A Werewolf In Under-Town

Ren walked through the hole in the wall into the lobby with as much swagger as he could muster. Roller was by his side, still cackling happily. The armadillo was always excited after a fight. Meanwhile, Jazz was waiting patiently by the hole in the bank's outer wall. The warthog alien was looking out beyond their truck embedded in the wall. Ren jogged over to see what his Henchman was seeing and chuckled at the sight.

A string of heroes was coming their way. Some were in the air, others were riding motorcycles and cars, while others were running. All told, Ren counted seven of the buggers. He gripped the handle of his hammer tightly and tried to think through any strategy. But quickly gave that up. In the game, he was a Bruiser. A Tank designed to smack down any threat and his people were the same. Jazz and Roller were tough. Between the three of them, they could take a few Supes. But first things first.

Ren stepped out of the bank with little more than a nod to Jazz and Roller. His two Henchmen understood the gesture and flanked him as they moved into the side parking lot next to the bank. The heroes were still coming, so Ren used the spare time to lift the front end of their truck and push it back, further into the bank. Jazz helped as Roller hopped happily on his feet, waiting for their foes to arrive. Already the sound of drones was in the air, which meant that these were straight-up HLO Supes. So the ass-kicking was going to be broadcasted live to Supe HQ.

Ren finished moving the truck and spun around to take in their opponents. The flyers looked annoying, with one literally glowing with red energy. His partner was less obvious, but was laden with multiple weapons and gadgets. The one on the bike was a simple human with an enormous sword and anime spiky hair. Which told Ren that these were Players. Which could complicate things if they were coordinated. Two cars held the final four Supes, but Ren couldn't get a good enough look at them behind their windshields.

"Two ranged Flyers and a Squirrel." Ren stated, using their word for a fast and annoying enemy.

"I don't know, boss. That sword looks kind of sharp." Jazz grunted.

"The two are mine, though, right? The Flyers? They're mine, right, boss?"

"Yes, Roller, you can take the Flyers if you can reach them. Jazz, you're on the cars. See if you can lighten our load before they even hit us."

Roller's laughter grew louder as he almost bounded forward. "I can reach. No problem. But could you give me a boost, boss?"

Ren snorted as he held his hammer in one hand and stepped toward Roller. The armadillo alien was curling into his ball form as the Heroes got closer. He took position behind his second henchman and waited for a clean shot. Jazz moved slightly into the street and kicked the dirt with his booted feet. Ren had spoken to the warthog about making his charges less obvious. But some things were just ingrained. Thankfully, it didn't look like any of the Supes noted the movement. Although the two cars sped up, while the motorcycle angled toward Ren and Roller.

The rider was going to jump the curb and head straight for the parking lot. Which suited Ren fine. He'd deal with the squirrel and then go help Jazz. The Flyers were the first to arrive, and they wasted no time before firing down on Ren and Roller. One put his hands together and let loose with a red beam of energy that missed them by inches. The other one opened up with a damn Uzi that bounced off Ren and Roller's skin.

Wasting no time, Ren took two steps forward and kicked Roller for all he was worth. The brown ball of armor shot upward like a cannonball before smacking into the gadgeteer hero. Roller popped out of his ball form and immediately grabbed the red Supe before dropping down. The gadgeteer went sprawling away into the air as Roller bore the other Flyer to the ground and hit the pavement with a sickening crunch. Roller didn't stop to check his work as he curled into a ball again and rolled away.

Ren rushed forward as from the street a loud crash echoed through the early morning. Jazz had begun his assault as well, it seemed. The red Supe was pulling himself from his crater when Ren's hammer slammed down onto the man's body. His red aura fought the hammer's weight for a few seconds before the silver head caved in the Hero's chest. The Player was vanishing into a plume of light cubes as the motorcyclist jumped the curb and leapt off his mike.

Ren stepped to the side as the bike went tumbling away. Its rider was still in the air, removing his sword from his back and aiming it at Ren. He had seen Dave aim an ability enough times to recognize that he was being targeted. Waiting for the best moment, Ren let the swordsman activate his ability. With a shout, the black-haired man chopped his sword through the air, sending a blue-green arc of wind at Ren. The attack was moving fast, but since Ren was prepared, he leapt to the side at the last moment and charged the falling Player.

The wind attack had given the guy a bit more hang time, but Ren waited until he had a clear shot before charging. The ability made him lower his head, but it gave him a significant burst of speed. Caught off guard and with no means to dodge, Ren's target used his massive sword to block Ren's horn.

"Urgh!" Ren grunted as the feeling of the sword biting into his horn actually hurt.

He flicked his head up as the swordsman Player flipped away. The Player landed a short distance away and swirled his sword up in a two-handed guard. Ren rubbed his horn as he turned on the other Player. The swordsman was shorter, but his sword reached well over Ren's head. He couldn't help but roll his eyes at the obviously anime-inspired Player.

"Seriously? Spiky hair, giant sword, acrobatics? Any other tropes you want to mine?"

The other Player literally squawked in indignation. "Oh please! Like you're any better! A trio of animal-based villains? You might as well be a Saturday morning cartoon!"

Ren could only nod his head in acknowledgment. But a loud explosion from the street made him grin.

"It seems my cartoon bad guys are kicking your team's asses."

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"Bah! They're just HLO hangers on. I don't need a team."

"Oh my god, you're an Edgelord too? Do you have a barbed wire tattoo as well?"

The swordsman growled and waved his sword in front of him. Ren tensed, expecting more attacks, but the man was merely lashing out. So instead, Ren chuckled to himself and went on the attack. He dashed forward, swinging his hammer wide and letting the other player get his guard up in time. With a clang, the two weapons met, and the Swordsman grinned at his easy block. But Ren smiled back and hit the button near his thumb. The repulsor flared to life and the head of Ren's hammer shot forward like a rocket, breaking the Player's guard and smacking into his shoulder.

The other Player spun with the hit and changed his grip on his sword into a one-handed one. Coming out of the spin, he swung his sword out wide, and Ren could see the green energy already forming on the blade's edge. With a grunt, Ren leapt into the air and brought his hammer over his head just as the swordsman released his attack. The blue-green arc of energy clipped Ren's feet and slashed into his skin, but he fought through the pain and brought his hammer down.

Sword and hammer met for a brief moment before the swordsman parried Ren's attack. Shunting it off to the side. Ren responded by landing from his jump and stepping forward into a thrust with his hammer head. Again, the other player got the flat of his sword up in time and a loud clang rang out as the two weapons met again. But the force of the blow made the swordsman dance backward. Ren tried to push his advantage with another swing of his hammer, this time from the side. But the swordsman flipped backwards again and dashed away.

"Fucking squirrel." Ren grunted as he chased after the wily Player.

The swordsman kept backing away as he used his free hand to grab something from his belt. Ren saw a flash of red as the Player downed a something from a glass bottle. Growling, he took a two-handed horizontal swing, stepping into it and letting his hands slide down to the end of the hammer's handle. The maneuver gave him some added reach, but made his hold fairly loose. Thankfully, the attack connected and caught the swordsman on his right shoulder. Ren hopped forward and used the head of his hammer to catch against the Player's back to try to drag him closer. But the large sword swung up again, batting Ren's weapon aside.

"Fuck!" the swordsman screamed as he stumbled away.

Ren's hammer had still smacked him hard, and he was rubbing his shoulder in pain. Ren kept pressing his advantage as he chased the flipping swordsman around the parking lot. Soon, a third voice entered the air as Ren and the swordsman grunted and shouted at each other.

"Nimbus, I have taken the liberty of calling in support."

"What?! No! I don't need help, Chris. I'm doing fine."

Ren paused as he watched the hero speak into his wrist communicator. The swordsman, Nimbus, was clearly winded. His face was red and his hair was sweaty from running away. Ren made a show of pulling his hammer back and setting the handle on the ground. He waited patiently as he listened to this unknown Chris explain the situation.

"Nimbus, both the Wright Brothers and the Caravan teams have been wiped out. You're about to be outnumbered."

"So I just have to finish this idiot off and then take on two NPCs. No big deal, Chris. Now shut up and let me fight!"

With that, Nimbus slapped his wrist communicator, and the line went dead. Ren raised an eyebrow at the cocky player as he hefted his hammer off the ground again.

"Cocky little shit, ain't ya?"

"I just haven't hit my stride yet, villain."

"Yeah, I'm sure. But you'd probably have to stop running to do that." Ren chuckled, reaching for the butt of his hammer's handle.

"Fuck you, Rhino! I've been just fine on my own so far and I'll-"

Whatever he was about to say was cut off as Ren hit the switch and then the trigger on the butt of his hammer. A blue orb of energy shot out of his hammer's head and hit Nimbus straight in the chest. The strength of the blow carried the man all the back toward the bank. His clothes were smoking as he slid to a stop, and Ren was sure he'd down some major damage. But the Player coughed as he pulled himself back together and glared at Ren. With shaking hands, Nimbus reached into his belt as Ren dashed forward.

Nimbus pulled another health potion from his belt and went to swallow its contents when a burst of gunfire filled the air. Nimbus used his wide sword to block the bullets as Roller came bounding into the parking lot, wielding the gadgeteer's Uzi. Ren grinned. Both at the arrival of his Henchman and the fact that the gunfire had broken Nimbus' potion bottle. The swordsman looked far from amused as he glared at the pair of them. That's when Jazz hit him from the side.

The warthog emerged from the bushes at the side of the bank with his head down and his tusks raised. One of the alien warthog's large tusk hit Nimbus in the stomach, while the other clanged into the man's sword, sending it flying. Jazz shook his head as Nimbus screamed in pain, sending the swordsman flailing through the air with a hole in his stomach. Ren sighed dramatically and gave his boys a nod of thanks as he moved to finish the Player.

"Cheating shits. I'm going to report your ass!"

"For what? Having friends?! Seriously, dumbass. Maybe next time, think about working with your team." Ren said, raising his hammer.

"Fuck-"

Ren brought his hammer down before Nimbus could finish spewing his insult. The other Player exploded in a shower of rainbow-colored cubes until they all vanished. After the final cube was gone, Ren checked himself over and then double-checked in his menu. The fucking squirrel had gotten some lucky hits, but he was okay. Looking up to Roller, Ren could see the armadillo was happily looking around the parking lot for more enemies. Jazz, however, looked a little beaten up. His horns were chipped and his clothes were cut up and bloody. Ren raised an eyebrow, but the large warthog waved him off.

"I'm fine."

"The blood says different."

"I'll be fine, boss. We need to hurry and get the credits loaded. Those won't be the only Supes out for us tonight."

Ren grunted and nodded as he waved for them to head back inside. "You help with the loading while Roller and I keep watch."

Jazz looked like he wanted to argue, but he kept his mouth shut and went back inside the bank. Ren turned back to the street and watched the smoke plume into the air from Jazz fight with the cars. A few drones were high above, their cameras pointed down at them. Ren raised a large grey middle finger before Roller shouted excitedly.

"DUDE! Look what I found!"

"I've got to stop you from hanging out with Dave," Ren grumbled as he turned toward his excitable Henchman.

Roller was smiling as he held up Nimbus' sword. The blade had been flung into the parking lot by Jazz and wasn't with the Player when he died. The enormous weapon was dented and scratched in places, but still looked alright. Ren was going to let Roller keep it, when the Henchman tossed it to him.

"You keep it, boss. We can divide it as spoils once we're back home."

Ren caught the sword by the hilt and examined it. It looked like a plain hunk of metal, but it had an unusually sharp edge. He figured he'd toss it to Roald and Randa when they got back. He just hoped Nimbus wasn't smart enough to put some kind of tracker on his stuff. But Ren shrugged that thought off as he heard his men get to work.

He looked back into the bank and spotted a line of Lackeys moving sacks of credits onto their truck. Not a terrible night so far. The first wave of Supes had been repelled, and they just needed to get away now. It probably wasn't the biggest haul. But his boys got to fight, and they collected some spoils. Ren made a mental note to have more nights like this. Under-Town was great, if a little stifling. The Legion needed to stretch its legs. They were moving up in the world.

It was time for the rest of the game to know it.