Chapter 18: The Unstoppable Ogre and Hank's Peril
The news crackled with an urgency that made Adam's coffee go cold. A prison break. Not just any prison break, but the prison break. The one that unleashed a walking, breathing, concrete-crushing nightmare.
[CRITICAL THREAT: Siegbarste (Troll-like Wesen). Extreme physical strength. Objective: Protect Hank Griffin. Reward: [MASSIVE] System Points.]
Adam slammed his mug down. "Oh, for the love of all that is holy, it's the Siegbarste. And he's after Hank. Seriously? Can't Hank just have a quiet day at the office? Does every Wesen with a grudge have to target my favorite, most oblivious detective?" He ran a hand through his hair, his usual sarcasm replaced by a grim determination. This wasn't just a case; this was a personal vendetta against one of the few good guys in this messed-up world.
"I feel… immense power," Wanda murmured, her eyes wide, a tremor running through the ground beneath them. "And rage. So much rage. Like the earth itself is angry."
"That's the Siegbarste, alright. Think 'Hulk smash' meets 'unstoppable force,' but with more pointy teeth and less green skin," Adam explained, already frantically searching the Library. "System, Siegbarste weaknesses. Anything. Obscure lore, forgotten Grimm techniques, a specific herb that makes them sneeze uncontrollably. We need something that can stop a walking tank without, you know, leveling half of Portland."
The Library's response was a torrent of grim data. Siegbarste were notoriously difficult to stop. Their skin was like concrete, their strength legendary. Conventional force was useless. The lore pointed to specific pressure points, ancient magical weaknesses, or environmental traps that could momentarily incapacitate them. It was like fighting a brick wall that could punch back. Hard.
"Alright, this is bad. Really bad," Adam muttered, pacing the length of the Library. "Hank is a prime target. He put this guy away. And this guy? He doesn't forget. Or forgive. He's basically the Terminator, but with better dental work."
They discreetly followed the chaos, the sounds of destruction echoing through the city. The Siegbarste was a force of nature, tearing through buildings, leaving a trail of shattered concrete and twisted metal. Hank, meanwhile, was a study in growing terror. He was a good cop, a brave man, but he was facing something utterly impossible. Adam could see the fear in his eyes, the dawning realization that his world was crumbling around him.
"He is terrified," Wanda whispered, her empathy radiating. "He does not understand."
"No, he doesn't. And that's the problem," Adam replied, his gaze fixed on Hank, who was now desperately trying to outrun the monstrous Wesen. "This is beyond anything he's ever faced. Beyond anything anyone has ever faced, without a magic library and a multiverse-hopping sorceress. We need to act. Now. Before Hank becomes a permanent part of the Portland street art scene."
He considered the Library shop. A high-cost artifact to stun a powerful Wesen? A specialized net? He mentally added a few items to his mental shopping cart, knowing he'd have to spend some serious System Points, or even real-world money, to acquire them. This wasn't a time for subtlety. This was a time for desperate measures.
"Alright, Wanda," Adam said, his voice grim but resolute. "This is it. Hank's in the crosshairs. We're going in. And we're going to make sure he walks away from this. Even if he needs a lifetime of therapy. Which, let's be honest, he probably will. But at least he'll be alive for it." He forced a grim smile. "Time to show this overgrown troll what happens when he messes with our friends. And our favorite detective."
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