That was surprising enough, but what happened next left me speechless.
“The poison isn’t working, hmm?” The creature began to speak, its voice clear and distinct. “You seem to have some sort of resistance. I do run into such humans from time to time.”
The crimson lizard-man was staring at us, its tail swinging wildly from side to side.
“It doesn’t matter, though. The only difference is whether you die now or later.”
“Don’t try to act tough,” said Tsav. “You can’t kill me. You’re trying to buy time by talking to us. That proves you’re scared.”
He had a point. I didn’t need Loradd to tell this guy was just stalling. The plan was probably to paralyze us and then have faeries swarm in and finish the job.
“How dare you…?” Necrus said, groaning between heavy breaths. He was now crawling across the ground. “Six-Eyes! It’s you! The Uthob Front, Unit 7110…!”
The moment I heard that name, I forgot all the pain I was feeling. I wasn’t dreaming—he’d just said the name of that unit.
Hmph. So Necrus knows about Unit 7110, too.
That meant he knew everything, including who was calling the shots. If Unit 7110 was real, it had to have a commander, and that commander had to be getting orders from someone.
I just need to make Necrus talk! Him, or that damn lizard! Either way, we’re finally gonna find out who’s behind this!
The one problem was that my body was now completely numb. Dammit. Perfect timing. I had to stay conscious, at least. I forced my eyes open and listened intently as Necrus shouted.
“What is the meaning of this, Six-Eyes?!” He clearly had some fight left in him. “Why are you attacking me, too? How dare you betray me?!”
“Sorry, but it’s the new boss’s policy. When someone outlives their usefulness, we cut ’em loose.” The lizard didn’t even glance at him. His gaze remained fixed on Tsav.
“Oh, so I guess they’re gonna get rid of you, too, huh?” Tsav was good at belittling others at times like this. His smug expression was inconceivably irritating. “That’s fine, though. I’m no good at holding back anyway.”
“Are you trying to provoke me to attack you or scare me into staying still?”
“Neither, but good try! I’m giving you advice on how to live a long life. If you cry and apologize now, I might forgive you. Aren’t I just the nicest guy in the whole world?”
“Hmph. Ridiculous.”
As Tsav raised his sniper staff, the lizard-man let go of the wall and fell to the ground, signaling the start of the battle.
“If you’re in that much of a rush to die,” said the lizard-man, “then let me help you.”
“Heh-heh! That’s the line of a loser if I ever heard one!”
Tsav fired his weapon as his mocking laughter filled the room. But his shot met an unexpected resistance. The lizard-man’s exoskeleton-covered forearm deflected it, sending it veering off toward the ceiling. It seemed this creature’s shell rivaled even Demon Lord Awd Goggie’s.
“Whoa! That’s some thick skin!” Tsav whistled. “But I still think it’s best for you to slink away with your tail between your legs.”
Tsav was taunting him on purpose. The lizard-man dodged successive bolts from Tsav’s staff, its body wriggling to and fro. But he didn’t try to flee. Instead, he launched himself straight at Tsav.
“Oh wow. That was a piece of cake! Bro, did you see how easily I just baited this idiot?!”