Yasuko and Isao had finished off most of the rebels on the upper levels of the base, their reinforcements had returned to the main hangar to form a sort of stronghold. Sakaguchi was also present, having been fighting further down the upper levels.
Pulling her sharply-edged sickle from a corpse, Yasuko looked up to the frigate as it circled around the cliffs. It was a wreck by now, having rammed into the watchtower and being hit with barrages of autocannon fire. Observing it closely, Yasuko saw a final drop pod launch from the underbelly of the ship, it was approaching their location, smoke erupting from it's thrusters.
'Oi, Isao! We got incoming!'
Isao looked up too, smiling as he watched it land before Sakaguchi. The officer was bloodied up but not too injured.
'Hey, Muscle-guy! Leave the pod to me!'
Hearing Yasuko's shouts, Sakaguchi waved back, ticking her off as Isao calmed her down. The pod sat still within it's crater, something was moving within it, the interior echoed out.
The battlefield had gone relatively quiet. Most of the fighting was over. Those in the hangar could see the sparks and clashes of Raiden and Nishihara, but that was all. The frigate loomed over the base as the fires below consumed the airstrip.
Sakaguchi investigated the pod closer, watching as steam shot out from it's doors before they opened slowly. He squinted his eyes for a second, then widened them as he saw it.
From the pod, a hulking figure emerged, a build matching that of Sakaguchi's. However, it wasn't any human stepping out.
The fire illuminated the dark crimson red skin, almost replicating a darker form of muscle tissue - as well as the head of the beast. It had a seemingly human body and head, yet the face had a large mouth with a single row of frontal teeth, each tooth a knife to cut through skin. Lastly, atop the beast's head was a lance-like horn protruding out roughly 7-8 inches, tipped off like a chiselled stone spear.
Yasuko grinned, jumped a little and sprinted forwards towards the Yatzul. Sakaguchi put his arm out, halting her advance. She gazed up in a combination of confusion and annoyance.
'This one looks tough, even for you.'
The officer cautiously approached the beast as it broke it's way from the pod, it's sheer size breaking the interior windows. It bellowed loudly, sounding like a lion merged with a strangled eagle, a horrible cacophony. The sound echoed through the base, making everyone aware of its presence.
Sakaguchi hesitated, feel the sweat running down his face as he breathed heavily through his mouth.
Shit... I don't know if I can beat that...
The beast lurched its way towards the two, it's body still convulsing into muscle tissue and a hardened later of skin.
Sakaguchi took in a deep breath, fearing the most as he then yelled out in a powerful battle cry, boosting himself with a heavy leap as he dashed headforth into the beast's range. It let out a second bellow as it did the same. The two winded up a heavy hit with both their rights, lunging up before crashing together, the power sending shockwaves through the ground as their fists met in a stalemate. Isao and Yasuko watched from behind, amazed at how Sakaguchi could casually match a blow with a Yatzul, especially of that strength.
'He doesn't need our help, does he?'
Yasuko stated in awe at the two fighters as Isao questioned, a gleeful grin forming on her face.
'Nah, he'll be fine.'
Locked in their stance, the two fighters tried to push with their strength yet their knuckles just pushed harder on each other. Sakaguchi grit his teeth aggressively as he felt the sharpened edges of the Yatzul's knuckles - an adaptation it must've received prior to dropping, which pondered the question - how did the rebels get hand of a sentient Yatzul, one which could replicate a body that only the most physically gifted of humans could attain?
Their arms snapped back, then shot forward - left fists slamming into each other, a shockwave bursting out and rocking the air. They recoiled, fired off their rights, another thunderous collision. Blow after blow, they moved faster, their forms blurring into a furious cyclone of swinging fists and hammering legs, yet neither giving an inch.
As their tempo climbed, so did the violence of their impacts - shockwaves rippling out faster, heavier, until the earth beneath them began to crack, spiderwebbing apart under the pressure like a brewing, miniature earthquake.
Sakaguchi, although not showing it, was struggling; the knives that were the beast's knuckles were piercing his skin, each punch went deeper as his blood flew through the air with each hit and swing.
After a few more swings, he threw his body right, just dodging a hard right from the beast. He kept his fist pulled back as he threw himself upwards, sending his fist to crash into the beast's chin, shattering its jaw in one solid hit.
Yet it stood it's ground.
Sakaguchi's eyes shot down to it's feet, now buried into the concrete flooring. It grabbed his arm, pulled it away and swung with it's other hand, connecting with the officer's cheek, the knuckles cutting through the skin, just missing his eye as he was thrown back, reeling from the hit. Calmly, the Yatzul opened it's mouth and crunched on the air, it's jaw snapping back to place as blood sprayed from it's mouth.
Taking a deep breath, Sakaguchi swung his body forwards, baiting the beast into attacking - it fell easily. Stepping back, Sakaguchi ducked under the follow-up punch before sending a quick left-right to it's head, dodging another and jabbing it's stomach. The skin coiled back as blood poured from the Yatzul's mouth - it was faint, but it looked as if it was smiling from the pain.
Using his hand to hold the open cuts on his face, Sakaguchi backed away to give himself even a second of thought.
One more hit like that and my face is cut open...
That was all the time he had. It was on him again, its massive fist hurtling toward Sakaguchi's face. He leaned back just in time, the knuckles grazing his chest as he retaliated, driving a solid left into its skull. The sickening crack echoed through the air as the creature staggered back, its body swaying, dazed and disoriented.
Without hesitation, Sakaguchi reached up, seizing the beast's horn and yanking its head down. He unleashed a savage series of hooks, each punch landing with bone - shattering force. The creature's face shattered under the assault, its jaw splitting grotesquely, hanging loose and limp like a ragged, broken doll.
The beast jolted back to life, its senses snapping back as it roared weakly, the sound muffled by blood and the ruin of its mouth. With a violent shove, it sent Sakaguchi reeling, its weakened roar barely recognizable beneath the flood of blood choking its throat.
Sakaguchi's knuckles dripped crimson, his head pounding like a war drum. The weight of exhaustion hit him like a ton of bricks, his vision blurring, fading in and out of focus. His body screamed for rest, but he couldn't afford it - not now. He forced himself to stay upright.
Gritting his teeth, Sakaguchi punched himself in the face, snapping his mind back into focus. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he spat it out, resetting his brain with a brutal, defiant clarity.
No time for sleeping... I've got to save the others from this thing... I am my weapon... And my weapon is me!
Chapter 25- end