Holding on wasn't as easy as it looked. The monster kept waking up every time it was shot, making it impossible for them to save the humans.
However, thankfully, the humans in Solvane had realized not to linger anywhere close to the creature. So, they moved far away from its reach.
It was as if they had reached a tacit understanding with their saviors. Lucas would keep attacking the monster and forcing it to collapse until Vance arrived, while they remained hidden or stayed away from its reach.
However, the situation didn't last for a long time. The creature became immune to laser shots over time, and soon, no amount of shooting could weaken it.
It was in its strongest state, and there was no way in hell the humans on Solvane were safe anymore.
"Fucking hell! Lucas, it seems like we are failing," Seb muttered, staring at the creature that had begun to wreak havoc again. It seemed to have gone mad completely as it uprooted trees and stomped on the buildings, rendering them into dust.
"We can only wait for Vance now," Ryker mumbled, sending instructions to the other choppers. They had to back off before they too became its prey.
All the choppers moved away, reaching a safe distance. Even the ones not belonging to Velomore didn't dare take a risk and retreated, making the people of Solvane panic.
Getting into the choppers was their only way of escaping death. What were they going to do if the choppers abandoned them to die?
The people of Solvane were filled with resentment and regret. They clearly had a chance to escape their predicament. Not just Velomore, but even other cities had warned them time and again about the danger they were in and advised them to move to their country.
It was the consequence of their not listening that they were facing right now. How they wished to travel back in time and slap their past selves? Did a donkey kick their brains?
Alas, there was no medicine for regret. The people of Solvane could only watch the creature destroy their city completely while they awaited death.
Meanwhile, after killing the mutated beasts in Drithel and Sunfield, Vance's team moved to Thurnak to help Dave and the others deal with the monsters.
Thankfully, the cities were close to each other. So, it didn't take him more than half an hour to reach Dave.
Vance had been scared out of his mind when he couldn't reach Dave. Not just Dave, even the others with him were unreachable. His heart was palpitating at a rate he couldn't even comprehend, forcing him to think of all terrible scenarios.
Thankfully, Dave notified him soon about his whereabouts, eradicating some of his worries.
The beast had been close to attacking Dave and his comrades. So, they had to focus on escaping and saving their lives first.
The moment Vance reached the borders of Thurnak, he saw the creature destroying buildings. He didn't know how many people were still down there, waiting to be saved.
Not wasting time, he aimed at the creature whose back was facing him and fired the rifle. An intense white light that blinded his eyes emerged from his rifle before it struck the creature.
The beast let out a world-shattering roar before it was reduced to dust, and Vance sighed in relief, once again thanking Lucas for picking up the rifle.
Otherwise, the creatures would have been indestructible.
Now, Solvane was the only city left to be rescued.
Lucas, I'm heading to Solvane.
Vance sent a message. But it was too late. All the unrescued humans were dead, and the monster was attacking the choppers in the air, forcing them to retreat faster.
Some of the choppers had even aborted the rescue mission and flown back to their cities. Saving other people's lives was important. But saving themselves was more significant.
How could they save others when they themselves wouldn't be alive?
Lucas and his team and another chopper from Velomore were the only ones left.
"Ryker, are you seeing the same thing I am seeing?" Lucas asked when he saw that the monster tramping away from them until barely a silhouette of it was visible.
"This is bad. The creature is going to Xyra." Seb informed.
"Is there no end to it? Where the hell is Vance?" Ryker gritted his teeth, staring at the creature in hatred.
"We can't sit still like this. If the creature enters the Xura, the people over there won't be safe anymore." Kyla tapped her feet anxiously, her body turning cold instantly.
Ryker bit his lip thoughtfully and piloted the chopper slowly.
"Ryker, what are you doing?" one of the men from the other chopper hissed on the radio.
"The monster is going to Xura, and we don't know how long it'll take for Vance to arrive. I'm going to keep it occupied until he arrives," Ryker replied, his tone filled with determination.
"But...."
"I'm going," Ryker said again and increased the speed of the chopper. "Guys, hold on tight. It might be a little troublesome," he warned, and Lucas clutched the support handle by his side tightly.
"We understand, Ryker. Do what you should," Dave said, preparing himself for what was about to come.
"Let me distract it. Ryker, slow down and don't cross the safe distance," Lucas warned, and fixed his aim on the monster's back, and Ryker did as he was told.
Ryker slowed the chopper when they reached close to the creature but were still a safe distance, and Lucas immediately pressed the trigger on the rifle, firing successively at least ten times.
Although they didn't manage to injure it, their actions captured its attention, and it stopped in its place. Growling lightly, it turned around and snarled right at the chopper.
"Guys, hold on tight," Ryker warned before he started drifting the chopper in the air. Every time, he'd reach close to the creature, close enough for Lucas to shoot it, but not quite for the monster to reach them.
Their actions enraged the beast until it started clomping towards them. However, it couldn't reach them whatsoever.
Ryker was an excellent pilot. He had amazing control over his chopper, making it impossible for the monster to get to them, and this continued for a long time.
The beast showed no signs of getting tired. However, as time passed, it was only getting exasperated and Ryker hoped for Vance to arrive as soon as possible. He couldn't hold on for a long time.