LIGHTNOVELONLINE LXXIV. Predator and Prey
Rel: Keep light on your feet, Punjo...
Punjo: Easy fer ya to say!
Eyes locked onto the enemy above, cold sweat trickled down Punjo's forehead as he awaited the enemy's next advance. The unholy abomination had latched onto the ceiling and was now glaring at them with its countless shiny eyeballs.
Rel: Something is bubbling in its stomach...!
Black pustules were rapidly forming in the creature's torso, most likely brought into existence by the eerie tendrils that moved inside its body and granted it unnatural, grotesque abilities. Before long, the nauseating bumps erupted, emitting projectiles of tar directed straight at the duo's feet.
Punjo: Crap...!
While Rel had managed to dodge right at the last second, Punjo wasn't as nimble. Stuck to his right shin was now a viscous, heavy mixture, which further slowed down his movements. His leg seemed considerably weightier than usual, causing his agility to decrease.
Rel: Dammit... It's trying to stop us in our tracks...!
As another pustule seemed just about ready to burst, Rel quickly takes a glance around the room. One of the laboratory's tables catches his eye and he rapidly dashes toward it, vaulting over and flipping the table toward the creature.
Rel: Come on Punjo! Over here!
Punjo advances towards Rel's newfound cover as quickly as he can, yet their enemy wasn't letting up. Another bubble pops, hurling yet another ball of tar Punjo's way. Though it hit him in the back and latched on, he pressed on, managing to take cover behind the table beside Rel.
Punjo: We need a plan, lad... Won't last long like this!
Under laboured breath, Punjo seemed to be running out of energy to outrun their opponent's attacks.
Rel: I-I've a plan... But it's risky.
Punjo looks at him with eyes wide open and an unfazed expression.
Punjo: Bit too late ta worry 'bout risks now, young Rel... It's do or die. Spit it out!
As Rel peers over the table to see what the monster was up to, a series of pustules burst, sending a barrage of projectiles toward them. He quickly ducks, feeling the consecutive impacts of each ball of tar on the table's top.
Rel: This thing seems to be getting smarter and deadlier as time goes on... Right now, its focused on sticking as much tar to us as possible, possibly until we are slowed down to the point where we'll be easy pickings. Unfortunately, our hands are tied as it is... We can only hope we can outrun it, but not much else. Neither of us is fast enough to attack it, so we're basically fighting a losing game... One that will end as soon as we run out of breath. Which isn't going to take that long...
He says, as Punjo does his best to conceal his heavy breathing.
Punjo: Not going down so easily, still have plenty o' fight left in me.
Rel: And yet we can't hope to fight it if we don't get close to it. That's where my idea comes in...
As Rel shares his plan with Punjo, the creature halts its bombardment and scurries along the ceiling, flanking both of them. Now no longer under cover's protection, Rel and Punjo were left wide open once more, and the enemy knew this well. More pustules quickly form, set to bombard them with tar.
Punjo: Move along then... I'll do what I must.
It appeared Rel had disclosed his intentions to Punjo, as they split and each go their own way. Rel vaults over the table once more, now taking cover on the other side, as Punjo stands up, walking in its direction while spreading his arms and legs wide.
Punjo: COME ON, THEN!
Seizing the opportunity before it, the monster shoots several more projectiles right at Punjo. Some stick to his feet, others to his legs, some to his torso... His leg movements grew so sluggish that taking but a single step forward proved nearly impossible.
Rel: Yes...! There's no way it should pass this up...
Upon seeing the defenceless state of its prey, now with its feet stuck to the ground beneath, the spider-like atrocity descends from the ceiling.
Punjo: Here it comes...
Starting with a slow march, it seemed to be performing a final analysis of Punjo's predicament, before finally commiting to an attack. Getting on its four hind legs while raising the two front ones, the monster begun its dash toward him, with the intent of driving its two raised legs straight through Punjo's chest.
Rel: That's it...!
Rel vaults over the table fearlessly, sprinting towards Punjo. As he hears the running footsteps behind him and the enemy grows dangerously close, Punjo felt his moment had come. With surprising grace and flexibility, he arches his torso backward, causing the opponent to trip up before hitting him, but more importantly...
Rel: EAT THIS!
... Clearing the way for Rel to deliver a devastating dropkick straight to its head. Rel jumps over Punjo, extending both his legs forward with tremendous force. Yet, just before striking the opponent, a thin layer of tar seemed to seep from the creature's burst pustules and amalgamate around its cranium. The moment Rel's feet make contact with the opponent, they hit the viscous layer, akin to a rock hitting mud. The creature seems largely unharmed, with the force of the impact merely pushing it back a few feet.
Rel: Shit...!
Rel tries to quickly recover his fighting stance, although his feet were now covered with the same viscous tar that slowed Punjo down. Being lighter than Punjo, it didn't take as much tar for Rel's movement to become severely impaired as well. Now with both Rel and Punjo immobilized, the creature moves towards once again Punjo, who was still the most restrained one of the two.
Punjo: Nothin's ever easy, is it...?!
Straightening his back by leveraging the thick tar that kept his lower body firmly attached to the floor, Punjo braced for the worst. The creature made its move, attempting to resume its earlier attack and stab him with both of its front legs. With his arms and torso still mostly free of tar, Punjo is able to grab onto the two bony limbs with each of his hands, halting its advance.
Punjo: F-fuck...
However, its bones were sharper than he had anticipated... Too sharp to hold onto without cutting through skin. As his palms bled, lubricating the very bones they gripped, it wouldn't be long until Punjo's chest became adorned with two new, freshly-cut holes...