The Chameleon Loop

Nox should have dropped his backpack too. The extra weight killed his forward motion, driving him onto the minotaur’s broad shoulder, just below his enormous horn. Short of the goal.

His humorous drilled into the beastman’s neck –finding it harder than stone– and breaking. Pain blurred Nox’s eyes with tears, but a broken bone or two was nothing to him now. A walk in the park on a rainy day, instead of the paralyzing avalanche it had once been. Apparently pain came as naturally as breathing now.

Catching the minotaur’s throat with his broken hand Nox pushed through the stabbing weakness in his collarbone and biceps, screaming filled his ears. Whether it belonged to the beast or himself, he couldn’t tell, and didn’t care either way. Throwing his waist and legs across the minotaur’s back he heaved with all his strength, lifting both legs around the minotaur’s far horn. Oh man, I wish I worked harder in Mr. Sepulveda’s Physical Education class. Thought Nox, performing the most vital and most awkward sit up of his life. Now, finally, after twenty deaths –or was it twenty one now?– Nox had the minotaur’s first weakness in front of him.

The beastman stopped, axe raised, as one eyeball flicked towards Nox. Two human eyes staring into a single oval pupil of a basketball sized bovine eye.

“Gotcha.” Nox growled.

He began unloading every mana crystal round into the boss’ eyeball. The first shot broke the surface tension, starting a thin leak of eyeball jelly. Unfortunately for the boss, the next round blew another hole in the eye, with the .45 caliber slug disrupting the eyeball with a pressure wave that shot most of its remaining liquid out of the first hole. A geyser of jelly that sent the monster into a shuddering howl. Volume beat Nox’s lungs empty as the minotaur roared, bursting his ear drums and making him bite his teeth so hard that his gums began to bleed. The minotaur dropped his axe, reaching for Nox with both hands.

A silver blur flew through the labyrinth and connected with the minotaur's knee. The blur sent a shockwave through the boss, faltering his balance. Black nails missed Nox by inches as the boss staggered.

“You like that! Have some more!” Shouted Nox, torching three additional rounds into the minotaur’s eyehole, no longer aiming, just yanked the trigger as quickly as his finger could cycle.

A hand connected with Nox’s torso, launching him into the marble floor below. He torched the rest of his magazine on the way down, peppering the myth’s hide with crystalline bullets. Burst of blue light accompanied each impact as they shattered against the minotaur’s skin. Bulletproof skin? Oh hheeeeelllllllllllllll NO!

Exhausted, the 1911 locked open, a second before Nox’s spine encountered the floor and cracked. Floor or spine, he couldn’t guess. Not daring to remain idle, he rolled, scrambling as the minotaur brought both hands down where Nox had been a split second before. So close that Nox could see coarse arm hairs more crisply than his own nose.

Nox leapt into the air, aiming for the pouch attached to the minotaur’s loincloth. Only to find whatever secret item lay within to be firmly secured. His one-handed attempt at theft became a full body pull up, catching hold of the single piece of clothing the boss was wearing.

The loincloth couldn’t hold, it slipped down the boss’ thighs; catching sharply at his knees. Nox’s broken shoulder gave out, muscles rebelling against his brain. He fell to the floor, once more tumbling, this time directly away from the minotaur’s blind thrashing.

Enraged and blinded the monster thrashed and howled, vibrations Nox felt more in his ribcage than in his bleeding ears. Thumbing the magazine release he gave the 1911 a wrist flick, launching the empty magazine so he could fumble the final ten rounds into the gun.

Stooping low the minotaur charged forward, swinging fist and axe in a mad rush to slay the invaders.

‘See, it’s not enough to kill him.’

Shut your whore mouth and watch. Answered Nox, seating the magazine against his thigh.

Tritium is a radioactive substance that glows softly, but distinctly. When incorporated into iron sights it often occupies a large portion of the post, thus requiring manufacturers to build larger and thicker sights. Doubly true when combined with fiber optic rods which are used to channel Tritium’s glow and collect ambient lights. It was these reinforced sights –tall enough to be used with a suppressor– that Nox used as friction points to rack the gun against his fatigues, chambering a round. Knowing he would only get one shot, Nox aimed carefully, finding the most sensitive target. One suggested by Samson’s poor taste in jokes.

‘Oh…… How vicious. Not lethal, but a hell of a dick move.’ Thought Loki.

“Yeah yeah, pun intended you stupid demon.” Interjected Nox.

He felt the mind demon smile, and gently squeezed the trigger, sending a bullet right at the obvious thing the loincloth had protected. The mana crystal bullet shattered on impact exploding in a blue cloud.

The minotaur stumbled and fell head first into the labyrinth’s wall, its enormous horns piercing stone. Suddenly trapped by weak knees and marble, the minotaur lingered there. Hung by it’s horns, making a noise like a vomiting dog, retching and weeping. One hand reached for its loincloth, the other cradled its blue balls.

Nox had no mercy for the monster. But his next shot went high, unintentionally piercing something equally sensitive.

“HHHHNNNNNNGGGGGG!” Groaned the minotaur, bringing a smile to Nox’s face.

“Don’t whine like a bitch, I’m killing you as fast as I can!” Shouted Nox.

It was time he returned the favor of multiple dismemberments. Another shot found the same round target, eliciting the most feeble bellow Nox had ever heard, sounding like a half strangled cat, half chattering squirrel. The minotaur’s hands opened, acting as shields against the bullets. Exactly what Nox wanted. Whenever the minotaur tried to free itself from the wall Nox adjusted his angle and scored another moneyshot. Repeatedly scoring direct impacts against the blueing balls.

Jamal was the first to recover his wits. Grasping one of Nox’s fallen spears he found the mana to activate his talent.

“Aim for the knee!” Nox shouted.

He saw Jamal adjust his aim, sending the steel shod spear torpedoing through the minotaur’s left knee. The spear’s tip encountered little resistance, over penetrating through the knee and into the marble wall. Steel encountered marble and exploded, sending shards of steel and wood into the minotaur’s face. But earning too small of a reaction. Jesus saw his target and sprinted past Nox, hacking through the minotaurs wounded knee in one ferocious slash. A hand flew at his head, knocking him down an intersecting corridor.

Every hunter heard the sound of a trap activating, a trapdoor falling open, then silence. Save for the whimpering minotaur. Who finally found the will to persevere despite his cruel and unusual punishment. Two mighty hands slammed forward, knocking the marble wall over. It fell with a thunderous screech, cracking, shattering, and throwing dust in every direction.

Hunters held their breath. Not daring to hope the minotaur had crushed himself. Nox moved first, trying to extend his broken arm to Jamal. The C rank hunter sneered at his crooked arm, using his own spear arm to push against the floor. That was when Nox noticed Jamal’s condition. A red gash extended from shoulder to hip, with two interruptions, most likely where his shield and arm had hindered the axe. His arm was a mess, two compound fractures gave it the appearance of several malformed noodles mashed together. Straight, yet incongruent. With six ends jutting out at odd angles.

Moments later the dust began to settle, clearing their vision. The minotaur stood on one leg, blood dripping from his severed knee. Crouched, as if ready to spring into action. Whether or not it could was a question Nox didn’t want answered.

Nox pressed the tip of his 1911’s slide to his lips in a ‘sshhhh’ motion. If they stayed silent, they might be able to out maneuver the minotaur.

Someone coughed. The minotaur lunged, punching a fist through the hunter’s silhouette.

[human soul +1]

Nox took five steps back and froze. He had meant to distance himself, but now he saw the fatal error. Not two feet in front of him was Ashley, laying flat on her back. Her eyes were focused on the other side of the corridor, where her legs were sitting.

Tourniquets sealed her stumps –first aid tools that looked like an enormous zip tie– preventing the femoral arteries from bleeding, but Ash was dead weight now. Breathing heavily, with one hand reaching for limbs that were no longer hers.

The minotaur’s ears flipped forward, aiming at Ashley.

No. Don’t. I have to kill you or we’ll never get out, but I can’t watch her die again!

Aiming the 1911 at the minotaur’s face once more, Nox sought an opening that wouldn’t come.

“Hey ugly! You think one toss is enough to get rid of me!” Shouted Jesus, clanging shield and sword together.

For good measure he hurled his sword at the beast, and managed to bury the blade hilt deep in the beastman’s triceps. Like a crippled dog the minotaur leapt, chasing Jesus in the most terrifying bear-crawl Nox could ever conceive. He flicked the pistol’s safety on, then stuffed it into his belt, aware that it was aimed at half of his future generations.

He dropped to the marble floor, kneeling beside Ashley. She only reached forward, not seeing Nox. Unable to process her trauma, even after he touched her cheek.

“Ash, come with me. Can you heal my arm?” Nox asked, trying to distract her.

“Oh, hi… Yeah, just help me put on my shoes first. I can’t seem to figure out why they’re over there.” Said Ashley.

Her voice was soft, distant, the sound of someone in complete shock. They didn’t have time for this. Grabbing the back of her neck Nox pulled her onto his shoulders, setting off for the ziggurat. Jamal and Mary-sue were ahead of him, limping slowly as they leaned on each other.

Behind them the sound of a wall breaking echoed through the maze, followed by ‘Ole! Ole!”

“Run! Up ahead is a grassland, its–” Only got one giant rattlesnake… Thought Nox, but, we need the sun’s light. We’ll retreat after.

“It gives a blessing! Is this everyone?” Nox gasped.

Adrenaline kept him going, but that was fading fast, bringing every ache and pain into focus across his body. Blood dripped down his arm from mana crystal flecks, and he was unable to straighten his back. Forced to hobble forward with a hunch. As a squad the four members jogged forward, reaching the ziggurat in a few short minutes. Ashley muttering about which shoes she should wear today. It nearly broke Nox, but they kept running, trying to get clear of the dust cloud so they could rally and finish the fight. Prosthetics could be made, but a life lost could not be replaced.

“Don’t touch the grass with your bare skin.” Nox warned, hoping that countermeasure would be enough to stop its vampiric qualities.

Yet his warning fell on lost ears. The second they stepped out of the Labyrinth and onto the grass both women clutched at their chests, panting and gasping for air. Mary-sue activated multiple talents, encasing Jamal in a protective blue barrier before waving her hands like a windmill, physically distorting the thickened air with ripples. Like a stone thrown into a pond.

“What’s wrong?” Cried Nox.

“Mana! So much mana! Ashley! Heal us!” Mary-sue shouted.

Ashley touched Nox’s broken arm, channeling healing mana into his broken limbs, a familiar sensation for the siblings, and one that usually came with an earful. However, this time was different. What was normally a pleasant trickle –a warm massage of mana– was now a high pressure jet of molten lead. Broken bones snapped into place with greater force than had broken them. Nox’s ribs slammed open. Fully intact.

It wasn’t enough. Mary-sue placed both hands against Ashley’s neck, maximizing their skin to skin contact. Ashley let out a scream, and tried to heal her own legs. A difficult feat for an S ranked healer, and impossible for all others.

Or it should have been impossible.

Pale new bone sprouted from her stumps, extending with muscles, nerves, and smooth skin to form two new limbs. Nox felt sick. He’d seen stab wounds healed, broken bones set, and arteries closed, but healing magic was limited. A finite resource. Regrowing limbs wasn’t right, yet it was happening before his eyes. Mary-sue shifted her hand onto Ashley’s shoulder. Heat billowed from the contact, as if one nuclear reactor was recharging another. Her unique talent for mana manipulation.

Within five minutes four miracles had been wrought and the quartet were headed back into the silent labyrinth.

[human soul +1] Appeared in Nox’s mind, and he had the terrible understanding that one of these broken piles of meat had just died. Someone he could have saved…

Dust settled in a low fog, concealing the worst of their friend’s mangled bodies. But red stained stone couldn’t be ignored. They moved as quickly as their stomachs could endure, returning to their kill team. Despite their haste no one was left alive. Ashley was able to retrieve her shoes, though her hands shook so violently that Mary-sue had to help her.

“Close your eyes Ashley, I’ll lace them up for you.” Said Mary-sue.

“Thank… you.” Whispered Ashley, covering her face with both hands.

Blood filled the air, hanging thickly over their comrades. Still, their daylight-blessed eyes saw each trap clearly, outlining tripwires with a golden haze or highlighting trigger stones. A boon Nox was about to call out when his ears heard claws scrape against stone. They weren’t alone.

Another distant sound made them all freeze in place, their words trapped in fear.

Footsteps echoed through the maze. Running fast. Approaching faster. Something was coming their way with all the speed it could manage. Nox took a steadying breath. Whatever it was, there was only one of them, and it wasn’t the minotaur. How bad could it be? He thought, immediately biting his tongue.

This is an A or S ranked dungeon, a vampire could pop in for a nibble, or a dragon, or archdemon, or maybe whomever Loki answers to would show up. There is so much mana here the entire labyrinth could melt into a volcanic wasteland or we could be teleported to an ocean world. It could always get far far worse.

Jamal raised his spear. Mary-sue flattened herself against the wall, one hand extended. Blue power flowed between them to form an outline around the warrior. A protection spell, but one Nox could see. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his eyes. When the light did not disperse he rubbed them.

“Do you see–” Nox began to say.

“Yes! Hush!” Hissed Ashley.

Footsteps echoed down the corridors, gaining speed. Nox ejected the magazine from his 1911, no bullets were visible through the panel cut outs. So he tipped the magazine at his face, looking down at the two shots remaining. He reinserted the magazine, knowing he still had a third shot in the chamber. Three shots before he would have to use his Mbar. Nox swallowed.

The footsteps vanished. Dying abruptly. A few more steps and the runner would have been within sight. Instead silence.

"Este restaurante está de la chingada" Grumbled a voice from around the corner.

Tension broke. The four hunter’s recognized the voice. Nox breathed a sigh of relief, lowering his pistol.

“Jesus, you scared the piss outta me, you dirty wetback. Get yer ass over here, how did you ditch the minotaur? Naw, forget that, how we gonna kill that guey.” Jamal called.

A head peaked around the corner, if Nox’s eyes had not been blessed by the ziggurat’s light he never would have noticed the odd ripple that ran across Jesus’ face. Or how the being’s golden eye shifted to the dark brown of Jesus’. Was that an illusion? Some trick of the light? It looked a lot like the gold I see around tripwires. Thought Nox, not trusting his senses.

Not-Jesus stepped into the light, nursing his left arm. Crimson blood dripped down his arm, though Nox could see something wasn’t right, something felt wrong about how the blood flowed, as if it were solid instead of liquid.

“You’re alive! Thank god, I thought you were all dead! Oh, the minotaur, ha ha, I left him in a hole. Lets go kill him and get outta here.” Jesus said, walking down the corridor.

Walking fast. Too fast. He was jogging towards them now. Smiling at them with hands that ended in four inch long claws instead of fingers.

Nox shot him three times. The first bullet hit him in the chest, tearing through the creature’s illusion and spraying blue blood out of the exit wound. Recoil jumped his aim upward, sending the next round through the creature’s neck. Still it came at them. Running at a full sprint. Its brown human skin fell away in chunks, revealing the amber eyes.

This wasn’t Jesus.

“A mimic?” Gasped Mary-sue, leveling her recovered rifle at the creature.

Before she could pull the trigger, Nox’s final round landed between the monster’s eyes, penetrating its skull and blasting through its cerebellum. Blue ichor and gray brain matter followed the mana bullet, sucked out of the skull by a micro vortex of pressure.

[Feline Dopple soul +1]

[Sufficient souls collected]

[Persean Orb activated]

Options like a mobile game screen appeared in Nox’s vision, transparent enough for him to witness the creature’s demise through a pane of stained glass. Whatever was left of the beast, collapsed a foot away from Ashley. Clawed hands whistling through the air an inch away from her eyes. As the creature hit the floor, its body splatted, dissolving into a steaming pile of blue sludge. Nox raced forward, lifting Ashley and carrying her away from the puddle of melted monster. Her knees chattering between his arms.

“Is Jesus dead?” She whimpered. “Are we all going to die?”

He gave her a reassuring squeeze, “We’ll make it out of this. Stay near Mary-sue from now on.”

Jamal poked the ooze with his spearpoint, discovering it had the consistency of hot marshmallows, gooey, sticky, yet slightly bouncy. “Aw heeeeelllll no! What kinda satanic mimic would clone our Jesus?”