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[ALERTS: CAVECRAWLERS DETECTED]
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A radar-like display materialized before me.
The red dots swarmed across the display like a writhing mass, far too many to count. The sheer number sent a shiver through me.
I need to tell the others.
I quickly returned back to my body.
The jarring sensation of returning hit me like a wave, but I didn't have time to dwell on it.
The worm started to panic, its colossal body thrashing with unease.
I acted fast, grabbing the pheromone emitter and flooding the air with the strongest mating-call pheromone it had.
The strategy worked—barely. The worm hesitated, its confusion evident in its erratic movements. But at least it wasn't trying to bolt.
With the situation momentarily under control, I sprinted out of the pen and yelled for the others, my voice ringing through the camp.
"Gather everyone! Now!"
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The three Tricrowns, Elder Elies, Thalvyr, and I, along with rest of the company, quickly assembled in the central clearing.
I wasted no time.
"The worm is sensing something. It's trying to escape, which means danger is closing in fast."
A ripple of unease spread through the group. Their expressions shifted from confusion to alarm.
I turned to Elder Elies.
"What's our next move?"
Elies didn't hesitate.
"We follow protocol. Thalvyr, assembles Novathorns and Dualsages—and gathers anything we're short on. Destroy the rest."
"Who's leading the handlers?"
Before Zeera could respond, I stepped forward.
"I am."
A murmur of confusion swept through the handlers, Zeera among them, but I pressed on.
"The worm can't fall into the hands of the cavecrawlers. Go and set it free."
"On it."
I looked at Zeera and the other handlers with a gentle smile.
"We'll handle this together. Let's move!"
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"You damn slacker. How dare you?"
Zeera's arms were crossed, and her glare could've melted stone.
"It was urgent."
I said, lowering my head apologetically and putting my hands together.
"I am so sorry. I'll explain everything to Elder Elies later."
"You'd better."
The pen was chaos.
Handlers scrambled to remove the goo nest. The worm was still confused by the lingering pheromones.
"It's almost ready to go. but we need more time to stabilize it or it will crushed all of us."
"I'll guide it out now."
"Are you insane? That thing will crush you!"
Veshira grabbed my arm, her grip tight.
"No. You're not doing this. You didn't tell me to come with you just to see you crushed to paste, did you? Let the handlers do their job!"
"They won't have enough time. Just trust me."
Her grip tightened for a moment, then she sighed, releasing me.
"You're reckless, you know that? Fine. But if you get flattened, don't expect me to mourn you."
"Noted. But I won't get flattened"
"Better not."
I smirk.
"Just make sure my body is safe, alright?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You'll see."
I approached the worm. Taking in a deep breath, I reached out and touched its side.
Then, I activated my skill.
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"WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN?"
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I couldn't make out what they are saying, but the frantic movements of everyone pulling my unconscious body to safety as I moved toward a rock wall told me all I needed to know—they were evacuating.
Take care of my body, everyone. I'll handle this.
I activated **Tunneling Surge.**
A strange sensation rippled through the worm's body as my mouth morphed, spinning like a drill.
Jagged, saw-like teethe grinding against the rock.
Thick, blue goo started seeping from my body, coating the tunnel walls to stabilize the structure and prevent a collapse.
My path was clear. Toward the advancing cavecrawlers.
To buy time for everyone else to survive.
---------------------------------------------
I would have preferred to face this with better preparation.
An explosion would have be of great help, but Thalvyr had already taken all the explosives and essential supplies with the evacuation.
I glanced at the radar, eyes fixed on the screen, waiting for the telltale sign of the alpha.
I had talked to the Novathorns on my scouting team—they had explained how, after the alpha got taken out by the explosion, the smaller, dog-sized creatures threw into chaos. Disoriented and leaderless, they had retreated, allowing Thalvyr and his team to hunt down the stragglers.
Finally, a larger, more menacing dot appeared on the radar.
**There you are.**
I began tunneling toward it, the rhythmic grind of stone growing louder with every second. When I reached a position directly above the alpha, I stopped, coiling for a strike.
And then, I attacked.
This one seem far larger than the one that killed me, nearly matching the width of the worm's gaping maw.
I slammed down, intending to crush it in one decisive move. But the alpha was ready.
With terrifying strength, it braced itself and pushed back, holding my mouth open in a stalemate. Its sheer power was unreal, every muscle bulging as it countered my crushing force.
Then, it activated a skill.
A deafening screech reverberated through the tunnels, and on my radar, countless smaller red dots began converging on my position. The swarm was coming.
**So that's your play.**
I ceased excreting the stabilizing blue goo and began thrashing violently.
The force of my movements caused the tunnel above to weaken and, with a thunderous crash, it began to collapse.
The debris formed a temporary barrier, isolating us from the approaching swarm of cavecrawlers.
I lunged forward, spinning my drill-like mouth. Sparks flew as my teeth clashed against its hardened exoskeleton, but the alpha retaliated with a crushing blow to my side. Pain rippled through my worm body, but I held my ground.
The collapsing tunnel worked in my favor, slowing its movements and forcing it to dodge while I continued my assault.
The rocks trapping the smaller cavecrawlers trembled as the swarm clawed at the barrier, desperate to reach us. I knew the wall wouldn't hold forever.
I needed to end this.
With a burst of speed, I coiled my body and launched myself at the alpha, aiming to pin it beneath my weight.
It twisted, narrowly avoiding a direct hit, but I managed to trap one of its legs under a massive boulder.
The alpha screeched, its struggles growing frantic.
The swarm outside intensified their efforts, the barrier cracking under the relentless pressure.
It was now or never.