NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Collapse and Pursuit
The tunnel quaked violently as the group sprinted through it, the Hive's core nexus collapsing behind them. Crimson energy surged through the walls, illuminating the path with chaotic flashes. Every vibration felt like a warning, a promise of the Hive's retaliation.
"Faster!" Luther barked, his deep voice cutting through the cacophony.
Jester, slightly ahead, glanced over his shoulder with a smirk. "I don't think they need the reminder, big guy. Running for your life kinda comes naturally."
Behind them, the Resistance leader clutched their weapon tightly, glancing back as the tunnel's walls began to shift. Organic tendrils emerged, twisting and snapping as if alive.
"They're trying to trap us!" the leader shouted.
---
The ground beneath them suddenly buckled, splitting open to reveal a chasm of writhing Hive energy. Jester leapt across it effortlessly, landing with a flourish. He turned back to the others, calling out, "You guys coming, or should I leave a forwarding address?"
Luther didn't respond. He grabbed the nearest Resistance fighter and hurled them across the gap, then leapt himself, his massive frame landing with a thud that shook the ground.
The leader and the rest of the team followed, narrowly avoiding the chasm as it widened behind them.
---
The group pressed on, their pace relentless. But the Hive wasn't done. From the walls and ceilings, drones began to emerge, their skeletal forms glowing with a fiery intensity.
Jester sighed, drawing his blades. "And here I was hoping for a clean getaway."
Luther's claws extended, glowing with green energy. "Stay together. Protect the leader."
The Resistance fighters opened fire, their energy weapons lighting up the tunnel. Drones fell, but more took their place, swarming with mechanical precision.
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Jester danced through the chaos, his blades a blur as he carved through the drones. "You know," he called out, "I'm starting to think they don't want us to leave."
Luther smashed a drone against the wall, his claws tearing through its core. "Focus, Jester."
"Focused as ever!" Jester replied, grinning.
The leader shouted over the noise, "We're almost at the exit! Keep moving!"
---
The tunnel opened into a vast chamber, its ceiling stretching high above. In the center, a massive Hive construct loomed—a final gate barring their escape.
The leader skidded to a stop, their eyes widening. "That wasn't there before."
The construct's red eyes flared to life, and it began to move, its limbs heavy with Hive machinery.
Jester raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? They built a boss fight just for us?"
Luther stepped forward, his claws glowing brighter. "We'll clear the path. Leader, get your team through."
---
The construct roared, its voice a mechanical scream that echoed through the chamber. It lunged forward, its massive arms swinging with devastating force.
Luther intercepted it, his claws clashing against its metallic limbs. Sparks flew as he pushed back, his muscles straining with effort.
Jester darted to the side, his movements quick and unpredictable. He slashed at the construct's joints, looking for weak points. "So, big guy," he called out, "got any bright ideas for taking this thing down?"
"Keep it distracted," Luther growled.
"Not exactly a groundbreaking strategy, but okay," Jester muttered.
---
The Resistance fighters fired at the construct, their bolts glancing off its thick armor. The leader motioned for them to move toward the far end of the chamber.
"We'll hold it off," they said. "Get to the surface and signal for extraction!"
One of the fighters hesitated. "But—"
"Go!" the leader barked, their tone leaving no room for argument.
---
The construct shifted its attention, releasing a barrage of energy blasts that tore through the chamber. Jester flipped out of the way, narrowly avoiding a direct hit.
"Alright, this thing's starting to tick me off," he said, throwing one of his blades. The weapon embedded itself in the construct's shoulder, but it didn't even flinch.
Luther roared, leaping onto the construct's back. His claws tore into the exposed machinery, ripping wires and severing connections. The construct staggered but didn't fall.
"It's too resilient," Luther growled. "We need more firepower."
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The leader hesitated, then glanced at the core fragment still glowing faintly in their hand. They clenched their jaw, determination flickering in their eyes.
"This might work," they muttered, moving toward the construct.
Jester noticed and called out, "Uh, leader? What's the plan, and does it involve not dying?"
The leader ignored him, sprinting toward the construct. They dodged its swinging limbs, their movements swift and deliberate.
"Luther! Keep it steady!" they shouted.
Luther nodded, his claws anchoring him to the construct. "Do it quickly."
---
The leader reached the construct's base, slamming the core fragment into an exposed port. The fragment pulsed brightly, and the construct froze, its movements jerky and uncoordinated.
Jester grinned. "Now that's what I call a power outage."
The construct let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing, its massive form crashing to the ground.
---
The group stood in silence for a moment, the chamber eerily quiet.
The leader turned to the others. "Let's move. We're not safe yet."
Luther and Jester exchanged a glance before following, the Resistance fighters close behind.
The tunnel ahead glowed faintly with natural light, a sign that the surface was near. But the Hive's energy still lingered, a reminder that the battle was far from over.
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