novelraw Chapter 29: Raid
Chapter 29: Raid
For the first time in ages, Icard and the rest finally left the city and returned to the ruins beyond.
The scenery shifted gradually. Reinforced streets gave way to cracked asphalt. Towering barricades and watch posts faded behind them, replaced by skeletal buildings and collapsed structures overtaken by weeds and creeping vines.
Rusted vehicles lay abandoned along the roadside, their frames twisted and half-buried beneath debris.
As the vicinity fell fully behind them, the Maire’s territory weakened.
The invisible pressure that had once wrapped the land began to thin, like fog dispersing under the sun.
Lower grade spawns were completely unable to approach the Maire’s influence.
Higher grade ones could enter slightly, but they always stopped far from the city gate.
If a spawn appeared near the gate, it would almost certainly be an A grade, a B grade, or a particularly dangerous high C grade.
And so, farther out, where the Maire’s territory faded entirely, the world belonged to the spawns.
Yet strangely, they encountered nothing. Not a single movement or a distant silhouette.
"Everyone, be on the lookout! We have to see them coming!" one of Albert’s men shouted.
Guards went up immediately. Eyes scanned rooftops, alleyways, and the shadows between ruined buildings as the convoy advanced slowly.
But still, the land around them felt dormant.
Tall grass swayed gently between cracked roads. Broken streetlights leaned at odd angles.
Entire blocks had collapsed inward, leaving hollow shells of concrete and steel.
It was quiet in a way that felt unnatural.
"Here," Albert said suddenly and the trucks slowed to a stop.
Ahead of them, debris blocked the entire road. Concrete slabs, shattered metal, and fallen structures formed an impassable wall.
Albert alighted from the lead truck with Marcus and Luna following closely.
The land ahead stretched desolate and open, with ruined buildings lining the road like silent spectators.
"We have to deal with this," Albert said calmly. "Gordon. Julian. Can we push through this?"
Gordon stepped forward first.
He was a large man with a broad frame, thick arms, and a shaved head, wearing gear reinforced to match his strength.
Julian followed, leaner and sharper in build, with precise and controlled movements.
Both possessed strength-enhancing abilities.
"We’ll need more hands," Albert said. "Gather anyone capable."
More people began alighting from the trucks then.
"Don’t stray away," someone warned loudly.
"Looks like a roadblock," Eric said from the back of the third truck.
"Yeah. They must be clearing it now," Icard replied. They remained inside the open carriage.
"We haven’t seen those things," Alia muttered quietly.
"Honestly, I hope we never do," Matt said, leaning against the truck wall. His voice held unease he did not bother hiding.
Icard chuckled softly.
"Let’s hope we don’t run into one that can tear us apart easily."
He scanned their surroundings.
’I heard they were attacked in my previous turn, but I don’t know when or where,’ he thought.
"Icard," Reya called. "Do you think they brought the Maire’s Reed? We should have asked."
Icard exhaled calmly.
"They had to. The Erwalds here know its value. There’s no way they’d forget it."
It was enough to calm their nerves, but still, unease crept into him.
’We passed through this road before, running from ant lizards. Unless other stronger spawns wiped them out, they should still be around,’ he thought.
Meanwhile, ahead, Albert’s men worked quickly.
Gordon lifted slabs of concrete with raw force while Julian struck weak points to break rubble apart.
Around them, people loitered near the trucks, eyes alert.
"Still no sign of spawns. I expected a battle as soon as we were fully out" Albert said.
"A stroke of luck. Remain vigilant, Albert, and hope you don’t cross paths with spawns you cannot handle" Gremit reminded.
The trucks themselves were large goods carriers with reinforced carriages, engines rumbling idly.
Destroyed buildings surrounded the road, weeds sprouting through shattered walls and collapsed floors. No spawns within sight still.
Icard watched silently as the minutes passed. Soon enough, the rubble was nearly cleared and the atmosphere was still calm.
Too calm, until it happened.
A piercing screech tore through the air. Alia nearly jumped as shouts erupted. People spun around, weapons raised as panic rippled through the group.
The sound was coming from behind. And it was getting closer.
[Spawn Detected]
[Name: Ant Lizard]
[Threat Level: F]
The panel flickered before Icard suddenly.
As the rest looked behind them, suddenly, man, one of them, burst out from between two ruined buildings, screaming as he ran from the spawn chasing him.
It was a massive ant lizard, brown-scaled and monstrous as its body was as large as two crocodiles combined.
Insect-like armor plates layered its hide, fangs snapping as it chased its prey while thick claws tore into the ground with each step.
Everyone froze for a heartbeat before the chaos erupted.
"Despite the warnings...someone was foolish enough to wander off regardless" Gremit muttered, clearly irked.
Before the creature could close in, two of Albert’s subordinates rushed forward, placing themselves between the man and the spawn.
One slammed his glowing right hand forward and an electric energy exploded outward.
Sparks danced violently as the ant lizard convulsed, screeching in pain as electricity coursed through its body.
The second man then stepped in, grunting as he unleashed a compressed blast of purple energy.
The impact shattered armor plates and sent the ant lizard flying into a wall. After which, it did not rise again.
Relief washed through the group for a moment, but it was short-lived.
’It already sent signals,’ Icard realized. ’More are coming.’
"Road’s clear!" someone shouted.
"Move!" Albert roared.
Everyone rushed back into the trucks. Engines roared as the convoy surged forward.
Looking behind them, everyone saw; ant lizards pouring from the ruins.
They crawled over collapsed buildings, burst from alleyways, and charged from behind in terrifying numbers. Their movements were swift, coordinated and relentless.
"Keep them away!" someone yelled.
Ranged attacks filled the air.
Bolts of energy struck the charging spawns.
Eric hurled fireballs that exploded on impact, scorching armor and forcing several creatures back.
Matt activated his reach, incurring cuts and slicing through limbs, incapacitating one or two.
But still, their numbers doubled each second, coming from every direction.
Albert clenched his jaw, realized they were pretty much surrounded already.
"Stop!" he commanded.
The trucks slowed to a halt.
"What is he doing?!" some screamed. "Keep going!"
However, Albert stepped down, calmly and prepared.
"We can’t continue like this," he said. "We’ll be overwhelmed."
He then turned toward the charging horde.
"We fight them here."