Chapter 345: System's True Enemy - 2

Chapter 345: System's True Enemy - 2

The tunnel extended beneath them, now visible like a dark artery cutting through the sea of cores.

The displacement of the enormous rock masses had left massive spaces that had taken the sea of cores to a lower depth than ever, exposing the previously hidden tunnels.

When Elio announced the retreat through the tunnel, it wasn't to hide, as despite everything, the tunnels remained the best way to run without being interrupted by cores in the path.

The escape route was clear, but the number of people complicated any organized retreat. Elio observed the almost two hundred soldiers and builders, knowing a difficult decision was inevitable.

The retreat order didn't have the expected effect.

More than a hundred soldiers remained in their positions, including Milo's group and Enid. The pride of those who had contributed to the tunnels was stronger than their survival instinct.

But Elio had a more urgent concern.

"Zara," Elio extended the Fire King's core toward her. "I need you to take this to the city."

"What? No!" Zara stepped back, her eyes burning. "If someone should stay to fight..."

"It has to be me," Elio interrupted. "I'm the only one who can cause them enough damage to keep them occupied. If we don't distract them, they'll go after the core and more people will die."

"Then I'm staying with you!" Zara insisted.

"Zara's right," Mei intervened, though her voice betrayed her concern. "You can't handle 10 alone... You need our power here."

"No... Von Elio," Aria stepped forward. "You should take the core. You're too valuable to..."

"And who will stop them?" Elio's question cut through the air like a knife. "Who can do enough damage to make them take us seriously?"

A tense silence followed his words. The Artromus continued circling above them, like predators waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"I'll take the core," Diana broke the silence, her voice firm. "Zara clearly won't leave, and we need someone strong from the main team to protect the core."

Elio looked at Zara, searching her eyes for any sign she would change her mind. He found only iron determination.

With a knot in his throat, he extended the core toward Diana.

"LISTEN EVERYONE!" Elio's voice resonated over the group. "Your mission is to protect that core at all costs! Take it to the city! That's an order!"

Of the almost 100 remaining, only 50 departed to escort Diana.

But when Diana left with the core, the artromus decided they would have none of this. The core couldn't escape.

"NOW!" Elio shouted while the main group unleashed all their power, forcing the artromus to face them. "RUN!"

The groups separated, their 50-point speeds making distance trivial. Zantem and Zentros were first to make contact.

"Movement at the fire deposit," Argon's voice resonated in the collective mind. "We have them."

From their elevated position, they observed the human group. The scene was almost comical: one playfully tossing a blue core while celebrating.

"Pathetic," Zantem murmured. "They don't even maintain guard."

"The other deposits?" Zentros asked mentally.

"Empty," Zynthor confirmed. "Converging on your position."

Below, a muscular human caught the core and handed it to another who seemed to be the leader. His system armor shone with a radiance that pretended to emulate the Goddess's divinity.

"That must be their Von," Zentros observed. "See his sword? They've fused the false Artromus's weapons."

"Impressive," Zantem admitted. "For parasites."

"The others will arrive in seconds," Zentros calculated.

"You suggest...?"

"We eliminate the leader, take the core. Simple and effective."

Zentros considered the situation. "The Queen would appreciate the efficiency."

"And it would be... satisfying," Zantem added, a cruel smile forming under his chitinous face. "To see them lose that stupid satisfaction face one last time."

"Agreed then," Zentros gripped his sword. "You from the right, me from the left. A clean cut."

"Head rolls, core falls," Zantem nodded.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

The two Artromus descended like lightning, their divine weapons singing in the air. Victory seemed assured until...

"Impossible," Zentros hissed when the leader dodged the first attack.

"His eyes," Zantem noticed. "They're bleeding. He's forced his perception beyond the limit."

"Interesting," Zentros's voice resonated in their minds as the rest of the group approached. "These parasites might be more entertaining than expected."