The beast lurched forward, its hulking form looming over Punjo.

  It was close now...

  ... Perfect.

  Punjo wasted no time -- his fist slammed into its exposed ribs with the force of a battering ram. A loud crack split the air as the impact rattled through the creature’s chest.

  Punjo: "Nghh...!"

  Pain shot through his hand like wildfire. He staggered back, glancing down -- two fingers were bent at unnatural angles.

  Didn’t matter.

  With practiced ease, he gripped them in his other hand and snapped them back into place with a sickening pop.

  Dmitri grinned through bloody teeth.

  Dmitri: "Hah! You think you're fighting another human?! My creation's bones are denser than steel!"

  The mutant swung blindly, one of its grotesque arms hurtling toward Punjo. He barely had time to brace before the blow slammed against his raised arms -- like taking a charge from a raging bull.

  He staggered back, the sheer force almost knocking him off his feet.

  Punjo: "Aye, no doubt ‘bout it..."

  His stance lowered, legs coiled like a predator preparing to strike.

  Punjo: "... Which means I don’t have ta worry ‘bout playin’ fair."

  In a blink, he sprang upward -- faster, higher than a man his size should be able to. His fingers shot forward, aiming straight for the mutant’s sunken, pus-leaking eye sockets.

  They popped like overripe fruit.

  A torrent of black, reeking blood spewed from the ruined sockets as the creature staggered back, shrieking in agony.

  Dmitri: "What do you think you’re doing?!"

  Punjo landed, shaking gore from his fingers.

  Punjo: "... Shut up. I’ve half a mind ta do it to you next."

  The mutant reeled, four arms flailing wildly, its pain twisting into blind rage.

  Still, Punjo wasn’t done.

  He lunged.

  His hands clamped around one of the monster’s bloated, veined legs, yanking with everything he had. The creature’s balance shattered -- it crashed to the floor like a collapsing tower, the stone beneath it cracking from the impact.

  Dmitri: "S-STOP... STOP!"

  Punjo ignored him, already on the move...

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  One. Last. Blow.

  He leaped.

  Both knees tucked to his chest -- heels aimed downward.

  And then he drove them down.

  His heels smashed into the mutant’s skull.

  Bone caved inward with a sickening CRUNCH. Blood, pus, and blackened sludge erupted from the wound as the creature convulsed...

  ... Then -- stillness.

  Punjo landed, breathing heavy, rolling his shoulders.

  Punjo: "‘Ight."

  When he turned to Dmitri, the scientist's face was frozen in horror.

  Punjo: "Dun’ blame yerself... Raw potential alone don’t beat decades o’ experience."

  For a moment, silence.

  Then -- Dmitri grinned.

  Punjo’s stomach turned.

  Dmitri shouldn’t be smiling...

  Dmitri: "You’re right..."

  The hairs on Punjo’s neck stood on end.

  Something cold and slimy coiled around his ankle.

  Dmitri: "But with every move you make... it learns more and more. In each passing moment, absorbing decades of *your* experience"

  Punjo yanked his leg, but the grip tightened. He glanced down -- and froze.

  A mass of black tendrils had erupted from the creature’s half-destroyed skull, worming into its body like parasitic veins.

  And the thing began to rise.

  Punjo: "What the fuck..."

  The dead shouldn’t move...

  ... But this wasn’t dead.

  And who knows if it could ever be.

  Punjo wrenched his foot back, struggling against the inky black coils, but they refused to budge. His hands dug into them, muscles bulging as he pried them apart, but even as he tore free, more shot toward him.

  Dmitri: "CRUSH HIM! CRUSH HIM!"

  The mutant's four arms surged upward, its hands clamping together into a massive flesh-forged mallet.

  Punjo had no time to think -- only move.

  He rolled.

  The mallet came crashing down, shattering the stone floor where he’d been just moments before. Fractured rock and dust burst outward in all directions.

  Using the momentum from his roll, Punjo pushed off the ground and sprang to his feet, keeping his stance low and tight. He was breathing hard now, sweat dripping down his temple.

  This wasn’t a fight he could win alone.

  And Tyssa knew it.

  Tyssa (hushed): "W-We have to do something!"

  Rel (hushed): "What can we even do?! If even Punjo's struggling, what chance do we have?"

  They watched through the door’s slits, seeing Punjo’s movements slow, his strikes less forceful.

  Tyssa's jaw clenched.

  Tyssa (hushed): "Maybe we won’t be much help... but there’s at least one other person who should be."

  She turned on her heel, ready to bolt down the corridor.

  Rel (hushed): "Tyssa...! You don’t even know where they are!"

  Tyssa (hushed): "They’re somewhere upstairs. I’ll manage somehow."

  She took a step forward.

  Rel (hushed): "Dammit... Wait for me! You shouldn’t go alone!"

  She froze mid-step.

  Then, without turning around, she spoke.

  Tyssa (hushed): "No, Rel... Please stay."

  Her voice was quiet but firm.

  Tyssa (hushed): "It’ll be more discreet if only one of us goes. And, to be honest... I can’t stand still while Punjo dies in front of me. I couldn’t live with myself."

  Rel’s fists tightened, frustration boiling inside him.

  Rel (hushed): "So where does that leave me?!"

  His voice wasn’t a whisper anymore.

  Rel (hushed): "You think I’m just gonna sit here while that thing murders him?!"

  He turned back toward the fight -- toward Punjo, who was dodging slower, reacting later.

  And toward the monster, which was moving faster, smoother, more human.

  Then it hit him. If nobody stepped in... Punjo would surely die.

  Rel (hushed): "... I’m going in there."

  Tyssa spun around in shock.

  Tyssa (hushed): "What?! You’ll be killed!"

  Rel (hushed): "We don't know that. What we do know is if we don't tag in, Punjo's not gonna make it... I can take care of myself, Tyssa."

  His voice was steel now.

  Rel (hushed): "Besides, I’m not trying to fight it -- I just need to buy Punjo enough time ‘til you come back. Don’t worry about me."

  Tyssa looked at him, searching his face for doubt -- fear -- anything that might change his mind.

  She found nothing.

  Only determination.

  She gritted her teeth, fists trembling at her sides.

  She hated this...

  Hated leaving him behind.

  But she hated losing them both even more.

  Tyssa (hushed): "Alright... I-I’ll see you soon."

  Then she turned and ran, disappearing down the corridor.

  The door shut behind her.

  Rel exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders.

  Then, without hesitation --

  He burst into the lab.