14 The Bloodthirsters (2/2)

After 2 more minutes in this fashion, the Commodore backed out, bleeding from many small cuts. She had no serious injuries, having been quick enough to mitigate most of the damage from the knives. But her ego was wounded. She thought she was the fastest of the two, but know, she had trouble following her human counterpart.

And yet, Henry had to stop using his power-up, for he was beginning to lack time on his life clock. He dashed back at Britanny at his normal speed, wanting to finish this up fast. But his reduced speed did not escape her keen eyes. She grinned. She boosted her speed up and started buzzing with lightning all over, looking like a god of thunder.

She rammed into Henry at full speed and started battering him like a boxer on a punching bag. Henry couldn't do anything. In the tree, Jhonny tried the best he could to follow the two fighters. But they were moving way too fast for him. he kept his eye glued to the scope, in hope of an opening to help out Henry.

As the fight continued, Henry lost more and more ground. He kept going in short for attacks, which left him open for rapid counters from Bitchany. He was piling up damage at a fast pace. As the Commodore went in for a kick to his face, he lifted his arm to block. As the leg met his arm, he heard a small cracking sound.

” That's not good. ” Henry thought.

In that short instant, Henry saw the reflection from a scope in the trees. He remembered Jhonny was still perched up there and realized the kid was waiting for an opportunity to help him. So he decided to give him one. He quickly lifted his arm in an angle and switched to an overarm grab on Brittany's leg. As soon as he had locked her leg in place, he saw the laser going straight for the back of the woman's head.

Feeling a gaze on her, the Commodore realized what Henry was trying to do. With a rapid change in strength, she kicked at Henry's chest, causing another sonic boom and forcing him to let her go. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't quick enough to completely dodge the shot and got hit in the thigh, the laser boring a hole through it.

” ARRGH! ” She howled, in pain.

As for Henry, he was sent barreling through the air, a footprint in on his chest. He smacked right into a big old tree, only to lose his breath and fall to the ground, severely wounded. He gasped for air for a few seconds, while the system was berating him in his head.

” Host has taken a hit we have advised against. Damage received critical. Diverting lifespan towards restoring internal injuries. Diverting lifespan towards repairing broken ribs. Lifespan levels are critical. We advise host to finish this fight shortly, or death will ensue. ” It blared in his head.

” Shut up! ” Henry growled. ” I know what I have to do. ” He replied, whilst getting up.

Getting back to his feet, he noticed the Commodore was going towards Jhonny's perch, but a lot slower than she was earlier. Looking closely, he noticed the gaping hole in her thigh, which was bleeding profusely. He decided to bench on her lack of mobility to finish this.

Henry ran towards her in the most discreet manner he could, hoping to sneak behind her. By the time he finally made it to Britanny, she was already in front of the tree Jhonny was perched in. The angle at which Jhonny was positioned barred him from taking a shot at her to save his hide. Brittany started charging up her power to her left hand. It soon became as bright as a small sun, crackling with thunder.

” You will pay for what you have done, brat. Once you fall down from there, I'll rip you to shreds! ” She yelled at him, fiercely.

She then punched hard at the tree trunk, sundering it in one hit. The tree slowly began tipping over. Jhonny, on his part, grabbed the rifle and started moving to the upper side of the tree, to keep himself from being squash to death. When the tree hit the ground, he was already on the safe side. Yet his fear kicked in, realizing he was no longer safe from the woman of terrorizing strength.

Trying to leave the area as quickly as possible he got up. He tried walking on the branches to get out of the trees' clutches, only to trip and jam his leg between two broken branches, tearing his pants and puncturing his calf. Wincing in pain, he tried to pull himself free, only to groan in pain. He was stuck there.

He then saw the woman slowly dragging herself towards him, an evil smile on her face. The terror he felt from that smile froze him in place. He was going to die here, he was sure of that. As she got closer to him, his eyes teared up and he peed himself.

” I don't want to die. ” He said, in tears.

” Then don't! ” Henry screamed, popping up behind the Commodore.

Stabbing down with his twin kukris' into Bitchany's shoulders, he pinned her down to the ground.

”AAARRRGGHHH !! ” The woman yelled, in agony. ” How are you still alive!? ” She screamed at him.

” I'm a tough cookie, Bitchany. You won't kill me that easily. ” Henry said, grinning.

Britanny felt her body growing weak as if her energy was draining out of her. She could feel her blood being sucked out from her by the knife wounds.

” What are you doing to me! Get off me, scum! ” She yelled, in panic.

” Like hell, I will! Die, Bitch! ” Henry said, bracing even more.

” Then you're going to die with me, you trash! ” She growled.

Her body began glowing slowly. And sure enough, the system blared in Henry's head again.

” DANGER!! DANGER!! Host is advised to immediately leave the vicinity. Strong energy levels have been detected. Tamarain Commodore is attempting to self charge herself. This will result in self-destruction and will encompass a mile wide in every direction in the explosion. Leave immediately. ” It said in a grave tone.

” FUCK!! ” Henry yelled. ” Can it be aborted? ” He asked the system, in panic.

” The only way to stop this would be the complete annihilation of targets' Galvanic Gland. ” The system answered.

” What the hell. ” Henry swore. ” There is no way I can crack her head bust her gland before she blows up. ” He affirmed.

Then a thought flashed in his head. He lifted his head to see the kid still stricken with terror in front of him. The rifle was one foot away from him.

” Kid! ... Kid!! ... Snap out of it! ” Henry hollered at Jhonny.

After the third attempt, Jhonny finally snapped back to reality. Then he noticed the Tamarain glowing like a mini sun, Henry still latching on to her with his knives.

” Huh? ” He said, still in shock.

” Kid! Blow her head off with the rifle! Put it at maximum output and burn her head to dust. ” Henry yelled, his eyes wincing from the brightness. ” Do it now! ” He added.

Jhonny finally catching on to what was asked of him, he looked at the rifle next to him and fumbled to pick it up. After briefly tampering with the power setting, he aimed at the Commodore. But then he froze again. He was going to hit Henry too if he shot.

” I can't do it! I'll hit you too if I shoot her in the face. ” Jhonny said, fear permeating his eyes.

” Just do it, kid! ” Henry yelled. ” Don't worry about me! ” He added.

Henry's skin had started sizzling, and the pain was slowly making him lose his grip on the hilts of his kukris. The system started counting down in his head.

” 5 ”

” 4 ”

” 3 ”

” 2 ”

” 1 ”

” SHIIIIIIIT!!!!! ” Henry screamed.

And then, nothing.