The worm surged forward, its body rippling like a living avalanche. Concrete shattered as it closed the distance in seconds.
"Move," Fantastica barked.
They scattered. Justin shot straight up, the creature's teeth snapping through the space he'd just been in. The impact sent a shock through the street that rattled his ribs even in the air.
Fantastica didn't wait. "Jay-Jay, take to the skies. I want eyes on this thing at all times. Call everything you see."
Liza was already airborne. "On it."
"Tiger Eye," Fantastica continued, "get civilians clear. Fast and wide."
Braxton nodded once and vanished down the street in a blur of orange and black.
Fantastica pointed two fingers at Justin. "Atlas. Circle it. Hit it from the sides. I'll take the front and go for the rider."
"Got it," Justin said, already moving.
The worm reared up again, Dio Under steady atop its head, one hand pressed against the creature like he was calming a horse. Fantastica flew straight at him, fists glowing as he threw the first strike.
Justin came around the flank.
That's when the skin moved.
Bulges rippled along the worm's side. Then they split open. Smaller worms burst free, slick and pale, snapping as they launched themselves outward.
"Oh, that's gross," Justin muttered.
One latched onto his arm. He slammed it into the pavement and crushed it, but three more followed. Fantastica took a hit to the shoulder as one wrapped around his forearm.
"Secondary threats," Fantastica called. "They're spawning."
Down below, Justin caught a glimpse of Braxton skidding to a stop, shoving civilians behind a wrecked bus as more of the smaller worms spilled toward the street.
"Liza," Justin said into comms. "Any idea what we're dealing with?"
"I'm seeing it now," she replied, voice tight. "The large worm's female. There's a hatch along the underside. That's where they're coming from. They're crawling back under the skin once they're out."
Justin twisted midair, spotting it. A pulsing slit along the belly, wet and constantly opening. Fantastica grunted as he tore another worm off his leg. "Can you close it?"
"I can try," Liza said. "But there's too many. I can't get close enough alone."
"I'm on my way," Justin said immediately.
"Alright," Fantastica replied. "You and Jay-Jay close the hatch. Tiger Eye and I will hold the ground."
Justin angled upward, blasting toward Liza as another wave of worms poured out below. The plan is set.
Now they just had to survive long enough to pull it off.
Justin stayed between the hatch and Liza, fists moving on instinct. The smaller worms swarmed him, pale bodies snapping and twisting as they tried to climb past. He crushed one midair. Another burst against his forearm. A third lunged for his throat and didn't make it.
"Almost got it," Liza said, circling beneath the main body. Her eyes stayed locked on the pulsing slit along the worm's underside.
"Take your time," Justin said. "I can do this all day."
She wasn't. She dove anyway, driving a hard kick into the fleshy hatch. The giant worm screamed, its whole body spasming. The opening clenched, then forced itself open again as more of the smaller things spilled out.
"Stubborn," Liza muttered.
Justin rammed into the swarm, clearing space. One of the worms launched toward Liza as she pulled back from another strike. Justin caught it with one hand and hurled it into the street below.
"Hey," he said. "We do this together."
She glanced at him and nodded once. They rose in sync, pulling altitude. Justin felt the worm coil beneath them and felt the hatch stretch again as it tried to open. They came down hard. Justin drove both fists forward as Liza followed through with a full-body strike.
The hatch slammed shut. The creature howled, thrashing, but nothing else came out. No movement. No more worms. Justin laughed and slapped Liza's hand in a quick high five. "That's teamwork."
"Ground team," Liza said into comms. "Hatch is sealed. No more spawns."
"Copy," Fantastica replied. "Good work."
Justin turned just in time to see the flash.
Pain tore through his back as a laser slammed into him, sending him spinning through the air. He barely caught himself before crashing into a storefront.
Dio Under hovered nearby, one arm smoking. "Had a few upgrades since I got out of that box," he said calmly.
Each of his fingers reshaped, metal sliding into place. Five compact blasters locked in.
Justin saw where they were pointing. "Liza, move."
He launched himself forward as Dio fired. Justin hit him midair, knocking the shots wide as they crashed together and tumbled into the street.
They rolled apart. Dio's hand shifted again, forming a glowing blade. He slashed. The edge cut deep enough to sting. Deeper than Justin liked.
"Okay," Justin said, wiping blood from his side. "That's new."
They clashed again. Fists. Elbows. Dio was precise. Justin was relentless. In the end, Justin's power won. He caught an opening and drove an uppercut into Dio's jaw.
At the same moment, the street shook. Braxton, Liza, and Fantastica struck the worm's head together. One coordinated hit. The beast collapsed in a violent explosion of flesh and debris.
Justin dragged Dio upright and dropped him at their feet. "Looks like the job's done."
Dio laughed from the pavement, breath hitching, chest rising in uneven pulls. Blood slipped from the corner of his mouth, streaking down his chin as he turned his head just enough to look at Justin.
"You really think this is over," he said. "It's not even close."
Justin didn't respond. He watched Dio's eyes instead. Too calm. Too satisfied.
"Kaine's come to collect," Dio continued, coughing once. "Debt's due, Emerald Atlas, and the Decay Group always gets payment in blood."
The words barely landed before everyone's comm crackled. Static tore through the channel, sharp and sudden. Liza and Fantastica both tried to use comms, but nothing went through.
Then came the sound. A distant rumble. Another. Explosions rolled across the city like thunder that didn't stop.
Justin looked up. Smoke rose in multiple directions. Not one site. Several.
Braxton swore under his breath. "That's not here."
Justin grabbed Dio by the collar and hauled him off the ground. "What the hell is going on?" he snapped. "What did you do?"
Dio grinned despite the blood. "Not me. I'm just the opening act."
Another blast shook the street. Sirens started screaming from everywhere at once. Justin tightened his grip, anger burning hot in his chest. Dio didn't resist. He didn't need to. Kaine is making his move, it appears.