"But if it wasn't for you running and screaming, we wouldn't even be in this mess!" Diego retorted as he saw Dustin approach with a worried expression.
"It doesn't matter," Dustin shot back quickly, cutting off any further reply. His tone was firm and authoritative as he barked orders: "Get into combat positions." He was clearly addressing the trained agents—those who knew basic tactics—but deliberately left Aiden, Podbe, Maria, Billy, Elena, and Abigail out of the plan, given their lack of experience in situations like this.
Everyone reacted immediately. The agents formed a protective circle around the inexperienced group. The atmosphere grew tense, charged with adrenaline and an undercurrent of anticipated fear. Shadows cast by massive rocks began to shift, revealing thousands, millions of red eyes glowing ominously in the dim light. From within them emerged horrifying creatures: giant worms with centipede-like legs and enormous pincers where their mouths should have been. They looked like they had crawled straight out of a nightmare, advancing toward the group with quick, coordinated movements.
The agents wasted no time launching the first attack. Diego unleashed lightning bolts that illuminated the battlefield with blinding flashes. However, the bolts bounced harmlessly off the creatures, failing to cause any damage. The beasts were protected by some kind of natural armor that rendered them nearly invulnerable. To make matters worse, one of the stray bolts almost struck their own teammates due to the narrow space.
"Don't do anything reckless!" Megumi shouted, instinctively shielding herself from the glare. Her tone carried both reproach and concern for the group's safety.
"Sorry," Diego replied, though his expression suggested he didn't mean it. Instead of sincerely apologizing, he seemed more focused on justifying his failed strategy.
Megumi, ever resourceful, decided to take matters into her own hands. Using her earth magic, she raised solid barriers that momentarily blocked the creatures' advance. Enormous walls of rock erupted from the ground as if the terrain itself rebelled against the invaders. However, the beasts simply coiled and climbed over the obstacles as though they were insignificant. It was clear that their resilience and adaptability surpassed any conventional tactic.
Marcus, observing how Diego had previously attempted to use electric shocks, decided to replicate the strategy but in his own way. Using machines instead of magic, he launched shockwaves at the enemies, holding them back momentarily. Though he also failed to harm the creatures, at least he avoided endangering his teammates.
"Pfft, I could've done that too," Diego commented sarcastically, crossing his arms as he glanced disdainfully at Marcus. "Except I used my magic, not your gadgets."
"Yeah, well, I did it in a controlled way so I wouldn't hurt anyone," Marcus countered, defending his technical approach with a confident half-smile.
Tension between the two began escalating rapidly. They were about to engage in a verbal confrontation when Dustin intervened, delivering simultaneous head smacks to each of them. Both clutched their heads in surprise and irritation while Dustin gave them a stern glare.
"Focus and stop fighting among yourselves!" he snapped firmly, making it clear he wouldn't tolerate distractions during the battle.
With no other options, Diego and Marcus turned their faces in opposite directions, muttering sarcastic comments under their breaths. Diego moved toward where Aiden and his friends stood, while Marcus opted to join the other group. Despite being physically separated, they continued exchanging loaded glares and muttered phrases like "this isn't over" or "next time, I'll win."
The chaos on the battlefield continued, but at least now everyone was focused on the true enemy: the relentless creatures advancing toward them.
Leila and Mark combined their telekinetic powers in an attempt to hold the creatures at bay. They lifted rocks and debris, hurling them at the beasts, but the overwhelming number of enemies rendered their efforts insufficient. Riota, for his part, unleashed superhuman strength, striking nearby foes with impressive ferocity. He had borrowed powers of strength and combat from other students, yet even so, he couldn't keep up with the endless tide of creatures that kept appearing, ready to devour them all.
Dustin also joined the fight, delivering precise punches and swift movements. But, like the others, he soon realized that his attacks barely made a dent in the beasts. Akira, who usually relied on his nanomachines to create protective suits, hadn't brought his equipment this time. Unable to contribute to the combat, he retreated to the circle alongside the inexperienced group, trying to find another way to help.
Meanwhile, the Rightyard brothers combined their unique abilities: one manipulated chrome, and the other lead, creating a shiny, resilient shield that protected the group. It was an impressive defense, but even they knew it wouldn't last long against the avalanche of creatures.
From her position, Lumi launched blocks of ice that crashed into the beasts, destroying some of them. However, her power wasn't enough to stop them all. Hela attempted to summon skeletal fighters, using her ability to conjure bones. But these creatures were too aggressive and fast; the skeletons barely managed a few hits before being destroyed.
Marin, determined to help, used her control over water as if it were a high-pressure hose, blasting powerful jets at the creatures. However, far from weakening them, it seemed to make them stronger. Akira, noticing this, shouted from the circle:
"Marin, stop using water! You're making them stronger!"
Chaos reigned on the battlefield. Every attack seemed futile against the relentless wave of enemies. The tension was palpable, and the group began to realize they would need more than brute force to survive.
Abel summoned her light magic, creating enormous swords that glowed intensely in the dimness of the area. However, the confined space worked against her; many of the swords became embedded in the surrounding rocks, reducing their effectiveness. Meanwhile, her brother Cain summoned demonic creatures that emerged roaring from the ground. These beasts temporarily blocked the advance of the enemy creatures, but they couldn't stop them for long. The giant worms' pincers tore through the demons until they dissipated into smoke.
Lita used her vines to trap some of the enemies, wrapping them in thick green lianas in an attempt to immobilize them. But the creatures were too strong and fast, breaking free of the bindings as if they were mere threads. Todd, with his unique ability to phase through bodies, entered the beasts in an attempt to destroy them from within. It worked, but only on a few, and the overwhelming number of enemies continued to grow without end.
Gat fired spheres of energy from his fingertips, each impact briefly illuminating the surrounding chaos. However, his attacks barely managed to slow down the creatures. It was clear that everyone was feeling the same thing: fighting head-on was useless. The idea of fleeing began to take shape in their minds as the only viable option.
Josh, transformed into a werewolf, roared as he lunged at the enemies with sharp claws and animalistic ferocity. Though he managed to take down a few, it soon became clear that even he couldn't compete with the endless tide of creatures. Lania tried to assist him by using her living tattoos, which moved under her skin and formed improvised weapons to attack the enemies. But like Josh, she was no match for the relentless swarm.
From a safe distance, Timmy launched green slime that stuck some of the enemies to the ground.
"Gross!" exclaimed Dante, who pulled out his soccer balls and began kicking them with surgical precision. Each ball struck one of the giant worms, temporarily knocking it out of the fight. Floud, on the other hand, combined fire and water he had copied earlier, launching jets of scalding steam that took out a few nearby enemies. His technique was efficient but insufficient against the overwhelming number of creatures.
Sonia wielded whips made of blood, materializing them from her arms to ensnare the beasts. Although she managed to damage them, her attacks weren't decisive.
Arryn, ever elegant, crafted razor-thin silver stakes, which she launched with deadly precision toward the enemies. Some of the giant worms were pinned to the ground, but others simply bypassed the stakes and continued advancing. Rayna, for her part, generated small golden luxury discs that spun like cutting coins. These discs sliced through some of the enemies, but again, they weren't enough to contain the avalanche.
Amid the chaos, Maria and Billy turned to Aiden with a mix of hope and desperation.
"Hey, Aiden! Can't you create a portal to get us out of here?" they both asked in unison.
Aiden shook his head, frustrated.
"I don't know how to get back home… Besides, wherever I send us could be worse. I don't know this place," he admitted honestly. The others looked at him with worried expressions but eventually accepted that risking another portal might not be a good idea.
Piti, using his superhuman speed, ran toward Claus and scooped him up in his arms. Claus quickly multiplied himself, creating clones that formed a massive protective barrier. The clones intertwined with each other, momentarily blocking the advance of the creatures and giving the group a crucial chance to escape.
The atmosphere was thick with tension and exhaustion. Everyone knew they needed a better solution—and fast. The protective circle was beginning to crack, and the pressure of the battle threatened to consume them all.
Dustin gave the decisive order:
"Retreat! Move quickly!"
Everyone began running toward one end of the area, desperately searching for an exit. The sound of their footsteps echoed against the rocky ground as fear drove them to move as fast as possible. However, not everyone escaped so easily. Claus and Piti stayed behind, working together to distract the creatures and buy time for the group to retreat.
Claus used his ability to multiply, creating a temporary barrier with his clones. These replicas, though fleeting, momentarily confused the beasts, which began devouring them as if they were real prey. Meanwhile, Piti moved at dizzying speeds, zigzagging between the creatures and carrying Claus from one spot to another so he could keep generating more clones. Their coordination was impressive: Claus created nonstop, while Piti ensured the creatures couldn't catch them.
Despite their combined efforts, the creatures were relentless. The monsters soon realized that the clones were nothing more than temporary distractions and began refocusing on the main group. Even so, Claus and Piti's bravery allowed their companions to gain ground, slowly retreating toward what appeared to be a possible exit.
The air was thick with tension, and the sound of the beasts' pincers clashing against the ground made every second feel eternal. Though danger still loomed, Claus and Piti's strategy proved crucial in keeping the creatures occupied while the rest of the team attempted to escape.
However, just as the group neared the exit, an enormous creature blocked their path. It resembled the others but was much larger, its crimson body pulsating like a living heart. Elena, tired of remaining on the sidelines as a spectator, decided to act. With determination, she hurled a fireball directly at the beast. The impact illuminated the field for a brief moment, but instead of stopping it, the attack only enraged it further. The creature fixed its furious eyes on the group, emitting a deafening roar that echoed like thunder across the area.
Amaya, seeing an opportunity to give the others a breather, summoned a massive rubber bear. With an almost human-like roar, the bear delivered a devastating punch to the beast, forcing it to retreat several meters. This brief reprieve was enough for some to cross over. Others, aided by Todd—who had entered the creature's body to weaken it from within—also managed to escape.
But not everyone was so fortunate. Aiden, Podbe, Floud, and Abigail remained trapped on the other side, surrounded by monsters that closed in mercilessly. Their friends, now safe on the outside, tried to return to help them, but they noticed something strange: the creatures completely ignored those who were already outside, focusing solely on the trapped teens.
"We have to go back for them!" Billy shouted urgently, his voice heavy with concern. The others shared his desperation, but they knew any attempt would be futile against the overwhelming number of enemies. All their previous attacks had been in vain, and it now seemed as though Aiden and the others' fate was sealed.
Everything appeared lost for the trapped teens. Aiden, kneeling beside Podbe, muttered in frustration:
"I wish I could talk to you, Podbe… At least then I'd know what to do. Right now, you can only use agility and strength, but your other abilities won't manifest because you can't speak."
As despair began to take hold of them, a piercing sound flooded the air. It was a noise so penetrating that it caused everyone—including the creatures—to writhe in pain, clutching their ears. The beasts, which until that moment had shown relentless ferocity, began to stagger and collapse to the ground, unable to withstand the cacophony.
In the midst of the chaos, a figure cloaked from head to toe in a flowing, sand-colored robe appeared. They wore a veil and turban that obscured their faces, leaving only their eyes visible. These glowed with mysterious intensity as they observed Aiden and the others, who lay writhing on the ground due to the unbearable noise.
Soon, another identical figure emerged from the shadows. Both individuals moved with surprising agility, scooping up Aiden, Podbe, Floud, and Abigail into their arms before vanishing as quickly as they had appeared. The sound abruptly stopped, and when the others managed to recover and get back on their feet, they saw the two strangers standing there, holding their companions.
The agents exchanged confused glances, wondering when these individuals had arrived. One of them gestured with their hands, signaling for the group to follow. No one knew whether they were friends or foes, but there was no time to debate it. The creatures were beginning to stir again, dispersing across the surrounding terrain, and the planet's light was starting to fade, signaling the approach of night.
With no other options available, they decided to follow the mysterious strangers, hoping they could lead them to safety.