Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System
Chapter 60: What Lurks Beneath, Part One

Though the turned train blocked them from the other side of the metro, there was one part that remained upright.

"We can cross through it. Just need to get these doors open," the option was pointed out to by Magnus, who lightly tapped his hand against the train doors.

Standing there, not even able to see into the train as the windows were completely painted over in red, Finn was hesitant about the idea.

It felt as though they all were, seeing as they were all quiet for a moment in thought.

"Do you think there's something in there?" Charlotte asked.

"Hard to say. I don't hear anything, but…What we might replace in there, you know…" Finn answered.

"Right," Charlotte understood.

Either way, they each knew what sort of hellish sight likely occupied the interior of the crashed train. Still, the only way onward was through it.

"I've got it," Jasper claimed, stepping forward to the edge of the platform.

The quiet, helmed man raised his longsword before sliding it between the small gap in the doors. It took a bit of elbow grease, but the doors began to part with the blade being used to push them.

"--Haah," Jasper exhaled upon forcing the entrance into the train open.

With the doors parted, a rapid sound from within made itself known; those of quick-paced, aggressive footsteps that caused the crashed transportation to rumble.

"Hey! Get back!--" Finn shouted.

Rather than just warning the sword-wielding man in front of the doors, Finn grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him back and bringing himself in front instead.

"Woah–" Jasper let out from being so suddenly moved.

Finn placed his hand between himself and the doors just as the footsteps seemed to close in–

["Shell Barrier"] [1:59]

From nothingness, a small wall resembling that of a tortoise's protective shell manifested; translucent with a subtle, orange glow, it was used as a makeshift blockade to the opened doors.

Just as it was created, something slammed right against it from within the train.

"What is that?!--" Magnus questioned.

An ear-piercing screech left from the creature that aggressively slammed itself against the shell barrier. It stood well over two meters in height even while hunched over; it walked on two legs like a humanoid, yet had the face of an insect with two compound eyes, and three more smaller ones.

As it hissed, a set of mandibles switched, oozing a saliva that dripped down onto the floor, sizzling against the steel of the train's floor. What it used to attack the barrier were arms in the shape of curved blades, dripping with a mixture of blood and its acidic excretion.

"--I can't hold this skill for much longer! I'm going to have to release it in a few seconds, so get ready," Finn shouted to those behind him.

"Right, got your back, mate!" Jasper assured.

Each readied their weapons; longsword, broadsword, and cannon, waiting for the moment the protective shell vanished.

"Skreeeee!"

–As they were all focused on the monstrous, humanoid insect, that was quickly challenged as another inhuman shriek echoed through the metro.

"Above! Another one!" Magnus shouted.

It flew in with flickering wings, quickly crossing over from the other side of the train. The creature of bladed arms dropped in, sweeping its visceral limb right for the assassin's back.

CLANG

Finn glanced back, replaceing the cannoneer having placed himself between the creature and his back, using his massive, metallic weapon as a shield.

"Magnus–? Thanks!" Finn called out.

"Thank me later–! Nrgh! Let's just survive this!" Magnus grunted.

Coming to the aid of the cannoneer was the hoodie-wearing knight, swiping his sword towards the insect from its right.

["Heavenly Bisector"]

Jasper brought his blade down in an overhead swing that carried a fleeting, azure light, striking down with a ground-shaking impact. The nimble insect jumped back with the agility of a bug no larger than a grain of rice.

"Shit–" Jasper clicked his tongue.

At the same moment, Finn felt his hold of the shell barrier dissipating at the rabid strikes on the other side from the one he tried to hold back. Another assault finally pushed the skill to the limit–

"Ghh!--" Finn winced as the ethereal shell vanished right in front of him.

["Phantom Flow"]

He slid back just as the barrier depleted, though found the predacious insect lunging at him without even a split-second of hesitation.

'Riposte? Blink Slash? Just try and duck?' The options crossed his mind swiftly.

–A different result came as he found the insect intercepted by a flash of eviscerating light.

["Shining Ring"]

Beside him stepped in the spellblade as her silken hair flowed behind her, moving her blade along with an arch of radiance.

It crashed right against the towering fiend, though it crossed its bladed arms to shield itself. Though the sharp light failed to cut through the sturdy limbs of the insect, the weight of the arc slammed its back against the hulk of the train.

"Nice one," Finn complimented, shoulder-to-shoulder with the spellblade.

"I hoped that'd do the trick, but this thing is tough," Charlotte remarked.

–

Further down the walkway of the subway, the cannoneer and knight were quickly pressed by the rabid monster.

Magnus held his weapon up with both hands, squeezing the trigger placed on the handle sticking from atop, spurring the barrel to ignite with an emerald spark. A shot released from the cannon, releasing as an explosive round that struck right where the insect stood.

A burst of bright-green shattered the tiles of the platform, though the swift fiend presented itself near the ceiling, using its wings to avoid the explosive impact.

"Tch!" Magnus clicked his tongue at the miss.

Before the cannoneer could readjust his aim, the praying mantis-like monster dove right for him like a bullet piercing through the air.

Coming from behind the cannoneer, quick steps like Jasper between the monstrosity and man, raising his left arm just before the creature crashed down. A kite shield manifested in Jasper's free hand, using the silver blockade to defend against the insect's dive.

"--Hoh!" Jasper let out, having to plant his feet down, bending his knees and leaning his shoulder in as the weight of the impact drove against his shield.

["Repulsion"]

As soon as he managed to halt his momentum, Jasper pushed his shoulder against the back of his shield. A chime echoed like a low lullaby; a force rippled through the shield, expelling through a shock wave that knocked the insect away.

"—Move."

The stern instruction was given by the cannoneer behind Jasper, bringing the knight to step to the side.

Just as he moved, the steel-armored man felt the wind shift right by him.

["Dragonfire Blitz"]

A volley of flaming projectiles shot from the cannon, flying like soaring eagles straight for the insect. The dashing flames spun around, seeming their target—BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Each crashed into the tiles with fiery collisions, though failed to hit their mark. The agile insect moved with stutter steps, leading on each projectile before evading them.

'Are you kidding? What on earth is this thing—? It's not just fast, but it's moving smartly,' Magnus observed.

The trigger of the cannon was squeezed with adamant strength as its wielder bent his knees in preparation—

Jasper was moving in from the side, hoping to flank the insect as it was more focused on evading the projectiles.

["Breath of Dragons"] .

A massive onslaught of flames poured from the cannon with such intensity that Magnus felt himself leaning back.

The flash of the fire brought Jasper to halt his own assault, jumping out of the way of the heat. It crashed against the back wall of the metro into a vortex of flames, catching the rampaging insectoid in its path.

"Hey, watch it!--" The knight called out sharply, having to swipe a few embers from his sleeve.

"Don't stand in the way, then!" Magnus retorted.

A shriek left from behind the veil of flames, bringing both men to witness the persistent insect emerging from the blaze. As it was touched by the melting heat of the cannon, the creature of the black exoskeleton dashed right for the cannoneer–

Jasper sprinted to intercept it, having to practically launch himself in its path, slamming his shield right against its face, "--Not happening!"

["Stance: Bulwark"]

A glimmer of golden light honed itself around the Aussie knight's body, allowing him to plant his boots against the tiles as if set there like a statue. The insect attempted to push right through him, though was unable to budge him in the slightest.

"Finish it off, damn bogan!" Jasper shouted.

Magnus was already running around to get to the other side before the bird-brained insect changed its trajectory, "I'm on it, I'm on it! Just shut up!"

Sliding across the tile, the handle of the cannon was yanked as he had a clear shot at the side of the insect, making sure not to commit friendly-fire:

["Draco Beam"]

A hum emitted from the barrel of the bulky weapon as a bright-blue light gathered itself in its core before–FWOOOOM.

Like a glimpse at a clear sky, a condensed beam of pure, magical energy released. The air around the cannon heated up quickly enough that heat waves distorted around the wielder of the weapon.

It shot right through the insect, completely engulfing it in its path of disintegration before piercing into the wall of the metro.

"Holy hell–that's hot!" Jasper breathed out, moving back as the beam brushed the front of his shield.

As the hum of the cannon's laser came to an end, amidst the steam, all that remained of the creature were the foot it walked on, left standing disembodied.

Magnus exhaled, lowering his cannon, "Nice assist."

"That's twice you almost burned me. One more time and I'm sticking my sword up your ass," Jasper threatened with a sigh of relief.