Vortex Origins
Chapter 98: The Survivors Advance

Chapter 98: The Survivors Advance

The forth wave tore across the southern dunes.

Kevin’s voice crackled in Max’s helmet.

"We’ve got a problem on this side too."

Max turned.

More Tier 6s.

Three of them, charging like monsters let loose from a sealed gate.

One was massive—thick legs like an elephant’s, a jagged black hump rising from its back. Its armored skin shimmered with dark iron, every step pounding the Hollowbound beneath it into pulp.

Next to it, faster than the others, ran a low-bodied beast with six legs. Its gray fur rippled like smoke in motion, muscles twitching beneath. It weaved through the dunes, leaving deep claw marks in its wake. Eyes sharp. Silent.

The third—pure brute force. A minotaur as tall as a watchtower, horned and hulking. Its eyes burned red under a mess of black fur, and its breath came in clouds of heat. Every stride broke the earth.

Max clenched his fists.

"Too many..."

He glanced back at the worm. It was still thrashing, metal bots struggling to hold it in place.

Then Kevin’s voice again.

"Something’s wrong."

Max looked.

The creatures weren’t just charging anymore.

They were tearing into each other.

The gray feline lunged at the armored giant, claws slashing. It struck high, cutting across the black plates—but the blow barely left a mark. The hulking beast swung one massive limb, catching the cat mid-leap. Bone cracked. The creature tumbled through the air, crashing into a ridge of rock.

It rolled once, hissed, and leapt again.

The two collided.

The six-legged cat sank its claws deep into the giant’s neck, but not before a hoof-like foot slammed into its ribs. A horrible crunch echoed. Dust and Hollowbound alike were thrown into the air like scraps of paper.

Then the minotaur arrived.

It didn’t slow.

It plowed through a swarm of Hollowbound like a living avalanche. Each step crushed dozens. Its roar rolled across the battlefield as it leapt forward, horns aimed for the cat’s side.

The impact was thunder.

The cat shrieked as the minotaur’s horn gored through its side, lifting it off the ground and slamming it into the armored beast.

All three collapsed in a heap of rage and violence.

Dust shot into the sky.

Screams echoed.

The armored creature rose first, stumbling, blood leaking from a dozen cracks in its shell. It lunged again—too slow.

The minotaur met it with a headbutt that caved in the side of its hump. The black-plated beast tried to retreat, but a massive fist caught it in the face, again and again, until its legs gave out and its skull burst like rotten fruit.

The gray cat tried to run, blood soaking its fur. But the minotaur grabbed it by the neck, lifted it, and slammed it into the ground repeatedly until it stopped moving.

Silence.

The minotaur stood alone—covered in wounds, black blood dripping from its jaw and knuckles. One horn was broken. Its breathing came heavy and sharp.

It didn’t care.

It turned toward the ice wall.

And began to walk.

Then it started to run.

Its hooves cracked stone. Hollowbound scattered. Those too slow were crushed underfoot, bones snapping, bodies bursting like sacks of meat.

Kael pointed at the chaos beyond the northern wall.

"They’re tearing each other apart!"

The earth shook again—louder this time. Not from the worm. From the Tier 6s on the northern flank.

The golden scorpion struck first.

Its tail whipped over its body, slamming into the back of the wolf-headed gorilla. The sting pierced deep. Black ichor sprayed.

The gorilla roared—louder than thunder. It reached behind without even turning, caught the scorpion’s tail in one massive hand, and pulled.

The golden metal cracked.

Then tore.

The scorpion thrashed, screeching in pain, its body twisting—but the gorilla didn’t stop. It swung the torn tail like a weapon and drove it into the scorpion’s own face.

Then came the salamander.

Flames danced along its crimson skin as it leapt, jaws open wide, and landed on the skeletal figure. Fire roared to life, covering both of them.

The skeletal being floated higher, trying to rise above the flames. One hand moved in circles, forming glyphs in the air.

Too late.

The salamander slammed it down with its claws and opened its throat.

Lava poured.

The golden scorpion shrieked nearby, trying to crawl away—but the salamander turned, aimed its gaping mouth at it, and spat molten death.

The lava hit the scorpion’s back. Gold plates melted. Steam hissed. The creature twisted in agony, legs kicking as its body boiled from the inside.

Then it stopped moving.

The gorilla charged.

It slammed into the salamander with both fists. The ground split beneath them.

The skeleton tried to rise again.

The gorilla’s arm blurred.

A single punch caved the skeletal figure’s skull. The cracked crown shattered as bone dust filled the air. The robe fell empty.

Now only two remained.

The salamander’s body pulsed with heat, rivers of flame leaking from its jaws. The gorilla beat its chest, blood pouring from its back.

Then they moved.

The gorilla struck with speed and strength—grabbing the salamander by the throat, lifting it, and slamming it into the sand. But the beast of fire twisted, claws finding purchase, slicing across the gorilla’s chest.

Blood flew.

The gorilla tried to bite—too slow.

The salamander shoved its head forward, its mouth locking with the wolf jaws of the other creature.

And then it released.

Lava gushed down the gorilla’s throat.

The beast howled—choked—clawed at its own neck as steam rose from its mouth and eyes.

Its stomach swelled. Then burst.

The gorilla dropped to its knees and collapsed, smoke rising from its chest cavity.

The salamander stood alone—its body scorched, molten blood dripping from its jaw. Its eyes still burned.

It turned to the wall.

And began to walk.

The fire danced around its legs, the Hollowbound beneath turning to ash with every step.

Max clenched his jaw, eyes locked on the two monsters tearing through the battlefield.

"One less problem. But it doesn’t change a thing. If we don’t act now, they’ll bring the wall down."

Kael’s voice rose from the flames.

"They’re coming! My fire wall won’t hold!"

From the other side, Kevin’s reply cut through the chaos.

"Mine won’t either!"

Then it happened.

The salamander charged first, body of crimson skin and muscles. Fire licked across its body, but it didn’t even flinch. It hit the blazing wall—

—And burst through like it was smoke.

On the other flank, the minotaur smashed into the wall of ice. The barrier cracked, then shattered in a hail of frozen shards. Nothing slowed its steps.

Both Tier 6 beasts kept moving.

Straight toward Ironhold.

Max raised his voice over the roar.

"Reform the walls! Push them back! Burn everything that moves!"

Without a word, Kael and Kevin lifted their hands again. Flame rose from scorched earth. Ice grew from shattered ground. The barriers slammed forward, carving a path through the sea of Hollowbound.

Screams filled the air as creatures were crushed and burned, limbs scattering like brittle twigs beneath a storm.

But the two monsters didn’t even glance back.

The minotaur thundered forward, carving a straight line through the chaos. The salamander’s body rippled with heat, turning everything around it to ash.

Neither stopped.

Neither slowed.

They were heading straight for Ironhold’s final gate.

And nothing stood in their way.