Austin, who choose the Annihilator to his left, subconsciously gave the reins of control to the Voice within him as he charged to his target. Though aware, however brief and barely, of his comadres' battle: Stryker on the offense, against his Annihilator, using his rusted sword to brazenly attack the enemy, animal-like, metallic creature; Zach using his own metal blade to parry and block the metal cat's attacks —- Though they were both quite tired and exhausted, with minor injuries throughout their bodies from earlier, they held their own quite well —But Austin chose to focus on his own battle.
As he leaped into battle with his own Annihilator to face, he immediately became aware that he was in the best shape he could be in in the situation he was in; his previous self — whoever he was before he lost his memory — must have kept in shape, because even as he weaved, dodged and ducked out the way of strikes and claw barrages of the enemy, he did so with ease, and without even a huff of breath… Or maybe it was because he wasn't the one entirely controlling his body; either way, Austin fought on.
Austin suddenly realised that he wasn't in control of his body and neither was the Voice within him — At least, not quite, but, at the same time, they both were. When Austin gave into the Voice, it was not like the Voice had complete control over his body. It was more like the two had a unity control, where they were both so in sync in controlling Austin's body, that it appeared Austin was a whole other person when he fought. And, in a way, he kind of was a whole other person.
It was like they were both piloting the same airplane, but both in the captain's seat, at the same time. It was an odd feeling for Austin, he noticed, as he dodged an acidic venomous slash to the abdomen area easily. It was almost as if movement and maneuverability was easier, more flexible and definitely more agile while co-piloting his body than not — He felt much lighter, swifter and slightly more stronger. It was slightly exhilarating and addictive at the same time.
'Focus!' the Voice returned. 'We are only so in sync this well right now, because our need to survive this is a common ground for the both of us! One misdirection or distraction will sever that synchronization and we'll die!'
It was like they were both piloting the same airplane, but both in the captain's seat, at the same time. It was an odd feeling for Austin, he noticed, as he dodged an acidic venomous slash to the abdomen area easily. It was almost as if movement and maneuverability was easier, more flexible and definitely more agile while co-piloting his body than not — He felt much lighter, swifter and slightly more stronger. It was slightly exhilarating and addictive at the same time.
'It is because we are in-sync, Austin,' the Voice said before the creature hind-kicked Austin backwards, thankfully, not with its poisonous claws. 'We're faster, stronger, more agile together than apart. That doesn't mean you have permission to kill us both though! Get up!'
Groggily, Austin slowly managed to get to his feet, though somewhat dizzy, his world spinning. When he touched the back of his head, he realised that he was bleeding —Maybe he hit his head harder that he had thought, because he definitely saw more Annihilators coming from the right tunnel, near Stryker, who was still finishing his own battle, unaware of the two new threats sneaking up on him. Austin really hoped he had a concussion.
'Focus!' the Voice spoke like he had a microphone in Austin's head, though, considering their situation, Austin wouldn't have put it past him to have one somehow. Still, Austin shook his head in confusion before refocusing on his opponent.
Barrel rolling forward, Austin just barely avoided a claw slash from the creature, who attacked the spot he was just at moments before. It was then that Austin remembered his fight against his ambushers, giving Austin an idea.
"Zach!"
"What?" the boy replied.
"Weaknesses?!" Austin asked. "Do these monsters have any?"
"I don't know!" the boy replied. "No one's ever—."
"Lived to tell about it, yeah, I heard," Austin interrupted, as he had a second idea, before he threw his dagger at the enmy, a perfect shot, through the beast's eye and into it's skull. There was a static shocking sound before rising ticking sounds, which gradually got louder. Suddenly, Austin was filled with a dread of terror. 'No one's survived to tell about it,' he realized.
"Guys! I think it's gonna blow! Hit the stones!"
Then, diving himself, flat on the ground, hoping the others had heeded his warning, there was a silent millisecond of hellish silence before a boom shook the surrounding Labyrinth, and an explosion rang out. When the smoke cleared, and the nu,bing stopped, Austin, covered in more scrapes and scratches, but nothing too serious, stood up, happy that the blast seemed to have destroyed the other Annihilators in the process, and grateful when he saw that Stryker and Zach were pretty much uninjured.
He was about to say something witty, when the sound of an arrow piercing the air caught his attention much too late. What followed brought Austin more dread than the self-destruction of the Annihilator. A shirek of pain vibrated through the air, and, when Austin noticed that it was Styker's voice, he looked just in time to see the arrow THUNK its way into the teenager's side.