CHAPTER 11: THREE IS THE DEADLIEST NUMBER (ZOMBATO)

MAFISTO’S NOT SAFE ANYMORE HOUSE, DOWNTOWN, NEXERIA

“That’s impossible! I’ve hidden this place even from the Circle!” Mafisto stands up quickly, then raises his fists, assuming his battle stance.

“You said their spies were unmatched! Why are you astonished at this occurrence?” Zombato questions him. He forms his katars and assumes his own combat stance.

Three figures bust through the ceiling, landing in front of the unlikely Zombie/Saurcillian duo. The trio rise, showing their menacing forms. When the bleak twilight hits them, their faces are lit up; revealing their Saurcillian features; much to the dismay of Mafisto.

“Who are these delightful looking chaps?” Zombato says, gripping his katars tightly.

“The Tri-Squad; an elite trio of spies of The Circle. The front one is San, the woman is Trois, and the big guy is Tiga. I hoped I avoided you.” Mafisto snarls after responding.

“Mafisto; did you really believe you can outwit us? Now, are you sharing secrets you’re not supposed to? We can’t have that; now, can we? I mean, what would the Don think of that? We thought maybe your minor scuffle was supposed to help us after the plan went south; but it seems we have a betrayal on our hands.” San says, crossing his arms, staring down at Mafisto.

“A betrayal? My Saurus; That’s not allowed in this family.” Trois adds, pointing her finger at Mafisto.

Mafisto looks at Zombato; he clenches his fists; his expression turning dour from the words of the Tri-Squad.

“Saurk! Why couldn’t you trust my words? But no, you had to fight to believe me!” Mafisto yells at Zombato full of sass.

“Actions speak louder than words, and all that boulderdash.” He adds seasoned with plenty of snark.

“Give it a respite and it’s balderdash, never a wrong time for correcting words. Now, speaking of correcting, I’m going to do the same to them and correct their vocabulary with my reconfigured remains.” Zombato says, pointing the bone katars at the trio.

“He certainly has a way with words; doesn’t he, guys?” Trois stares at Zombato.

“I’m exhausted by his words! We came to end this traitor, not to have tea and cupcakes!” Tiga charges forward, tackling Mafisto through a wall into the next room.

“So, which one of you two endearing individuals wants the ineluctable thrashing that’s about to transpire first?” Zombato says with a big smile on his face. He stares at his two foes with his eyes glowing a bright yellow.

“San, prepare yourself. Seems like his bite might be on the same level as his exquisite bark.” Trois declares, preparing herself for the fight.

“Don’t worry, I’m always ready. It doesn’t matter how much he bites or barks; I’ll put this mad dog down.” San’s eyes shine orange as he bares his teeth and claws at his foe.

Zombato jumps into the air, firing his finger bone bullets at San and Trois.

The Tri-Squad members spin with majestic grace, evading the bullets. The two of them return fire with arcane blasts at Zombato.

He gets blasted into the ceiling of the room; then falls down to the ground. He gets up and rubs his mouth.

Zombato leaps at San while spinning his body and blades around like a caffeinated buzzsaw.

San creates an arcane shield to block his foe’s oncoming assault; but the spin is too forceful and shatters the shield.

Zombato cuts up San’s chest before Trois blasts him away. San holds his chest from the blood dripping from his wounds. Trois’s eyes glow brighter. She summons more arcanus energy into her hands; then fires a giant wave at Zombato.

Zombato, barely getting to his feet from the last blast, crosses his bone katars in front of him to block the blast. He pushes back with all his undead might; uncrossing his katars, he deflects the blast away from himself. However, the blast was powerful enough to destroy his katars.

“I see you are not all boast! Heh… then this should be a full festivity.” Zombato says with a big smile. He forms a reddish-green ball of a gooey substance in his hand.

“Enjoy this joyous jubilation!” Zombato throws the ball at the two of them; it speeds past them so fast, they can barely dodge it.

“You have a weird definition of festivity and jubilation if missing an attack is your plan.” Trois says, looking down at him.

“Watch out, bounty hunters are crafty foes.” San says with forearms in front of himself.

“Who says I missed? Ravaging Remains!” Zombato smirks.

The ball explodes behind them, sending out spikes of hardened blood, flesh, and bone.

“Yoga can’t educate you on the type of body manipulation that I have mastered.” Zombato says, wearing a big smirk on his face.

“Saurk!” Trois exclaims, seeing the spikes come at her. San tries to push her out of the way, but the spikes move too fast; impaling both of the Tri-Squad members in multiple spots across their bodies.

“Saurk! Why are you trying to save me, San? You’re already hurt.” Trois says, reaching out for San.

“Heh heh; well, it’s just who I am; I have that holey aura to me.” San chuckles after hearing her words.

“I’m glad you two are enjoying the festivities; because the jubilation can go all day.” Zombato says.

San and Trois both stand up, full of determination. Their eyes lighting up bright orange. They’re both dripping blood from multiple parts of their bodies.

“If you think one attack will stop the Tri-Squad, then you are only bark.” San says, standing tall, not even reacting from the puncture wounds he has.

“Oooo, I love it when he speaks with this kind of passion.” Trois smiles widely. She doesn’t show any signs of stopping from her wounds.

“I’m elated that Nexeria has welcomed me back with open arms. This is already my third tempestuous scuffle! I wonder how my new friend is doing?” Zombato smiles, planning his next move already.

“NOT WELL! WE NEED AN ESCAPE PLAN!” Mafisto shouts from the other room. Only sounds of blows connecting come about echoing along with his booming voice.

“Oh, it’s not that calamitous; it’s barely even a catastrophe.” Zombato smiles even more. He stares at his foes; waiting to see who moves first.

The two members of the Tri-Squad bum rush him straight into the wall behind him. He would writhe in pain if he felt that anymore; a blessing of being a reanimated corpse.

“There’s no escaping from us, bounty hunter. You know too much, and it will cost you this undeath!” San says, pinning part of Zombato’s chest against the wall. He charges up arcane energy in his free hand.

“Too bad you don’t feel pain. I could have so much fun ripping you apart.” Trois smiles devilishly at her pinned opponent. She joins her ally in charging up energy too.

“You guys are talkers; I love talkers. Everything has to be funny or exciting during battle.” Zombato says, with a grin that goes ear to ear.

“Ripping Rib-ellion!” He shouts. His rib bones shoot out through his flesh as if a grenade went off in his stomach. The bones simultaneously impale the Tri-Squad members against the opposite end of the ceiling.

“Talkers become oblivious effortlessly. Makes them simple prey.” The bone spikes keep the Tri-Squad members pinned against the ceiling. His body regenerates as he walks towards the wall.

“Dungsicle, I just bought this shirt. I’ll have to ask Duchess to sew it later.” He mumbles, then stares at the wall that facing outside. He hardens his body from flesh to bone to blood, then punches the wall with all his might. His fist connects with the wall; the impact powerful enough to shatter every piece of wood, plaster, brick, piping and more as if they were all made of glass.

“I HAVE THE ESCAPE ROUTE YOU WANTED! LET’S MAKE HASTE!” Zombato shouts at Mafisto.