Intense Struggle! (Round 7 - The Database)

Originally posted on MSPA by Dragon Fogel.

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'Cabaret' swiftly changed to his watery form and dodged the tentacle, but was suddenly surprised as a nearby patch of mist turned into Larus, who grabbed him.

"Interesting trick you pulled there," he said. "The shadowy guy never mentioned you could do that."

'Cabaret' shifted his face into a twisted grin. "Then I'd better take care of you before you can tell anyone else. The nymph and the girl over there aren't the brightest of enemies, and the other three are busy with each other." He shifted his body again, enveloping Larus in an attempt to drag him down into the muck, but Larus turned to mist again and drifted away, towards the melee between B, Clara, and Aegis.

Bae swam through the muck in pursuit. As he did, the Monitor's voice spoke in Bae's mind once again.

Even if he is caught up in the battle, if he survives he will inform the others of your abilities. Your mission will fail. But there is a way to salvage this situation. Listen carefully, and do as I say.

Larus reverted just outside the range of the swamp's mist - he had felt something strange about it ever since he first shifted, and was wary about going near outside of mist form. He saw a bear running towards him, followed by Clara, with Aegis not far behind.

"Well, looks like I don't need to get their attention..." he muttered, and turned to flee the other way, but Bae emerged from the swamp muck and suddenly struck him in the head. He fell unconscious, having no idea he was only spared by the Monitor's specific instructions.

As it happened, it was right as the other three left the mist. Their minds began to clear, as they saw Bae then take the form of Trickster.

"Well, I suppose there's no point in hiding it any more, is there?" 'Trickster' laughed. "The Monitor hired me to ensure the battle proceeded smoothly. I can take on any form..." - to emphasize the point, he changed back to his guise as 'Cabaret' - "...and so, I was to sow discord among you." He then changed his form to that of Larus. "But this fool found me out, and was clever enough to guide you towards me. So I suppose I'll be on my own from here on... unless, that is, the Monitor has another agent. I really couldn't say for sure."

Aegis took a step forward. "Then - did you kill Trickster? Or was it the real Larus?"

"The real one. Of course, that could be a lie. I just told you, my job is to sow discord." He laughed. "I'll see you next round, though you might not see me until it's too late." He vanished into the swamp.

Clara ran to Larus, and pulled his head out of the swamp muck. "He's unconscious," she yelled back, "but I believe he'll be fine."

Aegis paid her little attention. "We need to find that spy and stop him now." He turned to face B, but found the bear gone.

"Wonderful. Where could he have gone?"

A beaver's head suddenly popped out of the swamp ahead of him, smiling.

"What? Are you going to follow him?" Aegis asked, surprised. The beaver dove below, continuing to swim.

"Wait!" Aegis shouted. "Don't take him on alone!" He ran, but soon found his way into a patch of mist.

"Stupid kid!" he shouted. "Even if you kill him, how will we know if you do it alone?" He took his increasing frustrations out on a nearby tree.

***

Bae emerged in a small pond surrounded by trees, almost impossible to reach from the surface. The mist was especially thick here. He took Cabaret's shape once again.

"Now what?" he grumbled. "This plan of yours seems pretty risky to me."

That is why it was so important that you were not discovered, the Monitor's voice replied. This is what is necessary to salvage the situation.

"I don't quite see what you're thinking. I could have killed Larus right then and there."

He is still implicated in Trickster's death. They may be skeptical, of course, but they cannot be certain. It is best to maximize their uncertainty. That is why the next step is to isolate one opponent, and fight them alone. Destroy them, and take their place. And even if you fail me, if there is only one witness...

"What? That's your plan? You're leaving me to die?"

Whether you succeed or not is up to your own skills. I am merely ensuring the most benefit should you fail.

Bae's mask took the form of a scowl.

"I should never have taken this job."

Before he could finish, a crocodile burst out of the water at his feet. The mist affected it quickly, and a vicious grin crossed its face.

"It's that kid! I should have finished you when I had the chance!" Bae's arms shifted, surrounding the beast's throat, but it thrashed wildly in its rage, simply knocking the arms away.

Desperate, Bae reached for his knife, but before he knew it, the crocodile was upon him. It pounced and smashed him against a tree with immense force.

The crocodile clawed and bit at Bae's body. Damage was mostly superficial, but there was a greater concern - the beast was putting heavy pressure on the armored vest Bae wore to protect his vital organs. He didn't expect the vest to break, but it could be flattened, crushing his organs in the process. But if he removed it, he would have no protection at all against the vicious creature...

He gambled, and slipped out of his vest.

It was a poor gamble. The crocodile turned to the exposed shapeshifter, and swiftly devoured his heart. The water composing his body fell apart, melting into the swamp.

The crocodile changed back into B. Even under the effects of the mist, he retained enough awareness to be horrified at what he had just done...

Moments later, the world around the combatants disappeared.