Chapter 304 - BAD DOG!!!

Afton holds his arms out placatingly, "Down dog, good dogs don't eat people... Chill dog...?"

"Bad dog! Fibre-mesh does not taste good! Back!" Nyx joins him in trying to persuade the dog that he, and subsequently her, weren't edible.​​

Gabe just continues to approach, a deep guttural growl emitting from its throat. It circles around him as he's backed against the cave wall, Afton really wanted to save this dog... Not only because having a giant dog on your side would be useful, but because it would put him in Borous good graces, something he may need in future.

Unfortunately, the many chems Gabe had been forced to eat throughout his two-hundred-year lifespan had drastically affected his mind. Despite Afton, Nyx, and Borous' cajolery, Gabe releases a snarl before lunging.

Afton quickly reacts to the charging dog, jumping and kicking the dog in the snout as it tries to bite him, using the reaction of the dog to get thrown higher, kicking off of the wall and landing on its back. "Fine then! I'll kick the crap out of you and then we'll see how hungry you are!" he shouts as Gabe releases a howl, a sonic discharge slamming into the cavern wall and causing it to shake.

While Afton's on its back he grabs its fur to hold on before slamming his fist into the back of the dogs head, the force of which knocks it forwards and into the ground below.

He attempts another strike but finds Gabe rapidly rolling over, Afton's forced off of its body to avoid getting crushed under its metal parts, afterwards finding himself face to face with Gabe.

"I think you've made it angry!" Nyx states the obvious, sounding utterly terrified...

Not waiting for Gabe to make the first move, Afton steps forwards and punching it in the face. Wrenching its head sidewards and causing spittle to fly from the giant dogs maw. He's then forced to dodge backwards as it tries to bite his head off.

Avoiding the fatal attack, Afton raises both hands up and slams a hammer fist down onto Gabe's snout. This is apparently quite effective, as Afton is blown across the cavern by a sonic howl of the enraged beast.

[Grit is in effect]

His Perk activates as he takes damage, boosting his Strength to 12, though, whether this would be enough to overpower the beast is anyone's guess...

Afton shakes the stars from his head, trying to regain his bearing after getting thrown a large distance. Gabe is already upon him before he can react however, attempting to bite him again.

Afton thrusts his plant-arm forwards in an attempt to block it, and Gabe locks his jaws around it. Afton could feel its metal teeth piercing his limb, and groaned in pain despite the arm having much fewer pain receptors than a regular human one.

Gabe having finally found purchase on his target, tries to throw Afton around like a ragdoll, but for some reason, isn't able to... Unbeknownst to the giant dog, the cause of this is a Perk that Afton had taken quite early in his journey, [Stonewall], which makes him immune to being knocked down by melee attacks.

Still, this didn't stop Gabe's teeth from shredding Afton's arm. The only thing that stopped him losing another arm being the mutation that increased its durability.

In an attempt to get the dog to release his limb, Afton starts slamming his fist onto its snout, causing the animal a great deal of pain, but it still stubbornly keep hold. By this time, the bonus that Grit granted had increased to +4, boosting Afton's Strength to 14, and his Endurance to 12.

Afton roars as he grabs Gabe by the neck and LIFTS the dog, high in the air before slamming it back down. The impact of which causing the giant dog to let go of his mauled arm. He gives the downed animal the hardest kick he can muster which sends its body skittering across the cavern floor like a ragdoll...

He drinks in the air, breathing in heavily due to the pain occurring in his arm, as well as the exertion of lifting the animal.

"Med X and a Stimpack has been injected. Fight the good fight!" Nyx states, Afton ignoring her for now and turning to where Gabe had been thrown. The dog was tougher than he'd initially thought, if this continued he'd have to put it down, permanently.

Unfortunately, Gabe slowly got to his feet at the other end of the cavern, turning to face Afton while snarling, blood and saliva dripping from its mouth. Seems like it still wanted to fight... Fuck...

Afton looks around the cavern for anything that may be able to calm the animal... His eyes focus on one thing, from what he'd heard earlier, this may work... Or it may piss the dog off more. Regardless, if this doesn't work he's going to blow it's damn head off.

He breaks into a sprint, running towards Gabe's dog bowl as the giant dog chases after him. The dog was obviously faster than Afton, even despite his superhuman stats. The dog was rapidly approaching Afton once he reached the dog bowl.

The bowl wasn't the thing Afton intended to use however, no, instead he grabbed the waterpipe and bent it, pointing it towards Gabe before breaking off the valve, causing a large spray of water to smash into the dogs face.

"Bad dog!" Afton roars, unconsciously using his [Unnerving Presence] Perk to intimidate the beast. Nyx follows her user and begins chiding the dog as well, Borous doing the same over the intercom not long after.

Gabe himself after receiving a large spray of water to his face and snout seems to gather some degree of intelligence. Unconsciously sitting on his hind legs and whimpering.

"Bad dog! Sit!" Afton continues, hoping the dog wouldn't begin attacking him again...