CHAPTER 12

We moved swiftly, the towering gates of the Regens looming closer with each step. We were relieved at first when we saw no visible damage to the gate. That was until we felt the intense pressure again coming over us like a storm cloud. It made every step harder, like the air itself wanted us to turn back but we knew we couldn’t, a lot of people were depending on us.

As we approached we spotted something crawled up in front of the gate. At first, it looked lifeless, but as we drew near, it stirred. Its body coiled unnaturally, shifting and contorting until it rose into a monstrous, two-legged beast. Its bright blue eyes glowed intensely as it turned its head to look at us. I recognized the shape of its head, it resembled an animal from one of my dad’s old books, a wolf, I think. smoke came out of its gaping mouth as it exhaled, revealing rows of sharp fangs. We prepared ourselves for a battle as it moved toward us slowly, its arms moved erratically revealing long sharp claws. Brock took out his huge sledgehammer-hammer twisting his neck dramatically, Rin sighed and took out her sword and I held my twin blades.

“Guys, can you hear me?” Felicity’s voice suddenly cut through the telepathic link, startling us.

“Woah, that’s freaky. Like I can hear you in my head but I’m not thinking,” Chester muttered, gripping his hand tightly.

“Focus, Chester,” Felicity snapped. “Here’s the thing…”

Before she continued the beast came rushing towards Rin, its tongue whipping toward her like a spear. She barely managed to dodge it, stumbling into me and knocking us both to the ground.

Felicity’s voice returned, strained. “Hello? Guys? Ma’s link should be working. Are you hearing me? Ma is your link working?”

“Yes,” Ma interjected. "It should. I am communicating with Michael’s team now. It seems they ran into some trouble.”

Rin growled, rolling to her feet, and drawing her sword. “We’re kind of busy here, Fel. What’s up?”

“Michael’s team is pinned at the Founders’ Gate,” Felicity said urgently. “I’m guessing similar situation to yours- an unusual Deviant is giving them a beatdown. Ma has some concerns he would like to go over.”

Ma’s voice chimed in next, strained but calm. “ I have linked everyone together for the moment so listen up. I am coordinating and hearing all your thoughts at the same time. It’s such a pain but I will hold on for as long as possible. I haven’t connected with this many people before so if anyone feels lightheaded say my name and I will unlink you. Contact between the two teams won’t be possible anymore after this, unless through me, so if you have some information to pass along to the other team, share it with me and I will communicate. If the link becomes compromised, it means that I have likely been compromised or unconscious or worse. In which case you’re on your own.”

Felicity chimed back in, “While I have you all, Michael has shared that their Deviant is unusually stronger than the ones we faced before so be extra careful and no one faces them solo. There’s no telling if the people inside the gates are still… so if you can find a way for one of you to go through and check. Ma has authorized Veronica and me to work as a go-between the two teams, Founders and Regens respectively. We’ll try to help out when possible, let’s do this everyone.”

With that, our missions were clear. We needed a plan to fight this monstrosity so we could help our friends and families beyond the gates. Bluefang, the aforementioned beast on the other hand locked onto us, its jaws parting to show its several rows of fangs. It came at Rin again, slashing as she sidestepped to safety. I swung my twin blades in a defensive arc, driving it back just enough for Brock who had positioned himself to its blindspot to step in.

With a roar, Brock slammed his sledgehammer slash spear into Bluefang’s side. Sparks flew on impact, and the beast staggered but didn’t fall. Instead, it turned as gold-glowing chains suddenly appeared around its body.

“This just got worse,” Rin grunted.

Brock, towering and unshaken, hefted his massive sledgehammer-spear combo. “I’ll go high,” he said, his voice steady.

“Wait for an opening,”

Meanwhile, at the Founders’ Gate, Michael’s team faced their own nightmare—a six-armed creature. Its movements were relentless, each arm swinging with bone-shattering force.

“Michael, move left!” Veronica’s voice rang through the link.

Michael dodged just as a massive fist slammed into the ground where he’d stood. “This thing’s strong!” he thought back.

“It doesn’t want us near the gate,” Adelle observed, her flaming hands deflecting another strike. “We need to get someone through. Are the people safe?”

“Veronica, can you see inside the gate?” Frank called out, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the beast.

“My vision’s limited,” Veronica admitted. “I can’t see past the gate itself. You’ll need to distract it long enough for someone to slip through.”

Adelle, standing a few paces away from the gate, nodded, her hands glowing. “I’ve got this.”

She ran toward it, conjuring a fireball and aimed at its face. The creature roared, its four eyes blinked furiously as the flames seared its flesh. Michael and Frank seized the opportunity, attacking its legs to slow it down while Adelle sprinted toward the gate.