Glaring white snow gave way to a molten field, streams of water flowed from the epicenter of a cavity in the earth. In the middle of it stood a tall metallic figure. Sparks rumbled from its fist, sending bolts everywhere. The heat it gave off melted the snow in the area, making the climate feel quite tropical. The massive thing twisted around as Grusha approached it, not even attempting to hide her presence from it. She knew that it was aware of her presence a while ago at this point.

Steam hissed and sparks exploded from the metal frame when it stepped a foot forward, the thing raised a finger at her. Signaling for her to cease her approach.

“Cold feet? I thought that we were gonna get this started without any of the useless chatter, you’re not one to waste my time Static.” Grusha said.

More hissing, Static clenched his fist. “Your time is inconsequential. Before you forfeit yourself, let us talk.”

Grusha’s quivered, gathering information for any surprise attack. Since she was closer, she sensed only his presence and that of no one else. Hesitatingly, she lowered her guard, showing signs of a temporary truce. Her quills reverted back to being silky long hair, skin softened back to its fair splendor.

Her enemy’s energy winded down, exposing his own vulnerability. Not that he had anything to lose.

“Another puppet?” She asked as she crawled towards it.

He pounded his chest proudly. “Yes. One especially designed for you Wildebeest, and I hope it will be something worthy of your attention.”

He addressed her by the demi designated index, marking his free natured humor at the moment. Still, she remained cautious, vigilant for anything of suspicion.

She rumbled. “You’re half the man I thought you to be, I wonder if you even have balls to show your true face. Instead, you offer me a skorto. You think you’re so mighty that you don’t need to show your true strength.”

“Now, now. No need to get overly emotional about it, I promise you that this would be sufficient enough to give you the thrill you seek. Besides, no need to put myself at risk. Most of you other demis demonstrate apt fortitude and durability, I was not fortunate to be blessed with that.”

“Then why even bother to mock me with this contraption?” She challenged.

“Why bother even confronting me? You knew I was trying to gather your attention by causing all of this destruction.” He gestured around him.

There was no need for her to observe her surroundings. “I was curious. There was no need for you to hunt me, unless you were after for my head.”

He laughed. “No, no. Nothing like that. Your expiration was sufficient enough to deal with the Foundation. The board need only me say the word, and they would accept that your death was conclusive.”

“Then why not do that to begin with and redesignate a new alias for me?”

“Opportunity. I just needed an excuse to look for your termination. Even though Cavalry functions autonomously, you are still the property of Foundation. So I didn't have the liberty to do as I pleased with you.”

The puzzle was coming together, Grusha’s powerful machine of a brain understood everything that had happened. He planned this from the beginning. There never was the intent to rescue her, from the very beginning he intended to use her. All of this time, she thought she had found purpose, but no, again she had been betrayed by those who she respected the most.

“Skorto!” She yelled angrily.

She pelted herself into the powered frame that stood above her. This blow caught him off guard, sending the powered suit across the field on his back. The quills extended far and long, vibrating viciously as she snarled at her former master.

“Grusha.” His voice chilled. A hint of annoyance.

She grinned. Satisfied that he was getting pissed off too.

Static pounded the ground. “I was going to be merciful and offer a swift and painless death. But, if this is how you plan to repay me after everything I’ve done for you…” He picked himself up. “I’ll make sure to enjoy every moment of pain you will endure till your dying breath.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Excitement buzzed between every one of her quills. So much bloodlust, she thought. Earth was kicked up as she darted straight at him, flipping around, she launched a flying kick at him. The ground beneath him fissured and exploded, metal rose from the earth and deflected Grusha’s blow. She was knocked far back, skidding to a halt.

Steam was enveloping around her, the force that deflected her attack was more than just deflection. There was an additional punch added into it, and she recognized whose it was. Guarding the metal heap of an excuse was her best rival, and now worst enemy.

A warrior lady in thick-clad armor stood between her and Static’s puppet, she stanced her posture with a warhammer behind her round lion-emblemed shield. The rims to all of her effects were adorned in gold, the tips of the winds on the ears of her helmet sparkled beneath the sun. Cape flapped and whipped from the gusts of winds formed. Beautiful cerulean blue eyes narrowed, but there was no hate in them. They sparkled from excitement.

“Lady Hammer.” Grusha said.

“Wildebeest.” She responded. “Grace me with your battlesense, let our legends be told in the passing generations to come.”

From the ground, another figure rose from within a bubble. Someone that she was not familiar with, but he must have been the one with the ability that hid them from her senses. He haughtily had his arms crossed, so certain of the barrier that guarded him. A slim figured man as he would be no different than snapping a twig if Grusha would get hands on him. The vest and suit getup he wore just made her more irritable having him in her sights, the jester among them without a doubt.

Static stepped forward. “The solution was quite simple, Grusha. To take down a beast, all I needed was to bring a few of my own.”

Grusha darted towards them again, covering the distance between them in a split-second. She plucked a quiver from her back mid-flight, aiming to impale Static straight on the chest. His puppet was just a machine being remote controlled by his ability, if she were to cause a disconnect of the mechanism that established the link between it and it’s user, that would lessen her enemy’s strength.

Lady Hammer dashed in between them two in the same timing, blocking with her shield and deflecting her back again. She clapped her warhammer against her shield, trying to taunt her.

“Eyes on me beast, this shall be our battle.” She said.

“Out of my way, Enyo!” Grusha growled.

Her eyes narrowed. “You shall address me as Hammer!” She shouted.

Lady Hammer dashed towards Grusha, swinging the warhammer in a wide arc. Grusha was forced to step back to avoid the hit, but the force from the air pressure that her swing made kicked up dust in the air. Lady Hammer ran up to her again again through the dirt smokescreen, swiping her hammer through the smog. Blow after blow was deflected off Grusha thick hide, doing little damage to her even though she was demonstrating formidable strength.

Normally, Grusha would not have much trouble in holding her own against Lady Hammer, but with one leg missing she was at a slight disadvantage against this worthy adversary. She knew what the tactic was, Static was a mid-range strategist. Lady Hammer was forward combat. That would mean that the third one had to be long ranged, but that still did not make clear what exactly was his ability. His ability somehow undermined her senses, and he was enveloped in a bubble that seemed to serve as some sort of a barrier. Not enough information to work with, but more than enough to work with.

Grusha took hold of the handle to the warhammer and flung it out of Hammer’s grasp far away, disabling at least one of her weapons from her. Agily twisting herself in between her opponents legs, she sprung up from behind and kicked her against a charred tree. The trunk snapped and toppled over from the force of Lady Hammer slicing through it like butter. Grusha was flying through the air from that kick, like a missile, she aimed for the third newcomer. Best to take out their support and backup forces before given the chance to enter the fray. She plucked another quill from her back and landed on his bubble, catching him by complete surprise. He fell onto his back from the shock of her sudden emergence from the smoke cloud on top of his barrier. The bubble was powerful enough to keep physical matter out at least. Let’s see how it fares against the added strength of a beast. She struck the bubble with her quill, but instead of penetrating, the crumpled apart.

Skorto!

She was not able to dodge in time, a beam of electricity struck her side. Her insides burned from the jolt charges that it left off, causing her arms to spasm from the discharge. Pummeling the earth to regain senses from the shock, she eyed Static stepping menacingly closer.

“This is where your natural course ends, my beast. The predatory food chain was always meant to be dethroned by another evolutionary underdog.” He said.

Static was not interested in chatter, he was going to finish his business with her once and for all. The armor briefly hummed loudly from a powerful energy buildup, and then shot an extended beam at her meant to deatomize her.

The energy surged between every one of her fibers, taking the full brunt of the force. Between the last two times she had taken these blows from Static, her subconscious had unbeknownst to her knowledge assimilated a new ability. Her eyes glowed blue, sparking from the charge buildups that were occurring in her. Her quills quivered and vibrated, a loud humming sound chirped from the vibrations her quills made.

Static ceased fire from his beam, observing what his quarry was doing. Static energy was glowing off her back, this time completely unfazed from the energy that should have killed any other known demi. Grusha’s veins glowed blue, and the humming grew louder. Suddenly one of her quills exploded, sending sparks and shrapnel everywhere.

“I see. So that was what happened that night with the Foundation.” Remarked Static. “You’re a fine beast indeed Wildebeest, your death will be most glorious.”

She huffed. A thick smog was formed from her breaths.

Smiling. “Skorto!”