El Tigre: Evolution
"I, uh, believe these are yours."
-Dr. Chipotle Sr.
Chapter 22
Sartana struck down the last LuxeSentry with a strum of her mystic guitar. The villains ceased the motions of battle, finally realizing that they were victorious. In the confusion, some of them had begun fighting each other; El Mal Verde was wrestling with Sr. Siniestro, Lady Gobbler was gnawing on Dr. Chipotle Sr.'s metal arm, etc. Eventually the villains separated and began to cheer.
"We've won!" Vultura declared.
"Now nothing will stop us from taking LuxeCorp!" General Chapuza, the zombie leader, added triumphantly.
"And all of it's wealth!" Dr. Chipotle Jr. snickered.
"I, uh, believe these are yours," said Dr. Chipotle Sr., handing back a set of dentures to Lady Gobbler.
"Thank you, sonny!" she chirped.
Sartana sighed. None of the villains knew the danger they were in. The only way she got them assembled was by announcing an "open-house" raid on LuxeCorp.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!" a voice sounded out over a loudspeaker. The villains looked up to see two blimps- excuse me -one blimp and one zeppelin- hanging in the skies of Miracle City.
It's the League of Alliance Society!" one of the Moustache Mafia pointed.
"And the Golden Eagle Twins!" The Cactus Kid chipped in.
"Um, I'm still here," said Chief Suarez.
Meanwhile, up in the Golden Eagle Zeppelin, the twins were reclining in their seats.
"Charging lasers," Carlito said, pressing a button.
Carla yawned. "What do ya think Luxe'll give us when take care of these clowns?"
Carlito shrugged, looking back at the mountain of stuff they had collected by taking advantage of the citizens of Miracle City. "Dunno. I hear they're working on the LuxePod v2.0."
Then the earth began to shake. All gazes turned toward the closest tower of the LuxeCorp. building. A pillar of crimson light rose from its zenith and into the sky. The sky itself turned red, and a dark vortex opened up.
"That can't be good," muttered El Mal Verde.
"It's too late," Sartana whispered. But then her brow furrowed. What am I saying? Now is the time for REVENGE!
Orbs of light poured out of the vortex. Several pierced through the floating dirigibles on their way down to earth. Both the League and the Golden Eagle Twins were going down…
The twins were scrambling around in the gondola, trying to save what treasures they could.
"Solid gold mountain bike?" Carlito asked.
"Save it!"
"Picture of us with orphans?"
Toss!"
"Mr. Fluffaluffagins?" Carlito teared up as he held up a teddy bear.
"Forget it! We need to bail NOW!"
As the blimps crashed spectacularly, the orbs of light came to rest on the ground. The energy fizzled, and grotesque forms were revealed. The creatures stood up and stretched, bones cracking and popping after centuries of being cooped up. The demons were troll-like, they bodies seemingly covered in tumors.
"Ah! Monsters!" said "Sr. Siniestro" in his normal Sergio voice. Then, clearing his throat, "I mean, Ha! Monsters!"
Suddenly, a voice rumbled across the city:
"ALL SHALL TREMBLE BEFORE THE NEW GOD."
"Looks like this fight isn't over," General Chapuza growled.
"I didn't sign up for this!" The Cactus Kid whined.
"I agree with the newbie," said Vultura. "Let the heroes handle this."
The other villains began to murmur in agreement. Fortunately for them, the creatures seemed to be unaware of their presence, still adjusting to this new environment.
"VILLAINS!" Sartana roared. All eyes turned to the mistress of the undead. "This is our city! What do they always say? Miracle City is a spicy cesspool of crime and villainy! We can't just roll over and give up when an army of demons shows up! We must take a stand and defend what is ours!"
The villains looked at Sartana blankly.
Sartana sighed. "I'll pay you."
Cheers went up and fists were raised. However, the demons began to become aware of their surroundings, sniffing the air and growling.
The villains were in for the fight of their lives.
"ALL SHALL TREMBLE BEFORE THE NEW GOD."
El Santo Oscuro lowered his arms after making that declaration in a hollow, rumbling voice. He turned to Alado Uno.
"Where is this place?"
The Alado kneeled. "Master, this location is known as Miracle City."
El Santo Oscuro pondered for a moment looking out over the city.
"Miracle City…such a hopeful name…for a condemned place."
"Listen, pal!" Luxe snapped. "I don't know who you think you are, but the Tome is mine!"
El Santo whirled to face Luxe with flames burning in his eyes. El Tigre slowly sidestepped away from the billionaire as the demon approached. Alado Uno just shook his head.
"What is your name, mortal?"
Luxe straightened up in the face of pure evil. El Tigre could feel the air chill. Frost was beginning to form on his whiskers.
"My name is Diego Luxe. I led Los Alados in the search for the lost pages. I read the spell."
El Santo Oscuro smiled. "So it was you that freed me? I reward those who…assist me."
"I don't care about some reward!" Luxe snarled. "I want the Tome! Do you have any idea what I've sacrificed, how many people have died-"
The billionaire's rambling was cut off when El Santo Oscuro thrust a hand into his abdomen. Luxe gagged, the veins in his face turning black Alado Uno walked over and placed a hand on the convulsing Luxe's shoulder.
"It's a rare honor," he said, "To be blessed by the Dark Saint. You'll be a changed man…if you survive the process."
El Santo Oscuro removed his hand, and Luxe collapsed to his knees.
"Now, let us go. We've a world to conquer…"
The Alado and the Dark Saint turned and headed for the edge of the roof.
"Oh no you don't!" El Tigre cried as he launched himself at the caped demon. El Santo turned just as El Tigre met him, claws slicing and flailing…and doing nothing. They couldn't penetrate El Santo's armor. El Tigre pushed back and jumped away to a safe distance.
"Madre de Dios! He's tougher than Don Baffi's moustache!"
"One object wielder?" El Santo Oscuro questioned, unimpressed. "It took an army to stop me before…and they just got lucky."
"You're no saint, buddy," El Tigre growled.
"You're right," El Santo returned, raising a hand, energy fluctuating through it. "I…am…a GOD!" He released the energy, sending it flowing towards the teenage super. El Tigre was blasted back, landing next to the twitching Luxe. The demon turned back to the Alado.
"Take me to the highest point in the city."
"With pleasure, master."
El Santo Oscuro levitated off the roof and began to hover across the cityscape. Alado Uno took flight, circling his demonic master.
El Tigre got up, brushing himself off. Luxe grabbed his arm.
"P-pl-please…help me…" Luxe stammered as he continued to seize.
El Tigre pulled his arm back, glaring at the fallen billionaire.
"Help yourself."
El Tigre made his way back to the elevator, leaving Luxe to suffer.
Black Cuervo flew over the city, defying her family's orders once again. She was still grounded, and therefore forbidden from going on the LuxeCorp raid. Judging from the looks of things, it was a good thing too. She landed on a rooftop, eyes wide. Miracle City was a war zone. Strange creatures were terrorizing the streets. Their numbers were endless.
"Cuervo!" a familiar voice called. She turned to see Puma Loco land close by, setting down someone she recognized as the school librarian…and Manny's mother.
"Sr. Rivera! What are you doing here?" Cuervo asked.
The elderly supervillain crossed his mechanical arms and huffed. "Sra. Party-pooper here wouldn't let me go on the raid!"
"We have more important things to worry about!" Maria scolded, wagging a finger. "We have to wait for Manny and the others!"
"Are you blind, woman!" Puma Loco shouted. "The city is in chaos! Whatever they were trying to stop, happened!"
"Enough!" Cuervo cried, interrupting the bickering adults. "Mi familia is out there! We need to do something!"
Puma and Maria glanced at each other. Puma Loco nodded, and Maria sighed, producing her glove.
The unlikely trio prepared for the fight of their lives.