Chapter 108: The Ancient Divine Beast
"Not bad the cutting power of these claws and fangs far exceeds my expectations. I never imagined my body could develop alloy weapons like these!"
While the destructive efficiency of physical attacks was still inferior to laser weapons, the sensation of ripping open an enemy's chest with one's claws, of piercing oil conduits with sharp fangs was something entirely different. It awakened a primitive thrill of the hunt that Starscream hadn't felt in eons.
However, compared to Grimlock's mechanical Tyrannosaurus form, with its rows of steel teeth and brute force, Starscream's melee capacity was still lacking.
Even so, after killing three of the powerful creatures within mere minutes, the remaining prehistoric beasts began to tremble instinctively. If they'd had even a spark of animal willpower, their best strategy would've been to flee.
But they didn't. Despite their fear, they refused to retreat.
Could Starscream's fiery energy core really be so alluring that they were willing to die for it?
Of course not. The truth was far more sinister these creatures had been programmed by the Fallen. They'd been created to obey one absolute order: "Advance. Never retreat."
Otherwise, how could the Fallen possibly command such mindless hordes to fight for him?
"What? Implanted control devices? I wasn't even planning to exterminate you I've got nothing to gain from your data. What a waste of energy!"
Starscream showed no mercy. With a contemptuous roar, the terrifying mechanical saber-tooth tiger became a nightmare. Explosions echoed through the forest as he tore through the horde. Unknown fragments of exotic metal rained down across the land non-degradable materials, toxic to the environment, now scattered like scars upon the earth.
While Starscream's side of the battlefield seemed under control, the same couldn't be said for Grimlock.
The veteran Autobots had held strong at first, but the endless wave of enemies was wearing them down. Even the mechanical Black Turtle's twin claws exploded under the combined assault of hundreds of Predacons.
The once-majestic Azure Dragon, who had soared through the heavens, was grounded his wings shredded by a flock of vulture-like mecha birds. Worse still, his spark chamber in the abdomen was gravely damaged. The younger Autobots had to shield him from incoming attacks as sparks erupted from the gaping wound in his chest.
"Hahaha! I must admit, you old relics have more life in you than I expected. But I can create as many Predacons as I wish! Other than these three troublesome Dinobots, the rest of you are near death, aren't you? Why not do something meaningful for once use your energy to nourish the young Decepticons? Perhaps some of them will grow into mighty warriors! That would be the ultimate honor for your Sparks!"
The Fallen clearly had no intention of fighting personally. Instead of striking down the Autobots himself, he stood at the rear, continuously creating more Predacons using captured animals from the surrounding forests as raw material.
Foxes, polar bears, wolves all transformed by the corrupt energy of the AllSpark that radiated from his body.
Each living creature that came into contact with that power screamed in agony, its flesh warping and splitting apart until its carbon shell hardened into cold metal. In mere moments, they were reborn hollow puppets of the Fallen.
The endless tide of attackers slowed even the mighty Grimlock and his Dinobot allies. The eight ancient Autobots, already exhausted, were barely standing. It was clear that if the battle dragged on, even the Dinobots might not survive.
"Auuuuuh!"
"Damn it… no!"
Under the merciless assault, the first of the veteran Autobots finally fell. It was a mammoth-like warrior. Whether from injury or exhaustion, he collapsed mid-charge, a massive hole blown through his abdomen.
Several Predacons swarmed over the body, tearing it open and pulling free a glowing sphere of bluish-white energy the Autobot's Spark.
"Zzzap!"
"Zzzap! Zzzap! Zzzap!"
The appearance of the Spark drove the Predacons into a frenzy. They abandoned the fallen body and lunged at the glowing orb, fighting viciously to claim it.
It wasn't a coordinated hunt anymore it was chaos, a battle for the prize.
The first to snatch it was a small, agile monkey-like machine. Using its metallic tail to hang from a tree branch, it grasped the Spark larger than its own head in both trembling hands.
Just as the robotic monkey hesitated, unsure what to do next
a slender black shadow flashed through the air, snatching the Spark and ripping both of the monkey's arms clean off.
"Uuuuugh!"
The thief revealed itself a lynx-like Predacon, not as powerful as a lion or bear, but fast lightning fast. It clenched the Spark between its jaws and sprinted away, vanishing into the forest in search of a hidden spot to devour its prize.
"Raaagh!"
A massive polar bear mech, the same one that had slain the veteran Autobot, roared in fury. It had cracked the mammoth's chest open, yet the smaller predator had claimed the Spark first.
But the lynx wasn't about to surrender.
They all knew it whoever absorbed such a Spark would gain a surge of evolution, perhaps even a chance to become a true Transformer.
And this lynx, no matter how small, would defend that chance with its life.
Yet it had no idea…
that while it fled with its stolen treasure, another shadow had already set its sights on it.
(End of Chapter)