{picture}
{Vice! Why did the alien come out of the mercenary like normal but the one inside the "discounted predator" still hasn't burst out yet?} ask Breder as he and his "family" were following the runner to the temple mountains
[Beep… after scanning the subject, I have discovered that the "mana stone" as it's called, that is inside the man has begun to fuse with the embryo…] replied Vice
{I see… So, he was one of those "heroes"... well call me unimpressed! He was really weak...} replied Breder
[Well, to be fair Breder even though the man was rank 2, his actual strength was almost no different than a regular human, in fact just by looking at him you can't see any major changes like you could see on the other you saw a few days ago. Those people were practically one with their armor to a certain sense.] replied Vice
{But why is that? The others would have certainly put on a way better fight?} replied Breder
[well… My best guess is that this man's only gimmick was to go invisible, while running mostly information gathering, with range assassination missions, he wasn't designed or built for close combat.] replied Vice
{well... whatever I guess... As long as the child is healthy it's all good, and hopefully he can go invisible like the man did! He'll be perfect for my future plans!} said Breder
[Beep, yes… but do keep in mind Breder, if the Xeno dies you can't buy him/her back.] said Vice warningly
As Breder and Vice were busy talking here and there, they finally arrived at the mountain entrance, but what he saw through the fog deeply concerned him, for he was amazed by the runic carvings etched into the mountain walls! With raising suspicious he said to Layla:
{These carvings… don't tell me… did the people who built this temple in the mountain worship an eldritch god!}
[I don't know what an eldritch god is Breder, but if you're talking about an old evil god… maybe I mean so much history was lost during the star monster attacks throughout time, that this could even just be a remnant of another star monster.] said Layla
Breder was now having serious thoughts about leaving and never coming back! He knew quite a bit about eldritch horror, as he was a horror fan back on earth, thus he knew nothing good ever came out of eldritch beings! The side effects they could have left behind could be too terrifying even for him to handle!
But then this begged another question, if eldritch are so scary and powerful how did they fail to take over the world? With more questions than answers Breder stared at the carving with chilly contemplation.
But as Breder stared at the carvings of a creature he did not want to meet, he failed to notice that a certain tribe of people were already spying on him! With spears and swords in hand they deliberated amongst themselves whether to attack Breder or not!
As they were busy discussing, Breder began his walk into the heart of the fog! For he had made his choice, he decided that he would carve out only what space he needed and not dig much further in case he "uncovered" that in which should remain "asleep".
[I don't get it Breder, if you're that worried about this "eldritch" type creature, then why push forward?] asked Layla
{sigh… we just don't have the time to find another safe place, after all I'm sure those pirates are going to come after me in force, then you have this Waltin, not to mention if the leadership in Bredale gets involved…} Breder pauses then continues
{anyway, I don't want to be caught in the open, like we would if we turn back now, plus this foggy mountain range with its vast history that I'm sure Bredale is aware of, will at least make them think twice before pursuing us.} said Breder
[Are eldritch really that scary?] asked Layla
{You don't even understand the meaning of scary! The scary part isn't just their looks, and yes, they are frighteningly ugly that is to be sure, but the scariest part about them is their mind games! I would give you some examples but looks like I will have to save that for later} said Breder as he stares downs a settlements of goblin huts
Goblins short POV
[Hey Gob?] said Nob
[Ya Nob?] said Gob
[whatcha make of that?] ask Nob
[Oh! them black things… Can't tell… too much fog…] replied Gob
With squinted eyes Gob stared into the foggy mist, only for his eyes to be met with acidic acid instead! While watching his friend go on his knees screaming in pain, Nob rushed to hit the warning bell, as a pair of blackened hands came out from the fog and dragged him over the wooden wall!
Not knowing what was going on, the other goblins stood around an open fire in the middle of their camp, but as they sat there giving in marry, the dimly lit fog broke the tranquil silence as their wooden fortress wall exploded with a crash! Seeing a giant crowned monster bursting through the wall, the goblins screamed and howled, while reaching for dusty, rusty, or stolen weapons and armor!
As they rushed to meet their foe, to the tune of wood splintering and trees falling, dozens more black monsters rushed in next to the big one! While some climb amongst the wall, killing the goblins on the wall! With bows splintered, and heavy shields fell, the goblin stood no chance as their numbers dwindled ever so. With broken necks, twisted bodies, and melting limbs! They rushed to flee from their foe, until their chief burst out his animal hide tent and yelled:
[Enough! You Lot! Stop being cowards!]
While he yelled, he grabbed the nearest goblin by the neck and killed it!
[But chief… arrows do nothing! As swords faulty! armorer not tough enough!] yelled a random scared goblin
Annoyed, the chief went back into his tent and grabbed a giant chain saw he called Little "Betsy". Seeing little Betsy, the few surviving goblins rejoiced! With renewed spirit they charge into the fray with their hobgoblin chief! But while their chief was strong, he was slow and clumsy, at least in the eyes of the monster before him! As they dodge his attacks, they would systematically kill all goblins around him, until he found himself all alone…
While surrounded he held his buzzing Betsy and said:
[I know not who or what you are, but even if you make it past this border, my brothers and my king will have your head!]
Notice the creatures before him, only hiss and roar in response. He realized his words were pointless on creatures that only seem to act like insects! With realization that the monsters before him were no different than that of giant bugs that call this mountain home, he readied himself for his end!
With a roar he charged at Mirielye! Now seeing the green skin meat sack coming towards her, Mirielye raised both her fists into the air and slammed them onto the earth below! With her immense strength the weak earth shatters and shakes like thin glass, throwing goblin corpses into the air and knocking the chief back! With his balance disturbed, Elphe took her shot!
As her acid found its mark! His face melted and burned, but the chief ignored this sensation! With a blood curdling roar, the chief slammed Betsy into the dirt while desperately trying to prove his worth as he drove his weapon into Mirielye crown!
As the monster before him gave her lyrical cries, dozens of spears gored his chest! With blood pumping, the chief pulled Betsy out of Mirielye, as the acidic blood of Mirielye weakened the weapon, it still had enough strength to continue to buzz! With another desperate roar the chief spun Betsy with such forces he snapped all the spears in two!
As the creatures cried, the chief gave a bloody laugh! As Breder approached him. As the chief turned to face Breder, Breder was impressed by the green skin monster's will to live! Seeing the green man before him with 9 different tails shoved through his chest and half boney face, it's a wonder how this thing is still moving! Breder would have loved to have placed a face hugger on him, but unfortunately, he just didn't have the luxury of protecting another body right now.
As the green man stood his ground, bleeding and dying he looked Breder up and down as the flames burning the tents in the background gave the foggy mist around a blackened tint. While coughing from the smoke, as each breath was more painful than the last, the chief raised Betsy one last time!
As he swung Betsy down, his target took a simple sidestep to dodge his slowed tired swing! As Betsy hit the floor it shattered like glass before him! With no strength left but to stand, he watched as the metals that made up Betsy flew up in slow motion! As he watched, Breder cut the tendons in his legs causing him to kneel! While on his knees the chief did one last roar in defiance as Breder bit through his skull from behind!
Breder POV
While watching the green man fall at his feet, Breder commanded Elphe to set up a few hive nodes, while also ordering one of the runners to go fetch 'Collins" a drone who was watching over the body of Mr. Black
As they gathered to heal their wounds, Breder searched around the burning tents for anything useful, but what he found only confused him more.
{Hey Vice} ask Breder
[Beep… YA?] replied Vice
{Am I seeing this right… Did these goblins have guns and ammo? Hell is that a turret placement? The hell were they not using this against us?} asked Breder
[Beep… I don't know… but I can come up with a few reasons… either this stuff is newly raided material they stole from some poor group of souls or this fortress they were constructing is just too new and just didn't have the time to flush it out. Of course, it could always just be that they were just too stupid in knowing how to use this stuff properly.]
While acknowledging Vice theories, Breder was about to leave the base, when he suddenly heard Mr. Black coughing! Knowing the time was near, he decided to sit and wait for the new child to be born. But as he was waiting, the tribe in the shadows were observing him
They observed as missing limbs grew back, they watched as their blood burned all it touched, they learned that the metal one was the one in charge. And they witnessed the birth of a new monster that was born from within a human body!
Pirate short POV
[Captain… Mr. Black life light… went out!] reported Vycent
As Vycent was reporting the news to his captain, hours later Mr. White stood in a field of fog overlooking burnt huts and dead corpses, while studying Mr. Black Body.
[Mr. White… we can't stay here long… you know they are watching us… if we stay here too long, they will come for us!] said a random henchman
[I know… go tell this "Waltin" that his prize lies here! I'm sure he'll be willing to take the risk, while we sit and wait.] said Mr. White as he pets his little glowing fairy dragon that is hovering next to him.