CHAPTER 30 : NUCLEAR
"Riiiiiiiaaaarrrrghhhhh!" The Abomination Stray pushed Ali with its countless hands emerging from the basement. Ali pushed away the hands near him using the two iron rods he had strengthened with his powers.He... merged many Strays into one?!The Abomination Stray attacked Ali with its many hands; Ali stepped back, parrying and dodging, but he still got hit by several strikes. The punches and blows from the creature injured Ali quite badly, tearing his clothes.I can't fight back! I can't counterattack at all! This creature's attacks won't stop!Ali couldn't activate his powers, repeatedly being interrupted by the creature's assault. Several hands with heads or faces moved toward Ali, some spitting acid, releasing strong gusts of wind, and shooting sharp stones.One of Ali's rods melted from the acid, and he was pushed back by a strong gust, with several sharp stones piercing his body. Ali was dragged across the floor and collided with boxes filled with weapons.While Ali was busy fighting the Abomination Stray, a man in a white coat with disheveled hair and Eric were escaping. However, several heads on the back of the Abomination Stray noticed them, and several hands reached out toward the two of them."It seems it won't let us go! Attack, Eric!" commanded the man. Eric stopped and faced the hands coming toward him.As he clenched his fists, two blades emerged from each hand, sword blades also came out from both his knees, and several knives emerged from the back of his body."I've added some weapons to Eric's body, making him more dangerous than the Mutant I used as the blueprint for his mutation. Let's see what you can do..." the disheveled man monologued. All the hands reaching for Eric were swiftly sliced by him."Raaarghhh!" The Abomination Stray attempted to smash Eric, but he managed to deflect both massive, muscular hands trying to hit him. Eric spun his body and quickly sliced through both muscular hands.Ali stood up again, half of his mask already torn. His fists were clenched tightly, veins glowing blue, and Ali released a punch to the side of the Abomination Stray.His punch caused the creature to tremble, several stitched wounds opened, and blood splattered from its injuries."Riiiiaaaghhh!" The focus of the Stray returned to Ali."Let's go now! It's not bothering us anymore!" commanded the disheveled man and continued to flee, with Eric following him.Ali was attacked again, but this time he managed to gather his powers and deflected the Abomination Stray's attacks using only his bare hands. However, his palms were slightly bruised from absorbing the creature's attacks, with acid, strong gusts, and sharp stones coming toward him.He clapped both his hands together; the wind from his clap was stronger than the gust released by the Abomination Stray, causing the acid and sharp stones heading toward him to return to the Stray."Raaarrrghhhh!" The Abomination Stray launched another assault with dozens of hands, this time its push was so strong that Ali was flung from the wall and flew into the air.The disheveled man and Eric entered a car. He immediately started the engine, but the disheveled man paused after seeing the Abomination Stray emerge from the roof of the factory, with Ali suspended in the air."Your legacy ends here... Masked Man. Your futile struggle has reached its end."Ali gathered his power in both legs, landing on the road with such force that it created a small crater beneath his feet."Urgh!" Ali knelt, his legs shaking. He looked up; the Abomination Stray was on the factory roof, its eyes fixed on Ali.Ali's gaze shifted to the car speeding away from the factory, Eric's face visible for a moment in the car window. Ali clenched his fists, then turned his attention back to the Abomination Stray, which was slowly walking down from the roof.This Stray is just a distraction so they can escape. I can chase them now... but if I let this Stray live, it will hurt people in this area, and it might even make its way to the city.No authority can take down a powerful Stray like this without many casualties. I won't take that risk.Ali tried to stand, but his legs were still shaking and weak; he fell as if bowing before the Abomination Stray. Several drops of blood fell to the ground, and Ali gritted his teeth.Don't bow, don't be afraid...The Abomination Stray moved toward Ali with its many hands, and Ali clenched his fists. Suddenly, the creature stopped moving; the sound of a car engine roared. Furioswheels appeared and collided with the Abomination Stray from the side."Huh?!" Ali was startled.Khalid, driving Furioswheels, pressed the accelerator, while Mei held on tightly. They pushed the Abomination Stray until it crashed into several fences and back into the factory compound.Who? Other mutants?Ali rushed into the factory compound, and Khalid and Mei quickly exited Furioswheels, seeing the hands of the Abomination Stray gripping the car. The creature then hurled Furioswheels toward Khalid and Mei.Khalid pushed Mei down with him; they barely avoided being hit by the car."Khalid, your car!" Mei exclaimed."Never mind, we'll think about that later!" Khalid and Mei quickly got up, as several hands of the Abomination Stray moved toward them. Mei used her powers to stop the creature's movements."I can't control it for long... Too many minds... in this one Stray body..." Mei sighed."Armored Hero! Armor, Beast Tiger! Weapon, Claw Sword!" Khalid quickly inserted a card into his belt slot. In an instant, the Beast Tiger armor formed on his body along with the Claw Sword.He sliced through the hands close to him and Mei, then swiftly moved them away from the Abomination Stray."What are you doing here? You're mutants too?!" Ali, still bewildered, asked, as Mei and Khalid looked at him."You must be the Masked Man, right? I recognized you from that costume..." Khalid replied."Don't tell me... are you guys HOPE?" Ali groaned."You know about us?" Khalid questioned."Sui'ra told me about you guys," said Ali, as Khalid chuckled softly from behind his mask."He said...""Riaaaarrrghhhhh!" The Abomination Stray moved again, and the three of them focused straight ahead. Ali clenched both of his hands, and the blue veins glowed brightly. Khalid pointed his Claw Sword forward, and Mei's eyes changed shape and glowed red."I'll support you. Be careful, Khalid... and... Masked Man!" said Mei. Khalid and Ali ran forward, dodging acid-shooting hands, strong winds, and sharp stones that were launched at them.Ali clapped his hands, deflecting all the attacks, and Khalid continued to slice through the attacking heads. However, the Abomination Stray's attacks didn't stop, and Khalid and Ali dodged several hands trying to reach them.Mei halted the creature's movements with her powers. Khalid seized the opportunity to slice through more hands while Ali moved ahead.He gathered a massive amount of energy and unleashed another powerful punch. The Stray was pushed back, its body trembling, and its stitches opened wider.But Ali was in a dangerous position; sharp claws burst from the Stray's mouth, trying to claw at Ali. Khalid managed to pull Ali back just in time; the claws didn't penetrate the Beast Tiger shield but still left scratches.Mei's power stopped the creature again, and Khalid and Ali quickly distanced themselves."I can't hold it for long... I'm sorry... Too many minds to shut down; it's hard..." Mei sighed."I can't heal the wounds and injuries like other Strays, but its body is very tough. We need to kill it with a single strong attack. A Meteor Cannon might work, but I'm not sure," Khalid said, pulling out the Meteor Cannon card."I can kill it with one hit, but you have to give me time to gather my power..." Ali suggested."Are you sure? I can still try the Meteor Ca—""I don't understand what you're saying, but just do whatever you can to keep it from bothering me!" Ali raised his voice."Alright!" Khalid replied.Khalid inserted the Meteor Cannon card; the Claw Sword disappeared from his hands, and a cannon formed in front of him. He quickly pulled the string behind the Meteor Cannon, and meteor balls fired out, hitting the Abomination Stray. However, the creature's tough skin managed to withstand the meteor attack."Seriously?!" Khalid groaned. The Abomination Stray attacked again, and Mei used her powers to move wooden boxes and small containers around the area, causing the Stray to attack the boxes and containers instinctively.My mutant power allows me to gather every type of energy, and I can convert it into kinetic energy, no matter the origin of the energy. From the wind, from the impact when I'm hurt, or even the food I eat.Every type of energy turns into kinetic energy, and I can channel it throughout my body, items, and surroundings on a small scale.In theory, I could also gather all the energy I've accumulated into one attack filled with various types of energy.I don't know what would happen if I released it in a single attack; I'm not sure if my body can withstand releasing all that energy forcefully, even with my mutated body...But this isn't the time to think about all that!I have to do it!"Bismillah."A massive amount of energy gathered in Ali's right hand, its brightness illuminating the previously dark factory yard. Khalid was still firing his cannon several times, and Mei was also stopping the Abomination Stray's movements."Riiiaarrghhh!" The Abomination Stray roared loudly."Ah! I'm out of meteors to shoot." Khalid wanted to change weapons, inserting the Claw Sword card again."Weapon Change Failure! Not Enough Energy!" Khalid failed to change weapons; the light on his belt, which looked like a meter, turned red.I didn't think for long and ran out of energy. If this continues, the Beast Tiger will disappear too...Of all the times, why run out of energy now?!"It's getting harder to control this Stray's mind! My body is starting to feel hot... Why? Why do I feel weaker since that day?" Mei monologued, recalling when she failed to help Farah in the mind dimension.Suddenly, Ali ran forward, moving his right hand back with a fierce expression.The mutant with the shield called his attack... It's quite interesting...I'll name this attack..."Nuclear Punch!" Ali punched the Abomination Stray with his right hand filled with energy. A loud boom, strong winds, and a brilliant explosion of light occurred. Khalid and Mei were also pushed back.The entire body of the Abomination Stray shattered into countless pieces of flesh, and Ali's attack destroyed everything in its path. Behind the Abomination Stray, the large iron containers also crumbled."Urgh... Ah..." Ali's right hand that released the attack was ruined, shriveled and burned black. The right side of Ali's body was slightly burned, and he fell weakly to the ground."Masked Man!" Khalid and Mei rushed to him."Hargh... Urh..." Ali couldn't speak due to the pain, and Khalid laid Ali on his lap. Ali's mask was also burned, revealing part of his face."Why? Why would you use an attack that destroys your own body? I wouldn't agree if I had known..." Khalid lamented, and Ali simply looked at him."T-Take care of the city... There are evil mutants... in the gang, The- Whi-White... Tigers..." Ali pleaded, and Khalid listened, his mask opening to show his regret. Mei also looked troubled."Don't die yet, Ali... I won't allow it. After seeing an amazing attack like that, do you think I would let you go?"Sui'ra appeared from the sky, and Khalid and Mei looked up with shocked expressions. Sui'ra only smiled."You never cease to amaze me... Since I'm nice, I'll save you one last time, Ali..." Sui'ra said, as Ali's vision blurred and soon turned black.I...I never thought I would feel relieved to see that alien's face...But...I don't want to die yet... I can't... die now...