Nietz was standing in a tent inside of what had to be the fastest-built forward combat camp ever set up. It had taken less than half an hour for the heroes gathered to organize and put everything together. Apparently, two of the forerunners in the competition were leading the charge. The first was Dragoon. Aside from her modeling career, she was apparently one of the more talented graduates of the Surrey Camp in the UK. She had even volunteered to serve during the Liberty War, but mostly on the lines against the cultists.

The second was a Chinese hero leading his fellows. Hui, as he was known, was apparently one of the top support heroes out there. His leadership had led to a majority of those participating to flock to his banner. Nietz suspected most of them were trying to curry some kind of favor with him in hopes of getting benefits when he won one of the four grand prizes. For his part, Nietz just kicked back a little. He had been pushing hard and needed a breather before the big fight began. He was just relieved that the Anchor Beast was fully nocturnal.

He glanced up at Kong, who was sitting on the table set up in the middle of the tent with his legs crossed. His eyes were shut, and Nietz could feel the mana moving around him a little. It was odd. “What are you doing?”

“Cultivating,” Kong said quietly.

Nietz tilted his head. “I heard Black Lotus is a cultivator.”

Kong nodded. “She is. We have similar abilities.”

“Could you match her in a fight?” Nietz asked curiously.

Kong snorted. “No way in hell, not now, anyway. Though…” He opened his eyes and grinned. “...I actually am in this for more than just the grand prize. There’s something I want to do.”

Hammond, who was laying in a cot and staring up at the ceiling, sat up, looking at him. “What’s that?”

Kong smiled. “I think she’s figured something out that I did recently. I want to compare notes, and, if they’re the same notes…” He chuckled and looked at them. “I want to convince her to work with me.”

Nietz’s eyebrows rose. “So… you’re more in it for the sponsorship?”

His comrade laughed. “Yeah! My ability is awesome as it is, and it’ll only get stronger, like somebody I know,” he said and winked at Nietz. “We’re a rare breed.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m planning on giving the token away to someone else. What good does it do me besides make my abilities more complicated? Mastering one was tough enough!”

Nietz frowned and looked down at the ground, tangling his fingers together. “I never considered giving the token away,” he mumbled and closed his eyes. After making that deal with Ishtar, do I even deserve it? Now that he mentions it, it feels wrong to take an opportunity like that from someone else. Would Sonya be okay with that? He rubbed his neck and sighed. Just adding the healing factor had taken me to the next level in power. I’m going to keep getting stronger from here. Do I really need anything else?

“Hero Nietz!” a voice called from outside the tent.

He blinked and got up, walking to the flap and pulling it aside. He was caught face-to-face with the stern eyes and dark eyebrows of Dragoon. She crossed her arms and jerked her chin towards the side. “You and Kong, come with me. We’re discussing strategy.”

Nietz pointed at himself. “Me? I get Kong, but-”

“You’re a frontrunner - everyone agrees - and you built a lot of goodwill during the fighting all the way here,” Dragoon said and her hard face softened a little. She glanced up towards the looming Anchor Beast. “Could use a little bit of that to rally people to a single plan.”

He pursed his lips and looked back at Kong, who was busy adjusting his hair and trying to look cool for the pretty girl. “Kong, hey, Kong, focus!”

Kong blinked and looked up. “Mm? Oh, yeah. Sure! I’ll come. What about Hammond?”

“Leave me out of it!” Hammond shouted from the cot. “I am going to take a long nap without you two talking loudly.”

Nietz and Kong exchanged a look and winced before turning to Dragoon, who was tapping her foot, her arms crossed. They both moved to follow her, and she started walking towards one of the larger tents. Young heroes were running this way and that, focused on whatever task they had. A few stopped, though, to greet Nietz and Kong. Most of it was gratitude for the occasional save here and there or extending thanks to Hammond for healing.

Nietz felt a little better about being present even as his thoughts drifted towards the breach he’d committed with Ishtar. He distracted himself with Kong’s half-assed attempts at starting a conversation with the European hero.

“So uh… I’m Kong,” he said, thinking he sounded suave but it just came off goofy.

She didn’t look at him. “I’m aware.”

“Big fan,” he said. “Saw your fight with Trigger and Wake a few months back.”

“Did you, now?” she asked, side-eyeing him.

Nietz raised an eyebrow as Kong crossed his arms and stared forward, suddenly serious. “Lot’s of commentary on it, televised since they’re Kingshark’s goons. Everybody’s got an opinion on how it played out.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh? And what’s your opinion?”

“You screwed up,” he said. “The last exchange. That spear should have gone to the right but you overextended. That’s the only reason Wake got close enough to Trigger to pull him away. Otherwise, you would have gotten both of ‘em,” he pursed his lips. “That’s my take, anyway.”

Nietz stared, gobsmacked at him. Is he kidding? First thing he does when he meets his celebrity crush is… this?

Dragoon, though, frowned and kept walking. Her hand rising to her chin as her head tilted forward in thought. Kong paid it no mind, wrapping his hands behind his head and humming to himself as they arrived at the largest tent. Dragoon looked up and squinted at the both of them, frowned again, and then stepped aside. “Go on in. We’ll talk things over in here.”

Nietz shrugged and passed her with Kong.

“Kong.”

“Mm?”

“I like green tea.”

Nietz’s eyes nearly bugged out when he turned to look at his friend, who was still staring forward with a completely straight face. His eyes were absolutely sparkling though. Nietz closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Unbelievable. He put the matter of Kong actually not being entirely incapable of social interaction aside and focused on the single person sitting in the tent at the table. He had his feet kicked up and was whittling at a piece of wood. Hui was slim, a bit too thin, but his sharp and angular features made it work. His black hair was pulled up in a bun and his outfit was spartan - simple with armor plates set over comfortable hooded robes for ease of movement.

He looked up and brightened. “Oh! You came!” He scratched his nose. “I was a little worried you wouldn’t.”

Dragoon slipped in and sat at one of the chairs, crossing her arms and nodding to the other seats. Nietz sat down, but Kong stayed standing for a moment. The two men stared one another down for a heartbeat before he shot a hand out. Hui took it and the two men smiled. “How’s China, jackass?” Kong asked.

“My family’s doing great, thanks,” Hui chuckled. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Kong nodded. “Of course I am. Wouldn’t miss it. Always looking forward to a chance to show you up.”

“Hah!” Hui barked out a laugh. “You never change.”

Kong relaxed a little. “Thanks for not telling them about me.”

“I made you a promise,” Hui said and sat back down, gesturing to the opposite seat. Kong sat down, and Nietz looked between the two of them. It seemed like they had history, a good history, despite China snatching up most of the top Nepalese heroes. Hui sat forward and put his hands on the table. “Let’s not get swept away in catching up. Save that for the after party.”

Nietz nodded. “You have a plan?”

Hui smirked. “Yes, I do. You play a big role in it. Of all the physical combatants participating, you, Kong, and Dragoon have the highest point-for-point burst DPS.”

Nietz raised an eyebrow at the phrasing and looked at Kong, who snorted out a laugh. “He plays a lot of games.”

“Oh…”

“Boys,” Dragoon chimed in, drawing things back on track. “The Anchor Beast has a heavy hide that's nearly indestructible. Nearly. Nothing is truly invincible though, and we figure the best way to hurt it is to break that illusion first. We’re going to lay the damage out on a single point with Hui’s help.”

Hui held up his hand and a symbol appeared over it. The symbol glimmered for a moment before taking the shape of a sword. He raised an eyebrow. “I make glyphs. They do all sorts of things, but in this particular instance I can apply them to you to temporarily increase the released force of your attacks. Just swing as hard as you can and on impact it’ll double, maybe even triple.”

Nietz whistled. “Oh, I see. We layer those up, then hit the same spot real fast one after the other with as much force as we can.”

Hui closed his fist and the symbol vanished. “That’s right. We’ll have teams set up in the-” Some blasts and shouting rang out outside before dying down. “Wandering monsters,” he scoffed. “Anyway, we’ll have teams set up around the boss. Once we crack its armor, we’ll need the help of one more person. Is your friend Hammond resting up?”

“Hammond?” Nietz asked. “Why him?”

Hui’s smile grew wide, and he rested his chin on his knuckles. “I hear he has a few interesting familiars. One of them is a liquid, right?”

–

The Anchor Beast rested in a crater at the center of the city. It had long since abandoned whatever had been the ground zero of the dungeon break. The numerous buildings around it provided more than enough protection, and the mist it seemed to produce added to that. Now it was exposed, the sun beating down on its orange-red carapace. It was curled into a near spherical ball, and the only sound coming from it was the faint rushing of wind every now and then which the heroes assumed was its breathing.

Nietz checked his wrist and admired the temporary ‘tattoo’ that Hui had given him. It was a one use thing in this instance. Apparently there was a trade-off with his ability. The less uses one got out of one of his marks, the more powerful it would be. The Chinese hero had already hurried off to apply lesser marks to many of the other combat heroes, while the remainder split off into groups. A portion of them were stationed behind sandbags and ability-created walls with their own defensive abilities at the ready. Ranged attackers were set behind them and the fastest were on patrol, ready to pick up any injured and return them to camp for healing.

Hammond had left three of his best healing familiars at the camp to help. Now, though, the poor guy was standing with him, Kong, and Dragoon. Right at the tip of the proverbial spear.

“Y-you guys d-do rec-c-call that I am an ordinary p-p-person without my familiars, r-r-right?” Hammond stammered. 

Nietz grinned at him and glanced at Kong, who laughed. The two of them slapped him on the shoulders. “You’re gonna be fine, man,” Nietz said. You just stay behind us and let your friends do the work. You know what to do, right?”

“I know th-the plan,” Hammond forced out, rubbing his bald head and looking at the ground. “I-I have a familiar that will work better than C-cascade. Just give me th-the signal.”

Nietz tilted his head. “Is it a new one?”

Hammond smiled brightly. “You’ll have to s-s-see. K-keep me alive, b-buddy.”

“You got it,” Nietz said and turned to Kong. “You’re our opener. I’ll start winding up.”

Kong nodded, and his grin turned wild. He glanced towards Dragoon, who had conjured up a spear and was holding it with both hands as it began to glow. The martial-arts hero crouched and stretched his legs before his body began to change. He didn’t wait till later this time; the fur began to grow around his face, and his jaw tensed. Fangs poked out from his lips, and a tail materialized behind him made of rippling energy. That strange pole popped into his hand, and he rested it on his shoulder.

“Oh shit, it’s-” Hammond started, but Kong turned to raise a finger and winked.

“You winding up, Nietz? Don’t get distracted by my pretty face,” Kong teased.

Nietz rolled his eyes and crouched as well, flexing his arms as he let evolution run its course. Going all out all at once was an option, but evolving into that form he had taken against the humanoid monster had nearly wasted him. Evolving to the edge of that, though, that’s where he needed to be. Just at the limit of raw instinct, where sense and will pressed up against one another. He felt his healing factor react, and the evolution began.

Evolve. Evolve. Evolve. Evolve!

His body grew, his muscles became denser, and his mind stronger. He felt his ligaments change, and felt his skin become like metal, a faint sheen washing across his skin. The color didn’t change this time; he kept it under control. He kept his mind. He needed to be precise. He planted his feet and let out a low growl as mist roiled from his lips. His eyes opened, and he glanced down towards a now shorter Kong as his entire body began feeling like a spring under pressure. “Ready,”

“This is our moment friend,” Kong laughed and swung his staff onto his shoulder. He turned and winked at Dragoon. “See you on the other side.”

She met his gaze and cocked an eyebrow before holding out the iridescent spear in her hand. She took a step forward and planted her foot. “Just make your hit count, and somewhere where I can aim.”

“Don’t miss,” he laughed, and before she could shout at him, he hopped off the side of the small building with a howl of laughter. He fell back first towards the ground and let out a whoop before catching himself with one hand, pushing off the ground and blasting away like a rocket. Behind him, the pole stayed. No, it didn’t stay. It stretched. One end remained where he had landed as he hurtled forward towards his target with enough speed to leave scorches behind in his wake. Then he stopped right at the mountain that was the Anchor Beast.

“HYAT!”

The pole retracted and then extended as if all the momentum he had built up somehow made it stretch in the opposite direction. 

BOOOM!

A shockwave intense enough to send Nietz’s hair fluttering at this distance shook the ground, and a low rumbling groan rose from within the beast’s body. “DRAGOON!” Kong shouted.

Nietz readied himself and watched Dragoon take a few more steps and hurled her spear. It left her hand and vanished with a snap of wind and sound. “NIETZ!” she shouted in turn.

The spring uncoiled, and the evolved man was gone. His mind still struggled to keep up with the speed, but he felt it quickly catch up with each heartbeat. He was hurtling over a retreating Kong on his first blink. The second blink saw the spear collide with the point that Kong had hit, embedding in the hardened armor. The third blink, a slow breath, a moment as he let his strength hit the peak of what he could use with a sane mind. His fist drew back.

Am I Hero enough for you, Ishtar? Do I make the cut, Sonya? Are you watching, Locke? Can you see me, Gravitic? Everyone? 

I can do this.

Nietz clenched his teeth and threw his body forward with the punch. His fist collided with the base of the spear, and it plunged. Cracks raced up the sides of the armored monster’s body, and it howled in pain and furious agony. Chunks of armor fell away as a scar as wide and tall as a compact car opened. ”Fall back!” Dragoon shouted into his ear, and he leaped in time for her spear to explode.

The opening widened, the beast started to uncoil itself, and Nietz was retreating as fast as he could. The ground was shaking, the monster stomping its feet and howling at the pain from the flesh wound. Before Nietz could get back, something shot past him. He turned to see a little creature no bigger than a goblin or a mailbox scampering across the ground. It had lime green skin and a bulbous head that cackled wildly.

“What the-”

The tiny thing leaped and splattered itself against the exposed flesh as the enormous armadillo finally turned to face him. Nietz looked up into a pair of burning molten eyes as steam boiled out of its nostrils. Its face was gaunt, and its teeth were long and made of blood red metal. It reared its head back, and something red glowed in its throat. Nietz threw his arms up. He’d endured a lot of fire recently, but he wasn’t sure if-

The creature froze. The red light dying down in its throat. It… twitched. Then spasmed. Then it let out an ear-piercing shriek that nearly made Nietz’s ears bleed. He staggered back as the monster’s armor began to leak green fluid, portions of it simply sloughing off. It thrashed and slammed its head against the ground. Something red glowed bright behind its eyes, and the armored scales began to heat up. Nietz heard distant shouts and someone shouting a command. Then the green creature slipped out of the shell and ran for its life.

The howling monster righted itself even as it twitched and groaned with the agony it had experienced. Entire hemispheres of its shell were just gone. Nietz barked out a laugh as another shout came from above.

“OPEN FIRE! TAKE IT DOWN!”