The Juan look-alike says, “Ramón, get him!” The guy just looks at mini-Juan like a cat watches a mouse. His slicked back black hair and cold expression mark him as controlled. Predatory.
“Apeck, attack Nicky.” The feathery appendage detaches from my arm, and I finally get a good look at Apeck. It’s like somebody crossed a chimp and a vicious parrot. And it’s all my fault… Apeck was one of my designs for Lee. I was messing around thinking up the craziest design I could.
Apeck’s long limbs blast forward. This thing isn’t messing around. It looks like a living nightmare in action. The beak latches onto Nicky’s Rayment and wisps of light escape.
“Ramón, what are you doing!?” Nicky struggles against Apeck and I silently move into a better position to keep an eye on both Ramón and Nicky.
“Matt, I’ll help you this time. I can’t trust these idiotas to get a prize for Caverna. I might as well reduce the number of competitors. Comprende, ese?” Ramón’s gaze is flinty as his eyes meet mine. I doubt this alliance will last as soon as my back is turned. I nod in agreement. Ramón’s message is loud and clear. Sometimes it’s best to take care of the current problem and let the future worry about the future.
I hear Driger yowling in pain behind the tree. I run towards Nicky who preps a block for a punch I never throw. Instead, I throw him back at Ramón. “This one is yours, Ramón!”
As I rush by the tree I catch Scorpitox raising its stinger to strike my struggling Driger which is caught under a rock of some kind. “Scorpitox use Withering Sting!” Pablo yells.
Strategically, I should let Driger take the hit, and attack Pablo.
Instead, I step in front of Driger to block, but I’m too slow and take the hit to my chest. I’m slower than I should be. It must be that River’s Rage snowflake debuff. I respond by punting the bug into Pablo’s face. No time to celebrate.
Whatever that attack was, it hurt, and it has side effects. My vision blurs as my Rayment reacts. The gauge in the top left corner now shows I have a quarter of my shielding left. I lost over half my protection to one attack! I kneel quickly to push the rock off Driger but long skinny insectoid legs pop out of the rock to push me away. Thank God I don’t take damage from it!
“Golemite, good work! Just… keep him away from me. That’s it!” My final opponent is the tallest thug. He’s cleverly giving instructions while taking cover behind a tree. Or maybe…
“Clever, but I’m not working alone. Even if you take me out, Ramón will finish the job,” I walk confidently towards his voice.
“Wh- what are you talking about?” Nicky screeches in anger behind us and the strange flash and pop of a broken Rayment is all the evidence I need for Ramón’s betrayal.
“You should run. Before you can’t.” I do my best menacing voice. Like Dad on movie nights. Dad loves Kung Fu films. We like to quote them at each other. But Dad’s delivery can be terrifying. Visceral, when it comes to quotes that sound like actual threats. It makes me wonder if he ever killed somebody. I’ve never found the courage to ask.
My impression works. The gangly goon doesn’t stick around. “Golemite dismissed! I’ll avenge you, Pablo,” he wails as he makes an impressive dash to the ice area. The rock creature on top of Driger dissolves into brown motes of light which follow Arturo’s departing figure.
“Cobarde! Get back here,” Pablo yells at the departing figure. I can’t risk Ramón turning on me before I deal with Pablo. Time to-
A furious red fuzzball flies at my face. “Come on, Driger! I can’t deal with this right now.” A cute growl is its only response. “Look, we’ve got to take care of these chumps. They’ll stab us in the back before we can have a real fight. OK?” The small tiger furls its wings in thought as Pablo makes the decision for it.
“Scorpitox, use Withering Sting!” The cat and I both turn towards Pablo. The scorpion is quivering and trying to raise its tail. Out of energy, it can’t activate that powerful attack. “You stupid, stupid bug! Do what I tell you!” Pablo spits furiously as the Scorpitox tries again. “I’ll do it myself!” Pablo rushes toward us. Scorpitox does its best to scuttle after him.
Driger pounces on the purple scorpion, flames swirl as Driger finally uses its signature ability, Elemental Cloak, and claws it into submission. Green motes of light float towards Pablo. Pablo blitzes past the light show and throws wild punches at me. He’s telegraphing every move, letting his rage power his hits. I see my chance to kick his feet out from under him and take it. Pablo face plants into shrubbery. I pick up his head as best I can with the slippery Rayment surfaces dividing us and knock his head against the nearest tree root. It doesn’t seem to do much other than enrage him further. I think I’m right, Driger and I will do more damage to him than the terrain will. Pablo’s pushing himself off the ground when I use his momentum to pull him into a sitting full nelson. Then I wrap my legs around his to control his balance. A sitting duck for a powerful attack. As long as he doesn’t use my shortness against me.
“Driger, fire!” The annoying cat just cocks its head at me like I’m speaking nonsense. “Go on. Attack!” It folds its wings behind it and licks its paw. Pablo laughs and spits at Driger. Driger hisses and the familiar red and orange light gathers in Driger’s mouth. Uh oh. Pablo struggles wildly, and I’m losing control over his legs. Then a red wave washes over us.
Next thing I know Pablo is groaning on top of me. His Rayment is still up, and so is mine somehow. I can’t see my health bar. I take the opportunity to throw some groggy punches at Pablo’s head. Pablo responds with a backwards headbutt I barely dodge. I’ll admit, Pablo’s no quitter. My Rayment is constantly flaring the red warning in my vision, and a quick glance shows my Rayment integrity is below ten percent. It’s a bit hard to gauge just by looking, but I think Pablo’s Rayment might have visible cracks.
“Apeck, use Dirt Slash,” Ramón orders. Pablo lets out a scream of rage and then I’m skidding backwards over the fake grass. I feel like a leaf could take me down. Ramón beats it to the punch. I hear the whisper of his shoes against the holographic terrain. “Nothing personal, Matt, but you’re competition. The Caverna has needs.”
A jet of water splashes Apeck and interrupts Ramón’s gangster speech. Jessica appears out of nowhere above me. “Sorry, but I’m collecting first. This guy owes me.”
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