Bolts whistled through the air, striking the Ravager's side. The projectiles buried into its thick hide, not enough to kill but enough to throw off its momentum.
The first Brute Ravager roared, forcing its weight against the Krell Tank, trying to overpower it through sheer brute strength. The impact sent cracks splintering through the dirt, but the Tank held firm, feet digging into the ground, locking itself in place.
The second Brute, despite being staggered by the Scout's bolts, adjusted quickly. It lowered its stance, ignoring the pain, and with a sudden burst of power—it launched itself forward. Straight for Number Two.
The Krell Supervisor saw the attack coming. It wasn't just speed—it was a baited charge, meant to force a reaction. Number Two calculated in an instant. A step back would mean losing ground. A direct block would mean getting torn apart. So it adapted. "Redirect!" Instead of dodging outright, it shifted its stance at the last moment, stepping to the left just enough that the Brute's claws barely missed. At the same time, it struck out with its own arm, its exoskeletal fist slamming into the side of the Brute's head.
The creature stumbled, momentarily stunned. The mistake lasted less than a second—but that was all the time the Krell needed. "Tanks, slam it down! Soldiers, capitalize! Scouts, focus fire on the joints!"
The nearest Krell Tank reacted instantly, twisting its body and smashing its bulk into the Brute's exposed side. The combined force of the blow sent the beast crashing into the dirt, kicking up a storm of dust and debris. Before it could recover, two Krell scouts were already there. Serrated claws tore into its flesh, cutting deep. The Ravager howled, thrashing wildly, but the other Scouts had already locked onto their new target.
Bolts pierced through the beast's elbow joints, weakening its movements further. Number Two's mind raced. "It's still resisting—apply more pressure! Tanks, keep it grounded. Soldiers, go for the throat!"
One of the Krell Soldiers leapt onto the Brute's back, its claws digging deep into the gaps between its armor plates. It ripped upward, exposing raw flesh—an opening. The Brute tried to retaliate, but it was already too late. One Krell jumped forward, serrated claws sinking straight into the creature's exposed neck.
The Brute Ravager spasmed, then went limp. Number Two didn't stop. The first Brute was still locked in combat with the other Krell Tank, its strength pressing down, trying to break through its defenses. But now Number Two had learned. This time, there was no hesitation. "Distract! Tanks, bait its focus—Scouts, aim for its hind legs!" The Tank gritted its stance, absorbing the impact, but now it had support. The Scouts shifted targets, adjusting their aim lower.
A perfectly timed volley of bolts slammed into the Brute's rear joints, staggering it. Its balance wavered— And that was the opening. "NOW! Soldiers, flank! Tanks, force it forward!" The Krell Soldiers surged in from the sides, slashing at its exposed ribs. At the same time, the Tank shifted its weight forward, forcing the Brute to tilt ahead—right into their blades.
One strike tore open its underbelly. Another ripped into its throat. The Brute Ravager choked on its own blood, thrashing violently before its body collapsed into the dirt.
Through the hive mind, Ben saw everything unfold in real time. The Krell Supervisor had utilized its crossbow well, targeting the weaker joint areas to bypass the Brutes' thick armor. 'They're better than I thought. If this is human-level intelligence, then what about genius-level?' The thought intrigued him. A Krell that could strategize even beyond this, predict battles before they even happened, adapt instantly to every threat.
But even with its tactical execution, Number Two had made a miscalculation. 'They were too close to enemy territory. They should have retreated the moment they had the chance.' Ben didn't interfere. He wanted to see how it performed under pressure. So far, it exceeded his expectations.
Number Two felt the surge of pride from its victory. The squad had executed flawlessly, every unit functioning as an extension of its will. But that moment of satisfaction didn't last. The ground trembled. A low rumbling echoed from the clearing ahead. Then more Ravagers emerged. Fifty of them Five Brutes And something new. The Scouts barely had time to react as spines shot through the air.
Number Two's locked onto movement. A new variant of Ravager—perched on the massive mushroom caps above. Their backs were covered in elongated, flexible spines, each one glowing faintly with charged energy. 'Long-range attackers. The spines have become projectile weapon.' There was no time to strategize. "SCATTER!"
The Krell moved instantly. he first barrage of spines shot downward, ripping through the battlefield like spears. One Krell Scout wasn't fast enough. The projectile pierced straight through its skull, pinning it to the dirt. Another took a hit in the abdomen, collapsing as dark blood spilled from the wound.
Number Two's mind raced They were trapped. The five Brutes blocked the only clear escape route. The long-range Ravagers controlled the high ground, firing at will. And the rest of the pack was closing in from all sides. "Break the encirclement! Tanks, push forward! Soldiers, cover them! Scouts, take out the ranged units—NOW!"
The Krell Tanks surged ahead, smashing through the enemy line, using their massive bodies as living battering rams. The Soldiers followed immediately, claws flashing, tearing into anything that got too close. Meanwhile, the Scouts turned their crossbows upward, targeting the ranged attackers.
Bolts flew through the air, piercing into the perched Ravagers, but not a single bolt found its mark. They moved in blur easily dodged the attack. 'Damn it, they're more agile than expected.'
Another spine volley rained down Two more Krell fell instantly. The formation was breaking. The Brutes saw the chaos and charged. One barreled into a Krell Tank, tackling it to the ground. Its massive claws ripped through the exoskeleton, tearing the creature apart before it could even react.
Number Two reeled. More Scouts were falling. The Tanks were struggling to hold the line. Even retreating wasn't an option anymore. Still, it refused to surrender. 'If we're going to die, then we'll take as many of them with us as possible.'
"Push forward! Don't stop! FIGHT! FOR THE MASTER!!!!"