Chapter 77: Crashing the Spine
Zack cursed under his breath, realizing there was no way to avoid the mutated tiger's gaping, bloody maw. Gritting his teeth, he swung his chain sword straight at its mouth. The massive jaws clamped down, but Zack had already yanked his arm back just in time. He activated the leg reflex assist in his nanosuit and yelled, "Thruster!"
Boom!
The boosters roared to life, launching Zack upward with explosive force. He rocketed out of the tiger's grip and slammed into the roof of the tunnel. His chain sword, however, remained lodged in the tiger's mouth. The saw's jagged teeth began grinding furiously against the tiger's jaw, spewing blood everywhere.
"ROAR!!" The mutant tiger thrashed violently, shaking its massive head to dislodge the sword. Blood splattered across the tunnel as it growled in pain and fury, but no matter how hard it shook, the weapon remained lodged.
Zack dropped back down, landing heavily on the tunnel floor. His gaze hardened as he barked a command. "Power amplification mode!" In an instant, the nanosuit's fibers began to glow faintly red as the internal mechanisms hummed to life. The artificial spine's hydrogen battery pumped energy into Zack's system. The nanofibers in the suit burrowed deeper into his skin, syncing perfectly with his muscles.
"Let's see what you've got," he snarled. Zack's eyes were bloodshot, his veins pulsing under the suit's influence. He clenched his fists, and with a single leap, the ground beneath him cracked and shattered. He launched himself at the mutant tiger like a missile. Despite the overwhelming size difference, Zack's momentum was devastating.
Boom!
The impact was like a cannonball hitting a drum. The massive tiger staggered, its body crashing to one side. The sight of the comparatively tiny Zack forcing the colossal beast to stumble was both shocking and satisfying.
"ROAR!" The tiger swung its massive tail through the air, the sound of its movement like a whip slicing through the wind. The tail slammed toward Zack with terrifying force.