Chapter 23: Weak
A low groan echoed as a colossal beast crashed violently to the ground. Anywhere else, this monster would've flattened cities. But here? It was just food.
Hundreds of black metal serpents—extensions of Elian's Living Metal—descended upon it. The Soldier Ant fought back—its massive jaws snapping through metal—but within seconds, five of its six legs were gone.
With only one leg left it couldn't even roll on the ground. It squirmed helplessly as a black figure leapt on its thorax. A loud impact made the air tremble. It was as if the weight of the world pressed on the monster.
THUD.
Elian's immense mass bore down on the Soldier ant. Sharp cracking sounds echoed as parts of the monster's carapace cracked under the stress. It screamed and called for its allies all while thrashing. Yet besides the corpses around it, no one else came.
Not really caring about his prey, Elian ripped apart the torn sections of the Ant while it was still alive.
KUUUU!!!!
No longer fazed by anything the Ant ever did, Elian quickly found the core and had one of his snakes take a bite. He held the fragment in his palm then absorbed it. A second later, root-like tendrils exploded out of Elian's chest and skewered the Soldier's core.
"Bianca."
"I hope this tastes better. The last one was positively foul."
"When we find a taste you enjoy, we will hunt to your heart's content. For now, please bear with it."