Chapter 35 : Quake

Heya, guys and gals ! New chapters and the awakening of the bad-ass Quake ! Loved her character in the show. And the actress Chloe Bennet ? Mamma Mia (no idea what it means, I don't speak Italian xD) !

Well, this story's basically a self-insert, slice of life with the characters I love most from the franchise. Yes, I do love Squirrel Girl. And no, I don't know why, either !

Anyways, you know the usual song by now. You can read more by visiting my Patréon page (search for Cathbel on the website). And I'll be glad if you leave a comment, a review or send a stone my way ! Enjoy the read !

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I'm actually glad that Hyde's villain lair is located in a somewhat deserted place in the city. The whole neighborhood is filled with old warehouses and factories that fell into disuse and were then abandoned. There're also the occasional office building like the one now in ruins… And the entire neighborhood is currently undergoing a massive demolition thanks to two powered people.

I send a spell meant to locate any trace of human life and come up mostly empty. Afar, on the eastern edge of the district I detect a small number of people, probably homeless trying to sleep… I doubt they're getting any shut eye in this situation. Thankfully, none seem stupid enough to come check out the ruckus going on. I don't know how the two fighters would take the arrival of a third party…

« Why am I meddling then ? » I mutter to myself from my floating ink platform. I've already decided that I won't be fighting from this vantage point. While it's very useful to gather information and oversee a situation, it needs constant command sent to it and, in the middle of a high speed fight, isn't really useable.

Instead, I'll use another spell I worked hard to devise and that would make me mobile. Originally, it was meant to be used with eldritch constructs but now that I can manipulate my ink pretty much how I want it, and after I finished working out the kinks of the spell, I think it's now much better.

I wince seeing another building toppling partly. A few beams, windows and sheet metal walls are all that's left standing. The rubbles move, or rather are moved, by a massive form dressed in green. He's still laughing like mad… For some reason, I can't help but become angry. How self-centered can he be ? Does he have any idea about the destruction they're causing ? Does he care ?

I shake my head. Obviously, he doesn't. That's the guy who slaughtered I don't know how many government agents, people, criminals… He has a disregard for life that is disturbing. Revolting, even. For a minute, I consider simply taking his life…

However, I reconsider. Not that I care about his life, or want to give him a second chance. No ! My choice is purely selfish and consists of two main reasons. One : I don't know the psychological effects taking a life would have. I'm not sure I want to find out… Maybe later, I'll take the time to consider it, but for now…

Secondly, and probably the most important reason : I doubt I can take the man's life. Granted, I have magic on my side, my alter-human power, my parents training and my own creations… I even have a few spells that, applied in combat situation, could easily take a life. That is… if the life in question is that of run-off-the-mill human. Hyde is not. Some would even argue whether or not he is even human.

Most witchcraft requires time and resources and martial arts is pretty useless when the physical differences between two fighters are so great. Not to mention, Hyde might actually know how to fight as well.

As I list the reasons why I don't kill Hyde, I gradually feel more and more disheartened. I look at my sister in anything but blood… She's single-mindedly focused on Hyde, displaying a murderous rage that is quite unlike her. There's a lot of doubt in my mind about her current state. Mainly one is at the forefront though : is she even capable of… Well, thinking ? She's no more than a beast, currently.

« Aaaah~ ! » I sigh before shaking and slapping myself in the face once.

« Come on, Nathan ! Get psyched ! » I mutter to myself again.

I draw in the air quickly before, with a thought, deactivating the ink platform I stand on. Obviously, gravity gets its grubby hands on me and drags me down… With a crouch and a roll, I absorb most of the fall's impact before I start skating toward the fight.

That's right ! Skating ! That's my answer to moving around quickly. I probably already told you this, right ? Anyway, just to brag but I'm actually a pretty decent skater ! Then again, it's my one hobby. Writing and drawing… Although I love it, it feels more like work since it's so closely connected to how my power works. Skating has nothing to do with it… Except now that I devised a spell allowing me to skate and defy gravity while doing so.

Along with Parkour and pretty much every extreme sport, I've always loved skating in my former life! Thing is though… Although I loved it, I was also terrified about falling, hurting myself etc… Quite ironic, right ? I guess all it took was reincarnating in a world I knew might be erased, destroyed, eaten, taken over by a zombie virus… The worry of hurting myself is laughable compared to the endless potential doomsday scenarios threatening this reality.

As I finally make my way towards the fight, other heroes and forces are gradually closing in on our location. It's about time… Even for a deserted part of the city like this one, it's still New York ! The police coming here late is one thing, but not even one hero being drawn ? Maybe they were otherwise occupied…

I see a blue and red spandex wearing teenager swinging, a red and gold suit of armor flying over, a man in a red devil gear zipping and bounding… There's even a flying vehicle making its way here. It seems like we're popular in the end ! They can deal with Hyde if they want… Though maybe not Peter : he's still too green ! Iron Man, DareDevil and whoever's in the flying car can fight him.

I spit a big blob of ink in the air, separating them with a gesture of my arms and a thought. Three parts take on serpentine shapes, slithering on the ground toward the giant of a 'man' while three more take flight, shaping themselves into black paper planes.

Spitting another glob on the ground, I form a portal before stepping through. Once more I make another ink spell, this time drawing a formation on the ground : a receiver. Moments later, I feel it activate and Cory materializes, covered in tattoos before she destroys them by vibrating her body.

I sigh in relief that she was unable to react before this… However, when her dark eyes land on me, I feel a chill run down my back : she doesn't look like she recognizes me. Or maybe, she's just made up her mind to kill me, 'cause that's what her gaze is telling me : I'm a dead man !