs quickly away with the family- the explosion setting off behind her one second as she leaves, the bundle of silk shielding the family from the impact.
Finally, Monochrome- standing right on top of the fourth car, in an aggressive shouting match to tell the gruff and angry high school physical education teacher to jump out of the car. In the time that the Vernesses managed to save their respective cars' passengers, Monochrome couldn't convince the teacher to abandon his car in time- the explosions setting off right in front of the station wagon, Monochrome turning around to stare the explosions down.
"TCH-!" Monochrome loudly shouts, turning straight towards Talon and leaping forward. "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO-!"
Immediately, she's cut off as the P.E. teacher grabs her in the air- and promptly, promptly demonstrates why he has the job as he sprints away from the car- outrunning the explosion and dashing with the strength of an American star quarterback.
With these explosions- the traffic behind the station wagon became very, very aware of this. All of them starting to abandon their cars and run away on their own, panicking as this street is utterly riddled with massive vehicular explosions. A hectic sight, an utterly gruesome sight to behold as explosion after explosion is set off.
Verness Orange, after saving the first driver, runs ahead to support the people escaping the explosions- picking up any person who she comes across and throwing them away from the car. Not stopping for one moment, continuing to run ahead, trying to keep up with Talon's speed- only to be completely outpaced as Talon flies faster than her spider legs can run-
... eventually, Talon flies upward, curving away from the street and flying high in the sky. Tensely gritting his teeth as this carnage causes him to regain some sanity... his anger slightly dwindling down after unleashing hell upon the cars. Staring forward over Quade's shoulder, witnessing the street of flame he's caused.
Deciding it unnecessary to cause further damage, having fulfilled his purpose in doing so. All of the children, as well as that motorcycle, completely shaken off of his back during that catastrophic streak of explosions. Talon's eyes glance about as he flies farther and farther up, seeing the little children actively spread out across the street, all of them seemingly focused on saving the lives almost caught in a fiery carnage.
The current main threat to him, his organization and his pride, the one that has - time and time again - humiliated him and brought his anger to public costumed attention. it was never the shapeshifter... it's the spider girl. Spider girls, plural.
Talon's hatred towards them has not changed. Those pests are nothing but thorns in his side, mere children managing to keep up with him... their mere existences being the sole reason he takes his form to begin with. His aura surging from his clothes, manifested from pure wild anger.
This is a tactical retreat, a temporary strategy to gain distance between him and the spider girls, to make sure he can kill and execute the shapeshifter in peace. No further distraction- flying higher and higher, keeping Quade in his hands and isolating him completely.
Talon's plan is as follows: after he kills Quade, he intends to take out the spider girls one by one. He will snap the neck of the gray one, bury and suffocate the orange one in a cement mixer, completely crush the blue one under the weight of a car, and- and...
"..."
... after the red one, that's... only four of them. There's only four of them in sight.
As Talon's eyes glance to the distant red spider child, pondering on how he'll kill this one, he realizes that he only counted four. There were five of them, the yellow one completely missing. Completely out of sight, located somewhere.
Talon knows she was on the motorcycle, but- she isn't burning to a crisp near the motorcycle. Her fate is currently and completely unknown, and that... is deeply, deeply unsettling. For his own safety, Talon's eyes survey the area, preparing for any unexpected attack the yellow child may unexpectedly commit- searching for any sign or trace of her, preparing for whatever incessant thing this child would do.
Little does he know, however, Yellow is closer than he realizes.
The girl is hiding right in between Quade and Talon's bodies.
Having remained close on Talon's back during that whole flight, with her spider legs keeping her securely attached to the gangster, she managed to discreetly move herself right in between Quade and Talon's bodies as he flew upward. Her back pressed against Quade's body, managing to evade Talon's attention the entire time while he looked everywhere else, quietly preparing her escape, looking for the right moment.
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It was when Talon began looking for her, that moment came. A moment when her hands lunge upward, moving in between Talon's tight grasp on Quade. A pair of small hands easily and effortlessly slipping through the slightest of space between Talon's hands and Quade's shoulders, fingers spreading out and slipping like butter. Yellow managing to completely free Quade from the maniac.
An ability not unlike a spider managing to squeeze between the tightest of spaces... one that Yellow makes great use of, seizing the perfect opportunity to do this, concentrating her spider legs to kick off of Talon and send both her and Quade falling away from him. Falling quickly away from the deranged bird gangster, freefalling and descending downwards.
Yellow looks over her shoulder as the two fall, a look of concern on her face. Seeing Quade's utterly abysmal condition as he's unconscious- yet, luckily, he still feels alive. He still has a pulse, he's managing to still breathe even with the blood clogging his throat...
... and he's subtly, subtly groaning, recovering bit by bit. The Vernesses managing to buy him enough time during that whole escape to recover.
"M-Mr. McMurphy-" Yellow speaks, seeking to check if he's regaining consciousness. A look of relief on her face as they fall away.
Talon... glares down at this, humiliated once again by this pathetic action. Taking a moment to hold his arms forward, before then throws them back- launching himself down, darting straight at Yellow and Quade. A massive burst of wind shooting out from behind him, his body completely blurring at high speed as he closes the distance between him and them.
"Y-YELLOW! DODGE-!" Monochrome loudly shouts at the top of her lungs, having a good view of this and warning Yellow quickly.
Yellow's eyes look forward- seeing Talon coming closer and closer. Seeing his face aimed forward, preparing to slice through both of them. Ready to do to them what he's done to the truck and cars his beak split in half.
Reacting quickly- Yellow pulls herself backwards, taking quick aim with her spider legs against Quade. Tensely, ever so tensely pushing away from Quade, putting all of her might and weight into this action- both of them split apart in a way that causes Talon's attack to almost miss.
Almost.
Talon, as he darted forward, manages to fly straight past Yellow's spider legs, his vicious slice cutting the bottom halves of the legs off. Slicing those legs off, rendering them completely unusable for the time being.
Yellow lets out a tense, pained cry at this, eyes shutting closed and clenching her teeth tightly as she fallls. As one of the more mature Vernesses, she manages to endure this agonizing pain... before starting to loudly cry and wail as this completely, completely sends an incredible, unbearable pain throughout her body. One that is just too much for a single child to bear-
And unfortunately for her, Talon doesn't stop at just that. After speeding downward, he turns his entire body in the air and rushes upward, closing in on Yellow. Making his hand grab the back of Yellow's head- holding the child and, with all of his might, throws her straight into a building. Launching her entire body through a 10 story office building's wall and windows, completely incapacitating her.
It would be an agonizing fate for the child if she manages to survive that...
... but, as he registers this action and hears a voice call out, he realizes that it isn't out of the realm of possibility.
"Y-Yellow-!" Red shouts, running quickly to the office building- leaving the falling Quade in the hands of Orange and Blue, the two girls sprinting to catch the man. Scurrying towards the building Yellow was thrown through, approaching the wall with a sprint.
Talon swiftly looks down at Red, a glare in his eyes.
The red one is the one that caused the grey one to escape my grasp...
... and as he glares at Red, his immediate look is noticed and caught by Monochrome. Realizing that Talon probably, probably caught on to Red in particular. How Red saved her by slapping her hand, how Red could save Yellow in the same way. Monochrome is the only one left to notice Talon starting to target Red.
"... s-shoot!" Monochrome loudly shouts, sprinting quickly towards Verness Red. Jumping onto the hood of a minivan and leaping from car to car, hurrying to catch up to Red before Talon does.
Talon, seeing Monochrome sprint after Red- charges downward. Flying and darting straight towards Red, his hand extended outward... preparing and charging up a claw attack. Realizing, in essence...
... the death of the red one will stop the rest.
Monochrome's eyes stare at Talon, seeing him fly close- screaming and shouting loudly. "R-RED!!!!! RED, WATCH OUT-!"
Verness Red quickly looks to Monochrome, hearing this sudden shout- and catching an immediate glimpse of Talon in the corner of her eye. Her eyes widened at this sight, fidgeting quickly as her hands cover her mouth, turning towards Talon with fidgeting and shaking hands.
Talon continues to fly forward, seeing this utterly terrified creature before him, the aura around his fingers aggressively surging. Immersed completely in a black aura- the tips of his fingers even sparkling a white bathed in midnight blue. The shine and gleam in his eyes lighting up as his attack winds up...
... before Red throws her hands forward. A large built-up ball of silk shooting out, forcibly pulled away from her mouth and launching forward.
The silk ball unfolds and unravels as it propels forward, expanding out into a net of silk. Spreading outward, spreading around Talon, about to trap and wrap around the flying man.
Talon tensely stares at this, halting his flight. Seeing a first-hand account of this back at the warehouse, and seeing the bundle of it just a few moments ago.
Already on guard... as he reacts to this sight almost instantaneously. Instead of attacking Red directly- he swipes his fingernails quickly to cut the web's thread, the aura forming five projectile slices in the air. The build-up of the energy completely eradicating the silk, burning its entirety away to ash and dust.
Then, he forces his hand forward, the palm of his hand thrown into the back of these manifested slices- these dark and emanating cuts. Upon this motion, all of them launch straight towards Verness Red, sent forward with utter murderous malice.
Red's eyes go completely wide at this. Shaking in fear, unable to move after feeling a morbid chill go down her spine. Her web net failing to work whatsoever, failing to stop Talon- failing to muster the energy to dash and run from this attack. In her mind, she aimlessly stutters and shakes her words, unable to tell her legs to move- unable to do anything as the attack comes closer and closer.
At best, Red only stalled Talon for two seconds-
... but with these additional two seconds- Monochrome reaches Red first before the attack does. The gray girl quickly tackles into Red, throwing herself against the red girl- both of them tumbling along the ground and out of the sharp scratches' path, avoiding the attack's impact against the street.
Both Monochrome and Red witness this impact- seeing massive scratches digging and prying apart the ground. Talon's attack carves a deep gash into the street and sidewalk itself, as if a giant dinosaur bird swiped its claw into mere dirt rather than stone.
Following this... Talon... clenches his hand into a fist, eye continuing to twitch as he looks forward at the girls. Brought back to utter insanity as his attack misses... as he violently, violently glares at the two. Flying straight at them, hand reached out to grab one of them by the throats.
"A-Aaah-?!" Red noises in utter panic, riddled with panic, too focused on the scratch attack to see Talon incoming. Her mind frantically struggling to keep up.
"G-Go!" Monochrome loudly shouts, taking initiative for her- throwing and launching Red up the building wall, sending her upward. Launching her closer to Yellow, sending her out of Talon's path- sacrificing herself for Red. "Run! Run for your life, Red, don't-!"
Promptly being cut off as Talon grabs her neck.
Red is thrown up to the 3rd floor- then gets her head back into the fight. Angling herself quickly to use her spider legs, scurrying and climbing up the wall- heading to the higher floor that Yellow was thrown into. A tense look on her face as she flees and runs from Talon, staring up with utter panic at the hole through the ninth floor window. "Y-Yellow! Yellow, a-are you there?!"
As he holds Monochrome's neck, Talon tensely- tensely looks up and down between Monochrome and Red, his eye twitching in mild annoyance... his anger growing worse and worse. As his hand finds itself in a familiar situation- choking and strangling the incompetent gray one, reinforcing his knowledge and repeating something.
"... c... C... CCCC..."
It will do him no good to kill this one... he needs to go for the red one.
"CAAAAAAAAAAAW!"
He promptly throws Monochrome aside, throwing her body straight into a distant car- before kicking off of the ground. Practically discarding Monochrome from his focus for the time being, concentrating all his efforts on chasing Red now.
"A-Aaah! Monochrome-!" Verness Red loudly calls out to Monochrome, having looked back briefly when hearing Talon screech out- but... quickly looks back up. She needed to keep focus, she needed to get her head back into order. She just needs to run up. Monochrome's fine, she'll be fine- and, she's not- Monochrome's not- not- she's not-
Red found herself unable to even think that word, truthfully, as she sprints up the wall. The best she thinks: Monochrome's not, Yellow's not, and- and Quade's not, either...
... calling out for Yellow as loudly as she can, sprinting as fast as she can, watching as Talon continues his relentless chase to 'not-not' her- crying out for Yellow.
However, as Red continues to run- an attack is launched at her. Two pellets fired out from Talon's manifested beak, piercing holes straight into the palms of her hands.
Red's eyes completely widen- letting out aimless cries of panic as her hands completely disintegrate. Tears trailing from her eyes in response to this pain, shaking.
Talon has an utterly cocky grin as he flies after, seemingly having removed the child's method of saving and recovering the other spider children.
... but, immediately following this, Yellow throws herself out the window, falling down closely to Red. Trembling and aching with her spider legs, specifically, sliced in half- but mustering enough energy to jump out the window, falling down to Red. Both children promptly collide into each other, Yellow's body completely, completely dematerializing as she phases right into Red.
Talon's eyes widen at this, watching the girl copy the same move that she did at the warehouse... and finding it infuriating to see the child's hands immediately regrowing back. The trigger isn't just a high-five, it's any sort of collision...
... and Red turns backwards, facing Talon and having her legs running backwards. Nervously staring at the man as she crawls higher and higher up the building. Looking to her hands, showing their immediately instantaneous recovery- completely healed and back in working order.
"... gh... GHHH...!" Talon lividly seethes at Red's unintentional taunt... before promptly flying forward. Completely and utterly relentless in his pursuit of Red, focusing all of his rage on this child.
Verness Red looks away from her hands, seeing Talon flying forward- flying dangerously, dangerously close to the building wall. Watching as his mere proximity to the building begins to shatter its windows, rip apart the bricks of its walls, splitting in between the wall itself.
Her eyes completely widen at this, tensely shaking- before taking a calm... calm breath... channeling a gold aura over her hands, staring down at Talon. As Orange and Blue were, presumably, escorting Quade to safety... and as Monochrome remains at the ground, Red focuses on the fact that... it's just her.
Her, against a really powerful and crazy bird man.
"..."
Red... promptly...
... enters the building through the window that Yellow broke through. Fleeing. Strategically fleeing, completely- completely- ABSOLUTELY COMPLETELY outmatched and outpowered against Talon. Nimbly managing to avoid Talon's charging attack in a way that he doesn't even register at first.
Talon's body flies past this hole, his eyes widening as he completely misses Red- flying past the 9th floor's broken wall, ripping past the 10th floor, and passing the building's roof entirely.
"..."
Flying back down and peeking through the 9th floor, looking around the building- no spider girl in sight. An empty, abandoned office floor, all its workers having fled.
"........ CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!!!!!!!!!"