Razor-sharp fangs and claws erupted from the beast's maw as it lunged toward 35. The beast who once-soft fur hardened into shimmering, obsidian scales, rippling with muscle beneath.
As it closed the distance, a pair of powerful boosters ignited on 35's back, while one hand changed into a menacing blaster, the other morphing into a sharp blade.
*****
"Alright, let's split into pairs," Nyx said, "We're too frazzled to think straight. Maybe getting this mission done will help us all relax a bit."
"What about those who ambushed us?" Ava said.
"We have the advantage on land, so this shouldn't be a problem," said Nyx. "Let's leave that issue for now since we can't access any devices."
"So, who wants to team up with me?" Nyx asked, glancing at Ava. Where Ava just subtly avoided eye contact.
"Aster, you grab the other capsule. I'll go with you," Ava said, already heading towards Aster.
Sam smirked at Nyx. "Looks like it's just the two of us again,"
---
***
---
(Sean's POV)
This could be my chance. I could easily take him off guard, but I need to wait for the perfect moment.
Thirty-five kept firing as he dodged out of the beast's reach. The beast roared, its claws swinging where he'd just been. 35 fell, but jumped up fast and landed with ease, ready for the next attack.
When the beast lunged, Thirty-Five darted past it, blade flashing. A deep cut tore across its side. The creature howled in pain, staggering.
---
***
---
(Nyx/Sam POV)
The humid air hung heavy in the towering forest as Sam and Nyx moved silently.
"What about the captain?" Sam asked, concern lacing her voice.
"He needs space," Nyx replied. "Don't worry, he can handle himself."
"You sure this is the right place?" Nyx asked
Sam nodded "Based on the intel, this is where we'll find Specimen B,". "Given its size, massive trees make sense. But we need to be careful. It's fast, but not particularly durable."
"So, it shouldn't be that hard," Nyx said.
Nyx's eyes sharpened, his enhanced vision searching out for their target in the distance. "Speaking of which..." he murmured, his gaze locked on the target specimen named the sky serpent.
---
***
---
(Ava/Aster POV)
"Lady, don't go to the front," Aster said, concern on his face.
"I'm not your kid," Ava retorted, her voice sharp.
"That's not what I meant," Aster quickly clarified. "It's just… our pride as the front defense force. Since this is our first encounter with this type of worm—"
"It's not a worm. It's a damn snake," Ava interrupted. Her eyes assessing the cave entrance before. "It'll be troublesome. It's incredibly fast, with only one weakness—its head. I'll keep slicing until I reach it."
"I'll help create that opportunity," Aster added, her hand resting on the hilt of her weapon.
They stood at the mouth of the cave, ready.
---
***
---
(Sean's POV)
The beast howled again as Thirty-Five's blades sliced deep, but instead of falling back, it grew more furious. It lunged—too fast this time.
Thirty-Five raised his arms, shifting them into armored shields just in time to absorb the blow. The impact was brutal. He felt the sickening crunch of metal as his defenses shattered, his arms pinned. Frustration flared.
"stop wasting of my time," he muttered, in frustrated.
Electricity crackled across his body. With a surge of energy, he released a shockwave that stunned the beast.
Then.
A glowing blue light gathered in his palm, forming a massive cannon. It drew energy from the very air, humming with power. He launched it skyward.
The explosion that followed shattered the stillness, echoing across the land like thunder.
---
***
---
(Nyx/Sam POV)
(Sky Serpents)
Nyx squeezed the trigger. The high-velocity round streaked towards the Sky Serpent, but the creature's incredible speed allowed it to evade the shot at the last second. It weaved through the trees with impossible agility, a blur of iridescent feathers and shadow.
"Damn it," Nyx growled, quickly reloading. "It's too fast. Even these rounds can't keep up."
They continued the chase, moving silently through the massive tree. A careless move could mean certain death.
"Alright. Here's the plan," Nyx whispered. "Sam, distract it. I'll take the shot when I can."
"I need it to slow down," Nyx added, adjusting the scope again. "Just a little."
The Sky Serpent, a terrifying creature, swooped low, its sharp talons extended.
Nyx held her breath, her sniper rifle steady. Sam, assault rifle ready, watched intently.
"Sam, wait for it… wait for it…" Nyx whispered, tracking the bird's erratic movements.
**Go!**
Sam unleashed a controlled burst of fire, each shot precisely aimed to disrupt the creature's flight path, forcing it into a series of evasive maneuvers. The forest echoed with the sharp crack of her rifle, punctuated by the Sky Serpent's furious screeches.
The creature retaliated, unleashing a volley of razor-sharp feathers that whistled past Sam's head. Powerful gusts of wind from its wings buffeted her, but she held her ground, using the dense undergrowth for cover.
The Sky Serpent recovered, its eyes blazing with anger. Nyx seized the opportunity, firing a specialized tranquilizer dart. The creature's movements slowed noticeably; it began to plummet towards the forest floor.
"Nice shot, Nyx!" Sam exclaimed, rushing towards the downed serpent. "Let's get that DNA sample and get out of here!"
As they approached the stunned creature, Sam carefully collected the DNA sample while Nyx maintained a vigilant watch, her rifle trained on the still-dangerous serpent.
"Got it!" Nyx whispered, her voice filled with tension. "Sample secured. Let's move."
They left the serpent alive, its massive body sprawled among the roots as it slipped into unconsciousness.
---
***
---
(Ava/Aster POV)
The humid air hung heavy as Ava and Aster faced the colossal worm. Its obsidian scales glinted under the dim jungle canopy, its forked tongue flicking out with unsettling speed. Specimen A was far larger than their intel had indicated; this was no mere worm, but a monstrous serpent, easily fifty feet long, its body thick as a truck.
"Ready, Ava?" Aster grunted, the massive backpack-mounted missile launcher digging into his shoulders. He adjusted the targeting system, his breath misting in the damp air.
Ava nodded, her twin blades held loosely at her sides, her eyes locked on the worm's sinuous movements. "Let's do this."
The worm attacked first, a blur of muscle and scale. Aster reacted instantly, using his missile launcher not as a weapon, but as a shield, deflecting the initial strike. The force of the impact sent tremors through the ground. He then used the momentum of the deflected attack to launch himself forward, bringing the butt of his launcher down hard on the worm's head with a resounding crack. The blow stunned the creature, momentarily halting its advance, but it was only a brief reprieve.
The worm roared, a sound like grinding rocks, and lashed out with its tail, sending Aster sprawling. He rolled, avoiding the crushing blow, and scrambled to his feet, his eyes burning with fury. The creature was faster, stronger, and far more resilient than he'd anticipated.
Seizing the opportunity, Ava leaped onto the creature's back, her blades a whirlwind of motion against its scales. The worm bucked and writhed violently, attempting to throw her off. Ava clung on, her grip tenacious, her movements fluid and precise as she danced across the creature's back, avoiding its snapping jaws and thrashing tail. She managed to deliver several strikes, but the scales proved incredibly tough, deflecting most of her blows.
Aster, meanwhile, unleashed a volley of smaller missiles, each one carefully aimed to disrupt the creature's movements. The explosions rocked the jungle, creating a deafening cacophony. The worm, momentarily distracted, stumbled, giving Ava a crucial window of opportunity.
With a fierce cry, Ava plunged one blade into the worm's flank, extracting a small tissue sample with a specialized tool attached to her belt. The worm roared in pain, its movements becoming even more erratic and violent.
Enraged, the worm thrashed wildly, its tail sweeping across the jungle floor, uprooting trees and sending debris flying. Aster, dodging the debris, fired another missile, this one a larger, more powerful explosive. The blast sent the worm reeling, momentarily stunning it once more.
Ava, seeing her chance, leaped clear, landing gracefully several feet away. She sheathed her blades, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Mission accomplished," she said, a weary smile playing on her lips. Aster, breathing heavily, grunted in agreement. The battle with the worm was won,
Are we allowed to kill it, aster ask
They didn't say that were not allowed to do it. Ava answer
but before they could celebrate, a distant, earth-shattering explosion commanded their attention.
---
***
---
(Sean's POV)
35 slumped after the attack he created, his power drained. 35 knelt, taking a short break. but his senses remained sharp. His eyes darted around, alert to any sudden movement.
A gun materialized at his back, pointed directly at him.
"You had time to hide, but you chose death. Hiding wouldn't have made a difference," Thirty-five said toward Sean who's right now aiming his weapon at him.
The air thickened suddenly, like reality itself turned against him. Gravity spiked. Sean dropped to one knee, sweat beading instantly. His limbs strained.
Gravity itself seemed to shift, pulling everything downward. The pressure was suffocating.
Sean struggled to his feet, muscles straining. Ahead of him, Thirty-Five stood calmly, his hand morphed into a weapon, already aimed. His glowing red eyes locked onto Sean with a cold, unreadable intensity.