Humans.
About 10 of them.
All wearing the same dark-gray uniform -tight, armored jackets with a silver emblem on the shoulder: a triangular crest with three vertical lines behind it, like claw marks.
Their steps were synchronized.
Their weapons varied- one with a spear, one dual-weilding short swords, another holding a rectangular device glowing with yellow circuits.
And one stood ahead of all of them.
Their leader.
A tall young man wearing a similar uniform, but black instead of gray. His coat fluttered behind him in the wind. A long, jagged helmet rested on his head, hiding most of his face except for his eyes-- bright violet, glowing faintly with power.
He carried no weapon.
Instead, his right hand cracked with electricity, blue lightning spiraling around his fingers like living serpents.
He pointed towards the beasts.
"Team Alpha," he said calmly. "Engage."
The squad moved instantly.
The spear- user leapt high, hurling a charged spear that detonate on impact. A dual-sword wielder dashed directly underneath the creature, slicing at its legs with blinding speed. The device- holder activated something....
A barrier formed around Dream and Nyra, shielding them from debris.
" They're... Protecting us?" Nyra whispered.
The soldier didn't look at them, but his voice was steady. " Civilians are priority. Stay inside the dome."
Civilians.
Nyra almost laughed.
The beast roared again, swinging wildly as the humans attacked them. They were about 8 of this great apes but inspite of that huge number and great strength, these humans where slowly taking care of them with great efficiency.
One Slammed his palms into the ground- earth spikes shot upward. Two wielders of energy-infused gauntlets leapt in, fists glowing with kinetic force, their coordination was sharp, desperate, but refined. The beasts were forced back under the sudden barrage.
A beast lunged at the spear user, wanting to crush him but the squad leader flicked his wrist- lightening exploded from his hand.
A thunderclap blasted the clearing.
The bolt slammed into the beast's back with enough force to stagger it and scorch it's hide. The creature toppled to one knee, howling in pain.
The leader didn't give it a second to recover.
He dashed forward.
His movement so far, if you blink you might miss him.
Lightning streamed behind him, tracing bright arcs in the air.
He leapt, twisting mid-air, and drove his electrified fist down onto the beast's skull..
Boom.
A shockwave tore through the earth.
Even the dome around Dream shook.
The beast collapsed face-first into the dirt.
Still breathing.
Still alive.
But barely.
A sword user ran forward, forming a layer of condensed mana around his weapon, and drove it straight into the creature's core. Killing it.
One down.
Dream didn't say anything but Nyra did as she stared in confusion. "Humans... evolved this much?"
The battle raged violently.
The beast grew even more aggressive seeing their kind fall. The humans gritted their teeth as they charged at them not backing down. Power flared, abilities detonated, cracks split the ground- every strike ringing with determination.
And with coordinated fury...
They killed them, the beasts.
For a moment- hope.
For a moment - silence.
For a moment - breathing returned.
Then something moved , and a new sound echoed.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
They all turned at the crunch.
Blood ran cold.
A hulking silhouette stepped out of the smoke.
Towering. Wider than any of the others. Runes pulsed under its thickened hide. Its breath reeked of decay.
The humans froze as they watched in horror.
It reached the corpses of its fallen kin.
And began eating them.
Still breathing or dead- it didn't matter. Bones cracked. Flesh tore. Blood spilled like a river. The mother's throat expanded grotesquely with each swallow. The air became poisonous with corruption.
Dream felt his stomach twist.
Nyra's eyes widened. The humans didn't even speak.
They stood paralyzed, watching the impossible unfold.
And the more she ate...
The bigger she grew.
Her muscles swelled.
Her fur darkened to pitch.
Her eyes turned fully demonic-red.
When she finished the last corpse, she stood like a giant nightmare.
Then she roared.
The humans staggered under the force alone.
Then she charged.
"DEFENSIVE FORMATION!!" the leader shouted.
They tried.
But the mother ape was too powerful.
She ripped one human in half. Another she smashed into the dirt untill the head burst.
She grabbed two more and crushed them together like fruit.
The ground splattered with blood.
All the humans attacked but their attacks were useless.
Dream felt something slam him aside as the beast's shockwave ripped across the field.
"They're dying," Dream muttered.
"They're outmatched," Nyra said quietly, her low voice trembling with anger she tried to hide. "This beast... is no ordinary one and after it's done with them, it will come for us."
The surviving humans rallied, trembling but defiant. They avoid direct contact and instead dodged attacked, showing their skills in invading the beasts attacks, they land hits, hits that were doing little to no damage.
The leader stepped forward. "Fall back!, take these civilians to safety! I'll hold her off!"
" No!" A surviving member shouted. "Captain, if you die here, the guild dies! Earth needs talent like yours! We won't let you throw yourself away!"
Another coughed blood, barely standing. "Let us... do something useful for you. Please ..."
Their voices cracked, raw with emotions. They knew they were going to die.
" We're the alpha squad from the shield guild... this is what shields do. Protect."
The leader's hands trembled at thier words. His jaw clenched.
He didn't want this.
But they charged anyway.
Just One last time.
"No !!" he shouted.
But it was too late. They rushed the mother ape with every ounce of remaining strength.
And she killed them without mercy.
One was hurled into a wall so hard the bones burst. Another had his chest ripped open.
The last survivor raised a shaking hand towards their captain.
"Run... damn it ...run.."
Dream felt something twist in his chest. A memory -like ache. A familiarity to sacrifice.
The leader fell to his knees.
Then rose.
Tears streaming. Rage burning.
Energy exploded from him in a violent surge- blue arcs spiraling around him like a storm.
But before he could release it--- he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Dream.