The ground beneath them trembled as more of the creatures emerged from the shadows, their grotesque bodies illuminated by the flickering flames of the destroyed outpost. Athena and Xavier exchanged a glance, knowing there was no time to hesitate. Their hands tightened around their weapons as they stepped forward in perfect sync, ready to fight.
The creatures moved unnaturally fast, their elongated limbs stretching as they lunged forward with razor-sharp claws. Athena ducked just in time to avoid a swipe aimed at her throat, rolling to the side before delivering a precise shot to its abdomen. The bullet barely slowed it down. Xavier, beside her, was already slicing through another, his blade moving in a deadly arc as black ichor splattered onto the cracked pavement.
