Scrapper's tentacles lashed forward, metal limbs coiling through the air.
Fwoosh!
Green beams shot out from the tips, streaking toward Siyen.
She twisted her body, dodging just in time.
The beams scorched the ground where she stood.
Without missing a beat, she spun and delivered a kick straight toward Scrapper's head.
He shifted back, just an inch.
The kick grazed past his face.
Scrapper tilted his head, grinning.
"Nice kick."
Siyen gritted her teeth.
"Damn you."
More tentacles shot toward her from both sides.
She ducked low, rolling beneath one, then leapt sideways to dodge another as it slammed into the pavement behind her.
Scrapper watched calmly, tentacles retracting for another strike.
"You're fast."
"But not fast enough."
Siyen narrowed her eyes.
"You're a crazy scientist."
Scrapper chuckled.
"Am I?"
"What a compliment."
He slammed his tentacles onto the ground.
Crack!
The pavement scattered beneath the impact, chunks flying in every direction.
Siyen moved fast, weaving through the breaking ground, dodging each collapsing section.
She spotted a metal railing nearby and leapt onto it, tearing it free with a sharp pull.
Metal screeched.
She hurled it straight at Scrapper.
He raised a tentacle, firing a beam at the railing mid-air.
The beam sliced through it, sending fragments scattering aside.
But it was a distraction.
Siyen had already moved.
She appeared behind him in an instant.
Her fist drove straight into his stomach.
Scrapper's eyes widened.
He nearly coughed blood, the impact sending him crashing into the wall behind him.
Cracks spread across the stone.
Siyen straightened, breathing hard.
"Not so tough now."
Scrapper pushed himself off the wall, coughing once.
He wiped his mouth, tentacles twitching behind him.
"Tch... that actually hurt."
From the debris around him, his tentacles suddenly lunged, weaving through broken concrete and shattered stone.
Siyen's eyes caught the movement.
She twisted sideways, narrowly avoiding the first strike.
The tentacle tore through the spot she'd just stood in, gouging a line through the pavement.
She didn't hesitate.
Grabbing a chunk of debris beside her, she hurled it straight at Scrapper.
He tilted his head, letting it whistle past his shoulder.
"Missed."
"Barely."
His tentacles shifted beneath him, propelling him forward at sudden speed, closing the distance in a blur.
Siyen's stance tightened.
She ducked low as he passed, feeling the wind of his movement brush against her hair.
"Fast."
Scrapper spun around mid-motion, tentacles arcing wide.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
Multiple beams fired in quick succession, lighting up the dark street in flashes of green.
Siyen rolled, weaved, and sidestepped, each beam scorching the ground inches behind her.
She gritted her teeth, pushing herself faster.
"You're not making this easy."
Scrapper's tentacles retracted slightly, coiling like springs.
"Neither are you."
"Tiger lady."
The two stared each other down across the wreckage, both breathing hard, neither willing to back off.
Scrapper lunged forward, tentacles surging ahead of him.
Siyen sidestepped at the last second, letting his momentum carry him past her.
Scrapper slammed his tentacles into the ground to catch himself.
Crack!
The impact drove them deep into the pavement.
He grunted, trying to pull them back.
They didn't budge.
"What—"
He yanked harder, but the metal limbs stayed lodged, buried too deep in the broken stone.
Siyen watched, a slow smirk spreading across her face.
"Oh..."
She stepped closer, tilting her head.
"Looks like you're stuck."
"Need a hand?"
Before Scrapper could respond, she moved.
Fast.
Her fist slammed into his side.
Then another into his ribs.
Then his jaw.
Scrapper staggered with each hit, unable to pull his tentacles free in time to block.
"Wait—"
Another punch landed square in his gut.
He doubled over, coughing.
"Ugh—damn it—"
Siyen pulled her fist back for another strike, eyes sharp.
"Not so calm now, are you?"
Scrapper spat blood to the side, forcing a grin despite the pain.
"I have something to say."
Siyen paused her fist mid-air, smirking.
"Oh? A last word before you die?"
Scrapper chuckled weakly.
"Yes..."
"What I'm about to say is..."
He straightened slightly, eyes locking onto hers.
"I'm not going to die here."
The ground cracked violently beneath them.
His tentacles ripped free from the pavement, shooting upward and lunging straight at Siyen.
Her eyes widened.
"Shit—"
She jumped back instantly, putting distance between them as the tentacles slashed through the space she'd just occupied.
Dust and debris scattered into the air.
Siyen landed several feet away, breathing hard, glaring at him.
"You little—"
Scrapper straightened fully now, tentacles coiling protectively around him, his grin returning.
"Told you."
"Not that easy."
Scrapper's tentacles rose behind him, tips glowing green.
"Let's continue then."
Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
Multiple beams fired at once, streaking through the smoke-filled air toward Siyen.
She twisted, dodging the first two, but the third grazed her shoulder.
She hissed, gritting her teeth.
"That's it."
Her eyes flashed.
Claws extended from her fingertips, sharp and gleaming under the moonlight.
"You've made me mad now."
She lunged forward, faster than before, closing the gap in an instant.
Scrapper's tentacles moved on reflex, wrapping around him, forming a makeshift shield of coiled metal.
Siyen's claws struck.
Clang!
Sparks flew as she raked across the metal surface, strike after strike, rapid and relentless.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Scrapper grunted behind his shield, feeling the vibrations of each hit.
"Tch..."
"Can't get through."
Siyen snarled, continuing her assault, claws slashing again and again against the unyielding metal.
"We'll see about that!"
The tentacles held firm, absorbing each strike as sparks scattered across the battlefield, the two locked in a relentless clash.
Scrapper's tentacles shot out from his shield, catching Siyen's arm mid-swing.
He gripped it tight and slammed her down onto the ground.
Bang!
The impact cracked the pavement beneath her.
But Siyen didn't stay down.
Twisting her body sharply, she grabbed hold of his tentacles and used the momentum to swing him into the nearby wall.
Crash!
Scrapper hit hard, grunting in pain.
"Ow..."
Before he could recover, Siyen was already on top of him, pinning him down against the rubble.
"Nowhere to go."
She reached for the knife at her side, drawing it out.
But before she could strike—
His tentacles moved fast, coiling around her body, locking her in place.
Siyen's eyes widened.
She struggled, twisting against the metal grip.
"Let go—!"
She pushed, pulled, thrashed against the coils, but they held firm, tightening with every attempt.
Scrapper looked up at her, breathing heavily but calm.
"It's a waste of time..."
"...to break free."
His grip tightened further, the tentacles constricting around her.
Siyen gasped, the pressure crushing against her ribs.
She coughed, blood spattering from her lips.
Her strength began to fade under the relentless hold.
Scrapper tightened his grip slightly, studying her through the dim light.
"What's Void's plan?"
Siyen glared at him, defiant despite the pain.
"No."
"I will let you go if you tell me."
Her expression didn't waver.
"Never."
Scrapper let out a long sigh.
"Fine."
His tentacles shifted, gripping her body firmly.
Then, in one swift motion, he hurled her into a pile of debris.
Crash!
Siyen's body slammed against the rubble, dust scattering into the air.
She went limp instantly, knocked out cold.
Scrapper straightened, dusting off his coat, tentacles retracting slowly behind him.
He glanced down at her unconscious form.
"That should do it."
He turned away, scanning the smoke-covered street ahead.
"Now... where's everyone else?"