The Beast of Gévaudan
Its nostrils snorted loudly before it bared its teeth in a growl that had a sinister smirk to the side. It made a growling sound, one that indicated sadistic joy than anything remotely animal-like, such as hunger or territorial nature.
Danny remained still, watching this strange lycanthropic creature look at them with evil intent as his eyes darted towards the hunter who came for its pelt.
Razor was still silent as he had no idea what to make of this. The Nantinaq grew closer, kneeling to whisper as best it could to him.
"Tell me, Razor…Is that the- the Beast of Gévaudan?" He asked,
"How should I know? The Beast of Gévaudan died over 200 years ago. No one alive today has seen it or knows what it actually looked like. All we got illustrations, and those are all artist interpretations." Razor answered him in a harsh tone.
Having overheard that, Danny let his words sink in.
"No one alive today…" He said under his breath as he looked at Marie.
The ghost of the former queen of France stared at the bipedal wolf. Her mouth was gaping. Her eyes widened, with her brow furrowed. Her body language, with her arms stiff, indicated apprehension. There was no denying that she seemed to know who or what this was.
"Well, your majesty?" Edge questioned with a bit of sarcasm. "Can you verify whether or not this is the beast from provincial France? Seeing as you were alive at the time."
"Is this the guy?" Danny asks in a nicer tone.
"Yes… that is the Beast without a doubt. I may have only seen it after it was shot and stuffed, but that is, without question, the monster that killed 500 people…" Marie answered in a hush, terrified tone.
Hearing that, Danny and Edge shared a brief look of horror over this.
Razor did not hear this as he was too far away, but he could read her body language well.
"Look how scared Queenie there is, it must be him." He reasoned.
"Really?" The Nantinaq questioned.
It was then more sounds came from the forest. Turning his head, Danny saw his parents, Jazz and Sam join up.
"We're here, Son!" Jack went before recalling there were people who didn't know were present. "Uh… I mean "Son" in a platonic sense, of course!" He said nervously and added with a smile to look convincing. His attempt was cut off before seeing the creature standing several feet. "Whoa! Great Gobs of ghost goo! Is that the Beast?" He asks.
As everyone else panicked, Sam smiled.
"It's even cooler looking in real life…" She gushed before noticing Jazz and Maddie looked at her disapprovingly. Her smile dropped. "But… not cool enough to forget it's dangerous!" She added rather clumsily.
"What do we do?" Maddie asks. "If it's not a ghost, our weapons won't do anything massive to it."
"We have to stay calm and be ready for anything." Jack said with seriousness.
The Beast takes a few steps closer to them before bowing in front of them, its arms open to appear more gentlemanly.
"Bonjour…" The Beast said in a deep, rumbling voice.
The group are taken aback by the creature speaking to them. All of them remained silent.
The Beast raised his head, looking a bit annoyed they did not answer.
"Hola? Hallo? Hej?" The Beast went again, saying "Hello" in another language multiple times.
"Did it just...greet us?" Jazz whispered to Sam.
"I think so...but how?" Sam whispers back.
The Beast looks at each of them, studying them closely before realizing something.
"Ah, it took me time, but it's coming back to me from where I heard that. You speak English… with American accents." He said with recollection.
"Are you… what are you?" Danny asks.
The Beast rolled his eyes before speaking English with a French accent.
"I am...the legendary one known as Cedr-"
"Beast of Gévaudan. Got it." Danny said.
The Beast had a notable look of anger on his face. It seemed like he was angry at being cut off, but it seemed like something else bothered him. He ignored this as he was glancing at each member of the group.
"So...who should I kill first? Or should I just take all of you at once?" He asks with a slight grin.
"Neither. Yer pelt is mine. Beasties!" Razor shouted, pointing at the Beast. "Put our friend here back to sleep!"
''Really? You're still trying to make a quick buck?" Danny asked, shocked by his priorities.
"I got a fortune on the line here, I do!" Razor said. "Now, tear it off him if you need to!"
"With pleasure!" The Nantinaq said.
It ran towards the Beast, who just waited, before tackling him to the ground and started smashing its fists towards the creature. The J'ba Fofi leapt to the nearby and crawled towards the Beast, jumping on top of it and started stomping on it with its hairy legs before grabbing it with its pincers and throwing the Beast to the air. The Nameless Thing wrapped its tentacles around the Beast and started slamming it to the ground as hard as it could before throwing the resurrected creature to a nearby tree, getting itself webbed by the J'ba Fofi. The three creatures then proceeded to assault the Beast with hairy fists, eight spider legs, and tentacles.
Meanwhile, the others were watching as the three monsters beat up the Beast.
"So…what do we do now?" Jack asked as he watched the monsters fight, those same monsters basically ignoring them.
"Maybe, we don't need to fight?" Danny asks the rest.
Marie, however, became cynical.
"These things won't be enough... we must escape!" She insisted.
"But they're winning, aren't they?" Jazz asks.
The J'Ba Fofi then bit into the Beast, injecting its lethal venom into it. This distracted the wolf monster long enough for the Nameless Horror to leap up and wrap its tentacles around the Beast. Tentacles wrapping around the body, save for one going around the snout, squeezing tightly.
The Beast squinted his eyes, seemingly trapped and being hurt massively by the J'Ba Fofi's venom.
''Yes! Keep going!" Razor cheered, eyes shining with greed.
"Wait, stop! You'll kill him!" Sam called out.
"That's the idea…" Razor said with a satisfied smile.
Sam looked at everyone else, but they shook their heads.
"I hate to agree with him, Sam, but that thing was put down years ago for a reason." Danny said. "The least I'll do is make sure his pelt won't be sold for money."
"Sorry I… I can't look." She said, turning away.
Maddie stood next to her to further block her sight and Sam stood behind the older woman with a pained expression.
The shaking stopped, seemingly indicating the Beast was no more once more.
That's when his eyes opened, looking down at the cephalopod monster with a smirk, one that caused the Nameless Horror's grin to drop from surprise.
Suddenly, the Beast broke free from the tentacles instantly, his arms swinging outward. The Nameless Horror was spinning around, his boneless body crashing into the nearby trees and boulders as the Nantinaq and J'Ba Fofi got hit and sent flying a few feet. Danny quickly made everyone around him intangible to avoid the flying beasts while Razor dodged to the ground, avoiding their bodies as they tried and failed to take their target down.
The Beast then started slamming the Nameless Horror to the ground, making a disgusting squishy sound every time its body met the hard ground. The J'Ba Fofi leapt towards the Beast, landing on its back, wrapped its hairy legs around the Beast's torso, and started biting it, but the Beast was barely fazed as he kept slamming the Nameless Horror on the ground.
The Nantinaq roared angrily and bull rushed towards the Beast, who suddenly threw the Nameless Horror at it, surprising it as the two cryptids collided. It then grabbed one of the J'Ba Fofi's legs and crushed it, making the giant spider squeal in pain. The Beast then threw the J'Ba Fofi towards a tree, making it break slightly.
"Great One!" Frostbite was heard calling out as he and Dani arrived.
"We got everyone there! Tucker's staying... mostly because he refused to come back." Dani added, slightly annoyed by his cowardice.
"I can't blame him." Jazz admitted.
As Frostbite landed, his nose picked up something that made him flinch.
"No... what in the world is giving off the same scent as that horrid liquid from the chalet?!" He asks, turning his head to see the Beast standing above the beaten cryptids with a satisfied smile. "Is that thing... the Beast of Gévaudan?"
With a predatory grin, the Beast stalked towards the J'Ba Fofi, which let out a terrified squeal, but couldn't move due to its broken leg. When the Beast got close enough, the J'Ba Fofi started attacking it with its other functioning legs, trying to pierce the Beast's hide, but the creature merely looked amused as the giant spider's sharp legs barely fazed it.
Suddenly, the Beast grabbed two legs and effortlessly pulled them off, making the J'Ba Fofi release a shrill sound of pain. Ignoring it, the Beast grabbed its legs and tore them off one by one, sprayed by green liquid.
Soon, the only leg left was the broken one, leaving the poor creature immobile on the ground, thrashing wildly as it tried to move. The Beast just grinned before using its sharp claws to swipe at the bent tree, making it slowly fall towards the giant spider. It desperately used its remaining leg to crawl away, but the pain was too unbearable for it to use.
Soon, somewhat relief to its pain came as the tree came crashing down, ending the J'Ba Fofi with a loud, nasty crunch.
Everyone looked shocked at the Beast, who was covered in the green liquid, which he slowly licked from its arm.
"Hmph… Peu appétissant." He said with disgust before turning to the Nantinaq and Nameless Horror. It gave a hungry smirk, making the two flinches back in fear.
Suddenly, the Nantinaq grabbed the Nameless Horror and threw it towards the Beast, which it caught with one hand. Raising an eyebrow, the Beast looked as the Nantinaq started running. Smirking in amusement, it grabbed a large chunk from the ground and threw it at the Nantinaq, hitting its left leg. It screamed in pain as it fell to the ground.
With the Nantinaq immobilized, the Beast turned to the Nameless Horror, who suddenly bit it with its sharp teeth. Blood flowed from its mouth, but it wasn't the Beast's blood. A couple of teeth fell from the Nameless Horror's mouth.
Suddenly, the Beast started slamming the Nameless Horror to the ground, but this was different, it was like it was tenderizing the Nameless Horror. When it was satisfied, the Beast threw the Nameless Horror to the ground.
Desperately, the Nameless Horror started throwing whatever it could reach; rocks, dirt, and sticks, but it harmlessly bounced off the Beast.
The Beast then shook off the green substance on his body like a dog.
The Nantinaq attempted one last time to pound him into the ground, only for the Beast to effortlessly avoid it and slash his knees, causing the ape-like beast to cry in pain and fall to the ground. The Beast then landed on his head and pushed it down to the ground with enough force to knock him out.
The Nameless Horror, seeing it is of no help, tried to crawl away. However, the Beast steps on a tentacle, keeping it from going. He then reached down and grabbed it by the head before lifting it.
The Nameless Horror screeches and squeals, writhing in an attempt to escape. The Beast's smile grew as he licked his lips in anticipation, something the Horror caught. It tried one last time to escape before the Beast bit down on its head.
The Nameless Horror screeches in pain and, ironically yet conveniently, horror as the Beast shook its head, keeping it from trying to get free.
A sickening crunch occurred, everyone looked away, and the Nameless Horror ceased moving. The Beast slurped up the cephalopod, chewing as it swallowed. Soon, only one tentacle was left, slowly entering the mouth as the Beast let out a small belch with a somewhat dissatisfied look.
"Il n'avait pas bon goût." He said with a frown.
Although most covered their eyes, Danny lowered his to see what happened, but also couldn't help but ask something.
"What'd he say?" He asks.
"He did not taste good." Sam explained, trying her best not to vomit.
The Beast directed his attention to the rest, grinning maliciously.
"Now… il est temps de passer au deuxième plat!" He said as he stepped closer.
In response, Razor pulled out a gun.
"Your pelt is mine!" He shouted.
In a split second, the distance between him and the werewolf was closed as he was backhanded with so much force that he was sent flying backward, hitting a tree with enough force to damage it.
Edge watched her target be taken down with such ease that it caused her mind to process.
"I've seen him take on a rhino with ease…" She muttered before the Beast spotted her.
"Jolie dame… it has been so long since I killed one!" He said with fangs bared.
Edge pulled out a bladed weapon and, once the Beast was close enough, tried to slash it. The Beast reacted quickly, backing his head fast enough before grabbing her arm with enough force that it forced her hand to open wide.
"RRgghhh…" She went desperately trying to pull her arm out.
The Beast threw her aside, her head hitting a tree and knocking her out.
As everyone else readied for the worst, Razor himself came to and saw this. His reaction wasn't of relief, but of horror.
"LARISA?!" He shouted, showing an odd sense of concern despite the hostility she had shown him.
As he sat up, he saw the Beast turning his body to face him.
"Ah… that look… It's been so long since I have seen it. That is the look of worry. You care for her, don't you?" He asks. The Beast snickered at his reaction before something happened.
Something pierce him from behind, something with enough force. It was a harpoon.
Razor pulled back in shock.
"What in the world is that thing?!" He asks.
Soon, the answer came to everyone as they saw who fired it.
That was a certain redheaded woman from Arkansas, holding an empty harpoon gun as she panted heavily from all the running she did.
"Alicia?" Maddie asks, shocked to see her sister on her feet again.
"Alicia?! Have you gone absolutely insane over there?!" Razor shouted as he tended to the unconscious woman who tried to apprehend him. "I still got pelt to sell! I just really hope for your sake you were aiming that gun at me!"
She ignored him as she dropped her now useless weapon as she looked to her sister.
"Maddie?" Alicia asks.
''Why did you do that?" Maddie asked.
"Well, that harpoon gun was the only thing I had left..." Alicia said as sister shook her head.
"No, I mean, why did you come looking for us and shoot that thing?" She asked.
Alicia now sported a guilty look on her face.
"You were right, Maddie. I put you and your family in danger by making you help me..." Alicia said, sounding ashamed of herself.
"That's one reason we're upset with you…" Jack muttered.
Alicia looked crossed before recalling she had something else to say.
"I messed up, I know that now. I don't wanna change who I am...but I don't want to lose my one and only sister. So, I'll try and be a better person, if you'll help me..." Alicia says to her.
Maddie was silent as she nodded.
"Glad to hear that at least you understand your mistake." She said, her tone not hinting if she's accepting or rejecting the idea.
As Alicia was silent, Jack couldn't help but ask something.
"You had a harpoon gun? Where?" He asks.
"It was hidden under the seat your smallest girl sat on." Alicia explained.
"No wonder I felt uncomfortable…" Dani muttered under her breath, knowing Alicia doesn't know it's her.
"You were planning to go fishing?" Jack asks.
"No… I was gonna bring a crossbow but I had to have new strings added." Alicia said with a hint of sarcasm
Razor, meanwhile, looked to the Beast, who remained still, seemingly shut down as he carried Larisa in his arms.
"You!" He shouted to the rest, who looked ready to fight him until they saw who was in her arms. "Save her! Now!" He demanded.
"Huh?" Maddie asks.
"Take her to that ambulance, or a hospital! Just do it!" He ordered.
"You seem pretty concerned for a woman who hates your guts…" Danny commented.
"Believe me… I don't share the sentiment…" He said, looking down at her with an almost longing look.
Before anyone would comment, they heard an inhuman snicker.
The Beast stood straight, reaching for the harpoon that pierced his body and began to pull it out from where it was sticking out. Slowly, the entire harpoon was now out of his body, not from the way it came in.
All watching did so with slack jawed expressions as the Beast casually tossed the weapon aside.
"Did it just… pull a harpoon like pulling a hair strand out?" Sam asks as the Beast turns his attention to them.
The hole made by the injury was slowly closing before it finished, looking like it had never happened.
"What is this thing?!" Alicia shouted in absolute shock at how her attack did nothing.
The Beast's toothy smile grew.
"Someone's going to die now…" He said before leaping with such incredible speed while raising his claw.
Seeing that he was looking at Maddie before he did so, Alicia got in front of her sister, acting as a shield.
SLASH.
Maddie's eyes widened, her pupils shrinking as moving in a violent shake at what she saw.
Her sister went to her knees, a look of pain on her face. Alicia took one last gasp of air as she fell to the floor, three nasty gashes on her back, fresh blood coming out.
After seconds of starting…
"ALICIA!" Maddie shouted in horror.
The Beast only laughed as he readied to attack, only for Danny to fire a ghost ray with enough force to knock him back.
With that, he looked back at Frostbite.
"Take everyone injured back, and be fast!" Danny ordered.
"At once!" Frostbite said as he took Alicia and lifted her up. He looked at Razor. "Come to save her."
"Fine!" Razor said, putting a hand on Frostbite as he held Larisa protectively.
"The rest of you go… I'll take on the big bad wolf there." Danny said.
Although none of them wanted to go, they also knew they had people to save.
With a nod, all of them went with Frostbite as Danny turned his head to see the Beast snarling at him with a violent grin before running off into the woods.
Not wanting him to go, Danny was about to leave when he saw Marie Antoinette was still present.
"I must see that monster slain." She insists.
"I'll bring what's left of him, now please step aside, your majesty. I may not be a history wiz, but I'm pretty sure you don't know how to fight." Danny insisted.
"Good point." Marie said with a nod as she hovered away to follow the rest.
Once she left, Danny hurried into the air to find the Beast
Elsewhere
Back at the hotel, one blonde was alone in the downstairs diner, reserved for casual dining.
Star wasn't in a good mood right now.
Why is what he said bugging me so much? She thought.
After that encounter with Danny, she couldn't get her mind off what Danny said to her.
"I wonder if Fenton is gonna hate me forever?" She asked herself as she got up and headed to the restroom.
As she turned the corner, she ended up running into a familiar face by almost crashing into her.
"Pardon." Chloe said.
"My ba- wait, you're that girl." Star said, recognizing her.
"Do I know you?" The redhead asked with her Trans-Atlantic voice.
"I'm Star. I met you when you were with Fen-I mean, Danny..." Star said.
"Ah yes, you're his… not really his friend..." Chloe greeted her.
"Y-Yeah…" Star said, looking somewhat hurt to be called that.
"So, what exactly are your thoughts on him after he says he helped you from getting bitten by some animal? Are you going to be rather uncouth towards him? Or will you cease thinking that way of him?" Chloe asked, wondering what she thought about Danny
Star was quiet for a moment. She figured Danny didn't tell her about what actually happened, but that part didn't dwell on her as much.
What DO I think of Danny? Star wondered.
She seemed to be in deep thought before she spoke up again.
"I don't think I hate him, if I ever did..." She admitted, hiding her previous behavior and how far it went from Chloe.
Chloe raised a brow at that.
"I suppose that is good to hear." Chloe said before nodding. "Thank you, darling." She said before walking away.
As he left, Star raised an eyebrow.
"What's with that fakey accent?" She asks under her breath.
Back with Danny
He flew above the trees, trying to spot the russet colored wolf-beast. His eyes were darting all over, trying to see something.
"No sign yet… not a good thing. From how Marie acted, it looks like this thing was not in the mood to play nice…" He said before hearing a powerful howl up ahead. "There he is…"
He sped up to a clearing, seeing the russet colored monster waiting in the middle. He was looking up at Danny, not remotely bothered or worried.
He's just smiling at me… What's he got up his non-existent sleeve? He thought as he sped up.
Danny landed about 25 feet away, keeping his guard up as the Beast stood up.
"You are zis… Danny Phantom, correct?" He asks.
Danny's eyebrows raised.
"You… know me?" He asks.
"I heard zhe Observants speak of you… zhey could not hear me… but I could hear zhem. How this boy who could lay waste to the world… decided to play the hero…" He said with a dismissive scoff. "Iz it an American thing in zhis day and age? What age is zhis, by the way? It is difficult to count the days when you are dead…" He said.
"It's the 21st century and, unlike you, I'm a good guy who doesn't have an interest in being a monster." Danny said.
"Hmph… how childish…" The Beast said before readying his claws. "Perhaps I should tear zhat soft heart of yours out?"
Danny didn't hesitate to respond to that death threat.
"You can try." He growled, charging forward.
They clashed, their claw and fist meeting with a powerful impact that pushed them back from each other. Danny managed to dodge the Beast's powerful swipes, but couldn't quite land a hit on the monster as his hairy foe bobbed out of the way of his swings. The fight continued, with neither one gaining an advantage as all they did was avoid blows and not make any. It seemed as if the Beast was simply toying with him, waiting for the right moment to strike a fatal blow.
"You may be more fun than those simple animals... I need something to wash off zhe taste of zhat octopus. Your blood will do!" The Beast said, his breath hot on Danny's face.
Danny growled again, gathering his strength for another attack.
"Want something to wash that down? Here's some punch!" He shouted.
He lunged forward, aiming a powerful punch straight for the Beast's snout.
The monster dodged easily, however, and caught Danny by the throat, lifting him off the ground.
"So determined. Most cower and run from me. Admirable." He said with his teeth grinned. "But it won't save you, just makes you more fun."
His hot breath in Danny's face, ready to bite before Danny's eyes glowed blue.
"I know you've been dead for over 200 years, so maybe try some mouthwash! To keep your breath feeling winter fresh!" Danny said before firing two streams of cold energy in the Beast's mouth.
The Beast let go of Danny to claw at the ice that formed in his mouth, weakening it enough to bite down and break it to pieces.
"Heheheh… I'll have to remember to slash your eyes out…" He said.
With that, the two resumed their battle.
The Beast leapt at Danny, who used his powers to levitate off the ground so that he could use his feet for the Beast's chest to land on, then kick him off and over. The Beast landed on his feet with cat-like skill. Undaunted and with his teeth bared, the Beast ran on all fours, his tongue out as he cackled while getting close.
Danny took a step back to avoid one swipe, then took another step to avoid another. Seeing an opening, Danny pulled his fist back, charging it with green energy, and swung an uppercut with much force into the Beast's chin.
Once that was done, Danny was momentarily stunned to see the Beast's head was pushed back with such force that it seemed to have broken his neck.
Danny pulled back, shocked at how he's done it again. He's taken a life. At least, that was until the Beast's hands reached for his head. He then pulled his head back to its original placement, which proceeded with him stretching his neck out, making cracking sounds. Once that was done, he grinned a very toothy grin.
"So, you have zhe will to kill after all… show me!" He shouted before raising his monstrous paw for another attack.
In response, Danny had raised a ghost shield. However, upon impact, the shield seemed to have vibrated in a way that suggested the impact was greater than anticipated. The Beast, sporting a sadistic smile, continued to slash, causing Danny much strain as this continued.
That's when something shot the Beast from behind, halting the assault as he looked back, angered he was being interrupted.
"You slashed my sister, you monster!" Maddie shouted in furious rage, her gun having smoke come out of the barrel.
She stood with Jack at her side. Jazz and Sam were not far behind, watching this unfold.
"Mom?! What are you doing here?!" Danny called out.
The Beast heard that.
"Mom?" He questioned with a look of intrigue.
"You think I'll let that thing go after you?! Stand aside!" Maddie shouted as she set her blaster to overload, intending to use everything she had to reduce the Beast to a pelt.
Danny flew as far away as possible after lowering his ghost shield, getting behind his parents.
The Beast took one step further, looking rather unafraid.
"I'm going to leave far less than a pelt when this is done!" Maddie shouted furiously as she fired.
Jack also fired his blaster.
Both of them unleashed their full power, firing at full power. The barrage of veto blasts fired rapidly as the Beast was made incapable of being seen due to the smoke caused by the impact of their firepower.
"I almost wish there was enough left of you so Alicia could make something to eat!" Jack shouted.
"This is for trying to hurt my family!" Maddie shouted, her emotions clouding her judgment.
As they kept firing, their weapons began to overload...which they finally started to notice.
"Whoa! Hotter than when I tried baking a cake!" Jack went, tossing his gun away.
Maddie resumed firing as much as she could, ignoring the heat in favor of revenge for her sister.
Jack, seeing it shaking violently, pulled the blaster away and tossed.
Once both weapons were safely away, they blew to pieces, leaving them broken open and melted in areas.
"Oh wonderful…" Maddie muttered sarcastically.
"I'll say, that much laser fire is bad for the environment." Sam said.
"I think that's the least of our worries..." Jazz said as she pointed to the smoke. "What about the Beast?"
She soon got her answer as the smoke cleared.
The Beast stood before them, but not entirely whole. They were forced to see the grotesque sight of its left arm half way form off, its right hand missing and a gaping hole on the side of its torso. All of which were bleeding heavily right now.
He snarled in anger at them as he seemed like he couldn't.
"No... not like zis..." He said. "I cannot die like zis!" He shouted angrily.
Maddie slowly started to laugh before it erupted into a mad cake like you'd expect from a crazy person.
"How's that?!" She said in an unhinged way before laughing proudly.
"NOT LIKE ZIS!" The Beast shouted in rage before, as if from the flip of a switch, his expression was calm and peaceful. "No, seriously..." He said flatly.
Maddie's laughter stopped.
"Huh?" She went.
"Watch..." The Beast said before, with a breath, he began to glow a strange red aura.
Soon, his missing body parts regenerated, almost instantly. His arms were grown back to normal and the hole in his body closed.
All of them watched in silent horror as the Beast was now completely healed as if he was never harmed.
"Did I just see that happen?" Danny asks.
"How?! Wolves can't do that!" Sam went.
"She's right, they can't regenerate their body parts like lizards and newts do! It violates laws and goes against how wolves biologically work!" Maddie went, her mind unable to comprehend what she saw.
"Except... magic werewolves, apparently." Jack said.
The Beast bared his teeth once more.
"Who to kill first?!" He asks.
"Uh… not that I'm okay with an animal getting shot at but… got anymore of those guns of yours?" Sam asks as she and Jazz stepped back in fear.
"Yeah… back at the hotel." Jack said, sweating hard.
"Then it's up to me!" Danny said as he flew into battle.
The Beast only grinned as Danny came closer. The ghost boy extended his arm to punch him in the face, only for the Beast to bob out of the way. He was about to bite, only for Danny to react in time and pull away.
With a mighty swing of his leg, Danny hit the Beast in the back of his head with enough force to bend steel. However, the Beast easily got back up, grabbing his leg and slamming him to the ground. The Beast raised his other paw, but Danny responded by blasting the Beast in the face, this attack seemed to set that face on fire. However, with a quick shake, the Beast put the flames out and his flesh regenerated, albeit slower than before.
Thinking fast, Danny fired a blast of cold, freezing the Beast in solid ice.
The Beast of Gevaudan was now in a block of ice, his face a look of animalistic brutality and sadistic intent.
"That should do it." Danny said.
That's when a crackling sound was heard coming from the ice. Danny slowly turned his head and, to his shock, the Beast was starting to break through. The ice was cracking as the Beast was able to power through.
With a mighty swing, the Beast broke through and grabbed Danny in the face and slammed him into the ground.
"Freezing me? Comme c'est intéressant." The Beast said as he started to squeeze his head.
"No!" Maddie shouted as she and Jack then ran towards the two.
The Beast looked back, eager to kill when Danny turned his upper body to mist to get out of his grip.
With the Beast distracted a moment, Danny got on his feet and, with a clench of his fist that glowed bright, punched the beast in the chest.
The Beast, though sent back by a few feet, laughed at this.
"You're more fun than those soldats faibles from Gévaudan!" The Beast said as he landed on all fours.
Before Danny knew it, he saw a red light appear on the Beast's shoulder, something that clearly wasn't coming off his skin.
"HALT!" A soldier called out.
Before the group knew it, a small number of the soldiers armed like those of Edge's group appeared from behind the trees. All of them armed and aiming their weapons at the Beast, their red lights touching his fur.
"Lieutenant Edge has requested reinforcements. We didn't believe what she was saying at first… now we see she wasn't seeing things. We order you… whatever you are, to stay still!" Another went.
The Beast looked towards the soldiers with an unafraid smirk.
Realizing these soldiers won't hold back, Danny turned intangible to make sure he's not harmed.
"Ready!" One shouted.
"Run!" Maddie said as she and those without intangibility ran out of the way.
"Aim!" That soldier shouted again.
The Beast snickered.
"Zis should be fun…" He said under his breath.
"FIRE!"
A swarm of bullets fired, all of them hitting their target.
The loud noises and flashes made it so Danny shut his eyes and pressed his hands on his ears. Being in the presence of actual gunfire made him very uncomfortable, as well as terrified for his loved ones who were present.
As he opened one of his eyes, he saw for himself just what their gunfire was doing.
"Oh no…" He uttered in horror.
"Ceasefire! Ceasefire!" One soldier said, raising his fist to get them to stop.
To their horror, the Beast remained still, looking unfazed.
His smile only grew as the holes in his body seemed to spit out bullets, letting them fall to the ground. Once the bullets were finished being ejected from his body, the holes in his body closed almost instantly.
Some of the soldier's lowered their weapons, quickly realizing that what they were encountering was something their weapons did not work on.
The Beast laughed at this before darting his eyes to Danny, who regained tangibility.
"Ze 21st century, eh? Perhaps I should… get to know… différent… ze world has become, yes?" The Beast asks in a playful tone that barely hid what evil intent he had.
The soldiers aimed their guns once more, only for the Beast to come running at them on all fours.
In an instant, the Beast passed them before running into the woods.
Danny was set to follow until he heard cries of pain. He saw what it was.
4-6 of the men who arrived were on the ground, all of them crying in pain. Some of them slashed on their chests. Thanks to the padding of their suits, it didn't reach that far into the skin. That said, they were clutching their chests, desperate not to let blood drip out. Some of them were so hurt that they refused to get up out of fear that doing so would drip more blood out.
Jack and Maddie were about to approach for aid, only for two of the men to aim their guns at them.
"This area is now a warzone, you are to leave here at once." One of them said.
"By whose authority?" Sam, who did not like people giving her orders, asks as she marches over to Jack and Maddie's side.
"By the authority that allows me to arrest you if you interfere." The soldier stated.
"But the Beast i-" Danny said, gesturing to where the Beast went before the gun was aimed at him.
"That thing is military responsibility now. We will be taking over this operation now. I suggest you leave before we're forced to place you all under arrest." The soldier said to them with a serious look on his face.
"Unbelievable!" Maddie went in furious anger.
"You said it, Mrs. F." Sam went, fists at hips.
"Heheh… Maddie?" Jack went, pulling his wife back. "Let's not argue with the men pointing non-laser firing guns at us…" He urged as Maddie tried and failed to break free.
Jazz did the same with Sam, pulling her away.
Danny hovered up, looking ready to go when one soldier noticed the look on his face.
"If you go, your friends here will pay the price for you." He said, gesturing to the rest.
"You have no idea what that thing is capable of." Danny warned.
"We're willing to test the limits of what it's capable of. Now go." The lead soldier demanded.
Glaring at him, Danny didn't want to get anyone in trouble, so he had to agree. He flew in the direction everyone else was going. All the while, he looked over his shoulder.
I hope for their sake they can put him down… He thought, knowing the Beast was dead less than an hour ago, so defeating it might not be impossible.
At the same time
The Beast ran on all fours, making his way through the woods until coming to a sudden stop.
Something reaches his nose, something foul.
"What iz zhat? That awful scent…" The Beast complained before noticing the smell was getting stronger, meaning whatever it came from was getting closer.
He bared his claws and fangs, ready in case whatever was the source of it was going to appear.
He heard leaves rustling from the window, he felt a breeze, but that was it. He heard no footprints, only smelling a terrible smell.
That's when he turned his head, seeing something that caught his attention.
"What iz zhis?" He asks with a mild sense of interest.
At the same time
The minibus left the area roughly 20 minutes after the rest returned.
Inside was rather melancholy. Jack was driving as Maddie was in the passenger seat, both haunted and exhausted by the events that had transpired. The rest of the group sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
"So... you think Frostbite took Aunt Alicia to that hospital?" Danielle asks, her voice low.
"Most likely..." Maddie said, thinking hard about her sister.
"We can check up on her on the way..." Jazz said.
"If only he brought Sam and me back home..." Tucker said, feeling upset to be in another country so quickly.
"Let's worry about that later, Tucker." Sam said. "You weren't there, but a monster werewolf came back to life and is out there."
Danny raised his head, noticing someone was missing.
"Where's Marie?" He asks.
"When you didn't come back soon enough, she went back to Paris. She says there's something there she's keeping an eye on." Danielle explained.
Danny nodded, looking out the window.
He thought of the Beast of Gevaudan, how it regenerated from fatal wounds, how strong it was, how fast it moved.
I'll have to come back… soon as I get the chance. He thought.
"So… any chance you two Phantoms can use your powers to speed us up?" Maddie asks.
Danny and Danielle shrugged as they held onto the sides of the minibus, making it go intangible.
"Go nuts, Dad." Danielle said.
"Works for me." Jack said, flooring it as he sped up so fast that everyone but Maddie held on like their lives depended on it.
"It's like we're back home already…" Jazz muttered.
Elsewhere
8 soldiers were searching the woods, hoping to find something that would lead to the Beast.
Their lights were moving fast, keeping on guard.
"Anything?" The leader asks.
"No sir." All of them went.
The two continued walking through the trees when a streak of russet zipped and took the soldier at the end away into the darkness.
The one closest to him heard a rush of air when this happened, slowly turning his head to see his teammate missing.
"Jefferson?" He asks.
Before he knew it, that same russet streak leapt at him, pushing him into the darkness.
The soldiers heard this, looking back.
"Where are Jefferson and Lopez?" The leader asks.
"I don't know, Sir." One of them said.
Before they knew it, they heard a snarl from the darkness.
Turning their heads, they saw a pair of red eyes appear, squinting as a set of teeth slowly became visible, twisting into a terrifying snarl.
"FIRE! FIRE!" The leader said.
The trees were filled with the sounds of guns, snarls, and cries of pain. This went on for about five minutes before the noise stopped.
When the silence finally settled, one figure stepped out of the trees. That figure was the Beast.
"How fun…" He said as he made his way towards where he first encountered Danny Phantom, as there was one prey left he had to deal with.
The Nantinaq, still alive, was weakly trying to get up as he heard the Beast approach.
"I'll kill you…" The Nantinaq snarled, barely able to push himself up.
"Unlikely…" The Beast said as he stretched his neck. "So… it looks like my skills are a bit rusty… back in my day… 2 minutes would have been enough to deal with zhat many armed men…"
"What are you going to do next?" The Nantinaq questioned, getting on his elbows.
"From what zhe foul smelling one tells me… what those fools hid from me is in Pari. Once I get my hands on it… my only real weakness will be gone." The Beast said.
"W-Weakness?" The Nantinaq questioned as the Beast's back was now facing him.
The Beast ignored him as he smiled up at the sky, the full moon shining down.
"The night sky… it's as beautiful as it was in my day." He said before taking an excited breath. "Once I get it… I will be truly unstoppable." He said before licking his lips. "But first…"
The Beast looked over his shoulder at the injured apeman. The Nantinaq raised an eyebrow in confusion and growing fear.
The Beast's bright red eyes squinted in violent hunger.
"That seafood dinner wasn't… satisfying enough. I need something… with a little more… meat…" The Beast said, his grin growing before he licked his teeth in anticipation.
The Nantinaq, realizing what was about to happen, tried to crawl away, but it was too late. The Beast lunged, his claws tearing through the ground as he leapt into the air, pouncing on the much larger apeman.
The sounds of primal screams and canine mauling filled the forest, cutting out the night ambiance with a sickening savagery.
New chapter with thanks to Flower Princess11 for help.
I wanna finish this before Summer.
Invader Johnny: No but knows Sam is uncomfortable with seeing an animal getting shot.
RonaldM40196867: Yes. Probably don't have enough time with their daughter. Read the last story (I know you don't like this response, but I don't wanna repeat myself as I type this). Probably. Already did.
Guest 1: Too busy for now to do that, sorry.
Daniel6: Thank you for reading.
danifan3000: Someone else does it, someone more viscious. Let's hope she never sees one.
Guest 2: 1. No she doesn't. 2. Fortunately, Alicia is already aware she's got a lot to make up for. 3. Maybe? 4. Maybe. 5. Will try to. 6. I might draw them... Might. 7. Well... no need to worry... now. 8. Someone else did that. 9. For now, it's the ER. 10. He makes sword constructs now. 11. Probably not. 12. I will think about it. 13. Yes. 14. Yes, liked it but far from perfect.
Leonardo: I have not, am more invested in that new animated film. I know of it and like that Hartman doesn't seem fully involved with this one.