Chapter 18 – Purple Fire and Shadows
The canyon hummed like a waking beast. Steam hissed from fissures in the black sand, twisting up to meet the phosphorescent fog that clung to the glowing river. Every pulse from the island vibrated through Lin's chest, reminding him of the Human Function timer still ticking in the back of his mind.
> [Human Function Active – 44:12:08 Remaining]
He flexed his fingers, feeling the faint energy thrumming under his skin. His spines were hidden now, folded into subtle ridges along his back, but his senses were sharper than ever. Kong prowled ahead, amber eyes scanning every shadow. Muk'Tahl rumbled along the riverbank, tusks scraping the stone, sending sparks of light into the mist. The humans trailed behind, weapons ready, but no longer just observers—they were strategists and fighters, anticipating every move of the predatory jungle.
Keller pointed to a mound ahead where the glowing moss shifted unnaturally. "They're coming," she whispered, voice taut. "More… scouts."
Before Lin could respond, dozens of black-and-green ant drones erupted from the moss, mandibles snapping, legs clicking in unnerving synchrony. Their compound eyes glimmered like molten rubies, and their movements were precise, like a hive mind with a single purpose: kill or capture.
"F—k," Lin muttered under his breath, crouching. "Not waiting for the Queen yet, but her kids are getting hungry."
The first wave lunged at the humans. Kong roared, swinging a massive fist to slam the lead drone into the river, where its acid-slick body hissed and steamed. Muk'Tahl skewered two more with its tusks, spinning them like rag dolls. The soldiers fired, but even their armor-piercing rounds glanced off the creatures' chitinous shells.
Lin's system chimed urgently:
> [New System Feature Detected – Shop Function Unlocked]
[Quest Function Active – Mission: Establish Safe Zone and Protect Humans]
"Finally," Lin muttered, voice low, eyes narrowing. He could feel the purple heat building behind his teeth—a concentrated beam the system offered as a reward for completing this quest. He flexed his jaw instinctively.
> [Quest: Protect Canyon – Reward: Concentrated Purple Beam]
[Objective: Defend Humans and Secure Safe Zone]
He hesitated. Could he trust this new weapon? A concentrated purple beam meant immense destruction, and he was still in Human Form. One mistake could fry everything, including the humans.
"Lin! Move!" Keller yelled, pushing a soldier out of the path of a lunging drone.
Instinct took over. Lin drew a slow breath, teeth glowing faintly purple. He aimed at a single drone advancing on Keller and fired. The beam was concentrated, slashing through the fog, burning a channel into the sand. The drone screeched as its mandibles melted, leaving a smoking husk.
"Holy moly," Keller gasped, eyes wide. "Did you… just vaporize it?"
"Yeah," Lin muttered, still shaking slightly. "Feels… different. Focused."
The other drones hesitated, their antennae twitching as if sensing the surge of energy. Kong roared, slamming another drone into the river, while Muk'Tahl spun, tusks sweeping, rending two more. The humans moved in, laying traps with their rail guns and improvised explosives. Together, they began pushing the swarm back toward the fissures.
Lin's system chimed again:
> [Human Function Timer – 44:05:42 Remaining]
[Energy Output: 35%. Suggest Conservation for Extended Combat.]
He inhaled, feeling the pulsing hum of Skull Island beneath his feet. The canyon was no longer just a path—it was a battlefield, alive with alien energy, the glow of the river reflecting off the rocks in waves. Every step, every pulse of energy reminded him of the unseen presence below: the Ant Queen. Her heartbeat reverberated through the tunnels, a silent warning that the full fury of her hive had yet to awaken.
The humans moved like well-oiled gears, setting barriers and fortifying positions as the drones attempted to regroup. Lin, standing at the center, felt the weight of the system's quest instructions. Protect them, yes—but also explore, locate any advantage, and understand the environment.
Glancing to the right, he noticed an ancient stone arch partially buried in the sand. Faint runes glowed along its surface, and the air shimmered in rhythmic pulses. His system whispered:
> [Artifact Detected – Ancient Energy Node]
[Potential Advantage: High]
[Secondary Objective: Investigate]
Keller noticed his gaze. "That looks… old. Dangerous, maybe. But could help."
Lin nodded. "We need to clear the immediate threat first. Then I'll check it out."
Another wave of drones emerged, faster and more coordinated. Their mandibles clicked in patterns that resonated like a signal, possibly communicating with hidden tunnels below. Lin's stomach dropped—this was not random hunting. They were scouting, mapping, coordinating.
He clenched his jaw. Purple energy began to thrum in his throat again. This time, he fired not at one but a cluster of advancing drones. The concentrated beam carved a path through the fog, hitting each drone in precise succession. Sparks flew, acid hissed, and the canyon shook.
The humans advanced with renewed vigor, setting charges along the riverbank to funnel any remaining attackers toward the fissures. Keller moved like a field commander, issuing orders, pulling soldiers out of harm's way, firing with surgical precision. Every action she took made the humans feel like co-leads, not background props.
Kong bellowed, sensing the pattern. He roared into the canyon, pushing forward with terrifying force. Muk'Tahl's tusks split another drone clean in half, and the remaining attackers fled toward shadowed openings in the mist.
Lin's system chimed softly, approving the outcome:
> [Primary Objective Complete – Canyon Secured]
[Quest Reward Unlocked: Concentrated Purple Beam Stabilized for Combat Use]
[Secondary Objective: Investigate Artifact – Recommendation: High Priority]
Lin exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. His purple beam now felt stable, controllable—he could concentrate it further without risking collateral damage.
He glanced down the canyon. The artifact arch shimmered, emitting faint pulses that distorted the air. Tiny tremors vibrated through the ground, hinting at the Ant Queen's vast network below. Even now, her children—though smaller—were scouting, disappearing into fissures and tunnels.
Keller noticed his gaze. "You feeling that too? Like… something watching from beneath?"
"Yeah," Lin said. "And it's not happy. We just made a lot of noise."
Muk'Tahl rumbled in agreement. Kong sniffed the air, chest heaving, nostrils flaring. The jungle itself seemed to shiver. The artifact's pulses made the terrain uneven—rocks floated slightly, shadows bent unnaturally, energy coiling like living wires along the river.
Lin's Human Function timer blinked again:
> [Human Function Active – 43:50:12 Remaining]
He flexed his fingers. Two days in this form, and every second counted.
"Alright," he muttered. "Artifact next. Let's see what secrets this island is hiding."
The humans readied their weapons, Kong growled low, and Muk'Tahl rumbled. Together, they advanced toward the glowing arch. Tiny flickers of red movement in the mist reminded them that the Ant Queen's children were still present, watching, judging, waiting.
Lin felt the hum of power build in his throat again, purple energy flickering faintly in anticipation. This time, the concentrated beam was not just a weapon—it was a signal. A promise. A warning.
He opened his mouth slightly, letting a small, controlled pulse of purple fire dance along the riverbed. It struck nothing but steam and fog, but the effect was mesmerizing. The humans stared, awed. Kong tilted his head, growling softly, as if acknowledging Lin's growing power.
"Holy… moly," Keller breathed. "That's insane. You're insane."
Lin smirked, low and guttural. "Yeah… but effective."
The artifact loomed ahead, glowing like an eye. Energy pulsed in sync with the unseen heartbeat below. Lin knew this was only the beginning. Whatever lay within that arch had the power to shift the balance of Skull Island—and maybe, one day, the world.
The Ant Queen's influence stirred faintly below, her children retreating but leaving telltale signs of their presence. Every tunnel, every fissure whispered of her waiting. Lin's eyes glowed faint purple under the jungle haze.
> [Secondary Objective Active – Artifact Investigation Underway]
Two days in Human Form, a new weapon in his chest, humans ready, Kong and Muk'Tahl as allies—and an ancient island alive with predators, secrets, and power.
Lin exhaled, feeling the weight of the next move. The purple beam was ready. The humans were ready. And somewhere below, something older than memory stirred.
The next step would decide who dominated this island—and who survived.