I felt my focus begin to slip, thoughts of violence filling my mind. I itched to attack, to hurt her.

I sent my bugs in, but that was the one gesture that set the others in motion. Without realizing it, I found myself charging her.

Biter and Regent were among those caught in her spell. We attacked her as mindlessly as Spree duplicates had attacked us.

My knife stabbed at her armor, doing too little damage. I stabbed again, found a vulnerable spot at the back of her neck, just below her hairline. I dragged the knife through her flesh.

Without even turning to face me, she elbowed me, and all the strength I had went out of me. I careened a distance away, tumbled, landed amidst Spree clones.

They clutched feebly at me while I reeled.

Lizardtail’s power pressed even harder against me. I could feel the edges of my injuries tingling, the wounds slowly knitting closed. Far slower than they should have been, given the earlier demonstration of Lizardtail’s power. Either he was weaker, or her ability to inflict wounds that progressively got worse over time was taking away from the power of his regeneration.

Butcher had a grip on Regent, threw him into Biter with enough strength to take the two of them out of the fight.

Possibly enough strength to kill one, if Lizardtail’s power wasn’t able to outpace the internal damage done.

Induces mindless rage. Power from Butcher Nine. Very low range.

Inflicts wounds that fester. Power from Butcher Four. Less effect than Four had. Far shorter duration.

She teleported. I could sense where she’d arrived as my bugs died en-masse. She was going after Rachel.

Imago 21.6