3.11

“Why did you split the party?” Jimena asked. “Wouldn’t it have been better if the four of us stopped the vampire together?”

“We’re needed here, to stop these creatures.” Mister Blade flourished his sword with an elegant flick of his wrist, destroying two of the creatures with ease.

“Can’t you just call in for other heroes?” Jimena shot a flurry into one of the creatures. It slammed against the wall of a building and she shot it a few more times in the head. It exploded into a dark mist.

“Most are busy doing their own thing. Others wouldn’t take too kindly to Sonoya and her brother. There aren’t too many sympathisers with Midnight Yards, and it would ruin everything they’ve been trying to build.”

A creature leapt at Mister Blade from behind. He ducked and thrust his crimson bladed sword up into the creature as it sailed over him.

A group of late-night party goers rounded the corner. Their eyes widened in terror when they saw the hundreds of creatures that were running through the night.

A creature ran up to the group. It raised its claws. Just before Jimena could react, a large fork stabbed through the creature. The monster exploded into mist.

Standing there was a scrawny man with a goatee and thin hair. He wore what looked to be an oversized dinner plate strapped to his chest, with another one on his back. A large porcelain bowl was worn for a helmet and in his hand was an oversized fork.

“Fear not citizens, for I am here.” Another creature leapt at him and he thrust his fork, piercing the chest. It exploded.

“Th-thanks.” The group turned and ran away from the eventful night.

“Who are you?” Jimena asked. She shot a creature that rose up behind the newcomer.

“I am Dinner Knight. Charged with protecting the citizens of Athena City, no matter the danger. I heard the screams and have destroyed a few of those creatures on the way over here. What’s going on?”

“Vampire problem. We need to destroy as many of these creatures as possible. Two others have gone to the art gallery to try and stop the head vampire,” said Jimena.

“If you’re willing, we could use your help friend,” said Mister Blade.

“Most certainly.” He spun his fork like a lance and threw it. It whizzed past Jimena’s head, cutting a single strand of hair. The fork struck a creature in the head. The fork clattered to the ground as dark mist floated up into the air.

Dinner Knight awkwardly hobbled over to his weapon. Jimena noted that this man didn’t look much younger than Michael.

The three of them made quick work of the remaining creatures in the area. Luckily, nobody in the area had been injured.

“Is that all of them?” Dinner Knight asked.

“I think so,” said Mister Blade. “At least for this area. There’s no idea how many have gotten out into the city night.”

“What do we do?” Jimena asked.

“We’re going to have to split up and hunt them down,” replied Mister Blade.

The three of them were too distracted with coming up with a plan that they failed to notice the gigantic cloud of mist that was swirling about above them.

They split off and began to run off in their separate directions when they heard a loud, visceral, growl. Each of the heroes turned and saw before them the giant shadow creature, standing close to fourteen feet tall.

“Tis but a legendary creature, waiting to be vanquished,” said Dinner Knight.

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Mister Blade asked Dinner Knight.

“I’ve slain worse back in my day.”

“Jimena?” Mister Blade looked to the young hero. She was already gathering a giant slime ball, covering one of her arms.

The creature roared again and charged at Dinner Knight. The knight braced himself. The creature took a swipe at him, and with no effort at all, he was sent crashing through a window.

“He just stood there,” said Jimena. She ran a large circle around the creature.

“We’ll focus on this. I’ll see to him later.” Mister Blade ran at the towering monster.

Jimena unleashed her shot. It collided with the back of the head. It was enough to distract it. Mister Blade leapt up; his sword extended. Just as his sword was about to connect, the creature snapped to and closed its mouth down on his blade.

It tossed Mister Blade aside. His weapon went flying with him. The creature seemed to let out a laugh.

Jimena shot at its head again and again. Her rapid-fire projectiles slamming into the head of the creature.

It turned to look at her and the two locked eyes. The creature let out a howl and started toward Jimena. Slow at first but then breaking into a lumbering run on all fours.

Jimena packed her next slime ball with pellets. Fire, ice, lightning. She wasn’t paying attention, she just wanted to cause some serious damage.

The creature set to ram her, but Jimena turned into slime and dispersed on the ground. The creature bound through where she was, and it forced itself to stop. It was confused.

“Right here.” Jimena had reformed herself and was standing behind the creature. She shot her slime ball and it blasted into the creature’s chest.

An elemental explosion lit up the creature and from the side, Jimena could see Dinner Knight. He looked battered and bruised but otherwise all right. He thrust his giant fork into the leg of the creature. The creature howled again.

The creature flailed its arms about, narrowly missing Dinner Knight.

“Still going, eh?” said Dinner Knight. He leapt up above the creature and came back down, his fork pierced the head of the creature. It exploded into dark mist and Dinner Knight fell to the ground.

Jimena went over to where she saw Mister Blade get thrown to. As she arrived, she could see he was already standing at brushing the debris off his clothes.

“A gentleman always needs to look the part,” said Mister Blade.

“You okay?” Jimena asked.

“Yes, of course. I was foolish in my fighting, underestimated my foe. I paid the price for it. You and Dinner Knight finished it off I see.”

“Yeah. He proved to be a great help.”

“Good. We’ve still got hundreds to hunt down through the city and we could use his help.”