He slid down the pole and took a lower stance. Marco went first, the pole smacked him on the side of the shin and he jumped, flipping himself with the momentum. He sliced downwards attempting to cut through the staff, swinging with all his force. The impact sent waves through his body, the material of it so sturdy that striking it did nothing but push him mid air and buried the tip of the staff into the ground. He took aim, the moment his aim lined up with the astronaut's head, he fired.
The astronaut ducked, and as he did, Bodhi came out from under Marco and smashed his helmet with an uppercut. With his right hand, he ran his fist into his face with the exoskeleton, the astronaut's body snapped back but he remained on his feet.
In the meantime, Hamzah slowly walked to the left along the edge, careful not to fall as he "looked" for an angle. Right before the strike, he aimed at a spot near the ground behind the man and fired. His head fell into place, being blasted from the side.
He spun around, flailing the staff around the air. He smacked Bodhi on the side of the body who blocked it with his right, a small crack forming on the spot where Marco had hit before. He got tossed towards Marco who caught him while he was upside down mid air. They both fell to the ground, scattering to stand up while the astronaut raised his staff. Hamzah fired, hitting the staff and stopping the strike.
Back to square one, They moved about 90 degrees clockwise. The astronaut stood with his back to the cocoon which was now pulsing harder and harder. The black mass pulsated and expanded in size, crushing and crumbling the roof of the canopy.
Marco wiped his mustache with the back of his hand, Feeling it thickened with blood once again. The astronaut felt his mask with his glove, intact, the blunt impact doing nothing but delaying his next move. He slammed the staff over his shoulder, a loud crack as he snapped it in two. He took both ends in his hands, the broken ends creatin almost sharp crystal like blades where they once met.
Bodhi went first, dashing low, almost in all fours as he quickly approached him. Marco followed up quick, sticking right to his rear as he shot at the astronaut. He blocked all the shots, smacking them away with his right hand as he ran at them. He flipped over the one in his left, holding it in with the broken end down. Shooting it down at lightning speed, Marco hit it with his sword right before it hit Bodhi in the back.
The parry pointed the end towards himself. The astronaut seemingly looked up as he saw Marco jump towards him, grabbing onto the his left hand and wrist and stabbing the object into the middle of his chest. With his right, he swung the staff up and smacked him straight to the back of the head with immense force.
Rather than falling or relenting, Marco somehow got the strength to grab on more tightly. His left hand which once held his sword now gripped onto his enemy's staff, his force so strong that it pained him to hold on. He spun himself around, planting both of his feet on his shoulders.
The astronaut went for another strike, but Bodhi grabbed onto his right and pulled it towards with all his force. It was barely enough to stop him, the astronaut taking the opportunity as he smashed the back of his hand into his face. He gritted his teeth, sucking in the pain as he felt his face rapidly swell.
Hamzah from a distance fired as he slowly stepped closer. A soft whirr stirred within him as he approached slowly. Shot after shot, his gunfire did nothing to the astronaut's suit. An idea crossed his mind.
"Marco, pull the staff out now." Said Hamzah as he stepped right in front of the man. Marco looked down at him, in that instant, using all his force to pull the staff out His arms raised to the air. Hamzah stuck the barrel of his gun into the astronaut's suit, unloading one powerful shot which also blew air from within his jacket. He unloaded as much as he could, retreating only when the astronaut swung his arm in his direction.
It's arms flailed wildly, Bodhi, who was hanging on, was lifted and smashed down, slamming his back into the floor. He spun around on the spot, nearing the edge while throwing his limbs in every direction. Marco went to jump, he was only an inch from his shoulders as he felt a firm grasp on his ankle. His entire body was swung around like a mace in the air before being pulled into a tight hug. He could feel a blast of cold air coming from his general chest area as they both fell over the edge.
Hamzah helped Bodhi to his feet who cracked his back before looking over the edge. Nothing, only the endless limbs of the thousand or so C class altered down below. They looked up at the cocoon, it's rhythm having stopped, the hands no longer reaching out from within it. It's pulsing colors were now a steady black void with the occasional dash of red.
"We're shit outta luck I guess. What the hell even is that thing?" Bodhi mouthed as he rubbed his own back. Hamzah stared up at it, his mouth slightly open. "You 'see' something, friend?" Through his Duplex, Hamzah replied.
"It's like the void, but, instead of space its millions of them, compressed into one spot. We need to get out of here no-" A loud boom erupted from the pillar, black smoke filled the room quickly with a loud hiss that reverberated through their bodies. Both of them were pushed back a good distance, standing next to the entrance to the room. They looked forward, from the torrent emerged the astronaut in hand. He held Marco in his hand.
Placing Marco in front of himself, he held Marco from behind his head, his body limp. The astronaut's mask was cracked, the same darkness from behind him releasing from within. His right hand undid a buckle around his neck. He slipped it off, revealing a completely pale face, almost blue. Long blonde hair flowed up with a black stream that came from his suit.
His cheeks were sunken, his eyes hollowed and completely black with no remnant of light within them. He blinked slowly as he lifted Marco in front of himself. His mouth opened.
"Prepare for doom." A skeletal raspy voice erupted from within, covering the entirety of the chamber from within every direction. He squeezed his hand, digging into Marco neck and shriveling into a crinkled bloody pulp, it nearly becoming detached from his boy as his spine was the only thing holding both parts together. The astronaut threw his limp body into the black mist that cascaded into the now hidden cocoon.