A/N: Apologies for the delay; for those that didn't seem the tweet about it, got sick so things were delayed for a week since I wouldn't be able to write it all up in time.

That said, do enjoy~

The Haar

Chapter 14: Aquila, Pompeo Magno, Nicoloso da Recco

Aquila had never been a bastion for confidence.

Sure she tried to play it cool and smile her way through tough encounters, but she saw no shame in admitting that she wasn't the greatest at being unflappable. Persevering through tough times? Yes. Holding steady for her allies to rely upon? She liked to think so. But act cool and composed as she trudged through squishy peat bogs and leapt over rancid swamp water? Not at all.

It was something of a marvel then that Nicoloso da Recco could. The purple-haired Destroyer retained her cheery disposition even as they marched along with the main fleet through the swamp, New Jersey near the forefront of the group giving out orders and calling in aerial strikes where needed – the occasional distant blast of bombs audible. Thus far the picket on the whole had held up well – though the scout groups had been attacked in greater numbers, New Jersey's experience with carriers enabled most to hold their group.

Most, but not all. Some groups hadn't yet returned per their schedule, and she could tell it was weighing on New Jersey's mind. The woman was a kind one, jubilant and unabashed, and it was no surprise then that she was hesitant to keep on marching when their allies could well be in danger – or worse, already dead. Yet if they stopped it also meant delaying the mission, which was never a good thing – but then again, lives took precedence. The mission could wait days easily, the generator wasn't going anywhere.

Granted, the longer they stayed inland meant the longer they went without an ammo resupply, since the shore wasn't suitable for building a dock and the tides just rough enough to make a floating dock perilous, but again, lives took priority.

As if her thoughts reached New Jersey the Battleship signalled for them all to stop.

Except that Aquila soon realised it wasn't her thoughts that influenced New Jersey, but the arrival of one of the scout groups – carrying two Ship-Girls with them, literally so. From her position near the rear of the group it was hard to make out who it was, not helped by the constant mosquitoes or dragonflies buzzing about and catching her eye unnecessarily, but when she got a single good look at their face the blood drained from her own.

''Wonder who it- whoa!'' Nicoloso yelped as Aquila pushed past her.

Not pausing to apologise Aquila hurried over to the front of the fleet, having to hop over some islands and awkwardly weasel past some people, some accommodating and others not as much, until eventually she neared New Jersey's side. Laid on the boggy ground atop the Battleship's newly-shed jacket was Alfredo, unconscious, and a tearful Vincenzo next to her. She looked like she'd been through hell – dried tear tracks currently being refreshed, her words jumbled and throat audibly hoarse, pain-filled shudders squirming through her.

''...and then San Francisco came to save us, b-but then more appeared! Per favore, dovete tornare indietro e salvarla!'' Vincenzo slipped into her native tongue unconsciously. ''Fermate la missione, andate a salvarla, per favore!''

New Jersey grimaced, taking in the new information about as well as one could. Giuseppe Garibaldi knelt by Vincenzo's side, both speaking in their native tongue – whether for privacy from the others or simply out of comfort, she didn't know, but was able to listen in. To how they found the weapons of Le Mars and Maillé Brézé, concluding both were most likely dead, only to be attacked and raped by a bunch of alien parasite monsters, only to be saved and then narrowly evaded capture once more; their horrifying tale wrapping up with them being found by some of the scout groups and brought back.

Suddenly, the fates of the other scout groups that had yet to return became morbidly evident.

''All groups of Fleet South, halt.'' New Jersey's order was spoken into her one-way radio, heard in the ears of all present. ''Members of the scout squadrons draw closer and keep a look-out.''

Putting her radio away on her person New Jersey frowned worriedly down at Vincenzo. ''We'll find them, don't worry. Everyone else gather 'round!''

Those present obeyed, gathering up as best as they could on the nearby islands without bunching up too much – prepared for an ambush. Aquila as a result shifted slightly closer to the centre, trusting the screen ships around her to protect her long enough to get any planes in the air in the event of an attack – though in the dense swamp she would be of limited use. Thus far her planes had scored a good few kills, yes, but that was only when the monsters were held back long enough for her to do so.

Honestly why she was selected by Naval HQ to be a part of the invasion fleet rather than out on the ocean she wasn't sure. Surely HQ was incompetent enough to not send a carrier into close quarters? Then again, maybe the mentality was for close-in air support. She could see it working, especially since it took her less than half the time to get an airstrike off than the ocean fleet, since orders had to be relayed, smoke had to be dropped and then bombs to follow, whereas she could use both her eyes and her plane's vision to coordinate her strike.

Aquila shook her head, only half-listening to New Jersey as she gave them a rallying speech of sorts – emphasising that the mission was now halted until they could get those left behind, dividing the fleet into smaller groups of five or six, each spaced apart but ultimately still functioning as one big fleet. The scout groups would continue to maintain a perimeter but with them drawn closer the fleet would be quicker to aid them should a threat arise.

As if jinxed by those words, the distant boom of shellfire quietened all conversation.

''Who was that?''

''It came from that direction...''

''That's where Aoba and her escorts were right...?''

More shelling accompanied distant, frantic shouting – Aoba herself soon coming into view as she hopped over islands with her escorts all in tow. From such a distance it was hard to determine the threat, nothing seeming to follow them, but the fear written across their faces was evident that it was no simple bug or unthreatening creature.

''Defensive positions!'' New Jersey called out, her rigging cannons raising. ''Aoba! What is it!''

The Sakura Empire cruiser jerked a thumb over her shoulder in response, hopping over to another island. ''S-Something under the water! Really big! I think it's angry!''

''Because you snapped a photo of it!'' One of her escorts barked over at her.

''How was I suppose to know it'd dislike the flash?!'' Aoba squawked back. ''I thought it was just a hill!''

Any further conversation stalled as, not far behind Aoba and her escorts, the land seemed to lurch up before falling back down, the motion not unlike someone moving underneath a blanket. The unsettling comparison put the southern fleet on edge, everyone calling out orders as they took up defensive positions. Aquila joined New Jersey near the centre, sending some planes up pre-emptively and trying in-vain to peer through the thick swamp canopy, but had no luck.

The land surged and fell again, liquid loudly sloshing as swamp water was pushed from its pools and over the boggy land, nearly throwing Aoba into the water had she not leapt off the island at the last moment. Running up to the front of the fleet Aoba whirled around, her own rigging armaments raised and ready to counter the threat.

Once more the land before them surged up, islands lifting up and water rushing past their ankles and into their boots as the tide passed – and then a sudden, deafening roar rattled Aquila's bones as the threat, at last, emerged. Darkness cast itself over the fleet in a long line as its towering bulk broke through the canopy, snapping branches and pushing trees from their roots with a brush of its thick forearms. Brown, moss-covered skin glistened wetly in the gloom, its body long like a salamander's yet so caked in gunk and mud that it was made thicker and bulkier, adding to its already impossibly large size that dwarfed even prehistoric dinosaurs.

The Swamp King, Aquila dubbed it. For something of such size, such imposing presence and murderous red eyes could only be dubbed that.

The bellowing, bone-shaking roar quelled as the giant salamander lolled its head down to glare at them, a brief pause ensuing.

Until New Jersey spoke, her voice a sharp shout. ''Fire at will!''

Nary a second later dozens of shells of all calibre lobbed themselves across the short distance and erupted across the Swamp King's front. The giant beast reared back, surprised, and released another roar that shook Aquila to her very bones. She quashed her fear though, lips pursed as she directed her planes down and succeeded in dropping bombs across the beast's back – a chain of explosions blowing apart the caked-on mud that served as crude armour.

Not that it downed the Swamp King itself. The beast reared its head back, jerked it further, its throat bulging – and then from its maw came a gout of bright yellow acid. Aquila's eyes widened and she felt herself be pulled aside by someone else, narrowly avoiding the sizzling spew that hit the bog and ate through it. Someone else wasn't as lucky – shrill, agonising screams ringing out. Aquila made the mistake of looking, paralysed as she saw the luminous yellow acid eat through flesh as easily as the bog itself.

They were dead by the time they hit the ground, their front eaten away and still sizzling in their sudden, painful death.

Anger rose within the fleet – but fear, too. It was palpable and the beast must've smelled it from them because it reared its head back again, ignoring the shells exploding across its front and instead blasting another gout of yellow liquid across the swamp, earning another scream from someone else – though the only mercy afforded was that it was just their arm hit. What was left of their arm though was unusable now.

''Aim for the throat!'' New Jersey bellowed into the radio. ''Enterprise, bring the whole fleet down on this thing! You can't miss it!''

No answer came but New Jersey didn't care, sheathing her radio with anger in her eyes and blasting another salvo – the kickback from her weapons failing to make her do more than flinch. All shells hit their mark, piercing the gullet of the beast and earning a furious roar from the Swamp King as it reared back on its hind legs before coming back down, kicking up a spray of swamp water that surged past the fleet, knocking the unsteady onto their asses and leaving them immobile for a brief few seconds.

Aquila directed her planes around for a second bombing run, striking the monster's back once more. She drew blood, the lime-green fluid gushing out and sizzling whatever islands it touched, floating even atop the water and burning the skin on it too. To her surprise though the Swamp King turned to glare at her, as if it somehow knew she was the one controlling the planes. And with that attention came wrath as it reared its head back once more, throat bulging.

Only for a salvo of Battleship-grade shells to hit it as New Jersey intervened. Though it didn't score a critical hit the shock to it made the Swamp King cease its build-up of acid, growling as it turned to glare at the flagship instead.

''Yeah, that's right.'' New Jersey whispered coolly – nay, coldly. ''Look at me. Only at me.''

The Swamp King growled, then roared – charging through the swamp and mud at her. New Jersey backed up but it moved faster, swiping at her with its lizard-like forearm, but the nimble Battleship leapt over the blow and hopped over to an adjacent island. With surprising speed the Swamp King spun but not to face her-

-and the reason why struck as its long whip-like tail smashed into New Jersey, sending her flying back and into a tree, gasping harshly.

Several cried out in worry but the roar of the Swamp King deafened such noises. The lizard-like body of the beast bulged and swelled, its roar rising as it did so like it was going to explode. Aquila hurriedly brought her dive bombers around for another attack, hearing more than seeing Enterprise's air wing near along with several others as they all converged on the giant beast, yet the Swamp King's body seemed to swell even faster.

Until the mud-like armour on its body cracked, and a torrent of icky swamp water spewed out. Then another gush burst through, and another and another. Water spewed out from its pores and the Swamp King let loose a titanic roar as it smashed itself down into the water, creating a miniature tidal wave of brown gunky water that swept over the islands and pushed water from their pools, adding to the incoming tsunami.

''Aquila, get back-!''

Too late. The tide hit and the world was ablur. She went under, tumbling, then her head was above. A branch or something hit her head and she was down again, head hurting and lunging burning as she held her breath, tumbling uncontrollably under the unfathomably big tide. Bits here and there could be seen – the outline of an island, something like a monster, a corpse of a Crocodilian and a live one not too far away, also stuck in an uncontrollable tumble before it left her meagre vision.

Her back struck something hard, sending her up – and then she was out of the water and falling. A branch hit her back and softened her descent only mildly before she hit the ground below, the air knocked out of her as she landed, wheezing. A mistake as swamp water spilled over from the lakes above, making Aquila jerk her head to the side to avoid swallowing it, hacking up her lungs as she tried and failed to think straight.

The bog water continued to pour down on her for a little longer before it slowed – another gush following, but meagre as whatever water remained above lapped back-and-forth, slowly flattening out as its momentum stalled. Only at the realisation did Aquila find the strength to raise her head, panting and soaking wet as she looked about. She was still in the swamp, that much she could ascertain, but not the normal expanse. She'd fallen into a basin of some kind; the walls easily twenty feet high or so and curving inwards near the top. Moss and other foliage lined the walls plentifully, covering them almost completely in fact, with only a couple of trees down at the bottom. The only mercy was that the ground wasn't the usual peat-like bog but instead just a thin layer of mud over stone.

''Ugh, my back...'' A voice made Aquila perk up.

Using the thin tree next to her as support Aquila pushed herself to her feet, looking around only once before spotting not one but two of her comrades – Pompeo Magno and Nicoloso da Recco. Both must've held onto each other when the wave hit, she assumed, and mercifully both were okay.

In the distance she heard a chain of explosions, like numerous bombs being dropped. The deafening, bone-chilling roar of the Swamp King followed. 'Looks like Enterprise and the others found it... that's good...'

The thought though reminded her of how she got down here, instantly making worry resurface in her heart. That wave attack had separated them from the others – what about New Jersey, was she okay? And the others too, not to mention the injured Alfredo and Vincenzo, were they alright too? The worrying thoughts made Aquila's head hurt so she shelved them for now, focusing on more immediate problems – namely assessing their injuries and then regrouping with the others.

''Aquila...? Ugh, thank god you're here with us...'' Pompeo moaned as she stumbled to her feet, cringing as she wrung her hat out of water. ''Ew...''

Nicoloso was much perkier, though. ''Hey, we survived at least! So! First plan of action is... uhh...''

As if on cue both Destroyers turned to look at Aquila, waiting for orders. The carrier flushed under the attention and spent a moment to think, humming in the meantime, before finding the best way to phrase her words. ''We'll need to get to high ground first obviously. The basin seems to incline just past you, so we'll most likely be able to walk our way out-''

Nicoloso's eyes widened. ''Aquila, behind-!''

The warning once again came too late as Aquila felt something sharp jam into her neck. She gasped, stumbling, and the sharpness retracted – but in its wake a cold numbness sept into her neck. Clasping a hand over the wound Aquila stumbled to face her attacker, eyes wide as she found a humanoid monster behind her. It had a muscled build, but where a six-pack on a human would be was a pack of deep purple scales. Those same coloured scales covered practically the entire body in a chitin-like armour, ending with a hairless, chitin-covered head with a pair of mandibles protruding from the small mouth. Coupled with the long, curved scorpion tail protruding up from its tailbone and its three-fingered hands, and the image of a scorpion was solidified.

A Scorpio, she named it.

The Scorpio's yellowish eyes remained locked onto her, a pleased-sounding hiss escaping the creature. Immediately Aquila tried to stumble away, hearing her allies arm themselves, but her legs gave out under her and she fell. Her whole body became lead and she could barely twitch a finger, the sudden paralysis striking fear into her heart – and somewhere behind her she heard Pompeo and Nicoloso cry out in fright, one of them managing to get a shell off before they audibly fell to the floor.

They'd been ambushed. Completely taken off-guard. A mistake, Aquila feared she'd never get to rectify.

The Scorpio hissed again as it approached her, moving unnaturally down on three limbs with its right arm raised slightly, as if prepared to counter. When Aquila offered nothing more than a few squeaks though it hissed deeply; the sound betraying its animalistic delight. It grabbed her shins and pulled them towards it, her fear leaping up into her throat as its three-fingered hands grabbed her thighs and shifted further up them, the sharpened tip of its nails grazing her flesh until it settled its hands on her ass.

Then with little more than a hiss of effort the Scorpio hefted Aquila up. Limp and silently panicking Aquila tried in vain to escape, managing to jerk her head a little but even then the motion was laboured, her head lolling more than it did turn. Far too little to break out of the Scorpio's hold – the creature snapping its mandibles in her face as it adjusted its hold on her, soon pushing her back up against the same tree that had caught her when she fell.

'No...' It wasn't hard to connect the dots, to understand what the monster wanted to do to her.

Especially when its human-esque cock, long and slightly curved, protruded out from its crotch region – whatever scale-like sheath that been previously hiding it now parted. It slid up her inner-thigh, grazing up until it pushed against her panty-clad pussy, the fanciful ivory panties feeling so frightfully thin in that moment. Doubly so when the Scorpio hissed in annoyance and curled its tail around, the pointed, venomous tip grazing her flesh but not penetrating it. Instead it curled around and tugged her panties out to one side, baring her folds to the creature and letting its dick-tip rub up against her opening.

And then it claimed her, shoving itself inside. Had her vocal cords been fully functional Aquila would've screamed – but as it was all she could do is let out a strangled wheeze, eyes wide as she felt the Scorpio's length insert itself into her. There was no slow penetration, no easement, just a sudden buck of its hips that preluded the tip bashing against her cervix. It pulled back, her insides unwillingly clinging to it, and another strangled cry escaped Aquila as it jammed back inside of her, knocking the air from her lungs.

'It hurts!' Though her body was numb to react, it was not numb to the pain – every strong, bestial thrust jamming it up into her loins.

The Scorpio wasn't exactly a pretty partner either, the sharp mandibles and yellowish, beady eyes an intimidating visage. Small mercies Aquila was still able to close her own eyes, a strangled whimper escaping the carrier as she endured the pounding. She could feel its groin smack against her thighs, her weakened muscles drawing taut as its sizeable cock entered her tightness repeatedly – the constant friction setting her insides alight, and not in a pleasant way.

Not that the monster cared. With three-fingered hands digging into her ass cheeks the creature viciously bred her, its hips jutting forth in harsh, sharp motions that buried itself deep into her defenceless pussy. Struggling wasn't even an option, but she continued to try in some desperate bid to maintain some control, to not submit entirely to the monster defiling her, the wails of her comrades audible from behind, not that she could turn to look.

'Help is coming.' Aquila told herself, trying to assure herself of that belief.

'Try' being the key word. Little doubts surfaced in her mind – what if the flood had separated them too far, how would they even find them, especially in such a short time, were they doomed to be broodmares for the beasts as their allies thought them dead and left them behind? Such dismal thoughts whittled away at her already-fragile hope, tears pricking at her eyes and trickling down her cheeks as she just tried her best to ignore it all, hoping the monster would be done with her soon.

It was, but perhaps not in the manner she was hoping for – its hardened chitin skeleton smacking against her crotch harder and faster, the firm impacts jolting another weak cry out of Aquila, her insides tightened around its pulsating shaft-

-and then the humanoid monster hissed in her face, mandibles snapping a mere inch from her nose as something hot flooded inside of her. Countless eggs were carried upon the fluid, perfectly round like marbles yet squishy as they poured into her womb, the sensation sending a sickening shudder through Aquila – her whimper equal parts scared, and defeated.

Not that the Scorpio cared as it soon pulled out, flipped her around, and took her once more.

X-x-X

They'd walked right into a trap, an ambush.

Or perhaps, had they rather been pushed into their nest, albeit unintentionally? Was this a planned attack, or just poor luck on their part?

Pompeo suspected that she'd never get the answers to that; the thought an idle one as she felt herself be stung from behind. She didn't have any time to react, any chance to retaliate, she simply fell to the ground and banged her nose on the mud with a wince. The cold venom crept through her veins in a matter of seconds, neutralising all mobility in her arms, her waist, her legs. Within a number of seconds she was completely limp.

''Nn... agh...'' The pink-haired Destroyer slurred out, trying to call out Aquila's name – but her tongue was heavy in her mouth.

A faint jolt travelled up her spine as a pair of three-fingered hands grasped at her hips, yanking her up onto her knees and keeping her there. Nary a second later those same clawed fingers raked down through her innocent white panties, tugging then tearing the material apart, exposing her pert ass and smooth pussy to the muggy swamp air. Something thick and bulbous rubbed along her nether lips a split-second later, parting them before slipping past just over her clit, missing, before sliding back up.

And then the Scorpio behind her pushed inside. The sudden penetration sent a jolt through Pompeo's groin and coaxed a pained moan from the adventurous Destroyer, her fingers feebly curling and digging into the mud under her – the grip doing little to ease the discomfort of having such a long, girthy dick sliding into her, forcing her tender insides open until the tip pressed down against her cervix, as if threatening to breach that final gate too.

Mercifully the monster pulled back, but any relief Pompeo Magno felt perished as the monster slammed right back inside of her – a feeble moan tumbling from her lips. Her legs quaked under her but numb as they were she could exert no control over them, the muscles remaining stiff and her hips held up by the monster's grip on them, keeping her steady as it roughly jammed its cock into her, mating with her like the animal it truly was.

''N-Nn~!''

Just a few paces away Nicoloso was able to let out a pained gasp as she too was pushed onto the ground, her expression contorted into a wince as she was pinned flat to the mud. Her body was mostly limp, arms slack by her sides and leaving her acutely vulnerable to the Scorpio that loomed over her, its mandibles clicking together in evident glee. Its unnatural hands pushed her thick thighs apart and it got between them, her panties yanked off with ease and leaving nothing to protect her chastity as the tip nuzzled her lips-

-and a stilted cry escaped the purple-haired adventuress as it claimed her, stuffing its cock between her puffy pussy lips and forcing its girth deep inside of her. Her insides clamped down on it, offering resistance, but the Scorpio just hissed in delight at the fight she was putting up – bucking its hips several more times until it was fully hilted inside of her. Then and only then did it start to fuck her in earnest, bucking its hips back-and-forth in rough, animalistic motions, inserting itself fully between with every thrust and making her whimper and whine as she was so utterly stuffed with monster cock.

''Ah... p-please...'' Nicoloso managed to rasp out, her tongue thick in her mouth – her sea-blue eyes lidded with pain. ''Take... it out, please...''

The Scorpio tilted its head, slowing its thrusts... and then just as hope seemed possible, its tail came down, stabbing her just beneath her breast. This time it wasn't a cold venom but a hot one, eliciting a strangled gasp from Nicoloso as she felt the toxin rush through her bloodstream, reaching her heart in seconds and pumped throughout her body from there.

Quickly the stinging pain in her loins, the aching numbness, all of it seemed to vanish. And in its place came a searing, unfathomably warmth that lit up her nerves in the best way possible, a sharp, surprised moan escaping the Destroyer as her pussy suddenly tingled and burned, a needy flame ignited in her crotch that was only briefly satiated as the monstrous Scorpio began to thrust once more – jamming its dick into her pussy like the animal it was, only this time it made her feel wonderful.

''A-Ah! Y-Yesh...!'' Nicoloso cried out, throwing her head back with what little mobility she still had.

Some rational part of her reacted negatively, realising it'd done something to her and good feeling or no it was still a monster – but such thoughts became forcibly distant. With every thrust of its cock, its shaft scraping her walls and its bulbous tip kissing the innermost parts of her vagina, she saw stars and could only clench up like a spring coiled; the tension leaving her frame only when she managed to let out a moan. It felt easy at first, but as the monster continued to savagely pound her pussy, the slick squelch of its dick entering her increasingly-wet sex, moaning in time with its thrusts became a challenge.

Doubly so when the Scorpio slashed at her chest, ripping open her dress and groping her large boobs. Its claws cut her skin in places, bruises quick to form on her unblemished skin, but Nicoloso didn't care – moans spilling from her grinning lips as she unconsciously sunk into the pleasure, enjoying the thick monster cock that plunged between her needy petals and scratched all the right places.

Meanwhile Pompeo could only watch in horror as her comrade-in-arms turned from desperate fighter to pleasure-hungry bitch in seconds, her moans hoarse and needy like an animal in heat. The thought inspired fresh fear in the pink-haired Destroyer and she looked back over her shoulder as best she could, peering at the Scorpio currently fucking her from behind, its groin clapping her small ass and its dick filling her insides so much it hurt, but with lips pursed Pompeo managed to stay quiet. The tail didn't sting her.

Maybe it she just played the obedient role, it'd not sting her? Maybe she could-

Stab, right between her legs and up into her groin, practically over where her womb was. She felt the hot venom infiltrate her, the liquid heat getting in a vein and rapidly spreading out inside of her. Pompeo screwed her eyes shut and focused on it, feverishly repeating in her mind to not fall to whatever chemical tricks it did, and because of that she felt the warmth spread to her pussy acutely. It was a ticklish, molten heat, not unlike being under bed covers with a high fever – and when a light breeze blew by it felt like heaven on her achingly-hot crotch.

The venom spread further north, reaching her heart and leaving it burning-hot too. Still she resisted, reminding herself what happened to Nicoloso, but that didn't stop it from feeling good. The cosiness seemed to take away her pain and made the Scorpio's fucking feel quite nice actually, like its dick was rubbing and scratching all the spots her own fingers never would be able to reach, her insides clenching around its shaft and only amplifying her pleasure further. She whined at that, caught herself, but before she could mentally correct another whine of pleasure was forced out of her.

'No, remember Nicoloso, remember what it... it did... what did it...'

Her head felt fuzzy too, and a stilted moan escaped Pompeo as her ass was clapped harder now, her cheeks warm as the monster bruised them with its pounding thrusts. Its dick probably bruised her cervix too with how hard it was slamming into her but it felt oddly nice, in fact even breathing felt nice – every inhale leaving her lungs tingly and her nose itchy, but in a way that made her eyelids heavy and her lips warm, tempting her to rub them together with a muffled moan.

An act much harder as the Scorpio railed her from behind faster, her ass cheeks tingling as its hard groin smacked against them repeatedly – and then she mewled as it busted its load, warmth spreading through her pussy and tiny eggs fitting into her womb. Judging by Nicoloso's squeal, she was probably also impregnated at the same time.

'Impregnated...?' Pompeo's thoughts were light, airy; drifting without any sense or rational.

As such the pink-haired Destroyer offered little protest as she was turned over onto her back, gazing up at the distant canopy overhead with half-lidded eyes, paying the Scorpio no mind as it prepared to mate with her again, a glint far above it reflecting the light falling down on them.

...wait, glint?

Nary a second later a European-style sword plunged down, stabbing through the back of the Scorpio. The creature jerked its head back with a sharp hiss but barely got the noise out before the owner of the sword landed behind it, grabbed the weapon and yanked it up – bisecting the monster from the waist up.

Purple blood flew slow, the other two Scorpios turning to face the threat. Odin stared coldly back.

Then in a blur the Prototype Battlecruiser lunged, rushing the one atop Nicoloso. It pulled out and tried to get back but Odin was faster, slashing it across the neck and making it stagger before finishing it off with a blast of her left-hand cannons, her potent guns blowing the brittle creature apart. The other Scorpio had more time though; rushing at her with a hiss – only to duck down on three limbs, jutting its tail out towards her.

Odin side-stepped the attack and sliced it off. The Scorpio let out a shrill hiss, angry, but jerked back as Odin closed the distance. It got no further than a step back before her blade carved a fatal gash across its torso, sending it collapsing onto its back with a rasp... and then with a final twitch, it died, its body frozen stiff in its death throes.

''...hmph.'' Odin flicked her blade out to the side, getting the purple blood off of it. ''Aquila, are you able?''

''I-I can't... move...'' The carrier called out weakly, vocal cords struggling to form the sounds and causing her to slur a bit. ''Need... help...''

Odin nodded resolutely. ''I shall signal the others, then.''

Aquila's expression scrunched as much as able. ''H-How...?''

In response Odin's right arm glowed a vibrant, crystalline blue and she turned her gaze onto the sky. ''Herteitr's Rolling Thunder...''

She threw it up. ''Fire!''

The ambient light dimmed as the blue glow grew – and then with a bellow not unlike that of a Dragon came forth a roaring serpent of blue electricity, one that shrieked up into the sky and utterly obliterated anything in its way – tree, earth, canopy, everything, leaving naught but a towering column of blue light to pierce the very heavens.

The energy soon cut off, withering until only wisps dangled in the air. They too faded in seconds.

''There.'' Odin remarked, lowering her arm and holding her sword in her right hand once more. ''I doubt any will be able to miss that. Help will come. For now though-''

She held her blade over her shoulder.

The sharp tip of a scorpion's stinger bounced off of it.

Odin turned her gaze over her shoulder, icy eyes unflappable. ''Allow me to turn this bog into your grave.''

The pack of Scorpios hiding in the dense foliage behind her sneered, mandibles clicking – and without a word they charged.

To their deaths, or to their victory.

[END]

A/N: Bit more plot, bit more action, bit more smut.

Had the victims be outright ambushed this time rather than fight and be overwhelmed; more in-line with an ambush predator's style, indeed.

See you next time in Chapter 15: Giuseppe Garibaldi and Aoba~