The battlefield was scorched. Smoke curled into the sky, ash drifting like snowfall across the ruined port. Burnt-out husks of cars smouldered, and the stench of vaporised concrete and holy vengeance lingered in the air.
Kai stood hunched beside a hulking, scaly mass, chest heaving. His skin was scorched, blood-crusted and raw in places, but he was alive.
The only reason?
"Lenny…" Kai breathed, still trying to believe his own eyes.
The mutant lizard stood proudly, or as proudly as a giant humanoid lizard that had just taken on the Messiah's Divine Retribution attack directly could.
"That stung a little," Lenny muttered again, flexing his claws as golden steam wafted off his back.
Kai wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, then burst out laughing. "You're actually serious, huh?"
Lenny blinked. "Serious about what?"
"That was an insane attack that could instantly level a small city! And you just tanked it like it was a warm shower."
