"Rodgraim, I have committed this name to memory. When I return to Seven Star, I will absolutely repay this life-saving grace!"
Although Theo didn't know who this "Rodgraim" was, nor why some such powerful person would send an army to help, the overwhelming power of Rodgraim's army did not need words.
This person must be someone of beyond extraordinary capabilities.
It was a definite proof of the elite quality of Rodgraim's command that the Iron Pilots and Predators were present.
None of them could match their skill and discipline, and an aura of authority clung to each one of them, which could easily equal even the highest-ranking officers of any planetary military.
While these thoughts crossed Theo's mind, one of the Predators who was positioned close to the entrance spoke in a deep mechanical voice, "A creature is approaching!"
As soon as this was said, a ripple of tension went through the entire crew of the Seven Sea Fleet.
All of the crew members stood stiff, and the anxiety of the situation was written on their faces.
The fact that they were all unarmed made the situation even worse, and they felt vulnerable and exposed.
Two Predators ran to the metal gate. Immediately, they locked it tight.
That was with practiced efficiency, for it was an attempt at buying time. Time in which to prepare for what was coming.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Predators took their positions strategically, forming a defensive perimeter around the crew members. Their silent, deliberate movements spoke volumes—they were willing to fight to the death to ensure the safety of those under their protection.
Suddenly, an ear-shattering boom echoed throughout the chamber.
The noise was so intense that it made the walls of the room shake.
A deep mark emerged on the thick metal gate surface. The crew was aghast with wide open eyes.
This was not a regular metal door but rather one made from ten centimeters of reinforced steel.
The amount of strength that must have been put in to create such an impression was unthinkable.
The two standing guard Predators exchanged a glance.
Their faces, though masked, seemed to express the intensity of the situation. All doubts were now gone.
The creature behind the door was much stronger than what they had encountered so far in the form of the Dark Elf warriors.
The air became even more oppressive as a sharp metallic clang echoed through the air. A blade, shining with an unearthly sharpness, pierced through the steel door. Slowly, it began to cut downward, carving an opening with a high-pitched screech that set everyone's teeth on edge.
Then, with a final, resounding boom, the door was ripped apart.
Emerging from the jagged opening was a creature that defied explanation.
It was a terrifying fusion of human and insect. The thing's grotesque, insectoid head was crowned with clicking mandibles, sharp claws jutted from its elongated limbs, and its sinewy body seemed a fusion of organic muscle and alien carapace.
The creature let out a guttural hiss, its long, sinuous tongue flicking out as it surveyed its surroundings.
The crew of the Seven Sea Fleet recoiled in terror. Some staggered back, their legs threatening to give out beneath them.
Even Theo, a seasoned traveler of the Space, felt a cold chill run down his spine.
"What in the world is that thing?" a crew member whispered hoarsely.
"I've never seen anything like it!" another stammered, his voice quaking with fear.
"Are the Dark Elves insane? Did they really make something like this?"
Before anyone could even say a word, the creature let out a feral roar and launched forward, its claws slicing through the air with deadly precision.
But the two Predators stationed at the door were ready. Their wrist blades extended with a sharp snikt, and they moved with lightning-fast reflexes.
With a precise, coordinated attack, both Predators struck simultaneously.
Puff!
The creature froze mid-lunge, impaled by the twin blades that pierced through its torso.
The Predators didn't waste any time. With a practiced flick of their wrists, they slashed downward.
Slash!
The alien was cleaved in half cleanly. Its blood, a viscous, glowing green liquid, splattered across the floor in a grotesque display.
The speed and effectiveness of the kill left them in awe.
Their fears transformed into awe as they saw the power of the protectors.
The two Predators stood tall.