The leaves rustled as the silence filled the air, the howls suddenly ceasing to exist. The group began to cock their guns, glancing around their surroundings with uneasy expressions. Suddenly, the sound of branches snapping shattered the stillness, and a beast lunged at a crewman, who managed to shoot it dead before it could reach him. Another beast followed, then another, and soon the group found themselves surrounded in all directions by a number of beasts.
The monsters possessed light frames, agile structures, and doglike appearances, despite having four arms and bladed tails. The beasts used their extra arms to propel themselves forward faster, spinning and slashing with their tails. Fortunately, the armors worn by the group were sufficient to deflect their cuts. Rhox, wearing a long combat coat with relatively minimal armor, relied on her agility to easily avoid the beasts' attacks, despite their swiftness.
"These things don't quit!" Morn shouted, his voice gruff as he swung his energy blade, cutting down an approaching beast with a powerful slash. "Feels like we've been fighting for hours!"
Lox, with a grin that belied the danger, quipped, "At least it's not boring!" He ducked under a beast's swipe, slicing through its bladed tail with precision before delivering a fatal blow to its neck. "Gotta admit, though, I could use a break."
"Break? In your dreams, Lox!" Nira shot back, her tone strained as she deflected a beast's attack with her energy blade, then plunged it into the creature's chest. "Just keep your focus and your head attached!"
The beasts continued to charge in unison, seemingly endless despite the group's relentless barrage. Loud bangs echoed through the forest as Rhox sent cluster bombs towards the beasts, the explosions lighting up the night and eliminating many at a time. "Cluster away, you little monsters!" Rhox muttered, her eyes scanning for the next target.
Vincent, in full combat assault armor, charged into the fray, his automatic energy assault rifle spitting beams of deadly light. He shot each beast with pinpoint accuracy, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around him. "Stay close and cover each other!" he shouted, taking down two beasts with a quick burst.
Joize, wielding her energy pistol with deadly precision, shot at the beasts that got too close, her eyes darting around to keep track of her crew. "Keep it up, lads! We can hold them off!" she yelled, her voice a mix of encouragement and exhaustion. "Morn, watch your left!"
Brek, wielding an energy blade, nodded to Joize, slashing at a beast that lunged at him. "Got it, Captain! Lox, back me up!"
"I'm on it!" Lox replied, swiftly moving to Brek's side, his blade cutting through the air as he defended against another wave of attackers. "Nira, watch our backs!"
"Don't need to tell me twice!" Nira responded, her energy blade humming as she swung it with deadly precision, her eyes focused and determined.
The group's coordinated efforts kept the beasts at bay, each member fighting with all their strength and skill. The forest echoed with the sounds of battle, their combined will and determination pushing back the relentless horde.
The group continued fighting the charging beasts for hours until sunrise, when the horde finally stopped and retreated. The air was thick with the sounds of heavy panting as some crewmen lay down to rest, their exhaustion palpable.
While leaning against a tree, crossing her arms, Rhox said, "We will get raided again tonight." She further explained, "The 'alpha' of the beasts hasn't arrived yet, which means we should expect ambushes every night now that they have our scent."
Joize nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. "We should move regardless of fatigue, even if slowly. The longer we stay here, the more vulnerable we are."
Morn, sprawled on the ground, groaned. "Just when I thought we could catch a break. Moving sounds like a real pain right now."
"Better a pain than dead, Morn," Lox retorted, sitting up and rubbing his sore muscles. "I'd rather be on the move than be a beast's dinner."
Nira, ever the pragmatist, started gathering her gear. "We should listen to the Captain. Staying here is just inviting trouble."
Brek, breathing heavily, chimed in. "Nira's right. We can't afford to stay put for too long."
"There is no need," Rhox interjected with a smirk. "I have an idea."
With a curious expression, Joize replied, "Color me intrigued. So, what's this 'plan' of yours, lassie?"
Rhox pointed upward with her fingers, still smirking.
Joize looked up, confused by what Rhox meant. "What are you getting at?"
Vincent glanced up and examined what Rhox was pointing at. After a moment, he caught sight of the tall trees and said, "Ah," before continuing, "We will be camping in the trees."
Morn's eyes widened. "In the trees? You're serious?"
"Correct," Rhox responded, her smile widening. "While the crew camps safely above the trees, away from the monsters, I'll move ahead to scout and look for an optimal position to view the twin mountains, leaving a signal marker behind so I don't lose the group."
Joize, clearly impressed by the idea, agreed. "Alright, lads, let's get to work. We're setting up camp in the trees. Gather long timber for the foundation."
Lox grinned, clapping his hands together. "This should be interesting. Never camped in a tree before."
"Just don't fall out," Nira said dryly, already moving to gather timber.
As the crewmen began to gather the adjacent long timber, Morn grumbled, "Hope these trees are as sturdy as they look."
Brek, carrying a long piece of wood, chuckled. "Don't worry, Morn. If you fall, we'll just catch you."
With metal blades in hand, some of the crew climbed the towering trees to reach the thick and solid branches, while the rest waited on the ground to aid in tying the long wood they'd gathered so it could be hoisted up.
"Catch!" a crewman shouted as he flung a very long rope down to the ground. The other end of the rope was slung over a robust branch and fell down as well, ready for the crew to pull it upward.
The rope was then attached to the gathered wood by another crewman, while the rest of the crewmen on the ground pulled the other end of the rope, causing the gathered wood to reach the top and be secured by the others. After a few hours before nightfall, the group had built a foundation strong enough to be called a "camp" out of ropes and wood.
"Nice work, everyone," Joize said, inspecting their handiwork. "This should keep us safe for the night."
Lox, wiping sweat from his brow, grinned. "Never thought I'd say this, but I'm looking forward to sleeping in a tree tonight."
Nira nodded, securing her gear. "As long as it keeps those beasts at bay, I'm all for it."
"Let's get some rest while we can," Rhox advised, her tone serious. "We've got a long night ahead."
The crew settled into their makeshift camp, their spirits lifted by the prospect of a safer night ahead.
As the night fell, the howls echoed through the forest once again. The beasts had returned to the group's location, just as Rhox had predicted. The viscous growls and screams of the beasts filled the air, signaling their presence.
The creatures began to climb the trees, using their claws to puncture the bark and their extra arms to propel themselves upward. Joize and the rest of the group were stunned by this sight and prepared to fight again, but Rhox intervened.
"I knew they'd do it," Rhox said, firing a canister of oil from her synth arm. The canister hissed as it expelled its contents, dousing the trees they were perched on with oil. The thick, slick substance coated the bark, making it impossible for the creatures to climb. "Shoot the ones that get too close!" Rhox commanded.
Joize fired her energy pistol at a beast trying to reach the branches. "Keep those beasts off the trees, lads!" she shouted, her voice carrying a mixture of urgency and authority.
Morn, swinging his energy blade, nodded. "Got it, Captain! We'll keep them at bay!" He slashed at a beast, its body falling to the ground with a thud.
Lox, grinning despite the danger, added, "These things don't know when to quit!" He fired his blaster, hitting a beast squarely in the chest.
"Just keep shooting!" Nira yelled, her tone firm and focused. She fired her blaster at a beast clawing its way up a nearby tree.
Brek, reloading his blaster, muttered, "How many of these things are there?" He shot another beast, watching it tumble back into the darkness.
For that night, the group did rotations so everyone could rest. They took turns keeping watch, their eyes scanning the forest for any signs of movement. Rhox, meanwhile, scouted ahead for any vantage points, using her innate ability to see in the darkness. Her senses were heightened, every rustle of leaves and snap of branches registering in her mind.
As morning came, the entire group was able to rest. They noticed Rhox waiting below the trees, evidently with news. Once prepared, the entire group dropped via ropes to rendezvous with Rhox.
"Did you not sleep?" Joize asked Rhox, who was writing something on a piece of paper.
"Didn't need to. Corvi are usually awake all the time," Rhox replied, her eyes sharp and alert.
Morn, rubbing his eyes, groaned. "I wish I had that ability. I feel like I haven't slept in days."
"Sleep is a luxury we can't afford right now," Nira said, stretching her arms. "Good thing we got some rest at least."
Lox, yawning, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, but we better be ready for whatever comes next."
Brek, checking his equipment, remarked, "Let's just hope we don't have another night like the last one."
Rhox handed Joize a piece of paper on which she had drawn a map with markers such as the vantage point and the position of the twin mountains. "We must travel straight east to reach the vantage point, and then north to reach the twin mountains," she explained. "I also saw trees shaking strangely, which means something enormous is prowling the forests."
Joize, looking at the map, nodded. "All right, lassie, great job. Heading straight to the vantage point is our priority now, lads."
Morn, with a determined expression, said, "Let's move out. We can't afford to stay here any longer."
Nira, adjusting her gear, added, "Stay sharp, everyone. We don't know what else is out there."
Lox, grinning, said, "Let's hope it's not something worse than those beasts."
Brek, chuckling, replied, "Just keep your blasters ready."
With their spirits lifted by Rhox's plan, the group continued their journey east, their resolve unwavering as they made their way towards the vantage point.
After a few moments, the group continued forward to the east, intending to reach the vantage point before nightfall. The pace was brisk but manageable, the rest from the previous night giving them the stamina needed to push through. Conversations were sparse, everyone focused on the journey ahead.
Morn, ever the practical one, occasionally grumbled about the terrain. "At least this isn't as bad as trudging through mud," he muttered, stepping over a fallen log.
Lox, with his usual cheer, replied, "Just think of it as an adventure. Besides, we'll have quite the view once we get to the top."
As they climbed, the landscape began to change. The dense forest gave way to a green hill, free of trees or foliage. The air felt fresher, lighter, as they ascended, and anticipation grew among the crew.
Upon arriving, the group paused to catch their breath and take in the sight before them. The vantage point offered a sweeping view of the surrounding area, and in the distance, the massive twin mountains stood majestically against the horizon.
Joize, her eyes filled with awe, said, "She is a sight for sore eyes indeed." She took a deep breath, the weight of their journey momentarily lifted. "No time to waste, lads! To the twin mountains we go!"
Morn, gazing at the mountains, whistled appreciatively. "That's quite something. Makes the hike worth it."
Nira, her practical nature showing, nodded. "We'll have to be careful. The terrain looks tricky, and who knows what we'll encounter."
Lox, always the optimist, grinned. "Well, whatever it is, we'll handle it. We've got this far, haven't we?"
Brek, adjusting his gear, added, "Just keep your eyes peeled. It's too quiet around here for my liking."
As they stood there, taking in the view, a sense of camaraderie and determination settled over the group. They had faced countless dangers and challenges together, and this was just another step in their journey.
Joize, turning to Rhox, said, "Lead the way, Rhox. Let's see what those mountains have in store for us."
Rhox, with a nod, took the lead, her eyes fixed on the distant peaks. "Stay close and be ready. This is just the beginning."
With renewed purpose, the group began their descent from the hill, their sights set on the twin mountains ahead. The path was clear, but they knew it would not be easy. Yet, with each step, their resolve strengthened, and they moved forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Without wasting time, the group headed once again deep into the beast-infested forest to head north towards the twin mountains.
"Keep alert," Joize said to her crewmen as they traveled into the thick foliage, concerned that something "large" would attack them.
As they strolled through the woods, some crewmen talked to each other to keep themselves busy.
"When you think about it, being up in the void is much more fun than being here," Morn said, adding, "At least we're inside our dreadnought with radars and everything."
"Mate, we just got chased by two leviathans at Dark Thorn. Are you serious?" Lox responded, shaking his head with a grin.
"Perhaps everything is just shit..." Brek muttered, eliciting chuckles from the group.
To keep themselves entertained while traveling through the woods, everyone in the group joked and told stories while laughing. This went on for a few hours until they came to an area of the woodland that was shrouded in fog. As a result, Vincent moved to the front of the party to utilize his mechanical helmet to identify any hostiles, of which there were none.
The group continued forward while Vincent scanned the surroundings for beasts.
With the brisk wind and fog brushing through their faces, the surroundings suddenly got cold. The wind faintly whistled through their ears, whispering…singing.
"Singing?" Rhox stated, hearing a woman singing faintly with a soft, yet haunting tone. She then looked around and saw the rest of her group, including Joize and Vincent, lying on the ground unconscious.
With a shocked expression, she tried shaking Joize awake, but there was no response.
She then noticed a pale woman with very long white hair, appearing naked with glowing marks imprinted on her body. The strange woman walked slowly towards Rhox while singing eerily.
"Who are you!?" Rhox shouted at the woman approaching her.
The woman brought her face near Rhox's and said, "Andressto...his essence is inside you..." she mumbled in a language unfamiliar to Rhox, yet she mysteriously comprehended it.
"Come…" the woman stated as she walked away, deeper into the fog.
Rhox refused to leave her group, suspecting the woman might be preying on them.
"Beasts…surround us…But they cannot venture through my domain…without permission…I am queen…goddess of the beasts…come follow me, child…I will protect your comrades…your destiny awaits you…Come," the woman said.
With an unsure look, Rhox followed the woman deeper into the fog, mumbling, "Fucking great, this is one of those apparitions again, same as what I encountered at Dark Thorn."
"Yes…follow me…child of Andressto…then you shall know what awaits you…your revenge…your faith…the entirety of the void…such curiosity…"