Standing forty feet tall, and about fifty wide is a huge tortoise. Its shell a super massive chunk of stone and dirt, easily ten feet thick, its skin is covered in giant plates of armor covering everything but it’s joints. Its head was ten feet wide and six feet tall, and a giant beaked mouth that could swallow us whole. Coming from all around its shell were groupings of tentacles, each varying from a couple dozen feet long to seventy feet long or so, most ending in large bulbous formations like hammers. Lastly it had the three hive trees growing out of its back, swaying back and forth.

It was looking at us, with its six eyes, and it looked angry.

“Alright Mori, I’ll stand in front and try to block as much as I can. I need you to try and eliminate as many of those tentacles as you can so I’m not overwhelmed.” Devoy said, activating his shield and sword.

“Sounds good. I don’t think my lightning or fireball will do anything to this thing, too much rock and armor plating. I think my whip and ice might be the best counters.” I said back, I adjust my armor so I have ice on one hand and the whip on the other.

That’s all the time we had to talk; the giant tortoise lunges its dump truck sized head at Devoy.

He brings up his arm to block the attack, the energy immediately blinks out from the impact. The tortoise’ head bounces off though and leaves Devoy still standing.

A swarm of its tentacles come swirling in from each side. Devoy re-energized his shield and brought it back to bear. I swing in the whip on the left side, cutting through most of the tentacles before they can slam into Devoy’s shield.

The few on the left that make it through slap unto the shield, glancing off, the shield holds though. Devoy slashes out with his sword and counters the tentacles on the right, cutting through them like pool noodles.

A few of the boulder like tips fly off and clip Devoy on his side eliciting a grunt from him. The tortoise does not relent, it tries again to crush Devoy with its head, dropping down onto him like the world’s largest sledgehammer.

I rush in and unleashed a spray of ice into the things face. Ice crystals form around its face, it starts to quickly spread up its face and over it’s eyes. It’s not enough to stop the momentum though and it hits the shield anyway. The ice built over it’s head shatters outwards in a spray of freezing mist and ice chunks.

His shield collapses again, overloaded by the energy absorbed. Thankfully the energy does not transfer into him, the shield energy is projected slightly ahead of the emitter and isn’t physically connected. So, when it takes a hit, no energy is transferred into Devoy directly, otherwise I’m sure his arm would have broken already.

The Tortoise rears its head back in pain, my ice destroyed two of its eyes. So, that’s something done to it.

Another grouping of tentacles comes rushing in again from both sides, they seem to grow back really fast. Again, I focus on the left side where Devoy has less ability to swing his sword to deflect.

That is correct, even now I can see them in the tortoise spreading out like a nerve system.

It is a possibility; I don’t detect the normal biology present in the tortoise so your theory could be correct.

I believe so, this is the first of a kind Antithesis, but I can tell you that signals are being sent along the roots throughout the tortoise body. I would say there is a good chance you are correct.

We cut through the tentacles and Devoy only takes a few more glancing blows. Between his shield, sword, and dodging he is mitigating damage really well. So far, he has avoided taking any heavy hits.

I agree, they would probably try and block the attacks, and even if they did get past you need to get the roots. So, getting topside would be ideal.

Devoy changes tactics and runs in towards the tortoise legs, he swings his sword in a flurry of strikes against its legs. The sword does cut into the things leg, but the damage seems superficial. Thin slices crisscross its leg a few inches deep, but the tortoise hardly seems to notice. I don’t even think he penetrated past the thick rock-like armor plating it has.

The tortoise seems annoyed by it though, and kicks at Devoy with its huge foot. He brings up the shield and blocks the kick, the shield drops instantly. The foot carries through with its momentum and hits Devoy, sending him flying back ten feet into the dirt.

He rolls a few times kicking up a bloom of dust then springs back onto his feet swearing.

“Devoy!” I shouted. “Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine, just got my bell rung, thing hits like a freight train.” He said.

“Good, I’m working with Merlin on a plan, think you can hold it off for a just a few minutes?” I asked.

“I don’t know how long I can hold it, but I can try. So please hurry, whatever you're planning!” He said, charging back at the tortoise.

You have the necessary sensory capabilities to accurately teleport somewhere within your sensors range. We would need to unlock a catalog and then purchase one of three devices that would get the job done.

Class II Short range teleportation devices catalog for one thousand points and a token. Then you have two methods to instantly travel. One is a dimensional transfer emitter; it creates a small dimensional gate that links from one place to another and allows for you to step through it and appear at the other end instantly. The second is a teleporter that renders your form into pure energy, then transfers you at the speed of light to the new location, this method does require you to have line of sight and only traverses in a straight line. Third is the typical teleporter your sci-fi shows would use. It moves you bodily from one place to another instantly by swapping whatever is at your end destination with where you are. The only limitation is the amount of energy required is immense and it has a longer cooldown time, also it’s the most expensive in points.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Presently without buying into some power supply catalogs, and items, you could teleport every two minutes, and the device would cost seven thousand points.

The portal emitter can create portals instantly and you can travel through them as fast as you can enter them. The emitter costs three thousand points, and with your sensors can deploy anywhere within about three hundred feet.

Yes, you can make it horizontally or vertically, so you could fall into it if you wished, or any sort of configuration. It does not need a surface to be placed, and it is invisible, you will sense it with your augs in a tangible way but that’s it.

Kind of, if they are touching you and you configure the portal for it, yes. It will add a delay for your next portal of about 10 seconds. However, you cannot send someone or something through it without you.

Loot inbound!

Class II Short Range Teleportation Devices unlocked!

Points reduced to: 8,194

Tokens Reduced to : 0

New Purchase: Class I Short Range Dimensional Portal Emitter:

Points reduced to: 5,294

Like before, a small box drops at my feet, I hastily grabbed it up and ripped open the lid. Inside sat a purple gem about an inch across, and about half an inch thick.

Place on your hat, it will merge with your armor.

I quickly place it on my hat and let go.

Software installed successfully into your augs, you should be able to access its control menu now just like your drone swarm. Select a destination point using the controls, the spatial coordinates will be automatically saved and the portal will be opened for you. Then simply walk or move through it however you wish.

I check on Devoy quickly, he is running around the tortoise cutting through tentacles and avoiding attacks from its head. Instead of trying to tank everything directly, he is using his speed and agility to prevent it from getting its head aimed in his direction. Smart, goes to show he’s not just a meathead.

I focus inwards on my new device, and understanding floods my mind, it’s actually quite simple to use.

I reach through my sensory suite and select an empty space above the tortoise’s shell between the three hive trees. I trigger the portal there, and directly in front of me.

I don’t see anything there, but through my augs I get a sense of distorted reality directly before me. I take a quick breath and step through. Instantly, and without any sense of motion, I’m standing on the tortoise’s shell.

“Oh, fudge, that was strange” I said out loud to no one.

I don’t think the Tortoise notices me, being distracted by Devoy and his antics.

I would suggest using your acid, it should propagate down from the trees and into its roots fairly quickly.

With no delay, I swap the acid onto both hands and start liberally spraying it all over the biggest tree. After a few seconds, I switch to another tree, and then the last.

The acid eats into the bark of the tree and starts to replicate itself quickly. Chunks of tree slough off onto the shell releasing a putrid smell of rotting vegetables.

The tortoise shudders under my feet and starts flailing around like a rampaging bronco.

“Mori! Get off that thing! It’s going haywire!” Devoy shouted up to me.

I pray to the stars I used enough acid; I select a point behind Devoy and gate myself to him.

I appear instantly behind him, in time to see every tentacle on the tortoise crash into the spot I was just standing in a resounding KRABOOM!!

The tortoise swayed back and forth a bit like a drunk sailor, stumbling around crushing smaller trees and vegetation in its movements.

With a final act of defiance, it snaps out at us, but falls short, collapsing in a thunderous crash, as all billion tons of rock and shell fall to the ground.

“Well, whatever that was worked, good job Mori.” Devoy said, exhausted, he grabs something out of the air and injects it into himself.

You have obtained one thousand five hundred and forty points, and four tokens. For a total of nine thousand seven hundred and thirty-four points and four tokens.

Nice little payout of tokens, one for each tree and the tortoise.

“I’m glad it did, too, I think we may have had to call in some help if it did not.” I said.

“Your move to take out the roots was genius; I don’t think we could have gone toe-to-toe with it for much longer.” Devoy said, dusting himself off.

“The real trick of this fight will be preventing that giant turtle from becoming a new hive.” He said.

“I think if I drop more acid into the opening I made where the trees were, it should eat it from the inside out.” I said prepping up my acid sprayer. I portal onto its back again and look at my handiwork up close.

There are three gaping holes where the tree roots entered the shell, inside was a cavernous area filled with melting plant goop.

“Actually, I think we are good, the acid is still propagating. Its just slowed down a bit eating through the shell” I shout down to Devoy.

“Well, we can’t be too careful. Lets have the Foxes keep an eye on it.” He shouted back.

I agree, the acid should consume the Antithesis in a matter of a few hours without your help.

“Great, I think I’ve about had enough adventure for one day, I think. Lets check the town's bunker and call it a day.” I said to Devoy, while portalling back down.

“That is a neat trick, I may have to get something like that too.” He said appreciatively.

With a sly grin I grab his arm, pulling him into a portal. We exit where the dirt road meets the main road.

Devoy pops up behind me with his hand over his mouth, his face turned a worrying shade of pre-vomit. “Indeed, you should get it!” I said with a taunting laugh.

“Ugh, you’re evil you know.” He said, holding back heaves.

“Come on, the bunker is this way.” I said dragging him along behind me.

I verify its location on my map, it’s between 2nd and 3rd street and the corner of Montgomery in the middle of a dirt field. The entrance is a concrete pillbox with a huge steel door that leads underground.

It only takes a few minutes at a quick pace to get to it.

The entire way there I keep an eye out with my drones and sensor suite.

Thankfully I don’t detect anything of note.

We arrive at the bunker entrance to find the door sealed fast, and the door controls working perfectly. With a quick handshake with my hive net, I access the controls and open the door.

Cool dry air escapes from the entrance, the lights are still on and I don’t detect anything within range. I gather up a portion of the drone swarm and send it down into the bunker.

They zip down several flights of stairs to reach the bottom, where another door bars the way. I remote in using the drones and command the door to open as well.

The drones swarm in quietly and discover a bloodbath.

Blood, gore, and human chunks litter the entire area, I don’t see any traces of Antithesis. Whoever was in here did not fight back, they were slaughtered.

Stars above, why?

Rage fills my heart; I knew the Antithesis were evil murder machines but every time I see this it hurts my heart.

“The bunkers been ransacked.” I said to Devoy.

“They burrowed from below and dragged them all down into the caverns below.” I told him. I’m not going to cry this time, I’m really tired of being saddened by their atrocities, instead I’m choosing to get mad.

I am going to exterminate every single last one of them - or die trying.

The Antithesis have been messing with The Witch of the West… It’s time to give them The Bitch of the West.