C76 Mercy…

C76 Mercy...

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Suddenly, the room was filled with the chilling sound of multiple doors swinging open simultaneously. From the shadows, countless pairs of eyes gleamed menacingly, accompanied by deep, guttural growls that seemed to promise a violent end.

Peter's group tensed, readying themselves for what was to come. Rocket and his friends instinctively huddled closer, seeking comfort in proximity while fear painted their faces. Rocket and Teefs moved to the front, forming a protective barrier in front of Lylla and Floor.

Soon enough, the creatures stepped into the light, revealing their grotesque forms. Hundreds of mutated animals, each more horrific than the last, stood before them.

Some had too many eyes, others had limbs where there shouldn't be. Their bodies were twisted, mangled experiments gone wrong, a cruel example of the horrors of genetic manipulation gone awry.

One particularly large creature that might once have been a bear had an oversized jaw lined with sharp, metallic teeth, its eyes too small for its distorted skull, gleaming with a mix of confusion and rage.

Beside it, a creature with the body of a large feline, perhaps a panther, moved with unnerving grace despite having six differing-sized legs, each step a ripple of muscle under patchy fur.

Next came a bird-like thing, its wings grotesquely fused to its sides, replaced with unnatural appendages that resembled human arms. The feathers were sparse, showing skin that was scarred and seared, likely from repeated experiments and surgeries. Its eyes, large and unblinking, scanned the group with a palpable hunger and desperation.

Among the crowd of monstrosities, a duo of canine figures prowled forward, their bodies elongated unnaturally, multiple rows of ribs visibly outlined under their thin, patchy coats.

One had two heads, each snapping and growling independently of the other, a horrifying display of failed symmetry. The other’s back was lined with spiky protrusions, quivering with each snarl, a bio-engineered armor that seemed both protective and painfully restrictive.Điscover new chapters at novelhall.com

Lastly, the sight of some sort of fish dragging itself on modified limbs twisted Peter's gut with sympathy. It was clear this being was never meant to walk on land. Its scales were dry and cracked, its gills fluttered helplessly at the air, and its eyes—too accustomed to the depths of a much colder, darker environment—squinted painfully in the harsh light.

Each creature was a testament to the brutal ambitions of the High Evolutionary, a stark reminder of the suffering inflicted in the name of advancement. As they stood there, the line between victim and aggressor blurred, bound together by a shared thread of engineered agony.

Peter's expression darkened with sorrow as he took in the sight of these tormented beings. Memories of a haunting scene from 'Full Metal Alchemist' flashed before him—the tragic story of Nina, the little girl merged with her pet dog, who refused to eat, until finally, someone granted her wish for death to end her misery.

These creatures before him mirrored that pain and confusion, their aggressive stances contradicted by their pained whines and disoriented movements.

His crew picked up on this tortured existence too. They looked at each other, a silent agreement passing between them. They understood these monsters were actually victims, experimented on and pushed to the brink just like Rocket and his friends, but far more extreme.

Peter sighed deeply, his voice carrying a heavy resolve as he addressed his team. "Let's make it quick for them. They don't deserve any more suffering."

Revan nodded solemnly, his red lightsaber igniting with a low hum, casting a sinister glow on his determined face. Beside Peter, Cosmo growled softly, her body tense as she prepared to fight, her teeth bared in a grimace of readiness.

Howard simply frowned in pity and cocked his gun, ready to end their suffering.

Groot, towering over the group, positioned himself protectively in front of Rocket and the others. His deep, yet somber voice rumbled through the chamber, "I am Groot.”

Peter's gaze hardened as the mutated creatures, distorted shadows of life, made their aggressive intentions clear. Their malformed bodies surged forward, pouncing with a ferocity born of endless torment.

Peter's heart clenched, but his resolve was ironclad. He extended his hands, fingers splayed, and unleashed a torrent of Sith lightning. The bright arcs of energy danced violently through the air, striking the bear-like creature first. Its massive form convulsed as the electricity coursed through it, and with a pained roar, it collapsed, still and silent.

Beside him, Revan's lightsaber swung in a graceful but deadly arc. The crimson blade sliced through the air, meeting the six-legged panther with surgical precision. The creature barely had time to snarl before its body was bisected, the smell of seared flesh filling the air.

Cosmo, her eyes glowing with telekinetic power, focused her mind on the grotesque bird with fused wings. With a mere thought, she lifted it off the ground, suspending it in stasis. Then, with a swift motion, she snapped its neck. The bird's body dropped heavily, unmoving.

Rocket, huddled close with Lylla, Teefs, and Floor, watched the spectacle with wide eyes. “Do we really have to keep blowing things up?” he muttered, dusting off a speck of debris from his shoulder.

Peter turned, walking back to the group while patting Cosmo on the head. “I mean, I could probably hack the doors open, but where’s the fun in that?” He asked, smirking.

As they trudged through the newly created opening, Floor asked. “Was it really right, what you guys did back there? Killing them like that?” Her voice was low, almost a whisper.

Peter looked back at the meek little rabbit, his expression somber. “Think about it, would you want to live in constant pain, confusion, and anger, or would you prefer a quick, painless end?”

Silence fell upon the group, each member reflecting on the harsh realities they had faced. After a moment, they collectively nodded, accepting the grim mercy of their actions.

Peter’s face softened, his eyes sweeping over his friends. “Those creatures are at peace now,” he assured them gently. “No more pain.”

As they approached the next barrier, a sudden, shrill alarm cut through the still air, and the sound of mechanical clamoring filled the lab. The walls themselves seemed to pulse with urgency.

“Planetary detachment sequence has been initiated,” a robotic voice announced over the blaring alarms. “T-minus 15 minutes to lift-off.”

Peter’s eyes narrowed in realization. “He’s trying to escape...” he muttered, his voice barely audible over the alarms.

Wasting no more time, he surged forward, his hands ready to tear through another door. As he focused his power, the door exploded outward just as a barrage of blaster fire streaked toward them.

Instinctively, Peter raised his hand, the air in front of him crackling with energy as he absorbed each bolt, his face set in grim determination. The blaster fire ceased, and as the dust settled, a group appeared before them.

Across the threshold, a dozen guards hunkered behind cover, their weapons trained on the doorway. And among them, an immense, bio-engineered beast loomed—a towering war pig, its eyes glinting.

[Insert picture of War Pig here]

As Peter and his crew steadied themselves, ready for the imminent conflict, the towering war pig took a lumbering step forward. Its massive frame shook the ground slightly, and the gleam in its eyes suggested a cold, calculated intelligence rather than wild ferocity.

Before anyone could make a move, the creature opened its mouth. “Surrender now!” But instead of a guttural roar or a vicious snarl, a surprisingly high pitched and distinctly feminine voice emerged, causing everyone to falter for a moment, even some of the guards nearly dropped their weapons.

“?”

As the unexpected softness of the war pig's voice filled the air, Howard couldn't contain his reaction. A snort escaped him, followed by a bubbling chuckle that seemed out of place in the tense atmosphere. "Oh, come on!" he laughed, waving a gun around. "You expect us to take you seriously sounding like that? You're a giant pig for f*ck’s sake!”

Howard's laughter, though initially a solitary sound, proved contagious. A ripple of chuckles spread through the ranks, even catching some of the guards off-guard. They masked their smiles with their hands or turned their heads, but the sound of their stifled laughter was unmistakable in the tense air.

The war pig, witnessing this mockery from both her foes and allies, felt a surge of anger and humiliation. Her eyes flared with fury as she stood there. The laughter, echoing off the walls of the lab, transformed from mere sound into a piercing sting of mockery.

With a low growl that rumbled from her throat, war pig's right arm began to shift and morph. The flesh and metal intertwined, whirring and clicking, until it formed a large, menacing blaster. Without another word, her expression hardened, and she raised her newly formed weapon.

The laughter died abruptly as the gravity of the situation became clear. Before anyone could react or plead for mercy, she fired. The blasts were erratic and furious, each one finding its mark among the guards who had laughed, “How dare you laugh at me!”

Cosmo sighed and turned to Howard. "Seriously, couldn't you keep your beak shut?"

Howard gestured toward the rampaging pig. "What? They're attacking each other, isn't that a good thing?"

Reluctantly, Peter had to admit Howard had a point. Though he would never admit it...

A/N: 2593 words :)