Thank You,
Knight Teir: "Jacob", "Ralfs Abele", "Lucas Varnas", and "Joel Vincent"
For Becoming A Member On My Pa'treon. The Emperor Protect.
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With the aid of dozens of machines and the infusion of Crimson Blood, a long and narrow trench was painstakingly carved out in front of the Astra Militarum's fortified position. A single mine was carefully placed within the soil and buried deep.
These mines were not ordinary explosives; they were filled primarily with potent poison gas. At the slightest tremor, they would rupture violently. Once triggered, they would release a sinister, curling wisp of toxic fumes.
Yet despite this field of deadly traps, the soldiers were not complacent. Every soldier and officer of the Astra Militarum boarded their towering Scarab Walker, relying on their thick, reinforced plating to shield them from any subterranean assault.
Overhead, the Typhoon fighters hovered in a vigilant formation, their engines growling ominously. The instant the enemy dared reveal even a glimpse of their heads from beneath the ground, the sky would rain down devastation.
Only the massive gorillas and the Pikachu remained exposed on the open battlefield.
500 colossal gorillas gripped enormous axes, their towering frames tense as they scanned the perimeter with glowing, sharp eyes. Though they had arrived alongside the Astra Militarum at the very start of this battle, they had yet to unleash their fury. The lack of action gnawed at them, and the beasts' muscles rippled with restless anticipation.
Click… click… click…
A faint rattling echoed from beneath the ground, a subtle warning of danger creeping closer.
"They've deployed two subterranean Supernatural species," Sebastian's sharp mind recalled the intelligence reports he had reviewed earlier. "One excels at tunneling through soil, and the other is specialized for swift, brutal attacks!"
"A clever pairing," He muttered grimly.
"What's the depth of their excavation?" Lando's voice rumbled from within the armored confines of a Scarab Walker.
"Approximately two meters… edging closer to three," Reported a vigilant scientist, his tone laced with tension.
Click… click… click…
The sound of relentless digging persisted, a ceaseless scratching that gnawed at the nerves of every soldier present. And it was closing in at an alarming speed.
Though they knew the enemy's species, their unseen forms remained elusive, making precision strikes difficult. Every Guardman held their breath, not daring to stir or even whisper, fearful that the faintest noise might interfere with subterranean detection.
The battlefield fell under a suffocating silence, broken only by the rhythmic, ever-louder rasp of claws tearing through soil.
Rumble…
Moments passed, and the low hum of earth being drilled into submission grew deafening.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
A mine detonated, sending a muted explosion through the trench as toxic mist seeped into the tunnels.
"Did it work?" Several scientists leaned forward, eyes wide with anticipation. But a moment later, the ominous sound of digging returned, unchanged, unbothered.
"It's useless," Lando said gravely, his voice like steel. "They were ready for this."
"The enemy has encountered poison gas attacks before," Cyrus added, nodding grimly. "They must have anticipated this tactic."
"Hah! Poison gas against my sandworms?" In the battle observation room, Jacobson smirked, his lips curling into a smug grin. "That's laughable. All it takes is for my underground beasts to seal their mouths and hold their breath. Simple."
The enemy creatures were Supernatural beings; denying themselves air for a while was nothing to them.
Boom!
Suddenly, the trench floor erupted violently, soil and debris scattering as an enormous shape broke through the surface. From the gaping hole slithered a monstrous worm, its massive head a writhing nest of sharp, glistening mouthparts. Its grotesque design made one's scalp prickle and their skin erupt in goosebumps.
"Sandworm!" Sebastian's eyes narrowed sharply, instantly identifying the creature.
Its tunneling ability was infamous, relying on those relentless mouthparts to chew through anything. Faster than any mechanical drill, it could tear through stone and earth alike. From the enemy's position to the Astra Militarum's trench, several kilometers away, the beast had crossed the distance in mere moments.
"Fire!" Lando barked the order with cold precision.
VRRRRRMMM—CRACK-KKKTZZZ-ZZAP!!
A deafening surge of electricity tears through the air as the gun's rails hum with violent energy, as electromagnetic rifles are discharged in unison, filling the air with shrill streaks of energy.
The massive worm barely had time to register the attack. A split second of hesitation was all it took for hundreds of spiked bullets to shred its head. Its once-lethal mouthparts exploded into fragments, and its body convulsed lifelessly. The sandworm was no more.
"Such overwhelming firepower," Jacobson muttered under his breath, his expression darkening as he watched his prized creature perish. "A pity… These two species were never meant to face you directly."
His smirk returned, cold and sinister, "Now… let's see how your musketeers fare."
Jacobson's attention shifted back underground, where only he could see through the eyes of his creations.
Behind the fallen sand worm, a slimy procession slithered forward through the freshly carved tunnels. These creatures were bloated, their gelatinous bodies covered in a thick, oozing mucus. They resembled massive leeches, their slick forms glistening as they crept along the dirt.
Snicker…
Every patch of ground they touched corroded rapidly, soil and rock dissolving into green, noxious fumes.
"Stay alert," Cyrus warned, his face hardening. "The slime worms will be here soon."
The weight of his words silenced the team; even hardened veterans felt their nerves tighten.
Slime worms. The name alone was enough to draw grimaces. Unlike their tunneling brethren, these creatures were the true weapons of Jacobson's strategy. Their bodies excreted a potent, acidic mucus capable of dissolving almost anything. Even Supernatural creatures would struggle against such a corrosive assault.
"His tactics have barely changed across battles," Terrell observed from the viewing box, his tone analytical. "The sandworms carve the tunnels, and the slime worms advance, flooding everything with their deadly secretion."
"With enough time, they can coat the entire battlefield in slime," he continued, voice heavy with concern. "Then, they collapse the ground, trapping enemy forces in a corrosive grave."
"A simple strategy," he admitted, "but brutally effective."
Clifford nodded grimly. "I've studied every match Jacobson has fought. Not once has he faced a race truly suited to counter this tactic."
"These beasts fear only brute force," he added. "Giants and Barbarians are the perfect counters, their strength enough to withstand the acid and crush the slime worms in close quarters."
Otwin frowned. "But Sebastian's side… doesn't have that level of melee power."
Rumble…
The ground trembled ominously as the surviving sand worms pressed forward. Behind them, the slime worms slithered relentlessly, filling their tunnels with deadly mucus. Though their pace was slow, creeping and steady, it left the Astra Militarum with no room for escape.
"Will our vehicle withstand that slime?" a scientist asked nervously.
"They'll take damage," an older scientist replied, "but not enough to disable them outright."
"Then prepare yourselves," Lando commanded, his sharp gaze sweeping across his forces.
"Switch mode. We'll meet them underground."
Once, poison gas mines had been their sole defense against subterranean creatures. But now, with the Scarab Walker, they no longer had to wait helplessly for the enemy to strike.
"We can't let those slime worms spread unchecked," Cyrus said firmly. "If they cover the battlefield, this fight will turn against us fast."
The two of them, Lando and Cyrus, prepared to strike first. They sent out a team of Scarab Walkers to enter the tunnels carved by the sand worms underground, planning a surprise attack on the sand worms and the slime worms lurking behind them. Relying on the Scarab Walker's performance, at least it was safe.
"Squeak..." Just as Cyrus was about to lead the team down the underground passage, a large electric mound beside him suddenly called out.
"Hmm?" The crowd turned to the Pikachu, uncertain of what to do. This was the leader of the Pikachu.
Since the Scarab Walker ran on batteries, and considering the number of walkers being deployed, the team had brought in 5,000 Pikachu. Their main purpose? Naturally, to charge the vehicle. The energy released by the Scarab Walker could instantly recharge the massive batteries of the Walker.
"Squeak." The Pikachu called again.
Cyrus froze briefly before reacting, "You mean... You could handle these bugs?"
It nodded.
Cyrus and Lando exchanged glances, reading the same doubt in each other's eyes. Lando pondered for a moment, then winked at him. The meaning was clear: let these mischievous creatures try it. Even if they failed, it wouldn't matter.
Sebastian knew the nature of the Pikachu; they were lively and temperamental. If displeased, they would react immediately.
"Alright then, go ahead and wait for good news," Cyrus said helplessly.
The Pikachu nodded eagerly. Immediately, a thousand Pikachu surged forward, moving to the front of the trench. The leader led the way, following the path the giant sandworm had taken before, with the rest scurrying in behind him.
"These Pikachu… will it be okay?" A young scientist asked, worry clear in his voice.
"I doubt it," an older scientist replied, frowning. "They're naughty, yes, but they're clever too. They won't do anything reckless."
As creatures of their own making, Sebastian could naturally synchronize with the vision of the Pikachu. The underground passage went dark, but the mounds were prepared. They were born for digging. Only Pikachu could rush through the tunnels with such ease. Compared to the sandworms, they were small, but the tunnels stretched in all directions, a network dug by thousands of sandworms working together.
Snorting…
Not far away, the corrosive sounds began. One by one, slime-worms crawled forward.
Sensing the approaching slimy invaders, the Pikachu halted, crouched, and heightened their vigilance.
The corrosive sounds grew louder as the slime worms neared. After about a minute, near a tunnel, a fat, slimy worm, covered in mucus, appeared. These slime worms had been trained to operate individually, one per tunnel, ensuring that even powerful attacks would only affect a few at a time.
The Pikachu in the tunnel was quickly spotted. Seeing the tiny yellow-skinned rats, the slime worms froze for a moment. The mound rolled its eyes, curiously studying these unfamiliar creatures. In the dim tunnel, a strange standoff emerged: wide eyes met small eyes, the air seemingly frozen in tension.
"This… what is it?" Jacobson, observing the mound, stiffened. Although he had studied Astra Militarum battle footage, his attention had been on pilots and musketeers, not the Pikachu.
"Companion species?" Jacobson murmured uncertainly.
While most secondary Planetary Lords had one or two Supernatural creatures, it didn't mean each planet was limited to them. Some auxiliary plants and animals, known as companion species, served support roles in providing food, clothing, housing, and transportation. But the Pikachu was no mere companion species.
"Scouting underground?" Jacobson guessed. His face darkened. "No matter what it is, slime worms, finish these little things off for me!"
The command was given. The slime worms opened their mouths in unison, spewing white slime straight at the mounds.
Inside the dark tunnel, Pikachu's senses matched the slime worms'. The moment the mucus emerged, it dodged nimbly to the side, letting the white slime land harmlessly behind it with a sharp "chi chi chi" as it corroded the walls. Pikachu's speed and agility left the slime worms momentarily stunned; they hadn't expected such quick reflexes.
"Don't panic. Keep attacking and finish these little guys off," Jacobson ordered calmly, his confidence unshaken. Confronting slime worms underground? That was suicide.
Silently, a slime worm launched another attack, yet the Pikachu dodged effortlessly. The onslaught continued relentlessly, one attack after another, yet the mounds leapt and bounded, avoiding every strike.
Sebastian watched, speechless. These troublemakers weren't fighting; they were taunting the slime worms, enjoying themselves before dealing with the real work.
"Bastards, what are you doing?" Jacobson barked as a single mound leapt and dodged, impervious to the attacks.
The slime worms tried harder, spewing slime faster, but it made no difference; the Pikacu danced around them, reveling in its mischief.
Rumble…
Even the massive sandworms digging ahead sensed something amiss and turned back.
Jacobson realized the sand worms' importance and commanded, "Sandworms, join the slime worms and kill these little rats first!"
The sand worms accelerated, rushing forward.
"Squeak." The leader Pikachu sensed the sandworms' movement and called out, its face serious.
The other ceased their playful antics, their Z-shaped tails slightly erect, ready to engage for real.