Ryan Tanner crouched behind a low concrete wall, clutching his automatic gun tightly. His breath came in shallow bursts as he scanned the dark base.
The manta ray reptiles, tails charged with electricity that made them bright beacons for targets, flew near the ground. Their thick underside like a mockery, every roar resulted in a shockwave that destroyed half a building.
“Tanner, you draw its attention and keep it busy. I’ll circle around and take it down from behind.” Charlie’s voice crackled through his earpiece.
Groaning in distaste, Ryan ran ahead and disappeared into a building. He didn’t want to be a decoy, even if it was for his own platoon leader. His pride was too big for such a small role like support.
He wanted to take down the alien monster and get the glory for himself.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Charlie sounded more aggravated, “I said, you’re the decoy!”
R
Jed didn’t know if the threats he said to Ricky were enough to snap him back to reality. But, he believed that stupid blond would stop panicking and show his true potential.He didn’t really know what’s the deal with Ricky. As long as he observed, Ricky was always panicking one time, and could easily kick ass in the other. For all he knows, the blond might also suffer from the same mental illness as Ellie Hawkins. Bipolar disorder or something like that.Either way, he also delivered the weakness of that manta ray reptile to the platoon leader Charlie Odell. He had contributed to the team. Now, he had an alibi, in case he needed to disappear and eat some cores.Shaking his head to clear his mind, Jed gripped the special weapon in his hand. Thankfully, the security measurement was off, so he didn’t have to fear another crippling, agonising paralysis anymore. His mission now was to carry the heavy warhammer through the dark base to where Ma
Max stood in confidence despite the raging storm above Nevaksha Base. The rain pelted down, turning the ground muddy. His specialised weapon, the warhammer, hummed with his synergy force.EXA-4.03Extraterrestrial Armament number four, third prototype.A warhammer made using an alien monster’s unique body parts to draw out its specific strength. The ability to manipulate gravity. Especially made for Max. It was in his hands now, after what felt like an eternity.He glanced at the person who threw the warhammer towards him, while also targeting the humanoid alien’s back in a measly attack. It was none other than that three percent thug. ‘Jed Hunter, was it?’Jed flinched at him, probably due to his destroyed eye. It left a horrid hole on his face, a mockery to his own handsomeness. No matter.He didn’t know how the weakling did this. His specialised weapon was supposed to have a security measurement that wo
On the east side of Nevaksha Base.Ricky chuckled as the small blade in his hand glinted menacingly. He set his eyes on the flying manta ray reptiles above his head. Without warning, they swooped down with open beaks. They roared, sending a shockwave that forced Ricky to dodge in haste. But, that didn’t stop him from attacking.His blade flashed, and a burst of energy sliced through one of the creature’s wings. Ut let out a piercing shriek and veered off course, crashing into a wall.The second manta ray reptile was quicker, darting toward Ricky with blinding speed and long electrified tail that shot a thunder his way. He rolled to the side and swung his blade, releasing another burst of energy. The light seared through the air, striking the flying predator and sending it reeling.Before he could celebrate it, the first manta ray reptile ws back on flight. It roared at him.Ricky dodged the shockwave that could destroy half a building,
Max was frozen in place, immobilised by the poison he didn’t know before. His end was approaching. Creeping slowly, taking in the panic that he tried to hide.“See?” The humanoid monster was too close to ending his life. “Humans are fragile. So weak and powerless, but you multiplied by thousands every day. Just like bugs, you said.”Max’s heart pounded, urging his muscles to move.“Thank you for the good food. I’ll enjoy every bit of you, human.”But, a burst of fungal structure suddenly sprung from the ground, forcing the humanoid monster to step away to not get caught inside. Separating them.Max knew what it was.“Fungal Forest.” A figure clad in jagged white full armour said from the dark, walking behind the humanoid monster with ease. “Pretty convenient trick, don’t you say?”Jed Hunter came to the rescue.The humanoid monster growled, its
[Ultimate Skill – Devour was activated.]Boooom![You have devoured Velociphron.]Something fell from the sky. A tall humanoid figure with an ominous presence that sent Jed reeling.[You received rewards as follows.]He ignored the blue and white panel that only he could see. It told him the rewards he got from devouring the humanoid monster just now. How could he, when a more menacing creature dropped from the sky, like a bad omen for a curse after he ate another alien core.Jed cautiously observed the new alien.It stood taller than Velociphron, with a semi-translucent, shimmering skin that shifted colours every few seconds. It had elongated limbs and fluid movement, like a walking serpent as colourful as a disco ball.“What are you?” It asked curiously, staring at Jed with unblinking six eyes on its face.When he locked eyes with the colourful slender creature, he felt an eeri
The air brushed fiercely all around Jed’s body as he tried to make sense of the monster’s strength. He had to do something before it greeted him in the sky and kicked him down to the earth.“Shadow Cloak!”[Item – Shadow Cloak was drawn.][You may activate its invisible feature at will.][However, attack initiation will deactivate its feature immediately.]A dark cloak shrouded around Jed’s body, and he disappeared into thin air.Invisible.“So I was right.” The semi-translucent humanoid monster remarked. Its slender face looked like a piece of chopped wood with a pair of slanted eyes and wide mouth, looking around it in wonder. “You absorb creatures to get their strength too. Just like me. I wonder if you can fly, too.”Jed couldn’t. It’d be cool if he could, though.The semi-translucent monster looked up at the sky, couldn’t
“Do you think this is enough to defeat me?”The slender monster said as its cracked face reconstructed in a matter of seconds. Its twig-like hand reached out for Jed, the four fingers spread right in front of Jed’s face. From its narrow palm, a crack formed and opened, showing a small hole.Jed barely had time to react before the slender monster shot him dead in the head.[Active Skill – Fungal Shield][CD: 59 minutes 59 seconds][Core: -100]Bang!Agony exploded through his head, and he fell to the ground and screamed in pain. His vision went dark, and for a moment, he was sure he was dead.[Alert!][Alert!][Alert!][HP: 7/100]Through the haze of pain, Jed desperately tried to call for a skill in his repertoire.[Active Skill – Regenerative Spores][CD: 359 minutes 59 seconds][Core: -400]Miniscule spores were released from the small gaps
[Item – Frogsbane Coil was drawn.]Jed swung the dull pink whip, snapping his wrist to make the end curl around the tailless manta ray reptile. It screeched in anger, but Jed didn’t let go. He gave a thug on his Frogsbane Coil, making him and the manta ray reptile to jerk each other.He managed to get on its back despite the flying monster’s useless roar of shockwave and struggles. Once he got a good grip on the manta ray reptile, Jed drew his right arm and shot it quickly to its thin back.The flying monster roared and roared in pain, but Jed didn’t let go. He curled his fingers on the small core located in the middle of its chest and wrenched it out. The manta ray reptile gave a final roar and its struggle ended. It dropped dead from the sky, along with Jed who couldn’t stop grinning.“Well, there’s no better time to eat a snack than now, hmm?”And so he did.[Ultimate Skill – Devour was activated.]“Damn right!” Jed laughed as he was free falling from the sky. “I better get the bes