A long, spiky tongue rolled out of its gaping mouth and lashed out toward the frightened Expert.

Lana was saved at the last second as Nathan rammed into her, sending her to the floor and the tongue missed her by centimeters.

The three guards opened fire at the giant’s head. Their shots pinged off its skull but the streaming bullets harassed it enough to keep it from pulling itself completely in while the cargo door slowly closed. The creature withdrew its long tongue, readying it for another attack. Then the door slammed shut, severing its clawed fingers which fell to the floor.

“Shit, that was intense,” Cattie said with a crazed grin on her face. “Gonna need something a little more serious for the next round.” The woman strapped the assault carbine she was holding across her back and pulled forward a heavy looking shotgun instead. She kicked open a box of Warped Busters and started loading the bullets one by one.

“Get ready,” Nori’s voice came through the ship’s speakers. “We’ve reached the roof. Opening the cargo door now.”

***

Bulco ran through the panicked crowd toward the sounds of screams and gunshots.

Ten guards were standing in front of a hole in the wall, shooting at the mass of claws, tentacles, and buzz saws that were struggling to reach inside.

Behind them, people were screaming and running as a Warped that looked like a rolling bush of thorny metal rolled over them, its spikes tearing them apart.

Warped, level 5

Ignoring the panicked masses, Bulco stopped and retrieved a small syringe from his belt. He took in a deep breath, plunged the needle into his neck and pressed on the plunger. His eyes instantly turned red, and his muscles rippled under his shirt, threatening to burst open his sleeves. The Engineer snarled, took out his Zapper and ran straight at the unopposed creatures, shooting repeatedly. The spiky bush-monster ignored the shots, which barely dealt it any damage. An old man stumbled into the line of fire. A beam pierced his shoulder, making him stagger, then four spikes erupted out of his chest, shredding it to bits.

With a shout of rage, Bulco charged ahead, running through the bodies strewn around, straight at the creature. He drew back his hand, The Puncher loaded and ready. Then beast and Warped abomination collided.

A spray of broken spikes filled the air at the impact, but more tore through the Engineer’s body, though they failed to pierce him like they did the level zero victims. Ignoring the pain, Bulco punched forward, aiming at the creature’s center of mass. Spikes exploded outward and the monster was hurled away, leaving the Engineer’s chest looking like a pincushion. Oblivious to his wounds, Bulco roared and charged again, punching the dazed monster, again and again, until nothing but broken heaps of gory metal spikes remained.