Relic of the Future: Chapter 9

There was a machine behind them with several tubes of liquid in, and behind that – an odd, shadowy shape. It waved from side to side ominously, and then twisted through the tubes.

"Get down!" Jaune leapt over to them in an instant and tore Echo away from the charge, throwing him flat on his back. Delta yelped and fell too, and that might have saved his life as the object burst through the tubes, showing them in glass and water as it hooked forward with a wicked barb. Jaune was able to block it with his sword, but it bounced off and hooked around – scraping along his inner arm.

It was a tail, a scorpion's tale. But this was no Deathstalker, he knew.

The machine was blown aside as the figure behind it hurtled through, catching Crocea Mors in its tail and swinging twin blades for his chest. Unable to get his sword in the way, and with no time to draw his shield, he held up his left arm and took the pain there, forcing as much aura as he could to the limb so it wouldn't draw blood. The aggressor cackled and planted a foot in his stomach, then twisted his body so that his back was to the man's chest, their cheeks touching.

"My, oh my, what do we have here? Hm, you smell – familiar."

He'd recognise the voice anywhere, even if the stinger didn't give it away. Jaune drove an elbow back into the man's gut, not even surprised when instead of pain it earned a hysterical giggle. He pulled out and away, spinning and deflecting the tail with the back of one hand. Tyrian Callows stood before him, younger, with his tail once more, and no less dangerous for the difference.

—Relic of the Future: Chapter 9