Virus: Origin of Blood

Warning! <Redacted> has placed a bounty on you (5000 points).
Warning! <Redacted> has placed a bounty on you (3 points).
Warning! <Redacted> has placed a bounty on you (184 points).

This brand-new list came out of nowhere.

Isaac had been just flying for the past three hours, almost uninterrupted, dodging patrols of transformed Zerians and searching for a place he and Harry could use to their advantage. No such luck so far. The swamps they found themselves in after leaving the snowy mountains didn't have much to offer. Not even some mist.

Maybe in the next territory…

Okay, what the hell did I do this time? Isaac wondered, quite baffled. He was in no way against getting more bounties, but this just didn't make sense. He hadn't killed anyone in a few hours now.

Current bounty: 158322

Over twenty thousand points added with the snap of a finger. Once he got out of this hellhole, he really needed to have a talk with Rakin about this bullshit. Sure, it was probably those "viewers" placing the bounties, but why? How?

If they think I will just roll over and die, they got another thing coming. Those points are mine. Soon…

Isaac was about to message Harry to see if he had received any more bounties, but just then Symphony of Blood ignited, its song loud from the get-go.

He tensed a bit, his gaze falling on a large group of transformed Zerians flying in the distance. Normally, this shouldn't be an issue. He had passed plenty of such squads in the past few hours, and none of them saw through his ally's illusion.

So what changed now? Why did his skill activate? The next location ping was still two minutes away after all.

Trust your blood, Isaac echoed the words he had heard during his reawakening. The Symphony had never failed him before. He wasn't about to start doubting it now. They're pretending not to see us, then… Very well.

Right away, he opened the communication menu and sent a quick message to Harry.

Enemies ahead. Can see us. Be ready. I can buy you time to set up your ultimate.

He didn't have to wait long for the answer.

[Message from Harry Hayward: So be it. Godspeed, friend.]

With that, Isaac pulled on the spark of his Legacy and switched to Hybrid mode. He could have gone straight to Freedom, but with his Ultimates unavailable unless absolutely necessary, there was no need for that. The boost from the second mode was more than enough.

Mana and Viron combined, gathering at the tips of his feathers. In the meantime, Harry detached himself from Isaac's legs and slowed down. Based on the way he wobbled left and right, he was still far from recovered even after all those hours of rest.

Isaac just hoped the man had enough strength left to unleash his Ultimate. It might be the only way for them to get out of this alive, depending on how powerful their enemies were.

Otherwise, he would have to count on his superior experience in aerial combat and evolved Legacy form. And against those numbers? That might not be enough.

Gotta at least try, he thought, and swerved right, setting his path on a collision course with the Zerian group. The energy he had prepared burst outward and shaped into over a dozen small Crimson Deaths. He sent them flying right away.

Squawks and other noises filled the sky as the aliens realized what was happening. Some threw up elemental shields, others darted aside to avoid the barrage.

Yet none of that mattered.

Before the spears could hit anything, Isaac pulled their trigger and detonated them manually. A dense mist of blood washed over the sky—Isaac's own version of a smokescreen. A necessity for the next step.

He sacrificed a larger chunk of Viron and Mana. This time, instead of spears, more than a hundred thin blood spikes formed behind him. He activated Burnout, and together with his creations, he dived into the mist.

Go! he ordered, firing the spikes in every possible direction. Then, he reached for the Symphony playing in his veins and allowed it to consume him. He would need all the guidance he could get now.

The first Zerian—a blue bird with frozen wings—never saw him coming. Isaac ripped into its flesh with his talons, then drove a Cursed Draw–empowered peck straight through its skull.

Dead on the spot.

A second later, a blast of wind hit him head-on. That was followed by twin eagle-like creatures descending upon him.

Seeing no better option, Isaac transformed with the Root already in hand and swung. The arc of blood powered by Mana Surge cleaved clean through the beasts.

Three dead by his hand and two more that somehow died to his spikes.

Good start.

Isaac grinned and shifted again. By now, the blood mist had already almost faded. The remaining swarm looked less than happy.

Do your worst.

As if on cue, several things happened at once. Another serpent glowed before tripling its size in the blink of an eye. A bit to the right, an octopus-like creature hissed, and countless inky-black chains appeared in the sky.

There was more, but Isaac didn't have the luxury to watch. The Zerians, and their skills—most likely Ultimates—charged at him, and the battle began for real.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

With a burst of Burnout and the guidance of the Symphony, he slipped past the chains trying to crush him. A massive bolt of lightning shot over his head next, still somehow leaving sparks dancing across his feathers.

Yet, when it was the overgrown serpent's turn, Isaac didn't dodge.

He accelerated, pulled on more Mana, and enveloped his body in Cursed Draw. A heartbeat later, he slammed into the beast beak-first. It didn't stand a chance despite the strange glow covering its body.

Flesh and blood filled the sky as the serpent exploded. A strange outcome, considering that Cursed Draw should only cut, but Isaac didn't mind. One less problem to deal with.

Only many more to go.

A massive lance of steel forced him to dive straight into the path of the chains. One caught his feet, only to be shattered by a focused Obliteration. The others, though? Still biting at his tail.

Worse, in the meantime, the sky began to darken. Isaac knew well what that could mean. It might not be the same ultimate he had faced before, but he really didn't want to have to dodge even more lightning bolts.

But where are you?

He growled, his eyes darting around, searching for the one responsible for the multiplying clouds. The other Zerians, constantly trying to hit him with something, weren't helping. None dared to approach him, though. They must have realized by now that facing him in close quarters was a bad idea.

There!

A large violet bird, full of spiked feathers, was hiding behind a group of two. It constantly spat lightning at random places in the skies, each blast birthing a new storm cloud.

Isaac reinforced Harden, conjured a few Crimson Deaths for distraction, and shot right toward his new target. Some attacks stopped for a moment, but most stayed on his tail, including the irritating chains.

Freedom mode.

With more Mana available to him than before, he poured it into every skill, every pore of his body. Pain began to bite at his mind, but he ignored it and slammed face-first into a multi-elemental barrier the two Zerians put in front of the lightning bird.

Cursed Draw and Obliteration combined, shattering the obstacle, as well as a few of his bones. The pain went ignored again as Isaac closed the remaining distance between him and his target.

But he didn't kill it outright.

Instead, he shifted mid-air, grabbed the wide-eyed bird's neck, and yanked, swapping their positions. A heartbeat later, its body was directly in the path of the incoming chains. Too late for them to change course.

The lightning bird died, skewered by its own ally's Ultimate.

Storm clouds dissipated, replaced by enraged squawks. That said, the remaining Zerians never had a chance to continue their assault.

Something unseen swept across the battlefield, and all the aliens stiffened, their flight becoming erratic. A second later, their horrified cries split the sky.

The Nightmares had arrived.

Isaac breathed a sigh of relief and returned to Clean mode. A couple of Crimson Deaths soon shot toward all the Zerians still in the air. The majority had already plummeted to the ground when Harry's Ultimate somehow forced them to transform.

The Interface confirmed all of their deaths.

We live to fight another day, Isaac thought, feeling the few broken bones already healing. The phantom ache from rivers of Mana flowing through his body, however, remained. He definitely overdid it a bit. Not that he had a better choice.

Okay, let's get out of he—Harry?!

His eyes snapped toward the man. A moment ago, Harry had been wobbling through the air toward him. That was no longer the case.

Shit.

Isaac dived, his gaze locked on his ally's falling form. Thankfully, he managed to catch up halfway to the ground. And to his surprise, Harry wasn't out cold, just thrashing like a fish out of water. Ironic.

"Try to hold on!" Isaac shouted, edging a bit closer. He didn't dare catch the man with his talons. That wouldn't end well.

Luck, for once, favored them.

Harry stilled his useless flailing and somehow closed the distance between them. Then, just as before, he wrapped himself around the middle part of Isaac's body. The rest was history.

Isaac spread his wings and pulled up.

"Beautiful save, friend. Thank you," Harry's weary voice reached his ears. It was the first time the man spoke in his Legacy form.

"You saved both our asses," he replied. "Rest. I got it."

Or so I hope…

For the next few hours, Isaac walked on the edge of death.

He lost count of just how many Zerians crossed his path. The groups were much smaller than the one he and Harry had defeated, but they were no less dangerous. Not when he had an injured passenger on his back and no illusions to hide him.

More than once, he had to take hits meant for Harry to save him from certain death. Only his regeneration, the Symphony, and bursts of Burnout kept him going at this point. And even then, sometimes that barely seemed enough.

Every minute, every second, Isaac's aerial skills were put to the test as he weaved between trees, rocks, and skills falling down on his head. The world blurred around him. His tired mind focused only on the path ahead.

Survive. Think later.

At last, though, he reached the next territory, leaving behind both the swamps and the group still chasing him. Why didn't they try to follow?

Well, Isaac was quite certain now that Zerians didn't like fire or anything related to it.

Only dark rocky fields awaited ahead, with rivers and lakes of lava scattered across them. On the horizon, massive mountains rose, or rather volcanoes, each spitting smoke into the sky. This land was the complete opposite of the frozen territory he and Harry had explored after passing the ocean.

The monsters here were also nothing to scoff at. Everything he had Analyzed so far showed up as at least a Low-Moderate threat. That could be yet another reason why the Zerians didn't follow him here.

Some of his hunters weren't even level twenty, after all.

Still, as much as Isaac was thankful for this break, he knew it wouldn't last. Fear of fire wouldn't stop an army hungry for his bounty. And with his Infamy rank advancing soon again…

He shook his head, scanning the lands below for a safe place to land. He needed at least a minute of rest for his aching body. And maybe to drink something. His throat was as dry as it could be.

Not that long after the next location reveal, Isaac spotted a secluded cliff and descended. Harry stirred awake the moment they touched down, slipping off his back and returning to human form.

He didn't look good, and that was Isaac being generous.

Damn… he muttered inwardly, also transforming. "How are you holding up?"

Harry offered him a weak smile. "I've been better, my friend. I fear… this might be the end of our journey together."

To be honest, Isaac had expected as much. "You're extracting."

The man nodded. "In two minutes. I spoke with my Lady in my sleep. She told me I will die if I refuse to leave now. Forgive me… I would love to accompany you on this final stretch, but alas, I would only slow you down."

"It's fine," Isaac said, and he meant it. "Was nice working with you. Definitely made the trip more… colorful."

Harry's face brightened a bit. "Likewise. I shall treasure this memory till my last breath, friend. Hopefully, we can do this again one day."

We will see about that, Isaac thought, extending a hand. Harry shook it right away. "See you on the other side."

"I will be awaiting the news of your success," Harry said. A moment later, he bowed low. "It's time. Farewell and good luck."

Isaac only nodded and watched as the man's body turned into motes of bright light. In seconds, they vanished, once again leaving him alone in those dangerous lands.

Hunted and tired, yet hungry for more blood.

He had a choice to make.

Run as far as he could, or somehow stand his ground.