Mike POV.
Welp, I'm pretty sure I've just gone and broken my spine... in several places...
Okay, so, good news and bad news. Good news, I figured out that the bomb activates after throwing it hard enough against something solid. The bad news? I figured it out only seconds before it exploded, meaning the blast was enough to throw me back and crash into the wall on the other side of the room. Hell, there's even a freaking impression of me now embedded in the concrete walls! I don't know how that's even physically possible, but here it is, just showing a zig zag pattern of my body. As though the walls weren't cracked enough to begin with. Anyway, enough of that. I need to start worrying about myself right now. Whether the patrol managed to see the explosion or not I still need to find a way out before that giant snake's henchmen get to me. And that's if they haven't already heard that big ass explosion I've set off. The big thick door leading to the hallway outside I know has been barred off, and the hole in the wall that was caused by the explosion is tempting, but there's nothing exactly to grab onto to help lower myself down so that would be just like walking off the edge of a cliff. There was however a silver lining as I soon noticed that a small section of the floor had also been blown apart. Not much, but with a few minor adjustments it should be big enough for me to slither onto the floor below.
Wasting no time I started to pull apart the burnt wood as best I could. The remaining heat that lingered stung, and the unseen splinters sticking out from the broken wood was irritating, but I was more determined to escape while I could. I'd deal with whatever injuries I have later.
Finally the hole was big enough for me to squeeze through. I carefully poked my head through and tried to observe the floor below. It wasn't too much different to the decrepid room I was in to begin with, but chances are that the door there isn't locked. So, choosing to take the risk, I slithered through into the room as slow and as careful as possible before landing with a barely audible thump. After a quick check to make sure there wasn't anyone behind the stacked boxes to the left of the room, I tested the door to make sure it wasn't locked. To my relief, it wasn't. But I still had some way to go before I was free. The hallway on the other side of the door was freezing. No heat insulation at all. Not to mention the cobwebs. Chances are that this floor hasn't been used at all. Taking the chance, I darted down the hall up to the next door. I could hear talking on the other side. Someone's in there.
I opened the door a peek and tried to look inside. Wouldn't you know it? It was the damn loud mouth cobra himself. In his tail he was twirling round a crossbow/revolver. He was talking to another soldier. Whatever they were talking about, it seems that they were at the end of their conversation.
"Hey, all I'm saying is mission complete. I'm the one who got the python, right? So why shouldn't I get paid a little extra for a job well done"? He boasted.
"Uh, pardon for saying so sir, but wasn't it technic"-
"I mean, one six-shot bow isn't exactly too much too ask for, for crying out loud. I think we can spare one. Especially since we're the only ones who'll use them anyway".
"I guess... but aren't these things still in the prototype sta"-
"Yeah, I know they are, genius"! The cobra spoke in a matter of fact tone. "We'll just call this... a field test, alright. Does that satisfy you buddy? Huh"?
"Yes sir"...? The soldier replied uncertain.
"Good. Now get out of here and help the others with the rest of the equipment".
Without question, the soldier slithered out of the room as quick as he could, leaving the cobra to shake his head.
"Idiot". He mumbled before putting down what I can now call a six-shot bow, on a nearby table. "Whatever happened to the days when soldiers kept their mouths shut and followed orders without so much as a sigh"? The attitude he gave made it sound as though he could care less.
Deciding that it would be risky to open the door any more and end up being spotted I decided to just wait until he left using the door on the right side of the room. For a moment, just before touching the handle, he froze in place for a second. I began to feel nervous. Had he heard me? His head turned to the side and I ducked right back behind the a short moment longer, he remained in that position, at least, I think he did. I can't exactly hear him moving around due to the lack of footsteps. I wasn't sure whether to just rush in and just attack on account that he knew I was here. It was 50-50 either way. Eventually I heard him just mumble and the sound of his door unlocked, creaked open and shut. I slowly peaked my head back round, slowly until I could see that the room was empty. Well, aside from the weapon still lying on the top of the wooden table. The oppertunity to take it couldn't have been easier. I slithered into the room and closed the door behind me as quietly as I could just in case there were any other guards nearby, and approached the table.
Even up close this thing looks bizzare. A crossbow, half the length of a regular one with something similar to the loading cartridge of a revolver fixed into the middle of it. Not to mention its strange-looking arrows. Thick for the middle and a needle for the tip. Why it's like that, I have no idea. Still, I'm sure Gongmen city's finest can take a look into it.
As I reached for the weapon, there was a soft crunch coming from above. Was that just the ceiling falling apart? Wouldn't be surprising given what I've seen of this place so far. But still, the last thing I want is a slab of wood and concrete to come crashing down on me when I least expect it. I looked up to check and-
"SURPRISE BITCH"!
The next thing I ended up experiencing was a solid whack to the face sending me back a few feet before crashing on the floor. Shaking my head, I looked back to where I had been attacked in time to see the damn cobra himself drop from a small hanging chandelier just above my head. That asshole knew I was hiding the whole time!
"Oho, wow! Really dude"? He asked giving his cocky smile. "No, really? You didn't see that coming? Tsk tsk tsk. This is what's supposed to pass for being a kung fu expert? I mean, that could not have been more obvious! What, you think I just decided to leave something so valuable out in the open like that"?
"Oh, is that right"? I countered. "What makes you think I didn't know that you were here the entire time? Maybe I just wanted you to reveal yourself just so I can have the sweet chance to kick your ass all over the place".
"No no no, that's not it". He smirked. "If you did know, you would have made the first move".
"Yeah well just try that move again jerk".
"Jerk"? He asked, placing his tail on his chest. "What, no first term names? After everything we've been through together? You're going to break my heart there, bud".
"You never told me your name". I replied flatly.
"Shìbīng (Chinese for soldier). A fitting name, huh? Let me give you a hint WHY I'm called that".
Without warning, the sneaky son of a bitch swung his tail right at me, forcing me to duck right under it. I used the oppertunity to ram into his stomach, causing him to lean over where I then used the lower part of my body to smash into his jaw, similar to how one would ram their knee into someone's head. The cobra retaliated by wrapping his tail round my neck and managed to flip me right over his back and onto the table! I barely dodged the tail punch that followed a second after, leaving a mark right where my head just was! Despite my quickness, he still managed to get a hit on my back, pushing me forward! As he charged back at me, I pulled off a riskier move, literally diving head first, just passing him on the left side! In the confusion, he failed to notice my tail grabbing onto his head until it was too late! Using the momentum I used a trick similar to his own! As I was about to make contact with the floor I tucked my head forwards and rolled across the floor on my back, all while keeping my grip on Shìbīng's head until he slammed on the wooden floor belly first, no doubt knocking the wind out of him, even with his armor! I could hear a couple of coughs escape from his mouth. Unfortunatley he still had some fight in him as he gave a small chuckle as he rised back up.
"You're going to want to do better than that if you want to get past me". He smiled, pulling from the wall... a freaking tail blade? How did I miss that just hanging there?!
It didn't matter now anyway! Shìbīng held the blade like a dagger instead of properly attaching it, ready to deliver a few cuts. Seems he doesn't care whether or not I recieve a couple of serious injuries! He immediatley jumped and swung at me, forcing me to jump backwards out of the way lest I recieve a cut throat! Instead, the weapon cut right through a few candles convieniently placed right on the side of the wall! Damn that thing's sharp! Swing after swing he kept coming at me! I couldn't afford to attack him without risking a hit from the blade! Only after a couple more swings was I able to catch his tail with my own as he tried driving it towards my chest! In a matter of seconds I was pushed up against the table once again trying hard to keep the blade at bay! Twisting my body to the left was enough for Shìbīng to lose his balance, causing him to fall forwards and get the blade embedded in the table! It was enough to buy me a few seconds at least! I needed something to help even the odds and quick! Deflecting blades isn't exactly my specialty! The one thing that has proved to offer any kind of resistance so far is the table! With that idea in mind, there was no way I could just use the whole table as a shield and expect to fight at the same time! Instead all I could do was coil round one of the table legs, fast as I could, and snap it off! The table ended up collapsing due to the loss of one of its legs right after Shìbīng had pulled the weapon from it! I was barely able to grab the leg properly and use it to block the next swing! Now we were swordfighting! Lucky me! However, luck was with me! The more blows we tried trading, the more I realised that I was now beginning to gain the upper hand! The more we fought, the slower he was starting to get! Seems kung fu masters get more stamina training than soldiers!
"Damn it, just give up already"! Shìbīng hissed, annoyed that I was still resisting. "It's not like you have your little girlfriend to help you out this time"!
"Hey, I was just being the gentleman back then and holding back". I replied with a cocky smile of my own forming. "Now I don't have to worry about that".
Hit after hit, block after block, I was wearing him down at last! However, my table leg was still just a table leg! And it wouldn't be much longer until it would give considering all the cut marks on it! With that in mind I gave it my final swing, putting my all into the one attack! It was enough to knock the blade out of his tail while also breaking mine into two pieces! The frustrated cobra gave a hiss before swinging his tail at me! I blocked it but as I did, he immediatley turned tail and retreated before picking up a new weapon! The six-shot! He was getting desperate!
He aimed right at me and pulled the trigger! The arrow barely missed by an inch! That was all I needed to dive at him and try to wrestle the thing away from him! During the struggle another two shots fired up into the ceiling! Another shot could prvove fatal! Not wanting to take the risk I managed to headbut him and tugged on the weapon! However, there was one small problem. The trigger had been pulled a fourth time and hit its target. Not me, but Shìbīng. The arrow was sticking out of his side! I was expecting him to panic, maybe try one final attempt to stop me. But... that didn't seem to be the case. Instead I ended up witnessing something I did not expect to see. Within seconds of being hit he just seemed to... stagger, as though having trouble keeping his upper body from hitting the floor. After what felt like an eternity of waiting he spoke.
"Nighty night"... And thus, he finally fell to the floor.
Nighty... night? I uh... what?
Confused, I took another look at the six-shot now in my posession and took another look at the arrow stuck in Shìbīng's side. An thin needle-like tip and a thick middle...? ... Oh! Oh, of course! How did I not realise that right away!? This weapon, it doesn't fire arrows! It fires darts! Tranquillisers! That explains the wierd shape of the ammunition! Not sure why Shìbīng tried using it against me first though. Maybe he just wanted to show off? Meh, didn't really work out for him, did it? Now I have one of their six-shots with two darts remaining. Now all I have to do is hope the patrol was able to notice the signal and are on their way to free me.
Having finished business here, I slithered out through the door to the right. No doubt mr. Sleepy head is going to be pissed once he wakes up. At least the thought of that alone is enough to make me smile.
...
Two chapters in less than a week? Finally, we're making progress once again! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, will try to get the next one out maybe either this week or next week, no promises. Until then however, cheerio!