Chiara let the memories of the past days flow through her mind.

Seven days since they'd exited the waiting room. Four since she'd last seen Alonso.

The camp had found its rhythm, though not without losses. Five Climbers never made it to the initial camp, and three more had fallen since then. Their numbers had dwindled from 45 to 37, a sobering reminder of the trial's stakes.

Despite the losses, progress was evident. Strategies and tools had improved survival rates, offering the group a structured approach to grinding Stage Progress. It wasn't foolproof, but it was working.

Their established EM neural network, now second nature, kept the group connected. The masks allowed them to track each other's movements, coordinate hunts, and relay critical information in real time. It had become the backbone of their operations.

Not too far from the camp, near the coast, massive pits lined with sharpened stakes made quick work of the giant crabs lured into them. These traps, simple yet effective, turned what had once been dangerous encounters into routine harvests. At least half of the Climbers had maxed out their Stage Progress with the crabs and arthropods, marking the need to shift focus to the Riftflow.

Two days ago, they had begun exploring the Riftflow actively.

For the Glow-Lurkers, the group was prepared. Alongside slings, javelins, and bows, Lukas had crafted a crude yet devastating ballista. This oversized weapon, mounted on a sturdy frame, launched massive projectiles with deadly precision. It had quickly become the camp's most valuable asset, its power and range making hunts far safer.

The camp itself had evolved. Reinforced tents with plant fiber and hardened wood now stood on raised platforms, protecting against the damp ground. Elevated walkways connected key areas. Armor had been standardized, pieced together from hardened shells, and leather that was brought back from the previous stage, offering Climbers consistent protection. Even the meals had improved.

Surprisingly, Mohan, the camp's de facto chef, had discovered edible jungle vegetables and spices, elevating the food. The aroma of spiced stews and roasted meat often wafted through the camp, bringing a rare sense of normalcy.

Everything appeared to be running smoothly, but the world of this stage remained vast and unpredictable, its dangers only partially understood. The landmasses continued to shift, and while the expanding map provided pieces of the puzzle, it was far from complete. More exploration was necessary. They had to keep pushing forward.

And then there was Alonso… How far had he ventured by now?

Chiara had conducted a brief exploration of the adjacent zones with the advanced squad: Wang, Imani, Arjun, Rakesh, Ayu, Lukas, and herself. Together, they had uncovered two distinct areas branching from the Riftflow.

One, they had named the Molten Crest—a volatile, smoldering region of jagged black rocks and glowing fissures that spewed plumes of sulfurous gas. Rivers of slow-moving lava snaked through the cracked terrain, and the air shimmered with oppressive heat. Survival there seemed unlikely for most.

The second zone they termed The Swamp—a murky, shadow-drenched labyrinth of towering trees with gnarled roots rising from stagnant water. It exuded an eerie stillness, as though the land itself was holding its breath.

In the Molten Crest, they had encountered a particularly nasty creature, one Ayu had termed a Blaze-Screecher—a grotesque, amphibian-like beast adapted to volcanic terrain. It emitted relentless bursts of EM waves that targeted the brain, inducing intense headaches that could escalate to unconsciousness if one was unprotected or too close.

A direct confrontation demanded immense focus and preparation, and even a brief encounter left them shaken. The squad had managed to take one down, but it came at the cost of Wang nearly collapsing and Lukas complaining of a lingering headache for hours afterward—though something told her he was probably faking it to skip work.

As for the Swamp, they had decided against delving too deeply. Its silence was unnatural. The lack of visible creatures, even from a distance, was unsettling. It seemed that whatever resided there preferred to remain hidden. They agreed to leave it as their last exploration point, saving it for when they had reached the Stage Progress limit in the Riftflow and Molten Crest.

All this left her wondering—where was Alonso resting? She was practically certain by now that he had never returned to the coastal jungle. She or other Climbers would have noticed.

The Riftflow was practically uninhabitable, with the Glow-Lurkers roaming freely and the air itself a suffocating weight. Sleeping there wasn't an option. The Molten Crest, meanwhile, was unbearably hot, and sporadic volcanic eruptions made it arguably worse than the Riftflow. While the Blaze-Screechers could potentially be hunted for sustenance, the complete absence of water meant survival would be a near-impossible feat.

And finally, there was the Swamp. It appeared safer than the other two zones, offering water sources and even a few visible fruits on twisted, overgrown branches. But appearances could be deceptive. Safety wasn't guaranteed. What kind of creature could thrive in its ominous stillness? Whatever it was, it hadn't revealed itself—and that was cause for concern.

Chiara shook her head, pushing aside thoughts of Alonso as her gaze returned to the bustling camp. There was work to be done. The trial wasn't going to wait.

She started her rounds, checking on the Climbers as they worked on reinforcing the shelters and loading weapons for their next hunt. The rhythmic clang of those hammering in the workshop and the low chatter around the firepit filled the air, creating a comforting hum of activity.

But then, she felt it.

A vibration.

Subtle, at first. Barely a tremor beneath her boots. She paused, frowning, her senses sharpening instinctively.

"Hmm?" She crouched slightly, pressing her palm to the ground. The vibrations were steady, growing stronger with each passing second.

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An earthquake?

Others in the camp began to notice it too. Conversations faltered, the clang of tools paused, and people exchanged uneasy glances.

The vibration deepened.

Chiara frowned. This wasn't normal. The intensity was increasing far too quickly. She closed her eyes, sending a wave out to localize the source.

The coast.

Her eyes snapped open.

An earthquake at sea? An upcoming tsunami?!

No. The vibrations weren't consistent.

Her chest tightened. No time to waste. She turned and sprinted toward the nearest hill, adrenaline propelling her as she pushed her body to its limit, the neural pathways in her mind firing like electricity. She needed to see.

Her breath came in sharp bursts as she reached the summit. Her boots skidded on loose gravel, but she steadied herself. Then, she looked out…

And froze.

Her brain struggled to process what she was seeing.

Crawling, churning masses surged onto the shore, spilling across the sand in an unending tide.

Crabs.

Hundreds of them.

Thousands.

No, tens of thousands.

Identical to the giant crustaceans they had fought before, their segmented bodies glistened with seawater as they poured out of the ocean, legs clattering against the rocky coast. Their pincers snapped menacingly, their glowing eyes reflecting an eerie light as they moved in perfect unison.

"What the hell…" The words escaped her lips in a whisper, her voice drowned out by the growing cacophony of their movement.

More and more emerged, the line stretching endlessly along the coastline. The vibrations underfoot intensified as the mass advanced inward in a relentless, coordinated formation.

THE CAMP!

Chiara's senses flared, her eyes narrowing as her mind stretched outward. Her EM waves carried the command to every Climber.

"A tide of giant crabs is advancing inland. Abandon the camp. Head up the cliff toward the Sulfur Flats. Now!"

The group reacted immediately, their training evident in the swift, synchronized movement. They grabbed essentials—tools, weapons, water, spices, and a few clothes—leaving the rest behind without hesitation. The camp was lost, but survival came first.

Ayu appeared beside her, her sharp intake of breath breaking the tense silence as she gazed down from the cliff. The sea of crabs stretched endlessly, pincers snapping and bodies surging forward like an unstoppable tide.

"Fuck," Ayu muttered, glancing at Chiara. Their eyes met, and no words were needed. They both nodded sharply before turning back to the retreating Climbers.

Chiara stayed at the front, her focus split between scouting the path and sending precise EM pulses to keep the group coordinated. Behind her, Ayu, Imani, and Arjun ensured no one lagged, maintaining a disciplined formation.

The cliff loomed closer, its jagged edges casting ominous shadows. Climbers reached it in twos and threes, moving with urgency but maintaining control. They quickly scaled the rock face, each movement deliberate despite the chaos below.

Then, one of them slipped, moving too fast. A loose foothold sent him scrambling for grip, a gasp escaping his lips as he dangled precariously.

Imani was there instantly. Without breaking his pace, he reached out with one steady hand, gripping the Climber's arm and pulling him back into position with practiced ease. "Focus!"

The rest of the ascent continued without incident. Chiara was the first to pull herself over the edge, collapsing onto the solid ground with a sharp exhale. Ayu, Imani, and Arjun followed moments later, their faces set with determination as they ensured the last of the group made it safely.

Around them, the Climbers gathered in silence, catching their breaths as they surveyed what little they had managed to save. The camp was gone, but all twenty-two of them were alive.

Chiara stood, her gaze steely as she looked toward the horizon.

Not long after, she noticed a group approaching. Four Climbers, led by Lukas, hurried toward them, the ballista carried carefully between them.

Lukas paused at the edge of the cliff, his eyes widening as he looked below. A sharp gasp escaped him, echoed by the others at his side.

"Well, this was unexpected," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "So much for the workshop."

Ayu shot him a look. "At least the ballista made it. You think we can shoot a few of them from up here?"

Lukas smirked, his tone light as he chuckled. "Sure, if you've got the patience to craft tens of thousands of projectiles and then perfectly aim each one, hoping they all hit their mark. Be my guest."

The humor cut through the tension, and Ayu rolled her eyes, a faint smirk tugging at her lips despite the chaos below.

Chiara, however, remained tense. She had noticed through the EM network that three Climbers who had been hunting crabs near the coast, far from the camp, hadn't made it.

Her jaw tightened, teeth grinding as she swallowed the weight of it. How had they been so careless? Why hadn't they prepared for something like this? She—

"Chiara," Imani cut in sharply, noticing the storm brewing behind her eyes. "Focus."

She blinked, his voice pulling her back from the spiral of self-recrimination. He was right. There was no point in dwelling on it now.

With a deep breath, she gave him a curt nod. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet, turning toward the cliff's edge.

The sight stole the breath from her lungs.

The camp was gone—obliterated. What remained was a scattered wasteland of broken wood, shredded cloth, and crushed gear. Smoke rose faintly from what used to be their central fire pit, now nothing more than ashes scattered across the trampled ground.

The crabs stretched out in a seemingly endless swarm, their shells glistening faintly under the dim light. They stood motionless, an eerie stillness settling over the swarm. No clambering, no frenzied movement—just an unsettling calm that blanketed the broken, scarred earth.

And then she saw it.

Farther back, where the coastline met the sea, it stood.

Towering above the swarm of giant crabs making them look small in comparison. Its colossal form loomed like a living mountain. Its massive shell, ridged and scarred, gleamed with a dark, almost metallic sheen. Pincers the size of entire boulders hung motionless, their sharp edges catching the faint light ominously.

The behemoth was utterly still. Unmoving. As if it were waiting.

Chiara's breath caught as she stared. The immense creature dominated the scene, dwarfing everything around it, an embodiment of silent power. Her legs felt weak as the weight of its presence pressed down on her.

The sovereign of the horde.

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