El Tigre Servant of Death 5

The skeletons attempted to regroup after the sound blast. The fastest of them, an Aztec Eagle warrior, run and threw his spear to El Tigre; El Tigre simply vanished in a flash of green fire.

The skeletons were dazzled and confused, the only creature with such power they had ever faced was his master and no one had ever been able to be a challenge to him (when they were alive).

"Ancient Tiger spirit: CLAW!" was a roar they heard above them.

The skeletons in the middle of the formation saw a green flash coming to them; the rest, an explosion. When the dust dissipated El Tigre was standing alone over the pile of bones.

"You are not match for me!" said Manny. "Leave now and I won't crush your sorry souls."

The skeletons stood still, despite they couldn't disobey the orders of their master. Some of the skeletons felt, for the first time, unpleasant in the presence of other creature than his master; the oldest an urge to kill someone. All of them had the same porpoise: Kill the intruder. In the mind of some them the same idea went through: This is futile. Most of them charged. One contemplated the scene astonished.

"Stupid mindless puppets" said Manny. After that he took a deep breath... and roared.

The skeletons saw how a green tiger soul surrounded Manny. The ones charging front to him felt his roar, after it only ashes and molten rock remained. A hundred warriors disappeared under the green blast.

"Who is next?"

The warriors opened their formation revealing archers and gunmen.

"Futile" said Manny hesitated.

The Golden Sombrero of Chaos opened and shot a single shoot to the air. Bombs destroyed all the skeletons fire power.

The skeleton looked at Manny, many of them felt for first time fear to other than his master. Some even tried to escape; their residuals minds screamed something about surviving, but the fear against their master was enough to make them stay.

The formations closed; they knew that close quarter combat was futile... unless they were more powerful. The skeletons removed their armor, a dark-like ooze was inside them; the ooze started to bind skeletons into a giant dark mass... and then acquire shape: Four giant Snake-warriors stood against Manny.

"I told you earlier, it's useless" repeated Manny. In a blink he disappeared and then the four Snake-warriors caught fire.

"Impressive" said the creature of the throne, which saw through the eyes of their servants how they were crashed. "It seems that he is more powerful than I thought."

A jet pack noise sounded strongly in the room.

"Leave him to me Sir." said a voice from the ceiling.

"Of course I'm leaving it to you. I brought you here because you are the one who can destroy him." said the creature of the throne.

Zoe landed and bowed in front of the throne.

"That was... brutal" said the green bird amused while checking Manny for any wound. "I mean you left no chance to them to do anything."

The scenario of the battle was nothing more than a waste land of flaming darkness and smashed bones. No enemy remain left there could fit the category of recognizable.

"Is there something wrong with that? I thought you didn't talk" asked Manny indifferent.

"I can, but I shouldn't, just the minimum necessary for you to complete your quest" said the bird nervously. "I mean I should keep my beak shut."

The bird rose and flew again around the cave ceiling. Manny had no interest in knowing what was his companion or why he couldn't speak to him, he only felt frustrated and confused by all that was going on and grateful for finding something on to unleash his frustration.

"Are we too far from the pyramid?" asked Manny focusing on the mission again.

"Not too far, just a straight trench of four kilometers or so" responded the bird who went further into the cave.

"Then let's move!" said Manny getting on position to sprint to the end.

"Better not to make any rush or dash. I bet this guy has settled a couple of traps for someone that goes too fast for noticing them" commented the bird before Manny made any move.

Manny mumbled and started to walk. The bird was right; a thing that all that by his own will chosen to live imprisoned for eternity may have created traps for every possible situation, so he was never forced to leave this place. Both Manny and the bird thought in the right way, but looking for the wrong problems.

The road was longer than it seemed to be and clean of any possible trap. Manny ran several x-ray and ultrasonic scans with the sombrero, but there was no sign of trap or anything, it was too quiet to be true.

"Are you sure that there are traps around here?" asked Manny to the bird while checking the road again. There was no answer.

"Bird?" asked Manny again. He felt something fishy...

"Is someone there?" asked a voice coming from nowhere.

"What da'!" muttered Manny while checking the cave again. There was someone there.

"Please! If there is someone there please help!" screamed the voice desperate.

"Where are you?" asked Manny. There was something familiar in that voice.

"Here in a hole up in the ceiling. Please help I can't get down."

Manny looked up. The ceiling was covered by shadows but still he was able to distinguish someone up there. Whatever it was it wasn't a skeleton, it has flesh.

"Jump and I catch you" said Manny. The shadow felt, a couple of hands from the sombrero grabbed it.

The hand slowly came down, Manny recognized it immediately.

"Zoe?"

"Manny? You are here! You came to save me!" said Zoe surprised.

Manny couldn't believe this. Che told him that Zoe was dead, but here she is now: with some scratch and bruises, but in one piece.

"I can't believe this. You escaped!" said Manny actually surprised that Zoe survived the fight against the skeletons.

"I barely made it" said Zoe standing. "I almost got destroyed by those things, but I managed to escape and hide in a small hole in the ceiling. I hoped the guards get away to escape, but they kept looking for me until... you apparently draw their attention."

Manny couldn't believe this, there was something wrong. But Zoe was there much or less as he remembered her.

"Thank you Tigre, I was so scared" said Zoe hugging him gently.

Manny smiled, somehow he felt relived for this.

"I can't believe you are alive" said Manny hugging her back.

Zoe got her mouth nears Manny's ear and smoothly said "I never said I was"

Manny's face filled with horror, he felt that something went through his belly, his mouth spilled blood. Zoe's hug became stronger.

"Time to sleep kitten" said Zoe grinning evilly. The darkness slowly covered her body.

Manny felt how was losing it. Blood was filling his hands while he tried to get away from the creature that stabbed him.

"Why are you going away my little kitten?" said Zoe walking slowly towards him.

Manny tried to run but the wound was too deep, he could barely breathe and worst of all, his vision was getting blurry.

"Don't tell me that the kitten wants to go to sleep?"

"Who are you!? And what have you done with Zoe!?" screamed Manny.

"Oh it's me you big silly pussycat" said the corpse grabbing his head. "Now I'm a servant of Master Mikla. And he is going to make you mine"

Manny couldn't believe what he heard. His strength was leaving him faster than he thought. He couldn't resist the powerful grip of the undead.

"Tell me your last words before you become mine Tigre"

Mayor vital failure, initiating protocol 205 for life support and combat assistance.

"Eh?"

For Manny's and Zoe's surprise the Golden Sombrero of Chaos gave Zoe and energy discharge. The undead girl was blasted away while the sombrero turned into and exoesqueleton to support Manny.

"What is this?" asked the semi-conscious Manny who didn't understand what was going on.

Initiating emergency wound treatment, providing adrenalin and serum shots to stabilize the patient.

Manny felt how the needles pierced his skin and something working in his wound. A couple of extra shots made the pain disappear.

The patient has been stabilized. Morphine has been provided to reduce the sensation of pain. Exo-backbone provided to prevent wound re-opening. Patient fighting capabilities back to 80%.

El Tigre stood up; he felt how his strength was coming back. He faced Zoe's zombie.

"Come on! You really think you have an opportunity against me. I'm one of the people that know you best; also I've been blessed with Master Mikla's powers. It's impossible for you to win" pointed the corpse.

Manny sighted and looked directly to Zoe's corpse eyes. "No it isn't" he said calmly. "You are just the re-animated corpse of a woman who has been dragged to serve a coward scum."

Zoe's body smiled. Manny could felt an unnatural rage coming out of the corpse.

"Those are brave words, for someone who is going to die alone and hopeless."

"I'm not alone, my family has come with me to help me in this quest and the woman I love is waiting for me. Different from you corpse king, I always have them with me."

The Bronze Boots of Truth ignited.

"And here they are"

To be continue…

Manny must face an old enemy with a new face in order to save Frida. Now all is up to his skills and his strength, the challenge is getting tougher but Manny is ready.