Harem Legion: Queens of the Apocalypse-Chapter 220 The Crimson Core Unleashed

In that instant, a chilling thought shot through Magnus’s mind - Metal Crystals couldn’t keep the team safe anymore.

The first wave of Redlight Beasts - centipedes, spiders, giant mosquitoes - couldn’t do much to Awakened with Metal Crystals. At worst, they’d bind them tight and wait an hour until the crystal lost effect. Then, they’d feast.

But now, the second wave had come. These monsters didn’t wait. They swallowed people whole, Metal Crystals or not. Once a person died, the crystal lost power - easy meal.

And Fire Crystals? They barely fazed the Rat Beasts. Just like in Magnus’s past life in Springvale City - even fire couldn’t stop them. Their jaw strength alone could crush an Awakened in one hit. The Fire Crystal might burn them a little, but that meant nothing if you were already dead.

Inside the giant rooster’s stomach, Magnus curled into a tight ball, trying to minimize the pressure. His thoughts were racing - not because he wanted to reflect on life, but because he had to find a way out.

Every few seconds, the stomach muscles pushed and rolled him along. He kept count. Thirty-two seconds - it took that long to get shoved toward the top of the stomach, near what felt like the throat. A narrow opening, maybe a way out.

He’d held his breath for over two and a half minutes now. Dizziness crept in, his brain screamed for oxygen. This was the last shot. If he missed it, he’d pass out.

Timing it just right, his body surged upward again. He reached out, slapped his left hand over the black-ring tattoo on his right hand - summoned the Nature Crystal and crushed it instantly.

A thick log burst to full size in the monster’s stomach, forcing open a massive pocket of space. Gasping for breath, Magnus clung to the log as the rooster roared above, its cries like thunder pounding through his skull.

As the log expanded, it tore two gaping holes in the beast’s stomach. Blood poured in torrents. The rooster wasn’t done yet. Air from the throat rushed down. Magnus didn’t wait - he sparked his lighter and lit the log.

Blue fire ignited in a flash and roared outward, climbing up from the stomach and setting the enormous creature ablaze.

In under a minute, the beast collapsed. Magnus dropped from its burnt-out body, landing hard on one knee, gasping - but before he could recover, a wave of giant Rat Beasts slammed into him, flinging him through the air.

Mid-flight, he gripped the burning log tight and crashed back down. The log smashed into two of the beasts, setting them ablaze.

The burning rats shrieked, running wild as the others backed off in a panic. Wherever the blue flames spread, the Rat Beasts scattered, clearing space fast.

They weren’t mindless. They had some wits about them. Face-first on the ground, Magnus gasped for breath. The time spent suffocating had left his head spinning, his vision swaying like the world itself was tilted.

He pushed himself up with the burning wooden staff, eyes scanning the area - only to lock onto a pack of rat beasts encircling him, baring their teeth like starving wolves.

Were they afraid of the staff in his hands?

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than three rats charged in from different angles. Magnus swung both arms wide - his staff cracked into two of them with a loud smack. The third smashed into his back, launching him into the air.

Floating above, he saw clearly - every beast was swarming the spot he’d just been standing on. One of the rats leaped over three meters high. Its gaping mouth clamped down hard on his thigh.

But with the Metal Crystal shielding him, there was no pain. He yanked the burning staff down hard. The rat shrieked as it crashed to the ground with him. The others scattered again like waves breaking on rock.

The staff burned blue but was thinner than before. Magnus scanned the sea of rat beasts - none had backed off. They were waiting for his Nature Crystal to burn out.

Before he could think further, a scream pierced the air from ahead. A woman - sounded like Sophia.

Panic hit him. Magnus bolted toward the sound, swinging left and right - cracking two rats aside. But another smashed into his side, sending him flying again. Midair, another rat lunged and clamped its teeth around him.

He gritted his teeth. If this dragged on, Sophia wouldn’t make it.

Still airborne, fury rose in his chest - not just at the beasts, but at Sophia’s recklessness. He lashed the staff downward, smashing the rodent beneath him. They crashed to the ground together.

These damned rats weren’t letting up.

Magnus rose, swept his staff wide toward the incoming horde - the rats flinched back. He whirled and did the same the other way. Same reaction.

But just as fast, four more rats came charging again, each from a different side.

"Son of a - are you ever done?!"

He cursed aloud, body smashing through air again. But this time, he’d lost patience playing games with these things.

As soon as he landed, his legs pushed hard off the ground. With a clean leap, he landed right on top of the nearest rat. Flames burst on contact. The creature screeched in agony, flailing wildly. Magnus lost his footing and crashed sideways into the dirt. Another swarm charged him head-on.

He swung the staff blindly, the burning weapon cracking bone and flesh as he fought to keep breathing.

Lying flat again, sweat stinging his eyes, Magnus blinked past the rats to spot something - just beyond them, the old grain store’s gate.

And with it came a sudden memory - Lucy’s hand holding out that dark red crystal.

That was it. The deep red crystal!

There were only eleven of them out of all thirty-three meteorites. Rarer even than Life Crystals.

What was this thing? Could it be the key to beating these bastards?