The situation in the main corridor, however, was no better. Even more crystalline aggregates seemed to be pouring from the laboratory direction, blocking the path ahead. Their gray-white glow merged into a single, surging tide. Meanwhile, aggregates were now emerging from the maintenance conduit they had just exited.
They were pinned.
"Damn it! We're surrounded!" Rex roared, his blaster firing left and right, desperately trying to blast a path through the onslaught. Superheated energy barrages shattered the approaching masses, but more immediately filled the gaps. Crystalline shards flew everywhere, energy rays lanced wildly, leaving molten pockmarks on the corridor walls.
Kael was under immense pressure, forced to engage enemies from both directions simultaneously. His pulse rifle was nearly depleted. He discarded it without hesitation, drawing the high-frequency combat blade from his leg armor. *Vzzzzt—!* The blade's high-frequency vibration emitted an unnerving hum, its sharp energy edge gleaming with a deadly cold light.
An aggregate lunged at Lia from the side, sharp crystal spikes aiming for her core processor. Kael sidestepped sharply, the combat blade carving a blue arc through the air. It cleanly severed the crystal cluster and bit deep into the aggregate's main structure! The high-frequency vibrations effectively disrupted the crystal's stability, causing the mass to shatter apart with a crash—more effective than energy weapons!
"The blade works!" Kael shouted the warning, simultaneously reverse-slashing to destroy a smaller aggregate dropping from the ceiling.
"Should've known that thing was better!" Rex yelled, but his heavy blaster was still irreplaceable for suppressive fire; he couldn't easily switch weapons.
Lia wasn't idle either. While she couldn't engage in high-intensity physical combat, her data processing was crucial in the chaotic fight. "Commander! The third ventilation duct on the left! Structural schematics suggest it might lead to a maintenance corridor skirting the lab perimeter! Possibly clearer than the main corridor!"
"Rex! Push left! Clear that vent!" Kael ordered instantly, his combat blade a blur, deflecting incoming shards and energy rays in a shower of sparks.
"Copy!" Rex adjusted his firing angle, concentrating his blaster's fury on the left-side aggregates, brutally tearing a temporary breach with sheer firepower! Shards flew like rain.
Seizing the moment, Kael charged forward, his blade hacking and slashing to widen the gap. Lia followed close behind, using a small energy pistol to pick off scattered crystal fragments attempting to reform.
They reached the ventilation duct. The grate was partially covered in crystals.
"Rex!" Kael called.
Rex simply slammed his heavy frame into it! *CRASH!* The covering crystals and metal grate shattered together.
"Get in! Now!" Rex used his massive body to block the duct entrance, his blaster continuing to roar, holding back the tidal wave of aggregates surging forward again. "I'll hold them!"
Kael didn't hesitate, diving headfirst into the dark, narrow ventilation shaft. Lia scrambled in right after him.
The duct was filled with dust and that cloying, strange odor, but thankfully, no crystalline growth. Kael activated his helmet lights, crawling forward vigorously.
"Rex! Get in here!" Kael called over the comm.
From outside came a final roar from Rex, the last frantic burst of his blaster, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps and tearing metal. Soon, Rex's bulky form began squeezing with immense effort into the ventilation shaft, almost bursting it at the seams.
"Damn... almost got turned into a rock snack out there!" Rex gasped (simulated), his armor covered in new scrapes and minor crystalline scorch marks.