After the roar of the Apex that shook the surroundings where Dorian stood,
It emitted a kind of corrupted, chilling aura, making Dorian flinch for a moment.
His pupils widened as if something enormous was entering, freezing every nerve in his body. He had felt a sensation he had never experienced before.
The ground trembled with it. A sonic strike headed straight for Dorian, but he couldn't move.
—"Danger, danger, danger. Sir, I'm going to activate the combat suit's electromagnetic pulses for a skin-level electrical discharge."—Omega dictated to Dorian.
After the electric discharge, Dorian regained his senses, barely dodging the sonic attack.
All of that happened in an instant after the roar, but it was more lethal than the several hours Dorian had spent on this planet since his arrival.
—"Sir, please try to relax a little, this is just the beginning."—Omega dictated.
Badump-badump —accelerated heartbeat—
—"I owe you one, Omega."—Dorian finally replied.
—"My duty is to assist you, sir."—Omega responded.
—"I really almost didn't make it this time. That damn beast is truly catastrophic."
—"Well, let's prepare for combat then, since you won't let me go easily and I won't either."
Dorian maneuvered with his sword and got back into a ready stance.
I can't let it attack me. Going straight in is risky, but one charge from it would be worse.
Dorian lunged toward the Apex, and halfway there he pushed off the ground to leap and attack from above.
The sound of two very hard metals colliding echoed—the blow struck the monster's back.
Since it couldn't attack Dorian directly, it jumped up to crash into the ceiling to crush him. But before impact, Dorian rolled downward, immediately landing and rolling to avoid being crushed by the Apex.
Once the Apex hit the ground, a cloud of dust rose. Dorian launched forward, raising his sword to shoulder height and cutting directly into one of its jaws.
—Green blood began to gush like a waterfall—.
Dorian stepped back after slicing the jaw.
—"Sir, I recommend cutting the Apex's limbs at the curved joints."—Omega advised Dorian.
—"I was thinking the same thing, but thanks for pointing it out."—Dorian replied.
He ran at it again, sliding underneath and slicing one of its limbs, but the cut wasn't effective; it was still underneath him.
The Apex started to spin, and Dorian had to move out to avoid damage.
—"Sir, the sword is losing energy. I recommend using that."—Omega suggested.
—"When you say 'that,' you mean them?"—Dorian responded.
—"Yes, exactly. I know it's not ideal since you've been using the suit heavily, but there's no other option."—Omega added.
—"Alright, let's do it."—Dorian replied with a grin.
—"Dual Sword Energy Mode: ON."
Blue lights emerged from the combat suit, from openings beneath Dorian's forearms.
Dorian clenched his fists for better control. His green eyes glowed, a smile spreading across his face.
—"Alright, let's finish this. —Speed Boost—."
His speed increased, and he lunged at the Apex with incredible velocity, sliding and slicing all six of the monster's limbs. The Apex didn't even realize its limbs were no longer attached.
After sliding, he stopped with his hands gripping one of his swords, propelled himself again toward the Apex, cutting its sides up to the jaws. The metallic sound of the blade slicing resonated with each cut.
He spun to finish cutting the jaws.
—"What the hell… poison… damn, it's poison."—Dorian said, stepping back.
—"Sir, this poison is highly toxic; it can melt heavy metals."—Omega warned.
—"Haha, that damn thing is cunning. It made me underestimate it to use its poison. Really clever."—Dorian remarked.
—"But I don't have to worry too much since you're almost done. Although I'm grateful you don't have regeneration; that would be a real headache."—Dorian murmured.
—"I recommend closing your mouth… oh wait, you can't, since I cut one."—Omega teased.
Dorian retracted the sword from his suit once more and pulled out a small sphere from one of the tool pockets in his suit. He threw it; it sparkled blue. It entered the Apex's mouth, and Dorian spun around, saying: "See you, bastard."
The blue sphere exploded, sending small chunks of Apex flesh flying. Where the monster had been, there was a sea of green blood, like a field of grass.
The small chunks of flesh were everywhere, along with the disgusting smell.
Dorian propelled himself away, leaping up the walls and climbing toward the ancient ship of one of his kind that had visited this planet long ago.
—"Sir, congratulations on your hard-won victory."—Omega said to Dorian.
—"Thanks. I really thought I was going to die."—Dorian replied.
—"If you hadn't been here, or if the suit didn't have the electromagnetic wave system, you wouldn't have made it."—Dorian added later.
—"Sir, all of this was designed to improve the survival odds of those using the special suits."—Omega responded.
—"Well, now what do we do?"—Dorian asked Omega.
—"You can scan the surroundings to see if there are more enemies."—Omega suggested.
—"No energy readings or enemy detection within 300 meters,"—Omega answered.
—"Then, how about we stay here tonight? We haven't even spent half a day on this planet, so we can't leave yet."
—"I should return or check on the ship, but it has 'invisibility mode' activated, so it's fine for now."
We'll see if I can sleep on this planet tonight or if I'll wake up by sunrise.
Gradually, the blue light emitted by Omega faded until it no longer illuminated the area…