The mass pushed through the collapsed buildings and spilled onto the lower platforms, spreading across the settlement with horrifying speed.
It looked almost liquid from a distance, but every part of it moved with purpose. Thick white strands crawled over stone, wrapped around wooden structures, and squeezed through gaps between buildings before merging into a much larger mass.
The Hive Mind had reached the surface.
Someone behind Kilian whispered, "What is that...?"
Kilian tightened his grip around his rifle. "That's the thing from mine."
The Pathfinder's face went pale. "You mean the parasite?"
"No." Kilian watched as another section of the white mass climbed over a building. "The parasite is inside that thing. I think that's the hive mind…"
He turned to them, his eyes sharp, "Listen, all of you need to go as soon as possible, use the old gate on the south side if possible. Western side has collapsed. Tell everyone if you are able to contact them.."
