Gangs of Emberlyn Chapter 22 - Time Doesn't Wait
"You have killed an opponent. 100 exp. You have knocked out multiple opponents. Plus 230 experience points. Exp: 415 of 500. You have become strong enough to be recognized by the universe as a Tier 1 being. Rank: Tier 1 Simple. You have fully restored your energy. Energy: 180 of 180."
William lifted his head after his energy was fully restored. Blood was dripping down his chin onto the ground. He wiped off the blood onto the dead man's clothing. He stood up trying to regain his barring as he remembered the situation.
Jack, William thought. I have to save him.
William ran as fast as he could into the building after the last gang member. He threw his body into the door of the stairwell as it was flung open, making a loud banging sound.
"Monster," the gang member from above shouted in fear.
William started to run up the stairwell, his feet echoing along with another pair. The stairwell had an opening in the middle so you could look up and down it. He had gotten to the second floor of seven while the gang member was on the fourth floor. He was starting to feel more worried as he still didn't know how far he was from the gang member.
I need to go faster. I need to.
"Skill activated: Agile Reflexes. Speed 11 of 8. Minus
William's speed dramatically increased as he was now on floor three. The gang member was on floor five.
I need to hurry, the Felkin thought. I can't let him get killed for what I did. It should be mee up there, not him. It's my fault. It's my fault. I can't lose him.
Wiliam shouted in pain with pain, "I can't lose him!"
William pushed his body harder than he ever had done as his bare feet were slamming onto the ground. Sweat was starting to build up on his body.
William got to floor five while the gang member just got to floor six.
It was so close. It is too close for William to slow down. He just can't not with his best friend on the line.
He tried to push harder but he was at his limit. His eyes were already glowing bright orange from the sheer force and effort he was putting in. He must move on.
William just got to floor six while the gang member was just ahead of him.
"Stop!" William roared.
"Agh," the gang member squeaked as he turned around to see his glowing orange eyes.
The gang member pushed harder as well.
"He's a monster. I must get rid of his monster friend."
He busted through the door to the top floor and Jack was just up ahead. Jack turned his head from the ground toward the gang member with a wild look in his eyes. His heat began to race.
"I just want to go home!" Jack cried as a single bit of blood entered his eye from his busted-up head.
The gang member started to run forward just as William came running in.
William's heart dropped as he saw the gang member frantically running toward Jack.
"Activate all offensive skills!" William roared in a panic.
The system responded, "Limited Controlled transformation and Claw Steal. Minus 24 energy. Energy 149 of 180."
William jumped into the air with his head, arms, and legs transforming into his Felkin form. His claws extended out as he reached toward the gang member. The gang member reached out his hand to sabotage the rope hooks when he could feel pain shooting throughout his back.
"Ow," he roared as he fell to the ground.
William pulled out his fingernails as he went down for a slash, but the gang member just turned his body kicking him in the gut. The Felkin winced in pain but quickly recovered as the gang member reached out again. William slashed his thigh as the gang member screamed again. The Felkin was just about to go for the kill when the gang member grabbed a little syringe that was lying next to the rope pully system. He thrusted it into his arm as William's arm came down. Just as the nails were about to hit his neck the gang member moved his head at an unnatural speed avoiding the nails as they grazed the floor. Williams's eyes widened as the member shot up from the ground tackling William. The two of them flew through the air hitting the wall. The gang member pulled back his arm thrusting it toward his head. The Felkin dodged and the arm went through the wall. William pushed the gang member back and moved to where Jack was.
"Will," Jack sputtered, "temp…temporary s…su…super ser…serum."
William could barely hear Jack, but he turned around to see the gang member flying towards him like he did with the Shadowfire gang members earlier. He wanted to avoid the attack but if he did the gang member would crash onto the only thing holding Jack up.
This will hurt. The Felkin thought this as he activated a skill.
"Balance burst activated," the system said. "Minus 10 energy."
His body moved into a position, ready to take on the attack. The gang member slammed into William, and he could feel a world of pain as his body took the hit. He wasn't strong enough as he stumbled back.
"Minus 30 Health Points. HP: 18 of 50." (Minus 2 from the tackle. I'm not going to mention each time, only major ones.) "Most of your ribs have been broken. Emergency healing has been activated to heal your broken bones."
What? How strong is this? I guess Jack was telling the truth. I need health.
His claws extended as he slashed out, but the gang member jumped backwards. He flew through the air, clearly not used to having this much power. The gang member slammed into the wall.
"Well," he spoke. "I'm not used to that."
"What did you take, gang member?" William asked now that he had some room to breathe.
"Gang member?" the man questioned. "Just call me Brian. Now, what I took is the new temporary super serum. It enhances anyone who takes it for a time. They tried to create a Animorph but got this instead."
William turned around and rushed to the window to try and pull Jack in.
"Nuh, uh, Brian stated as he ran at a superhuman speed toward William.
William was forced to stop and fight Brian. The two clashed right near where the timer was. William slashed his nails activating Claw Steal, but Brian avoided the attack. Seconds later, his skill was wasted.
"I didn't like that skill you used on me," Brian stated as he moved to the right to pick up a crowbar that was on the floor. "It took great effort to get that syringe in me. Healed my body up nicely."
William jumped in for the attack, but Brian smacked his arm. William's heart began to beat faster.
"BPM 167. BPM 172," the system said.
That's it, William thought. I need to get to 200 so I can end this fight. My stats will double.
"Ow," William cried as he got hit on the head.
His body fell to the floor.
"BPM 184. BPM 189."
He rolled to the side avoiding a stomp to the head. He leapt to his feet but only to be hit one more. The fight continued on activating more skills as his heartbeat was nearly there.
System, "HP: 5 of 50. Energy: 34 of 180. BPM 198. BPM 200. Agile Reflexes is still active. Second Threshold skill activated: all stats are doubled for 1 minute.
Here is my chance, William shouted internally as he rushed at Brian with double the speed he had before, his claws extending out.
"What?" Brian could barely manage to say as he made one last ditch effort swinging the crowbar.
Williams claws went cleanly through Brian's head, killing him on the spot. Unfortunately, Brians last ditched attack slammed into William's head. He went flying to the side. He crashed onto the ground, his eyes rolling into his head.
"Minus 4 Health Points. HP: 1 of 50. Energy: 14 of 180. You have been knocked out. 7 minutes and 34 seconds until mission fail."
Jack looked at William who was lying unconscious on the ground.
"Will!" Jack yelled, but there was no response. "William!" Jack cried, but all he could do was hang there helplessly as the timer slowly ticked down to his death.
*****
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