Shut up and help me help you chokeslam this snake!

[Note: The mechanical monster will now be refered to as "centisnake" for the purpose of ease of reading. Thank you.]

Once Zhen Liu could confirm that his cousins made their way pass the threshold of the exit, he and Nepherage proceeded to rush towards one of the nearby walls.

While Zhen Liu was serious about making sure Sullivan didn't die, he didn't want to do it in a half-assed manner with an injured Nepherage. If he was going to help slay the monster, he was going to need some back-up.

<Material inaccessible. Please remove obstructions before attempting kaijin creation.>

[Damnit!,] Zhen Liu cursed as he retracted his hand, [Nepherage, got enough strength to break through this wall cover?]

[Let's find out. Quartz Driller!]

Nepherage's arm quickly turned into a crystal drill that she slammed into the wall in front of her.

*Clang!*

[Gak!]

However, unlike last time where some rubble and dirt was knocked loose, this time there was nothing but sparks as Nepherage's drill arm broke apart as she slammed it into the wall. While she wasn't bleeding, Zhen Liu could sense that Nepherage was a little stunned by the whole affair.

[It's too sturdy, milord. I can't crystallize a drill strong enough to pierce whatever is covering this wall.]

[Well shit,] Zhen Liu cursed, [I guess we have to do plan B, and I hate plan B.] After he said that, both he and Nepherage turned towards the thrashing centisnake, where they saw Sullivan still somehow holding on.

"Why! Won't! You! Die!," the digger shouted as he kept slamming fist after fist into the back of the beast.

*ROOAARRRR!*

Judging by the sound of that roar however, it sounded like it wasn't very effective.

[Alright, let's go; double time!]

_________________________________________________

[Rock Breaker!] [Rock Breaker!] [Rock Breaker!], Sullivan roared over and over again as he landed punch after punch onto the centisnake's back.

Sullivan had no idea whether or not his attacks were working, but he had to try, damn it!

"Why! Won't! You! Die!," Sullivan shouted, frustration building up inside him despite expressing this feeling through his now bloodied fists.

He needed to do something to get Rose out of there, he just had to!

He had already lost most of the important people in his life, he wasn't going to lose one of them twice in the same lifetime.

"ROARRRR!"

The mechanical centisnake that ate said aforementioned important person had other plans in mind though.

It had tried and failed to just simply throw the annoying interloper off of it's back with pure force, but to no avail. Sick and tired of it, the mechanical monstrosity proceeded to dive headfirst into the lava in an attempt to rid itself of Sullivan.

Either the annoying gnat would screw off because of the threat of being roasted alive, or it would get roasted to a crisp, regardless, it would get rid of the detestable human and it can go back to trying to get it's treasure back...or eat this guy, the order didn't matter.

Sullivan was too engrossed with his display of violence to even notice that the centisnake was about to dive headfirst into the lava, an act that would have surely roasted him alive.

"OH YOU HAVE GOT TO BE- NEPHERAGE! SAVE HIS STUPID ASS!"

"Yes milord!"

Luckily for the hyper aggressive digger, the Fourth Young Master of the Zhen Clan was there to pull his ass out of the fire, literally.

"Die! Die! Di-oof!"

*Sploo-fwoosh*

Moments before the centisnake went under, Nepherage bolted forward and tackled Sullivan off of the monster's back and onto a nearby platform.

Zhen Liu caught up mere moments later.

"Well that was a close c-"

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

"Of course, he's about to complain. Nepherage, can you go entertain the centisnake while talk to him?"

"At once milord."

Coincidentally, the centisnake arose from the lava at the exact same time as Nepherage's agreement. It proceeded to let out a earsplitting roar, right before Nepherage decided to tackle it.

"Have at thee!"

"Skroa-!"

BOOM!

As Nepherage and the centisnake were locked in pitch combat, Zhen Liu and Sullivan were about to have their own pitched yet somewhat emotional argument.

"Why did you stop me?! I was just about to-"

*SMACK!*

"Ah!"

"No time for emotional ranting!"

Well it was probably gonna be emotional but Zhen Liu decided to just slap Sullivan across the face instead.

"Did you just-"

*Smack!*

"Ah! Why?!"

"Because I need you to help me help you kill this thing, and that isn't possible if you get barbecued alive," Zhen Liu explained, "So shut up, help me and just maybe we'll get out of here in one piece with your friend by your side, capeesh?"

Sullivan was mildly stunned at the sudden barrage of words that came after getting slapped in the face multiple times, but he still ended up nodding in agreement. Perhaps it was the forceful tone, maybe it was the honest yet manic look in Zhen Liu's eyes or maybe he didn't want to get smacked again, but Sullivan got the feeling that this guy wasn't lying and that it was in his best interest to at least hear him out.

Not that Zhen Liu could pick up any of these nuances, he just needed the nod.

"Cool, now tell me", Zhen Liu began to ask as he walked over to a cracked portion of the wall, "what can you tell me about a weirdly cold rainbow metal that absorbs heat?"

_________________________________________________

The battle between Nepherage and the centisnake took on a rather noticable different approach from when Sullivan was the one fighting. Namely, it was a running firefight.

"Roar!"

The centisnake suddenly released a powerful beam of flames that flew straight towards Nepherage.

[Magma Wall!]

Nepherage slammed a fist into the ground, causing a massive wall of molten rock to suddenly shoot up and block the attack. Normally the wall wouldn't be that big, but since this battle was taking place in a lava chamber, the effect was doubled. Nonetheless, Nepherage still showed signs of strain and exhaustion.

'Curse these shards!,' Nepherage cursed while massaging her shoulder,'If I wasn't injured, I'd polish the wall with you!'

[Nepherage! You okay?]

[Aye milord, just a bit beaten up. Don't think I last much longer though.]

[Got enough power for one last move?]

[Maybe. Why?]

[Because, you're gonna have to mount it.]

[Of course...]