The jagged edge of stone connected with the forehead of the farthest human as a resounding thwack echoed throughout the forest. A direct hit.
The human toppled over almost instantly, blood spraying everywhere as the stone lodged itself in his skull. His weapon dropped to the ground with a dull thud, his companions turning in haste to check on the recipient of my gift.
Just like that, one blip was off my radar. One human who would no longer see the light of day.
"Orville! NO!" The other archer yelled, kneeling over his fallen comrade. He attempted to pull the object from his partner's skull, only managing to bloody his hands in the process. At the very least he would understand that he had a swift death.
The archer could call on the deceased human all he wanted, but "Orville" was long gone. Not my problem that the humans wore the most protective part of their body underneath their delicate skin.
"Orville's gone, but that thing is still here! The stone! Where did it throw that from!?" The lead human asked, immediately calling the disorderly group to attention. Reminded of the threat at hand, they all scanned their surroundings, a pair of eyes quickly locking with mine.
"Look! Over there! Behind the tree!" He cried out, gesturing towards me.
But alas, their tardiness would prove fatal. Seizing the brief distraction, I had already readied another stone as they mourned their fallen comrade. With precision, my second projectile arced through the air towards the head of the second archer, where it landed behind him disappointingly. I had missed.
"It's trying to get Tom! Don't give it time to attack again! Remember the plan!" The leader shouted, all of the humans beginning a simultaneous charge for my position. Given the density of the forest and the distance between us, I probably had ten seconds before they were upon me.
Hiding behind a tree after the warning, the surviving archer, "Tom," made himself unreachable. With him out of sight, my attention turned to the other humans advancing amidst the verdant foliage. I spotted a fresh target approaching from my right, prompting me to quickly realign my aim, poised for another attack. If I could eliminate the sword-bearing human within my line of sight, I reasoned that facing three opponents in close combat would be preferable to four.
Yet I felt the weight of an invisible load fall on my shoulders as I completed the process of attack. The exhaustion settled in almost instantly, taking me by surprise as my grip on the sword in my hand loosened.
Similar to my first attack, the stone collided with the human's forehead, albeit much lighter than I intended. He still fell over, but it was far more likely he had been knocked out rather than killed.
Nevertheless a human down was a human down. However, I couldn't ignore the unexpected wave of fatigue that washed over me. It wasn't debilitating, yet it hindered my movements more than I anticipated.
Was I using my powers too much? Was there a limit? No, this fatigue felt more akin to when I struggled to move Frank because of his weight. Could that be affecting my powers' potency? Yet, I had effortlessly launched two stones before without issue. None of this was adding up. I pushed the puzzling thoughts aside for now; there were more pressing matters at hand—dealing with the humans.
"Quickly! It's going to finish off Arthur!" The closest one yelled, altering their trajectory to shield their fallen ally.
The bushes trembled as my three remaining adversaries closed in, prompting me to sprint towards the human I had incapacitated. As expected, he lay unconscious, but my aim wasn't to end his life.
I reached the body mere moments before the other human, swiftly seizing his sword as a second weapon. Just as the first one arrived, I prepared to take action. Except the initiative was not mine.
Instead, the human lunged forward with surprising speed, aiming a desperate strike towards my head. Reacting swiftly, I sidestepped the attack, narrowly avoiding the blade. With a calculated move, I countered, using the stolen sword to parry his next blow. The clash of steel echoed through the air as we engaged in a fierce duel amidst the chaos of the forest.
The two others soon burst out of the nearby foliage, their eyes fixed on the unfolding skirmish. Seeing the increasing threat, I adjusted my stance, shoving my opponent away as I prepared to confront the additional adversaries.
Once more they charged simultaneously, their weapons clashing with mine as I intercepted the third with my upper right arm. The sword embedded itself in my carapace, but failed to do any real damage. Another one of the many perks that came with having your bones on the exterior.
The third human was momentarily stunned as he struggled to withdraw his sword from my carapace, and sensing his vulnerability, I quickly moved to exploit his confusion. My upper left hand connected with his face in a loud crunch, the human grunting in pain as he stumbled backwards.
However, the other two humans wasted no time in coming to their companion's aid, launching simultaneous attacks from both sides. I refused to be overwhelmed, turning the tables with what I believed to be a decisive move. Incorporating the third human's sword into my arsenal, I engaged the leader with the two swords in my right hands, forcing him onto the defensive as I deftly parried the other assailant's strikes with just the one in my left.
"The joints! Attack its joints!" shouted the one who had embedded his sword in my carapace, his voice filled with urgency as he regained his bearings. Despite their coordinated efforts, I remained undeterred, focused on exploiting any weakness in their defenses to gain the upper hand.
I believed I had the upper hand, at least until an arrow found its way into one of my knees. As the searing pain from the arrow jolted through my body, I stumbled momentarily, a screech filling the air as I voiced my pain. I had forgotten about the surviving archer.
“NOW!” He shouted, beginning to knock another arrow.
In the brief moment of lost focus the humans were upon me again, swapping positions as they went on the offensive to take advantage of my confusion.
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The leader's sword slid off the single sword in my lower left hand and struck my elbow with a punishing force, sending a jolt of pain shooting through my arm. Before I could fully recover, the other assailant's weapon came crashing down towards me, forcing me to hastily block the attack with my two other swords.
Just as I began to regain my footing, a powerful blow from the unarmed human's fist connected with my face, sending shock waves of pain reverberating through my head as I dropped one of the swords in my right hands.
Gathering every ounce of strength and resolve, I focused my attention on the unarmed human, knowing I had to disable at least one adversary swiftly to regain control of the situation.
Now prepared for the onslaught, I deflected the next strikes from the armed humans with the swords, while simultaneously using my free hand to fend off the third assailant. With a surge of energy pulsating through me, I extended my upper left hand towards the nearest human, anticipating the impact of his next attack.
But to my astonishment, something extraordinary happened. The air crackled with an unnatural charge, and a brilliant arc of yellow energy surged from my antennae, engulfing the unsuspecting assailant in a blinding flash before he could even complete his motion. His body convulsed briefly before he crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Stunned by the unexpected display of power, the other humans faltered for a moment, their expressions a mix of fear and disbelief. Seizing the opportunity, I pressed forward, unleashing a barrage of strikes with my swords in hopes of finding an opening.
With each blow, I felt a surge of exhilaration and fear mingling within me, knowing that I had tapped into something beyond my understanding with that last attack. But in the heat of battle, there was no time to dwell on the mysteries of my newfound abilities. An arrow whizzed my eye, reminding me of the dire situation.
Opting for a different approach, I adjusted my strategy, deliberately slowing my movements to concentrate on the ground beneath the human to my right. While moving an entire human's body had seemed impossible before, I knew there was another way to disrupt their balance. Instead of hurling a rock or another projectile, I focused on manipulating the earth beneath his feet, causing his balance to falter and send him tumbling to the ground.
As the fallen adversary struggled to rise, I wasted no time in delivering a decisive blow, thrusting one of my swords into his face. As the sword pierced his flesh, I felt the resistance give way, the blade slicing through skin, muscle, and bone with a sickening crunch. Blood gushed forth in a torrent, splattering across the forest floor in a grotesque display of violence. The man's screams were abruptly silenced as the blade tore through his skull, ending his life in a gruesome and brutal fashion. With a grim determination, I withdrew the sword from his shattered face, the wet sound of flesh parting filling the air.
Turning my attention back to the remaining two adversaries, I prepared to resume the fierce one on one combat with the surviving swordsman. However, before I could fully engage, a searing pain lanced through my leg, causing me to falter and stumble backwards to the ground. With a sharp cry of agony, I collapsed, clutching at the arrow embedded in my limb as waves of pain washed over me.
Despite my best efforts to push through the anguish,with two legs injured I found myself momentarily incapacitated, vulnerable to the onslaught of attacks from the remaining human.
Now in the position of tactical superiority, the human loomed over me, his eyes filled with malice as he brought his sword down in a diagonal strike. I successfully blocked it, but the vibration from the blow had caused me to drop my weapon. Before I could retrieve it the human kicked it away, opting to bring his sword down on my head in a second strike that I barely managed to repel.
With a dagger in hand, the hidden archer burst from the bushes to join the fray, his face twisted into a cruel sneer as he prepared to assist their leader in the deliverance of the finishing blow. Nonetheless I refused to give in to the simultaneous assault.
Carapace cracked and swords met in a violent clash as I defended myself from both their blows. I was careful to avoid the strikes to my joints, doing my best to adapt to their individual styles of attack as I attempted to protect myself. Lost ground was slowly recovered, until a wide swing from the leader shattered my sword.
In the midst of the chaos, a brief moment of confusion enveloped us all before the adversaries readied themselves for another strike. Feeling the surge of panic rising within me, I instinctively raised my hands in a feeble attempt to defend myself, hoping to summon the same display of power as before. I quickly concentrated, feeling the energy surging through my limbs, converging towards my head and gathering at my antennae.
Both humans swiftly shifted into a defensive stance, their expressions betraying their fear as they grasped the implications of my actions. With a surge of determination, I directed the gathered energy towards the leader, hoping to incapacitate him. Yet, to my dismay, the energy dissipated into nothingness, a familiar feeling of exhaustion taking root.
A surge of frustration and confusion washed over me, mingling with the exhaustion that had begun to weigh heavily on my limbs. Why had my attempt failed? What had I done wrong this time? Perhaps the scientists were right to throw me away.
But there was no time to dwell on my failure. Sensing my vulnerability, both humans swiftly readied their attacks, their movements calculated and precise. With my newfound weakness, I knew I would be incapable of defense against them.
I cursed my lapse in judgment, knowing that I shouldn't have underestimated the resilience and adaptability of my adversaries. But dwelling on my mistakes would only lead to further setbacks. With grim determination, I braced myself for the impending onslaught, knowing that this may just be the end.
Just as the humans poised to strike, a sudden commotion erupted from beneath their feet. Through the haze of pain, I strained to see what was happening, my heart pounding with anticipation. And then, to our surprise, my offspring burst out from underground, quickly swarming the stunned humans.
With eerie precision, my children crawled up over their shoes and into the humans' clothing and armor, finding their way underneath to where the flesh was exposed. With sharp mandibles and insatiable hunger, they began to feast, their tiny forms disappearing into the folds of fabric as they devoured the flesh of their prey.
The humans recoiled in horror, attempting to remove or stomp on the tiny invaders, but their efforts were futile. My offspring, emboldened by their numbers and driven by instinct, continued their relentless assault, tearing into the humans with relentless determination.
In a matter of moments, my once formidable adversaries were reduced to helpless victims, their screams echoing through the forest as they were consumed alive by the swarm of creatures, my swarm that had emerged from beneath the earth.
As the chaos subsided and the last of the humans fell silent, I surveyed the scene, a sense of grim satisfaction washing over me. Both my assailant's bloody corpses littered the ground, reduced to nothing but a pile of bones inside of their clothing.
It was the last thing I expected – my own children coming to my rescue, especially after I had ordered them to stay put. Yet, here they were, my little fighters, bravely defending their mother when she needed them most. In this moment, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude and admiration for their unwavering devotion.
As the threat subsided and the danger passed, I made a mental note to remember this moment – a testament to the strength and resilience of my children, and a reminder of the unbreakable bond that bound us together as a family.
It was over......and I….we had won.
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Chitin
Chitin forms the foundation of insect exoskeletons, imparting crucial functions to ensure their survival and adaptation. Serving as both armor and structural support, chitin shields some insects from physical harm, pathogens, and predators while maintaining their shape and protecting internal organs. Additionally, it aids in preventing desiccation by minimizing water loss, supports muscle attachment for movement, provides anchorage for sensory organs, and facilitates growth through molting. This versatile material underpins the insect's ability to thrive in diverse environments by offering a combination of strength, flexibility, and protection essential for their ecological success.