MTLNOVEL Chapter 14: Chapter 13: Shadows in the Grove
The deeper Kai ventured into the grove, the more alien the surroundings became. The air itself seemed thicker, humid and faintly electric, as though the forest was alive and watching his every move. The ground beneath his boots had grown softer, the moss-covered earth squishing with each step. Glow's light flickered uncertainly, casting strange, shifting shadows across the towering trees.
Kai's instincts were on high alert. This wasn't just dangerous wilderness anymore—this was a place that didn't want him there.
"You feel that?" he muttered to Tiny, whose mandibles clicked softly in response. "It's like the whole forest is holding its breath."
Stinger buzzed impatiently overhead, darting from tree to tree as if searching for hidden threats. Glow fluttered closer to Kai's shoulder, its golden wings trembling faintly. Even his usually fearless Titan Ant seemed tense, its massive body moving cautiously, antennae twitching with every step.
The system chimed softly in his mind.
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**[Warning: You are approaching the core of Deepwood Grove – Inner Zone.]**
**[Tip: The creatures here are stronger and more intelligent. Proceed with caution.]**
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Kai let out a slow breath. "Yeah, no kidding. Thanks for the heads-up, system."
He adjusted the straps on his satchel, glancing back at his team. "Alright, stay sharp, everyone. We're in the thick of it now."
As they were walking an attack came without warning.
One moment, the forest was eerily silent; the next, a flurry of movement erupted from the shadows. A creature leapt from the underbrush, its sleek, chitinous body glinting in Glow's light. It was a **Shadowstalker Beetle**, a predator infamous for its speed and cunning.
"Incoming!" Kai shouted, diving to the side as the beetle's razor-sharp mandibles snapped shut where he'd been standing.
"Tiny, intercept!"
Tiny lunged forward, its massive frame colliding with the Shadowstalker in a thunderous crash. The two insects grappled, the beetle's dark, segmented body writhing as it tried to break free from Tiny's iron grip.
"Stinger, *Poison Sting*! Aim for the joints!"
Stinger buzzed into action, launching a glowing projectile that struck the beetle's rear leg. The creature screeched, its movements faltering as the venom began to take effect.
But before Kai could celebrate, two more Shadowstalkers emerged from the shadows, their glowing red eyes locked onto him.
"Of course there's more," Kai muttered, adrenaline surging. "Glow, blind them! Full power!"
Glow fluttered higher, its wings flaring as it released a burst of searing golden light. The Shadowstalkers recoiled, their sensitive eyes flickering as they struggled to adjust.
"Alright, Tiny, finish the first one! *Mandible Strike*!"
Tiny's mandibles gleamed as it clamped down on the stunned beetle, crushing its armor with a sickening crunch. The creature let out a final screech before collapsing to the ground, motionless.
Kai didn't have time to celebrate. The remaining two Shadowstalkers recovered quickly, their movements coordinated as they flanked him from either side.
"Stinger, keep them off me! Glow, stay close!"
Stinger dove toward one of the beetles, its stinger glowing with venom as it struck again and again. Meanwhile, Glow's light pulsed rhythmically, disorienting the other beetle and keeping it at bay.
Kai's mind raced as he analyzed the battle. The Shadowstalkers were faster and more coordinated than anything he'd faced before. He couldn't afford to let his team fight on instinct alone—he needed a plan.
"Alright, change of strategy!" Kai shouted. "Tiny, hold the line and keep them distracted! Stinger, focus on the weaker one! Glow, give me some cover!"
Tiny planted itself firmly in the center of the clearing, its armored body blocking the path of the advancing beetles. Stinger darted around the battlefield, targeting the smaller of the two Shadowstalkers with relentless precision. Glow hovered above Kai, its radiant light casting long shadows that kept the creatures wary.
The battle was chaotic, but Kai's team fought with determination and precision. Tiny absorbed the brunt of the attacks, its hardened exoskeleton deflecting the beetles' razor-sharp mandibles. Stinger's venomous strikes gradually wore down the smaller Shadowstalker, while Glow's light kept the other one off balance.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the second Shadowstalker fell, its body twitching before going still. The remaining beetle hesitated, its red eyes flickering as it assessed the situation.
Kai saw his chance. "Tiny, now! *Mandible Strike*! Finish it!"
With a thunderous roar, Tiny lunged forward, its mandibles slicing through the Shadowstalker's vulnerable underbelly. The creature let out a final, piercing screech before collapsing in a heap