Chapter 428: Taking down the Harvesters (III)
The battle raged in the skies, with Vlad at its epicenter, his body cloaked in blazing fire and lightning that surged with relentless ferocity. The aerial drones swarmed around him like locusts, their attacks ineffective against his armor yet frustratingly disruptive. They obstructed his vision and disrupted his movements, giving the Elite Units perfect opportunities to strike from blind spots. Despite their overwhelming numbers, Vlad’s resolve was unshakable.
With a burst of energy, Vlad propelled himself forward, fists clenched and crackling with lightning. His speed and strength were unparalleled, each movement precise and devastating. He dodged a razor-sharp claw aimed for his neck, twisting mid-air and slamming his fist into an Elite Unit’s torso. The creature’s carapace cracked under the force, sending it spiraling downward, but before he could press his advantage, two more Elite Units descended upon him, claws seeking flesh.
Vlad twisted his body, his lightning-infused kick meeting one of the attackers mid-air, obliterating its head. The other Elite Unit attempted to grab him, but he used his momentum to twist free, firing a concentrated bolt of lightning into its chest, incinerating the creature. The swarm, however, was relentless. The Elite Units coordinated flawlessly, creating openings for their allies while covering their weaknesses. It was like fighting a singular, coordinated entity, one of the most terrifying aspects of the hive mind.
"I need to get closer to the ground," Vlad muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the battlefield below. The Harvesters were his primary target, and he couldn’t allow them to escape with the biomass. Yet, every time he tried to descend, the swarm tightened around him, forcing him back into a defensive position.
A roar erupted from Vlad as he surged downward, fists glowing with fiery energy. He punched through the drones, scattering them like debris, his speed creating shockwaves that rippled through the air. An Elite Unit appeared in his path, claws extended, but Vlad intercepted it with a lightning-fast uppercut, shattering its jaw and sending it crashing to the ground. Another Elite Unit lunged at his flank, but he spun and unleashed a devastating roundhouse kick, the force of which sent the creature careening into a group of drones, obliterating them in a fiery explosion.
Finally, Vlad broke through the swarm’s tight formation and positioned himself above a Harvester. His eyes glowed as a searing beam of energy erupted from his gaze, slicing cleanly through the Harvester’s massive body, setting the biomass within ablaze. Flames erupted from the creature, and it let out a guttural scream as it collapsed, spilling its contents across the ground.
A triumphant smile crossed Vlad’s face, but it was short-lived. Two Elite Units capitalized on his momentary vulnerability, their fists slamming into his chest in unison. The impact sent him hurtling upward, tumbling through the air as he regained control. While the attack hadn’t damaged him severely, it pushed him further away from the battlefield, making it more difficult to strike again. Igniting his energy once more, Vlad dived back into the fray.
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On the ground, Freya and Ouroboros were locked in their own brutal battle. Surrounded by waves of Leviathan warriors and swarms of aerial units above, the duo fought with unyielding determination. Freya’s mace slammed into an insect-humanoid hybrid, crushing its exoskeleton and sending it sprawling. She raised her shield just in time to block a clawed strike from another warrior, the impact rattling her arms but leaving her unscathed.