Chapter 33: A Hopeless Battle

Ferral was dragged face-first through the ground, then thrown into one of the towers. He crashed through the stone, landing hard on the floor. As the clone looked in satisfaction at the destruction, he felt Leona struggling desperately while she was choked by his tail. He spun around before throwing straight toward. Her body bounced slightly after impact. Ferral struggled to even get on his hands and knees. As he looked around the room, he realized this was his room. He crawled toward his bags. There was something inside that could help. But just before he could grab one, a foot stomped down on his forearm.

He growled in pain through his teeth before he was picked up by his back collar. Ferral looked back to see the clone’s smug expression. “What are you?” he sneered. The clone snickered before clearing his throat and speaking. “A monster of humanity’s making.” His voice no longer raspy, sounding identical to Ferral. The clone tossed Ferral out of the tower, giving chase and slamming him down toward the ground. His body crashed into Leona’s who was trying to get back up. Seeing the two barely able to move, the clone turned his sights toward the others, descending rapidly. They saw him approaching and tried to run inside, but he dropped down, blocking the entrance. Some of the guards attempted to shoot at the clone, but he flicked his tail, sending spines that pierced their heads and necks.

Armin demanded, “Tell me! Just what on Earth are you?!” The clone thought for a moment, then shrugged, deciding to tell them of his origins. “I am merely a being whose sole purpose is to end all life.” Ignoring that his voice sounded like Ferral’s, Armin asked, “Where did you come from?” “Here, on Earth. You made me. You tried to stop me.” That last sentence was said with a dark and angered undertone. Armin’s eyes widened; he couldn’t believe such an answer. “No…impossible! You’re…you’re…the fungus?!” He nodded, “You have my gratitude. For without your advanced technology, it would’ve taken me decades to reach such a form as this.”

Armin narrowed his eyes, confusion on his face. “What? What technology?” Before he could answer, the clone heard a noise coming from behind. He turned, getting socked in the face and sent flying back. He stopped himself midair, snarling, looking at the crowd to face his assailant. Out of the group emerged Everett, transformed to her partial experiment state. The group looked in shock to see her this way. “Dr. Romanova?!” General Davis exclaimed, “You’re one of them?!?!” General Weber added, “What is the meaning of this?!” Armin looked on, stunned for words.

Everett threw off her lab coat, dashing toward the clone. He smirked, launching spines at her. She jumped back, dodging them, and continued her charge. The clone threw a punch that Everett easily blocked. He was surprised by her reaction speed, and the two engaged in a brief back-and-forth. During the bout, Everett managed to kick him right in the stomach, sending him sliding back. He slouched, holding his stomach in pain. Everett rushed toward him, pulling out a syringe she held in her back pocket. Quickly taking off the cap on the needle, she thrust it forward, stabbing it into the clone’s throat. She pushed the plunger down, injecting the cure into his body. Once it was emptied, she took it out, stepping away. The clone held his throat, gagging, as his body seized up.

He fell to his knees, foam forming at his mouth. He hunched over, a black sludge pouring like a waterfall from his mouth. There seemed to be no end, creating a small puddle around him. Once it was over, his hand fell into the black puddle, his body shuddering. As he gasped and wheezed, he hid the sadistic smile plastered on his face. He chuckled, bewildering Everett. He should be dead. So how can he still be laughing?

“It was a good effort, I’ll give you that.” The clone slowly got up, wiping the remnant of the black sludge from his mouth. “How?” Everett took a step back. “One thing you should know about me is that the same trick won’t work twice. Something I inherited from the one called Ferral.” He looked down at the puddle under his feet for a moment, then looked back up. “If it’s any consolation, you killed all the spores that resided in my body; now I have to make more.” He sprang forward, Everett barely evading his punch. Then he spun around, backhanding her with his other fist. Before she was sent flying back, he grabbed her with his tail by the ankle, impaling her with spines and throwing her toward the complex. She slammed against the wall, falling flat on the ground.

“Not even the cure worked?” Armin cursed, “What are we supposed to do?” He pointed at the group, “It’s your fault. The eyes I borrowed showed me how you wanted to rid me, and the ears I borrowed let me hear your plans.” “Eyes? Ears? What are you talking about?"

Leona tried to surprise-attack the clone, but he turned and dodged the attempt. He dodged more effortlessly, “I was born to eradicate all life,” He continued, “But that doesn’t mean I can’t use it for my own benefit.” He grabbed Leona’s right arm, snapping it before slamming her back down to the ground, then kicking her away. “Th…Those animals…” Ferral said as he strained to get up. “The crocodile…and thunderbird…you took over their bodies?” “Indeed. Regular humans were too weak, and experiments were difficult to control, but any other creature was perfect.”

Leona got back up, sluggishly running toward the clone. He didn’t even raise a finger, smacking her away with his tail. Armin’s mind raced, “But…how could you have become like this? How did you get that body?” The clone laughed, “That machine with the blue liquid.” Ferral gasped, “The Creation Pod?!” He forced his body to stand up, “You…You used it?!” “It’s your fault. You forced me to use that machine; however, even I wasn’t sure what the end result would be.”

Ferral cursed, but then another thought popped into his head. “Wait…what did you do after it was finished?” “I had to test this body, so I attacked that village of experiments.” Ferral took a step forward, “NO!” He grit his teeth, “What did you do?!” The clone giggled, licking his lips. “I killed some. That strong woman was quite a problem. But, if not for her, I wouldn’t have gotten this strength.” He didn’t need to ask who he was referring to; Ferral’s body froze. “What...what did you do?” He asked in a quiet breath. “She was among the dead.” Ferral’s eyes widened. Armin gasped, “Nia, no…” Leona, once again on her feet, “You bastard!” She charged at him, but with how weak she was at this point, the clone didn’t give her too much attention. He shot his tail at her, wrapping it around her throat, strangling her as she dangled in the air.

Ferral stood frozen like a statue, the world around him cracking like glass. She was dead. It was all his fault. Again and again…..again and again and again again! Everything felt as though it was leaning to the side. His breath sped up, faster and faster. His chest felt tight, and he clenched his fists, digging his claws into the palms until blood started to run down. “You….” Ferral’s eyes were wide with rage.

Ferral roared, “I’LL KILL YOU!!!!!!”

He bolted forward, the ground beneath him cracking as he launched off. The clone smiled, throwing Leona away and charging at Ferral. He threw a punch, thinking Ferral was too weak to dodge it. Ferral swerved his head, the clone’s arm grazing against his cheek. Ferral’s left arm rammed straight through the clone’s chest, stunning him. Ferral used his right arm, socking his jaw clean off. Tearing out his left arm, Ferral continued his assault, blowing off pieces of the clone’s upper body with every punch. Blow after blow, chunks of flesh and blood splattered the ground.

Armin called out, “Ferral, watch out! You’re heading straight for a lake!” As he pushed on, Ferral could see the frozen lake beneath his feet. So he kicked the remaining torso away, sending it straight into the middle of the lake. Ferral jumped back onto solid ground, panting heavily. The clone’s torso jumped back to its feet, a small crack forming below. Slowly, the long red tendrils began shooting upward, creating a skeleton. Heart, lungs, and other fake organs began to be formed, then tendons and muscles. Soon, his entire upper half had been fully reformed.

He huffed and wheezed, giving a smile. “Your anger made you burst with power!” The clone laughed loudly, “How incredible!” He looked at his hands, opening and closing them. “So now I wonder…can I achieve this strength?” He clenched his fists, his arms and chest puffing out, tearing his flesh. He looked to the sky, letting out his inhuman cry. The ice under him cracked with the sound, breaking underneath him. His body fell into the frozen water.

He didn’t come up for several seconds, but then a huge form burst out from the water, flying into the air. Everyone looked on, terrified by this new form. The clone’s hair grew all the way down his back; his tail was longer than before. He had grown two more wings at the bottom of his others, those two now featuring hooked spikes at the top. The ends of his fur were covered in black. The clone’s muscles had also grown in size, making him bulkier and taller. His eyes were completely blacked out.

He fell, crushing the ground beneath him. Ferral stepped back, the clone towering over him, three feet taller now. “Do you understand now?” The clone smiled, his voice deep and menacing, “All life will fall by my hand.” Ferral couldn’t move; he was frozen in terror. He couldn’t look away; it was…it was like…staring at death itself. The clone roared at him, his jaw still split, but now the lower part would split in two. He drove his fist straight into Ferral's chest, breaking several ribs as he was sent soaring back.

The clone flew after him, catching up and kicking him into the air. He flew past Ferral, curling his legs and dropping them both into his stomach. The two are heading to the ground, creating a massive crater upon impact. Blood ran from the sides of Ferral’s mouth while his body twitched. The clone picked him up by the head, chuckling in glee. “I won’t kill you yet; you can watch as the humans are slaughtered.” He got closer to Ferral’s face, “Isn’t that what you wanted?” He tossed Ferral out of the crater and landed limp on the ground. As he flew out, Leona jumped up, but the clone swatted her away. She landed next to Ferral, the two lying unconscious.

He aimed his sights on Armin and the group of guards. “Isn’t there anything we can do?!” Davis hissed. The clone flew at them, opening his mouth and showing his long, forked tongue. Everyone ran inside, but the clone exploded through the building with ease. Everyone, scientists and soldiers alike, ran in far. He chased them through the halls, shooting spines from his tail or simply slicing them to pieces. Amongst the chaos, Armin had an idea. He ran through the halls, stopping at room H3-F, and opened the door. Luckily, the clone didn’t see him, so he had some time. He ran toward the freezer in the corner, taking out the tray Ferral put in there.

He took out two of the small frozen balls. “I don’t know if this is going to work,” He muttered, “But we’re very low on options.” The doors tore open, the clone roaring after finding Dr. Atlas. Armin stumbled back. He didn’t know what to do. Before he entered, someone shoved the clone to the side. Everett panted, her body in throbbing pain. She turned to Armin, “ARMIN, GO!!” She shouted, the clone charging toward her. She slid under his legs, coming up on the other side. He whipped his tail around, attempting to hit her, but she ran off, the clone turning around and chasing after her. Armin waited until he was gone before heading out of the complex and running toward Ferral and Leona.

He slid down beside Ferral, lifting his head. “Mr. Ferral, wake up!” Armin shook him. Ferral slowly opened his eyes, “Armin?” He weakly spoke, “What’s happening?” “That monster is tearing through the complex, but I brought these.” He showed Ferral the two red balls he brought. “You said this was the next step in your guy’s evolution, right? Now, I have no idea what these will do, but if there’s any chance of helping, it’s worth trying.” Ferral didn’t answer, looking up at the sky. He replied, “They were meant to help experiments awaken for the first time. I don’t know how it will affect us.” “Well…no better time to find out.” Armin smiled, “We’re scientists after all, it’s our job.” Ferral looked at him for a moment, then nodded. Armin put one of them into his mouth, Ferral swallowing it. He went over to Leona, shaking her away. She raised her head off the ground, “What?” “Eat this, please.” Armin showed her the ball. Her eyes looked at Ferral for a reason, and he slowly nodded to her. Leona looked back at Armin and opened her mouth. He placed the ball on her tongue, and she swallowed it.

They waited for a few seconds, but nothing happened. “Do you guys feel any different?” They shook their heads. A loud boom sounded from the complex, and the clone flew out from the roof. Holding Everett’s bloody and motionless body by her ankle. “Shit!” He turned to Ferral and Leona, “Stay here!” Armin got up and ran toward the clone. “Don’t have much of a choice,” Leona remarked.

As Armin got closer, the clone dropped Everett’s body in front of him. He landed heavily on the ground, looking down at the doctor. “You were a mistake!” Armin sneered, “You shouldn’t exist!” The clone smirked, “True, but here I am. Now then, time to die like the rest.”

Meanwhile, Ferral and Leona picked themselves up. Their bodies ached and wanted to fall apart. They looked hopelessly at the clone, knowing full well they couldn’t win. Daybreak had begun, the sun rising behind them.

“Leona…” Ferral softly spoke, his eyes staring at the ground. “I’m…I’m sorry. So, so sorry. All of this truly is my fault. It’s because of my hatred that all of this happened, and everyone suffered for it. Before we die, I want to simply say, thank you. Thank you for being one of the only remaining people who saw any kind of good in me. You still held hope and even love. I…I don’t deserve a friend like you.”

Leona was stunned, at a loss for words. Tears slid down her face as she gave a soft smile. “You idiot,” She quietly laughed, “I will always love you, no matter what.” As the sun rose, they could feel the warmth spread through their bodies. She lifted her left arm, forming a fist. Ferral looked at it for a moment and smiled back, lifting his right fist, and the two bumped fists. As their fists touched, a sudden jolt of strength flowed through their bodies. It was as if they caught some kind of sudden second wind. But it was a third wind. No, fourth. Fifth. Suddenly, their eyes changed. Leona’s into the golden sun and Ferral the shadowy night sky.