A stare-off ensued between the two species. However, the Lomalins were already restless because of Erik's attack, which they blamed on the Leylarhads, and for this reason, increasing the hostility between the two races.
However, the insect-like thaids were very agitated since they knew that with 1600 fewer individuals, their entire colony was facing a huge risk against the wolves.
Erik couldn't get out of his hiding spot yet, lest being seen by the Leylarhads. He could escape the Lomalins but not the wolves. So, he stayed there, hiding.
<I don't get it. Why are the Leylarhads here? Weren't they scared of the Lomalins and their huge numbers?>
Erik wasn't far off from the truth. However, there was something he wasn't aware of: on the other side of the clearing, opposite the Leylarhads' position, a different beast was approaching the group of Lomalins. It was most likely drawn to the smell of blood that was coming from within the group.
Once the creature appeared, the Lomalins saw it and panicked.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWR
As soon as the young man heard the huge roar, he peered through the thick foliage and saw a beast as terrifying as one taken from a horror movie.
The thaid was the biggest Erik had ever seen, easily seven meters tall and at least fifteen meters long. It was a weird lizard-like thing covered in scales; its skin looked scaly with some patch of fur all over. It was bizarre.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe monster was a sort of bipedal with a long tail helping it stand, and it had two long frontal arms with thick and long claws as sharp as razors. Those claws alone would have been enough to kill any opponent within seconds.
Its head looked weird, like a gecko's, but once it opened its mouth, it revealed rows upon rows of sharp teeth, and its eyes were reptilian. It was too big to be killed.
Thanks to the compendium he downloaded, Erik knew what it was. Still, contrary to the Leylarhads, this thaid belonged to these parts. It was a Crombo, the natural predator of the Lomalins.
The monster wore an animalistic grin; its fangs extended past its lips, ending just above its upper jawline. The thaid towered even on the Leylarhads, usually two meters tall beasts, that were looking at the Crombo with fear. However, the beasts had a murderous and expectant glint in their eyes.
<No way...> Erik thought. A dark thought spread inside the awakener's mind. <The Leylarhads waited for the Crombo to come!>
The most likely situation was that the wolf-like creatures were looking at Erik killing the Lomalins, knowing that the smell of their's blood would have attracted the Crombo.
Alternatively, maybe they were responsible for attracting the beast toward the Lomalins, meaning that Erik ended here at the wrong time. Regardless, the young man had to reconsider thaid's intelligence.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWR
The Crombo roared again, pushing its massive body toward the Lomalins like a train. With every step it took, the ground trembled, and the Lomalins started running away in a panicked state.
However, the Leylarhads were waiting for them as they tried to stop the Lomalins from escaping. They charged straight toward the fleeing Lomalins, who were trying desperately to reach safety.
"What is going on?" asked Erik. "Why aren't they fighting back?!"
It was true that the Crombo was the Lomalins' natural predator, but it was weird that despite their vast numbers, they decided to flee rather than try to kill their opponent.
However, they didn't, and after a couple of strides, the Crombo ended up in the middle of the clearing, and soon carnage ensued.
The Crombo stomped over a lot of Lomalins, creating a gelatinous substance under its foot made of the beasts' blood and flesh. Some other Lomalins were killed by its tail, while others were ripped to shreds by its claws.
While the thaid killed Lomalins, the Leylarhad rushed toward the bugs and started ripping them to shred with their maws. The Lomalins were too scared to fight back and ignored the wolves, that kept their distance from the bigger beast.
Both Leylarhads and the Crombo started feasting on the Lomalin's corpses soon after. They tore apart the carcasses, consuming their organs, flesh, and bones. In minutes, nothing was left of the Lomalins' bodies they were munching on. Their entrails scattered around the area, making it look like a massacre site.
"That's gross!" said Erik, disgusted by the sight.
The thaid continued to eat until all the Lomalins fled or there weren't any Lomalin alive. Then, the giant beast turned around and walked back into the forest without leaving so much as a single body behind.
Once the beast disappeared, the Leylarhads stopped eating the carcasses. Instead, they started licking themselves clean. Then they left the clearing, heading who knew where.
"I have to get the hell out of here!" Erik said. He then went out of the bush and started running away with all his might. Luckily, he was close enough to the breach to reach it within ten minutes, and as he went past it, he stopped in the middle of the wheat field and gasped for air.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"AH... AH... FUCK! WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?!"
It was clear how much the young man was confused, first the abnormal amount of Lomalins, then the Leylarhads, and lastly, the Crombo. Something weird was happening around New Alexandria, and he didn't want to find out what it was.
"I better stop going out for the time being..." Erik said to himself. It was a shame to lose experience like this, but if creatures like that now roamed the forest outside the city, it was better to stay within the barrier.
However, Erik was worried that such beasts could enter through the breach, and it would have been a problem if that had happened, as the military would then find it.
Erik wasn't particularly worried about the city. To be honest, he didn't care if people died or places were destroyed. Besides being stronger than Erik, Leylarhads and Crombos were not that strong compared to other thaids. So, he was sure nothing big would happen because of them since the military would be able to manage them easily.
"Well," he sighed while thinking about his problem, "at least I got two more levels. I even have ten attribute points to distribute. Besides, I have to check what the new powers do."
Erik then walked toward Mister Fox's farm, and after a short walk, he arrived at the gate. Once there, he saw a car parked in front of the property, and with curiosity in his eyes, Erik walked inside the land.
However, there was no one in the front. The awakener then walked to the back of the house, and it was there that he saw the old man.
He was talking to some Crystal Cross gang members, who probably came here again to extort him some money. That was probably the reason why there were no workers today.
Once he saw Erik, his employer looked the young man in the eyes and said, "You're late. Did something happen?"
"Nothing, Mister Fox," Erik said, looking down. "I just have a lot of training to do..."
"Good." Mister Fox smiled. The gang members then quickly left the farm and headed to their car. "Then let us begin today's work," Mister Fox said as they left his property.
After that, Erik went to the barn to change and then headed to the field, where he started channeling mana in order to unleash his power.
Luckily, Erik now had enough mana to complete his job in a matter of moments, so after completing his work, the young man went to mister Fox to get his payment, and as he did, he left the farm and headed back to the Red Palace.