The Cyber Ascension Arc 3 — The Battles Of New York | Volume 3 | Chapter 18: The Hybrid Animals vs Humans
The dark streets of New York were eerily quiet, the distant hum of neon lights reflecting off wet asphalt the only reminder of life. Shadows stretched unnaturally across crumbling walls and abandoned cars. It was the perfect hunting ground for the creatures that awaited the group.
From the shadows, a horde of nine grotesque hybrids emerged—monsters that seemed like an unholy combination of bat, gorilla, crocodile, and cheetah. Their leathery bat wings fluttered ominously, each beat sending gusts of cold air across the deserted streets. Red eyes glowed with a predatory intelligence, and their long, sinewy arms ended in sharp, clawed hands. Powerful crocodile-like tails lashed behind them, and their legs, eerily straight and muscular like a cheetah's, allowed them to sprint with terrifying speed.
"Youchina! Emily! Shinoki! Watch out!" the wind seemed to whisper, though no voice spoke. The three women tensed, eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of the monsters.
Youchina, as calm as ever, gripped a long, rusted iron rod she had found in the street. Her dark, almost obsidian eyes scanned the creatures carefully, noting their movements, their balance, the weight behind their claws. Her mind was like a calm lake, untouched by fear or hesitation.
Emily unsheathed her katana with precision. The polished blade gleamed in the pale light, a silver streak against the dark. Her knuckles whitened as she adjusted her stance, the muscles in her arms coiling like springs ready to snap.
Shinoki positioned herself a few feet away, assuming her martial arts stance. Her fists were tightly clenched, her feet rooted to the cracked asphalt. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but her eyes burned with determination.
The first hybrid lunged. Its wings flapped violently, lifting it off the ground for a moment as it screeched, a sound that pierced the night and vibrated through the bones. Its gorilla-like arms swung forward, claws extended, aiming to crush.
Youchina reacted instantly. Her iron rod, seemingly ordinary, became a weapon of deadly precision. She grabbed a nearby dustbin and swung it like a shield, deflecting the creature's strike. In a fluid motion, she followed up with the rod, jabbing at its chest. Sparks flew as the rod connected, but the creature's skin seemed almost supernatural—regenerating the moment her weapon made contact.
Emily acted at the same time, her katana slicing through another creature's arm. "It regenerates!" she shouted, her voice tight with frustration. The limb she severed knit itself back together in seconds, blood already coagulating and skin reattaching as though untouched. She spun on her heel, striking another hybrid with a precise slash, only to see the same regrowth happen again.
Shinoki's movements were graceful and relentless. Every punch and kick she threw was calculated, every opening she created a strategic opportunity. Yet even her speed seemed barely enough to keep pace with the regenerating monsters.
"This is bad," Shinoki murmured through gritted teeth, her fists connecting with a hybrid's chest, only for it to shrug off the impact and swing back with terrifying force. One of the hybrids lunged at Emily, claws extended. Emily screamed as she was sent flying, her back hitting the cracked concrete. Blood speckled her uniform as she coughed violently, clutching her stomach.
"Emily!" Shinoki screamed, rushing to her side, fear sharp in her voice. Her heart thudded painfully as she knelt beside her friend.
Emily groaned, unable to stand. "I… I can't… my legs… feel numb…" she gasped. Pain and exhaustion mixed, her body refusing to respond.
Youchina, sensing the imminent danger, moved like a phantom. Bare hands grabbed and redirected the attacks, her movements almost too fast for the human eye to follow. She diverted every strike aimed at Emily, shielding both her and Shinoki with perfect timing. Despite her calm expression, blood trickled down from a shallow cut on her forearm, the loss of energy beginning to weigh on her.
Shinoki's mind raced. They needed a solution. "Emily, we need medical attention—but how?" she whispered, desperation creeping into her voice. She glanced at Youchina, who simply nodded slightly, her expression unchanged. Calm, collected, seemingly untouchable.
Time became a blur. The hybrids continued regenerating, relentless, their eyes glowing with unyielding malice. Youchina began to feel her consciousness faltering. Her limbs trembled from fatigue and blood loss, yet she pressed on, maintaining her protective stance. Shinoki's own lips were cut and bleeding, a crimson smear across her pale skin, but still, she fought. Emily's strength waned, her arms shaking as she struggled to raise her katana.
"I won't give up!" Shinoki shouted, standing tall despite her injuries. Her voice echoed through the empty streets, sharp and unwavering.
"Yes… we should try our best," Youchina responded softly, almost serene, even as she lunged once more. Her iron rod became a blur, stabbing, blocking, redirecting, and disarming the monstrous hybrids with unmatched precision.
Emily, fueled by desperation and resolve, rose to her feet as best she could. Her katana became an extension of her will, every strike precise, seeking to exploit the faintest weakness in their enemies. The three women moved in perfect harmony, each aware of the others' positions and attacks.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Blood pooled across the cracked asphalt. Limbs were broken, regrown, torn again. The hybrids screeched and roared, their regenerative abilities making them almost invincible. But Youchina noticed something—there was a pattern. Their hearts, unlike the rest of their bodies, did not regenerate at the same speed.
"I understand," Youchina murmured, her voice calm but commanding. "We attack the hearts. Precisely, all at once."
Shinoki's eyes widened, and she nodded firmly. "Right. Emily, let's do it. We can't afford mistakes."
Emily gritted her teeth, nodding. "Got it. Focus on the heart."
Shinoki moved first, her martial arts strikes precise and calculated. Each punch, each kick, was designed to open the monsters' defenses, leaving the chests exposed for Youchina and Emily to strike. She danced between attacks, her movements fluid despite the blood and exhaustion, a perfect bridge of offense and defense.
Youchina, seizing the opening, grabbed a nail from the ground. With supernatural precision, she leapt into the air mid-combat, her movements almost weightless, and drove the nail directly into the heart of the nearest hybrid. It collapsed instantly, a puff of ash escaping its regenerating flesh.
Emily followed, her katana finding the mark with deadly accuracy. Each strike pierced the creatures' hearts, the regeneration failing as the finality of death struck. The hybrids began to fall, one after another, their howls fading into smoke that dissipated into nothingness under the pale moonlight.
Hours, or maybe minutes—it was impossible to tell—passed in a brutal blur of action. When the last hybrid fell, a silence descended, almost tangible in its weight. The street was stained with blood, the air thick with the smell of iron and ozone.
The three warriors collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, their bodies trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline. Shinoki's chest heaved, blood trickling from the corner of her lips. Emily's legs shook violently, but she managed a weak smile, leaning back on her hands.
Youchina, calm despite the fatigue, allowed herself a small exhale. A faint smile touched her lips, almost imperceptible but genuine.
"They… they disappeared into nothing," Shinoki said softly, staring at the empty streets around them. The monsters' ashes had been scattered by the wind, leaving only silence behind.
Emily looked at Youchina, awe shining in her eyes. "You're… incredible. Strong, and so… intuitive. I've never seen anything like it."
Youchina's gaze remained steady, her expression calm but warm as she replied, "Thank you." A small smile curved her lips, a rare show of emotion from the usually impassive warrior.
Shinoki, still sitting on the asphalt, let her fists fall to her sides. "We… we really did it." Her voice trembled slightly, a mixture of relief and pride.
Emily nodded, wiping the blood from her mouth. "Yeah… thanks to all of us working together."
The moon shone brightly above the ruined battlefield, casting a pale silver light over the trio. For a brief moment, the horrors of the hybrid monsters faded into a sense of accomplishment, unity, and quiet triumph.
Youchina, though calm, couldn't help but notice the exhaustion in her companions. She extended a hand to Emily, helping her to sit more comfortably, while Shinoki leaned back, letting herself rest for the first time in what felt like hours.
"We survived… and we grew stronger," Youchina said quietly, her calm voice a balm against the chaos they had just endured.
Emily chuckled softly, despite her pain. "Strong… yeah, I guess we're learning more than just fighting. Teamwork, strategy, and…" she glanced at Shinoki, "hope."
Shinoki smiled faintly, blood still on her cheek, her fists relaxed. "Hope… yeah."
The three of them lay back for a moment, staring at the night sky above New York. The hybrid monsters were gone, but the lesson remained clear: precision, observation, and teamwork could overcome even the most formidable foes.
For the first time that night, amidst the blood-stained streets and lingering tension, there was a sense of calm. The war was far from over, but tonight, they had triumphed together.