Chapter 661 First Hostile Encounter (3)
It was rhythmic, almost hypnotic, but filled with an ominous undertone that sent shivers down the spines of the guild members.
The sound of hooves—dozens, maybe hundreds—
thundered through the forest, drawing closer with each passing second.
Faces paled, and hands gripped weapons tighter as the reality of the approaching threat sank in.
The drumming grew louder, now accompanied by the occasional guttural snarl that echoed through the trees, a haunting prelude to the violence about unfolding.
Kael's eyes darted nervously from the forest to his weapon controls, his fingers twitching in anticipation.
Mira clenched her jaw, her eyes narrowing as she tried to pierce through the forest's dense foliage as if willing the creatures to reveal themselves.
Aiden's knuckles were white as he gripped the handle of a mounted machine gun while Lila took deep, steadying breaths.
Her eyes closed for a moment as she centered herself.
Kael, his eyes still darting nervously between the forest trees, broke the silence.
"Judging by the distinct sound patterns, it's highly likely we're about to face a mob of Erendus."
Aiden, gripping the handle of the mounted machine gun with an unwavering hand, confirmed Kael's analysis.
His voice resonated with a strong sense of courage as he responded, "Sounds like you hit the nail on the head, Kael. That racket's got Erendus written all over it. Time to gear up and show 'em what we're made of."
Alina, her senses finely tuned to the Thaids like a violinist to the subtle tones of their instrument, felt a knot in her stomach tighten as if it were a coil being wound up for release.
Her eyes, wide as saucers and shimmering with an intense determination, were locked onto the horizon. The focus in her gaze was absolute, a soldier poised for battle, as she strained to make out the dark shapes moving amidst the thick foliage.
The approaching Erendus were still mere blips in the distance, their forms distorted by the heat haze rising from the ground.
She squinted, her brows furrowing as she tried to gauge not just the distance, but also the numbers.
Amidst the rising tension and mounting fear, Erik stood as the eye of the storm—calm, composed, and unflinchingly focused.
His masked face revealed nothing, but his posture radiated a quiet confidence that, in any other situation, might have been reassuring to his guild members.
He activated the communication system once more. "Hold steady," he said, his voice a low, controlled rumble that cut through the cacophony of approaching hooves and snarls. "Wait for my signal."
The drumming was now deafening, a relentless sonic storm battering the shores of their senses, making it difficult to anchor thoughts and focus on anything but the looming tempest of the impending clash.
The ground beneath the vehicles vibrated, each thud resonating like a minor earthquake, shaking leaves from the trees and sending small animals scurrying for cover.
Erik's hand hovered over the firing control of his laser rifle, his eyes locked on the point where some trees crossed, where the unseen would become seen.
And then, in a moment stretched taut as a bowstring with tension and dread, the first of the Erendus erupted from the forest tree line.
Its bone-plated armor glinted in the dappled sunlight, like a knight's shield in an ancient battlefield, its eyes aflame with the predatory hunger of a lion on the prowl.
Erik's voice broke the spell, crisp and clear as a winter's morning. "Wait, there are still too many trees in front of us!"
The other guild members, including Mira, Kael, and Aiden, were visibly shaken.
Their faces were pale, their eyes wide with a fear that was as palpable as the tension in the air. Mira's hands were trembling slightly, her knuckles white as she gripped her bow.
Kael's normally jovial face was set in a grim line, his usual humor nowhere to be seen.
Aiden was instead a mask of focus, his eyes darting restlessly between the emerging Erendus.
But Lila was different. There was a gleam in her eyes, a spark of anticipation that was almost terrifying in its intensity.
She was not scared, far from it. Lila was itching for the fight, her body coiled like a spring.
The sight of the Erendus did not fill her with dread but with an exhilarating thrill.
Lila let out a whoop of excitement, her voice slicing through the tense silence like a blade.
"Come on, you bastards!"
The forest's edge seemed to come alive as more dark shapes materialized behind the trees.
The Erendus, their bone-plated armor barely visible through the foliage, were closer to the convoy. Erik's eyes remained locked on the emerging forms, his hand hovering over the firing control.
"Wait for my signal," Erik's voice cut through the communication system, as steady as a rock amidst a raging storm, but threaded with a pulse of urgency that was impossible to ignore. "Not Yet!"
All around them, the world seemed to hold its breath.
The drumming of their hearts was the only sound that dared to challenge the one coming from the hooves. Each beat a countdown to the inevitable.
The Erendus were getting closer. They moved with a terrifying grace, their bone-plated bodies weaving through the thick forest easily and destroying everything in their path.
Each one that emerged from the tree line was a dark specter of dread, their forms growing larger and more distinct with every passing second.
They passed the first line of oaks, their monstrous forms dwarfed by the towering trees.
Then they moved beyond the cluster of birches, their white barks standing out against the Erendus' dark armor.
But Erik's command still held them back, a thin thread of control amidst the chaos.
A guttural, haunting sound erupted from the depths of the forest—a chorus of loud moos that reverberated through the air, sending a chill down the spines of even the most seasoned fighters.
Their hooves pounded the earth, each step a miniature earthquake that sent ripples through the soil and into the hearts of the guild members.
"Fire!" Erik's voice shattered the tension, echoing through the communication system like a clarion call.
In an instant, the air was filled with the deafening roar of engines and the whir of weapon systems coming to life.
Laser cannons fired in synchronized bursts, their beams cutting through the air with lethal precision.
Machine guns rattled off rounds in rapid succession, their muzzles flashing in the dim light.
Rocket launchers unleashed their fury, sending projectiles screaming toward the advancing horde.
A cloud of smoke and dust billowed into the air, obscuring vision but not dampening the ferocity of the attack.
Trees, caught in the crossfire, snapped like twigs and crashed to the ground, their trunks and branches falling onto the Erendus below.
But the fallen oaks seemed to have no effect; the creatures' armored plates shrugged off the impact as if it were nothing more than a nuisance.
Despite the overwhelming firepower, the Erendus continued their relentless advance, their bone-plated armor absorbing much of the onslaught, their moos now mixed with the snarls of battle-raged fury.
Erik, still calm and composed, assessed the situation. His guild members were fighting valiantly, their weapons systems operating at full capacity, but he knew this was just the beginning and not nearly enough to kill these Thaids.
As the cloud of smoke and dust settled, and the outlines of the fallen and the still-advancing Erendus became visible, Erik gripped his weapon tighter.
"This is it," he thought, his eyes narrowing behind his mask. "The real fight starts now."
Mira's voice crackled through the communication system, tinged with a note of urgency.
"Erik, what's our next move? These things are getting too close!"
Erik's voice sliced through the tension, as steady and unyielding as a lighthouse beacon amidst a stormy sea.
"Ranged fighters, brace yourselves and prepare your mana-powered attacks. The moment the Thaids enter your range, unleash hell."
His words were punctuated by a determination so fierce it was almost tangible. "Mira, you are one of them. Hold your fire until they're close enough for a sure hit. We can't afford to waste any shots."
The briefest pause, a moment of silence that seemed to stretch on forever. "I'll handle any that get too close," he said, his voice ringing with conviction that left no room for doubt.
"There's nothing to fear." His voice was a fortress, a bastion of courage amidst the fear.
Mira felt better as Erik said that, and her role was clear.
"Lila!"
"Yes, Boss?"
"Get on a laser turret and help keep the Thaids at bay. Do not let them come any closer!"
"Yes, Sir!"
Her fingers dabbed the controls of her weapon system, ready to slow down anything that got too close and that she and the others couldn't kill.
She cast a glance over at the other guild members in their vehicles, their faces taut with tension but etched with a laser-sharp focus.
They were around the same age as Lila, yet their eyes reflected the rawness of their inexperience and a certain fragility that Lila seemed to lack.
Their strength was not comparable to hers, their bodies not as battle-hardened, their spirits not as unyielding.
Fear clung to them like a second skin, a stark contrast to the fiery excitement that coursed through Lila's veins.
Lila, catching their apprehensive glances, let out a hearty laugh, her voice ringing out clear and confident amidst the tension. "Why the long faces, guys?" she called out, her words laced with bravado. Though, even if she intended to give courage to her guild members, she only made it worse.
Their faces remained as they were - tight with fear, their eyes wide and alert.
Unfazed by their reaction, or lack thereof, Lila only shrugged and flashed them a grin that was all teeth and audacity.
"Well, more fun for me then."
As she glanced back at the advancing Erendus, Mira felt her mana surge within her.
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