Chapter 88 - Havoc

Lily closed her eyes to focus on the movement and actions of her Hive Units. She didn't need to do this— and she was still well aware of the area around her even like this— but the visualization aided her in her in-depth control over the Hive Units.

The night air was thick with the looming sense of anticipation; even if those in the Fortress weren't aware of her current actions against them, how could they not hold some expectations after news of not one, but multiple bases falling.

It was natural that they expected to be next— even if they thought it utterly foolish for anyone to try and raid them— they couldn't deny the mixed emotions in their hearts.

Under this cover of night, the Scouting Birds that flew high above the base went unnoticed— they kept a far distance to avoid being detected from whatever was inside— but they saw enough for Lily to understand that the group was on guard.

Armed patrol units swept the place regularly, and they were never alone. They always moved in small groups of four or even five— showing just how much manpower this Fortress held.

Lily held some reservations about making a mess of such a place and getting involved in something outside her range of capabilities— but they were merely a local group from what she had observed, and the power they held allured her.

Not even her greed could be denied in such a situation.

Focusing her attention on the Direworms that moved under the ground with their large but swift body— their massive forms writhing with hunger as they carved through the earth with relentless determination and ease. 

Each movement caused slight vibrations that were followed by the echoing steps of the Swarmlings behind them.

As time slowly flowed, in less than a few minutes, the Direworms had arrived under the Fortress, and the time for the beginning arrived.

The Direworms were the first to breach the surface of the ground— stone, and dirt exploding outward as their large bodies broke through the surface of the compound floor from within their very walls.

Their bodies were large but moved with ease even above ground— acting as large tank units, they broke the walls and buildings around them as they emerged and brought about chaos within seconds.

The armed patrols were caught off guard by the sudden appearance and assault of the creatures— the outburst caused them to emerge from the ground and even caused some of the closer guards to be directly injured.

The remaining ones scrambled to react as quick as possible— their shouts echoing through the night as they attempted to regroup and call for reinforcements.

"Call for reinforcements!"

"Sound the alarms, we're under attack!"

"Help, my leg, my leg!"

Difference screams could be heard ringing out in the compound as the patrol units attempted to defend the stronghold— they were just normal humans for the most part or mutants with weak abilities; they could do very little in front of such terrifying-looking creatures.

They were originally just meant to patrol and gain some easy merits— they never expected anyone to actually attack them.

"Fire! What are you idiots doing? You have guns!"

As if the voice had broken them out of their stupider— loud gunshots soon rang out one after the other.

They were each armed with guns— and not just simple pistols or handguns either; they had some pretty heavy weaponry— at least in Lily's opinion.

Their bullets rang out, and not even the large Direworms were able to completely withstand the unloading of bullets that were befalling them— thankfully, they were never meant to.

The Direworms quickly dove back into the ground— their body riddled with holes and wounds that caused blackish blood to ooze out from them, evaporating upon leaving their bodies for a few seconds.

The men thought they had won— some rejoiced that they had survived the attack— others knew it couldn't be this simple.

A few of the mutants that held higher positions in the Fortress arrived at this point and looked at the scene— seeing the destruction that had befallen the grounds, they couldn't help but be stunned.

However, before they could address the group to find out more, their terror was only amplified.

Out from the holes left by the Direworms came a rush of horrifying creatures that seemed like something right out of their nightmares— their eight-legged forms moving with terrifying agility and relentless hunger.

They didn't even give the people a chance to find their bearings and respond to their sudden appearance, as they wasted no time jumping at the people and ripping them apart.

Gunshots rang out as some guns were fired, whether by accident or on purpose— yet it did little to help those that were close to the holes as they were the first to be killed under the sharp claws and teeth of the Swarmlings.

Lily watched from through her connection with the Hive as her Units began to cause havoc and chaos throughout the base. In mere minutes of their appearing, over a dozen people had already fallen.

However, those who felt they were the weakest of the group— merely humans or weak mutants with nothing of use that had to rely on guns to fight.

They were the first to fall— those wielding guns simply didn't have the chance to react to the Swarmlings' swift body before they were killed. The Swarmlings moved out further from the holes they had appeared from and brought destruction to their path.

But they didn't remain unimpeded for long— as they dealt with the group that was around the hole, a large earth spike came crashing down on one of the Swarmlings from ahead— crushing it upon contact.

Wincing from the slight pain that she had experienced as the feedback reached her— Lily shifted her attention to what had attacked.

It was the mutant that had come out to see what was happening— and they weren't alone this time. More mutants had joined them from within, and each seemed to be prepared to face the creatures that had appeared.

"Formation Ace, don't let them get passed. Ariea is preparing the portal still— holding off until reinforcement arrives."

Shouted the man that stood at the front— being the one that had launched the stone spike, he stood in the middle of the group.

"Let's just crush them all here."

Replied a girl— her body covered in large muscles, her figure larger than most bodybuilders Lily had seen.