Chapter 132: Fury
Richard then broke the silence, his voice steady. "While Jack and I were on the way to the HQ almost three months ago, we were ambushed by some NPA members near Iligan City." He paused, letting the information sink in, before dropping the bomb. "I... kinda read their minds."
Estello’s eyes widened further, if that were possible. "You can read minds now?!" The words were a strangled whisper. Estello knew Richard had changed, had become powerful beyond human comprehension, but this was another level entirely. It was an intrusion into the most sacred of spaces, a power that transcended physical might.
Richard nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes, I can and one of the memories I accessed, one of the most chilling, was of this particular monstrosity." He pointed a finger at the suspended Krill, his voice hardening. "It was slaughtering and cannibalizing their camps, leaving only a few survivors. Those survivors were then ordered to kidnap me and Jack. By it." He pointed again, indicating Alpha-0. "I don’t know the full reason yet, but I would guess it was acting under orders from a higher rank."
Estello ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing, trying to assimilate this new, impossible reality. Not only did these monsters exist, but their capability to use human insurgents as pawns was unimaginable, a level of insidious control he hadn’t conceived of.
Then, Lina’s calm, synthesized voice cut through the stunned silence, pulling their attention to her analytical station. "Sirs, I have additional, critical information regarding their race. Information obtained during Subject Alpha-0’s exchange." Her words, precise and chilling, laid bare the terrifying history and structure of the Krill Empire.
"The Krill are an interstellar civilization, their empire brutally founded on power and close-quarters combat. Their hierarchy ascends from the common Krill, through Chancellors, then Dukes—who serve as Nobles and military commanders—and four Kings, all culminating in their Emperor, Krill Mainu. The Emperor is of immense scale, approximately two hundred feet tall, with golden scales, powerful wings, and crowned horns that allow him to breathe fire, a similar form would be the mythical dragons—the paramount symbol of honor among their kind."
Jack let out a low whistle, almost a gulp. "Dragons? Like, actual fire-breathing dragons from legends?" His voice was laced with a mixture of childlike wonder and growing horror.
Estello’s brow furrowed, a grim expression spreading across his face. "This gets worse and worse. Myths turning real. What else have they ’inspired’?"
Lina continued. "Krill diligently seek to earn silver scales, wings, and horns throughout their lives; these marks of immense hardship and evolution are believed to ensure their souls’ safe passage from a ’Great Eternal Fire’ to join their revered ancestors in an afterlife."
"The true horror began with their ancient arrival on Earth—then called Terralia—around four hundred and fifty thousand years ago. The planet teemed with early humans, a species possessing inherent supernatural abilities. The Krill, initially curious, became consumed by envy of these powers: your capacity to conjure structures with thought, communicate telepathically, and achieve flight without mechanical aid. This envy culminated when Emperor Mainu himself violated a sacred rule, killing and consuming a human child. From this barbaric act, he discovered that Krill could gain these coveted abilities, this very essence, by ingesting humans, specifically their blood."