Chapter 543: Feeding frenzy
The crocodile-beasts’ reaction was immediate. The first of them snapped its mandibles at the fresh meat almost as soon as it hit the water, proving the beast’s ferociousness.
The sight of mandibles large enough to cut a human’s arm like scissors emerging from the water and pulling back was impressive even from the faraway observation position Malevolence was at.
The beast also snapped the rope that the meat was attached to.
Other pieces of meat stayed untouched for a little while longer, thankfully. When the humans threw them into the water and began shaking, there was some time for them to spread vibrations and blood through the water before the rest of the crocodile-beasts noticed them.
"I hear the beasts’ thoughts, Grand Commander!" Eloquence said excitedly. "They smell the prey, and they will doubtlessly attack. They are all hungry."
"Of course. They always are," Malevolence replied. "Follow the plan."
The humans didn’t need extra orders to do so. When they saw the water splashing from the movements of crocodile-beasts’ powerful tails, they ran to their main forces as fast as they could, pulling their bait after them.
A few kilometres away, the humans readied their rifles, swords and spears; the bees buzzed around with their own weapons ready. Malevolence hovered in the midst of the swarm, clenching her own trusty rifle.
The pieces of meat left behind a thick trail of blood and food scent, which would doubtlessly force the crocodiles to follow. Earlier, Ramwill had confirmed—they were beasts more hungry than smart, and it was easy for them to go into a frenzy at the sight of blood.
But even she didn’t expect the force of the reaction that ensued!
Within a few seconds, the water came alive with dozens of bodies that swam out onto the shallow riverbank. Soon, the first few emerged from the water and chased the bait.
They moved with an eerie silence—not a single roar or click of mandibles—and their glassy eyes showed no emotion. Although with their flat bodies and short feet, they looked clumsy and awkward, they moved so fast that humans had a hard time staying ahead of them.
One of the crocodile-beasts lunged forward and snatched the bait meat off the rope. As it slowed down, two more beasts lunged for the same piece, and a scuffle between the monsters followed.
But four more beasts ran ahead in place of those that slowed down.
Malevolence’s eyes brightened.
This was going to be a good battle—the first for a long time of travelling overseas and smacking gnats.
She raised her rifle and shouted:
"FIGHT WELL! DON’T SHOW FEAR! KILL FOR FATHER! KILL FOR THE EMPIRE!"
With her telepathy, Malevolence sent this battlecry to the heads of her officers and of every human preparing to meet the crocodile-beasts.
Although she didn’t like using telepathy, sometimes it was worth the bother. The Bee Empire humans roared in response, along with bees, as they were used to hearing telepathic messages. Others were just jolted by it, but at least they looked slightly less ready to panic and flee.
This was done just in time.
A few seconds later, the bait-carriers and the crocodile-beasts that were closer and closer to them got close enough to shoot the crocodiles without hitting Malevolence’s own people.
"Fire at will!" she commanded, giving her signaller a gesture to spread the order.
Gunshot blasts thundered over the area. Malevolence’s command started a rain of bullets and stingers that began raining over the advancing beasts’ heads.
However, they barely slowed down. The hits from human-sized rifles made them pause and think, but everything that the bees poured on them with wasn’t even able to pierce their thick carapaces!
And even wounded, beasts continued to advance; they seemed to barely feel pain.
Malevolence saw some Warrior Bees near her widen their eyes in shock and fright at the sight of how impervious the crocodile-beasts were. But they would immediately remember their training and change tactics, trying to aim at vulnerable spots like eyes or even coordinate shots with their squads.
Some bees, like Sniper Bees, were aiming at vulnerable spots at the start. The crocodile-beasts’ eyes were covered with thick skin as a form of defence, but several coordinated shots from Snipers were able to pierce these and make the crocodile-beasts jerk with pain and even cry out.
But humans didn’t have the discipline of bees. When they saw how ineffective their weapons were there, and how determined their enemies were, they would gasp in fright.
And when they saw more and more crocodile-beasts emerging from the water, some of them even took a step back!
Since only human weapons were able to do noticeable damage to crocodile-beasts without a lot of effort, the low morale of human soldiers was alarming. But Malevolence didn’t show a single grain of worry.
After all, this volley of attacks was only another part of the bait!
The crocodiles were like hornets—at the sight of resistance, they only became more ferocious. Malevolence recognised this quality and was now using it. After the rain of bullets, even the crocodiles that got to the meat weren’t going to retreat from the chase!
The bait-carriers have reached the other humans and could finally drop their ropes and hide behind someone’s back. But their respite was going to be short-lived.
"Time for the second part of the plan," Malevolence said. "Signaller, new order! Organised retreat to point B!"
The signaller silently saluted and transferred the order. And following it, the humans turned tail and ran away from the approaching horde.
They ran as fast as they could, and they still could’ve been too slow if not for the bees covering their advance.
Now Malevolence gave an order to shoot with coordinated volleys and use stings instead of bullets. The poison proved to be effective—the beasts whose hides were pierced convulsed in pain from the stings.
Their advance didn’t stop, but it slowed down to the point where humans could reach their destination.
There, the tide was going to turn!