Chapter 2: Out of the Frying Pan

 I flex my hand into a tight fist as I stare down the giant. It regains its composure and lets out a battle cry. Its thunderous roar is still terrifying but less so now that I’m protected by this armor plating. It’s amazing! The armor is thick and sturdy and fits me perfectly, like a second skin. That’s not all though. My vision Is way sharper through the visor as I survey my surroundings. I can even see the pores in the young girl's skin as she gawks at me. All my other senses are dialed up to a hundred too. I can hear everything. The giant’s heartbeat, the little creatures chattering at the end of the hall. I can even smell them! I wish I couldn’t though, they smell like rotting cheese left in a dirty hamster cage. Still, it's like nothing I’ve experienced. The whole suit vents some kind of steam as I take a step toward the big oaf. The creature takes this as the challenge it is and charges towards me, massive hands outstretched.

[Summoner. Threat Imminent. Giant Ogre. Would you like to employ countermeasures?]

I don't even have to say it. It's like the suit can read my thoughts. The visor changes to a red hue. Time seems to slow as I see a whir of data fill the screen. The ogre’s body is lit up to highlight its weak points and vulnerabilities. I’m a blur as I rush forward towards the charging behemoth. I target its jaw. The punch flashes out before I see it or hear it. A sudden and loud BOOM cracks against the walls as the Ogre is sent flying backwards. I’m strong. Very strong!

The visor’s data updates, letting me know the thing is unconscious now but still breathing. Exclamation points flood my view

[Warning! Non hostiles under attack!]

I turn to see the woman surrounded by the little green monsters. In the distance the other cloaked person is in a similar position. There's basically a horde of the disgusting things now. There’s no clear way out. If I want to find my way to the surface I’ll probably need the help of these people. I dash forward, faster than I’ve ever moved before. I have to let my instincts take over at this speed. I turn the first creature into a cloud of mist with a well placed punch. I kick another clean out of the air just as it's about to pounce on the woman. She looks at me in wonder and fear.

“Stay behind me!” I shout.

She nods and takes up a defensive stance.

“We need to cut a path to your friend. Stay close!”

I take off into the mob. Their crude weapons bounce off the armor plating like toys. I bowl over several of them, squashing them underfoot. The visor identifies their corpses as goblins.

Goblins? Ogres? What the hell is this place?!

There's not much time for me to think as a wave of the goblins all jump me at the same time. I’m dog-piled in a matter of seconds. I fall to my knees as they bash and claw and bite at every inch of me. It doesn't hurt but I can't move!

[Emergency Countermeasures Deployed]

A sudden burst of energy rips out from me, throwing the goblins off me with a violent ZAP. They lie shaking and convulsing. I see tiny flashes of electricity dancing around their stiff bodies.

[Your remaining power supply is at (15%).]

The goblins nearby are pretty much handled but the cloaked figure is still surrounded by another horde. They seem to be holding their own with a wide circle of space around them for now but it's only a matter of time before it closes. I grab the young girl by the waist.

“Hey! What are youaaaahhhh!!!”

I leap a good 10 meters into the circle they are defending, landing with a heavy thud. I can see closer now this… person isn't a human either. Under the cloak is a scaly blue and green face. Very lizard-like, long forked tongue and everything! Their yellow slitted eyes glimmer as they look at me in shock. At least that's what it looks like, I’ve never seen a lizard make any kind of expression.

“Savos’s Bells! Vergil? Where’d ya get that armor?”

“Thats not my name. Listen, I think something really weird is going on but we can talk about it later.”

The cloaked figure pulls two little daggers up, surveying the situation.

“Heheheh you get us outta here alive and I'll call ya whatever ya want.”

A goblin sees this as an opportunity and rushes forward to skewer me with a long jagged sword. Before I can react though, a dagger embeds itself in its forehead. The monster falls dead. I look back at the lizard person who’s pulling more tiny daggers from their cloak.

It's a bloody brawl. The goblins are loosely coordinated, attacking in waves. We hold the middle as the goblins throw themselves at us. Red orbs and daggers fly from the other two as I defend the front line. I punch and kick the little buggers so hard they explode. I even grab one by the ankle and use it as a little green wrecking ball. Its honestly gross. I lose count of how many goblins I crush. When I finally look up to assess the situation there's only a few left. Unfortunately they're not too bright and still looking to fight. I take a step forward to deal with them when my whole body feels heavy suddenly. The voice in the helmet hits my ears.

[WARNING! MANA BATTERIES DEPLETED

EXO ARMOR POWERING DOWN.]

The armor shatters off me in a million sparks of light and I’m back to my old (well, new actually) squishy self.

“Uhhh, time out?”

The goblins cackle as if this is the funniest thing they’ve ever seen. They all rush to stab me at once. It's all I can do to get my hands up as they come for me. I slip on some blood and fall backwards on my butt. Just as I feel the hot stinking breath of the first goblin, a huge wave of flame blasts them from behind me. I feel the skin on my face burning and leap back out of the way. I turn to see the young girl, staff outstretched. A gout of flame is pouring from it like it's some kind of “fire” hose (no not that kind). After a few seconds, the roaring of the flames dies down and all that's left in the darkness is us and about 3 dozen goblin corpses, some of them extra crispy.

“Now that that’s taken care of.”

She places the staff an inch from my face.

“Who are you, fiend? and what did you do with Vergil?”

There’s quite literally fire in her eyes.