With a sudden quickness the bug man was upon them. Taking a swing at Liam’s head. Ducking to avoid the blow, Liam thrust his staff at the man’s stomach. One of the few parts still human. Sparking the electrified end to life as it flew forward.

The swipe from the bug man tore over Liam’s head. Missing by mere inches. Liam’s counter was better aimed, or luckier. Landing squarely in the creature’s midsection and sending it staggering backwards. The staff sent enough electricity into the thing to stun the average man. But the hybrid bug was only mildly irritated by the attack.

Straightening itself back up, the bug man looked at the staff. It’s eyes too far from human for Liam to tell what it was thinking. Liam wanted to take this momentary pause to move forward, pressing his opponent back, but until H-Bar was up or out of the bank, he had to protect his downed teammate. While he was debating his next move the creature attacked, trying a new approach this time. It hurtled forward arms outstretched. Wings beating fiercely, adding to its already impressive speed.

Liam steadied his footing before swinging his staff as hard as he could. Aiming for the thing’s head. The attack looking more akin to a baseball player going for a home run than a Hero fighting an incoming nightmare. The staff whistled towards the bug man’s face only for an arm to block it at the last second.

The force was enough to stagger the Cowl, but it didn’t drop. As it continued on its crash course.

With no time to dodge, the bug man slammed into Liam. The force throwing the two into a wall. The charge nearly knocked the wind out of Liam’s lungs, but he was able to hold on. His staff, clenched in his right hand, pinned under the creature’s weight.

Before the bug could move, Liam was in action. Unable to use his staff or right hand because they were pinned to the wall, Liam did the next best thing. Activating the torch in his left glove. Flames from it licked up and around the length of Liam’s hand. Scorching hot to those around him, but the glove’s insulation prevented Liam from feeling even a slight irritation.

Reaching out his hand the bug man drew back. The heat bringing sweat to its alien brow. The crash into the wall had tangled the two together and the bug man wasn’t able to extract himself fast enough. Liam grabbed the things wing before it could escape. With Liam’s hand burning into its flesh, the Cowl screamed in pain. All semblance of humanity gone from the beastial cry.

Thrashing about, the bug man broke loose and pulled away from Liam. But not before Liam’s burning hand cut through its wing. The detached thing fell to the ground with a thud as the Cowl stumbled back. Pain and anger contorted on its alien face.

With his opponent wounded and backing off, Liam took the chance to gauge the rest of the room. First checking on H-Bar and finding the Hero still on the ground. A water bottle, gained from who knows where, in his hand as he sprayed his wounded arm. The black smoke from earlier was gone, revealing raw flesh underneath.

Verifying H-Bar was still safe, Liam surveyed the rest of the room. It was pure chaos. Ullr and Little Knife were trading blows on one side of the room. With the Hero slowly backing the living weapon into a corner as he hurtled debris at her. Refusing to get in range of her sickening weapons.

Of everyone he’d seen Gladius was doing the best as she was in her own element, laughing as she beat back a blue-haired Cowl. Not only was she in control of her fight, but she looked to be having the time of her life while she did it.

Another Cowl danced around Gladius, but didn’t engage. Deciding it was best to be cautious around the aggressive Hero. Not that anyone would blame her.

Skip was in his own dance not too far away. Dipping and dodging between a group of Cowls’ outstretched weapons. Whenever they attacked and left an opening, Skip was there. Jumping behind them to strike at their weak points. The man was a master of his art and it was hauntingly beautiful watching him work.

Seeing each of their fights, Liam knew the Heroes were winning this skirmish. It was only a matter of time Liam thought. With that boost of confidence he turned his focus back to the bug man. But before he could engage the small Cowl from before drew his eye. She was sneaking around the edge of the fight. Moving towards the first Cowl, still pinned to the wall.

Unsure what the small Cowl was up to, Liam pulled out a foam grenade. Might as well prevent whatever it was, he thought. The grenade was about the size of a tennis ball, coated in black. When it went off, foam would spread from it. Whatever was caught in that foam would be stuck there as the foam hardened into a cement like substance in seconds. It was even strong enough to contain many strength based Supers.

A horrible roar, coming from his side, turned Liam around before he could throw the grenade. His first opponent was advancing again. Or at least he assumed it was the first Cowl. The bug man had changed. The obvious difference was the wings on his back. Or lack thereof. The first wing was at Liam’s feet, still smoldering from the cauterized wound. The second decorated the floor behind the bug man. How it got there Liam wasn’t sure, but he knew it couldn’t be good.

While the Cowl advanced other changes became apparent. Its human arms were gone. Instead sharp black appendages extended from its shoulders. Three gleaming black claws at the end. Almost like the exoskeleton of a bug. Red liquid dripped from these new limbs.

With the grenade still in hand Liam did the first thing that popped into his mind. Pulling the pin and tossing the foam grenade at the beast. It dodged the projectile, but Liam hadn’t been aiming for it, instead the grenade struck the ground under the monstrosity.

A loud pop sounded as the grenade went off. Foam spreading from its black exterior like a bubble bath. Coating the ground around it and the bug man’s legs in bubbles.

With the foam still spreading the bug man moved forward. Stepping through the white cloud as its legs were left coated in it. The Cowl’s long black arms raking at Liam.

Tucking into a defensive stance, Liam took the brunt of the attack. His staff darting from side to side as it stuck at midnight claws.

The blows between them continued, with neither side giving an inch. At the tenth attack, Liam realized just how evenly matched they were. It’d take more than brute strength to win this fight. The Cowl must’ve come to the same conclusion as he sped up his attacks. Sending them flying with reckless abandon. Liam blocked the first few, but eventually one snuck past his guard. Raking the side of his helmet, the blow sent Liam crashing to the ground.

With his head swimming, Liam looked up at the bug man. He should’ve finished it off when he cut off its wing. Now he was in a tight spot. Taking a blow like that was what he deserved for losing focus.

The bug man didn’t squander its opportunity. Wasting no time as it moved forward, looming over Liam. Its mandibles opening in celebration as it prepared a final attack on the downed Hero. Liam frantically crawled backwards, trying to gain space between the two.

Seeing the Hero making an escape the bug man gave chase. Only to find its feet wouldn’t move. The bubbles it was coated in had hardened. The bug squirmed and twisted yet regardless of what it did it couldn’t pull free. Heaving a sigh, Liam climbed back to his feet. The foam took precious seconds to harden. Not an issue in most cases, but when you were in a fight, the seconds matter oh so much.

The chattering of the Cowl’s mandibles grew louder as its struggles to escape grew desperate. The futile effort was almost pitiful to watch. Aiming a stun dart at the creature, Liam fired. Intent on bringing the Cowl down this time.

Seeing the dart coming the bug man deftly deflected it away with an obsidian black claw. Giving the task little attention. Though it did garner Liam a few additional snaps from the Cowl’s mandibles. It’s inability to move and attack the Hero boiling whatever it had for blood.

Well that didn’t work, Liam thought as he watched the remnants of the dart fall to the floor. At least he had some time to work on plan B with the Cowl trapped. If only he knew what the plan was.

While Liam was figuring out how to bring down the Cowl, it had already come up with a plan of its own. And escape was only a few seconds away.

A sickening wet sound drew Liam from his thoughts as the bug man’s legs began to churn. Something black wiggling just under the surface.

The rippling became faster as the bug man reared back. It arched its back and reached up to the ceiling. Grabbing hold it pulled itself up. There was a moment of stillness as the foam refused to give way then an awful tearing sound. Human flesh still sticking to the foam as the Cowl continued to rise. From the top of the stuck human legs long black exoskeletons appeared. Ripping themselves free from the human flesh.

Having pulled himself free of what little human flesh was left, bug man settled back onto the ground. His ‘shedding’ complete. The new legs glistening in bodily fluid. The remnants of the human ones still stuck in the hardened foam.

Well, that was unexpected, Liam thought as he prepared for the coming attack. Definitely not something you see every day. Unfortunately, that image would visit him in the nights to come.

With his opponent ready to resume the fight, Liam prepared as well. When two balls of white came from behind traveling past Liam’s head. Shattering with the sound of broken glass on the bug man’s chest and forcing the Cowl to reel backwards. Two charred wounds sizzled on the creature’s chest.

Taking the opening, Liam aimed his fist at the bug. A small hole opened on the top of his glove, sending a dart flying out. The dart was tiny, but fast. Closing the distance and sinking into the distracted Cowls still human torso. The last human part remaining. The fast acting tranquilizer pulsed into the Cowl and took effect. No sooner was the dart in then the bug man started to wobble. Struggling to stay upright. It took a few fruitless swings at the Heroes before collapsing to the floor, unable to move. One Cowl down, officially this time, a few more to go Liam thought smiling to himself at the recent victory.

Turning around, Liam spotted H-Bar climbing to his feet. Raw red skin visible through a hole in his suit. Damage from the earlier attack. However, H-Bar was up and moving again. A very good sign, all things considered.

“You good?” Liam asked.

“Never better,” H-Bar said as he tested out his shoulder. The wince a second later speaking to the contrary.

“Well I’m responsible for you today so no falling behind.”

“Wouldn’t think of leaving the new guy all alone,” H-Bar said with a chuckle. “But you should be more worried about yourself. That bug thing nearly took off your head.”

“I couldn’t even feel the blow,” Liam lied.

H-Bar eyed Liam’s head for a long moment before shaking his own head, “That wasn’t just a scratch. Look at your helmet when this is over.”

Unsure of what he meant, Liam turned to face the rest of the fight. When they were back at the base, he’d figure out what his teammate was going on about. Until then, he had Cowls to stop. The fight had progressed a little since he last looked. With Gladius still the focus of a few Cowls. Circling around they warrily attacked her. Trying to poke from a safe distance. It wasn’t long until she was fed up with the little game. Catching a Cowl unprepared, she darted forward and bashed her shield into his torso. The man crumpled to the ground. While Gladius circled around behind his crushed form, a deadly smile peeking through the split in her helmet.

As Liam was deciding how to help a red streak soared across the room. Striking Gladius in the back and sending her staggering. Bracing herself by digging her sword into the floor she was able to stay upright.

The attack had done more than just stagger his teammate. It’d left Gladius’ suit stained red with acid.

Turning Gladius stared daggers at her attacker. Black smoke billowing from her back like a cape in the breeze. As the red liquid tried to eat away through her armor. The attack that had nearly taken out H-Bar was little more than an inconvenience to Gladius.

Step by step she approached the new threat. Liam could almost imagine an electric glow around her eyes. Not the smartest thing to attack her like that. And she was about to impart that lesson on the poor Cowl.

Looking at the source of the attack Liam wasn’t surprised to see the first Cowl they had fought. But what did surprise him was the state of the man. Hadn’t Skip stabbed the man to the wall? Now he looked as good as new. No knife in his arm, just a hole in his sleeve and dust on his shirt.

Behind red acid man was the small frightened Cowl. The one who’d been sneaking around the room. She’d done something to help the first Cowl, Liam realized.

“They have a healer,” Ullr’s voice crackled in Liam’s ear. The team leader was using his radio instead of speaking out loud.

Healers were rare. Often being picked up by hospitals at a young age, or starting their own healthcare business. Many of the best had clients fly around the world to visit them. Which made it even stranger that the Broken Crest had managed to get one.

“Team one we need to collect that security guard. Break through the fight! The rest of us will handle the Cowls out here,” Ullr said. Liam would have to ask the team about the healer later. They had a job to do.

With an affirmative from Liam and H-Bar, the two dashed across the room. H-Bar creating a wall of light between them and the Cowls. Liam knew better than to question the order. If Ullr was going to beat the Cowls in this room, then that was what he’d do. It wasn’t Liam’s job to worry about it. All he had to do was focus on getting to the guard.

Making their way out of the room an occasional explosion would rock the shield of pure white light. But H-Bar focused his power on it and was able to shrug off the attacks. Once past the chaos of the entryway they barred the doors behind them.