'High Bio-Rad detected near the host caution advised.'
Vlad stopped in his tracks - his expression confused and shocked.
Huh? Vlad thought.
Kel who had been following close behind also came to a sudden halt seeing Vlad freeze. Kel, his brow furrowed with concern, called out, "Vlad? What's wrong?" As he got closer to him.
Kel's QC flared red with text showing 'Warning! High Bio-Rad detected, caution advised.'
"Huh?" Kel murmured under his breath trying to register the message.
Before them stood a mutant with large claws, Its eyes glowing red and saliva dripping from its mouth. Its body covered in fur thick enough to withstand powerful blows and a long muscular tail.
That thing's at least four meters! Vlad thought.
They were the farthest from the rest of the group, It was up to them to kill it. The mutant's proximity to the gate added another layer of urgency – if it broke through, the consequences could be dire.
"Kel!" Vlad called out, "Give me some backup. That thing's more than category 2."
"Alright," Kel replied with a determined expression, his grip tightening on his rifle and a finger hovering over the trigger.
Vlad charged at the mutant, Kel keeping some distance between them.
"Lure it away from the gate," Kel told Vlad over the QC.
"I know," Vlad replied, focusing entirely on the looming threat.
The mutant saw Vlad and immediately went after him. Hurling its claws at Vlad. He quickly jumped away as the mutant's claw sliced through the air. The mutant slammed Vlad with its tail before he could fully regain his footing. He barely managed to block it in time. The force of the impact hurled him to the ground.
Damn it! I lost sight of them. Kel thought, lowering his weapon in frustration, I need to change locations.
Kel mounted his rifle on his back and started moving towards Vlad traversing the place that had devolved into a full-blown battleground, numerous fights breaking out in his vicinity while trying to get a clear sight on Vlad and the mutant.
What the- its throwing faints? Vlad thought as he was standing up.
"Vlad I'm changing locations, your own your own for the minute," Kel's voice crackled over the QC, the urgency in his tone barely masking a hint of frustration or concern.
Before Vlad could reply or fully recover the mutant lunged at him with terrifying speed. Roaring as it did. Its claws aimed at Vlad's torso about to strike. Vlad deflected the strike using its own momentum against it to push its arm aside. Moving swiftly he used his other hand to deliver a powerful, close-fisted punch to the mutant's exposed jaw.
Damm, its tough. Vlad thought, catching his breath. "What level is that bastard?"
The mutant stepped back grunt escaping its throat.
[ The Bio-Rad detected indicates a threat level of 2.9 ]
It's almost a category 3, Vlad thought, letting out a sigh.
It reformed itself, moving towards Vlad with its eyes glowing with fury. Vlad got into a guarded stance, anticipating its strike.
It got closer to Vlad, roars coming from its throat. Just as it was about to make contact with Vlad a sudden green beam of energy hit its neck, the impact from it twisting the mutant's large body, throwing it off course.
"Vlad, you okay?" Kel's voice crackled through Vlad's QC, his voice filled with concern, "You and the mutants skirmish attracted many other mutants' attention."
Vlad looked in the direction from which the shot came, Kel was standing behind a rock, smoke coming out his rifle's barrel.
"Yeah I'm, alright," Vlad replied, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Vlad quickly turned to the mutant which had stumbled but was shaking its massive head, Kel shooting it had made it angrier. Vlad seized the opportunity of it being momentarily distracted to attack.
He punched the mutant in the face, sending a spray of foul-smelling saliva flying. The creature roared, its rage intensifying. It turned back, a loud roar coming from its throat. It tried to bite Vlad in half. Vlad grabbed its teeth and jaw so it couldn't close its mouth. His muscles strained to keep the powerful bite at bay.
"Ugh," Vlad grunted.
Kel shot the mutant, his shot slamming into the mutant's leg. It roared in pain as it lost its balance and kneeled. Vlad twisted its head the opposite way its body was going with all his might trying to dislocate its neck but it stayed firm. The teeth Vlad gripped onto broke from the excess strain.
Vlad stepped back covering his nose due to the vile smell of the mutant's saliva. As it was trying to get on its feet. Kel unleashed a brutal barrage of bullets targeted at its head. The mutant trying to protect its head covered it with its leg, the bullets penetrated its leg but they did not have enough force to pierce through it and reach its skull. As the bullets stopped flying Vlad tried to attack it again trying to take advantage of the situation.
But before he could move Vlad's QC fuzzed through a message: "Don't step forward," spoken in a low, soft female voice.
"Huh?" Vlad blurted out softly, his intended action halting abruptly, confusion clouding his features.
Before Vlad could process the unexpected warning, a huge blast vaporized the front half of the mutant leaving only its rear legs and tail. As blood sprayed everywhere Vlad turned towards the direction of the devastating attack - a lone female figure stood on top of a nearby cliff silhouetted against the sky.
Kel watched everything unfold through the scope of his rifle. He lowered his weapon, a frown creasing his brow in confusion.
"Vlad? You there?" Kel's voice crackled through his QC.
"Yeah," Vlad replied, his voice still ragged.
"What's happening over there? What happened to the mutant?"
"Someone took it down, I haven't figured out who though," Vlad replied, his gaze still fixed on the mysterious figure on the cliff.
"I'm on my way to where you are right now."