As Augustus followed the path through the dungeon-like hall he'd found himself in, he kept his senses focused and his mind aware. He knew dimensional manipulation was at work here, so there was no telling what might happen with every step. He had to do his best to be careful against some other sort of creature getting the drop on him, and be prepared to deal with anything he came across. As such, he slipped a couple of metal braces with tiny spikes over the gloves Fujin had given him. They wouldn't actually injure his opponents, that wasn't their purpose. The spikes would lightly scrape against what they encountered, no more than a swab did on the inside of the cheek...and with the same purpose. The scrape would be analyzed to determine the general layout of the subject's magical and biological nature...not enough to specifically target them with magic, but enough to determine which species classification they fell under, and thus which number bundles to various effects he had on him he would need to use to determine the desired effect. Had he had them on when he fought the beast with the bone spikes, he would have known to use Type 7 without Fujin telling him.
In the brief moment he was distracted mentally going over the startup sequences for the devices, the area around him shifted and he found himself - of all places - in a deep swamp. He felt himself tense up as he took in the change of the surroundings...only to quickly notice several things amiss. As rich as the fragrances and intense as the heat and humidity was, it all felt too localized. A quick glance showed that the various stagnant pools and plants in the distance - save directly along the path that was still there - didn't move right, and their movements didn't quite match up with the air currents. A brief glance in his notebook on labyrinths told him what was going on. "A Guardian Space," he grumbled as he took a combat stance. "Shaped to give greatest advantage to the one standing guard. In this kind of swamp, it's either reptiles or insects..." He clenched his fists as he heard a sudden buzzing. "Insects it is," he grumbled as his hands slipped into the pockets of his Coat, ready to act.
The buzzing focused as a swarm of insects converged on the air a good distance in front of him, seeming to coalesce into the form of a yellow-skinned woman in a black cloak, two extra sets of green insectoid limbs extending from her back between her arms and legs. "This one is impressed," she hissed out, her voice having an odd choral quality as though more than one voice were speaking at the same time. "You scent to this one as mundane, and yet you know the ways of magic well."
"Law enforcement," Augustus responded easily as he found what he was looking for in his pockets. "Are you working for this warlord that's causing this problem?"
"This one's allegiance is only to the Hive," the figure replied as she began to stalk around Augustus, him turning to keep his eyes on her. "However, the warlord you speak of and the Hive's interests currently coincide, and helping him claim your world will restore This One's, and thus the Hive."
"I'll be sure to look into that after I've stuck my boot firmly up his ass and kicked him back to where he came from," Augustus stated flatly.
The figure laughed in a way that sounded reminiscent of the chirping of cicadas. "You amuse this one, mortal human!" she hissed out in a pleased tone. "Tell this one your name, that it might be remembered."
"Veil Captain Augustus Black," he replied calmly, using the new rank he'd been given after his promotions for security clearance...which really only upped his payscale and how much clout he could bring on his cases as far as local law cooperation, as well as who he actually had clearance to talk to about his cases. "And what do I call you?"
"This one is called D'Vorah," the figure replied as she braced herself. "Of the Kytinn. Take that name to the Netherrealm with you!" With that declaration, she lunged for him.
Augustus quickly pulled the two objects he'd grasped in his pockets, making sure she could see one as he pulled it back to throw. As he'd expected, she conjured a swarm of insects that hid her movements...and him from her sight as he put the other object to his face. As he felt the pincers touching his shoulders from above, he squeezed the activator on the device he'd pulled out, causing it to explode and release a massive noxious cloud that quickly covered them both.
D'Vorah fell back, coughing and choking as she quickly dived out of the cloud, though a great deal of it clung to her. "What toxin is this?" she demanded angrily.
"Just a mix of some of the deadliest bug sprays available," Augustus stated through the gas mask that now covered his entire face and the dome of his head, his voice slightly distorted by it. "Carry it around just in case some artifact lets someone command an insect swarm...or someone like you who can do so naturally."
D'Vorah snarled angrily as parts of her body shifted, seeming to seal her internals off as the bugs she'd summoned scattered away from her. "If you think a bio-weapon can stop this one on its own, you are dreadfully mistaken-"
"It's also highly flammable," Augustus commented idly as he tossed a small open vial towards a stagnant pool that was within the cloud of gas that still touched both of them. He then promptly pulled the jacket protectively around his body.
"And what-" D'Vorah began only to see the chemical withing the vial, her eyes catching the reaction as it touched the stagnant water just too late to move. "Oh bugger-"
A soundless whumph! and a burst of flames sent Augustus flying out the other end of the swampy segment even as D'Vorah was all but consumed by the toxic flames, her consciousness lost if not her life.
It is always such a joy to see a combat pragmatist at work.
Not a fatality unless a body is confirmed, and I don't see one
Be cleansed in unholy fire
Science prevailed in this chapter.
Captain Black is proving to be a favorite character here. Also, obligatory:
FINSH HER! FATALITY. AUGUSTUS, WINS. FLAWLESS VICTORY
if I where a betting man I'd say Chang is already dead and having been replaced by Tsang Shun and if I remember basic rules of the MK tourney Out world has to win 10 consecutive tournaments and those happen once every generation. I'd give Earth Realm well this one a fair shot at winning this round. That being said I don't put Shao Kahn above using loophole abuse and it wouldn't be the first time.
Meanwhile Jade is MCing a darkstalkers Tourney that's making me worry that Pyron, Jedah, or Demitri might decide to come out to play and part of me kinda wants to see what would happen if Pyron and Shao Kahn went full throttle on each other I mean both are kinda restricted on what they can do as one is bond by Tournement rules while the other usually scales himself to his opponent....
Shit~ I just realized that if Darkstalkers are about that means the World Warrior tournement.....FUCK Gouki/Akuma is also running around!
Let’s see how Captain Black stops this incursion.
Oh, captain black didn't stay to do the win sceen.
Looks like there's gonna be a lot of Mortal Kombat here, huh? I mean, it only makes sense. Glad to see Captain Black joining the fray here, too, though. Can't wait to see what the rest of the actual Chan Klan does in their battles.
Chapter Two Hundred Six
"Bad Day"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 49
"I'm not his/your Mistress!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 12
10540711
True... but if a "mere muggle" can defeat a warrior in their own Guardian Space so easily... then making his people an enemy is probably not the most pragmatic decision for your own. And since her concern is ONLY about her people's prosperity...
It occurs to me....
If bad things will happen if Jade MC's this tournament, maybe someone should tell her not to. I'm sure she'd stop if given a reason.
There is always a mundane counter. That counter is sometimes limited to the proper application of high explosives, or a really big gun, but still.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
Chapter Two Hundred Six
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 50
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 86
If Rambo can best the Hive, Augustus was likely better equipped for the job. And succeeded.
10540933
There's not many issues some explosives and/or fire can't solve, at least to some degree.
Pragmatic characters are fun, not the most powerful most times, but they get shit done and don't mess around.
I like that the giant bug lady's last word in this chapter was Bugger. Hilarious! I can't wait to see what comes next!
10540752
And now I suddenly see a scene where the Chan-clan finds Akuma staring angrily into space as he is petting the CMC
10540747
You forgot something.
Flawless Victory
10540714
No it’s anti-bug fire
Yep, this is how magic and science can work well together XD Veil Captain Black for the win!
10540822
10540711
plus he promised to look into her hive's survival after he beat Shao Khan. Creepy bug lady may have found a boyfriend.
10541277
Crap, you're right. Lemme fix that.
10541680
In this case, I would also add "TOASTY!"
Tbhi fell sorry for devora she’s only trying to protect her species and at least captain black said he will look into it for her
WHY am I getting the feeling that the world this story takes place in has a Mortal Kombat game series of its own and in the next entry of the main games, Veil Captain Augustus Black will be one of, if not THE lead character as its story follows the....slightly altered details of this event?
Hell, imagine if this ended up being a Mortal Kombat SPINOFF game like the Sub Zero games and Black ends up getting paid in ROYALTIES from how popular it is and it also convinces a bunch of mundane people to become Veil Cops like him?
10540752
Technically SF/DS are different Capcomverses
the tasty food comics don’t count.
But here... I wouldn’t doubt it.
10540933
Don’t 4get High-grade explosives coming out from a BFG
10541566
Ew! Ew! EEEEEEEWWWWW!
But honestly, ASkarlett is Creepier
The last part was hilarious. I knew bug spray was gonna be involved, but the flammability was the icing on the cake.
10541777 Too bad she may have blown her chance with that preemptive strike of hers.
Will Black make any Friendships? Well, this is a MLP story.
YouR
10574516
No, that's just how D'Vorah talks "You scent" being how she says "You smell".
10541008
You're still here?! At this point you're our champion in this field!
Unrelated; Augustus is dangerous Marry Poppins at this point.
So? Anti skitter?