Gary crouched as soon as he heard that familiar faint rumble. It was the man in silver armor. The tall man gazed at the surroundings and run to the small places in between the craters to the rooms and sprinted around the room where inside can be seen through the transparent window where broken technologies lay on the ground that the enemy scour.

From hiding in the computer panel lining in what seems to be a control room, Gary runs towards the room, his back is against it. He is examining if the enemy is still there. The man hung his sword onto its magnetic bracer on its back. Just opposite to Gary’s direction, he decided to go around and proceed to the automatic slide door, and somehow, he succeeded. He tried to open it but it stopped suddenly. The space is not enough for him to squeeze through. He opens the latch and tried to spark the wires.

The moment the power comes back, the entry bleep. The enemy heard it as it was loud enough to be noticed.

Gary swore, “Damn, fuck.”

He risks a glance back to the entry and said, “Power restarting in one minute.”

The heavy metallic bottoms pound harder than Gary’s heart. He dashed back around as he was now being chased by the enemy. He stood firm at the corner of the squared technology room. His handgun is held high and aimed at the enemy. His gun was triggered and it flashes in the dim-lighted area. The enemy didn’t faze and instead, he kicks the ground sprinting towards Gary. Gary rolled over to his left and reload while running away from the enemy and shot it again while walking backward.

“Forty-five seconds left. I can survive it. Yeah, I can.”

Gary took a deep breath. The tactic remains the same for the next twenty seconds, but even if the enemy took all his attacks, it didn’t show faltering movements, instead, he seems to be enjoying the hunt.

Gary runs around and stopped noticing the enemy is gone, but he was wrong. He already knew that his tactic won’t work for long as the enemy came crushing from the technology room. He caught Gary and grabbed his neck.

Ten seconds. He spoke in his thoughts.

He raised his palm to the enemy and struggle to chant the magic. ‘Blanã de aer.’

The enemy stumbled back as the ball of wind accumulated to Gary’s palm exploded right into his face. He glances quickly back to him, but Gary already rollover down between his legs.

“Look down,” Gary said. “I left you a parting gift.”

In three seconds, Gary sprints to the door. His body was thrown forward as the blast from the bomb sends a shockwave that destroyed the facility. He stood hastily and walk slowly across the connecting hallway. He’s still stunned by the explosion. He could only do is to exert great effort to move forward. Reaching the end, the door didn’t budge to open.

“The fuck?!” He shouted. He slams his fist to the screen begging the lifeless machine to open.

Just as when he thought that the blast had managed to slow the enemy down, the pile of stones shook and removed from the way. The man in silver armor pushes his way in. The structure shook for a moment, a speck of dust found its way in and the pile of rocks already block the way out. Still, he remained unscathed, only his armor had changed, some parts turn into crisp black. Gary is trapped here with the menacing man.

“I'm dead,” Gary said. “But I’m not going down alone.”

His eyes gleam in determination as he pulled out his gun. He limbered and crack his neck before dashing towards the enemy. Before the enemy’s fist reach Gary, he rolled sideward to the small spaces and positioned to his back. The bullets flashes as Gary pulled the trigger. The bullets mercilessly strike him, but all of it bounces back. The enemy struggles to turn back as his big stature had him stuck because his stature was nearly the same size as the width and height of the narrow way.

Just as the enemy turns around, Gary threw a flash bomb right in front of him. The canister explodes and the enemy again is stunned. Gary shot him relentlessly and before the enemy could regain his senses, Gary changed position and rolled forward passing between his legs.

The ammo is finally empty and wants to reload but the enemy with its heavy roar makes him rattled. Leaving him no choice, he threw another flash bomb, but the enemy already realized what it does. With its metallic gloves, he held it threw it to his back, its footsteps rumbled as it closer to Gary as he gazed away from the explosion.

He violently shook as he held the magazine to the gun well. As he rose his chin the enemy kicks him and crashes on the door. He coughed blood and finally realized the big gap in strength. His eyes close tight and smirk.

Gary stumbled back as the door opens. He was caught on by a muscular arm.

“Are you alright?”

Gary looked up and stand straight. His back is aching.

“Yeah,” Gary said. “You guys are late.”

Port gave a wry smile. His eyes trailed to the enemy.

“Let me guess, a tyrannical bastard that has been fucking you all the way here?”

Gary nods, “More like a stalker.” He corrected.

Gary looked back and noticed that it’s only seven of them.

“I thought you brought the cavalry?”

“I did,” Port said. “They’re behind that door – in the Main Laboratory.”

He pointed to the door, far away from them. In the middle is a large platform that has a lever and was attached to the metal that is gliding in the upward slope. The space is enough for the platform to fit in.

Port never leaves his sight of the enemy and prepared five bombs inside a single bag.

“Prepare the platform,” Port ordered one of his men. “Gary you should go first.”

“You sure?”

“Relax, I’m not going down that easy. Besides, you’re the one who’s injured here.”

Gary starts to walk along with one of his men and settles on the platform. Port was riled up because of the tension and gloomy aura emitted by the enemy. It walks slowly and firmly with no intention to drawback. His men instinctively raise their weapons and begin to shoot. The enemy raises his arm to cover his face as the bullets graze his armor. One of Port men presses the button after he threw the bag inside it.

They began to run away from the door and just as they settled to the platform it explodes, the blaze violently crept out like a flood sweeping through the area. The other men came out from the Main Laboratory. They’re not the only ones who came out from the hellhole. There was also a horde of monsters that followed them. One of them is injured, the other one is unconscious and was carried in back. The remaining thirteen soldiers managed to catch on the platform as they were covered by Port.

The platform rumbled faintly and began to elevate. There were twenty or more monsters managed to hang on the ledge. Port and his men didn’t waste any time and began to shoot. The monsters cannot be easily described just by mere words. Their creation is not based on nature, but rather on a horrific experiment. There were the she-like monsters that chase Gary as if there’s no end to their stamina, others were mutilated that has the head of a griffon, arms of a dwarf, and legs of a horse.

“Shoot, shoot, shoot!” Port shouted as he reloaded. Gary’s ears stung as the soldiers’ shouted.

“Why are you shouting?” Gary asked.

Port answered, “It’s not a shout.” He glances back to the enemy, evading the attack and stomping it, restricting its movements, and finally shot its head. “It’s a war cry.”

Gary joins them on the bout and held high his handgun. He charges, delivering a roundhouse kick to the enemy that cornered one of his allies and shot it before it could get up.

“Thanks.” The man said.

“No problem.” Gary rolled sideways and shot the enemy that leaps towards him. It loses its life as it falls to him. He shoved it aside and join Port.

“You have more ammo?!” Port asked, shouting as the rhythmic piercing bullets rang loudly.

Gary looked at his leather strap from his waist to his chest, “I have a lot of ammo.”

Port snickers, “Good,” He smirks. “Because this is going to be a bumpy ride”

Gary strode with his handgun aims at the enemy, carefully shooting without letting his bullets stray off to his comrades. He looked back and saw the she-like monster leap towards him. He stood froze for a moment.

Port pulled the trigger and the monster drove away from him. Port stood beside him. Another enemy came and attack them. Port stopped Gary the range of their guns might catch their comrades.

As the enemy leap, the two evade sideways. The mutt’s claws nearly graze Gary’s cheeks. The opportunity was pursuit. Port kicks the enemy followed by Gary’s thrust punch then having enough distance, the two began to shoot it and it howls drawing its last breath.

Before Gary realizes it, he joins their war cry.