The sounds of shouting and metal banging echo through the halls of the second floor growing louder as we get closer to our target. Grunts make up most of the sounds but screams of pain and threats of death pierce through every so often. If we were in a horror movie, this would be the part where everything gets quiet and the killer appears behind us but that isn’t the case her. The sounds of violence just get louder as we move forward. They grow loudest when we enter what looks like an old cafeteria and spot the commotion.
Bodies litter the floor as no less than a dozen people fight each other with no real teams. Guns shots, swords, fist, everything seems to be in play. We watch as a man is thrown from a catwalk and sent crashing down through a table below. The two that stand out the most are a woman with orange and black dreadlocks dressed in all black with a long trench coat that features pulsating lights. She moves through the crowd effortlessly countering attacks with quick finishing blows. The other is a massive man dressed similar to the swordsman Daamin fought. His mask seems to be a luchador mask with no visible holes for eyes, nose or mouth, but he doesn’t seem to be bothered. The two lock eyes as the number of fighters dwindle. The masked man headbutts a player before grabbing another by the neck and tossing them across the room as if they weighed nothing causing them to bounce off the wall and stop moving. He grips a woman by her hair while kicking a man in his chest before smashing her head into his knee. The woman dressed in black delivers two quick punches and a kick that sends a man to the ground motionless. The two finally lock eyes as the lone fighters left standing.
There’s a pause as the two survey the room. Both glance at our group but pay us no mind before stepping forward. The woman in black starts with some heavy hands but the huge man in the luchador mask seems unbothered. It’s a fight of skill against power. The man in the luchador mask retaliates with one bug punch that sends the woman to the ground. He follows up with a big kick to the ribs. She tosses a grenade that starts to spew smoke. He picks up the grenade without pause crushing it between his hands before smoke can cloud his view. She takes the opportunity to rush him and sweep the legs to drop him on his back. A quick flurry of punches rains down on his head causing him to finally protect himself. A quick headbutt sends breaks him free of her control and he’s back to his feet. She struggles to her knees but he doesn’t move forward, he allows her to stand. She shakes her head like a boxer trying to regain composure after being knocked down before spitting blood onto the ground. He makes the first move this time throwing heavy punches that she can only deflect. Two big haymakers to the body stumble her again, but she doesn’t quit. He follows up with two more to the head and a kick to the chest that drops her to her knees. She stands and quickly puts her arms up to defend against a flurry of haymakers that we just witness drop so many others. It’s breathtaking the way she fights; the continuous movement when she should have been defeated already. She manages to dodge a punch completely and return with three of her own to the head. A running kick sends the behemoth into a wall where she unleashes a relentless barrage of punches to the body and head. She slows for just a moment allowing him to place a knee into the center of her chest dropping her once again. This time he lifts her above his head and takes a running start before flinging her headfirst into the opposite wall.
“Do you wish to be the next to die,” the man asks without looking at us. When we don’t respond he turns to face us. “Do you not have the spirit to face me?”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“I’ll go,” Daamin steps up.
“No, you just fought. Give your health time to recover,” I equip Excalibur II. “I’ll take care of him.”
“I can match him with size and strength,” Daamin puts his hand over my gun.
“I’ll take you both,” the masked man spreads his arms wide.
“Guys,” Kai steps forward. “I’ve got this one.”
“Are you insane,” I ask.
“I’m a man, I don’t need to be rescued. I came here the same way you all did.”
“He’s going to kill you Kai.”
“When you live, your life will end sooner or later. The body will return to the earth. Grass and flowers will grow on top of it. The soul will nourish the hearts and it will love in the hearts of other people,” Kai summons a dozen of his micro drones.
Before we can stop him Kai rushes forward and launches into a kick, bouncing off the man’s chest, doing no damage. It isn’t as graceful but his drones are there to make sure he lands smoothly and rushes back in for two face shots and several to the gut, all getting no response but laughter. A massive backhand sends Kai crashing into one the cafeteria tables. He manages to move out of the way at the last second as the table is smashed by the masked man bringing down both hands. One of Kai’s drones flies in at high speed slamming into the masked man’s face. Kai manages to dodge several more punches as his drones provide cover and land their own blows. I spot most of Kai’s drones up near the ceiling in a circular formation flashing several odd symbols but nobody else seems to have spotted them. The man grabs Kai by the arm and tosses him into another table. Kai recovers quickly, using his drones to get to the balcony. One of his drones flies in for another hit only for the masked man to clap and smash it between his hands. The masked man begins trying to make his own way to the balcony, piling furniture and climbing up. He slowly backs Kain to a corner. Kai lands a series of punches that do no good. I’m worried about him now; a fist fight has never been his style. The only comfort I have in watching his HP dip is the group of drones now moving faster near the ceiling. The masked man wraps his hands arounds Kai’s throat and hangs him over the railing. I’ve seen enough and equip a sniper rifle, but Daamin blocks my view. I’m forced to watch as Kai is tossed to the ground where he bounces off the concrete floor. I make a move to intervene but Daamin again holds me back. Kai struggles to sit up as the masked man approaches for the finish blow. Kai only points to the sky as he sits on the ground defeated. The masked man pays no attention and continues towards Kai. His pointing grows more frantic until the man is in front him. Finally the masked man looks up only for a massive beam of blue light rushes over him sent down by the drones. I’m forced to look away as the light becomes too bright. When I can see again the masked man is there on the ground, burned and scarred, completely defeated.
I rush over to Kai and kneel next to him, “Are you okay? That was the coolest shit you ever did. Do you need me to help you stand,” I’ve got a hundred questions. “How did you do that?”
“I had my drones analyze the fight and make a plan,” Kai wraps an arm around my neck as I help him stand.
“That was really cool.”
“Go ahead and tell me one more time, just to stroke my ego,” Kai leans on me.
“It was amazing to watch you really let loose.”
“Yeah, sucks that I didn’t get a key.”
“Doesn’t matter, you were awesome.”
“Oh, you’re making me blush,” Kai forces a smile.
“Whatever, just don’t make me worry like that again.”
“Oh, you were worried about me?”
“Shut up before I let you fall.”
Kai gets serious, “please don’t let me go.”