Chapter 10: Lightning

Ferral and Dr. Atlas entered through the back of the village. Ferral slid Atlas off his back, and the two jogged toward the mansion. As they made their way, guards had started forming into orderly lines in front of the mansion. Nia is inspecting each line. She saw the two coming up to her.

“Back so soon?” She asked, then noticed the damage Ferral sustained from his fight. “What happened to you?” She concerningly inspected all his cuts and bruises. Ferral gently grabbed one of her hands, “It’s nothing. There was just a small accident.” He lied. “Why are you gathering the guards?” Ferral asked, though he already knew. “Our scouts saw an army of humans coming this way.” She responded, “They counted a hundred, but they’re could always be more incoming.” As the two talked, Dr. Atlas saw Leona running toward them.

“Hey, Mr. Ferral.” He alerted. Ferral and Nia turned their heads to where Atlas pointed. Ferral started walking toward her, Leona slowing down. “What the hell are you doing here?” Ferral hissed. “We’ve got unfinished business, Ferral.” She retorted. “Ferral, who is this woman?” Nia asked, also noticing how banged up Leona was. “And how does she know your name?” Before Ferral could answer, a guard came up to the group. “Chief! Chieftess! The humans are entering The Dead Zone.” The guard explained. Ferral nodded, “Thank you. Bring me my armor and the iron claw. I’ll deal with them myself.” The guard nodded, “Yes, Chief.” The guard ran off.

Ferral started walking toward the entrance. Nia, Atlas, and Leona follow him. “Are you sure you can handle them?” Nia questioned. “Maybe. But that’s why you and the rest of the army should stay behind. Keep all your strength for the scenario I do fall.” Leona grabbed his right shoulder and spun him around. “What are you planning to do?” “Kill them all.” He harshly answered. He continued walking, but Dr. Atlas jumped in front of Ferral. “You can’t!” He pleaded, “There has to be another way besides killing! Right?!” Ferral sneered, “I don’t wanna hear anything from you. This is your fault, Atlas.” Ferral shoved him out of the way. Finally making it to the front entrance, the group was met with two guards. One held Ferral’s armor while the other held a gauntlet with sharp claws.

Ferral reached to grab the armor, the guard bowing slightly as he took it. As he slipped the armor on, Ferral walked over to the other guard. He went to grab the gauntlet, the guard bowing the same way. Ferral hooked it to the back of his armor and walked out of the village. As he walked out, Ferral felt something hit his head. He looked up, and rain started dropping down. It didn’t take long for it to pick up, coming down faster, accompanied by thunder booming in the sky. “Are you coming?” Ferral asked, keeping his head forward and not specifying who. “Yes.” Nia answered, “You don’t even have to ask that.” Dr. Atlas walked beside Ferral. “I will too. I can’t stop you, but I guess seeing how the great Ferral takes on an army should be interesting.” Ferral clenched his fists. “And you?” He growled. Leona sighed, “Yeah, I want to watch too.” He didn’t respond and bolted forward, dropping on all fours. Nia raced after him, staying only on her feet.

Dr. Atlas shuffled next to Leona, clearing his throat. “So, Ms. Leona,” He started, “You wouldn’t mind letting me hitch a ride on you, would you?” Leona raised an eyebrow. Dr. Atlas smiled a little. She rolled her eyes, positioning herself for him to jump onto her back. He did, and Leona ran after the others.

The rain came down faster. Heavier. Lighting started to flash in the dark sky. Illuminating the sky with white root-like bolts. As he ran, Ferral transformed into his Super Full Power state, gaining even more speed. He reached a small ledge and stopped. He stood up, looking down at the only empty area of the jungle. It was the size of two football fields. The Dead Zone. Ferral could see the army of humans making their way to the Dead Zone. He squatted, putting all his power in his legs and sprang forward, flying in the air toward the Dead Zone. Once the humans started making their way through, some spotted something falling through the sky. Heading toward them. “HALT!” One of their captains yelled, and the whole army began to stop.

Ferral landed several feet in front of them. He stood up, crossing his arms and staring down the army. His face was callous and emotionless. Blazing eyes shone through the dark, his hair and fur blowing in the wicked wind. Some of the soldiers walked back in fear, knowing full well who stood in their path. But most stood their ground. One of their captains stepped forward, “You must be the monster I’ve heard so much about.” He scoffed. “You’re not much. But regardless, today’s the day you die! You’ll pay all the humans you’ve killed!” Ferral remained emotionless, “You talk like I’m the first.” He remarked. “You humans have been killing each other for centuries. Committing genocides of your own. Yet I’m labeled a monster. Why? Am I not simply performing the same practices done by your kind? You should blame yourselves. I am a monster of humanity’s making.”

“YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH, DEMON!” The captain roared. “You’re doing nothing but spout lies! What you’ve done is far worse than anything committed before!” The left side of Ferral’s mouth curled into a smirk. “You should be thanking me. Humanity has never been this equal. This together.” “You can have your thanks in hell! FIRE!!!” The soldiers and tanks aimed their guns at Ferral, ready to fire. Ferral crouched, his eyes darting, counting each soldier. Then burst forward, the soldiers not having any time to react. He cut down the captain and made his way through the crowd. They were taken aback, unsure what to do against one enemy. Some tried shooting, but either missed or Ferral used the body of a soldier to take the gunfire. Even those in tanks were unsure how to attack. Ferral glided through the army, rapidly cutting them down one by one. He grabbed a grenade off one of their belts, unpinned it, and threw it into the crowd. They all scattered as multiple explosions went off. Ferral taking more grenades and tossing them in random areas.

During the chaos, Nia and Leona, and Dr. Atlas stopped at the ledge. The heavy rain and wind made it hard to see. Only getting help from the lightning that lit up the battlefield. They saw the massacre. Ferral tearing through each soldier. Nia grinned. Dr. Atlas was mortified. Leona clenched her fists, livid. The three watched Ferral zoom through the area, grabbing one of the soldiers by the upper and lower jaw…ripping it in half. He sliced heads off, dug his claws through their flesh, even grabbing one by the leg and throwing him in front of tank fire. There was nothing they could do. Except run.

“WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?!” Ferral called out viciously as soldiers attempted to retreat. He unpinned another grenade and threw it into the tank he stood on. Jumping off right before it exploded. He sprinted past each of them, sliding in front of the group, a big grin on his face. “This is what you wanted, right?! Don’t run from this!” They all cowered in fear, Ferral slowly walking toward them. He stopped, hearing the sound of a vehicle coming from behind. It was familiar. Same camo print on it. The Juggernaut. The soldiers began sighing with relief, some even chuckling like their savior had arrived to take Ferral down. The vehicle stopped in front of Ferral, and the mech started to come out. But it was different this time. Bulkier. 

“It’s over, you son of a bitch!” The pilot laughed. “This is the new and improved Juggernaut! With even more steel plating! Not even your little claws can penetrate it! Capable of withstanding heat as hot as the surface of the fucking sun! YOU’RE DONE FOR!!” He continued to laugh, and some of the soldiers joined in. “This is the power of humans, monster!” A soldier shouted. Ferral scoffed, “Power of humans, huh? I see. Well then….” Ferral moved his right hand to his back, sliding on the gauntlet he had hooked to his armor. He raised the armored hand into the air. “How does this 'power of humans' compare to the power to the power of God?” Thunder drummed in the sky; a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, striking the gauntlet. The soldiers gasped.

Up on the ledge, Leona and Atlas looked in shock and awe. “W-What did he do?” Atlas asked, mouth agape. “That’s not possible.” Nia chuckled, “It’s something he’s been working on for a while. He calls it ‘Lightning Spear.’ Amazing, isn’t it?”

Back on the battlefield, Ferral started to squat. Raising the lightning-cloaked claw, pointing all the fingers forward. The electricity crackled; the gauntlet illuminated the right side of his face. In the split second as Ferral was about to strike, something fascinating happened. He lunged forward. The red and yellow in his irises swirled, fading away as they were replaced by a dark blue. His pupils turned ghostly white. His eyes now looked like a full moon in the night sky. Ferral rammed the claw straight through the mech; the pilot had no time to react.