The cavern erupted the moment Will opened his mouth to speak.
Triggered by the flare of the [Warlord Aura], the sea of parasite spawn stopped gorging. Hundreds of eyeless heads snapped toward the squad with a synchronized, mechanical click. They bypassed a frontal charge. They scrambled up the roots and swung from the vines. They leaped through the air like armored, acidic spider monkeys.
"Vanguard up!" Will roared.
Maddie slammed her boots into the moss and leveled the 'SANTA MON' halberd. "Let them break on the shield! Come on, you overgrown scabs! I've had worse rashes from cheap hotel sheets!"
The first wave hit her like a freight train. She deflected two with the haft. The rusted metal of the sign rang out with a heavy clack. Three more slammed into her carapace. She grunted. She slid back and absorbed the 20% physical bleed-through.
