Blake's finger squeezed the trigger the instant the Ferroghests burst from cover. His enhanced perception highlighted their weak points in sharp relief—gaps between armor plates, poorly integrated cybernetics, exposed hydraulic lines. The creatures moved with terrifying speed, but [Warden's Insight] let him track their erratic patterns through the debris.
The first shot caught a Ferroghest mid-leap, the round punching through a vulnerable seam where its neck met its shoulders. The creature's momentum carried it forward, but its legs went slack as it crashed into a pile of rusted metal. Two down.
The remaining pair closed the gap, forcing Blake to backpedal up a slope of twisted wreckage, each step carefully placed as [Unfettered Stride] burned mana to create artificially stable footing. His pistol barked twice more, but the creatures weaved between the shots with mechanical precision.
A quick scan revealed structural weaknesses in the debris field. Blake shifted his aim, targeting a precariously balanced sheet of hull plating. The shot rang out and the metal groaned, starting a chain reaction. He fired again, and again, each bullet striking load-bearing points until—
The wreckage came down in an avalanche of steel and sparks. One Ferroghest barely avoided being crushed, while the other disappeared beneath the cascade. Dust billowed out in a tidal wave of grit, creating a momentary screen between Blake and his pursuers.
Then a sound cut through the chaos—a high-pitched mechanical shriek that set Blake's teeth on edge. The surviving Ferroghest's cry echoed across the junkyard. Movement caught his eye, and Blake's heart sank as more blue points of light appeared in the darkness. He counted at least six new pairs of eyes.
"Well, that's just great."
Rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck, Blake broke into a jog towards the center of the crater. Behind him, the Ferroghest continued calling for its pack.
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Twin Ferroghests landed on either side of Blake, their hydraulic joints hissing with released pressure as they righted themselves. Blake dropped into a crouch as metallic claws raked the air where his head had been, striking sparks from the wreckage behind him. His knife flashed in the dim light as he stepped inside their reach, where their impressive speed couldn't save them from harm.
Blake's body flowed through the motions with practiced ease, his heightened Agility letting him slip past the first creature's guard like water. The knife found sunk deeply into a gap between armor plates at its shoulder, and Blake twisted hard. Something important snapped inside the joint with a mechanical shriek. The limb went slack, sparking and twitching.
The second Ferroghest lunged at him, forcing Blake to give ground. Behind him was a sloping section of hull plating that curved downwards into a sort of valley between mounds of debris. Rather than fight for balance, he let himself fall backward. The slick metal should have sent him tumbling, but [Unfettered Stride] kicked in. Energy flowed through his legs as he controlled the slide, guiding his descent with supernatural precision. The pursuing Ferroghest charged after him, seemingly unaware of the danger of the fall.
Predictably, the beast tumbled end over end as it failed to find purchase on the smooth metal. sidestepped the dazed creature as it slid to a stop. Taking his time, he dispatched the monstrosity with a single clean thrust of his knife. Purple hydraulic fluid sprayed in an arc. Before he could even fully right himself, heavy impacts shook the ground. Multiple sets of glowing eyes advanced through the gloom of the valley, accompanied by the rhythmic thud of reinforced limbs striking metal.
Taking the better part of Valor, Blake sprinted clear and made his way further towards the center of the impact crater.
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Blake's lungs burned as he sprinted across the open scrapyard, [Unfettered Stride] burning mana in a steady hum to keep him steady as he crossed loose sheets of alloy. The pursuing Ferroghests closed the gap with each bounding leap, their mechanical joints whirring with unnatural speed. His HUD lit up with data as [Warden's Insight] mapped the terrain, highlighting unstable ground and potential cover points in sharp relief.
"Six targets, spreading wide," Chimera reported. "Watch your three o'clock."
Blake ejected his spent magazine and slammed a fresh one home without breaking stride. He pivoted, bringing his pistol up in a fluid motion as [Deadeye] activated. Time seemed to slow as his perception sharpened. Three rapid shots rang out, each finding its mark with surgical precision. The first Ferroghest's head exploded in a shower of sparks and dark fluid, its body tumbling forward with momentum. Seeing yet another of their kin fall, the others began to adapt—scattering into an attack pattern that would cut off his escape routes.
Blake spotted a glint of polished metal through the debris—the curved hull of a ship fragment, half-buried in the scrap heap. Perfect. He changed direction mid-stride, letting his pursuers close the gap just enough to keep them interested. His boots found purchase on exposed ribs of metal as he vaulted through a jagged tear in the hull.
The narrow corridor forced the Ferroghests to funnel in one at a time. Their mechanical limbs scraped against the walls, sparks flying as they squeezed through. Blake backed up to a junction where the passage narrowed further, drawing his pistol. The first creature rounded the corner, its jaws spreading wide to reveal rows of serrated teeth. Blake squeezed the trigger twice. The rounds caught it dead center in its glowing blue eyes, punching through whatever passed for a brain. It collapsed in a heap of twitching metal and meat.
Two more appeared, and Blake's pistol barked again and again. His shots found their marks in exposed throats and open maws. The creatures' momentum carried their bodies forward, creating a temporary barricade of twisted metal and hydraulic fluid.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
A thunderous crash shook the corridor. Metal screamed as claws tore through the bulkhead beside him. Blake tried to spin away, but the confined space worked against him. A Ferroghest burst through the new opening, its bulk slamming Blake hard against the opposite wall. His head cracked against metal, sending stars across his vision. Hot breath washed over his face as steel jaws snapped shut inches from his throat. Blake pushed back with all his strength, but the creature's cybernetic limbs whirred with inhuman power as it pressed closer.
Metal ground against metal as the thing crushed him harder. Its teeth were right there. Like daggers. Black and sharp. Blake could hear dual sounds - the whir of servos, the animal snarl. His arms burned. Pure strength wasn't going to cut it.
So he didn't try.
He got his leg up. Let the monster lean in. Used its own mass against it. The Ferroghest's weight shifted forward as Blake gave ground, throwing it off balance. He kicked out hard, driving both boots right into center mass, everything he had.
The thing went airborne. The power behind the strike surprised even Blake—his increased strength combined with his desperation sent the Ferroghest flying backward. He liked that math. Mass times acceleration equals one very surprised cybernetic killing machine.
The creature's bulk slammed into the jagged edges of torn metal where it had burst through moments before. Multiple sharp points punched through its body, dark fluid spraying from the wounds. The creature thrashed, its legs scrabbling against the deck as it tried to pull free. But the twisted metal had pierced deep, pinning it in place like a butterfly on display.
Blake didn’t stick around to find out if it could wrench free. He pivoted hard and bolted down the corridor, boots slapping through slick puddles of purple hydraulic fluid. Behind him, the sound of claws on metal grew louder—more of those cursed things were crashing through the wreckage, trying to cut him off. To corner him.
Not a chance.
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Well, Blake thought. I might have gotten a bit cocky.
His boots scraped against loose debris as he backed away from the approaching Ferroghest. Behind him was empty air—the edge of a sharp drop into the crater's depths. The creature's blue eyes fixed on him, mechanical joints whirring as it prepared to strike.
No room to dodge left or right. Nowhere to retreat. The thing knew it had him cornered.
Blake's grip tightened on his knife. If he couldn't escape, he'd have to go through it. His reflexes kicked in as the Ferroghest lunged, its claws raking toward his face. Blake stepped into the attack, ducking under the strike. His knife drove home between a set of armor plates, driving deep into the creature's torso. Purple fluid sprayed from the wound.
The Ferroghest's other arm caught him hard across the chest. The impact knocked him backward, sending him stumbling toward the edge. His free hand shot out, fingers closing around a thick cable that hung from a piece of wreckage above.
Blake let his momentum carry him over the drop. The cable went taut, and he swung out into empty space. The Ferroghest's claws snapped shut where he'd been standing moments before.
As he arced through the air, Blake drew his pistol. Time seemed to slow as [Deadeye] activated. Three shots rang out in rapid succession. The first struck the creature's knee joint, causing it to buckle. The second punched through its shoulder, throwing it off balance. The third caught it square in the chest.
The Ferroghest staggered, its feet sliding on loose metal. Its arms windmilled as it tried to regain balance, but momentum and gravity had other plans. With a mechanical shriek, it pitched forward and plummeted into the darkness below.
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Blake's boots scraped against metal as he slid down the crater's wall, his hands burning from gripping exposed cables and pipes. His muscles screamed in protest with each controlled drop. Above him, the remaining Ferroghests scrambled down the wreckage like mechanical spiders, their claws tearing chunks of debris loose.
A sheet of hull plating crashed past him. Blake kicked off the wall, swinging to his right as more wreckage rained down. His fingers closed furtively around a thick pipe, but the strain nearly tore it from his grip. Every movement felt like lifting concrete blocks—his arms and legs had passed exhaustion minutes ago.
He didn't dare check his mana or stamina levels. The cold sweat on his neck and the tremor in his hands told him enough. One misstep, one slip, and he'd join the twisted metal at the bottom of this hole.
A metallic screech pierced the air. Blake looked up to see a Ferroghest leap between outcroppings, closing the distance. Its glowing eyes fixed on him as it prepared for another jump. Blake's pistol came up, but his arm shook. The first shot went wide. The second struck the creature's shoulder, barely slowing it down.
The ground wasn't far now. Maybe thirty feet. Blake released his grip on the pipe, letting gravity take over. The world blurred as he fell, his boots striking an angled piece of wreckage. He rolled with the impact, absorbing momentum, but his legs nearly buckled.
The lead Ferroghest landed behind him with a thunderous crash. Blake spun, raising his pistol one final time. His vision tunneled as [Deadeye] activated, highlighting a critical junction where hydraulic lines met the creature's spine. The shot rang out, and purple fluid erupted from the wound. The beast's legs gave out, sending it tumbling into its pursuing packmates.
Blake turned and ran toward the dark mass of the Leviathan, each step feeling heavier than the last. His lungs burned. His vision swam. But the sound of mechanical snarls behind him kept his feet moving.
The massive ship's dark outline loomed ahead, growing more distinct as he approached. At around a hundred meters out, the sound of pursuing Ferroghests suddenly died away. Blake risked a glance over his shoulder to see the creatures peeling off, retreating into the darkness.
His chest heaved as he gulped down air. "That's not good, is it?"
"No," Chimera replied. "Their behavior suggests we're entering territory claimed by something they'd rather not provoke."
Blake slowed his pace, trying to quiet his breathing as he scanned the shadows near the Leviathan's hull. Movement caught his eye—a massive shape emerging from the darkness. His blood ran cold.
The thing that stepped into view dwarfed the other Ferroghests. Cybernetic components melded with its flesh in ways that defied nature, creating a horrific fusion of machine and mutated tissue. Grotesque organic growths pulsed with sickly light where they met metal surfaces. But the creature's attention focused elsewhere, its massive head turned toward something within the ship's structure.
Blake's heart hammered against his ribs. He dropped and rolled behind a twisted section of hull plating, pressing himself flat against the cold metal.
"Chimera," he whispered, "I need everything Warden's Insight picked up about this area. Now."
"Analyzing local terrain data," she responded. "There's a maintenance access tunnel twenty meters to your left. The entrance is partially buried under debris, but the tunnel itself appears stable. Should provide adequate concealment while you recover."
Blake nodded and began crawling on his elbows, staying as low as possible. Each movement sent fresh waves of exhaustion through his muscles, but he forced himself forward. The access tunnel's entrance barely qualified as a gap in the wreckage, but Blake squeezed through, dragging himself into the darkness beyond.
Blake settled in to rest as best as he was able. It was out of his hands for now.
Time would tell if he had just selected his own coffin.