Chapter 17: Monster Mash
"Gwwrrr…"
A deep, guttural growl rumbled from the chest of the cat-like beast. Its eyes glowed a predatory red as it crouched low to the ground, every muscle tensed, ready to spring. Its long, whip-like tail, bristling with spines, swayed ominously behind it, scraping the ground with a sharp, metallic hiss. It lunged between the rangers with terrifying speed, its claws leaving deep gouges in the earth as it leapt. Dirt and debris flew in its wake. Eric and Ashley barely had time to react as the beast darted toward them, its movements disturbingly fluid, like a shadow slipping through their defenses. The growl deepened, now a menacing hum that reverberated across the battlefield.
The creature whipped its spiked tail toward them, the sharp edges catching the light before slicing through the air with a crack. Both rangers dove to the ground, just missing the tail as it whipped over their heads.
Eric rolled to his feet, spinning around and firing a quick succession of shots. Bright flashes of energy shot from his blaster, but the creature was faster. Its tail snapped forward, deflecting the energy blasts with its hooked end. The force of the impact sent sparks flying in all directions.
"Damn it!" Eric hissed, already backpedaling as the creature's attention locked onto him.
The cat-like beast's skin, already taut, now pulsed with a faint glow where its bones pressed against it. Its maw opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and with a roar that shook the ground, it unleashed a torrent of bright pink flames. The firestorm swept toward Eric, the heat intense enough to make his skin prickle beneath his suit. He dove out of the way, just in time to avoid the flames. The ground where he'd been moments before was blackened, the earth scorched and cracked.
Ashley, not wasting a second, opened fire on the beast, yellow energy bolts streaking through the air. The creature spun with uncanny agility, its tail once again deflecting each blast. It closed the distance between them, giving her barely any time to react as it slammed into her with the force of a battering ram. She was knocked off her feet, landing hard on her back with a grunt, her blaster skidding across the dirt. The beast was on her in an instant, its hulking body looming over hers, claws digging into the earth on either side of her. Its hot breath hit her face, and it reared back, letting out a bone-shaking roar, spittle flying from its gaping maw.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she scrambled to bring her arm up in defense. The creature lunged, its jaws wide, ready to crush her. In a flash, her right hand shimmered with energy as it morphed into a blade. The creature's fangs sank into the blade with a sickening crunch. The sound of metal grinding against teeth echoed through the air as the beast continued to bite down, undeterred, its glowing eyes narrowing with fury.
Ashley gritted her teeth, feeling the pressure mount as the creature's fangs clamped down harder. The ground beneath her cracked under the weight, and she struggled to hold it off.
"Guys! A little help here!" she shouted, her voice strained as she pushed back against the creature's relentless force.
Wes and Jen sprinted toward Ashley but the toad-like creature leapt into their path. The earth shook beneath its bulk, cracks spider-webbing from where its massive feet made contact.
"Whoa!" Wes exclaimed, tightening his grip on his sabres as the beast rose to its full height. Its glowing eyes gleamed beneath a heavy brow. The creature's body twisted unnervingly as it moved forward, using its elongated, powerful arms like an ape. Every step sent tremors through the ground, its massive fists slamming into the dirt with purpose.
"Jen, this thing's a tank!" Wes muttered, his voice tight with determination.
Jen, already aiming her blaster, fired off a shot. A thin beam of pink energy streaked through the air, crackling as it hit the creature dead in the chest. But the beam simply dissipated upon contact, bouncing harmlessly off the beast's thick hide like it was nothing more than a mild annoyance.
"Not even a scratch," she muttered, her eyes widening.
"Haaah!" Wes shouted, ignoring Jen's hesitation as he charged forward with his twin sabres raised high above his head.
"Wes, wait!" Jen yelled, but it was too late.
Wes lunged, slashing downward with one of his sabres, but the creature was faster than it appeared. One of its massive arms shot out, its black, jagged spikes catching the blade with a deafening clang. The force of the parry reverberated up Wes's arms, his body jarred by the sheer power behind the creature's block.
"What the—" Wes gasped, his shock only lasting a heartbeat before the creature's other fist came crashing toward him. He barely had time to react as the massive arm swung like a wrecking ball, striking him in the side. The impact sent him flying, his body slamming into the ground several feet away with a dull thud.
"Wes!" Jen shouted, arcing around the beast to reach him. But before she could reach her partner, the creature hissed. A long, barbed tongue slithered out from its wide, toad-like mouth, flicking through the air with a menacing snap before disappearing back into its maw.
Jen rushed to Wes's side, helping him to his feet as he groaned. "What were you thinking?" she scolded, her voice tense with frustration as she hauled him up by his arm.
Wes coughed and groaned, pushing himself up with a wince. "Range attacks didn't work, and I had to try something. It's not like we have many options here," he shot back, rubbing his side where the beast's fist had slammed into him.
"Wes," Jen warned, her voice a low growl of concern, her grip still firm on his arm.
He jerked his arm away, glaring back at her through his visor. "I know what I'm doing, Jen. Do you?"
Jen's eyes blazed beneath her helmet, but before she could snap back, Wes was already moving. He surged to his feet, determination hardening his features as he charged the beast again. This time, he leapt into the air, sabres raised.
The toad-like creature snorted in irritation, spinning around just in time for Wes's sabres to strike its spiked hide. The blades connected with a shower of sparks, screeching against the beast's armored back. Wes's momentum carried him downward, and he landed heavily, stumbling back as the beast whirled on him. The creature raised one of its massive, clawed fists, swinging it down like a hammer, aiming to crush Wes beneath its strength.
"Hiyah!" Jen's voice cut through the air, and in a blur of motion, she landed a powerful kick to the side of the beast's head. The impact knocked its arm to the side, diverting the deadly blow. The beast stumbled, momentarily disoriented as it shook its head, trying to refocus.
Jen spun as she landed, crouching low before firing multiple blasts from her blaster. Each shot hit the creature square in the chest, the repeated impacts forcing it to skid back, digging furrows into the earth. Dust swirled around its feet as it braced itself against her assault.
Wes, regaining his footing, moved to Jen's side. "I thought you didn't want to get up close."
"You're not really giving me a choice here," Jen replied, her voice edged with frustration as she allowed her blaster to disappear.
Wes cocked his head, glancing at her from the corner of his visor. "I'm just trying to work with what I know, Jen. And for the record, you always have a choice."
Jen turned to him, eyes blazing but before she could speak, Wes shoved her aside, diving in the opposite direction as the creature leapt into the air once more. Its massive form cast a shadow over them as it came crashing down, landing right where they had stood.
They weren't far enough away.
Before either could react, the beast's long, muscular arms shot out, wrapping around them like steel cables. The force of its grip pinned their arms to their sides, locking them in place as it began pulling them closer, its barbed tongue slithering out again with a wet hiss.
"Ugh, no!" Jen struggled, writhing against the beast's crushing hold.
The tongue whipped through the air, lashing across their chests with a stinging crack.
Taylor angled her arms and surged forward, her body slicing through the air as she closed the distance between herself and the bird-like creature. Her fingers flexed as she summoned her darts and in one swift motion flung them at the creature's back.
The darts struck, embedding themselves into the creature's feathery form before exploding. It wailed, a high-pitched, agonized screech as they exploded but stubbornly kept flying, its talons still clutching the struggling crimson imp.
"Darn it," she muttered through clenched teeth, frustration bubbling beneath her skin. She pushed herself harder, her body angling into a steep dive to gain speed. She shot forward, positioning herself beneath the creature.
With a calculated move, she hurled three more darts at the hand gripping the crimson imp. This time, her aim was precise. The creature's talons twitched, and its grip faltered, causing the imp to slip free and fall only to be snapped by its talons.
The imp writhed in its grasp, hissing and twisting, its small body straining against the vice-like hold. The bird creature paid no heed, its wings beating faster as it aimed for the looming shadow of the haunted house in the distance.
Taylor surged ahead, pulling herself in front of the creature to block its path. It shrieked in fury, unleashing a sonic shockwave that hit her head on. Her ears rang, pain exploding in her skull as the force of the sound rippled through her. Her vision blurred, the world tilting around her. Disoriented, she fell, plummeting uncontrollably toward the ground.
As she spiraled downward, her mind slipped into the fog of unconsciousness, but at the back of her mind, another screech - a familiar, soothing one - cut through the distortion. Her eyes snapped open just before the earth rushed up to meet her. She flipped in mid-air, spreading her arms wide as power surged through her once more. With a sharp intake of breath, she caught herself, hovering just above the ground before propelling back up into the sky, her eyes blazing with renewed focus.
As the crimson imp watched her fall, its small body tensing against the creature's grip, but upon seeing Taylor rise once more, it relaxed. A mischievous grin spread across its face as it spotted the haunted house drawing closer. Before the creature could react, a flash of yellow streaked past its field of vision. It squawked in surprise as a hail of darts rained down from above, each one exploding upon contact. The beast dropped a few feet in altitude, its wings faltering under the assault.
The imp's grin widened as it dropped closer to the ground, its eyes shimmering with green energy. In response, the jelly-like creature, previously sprawled across the ground, shot up into the air. It elongated, slithering along the bird-beast's body like a living, gelatinous sheet, forming a translucent cube around its middle. The creature screeched, its wings and legs thrashing as it plummeted, crashing heavily beside the creaking stairs of the haunted house.
The impact sent a cloud of dust and debris swirling into the air. The creature wailed, its once-formidable talons now entangled in the sticky embrace of the jelly. In its panic, it loosened its grip on the imp, allowing the small creature to wriggle free just as Taylor landed in a crouch. The imp flapped its tiny wings, hovering just above the ground as it eyed Taylor. She rose to her full height, her sword gleaming in her hand, the tension in her muscles still taut, ready for action.
"That was a quick recovery," the imp remarked with a mischievous twinkle in its eye, its voice carrying a tone of playful admiration.
Taylor's gaze remained locked on the thrashing creature, its shrill cries echoing through the desolate air. "I have friends too," she replied coolly, her voice steady and unshaken. "Though, you're not helpless either, are you?"
The imp chuckled, fluttering closer. "I have some tricks up my sleeve. Isn't that what you humans say?"
Before either of them could continue, the creature let out another guttural squawk, its thrashing becoming more violent. Green ooze dribbled from its open maw, sizzling as it made contact with the jelly holding it prisoner. The acidic substance began to eat away at the gelatinous cage, causing it to melt off in thick, sticky globs.
Taylor's eyes widened in alarm. "What the—?"
Ashley grunted as she pushed her arm up while the beast continued gnawing on the blade. Suddenly, it pulled to the side, the fangs scraping along the metal as it fell beside her, growling and spitting, a thin laser-like chord wrapped around its forelegs and torso.
"Ashley!" Eric called, sprinting toward her. He grabbed her arm and dragged her to safety as the beast thrashed against its binds. "Thank you, Trip," he muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on the Quantum Defender.
Breathing heavily, Ashley nodded in thanks as her arm morphed back into its normal form. "What do we do with this thing?" she asked, eyeing the creature that was beginning to push itself back up. It repeatedly slammed its tail against its binds, snarling and spitting.
"First things first," Eric said as he held out his blaster allowing a blade to extend from the jaw. He charged in as the creature arched its tail and swung his sword against the tip as he leapt over it.
The creature howled, flames flickering beneath its thick, mottled skin. With a roar, it spewed bright pink flames from its maw, engulfing the area in a searing wave of heat. The flames dissipated as quickly as they'd appeared, but in that brief moment, the creature's body swelled and contracted, snapping the binds.
Ashley's eyes widened. "Oh no…"
Foam bubbled around the beast's jagged fangs, its torso heaving as glowing, hate-filled eyes zeroed in on its targets. It sprang forward with terrifying speed, its claws extended. Ashley barely had time to react before a flash of pain tore through her chest. She cried out as the beast's talons raked her suit, the force sending her tumbling to the ground.
Eric spun, but the creature was already upon him. A heavy paw collided with his chest, and he felt the sharp sting of claws tearing through his armor. Gasping, he fell to his knees, winded. The beast loomed over him, its snarl vibrating through the air, trapping both rangers in its predatory gaze.
"I think you made it mad," Ashley muttered, struggling to catch her breath as she clutched her chest.
The beast's tail twitched as it prepared for another attack, its torso expanding and contracting erratically. It lunged toward Eric again. Before it could reach him, Ashley raised her blaster, her aim steady despite the pain. A rapid series of blasts struck the beast's back, sending it stumbling forward, howling in rage.
Eric used the distraction to roll out of harm's way, joining Ashley as she rushed to his side, her blaster still aimed at the creature. "Good shot," he said through gritted teeth, pushing himself to his feet. "Any ideas?"
The beast pushed itself up and whirled on them, its chest lighting up. Eric dived, pulling Ashley with him as pink flames shot over them, barely licking the top of his suit. She watched it carefully as it reared back and its body contorted once more.
"I think I do," she whispered, as they got back on their feet. "I'm going to make it mad."
Eric looked at her for a second, eyebrows quirking under his visor but as he looked back at the creature that was preparing to charge he nodded. He pressed a button on his blaster and the blade retracted. "Go for it," he said, slowly stepping away from her.
She raised her blaster and fired, hitting the creature in the head. It bowed its head, taking the brunt of the shots then snarled and ran toward her. Ashley leapt into the air and opened fire once again as she descended. The moment her feet hit the ground she took off toward the carousel.
The creature shook its head, and growled as it tried to get its bearings. Its eyes flashed as it looked up and it chased after her. In a blink it was by her side, slashing with its claws before pulling ahead and turning around, kicking up a cloud of dust as it came to a stop and charged.
"Uhh…" Ashley grunted as she went down, but she pushed herself back up clutching her side and raised her blaster, once again firing a barrage of shots. "Come on you brute, light up."
The beast howled, stumbling backward as the energy blasts seared its skin. Its fur stood on end, rippling across its body, and sparks of pink energy coursed through its torso. The glow intensified, radiating through its muscles like molten lava.
"Eric!"
As the creature opened its mouth, pink energy building up at the base of its throat, a thin laser-like chord flew through the air and wrapped around its jaw, pulling tight. The creature's eyes widened as its jaws clamped shut, the energy continuing to build up within its body.
The creature's eyes widened in panic as the energy continued to build inside it with nowhere to go. Its body convulsed, pink flames flickering beneath its skin. A deafening boom shattered the air, sending a massive column of energy shooting into the sky. Dust and debris exploded outward, the shockwave rippling through the battlefield. Gravel and stones skittered across the ground, the force sending both rangers flying backward as the carousel itself trembled from the impact.
Ashley and Eric hit the ground hard and in the wake of the explosion, the creature split apart into two imps that were sent flying across the ground.
The ground trembled violently as the explosion ripped through the air, sending shockwaves that unsettled the toad-like creature. It let out a guttural hiss, its glowing eyes narrowing in confusion and fury. The beast's grip loosened just enough, and Wes and Jen were dropped unceremoniously to the ground. They hit the dirt with matching groans, dazed but alive, while the massive creature spun toward the source of the explosion.
It hissed again, an angry, high-pitched noise, and raised its bulky, muscular arms high above its head. The air around it seemed to thrum with energy as it brought its fists down with crushing force. Instinct kicked in despite their disorientation, and both Wes and Jen rolled out of the way just in time. The creature's enormous fists slammed into the ground, sending cracks rippling out in every direction as its hands pierced into the earth like massive stakes.
Wes staggered to his feet, breathing heavily, wiping sweat and dirt from his brow. "Monster now, talk later?" he asked, keeping one eye on the beast as it struggled to free its hands.
Jen, equally winded, shot him a quick grin despite the situation. "You read my mind," she replied, already moving to reposition herself.
The creature, furious, wrenched its massive arms free from the ground with a primal roar. Its long, barbed tongue flicked out menacingly, whipping through the air as it glared at the rangers. Its chest heaved with each angry breath, and with a sudden, violent leap, it shot high into the air, casting a massive shadow over them before crashing down where they had just been standing.
The force of the impact shook the ground anew, sending loose rocks skittering, but Wes and Jen had already rolled out of reach, narrowly avoiding the crushing weight of the creature's landing.
"Jen! Its feet!" Wes shouted, his eyes catching the cracks forming beneath the creature's weight. He clicked his twin sabres together, sending a brief shimmer of light across the blades as he drew the beast's attention toward him.
Jen immediately focused on the ground, spotting the widening crevice below the monster's clawed feet. Without hesitation, she raised her blaster and fired off several quick shots. Thin beams of pink energy streaked through the air, striking the weakened ground.
With a deafening crack, the earth gave way. The ground beneath the beast's feet erupted in a cloud of dust and debris as the surface crumbled, sending the creature tumbling into the gaping crevice. It screeched, its limbs flailing as it struggled to regain balance. Dust flew into the air, temporarily blinding it as it clawed at the edges of the hole.
Wes seized the opportunity. He tightened his grip on his sabres and charged forward. He leapt high into the air, his movements fluid and precise. As he ascended, he swung his sabres in a wide arc, drawing an intricate circle in the air. The spectral image of a clock shimmered behind him, its hands pointing to the 03:00 position. A low hum of energy vibrated around him as he channeled his strength into the attack.
"Time Strike!" Wes yelled, his voice ringing with authority. He slashed the sabres downward, unleashing a torrent of red energy that crackled through the air. The beams hit the beast head-on, piercing its thick hide. The creature howled, its body convulsing as the energy tore through it.
"Let's double up!" Jen called out. She allowed her blaster to vanish in a flash of light and summoned her sabres, their pink blades glowing with charged energy. She sprinted forward, her movements synchronized with Wes's. In one fluid motion, she leapt into the air, mirroring Wes' earlier attack. The spectral clock appeared behind her, its hands stopping at the 06:00 position.
"Time Strike!" she shouted, her sabres humming with pink energy as she swung them downward in perfect unison with Wes.
The beams of pink energy shot through the air, merging with Wes's red, creating a dazzling display of light. The combined power of their attacks ripped through the beast's body, sending ripples of energy across its form. It let out a final, agonized croak as the intense light consumed it.
With a violent burst of pinkish-purple light, the beast exploded, splitting apart in midair. The energy crackled and faded, leaving only two smoking, limp imps at the bottom of the crater, their small, shriveled bodies twitching slightly before falling still.
Taylor raised her sword, eyes narrowing as the bird-like beast thrashed wildly before her. Acid dripped from its gaping mouth, burning through the jelly-like substance trapping it and sizzling on the ground where it landed, leaving deep, smoldering craters. "Not good," she muttered, bracing herself for its next move.
The crimson imp's eyes glowed a vivid green as it extended its hand toward the shimmering cube of jelly encasing the lion. A flicker of intent flashed across his face.
"No!" Taylor shouted, realizing his plan. "If you release that thing, it'll either get hurt or tear us apart while we're trying not to hurt it."
The imp tilted its head, unfazed. "It's a cat."
"It's a person!" she retorted. "And we don't hurt cats either."
"Hmmm… In that case." the imp drew its arms forward, facing the creature. The jelly around the creature began to shimmer. "The best I can do is give you a moment to destroy it."
Its eyes flashed again and while it was still melting the jelly constricted around it, pulling away from its wings and thighs and concentrating along the torso and neck. The creature snarled and spat out more acid but struggled as the jello rose over its throat once more.
The imp grunted and pushed harder. "It's no wonder he was able to overpower my magic, he's cheating. He's bound himself to other imps and is channeling their power."
"I know a couple of guys who will be happy to write him up for it once we catch him," she said dryly.
As the jelly focused on the creature's torso, it pulled its wings free and squawked loudly as it flapped them violently, sending a powerful gust of wind toward them. The imp's wings caught the gust and it was pushed back. Taylor however dug her feet into the ground, teeth gritted and managed to stay on her feet. As the creature reared its wings again Taylor shot into the air with a powerful leap, spinning in midair. Her sword ignited with a brilliant yellow light, crackling like a bolt of lightning in her hands. She twisted her body and slashed downward twice in quick succession. Arcs of glowing energy zipped through the air, crackling as they made contact with the beast.
The creature reared back, screeching in pain as the yellow energy wrapped around it like electrified chains. Its wings flapped wildly, creating gusts that scattered the mist, but it couldn't break free from the searing energy that now coursed through its body.
Taylor flipped again midair, her blade glowing even brighter. "Soaring Strike!" she called, her voice ringing out as she unleashed a devastating burst of energy, far more powerful than before. A swirling vortex of yellow light erupted from her blade and slammed into the beast's chest.
The creature squawked one final time before it was consumed by a burst of pinkish-purple light, its form disintegrating into a shower of shimmering sparks. The jelly exploded in all directions, sending globs of goo splattering across the yard, leaving behind two imps limp on the ground.
The crimson imp floated nearby, flicking his hands to rid himself of the splattered jelly. His eyes shimmered with a faint glow, and in an instant, all the flecks of goo that had splattered over him and Taylor lifted into the air, gathering themselves in neat piles on the ground. "Much better," he said, voice laced with disdain as he floated toward the fallen imps.
He hovered above them, looking down with an air of authority. "Why are you doing this?" he demanded, his voice cold and sharp. "Why are you lending that creature your power?"
The imps glanced up at him, their bodies slumped, but their eyes gleamed with mischief. Wide, unsettling grins stretched across their faces as they giggled. Before either Taylor or the imp could react, the imps disappeared in a cloud of pink smoke, leaving nothing but the faint scent of brimstone behind.
"What the…" Taylor muttered, scanning the area, her sword still drawn. Her gaze swept over the landscape, but there was no trace of the imps.
Her attention snapped back to the haunted house. The entire structure began to pulse with an eerie pinkish-purple glow.
Thanks for reading.
Till next time...