The Final Desperation

[You have completed the mission: Secure the ruins. 75,000 contribution points have been awarded.]

Genji received the prompt while they were traveling back. It seems that as long as the mission conditions are met, it's considered complete, which is a convenient feature in case he's unable to report back.

"By the way, how did you get the vehicles to follow you?"

It was a simple question, but Genji was genuinely curious. All he saw was Fin going into the drivers' area, and then the vehicles carrying hundreds of machines started floating behind him.

"Oh, that? With this."

Fin held up a small microchip that glinted in the light.

"This little thing allows us to override the instructions inside them, effectively giving us complete control. Of course, this only works when no Sentinels are present to interfere."

"That seems very niche."

"It is. The research team stopped improving these after a while. It became more cost-effective to develop a way to destroy robots instead."

"So why do you have this?"

Genji wasn't buying Fin's explanation. If the effects are as mediocre as he says, then he wouldn't be carrying so many of them with him.

"Well, the unintended side effect of this is that Sentinels get distracted when trying to combat this. With enough of them, we can overload their processing power, giving us the upper hand in fights. This feature makes it a must-have, considering how Sentinels are always surrounded by robots we can use this on."

'They managed to militarize everything. Just how long has this war been going on?'

While they were talking, Genji felt the ship come to a stop.

"Captain, we have trouble," the intercom sounded, summoning everyone into the cockpit.

"What happened?"

The person on watch pointed to the radar and then the enhanced telescope. Fin understood the meaning and peered in the direction of the dot.

"We never get a break, do we?" Fin said, sounding very annoyed after he stepped back.

"What is it now?" Genji asked, equally annoyed.

He might not know what they're dealing with, but Fin's tone told him enough.

"Nope. We're going around that."

Seeing that Fin had no intention of answering him, Genji walked over to the telescope to see for himself. As he looked through, he spotted a giant T-Rex with beefy arms in the distance. On top of its head, a crown-like decoration emerged from a pile of hardened skin. At that moment, the peculiar T-Rex was chomping down on a parasitized stegosaurus.

"You see that crown on its head?" Fin's voice came from behind him. "That's a sign of its status."

"Status?"

"Yes. That's a beast king. All beast kings have a similar crown once they reach a certain level. Think of it as a trait evolved to showcase their majesty."

"So what's so special about beast kings other than the crown?"

"Let me put it this way. The status of a beast king is not inherited but earned. Only the strongest beasts get that crown. Think of them as elites among the elite, the strongest of the bunch. I'm afraid the only people who can defeat them individually are the Reapers and Balancers."

"How do they compare to the Sentinels you killed?"

"Not even close. Beast kings can tear tens of Sentinels apart for breakfast. It's a lucky thing that they normally mind their own business."

"So we don't stand a chance?"

"None," Fin's voice was certain, driving the point home even further.

Yet this wasn't the worst of it all. After a few minutes of travel, they encountered a swarm of Zergs. But not the type that can be easily killed like before. This one was larger and had stronger units.

 

[Devourer]

Health: 13,600/13,600

Energy: 50/50

Con: 36

Str: 33

Dex: 21

Int: 5

Spc: 3

Skills:

Mini-boss: +10,000 HP

Devour (Active): Recover 1,000 health after consuming a Zerg soldier

Rip and Tear (Active): Deal massive damage to a single target

Tanky (Passive): +3 defense

 

Standing at 7 meters tall, these towering behemoths dwarf the Ravagers in both size and power. To add to their terrifying appearance, they possess large mandibles and countless teeth capable of tearing apart any prey. Seeing their ship flying over, these monsters let out a resounding roar.

Countless Gliders flew up, ready to bombard them with acid spits. Observing this, the pilot quickly activated the energy shield for the ship, repelling any Gliders that got too close. Then, in a swift maneuver, they descended toward the ground. With numerous machines following them, they couldn't afford to become entangled with these Zergs.

As they neared the ground, gravity aided their acceleration, allowing them to evade the pursuing Gliders. Yet the swarm persisted, the entire group chasing after them.

The team had to use all their resources to maintain distance, but they couldn't shake them off.

"Dammit. Why do they keep chasing us?" someone exclaimed.

Meanwhile, in the distance, a thundering roar echoed, causing Fin's face to pale.

"Please tell me that's not what I think it is," Genji asked as the ground shook between each thumping sound.

"I think it's exactly what you think," Fin replied.

Regrettably, Fin was right. It was just as Genji had suspected. A giant jumping T-Rex appeared through their telescope. Yes, jumping. The thumping sounds were caused by the T-Rex landing and taking off again with its massive legs.

Regarding how the creature managed this, Genji didn't bother contemplating. These were supernatural creatures with immense powers, so anything seemed reasonable. In fact, the T-Rex even had unusually long arms.

The T-Rex landed near the swarm, causing the group to scatter. They clearly knew better than to provoke this tyrant. However, the T-Rex didn't seem to appreciate this caution, instead opting to snack on a Devourer. In one smooth motion, the T-Rex chomped off the head of the creature, instantly killing it.

The remaining parts of the Devourer squirmed and followed the neural impulses sent while it was still alive, attempting to attack the T-Rex. This endeavor proved hopeless as the beast simply sent the body flying with a swing of its tail.

Unfortunately, this attack sent the Devourer flying for their ship. It was almost as if the T-Rex was aware of them and intended to prevent their escape. Genji felt a strong jolt within the ship, causing him to slam into the walls. Subsequently, the sides were torn apart by the claws of the Devourer.

The dead creature had finished its last attempts to attack, destroying their ship in the process. The energy shield had shattered upon collision, leaving the ship vulnerable to the grasp of the deceased bug.

Suddenly, the ship tilted and plummeted downward due to the loss of balance. The Devourer's large body only worsened the situation as its grip tightened around the destroyed section.

"Prepare yourselves! We're crashing," the pilot announced through the intercom before rushing out of the cockpit. Fin hastily opened the door and jumped out, with everyone else following suit.

*BOOM-crash*

A deafening crash echoed below them as their ship disintegrated upon impact.

"On the bright side, we can use the transport vehicles to get back. However, I have a sneaky suspicion the T-Rex isn't going to make that easy," Genji commented as they landed.

"You're right. That was too coincidental to be anything else," Fin agreed.

"Can we make a run for it after they weaken themselves?"

"That might just work. The beast king might be strong, but its stamina is limited," Fin replied. "But let's try to keep the vehicles safe. Connor, see if you can gradually move the ships away. We'll do our best to fend off anything the T-Rex throws your way."

"Understood," Connor, the pilot of the group, responded.

"This was not how I envisioned the trip to go," Genji remarked.

"No, none of us did," Fin concurred.

They found a place to make themselves less noticeable and watched the fight between the two forces. The Zergs surrounded the T-Rex, but the beast shrugged off their attacks with its violent body. It seemed like only the Devourers could harm the creature, yet the small wounds instantly healed after a few seconds.

It was a messy sight as the T-Rex rampaged through the swarm. When necessary, it would use its long arms to grab prey, adding a new snack to its diet, and replenishing its energy instantly. The fight was completely one-sided, but it wasn't all hopeless. The T-Rex might have unlimited food around, but its body couldn't maintain this level of activity forever.

The Zergs were slowly wearing the tyrant down with their numbers. This wasn't surprising given their specialization.

"How long do you think this will last?"

"I would give it a few hours. Neither side seems to be relenting, so it'll come to an end eventually," Fin replied.

And so, they waited, a total of six hours. By now, the swarm of Zergs had dramatically dwindled, leaving only a few sporadic Devourers in the group.

As for the T-Rex, multiple deep injuries could be seen. Steam rose off them as the acids from the Gliders fought against the creature's regeneration. Compared to before, its movements had become slower despite its immense power capable of sending the surrounding Zergs flying like lethal projectiles.

*ROOOOAAAARRRR*

The creature let out a roar filled with authority as it stood in the open space it had defended since the start. The Zergs screeched back in response, angry at this unreasonable intruder. They had done nothing, yet this overgrown lizard continued to provoke them. What kind of prestige would they have if they let that go?

"Seems like they're entering the final clash," Genji commented.

"Get ready. When they start again, we will make a dash for it," Fin said.

"I've been ready," Genji replied, eager for this encounter to be over.

"How intriguing. I knew I sensed a massive amount of death force, but I never expected to find some ants here."

Hearing the unfamiliar voice sound beside them, everyone in the group hurried to scatter. In their original position, a pale man wielding a massive, dual-headed scythe stood. A loose-fitting black robe draped over his shoulders, yet Genji could make out a sickly skeletal figure underneath.

Genji sensed a massive danger from this figure, more dangerous than anything he had encountered before. His instincts told him that resisting would only lead to death.

"Who are you?" Fin demanded, weapons drawn.

Despite Fin's threatening gesture, the sickly man paid no heed to him. Instead, he looked around, casually observing the group.

"Some people just don't grasp the immensity of death. How can you demand something from death like it's a mortal?"

Genji felt a huge crisis when he heard this. Trusting his instincts, he quickly used Flashstep and appeared 100 meters away. It turned out this decision was correct, as two heads fell to the ground where he had been standing.

"Oh? You have good senses."

Cold sweat broke out on Genji's skin when he heard this. The voice had come from behind him. It was uncanny, as this was the first time someone had been able to keep up with his technique.

Genji quickly used Solid Core to shield himself while taking a step forward.

Flash-

But before his foot could land, a massive force hit him from behind, sending Genji flying into the distance.

"Enigma!" Fin finally reacted and shouted after him.

Genji spat out a mouthful of blood and reached for a healing gel bomb. He didn't know if it was arrogance or confidence, but the figure didn't pursue him after sending him flying. It was lucky that was the case, or Genji would have had no way to defend himself. He quickly patched himself up and staggered back to see another head added to the ones on the ground.

[Morris]

Health: ???

Energy: ???

Con: 48

Str: 48

Dex: 46

Int: 43

Spc: 35

No skills can be read

 

This was the first time Genji couldn't even obtain basic information about a target. No matter how he pondered it, everything indicated that he should avoid this person.

As Genji stepped into view, he saw Fin locked in a desperate battle against Morris. Fin's armor had intensified, and arcs of electricity danced across his core reactor. Genji noticed that both Fin and the group had grown stronger, but Morris appeared as casual as ever. Wisps of black light swirled around Morris's fingers, signaling another wave of danger that triggered his senses.

'I need to get out of here.'

As he turned to flee, the thuds of bodies hitting the ground reached his ears, causing his eyes to widen.

'How? I didn't even sense him move!'

Swift Movement, Wolf Step, Lightweight, Flashstep.

Genji employed all of his movement skills and ran for his life. He had never combined Flashstep with Swift Movement before but now was not the time to hesitate. Escape was his priority, no matter the cost. After reappearing, he executed Flashstep again, disregarding the searing pain coursing through his body.

After five consecutive uses, Genji found himself in the middle of nowhere. He skillfully applied potions to his wounds and patched himself up. Leaning against a rock, he pulled out his communication device, deciding to contact Connor, the pilot.

"Hey, Connor. I have bad news—the group was wiped out. No need to go back and search for them."

The line fell silent as Connor grappled with what Genji had just said. It wasn't surprising for him to react like this. After all, they had only separated a few hours ago.

"Which faction did this? Was it the Zergs or the T-Rex? No, that can't be right! Captain Fin had enough power to escape them!"

"I don't know which faction he belonged to, but he was formidable."

"He? A single person? Can you provide a description? Anything distinctive?"

"If I had to point out one thing, it would be the black energy he employed. A single wave and Fin was dead. I don't understand how he did it, but his ability was eerie."

"Hold on. Black energy? As in, it gathered in his palm?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"..."

"..."

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

"Shit! It's a reaper! Why are we so unlucky? Damn you lady luck. You cocksucking whore..."

Connor vented his frustration with a string of curses, vividly expressing his grievances about the situation. This rant only stopped when a familiar voice sounded behind Genji.

"That's quite the extensive vocabulary you have there," Morris remarked as he snatched the device from Genji's grasp.

Alarm bells rang in Genji's mind, prompting him to roll aside and draw his weapon. His body tensed as he pointed [Jaguar] at Morris.

'How did he catch up? I was certain I had escaped. Did he track me?'

"Enigma, who was that just now? I thought you said no one survived."

Morris brought the device up to his mouth and said in a raspy voice, purposely distorted to instill the most anxiety in its audience. Nothing brings him more joy than hunting down terrified prey.

"Connor, is it? Death has marked you, and it will come after dealing with your friend."

As expected, a high-pitched scream emanated from the other end before Morris crushed the device.

"Let's end this quickly so I can hunt down that guy."

Genji's instincts screamed at him again. He leaped back, attempting to force Morris away with a desperate strike. Unfortunately, he achieved neither goal. A deep gash cleaved through his torso, while multiple strands of black energy coalesced to block his attack.

Seeing his prey survive the assault, Morris spun his scythe once more, aiming for Genji's neck. Genji clenched his teeth, realizing he couldn't dodge the strike. Morris was simply too fast. Faced with imminent death, a crazy idea flashed through his mind.

'You want to kill me? I'll take you down with me!'

A fierce torrent of shadow flames erupted, enveloping [Jaguar], as Genji swung at Morris's head with both hands. At first, Morris paid no heed to the attack, confident that his aura of death could fend off the assault. However, his confidence crumbled when Genji's saber sliced through the defense he had relied on.

Feeling the unexpected burst of sharpness, Morris quickly employed a skill, teleporting 15 meters away. Genji's flaming saber followed a circular trajectory due to Morris's maneuver.

Morris's retreat took him out of their effective range, enabling both combatants to survive the exchange. However, this survival came at a heavy price. Genji was completely depleted, while Morris was in peak condition. It was a grim situation that would only last a moment. Yet this moment was all Genji required.

Pulling out a dagger, Genji broke down the crystallized energy in both weapons, unleashing a surge of shadow energy.

Summon Kraken

Summon Kraken (Active): Use all your energy and summon the tentacles of the Kraken to strangle a target. The number of tentacles is dependent on the amount of energy used. Cooldown of 1 day.

Genji expended all his acquired energy as a summoning circle materialized under Morris. Before Morris could react, hundreds of tentacles burst out from beneath him. These tentacles wound tightly around his body, exerting immense force. This strangulation bought Genji the time he needed to sheathe his weapons and draw his last dagger.

Decomposing the crystallized energy in the dagger, Genji harnessed it for Solid Core. He needed this protection if he hoped to survive his next movement.

Swift Movement, Flashstep

Without hesitation, Genji unleashed this powerful combo beyond his abilities, refusing to stop until his energy was empty. This series of Flashsteps was slower than before due to Solid Core's hindrance, but Genji persisted in his efforts. He NEEDS to escape if he wants to survive.

A few seconds after Genji vanished, Morris broke free from the tentacles' grip. Chunks of sliced tentacles rained down around him. Despite his success, a frown etched across his face. He had lost track of his target. Frustrated by this revelation, he shifted his attention to his other marked prey, hoping to relieve his irritation by extracting despairing screams as his target dies a painful death.