Era of Players: Death God

Chapter 224  Flying Type Monsters 2

The creature let out a final, agonized screech before going limp. Noah lay on the ground, his body racked with pain. But he was alive. He had survived. As he slowly regained his senses, he looked up at the sky, the sunlight filtering through the canopy. The battle was over.

Noah's regenerative ability kicked in and started healing him.

''Hah! I thought my mana had grown up a lot, but I guess not 'cause I couldn't maintain the telekinesis, the magic bullet,t, and summon Mana Armor.'' he lamented.

Noah decided to continue his exploration. The island was vast, and he had only scratched the surface. With renewed determination, he ventured deeper into the emerald expanse.

The forest seemed to change as he progressed. The towering trees gave way to a more open landscape, dotted with crystalline lakes and strange, otherworldly flora. In the distance, he could see a mountain range, its peaks shrouded in mist.

As he walked, he kept his senses sharp, alert for any signs of danger. The encounter with the wasps had been a stark reminder that this island, while beautiful, was also a place of peril. But the allure of discovery was too strong to resist.

A shadow fell over Noah, blocking out the sunlight. He looked up, his heart pounding, to find a monstrous creature hovering above him. It was a mantis, but on a scale that defied nature. Its body was as long as a human arm, its exoskeleton a menacing shade of dark green. Its compound eyes, as large as saucers, glittered with predatory intent.

The mantis's forelegs were transformed into grotesque weapons, tipped with sharp, serrated blades. Its wings, a translucent membrane veined with crimson, shimmered in the sunlight. A low, guttural growl emanated from its thorax, a sound that chilled Noah to the bone.

The creature hovered in the air, its body pulsating with a deadly energy. It was a predator at the apex of its food chain, and Noah was squarely in its sights.

Noah's mind raced as the monstrous mantis hovered above him. With a swift movement, he transformed Nemesis into its rifle form. The weapon hummed with dark energy, a comforting weight in his hands. He aimed at the mantis's exposed thorax, his finger tightening on the trigger.

A bolt of dark energy lanced forth, striking the creature with devastating force. The mantis's upper body exploded in a shower of gore and chitin, its remains raining down on the forest floor. But before Noah could celebrate, he noticed a disturbing trend. More mantises were emerging from the canopy, their numbers growing exponentially.

The forest was quickly becoming a battleground. The once serene landscape was now filled with the sounds of buzzing wings and snapping mandibles. Noah knew he had to act fast. He retreated to higher ground, seeking a vantage point that would give him a clear field of fire. The battle for survival had truly begun.

Noah found a suitable vantage point atop a large, sturdy tree. The canopy provided him with some cover, but it was clear that he would be outnumbered. The mantises were swarming, their dark forms blotting out the sunlight. He raised Nemesis, his finger hovering over the trigger.

The battle was a blur of motion. Noah fired shot after shot, each one taking down a mantis. But for everyone he killed, two more seemed to appear. The ground below was littered with the remains of his fallen enemies, a testament to the ferocity of the battle.

His ammunition was dwindling as his mana decreased, and his arms were beginning to ache. The constant recoil of the rifle was taking its toll. He knew he couldn't hold out much longer. He needed a plan, a way to break the cycle of endless combat.

As he scanned the battlefield, his gaze fell upon a nearby cliff face. It was sheer and imposing, but it offered a potential escape route. If he could reach the top, he might be able to find a way to eliminate the mantises once and for all.

With a surge of adrenaline, Noah abandoned his defensive position and began his ascent. The cliff face was treacherous, covered in a slick, moss-like substance. Each handhold was uncertain, and a single slip could mean certain death. The mantises below were relentless, their clicking mandibles and buzzing wings a constant reminder of the danger that lurked below.

Noah's muscles burned with exertion, but he pressed on. The cliff face seemed to stretch on endlessly, a towering wall of green and brown. He could feel the first tendrils of fear creeping into his mind, but he pushed them aside. He had to reach the top.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached a small ledge. He collapsed onto the cool stone, gasping for breath. Below him, the mantises were a swirling mass of fury. He had escaped their immediate threat, but the battle was far from over.

He scanned the horizon, searching for a way forward. In the distance, he could see a plateau, a flat expanse of land that seemed to rise above the treetops. It was a long shot, but it was his only hope. With renewed determination, Noah pushed himself to his feet and continued his ascent.

The plateau seemed impossibly far away, a mirage shimmering in the heat haze. Noah's legs burned with lactic acid, and his hands were slick with sweat. The cliff face was becoming increasingly treacherous, with loose rocks and crumbling ledges. He moved with cautious deliberation, each step a gamble.

Below, the mantis swarm was growing in intensity. They were beginning to climb the cliff face, their desperate attempts to reach him a testament to their relentless pursuit. Noah knew he had to hurry. If they reached him, he would be overwhelmed.

He pressed on, his mind a blank. The only thing that mattered was reaching the top. He ignored the pain, the fear, the exhaustion. All that existed was the cliff face and the plateau beyond.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached the summit. He collapsed onto the flat, grassy ground, his body trembling with relief. He had made it. He was safe, for now.

But as he caught his breath, he realized that his ordeal was far from over. The plateau was a barren wasteland, devoid of any vegetation. And in the distance, he could see something that made his blood run cold.