Not this shit again-

This time around however, I had zero time to brace myself for the flashbang transition into a lifeless object, as my frame of reference was shoved into the drawing and warbled sounds and huge colourful pillars started to slam into my face.

Well, not exactly my actual fucking face and those are clearly..crayons and-

"Ah-baja. Blaablajublib." An angelic, pure, harmonious noise came emanating from behind the pillars. A handsome little face. The sight of this little creature made me want to weep with happiness, yet I had no tear ducts, but I would recognise this little face no matter what.

It was Lone.

M-m-my boy! My little boy!! Oh how much you've grown!! I-

"Tee-hee, oh no Lone! You're drooling over Cloudy McCloud! Use the yellow over there silly!" A melodious little girls voice giggled.

Lyra?! Lyra! Oh you kind, wonderful little thing! You're teaching him how to draw!-

A thudding boom shook the earth.

"LYRA! COME HERE SWEETHEART! BRING LONE! WE NEED TO MOVE RIGHT NOW!" If I could feel my actual body, my heart would have been slamming against my ribcage as another voice that I'd never forget anxiously called out.

MARRI! MARRI! I'M HERE! HONEY! I MADE IT BACK!

Lyra frowned as she looked up but didn't hesitate as she proceeded to hop up graciously, pick up Lone, and then dart off out of view just as crashing and the sounds of shouting, screeching and more booms rattled the walls.

Nono! Wait! Where are you going??! What's happening!!! WHAT'S HAPPENING!

It was just a memory. All I could do was exist. Lifeless. Static. Observing. Minutely aware of the subtle changes to my state, written by outside forces.

"HE'S BAC##"

Steve?

More crashing and booming, the house shook violently and a blast of air pushed me into the air spinning.

"MOVE! DA##### THE ARM### WON'T TAKE ANOTHER ####"

Steve! Yes! You're there! I knew you'd never leave them behind!

"ARGH! YOU LITTLE FLACID BITCH! EAT MY ASSHOLE!" A familiar ferocious woman's voice cried out as a red light flared up. There was a loud buzzing whine until a thunderous pressure wave boomed out and an explosion that triggered a chorus of eldritch screams.

"GODDAMIT KELLY! CARE###! SAVE YOUR E##### FOR THE BLOODY R###!" Sylvie's deep husky voice bellowed out over the noise and even though I was unfathomably traumatised by this experience, I couldn't help but beg that it would last a little bit longer, just until somebody would give me a clue as to where-

"The other safe zone is under attack! They #### h####" A distant voice cried out but it was drowned out by the ambient chaos.

What safe zone??!

"BUGGER. TELL THEM WE HAVE NO CHOICE! WE'RE ### COMING ## #####" Sylvie's response was also drowned out.

WHERE SYLVIE?! WHERE-

An almighty crash filled the world as I settled down on the floor. My final resting place.

"FRONT DOORS SMASHED! THEY'VE ACTIVATED THE TRAP #####! WE'RE GUNA' NEED TO TAKE A SHORTCUT! HUDDLE ROUND FOLKS!" Steve's voice grew louder and louder and I heard dozens of feet scrambling around me, along with fearful voices and crying. On the very edges of my vision I could see outlines of people, but their faces were shrouded in shadows; green and gold lights raced around but never quite revealed their identities.

"HOLD ONTO EACH OTHER ### DO NOT LET GO ## MATTER WHAT!"

A brown neon glow burst from one of the figures, showing it was Steve. I watched and listened with my non existent bated breath, knowing this recording or memory was coming to an end and yet I was powerless to do anything. I was just a piece of fucking paper.

Please! A single name! A place! Anything!

"SHIT! WAIT WAIT! ### MAP! THE MAP!"

A map!??

"TOO LATE! FORGET ##### THE FUCKING MAP!"

No Steve! It's never too damned late to talk about the bloody map!-

"BUT HOW WILL ## KNOW HOW TO GET TO-"

There was a landslide of noise as the figures were swallowed up by a tsunami of liquid concrete and then they were gone.

FUCK!..

It was dark as the sounds of fighting died down until only the sounds of approaching footsteps tapping on the hardwood floor remained. Each step boiled my blood a degree more, but I couldn't even grit my teeth or clench my fists in this state; all I could do was mentally burn.

Oh I better fucking get a good look.

The steps grew louder and louder.

Rasping breaths, clacks and clicks joined in with the rhythmic taps.

Come on you shit stain.

The steps turned into softer thuds. There was a soft.. sobbing?

"Mmmf, mmmf, hmmm..silly pissants."

A face briefly appeared and I realised the sobbing was them giggling.

"Stupid, stupid pissants. They're trying to escape to the other scum. And they think they can hide my little treasures..oh those little treasures WILL be mine!..Mmmf mmmf, PAHAH! THEY CAN'T HIDE. NOT FROM ME."

Hey fucker! Whoever you are! I'm going to obliterate you, you piece of sh-

Another thing thudded into view and grumbled. And it shut my noise right up.

Corrupted??!....Ffffffffuck.

"NO. No. We'll return back to the town and wait for the group to bring them back-"

Is he some kind of fucking sentient one?

Another one walked over. Then Several more. And then a dozen.

This is bad. Really fucking bad-

Another one grumbled and upset the talkative one.

"What?? Ugh! Those filthy sub humans..I bet that whore Sylvie and her pride of sluts are to blame..Ugh! For fucks sakes, okay, fine! Call them back and we'll head to that shithole tomorrow..But I swear I'm going to bugger them bloody when I get my hands on them. Especially that bitch with that little cunt baby.. honestly if those military grunts hadn't shown up then I'd have had my way already!.."

Shitstain I'm going to fucking crush that mouth of yours!-

The world came crashing back and I gasped in a lungful of air as my brain caught up with being in a body again.

"Godu?! Shit man! What happened to you?" Tanner was standing over me with his hands on his head. Siya breathed out a trill of relief.

Several tears fell as I gulped in lungfuls of air, but my blood was boiling.

Lone..Marri..I saw you..just hold on. I'm coming as fast as I can.

We had not a single moment to waste.

"Some-fucker. Attacked them-all. He's got-corrupted. Following him." I steadied myself and looked around. Map. Any maps anywhere.

#Team#

Siya: That is extremely troubling..

"What? Hold on! What are you talking about and what are you looking for dude? Who's this mother fucker that fucking attacked them?" Tanner's face clouded over.

I caught my breath and explained; they joined in the search without delay and after what felt like ages we finally found a map..

But it was burnt and ineligible.

"FUUUUCK!!" I was spilling over with anger so I slammed a fist down on the sofa and it splintered into pieces.

"OKAY! Okay. Fuck it! You said this shitbag mentioned town? Well them let's just fucking go there now and see what we find right?" Tanner was trying to be optimistic but he hadn't seen the corrupted. How horrifying they were, equipped with ungodly strength. "Right Godu?!-"

"Tanner! It's not that fucking simple! These corrupted are absolute fucking monsters! Even jf they haven't already slaughtered this other place, we can't fight them on our own!" I covered my face with my hands. A thousand thoughts, worries and hopes bleeding into my heart.

Tanner went pale and silent.

It was a miracle that they hadn't flattened the place as it was. Maybe..they aren't as strong?..

There was little other choice if Marri and Lone was in danger, but..

I looked up at Siya and Tanner. Siya looked worried but ready to go at a moment's notice, and Tanner..he looked like he was about to break down. We could all die very easily.

Both were waiting for me to speak.

"There's..Let's just go. Tanner if we go I can't bring you with me, yes I know!-" I held up my hand to stop him "I know it's shit but there's a very good chance you'll get fucking pasted by a glancing blow..hell I might get smeared onto the pavement.." I chuckled grimly and waited as he reasoned it out internally.

"Aghh! Okay fine!..But I'm going to stick around here and grind up these shit eaters that are stalking around until you get back. I'll ping you a mindsapp message if I need help." He sniffed and started to get suited up in the few bits he had scavenged. I gave Siya a glance and she nodded.

#Siya#: This area should be okay for him now as long as nothing stronger wanders in. But should we really split up?

"I can fucking hear the static when you send private messages guys. Ugh. I'll be fine, I got some new shit in my 'galaxy of gadgets'. Go and find where our families are G. And make sure you make the fucker pay." Tanner sounded pissed, but before I could say anything, he left the room with his fighting kit.

The whole situation should have felt surreal. Our families missing, monsters hunting them, Tanner intentionally going out on his own to hunt monsters, with myself about to dive headfirst into undoubtedly more horror.

But I would be lying if a large part of me couldn't wait to unleash my growing powers on the ugly soul that dared to threaten my wife and child..

..

Before I left I placed a gateway point outside Steve's house in case Tanner needed to get himself out; the other side I could place next to me whenever he gave the word.

Siya picked me up and we shot off towards the town, passing over ruins, overgrown flora and a few roaming monsters; mostly Grinners, but I saw a grubdog and a swarm of skull weavers attacking a tree full of Scrats-the quad jawed squirrels.

We made it to the city within minutes and decided to check the station first.

#Siya# Everything is much closer together here..it's very convenient.

#Godu# Yeh..

It was a graveyard. There were train carriages that most definitely had been used as long term shelters but we're now shredded and crushed. And when looking briefly in the main entrance and tunnel, there were dozens of piles of bones picked clean and I caught a glimpse of something small, grey and bipedal but didn't manage to analyse it before it disappeared

#Godu# Don't suppose you saw what that was, do you?

#Siya# No. And the stench of death is overwhelming. Definitely not corrupted though.

The next stop was the shopping mall which was an absolute mess, with craters and signs of fighting everywhere; there was even a huge tunnel of sorts, that had been blasted cleanly into the ground, as if someone had just used an apple corer to bore right down. The bottom was not visible, even with my night vision ability and I could feel fear creeping into my bones.

#Siya# Someone or something extremely powerful did this. I sense no corrupted here..but something is down there. It is observing us.

We didn't stick around to find out, nor did we waste time searching more thoroughly.

Our third stop was thanks to Siya. She had the idea that the tallest building would be her first choice and so we moved towards the biggest ones we could see, and, Low and behold, at the entrance of a particularly tall apartment building, there were two humanoid figures. And they appeared to be standing guard.

#Godu# This doesn't make any fucking sense. We've never come across corrupted that stood still, let alone fucking stand there like bouncers, even though the stupid cunts are facing the wrong way..Ohoh. Hold on.

My sour mood evaporated and my face broke into a predatory grin, as when I analysed them, I was greeted with extremely welcomed information.

They're not the damned corrupted.. although it's still fucked up, they are not the bloody corrupted!

Label: Human Husk

MAGN: 39.999

HP: 4000/4000

Notes: It takes a lot of energy to repair a corpse, but there are plenty of ways to cut down on the overhead..

#Siya# They..they should be dead. But something has made them..un..dead?! They have no soul! Their minds are empty!

#Godu# Heck it is creepy but I'll take this over the corrupted anyday.

She gave me a concerned look.

We continued to observe them but Siya was becoming increasingly disturbed by their existence, almost to the point where I felt she was overreacting as she had tried several times to do her mental attack thing, only to be met with silence.

#Siya# This is wrong. So wrong. What ever did this is rotten and vile-

A pained wailing scream begging something to stop cut into the air. We didn't waste any more time.

Slipfolding down with my shields deployed in config:prime, I focused on the first husk and slammed it into the wall before it could even react. I heard bones crunching and what would have killed a normal person, only did 20% of its total HP. The other husk snapped to me and took a slow single step forward before Siya blurred from the sky like a comet and dove feet first through it, bursting it into two pieces.

They are slow. Killable. Good.

The remaining husk peeled itself away from the cracked wall and started to shamble towards me. I heard more crunching and observed it regenerating but Siya strode forward and in a flash she spun around, whipping her cloak wings and severing the husk's head and torso.

#Siya# They are resistant to impact but weak to severance. There's no EXP. Empty minds, empty souls..I hate it.

#Godu# So it seems..I'm just glad they are killable. Let's hurry and find who needs help, they might know where everyone went.

We rushed inside the building and headed straight for the stairs. Another scream of pain and begging for help.

It was female.

#Siya# I sense a human and..wait! There are more than one and..blood! Extreme amounts! Higher!

MARRI? Could she be here?..If that mystery fuckbag has hurt her-

A husk burst through the third floor stairwell door, unleashing a guttural cry, but Siya cut it and its head off before I could even react.

Shit she's fast!

"PISS OFF YOU MOTHERFUCKER ASSHAT!" An extremely pissed off young girl's voice raged out and I heard a very loud static noise mixed with the sound of a blowtorch.

That voice!-

A split second later there was a series of chimes and synth growls that preceded a steady stream of pulses.

"AGHH! FUCK OFF!" The girl's voice cried out in desperation.

#Siya# Two more floors!!

Siya blurred off and started leaping on all fours up the stairwell and I raced after her.

There was a loud crash and the girl screamed in agony and rage.

"AGHHHH! MOTHERF-GET-AGH-OFF!"

As I turned the final corner I heard the sound of wood splintering and was abruptly showered with bits forcing my shields to slice up to protect my eyes. Siya was gripped the edges of a tattered doorway and wound herself back before releasing a trilling war cry and launching herself inside. I burst through what remained of the doorframe and thudded into the corridor just in time to see Siya plunge both her clawed fists into the faces of two husks and ripped out the insides of their skulls.

"WHOA-" The now freed blonde girl leapt back with impressive speed, and even though it was inhumanly fast, it felt predictable and was still nothing compared to how fast Siya was.

Siya trilled aggressively and blurred past the girl, not hesitating to fight the remaining five husks that were storming down the hallway.

"NO WE HAVE TO GO! QUI-" The girl's hands started to glow but she stopped and gave Siya a surprised look as she finished the last one with a clawed foot stomp.

"Hoooly-shit you have clawed feet..Wha-" The girl stuttered as Siya calmly hopped over the dead husks and waved as she strode back.

"Ohhkay and you’ve got hand-claws too. Of course you do. Um,thanks for helping me out. I mean, I hope you were helping and you’re not just going to fuck me up next.." The girl took a nervous step aside to let Siya pass. "Who..Um, what's your name?"

Siya smiled and shook her head, pointing at me as I walked up.

"Oh snap there’s more than..one of..you…" She stopped dead I'm her tracks, her wide blue eyes scanning my face; her jaw dropped to the floor.

Label: Triya

MAGN: 44.899

Notes: A Ryn.gyr class human.

She looked weathered and hardened, no doubt due to the amount of shit she blood she had swam through all these months, but I could still see the same youthful cheerleader spark.

"Yo Triya, it's damned good to see you. Got any snickers bars to spare?" I grinned and waved. She broke into a massive grin and charged into me.

"GODU!?? YOU’RE ALIVE! You're here! Where have you BEEN!? How dare you just waltz back and ask for a freaking snickers! You ASS!" She bear hugged me and I couldn't help but laugh and my eyes misted up from the swirl of emotions.

She’s survived. Good. I’m relieved. And she’ll know where the others are..Where my family are.

"I can't believe it! Is she with you? Does Marri know you're back? Are they okay? Where were you all this time? What are you-" she started going a thousand miles per hour but we got cut off by the guttural screams from the stairwell; the sounds of a hundred pairs of running feet shook the floor and floors.

"Shit. Fuck. Let's get out of here first, these guys are no joke. Even if your um..friend is strong, we’re going to be heavily outnumbered.” Triya briefly glanced at Siya before holding her hand up high. “Alright X, show us the best way out.” A series of chimes and chirps came from down the hallway and a familiar looking orb sailed towards us.

Xno!

The little orb did a visible double take as blue lines scanned over me and Siya, analysing.

It released a tone that sounded like an impressed whistle.

“Yeah yeah I know, crazy ri-HE’S WHAT?!” Triya gawped as me. “What the ever flying fuck have you been fighting dude?? How are you that high levelled?”

I just shrugged and glanced towards the stairwell. The sounds of the incoming horde were getting dangerously closer but I needed to get back on track, so I needed to confirm something first.

“Yeah I know, it’s a very long story. Quick question though, is the fucker who messed up home-” I pointed to the ceiling “-up there?”

“Huh? You don’t kno-well of course you don’t..Yeah, he is? But we really should-” She gestured with her thumb behind her, with a face that really suggested we should make like a tree and fuck off. I nodded and looked over at Siya.

#Siya# I sense nothing we cannot overwhelm. But they are many. It is a small space. We would be limited due to the fragile structure.

“Hm that’s a good point Siya..” I frowned and tapped my chin, processing several things at once.

“Huh?! Your names Siya? What point did you make? You didn’t speak? Um Godu?? What’s going on dude. We NEED to go, like now?!” Triya was getting understandably fidgety, but I had the reassuring tug of the slipfold anchors telling me I had an escape route if I needed it, and I could take her with me quite easily as well.

'Course, she doesn't know that..But do I need to? Shouldn’t we burn this place to the ground?-

“GODU!!” Triya yanked on my arm. "They're going to be here any second! What's going on!!"

I placed my hand on her shoulder and nodded.

"We're going to clear this place and take care of that scum. I'm going to call in backup. Don't be alarmed when you see them." One of my trains of thought was to see if Grave and co were free to help, but it was a bit short notice and they were probably still busy doing hell knows what in the cube.

No. I'll just need you two to help please.

Triya went pale and started eyeing up the stairs. "U-um you can't be serious man? I'm sorry but-.."

The metallic glass rain and 3D printing of Serens construct alarmed Xno, who blared out a gritty warning tone. Once Seren was complete, she got down on one knee and bowed to me.

What services do you require from me dear master?

The hordes' vanguard arrived and headed straight for us; the rest started to stream in.

Oh. You need me to play the maid and tidy up this place? Hm..Okay!

She stepped forward, blocking their path. Her kite shield halves sung through the air and clunked neatly into place in front of her, and lthen she charged forward and ploughed into them; her mechanical stilettos cracked into the floor.

Carefully now Seren! The building is not designed for fighting.

OKAY Darling.

I looked over and saw Siya was leaning against a wall smiling with her arms folded, looking completely relaxed, and Xno was chirping wildly with dozens of lazer lights strobing over the dozens of wailing husks. Triya was staring wide eyed with her hands on her head. She had a massive grin on her face.

"Well OKAY, this changes things! You've got a sick Daemon! And it's an..AEON CLASS!!!?" Ignoring the slaughter and chaos, Triya squealed and jumped on the spot.

That caught everyone's attention, even Seren’s construct glanced back as a strange pause from the riotous combat emerged.

"Huh?? What-"

Save it for later, sweety. We should focus on the task at hand first, hmm? They are growing in density.

There was a subtle warning in her words coupled with her kite shield punching a pile of husks straight down through the floor and it sent shivers down my spine.

More mysteries, great-

Seren screeched and unleashed her tendrils, neatly skewering the entire hallway, sweeping them to the sides, and then dissecting them in seconds. Triya stared in horror and went deathly pale.

But there are more pressing concerns to worry about.

She was cutting them down like they were paper, her midnight black armour was completely bathed in gore, and yet they seemed to be streaming endlessly in; the hallway was already filling up with corpses, with some of them showing signs of regeneration just like the crevice horrors.

#Siya# There are more coming from the other tall nest buildings. We will need to go through them. You should share any skills with Triya and then get her in the team quickly.

Shit, not good. Need to move quickly.

"Right. Triya let me share some skills with you and then we're going to clear a path." I held out my hand and she shakily took it with no questions. I shared everything I could with her but received a few pleasantly surprising messages.

Target entity Triya has an older fork of ability [Group up] and will be upgraded with the newer branch.

Triya wants to share [Minimap] Accept?

Accepted.

Triya has been added to the group.

#Team#

Triya: You appear out of nowhere. You have a Daemon. You have telepathic chat?? Fuck this is alot dude. I mean, this is so weird, how is it even working?? Does it read my thoughts? Can you..see my memories? Oh god don't look! Godu-

Godu: Triya! Focus! What can you tell me about this piece of shit we're about to find? Just like how we used to okay? Strengths? Weaknesses? Anything? We need to find this fucker.

I deployed my null claws and joined Seren in the slaughter.

Triya: Right! Right! Sorry! It's just..fucked up. So much crap has happened whilst you were gone..both good and bad..but he's like a necromancer, yes Steve coined that one, he uses dead bodies and friggin turns them into bots. Fleshy, rotting bots!

Of course it's some fucking necromancer type bullshit.

I violently surge-punched my clawed gauntlet into a husk's jaw and smashed it clean off, along with some of its oesophagus.

"Jezuz, fucking clawed hands as well of course.." Triya muttered under her breath not intending anyone to hear, but I did.

Prepare yourself!

Seren, in a burst of speed, crouched and snapped her kite shields forward into a wedge shape and dashed forward, parting the ugly sea of dead flesh that remained between us and the stairwell entrance.

Move now Godu! Go!

She blasted the stairwell door apart and then pushed back against the writing masses.

I'll hold as many as I can down here! Go up! Top floor!

Godu: Follow me! Triya and Xno in the middle, Siya cover the back please!

We pushed past the recovering stragglers and made it to the stairs and started to head up.

Thanks Seren..be careful.

Mhmm. I will.

I spent an extra moment to look at her as it was the first time she’d ever told me to go on without her and.. something felt off. I'd been in comparatively worse situations but still a creeping sense of becoming overwhelmed was settling in.

We hurried up the flights, coming up against a handful of husks but these ones had been different in that they had stopped being mostly human and were now husks of various nightmares.

A slenderman..a Grinner..a Skullwearer..a Wailer..even a bloody Janky..and a Splitface?

A Splitface was exactly as it sounded, a face that split open to reveal rows of sharp teeth that would proceed to gorge on anything in its path. I didn’t spare a moments thought to it and simply obliged by ramming a surge filled claw down its throat.

As we reached the final floor, Triya grabbed my arm to get my attention and for a moment I simply pulled her along before realising she had grabbed on; we stopped and I raised my eyebrows at her.

Triya: Woa! Godu-Jesus christ man, you’re like a friggin train..Um, before we..I should..I need to tell you something.

I cast a glance past her and Siya was still at the stairs batting the remaining husks down the center stairwell chasm. A reflexive snort escaped me as one particular husk let out an unexpectedly high pitched scream as it fell; it had reminded me of the goat screaming videos I used to find so amusing..

I turned back to the final set of doors leading to what I presumed was the penthouse.

This feels rushed. Fragmented. Why am I tunnel visioning? Why haven’t I asked her where Marri and Lone are? Why am I so desperate for violence?

My thoughts were so chaotic and yet I was calm and focused. It was maddening.

I nodded for Triya to continue.

Triya: I..don’t know if the others made it, I, um..disobeyed orders and went looking for that asshats base and then when I came back everyone was gone..Those military people, do you remember? They are from a safe zone, a huge one that has lots of people, but I never went there..I wasn’t allowed because..well, it doesn’t matter..but it’s near Aldermaston-

THAT’S RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLACE THAT RANT WENT TO! IT MUST BE IT!

Colour returned to the world.

Triya:-and it’s not far from here..but these fuckers have been attacking it for weeks. I’ve been living by myself in a secret little base under the train bridge..like a right tramp ha..I hope Syrin is okay..I.. couldn't make the journey by myself..there’s some seriously fucked up shit that hides out in the countryside..only groups or coaches ever travelled.

I smiled and sighed with relief as I connected some of the dots.

Godu: I met up with a group with caravans that were heading to Silchester, they said a drone found them and gave them directions, saying they would be safe there. Come on, let’s fuck this prick up and then head over there.

Siya gracefully blurred past, fly kicking the doors off their hinges and then continuing onwards. A waft of something extremely foul hit us, causing Triya to retch.

“Siya?! What the f-”

Siya: The other..Human, it’s doing something dangerous that GREATLY offends me. We must stop its existence NOW. URGENTLY.

She was furious. At her words we both looked at each other and rushed to catch up.

We arrived into a bizarrely refurbished large space, where the traditional walls and ceiling had been ripped down and strange alien pillars had been put up to hold a huge, weird looking..canvas like..tent..roof.

“What the fuck is this? Those are HUMAN BONES. And the roof is fucking skin?” I cursed with a grimace and looked around. The pillars were indeed made of human bones mixed in with some weird plastic cement, and the roof was made of stitched together leathery skin, also of a human nature.

An irritating warped voice grabbed our attention.

“I think the REAL question you should be asking yourself is: how much begging will I have to do in order to have my inconsequential, bacteria-grade life spared.”

I focused towards a large pile of rotting remains and the source of the voice. Behind the pulsating pile, there was a short man wearing a pinstripe suit that had small bones sewn on in various decorative patterns; teeth, finger bones..human remains.

Label: ???? [Carrion Baron]

MAGN: ?9??1

Notes: Unknown. Error. Disrupted.

Figures.

He was shrouded in a dirty smog, making it impossible to make out his features, but half of his body looked deformed and mutated, with deformed skin and strange cauliflower growths.

The pile stirred. Dark red and purple lights raced around like miniature motorways and it dawned on me that the fucker was making another husk.

But a really fucking big one.

The deformity continued.

"Truthfully, I'm rather surprised to see your irritating and uncouth face again Godu. You've been absent for quite some time-"

Godu: Triya, who the heck is this? Are we supposed to know him?

Triya: Ughhh this is so fucking rank-he knows us but we don't know who he is.

The pile started to unfurl.

"-But I'm actually very grateful for you being here. I've finally completed my greatest work and you'll be the first to be ended by it!! Smmfffsmmmff haha! Oh this is too succulent! Mfffhahaha!"

What a fucking gimp.

But he hadn't dared to look away, even with his stupid monologue, suggesting that it wouldn't be wise to just steamroll him head on. I stood still, scanning around carefully and waiting. My senses tensile and heightened as I waited.

"Sigh..your plebeian silence is to be expected I suppose. After all, the only things you peasants are good for, is delivering me my food and entertainment.."

The pile stood tall and was at least 4 metres tall with six arms and six legs. Each arm had a pair of human eyes sewn into the shoulder joint; wildly looking around in alarm. On top of the torso, was a row of different animal and human heads, missing their teeth and eyes. All silently opening and closing their juddering mouths like some kind of horrid, broken, mechanical display.

"Urkk-Ho-ly-Fuuuuck!" Triya started to back up struggling with her nausea. My own body started to shudder and I could feel patches of cold shivers starting to build up. Like my body's immune system was rejecting the very existence of such an abomination.

Label: Meatstitched Titan (Tier I)

MAGN: 101

Notes: A class I entity. Through unnatural methods it has surpassed the first EXP saturation milestone. Though it is unknown what the limits of a Tier I entity's strength are, it is safe to say that comparing a level 100 against a level 1 is like comparing a deity to a tadpole.

"Yes! Rise! Rise my servant! Look how they tremble! Ahhaha!" The bastard was laughing as I took a calculated step back.

"There is no hope to survive! I am the baron of these lands now! Your children will be my dolls! Your families will be my slaves! Get on your hands and knees and satisfy my every desire! My every whim! My every-HAARKK-.."

Summoning every gram of strength I could muster, I took advantage of the very split second he glanced away by Slipfolding right into him and slamming a surge-clawed hand into his chest; the air filled with the smell of burning flesh and ozone.

I leaned closer to his ears and muttered a few choice words.

"This isn't some fucking game or movie you stupid shit. Even with your sick, filthy abilities, you could have still chosen to help others and then everything would have been tolerable at least. But you didn't. You absolute piece of shit. And now you're going to die and I won't even know your name. Disappear and rot. Crumble and die."

Wrenching my clawed gauntlet out, it ripped out some rib and cartilage and I quickly flicked it off in disgust and then Slipfolded back as Xno unleashed a barrage of sizzling plasma projectiles into the open wound of the so called, Carrion Baron.

He was sent skidding across the ground as his insides were turned to charred kebab meat.

No surprises? Good riddance.

The prick was clearly used to just sending his minions to fight for him; a detriment to his own survival and fighting skills.

"Y-you..just killed him?..Just like that? In one h-hit? And..you friggin teleported? Steve was..actually telling the truth? Holy fuck, what the hell are you dude?" Triya sounded half amazed but also half frightened..of me, which resurfaced some deep mental wounds and anxieties I'd accumulated.

I glanced down at my gore covered hands and felt, tundra, distant; there was not much remorse at ending a somewhat human life, no matter how shitty of a life it was.

What will Marri think of me?..Of the things I've done..

Sighing, I did what I always did best and pushed all those feelingsl deep into a hole.

"It was just one..person? Monster? Creepy cunt?..Regardless, save it after we try and stop that fucking thing." I gestured to the..meat giant..no that wasn't-ah, meatstiched. The Meatstitched Titan had taken a menacing first step, and now had gained the confidence to take more..and more..far too many feet and they are moving far too fucking fas-SHIT!

"Watch out!" I yelled, grabbing Triya and Slipfolding as the huge monstrosity suddenly blurred towards us with a thunderous crack; the wind displacement was terrifying but Xno and Siya managed to dodge in time as the monster kept going and detonated the entire entrance wall out of the building, flinging huge chunks of rubble out into a neighbouring building.

"Aaghh! What the tits-don't just do that without warning me! Oh my fucking days, my brain!! Oh it feels weir-OH MY GOD!" Triya cried out as she saw the hole.

The titan was going ape-shit and started obliterating the remaining walls and stairs; seemingly not realising we weren’t there as it started ripping the metal stairs up like they were made of straw.

Alarm bells started ringing very loudly in my head.

It’s too much.

Godu: That thing is WAY too strong. We need to leave.

Triya: UHHH?! YES!? BUT IT JUST TOOK THE STAIRS OUT! HOW ARE WE-

Siya: I can fly and carry you. Also Godu did just teleport both of you.

There was a brief moment of pause as Triya gave Siya a look up and down.

Triya: You..can fly?..Meh, actually I'm not even surprised. I mean, Xno can fly and I've tried to get him to carry me before but it's never actually worked-uhh what the fuck am I talking about! Let's go! Fly me! Please!

She ran towards Siya and I resisted the urge to facepalm, but then a completely expected choice made by the Meatstitch Titan threw us all into a complete stupor.

It had jumped out the hole and sent itself hurtling down.

"Di-..did it just-" Triya finger pointed at the now gaping empty hole of the building but was cut off by a miniature earthquake and deafening boom as it impacted the ground; we looked at each other in disbelief.

Did..it fall?..Or is this some kind of trick!

The constant vibrations in the floor started to dissipate. I looked around the area in case this was some kind of bizarre attack or tactic and my eyes fell on the mangled body. On instinct, I rushed over to the Baron's corpse just to confirm he was dead. He was but my veins turned to ice as I saw a message drawn in blood on the ground next to him.

NOTDEA..

Then Seren contacted me.

Godu! Somethings wrong! They're all leaving!-UGH CRETINOUS CREATURE! EAT SHI-

She abruptly cut off and through my feet I felt a muffled explosion.

SORRY! Meet me outside. I'm heading out to the front. Hurry.

My mind was racing through hundreds of questions and theories; my instincts undergoing the equivalent of a political debate if done by a room full of toddlers high off blue smarties.

Why did the shitbag write that? Where did the big cunt go?-Argh, I need to move, act first think later.

"Siya take Triya down it the front-"

It ryhmes, ha.

"-I will meet you down there." The second she nodded I Slipfolded to the gaping hole and jumped out, Slipfolding near the hulking black construct-

Hey! A construct has feelings too ya know!

-of the Seren. Ignoring the inappropriate comment, I looked out at the retreating hordes of husks. They reminded me so much of the corrupted with some attempting to jump through thick walls, some fighting with monsters attracted to the riotous chaos, but the majority were all heading in the same direction..

But what could possibly be in that direction?..

There was a shrill scream from up high that abruptly cut off with a "oof" as Siya thumped onto the ground carrying a pale Triya; Xno hummed briskly in the air as he kept up by dropping like a rock and then slamming on the anti grav pedal.

Good to see Newton's laws still work.

"Jezuus!..I think..I prefer..the mindfuck that comes with teleporting.." She gasped her words out but quickly recovered and joined me in surveying.

We had a good view and we stood there and watched as the previously dead town came alive as violent nightmares crawled out of their dark dens and pits to join in the all you can eat husk buffet. Some of the weaker creatures were simply trying escape the choas and were killed or trampled as more husks poured out from other buildings to join the main army-

..Army?..

"So we just killed him and all these things are what..going beserk? Running away?" Triya had her arms tucked behind her head and she was standing resting her hips on one leg. I hadn't had the time to pay attention before but she had gotten taller and looked hardened. Some of her gear looked Majik borne; the typical telltale sign of being impossible smooth and pristine compared to the standard rags.

No that can't be it.. they're heading somewhere-..!!!!

"Triya what direction is the other place? In Aldermaston? It's that fucking way isn't it??"

How could I take this long to realise!

"The Shitstain baron wrote on the floor 'Notdea' The fuckers "Not dead"!! What the pissing shit is a baron? Something to do with kings right? He's sending them all to the other safe zone! We need to get there right now!" I was seething. I hated wasting time. Wasting time gave the universe a chance to throw me curve balls made of hand grenades and barbed wire.

And here I thought ending this cunt was the safest, time cost effective action to take..Okay. Okay. We can be faster than them.

Granted, my ruthless mentality was not quite the purest anymore, but-

"Do you know how to get there?" I asked her and she nodded.

-I was glad I could think and feel like this now.

This is how I choose to be when faced with monsters and the vile. Focused. Minimal fear.

"Are you coming with me Triya?" I felt a slight pang of guilt as I glanced at her.

What have I fucking become.. asking…no it would be shitty of me to reduce her down to just a teenager and a girl.

She nodded a steely, sly grin.

Yeah. She's a fucking warrior, and I need warriors.

"Right. Good." Seren, unprompted, stepped past and went behind me, making alien whirs and hums with each step. She placed a hand on my back and I heard and felt the rush of displaced air as she returned.

Thank you, Seren.

Once she was gone, I could feel my shields connected again, feeling as familiar as if I'd been born with them.

I held out my arms and motioned to a visibly impressed Triya with a smile.

Need to check in with Tanner and explain how we're going to do this.

"Let's take the shortcut back to the estate then. We'll race Siya-" The words had barely left my mouth before Siya burst into the air with a thunderous clap of her extended cloak wings.

Triya reeled at the shockwave generated, then just shook her head and barked out an incredulous laugh at the jet fighter object called Siya quickly becoming a very small dot.

"Guess I'm ready to have my brain fried again..ugh it's like motion sickness mixed with waking up from a nap." She stretched as she walked and without even looking, held her hands up as Xno split and elongated into two sharp looking halves that she caught and slid away into her belt.

I snorted, carefully placing my hands on her shoulders and Slipfolding us back to the front of Steve's abandoned old house.

…

..

.