Chapter 66: Ulitmate Swampfire vs Tank

Ultimate Swampfire got up. "Vine Attack," Ultimate Swampfire commanded, manipulating the roots to immobilize the Margwa again. 

Ultimate Swampfire charged towards the Tank. Yuriko, desperate to save her husband, continued to fire her pistol at the hulking creature. The bullets bounced off its thick, leathery skin, having no effect. "Leave him alone!" she screamed, her voice breaking with anguish.

Souichiro, struggling to breathe, looked over at Yuriko. "Yuriko, live your life without regrets... stay strong... and stay happy and tell our daughter, I am proud of her," he managed to say, his voice filled with pain and love.

Tank tightened its grip on Souichiro's body. With a final, brutal squeeze, it crushed him completely. The horrifying sound of bones shattering echoed through the air as Souichiro's eyes bulged and blood poured from his mouth. Tank tossed Souichiro's lifeless body to the ground like a discarded rag doll.

Yuriko's scream of agony pierced the chaos. She fell to her knees, her heart shattered by the sight of her husband's gruesome end. Zombies were encircling her. Ultimate Swampfire got there in the nick of time and punched the zombie. The zombie went flying back. He looked at Yuriko devastated. He felt bad for her however this was an opportunity as well. "Yuriko snap out of it, you have a daughter, be with her. I will also protect you," Ultimate Swampfire said. 

Yuriko gazed upward, her eyes still glazed with the numbness of grief. But amidst her despair, the faintest flicker of determination stirred within her as she thought of her daughter, Saya. She knew she had to protect her, no matter the cost. She tried to get up, but her legs buckled. She collapsed to the ground again, her strength sapped by the emotional and physical toll.

Ultimate Swampfire glanced at Yuriko. "Root Cocoon!" he said as he extended his arms toward the ground. Thick roots erupted from the earth, winding themselves around Yuriko in a protective embrace. Within moments, they formed a sturdy cocoon, encasing her in a natural fortress.

"This will keep her safe," Ultimate Swampfire said. Yuriko looked at him. Her eyes filled with a glimmer of hope amidst her overwhelming sorrow.

With Yuriko secure within the protective cocoon of roots, Ultimate Swampfire redirected his focus toward the Tank. He thought Tank lacked any special abilities, and was only strong.

As the Tank charged forward, its massive fists raised for a devastating blow, Ultimate Swampfire braced himself as he stepped forward to meet the attack head-on, their fists colliding with a thunderous impact. The force of the clash sent both combatants skidding backward.

Ultimate Swampfire recovered quickly and launched himself at the Tank. He drove a powerful punch into the Tank's face, the force of the blow causing the creature's head to rock back. Without pausing, he followed up with a swift, punishing kick to the Tank's abdomen. The Tank staggered, its enormous frame swaying under the assault.

But the creature was far from finished. With a guttural roar, the Tank swung its massive fist in retaliation, striking Ultimate Swampfire squarely in the chest. The impact sent him sliding backward, his feet digging into the ground. 

"Cluster Bombs," Ultimate Swampfire said, thrusting his arms forward. Blue, glowing pods shot out from his outstretched hands, hurtling towards the Tank. The pods detonated upon impact. There was an explosion. The tank stumbled backwards. As the smoke cleared, there were signs of wounds on his chest. There was liquid pouring out of his wounds. 

The Tank, with its immense strength, planted both massive hands into the earth, ripping out a chunk of the ground effortlessly. In one swift motion, it heaved the massive rock towards Ultimate Swampfire.

"Flamestreak," he shouted, igniting a kerosene-like gel that coated his arms. He unleashed a torrent of blue flames at the rock and destroyed it. "Vine Attack," Ultimate Swampfire said as he manipulated the roots underground. They came out and immobilized the Tank.

"Cluster Bombs," Ultimate Swampfire said, thrusting his arms forward. Blue, glowing pods shot out from his outstretched hands, hurtling towards the Tank. The pods detonated upon impact. The Tank screamed as he got blasted repeatedly by the explosive blue pods. They hit his head, massive body and legs all at the same time.

At that moment, Ultimate Swampfire caught a glimpse of a yellow beam out of the corner of his eye and narrowly dodged the attack. Whirling around, he aimed his blue pods at the Margwa and unleashed a barrage. The pods struck its second mouth, detonating on impact. The Margwa bellowed in agony, spawning another yellow bug in response.

The bug hurled yellow liquid at Ultimate Swampfire, but he evaded it. He watched as the acidic substance melted the ground. "Root Slap," Ultimate Swampfire said as he stuck his hands in the ground and spawned a large root behind the bug which smacked it down. The bug hit the ground with force which erupted its internal organs. 

The Margwa got up. The Tank broke free from the roots. They both looked at Ultimate Swampfire. The Tank alongside Margwa charged towards Ultimate Swampfire. "Vine Attack," Ultimate Swampfire said again as he manipulated the roots underground. They came out and immobilized the Tank once more. 

Margwa swung its tentacle arm at Ultimate Swampfire. Ultimate Swampfire caught its tentacle. Margwa opened its final mouth. "Flamestreak," Ultimate Swampfire said as he ignited a kerosene-like gel that coated his arms. He unleashed a torrent of blue flames at his mouth. The mouth exploded. Margwa went down as he spawned a final bug. Swampfire used his hands and squashed the bug. "They are predictable," he commented. 

Ultimate Swampfire's attention snapped to Tank, who had broken free once more. "Blue Bomb," he said as a blue pod on his arms began to swell, expanding rapidly until it was as large as he was. With a powerful heave, he launched the oversized pod at Tank.

The pod made contact and detonated in a blinding, thunderous explosion. The force rocked the area, and Tank was engulfed in a brilliant blue blaze. He roared in agony as the intense flames scorched his body. Unable to withstand the attack, Tank's towering form shuddered before he collapsed, defeated, into the smoking crater left behind.

He walked back to the cocoon and let Yuriko out. At that moment a red light appeared on the Ultimatrix symbol and he transformed back to James. 

James extended his hand which Yuriko accepted. "I am glad you are safe," James said. 

She looked at James, this boy, no man took down two monsters, avenged her husband. "Thank you," she replied as she hugged James and started to weep. 

He saw a horde of zombies pouring out from the shadows, shambling towards them with relentless hunger. The air was thick with their guttural groans. Suddenly, the roar of an engine could be heard as the Humvee sped into view.

Rei and Lois, perched at the windows, fired relentlessly at the encroaching undead, their bullets hitting their mark and dropping the zombies. The vehicle skidded to a halt beside them.

"Get in!" shouted Saya, flinging open the door with urgency. She caught a glimpse of her mother, Yuriko, wrapped in a tight embrace with James. She saw tears in her mother's eyes. She thought he was not thinking of that. 

James quickly grasped Yuriko's hand and helped her into the already cramped interior of the Humvee. "Go, now!" he commanded.

"What about Father?" Saya asked.

Yuriko's face fell, and with a sorrowful shake of her head, she replied softly, "He's dead. He... he saved me." 

The words hit Saya like a blow, her expression frozen in shock and disbelief. Tears welled in her eyes.

Without wasting another second, Shizuka slammed her foot on the gas pedal, the Humvee lurching forward with a jolt. The vehicle roared away from the house. The rearview mirror reflected the growing mass of zombies going towards the house.