CHAPTER SIXTY ONE

  As powerful as her gauntlet was turning out to be, Eva could definitely have done with a pair of shades.

  Eva squinted as she released yet another beam of golden light from her palm. The towering lizard man barring her way hurled backwards, as if by the casual flick of a titan. Flipping madly through the air with a scorched crater seared into his chest. Meanwhile, the invisible wave which rippled outward with each Solar Flare she fired, swiftly fried whatever tech happened to be nearby. The six or so mercenaries in her vicinity holding down triggers that were no longer operational.

  Their skintight suits suddenly transforming into black sand, which then cascaded down their extremely naked bodies.

  Eva did her best to avert her eyes, remembering, with some chagrin, how shocked she’d been to realize that not all of the scale-clad aliens were men. The claustrophobic press of bodies was a thing of utter chaos. Looming shadows lunging at her from every direction. It was all she could do to lift her gauntlet and fire before she was torn to pieces. Alien cries and bone chilling screams battered away at her psyche.

  Sharp hisses impacting her face. Blasts of foul, moist, hot breath.

  More than once she saw herself reflected in those large reptilian eyes, before a glowing bronze gauntlet eclipsed those slitted pools, and her terrified visage was consumed by golden radiance. Another reptilian sent flying.

  The press was so thick, and the enemy so imposing, that it was hard to tell where she even was at times. Like trying to navigate a corn maze that also wanted you dead. Eva had no idea how close they were to breaking through, or even if they were headed in the right direction. Her only guiding light the cackling figure of Denise as she led the charge. Mowing down the enemy without even a shred of compunction.

  Although she’d since slowed down considerably after the enemy began to mount a genuine resistance.

  Cuts accumulated all across Eva’s body. Minor injuries, for the most part. At least she didn’t think she was bleeding out. She sincerely hoped she would know, if it ever came to that. Honestly, the scariest part was that she never knew from where the next slash would come. With everything happening around her, after a certain point, all she could really do was react.

  Eva spun, pointed, fired. Spun, pointed and fired. Flinching with every spontaneous injury. Squinting with every retaliatory strike. Every blast of solar energy costing her a decent chunk of mana. To the point that she wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep up for much longer. The minute she ran out of mana, she’d effectively be dead.

  And of course, it was just as the seeds of doubt were beginning to worm their way into her mind, that the enemy changed tactics. Instead of closing in, they spread out. Scattering. Enough so that Eva could just make out the distant tree line through the gaps in their line. On the bright side, they were much closer to freedom than she’d thought. On the other, neither her beam, nor it’s electromagnetic pulse, would reach far or fast enough to incapacitate all of them at once.

  Which meant that when the aliens trained their barrels on her, she was left with little to no recourse.

  Eva flinched as bolts of plasma streaked forth to riddle her with cauterized holes. Only to stare in slack jawed stupefaction as the crackling wall of projectiles turned to puffs of toxic vapor. Dissipating harmlessly well before they’d come even close to reaching her. Not wasting a single second, Eva shot three beams in rapid succession, barely taking the time to aim. She hissed as the overheated metal burned her skin, but it was well worth it.

  Nearly fifteen sets of armor and equipment instantly rendered useless.

  Snapping her head around to see who her mysterious savior might be, she noticed Marlene running just behind her. Arms out stretched, both in front and behind, giving the same treatment to the rest of their party as she’d just done for her. Wherever a bolt of plasma threatened to end the lives of one of the adults or the kids, like magic, it would poof into a puff of vapor. Indeed, she might’ve said magic was exactly what it was, were it not for the way Marlene’s face visibly paled with every shot she subverted.

  Flashing the girl a quick smile, grateful for the save, Eva’s gratitude immediately turned stricken when her eyes drifted behind the girl, to the hulking brute making ready to tackle her to the ground.

  “Duck!” Eva shouted, raising her gauntleted palm high. The girls eyes widened.

  Though, whether she actually heard, and quickly heeded her instructions, or merely tripped flat onto her face, Eva would never know. All she did know was that, as she aimed a clean shot towards the beast man who’d thought to take her friend by surprise, who should take that exact moment to jog in front of the charging beast man and the line of fire, at the most inopportune of times, but Maya…

  Brown eyes widening from behind her dollar store jester’s mask, as the gauntlet gave a shrill whine, and the solar beam made ready to fire.

  +++

  As the golden beam made ready to delete her head from her shoulders, Maya’s next step landed in a puddle of something warm and slippery. Her right leg sent flying out from under her. The other buckling in surprise. Maya’s shocked face dipping below the incoming attack. Evading sure death by mere centimeters. The air crackled as it streaked by overhead. The contents of her cranium safe for the time being. Although her retina’s, it must be said, weren’t nearly so lucky.

  “Argh! Son of a-!”

  Maya momentarily found her feet, stumbled, nearly fell. Tried to rub the sea of dazzling stars from her vision, but only really succeeded in smacking herself in the face when met with her own mask. The unexpected blow snapping her head back. Wildly skewing her already dubious center of gravity. She staggered backward, arms pinwheeling, always on the edge of eating shirt, but neverquite getting there. Like a sneeze lingering on the cusp of release, she was left to flounder in existential agony.

  Until her shoulder bumped into something hard that is, righting her perpetual loss of balance.

  “Phew!” Maya let out a sigh of relief. “Haha, thanks for the save! Man, that could’ve been bad. Lucky boulder to the rescue! Or, uhh, wait? That a tree…? Or…”

  Curious fingers explored the contours of her timely support pillar. The smooth, almost artificial outer layer. The odd warmth radiating from it, almost too hot to the touch. The… abs?

  “That’s-?! Uh oh…”

  Unbeknownst to her, the party of seven-foot tall Ra’ak Neerian’s stared down at the rapidly blinking female. The very same that’d just stumbled into the middle of their formation. For the briefest moment, all five of them shared a look of disbelief. Before, with a collective shrug, they simultaneously raised their firearms. However as they did so, having caught onto what was what, Maya moved likewise. Whipping her head around in sudden comprehension, her forehead collided with a swiftly rotated barrel.

  The impact snapping back her head, sending her into an unintentional pratfall, and startling the Ra’ak Neerian into pre-firing. By some cruel twist of fate, the bolt of plasma missed the energy resistant nano-weave entirely. Instead nailing the male opposite him straight through the eye and out the back of his skull. Causing him, in turn, to spray an automatic burst in his death throws.

  His wild flailing catching three more of his companions in the process. Bright flashes rippling across their skintight weaves. The body suits designed to redistribute energy, sure, though never under such sustained fire. More and more ripples of bright energy piling on, until steam began to hiss from where weave met scale. The hide around the neck and wrists charring, until all three of their eyes rolled back in their heads, and they collapsed to the ground.

  The rapid increase in temperature literally cooking them alive.

  Meanwhile Maya continued to groan and writhe. Sure she’d broken something in the fall, if her nose wasn’t already busted. The initial gangster spooked into firing, practically inconsolable at the death of his friends, lowered his rifle and aimed through teary hate filled eyes. Swearing to end the miserable life of this chosen if it was the last thing he did.

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Greatly disoriented, and utterly blind to the world around her, Maya mindlessly reached up for something to leverage herself onto her feet. What she found instead was the barrel of a direct energy rifle. The rifleman, already in the process of lowering the weapon. Maya, latching onto said weapon, having expected far more resistance than she ultimately found. The end result? Maya lurched. The rifle dipped.

  And so, when the hardened gangster spasmodically pulled down the trigger, instead of taking off the miserable female’s head, he shot himself in the foot instead. His steel-toed boots no match for a bolt of energized free particles. The alien hissed. Howled. Dropping his weapon entirely to cradle his ruined foot. A gun caked in mud, blood, and grime the very first thing Maya’s blurry eyes adjusted to. On hands and knees, she blinked owlishly at the gritty sight.

  Meanwhile, the lizard man savagely cursed all the gods in his native tongue. It was only after another few seconds of caustic remarks, that it occurred to him he’d be better off redirecting his anger towards the one most responsible. Still cradling his injured foot, the Ra’ak Neerian cutthroat spun. More than willing to stomp the female to death with his one good leg, should it come to it. It never did, however. A neat hole drilled through its forehead before it ever got the chance.

  The oversized rifle sitting comfortably in Maya’s hands, even as she was forced to blink away stars for the second time that day. When they finally cleared she was greeted with a sight that immediately sent a spike of alarm shooting throughout her nervous system. Robin and the kids cowering before a big hulking beast of a lizard man.

  +++

  Robin stared up at the towering Ra’ak Neerian man. Firelight gleaming off its cerulean blue scales. Flickers of red and orange glinting off rows of too sharp teeth. Accentuating pounds of corded muscle, which flexed and rippled beneath thin, reptilian hide. The alien was huge. Not a match for the scarred giant, perhaps, but he could definitely have given him a run for his money.

  He was also very naked—the dangling fact of which Robin was trying very very hard not to notice. Clearly a victim of Eva’s de-pantsifying ray, and not even remotely shy about it, despite all that. Though, with the clear threat he posed, she supposed a bit of nudity shouldn’t rank too high on her list of priorities. With the kids huddling at her back, and the others nowhere in sight, Robin was left with very few options.

  Really, only one, if she were being honest.

  “This is so dumb,” she murmured.

  Feeling like she were standing in the eye of the storm—a strange bubble of calm having descended upon their little tableau amidst the raging chaos—Robin took a single step forward. The beast man’s face split into a wide grin. It then flexed it’s forearms. Eight inch claws extending from its fingers. Robin tried not to shudder. Took another step forward, and squared up. Falling into the practiced fighting stance she’d been taught by an especially martially gifted five year old.

  Feet shoulder’s width apart. Hips slightly turned. Balance on the balls of my feet. Engage my core…

  Seeing her slowly readjust her stance as she went down her mental checklist, the beast man threw back its head and howled with laughter. Although to her ears, it sounded more like a tire taking on a leak. Robin grimaced, ears burning, but still she continued with her checklist all the same.

  She was by no means helpless. She’d dealt some fairly serious damage on several occasions in the past. Now, granted, those had all been on largely immobile targets, and not seven foot tall alien body builders, but, all that said, she’d always known that a day like this would come.

  Because, really, the odds of the guy just up and standing still while she reeled back and walloped him were-

  Snapping his head back in her direction, a condescending leer on his face, the beast man slapped his stomach a few times, as if offering for her to do just that. The arrogant glint in its eyes goading her to “give it all she got.” Incredulous, Robin hesitantly sidled forward to acquiesce. They weren’t particularly far apart, so it didn’t take her long to step within striking range. And yet, despite her close proximity, the towering lizard man didn’t make a single threatening move. Merely stared at her with those cold reptilian eyes.

  “Like pow!” Donald helpfully supplied from the background.

  And, shrugging in a “well, you asked for it,” gesture Robin did as she was told.

  Power Blow!

  Her fist rocketed forward too fast for her eyes to track. A gust of wind kicked up in the wake of its passage. Blowing her hair back wildly and cooling the sweat from her brow. Her knuckles colliding with his washboarded abdomen, the impact reverberating up her arm to the elbow. A sharp pain lancing through her shoulder joint. The bone nearly yanked from its socket. And yet, whatever pain she was feeling, the beast man had to be experiencing something several times worse.

  The same ability that’d punched a hole straight on through a thick oak, hammering like a piston into its unprotected belly. The Ra’ak Neerian doubled over. Robin’s spirits rose. Then it lifted its eyes to meet hers, and that same leer from before became cruel and nasty. A massive hand wrapped around her wrist in the next instant. Holding it fast, despite her struggles. With an effortless flex of its forearm, it crushed the bones of her wrist to dust between its fingers.

  Robin screamed.

  Eyes glimmering with a sadistic sort of glee, it reached its other hand towards her face. An ominous shadow falling over an expression twisted in agony. Large enough to palm her entire head in one big paw. So transfixed was she by what seemed inevitable, that she almost failed to register the feel of something scrambling over her back. Ans by the time she did, it was already too late.

  None too gently, a tiny foot used the top of her head like a springboard. Robin nearly bit off her tongue, before she snapped her head up with a mix of horror and awe. She saw it all happen as if in slow motion. Skye soaring through the air. Grin far too wide. Red hair billowing behind her like a frizzy red banner. And in her hand, a simple stone dagger shone with a dull white radiance.

  As Robin tracked her majestic arc through the air, so too did the Ra’ak Neerian. Not registering what it was seeing until the blade she held was already in motion.

  Two whistling arcs lashing out in rapid succession. Blood spraying in a wide arc on the backswing—scarlet drops fountaining from lacerated eyeballs.

  The lizard man recoiled. Releasing Robin to swat blindly at the air. The very edge of its palm clipping the wild child in passing. It was enough to send the little girl flying several meters to skip across the ground like a stone across a pond. Only coming to a stop after three consecutive rebounds, whereupon she lay eerily still.

  Robin’s heart sank, even as the lizard man hissed and raged—clawing wildly at the air. Forcing Robin to duck more than once, still very much at the mercy of their close proximity. Even though all she really wanted to do, was rush over and see if the little Mackenzie girl was alright. Stymied at every occasion however by the rampaging lizard man, all she could do was flick the occasional glance towards the unmoving body, and pray the worst hadn’t come to pass.

  Ironically, it was during one such longing glance, that the problem of the enraged alien was summarily taken off her hands. The sound of several charged projectiles crackling through the air immediately grabbed her attention. The heavy thump that nearly threw her off her feet, likewise.

  ?-|—(You have assisted in slaying an enemy: Unknown Ra’ak Neerian Combatant [Lvl 49])—|-?

  Experience Gained. Participation Points Gained.

  [+50 Participation Points]

  Looking back and forth, the order of events became rather obvious. The sudden appearance of Maya, now sporting two of the alien, high tech rifles—one she propped up against her side, and the other she’d somehow strapped to her back. And the still form of the berserking bodybuilder. A neat little hole burned through the center of his forehead.

  Robin didn’t even have time to marvel at the accuracy of the shot. Already sprinting towards the unmoving red haired form, broken wrist cradled in the other arm.

  Dropping to her knees, she skidded forward until she was hovering over the body, biting her lip to keep from crying out in pain. With trembling fingers, she reached forward to sweep the mess of hair from her face, already imagining the worst.

  Which of course meant that she was in no way prepared when the little thing exploded to her feet. Bloody dagger held high and voice raised in a shrill war cry. Eyes alight with her first taste of blood in this new world, and clearly jonesing for more.

  Skye Mackenzie caught sight of a number of potential victims in the distance, and, without an ounce of hesitation, immediately leapt into the fray.

  Robin scooped the little trouble maker up by her collar, and dragged the kicking and screaming toddler toward the others like she were hauling a sack of potatoes.

  “Seriously, what are we going to do with you?”

  +++

  Richard resurfaced from blank unconsciousness in degrees. Small increments at a time. Only regaining access to his full range of senses one after another. First came his sense of smell, the earthy scents of nature instantly flooding his nostrils. Next came touch, finding himself lying atop something soft and crumbly.

  Loam?

  His sense of taste came next. The air slightly sweet and refreshing, like chopped cucumber and honeysuckle. His hearing was quick to follow. The burble of a nearby stream the first thing to reach him. Followed by the rustle of leaves, the twitter of birdsong, and finally, a cheerfully whistled tune. An expert rendition of a song he’d never heard. His eyesight came last.

  Although, considering he’d yet to actually open his eyes, it was entirely possible he’d gotten the order a bit mixed up.

  He opened them, and immediately squinted at the blinding light which assailed his corneas. Slowly at first, but with increasing acceleration, the world came into focus. And what he was immediately met with was… green. The verdant, almost unbelievable green of a well tended garden. And yet the twisting leaves and trees and vines which greeted him were anything but cultivated. Rampant, wild, and untamed, for all intents and purposes, they appeared untouched by man.

  Ever so slowly, Richard rose to a seated position. Curious as to just who was whistling that jaunty tune. When he caught sight of the originator of the airy melody, however, his next words tumbled out of his mouth almost unbidden.

  “Oh? Shaper. But- what are you doing here?”

  The young boy, dirt smudging his nose and cheek—entirely unbecoming of a god—stopped whatever it was he’d been doing, glanced over his shoulder, and smiled.