The night had been still when the first tremors began, subtle vibrations beneath the earth that sent a faint ripple through the camp.
Alterain, who was called by one of the knights when he was speaking with the fourth prince, was already discussing strategies with his captains about subjugating the remaining monsters in the area.
"These are..." one of the captains muttered, looking down at the ground.
They felt the vibrations before they heard it—the telltale signs of something massive moving underground. Alterain's eyes flicked to the men around him, all seasoned warriors who, like him, had learned to trust their instincts on the battlefield.
A second later, the ground heaved, and the first of the creatures burst forth—giant centipedes, their armored bodies gleaming in the moonlight like twisted chains of black iron.