The Magna Corps convoy loomed eerily under the dim, blood-tinged sky. The bloodkillers had been driven back, their crimson storm receding as the unnatural rain ceased—a direct consequence of Skully's earlier interference. Mechanized units and advanced drones had made short work of the straggling bloodkillers, cutting them down with calculated precision. Still, the Magna Corps' victory was bittersweet.
Inside the vehicles, the soldiers assessed the damage. The melted ice from Frosty's ambush had left deep grooves in the armor plating. The weapon systems, especially the drones, sputtered intermittently, their circuits fried by lingering magical interference. Captain Alaric, a hardened Magna Corps commander, barked orders over the comms, ensuring the convoy moved forward.
Meanwhile, Magma Corps engineers worked tirelessly to restore basic functionality to the convoy’s heat-resistant vehicles. Their fusion cores roared back to life, and with a few sparks and curses, the Magma Corps' icebound transporters rolled forward. Sergeant Tyra, a Magma Corps operative, smirked.
“Finally, we’re moving. But those drones and turrets won’t fix themselves.”
As the convoy picked up speed, the chatter between units turned grim.
“This ambush cost us hours,” Alaric growled.
“And nightfall’s closing in,” Tyra replied, her voice tense. “You know what that means—depredators.”
The word hung in the air like a curse. Silence followed until the first screech split the dark.
The Horde Arrives
From the surrounding wilderness, a swarm of glowing eyes emerged—giant spiders with serrated legs, zombified beasts reeking of decay, and venomous bees the size of small drones. They surged toward the convoy like a tidal wave of nightmares.
“CONTACT!” Alaric shouted.
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The Magna Corps vehicles roared into action. Turrets, though damaged, spat bursts of plasma, carving through the horde. Drones whirred overhead, slicing and blasting at the swarming creatures. Magma Corps soldiers leaned out of their transporters, lobbing incendiary grenades that engulfed entire clusters of monsters in fiery explosions.
“Don’t stop!” Tyra screamed. “Keep moving!”
The convoy pressed on, grinding over spider carcasses and zombie limbs. But the swarm seemed endless. A massive bee latched onto a Magna vehicle, stinging furiously until the vehicle exploded in a fiery plume.
“They’re thinning us out!” Alaric yelled.
THE FIRE REX AWAKENS
The ground trembled. A deep, guttural roar silenced the chaos. From the shadows emerged a towering, blazing monstrosity—a Fire Rex. Its scales shimmered like molten lava, and every step it took left burning craters in the earth. Its glowing eyes locked onto the convoy, and it roared, spewing a column of flame that engulfed a drone mid-flight.
The soldiers reacted immediately. Plasma cannons fired, but the damaged systems barely scorched its armored hide. Magma Corps' fire-based weaponry proved useless, the infernal beast absorbing the heat like fuel.
“It’s too strong!” Tyra shouted, gripping the controls of her vehicle.
The Fire Rex charged. Its molten jaws clamped down on the nearest transporter, crushing it effortlessly before tossing it aside like scrap. Screams filled the air as the convoy’s formation crumbled. One by one, the vehicles fell, some exploding in fiery bursts, others dragged into the darkness by smaller monsters that seized the opportunity.
SACRIFICE AND ESCAPE
“We have to split up!” Alaric ordered. “Draw it away from the cargo!”
Several Magna Corps vehicles broke formation, turning back to face the Fire Rex. Their crews fired everything they had, buying precious seconds for the remaining transport to accelerate. Tyra’s Magma Corps vehicle was the last in line, desperately speeding ahead with the remaining Micro Astros.
The Fire Rex roared, incinerating another vehicle before focusing on the fleeing survivors. It gave chase, its molten footsteps shaking the earth. Tyra’s heart pounded as she shouted into the comms.
“Divert it! Hold it off!”
The Fire Rex lunged, biting down on another vehicle. The explosion illuminated the night as debris rained down. Only Tyra’s transporter remained, speeding away under the cover of chaos. Behind her, the cries of her comrades faded into silence.