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The Big Oof! Volume 1 Chapter 21: Run and Gun
🕑 Added 2022-12-30 02:15:14 +0000 UTC“Fuck, ass, bitch!” Elijah cursed as he jumped over a comically large root.
The dense foliage that had once aided in their concealment now hindered their progress as they made a mad dash towards the cabin. Their mission, which had begun as a mere surveillance operation, had swiftly transformed into a blitz rescue mission with a ticking clock. Every second counted as they pushed through the thick underbrush. The raid was not only tricky, but extremely dangerous.
Despite their efforts, Elijah found himself wasting precious time just to make it out of the treeline and into the clearing where his objective sat. With Bennett right on his heels, he took off in a dead sprint towards the cabin's entrance, but luck was not on his side.
As Elijah emerged from the thick foliage and into the clearing, he could see the cabin looming in the distance. With Bennett close behind, he picked up the pace, each step bringing him closer to his objective. But just as he was about to reach the cabin, the door suddenly swung open, revealing a lone red-haired man dressed in identical armor. The man looked up, his expression one of confusion as he caught sight of the figure hurtling towards him.
SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP
Elijah didn't break his stride as he fired four shots at the unsuspecting man in the doorway, causing him to collapse silently back inside.
He knew that Speed, surprise, and violence of action was key
SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP
As Elijah approached the open door of the cabin, he heard shots ring out behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Bennett taking down another knight who had been making his way around the back of the cabin. The armored individual let out a cry and fell to the ground, clutching their chest.
Elijah threw caution to the wind and stepped over the wounded knight lying in the doorway inorder to make his dynamic entry with his weapon at the ready. Inside, he could hear the sounds of movement, signaling that there was another individual still present just to the left. He knew that he had to be quick and precise, as one wrong move could mean the difference between life and death.
"What the hell are you doing on the floor?" a voice called out, but Elijah was already in motion.
With his weapon at the ready, Elijah burst through the door of the cabin, his tactical light illuminating the room and blinding the person inside. He spotted the figure in the corner of the room, a blonde woman who shielded her eyes from the intense light.
SNAP SNAP, SNAP SNAP SNAP
The poor woman didn’t even understand what was happening as two rounds struck her head, sending her crumpling to the wall. Elijah wasted no time in snapping his rifle to the center of the room, where he saw four more knights, startled by his sudden and violent entry.
Elijah didn't bother with the safer option of sweeping the doorway, instead opting for a high-risk, high-reward dynamic entry. He pushed into one side of the room, trusting Bennett to take the other side just as fiercely, ensuring they wouldn't get shot or stabbed in the back.
Bennett, who was already through the door, was more than up to the tasks and was already swinging left. Both men fired their weapons at their respective targets, catching the defenders completely off guard and gawking at their fallen comrades as the entire room erupted. Their enchanted armor offered little protection as the tungsten bullets cut through their armor like butter.
Azeline struggled to keep up as a barrage of muffled gunfire and screams erupted from within the cabin. She wasn’t far behind up when she leapt over the body at the cabin's threshold to make her entry, but once inside, she froze in shock.
The room was a scene of carnage, with every defender sprawled on the floor or slumped against a wall, their enchanted armor offering little protection against the hail of bullets. Azeline couldn't help but gulp nervously as she took in the sight before her.
"By the heavens…" She whispered to herself in disbelief.
The highly trained and elite warriors of the Holy Dominion, who had been trained since childhood and equipped with the most advanced weapons and reagents money could buy, lay slaughtered on the ground like livestock. Even in her current state, Azeline could hardly fathom her own ability to defeat even a novice crusader, yet her companions had dispatched these warriors with ease and terrifying efficiency. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, and couldn't shake the feeling of complete disbelief.
SNAP
Azeline jumped at the sound of Bennett making sure the dying were no longer a threat while Elijah frantically searched the cabin with his flashlight.
“Dammit! They're not here!” Elijah yelled, sending a table flying across the room with a kick. “I can't even find that bald son of a bitch!”
Her eyes followed Elijah's flashlight as it lingered over each of the fallen knights' faces, trying in vain to identify them. None of them were the red-eyed woman or the bald Crusader, Adoni.
SNAP
Azeline's winced as she watched Bennett dispatching the last of the dying knights and decided to turn her attention back to Elijah. The man was frantically searching the cabin for any sign of the missing knight and the hostage.
"They couldn't have just VANISHED," Bennett said as he joined Elijah in his search. "Actually, I take that back," he added, noticing a hole in one of the knight's armor slowly sealing itself over. "Magic is such bullshit..."
Elijah simply grunted in agreement as he kicked over rugs and opened small drawers, desperate to find any clues that might lead them to the missing hostages. Despite their efforts, the cabin seemed empty and devoid of any useful information.
Letting her axe rest on the ground, Azeline took a deep breath, trying to shake off the shock that threatened to overwhelm her. But as she scanned the room once more, she couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration at the enemies she hadn't been able to help defeat.
She knew she needed to do better.
But soon something caught her eye - the legs of the table that Elijah had kicked over seemed to be stabbing through the floor.
“Ah! An illusion!” Azeline called out.
Both Bennett and Elijah quickly turned their attention to her as she revealed a hidden trapdoor with her weapon. As she explored the edges and tested the size of the opening, the sound of her axe clunking against the wood filled the room.
“The fuck?” Elijah questioned as he and Bennett made their way over.
Elijah hesitated as he weighed the potential risks and benefits of jumping into the unknown hole. However, a blood-curdling scream from deeper within the hole seemed to make the decision for him.
"I'll go first," Azeline declared, gripping her axe tightly in both hands.
Elijah looked at Azeline for a moment before nodding, lining up behind her and readying himself to jump in next.
"Ah, shit...here we go," Bennett grumbled as he lined up behind Elijah.
Azeline took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves and prepare herself for what lay ahead. She cleared her mind and let out her breath slowly as she prepared to take the leap. With a determined look in her eyes, she made a small hop forwards into the unknown below.
Thump, CLANG
The moment Azeline's feet hit the ground with a thud and she immediately sprang into action. Anticipating an attack, with all her might she swung her axe in an upwards motion and intercepted a spear aimed at her throat. The weapon lodged itself into the wall as she twisted her body and brought her axe down onto an armored head with bulging eyes.
CLANG
The helmet held firm as her axe slammed into the crusader’s head, leaving deep gouges along his eyes slit. However with a fierce determination, Azeline raised her axe high above her head and channeled all of her mana into the weapon. She let out a fierce battle cry as she brought the axe down with all of her strength.
SNAP SNAP SNAP
Elijah was right behind Azeline, his rifle at the ready as she brought her axe down with a heavy thud. Another knight, sword in hand, was charging full speed at her with a sword in hand, but before they could reach her, their head was rocked back by a burst of gunfire from Elijah's weapon, sending them crashing to the ground.
The echoes of steel clashing filled the tight tunnel as Azeline pulled her axe free from her latest victim. A fierce grin spread across her face as she briefly glanced over her shoulder to see Elijah, still focused on covering her as he aimed his weapon down the tunnel. Bennett, meanwhile, kept watch at their rear, ensuring that no one would be able to sneak up on them.
A wave of confidence flowed through Azeline as she snapped her head forward and her gaze sharpened as they marched further down the tunnel. Now she had people she could finally rely on; there was no longer a need for her to worry about who or what was lurking from behind.
With a fierce determination, Azeline marched forward, her axe at the ready. The weight of her weapon felt comforting in her hands as she scanned the dark tunnel ahead, her senses heightened and her mind focused. She knew that Elijah was providing her with more ranged support, and Bennett was keeping their rear secure, and with that knowledge, she felt a newfound sense of security and confidence. No longer was she alone, and this realization gave her the strength to push forward, ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead.
However, when Azeline looked down at her now Deformed axe, her face contorted into a sneer.
"Dammit... Now I need a new axe," she grumbled to herself as she dropped her mangled weapon and picked up the spear.
A flood of familiarity flooded into her as she remembered spears were the very first weapon she was trained on. Although it wasn't her preferred weapon, she was at least proficient with it.
Azeline steeled her nerves as she stepped over the knight she just slain and proceeded further down the tunnel. Not a word was spoken as the group walked down the oddly symmetrical dirt tunnel with their weapons raised in different directions to ensure total security. Fortunately for them, the rest of the tunnel seemed to be free of all signs of life, other than the occasional insect or rodent-like animal that would scurry about.
“This isn’t a natural cavern…” Bennett mentioned looking at the faint signs of construction around him.
Elijah's eyes darted back and forth, scanning the walls of the tunnel as they walked. He couldn't help but notice the faint signs of chiseling, all going in the same direction, as if something had pushed its way through the earth. The tunnel was human-height, symmetrical, and went in a perfectly straight line. But, as he was about to voice his observations, another blood-curdling scream echoed through the tunnel, cutting off his thoughts.
“We’ll talk about this later, we need to GO!” He ordered, as Azeline immediately took off into a run.
The screams grew louder and more frantic as the group raced towards the source. Tensions were high as the screams took on a twisted and distorted tone, only made worse by the strange engravings that now covered the walls.
“MISTRESS! MISTRESS PLEASE HELP ME!” The screaming voice called out as the group ran.
“MISTRESS NAURILA PLEASE! PLEASE I BEG YOU!”
As they approached the end of the tunnel, the group quickened their pace, driven by the desperate and haunting screams that echoed through the underground passage. Azeline was the first to emerge, her spear at the ready, but the sight that greeted her and her companions was one that left them all speechless, their eyes wide with shock and their mouths agape.
What they saw was impossible…
The small human-sized tunnel opened up into a massive cavernous expanse, with the cloudy night sky overhead and giant stalagmites jutting down, piercing through the clouds. Stars dotted the dark clouds as carefully engraved runes spiraled down each of the stalagmites, threatening to stab into the ground.
“What the hell...” both Bennett and Elijah muttered simultaneously, completely stunned by the unexpected sight.
But their awe was quickly interrupted by an anguished, high-pitched scream. In the center of the strange cavern stood a slow-burning pyre, and tied to it was Master Simol, his feet already blackened and charred from the flames.
“Where is the witch, fiend!?” the red-eyed woman sneered, flanked by four other knights and the bald-headed man. The battered and bruised victim already had most of his hair burnt clean off, with most of his head and body covered in third-degree burns.
“PLEASE! MISTRESS PLEASE JUST MAKE IT STOP!” Master Simol wailed. “I SURRENDER, JUST PLEASE MAKE IT STOP, MAKE THE PAIN STOP!”
The knights all went tense as the red eyed knight pulled out her sword and started barking orders..
“KILL HIM! KILL HIM NOW BEFORE HE TURNS!” She screamed desperately.
Elijah saw all of the knights raise their weapons and rush forward to attack their captive, Master Simol. In response, both Elijah and Bennett raised their rifles, ready to fire. But, as they looked upon the gruesome scene before them, hesitation gripped them and their fingers wavered on the trigger. Their rifles slowly lowered as they witnessed something truly terrifying.
Master Simol was convulsing violently, leaving behind ghostly afterimages of himself as his screams of pain and torment echoed throughout the cavernous chamber. The sight was enough to make the bravest of men quiver in fear as it sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers.
“AHHH!!! AHHH!!! MISTIRESS I CAN FEEL YOU!!!” Simol’s voice resounded an eerie distorted fashion as spears pierced his body.
“KILL IT!! KILL IT NOW!!” The red eyed knight shrieked as her brilliant glowing sword was drawn from her scabbard. “KILL IT OR WE’RE ALL DEAD!!!”
The knights frantically stabbed and hacked at Simol, but their blades didn’t quite sink deep enough to land a fatal blow. At first, red blood spilled from the victim's wounds with each strike, but as he convulsed, a thick black goo replaced it as his body began to rapidly expand. The man’s body then started to expand, growing three times its original size as its flesh tore open to reveal multiple mouths with jagged teeth and twisted, deformed limbs sprouting from every side.
“Oh, Jesus…” Elijah whispered as his group could do nothing but stare in horror.
“MISTRESS NAURILA THANK YOU!!!” Everyone of the creature’s nightmarish mouths let out a blood curdling high pitched scream that could shatter glass as everyone around it stepped back, covering their ears.
The knights desperately backed away and readied themselves in a defensive stance as the creature finished its transformation and broke free from the pyre. It let out a deafening wail as it stumbled around, its multiple mouths gaping wide with sharp jagged teeth.
“F-Formations! FORMATIONS NOW!” The red-eyed woman yelled, her voice trembling with fear.
The knights retreated in a defensive pattern around their charge as. Suddenly the monstrosity finally gained a semblance balance and stood stock still unmoving, until it finally noticed the formation of white armor
The knights retreated into a defensive formation around her as they trembled with fear causing their spears to shake in their hands. But the creature seemed to be in no hurry, standing stock still as it surveyed its surroundings, until it finally noticed the formation of white armor.
“THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!” The monstrosity abrupty screamed and charged forwards at a terrifying speed.
The beast ignored the knight's weapons as it slammed into the vanguard, sending them flying like bowling pins as it grabbed its first victim.
The red eyed female knight.
“AHHH NOOO PLEASE NO-” She wailed as one of its sideways mouths clamped over the woman’s lower torso and two more of its hands grabbed her upper body.
And pulled…
A splat was heard as the beast ripped the poor woman apart and started grabbing and chomping at the knights around them. The limbering abomination was frighteningly fast, but uncoordinated as it flailed and knocked the knights away, sending them flying. Grabbing a hold of Adonio's leg, the monster elected to use him like a club as smashed him against his comrades, before viciously slamming on the floor.
… Repeatedly.
The three intruders stood in horror as they watched the monster rip and tear its way through the group of knights and handled them as if they were toddlers.
“W-What do we do now?” Bennett asked, basically hyperventilating.
“I don’t know.” Elijah answered immediately, staring wide eyed.
“D-do we shoot it?” Bennett asked again
“I don’t know!” Elijah answered.
Azeline looked at her companion’s as they sat there panicked, she couldn’t blame them for their fear and hesitation especially when this was the first time seeing corruption in action. However, in order to survive against a fiend turning, there was only one recourse.
You kill it and you kill it as fast as possible.
“JESUS CHRIST, WHAT THE FUCK!?” Bennett yelled, as Azeline bolted forward with her spear raised.
“I DON’T KNOW!!” Elijah yelled, raising his weapon and pointing it at the monster..
Azeline pointed at the spear beast as she charged full speed forwards and put every ounce of mana she could possibly muster into the spearhead. The monster was still busy horribly slaughtering the crusaders as they hacked and slashed at the thing in a desperate attempt at slaying it. However she could only hear wails and screams as the elite group were slaughtered in horrific manners.
One knight managed to thrust her spear into a single eye of the abomination's bloated head as a high pitched scream of agony escaped its mouth.
“NO HURT!! NO HURT!! NO HURT!!” The monster screamed as it yanked the spear out with a deformed arm.
Several of its smaller jaw’s shot out like tentacles towards the offender, grabbing hold of the poor woman and pulling her apart limb by limb. The thing continued to wait in pain as black ooze slowly tribbled from wounds, dribbling down its discolored bloat.
However, suddenly the abomination violently lurched sideways as it felt itself pierce by a spear, pinning it into one of the lower hanging stalagmites.
“PAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!” The thing shrieked as it tried to turn its body towards the offender.
Azeline immediately stumbled backwards, completely exhausted and horrified after landing such a devastating blow, but not crippling it.
Her eyes were wide in fear as the thing violently squirmed and tried to turn towards her as she crawled away. Her ears felt like they were going to explode as the sheer volume of the scream the abomination let out echoed all around her.
Soon, the beast grabbed ahold of the spear, pinning it to the wall and yanked hard to free himself from the stalagmite.
“THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” It shrieked as it ran towards Azeline.
However, the thing stumbled as an unending roar of loud snaps echoed from behind her.
Elijah and Bennett were dumping EVERYTHING they had left in their weapons into the beast, not leaving it up to chance as it stumbled over Azeline and charged towards them. They had no other options but to simply keep shooting as the beast wailed and screamed, running towards them.
Soon the beast stumbled just as they got to them and hit the floor, sliding.
Both the humans jumped out of the way as the horrid thing slid past them, but the two lept out of the way as the mass of flesh tumbled past them before refocusing and resumed their barrage. The creature was still wailing as it floundered in pain and tried to get up as small pieces of high speed tungsten ripped through his flesh, leaving horrid gaping wounds.
The moment the two ran out ammunition for their rifles, the two panicking humans immediately reached for their waisted band and pulled out their concealed sidearms. Elijah was first, but Bennett wasn’t only a millisecond behind as both of the men drew pistols and continued firing into the beast until it stopped moving. It only took a few seconds for the men to empty their weapons, however they swiftly reloaded and kept their weapons trained on the monstrosity.
Silence filled the air while Elijah slowly and carefully creeped around the deformed monster until he finally saw its head.
“What… the fuck…” He muttered, taking a step closer.
He squinted his eyes and saw its gooey black blood was still pulsating when the damned thing suddenly turned its eye towards the man.
