Emergence 2.13c (Patreon)

Emergence 2.13c

– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –

ARLINGTON

August 14, 00:51

Zeke crouched on the roof of an empty house, his body low and his eyes narrowed as he focused on the building just a few houses down from his vantage point. General Wade Eiling's house, to be specific. The sidekick had used the Cave computer as quick as he could to look up information on the General before he left, and it hadn't taken him long to find the address of the man's Arlington residence. Thanks to the handy dandy teleporter that was the Zeta Tube, he'd arrived in DC over thirty minutes ago, and it had been a cinch to run over to where the General supposedly lived.

He'd come prepared, the stealth-tech embedded in the star logo on the center of his chest changing his colors from cobalt blue and bright white to navy blue and black, his communicator set to extra sensitive and the microphone connected to his personal S.T.A.R. Tab set to record everything as well as take pictures. Unfortunately, his jacket and goggles didn’t come with that special color changing feature so he had to leave them behind. All I need to collect evidence and keep him from getting rid of anything incriminating, Zeke thought to himself, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. No combat either, he’s one old man. This is gonna be cake.

Luckily, he didn't have to wait long. 

Less than 10 minutes after he'd set up his vantage point, a car rolled down the street of the residential neighborhood, the sound of its engine breaking the stillness of the night. Is that… Zeke's eyes narrowed as he focused on the approaching vehicle. 

Observe. A pair of blue eyes flashed a bright glowing blue, barely visible in the dark night.

1991 Ford LTD Crown Victoria - General Eiling's Custom

A heavily modified 1991 Ford LTD Crown Victoria. Features a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine and a six-speed manual Hydro-glide transmission. Custom enhancements include reinforced bulletproof chassis and advanced security measures.

What the… Those same blue eyes widened as the car pulled in closer, Zeke's brow furrowing in confusion. Bulletproof chassis? Advanced security measures? I get he’s corrupt but he’s had a desk job for like thirty years, right? What's this guy need all that for?

The Crown Victoria came to a stop in front of a simple but rather large and well-maintained house. It wasn't a small property by any means, but it wasn't quite as grand as Zeke had expected from a four-star general. What's the point of being corrupt, then? His mouth turned down into a frown as the black car pulled into the driveway. No mansion, can’t even get a cool-looking car. If there's no perks, might as well just do your regular job.

The sidekick blinked at the sudden thought, his frown deepening slightly. Mmmm. That sounded kinda supervillainy, he mused, suddenly self-conscious of his internal monologue. Let's keep that to myself.

Zeke's gaze focused as the driver's side door of the car opened, a well-built older man with visible gray hair stepping out. The man was dressed in his green, button-up U.S. military uniform, the four gold stars on each side of his collar visible even from Zeke's perch. He had his sleeves rolled up, showing rather muscular and well-maintained arms for someone his age.

What is he, like seventy? Eighty? Zeke thought to himself, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the General's physique. First Sportsmaster, then Wildcat, now this guy. Are there steroids in the early bird specials in this universe or something? Why are all the old guys so jacked.

The sidekick shook his head, forcing himself to focus. Not the time, Zeke, he chided himself. You've got a job to do.

He watched as General Eiling shut the car door, the man's movements precise and efficient as he made his way up the driveway and towards the front door of his house. Zeke's eyes tracked his every step, his body tense and ready to move at a moment's notice.

Alright, General, he thought to himself, focused once more. Let's see what secrets you're hiding. Observe.

Observed: Wade Eiling

Wade Eiling Lv 12

Stars of Strife

When he's not manipulating military tactics, he's busy playing political chess. General Eiling embodies power plays and moral gray zones, proving that in war and deceit, he's a master. Just don’t ask him about his retirement plans.

His hand went to his earpiece, adjusting the sensitivity in case he needed to get in close to hear the man speak. At the same time, his other hand hovered over his S.T.A.R. Tab, ready to snap a picture or start recording at a moment's notice.

This is it, Zeke thought, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched Eiling approach his front door. 

Before his hand reached for the doorknob, the older man paused for a moment, head rising as he glanced around himself. Zeke held his breath, every muscle in his body tense. …Did he see me?

And then, finally, Eiling reached for his keys, the jingle of metal on metal echoing through the quiet night air. Zeke let his head drop, letting out a silent sigh of relief through his nose.

Come on, old man. He thought, his jaw clenching. Do something bad already.

Five minutes later, the general stepped back outside, a cardboard box held in his muscular arms. Zeke's eyes narrowed as he watched the man load the box into his car, the sidekick quickly snapping a photo with his tablet. The flash was off, but there was enough ambient light for the device to get a solid picture of the man and his suspicious cargo.

What's he up to? Zeke thought to himself, his brow furrowing as he zoomed in on the image, trying to get a better look at the box. And what's in there?

But before he could ponder the question further, the general was on the move again, heading back inside his house. Zeke leaned forward, his body tense with anticipation as he waited for the man to reemerge.

He didn't have to wait long. A moment later, Eiling stepped back outside, another box in his hands. Another one? Zeke's frown deepened as he watched the general load the second box into his trunk, the man's movements quick and efficient.

And then he was off again, back into the house. What the hell? Zeke thought, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. How many boxes does this guy have?

The answer, it seemed, was quite a few. For the next five minutes, Zeke watched as the general went back and forth from his house to his car, each time carrying a new box. The sidekick's frown grew deeper with each trip, his confusion mounting as the pile of boxes in Eiling's trunk grew larger and larger.

Is he packing? Zeke wondered, his head tilting to the side as he considered the possibility. Maybe he's going on a trip or someth-

And then, a half-second later, he rolled his eyes, holding back the urge to smack his own forehead. Of course not, you idiot, he scolded himself. The same night a cold case he framed somebody on gets opened and the subject of the case gets called away. The teenager clicked his tongue, the pieces falling into place in his mind. It's obviously evidence.

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, his eyes widening as he watched the general slam his trunk closed, the sound loud and jarring in the quiet of the night. Eiling cleared his throat, the noise carrying through the still air, and then, to Zeke's disgust, the man spat on the ground, the glob of saliva glistening on the concrete of his driveway.

Ugh, gross, Zeke thought, his nose wrinkling in distaste. Who even does that anymore?

But the sidekick's revulsion was quickly forgotten as he watched the general reach into his pocket, pulling out a flip phone. A burner, Zeke realized, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the device. He's making a call.

The general dialed a number, the beeps of the keypad barely audible from Zeke's position. The sidekick leaned forward, his body tense with anticipation as he waited for someone to pick up on the other end.

One ring. Two rings. Three. And then, finally, a click, the sound of the call being answered. Zeke held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he strained to hear the conversation.

But despite his hope, reality wasn't that forgiving. General Eiling's low voice carried through the night air, but the words were indistinct, the conversation unheard from Zeke's vantage point several houses away. The sidekick cursed under his breath, his frustration mounting as he watched the general's lips move, the man's expression unreadable in the darkness.

Come on, Zeke thought, his jaw clenching as he willed his ears to pick up something, anything that might give him a clue as to what was going on. Give me something to work with here.

But it was no use. 

The conversation continued, the general's words lost to the night air as Zeke watched, helpless to do anything but observe. A minute passed, the time stretching on for what felt like an eternity, and then, finally, the general ended the call, snapping the flip phone closed with a decisive click.

And then, to Zeke's surprise, the man broke the device in half, the plastic casing snapping like a twig in his strong hands. The general tossed the pieces over his shoulder, the broken remains of the burner phone clattering to the ground behind him as he strode towards his car, his steps sure and purposeful.

He's destroying evidence, Zeke realized, his eyes widening as he watched the man climb into the driver's seat, slamming the door closed behind him. He's getting rid of anything that might tie him to whatever's going on with Cap.

The engine roared to life, the sound of it shattering the stillness of the night. 

Mission Gained!

In the Shadow of the General

General Eiling is up to something covert again. Tail him discreetly, unravel his secretive plans, and recover any incriminating evidence without tipping him off. Stealth is your greatest ally here.

Objective:

• Tail General Eiling without being detected. [ ]

• Recover critical evidence without alerting any suspicions. [ ]

Success: 5000 XP, +5 to [Stealth].

The general put the car in gear, the tires crunching on the gravel of the driveway as he slowly pulled out onto the street.

And then he was gone, the taillights of his car disappearing into the darkness as he drove away, leaving Zeke alone on the rooftop, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just witnessed.

I gotta tail him, the sidekick thought, his jaw setting with determination as he watched the car head down the street.

Dismissing his tablet into his Inventory with a muttered word and a flash of blue pixels, the boy leapt off the roof, the simple jump carrying him several meters before he landed on the ground in the very middle of the street. His somewhat superhuman physique was no more bothered by the impact than if he had leapt down half a flight of stairs, his knees bending slightly to absorb the shock before he straightened up again.

Shaking his head as he spotted the Crown Vic round the corner, Zeke began to run, his legs pumping as he pushed himself into motion. Hours of running around the entirety of Mount Justice with a backpack laden with literal weight plates had boosted his speed to superhuman levels. While running at expressway speed limits was outside of his ability without lighting up like a firework, he could manage roughly three-fourths of that if he pushed himself.

Meaning, even stealthily, he could easily catch up with the General's car.

Let's go! One foot in front of the other and the world began to speed up as he pumped his arms at what - to him, at least - felt like a casual jog. The wind whipped at his face, his dark skin barely feeling the chill as he moved through the night, his body a blur of motion.

Keeping to the sidewalks, he quickly made it to the end of the street, his gaze locked on the Crown Vic as it sped down the nearly-empty Arlington streets at almost 1 AM in the morning. 

– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –

Where is this old man going? The thought rang through his head as his eye twitched. 

For nearly half an hour, Zeke ran, his body settling into a rhythm as he maintained a constant pace of at least twenty to twenty-five miles an hour. It was a grueling speed to keep up for so long, and despite his enhanced stamina, the teenager could feel himself beginning to sweat, the moisture beading on his forehead and running down his back.

But he didn't slow down, didn't let up. He couldn't afford to, not when the General was getting away with evidence that could clear Captain Atom's name. So he pushed himself, his legs burning with the effort as he leapt and bounded from building to building, always keeping the Crown Vic in sight.

[Acrobatics] Lvl Up!

9 —> 10

As they moved further away from the city center, the buildings began to thin out, replaced by trees and small residential homes. Zeke frowned as he realized that hiding was becoming harder and harder, the wide open spaces offering little in the way of cover.

Where the hell is he going? the sidekick thought to himself, his brow furrowing as he watched the car make another turn, heading onto a quieter road that led away from the urban sprawl, heading southbound. We're in the middle of nowhere out here.

But still, he followed, his curiosity and determination driving him forward even as his body began to tire. He could feel the burn in his muscles as he kept a steady pace to keep up with the car, but he ignored it, his focus narrowing to a single point. I can't let him get away.

+ 1 VIT

And then, finally, after what felt like an eternity of running, the Crown Vic began to slow, the brake lights flaring red in the darkness. Zeke's eyes widened, his heart pounding in his chest as he realized that they were coming to a stop.

Finally, he thought, a surge of adrenaline rushing through his veins as he ducked behind a tree, his chest heaving with exertion. Let's see what you're up to, General.

The car made one more turn, and Zeke's brow furrowed as he watched it enter a long paved entry path, a sign at the front of the road catching his eye. "Arlington Municipal Airport," it read, the white letters stark against the dark background.

Zeke blinked, his mind racing as he took in the scene before him. The airstrip was surrounded by fields, several white hangars and a few other buildings of similar color dotting the landscape. Several small aircraft were visible on the tarmac, their shapes silhouetted against the night sky, and in the distance, he could see the control tower, its lights blinking steadily in the darkness.

He's not getting rid of the evidence, Zeke realized, blue eyes widening with sudden understanding. He's leaving with it!

The thought hit him like a punch to the gut, his breath catching in his throat as he leaned his body out from under cover and watched the Crown Vic drive into the airstrip. The man paused for a moment to check his driver’s side mirror, the General's figure visible through the windshield, before driving right through the open doors of the airfield. I can't let him get away, the sidekick thought, hands clenched into fists at his sides. I won't let that happen.

Mission Failed!

Zeke’s eyes widened in confusion as he stared up, the translucent red words forcing a gasp out of him.

Mission Failed!

In the Shadow of the General

General Eiling is up to something covert again. Tail him discreetly, unravel his secretive plans, and recover any incriminating evidence without tipping him off. Stealth is your greatest ally here.

Objective:

• Tail General Eiling without being detected. [X]

• Recover critical evidence without alerting any suspicions. [X]

Success: 5000 XP, +5 to [Stealth].

FAILED? How did I f- Before Zeke could finish that thought, another screen popped up.

Mission Gained!

Iron Hand, Velvet Glove

General Eiling has caught on to your surveillance and isn't happy with his plans being uncovered. It's time to confront him directly, with force! Not too much, though, he’s still an old man.

Objective:

Successfully confront and subdue General Eiling [ ]

Success: 1000 XP.

Well, it is what it is. Zeke shook his head and burst out of the forest he had hidden himself behind, running full speed into the airfield, air kicking up behind him as he sprinted at a good fifty miles an hour, the wind whipping at his face. This is why I need my goggles, yeah, he thought to himself, squinting against the force of the breeze.

As the general parked his car at the center of the lot and opened his door to step out, the young teenager rushed in front of the man's vehicle, skidding to a stop with a dramatic flourish. "General Wade Eiling!" he called out, his voice ringing across the empty tarmac, the sound of it seeming to echo in the stillness of the night.

The general continued stepping out of his car calmly, looking rather unbothered at being confronted by a metahuman so early in the morning, the midnight air as cool as his expression. "Hello, young man," he said, his voice gruff and grizzled, the sound of it not matching the placid smile on his face. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Zeke blinked, trying to deepen his voice but somewhat unsettled by the man's lack of being unsettled. "I am…" He paused, clearing his throat before continuing, his tone dropping an octave. "I mean, I am Proton Genes-"

"I know who you are, young man. You're the Captain's little tagalong," Eiling interrupted with a gruff chuckle, the sound of it grating on Zeke's nerves. "The same one he introduced to the nation on television before he introduced to me, knowing I would put the kibosh on the whole thing. Smart move for someone with nothing behind that tin head of his."

Recording's still going, Genesis thought to himself, his jaw tightening with determination. Just gotta keep him talking before I arrest him. He straightened his shoulders, squaring off against the general with a defiant tilt of his chin. "You say he's not smart, but he knows you framed him and is already building a case against you for ruining his life and betraying your country. You don't deserve those stars, General."

Eiling let out a slight hum, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he regarded the young teenager with a calculating gaze. "You know, when that silver bastard came back out of nowhere, I was surprised as all hell but I'd figure it'd only be a matter of time." He nodded his head slowly as he spoke, the movement deliberate and measured. "That was four years ago, if you can believe it."

"Belie-" Zeke started to say, but Eiling cut him off with another chuckle, the sound of it grating on the sidekick's nerves.

"No matter how much a fucking boy scout, no matter how damn uptight, I thought there had to be a limit to how stupid a man could be." The general shook his head, a look of disbelief on his weathered features. "And yet, I was so wrong. I'm honestly surprised he's not the one confronting me right now."

Genesis felt a surge of anger at the man's words, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "That's because he's taking the evidence to the president and other authorities as we speak," he fibbed, doing his best to sound firm and confident.

Eiling raised an eyebrow, making a disbelieving noise in the back of his throat as his expression shifted into a frown. "Son, you're a terrible liar. I would work on that. If he's doing all that, why are you here then?"

The sidekick blinked, his brain stuttering as he tried to find a good response. "B-because…" he started to say, but the words died on his tongue, his mind going blank under the general's scrutinizing gaze.

Rather than let him finish, Eiling continued, his voice taking on a harder edge. "Huh, you know… If I suspected some bastard framed me, took my life, raised my kids, turned them against me, and on top of that, fucked my wife in my own bed for thirty plus years, I'd tear their head off myself and incinerate the remains before taking a nice good shit on top."

After a moment, the general tilted his head to the side, as if realizing something. "Honestly, they wouldn't have to do the framing for that. But like I said, a fucking boy scout."

Genesis blinked again, eyes wide and mouth open, not expecting the man to have said all that. Whoa… okaaaay, he thought to himself, his mind reeling from the general's crude words. "Ummm… I-"

"Still," Eiling interrupted one more time, his tone almost conversational as he regarded Zeke with a calculating gaze. "Never thought I'd be taken in by some little rugrat in spandex."

"Itsnotspandex," Zeke interrupted quickly, the words tumbling out of his mouth in a rush before he could be interrupted again. He quickly glanced down at his suit, the material form-fitting but definitely not as clingy as the general was implying. 

"Well, if my life is over," the General continued calmly, one hand at his side, his tone almost conversational despite the gravity of the situation, "let's see if I can't take one more thing from that bastard."

Zeke's brow furrowed in confusion, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the man's words. "What do you mee" aaaa-!The boy's eyes widened, the last syllable turning into a scream as the general pulled a gun, a heavy pistol that he probably had great experience using. The weapon seemed to materialize out of nowhere, Eiling's movements so fast and fluid that Zeke barely had time to register what was happening before the barrel was pointing directly at his face.

A shot went off, the sound ringing loud and painfully across the empty parking lot as it rocketed past the young sidekick's face, the heat of the bullet searing his cheek as it passed by in a blur of motion. Zeke's heart leapt into his throat, his breath catching in his chest as he realized just how close he had come to being shot.

Genesis leapt back, eyes wide and fear clear on his face as he thrust out one glowing hand on instinct more than anything else, his body reacting before his mind had a chance to catch up. Blue energy sparked from his palm, a dense orb of light slamming into the man's arm as fast as he raised his pistol, the force of the impact sending a shockwave rippling through the air.

A harsh crack rang out, nowhere near as loud as the gunshot, but far more visceral as Eiling let out a harsh grunt, the man stumbling back against his car and slumping to the floor, the pistol slipping and falling from his hand and clattering against the asphalt. The sound of it seemed to echo in the stillness of the night, the only other noise the ragged gasps of Zeke's own breathing as he stood there, frozen in place.

Genesis stared, eyes wide and breathing heavy, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to process what had just happened. Holy shit, he thought to himself, the realization hitting him like a punch to the gut. He almost shot me.

“Holy shit…” the curse left him audibly.

Slowly, hesitantly, he stepped closer to see the General slumped against his car, the man's body lying in a crumpled heap on the ground. Zeke's eyes widened as he took in the sight of Eiling's arm, the limb shattered backwards at the elbow, bone visible and rivulets of blood pouring from the wound as the general stared back at the sidekick in front of him.

Despite the clear horror of the injury, the old man's jaw was clenched tight, his breathing no harder than Zeke's own, even as his face paled from the blood loss and pain. There was a steely determination in his eyes, more than anything else as he stared back.

"Nnnnggh… nice shot, boy," the man remarked, his voice strained but still holding a note of something like grudging respect.

Genesis blinked, surprise flashing across his features at the general's words. "You too?" he replied, the words slipping out before he could stop them, his tone uncertain and hesitant.

"Not my best, really," the general admitted with a nod, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the pain he must have been in. "Haven't had any live-fire training in quite a bit."

Zeke's eyes flickered between the man's gruesome wound and Eiling's rather unbothered expression, the man staring blankly up at the night sky as if he couldn't even feel the agony that must have been coursing through his veins. How is he so calm? the sidekick thought to himself, his mind reeling with the implications of the general's composure. He just got his arm blasted off and he's acting like it's no big deal.

"... do you need help or something?" The words were out of Zeke's mouth before he could stop them, his voice wavering with uncertainty as he regarded the fallen man before him. Why in the hell are you asking? a voice in the back of his mind snarked, the tone of it sharp and accusatory. He just tried to kill you.

But even as the thought crossed his mind, Zeke couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on here, something he wasn't quite grasping. This guy's not just some random thug, he reminded himself, his jaw clenching with the realization. He's a general, a high-ranking member of the military. There's got to be more to this than meets the eye.

"No, I'll be just fine," the man remarked with a cold smile, his tone almost dismissive as he reached into the vest pocket of his green uniform with his one good hand, the movement slow and deliberate.

Gun! The thought flashed through Zeke's mind in an instant, the sidekick flinching as he spotted a flash of metal, his body tensing as he rushed back, raising his gloved palms up again. Blue light formed at the center of them, the energy crackling and sparking as he prepared to defend himself once more.

But Eiling just snorted, the sound of it harsh and derisive as he pulled out a silver flask, the metal glinting in the moonlight. "Just a little pick-me-up," he said, his tone almost conversational as he unscrewed the cap with one hand, the movement awkward and clumsy with only one functioning arm. "Something for the pain till the cavalry gets here to haul me away."

With a grunt of effort, the general raised the flask to his lips, tilting his head back as he took a long, deep pull from the container. Zeke watched, his eyes wide and his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. This isn't right, he thought to himself, his mind racing with the implications of the general's actions. He's too calm, too collected. It's like he doesn't even care that he's been caught red-handed.

Shaking his head to clear his uneasiness, Zeke tapped the star symbol on his belt, the direct connection he has to his mentor on his communicator buzzing for a few moments before the Captain picked up.

“Eze… Genesis,” the captain quickly corrected as his voice came in through his earpiece, the sudden change in address letting Zeke know that the captain was most likely surrounded by civilians or, at the very least, non-superheroes. “Is there something you need? I just finished taking down Ironfire after tracking him to Kansas City.”

“Just wanted to let you know that the General attempted to escape the country tonight with all the evidence he had for your case linking him to the murder,” Zeke announced, sounding far more triumphant than he felt as his eyes darted towards the general, the man still smiling even as he continued to pale. “I managed to catch him by the time he got to an airfield; Arlington Municipal.”

“What.” The word was sharp, a statement more than a question, and Zeke felt his stomach clench at the tone of his mentor's voice.

“I said, I caught the Gener-”

“Son, I heard you loud and clear,” Captain Atom’s voice cut in again, a cold edge to the man’s words. “I also heard that you disobeyed my orders and went after the man behind all this.”

Oh… Genesis felt his heart drop into his stomach, the slight pride he felt melting away under his mentor’s words. “Captain, I…”

“Son, I appreciate how much you care for me, but cases involving superheroes are ten times more complicated than those not, especially in military court,” Captain Atom continued, the harshness in his voice bleeding away to a slight sadness. “I might be cleared in the eyes of the public, but as far as the military and the government will care, Nathaniel Adams will still be a murderer and a traitor. The evidence might be tossed out of court. The general might never see a day in a cell.”

Zeke turned back to the general, his jaw clenching with determination as he watched the man take another swig from his flask with blue-stained lips smiling as if he could hear the conversation, the movement slow and deliberate even as he let out a long low grunt of pain.

“...I’m sorry, Captain,” Genesis finally responded, unsure of what else to say, voice small and defeated.

“Genes-”

Whatever the Captain said next was interrupted by a sudden long groan from behind, Zeke snapping his head around as the sound shifted into something more like an animalistic growl. What the…

His eyes widened as he spotted the General hunched forward, the well-built old man falling to all fours, even on his shattered arm. The sight of it made Zeke's stomach turn, bile rising in the back of his throat as he watched the man's skin begin to pale and thicken, the texture of it shifting from smooth to rough and leathery. 

Growls spilled from the man's throat, the sound growing deeper and more guttural with each passing second as his body lurched, visceral and disgusting snaps and cracks emanating from his frame. Under Zeke's horrified gaze, the man's body began to grow, his upper body tearing through his uniform as his chest and arms bulged massively, the fabric of his shirt and jacket straining against the sudden influx of muscle.

The shattered arm snapped back into place with a sickening crunch, spraying blood and gore everywhere even as the wound sealed back together, the limb now huge and whole once more. Zeke's blue eyes widened in shock as the General's head reared back, the man's sclera turning a deep, inky black and his irises a bright, burning red.

The man's teeth seemed to bulge out of his jaw, growing longer and sharper with each passing second until they resembled something more like fangs than human teeth. The bottom of his mouth sprouted what could only be described as tusks, the bony protrusions curving up and out from his lower jaw like the mandibles of some monstrous insect.

Zeke stumbled back, his heart hammering in his chest as he watched the transformation in front of him, the general changing, transforming into something monstrous right before his eyes. A slight scream tore itself from Zeke's throat as he watched the general's body contort and twist, the man's bones cracking and realigning themselves beneath his skin as he continued to grow larger and more grotesque with each passing second. The sound of it was like nothing he had ever heard before, a mix of pain and rage and something else entirely

The man - monster - stood up straight, Zeke stepping back as his eyes went up, up, and up to stare at the now eight foot tall hulking pale-skinned beast that was the general in tattered green pants. The monster of a man smiled, the sight looking far more terrifying than any Zeke had ever seen, as his mouth began to move. “A little pick-me-up does the body good.”

Mission Updated! 

General Unleashed

General Eiling, in a desperate move, has ingested a secret formula, transforming him into a hulking man-monster. Your mission is simple, survive or die.

Objective:

Defeat or hold off the transformed General Eiling until backup arrives.

Success: 25000 XP, +5 to [Strength], +5 to [Vitality].

Failure: Death

Oh no.