Within the She Wolf's Den, the ground began rumbling, much to the confusion of the latest one to enter the cave. "Hello?" Nina called into the cave. The rumbling got stronger as sounds echoed down the cave. Sounded like an approaching battle. Gunfire and rock getting smashed were the most prominent noises. Nina was about to head down the tunnel but something emerged and quickly flew near. It was Diesel. "Diesel! Remmy!" Nina called as they quickly zoomed by. They stopped when they saw the nightfright. "Nina! What, where's Neko?!" Remmy asked before shaking his head. "Nevermind, we've got to get out of here fast!" The zurg said as he had Diesel continue flying out the cave. Nina was about to question the situation when an angry roar sounded from the tunnel. At the sight of the Jack'O Rot coming into view, she quickly followed the zurg and mech. "What is that thing?!" She shouted.
~ Ch. 4: Fighting the Pumpkin Plague
Upon exiting She Wolf's Den, Diesel and Nina swiftly took to the air. Jack'O Rot's vines then darted out and pulled the decaying pumpkin fluff forth. It stood at the cave entrance growling as the orange and black haze kept flowing out of the Gash in its side. It let out a distorted echoing roar before making its way up the cliffside. Meanwhile up in the sky, Diesel and Remmy caught Nina up on what happened. "So that haze got Yoshi as well? Is there any way to free everyone?!" Nina asked. "Only way is to smash that pumpkin fluff it seems." Remmy stated. "But how? What can we do?" Nina questioned as she seemed to be losing hope in the situation. The Jack'O Rot was now roaming through Bass'ken Lake and its haze was spreading throughout the area. "Right now, anything other than giving up." Remmy said with a clenched fist. "We will get Yoshi and Neko back." He continued. He then grit his teeth as he slammed his fist into his other hand. "Alright, no time to lose! That thing is taking and corrupting everything in its path and it seems we are the only ones standing against it! Diesel, Nina, prepare for our last stand." Remmy declared.
Not long after the Jack'O Rot left She wolf's Den, its toxic haze became a fog that engulfed much of Bass'ken Lake. Many fell to the toxin's influence. Animals, animated, gaians, nothing seemed able to resist, except for the zurg, nightfright and mech who were quickly approaching the rampaging pumpkin. "Alright, all or nothing." Remmy said as he caught sight of the Jack'O Rot. "Hold nothing back!" He said as Diesel raised his gun arm, ready to fire. As they neared, the rotten pumpkin noticed them and sent a batch of vines to intercept. Diesel made quick work slashing them away with his crystal claw. Nina meanwhile flew up to dodge them then flipped around before sending a couple waves of energy from her wings at the Jack'O Rot. Before the energy waves hit, a few outlaw pups and buzzsaws leapt up and took the hits. "Damnit, so close." Remmy said as he slammed a fist on Diesel's console. "We gotta keep up the pressure." Diesel stated as he gave a few shots from his gun arm. Nina kept the energy waves coming as well. Various animated kept jumping forward to take the hits and when they couldn't shield the Jack'O Rot it used its vines. One stray shot managed to make it through and hit the rotten pumpkin's triangular eye. The thing began screeching and thrashing its vines around in pain and anger. The ground shook violently from the giant pumpkin's thrashing, which caused a bunch of those controlled to lose balance and fall over. Meanwhile, below ground, something began rising from a slumber as it did not like the shaking of its ground. A giant drill-like being opens its eyes and begins spinning.
Remmy gave a cheer as the pumpkin thrashed about. "Yes! Now's our chance to end thi-!" He began to say. An alert showed up on Diesel's scanner. "Massive hostile approaching." Diesel informed. "What? But... we can barely handle the Jack'O Rot alone!" Nina said. The ground began rumbling and drew the Jack'O Rot's attention away from its fit. It turned as the ground began splitting open a ways away. "For thousands of years I laid dormant." Said a deep voice as something burrowed out of the ground. "Who has disturbed my..." the thing revealing itself as a giant drill said angrily until it saw the rotten pumpkin. "... ... What the hell are you?" It said. The Jack'O Rot growled before letting out a roar and unleashing its vines on the giant drill. The drill swung itself out of the way and began spinning itself across the ground toward the rotten pumpkin.
Meanwhile, over at the Grand Crimson, the orange and black haze was visible as it ascended over the area of Bass'ken Lake. "What is that?" Ethan said as he observed the skies. "I don't know. But... I hope everyone's all right." Wendy said as she sulked a bit. Ethan let out a light laugh. "I'm sure they are. They could handle pretty much anything." The bunny reassured. "Yeah but... I still can't help worrying. I'm the healer of the group. It's my job to keep everyone safe." Wendy stated. Before she could continue her rant, a distant shout was heard. Ethan turned to the direction of the shout as more were heard. "Sounds like it's coming from Gold Beach!" He said as he pulled out a telescope and glanced through it. Over at Gold Beach, many people were running north in panic as many outlaw pups were emerging from the Bass'ken Lake treeline and attacking. "We've got trouble!" Ethan stated as he put away the telescope. "Gold Beach is under attack!" He then summoned his cane and gave it a twirl. "Let's go Wendy!" He said as he and the little mage made their way to Gold Beach.
Up in the air watching the two giant beings battle, Nina, Remmy and Diesel assessed the situation. "What is that thing?" Nina questioned. Diesel scanned the giant drill. "Animated database match. Animated's name, Buzzkill. Highly dangerous in battle." The mech informed. "Do you think Buzzkill can take on the Jack'O Rot?" Nina asked. A sudden thought crossed her mind. "Wait, what if it gets controlled like everything else?!" The nightfright panicked. "I think it'll need to stay still for that." Remmy said before zooming a screen on the console. "Its rapid spinning is keeping a vortex of clean air around it." The zurg stated before chuckling and continuing. "That advantage plus Buzzkill being a good twice as big as the Jack'O Rot, I would say Buzzkill has this battle won."