Darling in the FranXX: Insurrection

Chapter 8- Belly of the Beast

Hello boys, I'm back! Kudos to whoever gets the reference there. Anyway this chapter is special in several ways. First, it is the longest to have been written for either Insurrection or Homecoming at over 9k words. You may need to take this in multiple sittings as a result. Second and more importantly, this also marks the end of the first arc of our story. Now that it is complete I'd love to hear what everyone thinks so please don't hesitate to leave a review or comment! 

I'd also like to take a moment and thank FrozenSynapse for his help with this chapter and the revised versions of the previous ones that will be coming in the next week or so and welcome him as a member of my editing team. And now I've gone on long enough. On to why you're here, the chapter. Enjoy!

"It feels like we've been down here for hours," Futoshi complains. You take a quick glance towards the other FranXX, seeing the same exhaustion on each of their own faces. "That's because we have," you reply, returning your gaze to the clock in the cockpit. It reads 1940, nearly eight hours since you had begun the mission. "It is unfortunate that we have been unable to find a way out," Code 423 adds as Squad 13 continues to make their way down another dark tunnel. "I am more concerned that we haven't heard from 090," 426 states. "There is nothing to be worried about, right?" 690 asks. "I mean, he's the strongest pilot in our squad."

It has been close to an hour now since you had left the room containing the magma river and honeycomb storage structures. You all had fanned out across the entire room after destroying a small group of Klaxosaurs to explore, only to find the same repeating pattern of beautifully crafted honeycombs and more pulsating magma. The group had taken the time to refuel their FranXX, utilizing the magma energy contained in the specialized honeycombs, before moving onward.

"We haven't seen any Klaxosaurs recently either," Delphinium mumbles. Like Delphinium said, you haven't seen a single Klaxosaur since the ones you had dispatched in the illuminated room. For being this deep inside of the nest, it's starting to worry you. "Maybe... we got all of them?" Genista asks tentatively, her voice quivering. "I doubt it," Hiro replies. Unfortunately, you agree with Hiro.

Suddenly, Strelitzia holds up her fist at the front of the formation and the group grinds to a halt. She intently focuses on a point in the distance while she breathes in a large draught of air. "There are at least two Klaxosaurs in the next chamber," she states after tasting the air once more, "and they're bigger than what we've been fighting."

Genita and Delphinium nod their assent, but the Squad 26 FranXX aren't so enthusiastic."How can she tell?" Code 587 whispers. "Probably because she's one of them," 426 quietly answers. "Shut up or she'll hear you!" 423 hisses in reply.

"Alright guys, enough," you say, causing the members of Squad 26 to fall silent. "We have to keep moving," Delphinium continues as she draws the first of her two swords from its resting place on her back. "We'll take them by surprise if we can, but we're going to have to fight either way." The other FranXX nod and brandish their weapons, while Genista checks the contents of her cannon's revolving magazine. "Once we're in there, work together," you state. "No heroics, got it Zero Two?" There is a groan from Strelitzia's general direction, but she doesn't protest.

With that settled, the squad slowly makes their way into the chamber. Since the next cavern is extremely dark, Delphinium is one again in low-light mode, bathing your vision in grayscale.

Delphinium is the first to enter with Strelitzia close behind her. At a glance the room doesn't appear too large, but more importantly it appears empty. "I thought you said there were Klaxosaurs here," Delphinium whispers. "There are," Strelitzia sharply replies.

"AAAAHHH!" A scream comes from the rear of your formation. As you turn to face the sound you are shocked to find one of Squad 26's FranXX pinned to the ground, with a praying mantis-shaped Klaxosaur standing over her. The monster is easily one and a half times as tall as the FranXX, with two orb-shaped eyes that allow it to see in any direction. Not to mention the serrated blades that pass for forearms it has tucked against its chest.