Thanks once again to all reviewers, replies are at the end of the chapter.
Chapter 23: Too great a number
I could see the faces through the window, smirking bloodthirsty faces of animals that saw a potential mean through the windows of the train. Through the shock, I couldn't help but grin at the thought of a few of them impaled on the edge of one of my swords.
The doors opened with a hiss.
The beasts charged forward, I can't really say I was surprised when they all got stuck in the doors, each of the brainless morons wanted to be the first to get a kill under their belt. We wasted no time in taking advantage of this.
Manticore drew first blood. He buried a bullet deep into a demon's skull. The corpse fell backwards and was tossed aside graciously by its former comrades.
I didn't really notice any other kills by 'ascended ones', I was too busy earning a few of my own. I fired my remaining bullets in the direction of the closest door before charging at it.
I pushed my right arm's sword into the chest of a nearby demon before sending another one, and a fair few that were behind him, flying backwards with a kick. That's one of the nice things about the Matrix; physics are largely irrelevant.
In the corner of my eye, I noticed that the Train man seemed happy enough to stand back and watch. I guessed that this was a good thing.
One of the Demons charged at me, I remember thinking whether or not they recognised us. They ma very well have done considering the damage we'd done to them. I know this is one of the most stupid things you could do in a combat situation, but in my defence, the thought was almost involuntary.
As I was saying however, one of the Demons charged at me with a roar that was more humorous then frightening. Especially after I sliced him in two. Dramatics are all well and good as long as you can avoid looking like a twat whilst using them.
Several heads turned to face the Train man. I turned my own head just in time to see his fist come crashing into it.
As I said, I edited myself so as to make myself more resilient to damage. Despite this however, I still found myself flying down the carriage and through two closed doors into the carriage behind me. If I'd been my old self, my head probably would have been torn off.
Pain was screaming for attention in my back, face and arms. It was all I could do for a few moments to suppress a scream of my own. Tilting my head slightly, I noticed that more Demons had managed to force their way into the train, Dragon and Hydra had fallen back to the carriage that I had been thrown into; Manticore and Hawk were cut off by Demons. They seemed to be holding their own however.
I clawed my way, slowly, back to my feet. As I did so, I narrowly avoided being knocked over by two Demons that had been knocked through the hole that I had created. I tried to get at the main bulk of Demons; hoping to get close enough to decapitate a few before they knew what happened, and hopefully divert attention away from Hawk and Manticore. Annoyingly, some pestiferous Demon got in my way every two meters, cutting them down was not as easy as it should have been, due to my bruised carcass.
I wasn't quick enough to dodge the third flying Demon, the beast smashed into me and I was returned to the floor.
He was quicker then I expected. The beast quickly lifted himself off of me and landed a punch into my face; I barely felt it. Grabbing his head in my hands, I twisted.
The snap was quieter then I expected. Background noise I guess. Anyway, I pushed the corpse away and tried once again to make it to the cloud of Demons. I noticed that Dragon and Hydra seemed to be holding their own against pesky Demons that had separated from the main group. I also noticed that the majority of the enemy appeared to be waiting on the platform, shouting encouragement to their colleagues.
Another Demon charged at me, he had what looked like a pizza cutter in one hand, a questionable choice of weapon but I guessed it would work well enough on throats.
I dodged two swings before re-drawing one of my swords and burying it into her neck. She spluttered and wheezed for a few moments before falling to the floor.
I froze suddenly as I saw Manticore smash through the wall next to the door. Presumably, he'd been hit by the Train man in much the same way as I had. In his flight, he tore a seat from the floor and landed about five meters into the carriage. I couldn't immediately tell whether or not he was still breathing.
Three Demons flew with him, if nothing else; all three of them appeared to be dead.
I increased my pace, but found myself confronting a far greater number of Demons then before.
I swung my left arm's sword with as much strength as I had left. It severed the head of one demon, sliced through the ribs of another, and was stopped effortlessly by the Train man.
The decrepit looking program grinned at me. Deciding that I didn't want another trip through a closed metal door, I rammed a fist into his teeth. I would have used a sword if I had enough room; anyway, the train man flinched slightly, but appeared none the worse for wear.
"Weren't you listening?" The same triumph filled voice, "down here, I'm God."
"No, I wasn't listening." Given more time, I'm reasonably certain that I could have dreamed up something better then that to say.
Alas I had no time, the trainman's fist smashed into the side of my face, my head snapped round, I instantly felt dazed, if it wasn't for the grip he had on my sword I probably would have buggered over.
His fist smashed squarely into the centre of my face, and I blacked out.
To be continued.
And now for replies:
Tai Wilson: Good fortunes with your writing ways. I usually find a blow to the head helps with writer's block, but that's not for everyone. Thanks for reviewing.
Agent Josie: This is the time of year that is the most easy to forget, usually. What relevance that has to anything I have no idea but in any case, thanks for reviewing. The word 'very' will come back to you if you don't get killed.
Chapter 23: Too great a number
I could see the faces through the window, smirking bloodthirsty faces of animals that saw a potential mean through the windows of the train. Through the shock, I couldn't help but grin at the thought of a few of them impaled on the edge of one of my swords.
The doors opened with a hiss.
The beasts charged forward, I can't really say I was surprised when they all got stuck in the doors, each of the brainless morons wanted to be the first to get a kill under their belt. We wasted no time in taking advantage of this.
Manticore drew first blood. He buried a bullet deep into a demon's skull. The corpse fell backwards and was tossed aside graciously by its former comrades.
I didn't really notice any other kills by 'ascended ones', I was too busy earning a few of my own. I fired my remaining bullets in the direction of the closest door before charging at it.
I pushed my right arm's sword into the chest of a nearby demon before sending another one, and a fair few that were behind him, flying backwards with a kick. That's one of the nice things about the Matrix; physics are largely irrelevant.
In the corner of my eye, I noticed that the Train man seemed happy enough to stand back and watch. I guessed that this was a good thing.
One of the Demons charged at me, I remember thinking whether or not they recognised us. They ma very well have done considering the damage we'd done to them. I know this is one of the most stupid things you could do in a combat situation, but in my defence, the thought was almost involuntary.
As I was saying however, one of the Demons charged at me with a roar that was more humorous then frightening. Especially after I sliced him in two. Dramatics are all well and good as long as you can avoid looking like a twat whilst using them.
Several heads turned to face the Train man. I turned my own head just in time to see his fist come crashing into it.
As I said, I edited myself so as to make myself more resilient to damage. Despite this however, I still found myself flying down the carriage and through two closed doors into the carriage behind me. If I'd been my old self, my head probably would have been torn off.
Pain was screaming for attention in my back, face and arms. It was all I could do for a few moments to suppress a scream of my own. Tilting my head slightly, I noticed that more Demons had managed to force their way into the train, Dragon and Hydra had fallen back to the carriage that I had been thrown into; Manticore and Hawk were cut off by Demons. They seemed to be holding their own however.
I clawed my way, slowly, back to my feet. As I did so, I narrowly avoided being knocked over by two Demons that had been knocked through the hole that I had created. I tried to get at the main bulk of Demons; hoping to get close enough to decapitate a few before they knew what happened, and hopefully divert attention away from Hawk and Manticore. Annoyingly, some pestiferous Demon got in my way every two meters, cutting them down was not as easy as it should have been, due to my bruised carcass.
I wasn't quick enough to dodge the third flying Demon, the beast smashed into me and I was returned to the floor.
He was quicker then I expected. The beast quickly lifted himself off of me and landed a punch into my face; I barely felt it. Grabbing his head in my hands, I twisted.
The snap was quieter then I expected. Background noise I guess. Anyway, I pushed the corpse away and tried once again to make it to the cloud of Demons. I noticed that Dragon and Hydra seemed to be holding their own against pesky Demons that had separated from the main group. I also noticed that the majority of the enemy appeared to be waiting on the platform, shouting encouragement to their colleagues.
Another Demon charged at me, he had what looked like a pizza cutter in one hand, a questionable choice of weapon but I guessed it would work well enough on throats.
I dodged two swings before re-drawing one of my swords and burying it into her neck. She spluttered and wheezed for a few moments before falling to the floor.
I froze suddenly as I saw Manticore smash through the wall next to the door. Presumably, he'd been hit by the Train man in much the same way as I had. In his flight, he tore a seat from the floor and landed about five meters into the carriage. I couldn't immediately tell whether or not he was still breathing.
Three Demons flew with him, if nothing else; all three of them appeared to be dead.
I increased my pace, but found myself confronting a far greater number of Demons then before.
I swung my left arm's sword with as much strength as I had left. It severed the head of one demon, sliced through the ribs of another, and was stopped effortlessly by the Train man.
The decrepit looking program grinned at me. Deciding that I didn't want another trip through a closed metal door, I rammed a fist into his teeth. I would have used a sword if I had enough room; anyway, the train man flinched slightly, but appeared none the worse for wear.
"Weren't you listening?" The same triumph filled voice, "down here, I'm God."
"No, I wasn't listening." Given more time, I'm reasonably certain that I could have dreamed up something better then that to say.
Alas I had no time, the trainman's fist smashed into the side of my face, my head snapped round, I instantly felt dazed, if it wasn't for the grip he had on my sword I probably would have buggered over.
His fist smashed squarely into the centre of my face, and I blacked out.
To be continued.
And now for replies:
Tai Wilson: Good fortunes with your writing ways. I usually find a blow to the head helps with writer's block, but that's not for everyone. Thanks for reviewing.
Agent Josie: This is the time of year that is the most easy to forget, usually. What relevance that has to anything I have no idea but in any case, thanks for reviewing. The word 'very' will come back to you if you don't get killed.