The military vehicles moved through the ruined streets, their engines echoing between abandoned buildings.
Destiny sat inside the lead vehicle, studying a digital map displayed on a tablet.
Twenty soldiers had been selected for the operation.
Their objective was to reach an abandoned industrial city approximately twenty kilometers from Wolf Fortress, collect construction materials, and eliminate any monsters guarding valuable resources.
The fortress needed steel, concrete, electronic components, and monster cores before its next upgrade could begin.
Destiny looked toward Daniel, who was seated opposite him.
"Any signs of monster activity on the route?"
Daniel checked the communication device.
"Naomi's team reported several small groups, but nothing large enough to stop the convoy."
"Keep the squads alert. We don't know what might be waiting inside the city."
The vehicle slowed as they approached the industrial district.
The road ahead was blocked by a collapsed building. Rusted cars and broken streetlights were scattered across the pavement.
Destiny stepped out.
The air smelled of dust, metal, and something rotten.
"Reconnaissance Squad, move forward," he ordered.
Naomi led her team between the abandoned buildings.
A few minutes later, her voice came through the communication device.
"Commander, we've located a warehouse complex. There are signs of recent monster activity, but the area appears to contain a large amount of steel."
"Any enemies?"
"One large creature near the main warehouse. I can see it absorbing metal from the surrounding vehicles."
Destiny's expression changed.
"Send me its location."
A marker appeared on his tablet.
Destiny gathered the squad.
"We've found a potential high-level target. Keep your distance until we understand its ability."
***
The creature was enormous.
Its body resembled a heavily armored beast, with thick metallic plates covering its back and limbs. Pieces of abandoned vehicles were embedded in its skin.
Every time it moved near a metal object, the object began to shake before being pulled toward its body.
[MONSTER DETECTED]
[NAME: STEEL DEVOURER]
[RANK: D]
[LEVEL: 20]
[ABILITIES:
- METAL ABSORPTION
- STEEL ARMOR
- METALLIC REGENERATION]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH]
Destiny activated Tactical Analysis.
[TARGET ANALYSIS COMPLETE]
[WEAKNESS:
- ENERGY CORE LOCATED INSIDE THE MOUTH
- METAL ABSORPTION CAN BE OVERLOADED]
[TACTICAL SUGGESTION:
FORCE THE TARGET TO ABSORB MORE METAL THAN ITS BODY CAN STABILIZE.]
Destiny studied the warehouse.
Several large containers hung from a damaged crane. Broken machinery and metal beams covered the surrounding area.
An idea formed in his mind.
"Brian, take your team to the right side. Daniel, prepare the assault squad. Ethan, keep your electricity ability ready."
"What about the creature?" Daniel asked.
"We're going to make it destroy itself."
Destiny pointed toward the warehouse.
"Michael, draw its attention toward the metal piles. Brian, force it to move between the containers. We'll overload its ability, then attack its core."
The soldiers took their positions.
Michael fired the first shot.
The Steel Devourer turned toward him.
A deep metallic roar escaped its mouth.
It charged.
Michael sprinted toward the warehouse, firing over his shoulder.
The monster followed, absorbing metal from abandoned vehicles as it moved.
Its armor grew thicker.
"Keep moving!" Destiny shouted through the communication device.
Brian's team opened fire from the opposite side.
The creature turned toward them, dragging several metal beams across the ground.
It absorbed them one after another.
The metal plates covering its body expanded, but its movements began to slow.
[MONSTER ABILITY OVERLOAD: 42%]
Destiny watched the system's readings.
"More!"
Ethan released a powerful electric strike.
The electricity struck the monster's metallic armor, causing it to convulse.
The creature roared and absorbed even more metal from the warehouse.
[MONSTER ABILITY OVERLOAD: 76%]
Its movements became unstable.
Cracks appeared across its metallic plates.
Destiny looked toward the crane operator's platform.
"Daniel, can you reach that control panel?"
Daniel followed his gaze.
"Yes, sir!"
He sprinted toward the platform while the assault squad kept the creature distracted.
Daniel reached the controls and pulled the emergency release lever.
A massive metal container dropped from the crane.
It crashed onto the Steel Devourer's back.
The impact shook the warehouse.
The monster collapsed to one knee.
[MONSTER ABILITY OVERLOAD: 100%]
[WARNING: TARGET STRUCTURAL INSTABILITY]
Destiny activated Soldier's Will.
"NOW!"
The soldiers concentrated their attacks on the creature's head and chest.
The Steel Devourer attempted to absorb more metal, but its body could no longer stabilize the energy.
Its armor split apart.
Destiny rushed forward.
The monster opened its mouth, revealing a glowing core deep inside its throat.
He leaped onto a broken metal beam and launched himself toward the creature's head.
The Steel Devourer snapped its jaws.
Destiny twisted in midair and drove his combat knife into the exposed core.
A burst of energy erupted from the monster's mouth.
The creature convulsed violently before collapsing.
[ D-RANK STEEL DEVOURER ELIMINATED ]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED]
[MILITARY POINTS RECEIVED]
[MONSTER CORE ACQUIRED]
The soldiers cheered.
Daniel approached Destiny.
"That was one dangerous creature."
Destiny pulled his knife free.
"It would have been worse if we had attacked without understanding its ability."
He looked toward the warehouse.
"Now let's collect what we came for."
***
The soldiers spent the next two hours securing the industrial district.
They recovered steel from the abandoned machinery, concrete from damaged structures, and electronic components from the warehouse offices.
The system recorded their supplies.
[RESOURCE COLLECTION COMPLETE]
[ACQUIRED:
- 350 STEEL
- 600 CONCRETE
- 4 MONSTER CORES
- 25 ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
- MILITARY EQUIPMENT]
Destiny smiled.
They finally had enough materials to begin upgrading Wolf Fortress.
"Load everything into the vehicles," he ordered. "We return to base as soon as the area is secure."
But before the soldiers could finish, Naomi's voice suddenly came through the communication device.
"Commander! Movement detected beneath the warehouse!"
Destiny turned.
The ground trembled.
A loud cracking sound spread through the industrial district.
"Everyone, fall back!"
The warehouse floor erupted.
A massive creature burst out from beneath the building, sending concrete and metal flying in every direction.
It had a long, segmented body covered in dark armor. Several powerful claws emerged from its front, and its mouth opened into a circular arrangement of sharp teeth.
The soldiers scattered.
The creature struck the ground with its claws, sending a wave of debris toward them.
Destiny barely avoided the attack.
[UNKNOWN MONSTER DETECTED]
[RANK: D]
[LEVEL: 22]
[THREAT: EXTREME]
The system struggled to identify the creature.
[SCANNING...]
[IDENTIFICATION COMPLETE]
[NAME: ABYSSAL BURROWER]
[ABILITIES:
- UNDERGROUND AMBUSH
- EARTHQUAKE STRIKE
- ARMOR REGENERATION]
Destiny stared at the creature.
It was stronger than the Steel Devourer.
The Abyssal Burrower lowered its head and began digging into the ground.
"Spread out!" Destiny shouted. "Don't let it catch us in one attack!"
The creature disappeared beneath the broken warehouse floor.
For a moment, everything became silent.
Then the ground beneath Destiny began to crack.
He jumped away just as the Abyssal Burrower exploded out of the earth.
Its claws swept toward him.
Destiny raised his weapon, but the impact sent him flying backward.
He crashed into a pile of concrete.
[WARNING: HEAVY DAMAGE DETECTED]
Daniel rushed toward him.
"Commander!"
Destiny forced himself to stand.
The monster was already turning toward the soldiers.
Kane gathered blood around his hands.
"That thing is mine to restrain!"
He thrust both arms forward.
Several thick blood chains shot toward the creature and wrapped around its body.
The Abyssal Burrower roared.
The ground began to shake again.
Destiny wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Don't let it escape!"
He activated Tactical Analysis.
But the system's display flashed red.
[WARNING: TARGET DEFENSE EXCEEDS CURRENT ANALYSIS CAPACITY]
Destiny stared at the monster.
The battle had only just begun.