While running through the city, Lennox and Theo came across the devastating sight of thousands of dead S.O.T. Force members on the ground. Their bodies were covered in thorns from the nearby bramble thorns, and vehicles lay destroyed. The question lingered Did we fail?
Fear and urgency surged through Lennox and Theo as they sped up, driven by the possibility of Kira's in danger and the dread of mission failure. Approaching the clearing within the city, they witnessed something shocking that struck them to the core the Nexus breach. A pulsating mass at the center, swirling in a mesmerizing yet ominous dance. At the heart of this ethereal tempest, a core of radiant Nexus energy glowed with intense brilliance. The energy surged and danced, forming intricate patterns that hinted at the complex interweaving of the realms it connected. The colors seamlessly shifted, reflecting the diversity of the realms linked from the fiery oranges of Pyrodomus to the lush greens of Sylvanora.
Surrounding the central core, tendrils of energy reached outward, weaving in the air. These tendrils seemed to be composed of Nexus energy, far more potent than any Nexarc had in their bodies.
"The Nexus Breach," uttered Lennox and Theo simultaneously.
As Lennox and Theo surveyed the grim scene, taking note of more dead and injured S.O.T. forces, the medical team worked tirelessly to save lives. Limbs were severed, and bodies bled profusely. Lennox felt a wave of nausea in his stomach, but he suppressed it, determined not to let it slow him down. A faint smile tugged at his face as he realized there were no more living bramble thorns in sight.
Amidst this chaos, Lennox's attention was drawn to a lone S.O.T. soldier walking towards the nexus breach.
"Whoa, stop!" Lennox shouted in panic. "Hey! Someone, stop him!"
Everyone looked up in wonder as Lennox shouted, drawing attention to the lone S.O.T. soldier. Lennox tried to run and grab the man, but before he could reach him, the soldier's whole body was powerfully sucked into the nexus breach. The force tore off his skin, organs, and even his skeleton, all disappearing into the portal, leaving behind a chilling and horrifying sight.
Lennox clenched his fist in anger. "Damn it!" he exclaimed.
Lennox couldn't believe what he had just witnessed, and he felt a wave of sickness in his stomach. The nexus breach was like a taboo for normal people, except for Voidspawn; only they could enter and exit safely. For anyone else, entering meant certain death.
Turning around to face everyone, Lennox shouted, "Everyone back up! No one get any closer! Build a perimeter 100 feet away from the breach."
Following Lennox's orders, everyone backed up, picking up the injured and moving a safe distance of 100 feet away from the nexus breach. Lennox knew that the S.O.T. Force tended to be more independent, often operating on their own. However, their trust in Commander Sirion was absolute, and they followed Lennox's orders with the same level of commitment.
"Lennox, are you okay?" Kira's voice sounded from the side.
As Lennox turned, Kira ran into him, and she hugged him. "I'm glad you're okay. I was worried after you went flying." she said.
"Well, you don't have to worry anymore, as you can see, I'm perfectly fine." Lennox said, patting Kira's back.
Kira looked up at Lennox's face. "But what happened after you went flying away?" she asked.
Lennox released Kira. "Nothing happened. I just woke up in the forest, and then Theo found me." he explained.
Kira couldn't help but find it strange that Lennox had been sent flying away with some weird energy, only to wake up in a forest seemingly unharmed. Is he hiding it from me? why, and suspicion crept into her mind.
"Hey, Lennox."
Lennox heard Leader John's voice behind him, but suddenly, the sound of heavy breathing, reminiscent of what they heard before when fighting the bramblethorn in the abandoned building, echoed in the air. This time, however, the ground shook violently, causing everyone to lose balance and panic. The unexpected disturbance heightened the tension, and uncertainty filled the air.
"What happening"
"Is there an earthquake happening now"
After the ground stopped shaking, everyone wondered what had caused the violent tremors. Lennox, however, noticed something even more alarming the nexus breach had become bigger. The unexpected events raised the stakes, and a sense of urgency filled the air.
"Kira, the Nexus breach is suddenly getting bigger." Lennox said in panic.
Kira looked at the breach in alarm. She knew something like that shouldn't be happening unless it's under control by something.
"There's the shake again." John said. "Before we met you guys, we felt it. So far, we don't know what's causing it."
Could it be the same thing as what happened last night, or is it an earthquake?
"I know," Kira said, turning back to everyone. "The only way for the portal to suddenly grow is if it's under the control of someone or something." she explained.
"With that sudden shake and the portal growing, it's definitely under something controlling it." Lennox added.
Before anyone else could talk again, there was another shake, more violent than the previous one, as if whatever is causing it is getting angrier.
"We have got to find out what's causing these shakes." Kira said urgently.
"Well, let's head in the direction of it," John suggested.
John signaled the S.O.T forces to gather over 100 soldiers who were still manageable to fight, and they headed in the direction where the shaking was felt the strongest. On their way, the shakes intensified, making it challenging for them to keep their balance. Large gusts of air slowed them down as they pressed forward.
During their journey, Lennox and the others noticed a tall figure dressed in all black with a couple of spotted robes, wearing an all-white mask and carrying a notably heavy-looking casket. The mysterious person effortlessly jumped from rooftop to rooftop.
"Who's that?" Lennox questioned.
Although it seemed odd for someone to be casually moving around the city amid the ongoing chaos without any Nexus clothing, Lennox pushed aside that thought, focusing on the direction of the shakes.
Upon arriving at the source of the strongest tremors, they stood in front of a towering and wide building. John raised his hand, signaling the team to spread out and secure the perimeter. Terra soldiers moved into position, scanning the shadows for any signs of movement, while the medical team stood ready with their supplies.
As everyone slowly walked inside the building, the heavy breathing sound persisted, but the violent shaking came to a sudden stop. Soon, a colossal and fearsome creature revealed itself. Its head, cloaked in dense, shadowy fur that seemed to absorb light, featured two luminescent orbs of malevolent yellow. Sharp, obsidian-hued spikes protruded from its shoulders and spine, enhancing its menacing presence. Two large, razor-sharp talons hung on the ground, giving the impression that they were supporting its massive body.
"What the hell?" Kira whispered into her earbud in shock.
"Kira, what's wrong?" Theo asked.
"That's a damn Gloomshroud Behemoth," Kira announced.
Everyone was in shock, having never heard of this creature before. Kira slowly explained, "The Gloomshroud Behemoth is often depicted as a harbinger of doom, a creature said to appear before great calamities and cataclysms. Its evil presence is believed to be an omen of impending darkness and chaos."
The revelation added an unsettling layer to the already tense situation. The Gloomshroud Behemoth's ominous reputation suggested that they were facing not only a formidable opponent but also a forewarning of potential catastrophe.
"So what should we do?" Theo asked.
"...The only thing we can do is try...to kill it, or the Nexus breach will open more," Kira said determinedly.
Suddenly, the Gloomshroud Behemoth shot its massive talon-like claw toward everyone, seemingly reacting to their presence. The deadly attack instantly claimed the lives of some of the S.O.T. soldiers, the impact echoing with a sense of impending danger. The remaining team members swiftly dodged and evaded.
"It looks like there's nothing we can do but kill it," Lennox said, his tone resolute.
The Gloomshroud Behemoth's massive claws continued to wreak havoc, tearing through buildings and sending debris flying in all directions. Lennox, Kira, and Theo scrambled to adjust their strategy, realizing that the initial plan was not enough to subdue the relentless creature.
Amidst the chaos, the S.O.T Force members, initially paralyzed by fear, felt a surge of determination. The realization that failure to stop the Gloomshroud Behemoth now would result in tragedy for their families fueled their motivation. With newfound resolve, they joined Lennox, Kira, and Theo in the fight, pushing aside their fear to confront the monstrous threat.
Lennox, taking charge, barked out orders, "Kira, Theo, focus on its hand! Try to incapacitate it!"
Kira and Theo nodded in unison. They swiftly coordinated their movements, dodging the Behemoth's attacks while strategically targeting its vulnerable limbs. Kira's bow unleashed precise shots, aiming for joints and tendons to hinder the creature's mobility. Theo, utilizing his strength and agility, delivered powerful strikes to cripple the massive hand as it laid back down after its strike.
Just when it seemed like they had gained the upper hand, the Gloomshroud Behemoth Despite it showing signs of weakening, a sudden change in its demeanor caught everyone off guard. Its large mouth opened wide, revealing a terrifying array of spiky black teeth, and it unleashed its Shatterstrike Roar.
"Roar!"
The deafening sound echoed through the building, creating a shockwave of sonic energy. The force of the roar shattered solid objects and disrupted the shields of Lennox, Kira, and Theo. The S.O.T FORCE members, without the protective shields, found themselves vulnerable and defenseless in the wake of the destructive wave causing them to flying up into the air and explode in blood and dust of their bones.
"No!" John shouted in horror.
Amidst the chaos, Jake, using his stone and metal shield, managed to barely block and protect himself, Alex, John, and Eve. The impact was still significant, leaving everyone disoriented and struggling to regain their footing. John, seething with anger and guilt over the loss of his men, couldn't shake the feeling of responsibility for their deaths, a burden he would carry forever.
As The Gloomshroud Behemot was about to close it's a mysterious creature appeared and moved with eerie grace. Its long spiked tail attached to its head jumped into the Behemot's mouth.
Lennox, Kira, and Theo spotted another unknown creature that they didn't know about first a person now, and now the mysterious creature they felt something weird was going on.
As the Gloomshroud Behemoth finished roaring in fury, Lennox shouted over the tumult, "Kira, Theo,I got a plan!"
Kira and Theo looked at Lennox in curiosity and hoped that whoever plan he comes up with worked cause they knew their current situation isn't very good.
With a determined glint in his eye, Lennox decided to use his control over fire to create a diversion. He planned to create an intense burst of flames, temporarily blinding the Gloomshroud Behemoth and providing an opening for Kira and Theo to strike, However, the execution of this plan required precision and timing.
Lennox took a deep breath, focusing his strength to summon flames around him. As the fire began to envelop his surroundings, the largest fireball he ever created was about his head controlling it from his palm he struggled he became tired gritting his teeth veins protruding on his forehead, he launched it towards the Gloomshroud Behemoth.
Before the fireball landed on the Gloomshroud Behemoth he made it explode the flames es surged, casting an intense glow that momentarily blinded the creature. In that brief moment, it seemed like Lennox's plan might succeed. However, in the chaos of the flames, Lennox miscalculated the intensity of the fire. Instead of a controlled burst, an inferno erupted, causing the Gloomshroud Behemoth to thrash violently.
The towering building shook as the Behemot, fueled by fear and aggression, broke free from whatever entrapment it was in. The unexpected turn of events left Lennox, Kira, and Theo scrambling to adapt to the unleashed fury of the Gloomshroud Behemoth. The creature, now more enraged than before, lashed out
With even greater ferocity, its massive claws tearing through the air with increased speed and precision. Lennox, Kira, and Theo, now had to quickly reassess their strategy.