Bab 23: Into the Maw
The jungle seemed to hold its breath, the oppressive silence broken only by the distant growl reverberating through the trees. Every member of the team instinctively moved into a defensive position, weapons drawn and senses heightened.
Captain raised her hand, signaling for quiet. "Eyes open. Stay in formation. Techie, scan for movement."
Techie's fingers danced over his BIO, activating the motion detection feature. A holographic map of their surroundings appeared on his display, faint blips indicating something moving—fast—toward them.
"Four targets closing in," Techie whispered. "Two on the left, two circling to flank us."
Ace tightened his grip on his weapon, his newly enhanced reflexes making him feel ready to react at a moment's notice. "They're hunting us. Whatever they are, they're coordinated."
Shadow's voice was low but tense. "Scarface and his team must have run into this. No way they got away clean."
The First Encounter
Before anyone could respond, the underbrush exploded to their left. A creature emerged—standing over eight feet tall, with sinewy limbs covered in metallic scales that shimmered in the dim light. Its face was a grotesque amalgamation of mandibles and glowing eyes, and it carried a sleek, blade-like weapon fused to its arm.
Captain didn't hesitate. "Engage!"
The team opened fire, their coordinated attack striking the creature head-on. Bullets sparked against its armor-like scales, some ricocheting harmlessly into the trees.
"It's armored!" Shadow shouted, adjusting her aim.
Techie fired a burst toward its joints. "Go for weak points—elbows, knees, neck!"
Ace darted forward, his speed boost making him a blur. Sliding beneath the creature, he fired upward into its exposed underbelly. The monster let out an ear-splitting screech, stumbling backward before collapsing in a heap.
"One down," Ace muttered, breathing heavily.
Ambush in the Shadows
Before they could regroup, the other three creatures struck. One leapt from the canopy, slamming into Captain and sending her sprawling. Another lunged at Shadow, its blade arm slicing through the air inches from her head.
Techie barely managed to dodge the third, rolling to the side and firing wildly. "These things are faster than they look!"
Captain recovered quickly, her reaction upgrade kicking in as she dodged the creature's follow-up strike. With a fluid motion, she jammed her knife into its neck, the blade piercing through its softer tissue.
Shadow used her agility to keep her opponent at bay, firing precise shots that forced it back. "Ace, a little help here!"
Ace was already moving, vaulting off a tree trunk and landing behind Shadow's attacker. With a quick series of shots, he disabled its legs, allowing Shadow to finish it with a point-blank headshot.
Techie, cornered by the final creature, activated a stun grenade from his BIO. The explosion of light and sound disoriented the alien, giving Captain enough time to close the distance and deliver a killing blow.
A Grim Discovery
As the last monster fell, the jungle grew silent once more. The team stood among the alien corpses, their breaths ragged and their nerves frayed.
"What the hell were those things?" Shadow asked, nudging one of the bodies with her boot.
Techie crouched next to one, scanning it with his BIO. "No data. Whatever they are, they're not from Earth. Look at this—bio-metallic composition, built for speed and durability. They're not just predators—they're designed."
Captain wiped blood from her blade, her jaw tight. "Designed to hunt us. And if these are the hunters… what's the prey?"
Ace stared into the dark jungle, his mind racing. "Scarface's team. We need to find out what happened to them."
The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Before they could decide their next move, their BIOs lit up with a notification. A message appeared on their shared screen:
Special Event: Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Objective: Survive the pursuit of elite alien hunters.
Optional Objective: Kill alien hunters for bonus rewards.
Reward: 500 Credits per kill.
Shadow groaned. "Oh, come on. We're not already in enough trouble?"
Captain clenched her fists. "This isn't random. Someone—or something—is testing us."
Techie tapped his BIO nervously. "We just killed four of their elite hunters. You think they'll send more?"
Ace's voice was grim. "Not think. I know. And if we don't move now, we're next."
A Dangerous Alliance
The team set off through the jungle, moving quickly but cautiously. As they navigated the dense foliage, they stumbled upon a grisly scene—Scarface's team, or what was left of them.
Bodies were strewn across the ground, torn apart by the alien predators. Only Scarface remained, badly injured but alive.
He looked up as the team approached, coughing up blood. "You… you bastards left us. Look what happened."
Captain knelt beside him, her voice cold. "What happened was you ran off and got yourself into this mess. Where's the rest of your team?"
Scarface pointed weakly into the trees. "Gone. Either dead or worse. Those things… they don't stop."
Ace exchanged a look with Captain. "We need to move. If they're tracking us, staying here is suicide."
Captain hesitated, then nodded. "Agreed. Scarface, you're coming with us."
Scarface sneered. "I don't need your help."
Shadow grabbed him by the collar. "Yeah, well, we're not giving you a choice. You want to live, you follow our lead."
A Glimpse of the Future
As they moved deeper into the jungle, the team couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The growls returned, distant but growing closer.
Techie checked his BIO, his face pale. "They're coming. More of them—twice as many as before."
Captain tightened her grip on her weapon. "Then we stick to the plan. Guerilla tactics. We hit them hard, fast, and don't let them surround us."
Ace glanced at the glowing vial in his BIO inventory. "And if that doesn't work?"
Captain smirked, her eyes glinting with determination. "Then we make sure they regret ever coming after us."
The growls turned into roars, and the jungle erupted in chaos as the next wave of hunters closed in.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone