章 53: Machine Man 51 Beastly Encounter
In the Central Mountain, the highest mountain in the Savage Land, within an ancient temple adorned with skulls and pelts of formidable creatures, Sauron, the ruler of the Pterons, sat upon his imposing throne. Beside him are diverse group of other humanoid creatures serving him. The atmosphere resonated with an aura of both ancient mysticism and the savagery that defined the kingdom of Pangea.
Nodon, a fearsome Pteron and leader of the Fourteen Strong man Hunting Squad, approached the throne with a demeanor of reverence. The stone walls of the temple, intricately carved with scenes depicting the victories of the Pterons, showing the history of how they conquered the land.
Kneeling before Sauron, Nodon's wings folded respectfully as he began delivering his report. "Great King Sauron, I have returned from the outskirts of the Pangea, as you have commanded."
The King's eyes, sharp and predatory, fixated on Nodon. "Speak, Nodon. What have you observed in the realm of the intruders?"
Nodon gulped, feeling the weight of the king's scrutiny. "At first glance, my liege, I believed them to be a breed unlike any we have encountered. They bore six eyes, but it merely a garment. Ordinary humans, yet clad in mystical armor forged from an unknown metal, adorned with glowing purple lines."
Sauron leaned forward, his expression betraying a mix of interest and suspicion. "Describe these armored humans in greater detail."
Nodon's voice quivered with fear as he continued, "They call themselves Praetorians, They're imposing and seem to belong to another realm entirely. Their armor is unlike anything I've seen before, almost magical with glowing energy. Possibly magical artifacts bestowed upon them by their King. And their weapons... they're unlike anything I've seen."
Sauron's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "And what of the creatures they bring into our sacred land?"
Nodon hesitated before responding, "Majestic and terrifying, my king. They command a beast that soars through the skies with eight elongated tentacle made of metal. "
The ancient temple resonated with the weight of Nodon's words, shocking the sapient creatures within its walls. Sauron, though composed, felt concern. "Continue, Nodon. What of their numbers and their leader?"
With a deep breath, Nodon recounted, "My liege, they are led by a formidable human, a Sorcerer King who commands a magical flying throne. But with only 50 soldiers, we can easily overpower them with our superior numbers and strength." Fearing being perceived as weak, especially in the presence of his king, he tried to downplay how his encounter went.
Sauron's taloned fingers tapped against the armrest of his throne. "A Sorcerer King, you say? This intrigues me. Prepare a contingent. Since they are outsiders, we must prepare to keep our unwanted visitors permanently."
Nodon, though fearful, nodded in obedience. "As you command, Great King Sauron. May our wings be swift and our claws be sharp in your service."
With that Sauron rose from his throne adorned with skulls and pelts. The air seemed to thicken as the ruler approached a trembling figure among his subjects – a feline beastwoman with scanty attire.
The ominous green glow in Sauron's eyes intensified as he slowly extended his hands towards her. His voice, a low and commanding rumble, echoed through the chamber. "I am hungry and need to feed."
The feline beastwoman, her feline features expressing a mix of terror and submission, shivered under the weight of her king's gaze. "Please, no, my king. I can still serve you," she pleaded, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind.
With an eerie calmness, Sauron's scaled hand closed around the beastwoman's neck. He lifted her from the ground with an ominous green light enveloping his grasp. The other creatures in the temple watched in fear, horrified silence as their king drained the very essence of life from the unfortunate beastwoman.
The chamber filled with an unsettling silence, broken only by the desperate gasps of the beastwoman as her life force was absorbed. Her once vibrant and feline features withered, and her body became a mere husk in the grip of their ruler. With a disdainful toss, Sauron cast her lifeless form to the cold stone floor, and the air seemed to thicken with the stench of death.
The remaining beastmen and beastwomen, witnessing the spectacle, quivered in fear but remained silent fearing they might be next. Sauron, his hunger momentarily satiated, turned his gaze upon them. "Serve me well, and you may avoid such a fate," he declared, the weight of his words sinking into the hearts of his subjects.
The chamber became more subservience as the Pterons and other diverse sapient creatures bowed low, acknowledging their king's command. Sauron, with an air of satisfaction, returned to his throne, the green glow in his eyes slowly subsiding. The shadows of the temple embraced the scene, and the ominous echoes of power lingered in the air, marking the Savage Land's ruthless ruler and his unyielding dominion.
Back in the base camp of the Alex and the Praetorians, the place is surrounded by the hum of machinery and the ongoing mining, Alex summoned his trusted team leaders: Rico, Strife, Barret, Vincent, and Cid. As they gathered around, anticipation filled the air.
Alex, with an air of authority, declared, "I will take Cid and Strife with me. The rest of you will guard the camp and continue the mining operations. We'll gather some Tritium and other possible elements once we deal with this situation."
Rico, ever vigilant and respectful, couldn't hold back his concern. "But Emperor, they might be hostile. This could be a trap."
Alex, recognizing the sincerity of his Praetorians, felt a surge of gratitude. Skynet had indeed trained them well, but their fanatical eyes and unwavering reverence still unsettled him.
Addressing their concerns, he reassured them, "It's alright even if it is. We can force our way out. Besides, I've just absorbed some of the Vibranium ores we collected and infused them. My skeleton is now Vibranium-reinforced, and my outer armor and sub-thermal armor use Vibranium as well, so leading the team out should not post any problem."
Rico and the rest of the Praetorians, responding in unison, declared, "We follow the Emperors will," placing their fists near their hearts in a salute.
With the command issued, the team prepared four Warthog Force Application Vehicles, each armed and ready for any potential threat.
Previously the bee drones, under Skynet's control, had already scouted the area when we have arrived and from what we gather, it has revealed the simplicity of the Savage Land's culture. They posses' basic culture like that of early human tribes, there is no advance technology just basic farming and hunting is what is keeping their community alive.
We might not have understood how the diverse species of sentient community work due to the limited time we have been here, but by going to this Pteron kingdom we will be able to understand more.
Soon as they device a plan on how to go on about this meeting, Alex, accompanied by his chosen Praetorian guards – Strife and Cid prepared for their journey toward the central mountain. The camp bustled with activity as soldiers worked diligently, securing supplies, and making final preparations for the expedition.
Barret, the grizzled veteran, approached Alex, his mechanical arm whirring faintly. "Emperor, we've loaded the Warthogs with provisions, and the Bee drones are on standby for reconnaissance."
"Excellent, Barret," Alex nodded, his gaze sweeping across the organized chaos of the camp. "Make sure the fortifications are maintained, and everyone knows their roles in our absence. We'll be back soon."
And the chosen Praetorians, dressed in advanced armor and armed with cutting-edge weapons, stood in formation behind their emperor. Cid, a stoic figure with a vibranium-enhanced spear, shared a nod with Strife, who's implanted with mantis blades. Rico, ever vigilant, was ready to communicate any information swiftly.
Stife, stationed near the Warthogs, called out, "Emperor, the vehicles are prepped, and the Bee Drones are in the air. We'll have a clear path ahead."
"Very well, Strife," Alex acknowledged, his gaze fixed on the looming central mountain in the distance. "Let's move out."
The Warthogs, equipped with advanced technology, hovered silently as they formed a protective convoy. The last Warthog even carried some gifts – a gesture of goodwill to the inhabitants of the Savage Land. Modern food, candies, donuts, cakes, pastries, and even glass furniture, simple in the modern world but potentially fascinating to the locals.
The Praetorians, disciplined and resolute, took their positions. As the group made its way to the camp's exit, the soldiers lined the path, offering salutes and words of encouragement.
"May the Emperor's journey be swift and victorious!" one soldier exclaimed, and others joined in with a fervent chant, "Emperor's will guides us!"
Alex sat upon his floating throne, flanked on all sides by Warthog jeeps. The convoy made its way toward the central mountain, a towering beacon visible from any vantage point in the prehistoric jungle.
As they ventured through the dense foliage, the jungle came alive with the roars and calls of prehistoric creatures. Some dinosaurs, curious or territorial, decided to challenge the intruders. The Praetorians, ever vigilant, formed a protective barrier around their emperor, intimidating any creature that dared to attack.
Alex couldn't help but marvel at its uniqueness. The land thrived, shielded by its numerous volcanoes. If this were ever expose to the modern world, it could jeopardize its diverse life forms.
As they traveled, Cid couldn't help but ask, "Emperor, do you know anything about this Sauron who's claiming to be king of this land?"
Alex replied, "No, just like you, I have no concrete information. However, from our improved stealth bee drones, it seems he's a formidable Pterodactyl humanoid with vampiric powers and great strength."
Cid then said, "I see. Rest assured, we will do our best to protect you, my liege." Alex nodded at him in acknowledgment.
Strife then remarked, "This would be a good place to set a permanent base."
Hearing this, Alex said, "I plan to make a base here and preserve this place. Maybe even build a city-sized base from it. But first, let's see how the locals react."
As they travel along, a few persistent foes, including a towering Spinosaurus and mutated reptilian creatures, were met with the skilled blades of Strife and Cid.
As Alex and his guard progressed, the ground shook beneath their feet, and the distant roars grew louder. The source of the disturbance revealed itself – a colossal, metallic-scaled monster, resembling a T-rex but with ominous enhancements. Its copper-colored scales and the dark metals intertwined, forming an intimidating sight, its muscular form adorned with ores and metals resembling cutaneous horns.
Cid, seeing the towering enemy, couldn't help but feel excited. "Emperor, with your permission, let me take care of this beast," he said eagerly.
Seeing Cid's eagerness to fight, Alex gave permission. "Go ahead, but let Strife accompany you," he instructed.
Cid and Strife replied in unison, "Yes, my liege."
Cid, wielding his plasma handgun and spear, leaped agilely to the side, dodging the creature's massive jaws. "Looks like we're in a real-life Monster Hunter quest!" he quipped with a grin, firing shots at the creature's armored hide.
Strife, a shadow in motion, gracefully evaded the creature's swiping tail. His mantis blades glinted as he slashed at the creature's legs, aiming for vulnerable points in its metallic armor. "Stay focused, Cid. This is no game," he reminded, his voice calm and determined.
The creature retaliated with a sweeping tail strike, forcing Strife to somersault backward. Cid, always ready with a joke even in the face of danger, replied, "Come on, Strife! Where's your sense of adventure? We're fighting a metal T-rex, for crying out loud!"
Strife didn't respond with words, instead lunging forward with incredible speed. His mantis blades sliced through the creature's plated skin, leaving deep gashes. Cid followed suit, thrusting his plasma spear into the creature's side, causing sparks to fly.
The battle raged on, a dance of agility and precision against raw, brute force. The metallic T-rex, enraged and wounded, thrashed about, attempting to crush its agile adversaries. Strife and Cid moved in unison, their attacks coordinated with military precision.
After a prolonged struggle, the praetorians exploited an opening in the creature's defenses. Strife, with a swift, acrobatic maneuver, delivered a precise strike to the crown structure atop its skull, disrupting its equilibrium. Seizing the opportunity, Cid unleashed a volley of plasma shots into the creature's exposed underbelly.
With a final roar, the colossal monster succumbed to its injuries, its metallic hide no match for the synergy of praetorian skill. Strife and Cid stood victorious but vigilant, their breaths visible in the tension-filled aftermath.
"Guess that's that for this Monster Hunter of yours, Cid," Strife remarked, wiping copper like blood off his mantis blades.
Cid, catching his breath, grinned and replied, "Nah, are you kidding this is awesome. Real-life action beats those games any day."
Alex, observing the scene, spoke, "Impressive work, Strife, Cid. These creatures are unlike anything we've faced before. Skynet, make sure to analyze the specimen thoroughly."
Skynet's voice echoed in response, "Acknowledged, Emperor. Initiating analysis."
As the flying Squiddies descended to carry away the defeated creature for further examination, the convoy continued its journey. The Praetorians, undeterred by the encounter, remained vigilant, their loyalty unwavering as they followed their emperor toward the central mountain, the heart of the Savage Land.
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