I Devour the Leftovers

Chapter 17: The Battle of the Scrap Fields

The Rustborn came like a plague of locusts. They were a horde of mutants, their skin flaking off in patches of rust, their eyes glowing with a sickly orange light. They didn't march. They swarmed, a chaotic mass of blades, clubs, and rusted metal.

The Ironclad formed a shield wall. Seven scavengers, their patchwork armor gleaming in the grey light. They were outnumbered ten to one.

Mara stood at the center, her spear raised. "Hold the line!"

Kaelen stood behind them. He didn't join the shield wall. He was the hammer.

The Rustborn crashed into the Ironclad. The sound of metal on metal, of flesh being torn, filled the air.

Kaelen moved.

He didn't use a weapon. He used his body. His Living Metal Shell was impervious to the Rustborn's crude blades. He grabbed the first mutant that came at him and crushed its skull with his bare hand.

He waded into the fray. He was a machine of destruction. He punched, he kicked, he threw bodies. The Rustborn were no match for his strength and speed.

But there were too many. The Ironclad's line began to buckle. Mara was surrounded.

Kaelen saw an opening. He grabbed a large, rusted girder from the ground. He swung it like a bat.

CRACK!

The girder connected with a group of Rustborn, sending them flying.

He reached Mara's side. She was bleeding from a gash on her arm, but she was still fighting.

"Fall back!" Kaelen shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Can't!" Mara gasped. "They'll overrun us!"

Kaelen looked at the horde. He saw their weakness. They were mindless. They followed the leader.

He spotted him. A massive mutant, twice the size of the others, covered in layers of rusted plate. The Rust Champion.

Kaelen didn't hesitate. He charged.

He plowed through the lesser mutants, using his strength to clear a path. He reached the Rust Champion.

The Champion swung a massive, rusted axe. Kaelen ducked. The axe whistled over his head.

He drove his shoulder into the Champion's gut. The mutant staggered back.

Kaelen didn't stop. He grabbed the Champion's axe arm and twisted. Crunch. The bone snapped.

The Champion roared in pain.

Kaelen finished it. He drove his fist, encased in his Living Metal Shell, into the Champion's chest. The rusted plate crumpled. The mutant fell, dead.

Without their leader, the Rustborn faltered. They hesitated.

"Push them back!" Mara screamed.

The Ironclad rallied. They drove the Rustborn back, forcing them to retreat into the wasteland.

The battle was over.

Kaelen stood amidst the c*****e. He was covered in blood and rust. He looked at the fallen Rustborn. They were a source of residue.

He began to collect the Rust Cores—small, orange crystals that glowed in their chests.

[Consumption: Rust Core x12]

[Parasite Evolution: +3.0%]

[Trait Acquired: Corrosion Immunity]

Kaelen looked at Mara. She was leaning on her spear, exhausted.

"You saved us," she said, her voice hoarse.

Kaelen said nothing. He just turned and walked away, carrying the Rust Cores.

He had what he needed. And he was stronger.