The cocoon pulsed with a throbbing beat.
I watched Liya's team members arguing as they left and held my breath, hoping that thing wouldn't burst before they were safe. Though I didn't care for them... devouring stronger humans only made these freaks more dangerous.
"We should attack that thing."
"Oh? You finally had a good idea!" Liya mocked me while lifting her halberd.
"Shut up. You shouldn't try—let me."
I stepped forward, raising both gauntlets. The chambers rotated with a low whirr, locking the longer-range explosive slugs into place.
Closer.
Ten meters from the cocoon.
Its outer shell rippled with black veins and sharp ridges, like it had grown armour.
Da-DANG!
Eight shots erupted from my knuckles, light and smoke flaring across the street. The blast lit the cocoon's surface in bright flashes, searing into its carapace.
The cocoon shuddered—
Then stopped pulsing entirely.
I narrowed my eyes.
Liya's smirk faded.
The cocoon stopped pulsing.
