Back on the battlefield, the medics are doing everything they can to heal Miyagi's wounds. Li Wang, burning with rage, charges forward with fearless abandon, only to have two mutated centipedes lunge at him. Narcissus, sensing the impending danger, activates "Iron Wall" to create a protective barrier for Li Wang. Yet, to his shock, the centipedes' biting force shatters the formidable defense.
Seeing the danger, Li Wang wastes no time, gathering all his strength. He clenches his fist and unleashes his power upon the first centipede that broke through, shouting, "Direct Strike!" His voice resonates with unyielding resolve. As he unleashes his ability, his formidable strength erupts like thunder, obliterating the mutated centipede into a bloody mess, the splattered gore freezing the scene in that instant.
However, the second centipede, incensed by its comrade's demise, launches a vicious attack on Li Wang, its jaws snapping towards him. Narcissus, reacting swiftly, draws in surrounding metal, preparing another line of defense.
"Quick! Dodge sideways!" Narcissus shouts, his hands swiftly directing the iron fragments to form a steel barrier around Li Wang. Instinctively sensing the danger, Li Wang dives to the side, narrowly evading the centipede's assault.
Though he escaped this attack, Narcissus can see that Li Wang's energy is waning. The toll of his "Direct Strike" ability has drained his stamina, leaving him visibly fatigued. Narcissus, growing anxious, realizes they must devise a new strategy, and fast.
"Li Wang! No more reckless attacks! We need a more effective approach!" Narcissus yells, his voice laced with urgency. Li Wang takes a deep breath, fighting to steady himself and regain his composure.
The medic turns to Miyagi, frowning. "You can't take such risks. A moment longer, and you'd have lost your arm. Fortunately, we managed emergency care just in time…"
Miyagi smiles faintly, his voice resolute. "If sacrificing an arm can ensure the safety of the refuge, then the price is well worth it."
The medic cannot help but feel admiration for Miyagi's unwavering resolve, his gaze softening with a hint of respect. He knows that, in moments of such dire peril, Miyagi's courage and selflessness serve as a beacon of inspiration for everyone around him.
Within the shelter, Kaires felt his heart stir as he watched Miyagi's fierce battle. He couldn't help but imagine the immense power he might wield if his ability were "lightning."
"Could I be like Enel from One Piece? What kind of awe-inspiring lightning could I unleash?" he whispered to himself, lost in thought.
He recalled Enel's various abilities from the manga, like "Volt Shock" and "Thunderbird," feeling a surge of yearning and admiration. Yet, as his thoughts shifted, he began to wonder about the extent of his potential power.
"How should I even begin?" he pondered, visualizing Enel's formidable image. The idea of that electric force made him feel a strange connection, as if he could almost reach out and touch it. Perhaps, he could try to emulate Enel's techniques to find his own path to power.
Hades, observing Kaires' contemplative expression, spoke, "Taking that first step is difficult, kid. Summoning the courage to move forward—now that's the real challenge. Just stay true to yourself, and it'll all be worth it! Fight for yourself!"
Clenching his fists, Kaires felt energy stirring within him. It was as if lightning danced at his fingertips, an invisible serpent waiting to strike. He pictured himself wielding the currents as weapons, ready for the battles that lay ahead.
"All right, I'm going to try this!" he murmured, a determined gleam in his eyes. He raised his hands slowly, focusing intently on the electric current, mentally repeating Enel's techniques as he attempted to summon that latent power.
"Come on, let me feel you!" he shouted inwardly. The currents began to gather in his hands, and as his longing intensified, the faint glow grew ever brighter, crackling with potential.
The scene shifts to Achilles and his exploration team.
It had been nearly half an hour since they left the shelter, and the unusual calm along the way was unsettling. They hadn't encountered a single mutant or enemy. "This is too strange," Achilles muttered, his brow furrowed with a hint of caution in his tone.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Eos said with a grin, idly playing with a small flame in his hand. "Smooth sailing is just what we need, right?"
Phoebe, however, was notably cautious. "Regardless, we're on the front lines here, and any major injury would put us in jeopardy. Without a medic, we can't afford a serious hit," she warned, her eyes scanning the area as if expecting danger to emerge from the quiet.
Achilles nodded, heightening his internal alertness. He knew all too well that beneath the calm surface often lay far more insidious threats. "Stay vigilant, everyone. No matter how peaceful it seems, let's not drop our guard."
At that moment, Phoebe raised a hand to signal the team to stop, her voice low. "Wait, I'm sensing some faint vibrations ahead… like something, or someone, is moving."
Achilles's eyes narrowed, and he replied in a hushed tone, "Could be mutants lying low, watching us, waiting for a chance to strike." He gestured for the team to spread out and assume a defensive stance. His gaze turned to Eos. "Get your flames ready. We might need some cover fire."
Eos nodded, the flame in his hand flaring up, casting an orange glow on his steady face. "Don't worry. If they come, they'll get a taste of fire."
Phoebe squinted, her voice tense. "There—shadows are moving. It almost looks like… people?"
The team's attention intensified, and Achilles quickly instructed, "Hold formation and move forward carefully. This area could be home not just to mutants but other survivors. Let's avoid unnecessary confrontation."
They moved forward with measured steps, drawing closer to the blurred figures. As the distance closed, the team could make out the forms more clearly.
There were five of them, standing motionless in the shadows, their movements slow and stiff. They wore tattered protective gear, caked in dust, as if they had wandered these desolate lands for ages. As the team neared, Phoebe, ever cautious and concerned, asked softly, "Are you all right? Do you need any help?"
But the figures gave no reply, trudging forward with a heavy, dragging pace, oblivious to Phoebe's inquiry. Achilles motioned for his team to step aside, allowing the strangers to pass.
As they shuffled by, Eos felt a flicker of anger at their lack of response, yet quickly realized something was off. The last survivor, as he passed, had a look of unshakable terror, as if whatever he'd seen had torn his mind to pieces.
"Bugs… so many bugs… everyone disappeared…" The last man's voice, barely more than a whisper, reached them as he staggered on, leaving the team in uneasy silence.
"Bugs? Frightening? Everyone vanished?" Achilles murmured, unease flickering in his gaze. He looked at Phoebe, who returned his glance with a serious nod, signaling Eos to remain on guard. She sensed that these survivors had endured something devastating, something that had fractured their minds.
Amphitrite broke the silence, asking, "Could it be that some kind of insect has taken over the food depot?"
Her question sent the team into a pensive silence. Achilles furrowed his brows, sifting through every scrap of information he'd heard about possible insect threats. Yet aside from a few scattered reports, there was little he could rely on. Taking a deep breath, he turned to the others.
"We have to prepare for unknown threats. These survivors' words may seem fragmented, but their behavior shows they've been through something terrifying," Achilles said, his tone calm yet resolute. "The depot might indeed be overrun by something we've never seen before. Regardless, we need to proceed with caution."
Eos clenched his fists, a spark of fire igniting at his fingertips as his face contorted with a mix of frustration and determination. "Then let's burn whatever it is to ash! Whatever bug stands in our way will feel my flames!"
Phoebe placed a steadying hand on Eos's shoulder, urging him to calm down. "Eos, we can't be reckless. Whatever these people faced, it might be something far worse than anything we've encountered."
Amphitrite nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Our priority is to secure the supplies and return safely. If there's danger, we must avoid being cornered or trapped."
Achilles's words tightened the group's focus, and they pressed on, each of them on high alert. Ahead, the food depot loomed under the dim sky, its crumbling walls overgrown with moss and vines, shattered windows hinting at years of abandonment.
Phoebe closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she activated her "environmental perception." A soft glow radiated from her, expanding her awareness throughout the surroundings. After a moment, she opened her eyes, a hint of worry etched on her face. "Achilles, there's something strange in the air—an unusual vibration, like a swarm of small creatures, hiding just out of sight."
Achilles nodded in understanding. "Everyone, stay alert and hold formation. Amphitrite, be ready to use water to shield us if things go south. We'll fall back if necessary."
They approached the main door with caution. Dried plants littered the ground, and faint claw marks could be seen in the dust. Achilles signaled Amphitrite, who summoned a stream of water to flow like a shield in front of the team, creating a protective barrier.
Once the door swung open, the team entered the depot, moving cautiously. The walls and floor were teeming with oversized insects, which scattered as the team advanced. Despite their harmless appearance, their sheer number was unnerving.
"There are so many… It's enough to make your skin crawl," Amphitrite muttered, her fingers trembling slightly, causing the water shield to waver.
Achilles glanced her way, offering a reassuring smile. "Stay calm. These little guys won't hurt us. Think of them as a sign that we're in the right place, where there's still food to be found. Let's gather what we need quickly and get out."
Phoebe scanned the shelves and crates, rapidly assessing where to begin searching for supplies. "Let's split into two teams. Achilles and I will start on the left, Amphitrite and Eos on the right. Everyone, be careful and stay in touch."
The team divided and began scouring the area, locating cans, dried food, and bottles of clean water. Eos held up a can of dry rations, a hint of satisfaction on his face. "Looks like we're in luck—plenty of supplies left."
As Eos eagerly gathered more supplies, he opened a door toward the back, but as he stepped through, he suddenly slipped, letting out a startled yell as he tumbled down. "Ahhh...!"
The others heard his shout and rushed to the doorway. Achilles peered over the edge, his eyes widening in surprise. "What is this place? It's so vast… And why is there such a huge drop here? It feels like… a pit of quicksand."
"Eos! Are you all right?" Achilles called out, trying to gauge his position below.
Eos called back with a laugh, "I'm fine! Just lost my footing—"
Before he could finish, Phoebe shouted, "Eos, get out of there now!"
But it was too late. A massive claw clamped onto Eos's right leg, dragging him down further.
Eos screamed in pain, struggling to free himself, but the enormous pincer held his leg like an iron vice. Its dark red, menacing glow revealed a giant worm-like creature, emerging from the sand with a thick, armored shell.
Phoebe's face went pale as she whispered, "A mutated antlion… I've never seen one this size before. Its evolution is… terrifying."
Achilles snapped out of his shock, gritting his teeth. "Whatever it's become, we have to get Eos out of there!"
Amphitrite, standing nearby, clenched her fists and summoned a torrent of water, directing it at the mutated antlion in an attempt to disrupt its grip. The water crashed against its shell with a resounding impact, but the creature barely reacted, maintaining its hold on Eos.
"Hang on, Eos!" Achilles moved in closer, focusing his energy. The sand around him began to vibrate, and under his command, it condensed into sharp sand spikes that he directed toward the antlion's eyes. His ability to weaponize sand gave him an edge in combat.
The sand spikes shot out like a hail of arrows, piercing the antlion's eyes with precision. It let out a monstrous roar, writhing in pain as it finally released Eos and retreated into the ground.
"Stay alert, everyone," Phoebe warned, her voice tense. "It's still around here."
Amphitrite used her water flow to gently carry Eos back to the group, washing over his leg to cleanse the wound. Phoebe hurried over to check his injury, her face turning grim as she inspected the bite marks. "Poison! The antlion's pincers are venomous!"
Achilles looked at Phoebe, urgency in his voice. "Phoebe, do we have any antidote left?"
Phoebe's expression grew tense. "We do, but we only have one dose left!"
"Give it to me!" Achilles extended his hand, recalling how valuable this antidote was—specially prepared by their medic, capable of neutralizing even the strongest toxins. Rushing to Eos, Achilles injected the antidote near the wound.
Eos was still pale, wincing in pain, but he tried to steady himself. "I'll be fine… but that creature's still out there."
"Amphitrite," Achilles said, "put up a water barrier around you and Eos. Protect yourselves while Phoebe and I handle this."
Amphitrite nodded, taking a deep breath and summoning a sturdy wall of water around herself and Eos. The flowing shield surrounded them, providing a strong line of defense against any further attacks.
Achilles turned to Phoebe, his eyes resolute. "Can you sense where it is?"
Phoebe closed her eyes, focusing on her surroundings. After a few seconds, she opened them again and nodded. "It's moving underground, right below us, preparing to strike again."
"Good. We'll take the offensive." Achilles placed his hand on the ground, manipulating the sand beneath to locate the creature. With a focused effort, he formed a series of sand spears, each aimed at the lurking antlion. "Get ready, Phoebe. I'm going to draw it out."
At his command, the sand spears shot downwards, piercing the earth. A moment later, the antlion emerged with a furious roar, baring its giant pincers. It lunged toward Achilles, who sidestepped, then sent another wave of sand spears at its vulnerable points.
The creature flinched, its body writhing in pain, but it was relentless, retaliating with even greater ferocity. Phoebe seized the moment, stepping forward and drawing her short silver sword, swiftly driving it into the creature's head. The blade glinted with a cold light as it found its mark, causing the antlion to pause for a brief, crucial moment.
Achilles took advantage of the opening, launching another barrage of sand spikes toward the creature's head and eyes. The attacks struck true, and the antlion let out a final, agonized screech before collapsing to the ground, motionless.
As the dust settled, Eos exhaled in relief, still wincing from the pain but relieved to be out of danger. "Looks like we're safe… at least for now."
Achilles relaxed, catching his breath as he walked back to Eos and Amphitrite. "We've gathered enough supplies, and we need to get back to the shelter. The medic will need to double-check for any lingering toxins."
Phoebe sheathed her sword, her tense expression finally easing. "Agreed. This place is far too dangerous. Who knows what other mutants are lurking around here? Let's head back while we still can."