Breachers

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Road Trip

The freeway blurred past in streaks of headlights and asphalt, the food truck roaring like a dying beast. The engine sputtered, the metal frame screamed under the strain, but Felix didn't let up. His knuckles were white on the wheel, jerking it left and right, trying to shake off the three monsters clinging to the roof and sides.

Clawed hands slammed against the metal, the roof denting under the weight of something big. Felix swore and wrenched the wheel again.

Meanwhile, in the back, Marcus gritted his teeth, his muscles burning as he pressed down with all his strength. Blue mist poured from his body as he burned through mana, trying to keep the thrashing monster pinned against the kitchen table. Its grotesque face twisted, rows of needle-like teeth snapping inches from his arm. He ignored the rancid breath, the slitted eyes burning with hunger—he just kept stabbing with a kitchen knife.

The monster shrieked, blackened ichor splattering across the steel countertops after each of Marcus's stabs. But no matter how many times the blade sank into its head, the wounds closed, sealing up in a way flesh never should. Marcus grunted and twisted the knife harder until the blade suddenly snapped.

Marcus let the blade go and quickly grabbed another from the counter, plunging it into the same spot.

The moment the blade pierced the monster again, its head whipped around, neck twisting with a sickening pop.

Marcus froze.

The creature's slitted eyes locked onto him, its mouth stretching into something that almost looked like a grin. Then it launched itself backward.

It slammed into him, knocking the air from his lungs as the two of them crashed through the cramped kitchen, bouncing off counters and cabinets. Pans and utensils clattered to the floor. Marcus barely kept its snapping teeth away from his throat as they smashed into the passenger seat.

The truck swerved hard.

Marcus almost couldn't hear Felix shouting through the chaos, the whole vehicle jerking left and right as his friend panicked. The monster thrashed, clawed hands swiping wildly, nearly raking across Felix's face before Marcus grabbed its limbs and yanked it back.

It writhed in his grip, twisting, snarling, biting at anything it could reach.

Marcus gritted his teeth.

'Gale-jet.'

A violent gust of mana-charged wind exploded from his elbow. His arm shot forward, the impact slamming into the monster's chest like a battering ram. The thing crumpled, its ribcage denting with a wet crunch before it shot through the windshield, shards of glass exploding in its wake.

Felix let out a strangled yell, hands still tight on the wheel. "What the fuck was that? What the fuck?"

Marcus ignored his friend. He watched as the monster skidded across the hood, barely managing to cling to the truck's front, its claws digging deep into the metal.

With no time to waste, he lurched forward, grabbing Felix's leg and shoving his foot further down onto the gas.

The engine roared as the truck surged forward, rattling dangerously as it slammed into the back of a semi-truck ahead of them.

The monster's body crumpled between the two vehicles, its limbs twitching, trapped beneath the crushing weight of metal on metal.

"Kill it!" Marcus shouted.

Felix, still pale as a ghost, pressed down on the gas with everything he had.

The truck pushed harder. The monster's body inched lower, its lower half grinding against the asphalt as its ichor smeared across the road.

Then a heavy impact slammed into the back of the food truck.

Marcus spun around, muscles tense, lungs still burning from the last fight as he spotted another monster in the back of the food truck. This one looked different, its squat legs barely keeping up with the weight of its massive, fur-covered body. Four thick arms twitched at its sides, and its swollen gut bulged unnaturally, shifting with each breath like something inside was ready to burst.

The creature retched, its body heaving before it spat a thick, glistening mass of liquid straight at them. Marcus barely had time to think as he threw himself sideways, twisting in midair to take the hit meant for Felix. The impact struck hard, splattering across his chest and soaking into his shirt, warm and thick.

His first thought was acid—something that would burn straight through his skin. He tensed, bracing for the agony, but instead, all he felt was a wet, sticky mess dripping on the floor beneath him.

The absence of pain didn't have time to fully register before the monster spat again, this time aiming at the ground beside it. Before Marcus could figure out why, the creature slammed one of its meaty fists into the fresh puddle of spit.

The strike never hit the wall behind it.

Instead, its massive fist burst up from the liquid pooled beneath Marcus. He didn't have time to react before it struck him straight between the legs. Pain exploded through him, his vision darkening at the edges as he staggered back, knees nearly giving out from the impact.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, the pieces clicked together.

The monster spit again, another glob of liquid striking the steel wall to Marcus's left. A second later, its fist plunged into the puddle beside it—only to emerge from the one on the wall near Marcus. A massive arm swung toward his face. He jerked aside just in time, his shoulder taking the brunt of the impact as he staggered.

'It has an ability.'

The thought barely settled before the creature prepared another attack. It spat on the ground near Marcus's feet, creating a fresh puddle. Before he could move, another fist shot out from below. He jumped back just in time as the thick, furred limb burst free from the liquid, reaching for him.

This time, he reacted first.

His hand shot out, fingers clamping down around the creature's thick wrist before it could retreat. Mana surged through his muscles. With a sharp breath, he twisted hard, pivoting as he drove a brutal knee into the monster's elbow. Bone crunched on impact, the sickening snap echoing across the truck as the limb bent the wrong way.

The monster hissed, its body jerking from the pain, but Marcus didn't let go. His grip tightened as he planted his feet and pulled, his arms straining as he dragged more of the creature's body through the puddle. It thrashed, its remaining arms flailing wildly, but he just kept yanking, refusing to give it a chance to recover.

Marcus didn't slow down. As more of the monster's thick, fur-covered body was pulled through the puddle, he drove his boot into whatever he could reach. Ribs, shoulders, arms—anything to cripple it before it could fight back. Each strike landed with a dull, meaty impact, drawing snarls and gurgled gasps from the creature as it thrashed in his grip.

Then its head emerged.

Marcus immediately took advantage. He shifted his stance, planted his foot, and sent a brutal kick straight into its snarling face. The monster's skull snapped backward, its lower jaw shattering from the impact. He kicked again, then again, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts, the muscles in his leg screaming from the repeated blows.

Somewhere behind him, Felix was screaming, "Die, die, die!" at the monster in front of him.

The truck rattled violently, its engine sputtering as Felix mashed the gas pedal to the floor, trying to grind what remained of the monster against the semi-truck in front of him. The sound of screeching metal and breaking bone filled the air, mixing with Felix's panicked shouts and the wet crunch of Marcus's boot slamming into flesh.

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Then Marcus saw the blue glow—faint but unmistakable—pulsing at the back of the monster's head.

'The Orb.'

His hand shot out, clamping around the smooth, pulsating sphere. It burned cold against his palm, almost humming under his touch. He gritted his teeth and pulled, trying to rip it free, but it didn't budge. His other hand kept hammering into the monster's skull, trying to weaken it, but the damn thing wouldn't give.

A deep, shuddering groan rumbled through the truck. The metal frame above him groaned as long, yellowed nails began punching through the roof, digging deep, peeling back the steel like tin foil.

Panic shot through Marcus's veins. He yanked harder, his fingers slipping on the Orb's slick, pulsing surface. It wasn't coming loose. No matter how much force he used, it was locked in tight.

Then it clicked.

'If it's using an Ability. It must have a Chip.'

Marcus let go of the Orb and shoved his fingers against the back of the creature's head, searching for something, anything that felt off. His hands slid through matted fur, sticky with blood, until his fingers brushed against something hard—a small, raised ridge just beneath the skull.

That was it.

He gritted his teeth, dug his fingers inside, and yanked. The monster started screaming.

Its entire body convulsed, remaining arms flailing as its guttural howls filled the truck. He didn't let go. Snarling, he planted his feet and yanked again, muscles burning as the Chip finally tore free with a wet, sickening pop.

Marcus staggered backward, the sudden force sending him crashing straight into Felix. He barely registered the impact, his breath coming in short gasps as he stared down at the blood-soaked Chip in his hands, pulsing weakly before the glow flickered out.

The monster's screams twisted into a wet, broken wail. Then, all at once, the puddles lost their eerie shimmer, fading into nothing but spit as the portal-like effect vanished.

A heartbeat later, blood gushed from the monster's parts, flooding the truck's floor before spilling onto the road.

Marcus let out a shuddering breath as he stared at the bloody Chip in his hands, his fingers tightening around it. His whole body burned—his arms from pulling, his legs from kicking, his side still throbbing from earlier. He forced himself to look away from the Chip, shifting his attention to what remained of the monster sprawled out inside the truck. Its torso lay in a heap near the back doors, its thick, fur-matted arms twitching slightly. Its head and shoulders rested near him, separate from the rest.

He exhaled sharply and stepped toward the head, lifting his boot. With one last, sharp kick to the monster's exposed throat, he waited, watching—listening. No reaction. No sudden movement. No rattling, gurgling breaths.

"Marcus!"

Felix's panicked shout yanked him back to reality. He spun, eyes locking onto the back of the semi-truck just in time to see another creature clawing its way up.

Its claws sank deep into the trailer, scraping as it dragged itself higher. Slitted, pale eyes locked onto him, its chest heaving with ragged, hissing breaths before it rushed upwards, claws digging into the trailer.

A moment later, another one dropped onto the trailer, landing in a low crouch before lunging after the first.

"Shit!" Marcus shouted, already moving past Felix.

He skidded to a stop just long enough to shove the bloody Chip into his friend's hand, pressing Felix's fingers closed into a tight fist around it. His grip was firm, almost desperate.

"I need you to hold onto this for me," he said, his voice sharp with urgency before he started moving again.

He barely heard Felix yell after him as he climbed out through the shattered windshield, boots scraping against the food truck's crumpled hood. He glanced down as he hauled himself up the back of the semi, his stomach twisting. The monster trapped between the two vehicles was still twitching, its mangled body crushed deep into the food truck's front grille. It was dead—but still twitching.

"Get to safety!" Marcus shouted at Felix before he pulled himself up onto the semi's trailer.

'This is stupid,' he thought, fighting to stay upright as the wind ripped past him. The entire semi lurched beneath him, the driver struggling to keep control.

Up ahead, the two monsters clawed at the truck's cabin, jagged fingers ripping through metal, trying to reach the driver.

The semi-truck swerved, scraping against a concrete divider. Sparks flew before the semi jerked right, slamming into a smaller car and ramming it off the road.

Marcus sprinted forward as fast as he could. He threw himself forward, launching into a dropkick. His boots crashed into the back of one monster, the impact sending it flying toward the edge of the trailer.

It nearly went over when the other monster snapped out an arm, claws hooking into its companion's flesh, stopping its fall.

Marcus got back to his feet. "Oh, come on," he muttered, rolling his shoulders before dropping into a combat stance.

The monsters hissed, low and guttural, their bodies tensing as they crept toward him.

Blue mist bled out of Marcus's frame as he burned through his mana, heat prickling under his skin. His muscles coiled, ready.

Then they came for him.

He dodged the first swipe by a hair, twisting his body out of the way as claws tore through the air where his head had been. The second came swinging with a wild, arcing blow—he ducked under it, then snapped his leg out in a sharp kick to its ribs.

It didn't even flinch.

Marcus had barely a second to react before the second monster lunged, jaws snapping inches from his shoulder. He spun, shifted his weight, and rammed his elbow into its throat before twisting away again.

Marcus ducked under another wild swing, the air slicing past his head as claws missed by inches. He stepped in close, slammed two brutal punches into the monster's gut, and snapped his elbow up into its chin. Its head snapped back as it staggered, dazed.

He went in for another punch when hot pain ripped across his back.

Marcus gritted his teeth, stumbling forward as the second monster's claws tore through his clothes, raking deep into his skin.

'Gale-blast.'

Wind exploded from his palm as he thrust it behind him. The monster there skidded, claws screeching against the metal as it fought against the wind and struggled for footing. Marcus didn't waste time—he surged forward, putting space between them, breath heaving.

The truck swerved violently again, nearly throwing them all off.

Marcus struggled to stay upright as the monsters lunged again. One came in low, swiping for his legs. He leapt over it, twisting midair before landing hard, boots skidding across the trailer. The second monster was already on him—he barely managed to shift his weight before it slammed into him, sending them both skidding across the trailer.

Marcus pivoted, driving a knee into the monster's ribs. Despite hearing something break, the monster didn't seem to react to the pain. Snarling, it swiped at him, claws flashing toward his throat. He threw himself backward just in time, the air whistling past his neck where the strike nearly took his head off. His boots scraped against the metal as he fought to maintain balance. Then he launched forward, slamming a fist into the side of its skull, but the creature just tanked the hit.

'Gale-Blast.'

A violent burst of wind exploded from his fist, the force slamming directly into the monster's face. The air pressure crushed its eye, the socket collapsing in a wet burst of blood and thick, black fluid. The monster shrieked, rearing back as gore sprayed across the trailer, jagged claws swinging wildly in pain. One of those claws slammed into Marcus's side, sending him flying across the trailer. His back hit the metal hard. The edge of the semi close behind him as his footing gave out.

Then the truck swerved violently again.

Marcus's fingers clawed at the metal, seeking purchase. His legs dangled over open air as he scrambled to hold onto the truck's frame, just as the semi-truck slammed into the concrete barrier.

A deafening crash tore through the air as the concrete barrier shattered, chunks flying in every direction. The front of the semi caved inward, metal screeching as it burst through the divider, the nose pointing downward.

For half a second, everything tilted. Gravity yanked at him. Then the vehicle crashed down.

Marcus barely had time to process it all before it hit the ground.

The truck slammed into the road, the front end smashing into the pavement with enough force to send a shockwave rippling outward. Marcus felt the impact in his bones, pain ripping through his ribs as the trailer buckled beneath him, its metal frame shrieking as it skidded forward. The semi tore through nearby abandoned cars, shoving them aside like paper before skidding across the cracked asphalt and finally grinding to a stop.

A thick cloud of dust and debris swallowed the street, filling the air with smoke and the acrid stench of burning rubber.

Marcus coughed violently, gasping for breath as he forced himself to move. His ribs ached, his body protesting with every movement, but he rolled off the semi's ruined frame and hit the pavement with a rough thud. He stayed there for a second, trying to catch his breath, coughing out more dust before he pushed himself onto his elbows.

His vision swam. Smoke and debris choked the air, making it almost impossible to see past the wreckage. But then, through the haze, he saw movement.

The two monsters lay sprawled across the asphalt, still twitching. The one missing its eye was still groggy, thick blood pooling from the ruined socket. The other was stirring too, ichor still dripping from its wounds, one of its arms torn off.

For a moment, they looked at him.

Marcus exhaled sharply, gripping his side as he slowly pushed himself to his feet.

Then the howls started.

Low at first. Distant. Then more joined in, growing louder, their echoes rolling through the streets, spreading across the City of New Haven like an orchestra of violence.

The two monsters near him froze, their heads tilting slightly as if listening to the howls. Then, almost in unison, they arched their bodies, throwing their heads back as they unleashed their own roars, the sound ripping through the night.

The noise was deafening.

Then a deep boom shook the ground beneath his feet, followed by two more.

Marcus whipped his head around, blinking through the dust—and saw it.

In the distance, massive shimmering fields of blue and red flickered to life, expanding across the skyline. The energy crackled along the edges, pulsing violently before expanding further.

'It can't be… Spheres?' he thought, his mind scrambling to make sense of it, the realization settling in piece by piece. 'They're making spheres!'

Before he could process anything else, the two monsters near him bolted, claws scraping against the pavement as they sprinted toward a nearby apartment complex. They broke through the doors in a second, disappearing into the darkness of the building's entrance.

Marcus didn't hesitate. He ran after them, despite his conscience telling him to check and see if the truckdriver was still alive. He hated himself for running, but his mind told him it was the lesser of two evils—dozens of people in that apartment complex could be ripped apart in the next few minutes.

Marcus's legs burned, his lungs worked overtime, but he pushed forward anyway. He tore through the wreckage, barreling through twisted metal and broken concrete, his boots kicking up dust and debris More howls echoed through the city, some close, others farther away, filling the air like a warning. Booms rumbled in the distance, shaking the ground beneath his feet, each signaling the birth of another Sphere.

The city was turning into a war zone. And he was running straight into the heart of it.