Chapter 94: The Defense Force

Chapter 94: The Defense Force

I woke from a dreamless sleep and sat upright as something punched me in the stomach.

My eyes darted around the room, but I was alone. I brought a hand to my abdomen and felt it for pain—there was none; all that remained was a vague sense of wrongness.

Was I dreaming, but can’t remember it...?

The needs of my body yelled out, and I shook my head, laughing.

“Guess I just needed to pee...”

Something made a questioning squeak from beside me, and I glanced over, seeing Cinnamon’s ears alert, her gaze fixed on me in alarm.

“Sorry, little one. Go back to sleep, alright?”

She relaxed as I reached a hand out and stroked her fur. I lifted the blanket, and she hopped under it, immediately curling into a ball.

“Good girl,” I said in my most-reassuring tone.

I shot from bed and immediately fell over.

“Damn, Barry—what was in that rum?” I asked aloud, my head spinning.

I barely remembered Maria helping me back to bed, but from what I could recall, I was even drunker now.

Using the doorway for support, I lurched from my bedroom and made for my front door.

As I opened it, a cool breeze hit me, and I swayed there for a moment, enjoying the sensation.

“What a beautiful night...”

***

A pulse of power slammed in Sergeant Snips, and her eye shot open.

Rocky made a hiss from beside her; he’d felt it too.

She dashed from the pond, sitting on the sands as her awareness flooded out, trying to grasp what was happening. Rocky and Pistachio joined her a moment later, and they all looked to the north.

The moment stretched on, and just as her worry was receding, something appeared.

Its power was distant, muted, yet undeniably strong.

They shared a look, then took off toward it.

***

Corporal Claws’ head darted around, scanning the surrounding buildings.

She’d fallen asleep while watching the two idiots on the roof, but woke when something slammed into her. It seemed to come from right beside her, and she peeked her head over the roof, checking for any danger.

She saw the two idiots, one on his knees, the other grinning maniacally.

When the air shattered and a leg stepped through the rent, her heart skipped a beat.

She’d intended to attack whatever it was, but as she felt its strength, her body froze.

She needed backup.

The next second, she launched herself from the building, her legs wreathed in lightning as she shot away.

***

Barry’s eyes flew open as something almost physical punched him in the gut.

He sprang up, glancing around the room.

Helen let out a gasp beside him as she sat up, her eyes wide.

“What... what was that?”

“I’ll go see.”

His head felt woolen, but most of the rum’s effect was gone, no doubt cleared away by his new body.

He took a moment to thank himself for not making his drink as strong as Fischer’s, and with each step toward his bedroom door, his mind cleared a little more.

As he swung the door open, something vast and unknown appeared to the north-east, coalescing from nowhere, and he took an involuntary breath.

Helen whimpered behind him; she’d felt it too.

“Stay here,” he said, then ran toward it.

***

The light of a half-moon lit my way, and I gazed up at the blanket of stars.

Looking up was a mistake; I immediately missed a step and stumbled.

“Oof,” I said with a laugh. “That rum got me good.”

I focused on my steps as I hobbled over to the ocean and started relieving myself.

I took another deep breath, making a satisfied sigh as I exhaled it.

“What a beautiful night...”

***

Water flooded from Snips as she activated her ability.

She launched to the side, placed her right claw under the hunched and prepared-for-flight Rocky, then fired him at the hound.

She dashed just behind him, her water-powered stride easily matching the airborne crustacean.

As Rocky reached the dog, he slammed both claws closed, and duel explosions ripped out, slamming into the creature’s flank and causing Rocky to fly back from the blasts. The hound rocked to the side, just in time for Snips to release the energy stored in her left claw.

The blue-tinted arc shot forward and cut into the dog’s side. She’d hoped it would slice right through the thing, but as the energy hit, pitch-black smoke roiled out and caught the attack, taking most of the power away. The arc had left a shallow cut, but shadowy wisps leaked from the wound and formed into flesh and skin once more.

The creature opened its maw and snapped at her. The serpent’s head lashed out, ‌glistening fangs descending faster than Snips could react.

Private Pistachio’s targeted blast hit the beast, throwing its head into its own tail, throwing both mouths off course. Its vicious jaws slammed shut on open air, the snake’s head hissed, and Snips darted back, making space.

A blur of blue sparked in Snips’ peripheral vision, and before Snips could turn her eye, an aggressively chirping Corporal Claws slammed into the creature’s side.

Lightning spread from Claws’ body into the hound, and it shook as electricity ran through it.

Snips prepared to launch another attack, but more movement caught her eye.

Leroy slid toward them, a green glow surrounding his hands, his feet wrapped in vines that carried him forward. He moved at impressive speed, and when he was twenty meters from the hound, he stopped and slammed his fist into the ground.

Thick roots shot up around the still-trembling creature, cinching its legs and holding it in place.

“Kill it!” he yelled, holding his fist firmly pressed against the sand.

Snips shot forward, collecting power in both claws. Pistachio cocked back his claw once more, preparing to fire another blast. Rocky scuttled toward it, both clackers held high and ready to blow. Corporal Claws shot off the sand, a toothy grin across her face and lightning sparking from her body. Barry arrived, and he kicked off the sand, flying at the hound with one hand held back, ready to punch out.

Roots held the creature down, lightning flared, claws slammed closed, a punch descended, and Snips witnessed every single attack miss.

The hound went transparent, a victorious grin of needle-sharp teeth displayed for all to see.

The abilities all met in the center of its form and detonated on one another as the powers clashed in a violent explosion.

Barry, Claws, and Rocky, who were closest to the epicenter, all flew back, thrown by the explosive force.

The creature became tangible again, and chains of smoke flooded from it, wrapping around them all in the blink of a cultivator-empowered eye. The smoke solidified, and a spear of dread wedged itself deep within Snips—the darker-than-night shackles had encased her, and she couldn’t move a limb.

The creature hunched, collected strength in its muscles, and burst forward. Instead of attacking anyone, it simply vanished from existence.

Snips felt it appear elsewhere, and her dread rose higher than a king tide under a full moon.

It was by the headland, near her master’s abode, and Snips was held in place.

***

When I finished relieving myself, I set my hands on my hips, letting out another sigh as I gazed at the hypnotically swaying ocean before me. My swimming vision made the churning water even more intense, and I smiled.

It really was a beautiful night.

Something appeared beside me on the rocks, and I squinted, trying to make out what it was.

“Snips? Is that you?”

It crept forward, not making a sound.

Not Snips, I thought. It’s on four legs.

My vision warped, making the creature appear far bigger than it was.

No way, I thought. Is that what I think it is...?

I held my breath, unbelieving of what I saw.

With a broad grin, I got low, not wanting to scare it away, then held out a hand for it to sniff.

“Pss. Pss. Pss. Heeere, kitty kitty.”