Apocalyptic Returning

Chapter 27: Intertwined Trauma

"What I am telling you is that both factions are flawed. Infinium is funded by the corrupt elite and in turn Infinium supports their misdeeds." Malachi preached to Vermont with Hyro, Jackal and Nero listening behind him. "Mariquel, an organization built on world domination and criminals."

"Then why do you fight on the side of Mariquel?" Vermont questioned.

The question was one Malachi had already been asking himself for some time now. "Because they are the more troubled organization. I hope to myself that with my influence, I can change their outcome. That I can minimalize the bloodshed between the two organizations."

"How noble of you." The sinister laugh of Mitch echoed from all around the group, causing them to examine their surroundings in stricken panic. "That little speech of yours was almost convincing enough to make me turn blind to the snake you are."

"What right do you have to judge me, when you yourself are the epitome of sin and slaughter?" Malachi stated calmly.

"I'm not judging, just stating a fact." Mitch stepped out of the darkness that was behind Jackal as the man turned his head to peer at him. "You are a snake; I am a monster...simple facts." With a single swing of Mitch's hand, his blade pierced through Jackals energized pumpkin mask and slashed him across the face. Blood splattered from Jackals face onto Hyro and Nero, who each raised their respective weapons at Mitch.

In a blur of red energy, Jackal was stabbed dozens of times across his body and once in the throat. After ripping his blade out of Jackals throat, Mitch phased beside Nero and sent a powerful backhand towards his side. Attempting to block the backhand, Nero tried to block with his arm, which only resulted in his arm breaking from the attack.

The backhand from Mitch sent Nero flying a couple feet into the air before crashing into the side of an armored vehicle. Mitch walked past Jackal, who was on his hands and knees while clutching at his bleeding throat. "I heard Boss has taken a slight interest in you." Mitch spoke to Vermont while still peering menacingly at Malachi.

"I can see why." Mitch dodged under an attack from Hyro without breaking his eye contact with Malachi. With a single swing of his blade, the diamond shaped shield integrated into Hyro's arm was cut in two. "Now watch and learn." Hyro used his broken shield as a blade and jabbed it towards Mitch's head.

Only moving his head slightly to dodge the jab, Mitch countered by throwing a powerful uppercut into Hyro's chin. "Lucky you, Arthur told me not to kill you." He said as Hyro stumbled backwards into Malachi.

Malachi placed his hand on Hyro's shoulder and walked past him. "Go help Nero, it looked like his arm is broken." Standing there as Hyro ran over to Nero, Malachi examined Jackal as he tried, yet failed to struggle back to his feet. "This may come off as rude but, I liked you better when Karma was still around."

"Do you know why I'm doing this?" Mitch questioned as Scout teleported behind Malachi. "This is your punishment for keeping Hook from us." He answered before Scout placed his hand on Malachi's shoulder and teleported him away.

Once Malachi was gone, Jackal let out a roar after a shockwave of orange and purple energy exploded from his exosuit. Bone armor of white energy formed along his body as he rose back to his feet behind Mitch. A scythe made of orange energy formed in Jackal's left hand as a gauntlet of purple energy formed around his right.

Jackal lunged forward and slashed his scythe down at Mitch's head, who blocked the attacks with his knife. While still holding off the scythe, Mitch dodged multiple punches from Jackal before one finally landed on his face. The punch caused Mitch to jump back to create some distance from himself and Jackal.

"Overdrive"

"It's futile." Mitch chuckled as Jackals exosuit spiked with energy. "Thank you though, for making this fight a little more interesting. It's been a while since I've gone against someone of a higher caliber and my skills are getting rusty." As Jackal lunged forward, Mitch dodged a flurry of energy slashes from his scythe.