Chereads / Gladius / Chapter 11 - The Centikathropod

Chapter 11 - The Centikathropod

*Tick*Tick*Tick*

The ticking sound in the ears of the two Gladius grew at an alarming pace as the source of the sound arrived before the two.

Two large Amber coloured eyes that reflected the glow from the Gladius. It's claw like structures around its mouth continuously dripped venom, like a starved beast salivating at the sight of meat.

The claw like structures spread apart as the creature let out a harrowing screech that served to disorient the two Gladius as it charged at them.

C-6-367 was quick to snap out of it allowing for him to roll away to the side, *bang*bang*bang* C-6-367 began to fire continuously from his GLSR-117.

*crk*bam* splat* "Skreeeeeeech!" The Centikathropod let out a loud screech of pain as one of its legs got shot off. Turning around it made a beeline straight for C-6-367, who relied on his enhanced agility to avoid the strikes of the monsters legs.

*BAM*

A gunshot resounded as Kayla managed to regain clarity and fire from her pistol leaving a hole in the creature's carapace. The monster let out another screech as it focused on Kayla and charged at her once more.

*kink* sparks flew as the claw like structures on its head left a visible mark on Kayla's suit as she jumped back and performed a roll.

On her feet she did not hesitate to sprint as she released her entire clip unto the creature, who was able to avoid each shot with extreme ease.

The Centikathropod relying on its size body slammed C-6-367 through a wall into another mine passage. "urgh!" C-6-367 let out a groan as he got up from his back and made it to his feet, grabbing his rifle which was some distance away.

"C-7-401, C-7-401 do you copy?"

"C-7-401 here, I copy. The Centikathropod is directly on my tail I could use some back up, over."

Sprinting through the mine passage, C-6-367 spoke once more. "Relying solely on close distance to defeat this creature is not possible at the moment. We need to use your

SGR-120, which means we need to bring this creature outside."

"On it" Kayla responded as she ducked barely avoiding to monsters attempt to rip off her head.

The chase continued with each passing second seemingly bringing Kayla closer to deaths door.

The screech of the monster intensified in Kayla's ear as it reduced the distance between them to barely a few inches.

*Boom*

A loud explosion resounded as debris flew all around disrupting the chase, *Bang*bang*bang* with the darkness and dust as cover three shots were fired straight into one of the monsters eyes leaving in a bloody steaming mess.

The intense pain caused the creature to halt it's chase, writhing it's massive body it let out ghastly cries that carried out through out the mines and to the guards some distance away from the mines.

....

"What was that?" one of the guards on the path leading to the mines turned around to look at the source of the inexplicable sounds, the mines.

"How would I know, Brayden" the other guard turned to Brayden, trying his best to hide his fear.

"It sounded like ghosts, my ma used to tell me and my brothers stories of ghosts and I swear that's how she said they sound. Hey, Trey you don't think they guys who were eaten in there turned to ghosts do you?"

Brayden began to ramble, trembling as his fear rose with each word he spoke.

"would you shut up, fool!" Trey berated Brayden, "how would you know what a ghost sounds like anyways huh?"

Brayden parted his lips to speak but stopped as a figure dashed out of the mines at breathtaking speeds.

...

Kayla dashed out of the mines putting some distance between her and the entrance before performing a leap that sent her straight up to the air, landing 12 meters away creating a small crater.

Sure of the distance she put her pistol away and pulled her SGR-120 from her back. With the energy flowing from her suit the gun in her gained a glow and began to shift with loud whirring sounds.

After the shift the already large weapon had transformed into an absolute monster with a bright neon glow.

With everything set, Kayla aimed the weapon at the entrance and looked through the scope. "I'm in position"

"Good I'm bringing it out"

The two guards had their eyes in the direction where they say Kayla land, they could see her exactly as she had already got in position and blended with her environment. This however did not stop the two from looking at that direction with mouths agape.

Everyone grew up with tales of the Gladius, the iron devils, weapons of the star folk. As they grew however without seeing the feats of these iron devils with their own two eyes they inevitably underestimated them.

The leap however reaffirmed something, the tales did not do these monsters justice.

The two guards were brought out of their musings as they all heard a mixture of sounds. A ticking sound, thundering noise as well as ghastly screeching.

The source of this commotion was soon clear for all to see when, *BOOM* the Centikathropod burst out the mines destroying a chunk of it as it attempted to devour the Gladius before it.

Through her scope, Kayla took in the state of the Centikathropod. It was now missing an additional seven limbs with various visible dents on its carapace.

With a clear shot in sight, *Bam* Kayla pulled her trigger sending a bright blast of energy that seemed to devour everything in it's path.

The Centikathropod sensed the impending danger and relied on its speed to move avoiding it death, the blast however took a massive chunck out of one of its segments destroying the surrounding carapace and a few more legs.

The monster let out shrieks of pain that echoed all the way into the town attracting the attention of the residents who could not help but wonder, "What in the names of the gods is going on?"