Thank You,
Noble Tier: "IamUgoH"
For Becoming A Member On My Pa'treon. The Emperor Protect.
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Rumble...
From the tunnel ahead came a massive sandworm, its colossal body undulating through the earth. The monstrous creature twisted its insectoid head, its maw lined with a writhing forest of mouthparts, and surged back into battle.
Despite its immense size, the sandworm's offensive capabilities were unimpressive. Its skull-like head, grotesquely crowded with gnashing mandibles, was designed more for burrowing than for combat. Its movements were sluggish, its reflexes dull, and its hide surprisingly fragile. This was, in every sense, a typical worm.
Against the Astra Militarum's most advanced spike bullets, it wouldn't stand a chance. Even a standard bullet would be enough to pierce its flesh. But this wasn't open ground. This was a labyrinth of tunnels deep beneath the surface, where aerial firepower and heavy weapons were rendered useless.
And these foes weren't just sandworms. They were accompanied by swarms of tiny, yellow-furred creatures, Pikachu, scurrying and leaping about with twitching, lightning-charged tails.
Under Jacobson's command, the massive sandworm slithered rapidly from one tunnel to another, closing in on the Pikachu.
At the same time, the slime worms at the front pressed their attack, unleashing volleys of viscous slime to ensnare the defenders. The tunnels glistened with the slick substance, every surface coated as the ooze spread like an unstoppable tide. And it was still spreading.
That was the true terror of the slime worms: given enough time, a single one could coat an entire underground network in its corrosive slime, transforming the subterranean realm into a deadly swamp of ooze.
Countless opponents, many of them commanders of powerful Supernatural races, had been undone by this very tactic. None had found a reliable countermeasure.
Whoosh!
A second sandworm, the fastest of the brood, erupted from a tunnel behind them, its massive form wriggling with unnatural speed. Its jagged, fanged head angled toward the Pikachu, ready to strike.
From above, more slime worms expelled streams of sticky filth, turning the battlefield into a glistening deathtrap.
"Squeak!"
The lead Pikachu let out a sharp cry that echoed through the cavern. Instantly, the others reacted, bounding to the sides of the tunnel, some leaping up to cling to the ceiling, all narrowly avoiding the creeping tide of slime that surged beneath them.
Snorting, hissing sounds filled the tunnels as the corrosive liquid chewed through dirt and rock, filling the underground battlefield with an eerie, bubbling noise.
One Pikachu crouched low, its Z-shaped tail rising stiffly as sparks flickered across its fur. Thousands of years of evolution had refined these creatures; no longer did they need to gather energy before striking. Now, their lightning was instant.
"These little guys…" Sebastian muttered, watching intently. He already knew what they were planning.
The slime spread further, flowing past their defenses until it reached the massive sandworm. The creature didn't even flinch. It ignored the slime entirely, letting it flow under its enormous body as if it were harmless water. What was astonishing, however, was the absence of that usual corrosive hiss. There was no sizzling, no bubbling reaction. It was as if the slime had no effect at all.
"They're immune to slime?" Sebastian arched an eyebrow, the realization striking him like a flash of insight. He thought back to the information he had gathered before this confrontation, trying to recall if there had been any mention of this. There hadn't been.
"No wonder," he whispered.
It all made sense now, why the enemy had paired these two species together. Giant Sandworms and Slime Worms were the perfect complement, a flawless union of brute force and control.
Among Supernatural forces, commanders always sought the best synergy: a devastating melee race paired with a powerful airborne one. That was the gold standard. A Black Flame Giant supported by a capable aerial unit, for example, would become nearly unstoppable.
But finding species that meshed so perfectly was rare, almost unattainable. Here, though, the synergy was undeniable. These giant sandworms and slime worms were natural partners.
The tunnels shook as one of the sandworms slithered forward, its vast, segmented body gliding effortlessly over the slime like a serpent through water. More of its kin erupted from side passages, converging on the Pikachu.
"Squeak!" The lead Pikachu shrieked again, this time louder, a battle cry echoing like a command through the cavern.
In an instant, a single Pikachu arched its tail like a loaded spring, sparks gathering and dancing along its body. The tail snapped upright, and with a crackling surge, a massive bolt of electricity discharged.
A thousand Pikachu joined in unison, their combined energy surging outward as chains of blinding lightning. The cavern exploded with light as the storm of power streaked across the slime-covered floor.
The crack of thunder reverberated like a cannon blast. The electric surge traveled through the slime like a supercharged wire, coursing toward the enemies hidden within.
"This… is that 10,000,000 Volt?" Sebastian muttered, his eyes narrowing as the lightning storm illuminated the tunnel.
Crackle!
The nearest slime worm convulsed violently as the current enveloped it. Its entire body twisted and writhed, its screeches drowned out by the crackling of electricity. Within moments, its twitching form stiffened, blackened, and smoked. The stench of roasted flesh filled the tunnel.
Sebastian didn't even need to confirm. That thing was beyond dead.
But the attack didn't stop there. The current raced backward, carried along the slick, conductive slime, surging toward the massive sandworm at the rear. The giant creature had barely registered the scent of burning flesh when the lightning struck.
Its reaction was fast, much faster than that of the slime worms. It twisted, sensing danger, trying to flee. But there was no outrunning electricity.
The storm caught it instantly, wrapping the colossal body in an electric cocoon. Its writhing silhouette flashed against the walls of the tunnel as sparks erupted in every direction.
Crackle!
After a burst of sour, crackling electric shock, the massive body of the giant sandworm convulsed uncontrollably. Moments later, it stiffened and collapsed, its charred form filling the tunnel with a sharp, acrid smell.
In another tunnel, the same horrifying scene unfolded simultaneously. The Pikachu released a blinding surge of power, electricity racing along the slick trail of corrosive slime, striking through the slime worms and giant sandworms ahead and behind. Both types of monstrous insects were instantly reduced to lifeless, blackened husks.
It all happened in the span of mere seconds.
The tunnel reeked with the pungent stench of scorched flesh, an overpowering odor that spoke of countless lives snuffed out in an instant.
No one could count how many worms had perished; the carnage was buried deep underground, and even Sebastian, who had orchestrated the assault, couldn't know the full number.
Inside the viewing room, Jacobson, who had been confidently directing his army of slime worms and sandworms, froze mid-command. He had been preparing a coordinated counterattack on the Pikachu, only to watch his forces vanish in seconds.
His mouth hung open in disbelief, his expression a mixture of shock and incomprehension. What… what was happening? Less than five seconds. That was all it took. The creatures he had painstakingly developed and nourished to perfection, his pride and strategy, had been annihilated without resistance.
Sebastian didn't know the exact death toll, but Jacobson, as their creator, understood immediately. That brief surge of electricity had slaughtered over a thousand slime worms and sandworms, reducing them all to brittle charcoal. The reality hit hard.
Their defenses, though formidable against many foes, were utterly insufficient here. Their tough exoskeletons and bulk meant nothing; their weakness was laid bare. Among all Supernatural species, these worms were clearly near the bottom of the hierarchy.
Once his initial shock subsided, Jacobson, a seasoned Level 2 Planetary Lord, forced himself to analyze the situation. His mind raced as he traced the chain reaction that doomed his army. The Pikachu had unleashed an overwhelming electrical discharge, which traveled effortlessly through the slime his creatures secreted for mobility and attack.
Ironically, what had been designed as their deadliest weapon, their corrosive slime, had become a perfect conductor for their own destruction.
"Damn it!" He slammed his fist against the table, his face contorting with frustration and disbelief. To be undone by his own design was a humiliation he hadn't anticipated.
Though thousands of slime worms and countless sandworms remained deeper in the tunnels, the truth was undeniable. No matter how reluctant he felt, Jacobson understood that pressing on would accomplish nothing. Against these nimble, yellow-furred Pikachu, his slow and lumbering creatures were sitting targets, destined to be roasted alive by another devastating discharge.
"Heaven really is unjust," he muttered bitterly, exhaling heavily. "This freshman's unit is already terrifying enough… and now even his companion species are monsters!?"
His words were laced with equal parts awe and frustration. There was no point in prolonging the inevitable. With gritted teeth, Jacobson reached forward and hit the surrender button.
A cheerful tone chimed through the arena: "Player Jacobson has conceded defeat. Congratulations to Sebastian, winner of this match!"
"Squeak!" The Pikachu squealed in delight, bouncing around in triumph before returning to the surface. They were greeted with warmth and affection by the Astra Militarum guardsmen and scientists, who stroked their heads and congratulated them like victorious champions.
Meanwhile, the audience was left puzzled. From their seats, the battle had been invisible, hidden beneath the earth. They had no idea what transpired in those tunnels.
"What just happened? Why did he suddenly give up?"
"Wait, that's a win?!"
Inside one of the private viewing boxes, Clifford and his companions exchanged confused glances.
"How… how did Sebastian win so fast?" Jane turned to Terrell for answers, but Terrell could only shake his head.
"Not sure," Terrell admitted. "Maybe he used some kind of secret weapon again, something devastating underground. Whatever it was, it wiped out the enemy's forces before they could retaliate."
Clifford and the others weren't surprised for long. They had seen Sebastian pull unexpected weapons from his arsenal in earlier rounds.
"Doesn't matter how he won," Clifford said, excitement creeping into his voice. "What matters is he's now in the top 1,000!"
He leaned forward eagerly. "And honestly, it's unlikely we'll see another underground-focused opponent this late in the tournament."
No one disagreed. Few contestants invested in developing underground species, and those who did rarely made it this far. They were a novelty, not a threat. The truth was simple: underground creatures weren't built for direct combat. Even on planets where they thrived, a skilled Planetary Lord would often favor other, stronger Supernatural species.
"The next round," Clifford said with anticipation gleaming in his eyes, "is the last one."
"Technically, not exactly," Jane interjected. "If you lose, there are still two or three more matches in the lower bracket."
Clifford shot him a glare. "Not for Sebastian. For him, this is the last round."
Then Clifford smirked. "But of course… that depends on who we're matched against next."
The match concluded, and the contestants were teleported back to the rest hall. Clusters of players who had already finished their battles filled the space; those who had won were animated, chatting enthusiastically, while those who lost were subdued but not entirely defeated. After all, the loser's bracket still offered a slim path forward.
The rules were clear: no one would leave until all battles for the round had concluded.
Boredom settled over many of the contestants, Sebastian included. He leaned back and stared at the massive projection dominating the hall, watching the remaining matches unfold live.
"Hess, Hess!"
"Come on, Hess! Take down that guy!"