The Burning Prison: Tartarus (II)

The entire room shook as a red hand burst forth from the cocoon. The being inside the cocoon struggled and thrashed around until it gained its footing. Blood red skin covered in mucous slime. Two elongated crystallized horns where its eyes should be. Blood red crystals covered it from head to toe acting like a carapace. Its razor sharp mouth emitted a low growl. As drool flowed from its black lips. It's sharp claws opened and closed searching for prey.

The monster tilted it's head as it looked towards Haruki. Then a wide grin surfaced as it disappeared from sight. Haruki looked back and saw it reaching for his neck. He immediately bent backwards as he dodged the sweeping claw. He watched the claw brush past his face with an unnatural amount of force. If it hit him, that would send him straight to the devil's torture chamber for sure.

Then a loud sound of alarms blared as the white room slowly transformed into one that is encased in mettalic structures and objects akin to a lab. Also revealing conjoined rooms hidden by the tiled walls. Within those rooms we're Infected sealed in a tube like structure submerged in some sort of blue and violet mixture. Tubes that pierce its skin sending a violet liquid inside it, making it squirm and struggle.

They all collectively looked towards the entrance where they came from only to see samuel waving towards them as a large mettalic vault door slammed them shut. Trapping them inside the room. As the room transformed Haruki did his best dodging the attacks aiming for his life.

"Samuel you bitch!"

Trevor the one wearing the lion mask bellowed as he charged towards the closed door. He put explosives and detonated them immediately to try and open it but alas. The noise only attracted the monster. It's sharp red ears twitched as it looked towards Trevor's location. It growled and instantly appeared beside him.

The monster held him by the throat, lifting him up the air. With a grin the monster bit him right on his jugular. Tearing off a huge chunk of flesh. The monster opened its gaping maw as it drank Trevor's blood through his windpipe.

It licked it's lips relishing every moment. Those that we're near Trevor immediately brandished their weapons but to no avail. They couldn't even leave a scratch. The monster swatted them away creating a meat paste as they collided through the wall.

"Damn! We we're set up! Samuel that bastard... If we make it out alive I'll personally skin him!" Feng said as he stood near Haruki.

"What the hell even is that thing!?" Feng said as they regrouped towards the edge of the room trying to create as much space between them and the monster as quiet as possible. Haruki shook his head. "Shit, Trevor's down. Alecks and Dmitri are also down..."

"I guess this is it boys... So much for a rescue mission." Haruki said as he chuckled softly. The others laughed along with him attracting the monster's attention.

"Boss if this is the end. You better wipe that happy grin off your face." Feng said as he shrugged his shoulders.

One of them who was wearing a pig mask sighed. "What a nasty expression boss. It makes me worry for my future children to have such bad influence around them."

They all laughed madly while glaring at the monster slowly making its way towards them. "Wow, it's underestimating us. Reminds me of the good old days." Haruki said as he shook his head.

"Damn First rounds on me, but feng has to do a body shot with a pretty lady." The man with the monkey mask said as he dashed first.

"Hey! I'm reserving my purity for the one!" Fang said jokingly.

<Screeeeeeeeeeeccchhhhhhh!>

It was an ear shattering scream, that sent shivers down on one's spine. It could paralyze a regular civilian, but not these guys. They've fought and killed far bigger aliens. A brush with death is but a familiar tune to those who deal it.

To them it was a synchronised dance that makes them feel alive. A dance floor of the damned once they stop their heart stops beating with them as well.

However this one was a different monster altogether. No matter how many times you could scurry away as you tempt death, your time would soon come. Even if you're familiar with it, no matter how much you understand it, to the point you even see it on your sleep, but then again who's friends with death?

That's why they're but lambs to the slaughter. One by one they fell. With each swipe another falls. With each death throes another falls prey to its ever so voracious maw. Its loud cries were akin to an infant toying with its food.

One was dragged across the room through the walls painting the walls red with his innards. They were treated like toys in a fast food restaurant.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! What the fuck is this thing it's practically invincible." The man in the monkey mask cursed as he watched Fang get impaled in the chest by the monsters horns.

"It's been an honor boss." He said as he strapped himself in explosives as he charged towards the monster. It steadily tore off his head and ate it tossing the body aside. Even ignoring the explosion beside it. When the smoke cleared it was unaffected. Like it was taking a leisurely walk.

Haruki on the other hand was calm. With a soft smile and a menacing glare. "You know these men we're pretty new. Given that they're not Einherjar material they still fought valiantly. I'm pretty fucking pissed you know." Haruki said as every single droplet of blood in the area was absorbed by the Ars Magus.

Haruki could feel himself steadily getting more and more used to his newfound vigor. The scratches on his body slowly healed. Making the monster drool with hunger.

"You want a piece of this fuck face?" He slowly walked towards the monster with a manic smile as he brandished his blade towards its uncovered neck. However it only bounced back numbing the his hand that held the blade.

He clicked his tongue as he parried off the quick claws but after awhile his blade showed signs of breaking. "What the fuck are you made of you bastard!" Haruki said as he crouched and rolled sideways to avoid the incoming leg sweep.

"Magus! Anytime now! Can you help me a little here buddy?" He said as he caught the incoming claw to his face with his bare. Hands, surprising both of them.

"I did not expect that." He said with a grin as he swatted off the incoming hand. He then grabbed the leg of the monster and slammed it on the cold floor. He immediately mounted it and kept hammering it with his fists. He could feel his hands breaking from the sheer toughness. Even if it broke he didn't give the monster a chance to retaliate he then grabbed its horns and bellowed as he tried to tear it off. As he did the monster tried to pry him off of it as it dug its claws on his sides as it tried to push him away.

"Graaaaaghhhh!!!!"

With a loud snap the long horns were torn off. He then grinned towards the monster as he used the horns to stab the motherfucker right in the heart and brain.

The monster madly thrashed around in pain as it kept screaming but Haruki with his newfound strength held it down.

From the face to every inch of its body he made sure it was dead. Using its horns, He cut open its chest and pulled out its heart and crushed it. He then snapped and pulled out the monsters head and threw it on the ground. He inhaled as he raised his right foot and with all the force he could muster stomped on it. Its remains were splayed all over the place.

Haruki lost all tension on his body as he sat down and laughed. "I hope you're watching boys! I've fucking avenged you." He said panting like a dog and laying down on the blood soaked floor. He grit his teeth in sheer frustration as he sighed as he laid there on the cold and soaked floor.

As he was resting the ever so silent Magus spoke to him.

[Demonic energy detected absorbing all of its energy.]

He immediately sat up, "I'm sorry what? what energy did you say it was?"

[Incomplete Demonic being. Perhaps they were experimenting on humans as a potent vessel for demons. This wouldn't be the first time people have tried this. Only the execution was different.]

Magus said monotonously. Haruki then frowned but before he could speak one by one the tube like containers opened sending the infected shambling like lost ducklings trying to find something to devour.

Then a monitor appeared and Samuel along with Oslo was shown in the screen. "I honestly thought you'd be dead by now." Oslo said as he scratched his chin. Samuel on the other hand shook his head, "You're underestimating the wolf too much. Even if the whole squad dies he alone could finish the mission. He was made that way." Oslo scoffed at Samuel's words. "No matter I hope you enjoy my parting gift to you wolf."

Haruki stood up and grinned towards the screen as he slid his thumb on his throat. "Don't get your panties in a bunch deary. I'm coming for that sermalis steak you owe me."

As Haruki was cracking his neck and stretching unaffected by the ever growing infected in front of him. A joyous notification from magus resounded on his ears.

<The first seal has been unlocked>

<How long has it been since I last saw such beautiful bloodshed>

<How poetic, How graceful.>

<The time is nigh my master.>

<Unleash my might towards them.>

<Unshackle them from their accursed bindings.>

<For their blood... And your blood... Is mine.>

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