As the Humvee rounded the bend and slowed to a complete stop, the group stared at a beach littered with hundreds of bronze fragments. Many were half-buried in the sand, their surfaces green with patina from exposure to salt air and time. Some pieces, however, had been recently uncovered by the waves, still showing hints of their original golden-brown color beneath the weathered coating.

  Veronica let out a low whistle. "Look at all these pieces! They're everywhere!"

  Jim pushed open the door and got out. He surveyed the scene and nodded. "All right, everyone, let's get started. Anything that looks like a chunk of metal, grab it and toss it in the back." The team spread out across the beach, kicking up sand as they picked up piece after piece of bronze. Corporal Brown stationed himself at the rear of the vehicle, carefully stacking the fragments to maximize space. Most of the pieces were small, no bigger than a tea tray, but some were massive, requiring two people to lift. The dull sound of metal clanking against metal rang out as the collection grew.

  The sun climbed higher, casting shimmering waves of heat over the sand. After several hours of work, the group had nearly finished. Exhausted, they gathered in the shade of a nearby tree, pulled out their MREs, and gulped down water. The quiet crash of waves and distant cry of gulls provided a peaceful backdrop to their rest.

  Maddie's snakes hissed and writhed nervously. Jim took note and squinted against the harsh glare of the sun. A prickle of unease crawled up his spine. He yanked his binoculars from his belt and raised them to his eyes. The moment he got a clear view, his breath caught. At first, the shapes in the distance inland were little more than flickering shadows against the rocky landscape. But as he focused, he realized they were moving—dozens of them, shifting and swaying like an unnatural tide rolling in. Then more appeared, fanning out to the left and right, advancing in an unorganized formation.

  "We got company," he said, his voice tense.

  Veronica, who had been eating her food, glanced up with an arched brow. "What kind of company?"

  Jim exhaled sharply, lowering the binoculars. "Giant scorpions," he muttered. "A lot of them."

  That got her attention. She straightened immediately, her hand drifting toward the weapon at her hip. "Seriously? How big are we talking?"

  Jim hesitated for half a second, measuring the arachnids in his binoculars before answering. "Slightly bigger than a Humvee. With pincers. And a stinger that could skewer a truck."

  "What?! Lemme see!"

  Jim handed her the binoculars. The distant ground was waking up—and it wasn't friendly.

  "Oh fuck. What are we doing, sir?" Veronica said as she handed him back the binoculars.

  "How about we pack up and get the hell outta Dodge?" Jim replied.

  "Yeah, I like that idea," Veronica replied, tossing her food away. The others quickly followed suit, ditching their meal packets and got up.

  The scorpions advanced, their segmented legs moving rapidly and kicking up a cloud of dust. Each monstrous body moved with frightening speed, armored tails curling high above their backs while stingers quivered, poised to strike. The skittering of countless legs grew louder, filling the air with their ominous approach.

  "Here they come!" Corporal Brown yelled, his rifle firing in rapid bursts. Bullets tore through a scorpion's legs until one snapped off completely. The creature barely faltered—it charged forward on its remaining limbs with deadly intent.

  Veronica loaded a grenade into her launcher and took aim. The explosive sailed through the air before erupting among the attacking creatures with a thunderous blast. One scorpion shrieked as the explosion ripped through its body, hurling severed legs in every direction. It crashed to the ground, writhing violently, while the rest of the swarm pressed their attack without pause.

  Moving with practiced speed, Maddie nocked an explosive arrow and drew her bowstring in one smooth motion. The arrow streaked across the air and exploded against a scorpion's armored shell. The detonation shredded both it and a nearby creature, sending limbs cartwheeling through the air as their broken bodies struck the ground and convulsed in their final moments.

  Jim's pistol barked uselessly—shots went wide or sparked harmlessly off armored hide. "Damn it!" He holstered his sidearm and bolted for the Humvee. He yanked open the driver's side door and jumped inside, firing up the ignition as the monstrous creatures closed in.

  "Everyone, stop shooting and get in—now!" he shouted.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Corporal Brown and Veronica vaulted into the Humvee at the same time.

  Maddie flipped up her sunglasses and caught two charging scorpions in her deadly stare. Their exoskeletons petrified instantly, bodies frozen mid-strike. She snapped the glasses back down, bolted for the vehicle, and vaulted inside through the window.

  The instant Maddie hit the seat, Jim floored the accelerator. The tires spun, sand spraying rearward before the Humvee found its grip and lurched into motion.

  Behind them, the scorpions gave chase, their swift legs barely hindered by the sand. The Humvee groaned as it fought to pick up speed, but the relentless arachnids were closing the gap fast.

  Despite the vehicle's furious pace, four scorpions managed to close in, scurrying dangerously close. Their chitinous legs shuffled on the loose sand, giant pincers snapping as they came alongside their prey. One drew its segmented tail wide and whipped sideways with terrifying speed. The venomous stinger punched straight through the plastic zippered window, barely missing Veronica's shoulder.

  "Holy shit!" Veronica shrieked, recoiling against her seat.

  Another giant scorpion struck from the opposite side, its massive stinger tearing through another window just inches from Maddie's face. She threw herself back, narrowly avoiding the jagged tip. A thick, noxious stream of venom sprayed across the Humvee's interior, sizzling where it touched the metal and fabric alike.

  "Everyone all right back there?" Jim yelled, gripping the wheel tighter as the vehicle hit loose gravel.

  Before anyone could answer, the sky darkened as a vast shadow loomed overhead. A deep whump reverberated through the air. Two explosions erupted to their left, sending plumes of dust and fragments of exoskeleton soaring skyward as two scorpions were obliterated in a mist of gore and smoldering remains.

  The radio crackled to life with a triumphant, "Woohoo! Victory!"

  The shadow overhead moved swiftly, banking hard before descending just ahead of the speeding Humvee. Everyone caught sight of their airborne savior—a massive, armored griffin, its enormous wings casting a vast silhouette against the bright sky. The beast's feathers shimmered with an iridescent sheen, its sharp talons flexed as it soared effortlessly above the ground.

  Atop its back sat a figure clad in a sleek black suit and helmet, holding on with practiced ease. The rider leaned forward slightly, her presence exuding confidence and command as the griffin banked smoothly, keeping pace with the Humvee.

  The radio crackled to life once more. "Juliet Bravo, this is Victory Two-One," came Vik's voice—calm, cool, and edged with authority. "Do you acknowledge? Over."

  Jim squeezed on the radio button. "Vik! Terry! Damn good timing. We could use a hand with these bastards!"

  "Good to see you too, Jim. Don't worry—Terry and I shall finish them off. Maintain your course."

  With a swift, calculated tilt of its wings, the griffin rolled, its powerful form cutting through the wind with effortless precision. It dove low, claws outstretched, skimming the earth as it closed in on the last remaining scorpions. Dust and debris kicked up beneath its flapping wings, the sheer force of its presence enough to send smaller creatures scurrying for cover.

  Atop the majestic beast, Terry leaned forward, bracing herself in the saddle. Her fingers tightened around the grip of her multishot grenade launcher as she took aim at the monstrous targets. The griffin flew steady—a perfect execution of control and instinct—gliding just above the ground like the living war machine it was.

  A puff of smoke erupted from Terry's launcher as she fired a grenade.

  BOOM!

  The sound shattered the air as the round slammed into the front of the scorpion's carapace. The creature's head exploded in a grotesque shower of black and green ooze, its segmented body convulsing violently before crumpling to the ground.

  She fired another grenade.

  BOOM!

  The second scorpion barely had time to react before the shot struck home, its armored skull bursting apart in a spray of shattered chitin and liquid.

  Terry pumped her fist in the air as the griffin let out a triumphant screech and glided alongside the Humvee, giving everyone a clear view of the armored creature.

  "That's the last of them, Juliet Bravo," Victory Two-One confirmed over the radio. "Your path is clear. Fort Bogart lies ahead—you should soon be within comms range."

  Jim exhaled sharply, his grip loosening on the wheel. "Thanks, Victory. Couldn't have made it without you."

  "Anytime, you guys. Say hi to Medusa for me!" Terry's voice crackled through the radio.

  Above them, the armored griffin let out a piercing shriek as it ascended, its powerful wings beating against the wind. Terry gave a brief salute from her mount before banking the creature into a wide arc, heading away on what was likely her patrol route. The Humvee pressed forward, its tires spinning over the battered terrain.

  Veronica let out an exasperated sigh. "Close call! Man, is it always like this out here? Giant freaks of nature trying to kill everybody?" She turned to Jim. "We sure this isn't actually Australia?"

  Jim whipped his head around with a sly grin, "Crikey! I think you're onto somethin' mate!"

  Veronica looked away as she shook her head.

  Maddie exhaled and straightened her sunglasses. "I is always like this. The gods create their brief experiments, then lose interest and abandon them." She waved toward the carnage behind them. "What's left becomes our problem. That's why most people stay behind the safety of villages and towns—you never know what's hunting out here."

  "Yeah, let's hope we got everything we needed from that beach," Jim muttered, snatching up the radio. "Central, this is Juliet Bravo. Do you read me? Over."

  No response. He kept trying as he drove, the open expanse turning into the foothills of mountains ahead. Finally, static crackled and a familiar voice broke through.

  "Juliet Bravo, this is Central. Loud and clear! Good to hear your voice, Jim. Over."

  Relief flooded Jim's voice. "Copy that, Central. En route—ETA... sometime soon."

  Cheers erupted from the passengers.

  "Finally! I'm so ready to be home!" Veronica gripped the seat as the Humvee bucked over the rough ground.

  The vehicle thundered forward, frame groaning with each jarring impact. Behind them lay devastation—shattered chitin, smoking craters. Ahead, sunlight glinted off familiar hangars and watchtowers breaking the skyline.

  Jim adjusted his grip on the wheel, his eyes locked on the base far ahead. "Almost there," he murmured—more to himself than anyone else. And not a moment too soon.