Chapter 1151 The Swarm vs The Ancient Beast I
As night fully enveloped the Celestial Valley, Michael stood watch over the ground, observing the holes where the centipede had burrowed. The darkness of the valley was profound, the only light provided by the stars above. The atmosphere was tense, with every member of the group on high alert.
Sarba, with his heightened senses, suddenly tensed. He whispered to Michael, "Ghost, I hear something. A hissing sound, somewhere in the distance."
Ayag, overhearing this, asked, "Could whatever's causing that hiss be keeping the centipede underground? Or maybe the centipede is just resting during the night?"
"Let's wait and see," Michael responded, his eyes scanning the dark landscape for any signs of movement.
Before he could finish his sentence, a gigantic beast appeared in the sky. It was almost as large as the centipede, resembling a giant bat with expansive wings that blotted out the stars.
Ayag, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the creature, couldn't help but curse loudly. "What the hell is that thing?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with shock and disbelief.
Michael, studying the creature, made a startling realization. "It's not one beast. It's millions of them," he said, his tone a mix of awe and caution.
Ayag, confused, asked, "Millions? What do you mean?"
Michael clarified, "Millions of tiny creatures make up one giant beast. It's a swarm, but they move so in sync that they appear as one."
As the creature moved closer, they could see that it was indeed composed of countless tiny creatures. Each one had gray fur, sharp fangs, bat-like wings, and glowing red eyes. The swarm moved as a single entity, a massive, undulating mass that created an eerie, almost hypnotic sight in the night sky.
The power and terror of the swarm became chillingly apparent when a giant buffalo, the size of a two-story building, emerged from the forest's edge. The massive creature mooed loudly, its deep, resonant sounds expressing panic and fear. Its large eyes were wide, and it turned to run, its hooves thundering against the ground as it attempted to flee the impending danger.
"That buffalo is in big trouble," Ayag said, her voice laced with apprehension as she watched the scene unfold.
The buffalo, sensing the imminent threat, mooed furiously, its cries echoing through the valley. It charged across the open space, trying desperately to escape the swarm that loomed overhead.
Michael, observing the scene, commented grimly, "This is not going to end well for it."
The swarm, moving as a single, fluid entity, descended upon the buffalo with terrifying precision. As it engulfed the animal, the scene turned horrific. The tiny creatures within the swarm latched onto the buffalo, their sharp fangs tearing into its flesh. The sound of rending and tearing filled the air, a gruesome symphony accompanying the buffalo's cries of agony.
Sarba, watching in horror, muttered, "I've never seen anything like it..."
With ruthless efficiency, the swarm consumed the buffalo's flesh and blood. It was a gory spectacle, each member of the swarm working in unison to strip the animal down to its bones. Within mere seconds, what was once a majestic, living creature was reduced to a bare skeleton, picked clean by the ravenous swarm.
"The efficiency and brutality of it..." Sarba murmured, both appalled and amazed. "It's like a living nightmare."
The skeletal remains of the buffalo fell to the ground, a stark and grim reminder of the swarm's lethal capability. The swarm then moved on, leaving behind the remnants of their feast, a chilling testament to their power and savagery.
Michael, observing the swarm's horrific efficiency, pieced together the reality of the situation. "This swarm... it must be why the centipede hides at night. It's not just resting; it's avoiding these creatures."
Ayag, her voice tinged with urgency, pointed out the immediate danger. "We better find a hole or some shelter, or we're next on the menu!"
Michael nodded and quickly activated his Eye of Darkness, a mystical ability that allowed him to gauge the true nature of beings. As he focused on the individual creatures within the swarm, he noticed a green aura surrounding each of them, indicating that, individually, they were vulnerable to his powers. But when he looked at the swarm as a whole, it pulsated with a menacing crimson red aura, signaling an overwhelming strength and danger far beyond his current level.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Michael activated his Lightning Dash, propelling himself across the landscape with a trail of black lightning. The swarm, sensing his movement, hissed and turned its attention towards him, a unified, malevolent force.
As the swarm pursued him, Michael's quick reflexes and sharp instincts led him to a small cave, just big enough to accommodate him. He darted inside, narrowly avoiding the swarm's reach. The cave provided a temporary haven, its rocky cover shielding him from the swarm's relentless pursuit.
As the swarm flew over the cave, its hissing and the flapping of countless wings created a cacophony that echoed through the night. Michael crouched in the cave, catching his breath, while Ayag peered out cautiously.
"That was close," Ayag sighed with a mixture of relief and lingering fear. The danger was far from over, but for the moment, they were safe.
Michael, deep in thought, suddenly had a moment of realization. "We can't penetrate the centipede's armor with our current weapons, but the swarm... they could be our key to defeating it."
"It's a sound strategy. The swarm can consume the flesh and blood of the centipede. If it possesses a collar bone, which is likely given its structure, we can retrieve it during the daytime when the swarm is inactive." Cain nodded in agreement.
Michael's eyes narrowed as he considered the next step. "The challenge now is to draw the centipede out of its burrows."
Ayag, with a hint of sarcasm, chimed in, "Yeah, because we can just ask it to come out and play, right?"
Michael smirked at her comment and then said, "When the problem is too big, always go for explosives."
His statement hung in the air, signaling a plan that was as daring as it was dangerous.
When the morning arrived, the first rays of the sun pierced the darkness of the cave where Michael and his companions had taken refuge. As Michael stepped out, stretching his muscles stiff from the night's tension, his eyes immediately caught sight of the centipede soaring out of its burrowed holes. The colossal creature, with its chitinous armor gleaming in the morning light, presented an intimidating sight.
"We need an explosive," Michael stated, his gaze fixed on the ancient beast as it moved across the landscape.
"Do you have something ready, or do we need to craft it?" asked Ayag.
Michael, his eyes still on the centipede, replied, "We'll need to make it. I have a powerful recipe that can be concocted using my alchemy skills, along with my inventor and blacksmith traits."
As he spoke, a notification from the mysterious system he was connected to flashed before his eyes, invisible to others. It indicated that three hundred badass points were deducted for the recipe – a cost for buying the recipe.
He kept the details of this to himself, choosing not to reveal the existence of the system to Vedora. Instead, he focused on the immediate task. "Now, we need to collect some ingredients found in the valley." Michael exclaimed.
With Vedora securely on his shoulder, Michael set out into the valley. The terrain was rugged, interspersed with dense forests and remnants of ancient structures, offering both resources and potential dangers.
As they moved, Michael listed the necessary components for the explosive. "We need sulfur, saltpeter, charcoal, among other things. Some of these I can synthesize using my abilities."
Vedora, ever curious and vigilant in their three headed snake form, looked around the landscape. Sarba, one of the heads, inquired, "Where might we find these elements in such a desolate place?"
"Volcanic areas are good sources of sulfur. Those mountains could have what we need. And for saltpeter, we can explore the caves and ruins," Michael said, pointing towards a distant range of mountains. Their peaks, shrouded in a light mist, stood imposing against the skyline, with the dormant volcano distinguishable by its scorched earth and barren slopes.
The group ventured towards the mountains. The terrain gradually transformed from lush valley to rocky foothills, with sparse vegetation clinging to life in the harsh volcanic soil. The air grew warmer and carried a faint sulfuric scent as they approached the dormant volcano. "I can semll the sulfur in the air," said Michael.
With his expertise, he carefully navigated the rugged landscape, his eyes scanning the ground for telltale yellowish deposits of sulfur. He found them near the base of the volcano, where the ground was stained with various hues of yellow and orange, remnants of past eruptions.
After collecting the sulfur he needed, they explored the ancient ruins scattered across the valley. In the shadow of crumbled walls and under the cover of overgrown vegetation, they found what they were looking for. Saltpeter deposits clung to the damp walls of the ruins, and charcoal fragments lay among the ashes of long-extinguished fires.
Eventually, they had gathered all the necessary ingredients. Michael surveyed the materials with a nod of approval. "This should be enough. Now, let's find a secure spot to craft the explosive." He chose a secluded area, sheltered by a copse of stunted trees that had somehow survived the harsh volcanic conditions. There, he set up a makeshift forge, its flames flickering in the gentle breeze.
His movements were a mesmerizing dance of precision and skill, a testament to his mastery over alchemy and blacksmithing. He carefully measured and mixed the sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal, his hands steady even as the ingredients hissed and reacted with each other. The crafting process was a delicate balance, transforming volatile elements into a potent and stable explosive.
As Michael sealed the final product into a sturdy, glass container, Vedora, sitting on his shoulder, watched with a mix of awe and anticipation.
"This will bring the centipede out of its hole tonight," he said with a confident, almost mischievous tone. "Then we'll sit back and watch as the swarm does the job for us." His eyes sparkled with the thrill of the plan.
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