Ayna felt helpless as Earthbreaker hoisted her up like a mother scolding her child.
Earthbreaker had a carefree smirk as she eyed her nonchalantly, “A weak little thing like you should know better than to disobey.”
Ayna felt irritated at that moment, and as she drew close to Earthbreaker, she instinctively lashed out in a flash of anger, striking her across the face.
Her fist was tiny compared to Earthbreaker, and it must have felt like a small child having a tantrum, as her strike dealt no damage, with it feeling like she was punching steel.
Ayna felt her fist crack from the impact of the strike, and she cringed from the sheer pain it dealt her.
Ouch. I think I just hurt myself more than that giantess.
Earthbreaker did not even seem to regard the attack, staring at her with a bored look in her eye as she replied, “Are you done, now? Dr Xavier is expecting...”
Ayna was already smothering her face with flames, yet found her bronze, gleaming skin seemed impenetrable as Earthbreaker made a satisfied expression as she said, “That feels great. Though nowhere near as hot as Ember, that feels relaxing.”
So, even Ember, a C-rank super with Pyrokinesis, is unable to hurt her effectively? This makes whatever I do utterly pointless.
Though she knew she was doomed the moment Earthbreaker caught sight of her.
Earthbreakers' absurd durability was to be expected; she was three entire grades above her.
Additionally, being a Super with enhanced durability, size and strength, Ayna felt she would be unable to crack her defences even if she stood there and let her attack her with everything she had.
“Could I perhaps persuade you to let me go?” Ayna said quickly, trying to think of something.
Her best idea was to delay Earthbreaker enough that Stormflash would have enough time to deal with Viper and find her. Yet, she felt his odds of winning against Earthbreaker after a tough fight against another powerful C rank may not be great.
She felt Earthbreaker’s grip on her tighten as she said, “And why would I do that?”
Ayna felt herself redden as she tried to argue, “Well…”
At that point, she felt the facility shake again, stopping her in her moment of thought, though this time it felt especially violent.
What is that?
Ayna could only speculate, yet Earthbreaker suddenly frowned as she noticed something was creaking above them.
Abruptly, Ayna heard sizzling as the metallic ceiling above her groaned.
The facility's emergency alarm continued to blare in the background. Yet Ayna was distracted as drops of a sickly green liquid began falling from the ceiling, and the sound of metal fizzing grew louder as Ayna, in horror, observed a large insectoid head claw its way through.
Is that a Zylaxar?
The large insectoid creature shrieked as it eyed the two from the metallic ceiling, its beady eyes hungrily fixed on Earthbreaker.
“Lamia! Status report, those Insects have made it down here!” Earthbreaker stated in alarm.
“Facility emergency lockdown! Forcefields generated, hull breached, gravity and airlock stabilised.” A robotic voice sounded.
Earthbreaker was not even able to phrase her following sentence as the large hole in the metallic ceiling grew as the Insectoid abruptly dropped towards them, landing with a thud as it stood across from Earthbreaker.
Ayna felt herself go flying as she was thrown to the side like a doll by Earthbreaker.
Earthbreaker eyed her coldly as she said, “You're too fragile to hold as I let loose on these things. I will retrieve your after I deal with this.”
The insectoid was ginormous and almost rivalled the giant Earthbreaker in size.
Ayna knew right away what it was—a warlike race of insectoids known as the Zylaxar.
The Zylaxar stood at an imposing height of about ten feet, with a robust, chitinous exoskeleton that was primarily a deep emerald green, speckled with iridescent patterns resembling tribal war paint.
Their elongated heads possess large, multifaceted eyes that can see a spectrum beyond human vision, allowing them to perceive thermal signatures and movement with remarkable clarity. They have protracted mandibles that can snap shut with tremendous force, and their four scythe-like limbs are razor-sharp, designed for combat; they are more lethal than steel blades.
Additionally, the Zylaxar has a two-part digestive system that rapidly breaks down organic material, producing a corrosive, strong acid in a chamber within its thorax. Given enough time and quantity, it can eat through the strongest materials and be ejected in a fine spray towards its desired target.
Ayna had no idea if the presence of the Zylaxar was a good thing, since they were actively hostile to virtually every species in the Galaxy.
And they are never alone.
Earthbreaker soon found that out as more and more of the Insectoids began dropping from the ceiling.
Yet, despite seeing numerous large Zylaxar that suddenly made the spacious room feel cramped, a brutish smile filled her features as she said, “Finally, a good fight to stretch my muscles. I’m going to squash you under my foot, little bugs.”
Ayna realised that her relative weakness compared to Earthbreaker saved her at this moment. The Zylaxar were Warriors who always sought out the strongest foes, and they were actively drawn to the powerful energy supers emit, making Earthbreaker a magnet for the giant bugs with her potent C-rank aura.
Knowing it was her chance, she hurriedly got to her feet and began backing away to the exit.
At that moment, the Zylaxar, who had clearly been actively surrounding Earthbreaker, made drumming vibrations as they grinded their mandibles together.
The Zylaxar eyed Earthbreaker hungrily; the insectoids gained power from those they consume, and the flesh of strong supers was beneficial to their biology.
They were unafraid of death and would sacrifice hordes of them if it meant taking down Earthbreaker. Their instincts drove them to secure potent sustenance for their Matriarch, no matter the cost.
In a flash of motion, Earthbreaker and the Zylaxar clashed fiercely.
Ayna watched in horror as Earthbreaker's gigantic fists went right through the thick chitinous armour of the insects like paper as she began mowing them down, as more and more Zylaxar began to swarm into the room, jumping towards Earthbreaker, swinging their scythe-like limbs. Ayna did not look back as she started running through the corridor, heading towards the escape pods.
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I don't have time. I don't know how long those bugs can hold off Earthbreaker.
She knew the Zylaxar travelled in swarms, led by a B-rank Matriarch. However, she figured it must have headed towards the facility's strongest super, Dr Xavier, which explained his earlier distraction.
Ayna had a feeling that, despite a Zylaxar Matriarch being formidable, it was no match for Dr Xavier, and the swarm of hostile bugs would eventually be defeated, giving her no time to waste.
Ayna rounded another corner, the sleek, curved bend of glowing neon-blue lights reflected in her eyes as she bounded ahead.
She was forced to act when she came across Silver Armoured Helixas Corporation Guards besieged by the Zylaxar, their armour cut to ribbons as the dangerous giant insects were cutting them down.
Roaring blasts of gunfire erupted as the Zylaxar's thick chitinous natural armour proved far more resistant to gunfire than Earthbreaker's large fists.
Alarms continued to blare, and Ayna found that the Helixas Corporation was on the brink of being overwhelmed as more and more insectoids melted through the grey metallic walls of the facility.
“I need to get out of here!” Ayna mumbled under her breath, these bugs were a calamity in themselves in the Galaxy, the Matriarch could produce an endless amount of Zylaxar if it had the resources. And those resources were, namely, anything they could consume, and the supers were ideal targets for the insectoids, as they were higher life forms packed with energy and power.
It is one of the reasons bounties and incentives are always posted to cull any Zylaxar swarm discovered.
How did a Zylaxar swarm discover the facility in the first place?
It was an oddity she would have to place in the back of her mind as the hostile insectoids soon beset her.
Fortunately, not all Zylaxar were as imposing as the ones that surrounded Earthbreaker, yet that was, nonetheless, the smallest of the Zylaxar, which was still nearly seven feet in height, and was still deadly to her; though they were weak to fire.
Ayna smirked as the bug clicked its mandibles aggressively toward her. Despite her unfavourable circumstances, she knew the Zylaxar drones before her were not unbeatable compared to the unassailable Earthbreaker.
Yet, she knew the insect would prove far more ruthless as it swung its scythe-like limb in a lethal motion towards her instantly.
Ayna's palms lit with fire as she set the insect ablaze in a burst of motion. Her palm released a bout of flames as she dodged to the side, narrowly escaping the outstretched swing of the Zylaxar drone.
The insectoid screeched in agony as it felt her potent flames, stumbling backwards as its thick chitinous armour proved inadequate to withstand her power.
Ayna knew a Zylaxar was hard to kill, even an F-grade drone like this one. Pulling out her pistol, she fired multiple rounds into the flailing Zylaxar drone, and its agonised screeching came to a halt as light green acidic blood sizzled the floor.
You have dealt a fatal blow!
You have killed a Zylaxar Drone {Lvl 15}.
You have gained experience towards [Esper (Novice)] and [Soldier (Novice)]
The drone proved inadequate to give her enough experience for the next level, and Ayna found herself marching forward as she dealt with the insect, attracting unwanted attention.
It was then that she gained another alert from the system, indicating a quest.
New Quest: [Hostile Incursion]
The Zylaxar are a constant menace to the Galaxy, their swarms responsible for countless derelict vessels drifting through the cosmos. Though they signify an opportunity, they also represent death.
Objective: Escape the Zylaxar Siege.
Bonus Objective: Slay x10 Zylaxar Drones, Slay X1 Zylaxar Warrior.
Reward: Experience. Attribute points x1. Unlock Loot Function. X500 Credits.
Loot function? Ayna was wondering when that would show up. She knew she was finally unlocking the full extent of the System after all this time; whatever Dr Xavier had been doing had seemingly meddled with the natural unlocking of functions a player would have starting from their introduction to the world.
At first, she thought she had permanently lost these functions, yet that did not seem to be the case after all.
Zylaxar Siege? It appears it is worse than she thought. Zylaxar swarms came in many grades, but usually the stronger swarms are wiped out before they become troublesome enough to threaten the S Rank powers core interests.
Coming out of her musings, she realised the Helixas Corporation Guards were growing increasingly few, and when the last of them were wiped out, she would soon follow.
Five Zylaxar Drones, fresh from the kills of some guards, were doused in blood as they approached her menacingly, yet they stared at her warily, seeing the burnt drone near her.
She knew the first insect underestimated her; Zylaxar are sensitive to energy signatures, and she, as an F grade, would not look particularly threatening to the bugs who can slaughter the F grade guardsmen like they are helpless.
Ayna knew she had to take the initiative before the three surrounded her. She knew they were fast, likely more so than her, being built primarily for agility, able to land swift, lethal strikes.
Yet, the bugs were not used to facing an aggressor with weapons more potent than theirs. Ayna launched bursts of flame at the three drones, who hurriedly moved in response, screeching in pain as the fire sizzled their flesh.
The two which caught the brunt of her flames went down almost immediately, leaving three.
Ignoring the pain and instinctual response of their natural enemy, one of the insectoids spat a burst of acid towards her, which Ayna dived down to barely avoid.
The potent acid sizzled the metallic floor nearby, as one of the Insects' scythe-like limbs came down to where her head used to be, as she swiftly rolled, sending another jet of flames point blank at the insect as its insectoid head lit up in fire, as its cries were cut short as it stilled.
Ayna utilised her gun to fire hurried shots as she got to her feet, not before another spray of acid came from the other insect; this time, she was forced to create a shield of flames that the acid harmlessly burst into, utilising the shield of fire as a shield, the Insect did not see Ayna next attack coming at its head burst into a mish mash of insect parts as she shot it numerous times in the head.
The final Zylaxar drone was already reeling in agony from the heat of the flames, and Ayna made short work of it as she sent a fireball to its less armoured head.
This time, she received enough experience for a level up.
You have dealt fatal blows!
You have killed Zylaxar Drone {Lvl 16} x3.
You have killed Zylaxar Drone {Lvl 18}.
You have killed Zylaxar Drone {Lvl 19}.
You have gained experience towards [Esper (Novice)] and [Soldier (Novice)]
[Esper (Novice)] has levelled up.
Lvl 15 > 16
Energy +5
Intelligence +2, Willpower +1, Charm +1.
You have received 2 attribute points.
[Soldier (Novice)] has levelled up.
Lvl 13 > 14
STR + 1 END +1
You have received 1 attribute point.
Despite having enough to level, none of her skills improved, though she was already satisfied that the relatively straightforward encounter gave her enough to level.
Ayna knew she was close to the escape pod and was eager to get out of here with the ominous warning from the quest.
Ayna decided to make a break for it, as she swiftly moved her way down the corridor, ignoring the sounds of battle as the remaining Zylaxar in the facility seemed occupied with chasing the Helixas Corporation personnel.
Yet as she made her way down, she saw something frightful: a bunch of large Automatrons stood in her path, bulldozing down some Zylaxar Drones.
The one in front was a large, heavy drone similar to the big one she fought in the arena.
Its robotic voice sounded, “Halt! Test Subject! Remain still and accept your capture, you are…”
The Automatron did not even finish its sentence, as at that moment a large Zylaxar dropped above, landing on the machine in a flurry of moves, its scythe-like limbs cut through its thick metallic armour before it point-blank sprayed its strong acid on its head, sending the large machine collapsing to the ground in moments.
Standing over 8ft tall, the Zylaxar Warrior screeched in victory as its cold eyes fixed on her.
Its iridescent patterns on its chitinous flesh were more pronounced, indicating its superiority in ranks to the common drones. Ayna knew she was in for an unavoidable tough fight as sat behind the Insectoid were the blast doors to the escape pods.
My freedom.
Ayna stared it with determination. She would not back down here!
It was time to fight with all she had.
