Chapter 333: Elite units (I)
Vlad’s eyes narrowed as an overwhelming sense of danger surged through him. Part of him urged him to delve deeper, to uncover more about these formidable creatures and the origin of the hive, but his instincts screamed a warning: proceeding further could be fatal.
Weighing his options, the Depravita of Wrath clenched his fists and made a swift decision. Survival was paramount. There was no point in uncovering every secret of the hive if he wasn’t alive to share it.
He turned sharply and sprinted away from the ominous obsidian obelisk looming in the distance. The dense forest enveloped him, shadows stretching like grasping hands as he weaved between ancient trees. Twisted roots jutted from the ground, threatening to trip him, but he navigated them with practiced agility.
Returning north wasn’t wise; the hive’s presence was too concentrated there. Instead, he decided to head east, where the hive’s influence appeared to be less oppressive. His boots pounded against the forest floor as he pushed himself harder.
As he moved further east, the number of drones began to diminish. The eerie silence that had pressed upon him lifted, replaced by the distant murmurs of the ocean. Relief flickered in his chest—a brief respite from the relentless pursuit. But as he reached the coastline of Makey Country, his hope was short-lived.
Emerging from the mist-laden forest, Vlad caught sight of a towering figure that made his blood run cold. Standing about three and a half meters tall, the creature loomed over its surroundings with a twisted, humanoid form.
It was a monstrous amalgamation of organic and corrupted materials, its body covered in writhing tendrils and jagged appendages. Its skin was dark, mottled with rough textures resembling hardened shells and twisted flesh, exuding a sense of primal, unstoppable force.
Its massive limbs were thick and muscular, ending in claw-like hands with elongated fingers designed for destruction. Large, grotesque growths extended from its back—possibly mutated wings or additional limbs.
Vlad’s heart skipped a beat. This was unlike any hive creature he had encountered before. While he had seen insect-humanoid hybrids with four legs during his journey south, these creatures were something else entirely. They moved with shocking speed across the terrain, adapting seamlessly to their environment. Though he saw only one or two at a time, he suspected there were at least a dozen lurking nearby.