Impossible Opponent

Everyone hesitated, bracing to face the monstrous form of the Liberator as it emerged, but there was no sense in standing our ground here. "TAO YANG!" I shouted, and my voice jolted her out of her stunned silence. Seeing her uncle, her supposed protector, morphed into the grotesque creature before us had shaken her to the core, her thoughts unraveling in turmoil. But my shout snapped her back, and without a word, she turned and shot toward me.

"Why are we running?" Blue Sun asked as she flexed her fingers, the last fractures in her bones knitting back together. Her regenerative powers were remarkable, nearly as fast as mine, and her hand was already back to fighting form.

"We got what we needed. Staying here is pointless. This isn't a battle we can win." I reminded her, casting a quick glance at the rest of the group, who caught on immediately. We veered away, fleeing from the monstrosity at our backs.