"No." Misato's expression hardened. "That's the alpha."
"The what?"
"Pack leader. Hollow Crawlers organize around a dominant specimen. Usually bigger. Faster. Smarter." She created two clones. "It'll send the pack to test us. Then come in for cleanup."
"How much bigger are we talking?" I asked.
"Twice the size. Three times the aggression."
"Fantastic."
The undergrowth exploded.
Fifteen Crawlers burst from the treeline simultaneously.
"Positions!" Misato roared.
We snapped into formation.
Belle called angles. "Six on Naomi! Four on flanks! Five circling rear!"
Jordan's shadows shot out in three directions. Grabbed four Crawlers. Slammed them together. Their bodies crunched.
Naomi fired. Her blast carved through two more.
The remaining nine kept coming.
Misato and her clones engaged the flankers. Fists and kicks. Brutal close combat. She moved like liquid violence. Her clones mirrored her. Three Crawlers died in under ten seconds.
That left six.
Three charged Belle.
