Doomsday Pillars

Aaaarrrgghhh!!!

A scream resounded. The gaze of all the troops turned toward the direction of the sound.

AAAAAA!!!

A soldier was lying in the sand with a pool of blood.

The soldiers put up their guns' sights around but saw nothing. But then a strong gust of wind blew past them and those who saw could only make out a silhouette of a golden shadow.

"What is that?"

They weren't able to see what attacked them, they kept their eyes open but another scream rang out on the other side.

"AAAARRGGHJH"

SPLAAAATTT!

This time blood was splashed among the other line of soldiers. Meanwhile, there were multiple victims already and all of them had their chests torn as if it had been cut with three machetes.

"What happened? What is attacking us?"

The soldiers saw the golden silhouette once more around the soldier's rank and began firing at it, but they could only follow its movements as the bullets never hit it.

TRATATATATAT TARATATATATAT

"Retreat! Retreat! Close ranks!" Captain Markus ordered the troops to step back and close the troops.

"Madam President!" Richard and all the other secret service guards ran over to Elizabeth and surrounded her. Meanwhile, not far away, James also stood closer with his stone golem.

"What monster this time! It's moving too fast!"

Aarrgggghh!!!

One more soldier fell. Some soldiers were starting to panic. Attacks that couldn't be seen were the ones that were most terrifying rather than an attack that you could see head-on.

The more they stepped back, the circle of ranks gradually shrank, but there were already few soldiers who had fallen victim. These soldiers had all reached peak stage mortal realm. But the creatures that attacked them were too fast. The rifle they were holding was unable to save them.

A soldier finally succumbed to his fears and screamed loudly with fear as he started firing his gun wildly.

TARATATATA TARARATATAT 

"Stop shooting at nothing! You'll hit someone if you fire randomly!" Captain Markus said, as he grabbed the panicking soldier's rifle.

Another scream sounded and this time it was a little closer. The unknown predator revealed itself after it had torn apart three more soldiers within their ranks. Its golden fur that was drenched with blood flashed with its intimidating yellow eyes. Its big fangs, which still had some bits and pieces of the people it had just killed, appeared hungry for more. The lush golden mane swayed gloriously as this large lion stared at the terrified soldiers.

The soldiers felt like choking as they froze at the sight of this intimidating beast, which was twice of its previous size. They watched as the lion crunched the head of its most recent prey, making them tremble at the bones breaking sound.

James regained his senses first and checked the beast's information through the bracelet. 

[Mutated Mountain Lion]

[Level 50 mutated beast]

[Tier two - high level]

"This is bad. This is bad, this beast was already hailed as the king of predatory animals, and now we're seeing it as a high level mutated beast," James said.

The soldier in charge of controlling the .50 cal machine on top of the ASV also broke from his trance and pulled the trigger at the mountain lion.

TRATATATA TRATATA!

The lion quickly jumped with one of the soldiers barely alive in its maw. It kept shaking the man as it dodged the rain of bullets targeting it with ease. 

"It's playing with us!"

James could clearly see the beast's movement with him being on the earth realm stage. Earth realm stage not only provided better muscular strength but their entire five senses had also improved.

"What do you think, James? Do you have any idea?" Elizabeth asked.

James shook his head and said, "No, this lion is too fast for the rest of the soldiers even for my golem."

He knew the stone golem wouldn't be able to keep up with the mountain lion's movement speed. The golem's advantages were its size, durability and strength, not speed. James decided it would be better to keep the golem near him because from the looks of it, even an earth realm fighter couldn't contest this beast in terms of strength.

"The soldiers are dying," Elizabeth said, feeling helpless.

Richard assessed the situation and gave orders to the members of the secret service. They went to her and opened the humvee's door, asking the president to enter. 

"What are you doing Richard?" Elizabeth asked.

"Our priority is to keep you safe, Madam President. That is the duty of our soldiers as well. Please enter the humvee, we have to run, now!" Richard took a glance at the beast; it was still busy playing with its prey. Since it was busy, Richard thought this was the best time to escape with the president.

He was about to grab Elizabeth and to go to the humvee his colleagues had prepared but the humvee issued a loud bang. Richard felt an ominous stare and looked over the humvee only to find out the mountain lion was already there!

"!!!"

The mutated mountain lion pounced at Richard but fortunately, his years of experience in the field warned him of the impending danger to his life and the president, so he was able to push Elizabeth away just in the nick of time but he was struck in the chest. 

Richard looked to where the rank of soldier was and finally realized it wasn't only one but two mountain lions had attacked them! 

RROOOOAARRRR !!

Richard bled, but his wounds were shallow so he tried to get up. As soon as he tried to lift himself, however, a heavy weight landed on his chest as if he was being crushed by a boulder. The second lion actually stopped him from getting up.

"Richarddd!!!" shouted Elizabeth.

The second mountain lion opened its jaw, ready to make a snack out of Richard's head.

"NO!!!" Elizabeth closed her eyes but the sound of the head crunching never came, instead, a powerful blow rang out and then crashing on one of the vehicles. She opened her eyes and saw James' stone golem was standing near Richard while the second mountain lion had crashed into one of the troop's trucks. 

"It's the right time, GO!" James said.

The golem continued charging at the lion, who was still trying to get up and pound it again on the ground with full strength.

BANGGGGGG!

Blood poured out of the lion's mouth but that punch from the golem was only enough to injure it. It wasn't enough to kill a high-level mutated beast. The lion this time was able to get up faster because the first two times it got hit surprised it, but now it regained its ground and its endurance and muscular strength couldn't be underestimated. The mountain lion tried to strike back, but both its claws were only able to scratch the surface of the golem.

ROOOAAARRR

The lion pounced on the golem to put on the ground and tried to jump away after, attempting an escape. But James anticipated it and ordered the golem telepathically to grab its back paw and tail and put its weight on the lion. 

"Good!!!" James said. The lion was struggling on the ground and James took this opportunity to help Richard to his feet. 

This time, the quiet bodyguard who was always ignoring him finally spoke. "Thank you, Mr. Randall"

"Don't mention it! Now, send your men to finish off the lion!"

Richard was still resistant against this Asian man giving him orders, but he didn't say anything since this man just saved his life. He glanced at Elizabeth and she nodded. He then ordered his fellow guards with artifact weapons to attack the mountain lion that was still struggling against the weight of the golem.

They didn't know, however, that James was actually the strongest fighter among them since he was the only one who had broken through the mortal realm and reached the earth realm stage. But James wasn't a fighter. His strength skill lied in how he used his brains, not physical attributes. If he didn't have to, he wouldn't risk his life.

James focused on ordering the stone golem when the first lion that was on the soldier's rank roared.

It noticed how its lioness was in danger and quickly came to aid it. It jumped toward the three secret service guards who were holding the artifact weapon, forcing them to fight it. 

These three guards, however, were still in the mortal realm stage, and even though they were wielding Tier 2 weapons against this high-level mutated beast, the lion didn't take too long and was able to kill the secret service guard holding the axe.

SPLLLAATTT!!! ARGGGHHH!!

The lion was too fast and too strong for a mortal realm fighter. They could use the tier 2 artifacts, but the gap between a high-level mutated beast and mortal realm was huge. It was akin to a monkey wielding a sword against a fearsome lion in its prime. Even if the sword was capable of injuring the lion, there was no point if the monkey was unable to successfully hit the lion.

More than 100 soldiers were watching the battle, unable to help. Captain Markus ventured forward and took the ax that had fallen nearby.

AAAAAAAA!

Elizabeth realized something and had an idea to prevent more losses. She called out to James and quickly said, "I have an idea! Do this..." 

"Good plan!" James said.

"Richard! Stand by!" said Elizabeth.

"Ready!" replied Richard. He then gave orders without hesitation through his earpiece and the rest of the secret service members who were holding laser weapons and also soldiers who were in control of machine guns on iron vehicles got ready.

"We're all set!" said Richard.

James nodded and issued a new instruction to the stone golem to throw the mountain lioness it was holding down at the empty humvee.

BANNNGGGGG!!!

Elizabeth exclaimed, "Now!"

The machine guns, assault rifles, and lasers all rained down bullets and beams of light on one single point. The lioness that had crashed on the empty humvee.

ZAAAPPPP TRATATTATATAA TARATATA

The dust started to build up and the lioness could do nothing as it tried to struggle to get up. The shower of .50 cal bullets, NATO rounds, and lasers all focused fire at the lioness. 

RRRROOOAAARR

It roared in pain but the roar was replaced as the humvee suddenly blasted! 

KABBOOOMMMMM !!!

"Did it work?" asked Elizabeth.

The stone golem then helped Captain Markus and the two secret service agents fight against the other lion.

"Looks like we can win," said James, smiling at Elizabeth before his expression changed again.

Elizabeth also faltered as she looked at where the lioness was. 

The dust settled, and out of the dust, the mountain lioness that was hit focused fire by everyone was still alive. Its body was emitting smoke while some of its wounds also visibly healed.

James said, "This is bad."