The air began to crush.
Slowly.
Like something tightening around the lungs from the outside.
The darkness stretched with it.
Blurry.
Dark.
Shapeless.
The closer it came the more the forest around them bent and stretched and screamed something wrong, something alien, something that couldn't be explained but could be felt deep within the chest before the eyes could process it.
Then it gave into its shape.
For all to see.
The system spoke.
"Skill ability activated. Abominable Mutation."
The ant's scythe-like pincers and mouth opened.
Split.
Stretched.
Most of its parts becoming liquid.
Like oil.
Like something that had decided solid form was a limitation it no longer needed.
In an instant it transformed into a whip.
Launched itself at the soldiers.
The three soldiers moved as one.
Mana flowing through them simultaneously.
The system responded.
"Brilliant Blade."
"Brilliant Blade."
"Brilliant Blade."
"Fusion initiating—"
"Omega Brilliant Blade. Greater Skill."
One soldier moved like wind.
The black invisible whip clashing with the brilliant golden light of his sword.
They met.
The noise like bells and explosions simultaneously.
The impact pushed him back.
Another strike came.
Then another.
The other two tried to catch him.
The creature rushed forward.
Immense speed.
Ha Joon grabbed Eun Byol instantly.
Threw her clear as they were all pushed back by the creature's force.
The brilliant light stabbed the creature.
The creature stabbed the soldier back.
Black blood and human blood painting the air together.
The insides of the soldier meeting the open air.
The other two pushed back with the force of it, one body holding onto Ha Joon as they fell.
Down the ridge.
Hitting rock.
Hitting earth.
Stabbing. Slashing. Fury and rage consuming everything in the space between ground and sky.
Blood painting the air as they drew closer to the earth.
Then one soldier became a weapon the creature used without knowing or caring.
Like a water balloon.
The body absorbing the creature's impact.
Taking the damage meant for something else.
The noise rose powerful.
Followed by a dust cloud consuming the ridge.
The sky filled with screaming.
Filled with noise.
Then—
In an instant.
Silence.
The earth vibrated.
Small pebbles still shaking.
All the way to the top.
Eun Byol slowly got up.
Her hand shaking.
Her body giving way beneath her.
She tried to speak.
Tried to move her mouth.
Nothing came out but a whisper.
Ha Joon stood beside her.
Looking at the rising dust cloud.
What remained of three soldiers somewhere inside it.
The ridge behind them.
The silence ahead.
And whatever was still moving in the dust.