Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 332: Gargantuan obsidian obelisk

Chapter 332: Gargantuan obsidian obelisk

A silent figure moved through the massive forest, each step calculated to avoid making a sound. Towering trees loomed in all directions, their canopies so dense they blocked out most of the sunlight, casting the forest floor into perpetual twilight.

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying wood but eerily devoid of the usual sounds of wildlife. No birds chirped, no insects buzzed—silence pressed in on him like a physical weight.

Yet, amidst the quiet, the unsettling sound of pincer legs echoed from all directions. The rhythmic clicking and scraping reverberated through the trees, creating erratic and unpredictable patterns. It was as if the forest itself was alive with unseen dangers, making it nearly impossible for the figure to anticipate where the next threat would emerge.

Vlad’s senses were heightened to their limits. Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of wind set his nerves on edge. He crouched low, using the thick underbrush to conceal his movements.

Ahead, a patrol of drones scuttled past, their exoskeletons glistening with a slick, oily substance. Vlad held his breath, pressing himself against the rough bark of a tree, feeling the grooves dig into his back.

As the drones moved on, he exhaled slowly, his breath forming a small cloud in the cool air. He knew he couldn’t stay in one place for long. The hive’s patrols were relentless, their patterns designed to flush out any intruders. He needed to keep moving.

Spotting a low-hanging branch, Vlad leaped up with feline agility, pulling himself into the dense foliage above. Just in time—a second patrol emerged beneath him, their pincer legs clicking as they passed directly under where he had stood moments before. He watched them go, his heart steady and quiet, not making a single sound thanks to the A.I. Chip’s assistance.

Minutes later, he descended silently, his feet touching the ground without a sound. He weaved through the trees, changing direction at random intervals to throw off any potential trackers. The forest seemed endless, a maze of identical trunks and tangled roots.

At one point, he came across a shallow stream. Without hesitation, Vlad waded in, allowing the cold water to mask his scent. He moved upstream, the gentle babbling of the water covering any noise he might make. The stream led him to a waterfall cascading over moss-covered rocks—a natural barrier and the perfect place to rest, if only for a moment.

He slipped behind the curtain of water, the roar muffling the ever-present sounds of the hive. The mist cooled his overheated skin, and for a brief moment, he closed his eyes, allowing himself the luxury of a deep breath. But even here, he couldn’t fully relax. His eyes snapped open, sharp and vigilant, scanning his surroundings for any sign of movement.

Immense exhaustion weighed upon him. He had been in constant motion for the past two months, his mind perpetually on high alert. Sleep was a rare luxury, often interrupted by the encroaching presence of the hive. The deeper he ventured into the Monsoon Continent, the more oppressive their influence became.

He was now in Wenty Country, the heart of the continent. Here, the hive’s presence was so intense that even the smallest respite was a luxury he could scarcely afford. The creatures seemed to be everywhere, approaching from all directions.

Vlad glanced eastward. He knew that moving in that direction would lessen the relentless pressure. The hive’s reach diminished there, offering a potential escape and respite. The temptation tugged at him, but he dismissed it quickly. His mission was clear: reach the hive’s core and discover these monstrous creatures’ origin.

’Running away isn’t an option,’ Vlad thought, his eyes narrowing with determination. ’We can’t win by simply fighting them head-on. Humans can’t replenish their numbers like they can. I need to find its core, a target where I can mobilize my full power.’

He steadied himself, drawing upon reserves of strength. A crushing sense of responsibility weighed on him, but it also fueled his determination to carry on.

Emerging from behind the waterfall, Vlad continued his journey. He utilized every tool at his disposal to stay one step ahead of the hive. He constantly changed routes, never following a predictable path, and made sure not to leave even the slightest trace.

Days blurred together as he pressed on, each more grueling than the last. His muscles ached, but he couldn’t risk stopping to rest, at least not yet. The hive was always close, their patrols more frequent and coordinated the deeper he ventured, and remaining in one place for more than a few minutes was like revealing his presence to every nearby drone.

One night, as he crouched atop a rocky outcrop, Vlad’s eyes caught sight of something in the distance. At first, it was just a faint silhouette against the horizon, but as the sun rose, the shape became clearer. His eyes widened in disbelief.

Towering above the forest was a gargantuan obsidian obelisk, its surface smooth and reflective like black glass. It was too far away to see clearly, but it seemed to pierce the sky, disappearing into the low-hanging clouds. The structure was mesmerizing and foreboding, unlike anything Vlad had ever seen.

A feeling of unease arose within Vlad. He had no idea what that structure was, but his instincts told him it was exactly what he had been searching for. It was the core of the hive. However, before a smile could cross his face, he noticed something even more terrifying.

"What is that thing?" Vlad whispered, his voice tinged with awe and dread.

As he adjusted his vantage point, Vlad noticed movement around the base of the obelisk. Nearly a dozen creatures moved with purpose, their formations precise and almost mechanical. From this distance, they appeared small, but he knew better.

"A.I. Chip, analyze the size of those creatures," Vlad ordered silently. The robotic voice of the A.I. Chip responded quickly.

[Beep! Creatures surrounding the obelisk measure approximately 45 meters in length.]

A chill ran down his spine. Forty-five meters—that was nearly half a football field. These were the largest creatures he had ever encountered, dwarfing even the most massive beasts known on Terra. And they were flying!