Getting ready to face destiny... Wasn't this what we have been doing since the start?
Kadyn's hands remained steady, her blade extended without an ounce of hesitation. Never has she been so certain, so convinced of her action. All the trauma, the pain and unresolved suffering led to this moment, to this battle before her eyes. Beside her stood men who shared her conviction, ready to lay down their lives in a fight for what was right.
Though it took forever, the elevator finally rang to signal their arrival. When the door opened, Kadyn was confronted with the same familiar face that had once scarred her and broken her. Yet, even as KD-554 and Kadyn exchanged a long stare across the room, Kadyn showed no fear or emotions. KD-554 claimed to be a monster, so Kadyn will show her the treatment fit for a monster.
[KD-554] - "Took you people long enough to arrive. I was getting impatient. "
Said KD-554 as if she wasn't responsible for the elevator's speed.
Slowly, KD-554 rose up from her desk as Kadyn and her squad approached her through the vast room.
[KD-554] - "Come on, don't be shy! You were the ones who wanted so badly to confront me, so here I am. "
Said KD-554 with an inviting extension of her arms.
Shadowing Kadyn, both Voss and Nilsson quickly drew their weapons. Acting the teeth of his battle-axe, still engraved with Captain Sven's name on it, Nilsson withdrew the antlers on his helmet and prepared for battle. Meanwhile, Voss slammed the handle of his warhammer on the floor while the Zeus-claws on his right arm flipped to an active position. Behind the group, Oltevin loaded his Chimera carbine before aiming at KD-554.
[KD-554] - "Heh! As expected from you, you pitiful whore! Couldn't get the job done by yourself, so you had to gather up a sorry collection of fools stupid enough to follow you to the grave. Might as well dig up your male's corpse at this rate, haha– "
Before KD-554 could finish her sentence, Oltevin blasted her across the face with a well-placed shot, disfiguring her face and dislocating her jaw. However, before Kadyn could make a move, KD-554's mangled face quickly rebuilt itself without issue.
[KD-554] - "Ahahaha! You people are finally making this a little more interesting. "
Said KD-554 with a delighted lick of her lips.
All of a sudden, KD-554 leaped over her desk and headed straight for Kadyn in a mad dash.
[Kadyn] - "NOW! Oltevin! "
Yelled Kadyn as she stepped back.
[Oltevin] - "Guilt Extension: Stalin's Ten Blows! "
Screamed Oltevin as he activated his crystals.
In an instant, a zone of inward collapsing air pressure manifested around KD-554, trapping her in place. Shocked, KD-554 immediately tried to manoeuvre out of the way, but she would end up getting pushed back from all directions, no matter what she tried.
[Kadyn] - "Get her! "
Yelled Kadyn as Voss and Nilsson split up around KD-554.
As Kadyn stared at KD-554, expecting at least a bit of fear in her inhuman red eyes, she only found, to her surprise, a twisted sense of thrill on her face.
[KD-554] - "Come to me! Bring me the slaughter, you pathetic shitstain! "
Yelled KD-554 as her body began to morph into a monstrous abomination.
Kadyn was the first to land a strike on KD-554, as she slashed through a few of extented spike limbs of her evil sister. However, Kadyn had to quickly shift to the defensive as KD-554 began to encircle her using more and more limb extensions. Suddenly, with a powerful strike, Nilsson slashed half of KD-554's face off using his axe, causing her to shift her attention toward him.
However, instead of indulging in the combat, Nilsson quickly backed away as if he was trying to avoid something. At first, KD-554 pushed her advantage, but she was soon familiarized with the thing Nilsson was avoiding. In one merciless strike, Voss's hammer collided with KD-554's body, causing an impact so powerful that her body was shattered into piles of broken metal shards. Using this opportunity, Kadyn dashed in and struck KD-554 in the chest before her anti-material blade ripped a huge chunk of KD-554's torso off her body.
At that moment, as KD-554's body was the most broken it had ever been, Kadyn caught a glimpse of KD-554's few vital organs. Though KD-554 had ascended beyond flesh, there were still a few pieces of her original body that ensured her existence. Glistening in the dim lights is the sight of KD-554's artificial heart, the wicked black blood vessels attached to the neck of the monster staring back at Kadyn. There's no doubt KD-554 knew Kadyn saw her weak spot, and it finally gave her the first taste of anxiety in her whole life.
[Kadyn] - "Strike her there! That's where her heart is! "
Yelled Kadyn as she pointed at a chunk of KD-554's mangled body.
With an annoyed grunt, KD-554 tried to reform her body, but the attacks against her were relentless. Just as she was near reforming her abdomen, she would receive a strike from Voss to the skull. Then, just as she was about to try to stand up, she would receive a crippling slash on the back by Kadyn. That was not to mention, KD-554's spikes and blade could do nothing to harm the Imperial Marines' invincible armour.
As strike after strike forced KD-554 to both shift her vital organs and brain around to not get killed while trying to fight back, she realized that she was slowly losing against Kadyn. Yet, even as Kadyn witnessed the first few drops of blood ever shed by KD-554 as some of her damaged blood vessels began leaking, the monster didn't show a single bit of fear. Instead, KD-554 was laughing, harder and harder with each second she was nearing her end. The laughter disturbed Kadyn; These were not the laughter of madness or mockery, but the laughter of someone sane and logical who was expecting a victory.
Though Kadyn wanted to stop and investigate what kind of monstrous tricks KD-554 had planned for them, she simply couldn't bring herself to stop. The hatred inside Kadyn was calling to her. She needed to finish off the monster that was on the verge of defeat, no matter what else awaited her in the dark. She was so close, so close to ending the reign of the beast that tormented her every nightmare.
With another stab, Kadyn splashed a massive trail of KD-554's blood across the floor– She was so close, so close to finishing off the bleeding beast. Just one more minute, one more second, and she could deal the finishing blow to KD-554. By the heavens, by Mike's blessing, by all the sacrifices made by the people before Kadyn, just please, one more moment...
But...
[KD-554] - "Hahahaha! Ahahaha! You have always believed in humanity, but your humanity has always been weaker than my savagery. You and your dreams will drown in the blood sea of a world that recognizes me as its truth! "
Said KD-554 with hatred through her barely recognizable face.
A brief wave of cold sweats passed through all three warriors' bodies as they felt an unnatural quality to KD-554's hatred. It almost felt as if her hatred was a sentencing, a prediction of the grim future to come. It was a feeling they could not explain, as a chill soon crept up from behind them. The five elevators suddenly rang simultaneously as their doors opened to reveal cabins packed to the brim with armed civilians.
Kadyn turned to witness the blood-chilling sight of nearly a hundred men and women, all bearing madness and desperation inside their eyes, approaching her position.
[KD-554] - "Here she is! The target! Kill her! Kill her, and your children and loved ones will be freed! Destroy her! "
Screamed KD-554 with a child-like enthusiasm.
As Oltevin tried raising his rifle to defend himself, Kadyn extended her hands in a panic.
[Kadyn] - "No! These are just civilians! "
Yelled Kadyn as she turned briefly away from KD-554.
But to these desperate people, Kadyn was nothing but an object to be destroyed so their loved ones could be safe. They didn't care about humanity or the ethics of their actions. In their desperation, killing Kadyn is the only right course of action, morality be damned.
Despite Oltevin's best effort at holding the crowd back, he was quickly overwhelmed before being stabbed in the back with a kitchen knife.
[Oltevin] - "AAAH! "
Screamed Oltevin in pain, before he kicked away one of his assailants.
Turning around, Kadyn stabbed KD-554 with such fury that she ended up sending a huge piece of KD-554's body to the side. Yet, no matter how hard she struck at KD-554, the monster simply wouldn't die.
[Kadyn] - "You freak! You fucking bloody devil! You fucking piece of shit! "
Yelled Kadyn in a frenzy as she desperately tried to kill KD-554.
It was finally clear, all this time, KD-554 had engineered every single moment to break Kadyn's character. It was just like back in the Government Tower, a trap laid to test Kadyn's humanity, modified to favour KD-554's narrative. It was unfair, as if reality were bending each and every single time to let KD-554's narrative win.
[KD-554] - "You've lost again, you worthless cumstain! You will always lose against me, because this is nature's design! You'll always lose to me because the universe willed it this way! "
Said KD-554 with an unhinged smile.
As Oltevin lost focus, his ability also faded around KD-554, which allowed the monster to slip away in an instant. As the swarm of people converged on Kadyn, Voss and Nilsson quickly stepped before her to defend her, cutting people down by the dozen without an ounce of mercy. Yet, before long, another five full cabins of people poured into the room, adding more fuel to the chaos. All the while, KD-554's laughter can be heard echoing through the room in a delighted mockery of Kadyn's situation.
[KD-554] - "How does it feel? Do you finally feel the euphoria that came with the smell of blood? I've won again, you filthy, rotting whore! "
Behind the two Marines, Kadyn stared with shock in her eyes as the gore of the two soldiers' violence began to coat her face in red.
[Kadyn] - "Stop it... "
Whispered Kadyn with tremors all over her body.
Yet, the violence would not cease as the blood of the innocent rolled off Kadyn's face. Suddenly, KD-554 pulled Kadyn around and made her face her reflection on the window.
[KD-554] - "You're weak. That's why you couldn't defend those you loved. Look at those people, all rushing to meet their end because they are all braver than you in defending what they care about. Humanity... Is but a lie. You lied to your husband... Led him to his grave with your weakness. You've failed your sisters because you. Are. WEAK! "
Said KD-554 tauntingly before she grabbed Kadyn's cheeks with her ice-cold claws.
Anger quickly rose through Kadyn's heart as she abruptly slashed up at KD-554. Yet, with incredible agility, KD-554 kicked Kadyn away from Voss and Nilsson, thus isolating them from her. Then, as Kadyn stood up to fight, KD-554 adopted a dozen arms as her combat configuration.
[Kadyn] - "DIEEEEEE! "
Sreamed Kadyn in a fit of rage.
With savage stabs, Kadyn initially made KD-554 back away. However, the monster quickly adapted to her rage by remaining calm. Before long, KD-554 blocked Kadyn's blades, grabbed both of her hands and pinned her against the wall. In a flash, KD-554's arms all stabbed forward, puncturing Kadyn's limbs, chest and abdomen.
[KD-554] - "You never had a chance. Not even in your dreams! "
Said KD-554 as she stared into Kadyn's eyes with her burning, hatred-filled irises.
A small mouthful of blood escaped Kadyn's mouth as her defiant stare slowly gave way to defeat.
[Kadyn] - "I'll fight you... I'll never stop... "
Said Kadyn as she struggled to breathe with the blades through her lungs.
[KD-554] - "Of course not. Where is the fun if you ever stop? "
Said KD-554 with a smile.
Kadyn looked at Voss and Nilsson, hoping that they would come save her. Yet, KD-554 quickly caught on to Kadyn's gaze and followed it toward the two warriors.
[KD-554] - "You are still holding onto hope, you pitiful creature. Let me show how your weakness is the downfall of all whom you hold dear! "
Said KD-554 before throwing Kadyn on the floor like a rag.
[Kadyn] - "Nooo! Please! Just let them go... "
Said Kadyn as she tried to move, but was too injured to even lift her arm.
Upon Kadyn's pitiful state, KD-554 let out a massive grin of amusement. With a mocking wink, KD-554 placed a finger before her mouth, signalling for Kadyn to stay silent.
[Kadyn] - "Nooo! Noooooo! *sobs* Not them too! God! Noooo! "
Cried Kadyn in guilty sobs.
As Voss finished cutting down the last of the assailants, he turned around only to fall face-to-face with KD-554. Without thinking, Voss slashed KD-554 across the neck, but as her head fell to the ground, her body quickly wrapped around his armour.
[Voss] - "Shit! Get off me, you slimy creature! "
The liquid metal body quickly found its way to the only opening on Voss's armour, which was his fusion reactor's exhaust exits. Without effort, KD-554's body invaded the reactor and began wreaking havoc on its internal components. Nilsson quickly tried to help, but KD-554's head quickly leaped onto him as well, like a spider, before also crawling into his reactor's exhaust nozzle.
[Nilsson] - "Shit! She's got on me as well! "
Soon, the Marines' armour not only lost power, but also lost their functions as the delicate technology inside was compromised as well. Right after Nilsson, Voss fell to the ground, the heavy dead armour dragging his body to the ground and trapping him like a prisoner.
[Kadyn] - "Aaaaargh! Aaaaaah! AAAAAAAH! "
Screamed Kadyn in anger and guilt.
Kadyn tried to crawl through the floor filled with gore to her friends, but her limbs and body simply didn't listen to her input. Meanwhile, with a confident grin, KD-554 kicked Voss on the head while side-eying Kadyn with a mocking smirk.
[KD-554] - "Ah, yes, the drama queen herself is screaming as usual. Could you be any less dramatic? I haven't even killed them both yet. "
Said KD-554 while rolling her eyes.
[Kadyn] - "Just spare them! Stop this already! Let this city go free, take me if you want! "
Pleaded Kadyn through sobs.
[KD-554] - "PATHETIC! What happened to you'll never stop fighting? Haven't you learned anything yet, you brain-dead, Down syndrome worm? Your weakness caused this! Your failure caused this! Your humanity is the reason why those you cared about died! "
Yelled KD-554 while her eyes burned with hatred.
Grabbing one of the decapitated heads from the floor, KD-554 walked toward Kadyn before kneeling down to meet her.
[KD-554] - "This woman, this ordinary woman with no power or allies, did something you don't have the gut the to do. She chose to embrace her nature to save those she loved. Meanwhile, you could've won, you could've had a future, but you chose to live in delusion, holding onto the idea that humanity is strength. "
Said KD-554 before taking a deep breath.
Kadyn stared up at KD-554 with hatred in her eyes, but could only gasp as blood flooded her mouth once again.
[KD-554] - "Let me tell you something... "
Said KD-554 calmly.
Without warning, KD-554 abruptly pressed the decapitated head against Kadyn's face and forced her to kiss the severed head. Though Kadyn struggled, KD-554 cruelly held her head with her cold, shiny claws while a sick look of pleasure crept up on her face.
[KD-554] - "... I'll never let you die. I'll make you suffer eternally just so you can never rest in peace or join your mate in the afterlife! I'll keep you alive, so I can kill every single one of your dreams one by one until they bleed out of your eye sockets. I'll break you until you live with less blood circulating in your system than I do– "
Said KD-554 as madness filled her expanding crimson irises.
Before KD-554 could say another word, a blast rang through the room as a piece of her head suddenly went missing. Shocked, KD-554 dropped the severed head, allowing Kadyn to finally gasp for air while sobbing like a traumatized child.
[Oltevin] - "Leave her alone, you beast! Your fight is with me! "
Said Oltevin as he held the stab wound on his back.
The muzzle of Oltevin soon flashed again, causing KD-554 to take another hit, then another. However, KD-554 gradually snapped out of her stupor and began to laugh at Oltevin.
[KD-554] - "Hahahaha! No way! No fucking way! See that, you worthless cunt? Even your friend is braver than you are. He's not there crying like a bitch, isn't he? "
Taunted KD-554 while staring at Kadyn.
Meanwhile, Kadyn kept crying, oblivious to KD-554's mean comment.
[KD-554] - "Shut the fuck up, you pathetic slut! Need me to stuff your ugly mouth with a severed cock on the floor next? "
Yelled KD-554 in anger before kicking Kadyn in the face.
[Oltevin] - "Leave her alone! I'm not gonna repeat myself! "
Yelled Oltevin before firing on KD-554 again.
However, despite the bullet leaving a massive hole in KD-554's chest, she remained unfazed by him.
[Kadyn] - "Oltevin! Stop this! Just run, I beg you! Please, I can't afford to lose you, too! PLEASE! OLTEVIN, I BLOODY BEG YOU! "
Cried Kadyn, using the last of her strength.
[KD-554] - "Oh no, he's not going anywhere. He's the type of man with the courage to be the true version of himself, unlike you. "
[Kadyn] - "AAAAAHHH! Fuck you, you bitch! Just run, Oltevin! "
Cried Kadyn in a voice filled with pain.
Oltevin shot at KD-554 again, but this time, the monster dashed toward him at incredible speed before her blade severed the arm he used to hold the carbine. Yet, Oltevin didn't scream in pain. He instead pulled out his combat knife and stabbed KD-554's face. However, instead of reacting to the attack, KD-554 simply swallowed the knife into her face.
[KD-554] - "Tell me... "
Said KD-554 before she began to morph her body into something monstrous.
Before long, KD-554 became a massive, ghoulish creature with long, jagged teeth and a pair of burning eyes straight from someone's nightmare. She towered over even Oltevin's massive frame as her claws surrounded and dug into Oltevin's flesh.
[KD-554] - "Do you fear me, brave human? "
Oltevin didn't show a single bit of fear or worry as he stood tall against KD-554.
[Oltevin] - "I don't. I've faced many monsters in my life, so I do not fear the likes of you. I do not fear a coward hiding behind her own made-up lies. "
KD-554 grinned at the man's courage before peeking at Kadyn as if to let her know what was about to come next. Without a warning, KD-554 slashed her blade across Oltevin's abdomen, instantly causing his intestines to splash all over the ground. Then, with a powerful kick, KD-554 sent Oltevin flying before landing in front of Kadyn.
Despite the pain, Oltevin raised his eyes at Kadyn before smiling rassuringly at her.
[Oltevin] - "I guess this is it, comrade. It was an honour. You taunt me to fight without fear, to be the hero I wanted to be. "
Said Oltevin in a weak voice.
With tears in her eyes, Kadyn whimpered in agony while staring at her old friend.
[Kadyn] - "Oltevin... Do not go... "
Wimpered Kadyn while trying to reach him.
Oltevin was Kadyn's first friend when everyone doubted her. He was the man who inspired Audrey to have faith in her and was the only one who'd rather be by her side, even through hell. When she needed help, he was there to help as one of her most loyal friends. There was still so much Kadyn wanted to say to him, yet no word came out of her mouth.
[Oltevin] - "My sister from another mother, remember, be brave. I'm your eternal comrade, today and always. "
Suddenly, KD-554 grabbed Oltevin by the head and forced his mouth open. Then, positioning her hand over his mouth, she allowed a piece of her to drip into his throat.
[Kadyn] - "Comrade... Don't go... "
Whispered Kadyn as tears kept flowing from her eyes.
[Oltevin] - "I have no regret coming here. And I leave, with no regret. "
Said Oltevin as he saluted Kadyn for the last time.
Suddenly, a violent pain forced Oltevin to the ground before blood flowed out of his every orifice like an unholy horror show. The poor man began to scream in pain, but not a single word would come out of his mouth. Before long, his flesh began to stretch until it ripped off his bones and fell off his body. Kadyn closed her eyes, but KD-554 immediately forced her eyes open against her will while laughing.
[Kadyn] - "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! "
Screamed Kadyn in agony as jolts of pain passed through her heart.
Soon, the horror ended as Oltevin passed from the immeasurable pain, an undignified fate for a man of honour like him. Even Mike's ghost turned away from the ungodly sight while he saluted Oltevin to pay his last respects.
[KD-554] - "It's your fault, you pathetic worm. Your weakness caused him such a death. It's all you, you disgusting, rotting piece of shit. "
Said KD-554 while staring at Kadyn in disgust.
[Kadyn] - "Nooo... No... "
Sobbed Kadyn in defeat.
[KD-554] - "Ugh! I'm so sick of watching your trashy, dramatic acting... Can you do something other than cry, you pathetic mutt? "
Said KD-554 hatefully as she looked down in disgust.
With an annoyed yell, KD-554 abruptly stumped so hard on Kadyn's head that the floor cracked under her face. Finally, Kadyn fell silent, her consciousness lost in the violent impact. As the room finally fell silent, KD-554 moved toward the two incapacitated Marines and worked carefully to undo the seals of their armour pieces.
Finally, as soon as Voss and Nilsson were freed from their prison, they immediately leaped out and grabbed their weapons. However, without the additional strength granted by their armour, their weapons proved to be quite hard to wield. Yet, as they prepared to fight KD-554, the monster walked away from them instead.
[KD-554] - "Take her and run away. She still has one more fight to offer me. "
Said KD-554 before shining a grin on her twisted face.
After sharing a look between them, both Voss and Nilsson knew that they had no realistic chance of winning against KD-554 in their current state. Without much deliberation, Voss went with the smarter choice and grabbed Kadyn's unconscious body before he and Nilsson stormed into the waiting elevator cabin.
[KD-554] - "Thank you for the fun. Come again! "
Said KD-554 with a pleased smile.
As the elevator door shut on the two Marines, KD-554 immediately pulled her mic up to her mouth.
[KD-554] - "Come on, people, the hunt is still ongoing. "
Meanwhile, on the floor, Oltevin lay dead amidst the other unnamed bodies. Yet, unlike others, he didn't die a selfish man, but a man who fought for what's right all the way until the very end. That day, his village lost a protector, and the group lost a friend.
To be continued...