A Hell of a Time
Snake Face was faster than I'd expected-no matter how many times I managed to take a swing at the bastard, he managed to dodge my fists. I had to stop because after half a minute I got shot by asshole number one-the guy who'd had the gun at his hip back at my house.
It didn't hurt as much as getting shot last night did, but... This was bad. I was outnumbered-Snake Face, two assholes, and thirteen armed mercenaries-and if these levels meant anything I was outclassed, too.
Just to be sure, I checked the assholes stat screens "Asshole: Class: Minion. Level: 1." Well, at least I could take them.
So I charged at the asshole who shot me and decked him. He flew against the wall, hit it, and collapsed... I really hope I didn't kill him there. I was distracted from my potential worry by the feeling of a sudden surge within me and the phrase "level up" playing through my head. Then I got shot again, this time by a mercenary with one of those fancy rifles. Turns out they shoot lasers, and lasers burn like all fuck.
I focused through the pain and went after asshole number 2. I picked the jackass up and tossed him at the merc who shot me. Asshole and merc fell to the floor, but I had to jump out of the way of like, six laser blasts before I could see if they got back up. I noticed Snake Face heading for the door, so I ran trying to intercept him. I got shot in the back by another laser blast and stumbled from the burning pain of it, but in my stumble, I managed to tackle the bastard and we both fell to the floor.
I might have super strength, but I was still a rail-thin teenage girl and Snake Face still a grown man, so he easily managed to push me off of him. I landed on my back, the cold hard ground irritating my fresh laser burn and causing me to wince in pain. Snake Face was at his feet by the time I could see clearly again and had a large pistol pointed right at my head.
"Now, Miss Hebert," the True Villain began, "you no longer get a real choice. You can either be my human shield against the Protectorate Forces, or you can die. You have five seconds to decide."
It was then that I noticed that he was standing right over me at a certain angle, and raised my boot right up into Snake Face's crotch.
The sound he made as he dropped his gun and fell to the ground, a certain high-pitched wheeze, would have been comical in any other situation, but I had to roll to avoid more laser-fire and so couldn't enjoy it.
I managed to roll onto my front and push myself up but took a laser blast to the face for my trouble. I picked up the fallen Villain and threw him at a hurt looking merc-looks like the one I threw asshole number 2 at got back up. Coil and merc fell to the floor, and I felt another surge and got another level up message flashing in my mind.
I found myself better able to focus through the burning pain of my laser wounds and charged right into a crowd of mercenaries. I took another laser blast, dead to the chest, but it didn't stop me from flooring one of the bastards with one punch. the cluster of armed soldiers began to scatter, but not before I could grab one, hoist him above my head, and chuck him at a couple of stray mercenaries lined up against the far wall, knocking one to the floor.
Snake Face was pushing himself back up yet again, but there were only nine of his mercenary soldiers still standing. The about four of them shot at me, but only one of them hit as I charged after their boss. As I lifted the bone-thin man above my head and tossed him at one of his mercenaries, the villain actually had the audacity to yell "stop doing this!" as he soared through the air and knocked down one of his own men. Now there's only eight, and with another surge, I leveled up.
"I'll stop chucking you when you stop getting back up," I paused to wheeze, "asshole."
"Not you," he groaned in response... I was the only one kicking his ass. Was the man losing it? I wasn't able to ponder more because a mercenary shot at me and I had to jump to the side.
One of two things had to happen in the next few minutes. Either I had to beat these bastards, or the Protectorate had to hurry up and find this room. Otherwise? These guys are running me ragged, and laser burns hurt.
Five of these fuckers were closing in on me, guns aimed straight at me and most likely sensing my growing exhaustion This didn't stop me from charging one of them and laying him out with a punch. Unfortunately, I got shot by the other four and fell to my knees, letting them surround me, and the remaining three men soon joined them.
Snake Face managed to push himself up again, and the seven men around me had their laser rifles aimed straight at me. Figuring that I was screwed anyway, I punched the mercenary right in front of me in the groin. I got shot by the other six guys but the asshole in front of me fell to the ground and was too busy crying to get back up. I felt the level up surge again, but it didn't exactly help me as the six assholes grabbed me and lifted me up.
"You're proving... Quite annoying... Akuma," Snake Face said between pained wheezes, and he began to shuffle towards the door. He kept stopping every few seconds and looking around... I think that the snake-faced bastard was legitimately insane.
I struggled against the mercenaries holding me even as they began to carry me to the door. God damn it, I had super strength... If I wasn't so fucking burned I... there was something in the back of my mind... Something that wasn't there before. I didn't know what it was, but I reached out for it. It had to be better than just struggling against these fuckers.
I suddenly felt a burning hot energy building in my heart and coursing through my veins, and could hear a deep buzz and a crackling sound. I felt as though I was one with the cosmos and, acting on instinct, I tore myself free of the mercenaries' grip and leaped high in the air. I twisted up and my feet nearly touched the vaulted ceiling, and I made note of the bright pinkish purple glow around my fist just before I started to fall. I punched the ground as I landed and the cosmic purple energy exploded out, sending the six mercenaries flying... and there's the other level up. I was starting to get the feeling that I wasn't supposed to fight these guys yet. Oh well.
With the mercenaries defeated in such a flashy manner, their boss turned back to me and then recoiled in horror.
"D-did you see that, Snake Face? I think," I said, pausing to catch my breath, "I think I'm going to call it my Cosmic Knuckle." I don't know why I said that the name just came to me.
The True Villain responded by falling to his knees of his own accord, just as the door to the room was forced open by a bearded man in blue powered armor.