Chapter 318: The dark hunger (II)
Just as Jormungandr had said, there were thousands of tiny creatures—each resembling a hybrid of crabs and beetles, less than two centimeters tall. Their sleek, chitinous exoskeletons gleamed faintly in the light as they moved with unsettling coordination.
The streets were alive with them, swarming over walls, roofs, and the ground itself. The sheer number was staggering.
"What are they?" Freya whispered, her hand instinctively gripping her weapon.
Vlad narrowed his eyes, analyzing the creatures. "I’ve never seen anything like this before."
Viserin stepped forward cautiously. "They seem to be... consuming."
Indeed, as they watched, the tiny creatures gnawed at wooden beams, stone foundations, and even metal fixtures. Despite their size, their collective effort was causing noticeable damage. Every single ounce of heteromorphic biomass was collected. They used their pincers to grab larger pieces and opened their mouths, releasing tendrils to latch onto smaller objects, even sucking blood and other fluids from any surface.
Vlad and the others observed the creatures from a distance, their eyes narrowing as they took in the unsettling sight. The crab-beetle hybrids moved and worked in an eerie and mesmerizing way. Each creature operated with surgical precision, none hindering the other; their collective effort was terrifyingly efficient. It was as if they were all parts of a single, well-oiled machine, dismantling and consuming everything in their path.
"Look at how they move," Freya whispered. "It’s like they’re sharing one mind."
"An impeccable level of coordination," Jormungandr added, his eyes reflecting both fascination and dread.