Strongest Nova: Path of Vengeance

Chapter 7: Ink Crawlers

Ink Crawlers were named as such because of the terrifying black ink-like texture their body had.

Their body was a simple flat mass of darkness with 5 massive limbs coming out of them, each one of which was a combination of many smaller inky vine-like strands that joined together to form the giant limbs.

They usually stood on all 5 of their limbs, like the palm of one's hand with all 5 fingers bent down, with each finger being nearly 10 meters long and a meter thick. However, when in combat, they usually stood on 3 limbs or even just two, fighting with the free limbs.

These monsters were unnaturally fast and they hit very hard too. Which was why one needed to be on their toes when fighting the thing.

These monsters didn't have any eyes, and one yet didn't know how they saw exactly. However, they could see and they could tell exactly where you were, even if you were hiding.

The Defenders believed that it had something to do with smell, but they were not yet sure if that was true or not.

Bradley looked at the one closest to him and ran for it. It was standing on two of its limbs, swinging its other 3 limbs around at the 6 people that were fighting close to it.

Unfortunately, too many people trying to fight the same Crawler usually caused complications and miscommunication which was a lot worse than having fewer people fighting it.

So, most of the others were standing around, helping in their own way by shooting arrows and using their powers from far away.

"I'm here," Bradley shouted when he got close. He was very close to the Crawler, being only 30 meters away from it. "I am here to help you. Stay in my sight."

The rest realized who had come. "Yes!" they all shouted as they tightened their grips on their sword and went for the monster.

There was only one way to kill a Crawler. It was not by burning it with fire, cutting it in pieces, or even raining arrows on it.

The way to kill a Crawler was much more simple. You attacked until it died.

No matter how much you cut it, pierce it, strangle it, or even burn it, the black goop on the Crawler's body always grew back, wriggling all over it as it became vines that joined together to form the body and veins.

However, after a certain point, that would stop. It would stop regenerating, and if you hurt it then, the damage would remain, and after enough damage, the monster would die.

One of the 6 men close to the Crawler dashed forward. He burst out in speed as launched himself to slash the monster.

Bradley then took off his pouch full of coins and his sword from his hip and tossed them aside before getting ready to use his powers. He joined his palm and intertwined his fingers as that was the activation ritual for his powers.

Then, he looked at the man.

The Crawler noticed the man and slammed down one its limbs at him. The man saw the limb falling down, but he did not hesitate. His target was one of the two limbs on the ground and he would hit it no matter what.

The limb slammed onto the ground, kicking up quite a bit of dust, which blocked Bradley's vision. He stopped using his powers and waited as the man that had gone in for an attack quickly rushed back out.

Another limb fell down on another person that had sent his sword into the monster. Bradley looked at him and activated his powers.

The limb slammed onto the man, only for the man to jump up from under its arm. Bradley canceled his powers and the man landed on top of the limb.

He reached out for the sword he had thrown, which quickly flew back to him. He used the sword to slash the limb he was on as hard as he could before jumping away from the limb.

Another man moved at the same time, slashing down the Crawler's other limb it was standing. The damage was there but the Crawler brushed it off as it quickly regenerated.

One of the men that were standing around watching rushed into the battle. His powers were useless in a fight by himself, but since Bradley was here, he could help a bit.

He crouched down next to the Crawler and closed his eyes. He touched the ground, which slowly turned liquid under his touch, undulating like water. He somehow floated on this unnaturally waving ground, feeling more and more worn out with each passing second he had to use his power.

The Crawler targeted him as well, but he didn't falter. He waited there as the limb fell onto him.

The ground slammed, but there was no dust this time around. The Crawler's limb fell into the puddle of solid ground and the young man stopped his power.

The liquid ground immediately froze solid and the Crawler's limb was stuck. He pulled out a sword and started slashing at it, removing the black ink on its surface.

The more he got rid of it, the more the monster had to regenerate to reform itself. If he kept this going, he could kill the Crawler all by himself.

Since the monster's limb was stuck and constantly attacked, it couldn't put enough strength in its own limb to pull it out.

So, it started using the other two limbs to attack around. Bradley did his best to protect his fellow Defenders, but the onslaught was too much even for him, and the other Defenders had to back out.

Then, the Crawler finally managed to put enough power in its stuck limb and pulled it out with great strength.

The ground tore open as large chunks of rocks started flying around, with the biggest one flying in Bradley's direction.

Bradley was surprised, but it was a fleeting emotion that he managed to suppress since he needed to survive.

Then, he closed his eyes.