《Symbiosis》Chapter 8 - Rematch
Advertisement
Standing at the far end of the bridge leading to the reactor chamber door, I cycle through the electromagnetic spectrum in the power armor’s helmet. I know the creature can hide itself in the visible spectrum, but what about when looking through the higher and lower frequencies like x-rays, gamma rays, radio waves?
I make a quick scan of the surroundings in each frequency and see nothing out of the ordinary. I imagine the creature could have blown the reactor chamber door off and left if it wanted to, but since the door is still attached and closed, it’s safe to assume it's still in there. Even so, I’m not about to fall for the same trick twice and let it get the drop on me.
I stalk up to the door in a low stance, weapon drawn, ready to attack or run if need be. At the door, I pull the two smoke bombs from my belt. As quick as a snake, I punch the door release button and toss one of the smoke bombs into the room without even looking. The second one I drop at my feet, then aim my weapon into the reactor room. The idea is that I'll be able to see it with the power armors visor through the smoke, but it won't be able to see me.
A few tense seconds pass without any visuals. Then with a roaring rumble, all the obscuring smoke from the bombs is sent rushing into the reactor room. I crouch low and press myself against the wall in response and look for any movement within the swirling smoke.
My anxious searching ends when a gust of force pushes me from behind and I'm sent sprawling into the reactor room. The suit's cybernetics helps me get my hands out in front of me. From a push-up position, I kick my legs out into a handstand, spin 180 degrees then land back on my feet. Behind me is the creature, looking decidedly smug. I check the suit's power reserves. Absorbing that one blast of force dropped my power supply by nearly half. I need to end this fast. The plan wasn’t supposed to go this way, but they say no plan survives contact with the enemy, and I’d be a fool to think this one would be any different.
Advertisement
I open fire, sending steel needles careening towards my target's injured tentacle faster than sound. Astonishingly, with a wave of one of its tentacles, the needles are frozen midair about a foot away from it before dropping to the ground with a pathetic clink.
Not liking this development at all, I pull out one of the stun grenades and hurl it at the creature like a major-league pitcher. Like the steel needles, it stops a foot away from the creature, still well within its blast range. With a loud pop and a flash of light the stun grenade detonates. I'm insulated from the effects within my armor, but the creature has no such protection.
I watch through my helmet as the creature shuts its eyes tight and coils it tentacles around itself, like it's trying to shield itself. I fire a few more rounds, but whatever is keeping the needles from reaching their target is still in effect. Then, with an invisible tug, my spike rifle is yanked from my hands and sent falling over the side of the bridge and down into the chasm. Just behind the creature, I can see the taser mine I planted earlier at the edge of the bridge. I was going to have it chase me into the mine, but I have no issue with being the one doing the chasing.
With a feral grin, I draw my vibro-knife and charge. The suit allows me to run at incredible speeds and with inhuman coordination. I cross the distance between us in the blink of an eye. A few feet away I squeeze the trigger and the knife hums to life. I lunge forward, intending to jam the blade right between its bulbous eyes and slice it in half.
But before I even wind my arm all the way back to strike, the creature begins to lower itself. To my confusion, its descent doesn't stop when it reaches the floor, but passes through it like there's nothing there. By the time my arm is swinging down, the top of its head is vanishing below me.
Advertisement
I skid along the floor to kill my momentum and spin around in concern, almost running into my own trap in the process. Just as I think it ran off, that damn throbbing in my head returns and pain explodes throughout my body. It's indescribable, like nothing I've felt before, every nerve is on fire.
I drop the knife and fall to the ground like a rock, desperately clawing at myself in panic. My vision fills with strobing red lights that nauseate and torture me. I can't even close my eyes to escape them, as the lights follow me behind my eyelids. I can barely think, the only coherent thought I can manage is how certain I am that I'm about to die. The seconds feel like days as I roll around, frantically trying to rip my armor off so I can tear at my own skin. My world constricts until all that’s left of my existence is agony. I can feel the fiery sensation exploring my body, igniting pain in places I didn't know could hurt. The light, the pain, please God, make it stop, make it all stop.
I see the creature rise back up from the floor, looking down at me. I see it happen, but I don't understand it, I don't care enough to try. All of my brain's capacity is taken up by processing all the pain. I need it to stop. Need it to stop. Need it to stop. Need it to stop. NEED IT TO STOP!
Then, all at once, it does, like waking from a nightmare. I lay there, basking in the glorious relief. The creature is moving closer to me and I couldn't care less. I watch it study me for a moment, then gracefully float past and make its way back to the reactor, vanishing from sight as it does. There was something in its eyes that I didn’t understand, couldn't have, even if I wanted to. It could've been pity, hatred or disgust and I'd have no way of telling the difference.
I'm still panting like a tired dog in relief, half out of my armor with scratch marks from my own fingernails etched all over my body. When I calm down enough, a foul smell assaults me. I vacantly look down and notice that during my hysteria, I vomited, pissed and shit myself without even noticing. That… must be a record of some kind. A hollow laugh escapes my lips. The pain is gone, and I'm alive, but why? It had me as good as dead. I was completely at its mercy in the end. Feeling confused, terrified and relieved, I collect myself and crawl the rest of the way out of the power armor. I rise to my feet and after sending a hateful and confused look over my shoulder, slowly walk back the way I came, head hung low in defeat.
Advertisement
Tower of Arnold: A Somnus Story
The most underrated character of Tower of Somnus finally gets his due: Hear Arnold Jacques's side of the events for the first time ever. Read a story about how the world's nicest guy tried to win over the world's hottest girl by buying a hundred thousand dollar video game from space.
8 60Rupegia
"You may now kiss the bride." But no kiss ever came. I'm ripped from my wedding and thrown into a medieval fantasy world with game-like elements. It may seem like a game, but that doesn't matter to me, because this is my reality. The pain, the hunger, the cold, the fear, it's all real to me. Alone, without knowing why I'm here, in a world where I know nothing and nobody, I decide to buy a Blood Slave to have someone I can trust. She brings me comfort and so much more. She helps me raise my head high again and bravely move forward. Together, we'll grow stronger. Together, we're unbreakable. But she won't be the only one by my side. We need more than just each other, for I know that my purpose in this world can't be accomplished with only her help. Monsters and dungeons plague the land, forcing civilization to protect themselves from the hordes with tall walls and fierce determination. Killing monsters is a daily need, but they aren't the only enemy here. I have a powerful "Gift" that allows me to change my "skill points" at will, but if others were to know about it, there would be many that would try to use me by any means possible. Step by step, moment by moment, day by day, we keep moving forward, always aiming to improve our strength. One day, we'll meet our Fate, and we'll be ready for it. Swords held high, shields tightly strapped to our arms, wings spread apart, spells at the tip of our tongues, minds focused like blades, and our hearts hardened like steel. We'll take on whatever comes our way! --------------------------------------------- New chapters Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8PM US East. At least 3k words each. Additional Tags: Psychological, Romance, Magic, Male Lead, Portal Fantasy/Isekai/Transmigration, Polygamy, Slaves Content Warning: gore, profanity, sexual content (most of it has been censored) (male/female, female/female, and human/non-human(not for the faint of heart)), traumatizing content What to expect: Slow story focused on the day-to-day life of a transmigrated man rather than on the plot. The plot exists but it very slowly becomes relevant. Also, slow character progress. It's a long journey, so don't expect a hero to grow in just a few chapters. Detailed environments and extensive world-building. Realistic and tactical combat instead of flashy. Protagonist with a cheat but far from overpowered. Lots of descriptive sex scenes (though most got censored here). It's treated as just another part of life instead of merely fan-service. A harem where the members actually enjoy living with each other. Occasional weird wording and grammar, English isn't my first language. Currently uploading on: Royal Road (most sexual content censored), Scribble Hub, Novel Updates Forum, Wattpad, Hentai Foundry, Webnovel, MoonQuill, Nobles, Archive of Our Own, and Literotica. This story is also on Scribble Hub, Novel Updates, Hentai Foundry, Webnovel, MoonQuill, Archive of Our Own, and Literotica.
8 143Gederah
The rise of a dark plague leaves the fate of mankind on thin ice. In this world filled with violence and uncertainty, soldiers and outlaws must come together and challenge the unknown if they are to stand a chance at taking their world back from a fate that makes death look like child's play. *Story also available on Tapas, Quotev, and Fictionpress
8 193Rotten Æther (LitRPG-lite)
A young elf, raised by necromancer wolves, seeks a place in the mercenary companies that hunt magical monsters to protect the people of the kingdom, while unravelling the mysteries behind the destruction of her old village. My village was burned to the ground by raiders and I'm forced to survive the wilds alone, overcoming the cold, hungry winters and fighting off the animals that are themselves looking for a meal. I rely on my necromancy, a magic my mother had me swear to never use, and learn other magics too, just to survive. What will I find returning to my village? What sort of world exists beyond it? I seek to refine my strength and find a new home in this strange and violent world. This time, I won't let my home burn. (LItRPG elements showing up throughout the story with in-world skillbooks, first dozen chapters Syr has no access to said skillbook)
8 1143-Way | erenxblackreaderxarmin
read the title :)Started: June 17, 2022
8 119Arachnids ; BW
"You forgetting anything?" Her husky voice rasped at me, pushing back the lump in her throat. My eyes began to water as I looked down to the ground, watching a small ant crawl by my shoe. One foot was inside the small apartment we had shared and the other, the other was planted firmly on the cement step outside. Her words echoed around in my head. Am I forgetting anything? I was forgetting you I wanted to reply. Home to me was always a person. And now.... I was homeless. [-]Black Widow x ReaderParker!Reader(GxG)
8 250