Chapter 72: Mangler vs Cannonbolt

James looked up to see a zombie wearing a red army uniform. He had armor plates on his chest and legs. It had red eyes and a face filled with rotting flesh. The zombie had two sickles on the left arm and an energy weapon on the right arm. 

"A Mangler," James remarked. The Mangler charged his energy weapon and fired it at James. James jumped out of the way. The energy wave hit the ground and left a scorching imprint. 

"James!" Rei shouted. She raised her M4W, in her hands. Without hesitation, she squeezed the trigger, unleashing a torrent of bullets. Each shot echoed loudly, the muzzle flashed lighting up the dim surroundings as round after round slammed into the Mangler. The Mangler`s mechanical armour jerked violently with each impact. Sparks flew as the bullets tore through its metal plating, and it staggered backward,

James opened the faceplate of the Ultimatrix. He saw the silhouette of a large dragon. It had large, imposing horns. A huge body with massive wings. It was positioned on all fours. "Not this one" James muttered to himself. He turned the faceplate to see another silhouette. It was a broad-shouldered alien covered in armour plating on his back, shoulders, and the backs of his arms. It had four claws on both of his hands. "This will do," James said. 

He slammed the faceplate. His body was engulfed in a brilliant, pulsating light. The air crackled with energy. James' body distorted, his limbs elongated. In a surge of radiant energy, James` features reshape, his arms got wider, his legs got thicker, his eyes narrowed and his body got larger. James had transformed into Cannonbolt. He had hulking, broad-shouldered covered in natural, yellow armor plating on his back, shoulders, and the backs of his arms. He was mostly white with black on his upper half and had four claws on both of his hands. "Cannonbolt," he said. 

"Roll out!" Cannonbolt shouted as he curled tightly into a ball. With a sudden surge, he propelled himself forward, using the chemicals in his body to accelerate rapidly.

Cannonbolt hurtled towards the Mangler like a living cannonball. He smashed into the Mangler with a bone-crushing force, the collision echoing like thunder. The Mangler's heavy armor shattered. The Mangler crumpled to the ground.

Rei seized the moment. She didn't hesitate, her M4W roaring to life once more as she unloaded a relentless barrage of bullets into the fallen beast. Each shot struck, tearing into the exposed flesh and sending bits of organic matter flying.

Rei then switched to her underbarrel shotgun attachment. She aimed at the Mangler's head, now vulnerable and exposed. The shotgun blast erupted with a deafening roar, the shell tearing through the Mangler`s skull. The head was obliterated in a gruesome explosion. 

The Mangler's lifeless body lay in a shattered heap. Cannonbolt, uncurled from his ball form, saw Rei had finished off the Mangler. He smiled. 

At that moment, zombies started to pour out from the door and barrier. "Grrrhhhh," a voice was heard. 

Shizuka manoeuvred the Humvee to a halt. The doors flung open, and Lois and Yuriko sprang out. 

Lois, raised her M4W to shoulder level. She squeezed the trigger, unleashing a rapid burst of gunfire. The rifle's muzzle flashed brightly in the dim light, and the bullets tore into the advancing horde of zombies. Each shot hit the zombies. Their flesh tore apart as they fell to the ground. 

Beside her, Yuriko brought her AR-10 to bear. She lined up her first target, a zombie shuffling forward with jerky motions. Her finger tightened on the trigger, and the rifle barked sharply. The bullet found its mark, punching through the zombie's decayed skull, sending it crumpling to the ground.

Without missing a beat, Yuriko adjusted her aim, swinging her rifle to target another approaching zombie. She fired again. The second zombie fell, its head snapping back violently as the round pierced through it.

Lois and Yuriko moved in a deadly synchrony, their combined firepower cutting down the zombie horde with ruthless efficiency. Lois adjusted her aim, her M4W spitting out another volley of bullets, mowing down any creature that dared get too close. 

"Your mum is amazing," Jasmine remarked.

"I didn't even know myself," Saya said as she watched her take out zombies effortlessly.

"She did say she was an officer," Saeko reminded them. Saya, Saeko and Jasmine got out. 

Cannonbolt curved into an armoured ball. He propelled himself forward, accelerating rapidly until he was a blur of motion.He charged at full speed, Cannonbolt aimed directly at the cluster of zombies. The ground trembled under his massive weight, and the air around him vibrated. He collided with the undead horde with the unstoppable energy. Zombies were launched into the air like ragdolls, their lifeless forms flailing. It was as if a colossal bowling ball had struck a perfect strike, sending pins flying in every direction. Limbs and torsos soared through the air, before crashing down.

He came to a stop. Cannonbolt uncurled, rising back to his full height. He walked carefully to Lois, Rei and Yuriko. "That is a new one," Lois remarked. 

"As strange as it is, it looks pretty normal compared to what we have been through," Yuriko said. 

"You do get used to it," Rei added. 

Shizuka jumped out of the car. "A panda," she shouted as she ran up to hug Cannonbolt. She wrapped her arms around Cannonbolt. She rubbed her face and breasts on him. "He is so soft," she added. 

"He does look like a big bear," Yuriko said as she touched his chest. She saw the arms which had a thicker shell. 

Lois walked and pinched his cheek. She started to play with them, moving her hand up and down and rotating it around. "They are fun," she added. 

Jasmine then walked up. "Let me try," she added. She pinched his other cheek and played with it. She roasted it around and moved her hand up and down. "It is fun," Jasmine agreed.

Rei walked around and hugged the other side, next to Shizuka. "It feels warm," Rei added. 

Saeko walked to the side. "Danna-sama always feels good," she said as she rested her head on the side of his torso. 

"Don't leave me out," Saya pouted. 

"Here Saya," Yuriko said as she made space. Saya came into the hug. She had a smile on her face. 

Cannonbolt, this was nice. They stayed like this for a moment. Suddenly the Ultimatrix started to flash red. James returned to his normal form. The girls were still hurdled around him. "That was nice," he said.

"It felt good for a moment, like I had no worries," Rei said. 

"Yes," Saeko agreed. 

"What was that thing you were fighting, Rei?" Saya asked. 

"I don't know if it looked like it had armour and a weapon like yours, Saya," Rei replied. 

"It's called the Mangler, a special boss zombie like the Margwa," James replied. " In an alternative reality, where the Soviets were fighting the Nazi, they used element 115 to create this monster," James explained. "It was called Project Rasputin," James added. 

"What is Element 115?" Yuriko asked. 

"Is that the element not used to create the drinks?" Lois asked. 

"Yes but in controlled quantities, it can be powerful, when exposed too much of it you will be corrupted," James replied. 

"So we are safe?" Shizuka asked.

"Yes," James replied. "I will never put any of you in harm's way intentionally," James stated. 

They all nodded. James looked around. He walked up and gathered the scattered parts. The Navboard, jet gun engine and the M16. "We have everything we need now," he said.

As he stood up, Yuriko approached, her eyes catching the gleam of the firearm. "Nice gun," she remarked. 

James followed her gaze and noticed her interest. "You can have it," he offered.

Yuriko shook her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I've got mine," she replied, patting the AR-10 slung across her shoulder. 

James chuckled. "Alright, let's move on," he ordered. "We've got what we came for," he added.