1.7 Cacophony of Claws

The candidates materialized in the forest, their hearts racing as alien screams filled the air. Dorian surveyed the surroundings.

Before them sprawled a desolate panorama, marked by rugged rocks, towering mountains, deep canyons, expansive plateaus, and scattered craters. The landscape bore the scars of enduring cosmic battles, as if the planet had weathered eons of celestial strife.

Ancient rocks, shaped by unyielding winds and celestial elements, stood like silent sentinels, witnessing the passage of cosmic forces. Majestic mountains loomed overhead, their peaks reaching for the star-studded sky, casting elongated shadows over the barren expanse.

Deep canyons intricately carved into the planet's surface revealed the relentless erosion that shaped the terrain throughout countless years. Plateaus rose like elevated stages, offering a stark contrast to the roughness below and hinting at the planet's tumultuous history.

Scattered craters, reminiscent of pockmarks on the planet's skin, narrated stories of celestial impacts and turbulent upheavals. Each scar conveyed the tales of cosmic collisions and the enduring strength of the desolate world.

Amidst this rugged terrain, peculiar life flourished. Alien trees, uniquely strange, emerged from the rocky ground. Their twisted trunks displayed iridescent colors, shimmering in the dim light. Instead of leaves, luminescent fronds extended from the branches, casting an ethereal glow across the desolate surroundings.

These odd alien flora, against the backdrop of the harsh rocky landscape, created a hauntingly beautiful harmony, turning this barren planet into a uniquely captivating environment.

The candidates, wary of potential alien threats, opted to leave to avoid being surrounded. Dorian glanced at Darius, who still had a firm grip on his hand.

"Good luck, I'll see you soon."

Darius smiled, replying, "Good luck."

Dorian watched him depart with a smile before checking CS. Once he identified an inhabited cave where he could find solace, he headed in that direction. Aries observed him with a mocking smile.

Dorian strolled, and after a few moments, he couldn't help but chuckle. It was unbelievable how he lost his composure like that. Damian happened to be the first person he genuinely felt curious about since the beginning of this nightmare, yet, like everyone else, Damian seemed to believe he wasn't good enough.

Reflecting on it, Dorian realized that just because he was free didn't mean the protagonists would change. Although he had a sense that Damian might be different from other protagonists. Unlike those who typically pretended to be virtuous, like Aries, Damian never did.

"What's funny?"

Dorian looked around but couldn't spot anyone. He adjusted the straps of his bag and replied, "Come out. I'm not in the mood to play hide and seek."

He turned around when he sensed something moving swiftly behind him. Dorian only caught a glimpse of a shape darting around him. He sighed and remained in place.

The entire galaxy watching sensed that Dorian shouldn't remain still. He was surrounded by the alien, seemingly inviting danger.

They were astonished when a blur sprinted toward Dorian with remarkable speed, abruptly freezing in its tracks. Dorian had extended his hand in front of him, seemingly holding the alien by the neck using his spiritual force.

Dorian stared at the velocitralisk, an agile and predatory alien species recognized for its incredible speed and razor-sharp claws. Resembling a fusion of a terrestrial lizard and a swift predator, this extraterrestrial creature swiftly navigates its environment.

With a streamlined, muscular body covered in iridescent scales that shift colors based on its mood, the velocitralisk is built for rapid, ground-level movement. Its powerful limbs end in razor-sharp claws designed for precision and slashing attacks.

The velocitralisk looked at Dorian, stunned that he had pinpointed it despite its speed. Dorian drew his blaster and shot it in the head. Lowering his hand, the alien fell lifeless to the ground. Dorian then retrieved what appeared to be a salt shaker and sprinkled it over the alien, causing it to disintegrate.

Whistling, Dorian resumed his walk. After five minutes, he noticed an alien emerging from behind a tree. Then a second, a third, a fourth, until five surrounded him.

Dorian found himself encircled by a menacing quintet of aliens, each with a grotesque appearance. Standing on four legs, their reptilian forms were covered in a dark, scaly hide shimmering with an iridescent sheen. Long tails lashed behind them, poised to strike, while spiked protrusions adorned their backs, adding an extra layer of intimidation.

The aliens sported elongated heads, each equipped with a set of sharp, venomous claws. Their eyes glowed with predatory fervor, and beneath snarling maws, venomous reservoirs lurked. The ominous liquid seeped from beneath their razor-sharp nails, dripping with deadly intent.

Dorian, nimble and resolute, confronted the approaching threat. He wielded his blaster, its metallic surface gleaming in the dim forest light tainted by alien presence. His keen eyes surveyed the encircling adversaries, sensing the ominous energy of their venomous arsenal.

The confrontation burst into a chaotic symphony of hissing and snarling. The aliens lunged at Dorian, attempting to corner him within their venomous embrace. Swift as a gust of wind, Dorian sidestepped their attacks with impressive agility.

His blaster spat energy bolts, each shot strategically aimed at the advancing foes. The aliens recoiled as bolts of energy seared through their scales. However, the true challenge lay in avoiding the venom that dripped from their claws, oozing with venomous intent.

Drawing upon his inner strength, Dorian unleashed his spiritual force. A radiant aura enveloped him, enhancing his reflexes and resilience. As the venomous aliens lunged, Dorian deftly countered, deflecting their strikes with a choreography of fluid movements.

Midway through the skirmish, one of the aliens unleashed a venomous spray from its mouth. Quick-witted and perceptive, Dorian dodged the corrosive attack. The venom struck a nearby tree, and a sizzling cascade of destruction ensued as the tree melted away, consumed by the alien's deadly secretion.

Seizing the opportunity, Dorian harnessed the vulnerability of the aliens. His blaster hummed with destructive power, eliminating one foe after another. The aliens, in their fervor to corner Dorian, failed to anticipate the strategic precision of his attacks.

As the skirmish reached its climax, fueled by determination, Dorian executed a series of acrobatic maneuvers. He leaped over an alien's tail, spun to avoid a venomous claw, and delivered a powerful spiritual force blast that sent an adversary sprawling.

In a final display of skill and resilience, Dorian channeled his spiritual force into a dazzling burst of energy. The radiant surge engulfed the remaining aliens, neutralizing their venomous threats. The once-menacing foes lay defeated, their corrosive abilities powerless against Dorian's skillful combat and unwavering resolve.

In the eerie aftermath, Dorian stood amidst the remnants of the alien adversaries, victorious in the face of venomous peril. The entire galaxy was left speechless.

In the control room, Luna stared wide-eyed at the screen. She had no idea Dorian possessed such power. Her heartbeat quickened until she reminded herself that, powerful as he was, Dorian harbored a deep fear of phobosians.

Dorian tossed powder on all the corpses and resumed walking with a smile while humming. This was fun, and he felt better. Hopefully, he'd encounter aliens that provided more of a challenge, though he had to make sure to avoid any phobosians until tomorrow.

He'll use them to clean up his reputation and take down the Zenos. Dorian actively took out every alien he encountered, steering clear of phobosians on his way to the cave.

Using his spiritual force, he shifted the large rock and entered the cave. Tossing multiple balls of light into the air, he illuminated his path. Dorian reached the largest junction and grinned, relieved to find no cameras inside. He set his bag down and began preparing his living space.

Dorian dug a fire pit, using his spiritual force to remove dirt, rocks, leaves, and anything that might be uncomfortable to walk barefoot. Gathering wood to fill the pit, he kindled a fire. Once the flames danced, he cut a hole in the center of his large tarp and laid it on the ground. Placing his sleeping bag down, he surveyed his makeshift haven with satisfaction.

Even if the lack of a shower gets to him, his self-cleaning clothes and enough water for washing his face and brushing his teeth offer some solace.

Dorian strategically placed lights along the way to the junction, ensuring a safe path. Placing the large rock in front of the cave, he made sure to avoid any disturbances.

His choice of location was deliberate; no cameras were present, and no aliens had stumbled upon the cave. Moreover, the absence of screams meant he could sleep undisturbed. Dorian prepared his food, enjoyed a meal, and watched a movie on the tablet he had put in his bag.