Chapter 322: Aerial monsters
Freya and Jormungandr’s eyes burned with focus and determination as they led Ouroboros, the Royal Guards, Viserin, and the forty Turkin soldiers forward at peak speed.
Every muscle strained, every breath measured—they knew that reaching the hive fast was paramount. Vlad’s chance to infiltrate beyond the border of Karman Country without detection depended on them drawing the monsters’ full attention. They had to become a terror so great that the hive would fixate solely on them.
Their relentless pace would normally lead to exhaustion, but Jormungandr’s space ring, brimming with potions, proved invaluable. Each member of the group carried elixirs that could rejuvenate them instantly, allowing them to fight for hours non stop, even if they had been on the brink of exhaustion moments before. The impending backlash from the potions was a problem for another time.
After nearly half a day of running—crossing abandoned towns and weaving through dense forests—the group approached the massive, murky expanse of the Agada River. The river’s dark waters flowed sluggishly, polluted and thick with waste. Suddenly, Jormungandr raised a paw, signaling the group to halt and take cover behind a formation of jagged rocks.
"What is it?" Freya whispered, her eyes scanning the riverbank.
Jormungandr’s fiery eyes narrowed. "They’re here." Thanks to the A.I. Chip, the small yellow cat could detect presences others could not.
Emerging from the river’s depths was a swarm of the insect-like drones they had encountered. However, this time, new, more formidable creatures were among them. These monstrosities were a grotesque fusion of ants and crabs, with horrifying insectoid features that made them true nightmares—three times larger than the normal drones.
They possessed bulky, armored exoskeletons dripping with dark, viscous liquid, likely their own corrupted black blood or some eerie secretion. Jagged, spiked ridges covered their shells, enhancing their terrifying appearance. Massive claws, reminiscent of crab pincers, menaced from their sides—sharp and menacing, capable of crushing anything in their path. These claws also dripped with the same black liquid, adding to their monstrous aesthetic.
Their bodies were supported by multiple segmented legs, each ending in hooked, barbed points that allowed them to move swiftly and with deadly precision. The creatures’ heads were truly insect-like, with large, bulbous compound eyes reflecting a soulless, predatory intelligence. Sharp, jagged mandibles jutted from their mouths, ready to tear apart prey.