The centipede monster let out a wet, rattling hiss that erupted into a sharp, piercing screech, its countless mandibles chittering together as the sound crawled through the air and made the ground tremble beneath it.
It coiled its chitinous, segmented body, legs scraping and rattling against the ground, then lunged forward with a sudden, jerking motion, mandibles clashing and screeching as it surged toward Ari and Nova.
Glowing red eyes locked on them, and the air around them vibrated with the force of its attack. Ari's chest tightened, and Nova's fingers clenched the edge of her mandibles, hands trembling, bracing for impact.
Ari's voice was quiet but sharp. "Move… now."
In the same instant, they both leapt aside, their feet scrabbling against the dirt as the creature's jaws slammed into the ground where they had been standing moments before, sending chunks of rock and shards of stone flying in every direction.
Dust erupted into the air, curling around their ankles and drifting upward. The impact rattled through the cavern, echoing off the walls, and the metallic chitter of its mandibles reverberated with the force of the strike, making the pit feel impossibly vast and threatening.
Ari landed on one knee, grit and dust kicking up around him as he forced himself upright. His armored feet clanked with each movement, the sound ringing sharply in the cavern's hollow expanse.
Without hesitation, he lunged at the centipede monster, mandible blades drawn, edges gleaming in the dim light.
He slashed upward in a swift, arcing motion, metal clanging against the creature's chitinous segments as sparks flew from the impact.
Pivoting instantly, he brought the second blade in a horizontal sweep, twin strikes slicing through the air with a sharp hiss. Each movement resonated through his limbs, the clang of metal ringing sharply, amplifying the tension in the cavern.
Just as he landed another slash, Ari's chest tightened. Just as I thought… I can't even put a scratch on it, he realized, his mind racing with the weight of the truth.
The centipede responded instantly, whipping its massive tail toward him with terrifying speed. Ari barely had time to react; he crossed his mandible blades just in time to block the strike.
The collision rang like a thunderclap through the cavern, sparks flying from the clashing metal, and the sheer force slammed him backward.
His feet left the ground, and he hurtled through the air, crashing hard into the cavern wall with a bone-jarring impact. Dust and grit exploded around him, and the echo of the strike reverberated through the hollow pit.
Ari groaned, sliding along the packed earth before finally coming to a halt. Blood ran along his exoskeleton and his mandibles trembled in his hand from the blow.
"Ari!" Nova shouted, rushing toward him, eyes wide with alarm.
Her armored feet scraped against the cavern's dusty surface as she reached for him, every step sending small clouds of grit into the air.
Ari raised a hand, halting her approach. His chest moved with uneven breaths, the plates of his abdomen shifting with each draw of air. His antennae angled forward, steady despite the tremor in his arms.
"I'm fine."
The words left him in a low tone, steady but rough at the edges. "I only let my guard down."
Nova's arm remained half-raised, the mandibles in her grasp shifting as her hand trembled. Her breathing slowed, shoulders lowering bit by bit. The strain in her face eased, though the worry and fear stayed.
Ari rolled his fingers along the hilts of his blades, joints clicking as he steadied his grip.
He pushed himself upright, dust sliding from his armor, and fixed his stance toward the centipede once more.
The centipede's massive body shifted, segments scraping against the stone floor as it turned toward them.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto Ari and Nova, and a wet, rattling hiss built into a sharp, piercing screech that reverberated through the cavern, making the walls tremble.
Ari's jaw tightened as he watched it. "Listen up, Nova." His voice was low but firm, his gaze never leaving the creature.
"It seems like none of our attacks can penetrate its armor… so we'll have to take a different approach. Aim for its legs. If we can disable its mobility, we might stand a chance."
Nova's hands trembled slightly as she raised her weapon, fingers tightening around the hilt.
She took a small, cautious step back, eyes darting to the centipede's glowing red gaze, shoulders hunched instinctively.
Her breath came in short, shallow bursts, and she flinched at the scrape of the monster's tail across the cavern floor.
Ari reached out, lightly touching her arm to steady her. She blinked rapidly, forcing herself to straighten, weapon raised, but her movements remained careful and tentative, every shift of her weight measured as she mirrored Ari's stance.
The centipede reared back with a shrill, vibrating screech before lunging forward again, its massive tail whipping across the cavern.
Ari's eyes narrowed. "Move!" he shouted.
Both he and Nova dove in opposite directions as the creature's tail crashed down where they had stood.
The impact shook the entire pit, stone cracking under the force. A deep tremor rolled through the cavern floor, sending a wave of dust and fractured rock outward.
The sound was deafening—metallic and heavy—as the centipede's segmented body scraped against the stone, its momentum grinding deep grooves into the ground.
Ari and Nova landed hard on opposite sides of the creature, armor skidding against the rough surface.
Without hesitation, Ari sprang forward, mandible blades drawn, their edges flashing under the dim light.
He closed the distance in an instant and unleashed a rapid series of slashes. Each strike clanged against chitin, sparks leaping from the impact.
His movements were precise—measured cuts that tore through the monster's legs one after another.
Four of the centipede's limbs hit the ground with a dull thud, twitching violently.
They're tough… but I was right. The legs are the only part we can cut, Ari thought as the centipede shrieked in pain, its body thrashing violently against the dirt.
Across from him, Nova steadied her stance. Her grip tightened, and with a sharp exhale, she slashed at one of the centipede's remaining legs.
Her strikes were uneven, each one glancing off the thick armor until, finally, her blade bit deep and severed it.
Her eyes widened, breath quick and uneven. I— I cut it off? No way… but if that's true, maybe we can finish it and make it out of here.
But before she could recover, the centipede lashed out, swinging its tail in a wide, brutal arc.
The air cracked with the motion, and the ground shook beneath its massive weight as it retaliated.
Nova froze for a split second, the sound alone paralyzing her.
Ari moved without hesitation, stepping in front of her just as the tail came crashing down. He crossed his mandible blades, bracing for impact.
The collision rang out like a metallic explosion—steel against chitin—followed by a deep, bone-shaking thud.
The shock tore through Ari's arms and shoulders, breaking his stance in an instant. The mandibles were ripped from his grip, spinning away and clattering loudly across the cavern floor.
The impact hurled both of them backward. Ari reached for Nova midair, managing to grab her by the arm before they hit the ground.
The two tumbled across the rough stone, armor scraping and sparking as they rolled, dust bursting upward with every impact.
They finally slid to a stop several meters away, Ari's arm still around her.
His chest rose and fell in sharp, uneven breaths, his palms raw from where the hilts had torn loose.
Nova's head rang, her heart hammering so fast it drowned out the monster's echoing screech.
One of the mandible blades lay a short distance away, half-buried in the dust, the other still glinting faintly under the dim cavern light.
Ari planted one hand on the ground, trying to push himself up, but his body resisted.
His muscles ached from the impact, the dull weight of the blow still coursing through his arms and shoulders.
He let out a sharp breath, his head tilted just enough to glance at Nova beside him.
"Nova… you okay?" His tone was steady, but his breathing was uneven.
Nova nodded shakily, strands of hair clinging to her face. "Y–Yeah… I'm fine."
Her voice came out quiet but trembling. Her hands were still pressed against the floor, knuckles pale from how tightly she gripped the dirt.
The ground rumbled faintly as the centipede shifted its body, a low, wet chitter echoing through the cavern.
Its red eyes glowed brighter, fixing on the two of them.
Ari's gaze flicked toward the fallen mandible blades—one half-buried in dust just a few meters away, the other lying near a jagged rock.
His jaw tightened. He flexed his hand once, grit sticking to his palm, but his body refused to move just yet.
Nova swallowed hard, following his gaze. Her breathing quickened when she saw the centipede's massive form coiling again, readying another strike.
It's no use… we can't kill it on our own, Ari thought, frustration tightening in his chest. Isn't there anything we can do?
Before he could move, the centipede's body snapped forward, its massive frame lunging again.
The ground cracked under the weight of its movement, dust bursting outward in a wide arc.
Then—
A sharp, metallic clang tore through the air, followed by the screech of metal grinding against chitin. Sparks flashed across the cavern floor.
Ari blinked in surprise, eyes widening.
"Looks like we got here just in time," a firm voice called out.
Through the haze of dust, two figures stood before him, their weapons locked against the centipede's lunging head.
"Corporal Beatrice…" Ari's voice carried both relief and disbelief.
Before him, Beatrice and Quinn held their ground, armored feet digging deep into the dirt-packed ground as the creature's strength pressed against them.
The impact sent vibrations through the cavern, but neither of them yielded.
They gritted their teeth, muscles straining as they forced the creature back a step.
Beatrice glanced over her shoulder, eyes sharp beneath her calm expression. "Good work holding the line, you two. We'll take it from here."
The centipede hissed furiously, its mandibles clattering together as it reared back.
Dust swirled around Beatrice and Quinn, their silhouettes framed against the monster's glowing red eyes.
The centipede's screech reverberated through the cavern, rattling loose dust from the ceiling.
Its massive body twisted and writhed, scraping against the stone as it tried to regain balance.
Beatrice adjusted her grip, both mandibles gleaming faintly under the dim light.
"Quinn, prepare to engage."
Beatrice's voice was calm, but the tight grip on her mandibles betrayed her tension.
She slid one foot back, lowering her center of gravity, the faint crunch of debris under her armored feet breaking the silence.
"Got it."
Quinn's voice was low but composed as she shifted into position a few meters to Beatrice's left.
Her mandible blades caught the faint light as she mirrored Beatrice's stance—a silent understanding passing between them before the next move.
The centipede slammed one of its forelegs down, the impact cracking the stone floor in a deep, splitting sound.
Beatrice darted forward. Her movements were fast but measured—silent footfalls cutting through the noise of the creature's fury.
She weaved beneath a lashing leg, her body twisting low as the air split above her. Then she struck.
Her right-hand blade sliced through the centipede's leg with a sharp metallic ring, followed instantly by her left cutting horizontally through another segment.
The twin arcs of motion created a clean, precise rhythm—clang, hiss, tear.
The creature convulsed, dark fluid spilling out in thick streams as the severed limbs fell away.
Its screech deepened, the sound rumbling through the ground.
Quinn moved in next. She brought her blades up in a reverse grip and drove forward, shoulder-first, using her weight to power through.
Her strike was a vertical cleave, a heavy downward arc that shattered the creature's armor plating near its midsection.
Sparks flew as her blades bit deep, the air filled with the raw sound of metal grinding through hardened shell.
No way… they broke through its armor, Ari thought, eyes wide. The ground quivered beneath him, each breath sharp and unsteady.
The centipede's body jerked violently, its tail whipping across the floor.
Quinn braced, but Beatrice was already there—she dashed to Quinn's side and intercepted the incoming strike, crossing her blades to deflect the blow.
The force slid her back several meters, feet grinding against dirt, but she held firm.
Ari and Nova watched in stunned silence, the light from the blades reflecting in their eyes.
Beatrice exhaled softly. Her focus sharpened to a single point. "Now."
Quinn surged forward on her cue.
The two moved in perfect unison—one a flash of speed, the other a surge of raw power.
Beatrice sprinted along the creature's flank, her blades slashing through its legs in rapid succession—one, two, three—each motion fluid and exact.
At the same moment, Quinn charged from the opposite side.
She leapt, her blades raised high, and brought them down with a crushing cross-slash that met Beatrice's upward swing dead center.
The combined strike connected just below the centipede's head.
The sound was deafening—metal grinding against chitin, followed by the wet crack of tearing flesh.
The impact drove deep, cutting through the last of its natural armor until the head came free.
For an instant, everything went still.
Then the centipede convulsed violently, a final shriek tearing from its throat as its body split apart under the force of the strike.
Its frame slammed against the cavern floor with a ground-shaking crash, dust erupting outward in every direction.
Beatrice landed lightly beside Quinn, blades lowered, her breathing steady.
Quinn's armor was streaked with fragments of chitin and black fluid, but she stood firm, expression calm.
Ari and Nova watched as the creature's glow faded, its massive body collapsing in sections, legs twitching once before falling still.