There was, in the distance, yet another shrill, insistent mechanical whine. Another one of the flyers came into view over the horizon - yet, unlike its fellow, something was clearly wrong as it swayed haphazardly through the air, smoke billowing from its wings. Something clung to its surface, like a spiny limpet, a dark blue sheen across its spiny back as it resisted the drone's attempts to fling it off.
"Grrrrrrrrghgkkkkkaaaaa!!!"
VOL-Cell infused muscles flexed, power surging through limbs that were like tree trunks, as a pair of heavily armored hands tore through armor as easily as if it were tinfoil. With a sudden, horrific shriek of splitting metal, the wing of the drone was torn free, causing it to whine as it dropped sharply, smashing into the canopy below-
A bright red explosion lit up the surroundings, sending flames surging across the horizon.
Out of the explosion, walked... Well.
Something an awful lot like Romme.
It stood at approximately the same height - yet while Volfeed was refined, a very picture of alien terror, this entity traded mystique for raw, unfiltered power. Every inch of it bulged with rippling bio-boosted muscle, something of a cross between an ox, a stag beetle, and several tons of steel. Several slit-like orange eyes peered wildly at Volfeed, the mere proximity of the two EATERs exchanging more information than could ever have been said with words.
"Vol... Hazard...!" Gasped the girl, recoiling as she did so closer to Derrick.
Volhazard's mouth - no, that was too generous an assessment. Its mandibles, for lack of better term flexed outward from the cool, cobalt horn encrusted shell that made up its head, gnashing about with the unaccustomed effort of needing to communicate in more than simple howls.
"You... EATER...!"
It raised an arm that could have snapped a truck in two with a flex of its bicep, and pointed at him. Yellowed eyes widened with sudden, keen interest.
"Do you... Hear the voice too...?"
Suddenly, the girl gave a yelp and withdrew sharply from Derrick. There was... a strange scent in the air, as though something was burning.
Trembling, she lifted her fingers - now coarse, and reddened, with a faint trail of smoke making its way into the air. Where her fingers had met his bare skin, it was as though she had grasped a red hot iron. Tearing her eyes from her wound, she looked at him - and shrunk back, eyes wide.
He could not have known what she saw as she looked at him - the "shadow" that hung over his presence. As though there were "something" between him and the rest of this world, which caused even the VOL Cells in the grass below to wilt away from him.
"Grrrrrrrrghgkkkkkaaaaa!!!"
VOL-Cell infused muscles flexed, power surging through limbs that were like tree trunks, as a pair of heavily armored hands tore through armor as easily as if it were tinfoil. With a sudden, horrific shriek of splitting metal, the wing of the drone was torn free, causing it to whine as it dropped sharply, smashing into the canopy below-
A bright red explosion lit up the surroundings, sending flames surging across the horizon.
Out of the explosion, walked... Well.
Something an awful lot like Romme.
It stood at approximately the same height - yet while Volfeed was refined, a very picture of alien terror, this entity traded mystique for raw, unfiltered power. Every inch of it bulged with rippling bio-boosted muscle, something of a cross between an ox, a stag beetle, and several tons of steel. Several slit-like orange eyes peered wildly at Volfeed, the mere proximity of the two EATERs exchanging more information than could ever have been said with words.
"Vol... Hazard...!" Gasped the girl, recoiling as she did so closer to Derrick.
Volhazard's mouth - no, that was too generous an assessment. Its mandibles, for lack of better term flexed outward from the cool, cobalt horn encrusted shell that made up its head, gnashing about with the unaccustomed effort of needing to communicate in more than simple howls.
"You... EATER...!"
It raised an arm that could have snapped a truck in two with a flex of its bicep, and pointed at him. Yellowed eyes widened with sudden, keen interest.
"Do you... Hear the voice too...?"
Suddenly, the girl gave a yelp and withdrew sharply from Derrick. There was... a strange scent in the air, as though something was burning.
Trembling, she lifted her fingers - now coarse, and reddened, with a faint trail of smoke making its way into the air. Where her fingers had met his bare skin, it was as though she had grasped a red hot iron. Tearing her eyes from her wound, she looked at him - and shrunk back, eyes wide.
He could not have known what she saw as she looked at him - the "shadow" that hung over his presence. As though there were "something" between him and the rest of this world, which caused even the VOL Cells in the grass below to wilt away from him.
"Y... You..."
She whispered, fearfully - yet, this time at least, he could seem to fully understand what she was saying.
"Are... death..."
"Are... death..."