《Anlova in Flames Vol 1》 0. Prologue Year 708 of the New World. "...They''re dead... By Ibelir, Garbe, they''ve been dismembered." Upon hearing that, Garbe''s heart, a corporal in the National Defense Corps of Ibelir, clenched in his chest. "It can''t be... Intruders? The alarm hasn''t gone off," he thought, feeling a knot form in his stomach. "Michael, zoom in on A-5," Garbe ordered through the communicator in his helmet. The vapor produced by his words climbed through the air before disappearing. "Do you see any openings in the fence?" The control room operator focused the camera on the indicated area. The fence was intact. "There are no openings..." murmured Michael, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "It''s okay. Calm down," said Garbe. Although he didn''t know if he was saying it to his friend or to himself. "Check A-8 and A-9." A sound of intermittent beeps was softly heard through the communicator. The corporal of the National Defense Corps of Ibelir looked down at the cyber tablet on his left forearm. On the screen, the icon of the general channel was blinking. Someone was talking. "Michael, one second," he said and switched channels. The sound of gunfire and growls like those of a beast filled Garbe''s helmet. "What the hell is that!?" shouted a terrified soldier, as the gunfire continued. "It''s not going down, damn it, that thing won''t fall! Keep shooting, damn it!" A chill ran down the corporal''s body. A chill ran down the corporal''s body. "Renton, this is Corporal Garbe. What''s happening?" The sound of heavy footsteps approached the transmission''s origin as the sounds of gunfire and screams attempting to face the fear continued. And then, a chilling roar overlaid all other sounds, and then... everything went silent. "Renton?" His heart was hammering in his chest. "Renton, do you hear me? For Ibelir''s sake, answer!" "Your end has come, pathetic mortals," said a sinister voice, followed by the sound of a helmet being crushed. Garbe was paralyzed. What could have such strength as to destroy a helmet? Perhaps an Odrox from the Savages? But it was impossible for such a creature to have entered the premises without triggering the alarms. Had a soldier or operator mutated? But that didn''t fit either. Even if there had been a source of corrupt magic large enough to mutate someone so much and in such a short time, it was impossible for a mutant to have said that... The intermittent beeping again. On the cyber tablet screen, Michael''s icon blinked. He tapped it. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck," Michael''s repeated word came out of his mouth faster than bullets from a machine gun. The alarm resounded throughout the plant, and the light beam from the guard tower began to search for intruders. However, Garbe had many years of experience working at that auxiliary plant and knew exactly where each of the soldiers guarding that night was located; The intruder was heading to the machine room. There was no time to waste. If the power went out, they would be defenseless against the dangers that inhabited the darkness outside. He switched channels. "This is Corporal Garbe." He felt panic take over his body. "We have intruders in the machine room... Whatever that is, we have to stop it before..." The power was abruptly cut off, leaving the complex only with emergency lights and the fence unpowered. They were screwed. "Does anyone copy?" asked Garbe. The only response he got was the sound of interference accompanied by the echo of gunfire from different points. He switched channels again. "Michael, do you copy?" Nothing. Just static. Garbe cursed. The corporal was on the other side of the auxiliary plant, but he couldn''t risk leaving the situation in the hands of his soldiers. He had to reach the machine room and restore the power... Even if that meant facing whatever... that was. "Joel," Garbe said to the soldier next to him. "Let''s go." But just as they were about to move, a loud guttural sound came from the darkness of the parking lot. "Were the Savages waiting outside? Or are our companions really mutating?" Garbe signaled to Joel, and they approached slowly, pointing with the flashlight attached to their HK52 assault rifle. The sound intensified until behind some cars, three humans with various mutations appeared. One of them had an arm full of tentacles, and his elongated, flaccid head seemed an extension of his corrupt arm. Another had goat legs, nails like claws, and a huge mouth lined with teeth that looked like blades. The third had a disproportionately large head, and numerous bones from his body had pierced the flesh, forming horn-like projections. "Fire!" shouted Garbe as he pulled the trigger of his rifle. A burst of bullets shot from his weapon, hitting the tentacled mutant in the head. Without worrying about his companion''s reaction, Garbe twisted his waist slightly and tried to take down the one with goat legs, but it was quicker and dodged to the side to avoid the bullets. The mutant leaped to pounce on him, and Garbe was thankful when his nerves allowed him to shoot again. The impact of the bullets in the creature''s chest made it fall lifelessly to the ground. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. However, Joel''s nerves weren''t as steady as his superior''s, and as soon as he saw the monster approaching him with its mouth wide open, he didn''t hesitate to empty the magazine. By the time Garbe aimed with his rifle, the mutant had become a sieve. In any other situation, the corporal would have reprimanded him for emptying a whole magazine like that, but given the circumstances, he was just thankful Joel hadn''t run away. "It''s over, soldier, calm down," he told him, placing his hand on the shoulder protector. "Come on, we have to hurry." "Yes... yes," the soldier replied, his finger still on the trigger. Garbe approached the mutants and gave them a quick look. None of them wore any of the uniforms seen around the plant. That meant the mutants had been waiting outside, hidden in the darkness. He swallowed hard. "What the hell is going on here?" he thought before leaving. Upon reaching one of the auxiliary buildings, Garbe and Joel saw two soldiers from the National Defense Corps firing, sheltered on the stairs leading to the building''s entrance door. They slowed down, bent their knees, and tried to control their breathing. They advanced on the flank and joined the shootout. The combined fire of the four soldiers quickly finished off the bloodthirsty mutants. "Lairi, Teik, are you okay?" asked the Corporal. "Thanks to you, we only have some wounds. Most of the blood isn''t ours," Lairi answered. "Where did all those mutants come from?" Teik said, trying to regain his composure. "No idea, but we don''t have time to think about that. We need to restore the generators as soon as possible." The soldiers nodded and advanced in formation through the chiaroscuro created by a few emergency lights distributed around the complex, giving it an even more disturbing appearance. Garbe tried to speak again on the private channel with Michael but couldn''t. He wished it was just because of the interference and not something worse. Along the way, they took down a couple more mutants and saw some type of flying creature enter the watchtower and tear apart the soldiers inside. Their bodies fell into the void, leaving a crimson trail in the air. "Fuck, what the hell was that?" Joel asked, without stopping running. "I have no idea. I just hope it doesn''t come after us," Garbe replied. Shortly after, the soldiers reached the runic towers. These converted magical currents into electrical discharges which, through graphene plates, runic transformers, and mega batteries, turned into electrical energy that was then distributed throughout the state along with the other plants. From there, they saw two other soldiers from the National Defense Corps coming out of the parallel path leading to the entrance of the rectangular machine room building, and starting to shoot. "Let''s go, quick, we have to help them," said the soldier Lairi, and the others followed her. But before they could reach a safe position to shoot, a mutant with tattered skin pierced the neck of one of the shooting soldiers with its arm shaped like a sharp bone, and another gaunt-looking mutant with teeth like razors tore out the throat of the other with a bite. "Sons of bitches!" Lairi shouted, firing as she advanced. "Die!" yelled Teik, following his companion. "Die!" repeated Joel. Garbe cursed and followed his comrades. Joel took down several mutants that approached him as he opened fire indiscriminately, but just as a new mutant with claws and a mouth in its stomach appeared on his right, the bullets stopped coming out of the barrel of his gun. Joel managed to react when the mutant pounced on him, and he stabbed it in the neck with the bayonet of his rifle. However, another mutant with a sort of pincer instead of a hand, came out from his left and violently decapitated him. Garbe pulled the bayonet out of a mutant''s head, and while reloading, saw Joel''s head brutally torn off, leaving a red trail, while Lairi was impaled over and over by a mutant that had a spike for a fist and a single eye that nearly covered its whole head. Garbe fired a burst at the one with the pincer, hitting where a normal human''s heart would be, and then finished off the absurdly fat mutant. Teik, with rage, gunned down the single-eyed mutant that had killed his companion. When they finally finished them all off, they had barely any bullets left, and the ground was littered with bodies and blood. Both had numerous wounds, and their bodies hurt and weighed them down. They were out of breath and all they wanted was to get out of there, but still, they headed to the door of the machine room building. Duty came first. "Are you ready?" Garbe asked, gasping for air as he leaned against the wall. "No sir, and you?" Teik asked. "How could I be?" Garbe tried to catch his breath and looked up before returning his gaze to the soldier. "Damn, if I had known, I would have gone back to fucking Jasmina last night." This was no longer a conversation between a superior and his subordinate, but between two brothers in arms standing at death''s door. "I would have preferred to have the day off today..." "True..." Garbe said with a smile. "Shall we go in?" "I just hope whatever it was, it''s not there anymore," Teik answered. "Yes... me too..." Upon entering the building, an unpleasant aroma composed of the smell of copper mixed with urine, feces, and a hint of scorched machinery filled their noses. The floor was covered with the bodies of dismembered operators and soldiers, intestines, and blood. The machines and devices responsible for the operation of the rune-electric plant were turned off and bathed in red. They bore numerous marks, and there were cut high-tension cables. Sparks flew from one side to the other. Teik vomited. Garbe had to muster all his willpower not to do the same. After a few seconds, the corporal made some signs to his subordinate and cautiously moved forward through one of the corridors flanking the huge batteries. His heart pounded fiercely as he avoided the limbs and scattered intestines. A scream of terror echoed through the room. "Teik!" Garbe turned and headed towards the origin of the terrifying sound with his weapon aimed. When he arrived, he found the body of the soldier cut into several pieces. "Get out of here!" his mind screamed at him. Heavy, thudding footsteps were heard behind him. He was dead. He knew it. But he forced himself to turn around. It was then when he saw something only mentioned in ancient stories, horror movies, and by some madmen. Instinctively, his brain immediately transmitted the order to press the trigger with his index finger. But no matter how much he tried while his head moved away from the crimson source his body had become, he couldn''t do it. After crashing into a machine and rolling a couple of times on the floor, he understood why his finger wasn''t moving. Fortunately for him, by the time his head was crushed, he had already lost consciousness. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This chapter is a translation done with chat GPT from my original work in Spanish "Anlova en Llamas" (Anlova In Flames). Any correction for something mistranslated would be appreciated. Did you like the chapter? Hit vote so the work can reach more people. What did you think of the chapter? Leave me a comment and tell me about it. Do you want to be notified every time a chapter is released and be able to read publications I write? Hit follow and don''t miss out. Novel written by Javier Martinez Soliva. All rights reserved. Protected by Safe Creative First Part. Characters, Synopsis. Synopsis:
A group of soldiers from the Fierce Stewards Regiment and a combat mage from Catlon''s magical tower are sent to the Tagrei runic-electric auxiliary plant after receiving a message that only said "Attack" and "Demon." As they fight their way through the mutants to find out what happened at the plant, the soldiers discover terrible creatures that are more than just mutants; they have a demonic appearance and can take human form. The plot follows several key characters as they face their own fears, betrayals, and the horrors of war in an attempt to save their state, and perhaps the world. Main and Secondary Characters
Eliad:
Isen:
Neisa:
Andr:
Dragen:
Bargu:
Raed:
Linalta: Other Characters
Sebastin:
Colonel Froel:
Captain Lorenzo:
Corporal Chelne:
Corporal Eko:
Corporal Ramn:
Miriam:
Burmac:
Ordwulf:
Elen:
Ricty:
Michael: 1. The Black Cross hunter
Eliad pulled up the hood of his red leather trench coat with green trim. It was one of those that had once been recognized as a symbol of his order of the Black Cross Hunters, but now, for the vast majority of people, it was just another piece of clothing.
Eliad touched the touchscreen of the runic device on his left forearm, and a small holographic map appeared in the air. On it, a black dot rested over Catlon, one of the four macrocities that housed Anlova; one of the two hundred seventy-two states that made up the largest and most powerful country in the world; Ibelir, also known as the United States of Ibelir.
"I hope you''re still alive, brother,"
Due to the limited range of runic devices, and the few brothers and bases left worldwide, members of his order were often on the move in search of possible demonic appearances, which, to their joy or dismay, were increasingly on the rise.
The roads and alternative paths were a dangerous place for travelers. Not only because of their condition or shape, the magical corruption, or even the abundant Raiders, but above all, because of the different races that made up the species of the "Savages." These generally lived all over the world in the form of gangs or even roaming armies that ravaged and plundered everything in their path.
Eliad saw some vehicles approaching in the distance, so he preferred to veer slightly and head down one of the secondary paths through the shrubs of the devastated land. A few kilometers later, he took a detour and returned to the main road.
The beep and flashing light of his runic device caught his attention. Eliad pressed a button on the handlebar, and a holographic screen appeared behind the motorcycle''s dome. A red dot now indicated where a level 1 demon, also known as "Born," had appeared. These were, relatively speaking, easy targets. Even a normal person with a weapon and appropriate military experience could defeat them.
For a moment, Eliad thought about continuing on his way. He had already lost Lucio and Dalia, and he wasn''t sure he could also bear the death of his best friend. However, he knew that only members of his order could truly kill the demons. So, he finally turned towards the location of the appearance.
The signal led him to a roadside bar known as "The Tire," and like many others, the place was a mix between a grim-looking bar and an improvised fortification. In the center was a large sign featuring a spiked tire and the name of the bar in black letters. On the rooftop and some balconies of the building, several unfriendly-looking guards equipped with submachine guns and other automatic weapons watched over the premises. A wall of almost two meters, made of various metals, surrounded the entire venue. Having a bar away from the law and the safety of the macrocities had its risks. But also, its benefits.
Eliad parked his motorcycle in the half-empty parking lot and walked into the establishment. Inside, the kitchen and a bar shaped like a staple were on one side of the venue. The rest of the vast space was occupied by black wooden tables with numerous empty drinks and a small stage attached to the wall. Several humans and some Savages occupied parts of the bar and tables. In both corners, there were stairs going up and down. The decoration of the place was somewhat dense and consisted mostly of tires of different types. It also housed weapons, chains, photos, and a national flag. Natural light entered through the few windows, leaving much of the interior in slight shadows.
Eliad headed to one of the empty stools at the bar and sat down. At first glance, none of the patrons or the attendant seemed to have any trace of mutations, so for the moment he dismissed the idea that there were any corrupted in the bar. On the other hand, the place showed no signs of violence, which meant that the possession had surely occurred on another floor.
However, that did not mean that the Born was not there, hidden among the customers.
"A double black rum with lots of ice, please," he said aloud when he caught the bartender''s attention.
"Right away."
Eliad focused and tried to detect the magical currents to see if any trace of corruption had remained in the room. All the sounds around him diminished until they fell silent, and gradually he began to notice the thousands of magic particles floating throughout the floor. Coming from the staircase in the corner near where he was, he noticed a current of corrupt magic particles descending from the first floor and fading among the magical particles of the ground floor. This confirmed the theory that the Born must have taken over its victim''s body on an upper floor and then come down in its humanoid form. Any of those present could be the demon.
The question was which one of them it was.
The possession process of the Born was the simplest of all demons, but at the same time, the most imprecise. This was because the Born were attracted to mortals who, regardless of the species, shared some of the traits of the so-called "Original Demons," such as anger or greed.
"Here you go," said the bartender as he set the glass on the bar.
Eliad opened his eyes and took the opportunity to study the bartender. He looked tired and pale, likely from working too many hours in a poorly paid and often unappreciated job. Such a person could be possessed by a Born of Sorrow. These were among the most disturbing, as contrary to what their name might suggest, demons with a core from the Original Demon of Sorrow not only wallowed in their own misery and used it to lure their victims, but they also enjoyed making others feel sad and miserable. However, the bartender didn''t seem to behave like one of them, so Eliad initially ruled him out.
"Thank you."
Eliad grabbed the glass with one hand and took a sip. He savored the rum, set it down on the table, and glanced sideways at the Savages. Both had the same face paint, so they must belong to the same band or army.
One of them, a grok, was drinking a huge mug of beer as if it were water and he had been without drink for days. Standing around one ninety-something, groks were taller, bulkier, and more muscular than humans. Their voluminous heads had fierce, marked faces with ears ending in two uneven points and mouths full of sharp teeth.
The other, a tralf, stabbed the remnants of food on his plate with his knife while watching the rest of the patrons with interest. Tralfs, who averaged about one sixty in height, were shorter and slimmer than humans. Their heads were elongated with prominent chins, pointed ears and noses, and wide mouths. Their faces often bore expressions of amusement and malice.
One thing all the races that made up the so-called savages shared was that the tone of their skin varied similarly to mud and clay, and their eyes were usually red, yellow, or blue.
As for demons, groks were often possessed by Born of Anger or Gluttony. The former were the embodiment of pure violence and had the least endurance, often leaving true rivers of blood in their wake. The latter were demons that relished feeding on all kinds of living beings and could rarely resist indulging in such delicacies.
Meanwhile, tralfs were more often possessed by Born of Spite or Greed. These demons, after succumbing to the ecstasy of possession (which was common among all types of demons), would typically hide under their mortal skin while concocting malicious plans to achieve their ends.
The Black Cross Hunter dismissed the tralf as a potential candidate, and his gaze shifted to the humans at the bar. Unlike most of the savage races that had more defined and simple personality types, humans were one of the most complicated species due to the fact that while some humans were black or white, many others were various shades of grey. This meant that there was a wide range of personalities with all kinds of feelings. In other words, they could be possessed by all types of demons.
Eliad drank again and observed the humans in front of him and the savages. They were dressed in leather jackets with iconography on the back, chains, rings, and striking hairstyles. They drank and laughed like brothers, and occasionally shouted at the bartender. They were likely Raiders, who generally were possessed by violent, sexual, or Machiavellian demons. If any of them had been possessed by a Born of Anger, there would be more than one body lying around and some broken furniture, and if it had been by one of Lust, they would likely be trying to fornicate with the woman at the bar or some man. So, for the moment, he also dismissed that idea, but he did not rule out that one of them could have been possessed by a Born of Spite, or Greed.
"What''s available to eat?" asked Eliad as the bartender passed by his side. This could take a while, and he wanted to make the most of the fact that the apparition had led him to a bar. It had been a long time since Eliad had felt nervous about the possibility of being near a demon lurking from inside its mortal body.
"At this time, pastries or toast..." the bartender began to say, then suddenly stopped as if he had remembered something. "But in a while, we start with lunch, so if you wait a bit, you can order a sandwich. The cook is making meatballs, meat in sauce, and roasted peppers."
"Thank you. I think I''ll wait then."
Eliad turned and observed from his seat the customers at the tables. Near the stage, there was another group of four humans who appeared to be Raiders. He moved past them and focused on two humans occupying one of the central tables. They wore suits and were reviewing documents while smoking and drinking. They must be businessmen or corrupt politicians conducting some of their deals away from the eyes of the members of the National Defense Corps and nosy journalists. Their kind often were possessed by Born of Greed. Other possible suspects.
At tables nearby, two different groups of humans dressed in bulletproof and blade-proof armor drank beer while talking and watching their surroundings. All of them carried a holstered pistol. Mercenaries. Another type of people who posed a wide range of possible Borns. Eliad cursed inwardly. Not knowing what type of Born had appeared was a major nuisance.
Finally, the Black Cross Hunter glanced at a group of twenty-somethings seated at a table near the door. They were taking pictures with their cyber tablets while drinking coffee and laughing as if the world was not a cruel and ruthless place. They exuded so much innocence and happiness that it almost seemed suspicious. Eliad wondered if they would still be alive by the end of the day.
"So meatballs and meat in sauce, huh?" The high pitch of the words caught Eliad''s attention. It was one of the Raiders at the bar. "I bet you''ve used rat meat again, right?"
The bartender wiped the sweat off with a handkerchief and turned to answer the customer without looking him in the eyes.
"No, no... I assure you it''s not rat meat today. Why don''t you stay and try it? I''m sure you''ll like it."
"And bullshit, idiot. You can''t fool me, I''m sick of your damn rat food."
"Well, if you don''t like it, you don''t have to come..." murmured the bartender.
Suddenly, the customer grabbed the bartender by the shirt and pulled him close. Half of his body leaned over the bar. Their faces were barely apart.
Eliad took another sip of his rum, swirling the alcoholic liquid around his mouth. The situation was getting interesting.
"Are you trying to screw me over, Nil?" the customer asked angrily.
"No, Steson," replied the intimidated bartender.
Then there was a loud thump of some kind of glass against the table and a deep grunt. It had been the grok. Eliad turned his head slightly and glanced at him.
"More beer," he gruffly demanded in his savage accent.
"Better hurry, human," added the tralf in Ibelirian while cleaning the dirt from his nails with his knife. "Gulshag does not like to wait."
"I''m sorry, Steson, but the gentleman wants more beer," said the bartender, placing one of his hands on the forearm of his aggressor. Clearly, he was more afraid of the savage than of him. "Please, let me go."
Steson saw the grok''s face wrinkling more and more with impatience for his drink, and after clicking his tongue, he released the bartender.
"Go, idiot. And if we haven''t left yet, it''s because that bastard Treor hasn''t come back since he went up with Esla."
That caught his attention. Eliad was sure that the Born had possessed its victim on one of the upper floors, so there was a possibility that either Treor or Esla had become the demon, and in the ecstasy of possession had killed the other. However, the trail of corrupt magic disappeared on the ground floor, indicating that the demon had descended at least once in its humanoid form. Most likely, one of the two had been possessed earlier, and after killing a first victim, had come down and invited the other to draw them away from the view of others.
The bartender did not reply and hurried to serve another beer. The grok grabbed the mug tightly and drank.
"Esla! Where the hell is Treor?" Steson asked a few minutes later to a human woman who had just come down the stairs near the bar, a few meters from where Eliad and the Savages were sitting. "We''ve been waiting forever!"
Eliad turned and studied the woman. By the way she was dressed, she was undoubtedly a prostitute. The human was not overly beautiful, but she had a good figure and a look of vice, which was undoubtedly a dangerous combination for any drunken client.
"A Born of Lust, perhaps?"
Demons with the core of the original demon of Lust enjoyed having sex with all kinds of mortals the most, and many of their victims left this world with a final scream of pleasure.
"Treor? He left the room as soon as we finished." Esla looked at Eliad and winked at him.
"Are you saying he left without us?" Steson kicked a stool away and headed towards the woman euphorically, followed by his friends. "Do you think I''m blind? Treor hasn''t come this way! Plus, our damn truck is still out there, so no matter how you look at it, it''s impossible that he''s gone!"
"And what do you want from me? Do you think I''m his mother? I''m telling you, I fucked him and he left."
"Lying bitch!"
"Ooh," said Esla with a pitiful face. "Are you going to cry because he left without you?" Laughter echoed throughout the bar.
"Damn bitch!" Steson shouted, raising his fist. "I swear you''re going to regret this!"
"Whats wrong? Going to hit me? Want me to tell the security and have them put a bullet up your ass, clown?"
Eliad thought that undoubtedly her bravado must be one of her charms in bed. However, if she really was a Born of Lust, this could end very badly.
"Well, she''d get what she deserves"
Far from feeling threatened, Steson pulled out a knife and stepped forward. But before he realized it, Eliad put the hand holding the weapon on his back and smashed his face against the bar. The loud noise attracted the attention of all the patrons. Drops of blood mixed with the stains of alcohol.
"Fight!" shouted the grok, who smashed his mug by slamming it on the table.
"We''re going to kill you, bastard!" screamed one of Stesons friends.
Eliad delivered a rear kick to the stomach of the first assailant who approached him, then threw Steson''s body to the ground. The other assailant, not making the same mistake, tried to strike him with one of the spiked metal knuckle guards he wore. Eliad dodged with a spin and elbowed him in the eye.
Steson, in pain, got up slightly and tried to approach Eliad with the knife, but the Black Cross hunter pulled out one of his semi-automatic pistols and held it almost to his forehead. With the other, he aimed at his friends.
"Get out of here if you value your lives."
"This isnt over, you freak," Steson said as he moved out of the path of the gun and approached his comrades. "I swear we''ll meet again and next time I won''t hold back."
Steson and the other two left the bar, and Eliad turned his gaze to the bar. The grok was standing, ready to also engage in a fight.
"Not today, big guy," Eliad said, looking him squarely in the eye. The grok met his challenging gaze, and for a few seconds, the tension was palpable in the venue again.
"More beer!" the grok finally grunted after looking away and slapping the savage next to him. The tralf touched his inflamed cheek, and for a moment, seemed to hesitate whether to stab him with one of his knives or not.
"Oh look, we have a hero here," Esla said as she slid her finger down the coat of her savior and gazed into his grey-green eyes.
"Heroes don''t exist."
"Well, you''ve been one to me, and I know just how I could thank you." Esla grabbed his arm and turned around. "Come on, come with me, handsome," she said before moving erotically and pulling him along.
"It''s her. She''s trying to seduce me to kill me."
Eliad decided to play along and they both went upstairs to the second floor. There, the staff rooms were located, which also accommodated the companion girls. As they entered the pristine room, Esla began to kiss him passionately and he firmly grabbed her buttocks. They moved, bumping against the walls while groping each other, and then she pulled down his pants and began to suck him off, feeling it grow larger and larger in her mouth while she touched her private parts. Then she placed it between her large breasts and began to stroke him with them. No doubt the excitement and lack of sex for quite some time made him feel like releasing everything as quickly as a novice might.
"I think I''m going to..."
"Give it all to me, darling," she said with a lascivious smile.
Eliad slid one of his hands over the hilt of the sword he carried on his back, preparing to finish her off. Born of Pleasure transformed after their victim or they themselves had an orgasm, and the hunter was about to have one.
But it did not happen. Not even when she brought herself to orgasm a few seconds later.
"Whew, I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did," said Esla. "This one''s on the house for saving me, and because, why lie, you turned me on. But next time I''ll have to charge you, room rent isn''t free. But I promise you a discount."
"It can''t be, if it were of a higher rank, it would make more sense, but a Born of Lust can''t help transforming after having or causing an orgasm. Unless... Esla is not a Born of Lust. Damn."
But if it wasn''t her, then who was the Born? The tralf? One of the suited men or their bodyguards? One of the other humans who seemed like Raiders?
"Today it''s not rat meat, I assure you."
Could it be that the bartender had been possessed by a Born of Gluttony? Those demons liked to eat their victims, whether raw or cooked. But then, why give the meat to the cook to prepare food for others to eat? Something so twisted was more typical of...
"Are Steson and the rest regulars?" Eliad asked.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"And are they always such assholes?"
"Yes, they''ve been a real pain for poor Nil. More than once the security had to throw them out. One time it almost came to gunfire. But that''s what you get working at a roadside bar. You meet customers like that or worse every day."
Then Eliad was clear. It was not a Born of Gluttony or Lust, but one of Spite. Theirs were among the best at camouflaging among mortals until they achieved their cruel revenge. And what could be crueler than killing one of the bastards who had abused him and then trying to make the customers who had made his life miserable eat him?
Eliad left Esla in her room and started down the stairs. If Nil was a Born of Spite, he would try to take revenge on another customer sooner or later. And then he would be there to finish him off.
But to his surprise, Nil was no longer behind the bar. In his place were two other bartenders. In one corner, there was an armed guard.
"Excuse me, where''s Nil?" he asked one of them.
"His shift has ended."
"Did he go up to the staff rooms?"
"No. That''s the strangest thing of all. He left with Steson as if they were friends for life."
"Damn! Have those idiots come back? "
"Did you see which way they went?"
"Toward Catlon."
Eliad dashed out of the bar and jumped onto his motorcycle to chase after the bartender. He briefly checked his device and saw that it hadn''t beeped again, so at least he knew Nil hadn''t transformed yet. He twisted the throttle hard and skidded out of the parking lot, attracting the attention of the rooftop guards and the occupants of a car entering. He continued down the road toward Catlon, and just as he saw a van appear by the roadside, a red dot appeared on his holographic display near his location. He accelerated even more, and as he drew level with Steson''s vehicle, he swerved off the road into the dirt.
From a distance, he saw a greyish creature surrounded by three humans who were slowly walking away, fearful of turning around. As he approached them, he could make out the features of the demon. It was the size of a human but walked slightly hunched over. A thin layer of black scales covered parts of its taut skin. A line of tiny horns circled its broad head with a prominent chin, flat nose, and sharp teeth. Half of its left arm was a mix of blade and flesh, and from the hand of its right arm, long, curved claws protruded. Standing before him was Steson, flanked by his friends.
Eliad pressed a button and two rifle barrels emerged from a compartment at the front of the motorcycle.
Suddenly, the demon that Nil had become lunged forward, embedding the claws of his right hand in the head of his former tormentor, and with a single swipe, severed it from the body. Then, he raised it and looked at it maliciously. The terror screams of Steson''s friends merged with the sadistic laughter of the former bartender.
Eliad pressed another button while continuing to approach, and a burst of bullets flew from the barrels, hitting several parts of Nil''s new body. The demon groaned in pain, and seeing a motorcycle speeding toward him, he turned around, threw Steson''s head to the ground, and started to flee.
However, Eliad had no intention of letting him escape. A new barrage of projectiles pierced the demon''s flesh, and it rolled on the ground as its pursuer sped past. Eliad turned with another skid and faced his bike towards his prey, who was beginning to get up.
"Damn cheater. Get off the bike and fight like a man!" Compared to Nil''s voice, the demon''s was higher-pitched and seemed somewhat distorted.
"Funny for a demon to say that. Especially one of the Core of Spite." Eliad shrugged. "But fine, we''ll do it your way."
The Black Cross hunter dismounted his motorcycle and unsheathed his sword as he slowly approached his rival. The demon smiled and met him at the same pace. When they were just a few meters apart, the demon lunged at his opponent with superhuman speed. Eliad leaned slightly backward, and the demon''s claws passed in front of his eyes. Then he saw the demon''s blade arm swing in an arc, and this time he used his sword to block the attack. The blades collided and a metallic sound echoed. A few seconds later they separated, and Eliad counterattacked with a swift movement of his wrists and hips. The Black Cross hunter''s sword tore through the belly of the former bartender, and a scream of indescribable pain spread across the clearing.
The demon stepped back several paces, hunched over and clutching the wound. A thin stream of purple blood began to trickle down his stomach.
"What kind of sword sorcery is that, damn human?"
"It hurts, doesn''t it? It''s a demon-slaying sword. They''re made from a special material capable of tearing through your very essence."
"That can''t be!"
"Die." Eliad approached his prey, ready to deliver the final blow.
"Wait!" the demon suddenly said, raising his hand in a gesture of peace. "Why do you stand in my way, human? Those wretches deserve to die."
"Perhaps. But it''s not for me to judge them," said Eliad. "My job is to end those of your kind."
"Damn you!" The demon lunged again at the hunter in a desperate attempt to finish him. However, Eliad was quicker, and the blade of his sword plunged into his heart.
Nil fell to his knees and watched as his body gradually disintegrated until there was nothing left of him.
"What... what the hell are you?" asked Steson''s other friend as he passed by on his motorcycle. He had wet himself.
"A forgotten one."
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This chapter is a translation done with chat GPT from my original work in Spanish "Anlova en Llamas" (Anlova In Flames).
Any correction for something mistranslated would be appreciated.
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Novel written by Javier Martinez Soliva. All rights reserved.
Protected by Safe Creative 2. The Combat Mage. The sound of footsteps approaching broke the reigning silence of the library. Isen turned the page of the magic book he was reading, and before continuing, settled back into the padded backrest of the wooden chair. "Combat Mage Isen," said a voice. Isen sighed and looked up. He didn''t like being interrupted while reading. "Yes?" The apprentice mage hurried to bow as Isen''s cold eyes met his. He was not the first to be discomfited by them. Even his parents had felt uncomfortable when their eyes met. "I''m sorry to interrupt you, master. The guardian of Linalta Tower has sent me to fetch you." "She could have sent a message to my cybertable," Isen returned his gaze to the book. "What does she want?" "She didn''t mention it. She just told me to tell you to come to her office." "Very well. You may go," said Isen dismissively. The apprentice mage bowed again and left the library. Isen closed the book, returned it to its place, and headed to the office of the tower guardian. The magic tower of Catlon was the second largest of the three towers that currently made up the Magic Brigade of Anlova (there had been a fourth in Tarefor, but it had been destroyed in a revolt). The cylindrical tower, with an internal garden connecting all the floors, housed numerous spaces dedicated to knowledge, learning, and training in the magical arts, in addition to residential rooms, kitchens, and offices. The lives of most military and civilian mages took place within those walls. Upon reaching the office of the tower guardian, Isen gently knocked on the door with his index finger bent. "Come in," said a soft voice. "Excuse me." Isen opened the door and entered. The office was irregularly octagonal with pronounced peaks. The room was filled with shelves holding all kinds of books. In one corner, a narrow spiral staircase led up to a circular platform with a railing. On one wall was a map of all Terrarum drawn on rough paper that mimicked parchment. On another, there was a window overlooking the inner garden. In front of it, seated on a padded armchair, the tower guardian was reviewing one of the many books and manuscripts on her mahogany wood desk. Like him, the guardian of Linalta Tower was an aehul. Physically, aehuls were similar to humans in terms of height and variety of skin tones, but they had slightly pointed ears and their build was somewhat more fragile. Most of them were blond or brunette with light eyes, and were often synonymous with beauty, featuring porcelain faces, smooth skin, and fine eyebrows. Eloquence was one of the most famous traits of their species, although Isen was the exception that proved the rule. "Did you call for me?" asked Isen. The guardian''s gray eyes settled on him, and a shy smile formed on her thin lips. Her light blonde hair fell to her shoulders. "Yes, Combat Mage Isen," Linalta said, gesturing with her hand and the door closed. Then she leaned back in her chair. "There has been an urgent request from the Fierce Stewards for a combat mage." Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "And you''ve assigned me?" Isen asked with his typical impassive face. "That''s right," Linalta replied with a hint of mischief. "I see," said Isen. "What''s it about?" "It appears that early yesterday morning there was a shutdown at the Tagrei rune-electric auxiliary power plant, and it has since remained inoperative. The Catlon Central has tried to contact them repeatedly but there has been no response. So, a platoon of the Fierce Stewards is being dispatched to find out what has happened." "Do they think it might have been attacked?" "That''s the interesting part, Isen. And why I personally called for you. Apparently, a strange message was received, the only parts deciphered were ''Attack'' and ''Demon.''" The word "Demon" caught Isen''s attention. Since his adolescence, especially since his military status had given him access to certain areas of the National Library of Catlon, he had read numerous accounts and books from the old world in which all kinds of heroes faced demons and other beings. One of his favorites was about a mage named Sydriel, who, despite being marginalized and despised all his life by the inhabitants of the town where he resided, sacrificed himself to save the town when it was attacked by a demon. After the battle, the inhabitants of that small town wept upon realizing how foolish and unjust they had been, and finally, in honor of Sydriel, built a school so that those born with the gift of magic could find their place in the world. Some placed this tale as a possible origin of the magic towers of Ibelir. However, all that was nothing more than fantasy. "You don''t really believe it was a demon, do you?" "And what if it had been?" Linalta leaned her elbows on the desk. "Come on, Isen. I''ve known you since you entered the magic tower at eight years old, and I know you share the same passion as I do for the folklore of the old world. Dont tell me youve never thought that gods and demons might have existed?" "Yes," admitted the combat mage after a few seconds of silence. "But there''s nothing to prove their existence." Linalta leaned back in her chair. A mischievous smile reappeared on her face. "Not for someone of your level." The tower guardian wiggled her fingers, and one of the drawers of her desk opened. From it, an ancient handwritten paper floated through the air and landed in Isen''s hands. "However, one of the good things about being in my position is that, just like with magic books, I can access certain types of documents that most people cannot." Isen took the paper and scanned the lines of the ancient text. "As you know, some stories talk about battles and wars between some gods and their chosen, but what you have there is not a story, but an authentic letter from an officer written to his wife. In it, Castio Ruidez tells his wife that the city of Aseteneo has survived an attack by demons thanks to the divine powers of the god Deus''s chosen, Eeril Saiol. If you look closely, he even describes Eerils transformation." "Aseteneo... was a city of the ancient Crown of Kaslia." "Exactly. One of the five crowns that made up the ancient Kingdom of Ibelir. Theoretically, the city was destroyed during the wars that ended the old world, and today they are nothing but ruins," said the guardian of the tower. "But the important thing about this letter is that, according to this officer, both gods and demons existed." Although his face did not show it, Isen felt a strange joy coursing through his body. For him, the mythology of the old world had been an escape from his loneliness and sadness. In it, he found a world where only his imagination limited his possibilities. In it, his veins flowed with the blood of a civilization that had descended from the gods themselves. In it, alongside his group of adventurers, he had unmasked a noble leading a demonic cult and defeated the demon they had summoned. He had fought alongside the drauos of Varskug in the battle that saw the birth of Hacharoja himself. He had been a chosen of the god Raia and destroyed one of Drogur. In it, he had even found love. "I''ve checked the letter, and it could be about seven hundred and twenty years old, which matches the date it was written. Additionally, the name of the officer also appears in another subsequent document as part of the garrison of Taldu." Isen looked at the paper in his hands again. He knew that this could have simply been the delusion of an officer who had been close to death. However... "And what if the old world hadn''t been destroyed by the massive invasion of savages and arruks that followed the Great War of the Realms as the history books tell us?" Linalta asked with a hint of mystery. "Very well, guardian of the tower," Isen said after a few seconds. "I will take care of the request." Linalta smiled. 3. Fierce Stewards Neisa was riding Baldric passionately on the bed in her all-in-one room. The night before, after returning from a search and capture mission, she had gone out with him for drinks and one thing had led to another. Besides being active, Neisa was a beautiful and attractive woman, so she usually had no trouble finding someone willing to have a pleasurable time with her. Neisa loved having sex with all kinds of men and women regardless of their race or social status. The only thing she looked for in a sexual partner was that they had something that attracted her. Baldric grabbed her buttocks and thrust into her passionately again and again while spanking her ass. He knew that one of the things she enjoyed most were the slaps on her fleshy, perfect behind. Suddenly, someone knocked on the metal door of the room, but neither of them paid attention. Shortly after, the intercom rang several times. "Damn it! Who the hell is it?" Baldric said angrily. "I don''t care. Who said you should stop?" asked Neisa. Today was her day off, and she wasn''t planning to waste a single minute. The intercom rang again and then a voice accompanied it. "Neisa! It''s me, Andr!" "Get lost, idiot!" shouted Baldric, throwing whatever he found on the floor at the door. "Did you see the message they sent to our cybertables? Apparently, we''ve been assigned a last-minute mission. We have to meet Sergeant Raed at the vehicle park in forty-five minutes." Both Andr and she belonged to the State Exploration and Support Regiment of Anlova, also known as the Fierce Stewards; one of the many regiments of the Army that were part of the Anlova Brigade, which was how the group of regiments hosted by the homonymous State was referred to. These types of regiments were created during the initial depopulation of towns and cities, and were intensified after the Ninth Savage Wave, which was the trigger for the Royal Decree of Population Restructuring of the United States of Ibelir on August 5, 630 N.M, by which all civilian populations of the different states were grouped into a limited number of cities. Currently, all the States and even some City-States of Ibelir had their own exploration and support regiment. These typically operated within the boundaries of their State and among their functions were exploration, transportation of goods or passengers between cities, and the search and capture or elimination of targets. "It can''t be..." Neisa said quietly and stopped moving. She got up and grabbed the cybertable from the small desk next to the bed. "What are you doing? Ignore that fool." "Damn... Today was my day off," she said after checking the alert on her cybertable. She sighed and raised her voice. "Okay, Andr. I''ll be right there. See you there." Neisa thought she heard something, but couldn''t quite make it out. "You should make it clear to that loser that he''ll never get anything from you," said Baldric as he pleased himself with the sound of the shower and Neisa''s naked body. "He must be dying of envy." Neisa wrapped part of her body in a towel and stepped out of the shower. "He''s my childhood friend, Baldric. He''s like a brother to me. Besides, he and I have different views, and if we had sex, it would ruin our relationship." "Ha! That''s what all of you say when you don''t want something with someone you know." "That''s not true... Plus let me tell you that if I had to save one of the two, I''d choose him over you." "Yeah, but you''re sleeping with me, not him," he said and smacked her on the butt. "Clown..." Neisa dressed in the military uniform of the regiment and pulled her long chestnut hair back into a ponytail. She then pressed a button and the sliding door of the tiny all-in-one room slid aside. As she stepped out, she found her childhood friend leaning against the corridor wall with his arms crossed. His dark brown eyes looked at her disapprovingly. "What are you doing there?" asked Neisa. "You didnt have to wait for me." "I dont know how you can sleep with that idiot." The words came out of Andr''s mouth like sharp blades. Sometimes, Neisa didn''t know if he said it out of jealousy or because he genuinely cared. "Andr, dont start this again..." "I just can''t wrap my head around it," he said, spreading his arms. "Andr!" Neisa raised her voice, beginning to get nervous. "Never mind, forget it," said Andr defensively. "Do you want to eat something before we meet with the sergeant?" Neisa sighed. "Alright, let''s go. I could use a strong coffee and some toast or something." The two soldiers went down to the second floor of their regiment''s building in search of the dining hall. Normally each regiment tended to have its own building within the military complex, although depending on the number of personnel it housed, a regiment could have more than one, or, on the contrary, share a building with another. When they got off the elevator, they walked down the hallway and entered one of the doors leading to the dining hall. It was square-shaped and occupied the entire outer part of the floor with stairs and elevators on the inner part. They approached one of the furniture pieces with trays and then got in one of the self-service lines. One of the positive things about being in the military was that all food (except what one ate in private life) was free. Andr served himself some baked potato, bacon, a couple of slices of black bread, and powdered milk coffee. Neisa chose a juice made from powdered concentrate, a long coffee with milk, and a couple of toasts with oil and salt. "Look, there''s Burmac and Miriam," said Andr, pointing to a half-empty table. Like them, they were humans and belonged to the second company of the Fierce Stewards. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. "Let''s go." "Hopefully that will keep you from bringing up Baldric again." "Hey, can we join you?" asked the soldier as she arrived. "Of course, sit down," replied Burmac. Neisa noticed his blue eyes and smiled sweetly. They were her favorites. "Sure," said Miriam. "Thanks," both friends said at the same time. Neisa winked at Burmac. "They''ve called you guys in too, right?" asked Miriam. "Yeah, and it was my day off" said Neisa, somewhat frustrated. "Yeah, it sucks. But look on the bright side, you''ll get an extra day off next time." "So, does anyone know what it''s about?" Burmac chimed in. "Nope," Neisa shook her head. "Nervous?" "Eh? No. Well yes. A bit," admitted Burmac. "Im still not used to it." "How long have you been in the regiment? I hadn''t seen you around here." "Just a month. This will be my second mission." "No wonder I didnt recognize you. It''s a pity we hadn''t met earlier." "So, you''re a recent grad, huh?" asked Neisa. "Which military base were you at? Asro?" "Yes," answered Burmac. "Light infantry class A708-1." "The same as us," said Nesia pointing to Andr and herself. "Class A705-2. I dont know if Morick is still an instructor." "No, I think not." "Better," said Neisa. "That guy was a real jerk." "Well, back to the topic," intervened Andr. "Estrek told me something about going to the Tagrei rune-electric power plant." "To the auxiliary plant? For what?" asked Miriam. "To transport something?" "No idea," answered Neisa. "Do you think someone might have attacked it?" said Burmac. "I dont know, but being an auxiliary plant, it doesnt really make sense, to be honest," replied Andr. "Though, with the Savages, I believe anything is possible." "Don''t worry," Neisa put one of her hands on Burmac''s shoulder and winked at him. "I''m sure Miriam is right, and its just to transport some important engineer or something." "Thanks" "Well, I think I need another coffee," added Neisa. "Anyone want one?" Andr walked into the regiment''s vehicle park alongside Neisa. On one side of the hangar, mechanics from the Anlova Engineering and Mechanics Regiment were making final checks on the vehicles of the convoy, which consisted of four V4WDT vehicles and a light I43 tank positioned in the middle. All the vehicles bore the regiment''s emblem on one side and the country''s and state''s flags on the other. The V4WDT, commonly referred to as the V4, was an armored 4x4 vehicle used for exploration and combat. It was equipped with a top-mounted platform for machine guns, missile launchers, or other auxiliary weapons. The I43, on the other hand, was a wheeled tank primarily used in low-intensity conflicts, as it combined speed with good armor and sufficient firepower to penetrate medium armors and decimate infantry. It was equipped with a cannon and an auxiliary machine gun. Set slightly apart from the convoy was Sergeant Raed, a human in his early forties with a stern face, a cybernetic eye, and several scars. Andr hadn''t been with the Fierce Stewards long, but he knew Raed was a soldier forged in battle who preferred receiving orders to giving them. According to Neisa, the sergeant had enough medals and commendations to have made captain, but he had always refused. Standing in front of him were two corporals listening to their superior''s words. One was Corporal Chelne, a human with dark skin, defined muscles, and a jovial face from which positivity usually emanated. The other was Corporal Dragen, a drauo with dark, obsidian-like skin and mineral scales in shades of dark red, white, and green that ran across his face and body. He had a scar on his right eyebrow and another on his nose. His personality could be summed up in two words: aggression and a sense of duty. Drauos, averaging one meter and fifty-seven centimeters in height, were slightly shorter than the Savage tralfs, but their muscle mass and breadth were superior to that of humans. The color of their tough skin varied similarly to rocks, and their hair was mostly dark. Rocky scales of different colors and shapes ran across their bodies like tribal tattoos. Their eyes, proportionally smaller compared to their heads and with rhomboid pupils, were typically blue, amber, brown, green, or reddish-orange. They had irregular ears with numerous points, and their faces looked like sculpted rocks. Behind them, Miriam, Burmac, and other soldiers of the platoon had already gathered there. Almost all members of the Fierce Stewards were human, but the ranks included many races. All were equipped with an HK52 assault rifle with bayonet, an IK20 semi-automatic pistol, hand grenades, and a knife, and were protected with ABA-L armor, which consisted of a tactical helmet, a breastplate, shoulder pads, and thigh guards. All the armor protectors were made from reinforced synthetic fibers and Akro plates, a moldable composite of steel and ceramic to withstand the impact of bullets and the blows of bladed weapons. "Did they bring an I43 for the mission?" Neisa remarked as she looked at the light tank. "Either we''re transporting something very important, or maybe they did attack the auxiliary plant." "Yeah, that''s what worries me," said Andr. The childhood friends moved through the hangar and saw a fair-skinned human female corporal with chestnut hair, and two soldiers from the regiment''s armored light cavalry unit approaching the tank from one side. When they reached the other soldiers, the voice of the chestnut-haired woman reached their ears. "How''s the little one?" "Great, Corporal Eko," answered the soldier from the engineering and mechanics regiment. "But I hope this time you do not think you are using a heavy tank." "I''ll try. But I promise nothing," she said with a laugh. Suddenly, a sense of discomfort overtook Andr. He turned and saw an aehul combat mage slowly crossing the hangar toward the sergeant. He had pale skin, and his irregularly shaped dark hair almost reached his shoulders. He was protected by a bulletproof synthetic fiber undergarment and armor like that of the regiment''s soldiers. The trench coat bearing the emblem of the Anlova Magical Brigade fluttered as he walked A feeling of repulsion and fear threatened to take hold of Andr as he felt those ice-cold blue eyes piercing his own. Even though it had been over a year since he went to Tarefor with his former regiment to quell the rebellion, the mere presence of those vile beings made his body relive all the atrocities they had committed there. Neisa, noticing his discomfort, wrapped one of her arms around the back of his neck and smiled at him. "Hey, relax, it''s okay." Andr returned the smile, feeling his body calm down. But as he was about to thank her, he pictured Neisa sleeping with that jerk Baldric, and this time it was jealousy that almost took over. Despite everything he had done for her, she had never reciprocated. He had even joined the Armed Forces simply because she said it would be great to fight together for the country. But of course, that had just been another time Neisa had used his feelings for her to get him to do what she wanted. "Leave me alone," Andr said abruptly, pulling away her arm. Neisa looked at him with concern, but he ignored her and looked away. "It''s all your fault." "Soldiers, line up!" shouted Sergeant Raed. Andr''s worries vanished in an instant, and within seconds, he aligned with the rest of the soldiers. The sergeant began pacing back and forth, examining the faces of his subordinates. His gray hair must have been the result of the continuous and overwhelming stress that the Fierce Stewards faced. Life outside the cities was a constant danger. "Early yesterday morning, the Tagrei rune-electric auxiliary plant stopped supplying power for no apparent reason," the sergeant began. "The operators at the Catlon central have tried to contact them to find out the reason, but there has been no response, only a strange message containing the word ''attack'', so it is most likely that the plant has been assaulted by savages or raiders. While other possibilities are not ruled out, our mission is to find out what happened and try to restore the supply." The sergeant shifted his gaze to the soldiers who were not part of the Fierce Stewards and the mage. "For this, we will have the assistance of Combat Mage Isen, Soldier Ordwulf from the Sappers Regiment, and Soldier Jorge from the Communications Regiment." "Could it really have been attacked by savages?" Andr thought, feeling fear begin to form inside him. The savages were fierce and ruthless, and confrontations with them often ended in real bloodbaths. "Alright, now I will announce the vehicle assignments," the sergeant continued. "Neisa, Andr, Elen, you will go with me and Combat Mage Isen in V4-1." "Great... just what I needed today." 4. Savages Sergeant Raed was still thinking about the only words that the Anlova Communications Regiment had managed to decipher; "Attack" and "Demon." The video''s image and voice were completely distorted, and they didn''t know who had sent the message, but it had been sent from the central building, likely from the control room of the rune-electric plant. Captain Lorenzo had attributed those words to some kind of hallucination caused by fear, or as an attempt to keep troops away from whoever had taken it over. Although Raed agreed with his superior''s theory, something about it unnerved him. That word brought back bad memories. The sergeant pulled out a handwritten note and a small photo from one of his uniform pockets. He looked at the photo and felt a bittersweet nostalgia creeping in among his concerns. In it, his ex-wife was next to him, their arms intertwined. Her radiant smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and also what he missed the most. "Do you miss her, sir?" suddenly asked Soldier Neisa as she drove the V4-1. The sergeant looked at her, and she returned her gaze to the road. "A lot," the sergeant replied, also turning his gaze forward. In the distance, the runic towers of the auxiliary plant began to appear. "But leaving me was the best thing she could do. She deserves someone better." "How did you meet?" asked the soldier after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence. "Well, I tried to rob her, and she gave me one of her radiant smiles." Raed couldn''t help but smile as he remembered that picturesque moment. "I fell in love with her that same day." "You, a criminal?" Neisa asked with a smile. "I would never have imagined." "Yes, soldier. Back then, it had only been a few months since my mother had pulled my brother and me out of the hive area where we were raised. If Marian hadn''t been a woman, I probably would have stabbed her and taken all her money." "Wait, sir," said Neisa, surprised this time. "You grew up in a hive area?" "Yes, soldier. Have you ever been in one?" "No, but I''ve heard stories," Neisa replied. "I was raised in one of the slums of Catlon." "The slums, eh?" Raed said with a mocking smile. "Well, the slums are, let''s say, heaven for people from hive areas. There is no law there other than that of the gangs fighting for control. Even the National Defense Corps doesn''t enter hive areas unless something very serious happens or the members of a hive cause trouble outside of them." "I suppose it must have been very tough." "That''s right, soldier. The stigma of being born in a hive area isn''t something that disappears quickly. That''s why I enlisted in the army. For someone like me, it was the only way to earn a decent and legal salary." "I understand what you mean, sir. For people from the slums, it''s not easy to make a place for themselves in society either," said Neisa. "But in my case, it was mostly out of patriotism, sir." "Like me" said Andr. Raed thought he detected a hint of sarcasm in the soldier''s words. But he didn''t dwell on it and prepared to respond to Neisa. Just at that moment, the voice of Soldier Elen, who was on the auxiliary machine gun of the vehicle, came over the general channel. "Sir, I see something approaching." Raed tapped the cybertable attached to his left forearm and activated the microphone on his helmet communicator. "What do you see, soldier?" The sergeant put the photo and the scribbled paper back into his pocket. It wasn''t the time for sentimentality. "Sir, they''re savages!" Raed''s mind flashed back to the words that had been deciphered from the message, and then it became clear to him. Whoever had sent the message must have used the word "demon" to refer to a savage. Their terrifying appearance and extreme violence made many confuse them with the demons of horror and fantasy stories. Some Ibelirian historians even claimed that the word itself originated as a representation of the savages. "How many, soldier?" "One drum truck, a mortar, two grok cruisers, and five tralf motorcycles," reported Elen as she observed them through binoculars. "Sir, they''re carrying the paints and flag of the Skullcrushers." "Have they taken over the auxiliary plant and sent a small squad to intercept us?" Raed wondered silently. "No, that doesn''t add up. Savages usually don''t stay in one place. They come, kill, loot, and leave." Questions bombarded Raed''s mind one after the other as the enemies approached. "Sir, orders?" Neisa''s voice snapped the sergeant out of his thoughts. "Whatever it is, it''s best to take them out," Raed muttered quietly. "V4-2 and V4-3, spread to the flanks and prepare for a pincer attack. V4-1, V4-4, and I43 will form a defensive line to block the road. Fire on my signal." "Understood!" The vehicles moved according to the sergeant''s instructions and prepared for combat with the savages. The passengers of V4-1 and 4, except for those on the machine gun platforms, got out and took cover behind the vehicles to shoot with protection. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "I43," the sergeant announced while scanning the horizon with binoculars, "fire on the drum truck. We need to destroy it before their music drives the savages into a frenzy." "You heard the sergeant, gunner. It''s time for fireworks!" Corporal Eko said to the cannon operator, and shortly after, the sound of the shot boomed. The projectile flew at a tremendous speed and turned into a fireball when it struck the drum truck. The savage motorcycles didnt even look back to see what had become of their musical vehicle. However, the mortar truck did, swerving to a sudden stop. At the back, a szaik began to give instructions to a pair of groks who were rotating and loading the large mortar. Szaiks were the most intelligent and curious of the savages. They typically walked hunched over and were about the same height and build as tralfs. Their faces and ears were covered in hair, and their most distinctive feature was a third arm growing from their sternum. They often used implants created or modified by themselves, and some had a long mechanical arm emerging from their backs. "I43, blow up that mortar truck." "My pleasure!" Again, the tank cannon thundered, and the shell hit its target. However, the explosion did not penetrate the heavy, macabre armor of the truck. "Sir, those bastards have fired." "I see it," said Raed without taking his eyes off the scene. "Combat Mage Isen, we rely on you." "Don''t worry, sergeant." Isen moved a few steps forward. The mage''s eyes glowed as he invoked magic, and an invisible shield appeared just as the projectile fell upon them. An explosion occurred, and the flaming debris evaporated. "Gunner, blow them up!" shouted Corporal Eko. "Yes, sir," the gunner pressed the firing button and this time the truck was blown into the air. But not before making one last shot. Unperturbed, Isen manipulated the magical currents again and a huge air current diverted the projectile several dozen meters until it crashed into the devastated land. "V4-1, 4, fire at will," said the sergeant as the bikes were already getting close. "V4-2, 3support on the flanks." The machine guns of the V4s roared, and soon the battlefield turned into a sea of large-caliber projectiles. The savage bikes swerved back and forth to dodge bullets and cannon fire as their riders spat curses, and in the case of the tralfs, tried to return fire at the V4s on the flanks. Within seconds, two tralf motorcyclists and a grok went down leaving a trail of blood, oil, and fire. One of the tralf motorcycles skidded and tried to escape through the right flank, but the projectiles from the V4-3''s machine gun mutilated its body before it hit the ground. The remaining bikes continued their desperate advance and tried to breach the defensive line as a new crossfire began. The submachine gun bullets from one of the tralf motorcyclists hit the helmet of one of the soldiers taking cover behind the V4-4. The Fierce Steward fell to the ground, and his comrades returned fire with more vigor, finally downing the remaining two tralfs and wounding the last grok. However, this last one managed to hold on and let his bike crash into the front of V4-4. The impact caused both the muscular motorcyclist and a soldier taking cover behind the vehicle to be thrown into the air. The grok rolled on the ground and quickly got up to unload his shotgun on the knee of the soldier who fell near him. Several bullets hit his leather, metal, and fur protections, and others sunk into his flesh. The grok screamed to withstand the pain, threw the shotgun, and ran towards Corporal Dragen while pulling the huge two-handed axe from his back. As if responding to some kind of challenge, the drauo corporal slung his rifle over his back, pulled out the battle axe he carried magnetically attached, and ran to meet him. However, before the two could meet, a spear of earth emerged from the ground and impaled the savage. Suspended in the air, and almost breathless, the grok saw the eyes of the Ibelirian mage still glowing. "Damn it, Combat Mage Isen. That one was mine by right," growled Dragen. "Like it or not, he''s a true-blooded drauo," thought Raed. "Hand-to-hand combat was an unnecessary risk, corporal." The drauo corporal furrowed his brow and growled. "Come on, Dragen. The combat mage is right," said the sergeant, placing a hand on the drauo''s shoulder. Then he turned and addressed the entire platoon. "Any casualties?" "Treir is fine, sir," said Andr. "He''s a bit dazed but the helmet did its job." "The V4-3 has suffered no damage." "Neither has the V4-4." "Rem''s leg is shattered, sir," said Miriam. "Combat Mage Isen, can you do something for Rem''s leg?" asked Raed. "Yes," replied Isen as he approached the soldier. Then he crouched down to his level and asked with his penetrating gaze, "Soldier Rem, have you ever been healed with magic?" "No, sir," he answered, writhing in pain. "Then you should know that healing magic comes at a price." "What? What do you mean?" "That each time it will cost you more to heal, and there will come a point where, if you resort to it too often, you could die from a simple wound. In short, your life expectancy will decrease, soldier," said the mage as if he were reading from a text. "Rem?" asked the sergeant. "Rem, I don''t think it''s good to rely on magic," said Andr. "I don''t care, sir. Just heal me, please," replied the soldier, ignoring his comrade''s advice. "Good answer, soldier. I wouldn''t want to have to leave you in the V4 like a cripple," said the sergeant, placing a hand on his shouldera gesture he often repeated. "Combat Mage Isen, proceed." "As you wish." The mage''s eyes glowed again. The bullet fragments were expelled, and the tissues and bone began to regenerate. "Done. Try standing up and moving around." Soldier Rem followed his healer''s instructions, and to his astonishment, tested his knee''s recovery. "It''s incredible! It''s like new! Thank you, sir!" Isen looked like he was going to say something but then just nodded. Sergeant Raed left his soldiers behind and walked over to the body of the impaled grok, while in his head, he still pondered about the auxiliary plant and the savages they had just encountered. There was something about it all that didn''t add up. "How did they know when and where we would come? No, it can''t be that. If so, they would have sent a larger group." Another question assaulted his mind. "Are these the remnants of the attack on the plant? But then, why didn''t they have vehicles for transporting prisoners and loot? Maybe they took different routes? Or was it simply a group that happened upon us by chance? And what disturbs me the most is... why did they seem so desperate?" Arriving at the body of the fallen savage, he squatted down and observed it. It bore numerous bullet wounds, but all appeared to be from the encounter that had just occurred. If so, two things were possible: either the grok had not attacked the plant, or, having participated in the assault, he had not received any bullets, which considering the security of the plant, was unlikely. "What if the Skullcrushers had nothing to do with the attack on the plant?" Raed inspected the savage''s body further, and something caught his attention. On the right side, there were incisions similar to those made by claws. They were recent. He leaned in closer, and a foul smell penetrated his nostrils. But it wasn''t the typical smell of dirt and sweat of the savages. Instead, it was more like the smell of decomposition and disease mixed with that of stale blood. "Mutants..." 5.The ravages of corruption The macabre sight at the power plant''s security post made the entire platoon shudder. The barrier with the stop sign at the entrance of the auxiliary rune-electric plant was shattered, splintered, and stained with blood. The two guard booths that flanked the entrance had their windows broken with bullet marks on the walls and casings scattered on the ground. One of the soldiers from the booths lay across one of the windows with several holes caused by some type of stabbing weapon, and in parts, his flesh had been torn as if bitten by some kind of animal. The other, sitting on his knees, had stumps for hands and a cut across his neck from which a now-dried red cascade had flowed. His weapon lay a few inches further and had been cut into two irregular pieces. Around and behind the control post, numerous corpses of mutants, National Defense Corps soldiers, and Savages were scattered. The first had numerous gunshot wounds and injuries from bladed or blunt weapons, while the latter two seemed to have been torn apart by beasts. What they all shared were the dismemberments they had suffered. This confirmed the sergeant''s suspicions. The group of savages they had encountered had not been a squad sent to meet them or in search of victims, but the remnants of the group that had tried to assault the rune-electric plant. The presence of the drum truck and the ravaged appearance of the soldiers and the savages at the entrance also reinforced Sergeant Raed''s theory that the savages had not been the first to attack the plant, but the mutants had. But how many of them had there been? No matter how small the plant was, it was not easy to take it with all those soldiers and electrified fences, and even less so by a group of unintelligent, uncoordinated mutants. To that, one had to add the fact that they had killed most of the savages who had tried to storm the plant and had made the rest flee. Raed did not know exactly how many mutants it took to do something like that, but he was sure that at least more than a hundred were needed. The question was, where had so many come from? Had they been guided somehow to the plant? Or had it been a coincidence? And then, another more disturbing question assaulted his mind. If the first to attack had been the mutants instead of the savages, why had they used the word "demon," instead of "mutant"? Suddenly, a distant memory he thought he had forgotten formed in his head. In it, his father repeated the word "demon" over and over as he stabbed the lifeless body of a human in a dark street formed inside a building. A chill ran through his body, and something deep inside him said they should get away from there as fast as possible. But Raed did not know if it was the innocent child from that scene or his adult self who had fought in so many battles who had spoken. *** "Sergeant, I detect corrupt magic," said Isen with his expressionless face. Unlike the rest of the platoon, what concerned him was not the carnage that had occurred there, but the alteration of the essence of the magic itself. "Damn, just what we needed." Raed rubbed his worried face. "There weren''t supposed to be any sources of corruption in this area." "What do you mean by corrupt magic, sir?" asked Soldier Burmac. "Didn''t they teach you this at the academy?" the mage retorted. His cold eyes fixed on the soldier''s: "Among other things, it''s what creates mutants... Think of it like radiation. Except it doesn''t enter our bodies by breathing." That response made Burmac turn even paler than he already was. "Magic had to be involved..." muttered Andr. "Is it a lot?" the sergeant wanted to know. "Where does it come from?" "Huge," replied Isen. "The source is coming from the center of the plant." "Damn... It had to be the central building," lamented the sergeant. "Do you think the workers might have turned into mutants?" "I think you already know the answer to that question, sergeant." "Shit..." Raed ran his finger over the pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He tapped it a few times and stopped. "Is it very widespread?" "Not much. I''d say within a radius of fifteen to twenty meters." "Alright..." Raed rubbed his temple again. He clearly hated being in command in such a situation. "If we were to enter the central building, how long would we have before we start to suffer mutations?" "I wouldn''t be able to tell you until I was closer to the source of the corrupt magic. But, I doubt it would be long, and even if you don''t develop mutations, it doesn''t mean that..." "I know, Combat Mage Isen, I know," Raed interrupted him. Isen took out some small cylindrical vials from his belt, inside which was a yellow liquid. "I have four protectors against corrupt magic. They aren''t as effective or durable as the anti-corruption suits, but it should be more than enough to figure out what happened and get back." *** "Attention everyone," announced the sergeant over the communicator. "Here''s the situation." Raed tapped his cibertab, then raised his fingers to make the map from his device appear in 3D. "We don''t know exactly what we''ll encounter in there, but we need to access the central building to determine the source of the corruption and find out what the hell has happened exactly." The image of the building enlarged and changed color. The soldiers stationed at the machine guns continued their vigilance. "We dont have anti-corruption suits, but Isen has four protectors, so I need three people to accompany the combat mage in addition to soldiers Dragen and Bargu into the central building. Any volunteers?" Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Sir, you said there are four protectors and you need three volunteers, but if you include the combat mage, Corporal Dragen, and Bargu, that makes six people, doesnt it?" asked Burmac. "Drauos are practically immune to corruption, so unfortunately for them, they wont have the liberty to volunteer this time," Raed responded, looking at the soldier. "But now that you''ve volunteered to accompany them, you''ll be able to learn more about them." Laughter was heard. "I, no" said Burmac. "Good, we have our first volunteer," Raed replied. "Anyone else?" No one responded. "Alright. Neisa and Andr, you will be the other volunteers. Once inside, see if anything can be done about the corruption and try to get hold of the camera recordings and anything else that might help us clarify what has happened," Raed announced unsympathetically. He then minimized the image and touched another point on the three-dimensional map. "Ramn, once we''ve cleared the entrance, you and your squad will stay to make sure we don''t have any unexpected visitors." The image changed again. "Chelne, you will take Ordwulf to the machine room to see if the plant can be restarted. The rest of us will escort the mage''s squad to a safe point, and then we will establish a defense perimeter, preferably between the buildings of the machine room, the central and the auxiliary building of the National Defense Corps. Understood?" "Yes, sir," everyone replied in unison. "Good. There are likely still mutants inside. So, I want everyone to keep their eyes wide open. Move out." *** "Miriam, Dragen, Kaltar, Ricty, clear the bodies that are blocking the entrance. The rest of you, keep watch." The sergeant''s order snapped Miriam back to reality. She didn''t know what her face showed, but inside she was terrified. It wasn''t the first time they had come to a place that had been attacked by savages or mutants, but it was the first time she had seen such a disturbing scene. "Yes, sir," the soldiers replied in turn. She wasn''t the only one who had been stunned. The soldier looked at the young Aehul, Ricty, and they both nodded. They approached the body of a National Defense Corps member who was missing an arm and had a disfigured face, and together they moved it aside. The next body they moved was that of a pregnant mutant woman. Something inside Miriam broke when she realized that the mutant was pregnant and something resembling a deformed baby was protruding from her. She dropped the body and felt tears begin to stream down her face as Ricty looked on in confusion. Soldier Kaltar, who was nearby dragging a legless body of a scrawny mutant with tattered skin and a blade protruding from his arm, stopped what she was doing, and seeing what Miriam had seen, simply hugged her. It was something no woman wanted to witness. Miriam returned the hug, and suddenly Kaltar shuddered in pain. Miriam felt her companion''s body slip from her arms, and someone shouted a warning. She quickly turned her head from side to side to try to figure out what was happening and then saw the mutant that Kaltar had left on the ground approaching her companion and stabbing her in the neck with the blade. Blood began to spurt, and everything around her went silent, except for her breathing. She was paralyzed. So was Ricty. "Fire!" The sergeant''s shout sounded muffled in their heads. Drops of dark blood hit the helmets of Miriam and Ricty. Suddenly, as if earplugs had been removed, the sound around them began to gradually return until it became gunshots and screams. Both soldiers looked up and saw Dragen chopping off a mutant''s head in front of them. Behind him, coming from the auxiliary building of the National Defense Corps about forty meters away, several mutants were running towards them in disarray. "Wake up! Damn it!" shouted the Drauo corporal, turning around and beginning to fire. "Fire!" someone repeated. And then, everything around them became clear. Both soldiers raised their rifles and aimed. "Die!" shouted Miriam and Ricty as they pulled the triggers. *** Neisa injected the protector into her neck and felt the substance spread through her body, causing slight pain. Fortunately for her, the hangover had already passed. Although she undoubtedly would have preferred to suffer the headache rather than enter a building filled with something akin to radiation, or perhaps worse, since no effective treatment was known once infected. And, to make matters worse, the rune-electric power plant looked like something out of a horror movie. She looked at her childhood friend Andr, knowing he felt the same as her, or even worse. He had always disliked magic, but since the brief insurrection in Tarefor, it seemed he hated it. He never told her what he had seen there, but Neisa was sure it had traumatized him. In fact, she knew he wore a glove on his right hand to cover a burn, not out of shame or complexity, but to avoid remembering what happened there. At times like these, she regretted that Andr had enlisted because of something she had said in a moment of excitement. Neisa attached the silencer to her rifle and shifted her gaze to the combat mage. He returned her look, and the soldier shuddered when she felt his ice-blue eyes piercing her. "Alright, let''s get moving," said the mage, not waiting for any comment. "We''ll cover your backs from here," said the sergeant. "But once you enter, you''re on your own, so be careful and avoid unnecessary fights. You might not be heard with the silencers, but remember, mutants can sense the energy inside you." "You''ve heard the combat mage, let''s go," declared Corporal Dragen in his deep voice. The mage''s squad left the rest of the platoon behind and crept down the street between the security building and the central one, dodging lifeless bodies and scanning the surroundings for potential enemies. Most of the buildings bore shrapnel marks and had shattered glass; some, like the watchtower, looked demolished due to explosive projectile impacts. They knew the sergeant and their comrades were watching their backs, but any lapse could be fatal. Neisa had learned this long ago, but the unexpected mutant attack from the National Defense Corps'' auxiliary building was a cruel reminder. They continued walking, and Neisa felt a slight relief as they turned right in formation toward the entrance of the central building. However, upon arrival, the facade of the central building sent chills down her spine. Numerous black stems filled with yellowish eruptions covered and penetrated much of the wall and windows of the building. From their limbs hung twisted leaves with tiny teeth, and something akin to eyes devoured small chunks of humanoid flesh. In one window, hanging from his own guts which had grown to an enormous size, was a mutant human with ten fingers on each hand. His face was all mouth, and his eyes had elongated and bent to align parallel to it. He was still alive and desperately trying to shove something into his mouth. "The corruption is worse than I thought..." said the mage slowly. He then pulled out his runic pistol, and from the barrel of the weapon, a white magical projectile shot out, partially disintegrating the mutant''s head, spreading a black fluid like a water bottle cut in half. "Let''s continue." Just then, the distant sound of machine guns firing and the groans of pain from mutants being repeatedly pierced by bullets were heard. Neisa sighed and followed her companions into the eerie building, wondering if they would all make it out alive 6.The Origin of Corruption. Andr was terrified of the havoc wreaked by magic. It was always the same. Wherever it appeared, it left only chaos and destruction. No matter how much magic users claimed otherwise, magic had always been the source of evil. If there was one thing, he could agree on with the group of the Esterenos, it was their disdain for it. The inside of the building was a darker version of the facade. The reception area looked like the aftermath of a bloody battle. Numerous corpses with horrific wounds were intermingled with shattered furniture and walls splattered with red and black. From the ceiling, numerous lamps and cables hung, and the little light that was available came through the door and windows, dodging the black roots with devilish eyes and destroyed furniture that had likely been used to barricade the windows. No doubt, on days like this, Andr deeply regretted enlisting in the army. He considered himself a good shooter, had grown fond of some comrades, and being a soldier had its benefits besides the salary. But he wasn''t cut out for it. He had only enlisted to impress, or rather, to follow the love of his life. And even then, he hadnt managed to make her look at him the way he looked at her. His heart was racing as they moved in formation with flashlights attached to their rifles, lighting the way down the hallway toward the stairwell and elevators. A loud noise from inside one of the rooms on the right side of the hallway caused the group to stop abruptly. Dragen made a couple of hand signals to the squad members and the soldiers nodded. Andr positioned himself on one side of the room''s door, and Neisa on the other, while the rest positioned themselves alongside them and watched the flanks. Neisa gave a signal, and Andr took a deep breath. He knew what he had to do, but his instinct screamed at him not to do it. A few seconds later, Neisa opened the door, and he burst into the room aiming his rifle followed by Burmac. The room, which had been used as an administrative space, was full of thrown files, bloodstains, and impact marks. At the back, on one of the L-shaped desks, lay the body of a worker with numerous bites and cuts. A sound similar to an animal eating was heard at the end of the room. Burmac signaled, and Andr advanced silently through the room while trying to control his emotions. As he was approaching the desks, he felt that one of his boots stepped on something different from the floor material. Unable to help it, he looked down as the glass of a picture frame yielded under his weight. The chewing sound from the back of the room stopped. Andr''s blood froze. Had whatever was hiding heard him? He prayed it hadn''t, and with all the delicacy he could muster, he lifted his foot and stepped back a bit. Then, from under a desk, a human child about five or six years old emerged. Almost all his body was raw and filled with exaggeratedly large blisters. "What the hell...?" said Burmac, astonished. Andr was paralyzed. The image of a woman clutching her child begging for mercy before being scorched by a mages spell flashed through his mind. "Its a mutant!" shouted Neisa from behind. But Andr did not react. In his mind, he still heard the desperate screams of the mother and her child as the flames tore through their bodies and souls. Suddenly, he felt someone shove him aside and open fire on the child who was lunging at them. Andr fell to the ground, and his mind snapped back to reality. It was then that he saw the true appearance of the child; his hands and feet were clawed. His deformed head was all mouth and the eyes were elongated and positioned parallel to it. Blood and chunks of flesh dripped from his mouth. "What the hell is wrong with you!?" shouted Neisa after she had shot the mutant. "That thing was going to devour you!" "I''m sorry, I dont know what came over me" lied Andr, collapsing with tears in his eyes. That nightmare would haunt him for the rest of his days. Neisa approached him, ran her hand over the nape of his neck, and brought her helmet close to his. Andr hugged her, and a comforting, warm feeling penetrated through the pain and terror. She was always there to comfort him at his worst moments. She was like the older sister he never had. Burmac and Bargu seemed to say something, but neither Andr nor Neisa heard them. In that moment, only the two lifelong friends existed. "Dont ever scare me like that again. Got it?" "Yes" *** Let''s keep moving said Isen. Soldier Neisa turned and looked at him furiously. Don''t you have any empathy, sir? Unfortunately, Isen had never been good at guessing others'' feelings. During his childhood, the combat mage had made efforts to understand them, but no matter what he did, it only increased the rejection he faced from his relatives and people around him, so over time he had stopped worrying about them to focus more on magic, history, and folklore. Watch your words, Neisa Dragen said authoritatively. Remember he is our superior The drauo fixed his gaze on the other soldier And you, youve heard the combat mage. Stop your whining and get up. We dont have all day. Neisa''s scornful glance shifted from the mage to the drauo corporal. But as she opened her mouth to protest, soldier Andr stopped her. I''m sorry, sir he apologized It wont happen again. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. It better not, human said the corporal Whenever youre ready, Isen. Lets continue said Isen, who before turning around saw how Andr looked at him with contempt. It was the same look he had often received from his parents and friends. It didnt bother him. He was used to it. The soldiers resumed their march and advanced down the hallway of the central building. The corrupt magic within those walls was so abundant that Isen thought he could actually see it. It was the first time Isen witnessed such a concentrated amount in one place. A part of him, the one that sought to understand the limits of magic, wanted to make use of it, but another, the rational side, told him not to, knowing that doing so would turn him into one of those mutants blinded by madness and hunger. This was one of the reasons why mages usually carried runic pistols in addition to melee weapons. To be able to fight even when they could not use magic. A few meters ahead, the corridor split into three like a trident. The middle path led to the elevator and staircase hall, and the other two led to more offices. The source of corruption came from below. As they were reaching the end of the corridor, they heard guttural sounds coming from the lateral hallways. Before the mage did anything, Dragen had already raised his hand and transmitted orders through hand signals. The group split into two and stuck again to the walls. The sound of footsteps joined the grunts that were getting closer. Mage and corporal nodded to each other and stepped out with their weapons ready, followed by a companion. A grotesque Grok mutant with disproportionately large arms, no eyes, and a kilometer-long tongue that walked like an orangutan, got excited at the sight of the soldiers and began to accelerate. Isen pulled the trigger of his runic pistol, and the creature collapsed headless just a few meters from him. Behind him, Dragen and Neisa had gunned down another human mutant. *** The soldiers crossed and reached the room where the stairs and elevators were located. In one of the elevators on the right, the doors were slightly ajar with a couple of bodies of former operators trapped by the waist. Their bodies showed numerous bruises and strange holes. H..elp came a voice from the elevator. Did you hear that? asked Burmac. I think there''s someone alive in there. I didn''t hear anything, soldierDragen denied. Neither did I said Neisa. Andr said nothing. Let''s continue. The source of the corruption is coming from below said the combat mage, and he entered the area where the stairs were. The corporal, Neisa, and Bargu followed him. Burmac ignored his superior''s order and moved closer to try and see through the gap left by the half-open doors. Burmac, didn''t you hear the combat mage''s order!? asked Andr while watching the rear. There''s nothing there. Come on, let''s go. I''m sure I heard someone! he answered confidently. Suddenly, a tentacle as thin as a whip flew out of the gap in the elevator, wrapped around the soldier''s neck, and slammed him against the elevator doors. Burmac panicked and tried to relieve the pressure on his neck while flailing like a baby. Behind him, the sound of drops hitting the floor mixed with a sinister voice asking for help. Sh..shit! Something''s got Burmac said Andr, scared, over the communicator. No one responded. Help... Burmac managed to say, having slightly relieved the pressure by inserting his fingers between the tentacle and his neck. Andr looked hesitantly from one side to the other while his comrade was being strangled. After a few seconds of uncertainty, the soldier pulled out a knife and approached him, ready to help. However, when he saw two new tentacles ending in sharp tips emerge from the elevator gap, he stepped back. The new limbs flailed violently and tried to pierce their prey. In some areas like the chest or head, they failed thanks to the protections, but in others that were exposed, they repeatedly pierced the flesh, until the soldier''s hands no longer had strength, and the tentacle could strangle him without any opposition. I''m sorry, Burmac. I''m so sorry! said Andr, tormented. The last thing Burmac saw with his swollen, tear-filled eyes was his comrade abandoning him. Andr ran downstairs, his heart pounding in his chest and his head filled with negative thoughts. Tears streaked down his cheeks and his teeth clamped against each other. He tried to convince himself that it was Burmac''s fault for ignoring the combat mage''s order and approaching that damn elevator. But guilt was gnawing at his insides. He hated himself for abandoning a comrade to his fate. He hated himself for being a coward. He hated himself for having been convinced to enlist in the damn army. He stopped on a step and slammed his helmet against the wall while muttering a curse under his breath. He turned around, leaned against the wall, and looked up. He took a deep breath and searched his memory for a happy memory. It wasn''t the first time he had suffered from anxiety. He found one, but it didn''t calm him down, so he searched for an even stronger one. His mind traveled back to that day when he was just a boy. The sky was a grayish sea created by the pollution from the dozens of ceramic factories and workshops that made up the third ring of Catlon. The smell of rust from the swing mixed with the chemical and clay aromas that cut through the air. The swing squeaked as Andr swung slightly and tears ran down his face. In the distance, the tricked-out engine of a low-cylinder motorcycle approached. But he didn''t care. He didn''t mind if some bullies beat him up and robbed him. He just wanted to die. Why are you crying, kid? a slightly high-pitched, lively voice asked as he felt something soft tap him on the head. Andr looked up with tearful eyes. The girl looked like a bully with her earrings, rings, and bold clothes. Her emerald eyes had a mix of mischief and kindness. Myparents they Andr''s voice sounded more childish, weak. Even a bit pathetic. They promised to take me to the amusement park, he noticed his heart rate increasing and the tightness in his throat. But they forgot. Like they always do! Tears flowed more forcefully. And that''s why you''re crying? the girl tapped him again. My mom doesn''t keep her promises either because she''s always working. But I don''t cry, you know? But I''ve been waiting almost a year! he replied. The girl sighed. Fine, I''ll take you. Andr felt his body calm down. The tears stopped, and a slight fatigue set in. Really? Yes, come on, said the girl, leaving the swing and sitting on the bike. Hop on. Suddenly, the sadness turned to euphoria, joy, happiness. Yessss! he exclaimed, and quickly climbed onto the bike. He had never done it before and almost caused them both to fall, but he didn''t care if the girl might laugh at him or if they got hurt. He was happy. Finally, his dream was about to come true. Be careful, kid! I don''t want to die yet, she said with a smile. By the way, I''m Neisa. Nice to meet you. That had been the moment he met Neisa, and the happiest of his life. Slowly the anxiety faded away, and before he knew it, Andr had regained his composure. He returned the happy memory to his mind and continued down the stairs to the basement. As he passed a room, a faint light caught his attention. He approached and entered a square room without furniture. Isen, Neisa, Bargu, and Dragen were on the edge of a huge hole, gazing fascinated into it. Andr walked towards them, thinking about what he would tell them about what happened to Burmac. But when he reached the edge and looked down to see what his comrades were looking at, he completely forgot about it. About six meters deep, there was a huge crystalline formation of violet and black with numerous cracks as if something had burst out from its inside abruptly. Despite the cracks and the hole it harbored, its unparalleled beauty made everything else seem unimportant. By Ibelir What is that? Andr asked in awe. That, soldier, is the source of the corrupt magic, the combat mage replied 7. Impotence. Sergeant Raed was looking down from the top of the light tank I43 at the corpses of the mutants they had killed when he heard Corporal Chelne''s voice over the communicator. "This is Corporal Chelne. Sir, this looks like a fucking horror movie. It''s full of dismembered corpses." "Like the rest of this damned place, Corporal," Raed said. "Is it possible to get the plant running again?" "Impossible, sir. It''s all destroyed," the Corporal replied. "And when I say destroyed, I mean destroyed. Even the high-voltage cables are cut. It''s like a huge animal went berserk in here." Raed rubbed his temples with his fingers. Why would the mutants destroy the generators? It didn''t make any sense. Unless, of course, it wasn''t them, but someone who wanted to disable the electric fence, which would then reinforce the idea that someone had somehow attracted the mutants. But even if that were possible, why would anyone attract mutants to attack a worthless power plant? And how the hell had they managed to wreak such havoc in the engine room? Could it be that the savages had actually been the first to attack? All those unanswered questions were giving him a headache. "Copy that," Raed replied. "Have you found any survivors?" "No, sir... Wait, I think I saw something move," said the Corporal, and after a few seconds of silence, there was: "Fire! Fire!" The sound of rifles mixed with the soldiers'' screams. "What''s happening?" the Sergeant asked, surprised. "Corporal?!" "This is Chelne. Something attacked us, sir," he said, terrified. "Mutants?" "No... it was more monstrous... I know it sounds like a joke, sir. But it had some resemblance to those... demons from the movies." "Demons." The last memory he had of his father flashed through his mind. That time they were in their tiny, messy house. His father, with a confused face and an anguished voice, was telling his mother that she didn''t understand, that demons were chasing them and he had to kill them to protect them. She screamed that he was crazy, then they struggled, and finally, his mother slapped him. A few minutes later, his mother took Raed and his brother and fled from that house, never to return. As they walked away, his father kept shouting the same thing; "You don''t understand, you don''t understand." "Any casualties?" Raed asked, coming back to his senses. "Ordwulf and Estrek, sir." "Damn..." he said painfully. "Alright. Come to the defense perimeter." "Yes, sir." The Sergeant knew it was too early, but he still glanced at the entrance of the main building, hoping to see his soldiers appear. Everything about the mission gave him a very bad feeling. They did not appear. A small beep indicated an incoming transmission on another channel. Raed looked at the cyberboard, and it was from Corporal Ramn. He pressed a button and switched channels. "Sir, ...Corporal Ramn. Someone... our position... parking. "The Corporal''s voice sounded choppy. "What? What the hell is happening, Corporal?" "Someone is coming." Raed felt a small glimmer of hope upon hearing this. "Give me some good news, Corporal. Are they survivors?" "I don''t know,... civilians." The sentences were still coming in halves. "Did you say civilians?" Raed asked, frowning. "In this nightmare? Never mind. Arrest them and find out if they know anything about it, or if they''re just some poor bastards on the worst day of their lives." "What?" Apparently, Corporal Ramn wasn''t hearing the Sergeant well either. "Arrest them, damn it!" "Copy that..." Another icon on the cyberboard started blinking again. It was Corporal Chelne on the other channel. Chelne? Didnt I tell you to get out of there immediately? I know, sir, but you wont believe what weve seen. What is it, Corporal? That thing... its like it transformed into a human. Demons hide among us! Theyre everywhere! His fathers words echoed in his head again. A drop of cold sweat ran down his neck. What... do you mean? I cant explain it any other way, sir, Chelne replied. Its body started to change until it became... human. Demons hide among us! Theyre everywhere! His heart skipped a beat. Without saying anything, he hung up and quickly pressed the icon for Corporal Ramn. Sir? Corporal Ramn! Forget the arrest and shoot those civilians! he said as if his life depended on it. What did you say? asked the confused Corporal. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Theyre not civilians; theyre shapeshifting monsters! Shoot, damn it, shoot! The vein on the Sergeants temple throbbed violently, and his natural eye seemed ready to pop out of its socket. The soldiers in the defense perimeter didnt understand any of it. Once again, the sound of gunfire and screams echoed through the helmet communicator. Die, motherfucker! said the soldier from Corporal Ramns squad manning the auxiliary machine gun. Abandon the position! Raed shouted, knowing it would be futile. The sound of more bullets, a desperate scream, and then a tremendous screech followed. Squad v4-3, report! Help, I... help me... Soldier Ioans voice sounded desperate. Heavy footsteps accompanied by an evil laugh could be heard. You will all die, said a deep, terrifying voice. Nooo! screamed Ioan. Everything went silent. Goddamn it, damn it! Sergeant Raed shouted, pounding his fist on the tank. There was nothing he hated more than feeling powerless. It was one thing to see soldiers die in the heat of battle, and quite another to listen to them die terrified, like a spectator in a horror movie. The Sergeant got off the tank, took off his helmet, and was about to throw it to the ground with all his might. The mission was a complete disaster. Since leaving Catlon, eight soldiers had died, and they had achieved nothing. He didnt even know if the combat mages squad was still alive. It was overwhelming. For a moment, he felt the urge to grab his weapon and go kill everything in his path until he met death, but he knew he couldnt. He had a duty to his men and, above all, to his country. Raed tried to calm down and analyze the situation as he paced back and forth. The Sergeant didnt know exactly what they were facing, or perhaps somewhere deep inside, he did know, but he preferred not to give it credibility to avoid losing his sanity. What was clear was that those shapeshifters (a name he decided to use for now) were the ones who had orchestrated everything. Now he was sure. He didnt know why or how, but he was sure it was them. It could even be that the source of corrupt magic was also their doing. For a moment, the idea that those monsters could pose as civilians, soldiers, or even high-ranking officials of Ibelir made him shudder. Their mere existence could pose a great danger not only to the state of Anlova but to the entire country. The Sergeant wasnt sure if the mages squad had encountered any of those shapeshifters or if they were still alive, but he had no choice but to trust them. It was vital that they get the camera recordings and take them back to the city. Raed was sure that the key to the attack and the existence of those shapeshifters was in those recordings. But what could he do? The immense corruption around the central building made it impossible for the Sergeant and the rest to get close to support the mages squad. Moreover, if by any chance the shapeshifters hadnt noticed their existence, such action could have the opposite effect if they engaged in combat near the central building. The Sergeant stopped and tapped the pack of cigarettes he had in his pocket. The last cigarette. And then the solution came to his mind. The best thing he could do was become bait to divert the attention of those monsters and draw them away from the mages squad. Thus, even in the worst-case scenario, Isen and the others would have a chance to return to Catlon and report what had happened. After all, they were the Fierce Stewards, and they would fight to the end to serve their country. The Sergeant touched the cyberboard. Sir? Chelne, change of plans. Were coming to your position. Wait for us at the entrance. Copy that. Raed signaled for the soldiers to return to the vehicles. Were moving! the Sergeant announced, waving one hand in a circle. Machine guns. Its time to make some noise. We need to make those bastards think were retreating. *** Combat mage Isen took a couple of photos of the intoxicating mineral from the edge of the hole with his cyberboard. Despite not knowing how effective the corruption shield was against such an amount of solidified corrupt magic, he felt drawn to it. It was as if a little voice whispered in his ear to get closer, to touch it. He had to make a huge effort to dismiss the idea. Weve found the source of the corruption, said Isen, forcing himself to turn away from the mineral. Theres nothing we can do to fix it. Lets head to the control room to see if we can figure out what happened. But... Sir, wouldnt it be better to get a sample? Bargu asked. It seemed the mage wasnt the only one attracted to the mineral. Dont even think about it, soldier, he said, glancing sideways and placing his hand gently on the grip of his runic pistol. Even for a drauo like you, it would be tempting fate too much. Move out. As you say... sir. Soldiers, did you hear me? Isen turned a bit more but not completely. His hand remained on his pistol. Were leaving. Yes... yes, the rest answered as if waking from a dream. Isen relaxed as he saw them move away from the minerals influence. For a moment, he had thought he might have to use his weapons to force them away... or even kill them. And Burmac? asked Corporal Dragen. Andr blinked a few times, and suddenly seemed to remember something horrifying. Hes dead... What do you mean hes dead? Neisa asked. Burmac... ignored the combat mages orders and approached the elevator, thinking he heard someone... Andr said, tormented. And then... a bunch of sharp tentacles came out of the doors and strangled him. I... I couldnt do anything. And youre telling us this now, soldier? Corporal Drauo said angrily. I said over the communicator that something had trapped him, but no one answered me! Isen looked at the soldier with a hint of disdain. It was incredible how little the soldiers knew about the effects of magic. When he returned to the magic tower, he would speak with the superior mage to do something about it. Thats because of the corrupt magic, soldier, the combat mage said. It causes interference in communications. I... I didnt know. In the National Unit Protection Regiment of Anlova, we never encountered corrupt magic, he tried to excuse himself. By Ibelir, I tried to help him, but I couldnt do anything. I promise... Its okay, Andr, calm down, Neisa said, placing a hand on his shoulder. It wasnt your fault. Dragen gave him an inquisitive look. We will recover his body when we leave, Isen said without showing any emotion. Now, lets continue. *** The soldiers ascended the stairs in silence, constantly glancing in all directions. Upon reaching the third floor, they checked that there were no enemies in the elevator room, then continued down the left hallway toward the control room. Suddenly, the glass windows of the rooms flanking the corridor shattered, and four former workers, now grotesque human mutations, entered the hallway. Isen and Dragen moved forward, turning to face the sudden enemies that had surrounded them, while Andr, Bargu, and Neisa moved back, leaving their rear unguarded. Isen ducked to avoid the fleshy whip of one of the former workers and disintegrated one of its legs. The mutant tried to strike him again as it fell, but this time its arm met the mages sword and was split in two. Behind him, Dragen slung his rifle over his shoulder and drew his war axe. The clawed mutant hesitated for a few seconds, and the Corporal took advantage, lunging at it and burying the axe in its side. The creature staggered in pain, while a few meters behind, the Fierce Stewards soldiers were taking down the humanoid deformities with numerous synchronized bursts, and the combat mage blew the head off the badly wounded mutant with his runic pistol. Die, scum! Dragen shouted as his axe traced a vertical arc and embedded itself in the mutants head. Thin black streams ran down its single-eyed face before it fell lifeless to the ground. The Corporal turned and added, Sometimes theres nothing better than doing things the old-fashioned way. You got that right! said Bargu, who often abandoned formal language when excited, a trait typical of most drauos. When will I get mine? Watch that language, boy! Dragen said firmly, smacking the young drauo on the back of the head. Remember, were in the Fierce Stewards, not in a drauo regiment! Yes, sir, Bargu replied, embarrassed. And as for a combat weapon, youll get one when you reach the rank of Corporal, so you better start working hard! Neisa let out a giggle at the paternal scene. Isen turned without saying anything, and the squad resumed their march. When they reached the control room, the sliding door of the room made them stop in their tracks. It was covered in marks, blood, and chunks of flesh. It seemed to have been forced open just enough for a person to fit through. 8. Madness The inside of the control room looked as if a butcher had tried to paint a macabre picture with the product of his work. Everything was filled with brutally cut pieces of flesh, internal organs, and crimson liquid. This is too much... Andr said, feeling everything in his stomach rise uncontrollably to his mouth. He put a hand over his mouth, moved a bit away from the rest, and vomited abruptly. Who could do such a thing? he asked between spits. By Ibelir... what happened here? Neisa asked, trying her best not to imitate her childhood friend. This place is a fucking nightmare, Bargu commented, his face pale. Poor bastards... Corporal Dragen said, sorrowful. Isen said nothing about it and walked over the puddles with chunks as if he were immune to it all. He stopped and glanced over the camera screens, monitors, and control panels. Were too late. The emergency power system didnt last this long. And what good is a mage if he cant charge simple batteries with magic? the soldier muttered under her breath. The mage shot her a look that chilled her to the bone. Neisa had forgotten that the auditory perception of aehuls was superior to that of humans. I could, soldier, Isen said seriously but without any sign of anger or agitation. But theres so much corrupt magic that using it would turn me into one of those things. Is that what you want? Thats what you all mages deserve, Andr thought, but he said nothing. No, sir, Neisa replied, confused. Good, then lets see if we can find something, the mage replied. Neisa, watch the entrance. Yes, sir. Andr carefully crossed the room, avoiding stepping on any pieces of flesh while vaguely looking for something useful in that red sea. Just as he was about to avoid another piece of leg, he noticed something underneath it. He focused the flashlight and looked more closely. It seemed to be a cyberboard. The soldier bent down and carefully grabbed the object. It was covered in blood and had some dents and scratches, but it was undoubtedly a cyberboard. Sir, Ive found something, he said, cleaning it a bit with disgust. What is it? the mage asked while taking a micro memory disk from Bargu. A cyberboard. And it seems to still have battery. Good job, Isen said. Lets see if it has anything worthwhile. Andr activated the cyberboard, and a screen displayed some recorded videos. He slid his fingers upwards, and a holographic copy of the data appeared in the air. It seems someone recorded several videos early this morning, the soldier said. His dark eyes met Isens uncomfortably. The last one is just a few hours old. Lets watch them. Andr touched the first video on the holographic screen, and it started playing. The control room appeared on the screen, recorded from some point near the camera panels. The room was dimly lit due to the low-energy lights activated by the emergency power system. In the center of the screen was a man in his thirties wearing a white coat and an ID badge with the name Michael on it. He had a worried face, brown eyes, and medium-length, curly, disheveled hair. Behind him, tiny colored lights could be seen, and two other workers in white coats were looking at the panels. My name is Michael Droker, operator of the Tagrei auxiliary rune-electric power plant. Ive tried to send a message to Catlon, but Ive gotten no response, so I dont know if it got through. Im recording this in case the messages dont get through, and... he paused for a few seconds. In case we dont survive, he finally said with a sigh. Andr felt pity for him, thinking about what he had become. We... we are being attacked by mutants, he began with a trembling voice. Something or someone sabotaged the generators, and the mutants broke through the fence... But... we havent been able to see it on the cameras... Its like when that something or someone passes near them, it causes interference, and the image gets distorted. The soldiers are trying to contain the mutant horde. I will report back. So someone sabotaged the generators to let the mutants in, Corporal Dragen commented. But how did they avoid the cameras? Bargu asked. And better yet, why couldnt they contact headquarters? If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Maybe that someone had already sabotaged the cameras and communications before infiltrating? Andr suggested. Hmm... Could be, Dragen said, frowning. But who? Rebels? Soldier, the next one, the combat mage intervened with a dry tone, leaving the question hanging. Yes, sir. Andr touched the holographic screen, and the next video began to play. Michael looked very scared and nervous, constantly pushing his curls back. The other workers were no longer visible behind him. Were... were lost. Were not going to survive, and the messages to Catlon arent getting through. Michael took a deep breath before continuing. I just hope someone finds these videos so they know what happened here. Michael paused and looked down. He nervously glanced to the side and then back at the camera. The mutants are running rampant throughout the facility. Almost all the soldiers and workers are dead. Only those of us in the central building and a few soldiers are left. He picked up the cyberboard and moved it. The two other workers were seen, terrified, watching the camera monitors. He brought the cyberboard closer to the monitors, showing various points where corpses of workers, soldiers, and mutants were intermingled. The battles had undoubtedly been brutal. Then he moved the cyberboard back and refocused on himself. Theyve barricaded the entrance and covered the windows, but I dont think theyll hold for long. I know it sounds crazy... But the soldiers say... They say theyve seen a demon! He rubbed his right eye with his palm. It must be a hallucination, or something, right?... I will report back, he finished, continually covering his right eye and looking at the camera with the other. Did... did he say demon? Andr asked no one in particular. The video had given him goosebumps. Like the ones in stories and movies? Bargu said with a mix of surprise and excitement. The poor wretches were so terrified they saw hallucinations, Dragen commented. Soldier, the next one, the combat mage said, seemingly deep in thought. Andr played the third video. Michael was sweating, his pupils dilated. His involuntary movements were becoming more frequent, and behind him, one of the workers was pacing back and forth. They... theyve broken in, Michael wiped his face and pushed his hair back again. It... it was horrible. He blinked several times. We could hear the gunfire and... the screams of pain and terror from our comrades from here. His breathing quickened. The cameras failed again when it came close to them. But... we managed to capture something... It looks... it looks like a demon. By Ibelir, this is madness. It has to be a savage, right? He pulled at his hair. Demons dont exist... do they? Michael took a few steps back, turned around, and approached the cyberboard camera. Theyve gone down to the basement. Apparently, theyre digging a hole. He looked around. But... for what? he said in a whisper, and the video ended. No one said anything about it, but their faces showed mixed emotions. They were looking for the corrupt magic mineral, the mage said to himself, frowning slightly. But for what? If they had already subdued the plant, what sense did it make to expand the corruption? Besides, how did they know it was there? Isen looked back at the soldier. Was that the last one? No, sir. There... theres one more. Lets see it. Andr took a deep breath. Once again, the image of the control room before it became that disturbing scene appeared in the air. Michael was terrified and seemed on the verge of madness. He had taken off his coat and shirt. He was pacing back and forth, clutching his face and scalp, while constantly looking around with wide eyes. Behind him, a worker was tied to a chair, his mouth full of blood. He moved his head from side to side, trying to free himself from the restraints, shouting nonsensical things as if having a psychotic episode. Next to him was the other worker, his neck and left arm bandaged, and a pistol in his other hand, which he used to wipe away sweat constantly. "This is a fucking nightmare..." Michael began, briefly glancing at the camera. "I don''t know how many hours... or has it been days? I don''t know." He ran his hand through his curls again, pulling some out without realizing it. "Everyone''s gone crazy... Yes. Suddenly one day, or was it hours ago? I don''t know." He quickly looked to the sides. "I don''t know, but everyone went crazy, and..." he suddenly approached the camera. "Then, bam! Monsters, mutants. And then gunfire, screams, and... more mutants. Theyre everywhere! But they wont get in here... No. Its impossible to open the door. Theyve tried, yes. But they havent succeeded." Michael stepped away from the camera for a few seconds and then returned. He blinked several times and ran his hand through his curls again, pulling out a few more. "I don''t know what''s happening to us. But we hear voices, theyre in our heads." He suddenly turned and pointed at the tied-up worker. "Damn it! Wildo has gone crazy! Crazy! He suddenly tried to attack us." He approached the camera again. "Damn it! He bit Mervin on the neck and arm! We tied him to the chair. But... I think we should kill him. Yes... kill him," he finally said with his eyes wide open. "The corruption rotted their minds," said the mage. Andr swallowed hard, hoping the protector he had injected was really effective. "By Ibelir! There''s something there. What the hell is that?" Mervin suddenly shouted. Michael turned around. Shit! Stay away from that damn thing! Isen tried to see what they had seen, but nothing was visible on the screen. Careful, Michael! Suddenly, Michael let out a bone-chilling scream and clutched his head. He fell to his knees and started writhing violently from side to side, hands gripping the back of his neck. No! No! Get out of my fucking head! Michael fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Wildo began laughing maniacally while still struggling in the chair. Mervin waved the pistol around, unsure of whom to aim at, then held his head in his hands and screamed in despair. Then everything went silent, and Mervin began to cry quietly. Michael stood up with his back to the camera, and Mervin pointed the pistol at him. A gunshot was heard, and the image distorted, leaving only screams, the sound of a beast tearing through flesh repeatedly, and the echo of a shrill laugh. The image returned, revealing the massacre the room had become. It distorted again, and Michaels face, or what he had become, appeared intermittently in the foreground. Half of his face was pale white with smoother skin than the other half. His right eye was completely black with a yellow pupil. His right ear had elongated, and his hair had turned straight. A grayish horn curled like an ''S'' from his temple. "Catlon will only be the beginning," he said in a high-pitched voice. The image distorted again, and part of a tongue passed over lips. Then it faded out again, leaving only a disturbing, sadistic smile. "We will rise again, and you will feel dread at our presence, for we will reduce your cities to ashes, tint the seas red, and turn you into our slaves." Something struck the cyberboard, sending it flying. 9.The Last Cigarette The sergeant lit a cigarette as the sound of machine guns and screams resonated once more. The smoke filled his lungs and tasted like glory. "Is it really that bad?" Corporal Chelne asked. Raed had quit smoking a couple of years ago because his ex-wife, concerned about his lungs, had repeatedly urged him to. However, he always carried a pack of his favorite brand in his pocket. It was a way to strengthen his willpower and, at the same time, fulfill his "last" wish, as he had smoked a cigarette for every time he thought he wouldnt live to tell the tale. Of the twenty cigarettes the pack initially had, fifteen remained, and now, fourteen. Raed had promised himself that if he managed to smoke all the cigarettes and still remained alive, he would start smoking again, as he would have lived long enough to worry about something as trivial as dying of cancer. The sergeant took another drag of the cigarette and looked at the soldier. Despite the situation, he was still smiling. Raed had always envied Chelnes positivity in the face of any adversity; it was similar to the positivity his wife had had. "Sir, we have contact again at twelve oclock," Soldier Miriam said just as Raed was about to answer the corporal. "More mutants?" he asked while signaling a soldier to hand him the binoculars. "No, sir," the soldier shook her head. "A human and an aehul. They appear to be civilians." "So those damn shapeshifters have finally shown up," he said while observing them. "Soldier Elen, show those bastards how we greet those who mess with ours." "It will be my pleasure, sir." The soldier took aim, and the thunderous sound of the V4-1''s auxiliary machine gun echoed. "Come on, bastards. Show me what you really are." The bald human smiled at the violent welcome and took a step forward. Suddenly, his body grew until it became a muscular mass about three meters tall. Four twisted horns sprouted from his head, and much of his reddish skin was protected by a kind of rocky scales. His right arm was a mixture of flesh, scales, and a metallic blade. The high-caliber bullets clinked off the natural armor of the demonic-looking monster the human had become, and he let out a deep laugh at their ineffectiveness. "Sir, did you see that!?" Miriam asked excitedly. "By Ibelir... It can''t be true..." Raed said quietly, unable to believe what he was seeing. The word "demon" in the message had not been used to describe some kind of savage or mutant, but to affirm the existence of those beings. The image of his father stabbing that man while repeating the word "demon" took over his mind. Had the old bastard really seen demons? "Sir, I think I could use one of your cigarettes," Chelne joked, trying to hide his fear. But the corporal wasn''t the only one terrified. The sergeant had to remember the anger he felt when that thing killed his soldiers to react. "I43! Shoot that monster with a goddamn cannon blast and see if it keeps laughing!" Raed refused to say the word demon. Both he and the other soldiers had faced savages and monsters of similar size before. So he thought that if they believed it was just another monster, it would be easier for them to overcome their fear and fight against that thing. "Let''s see if youre still cocky now," Corporal Eko said. Her violent and carefree nature was like a ray of light in the darkness. "Gunner, blow that bastard up!" The tank fired, and the projectile caused a huge explosion upon impacting the demon creature''s chest, destroying part of its natural armor and skin. This time the monster didn''t laugh. It screamed in pain and staggered slightly. "Did you see that?" the sergeant shouted. "That son of a bitch isn''t invincible!" The soldiers shouted triumphantly as if it were already over. The demonic-looking monster let out a terrifying roar. The soldiers fell silent, and like a pack of wolves, a multitude of roars spread throughout the runielctrica plant in response. The aehul behind him joined the call and revealed its true form; its beautiful face and upper body retained some resemblance to what it had been before transforming, except for its arms, which had taken the form of bird wings. Its lower extremities had turned into a kind of snake torso from which sharp tentacles emerged, surrounding it. The winged monster took flight and perched on the ruined guard tower. A few seconds later, transformed mutants and shapeshifters began to appear. "So, you were the bastard who attracted them here" the sergeant thought, looking at the demon. Raed handed one of his cigarettes to Chelne and lit it for him. Then he looked around, took a final drag of his cigarette, and drew his sword. "For Anlova and Ibelir, we serve with fierceness!" Raed shouted, and the sound of gunfire merged with the shouts of euphoria. *** Neisa fired through the doorway, and a twisted mutant with a horn-shaped head fell to the ground. The soldier was grateful to have something to occupy her mind other than the contents of those twisted videos. Since they had finished watching them, a disturbing silence had reigned as they searched for anything else that might be useful. "Good, that should be enough. We''re leaving," the combat mage declared, and for the first time since the mission began, Neisa was glad to hear Isen''s words. She was as eager to leave as anyone. The group left the control room with Neisa and Bargu at the front, continuing down the hallway back to the stairs. From somewhere beyond the intersection past the elevator room and the stairs, a sound similar to an animal or person jumping grew louder, followed by footsteps and growls. The mages squad stopped and prepared to fire. They all knew what was coming. Several mutants appeared from the right hallway, charging at them like hunting animals after their prey. The first of them was a grotesque mix of a frog and a human, leaping as it ran. The Fierce Stewards opened fire and took down most of the mutants that rushed at them. However, the first one managed to dodge the bullets and struck Neisa with its huge monstrous frog hand, then leaped onto Dragen. The soldier was sent flying, crashing through the interior window of an adjoining room. She collided with some furniture and rolled across the floor as her comrades fought the horrendous amphibian-like mutant. The door to the room where Neisa had fallen burst open, and a mutant with horns, a prominent jaw, and razor-sharp teeth lunged at her just as she was getting up. Neisa fell back to the floor, watching as the mutant''s teeth aimed for her unprotected face. She turned her head to the side, and the creature''s mouth hit the floor. The soldier reached for her pistol and tried to aim, but the mutant grabbed her arms, pinning her down. Neisa screamed in pain as its claws pierced her flesh, and the sadistic face of the mutant drew closer, its open mouth dripping saliva. Neisa struggled repeatedly to free herself, her heart pounding harder and harder. The mutant opened its mouth wider, and just as it was about to strike again, a beam of white light disintegrated most of its head, leaving only the lower jaw. The soldier quickly pushed the monster off her, turned onto her back, and pointed her pistol in various directions, frantically scanning the room for other mutants. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The only one she saw was the combat mage Isen. "Thank you, sir," she said, relieved. Isen simply nodded. "Are you okay?" Andr asked, rushing through the door. "Yes, just some scratches," she replied. But in truth, she was in a lot of pain and struggled to keep her arms steady. "By Ibelir, thank... I don''t know what I''d do if something happened to you..." "And leave you alone? Never," Neisa said with a smile. The truth was she couldnt imagine life without him either. He was her best friend, her brother, her confidant. "This isn''t over yet," Dragen said before burying his axe into the face of another mutant in the corridor. Next to him, Bargu and Isen opened fire again. "Let''s go." The soldiers left the room, and Neisa unloaded her fury on a mutant with a spiral, eyeless face, angered by her earlier helplessness. They advanced and reached the elevator room. More mutants. Two emerged from the access to the stairs. One, whose torso was a vertical mouth, charged directly at the mage. Neisa saw Isen pull the trigger, but to her surprise, and probably to the mages as well (though his face didnt show it), what shot out was a simple metal bullet instead of a beam of light. The other mutant, with a body resembling a fan of bones and flesh, headed for Dragen. The projectile embedded itself in the flesh on one side of the torso-mouth mutant, but it withstood the impact and tried to strike the mage with its atrophied, spike-like hand. Isen stepped back, dodging the blow, and tried to draw his sword. However, the mutant also advanced, lunging like a bull to trap him with its torso-mouth. He didnt have time to draw. He was finished. Neisa squeezed the trigger without hesitation, and a burst of bullets tore through the space between them like a swarm of furious bees. The creature fell just inches from Isen, as Dragen cut off a leg of the mutant attacking him with an upward strike, and Andr fired from a difficult position at another mutant appearing from the intersection. The combat mage turned to look at her. His ice-blue eyes were cold and unsettling, but also beautiful and elegant. "Thank you, soldier," Isen said dryly. The human soldier merely imitated him and nodded, but the combat mage didnt seem to appreciate the gesture. "Sir, what happened to your weapon?" Neisa asked while changing her magazine. It was the first time she had seen a regular bullet come out of a runic pistol. Bargu and Andr did the same. They were running low on ammo. "It ran out of magic," he said, looking at an empty meter next to the magic rune under the trigger. Then he opened the magazine and inserted a couple of bullets. "It will take a while to recharge." "But didnt you say using corrupt magic was dangerous...?" "I''ll explain later when were out of this, soldier." Neisa wondered if there was a hidden meaning behind that and inadvertently smiled, briefly imagining what it would be like to have sex with him. Suddenly, the sound of a distant explosion was heard, followed by a terrifying roar. As if in a chain reaction, roars began spreading throughout the building, followed by the thumping of footsteps and the screeching sound of breaking glass. *** The power plant had become the stage for a bloody battle. Bullets from machine guns and assault rifles snatched the lives of numerous mutants that swarmed the machine room building from all sides. Raed fired his pistol, taking down a mutant as the tank''s cannon roared again. The sergeant watched the heavy projectile streak across the battlefield, narrowly dodging an attack from another mutant. This time, the shapeshifter dodged the shell, which exploded in the distance, taking a few mutants with it. Raed sliced off the mutant''s arm with a sword strike and then shot it in the head. "Again!" Corporal Eko yelled as she shredded several mutants with the machine gun. The sergeant dispatched another mutant with his pistol and quickly turned when he heard a guttural sound behind him. Huge claws stopped mere centimeters from his neck, dropping to the ground under a rain of bullets from one of the soldiers on the machine room buildings rooftop. Another massive projectile fired from the tank, this time striking the demons shoulder just as it was nearly upon them. The explosion tore through part of its natural armor and muscle. The demon roared and staggered back a few inches before resuming its advance, swatting two mutants out of its path with a single blow. "That''s it! Take that bastard down before it reaches us!" Raed shouted, shooting a couple of times at a mutant devouring one of his soldiers. It was too late to save his comrade, but at least he wouldn''t die in vain. Elo, a broad-shouldered, bald human soldier manning the auxiliary machine gun of the V4-4, kept sweeping the gun from side to side, mowing down the approaching mutants until he ran out of bullets. He hurriedly began changing the ammo box when a mutant with a rugby ball-shaped head and a single eye, sporting two arms protruding from its face, leapt onto the vehicle. Elo dropped the box and tried to draw his pistol, but the mutant immobilized his arms with its hands and, with the limbs extending from its head, grabbed Elo''s head and violently snapped his neck. Then it sank its rotten teeth into him, beginning to devour him. On the opposite side, a demonic creature resembling a horned werewolf with bone plates and a spine covered in spikes, dodged the auxiliary machine gun bullets from the V4-1, leapt, and tore off the head of soldier Elen with a swipe of its claws. The automatic loader finished placing another shell into the light tanks cannon chamber, just as the shapeshifter aehul dive-bombed from the sky. It grabbed the cannon with its snake-like tail, flapping its wings to divert the shot. "Die, snake bastard!" Corporal Eko shouted. But before she could fire the auxiliary machine gun, the creature flew away, the bullets slicing through the air. "Watch out!" someone shouted. "I need help on this side!" another yelled. The large demon charged the V4-2 blocking its path, causing the vehicle to skid several meters back while rotating. Raed, seeing the V4 move, grabbed Chelne, and they dived to the ground to avoid it as a new explosive shell fired from the tank. The cannon shot hit the demon in the chest, forcing it back a few steps and making it bend a knee in pain. Its left side was left raw and bleeding violet blood. For a moment, Corporal Eko thought they had finally subdued the massive muscle-bound beast, but after another agonizing roar, the demon lunged at the I43, furiously slashing with its bladed arm. Screams of rage and terror mixed with the screeching of armor as the tank was torn apart into metallic and fleshy chunks. The explosion of the shell just meters away left a deafening ringing in Raeds ears. He and Chelne struggled to their feet, supporting each other, everything around them moving in slow motion. The sergeant saw the demon tear the light tank to pieces while a group of mutants overran soldier Draga, who was manning the machine gun on the V4-2. Behind him, the flying demon pierced through Miriam''s helmet and skull with a pair of its sharp tentacles. The battle was lost. Raed aimed as best as he could at the wolf-like demon, bringing it down with two shots to the head just as it was about to pounce on him. A mutant clawed at his chest armor, and the sergeant severed its leg before shooting it on the ground. He turned to see Rem''s dismembered body and several mutants piling onto his remains. Chelne seemed to say something with a smile, but Raed could only hear ringing and his own breathing. He knew he would soon join his fallen comrades in whatever afterlife awaited them, but his body kept moving, driven by one final purpose. A mutant''s blade-arm slashed Raed''s leg. Ignoring the pain, he sliced its neck with his sword and then moved to shoot his last bullet into the heart of a former power plant worker turned mutant. Next to him, Chelne cut down a mutant with a burst of gunfire and stabbed another through the neck with his bayonet before being cleaved in two by the demon''s blade-arm. The sergeant roared and charged, but the demon knocked him back with its shattered shoulder, sending him crashing into the V4-1. Raed heard his bones crunch on impact, momentarily thinking his back was broken. He writhed in pain and managed to prop himself up against the military vehicle''s door. It felt like he had been run over by a truck. His whole body ached tremendously, barely able to move. He heard the demon laughing and realized that the creature genuinely enjoyed destroying those it deemed inferior. In that regard, it wasn''t much different from the scum that lurked in the darkest corners of Ibelir''s cities. The world was a wretched place, and if there was one thing he was glad about leaving with his ex-wife, it was not bringing a child into this cruel and merciless world. The sergeant turned his head toward the central building. In the distance, he thought he saw some people moving in the opposite direction and smiled, imagining it was the combat mage''s squad. At least, his death and that of his comrades would have served a purpose. He turned back and saw the imposing demon approaching with heavy steps while the other grotesque creatures eagerly awaited the outcome. Raed removed his helmet and pulled from his pocket a photo of his ex-wife and the handwritten note he had penned. "...I know I failed you, and even though I promised otherwise, I know I would do it again. But I can''t live without you. You are the reason I joined the army. The reason I fight every day, the reason I live. The reason I cry, the reason I dream..." He stopped reading, relieved not to have to endure the painful moment of telling those words to his ex-wife. But he also felt sadness and regret for not trying to win her back sooner. She had been the best part of his life, and he let her slip away. "...I love you, and I always will, Marian..." Tears streamed down his cheeks. "Do you fear death, pathetic mortal?" the demon asked in a powerful voice. Raed looked at the photo of his ex-wife one last time, smiling at her radiant grin. It truly was his favorite thing about her. "Die!" the demon roared, bringing its blade-arm down on him. He knew he was going to die, but he was at peace. He felt no pain or sadness. Sooner or later, he would reunite with her and all his comrades lost along the way. Everything around him faded in importance, except for one thing. The sergeant rolled to the side and tumbled on the ground, hearing the distorted, muffled sound of metal being sliced behind him. With the last bit of strength he didn''t feel, he struggled to his feet, gathered momentum, and clumsily leaped at the demon while pulling the pin from a grenade. The metallic click seemed to echo multiple times. "See you in hell, you son of a bitch," Raed said weakly, just before colliding with the demon''s body and shoving the grenade into the open wound in its chest. 10. Desperation. The soldiers rushed down the stairs as the sound of explosions and machine guns began to rumble outside. The piercing roar had caused the mutants to stampede out of the building, not caring whether they exited through doors or windows. No one knew for sure what had produced such a terrifying sound, but everyone was reminded of the recording they had seen on the cyberboard just a few minutes before. Upon reaching the first floor, the elevator doors where Burmac had died were open. The bodies of the two workers who had been trapped in them had been brutally thrown against one of the walls, and a trail of fresh blood led down the hallway toward the exit. "This can''t be," Andr said, puzzled. "Burmac''s body is gone." "And these two weren''t here before," Neisa pointed her flashlight at the mutilated bodies of the workers. "He...lp..." came a rough voice from the hallway. "Did you hear that?" Bargu whispered. "That''s the same thing Burmac said he heard!" Andr exclaimed. The combat mage signaled for silence and then for them to advance. The soldiers moved stealthily along the walls but couldn''t help being startled when they saw the chilling origin of the voice. A mutant that had once been a human worker was crawling upside down and on all fours, slowly moving down the hallway. Its neck had stretched to about a meter long, and its face was a picture of terror. Its stomach had turned into a mouth of flesh and bones, from which numerous long, thin tentacles emerged, moving in all directions as if dancing. One of them had the body of its former comrade by the neck, while another that had pierced its head seemed to be sucking out the insides. "It''s all because of that damned magic," Andr thought, though it wasn''t his own voice he heard. "By Ibelir... it''s disgusting," Neisa said. "Damned foul creature!" Dragen shouted, filled with rage. "He...lp?" The monster turned around. "He...lp." The mutant''s face contorted, its eyes darting in all directions as the tentacles began to stretch toward the soldiers of Ibelir. "Watch out, it''s attacking!" Isen said before rolling on the ground to take cover behind a wall. Dragen mimicked the mage. The two childhood friends and the young drauo dodged to the sides to avoid the tentacles that slammed into the ground with force. "He...lp," the mutant accelerated its pace, its tentacles dancing in search of victims. Dragen and Isen peeked out and fired a few shots before taking cover again. Apparently, the combat mage''s magical weapon hadn''t recovered yet. Neisa fired two bursts, hitting the monster''s body before dodging a lash, while Andr fired accurately and managed to destroy two tentacles with a few shots. Bargu also followed his comrades'' example, but a tentacle moving close to the ground managed to grab him, pulling him down onto his back. "Damn it, it got me!" Bargu shouted. "Let him go, you freak!" Neisa roared and fired a burst that severed the tentacle holding her comrade. "Move, kid!" Dragen yelled as he and the mage fired again. Bargu got up as best he could and moved out of the mutant''s path just as it burst into the room where they were. The corrupted creature spun around, trying to hit and impale its moving, shooting prey. A tentacle injured the corporal''s arm, and another slashed the mage''s leg, but soon after, the former worker collapsed, and a dark puddle began to form on the floor as some of its tentacles spasmed. "This is for Burmac, you piece of shit," Dragen said before splitting its head in two. Outside, the sound of a new explosion reminded them that the battle was still raging outside. "Let''s go, Sergeant Raed is waiting for us," the drauo corporal said, and the others followed. *** If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The soldiers of the combat mage''s squad exited the central building and hurried down the avenue toward the bloody battle. However, after advancing a short distance, they all stopped abruptly behind an overturned car that the workers and soldiers used to move around the plant. Neisa''s heart skipped a beat when she saw a massive red-skinned, horned monster with bulging muscles split the light tank with a blade-like arm, while mutants and other horrendous creatures pounced on the few remaining soldiers of the platoon. Shit This cant be happening, Andr said, terrified. Were doomed. Damn Bargu added. This nightmare never ends. Theyre beyond saving, Isen said coldly. Lets head back to the V4-3. With some luck, they might still be alive, and we can get out of here. We we have to help them! The words took much longer to leave Neisas mouth than she expected. She was paralyzed by the horrendous scene unfolding in front of her. Help them? Dont you see? We need to get out of here as fast as we can, Andr said desperately. This is a fucking hell! You coward! Theyre your brothers in arms! Although she was addressing her childhood friend, the words burst from Neisas mouth with fury. And the worst part was, deep down, a part of her also wanted to run away. Andr looked her in the eyes, about to respond, but finally looked away and said nothing. When they argued, he usually backed down or ended up agreeing with her. Listen to me, human, Dragen said with a serious expression. His orange eyes were filled with fury. The mineral scales that ran across his body like tribal tattoos glimmered. Im the first who wants to save the sergeant. His fist trembled. But the mission comes first. And if we go there, their sacrifice will have been in vain. So you better turn around and get moving before they notice our presence. Neisa bit her lip, and after a few seconds of hesitation, obeyed her superior. The group began to flee the scene as quickly and silently as possible. Suddenly, a loud explosion sounded behind them, and they reflexively ducked, hands over their helmets. What was that? Bargu asked. Neisa had heard enough grenade explosions to know what had caused it. Dont look, she told herself. Keep going. You wont like what you see. But she did. In the distance, the massive red-skinned monster was emitting smoke from its mutilated body. Someone took out the monster with a grenade, Neisa said. Im sure it was she began to say while trying to spot any of her comrades. A sudden, firm grip on her wrist made her turn around. Theyre dead, Dragens face was contorted. His jaw clenched tightly. Move. "You don''t know that..." The soldier turned her gaze back to the battlefield and saw the creature''s body starting to shrink and change color. "That thing is turning... human." "What are you saying, girl?" said the drauo corporal, turning to answer her but unable to avoid glancing in the same direction. "What the hell...?" The creature''s body transformed into that of a human, with most of its torso from the waist up ripped off. A thin strip of flesh and bone barely held its left arm. "By Ibelir..." Bargu said. "What are those things supposed to be?" "Damn... can those things take human form?" Andr said, curled up. "I can''t take it anymore... Please, let''s get out of here." "Let''s move," said the mage, continuing past a dented and bullet-ridden car. Neisa forced herself to turn and keep moving. There was no time to process what that thing was. She just wanted to get out of there. For the first time in her life, she was as scared as Andr, or more. The combat mage''s squad hugged the wall of the National Defense Corps auxiliary building and slipped through the ajar door. The interior of the vast room mirrored the scene in the central building. Numerous mutant corpses were mixed with those of savages, soldiers, and plant workers, forming a gruesome and bloody mosaic. Much of the furniture was destroyed, and the walls and floor were splattered with red and black. They continued through the room in formation, unfazed by the bloody scene, heading toward the opposite door like runners at the end of a marathon. "Please, let the vehicle be intact, please..." Andr whispered. However, when they emerged on the other side, their faint hope turned into utter despair; the V4-3 was split into three pieces, and their comrades lay mutilated. "We''re trapped," Andr said, falling to his knees, tears streaming down his lifeless face. "We''re going to die here..." "Now we''re really screwed," Bargu said, slumping to the ground. "Damn it!" Dragen shouted, kicking a mutant''s head. "All this for nothing!?" Neisa bent her knees, exhausted and on the verge of a panic attack. Isen looked around as if searching for something, then lifted his head toward the sky. "Something''s coming," the mage said. "Inside, quickly." The soldiers retreated into the building and took cover behind pillars and wrecked objects. The sound of wings flapping grew louder until they saw a creature with a serpent''s torso, dark bird wings, and tentacles coiled like extensions of its torso descend and perch on one of the metal fragments of the destroyed V4-3. Neisa''s heart pounded so hard behind the column that she feared the creature might hear it. Across from her was Isen, pistol in hand. His calculating, ice-blue eyes only made her feel more terrified. The mage, seemingly aware, looked away. The creature flapped its wings and descended to the ground. It slithered like a snake into the building and stopped. "It can''t be... did it hear my heartbeat?" Neisa thought, a cold sweat running down her neck. A few seconds later, the subtle hissing began to fade outside. Isen peeked out slightly to see the creature, and Neisa held her breath to do the same. Outside, the snake-torso monster shifted into an aehul and headed toward the parking lot. "Let''s find a room where we can take cover and tend to our wounds," Isen ordered. 11. Encounter Eliad could not believe what the tracking device indicated as he headed to Catlon. According to the runic radar, numerous demons of various levels had appeared at a nearby runielctrica plant. The appearance of two demons so close to each other within two consecutive days would have been strange enough, but so many in just one day and in the same area? That was impossible. As far as he knew, something like that hadnt happened since the purge in Sakiston, and that was over fifty years ago. But the strangest thing of all was that the location marked by the runic device was only about thirty kilometers from where his friend and brother Sebastin had disappeared. Was it just a coincidence? Or could it be related to his disappearance? For a moment, he hesitated to contact the Midra base to report the situation, but it was likely just a radar malfunction and his own absurd speculations caused by pain and loss, so he finally decided to take a look without informing the main Dalenor base. However, upon arriving at the entrance of the runielctrica plant, he had a feeling that perhaps the radar had been correct, and his paranoias might not be so unfounded. The access to the plant was filled with the corpses of Ibelir soldiers, corrupted ones, and savages. And worst of all, he could feel an enormous amount of corrupt magic slowly spreading throughout the area. Eliad slowly entered on his motorcycle and saw a versatile 4x4 vehicle that the Ibelir army typically used for explorations and skirmishes. It was split into three pieces, with the organic remains of a soldier in two of them. He got off the motorcycle, touched the cut metal, and observed the scene. Bullet casings were scattered, a decapitated soldier had claw marks on his face, another had a huge hole in his chest, and another had dissected arms. A bit farther away, there were a couple of human bodies with numerous bullet holes. He closed his eyes and imagined the combat scene. The soldiers, surprised by the sudden transformation of humans into demons, had hastily fired and killed two of them. However, a third, larger one had cut off one soldiers arms with a single slash, decapitated another with a swipe, then shredded the V4 and its occupant with its blade weapon, finally impaling the third soldier who had tried to run away. Eliad looked around. The Ibelir army convoys always traveled with at least two vehicles due to the dangers of the roads. So, if there was one at the entrance, it meant there should be at least one more somewhere. The question was whether they had survived the attack or not. About twenty meters ahead was a dilapidated three-story building with broken windows and corpses at the entrance. To the left, near the end, several vehicles could be seen in what was likely the parking area of the rune electric auxiliary power plant.". To the right, the path continued straight before splitting into one that led inside the plant and another that continued to a small building in the distance. The Hunter returned to his motorcycle, and just as he was about to get on to continue, he thought he saw the face of a person hiding behind one of the windows of the building across the way. Eliad drew his pistols from their holsters and walked resolutely toward the building. *** "Shit, I think he saw me, sir," Andr said after stepping away from the window of the administrative room on the third floor, which overlooked the entrance to the rune electric power plant. "You idiot!" Dragen snapped, arms open, leaning against the opposite wall. "I''m sorry... Do you think it''s one of them?" Andr asked, his hands on his head. "Who the hell else would venture into this fucking plant alone?!" the corporal shouted. Even drauos, famous for their leadership, had moments of weakness. "Its definitely one of those bastards!" "He''s not there anymore..." Neisa said, having discreetly peeked through the same window. In the center of the room was a shattered table with a couple of corpses on it. The last one, they had killed silently when they entered the room. "Oh no..." Andr said. "Is he coming for us?" "What do you think, human?" Dragen replied. "And what do we do now?" Bargu asked. His face looked more worried than his companion''s. "Even if it is, he''s alone; I don''t think he stands a chance, sir," Neisa answered, trying to defend her friend. But the truth was, she didn''t know if they could really take down one of those things. At least they had managed to grab some ammunition from the armory on the first floor. "At this point, we have no other option," the combat mage said as if trying to solve a math problem. There seemed to be a spark of hidden excitement in his eyes. "Lets find out who or what it is, and if it''s one of them, I''ll take care of it myself." The squad members left the room in formation, ready to confront the possible monster. Gunshots were heard, followed by the sound of footsteps climbing stairs, and more gunshots. A hooded figure with pistols in hand appeared on the stairs. *** "Stop right there, or we''ll shoot!" a female voice commanded authoritatively. Eliad stopped and looked at the armed men waiting for him. They wore the uniforms of the Ibelir army, full of cuts, dried blood, and grime. The one who had spoken was likely a human woman. Her skin was almond-colored, and her eyes were emerald green. To her left was another of her kind with fair skin and dark brown eyes that almost seemed black. To her right was a more fragile, pale-skinned person, whose beauty suggested he was an aehul. His eyes were blue and cold as ice. A bit further ahead, there were two shorter and much broader figures with visors hiding their foreheads and eyes. One had black skin with red and white mineral scales on his tough cheeks. Next to him was another with soft blue skin and bright, multicolored mineral inlays mixed with almost transparent white. Eliad immediately recognized them as drauos. "Survivors?" he thought. "Drop your weapons and put your damn hands where we can see them!" said the obsidian-skinned drauo. His voice was deep. "Alright, calm down," Eliad said in a conciliatory tone, then placed his weapons on the ground. "Who are you?" the more fragile one asked with an imposing tone but without raising his voice. His blue eyes briefly glowed, and a small whirlwind of air began to dance in his hand. He was undoubtedly a magic user. "And I wouldn''t lie if I were you." "My name is Eliad," he replied, lowering the hood of his trench coat. "And what the hell are you doing here?" the drauo asked again, moving his weapon slightly forward. "Are you one of them?" This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "One of who?" Eliad asked, his brow slightly furrowed. "Those monsters that turn into us!" shouted the dark-eyed human soldier. His hands were trembling. Eliad immediately knew they were referring to the demons. As he suspected, this was a group of survivors. "Because my job is to hunt them," he said with a cynical smile. "And they are not monsters; they are demons." Suddenly, the soldiers'' faces changed as if they had remembered something terrifying, and without realizing it, they all lowered their weapons. "What are you saying, human?! Demons don''t exist!" the obsidian-skinned drauo snapped again, though he didn''t seem confident. "Shit, damn it!" the human shouted. "You''re kidding, those things really exist?!" the pastel-blue drauo with bright scales commented. "This must be a joke" the emerald-eyed soldier said. "Demons? So those things are really demons?" the mage asked with some interest. The others looked at him, confused. "Yes," Eliad said, looking each of the soldiers in the eye. "And they have existed since the beginnings of the old world." "Does that mean the ancient writings about demons are true?" the mage asked. Eliad shrugged. "Some are real chronicles, and others are just legends or embellished stories. It''s hard to distinguish truth from myth." His face turned serious, and his gaze hardened. "But what is true is that they were the ones who ended what we know as the old world." "Holy shit!" said the drauo with bright scales. "Do you mean it wasn''t the arruks and savages who destroyed the crippled kingdoms of the old world in the War of the End of the World?" "Every story has a grain of truth," Eliad replied. "But there''s no time for that now, so if you don''t mind, I''d like to know more about the demons you''ve seen." "Those damned bastards" began the dark-skinned drauo, who had lifted his opaque visor. His eyes were reddish-orange, and he had a scar on his eyebrow and another on his nose. His voice was filled with anger and sadness. "They massacred all our comrades!" Eliad noticed the human woman was also struggling to contain her rage. "I''m sorry, I know how it feels" "That''s bullshit, human," the drauo shouted. "We" The soldier clenched his fist tightly and then smashed it into the wall, punching through it. "We abandoned our comrades to their fate! And all for some fucking videos!" "Videos?" "Soldier Andr, show them," the mage said. "He''d better see them for himself." "Yes, sir." The dark-haired human soldier pulled a cyberboard from one of his pockets and handed it to Eliad Eliad watched the videos one by one and couldn''t help but show some surprise and concern. He was used to seeing demons unleashing the ecstasy they felt when possessing mortal bodies, but this was the first time he had seen a demon speak so convincingly. He didn''t know what kind of demon it was or its level, but from what it had said about "rising again," it had to be ancient. According to some accounts from his order written during the early years of the new world, the Ibelir Peninsula had been the last shield of mortals against the demons and, in turn, the spearhead of the counterattack. Tens of thousands of demons had been defeated in the last years of the old world and the first years of the new. But the truth was that not all of them had truly died, as the weapons capable of destroying them were scarce. Over the years, some Hunters discovered demons that had camouflaged their existence by turning into large solidified corrupt magic minerals. Therefore, it was believed that in the most inhospitable corners of the world, there could be hundreds or even thousands of ancient demons waiting for someone to awaken them from their slumber. And if this was really the beginning of the awakening of such atrocious and powerful beings? If that were the case, most of the current world''s governments didn''t even know demons existed, let alone were prepared to face them. Even his order would not be able to stop them in their current state. Eliad checked the date and time of the recording. The video had been taken just a few hours ago. If the demon in the video was indeed such an ancient being, it must still be very weak. Which meant he still had a chance. He had to find it and kill it before everything began. "It''s worse than I thought," Eliad said with a worried expression. "This man has been possessed by a demon that could even date back to the old world. And worst of all, he likely intends to awaken the demons lying in the depths of all Ibelir. If he succeeds, Catlon will only be the beginning of the end." "Possessed? What do you mean by that?" asked the drauo with brown eyes. "Those things get into our bodies?" "Wait," the human soldier put his hands to his head. "Are you saying there are more of those buried all over Ibelir?" "Fascinating" the mage commented, surprising everyone. "As I said, there''s no time to lose," Eliad said, handing back the cyberboard. "I need to know where the videos were recorded." "In the control room," the mage replied. "But when we arrived, all that was left was the carnage it had caused." "Could it be with the demons that attacked your comrades?" "We don''t think so." "Then it might already be on its way to Catlon," Eliad said. "We came from there, and the only thing we found along the way were the remains of the savages who attacked the plant thinking it was occupied by our troops," said the drauo with orange eyes. Eliad looked at the hole the drauo had left in the wall and remembered the hole mentioned in the video. "Have you seen the hole in the basement?" "Yes, it seemed to connect to a room or something like that," the mage said. "Do you think it could have gone down there?" "Not just gone down," his green-gray eyes locked onto the aehul mage. "But it probably used it to head to Catlon and look for more of its kind." "But how?" the mage asked curiously. "There are no tunnels from the underground network passing through here." He paused for a few seconds and looked at the drauos as if he had remembered something. "Unless it used the ancient tunnels," he said with a hint of admiration. "Exactly. The ancient tunnels of the Drauo Kingdoms of Ibelir ran practically across the entire peninsula, so they probably connect to some path in the current underground network," Eliad said. "Where is the basement you''re talking about? I need to hurry if I want even a chance to catch up with it." "I''ll take you myself." "Sir?" the soldiers asked. "If there''s a chance to stop that demon before it attacks Catlon, it is my duty as a combat mage to try," the mage said, looking at the scarred drauo with reddish-orange eyes. "Corporal Dragen, you are now in command. Return to the city and inform your commander of what has happened here and the potential danger looming over Catlon," he said, handing him the cyberboard. "It would be advisable for the guardian of Linalta Tower to be present as well when you do. It will be easier for her to grasp the situation." The drauo corporal turned, fury on his face, and his minerals glimmered. "But sir, I" he began to say after a few seconds. He was undoubtedly struggling with his own feelings. "Thats an order, Corporal." The drauo named Dragen squeezed his eyes shut, shook his head from side to side, then sighed. "Yes, sir," he finally replied. "But how are we supposed to get back?" the human asked. "The keys to the National Defense Corps transport vehicles weren''t in their place. And we also don''t know where the keys to the vehicles for getting around the auxiliary plant are." "You can take my motorcycle," Eliad replied. "I wont be able to use it anyway, and it would be useful if you left it in Catlon just in case." "But even so, only two of us can ride." "Sir, let me accompany you," the emerald-eyed human woman said. "What are you saying, Neisa?" the other human retorted before the mage could even respond. "Andr, the combat mage is right. If theres a chance that this monster," the human seemed unwilling to say "demon," "is heading to Catlon to destroy it, its better that we finish it off before it even has the chance." "Then let the others go! Why do you have to face that demon?" "We don''t know what dangers might be down there," replied the human named Neisa. "The more of us that go, the better our chances of success. Besides, even if I didnt go with them, we''d still have the same problem. There are four of us and only one motorcycle." "Three and one motorcycle," corrected the brown-eyed drauo. "I''m not going to miss the chance to explore the ancient paths." "I" The soldier hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Let me go in your place," he finished, saying with little conviction and a worried face. Neisa shook her head. Neither of them seemed to have paid attention to the young drauo. "We both know you don''t want to, Andr. Dont worry, nothing will happen to me. Trust me." "Alright," Isen intervened. "Corporal Dragen and Soldier Andr will use Eliads motorcycle to return to the city." The mage looked at them coldly. "Leave the motorcycle at your regiment''s base and inform the commander as I have instructed. Soldiers Bargu, Neisa, and I will go into the tunnel with him." "You heard the combat mage, soldier," said the drauo corporal, grabbing the soldier by the arm. "Were heading back to Catlon!" 12. In the Demon鈥檚 Footsteps Eliad descended the rope, shining his flashlight to get a better view of his surroundings. The enormous crystallization of corrupt magic was within what appeared to have been a natural cavity. A few steps from the mineral stood two stone altars with an inverted pentagon engraved on them. Two chained skeletons, which had apparently been humans or mutant aehuls, rested on them. Demon worshippers, he thought. The very idea that there could still be foolish believers in such vile creatures repulsed him. The beam of light descended to the stone floor, where he found several dried bloodstains, accompanied by books, utensils, and decomposed corpses of different races dressed in ceremonial robes. The cracks and the abrupt hole in the corrupt mineral indicated that the demon from the video had likely emerged from within it, but the state of decomposition of the corpses there made it impossible that the demon itself had done it. Whatever had killed all those cultists had done so a long time ago. He raised the flashlight. Dust motes floated in the heavy air. Cobwebs hung here and there. Several extinguished candelabras were placed throughout the spiritual chamber. On one of the living stone walls, there was an iron door with bars that had been ripped off its hinges. The hunter approached one of the walls near the corrupt mineral, took out a knife, and made a cut on the palm of his hand. He put the knife away and moistened one of the fingers of his other hand in the thick liquid. He raised the wet finger and drew a protective seal with the blood as he had been taught in his order many years ago. His seals werent as strong as those of his mage companions, but they would at least help attenuate the corruption. Once he finished the first one, he moved to the opposite wall and repeated the process. Moments later, both seals began to glow. You can come down now. *** Neisa watched Eliad as he spoke with Isen. The red leather trench coat with green flame-shaped trims reached almost to his ankles and had a large black cross shaped like a sword drawn on the back. "How did you manage to attenuate the corruption?" Isen asked. His expressionless face seemed to reflect some curiosity. Seeing is believing, Neisa thought. "With a protective seal," Eliad replied. "I''m coming down," Bargu said. Neisa turned and saw the young drauo starting to descend. "Like the alchemists'' seals?" the combat mage continued. He was undoubtedly interested in the topic. "No," Eliad answered. "We make the seals with our blood. So even someone like me, who can''t use magic, is able to create protective seals." "Fascinating" Isen''s voice made the soldier turn her gaze back to the mage and the hunter. "A protective seal made with blood I''ve never seen anything like it." "Well, I suppose they''re quite uncommon these days," Eliad said with some disdain. "So it''s similar to blood magic?" Isen asked. Neisa had seen enough blood to be unnerved by something that sounded as dangerous as blood magic. She looked away to watch her comrade descend and couldn''t help but glance again at the crystalline formation of corrupt magic. Despite having injected the protector and the protective seal the hunter had made, the soldier still felt drawn to the dark-hued violet mineral. It had a deceptive elegance and beauty, dangerous. It was like forbidden fruit. It was like a wealthy lover who is married. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "How could it have broken?" the soldier asked with regret. She didn''t expect an answer, but she hadn''t intended to ask the question either. "Because that''s where the demon emerged from," Eliad said, approaching her position. "Huh?" Neisa replied, somewhat confused. It was as if she had woken from some kind of trance. "How is that possible?" the combat mage asked. "The hole is barely thirty centimeters wide." "Because it was in its true form a kind of ethereal spirit." "So that''s what Mervin was referring to in the video," Isen said. "How interesting! I''d love to see one with my own eyes." Neisa looked at the combat mage in confusion. Who in their right mind would want that? Just then, the drauo touched the ground. "Alright, we''re all here," said Eliad. "Let''s continue." "What is this room supposed to be?" the drauo asked as the soldiers and the hunter crossed the chamber. "It gives off a really bad vibe." "A worship room for a demonic cult," the hunter said. "Someone probably found the demon''s tomb by chance and established their religious cult here." "Is there anything normal in this runielctrica plant?" Neisa said, disgusted. "Well, why am I not surprised..." said the young drauo. "By the way, where''s the tomb?" "In case you didn''t hear," Neisa interjected. "The demon was imprisoned inside this corrupt mineral." "Holy shit... So it was the demon who killed all these people?" "I doubt it," the hunter replied. "They''ve been decomposed for too long, and the room looks like it hasn''t been cleaned in years." The group passed through the broken door and entered a small passageway, arriving at a hall whose walls were decorated with demonic symbols and tapestries, clearly crafted by humanoid hands. In the center of the hall was an elongated table with dirty, dusty plates and cutlery. Numerous cultists had been brutally murdered while eating or trying to escape. It was as if a beast had feasted on them. "Whoever did this really enjoyed themselves," Bargu said after letting out a whistle. The group crossed the hall and exited in a double file through a partially open wooden door reinforced with iron. They passed through another small passageway and arrived at a tunnel about five meters high and four meters wide, which seemingly had no structural support. As they moved through it, Neisa noticed the combat mage asking Eliad several questions, to which Eliad only responded to some. It was curious how roles sometimes reversed. The tunnel turned left, then right, descending before straightening out again. The walls began to feature holes about a meter in diameter. Despite having been born and raised in Catlon, Neisa knew nothing about tunnels and occasionally wondered if a tunnel full of holes could really be safe. This concern reminded her of her childhood friend Andr, and a sad, timid smile appeared on her face. Normally, she was the bravest and most determined, while he was the most cautious and fearful, even though he didn''t like to admit it. When they were kids, it often seemed like their roles were reversed, causing other children to laugh at them until she set them straight with her fists. "Did your ancestors make these tunnels?" Neisa asked to avoid thinking about her best friend. "What are you talking about, girl?" the young drauo said, lifting his visor again. "My ancestors wouldn''t have done such a shoddy job. These tunnels must have been made by those damn arruks." Neisa looked at her companion, and for a moment, she thought she had some kind of creature next to her instead of her comrade. His eyes, with rhomboid pupils, glowed in the dark. "What''s wrong?" the drauo asked, seeing her reaction. "Did you see something?" Bargu turned and looked around. The group stopped suddenly. "No... it''s just that I saw your eyes glowing and it surprised me," Neisa said. "Sorry. Let''s continue." "And you''re just noticing now? Unbelievable," Bargu said as they resumed their march. "Haven''t you ever seen a drauo from the regiment in the dark with his visor up or without a helmet?" "Now that I think about it, no. Why do they glow?" "Well, I don''t know the scientific explanation, but in short, our eyes glow because we can practically see in the dark as long as there''s a bit of light." "You can see in the dark?" "Yeah, girl. Isn''t it cool?" Bargu said with a smile. "Although, theoretically, we see fewer colors than you, and light blinds us more than it does you. That''s why our flashlights have a much dimmer tone, and many of us wear visors on our helmets or dark glasses." "I see, so that''s why. I had no idea," Neisa replied. They continued downhill for a few more meters and reached a small intersection where the tunnel split into three paths. Isen moved his hand from side to side, and suddenly, humanoid footprints and what seemed to be paw or handprints began to appear on the ground. "Hes been through here," Eliad said. "And it seems he is not alone." 13. Vestiges of the Past. The soldiers and the hunter left the rudimentary tunnel behind and entered a completely different one. This tunnel had been excavated to perfection. It was about twenty meters high and twelve meters wide. Three rows of enormous spiral-shaped circular columns traversed the tunnel and extended up to the lined ceiling. There, illuminated by dozens of tiny blue lights that shone like stars, they opened like palm trees, with their stone leaves and stems partially descending along the walls. Lamps with runic engravings hung from dozens of metal arms, turning the darkness into twilight. About three meters above the ground, a line of shields engraved in stone from ancient kingdoms and clans ran along the tunnel walls. "This is a true drauo tunnel!" Bargu said in amazement. "It''s... incredible," Isen said, fascinated. The combat mage had read and heard about their majesty, but seeing it in person had exceeded even his expectations. His first instinct was to detach his cyberboard to take pictures, but when he went to grab it, he remembered that he had given it to Corporal Dragen, and he silently cursed himself. His second instinct was to feel his pockets for paper and something to write with, but it seemed he hadn''t brought any. He sighed. "Here, sir, take this." Isen turned and saw Neisa beside him, her arm extended and her cyberboard in hand. Her fingers were thin and long. "Thank you, soldier." Neisa simply nodded. Isen observed her for a few seconds with a slightly furrowed brow. In the time they had worked together, the soldier had always responded verbally except for that time Neisa had taken down the mutant that had climbed the central building stairs. At that moment, he hadn''t given it much importance, but the way she nodded reminded him of... "Are you... imitating me?" he finally asked. "What? No, sir," Neisa replied, barely suppressing a smile. The mage''s blue eyes met the soldier''s emerald green ones as she smiled. Suddenly, Isen felt a strange warmth rise to his cheeks and looked away without realizing it. "What is... this sudden warmth? Could it be a symptom of illness?" "No matter how many times I see the drauo tunnels, they never cease to amaze me," Eliad commented, having overlooked the quaint interaction. "It''s incredible that they could build such beauties in that era," Neisa said. "Your people are amazing, Bargu." "According to their ancient mythology," Isen began, even though no one had asked, while walking and taking photos with the cyberboard, "it was the god of the rock, Grarock, who dug the tunnels and caverns to shelter the various races suffering from the extreme cold of winter in the Norgrem continent. Many of them accepted the rock god''s offer, but instead of treating the god''s gift with respect and gratitude, they did so with disdain and selfishness. They covered the walls with scribbles reflecting their desire to leave the underground and used the stones to create rudimentary weapons to take the lives and riches of the other races the rock god had sheltered. "But this was not the case with the drauos. Instead of longing for the outside, they thanked every day for being able to live inside the mountains. Unlike other races that used the rocks to steal or kill, they used them to build their homes and temples, while they used their hands to fiercely defend the gift the rock god had given them. Grarock, who was amazed by the drauos'' behavior, decided to teach them the art of mining so they could create their own tunnels and find the metals and minerals hidden in the earth''s depths. Once they learned to extract them, he went a step further and taught them to mold them, believing he saw in them the future of his creed. As he had hoped, the drauos used the minerals to create jewels to enrich the stones that shaped their cities, and the metals to create weapons and armor to defend them. Finally, the rock god named the drauos his favored children and gave them his greatest gift: skin as hard as rock, adorned with minerals that not only granted them beauty but also different abilities." "Amazing!" Bargu said, surprised. Although for some reason, Isen had expected Neisa to say that instead of the young drauo. "That''s cooler than the belief that we simply descended from rocks." The soldier looked at Bargu in surprise. "You didn''t know your people''s mythology?" "What, just because I''m a drauo, I have to know the supposed mythology of my people?" the young drauo asked with one hand open and his thumb, index, and middle fingers almost fully extended. "Do you know yours?" "Nope, I really don''t." "Exactly," replied Bargu, tilting his head slightly to the side. "Alright, sorry," Neisa said with a smile. "And what are those little lights up there?" Isen turned to answer the soldier, but it seemed she hadn''t asked him, but the young drauo instead. He couldn''t tell if he felt frustrated or disappointed. "That I do know," Bargu answered. "They are creatures called Idars or something like that. They feed on magic, and their bodies light up in different colors depending on the type of magic they consume. The Subterranean Exploration and Support Regiments use them to detect if there''s corruption in the tunnels." They continued walking and reached a new fork. The path to the right was completely blocked by a collapse, so by elimination, they decided to take the other path. They continued for about five or six kilometers in a straight line and came across a couple of overturned ancient drauo metal carts in the path. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. They approached the nearest one. The carriage door was shattered, and its structure was full of scratches and dents. In the front, the remains of the bones of the animals that had once pulled it lay scattered, and around it were several rocky bodies under the old drauo plate armors. Alongside them were numerous melee weapons and some ranged weapons like arquebuses and crossbows. "These drauos must date back to the final era of the old world," said Isen, who, although it wasn''t evident on his face, was enjoying all this as much as the first time he read a fantasy book inspired by old-world tales. "I have to take pictures," Bargu said. "My dad is going to freak out." "They were likely ambushed and died defending whatever they were transporting" said Eliad, moving around and observing the entire scene. "Let''s move on." "What do you mean, drauos?" Neisa asked. "They look like statues." "Oh, by Ibelir," said Bargu. "I''m actually going to feel offended. Didn''t you know that drauos turn to stone over time? I''m sure you must have seen some of us become more ''stony'' over the years." Neisa shook her head. "Unbelievable," said Bargu, pretending to be offended. "Yes, our bodies petrify over the years. If you look at the corpses, they have some holes and are missing pieces. That''s where the flesh hadn''t turned to stone yet." His face turned happy, proud. "In fact, when we die naturally, our entire body turns to stone! Some say our souls remain inside to guide future generations!" He opened his hands and moved them forward. "Isn''t that amazing?" "It is," thought Isen. "Yeah, well..." Neisa said, not very convinced. "Let''s go," Eliad concluded. Isen took another picture, and they continued walking under the ancient columns for a long time until, after passing through an enormous door, the tunnel transformed into a natural cavity that housed something similar to a stone citadel. "Is that... could it be an ancient drauo city?" Isen asked. "I don''t think so; it seems too small," Eliad replied. "It''s probably an old outpost." Isen had also read about ancient outposts in one of the old books in the Catlon library. These were small fortified settlements primarily designed to provide security and rest for travelers, especially the caravans and troops of the Ancient Drauo Kingdoms of Ibelir moving from one city to another. Although many of the buildings and inhabitants were military, many outposts enjoyed rich commercial activity. "Well, let''s check it out," said the young drauo excitedly. Upon reaching the old outpost, much of the wall and buildings were half-ruined and covered in dust and cobwebs. In some places, white mushrooms had sprouted between the tiles and the lower parts of the walls. Throughout the area, there were numerous rocky drauo bodies and almost completely decomposed corpses that must have belonged to another species, as well as some weapons and armor that had survived the centuries. Isen noticed that the soldiers in that outpost had the same shield as those on the carts they had found earlier. "What do you think happened to them?" Bargu asked. "Were they attacked by the same ones who attacked the carts?" "Possibly," the hunter replied as he walked through the streets, examining the corpses. He then stopped and knelt to look at one more closely. "It was demons." "How do you know?" Isen asked as he approached the Hunter. "Do you see these fine violet lines running along the bones?" Eliad said. "They are the residue left by demons when they possess a body. The longer they inhabit one, the more it spreads." Isen observed them. From the patterns, it seemed they originated in the skull and extended to specific points, as if searching for something. "I think I''ve found something," Bargu said loudly. The combat mage and the hunter stood up and saw the young drauo about ten meters away. He was holding a sort of parchment in his hand. "What is it?" Isen asked. "It''s some kind of letter or speech, I think." "And what does it say?" Neisa asked. "I don''t know," Bargu replied. "It''s in ancient drauo Ibelirian." Isen approached the young drauo, eager to take a look at the writing. It was the first time he had found something like this. "May I?" "Of course, sir. Here you go." Isen carefully and delicately took the parchment, as if fearing it might disintegrate under his touch. He scanned the ancient letters, and his eyes lit up, revealing a small spark of enthusiasm that rarely surfaced. Recognizing some of the words, a silent fervor took hold of him. Each word was like a piece of a forgotten past coming to life in his mind. His inner voice trembled slightly. "What does it say, sir?" Bargu asked excitedly. Isen''s eyes shifted to Bargu''s, turning cold and calculating. However, deep down, the spark he had felt still hid there. "I''d need to study it to fully decipher the text," Isen said. "But it seems to be a speech to rally the troops before facing the ''Beings of the Abyss.''" "Beings of the Abyss?" "That''s what the drauos used to call demons," Eliad replied with a somber face. "Exactly," Isen confirmed and walked to one of the ruined walls. "To think that mortals actually faced demons" He touched the wall and looked at the battlefield. "I wish I could see what these walls witnessed." "I''m sure my ancestors died fiercely defending the outpost," Bargu said excitedly. "Let''s hope the same doesn''t happen to Catlon..." Neisa said, looking at the destruction and death the demons had left in their wake. The group left the old fortified settlement and continued down the opposite tunnel for a couple of hours, only to find a situation similar to the one with the ancient drauo metal carriages. Except this time, it seemed like they had traveled through time. In the path was a six-wheeled armored truck with the rear open and a machine gun on the roof. Next to the support weapon lay a human with amputated arms and several puncture wounds, and in the back of the vehicle rested another with his guts spilled out. About a meter back was a fully enclosed trailer with a rear door also stained with crimson and black marks. Some columns in the underground passage bore marks of blows and bullets. There were several blood trails on the ground and numerous corpses of humans and drauos dressed and armed with current-era gear. Some had claw and bite marks, while others had stab wounds or severed limbs. Among them were numerous humanoid creatures with slate-gray skin, about the height of a ten or eleven-year-old human child, but with a broader back than an adult. Hundreds of fine, hard hairs, imperceptible to the naked eye, grew from the palms of their sharp claws. Two articulated limbs ended in points, resembling spider legs, protruded from their backs. Their broad heads had four amber eyes, holes instead of ears, and mouths full of tiny sharp teeth, from which two pincers extended. "Treasure hunters" Eliad said as he walked through the battlefield. "They were probably searching for an ancient settlement when they were ambushed by the erukidos." "May the rock crush them," Bargu said, spitting. "They got what they deserved," Isen commented. "Those treasure hunters have no respect for historical heritage." "But they can''t be the only ones they fought." Eliad looked around. "Those puncture marks aren''t typical of the erukidos. Besides, the arruks always try to take their prey, so it''s unlikely they would leave them behind unless... they were forced to flee, or they weren''t the ones responsible for this carnage." "Michael" Isen murmured. "Possibly," the Hunter said. "And they can''t be far. The blood is still fresh." "The time has finally come," Isen said with a bit of bravado, his eyes gleaming. Despite the trail of blood and destruction the demons had left in the runiel plant, now that he knew they were real, he couldn''t help but desire to face them like the heroes in the ancient stories he had read so much about. For a moment, he wondered if Linalta had felt the same way at the idea that the ancient stories were true. 14. Report "Permission to enter," Dragen said, entering the office without waiting for a response. Inside, Captain Lorenzo Martis, a human considered by many to be young for his rank, was reviewing some documents on the holographic screen of his cyber computer. As usual, his brown hair was tied back in a ponytail. "Corporal Dragen? Private Andr?" he asked, surprised to see them. "What are you doing here?" "Sir, we need to speak with Commander Froel and the Guardian of the Tower, Linalta, as soon as possible," the drauo replied. Unlike many other regiments based in the state''s capital, Abalen, the headquarters of the Fierce Stewards regiment was in Catlon. "Anlova..." he continued but quickly stopped. He stuck his tongue out briefly and then pulled it back in, trying to contain his anger and focus on what he had come to do. "Anlova, or rather, all of Ibelir is in danger." The black eyes of the captain of the Seventh Company of the Anlova State Exploration and Support Regiment fixed on Dragen. "What do you mean?" he asked, frowning. "Where is Sergeant Raed?" "Dead, sir," the corporal and private''s faces turned into a mix of sadness and rage. "As is most of the platoon." Captain Lorenzo stood up abruptly from his chair. "What?" he asked, shocked. "What happened, Corporal?" "Sir, I don''t have time to explain," Dragen repeated the same gesture with his tongue, starting to get impatient. "If we don''t hurry, everything the people of Ibelir have fought for over the past seven hundred years could collapse!" The captain of the Seventh Company hesitated for a moment before responding. "Alright, Corporal," Captain Lorenzo finally said. "But this had better be truly important. Or you and I will have a problem." "It is, sir." Lorenzo cast a final doubtful glance at them and sat back down. Then he ran his fingers along the edge of the screen, sliding them a few centimeters to the right. A new holographic screen appeared in the air, and the captain tapped it a couple of times to make a video call to his superior. The sound of the phone echoed through the room. *** "What did you say, Corporal?" Commander Froel asked from behind his marble desk. Much of his face was cybernetic, with several scars and wrinkles. Behind him, Guardian of the Tower Linalta leaned against the wall of the room. "That a demon from the old world plans to awaken the demons lying beneath the bowels of Ibelir to destroy the entire nation!" Corporal Dragen replied, trying to keep his temper. "Is this a fucking joke, Corporal?" the commander asked, slamming his palm on the table. Captain Lorenzo, who stood beside Dragen and Andr, began to regret coming to speak with the commander and the Guardian of the Tower without first asking exactly what danger threatened the entire country. "No, sir," Dragen replied, confident despite finding it absurd when Hunter Eliad first told him. "I saw with my own eyes how the demons attacked Sergeant and the rest of the soldiers. One of them even split an I-43 with its blade-arm." "I saw it too, sir," Private Andr added, a bit unsure. "For Ibelir''s sake! Don''t be foolish, soldiers! Demons don''t exist, nor did they ever. Just like the gods. Our ancestors invented those stories to justify the damn wars that ended the old world. Or have you forgotten that?" "The Commander is right," the Guardian of the Tower said. "They are just myths our ancestors used to hide their own desires and sins." "Are you deaf, sir?" Dragen asked angrily. His minerals glowed intensely. "I told you, I saw those demons myself!" The corporal slammed the commander''s desk. "We even have proof! Private Andr, show him!" "What did you say, Corporal?" Captain Lorenzo stepped forward and grabbed Dragen''s arm. "Calm down, Corporal! Or I''ll lock you in the brig myself!" The drauo shook off his superior''s grip and fixed his gaze on the commander, sticking his tongue out and pulling it back in before biting his lips. "You have no idea!" The corporal spun around nervously, fixing his gaze on each of his superiors. "It was the demons who ended the old world. Not the savages and the arruks, as our damn..." "Dragen!" Captain Lorenzo shouted again. "One more word of such fallacies against our nation, and not only will I order your expulsion from the army, but I''ll also charge you with treason, and you''ll end up in prison for the rest of your life." The drauo looked away, exhaled sharply, and stepped back from the table. "Do you believe this deranged corporal, Captain?" the commander asked Lorenzo. "Sir, I..." The captain looked at the drauo for a few seconds. He knew him well enough to know he wasn''t a spiritual person and certainly not a liar. "I know it sounds crazy, but I know Corporal Dragen well, and I can assure you he wouldn''t say something like this unless he truly believed it." "Alright," Linalta intervened, trying to ease the tension a bit. "Let''s hear their story." The Guardian of the Tower looked at Andr. "Soldier, it''s better if you tell us what happened." This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. "Yes, ma''am," Andr said. "As you know, we went to the runic power plant to find out why it had stopped supplying electricity. On the way, we encountered a group of savages coming from the direction of the plant, so at first, we thought it might have been their doing. However, when we got there, we found the central building had turned into a huge source of corrupt magic, and the entire plant looked like the scene of a brutal battle between National Defense Corps soldiers, mutants, and savages. So the sergeant divided the platoon into several squads and ordered me, Corporal Dragen, Soldier Neisa, Soldier Bargu, and the combat mage to enter the central building to find the source of the corrupt magic and figure out what had happened at the plant." The soldier began to sweat, recalling the nightmare the building had become. "I''ve never seen anything like it, ma''am," he said, his voice trembling. "Everything was full of mutants that looked like they came from the worst horror movies, and even the building itself was wrapped in sinister roots that seemed to come from hell itself..." "I understand, soldier," the commander said. "I''ve seen firsthand the atrocities that corrupt magic can cause." Andr thought his words were sincere. "Did you find the source?" The Guardian of the Tower''s gray eyes fixed on him. Despite his hatred for magic users, Andr thought it was true what they said about the beauty of the aehul. "Yes, ma''am. Combat Mage Isen found it." Andr took out the cyber tablet and with a flick of his fingers, projected some photos into the air. "As you can see in the photos, the source of the corruption was a huge solidification of corrupt magic found in an ancient structure several meters underground." "It''s been a while since I''ve seen one this large," commented the Guardian of the Tower. She ran her fingers over one of the holographic photos and zoomed in on a broken area. She observed it briefly and then returned it to its original size. "Continue," the commander said curtly. "After finding the source of the corruption, we fought our way through the mutants to the control room. That''s when we discovered that the plant had been invaded by mutants... and... " Andr paused, hesitating for a few seconds before continuing, "and demons..." The commander was about to say something, but Guardian of the Tower Linalta spoke first. "Corporal Dragen said you had proof of the existence of this ancient demon. Could you show us?" "Are you really going to believe what they say, Guardian of the Tower?" the commander asked, agitated. "Commander, I''m not saying I believe them." Linalta''s eyes briefly met Froel''s and then returned to the soldiers. "But the world is full of mysteries we don''t understand." She looked at the commander again. "So I think it''s worth looking at the evidence." "Thank you, Guardian of the Tower," the drauo corporal said gratefully. "Many good men have died to give us the chance to show you this. Soldier Andr, the videos." "Yes, sir." The soldier turned off the combat mage''s 3D tablet, took out the other cyber tablet they had found, and placed it on the table. He tapped it a few times and with a motion, expanded the holographic screen displaying the recorded videos into the air. "Here''s the proof," Dragen said seriously before pressing the play button. The captain and the Guardian of the Tower watched the videos one by one as they played on the holographic screen. Captain Lorenzo noticed that the magic user was watching them with more interest. "What are you trying to tell me with this?" the commander asked. "All I see here is an operator turning into a mad mutant. Something that, as you know, is quite common." "Do mutants usually speak coherently, sir?" Dragen could only think of this to justify that Michael wasn''t one of them. The calm had softened the tone of his words. "There are records of rare cases where mutants seemed to retain some intelligence, Corporal," the Guardian of the Tower intervened. "Although I must admit it''s unsettling. Have you seen the subject in the video firsthand?" Captain Lorenzo listened intently to the conversation. "No, ma''am. But Eliad, the hunter who saved us, was sure it was one of them. And apparently a very powerful one." The corporal replayed the video and paused at the moment when Operator Michael began to writhe in pain. "According to him, this is the moment when the demon took over the operator''s body." "A hunter saved you?" the commander asked. "Yes, sir," Dragen replied. "But he wasn''t just any hunter, he was a demon hunter." "What?" Commander Froel asked again, this time with a laugh. "Did you say a demon hunter? That''s a good one." "And where is this supposed hunter?" Linalta asked. Unlike the commander, she didn''t take it as a joke. "He went into the ancient tunnels to pursue the demon along with Combat Mage Isen and soldiers Neisa and Bargu." Linalta sighed, disappointed. "Then, soldier, I''m afraid all we have is a video that doesn''t prove anything about these supposed demons." "But..." the drauo began. "That''s enough, Corporal. You may leave," the commander said dismissively. "And that''s it?" Dragen asked. His blood began to boil again. "Yes, Corporal. Leave before I lose my patience with this nonsense." "That fucking demon plans to destroy Catlon, and you just say there''s no conclusive evidence!?" Dragen demanded. The minerals on the scales that lined his face emitted a small flash. "And what about Neisa, Bargu, and Combat Mage Isen? They risk their lives chasing the demon, and we''re not going to do anything?" Andr added, unable to contain himself at the thought of losing Neisa. He didn''t care about the mage or the drauo soldier, but they had entered the tunnels with his childhood friend, and he had to pretend to care about all of them. "Silence!" the commander shouted, slamming the table with both hands. His patience had run out. "Who the hell do you think you are to come into my office and talk to me like I''m some third-rate soldier? Do you want me to throw you in the damn brig for your disrespect?" "I... I''m sorry, sir!" Andr apologized. Dragen bit his lip, letting his face show exactly what he thought of the situation. "Sir, with all due respect... I think we should at least inform the National Defense Corps of Ibelir about the existence of this Michael and issue a search and capture order, as well as reinforce the entrances to Catlon," Captain Lorenzo interjected, surprising everyone. "Additionally, we should notify the Regiment of Underground Exploration and Support about his existence and our soldiers'' pursuit along with the combat mage. If they have indeed entered that labyrinth of ancient tunnels, it could take them days to arrive, and it''s likely that the Death Miners will encounter them before the National Defense Corps guards do." "I agree with the captain, Commander Froel," the Guardian of the Tower said. "That thing may not be a demon, but it could be some new type of mutant, so it would be useful to study it. Moreover, if it''s as dangerous as they say and we don''t warn about the threat, the brigade general and the military and political presidents of Anlova won''t be pleased." "By Ibelir...!" The commander fell back into his chair and turned to look at the Guardian of the Tower. "You too, Guardian of the Tower Linalta?" He then partially turned his chair again. "And under what pretext do we notify them? And don''t even think about saying ''Demon''." "You could say he collaborated with the savages in the assault on the auxiliary runic plant and accuse him of high treason," Captain Lorenzo suggested. "Or say he might be a new type of mutant capable of speaking and controlling other mutants. Both theories would be ''proven'' as soon as we send another group to the plant." "Alright... But before making any decision, I want a detailed report on my desk with everything that happened at the plant, along with all the videos and information you''ve obtained." "Yes, sir," the Fierce Majordomos responded. "Oh, and one last thing, Captain Lorenzo," Commander Froel added. "I hope your men are right because if heads roll, it will be yours, not mine." "Understood, sir." "Good, now get out of my sight." 15. Battle at the Gates (1). Eliad moved swiftly between the aligned columns, holding the demon-slaying sword in his right hand and a semi-automatic pistol in his left. At the end of the tunnel, the enormous doors that divided the path began to move heavily. The screeching of the disused gears echoed throughout the corridor. Look, the doors are closing! Eliad suddenly shouted. It has to be them! Hurry! The four of them started running without completely breaking formation as the image of the doors at the end grew larger. However, the doors were closing faster than he had thought, so he picked up the pace and left the soldiers behind. As he got closer, he could distinguish several humanoid figures in front of the enormous doors. Some of them turned around and began to cross slowly to the other side. I won''t let you escape! he said to himself. The gap between the doors was getting narrower, but if he could go a little faster, he would have time to pass between the humanoids on this side and make it through. He knew the mage and the soldiers were quite a bit behind, which meant he would likely leave them to their fate. It wasn''t something that pleased him, but his priority was to stop the demon before it grew stronger. Eliad channeled his inner energy and released it to infuse his legs. His muscles grew and tensed just as he was planting a foot on the ground. He leaped, covering much more distance than any human could. He touched down and continued running at a much higher speed, feeling his entire body slicing through the air. The humanoid figures waiting to welcome him became fully visible just before they began to transform. The figure of a woman in a secretary outfit became more slender, her skin turned a light lilac, and her hair became ashen. Her nails grew long, hard, and sharp. A tail sprouted, and three black horns emerged from her head. The bones in her knees became thick spikes. A third breast, secreting a white fluid, grew below the other two on her exposed stomach. She was the living image of both erotism and danger. The lower half of a chubby man with a ponytail transformed into the torso of a huge yellowish worm with ten long legs on each side. The upper half, which still retained a somewhat humanoid shape, was covered in tentacles. Two enormous mouths without teeth but full of tongues appeared on his deformed face, separated by a large eye. The head of a man with bulging eyes grew immensely and filled with eyeballs. Two of them were connected to his face by tentacles. Even his mouth was an eye with teeth. The mans legs became like those of an animal, and his hands turned reptilian. Finally, the bodies of two men dressed in National Defense Corps uniforms grew to the size and musculature of a grok. One had horns, beast legs, and wielded a large war axe. The other, with reddish skin, a canine face, and a tail ending in a spiked ball, held a huge twisted broadsword. The runic device started beeping, showing five dots along with small letters indicating the level of the apparitions: one level 2, and four level 1. Based on their appearances, Eliad guessed one was a lust core, one a gluttony core, another a greed core, and the last two were either wrath or hatred cores. I can get past them, Eliad thought. The newly transformed demons charged at him like ravenous hyenas. Stupid mortal! Do you think well let you reach our lord? the she-demon said before swiping at him. Eliad ducked, dodging the attack without slowing down, then jumped to avoid the swipe of her deadly tail and continued running toward his goal. Next to confront him were the demons who had once been members of the National Defense Corps. The hunter sidestepped and used his sword to deflect the axe-wielding demons attack. He spun around, slashing the back of the demon''s leg, and shot the other demon in the eye just as it raised its broadsword. Both roared in pain, though one more than the other, as it was likely the first time someone had slashed part of its essence. Leaving the two warrior demons behind, Eliad saw fire projectiles created by the many-eyed demon heading toward him. He dodged them without slowing down and retaliated with several shots, forcing the infernal creature to create a magic shield to protect itself. Eliad looked at the doors. They were almost closed. There was only one left. As he got closer to the last demon, Eliad stopped shooting at the sorcerer demon, who quickly fired another magic projectile to prevent him from crossing to the other side at all costs. But that was already part of the hunters plan. Eliad hugged the worm demons body, fired a couple of shots at it, and then dodged with a feint. At that moment, the fire projectile struck the demons torso, setting it ablaze. Startled, the demon began beating itself with its numerous tentacles to extinguish the flames consuming its body. Eliad knew the she-demon was right on his heels. But he didnt care; he was almost at the gap between the doors. Once he crossed to the other side, he would deal with them all at once. He kept running and finally managed to pass through to the other side. A new point appeared on his radar. The hunter didn''t have time to see the level of the enormous warrior-like demon waiting for him on the other side. A massive punch struck his protected chest with incredible speed, sending him flying back to the other side. The blow knocked the wind out of him, and everything around him seemed to go deafeningly silent. But at least he had confirmed Michaels face. The bastard was laughing. Eliad crashed to the ground and rolled several times. He got to one knee and placed his left hand on his thin armor, trying to catch his breath. But the she-demon, unwilling to give him any respite, pounced on him. The former secretarys claws raked across his face as he tried to stand, and then he received a kick to the head, making him roll across the ground again. The broadsword-wielding demon charged at him, filled with rage. Eliad tried to get up quickly to face the brutal onslaught coming his way. However, he knew it was too late; the demon was already upon him. But just as the broadsword was coming down on him, a beam of pure energy struck the demon, causing its attack to veer slightly. The hunter seized the opportunity and jumped back to put some distance between them. Save some fun for the rest of us, hunter. Eliad turned and saw the mage descending nearby. His eyes shone with excitement. The sound of a rifle echoed faintly, and the she-demon, almost upon him again, quickly moved aside to dodge the bullets. Stolen story; please report. This time, Im not staying on the sidelines, Neisa shouted from her distant position. To her right, the drauo soldier was beginning to slow down. And neither will a descendant of the rock, Bargu said, also interrupting the horned demons charge. Then he turned and looked at Neisa. How did that sound? Cool? Not bad for some soldiers, Eliad said with a strained smile as he loaded another magazine into his pistol. Vulfrack told us one of yours would likely come, but he didnt mention youd bring friends, hunter, said the she-demon, a sly smile spreading across her face. Well, more fun for us. Eliad had thought that the presence of lower-level demons in the rear might mean the demon was so ancient that he didnt know his order had almost gone extinct and had preferred to ensure his escape. But it seemed this Vulfrack had warned them. Who was this demon? And more importantly, how did he know Eliad was coming? Im going to tear them apart and break all their bones, the broadsword demon roared furiously. Not if I do it first, added the axe-wielding demon, glaring at Bargu. I want to experiment on them, said the many-eyed demon. Can I take care of the woman? asked the half-worm demon, drooling from the two toothless mouths on its face. Take whoever you want, the she-demon replied sweetly and charged at the hunter. But the hunter is mine! Now is not the time to ask myself those questions, Eliad thought, and he rushed to meet the she-demon. The former secretary launched numerous martial strikes using her hands, legs, and tail, but Eliad dodged and blocked them repeatedly until he managed to shoot her. The she-demon was forced to move aside to avoid the bullets and then jumped back to evade the hunters sword. Eliad lunged at her, and this time he led the dance. After several unsuccessful sword strikes and gunshots to the rhythm of the battle, they separated to regain their distance. Not bad, human, the she-demon said, licking her lips. I was just warming up, Eliad replied as the magazine dropped from his pistol. *** Isen watched as the broadsword demon charged at him furiously and smiled. The moment he had longed for, to become the hero of one of the stories he had read, had finally arrived. With his bare hands, the combat mage manipulated the magic particles, transforming them into magical projectiles that he launched at his muscular opponent. The demon writhed with each projectile but did not stop. Instead, it increased its speed and fury. Before he knew it, the demon was upon him, and a tremendous sword slash descended toward his head like a guillotine. However, Isen had been preparing for this strike for years, having fought hundreds of similar battles in his mind with each story he read. Without flinching, Isen created a magical shield, and the clash of sword and shield echoed throughout the tunnel. The demons face was the very image of rage. As Eliad had told him, Isen noticed how particles of corrupt magic emanated from the demon and mixed with the normal ones. He was once again tempted to use them. He wanted to discover the power of the demons. He wanted to see how strong his spells could become. But he discarded the idea. The heroes in the stories had not used corrupt magic to defeat their enemies. And neither would he. The demon raised the broadsword to strike him, and Isen took advantage of that moment to dematerialize the shield and create a fist of earth that erupted from the ground, sinking into the demons stomach. The infernal creature staggered back a few steps and doubled over. Another fist emerged from the ground and struck the demons chin, lifting it a few inches off the ground and sending it sprawling on its back. Just then, Isen stepped aside to dodge a fire magic projectile and then countered another with one of water, leaving a faint mist in the air. That''s more like it! he said, and his eyes shone once more. *** Bargu regretted his words the moment he saw the infernal creature charging at him like a raging bull. No matter how many bullets from his rifle embedded themselves in its muscular body, it didnt stop. It didnt even flinch. It was as if it were immune to pain. "Fuck, its almost on me," Bargu thought, terrified. "Come on, damn it, why wont you die?" Suddenly, his arms and legs began to tremble. His breathing quickened. He was panicking. The demon emerged from behind a column and, with a leap from its goat-like legs, soared several meters, closing the distance between them. Bargu knew this was his chance. The demon wouldnt be able to dodge his bullets while airborne. He raised his arms and squeezed the trigger again. However, his nerves betrayed him, and the bullets barely grazed the demon. "Shit!" The demonic creature descended upon him with a swing of its axe, and Bargu had to muster all his willpower to make his legs react. A split second after the young drauo jumped aside, the demon''s weapon embedded itself in the ground, shattering the tiles around it. Damn rat! the demon yelled as it forcefully yanked the axe free. Im going to crush you! Bargu got up as quickly as he could and squeezed the trigger tightly. But there was barely any distance between them, and soon the demon was upon him again. The young drauo managed to dodge the first blow by stepping out of the axes path, but a sharp pain shot through his arm as the demon''s weapon struck his shoulder guard and sent him flying. *** Neisa fired several bursts of bullets as the demon, whose lower half resembled that of a giant worm, approached her. A few bullets managed to hit its humanoid torso, leaving tiny trails of violet blood in their wake. The demon whimpered and stopped briefly. "Noo! Why are you hurting me?" it screeched in a greasy voice. "I just want to hug and touch you!" The demon shuddered and looked mischievously from side to side. "Well, and lick and eat you, hehe." "I''d rather die than let you touch me, disgusting slime!" Neisa retorted, squeezing the trigger. The bullets struck the creature''s wide, slimy lower half. The demon whimpered again and reared up on its four hind legs before resuming its advance. Neisa turned and began running backward while changing the magazine. To her left, Bargu was frantically dodging the flying strike of another demon. The Fiero Mayordomos soldier turned to face her enemy, ducking to avoid a sudden swipe from one of the demon''s tentacles. She rolled on the ground to dodge another, got on her knees, and fired another burst at her attacker. More violet blood flowed, but that didn''t stop one of the tentacles from striking her in the face. Neisa fell to the ground and rolled again, but this time not of her own accord. *** Isen blocked another fire projectile with a magical shield and deflected the demon''s massive sword with a gust of wind. However, the infernal creature turned and swung its spiked tail at him. The battle mage jumped backward while raising a small earthen wall that shattered upon impact. Isen touched down and observed the demons, panting. Although he considered himself superior to them, he was beginning to tire both physically and energetically. If things continued this way, he knew he wouldn''t be able to keep up the pace for much longer. He had to eliminate one of them first. Isen decided to focus on the demon with magical powers. As a battle mage, he knew that most magic users neglected physical prowess to concentrate entirely on learning and using magic. While he wasn''t sure if the same rule applied to demons, it seemed more feasible to distract the demon with the sword and quickly finish off the magical demon in close combat than to try to fend off the blows from the first and the spells from the other. The battle mage''s eyes glowed again, and the ground beneath the sword-wielding demon turned into a deep mire that began to yield under its weight, while earthen tentacles obstructed its movements. With another hand motion, Isen lifted off the ground, dodging stone shards. He created another gust of wind and propelled himself toward the many-eyed demon while unsheathing his sword and dodging the magical projectiles it launched. Just before landing, he ran his left hand along the blade, making it as cold as an iceberg. No sooner had he touched down than small lightning bolts shot from the demon''s eyes toward him. "I''ve acted rashly!" The battle mage crouched slightly and quickly manipulated the magical particles around him to create an energy shield. The electric charge began to course over the shield''s surface, and Isen extended tentacle-like projections from the shield, directing the current underground. "That was close. I was naive to think that demons could only channel their spiritual energy through their hands." The shield dissipated, and the battle mage counterattacked with a thrust. The demon deflected the weapon with a lateral swipe of one of its claws. However, to its surprise, the claw that had blocked the attack began to freeze. The infernal creature recoiled in fear. Isen advanced with a spin and, with an upward slash, decapitated it. The corrupted blood sprayed out, forming a trail of ice. The battle mage bent his knees and tried to catch his breath. He was exhausted. However, an infernal scream behind him reminded him that the fight was not yet over. Isen turned around and prepared to face the demon''s charge. 16. Battle at the Gates (2) Eliad saw the combat mage confronting the demon with the canine face while he turned to dodge another attack from the demoness. He got behind her and shot her a couple of times in the back, but she spun on the ground with her hands and kicked him in the face, sending him flying in a spiral. The hunter rolled on the ground to dodge another kick and then her tail. He got up, ducked to avoid a claw, and counterattacked with his sword. The blade of his weapon severed the demoness''s arm, and a spray of blood splashed over his face and torso. The demonic woman screamed in an indescribable way as she writhed in pain. The demon-slaying sword had torn away a part of her very essence. Eliad seized the moment and fired several times. The bullets pierced the demoness''s body in various places. The former secretary moaned in pain again and threw herself at him, attacking with uncontrolled fury. A low kick made him bend his leg, and the demoness''s remaining claw shot like an arrow towards his neck. The hunter tilted his hip to one side at the last moment, and the claws grazed him. He rolled to avoid another kick, raised his pistol, and embedded a bullet in her head. The demoness collapsed to her knees, and he stood over her imposingly. "It''s over," said Eliad before cutting off her head. *** Isen felt the full weight of the demon when he blocked its greatsword with his own sword. He could have used magic to block or deflect it, but he had almost no inner energy left, so he preferred to save it for a more opportune moment. He dodged another sword strike and barely deflected a third, but before he could counterattack, the demon''s tail struck his side and hurled him against a stone column. He bounced off and fell to the ground. His whole body ached, and his head was spinning, but he had no time to dwell on it; the demonic creature was charging at him. He got up with his legs bent. The demon roared and raised the greatsword in rage to deliver the final blow. But Isen had anticipated this move. At that moment, the combat mage manipulated the magical currents again, and earth shards like cones pierced almost his entire body, halting his movement abruptly. One of them had pierced his throat. Another, his heart. The greatsword fell to the ground. "Not bad," said Isen, leaning against the column. The hunter slowed down and approached the demon with his sword in hand. "The only way to kill them completely is with a sword like this," said the hunter, embedding his sword into the demon''s skull. "Come on, the battle isn''t over yet." "Easier said than done," thought Isen. The body of the demonic monster began to disintegrate. *** "Do you call yourself a descendant of the rock?" the demon said as he slowly advanced towards Bargu. "All you know how to do is shoot and run. This is the first time I''ve seen such a weak and cowardly drauo." The demonic monster wasn''t wrong. Bargu wasn''t an igneous like Dragen or a sedentary like his father. He was like his mother; a chromatic, a "sky-sucker." He was born to sing, not to fight. And yet, why was he still standing despite all his injuries? "It doesn''t matter what kind of drauo you are, son. A drauo never gives up. Resist no matter the adversities, for we are all descendants of the rocks." The image of his father consoling him when he was little reminded him why he kept going. Whether in combat, forging a sword, or composing a song, a drauo never stops until they succeed. "And you call yourself a demon? Even a tralf is scarier than you," boasted Bargu while inserting another magazine into his rifle. The demon roared at Bargu''s provocation and arched his entire body to strike him with all his might. However, Bargu wasn''t the only one tired and wounded. Although the creature initially seemed immune to pain, the numerous bullets that had pierced his body had gradually weakened him. The young drauo ducked while moving northeast. The axe barely missed him, and the creature lost its balance. Bargu turned and pulled the trigger. The rifle bullets pulverized the demon''s wounded knee, forcing him to kneel. Demon and drauo were now practically at the same height. The axe of the former National Defense Corps soldier traced an upward arc in the air. But with another move, Bargu dodged the attack and found himself face to face with the demon. "See you later, loser," said Bargu, before filling the demon''s head with lead. **** Neisa managed to stand up and saw Eliad and Isen fighting the demons as if it were the most normal thing in the world. She considered herself a strong and determined woman, but after all, she was still an ordinary person. She had no magical powers and hadn''t been trained to fight demons. How could an ordinary soldier defeat a demon? Not even the sergeant and the other members with all their vehicles and weapons had been able to withstand them. Suddenly, fear took over her body, and she momentarily froze as she saw another tentacle coming towards her. She felt a heavy blow to her chest and was sent flying several meters until she fell on her back and her protected head hit the ground. Everything around Neisa began to spin as she tried to get up. It was hard to breathe, and her chest hurt. She was sure some ribs were broken, and she had a concussion. With great effort, she managed to stand up, but before she realized it, a tentacle had grabbed her by the waist and was lifting her into the air. Her weapon was left on the ground. "Now you''re mine," said the demon, drooling from both mouths and its large eye staring at her. Another tentacle started to touch her while the first one brought her closer to the demon''s mouths. From them, numerous tongues emerged, eager to lick her. An indescribable feeling of disgust ran through her body. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "Let me go, you disgusting creep!" Neisa yelled as she struggled. "I can''t wait to taste you," the demon said, its tongues just millimeters from her face. Neisa felt for the knife she had strapped to her right leg, and with a swift movement, she cut the tentacle holding her. The soldier fell to the ground and quickly grabbed her assault rifle as the demon writhed. She might not have powers or be a super warrior, but she was strong enough to defeat a disgusting slug. Neisa barely dodged another tentacle strike and cut it off with her bayonet. Then she turned ninety degrees and fired a burst of bullets into the demon''s monstrous face. The projectiles pierced some tongues, and one shot through the eye. The demon backed away from her and began to wobble. Neisa pulled the pin from a grenade and threw it under the demon''s legs. "Die, you infernal slug." The explosion blew up the demon''s legs and cylindrical body, leaving a pool of organs, flesh, and blood. Neisa sat down on the ground as best as she could and saw Eliad and Isen approaching. On the other side, the demon that had fought against Bargu collapsed to the ground. *** "What did you mean by killing them completely?" Isen asked, intrigued, as the body of the demon Neisa had defeated began to change back to its human form. The body was full of holes, and much of its lower torso seemed to have been lost in some kind of explosion. "When you kill a demon, if you don''t use a weapon like this, the only thing that dies is its physical part," Eliad replied. "You mean the body it possessed?" "Exactly. Its soul, so to speak, remains alive," the hunter answered, briefly glancing at the demon who had been the drauo soldier''s opponent. "That''s why the ones you killed reverted to their human form, and the ones I killed with my sword disintegrated." Isen found this information fascinating and informative. Throughout his life, he had read numerous old books and stories, but none of them mentioned this. In just a few hours with the mysterious hunter, he was learning more about demons than in all his days of reading. Eliad had said he was a demon hunter, but who exactly was he? "Are you saying that repulsive thing could possess another body?" Neisa asked, still in pain on the ground. She touched her ribs with one hand. "Damn, I know someone who''s going to be very pissed off when he returns," Bargu said with a wry smile. Much of his armor was dented or cracked, and his body was covered in wounds. He could barely move his right arm. The demon had given him a good beating. "Yes, although they need some time before they can possess another body. For some, it can be days, and for others, just a few hours," the hunter replied. "Are you okay?" "Yeah, don''t worry. I''ve seen worse," Neisa said with a forced smile. "And now what? That damn demon got away from us." "I''m fine too," Bargu said. "Thanks for asking." "We need to find a way to continue," Eliad said, ignoring the drauo''s comment. "It may have escaped, but we can still make it to Catlon in time." "Alright, let''s get moving then," Neisa said, struggling to get up. "It would be best if I healed those wounds first," the mage''s eyes locked onto the soldiers. "Unless you have any objections." Healing magic had a degenerative effect over time, so its use in the Ibelir Armed Forces was usually reserved for emergencies and required the beneficiary''s prior approval. "None, sir," the soldiers replied. "Alright. Take off your helmet, soldier. I''ll start with you." Isen manipulated the magical currents, and his right hand glowed with a warm, pure tone. He approached the soldier and gently placed his left hand on Neisa''s face. Her skin was smooth and radiant. Suddenly, a feeling of insecurity ran through him, as if he were afraid of breaking a delicate toy, and without realizing it, he withdrew his hand. But the soldier caught it mid-air and put it back on her face. "It''s okay, sir," Neisa said. "I''m ready for the consequences of the healing magic." Was he hesitant because her life expectancy would be reduced because of him? Orwas it something else? The combat mage nodded and briefly observed her emerald-colored eyes. He looked away and passed his magic-infused hand over the contusion. "Better?" he asked, his face tired. "Yes, sir. Thank you. Are you alright?" "Yes, soldier. It''s nothing," Isen said, but before he knew it, his legs buckled like butter. Neisa quickly reacted and caught the mage, ignoring the pain in her ribs. Then she passed one of his arms over her shoulders to support him. "Are you sure you''re alright, sir?" Bargu approached and supported the mage''s other arm over his shoulders. "He''s used too much inner energy," the hunter said. "What do you mean?" "I see they don''t teach you much at the academy..." The words came out of the mage''s mouth slowly and weakly. The soldier shot him an inquisitive look. "To create spells, magic users have to connect our inner energy with the currents of magical particles," Isen said, struggling to speak. "So, every time we shape a spell, we use up some of that energy. And the more we use, the more tired we get." "Think of it like blood," Eliad said. "Our body, specifically the bone marrow, constantly produces blood cells that perform various functions. However, when we get injured, depending on the amount of blood we lose, we can feel dizzy, tired, pale, have difficulty breathing, and even go into a state of shock that can be fatal if we lose too much blood." "So what can we do to help him?" Neisa asked. "He needs to rest, as his body generates inner energy naturally just like ours," Eliad replied. "Another option would be to use potions to restore the lost inner energy," he looked at the combat mage. "Do you have any?" Isen shook his head. "I had a couple... but they broke during the fight with that demon with the greatsword." "It''s alright," the hunter said. "You all should rest while I look for a way to continue. Oh, and if you have anything to eat, that would help. It''s not as effective as magical energy options, but nutrients will aid his recovery." Neisa and Bargu carried Isen to one of the columns, propped his back against it, and helped him sit down. The soldiers sat down beside him. Neisa felt one of her pockets and pulled out a couple of nutrition bars they usually carried on expeditions. "Here, sir. Eat and regain your strength." Isen ate it slowly and briefly closed his eyes. *** "So this is the only option we have left..." Eliad thought. In front of him, on the left side of the tunnel wall, there was an abrupt opening about five meters high and four meters wide, leading to a tunnel carved out of solid rock, similar to the one they had traversed after leaving the small temple of that sect. The edges of the circular sphere connecting the two tunnels appeared to have been melted by some corrosive substance. Eliad hated those endless tunnels. But once again, circumstances forced him to enter them. "I hope my intuition is correct and this leads us to the other side because if not... we might never get out of there." The hunter sighed, turned around, and started walking towards the Ibelir soldiers. He had to admit that, despite his doubts, they had shown bravery in facing the demons. Not everyone had the necessary mettle to do so. As he walked towards them, he felt a pang of pain in his chest. "What level was that demon?" he thought, rubbing his chest. The sudden attack by the other demons after being sent flying had prevented him from checking the strength of the warrior-like demon that had struck him. Eliad tapped his runic device a few times and accessed the appearance history. He stopped abruptly, incredulous. "A level 4 demon?" Level 4 demons, also known as Archdemons, were the second strongest demons within the hierarchy of demonic soldiers, only surpassed by Demon Princes. Eliad felt his chest tighten. In his entire life as a demon hunter, he had only faced a level 4 demon once. And to defeat it, he had needed the help of his master Lucio, his best friend Sebastin, and another companion. Although the event had taken place more than ten years ago, specifically a year and a half after they had officially become members of the Black Cross Hunters, they had barely survived the encounter. But that wasn''t what had left him petrified. What terrified him the most was that if the demon pursuing him was an Archdemon, the one leading them must be a Demon Prince... or even... "How did it go?" Neisa asked, interrupting Eliad''s thoughts. "Did you find anything?" "The opening mechanism is broken, but there''s an arruks secondary tunnel that probably connects to the other side," Eliad said. "I''d like to go after them right away, but it would be better to wait for Isen to recover and heal you. In your current state, I doubt we could catch up to them, and even if we did, I don''t think you could fight at full capacity. And as much as I hate to admit it... I think I''m going to need all your help if I want to have a chance at stopping them." Second Part. Synopsis, Characters and Publication Date
After the events of the first part, Eliad, along with the combat mage and soldiers of the Fierce Stewards Regiment, travel through the dark and dangerous Arruk tunnels, hoping to find the demon before it reaches Catlon. However, they will soon discover that demons are not the only dangers lurking in the depths of the earth. Meanwhile, in Catlon, Dragen and Andr must face their own emotions and the consequences of what happened at the runielectric auxiliary plant. On the other hand, in the relentless Hive Zone of El Cobre, where the law of the strongest prevails, the conflict between gangs and the power struggle reach new heights. The Exterminators gang, led by the ruthless Cuervo, embarks on a bloody vendetta against one of Catlon''s most powerful criminal houses and its affiliated gangs.
Main and Secondary Character Guide:
  • Cuervo: Leader of the Exterminators gang. Human, in his 20s, with the upper part of his ears ripped off. Numerous scars all over his body. Black hair and eyes.
  • Tania:
  • Brako:
  • Atho: Member of the Exterminators. Dark-skinned human with a shaved, tattooed head, equipped with an assault rifle with a telescopic sight.
  • Zhekog:
  • Thefuil:
  • Arithya:
  • Eliad:
  • Isen:
  • Neisa:
  • Andr:
  • Dragen:
  • Bargu:
  • A''lheran:
  • Linalta:
Other Characters:
  • Sebastin: Friend and companion of Eliad. His disappearance is the main reason Eliad comes to Catlon.
  • Lucio:
  • Stalos:
  • Serf:
  • Horcon:
  • Dero:
  • Pak:
  • Nyawil:
  • Durak:
  • Vralt: Leader of The Drokis, a drug-producing gang affiliated with the Venomous Serpents.
  • Esthar:
  • Marcus Bonesmasher:
  • Zek:
  • Merdok:
  • Ilian:
  • Commander Froel: Colonel of the Fierce Stewards Regiment. Large part of his face is cybernetic; the other is wrinkled and scarred. Gray-shaven hair.
  • Captain Lorenzo:
  • Michael:
  • Vulfrack:
  • Barthon:
  • Dasa: Sedentary drauo. Sergeant of the Second Company of the Death Miners. Sand-colored skin with yellow, red, and white minerals. Short dark hair and a cybernetic arm.
  • Brologa:
  • Brakia: Draua. Member of the Second Company of the Death Miners.
  • Bali Iron Beak:
  • Captain Graumgi:
4o 17. The Exterminators (1) The sound of drums echoed through the speakers of the van as they headed to the southeast section of the El Cobre Hive Zone, the place where their ruthless revenge would begin. "We''re almost there, boss," said Pak. The drum roll stopped, giving way to a strong, raspy voice singing about death and vengeance. He hadn''t chosen the song, but it was perfect for the moment at hand. Ilian and The Poisonous Snakes would pay dearly. "Now this is music," said Brako. Raven looked at him with approval. The light gray-skinned drauo, with a dark blue crest and amber eyes, was dressed in his reinforced synthetic fiber suit and the full Akro plate armor from his mercenary days. Leaning against his leg was a massive bulletproof shield with a visor, making him a walking wall. "The real kind, not the crap they make nowadays," said Brako. When he turned, the scar running down his cheek and the missing piece of his ear became visible. Fine lines of pale-skinned minerals with blue gleams danced across his face and the sides of his head. "Oh, I can''t wait to kill those bastards," Tania said with a giggle, pointing one of her pistols at the companion in front of her. Raven''s eyes drifted to Tania''s, and he smiled conspiratorially. The fair-skinned human with freckles, blue eyes, and black hair with red streaks had a crazy look that mirrored her personality like clear water. She was bipolar, unstable, violent, mischievous, and loved rough sex. Especially after a massacre. "Not more than I do," said Raven. "Those bastards will regret joining The Poisonous Snakes." "Yes!" replied some of the other members accompanying them. Among them were Serf, a human with a blonde crest, earrings, and brown eyes; an aehul with green eyes and long dark hair tied in a bun named Thefuil; and Stalos, a chromatic drauo with purple-dyed hair and brightly colored mineral scales. As usual, the only one who hadn''t said anything was Atho, an ebony-skinned human with a shaved and tattooed head, equipped with an assault rifle with a telescopic sight. Like with bullets, he only used words for important matters. "You better cover us," said Raven, looking in his direction. Atho nodded. The vehicle stopped, and Raven''s heart began to pound harder. The scars from that day started to burn as if the one he had called brother and his former comrades had shot him again. He was nervous. But it wasn''t fear; it was having within reach what he had desired for so many years. He was so impatient that his crazed vengeance showed on his face. "Let''s go," he said in a demented tone. Raven and the other members of "The Exterminators" got out of the armored van and crossed the road. On both sides, old, rusted vehicles, some with bullet marks, had been strategically positioned as barricades. In the distance, part of the network of buildings and walkways that made up the El Cobre Hive Zone loomed. At the lower part, like a port, was the base of the Drokis, one of the gangs that produced the most drugs in the hive. At the entrance, dozens of members and customers of all kinds, coming from both outside and inside the hive, exchanged drugs and money to the constant hum of a low murmur. "Hey! Aren''t you...?" began one of the armed men guarding the access. Raven raised his large-caliber semi-automatic pistol and blew a huge hole in his forehead. Blood splattered on his scarred face. "What the hell...?" Another bullet casing floated in the air, and the second guard fell to the ground with one eye turned into a crater. Behind Raven, the other members of his gang appeared, and a hail of bullets of various calibers took down Drokis gang members and innocents alike. In much of the different hive zones flourishing in the cities of all Ibelir, various gangs fought for power and the desire for wealth, turning those areas into lawless jungles where the price of a life was worth nothing or less. Its inhabitants usually had three options: die as nobodies in a gang skirmish, join a gang and enjoy life''s pleasures until betrayed or killed, or be good and lucky enough to live as a working-class slave in the lower-middle-class areas. Raven had chosen the second. And he had died once. A bullet from one of the dwellings on the first floor crossed the battlefield and pierced the skull of one of The Exterminators'' members. He collapsed, drawing a small bloody arc. "Boss, three-eyed sniper!" said Serf. "A three-eyed Egil? Damn, it''ll be tough to dodge that bastard." The Egil, a nomadic race from the continent of Dunea, were human-sized. Their athletic, sinewy bodies ranged in earthy tones, from sandy beige to dark brown. Their hands and feet were larger than humans'', with long, flexible fingers. On both sides of their heads, where a human''s ears would be, were two elongated eyes. These, usually brown or black, provided a nearly 360-degree panoramic view. Above them grew their elongated ears, filled with earrings. However, the most distinctive feature of their race was the third eye located in the center of their forehead. This larger eye, usually amber, was generally closed. But when opened, they could see great distances, similar to a telescopic sight. "Take cover!" Raven crouched and ran to take cover behind one of the armored car doors. The sound of bullets hitting the cars echoed. The Egil wasn''t the only one shooting. "Brako, get out there!" Another Exterminators member fell lifeless while trying to move between two cars. "Damn it, I hate being a target," spat the drauo. "All you drauos are grumpy," Tania said with a laugh. "Damn it! The drugs better be good, bastards!" The drauo advanced slowly while covering himself with his shield. Within seconds, the hail of bullets forced him to stop. The sniper''s rifle fired again, and a bullet hit Brako''s foot. The igneous drauo grunted but stood his ground. If it hadn''t been for the Akro plate protecting it, he would likely have fallen or at least stumbled. "Shit! That bastard got me in the foot! By Ibelir, how I hate Elio''s plans!" said Brako, stopping to take better cover. "But you''re doing great!" said Tania, peeking out just enough to shoot and then ducking back. "Atho!" Raven shouted. The sound of another shot echoed, and the sniper of The Exterminators'' bullet pierced the Egil''s third eye, sending him falling out the window. "Bullseye!" laughed Tania. "Eliminated," said Atho, but no one seemed to hear him. "About time, Silent One!" said Brako, resuming his march as his armor withstood the gunfire. Raven searched for his sniper with his eyes. He was behind the armored van they had arrived in. His ebony face remained serious and silent. The gang leader nodded and stepped out from behind his car. "Now, let''s go," ordered Raven. Tania, Serf, and three other members also emerged from their cover, while Atho, the drauo Stalos, and the aehul Thefuil provided covering fire. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The gang leader drew his large greatsword and, after dodging a shot, sliced a Drokis member in two before impaling another. Brako knocked down another with his shield and buried the axe in his chest, while Tania and Serf took down two more coming out of the wide entrance of the ground floor, which looked like a small industrial warehouse. Meanwhile, Atho, Stalos, and Thefuil picked off two snipers and some who had rushed towards them with various weapons along the worn-out road. The alarmed voices drew more and more Drokis members who appeared at the entrance, opening fire. The Exterminators halted and took cover among the nearby cars. Intent on eliminating the intruders, the Drokis advanced to take positions. What none of them expected was to receive fire from their own dwellings. This had been the first part of Elio''s plan: for the main group to attract all attention at the front while another stealthier team entered through the first floor and surprised the Drokis from their own homes. "Elio''s plans never fail," said Thefuil, stepping out with the others to finish off the Drokis in a crossfire. Brako clicked his tongue and, as if reprimanding him, buried the axe in the head of a wounded Droki. "Inside," he ordered, holding his shield high. Raven hung the greatsword on the magnetic hook on his back, drew his knife and pistol, and followed the drauo into the Drokis'' base. *** Tania crouched as she entered with Serf and the other three new members while bullets flew from one side to the other just as Brako decapitated a Droki with a chainsaw. The freckled young woman stood up quickly in the crossfire and started shooting with her bayonet-fitted semi-automatic pistols. She took down a human with an eye patch and then another who was rushing at her with a machete in one hand and an axe in the other. A thud was heard, and Tania turned. Another comrade had fallen. "Damn, these guys are worse than the last rookies we had," she said loudly, laughing as she ducked to cover behind a stack of wooden and steel crates. "Kids these days are good for nothing," complained Brako as he felled another Droki. Suddenly, a chilling and repetitive sound echoed, and the armored drauo''s advance was halted by a massive and continuous barrage of bullets. A drauo from the Drokis gang, with a huge scar on his face and an open helmet, was relentlessly firing a Gatling gun he held with both hands. "I need help, you sons of bitches!" Brako shouted as he took cover with his shield. "He''s giving you hell, grumpy!" "Damn lunatic, shut up and help me." Tania peeked out and shot one of the Drokis near her. Then she crouched and quickly moved several meters, taking cover behind a column. She looked to her left and saw Raven taking down one with a shot, then dodging numerous slashes from another with bloodshot eyes. Part of her wanted to help him, but she knew her boss wouldn''t have trouble. Besides, he didn''t like interference in his fights, especially when it came to one-on-one combat. She forgot about him. Pulling the pin from a grenade, she peeked around the column and threw it toward the Gatling gun''s position. "Boom!" she said, mimicking the explosion that shattered everything in its path. She then turned to the drauo. His shield was in pieces, and his armor was heavily marked from the bullet impacts. "They turned your shield into Swiss cheese, huh, Mr. Grumpy?" she said, laughing heartily. "The shield was new, you bastards! I''ll make a new one out of your damn heads!" Brako shouted, tossing the shattered shield aside and running with his axe in hand and a semi-automatic drum-fed shotgun he had unhooked from his leg. Tania looked again for her boss and saw him plunging his knife into one head and shooting another with his high-caliber pistol. She loved that pistol, but seeing him kill with the greatsword turned her on even more. It was much more primal and savage. She still had the vivid memory of the bloodbath he left when he destroyed Zhekog and his gang with it. It was like watching a god of slaughter. She closed her eyes and tilted her head, biting her lip to push away that seductive and pleasurable image. Then she opened her eyes, peeked again, and saw a member of the other gang moving among junkies seeking shelter in the crossfire. "Die, losers!" she said, shooting several times until she took them all down. Suddenly, a barrage of bullets hit the column she was hiding behind, and a bullet grazed her cheek. Tania quickly took cover, ran a finger over the blood trail, and then licked it; now she had one on each side. "I''m getting so turned on!" she said with a laugh and stepped out to keep killing. Tania didn''t know if witnessing her mother''s rape before being murdered by gang members, or simply being born in a place where only slaughter, betrayal, sex, and drugs existed, had twisted her mind. But she enjoyed and got excited like a schoolgirl with danger and bloodshed. *** Brako slit the throat of a tan-skinned woman rushing at him with a sword, then turned to shoot a drauo approaching with a huge hammer. The cartridge ejected, and the lead bullets shattered his enemy''s face, leaving him standing for a few seconds before collapsing. Another member of the Drokis emerged, screaming from behind a forklift, and unleashed a burst of fire on Brakos armor. The bullets ricocheted off, and the drauo blasted his right knee with a shot. Like most igneous drauos, he preferred melee weapons over ranged ones, but he had to admit the shotgun was effective and equally bloodthirsty. He approached the human Droki writhing on the ground while bullets continued to fly throughout the industrial warehouse and embedded the axe in his head. Like drugs, feeling his axe sink into his enemies'' heads helped him control the constant rage of the igneous curse. Among the metal shelves to his left, he saw Raven dodging a sword attack, then closing in on the wielder and finally plunging a knife under the mans jaw. His boss, like him, enjoyed melee combat more than ranged, which was one of the reasons Brako had decided to join his gang. He aimed at a Droki preparing to shoot him and blew a hole in his stomach with a shot. Unlike him, who wore armor similar to the ABAC series used by the heavy infantry units of Ibelirs army, many lower-ranking gang members settled for reinforced leather and scattered metal protections. Die! someone shouted. Brako looked up and saw a drauo on a metal platform holding a handheld rocket launcher. Shit! Why is it always me? he thought. But just as he braced for the worst, a burst of bullets pierced the drauos head, causing him to fall sideways, sending the missile flying into the ceiling, where it created a hole. Falling debris crushed some addicts seeking shelter from the bullets. Brako turned and saw Atho had taken him down. Despite his dislike for snipers, he was grateful to have one. Thanks, darkie! he shouted in gratitude. Boss! That coward Vralt is heading to the second floor! Tania yelled from a distance. That had also been part of the plan. During their collaboration with the Drokis, they discovered that their leader always positioned himself in the warehouse, directing and supervising everything. However, despite his bravado, he showed his true cowardly nature in critical moments. They knew that if they attacked through the main entrance, he would try to escape via the elevators connecting to the first-floor apartments or a hatch leading to one of the tunnel-like streets of the hive. Brako felled another with his axe and scanned for his boss. Raven slit another human Droki''s throat and nodded at him. The upper parts of his ears had been bitten off when he was just a child. The two of them carved a path through their enemies toward the stairs, followed by Tania and Serf, while the other members provided cover fire. Along the way, they saw another rookie die from a hammer blow. Reaching the stairs, a door opened, revealing what must have been one of the drug labs. Four Drokis emerged, clad in protective suits and gas masks. Two were armed with assault rifles, another with a submachine gun, and the last with a pistol. Leave these to me, boss! Brako said with a grin. He was dying to get his hands on the drugs. Just because he had stopped abusing tranquilizers didnt mean he couldnt enjoy other drugs. All yours, big guy! Raven said, climbing the stairs. He knew Brako wanted to raid the drug lab but didnt mind. That was another reason he joined the Exterminators. Despite knowing his past and hating drugs because his parents had been junkies, his boss let him take the most when they found a stash and didnt mind him using as long as he performed when needed. Leave some for the rest! Tania said, dodging bullets and taking down one of the Drokis with an assault rifle. Most of the bullets from the Drokis bounced off Brakos armor. However, some managed to penetrate due to the damage from earlier shots, impacting the bulletproof synthetic fiber suit underneath. He felt the bullets impact, but for a mercenary like him used to close combat, it was little more than a mosquito bite. Its useless, runts! he said, approaching his attackers. Try a real weapon! First, he blew off the head of the Droki with the assault rifle, then sent the one with the pistol flying with another shotgun blast, and finally, he cut off the hands and head of the one with the submachine gun with two devastating axe swings. After finishing them off, and as if the battle had already ended, Brako entered the large room and approached one of the tables where the Drokis were making drugs. In one corner, five humans in protective suits were huddled, trembling with fear. Brako guessed they were the real cooks, and the others had been their assistants or jailers. Please, dont hurt us... The cooks had removed their hoods and gas masks. That depends. Is your stuff any good? the drauo asked. His deep voice seemed even more imposing through his skull-shaped helmet. Yes...yes. Lets see. Brako removed his helmet, opened a small sachet, and snorted its contents. The drug hit his brain, and a wave of euphoria surged through his body. Whoa! Woohoo! Damn! This is good! he said, contracting his facial muscles and moving his head and arms. Itd be a real shame to waste talent like yours, he continued, aiming the shotgun at one of them. Yeah, right? So, will you let us go? We promise not to say anything. Please Brako took another snort. Damn! A real shame, indeed. I know more than a few whod die to get a hit of this. Huh? The drauo pulled the trigger, and one of their brains splattered against the wall. No, please. I promise Ill only cook for you, another pleaded. That wouldve been nice, he said before splitting his head open with the axe. No! screamed the third before taking a face full of lead pellets. The remaining two just closed their eyes to make their fate seem less violent. Shortly after, a new member named Nyawil, barely a kid, entered. Like him, many started and ended their lives in the gang world quickly. Kid, have you ever tried the good stuff? No. You should. People like us dont live long. 18. The Exterminators (2) Vralt was running at an astonishing speed, pistol in hand, as he sent more and more of his men after them. Raven had always known that the leader of the Droki gang was a frightened rat, but he never thought it would go to such an extreme. If he had risen to the top, he had undoubtedly done so through treachery and deceitsomething quite common in the Hive Zones and almost a signature move of gangs affiliated with the Poisonous Snakes. Several gang members came out to meet them, trying to stop their advance. Raven shot one in the head, dodged the knife of a human woman, and with a blow, sent her over the railing. Then he heard Tania shout, claiming the third, and ducked. A couple of bullets pierced the skull of the Droki aehul, who slid down the wall, smearing it red. "Come on, boss, you''re falling behind!" said Tania as she passed him. The girl with red streaks in her hair and blue eyes wore tight, short clothing, and was protected by an Akro chest plate that covered her torso and part of her back, along with shoulder pads. Raven loved watching her sensual body as she killed. Raven and Tania, along with Serf, continued along the metal platform. As if Vralt''s rat-like sixth sense had warned him of the trap awaiting him, the Droki leader began climbing the stairs to the hatch instead of heading to the room that led to the elevator. Raven quickly alerted the other teammates with his cyberboard, and they continued chasing after Vralt. On the other side of the hatch, the industrial warehouse roof served as a street between buildings that rose on either side. Metal walkways connected the different buildings at various heights, forming a kind of tunnel. The air was filled with the murmur of conversations and the faint glow of some flickering advertisements promoting goods or services. Several meters ahead, behind cement pylons acting as barricades with Droki banners, the street continued through the opening of another adjoining building, where street vendors peddled their wares, and children darted through the shadows, dodging busy adults. Near the cement pylons stood Vralt, panting from the run he had just made. The leader of the Droki gang was a thin, pale human with long black hair, shaved eyebrows, and numerous piercings. He wore brightly colored clothes and a synthetic fiber chest plate with Akro plates. "You''re ours now, you damn rat," Raven said with a devilish grin. The desire to take down the leader of one of the gangs affiliated with the Poisonous Snakes made his chest pound and threatened to cloud his mind. "Ha! That''s what you think! But it''s you who are going to die," Vralt said confidently, tapping his cyberboard. "Boys, come out and greet these sons of bitches!" From the balcony of one of the first apartments in the building rising to his right, several Drokis appeared, armed with guns. Meanwhile, two groks emerged from the doorway. One had his hair slicked back and held a huge axe in his hands. The other was bald, missing an eye, and wielded an axe and a sword. Both were dressed in leather, furs, and numerous protections made of different metals. The groks, like most races that made up the so-called "Savages," usually roamed the world with other savages in the form of gangs or hordes, plundering and pillaging everything in their path. That was why most of the few groks who lived in cities often led similar lives, joining, taking over, or creating their own criminal gangs. However, many of them also worked as mercenaries, and some even held positions where brute strength was required. "Now who''s screwed, huh?" Vralt asked with malice. Raven, Tania, and Serf smiled. "You, idiot," Raven said. "What? Are you so stupid you cant see you''re surround" But before he could finish, Vralt''s face suddenly changed. On the balcony of the other building, it wasn''t his men. Instead, three members of the Exterminators gang were aiming their weapons at them. "Quick! Kill them all!" "Rale, take care of the snipers. We''ll handle the ones below." The gunfire between the shooters from both sides broke out almost immediately. From the balconies and the walkway, bullets began flying in all directions as both sides tried to overpower the other. "You''re mine now," Tania said sweetly and affectionately before pulling the trigger. The bullet pierced Vralt''s knee, sending him to the ground. "Shit! Damn it! Rokor, Radhul, what are you standing there for? Kill those bastards already!" Vralt shouted as he writhed. "Yes, boss," replied the savages with a thick accent. Many of them only managed to learn how to crudely say simple things in Ibelirian, which was the universal language of Terrarum. "When the big guy finds out, he''ll regret not coming for sure," Raven said with a grin, pulling out his broadsword from the harness on his back.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Tania licked her lips. "Screw him! He can''t have all the fun." A rifle bullet pierced the skull of a gunman who thought he could shoot the leader of the Exterminators, and he fell to the ground from the first floor. "This is going to hurt," Serf remarked as he pulled out his spiked club. The groks obeyed their leader''s order and charged at their enemies, who, much to their surprise, met them head-on under the rain of bullets. Raven was the first to engage, squaring off against the one wielding a huge two-handed axe. He stepped firmly, twisted his hips, and the metals clashed, creating a great roar. Their bodies briefly separated, only to clash again, sparks flying as neither of them gave any ground *** Tania and Serf each charged from one side at the other grok. Serf struck with his club while Tania attacked from the other side with the bayonets attached to her guns. Their opponent easily blocked the blow from the blonde-mohawked, pierced human and tried to ward off the woman with a swing of his axe on the side where he couldn''t see. Tania stepped back to dodge the blow, and the grok retaliated against Serf, who had to summon all his strength to block a vertical attack from the Savage''s axe. However, the grok''s sword was free, and Serf could do nothing to stop it from sinking into his guts. The fear of a short life was reflected in his eyes. *** Ravens broadsword and the groks massive axe clashed again, and a test of strength began. Although the leader of the Exterminators was stronger than most humans, he couldnt overpower the Savage, who was beginning to gain ground. "I''m going to crush you, runt," the grok taunted. Raven would have loved to respond, but at that moment, he couldnt afford any distractions. He tensed his muscles even more and let out a loud shout. His opponents weapon shifted to the side, and Raven spun on himself, hitting him in the eye with the pommel. The grok clutched his eye, and Raven pushed him back with a front kick. *** The one-eyed Savage gutted Serf, and Tania shot him a couple of times. The bullets pierced the groks leather and skin, just as his comrade''s guts began to spill uncontrollably. The Savage growled and turned to face his next opponent. "That''s right, look at me, darling!" Tania teased. Tania lunged at him, firing as she moved. Some bullets bounced off his armor while others wounded him, but it wasnt enough to bring him down, and soon he was swinging at her with his sword and axe. Tania, with a smile on her face, dodged his attacks over and over, as if she relished every life-threatening move. *** The Exterminator leader charged at his rival, driving the broadsword into his abdomen. Blood trickled from the Savage''s mouth, but he slowly began to lift the heavy axe to attack again. The Exterminator leader pulled the knife from his belt and plunged it into the groks throat. Blood poured out with greater force, and the 6''3" humanoid fell to his knees. Raven grabbed the hilt of the broadsword, and with the help of his foot, pulled it from the body of his victim, leaving a trail of blood and viscera. *** Tania skillfully dodged the axe and sword, spinning to position herself beside her opponent. Her bayonets tore through the leather of his abdomen and slashed his right leg. Without giving him a chance to recover, she drove the blades of her pistols into the creatures side and fired point-blank. "Come on! Are you not going to hit me even once?" Tania joked with a fake expression of sadness. The grok snorted and, with a scream filled with pain, tried to strike her with his axe, but Tania, quick and teasing, dodged him. In one fluid movement, she drove a bayonet through his jaw and pulled the trigger. The grok''s helmet hit the ground, and the bullet continued its upward path. At that precise moment, the last Droki gunman fell to the ground with a dull thud. *** "No, it can''t be!" Vralt exclaimed, wide-eyed, as he desperately crawled away. A trail of blood stained the floor in his wake. He heard Raven''s heavy footsteps approaching, and in a last, desperate attempt, he tried to fire his submachine gun. But before he could pull the trigger, a well-aimed shot blew his hand off, leaving him screaming in pain. With a movement full of malice, Raven kicked the Droki leader in the face. He stepped closer, placing his boot on Vralt''s chest, pressing him against the floor. The sharp tip of his broadsword hovered near his enemy''s vulnerable neck. "Where''s your bravado now?" Raven asked. "Did you see that? They turned Serf into a gutted fish!" Tania taunted as she approached him. The leader of the Exterminators no longer felt much when he saw one of his close comrades fall in battle. From a young age, he had witnessed the deaths of his mother, friends, comrades, and those he had come to consider family. He knew that life expectancy in the hive zones was absurdly short. But the way Tania sometimes talked about fallen comrades, even the closest ones, was so disturbing that it made him wonder if there would come a day when she would kill one of them with a smile. "You bastards! You''ve wiped out my whole damn gang!" The shout of the Drokis'' leader grabbed his attention again. "Don''t you know what we''re called?" Tania stomped on his wounded knee. "The Exterminators, idiot!" "You''re crazy! Damn, this hurts!" Vralt screamed as he writhed in pain. "Do you even know who we belong to? Do you know who the hell we make drugs for? For the damn Venomous Serpents, you idiots! This won''t end here, I assure you!" Cuervo knew it well. The Venomous Serpents were one of the largest criminal houses in all of Anlova. Everything they touched turned corrupt, leaving only death and betrayal in their wake. "Look at me, I''m sooo dangerous because I work for the serpents," Tania mocked. "Ooooh, scary." "We know exactly who you work for, asshole," Cuervo''s voice was imposing. "You idiots have no idea what you''re doing! You''ve declared war on the most powerful gang in the whole damn state!" "Blah blah blah," Tania teased again, twirling a lock of her disheveled hair. "That''s exactly what we want. We''ll destroy every gang affiliated with the Serpents until we wipe them all out. We''ll be the next lords of Anlova," Cuervo said, savoring the moment. "And now, die." The blade of his greatsword plunged into Vralt''s throat, and Cuervo watched until life gurgled out of him in a choking stream of blood. 19. Death Miners Barthon stepped confidently into the second vehicle park of the Anlova Underground Exploration and Support Regiment, also known as the Death Miners. The regiment earned its name because it was originally founded by former miners. Even now, like most underground exploration and support regiments, it included units of miners, engineers, stonemasons, infantry, light and heavy cavalry, and mechanized golems. These types of regiments were among the first to be created after the birth of what is now known as the United States of Ibelir, back at the end of the 1st century of the New World. Created by drauos, their initial purpose was to defend the Ibelirian drauo settlements that were being established as the United States of Ibelir expanded across the world, as well as to recover territories and relics from the ancient Drauo Kingdoms, which had been destroyed and forgotten after the collapse of the old world. Over time, they evolved to perform tasks similar to those carried out by state exploration and support regiments today. In fact, the state support regiments were based on the model of the underground support regiments for their creation. The main difference between the two is that the underground support regiments are only found in states or city-states with an underground component, which is why even today, most of their members are drauos. As expected, both the barracks and the vehicle park itself were located underground in Catlon, alongside other similar regiments like the Mechanized Golems Regiment. Although his reason for returning to the vehicle park wasn''t a joyful one, the nostalgia of the place lessened his concern. There, dressed in the uniform of death, he had felt pride, joy, and excitement. If he hadn''t met Guliana, he would have died without hesitation in their ranks, defending the glory of his ancestors. He continued walking through the park, observing without too much attention, when a sedentary draua caught his eye. Her brown skin was similar to sandstone, and the minerals running through her body were yellow, red, and white. Her short hair was dark, and she had a cybernetic arm. Barthon? the draua said upon realizing who he was. "Is that you, sir?" The drauo frowned and stepped closer. Corporal Dasa? The draua saluted. Her scarred, hardened face broke into a smile. Now I''m Sergeant, sir, she replied. Behind her was an S-12 truck. The S-12 was a truck about three meters high, used for exploration and transporting troops or goods through underground paths. Of course, like all military vehicles, and especially those used for the dangers of the underground, it was also equipped for combat. The vehicle, about eight meters long, was divided into two heavily armored cabins connected by a thick door. The first cabin, with a capacity for up to four people, housed the pilot, the operator of the auxiliary automated machine guns on the sides, and usually the commander, along with a secondary space for accessing the roofs armored turret, which could be equipped with a machine gun or another auxiliary weapon, such as a flamethrower or missile launcher. The second cabin, resembling a caravan, could hold up to twenty-six people or more depending on their species. On the roof was another turret protected by an auxiliary weapon, and on each of its walls were two more small armored turrets similar to the pilot cabins with machine guns. Im not surprised, Dasa. Youre a good soldier, and youre great at leadership, Barthon said. Im sure youll rise even further. Anyway, congratulations, Sergeant. Thank you, sir! she replied. What brings you here? His expression tensed. Im here to talk to Graumgi, Barthon said. I heard hes now the captain of the Second Company. Thats right. Since you left us to... the sergeant began to say, but then stopped, shaking her head slightly as if trying to forget or deny something. Hes done a good job of maintaining your legacy, sir. Some soldiers and miners from the regiment began to gather behind her. After so many years without seeing them, he hadn''t noticed that their equipment was quite similar to that of his current regiment, the Fierce Stewards. Both regiments used the same ABA-L armor, though the Death Miners'' uniform was black with yellow tones. On their left shoulder, they wore the flags of Anlova and Ibelir, while the right bore the regiments emblem: a white skull overlaid with a musket and a pickaxe. Their tactical helmets had the Death Miners'' motto engraved on them: No revenge, no glory. As for their weapons, the hand grenades were the same, but instead of the HK-52 assault rifle with bayonet, the Death Miners used the MD-4 submachine gun, a model similar to the HK-52 but smaller, with a folding stock and a magazine that was inserted into the pistol grip. It had less range but worked better in tight, enclosed spaces. Instead of the typical combat knife most soldiers from the state support regiments carried, they used hand axes or similar weapons. That, combined with the ferocity and toughness of the drauos, made them a much more formidable regiment in close combat. The miners, for their part, wore the ABA-1M2 armor, a lighter and less resistant version than that of the soldiers. It lacked leg protection but featured a small electric exoskeleton that enhanced the movement of their arms and reduced the strain on them and their backs. They also carried the MD-4 submachine gun and a massive pickaxe, which was said to be capable of piercing nearly any type of natural material.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Im glad to hear that, Sergeant," Barthon said, a small proud smile appearing on his rough and weathered face. "And you, Sergeant? Are you going out on a mission?" Thats right, sir. We''re being sent to try to repair a few things, and if we''re lucky, we might even map out some newly discovered tunnels." "Sir," one of the miners, who was clearly a sedentary drauo, interrupted. "Whos this sky-sucker?" "Sky-sucker" was a derogatory term some drauos used for their peers who chose to live on the surface. Barthon clenched his teeth. The contempt most drauos felt for those like his wife and son was one of the reasons why the former captain of the Second Company of the Death Miners had left the regiment and decided to live on the surface. Watch your words, Brego," the sergeant said angrily, grabbing the drauo by his chest armor. "You''re standing before a legend of the regiment, you idiot." It''s alright, Sergeant. Dont worry," Barthon said, though his gaze told a different story. But, soldier," his hard gaze pierced the sedentary drauo, be grateful I no longer belong to the Death Miners." Then he turned back to the sergeant. Well, Sergeant, I have to go. I hope your mission goes well. No glory, no revenge." No glory, no revenge," she repeated. Barthon left the small platoon just as a mechanized golem approached Dasas S-12. The mechanized golems were bipedal, mechanized combat suits inspired by the ancient golems of the drauo kingdoms of the old world. These masterpieces of engineering were created thanks to the ingenuity of the chromatic drauos, and some suggested that the diminutive menudos had also helped. Despite the initial rejection they had faced in their early years from the sedentary drauos of the Drauo States of Ibelir, they were now some of the most beloved machines. And to think, they had been created by the chromaticsthe same drauos that most sedentaries despised. Barthon watched the imposing mechanized combat suit with admiration. Like most models, it stood at three and a half meters tall and two meters wide. One of its hands gripped a massive axe, its blade swinging in the air like a pendulum of death. On the same forearm, there was an attached machine gun, and on the other arm, a flamethrower. Both were fed by the ammunition and fuel stored on its back. At chest level, it had floodlights to illuminate the way. Inside, a drauo was connected to the living machine through implants that had replaced all four of their limbsa fact that, although cruel, was necessary for the pilot and the machine to become one. Barthon continued walking and entered one of the adjacent buildings. *** "I''m busy!" "Even for your former captain?" Barthon asked. The sliding door opened. His old office was almost exactly as it had been when he held the position. The same stone furniture and the same decor. The regiment''s emblem, along with its motto, was painted on the wall behind the captain''s chair, so that anyone entering would admire their pride. The only difference was the person sitting in that harsh, rigid chair. Graumgi Broadneck was a purebred sedentary drauo. He was tough, tenacious, and more traditional than anyone could imagine. Naturally, he had opposed Barthon''s relationship with a chromatic singer like Guliana, and he had almost hit him when Barthon said he was moving to the surface with her and their metamorphic son. In the end, he didn''t, but he didn''t speak to him for several years because of it. However, Graumgis traditional nature eventually led him to respect (though not approve of) the decision of someone he had admired and fought alongside for many years. They had saved each others lives more than once. Barthon still remembered the day Graumgi lost an eye defending a zerbidarka; a droka had pierced his eye with one of its joint spikes after he had slain dozens of arruks. Graumgi had grabbed the joint and pulled it toward him, bringing the subterranean creature closer. His face had been covered in arruk blood when he embedded his axe in the creature''s head. His left hand, now a steel hook, had been lost defending one of his subordinates. When Graumgi saw him, his worn and hardened face watched him closely. "Barthon... I never expected to see you here again," Graumgi said. "To what do I owe the... honor?" The former captain of the Second Company sat in the chair. "To be honest, I didnt expect it either," Barthon said. "But the situation requires it." Graumgi frowned. "What happened?" "Did you hear about the incident at the auxiliary runelectric plant?" "Yes, your commander contacted the captains operating in Catlon yesterday," Graumgi replied. "He told us a traitor had allied with the savages to attack the plant and that they might be using the old tunnels to carry out an attack on the city. So, he asked us to be alert and proceed with an immediate arrest if we find them. He also warned us they might be protected by savages." Barthon nodded. "I dont know why there''s so much fuss over a simple human and a few savages," Graumgi said in his gruff voice, showing his disdain. "Those weaklings up there are always complaining about trivialities. They should spend a few days in the tunnels to see what real terror is." "I used to think the same way, old friend," Barthon said. "But up there, they also know what ''terror'' means. Those savages are no small threat." "Is that all you had to say?" Graumgi asked. "If you came to warn me of the supposed danger, you can go. I''m busy." "No," Barthon replied. "What our commander didnt tell you is that a group of soldiers from our regiment, along with a combat mage, went after them." His expression softened, almost pleading. "What I''ve come to ask, as a friend and former captain, is for you to search for them." "What?" Graumgi asked, his furious gaze piercing Barthons. "Have you spent so much time on the surface that you''ve forgotten the deaths and sacrifices we face every day?" "No," Barthon answered firmly. "And I never will. But among them is..." Graumgi exhaled sharply, closing his eye in a show of pain. A heavy silence filled the room. For a moment, his gaze seemed lost somewhere beyond the stone walls of the office, as if he could see beyond them and recall simpler times, when decisions didnt weigh so heavily. "I''m sorry... But you know we can''t afford that. As much as your..." his voice broke slightly, revealing the weight of his decision. Graumgi took a moment, sighing deeply before continuing. "It''s not just about the rules, Barthon. It''s for the good of everyone under my command. I can''t expose them to such danger. Not even for him." "I know," Barthon replied, his voice equally heavy with emotion. He had known it from the start, but the confirmation still hurt. "Could you at least alert your troops to be on the lookout in case they see them?" The captain nodded, his serious expression softening slightly. "That, I can do. For old times'' sake, and for the blood we''ve spilled together." 20. A鈥瞝heran A''lheran swirled the delicate crystal glass with a light, circular motion, allowing the wine to come into contact with the oxygen and release more aromas. He sniffed and recognized the fragrance of licorice, cinnamon, and black pepper. Then, he glanced at the seductive human woman in front of him and let the red wine flow across his palate. In his mouth, it felt fresh, with a long finish and balsamic notes. It was undoubtedly a pleasure for both his human and demonic sides. "Exquisite, don''t you think?" A''lheran asked. "Yes, you can tell it''s good," replied the sensual woman with dark hair and light brown eyes. She was dressed in tight black lingerie and a sheer red robe. Much of her body had been surgically enhanced. The question hadn''t been directed at her but at himself, or, more precisely, at his human side, Michael, the engineer. A''lheran couldn''t recall, nor did he know, how many years had passed since the last time he had tasted wine. He also didnt remember which wine it was. Although he hadn''t used all the energy accumulated from sacrifices, far more years had likely passed than he believed, because he felt a part of his personality, of his being, was missing. He sensed a void that could only be filled with the souls of the bodies he possessed. How many of those souls had he lost during the Soul Crystallization? The speech he had given in that room before what the human had called a Cyberboard had been a mix of Michael''s knowledge and an echo of the feelings he had experienced from what he believed was his penultimate possessed body. But it had only been thanks to his loyal Vulfrack that he had been able to orient himself in the timeline. Then, the absorption of a few souls had given his deteriorated soul a boost, and he remembered the defeat of the demons by the mortals. That day, he had felt pain, sadness, humiliation, and frustration, not just for himself but also for the loss of his father, or rather the father of them all, Abyssoth, the God of Demons. But those weren''t the only feelings. Part of him had felt greed, desire, and excitement at the thought of becoming the next Original Demon of Pleasure, though he had never known if that was truly possible. He had learned all those feelings thanks to the many bodies he had possessed along the bloody and cunning path that led him to become a Demon Prince. Although almost all memories of those days had faded, fragments of his past remained. The soul of the first body he had possessed thousands of years ago was still anchored there, as were many of the following bodies he had taken. While not all of them followed a continuous timeline, the majority had belonged to races that knew aristocracy and a taste for wine, which explained his continued passion for it. After all, the essence that defined each demon was largely a reflection of all the mortals they had possessed. "As if you could tell a good wine, darling," A''lheran said, unable to suppress his mockery. A plebeian like her, pretending to be an aristocrat, could never appreciate the true flavor. Aside from her sensual body, he found it almost insulting to speak with someone so uneducated, but he knew she had been an easy prey, so he had played along with her at that high-end restaurant. Some things never changed, and a woman''s desire for a rich, powerful man was one of them. "You''re such an idiot, of course I can tell a good wine," she muttered after averting her gaze, then took a sip from the glass as if to reaffirm her words. A''lheran smiled, stood up from the armchair, and took a few steps across the carpeted floor until he stood in front of the chair where his companion sat. He bent down slightly and gently stroked her face and straight hair. "Come on, gorgeous, I''m going to show you heaven," he whispered in her ear. The woman parted her lips slightly and then smiled mischievously, imagining what awaited her. The first time they had done it, A''lheran, both saddened and amused because his human side had never had the pleasure of being with a woman as stunning as her, had let Michael take control of his new body. The human, filled with divine vigor and uncontrollable sexual desire, had ravaged her for almost an hour. According to his prey, she had never experienced so many orgasms before. A''lheran intertwined his fingers with hers and pulled her toward the bed. Both smiled mischievously. "Lie down," he said softly. She obeyed and lay down on the wide bed in the hotel room. "Do you like to play?" he asked with a playful smile, showing some fine ropes the same color as the robe she was wearing. The woman licked her lips and then gently bit them before nodding slightly. A''lheran placed a blindfold over her eyes and kissed her neck slowly. She shivered repeatedly as she felt his caresses shifting in direction, until she found herself tied up, arms and legs spread wide. "Damn, I''m so wet," she said, but A''lheran didn''t need her words to know how excited she was. He loved sadomasochism, and just the thought of whipping and dominating her like the bitch she was made him rock-hard. In fact, sex was almost a basic necessity for demons with a lust core. However, he felt a hunger, an even stronger need than sexual appetite, taking over him. Demons needed to nourish themselves with souls to survive and, almost as importantly, to climb the ranks of their race. The more souls they consumed, especially powerful ones, the stronger they became. There were several ways to do this. One was to take over a mortal''s body until the soul was completely consumed. This was the most traditional method and, in a way, the most pleasurable, as it allowed demons to enjoy the physical pleasures of having a body. But it also influenced their own uniqueness. Another way was what mortals used to call sacrifices. This method was the most euphoric and the fastest way to feed, as it involved directly absorbing the victim''s soul. The best part was that it allowed demons to remain longer in the mortal body they had possessed, as some demons became so attached to the bodies, they took that they essentially became them. In Michael''s case, A''lheran had taken him because he was the most appealing of those available to be devoured like lambs. More importantly, after being imprisoned for so long, his spiritual side urgently needed a body to avoid fading away. Initially, A''lheran had intended to use the human engineer''s body until he found one that suited his tastes and personality better. However, once he possessed it, he realized that Michael had more qualities similar to the bodies he had taken in the past than he had initially thought, or rather, remembered. He felt a resonance with Michael, evoking the shadow of someone whose qualities he had absorbed before, but he couldn''t identify the specific quality or the body it had belonged to. It was like a missing piece of his personal puzzle, familiar but unreachable. Among all these qualities were his intelligence, his insatiable sexual appetite, his taste for wine (though the poor fool had never had the chance to try a truly good wine), and his passion for knowledge. Plus, with his slightly trimmed sides, the long curls covering part of his right face, and his elegant clothing, he even resembled a human nobleman A''lheran had once possessed. Oh, how he had enjoyed that body! A''lheran glanced again at the woman eagerly awaiting his touch and smiled. Sacrificing a woman didn''t bring him as much pleasure as playing with her for hours, but he still enjoyed watching her suffer. He took a small knife and made a deep cut in the palm of his left hand. Blood began to flow, and he dipped his index and middle fingers of the other hand into it. Then, he approached his companion and drew on her stomach the magical symbol that most mortals called satanic or demonic. Upon taking over Michael''s body, he had discovered that many mortals imitated that symbol in their movies or comics. In those, they usually drew them with the blood of sacrifices, making them overly large. However, reality was different. The anagrams were often small because they had to be drawn on the victim''s body, written with both the victim''s blood and the demon''s own blood to link the extracted soul with themselves. While it was true that the anagram could be drawn on different victims to absorb multiple souls at once, this could backfire if the demon in question wasn''t strong enough. And A''lheran was still too weak to absorb more than two souls at once.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The woman shuddered at the soft touch of his human fingers, and the thick liquid spreading across her skin. A''lheran placed a leather gag with a ball in her mouth to prevent her from speaking, which aroused her even more. The demon lowered himself gently, continuing to caress her, this time transforming one of his human nails into a demonic one. He pressed it against her and made a small cut. She squirmed and let out a muted moan. He kissed her and moved the blood flowing across the same area where he had drawn the ritual symbol. The blood didnt need to cover the entire symbol, just a mix of both their bloods would suffice. But he liked to play. So, he moved his bloodstained finger across the entire symbol. A''lheran stepped back and began reciting words in a language his human side didn''t know. The symbol emitted a flash, and the woman squirmed in the bed as if reacting to a pleasurable sensation, but a few seconds later, her movements became violent as pain unexpectedly overtook her. She writhed for several seconds before her body lifted a few centimeters off the mattress, her limbs stretched taut, and her chest the most elevated point, like a sheet caught by its corners in the wind. From the magical symbol, the essence of lifewhat most mortals called the soulbegan to emerge and floated in the air until it fused with Michaels possessed body. The ingestion of another soul caused a brief euphoria, and he almost tore apart the lifeless human body, but he wanted to remain unnoticed as long as possible. So, he forced himself to muster his willpower and suppressed one of his most primal instincts. Just then, the door to the room opened. It was Vulfrack. Alheran was glad that it had been him who found him in that makeshift temple beneath the runielectric plant of Tagrei. He felt there were forgotten fragments between themat least on his partbut Vulfrack had always been a warrior with an extreme sense of loyalty, something he appreciated. In the demon world, it was common for subordinates to try to overthrow their masters to take their place, and given how weak he had awakened, it would have been exceedingly easy for Vulfrack to kill him. His loyal followers new body was that of a broad-shouldered, muscular human. His dark brown hair was shaved on the sides, with a small ponytail tied up. His beard was a bit long but well-groomed. A scar crossed his left eye, and another ran down his right cheek. Now, he was dressed in a navy blue suit with suspenders and a matching shirt, though in a much lighter shade, with the top buttons undone, revealing a skull pendant and part of his tattoos. Despite the years and the changing times, he still had the same intimidating yet elegant demeanor that defined him. Of course, he had taken the latter from him, as the demonic warrior had been his creation. "What is it, my dear Vulfrack?" "Sir, we haven''t been able to contact Rudhi, Zergo, Nerub, Darxy, and Praxy," said the demonic warrior after kneeling in submission. "We believe they are dead." "Well, I wasnt expecting much from them anyway, but they served their purpose," A''lheran replied without giving the matter much importance. "But setting that aside" He ran one of his fingers along Vulfrack''s face, lifting it so their eyes met. The eyes of the body he had possessed were blue. "I must thank you for freeing me from the soul crystallization and for warning me about the Black Cross Hunter." The mention of that single word reminded him of the frustration when six of them cornered him, forcing him to flee so they wouldn''t destroy his essence with their special weapons. One of them had a damned divine inside them. Were they still alive? Without realizing it, he squeezed his servant''s face, and his demonic nail dug into his skin. "I don''t deserve your thanks, sir," said Vulfrack, showing no reaction to the cut. A''lheran turned and took a few steps around the room. "Those arrogant fools should know their true place." "And they will, sir," said Vulfrack, his face calm. "I''m proud of you, Vulfrack. It''s impressive that you managed to secure a vessel like that." "Thank you, sir." The demonic warrior bowed his head briefly. "I will do anything to please you." "Thats what I like to hear," A''lheran said with a smile. "As the good loyal dog that you are. You may go now." "As you command." Vulfrack glanced at the woman who had served as the sacrifice. "Shall I take care of her, sir?" "Now that you mention it, yes," the demon prince replied. "Inject her with a drug overdose and dispose of her. I dont want to raise suspicions just yet." Vulfrack nodded and carried her out. A''lheran approached a round wooden table between two cushioned chairs. He took a glass of wine and a slice of cured ham, savoring them slowly. Then, he moved to the window of his hotel room, from where he observed the city of Catlon sprawling before his eyes. In the background, the voice of one of Catlon''s most famous religious leaders echoed from a holographic television broadcast. Though A''lheran had a preference for more artistic designs, he couldnt help but be impressed by the evolutionor rather, the reconstructionof Catlon after the devastation of the old world. Having participated in its destruction and subjugation in the past, A''lheran remembered a city that barely covered a quarter of the plateau it stood on. Now, not only did it fill the entire plateau, but it also spread beyond, taking the shape of a city-castle that, when viewed from above, resembled a comet with a fish-tail. Surrounding this expansion and dominating the landscape was a thick outer wall encircling the city, reinforced by imposing defense towers at regular intervals. These structures, standing vigilant over Catlon''s vast expanse, were a testament to the city''s military power and its preparedness to fend off any threat, emphasizing Catlon''s dual identity as an industrial urban center and an impregnable fortress. From his position, A''lheran could see the so-called "first ring," the heart of the plateau where the palatial buildings of the elite stood, alongside luxurious apartments, the most prestigious hotels, renowned businesses, government buildings, and in the midst of it all, the runielectric plant. Beyond that, encircling the ancient plateau and descending to sea level, lay the second and third rings, where buildings, much more densely packed and of varying designs, reached heights between fifteen and forty stories. As night fell, a sea of lights and advertisements sprang from neon signs, holographic screens, and 3D projections, bathing the city in a decadent splendor. Amidst these clusters of residential and commercial buildings were hundreds of ceramic factories. These not only produced luxury goods for export but also key materials for the armor of the Ibelirian army. The constant smoke from the factories mixed with the lightning from the auxiliary towers and the runielectric plant, giving Catlon an air both gloomy and austere, in sharp contrast to the city''s vibrant nighttime spectacle. At the edge of this circular area, six hive zones were located. Neither A''lheran nor the human he had possessed had been to one of these yet, but from what he had gathered from his human side and the Ibelirian network''s information, those zones could be fertile ground for his demonic followers. Before the destruction of the old world, Catlon had been separated from the sea and surrounded by forests. Now, hundreds of years later, and fueled by the Royal Decree of Population Restructuring, a "thin" line of roads and railways known as "the bridge" connected the urban sphere with what had once been a fishing town, fully integrating it into the urban fabric. The port, transformed into one of the lowest districts, housed a mix of taverns, brothels, and other establishments dedicated to fleeting indulgence. The winding roads that ran through the city at different heights, used by vehicles on the upper levels and trains below, along with the metallic stations that emerged and blended into all sorts of buildings, highlighted the complexity and innovation in Catlon''s infrastructure. He almost felt sorry for having to destroy it. But his master, the demon god, had given him an important task, and he had to fulfill it if he didnt want to suffer his wrath. The truth was that when his god briefly appeared to him after his release, A''lheran couldnt believe he was still alive. He may have lost many souls and memories, but the one that fought in the final battle still remained within him. Back then, when the demons were already tasting victory, the cursed warrior of destruction tricked the demon god into possessing him, and once inside, the warrior of destruction sacrificed himself to kill the god. The brutal explosion of energy that emerged from the warrior of destruction killed and struck down hundreds of mortals and demons. Shortly after, the demons found themselves overwhelmed by their lack of leadership, by the united armies of mortals suddenly bathed in revitalizing energy, and by the army of the traitor who fought with an unheard-of fury at the death of his commander. And yet, there he was. Somehow, he had managed to survive it, and now he had returned to finish what he had started. And best of all, A''lheran had been one of the chosen ones to begin this magnificent task. A''lheran looked at the city again, and a slight smile appeared on his lips as he imagined the world ruled by them. He would live in a tremendous modern castle, obsidian-colored, with numerous decorations featuring sexual, demonic, and plant motifs crafted in silver and shades of purple. It would have numerous windows with ancient tracery, and from the interconnected bodies that made up the castle, circular towers with conical roofs would extend, with a main tower from which he would oversee his kingdom. In this kingdom, mortals would take their rightful place as slaves, used as vessels, food, and most of all, as sexual toys. A''lheran would spend his days listening to classical music, reading, painting, enjoying wine, and, of course, indulging in endless sadomasochistic bacchanals. But that fantasy would have to wait. "Music player," he said, and a small holographic screen appeared to his left. A''lheran touched the screen, and a classical melody began to play throughout the room as if he were sitting in front of the orchestra''s conductor. He refilled his glass and drank again. The first thing was to destroy Catlon, and he had already begun pulling the strings to carry out his majestic plan. 21. Fustration Dragen grabbed the long-haired aehul by the hair as he knelt on the bed on all fours and thrust into him furiously again. It was the second night he had barely slept. The first, he had spent trying to write a report with soldier Andr about what had happened at the runielectric plant in Tagrei. Of course, it had taken longer than expected. He had never been good at writing reports, and trying to put that madness on paper without being able to write the word "demon" had been an odyssey filled with rage and frustration. If it hadnt been for the help of Captain Lorenzo and an aehul soldier named Dinroil, who was good at writing reports, it would have ended up as some kind of war declaration filled with insults. In the end, the accumulated fatigue and the ingestion of a few sleeping pills helped him finally fall asleep. However, demons and mutants pursued him in his dreams, killing his comrades over and over and trying to finish them off. Although he had faced mutants more times than he could remember, and his race was known for its bravery among other things, he had never seen such a terrifying and macabre scene as that one. The second night, he used the pills again, hoping this time the nightmares wouldnt return. But they came back once more. In them, the demons killed and took over the bodies of Isen and the rest of those who had ventured into the old tunnel network. Once awake, the inexhaustible rage that all ignen drauos harbored had started to crawl up from the depths of his being like a threatening spider. Deep down, he knew he should have gone with them. But once again, duty had overridden reason. He hated that part of his race, of himself. But he couldnt discard it. It was part of him. In the end, desperate to release all the rage and frustration he was harboring, the corporal had called a prostitute who enjoyed rough sex. There was no better way to blow off steam. Dragen thrust into the aehul one last time, releasing everything inside him forcefully. Then, he abruptly pushed the boys fragile body aside and got out of bed. I want you gone when I come back from the shower. Dragen turned and headed to the bathroom of his tiny barracks room without waiting for a reply. He looked at himself in the mirror. His face was tired, and he had dark circles under his eyes. The image of the sergeant and the rest of the platoon being torn apart by the demons crossed his mind again. For a second, rage took over his hand, and with a punch, he shattered the glass. His tough skin didnt allow him to bleed, nor feel any physical pain to alleviate himself. The corporal stepped into the shower and let the water run over his entire body. As he expected, when he came out, the aehul was no longer in the room. That was the best part about prostitutes. They came, did the job, and then left without even expecting a goodbye or any other nonsense. Being gay was one thing, being soft was another. Dragen put on his military uniform and headed straight to the vehicle park. There, two soldiers from his company were waiting for him with a vehicle meant for city travel, a blend of elegance and security, making it quite practical for the cities of Ibelir. Dragen gave them a military salute and got into the car. Where to, sir? asked Roledo, a human with brown hair and black eyes. To Steklen Street, number 40. Yes, sir. The vehicle left the barracks vehicle park and drove through the city, up and down the roads, until they reached their destination. Steklen Street was in one of the upper-middle-class areas of the citys second ring. Most of the buildings were about thirty stories tall. Despite having a more elegant style than those in other neighborhoods, few buildings were free of at least one or two neon or holographic signs.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Wait for me here, soldiers. At your command. Dragen got out of the car and briefly looked up at the building towering in front of him. Inside, he felt worry and doubt, tinged with fury. Dragen hadnt spoken to Marian since he had parted ways with the sergeant. The resentment he still harbored after so many years stemmed from what he felt when he learned that his wife had left him. A part of him still hadnt been able to forgive her. Among other things, because Sergeant Raed had never stopped loving her. Dragen felt the rage born of resentment start to spread through his body and tried to calm it by taking deep breaths, for despite everything, he was the one who had decided that Raeds wife deserved to know what had happened before the information spread uncontrollably through the media. After a few seconds, he made his way to the buildings entrance. Who are you, sir? asked the buildings doorman. Like him, he was a drauo and was armed. Dragen... Iron Hammer, Dragen replied with a touch of emotionless pain. He hated his last name. Corporal of the Seventh Company of the State Reconnaissance and Support Regiment, he continued. Im here to see Mrs. Marian at door forty-six about a military matter. A military matter? the doorman asked arrogantly. "Yes," Dragen replied. "And you''d better get out of my way, or I swear I''ll take your head and paint the wall with it. Is that clear?" The corporal immediately understood what the doorman thought of that when, without a word, he stepped aside, leaving the entrance free. The corporal entered the building and pressed the button for one of the two elevators. The doors opened, and he stepped in, pressing the button for the eighth floor. When he reached Marian''s apartment door, doubt crept in again. What if he knocked and found the sergeants ex-wife with another man? He hadnt considered that possibility, but for all he knew, it could very well happen. The apartment belonged to her family, so there was probably nothing tying her to him anymore. He cursed himself for not thinking of that earlier. If he knocked and found her with someone else, he wasnt sure he could keep his cool. Without realizing it, he knocked hard on the door. "Yes? Who is it?" asked a female voice through the electronic peephole with a speaker. Shit, he thought. Soldier Dragen, is that you? Yes, ma''am. It''s me, he replied. Though Im a corporal now, not a soldier. The apartment door opened, and Marian appeared behind it. She looked a bit older than he remembered, and part of her characteristic smile had faded, but she still had her curves, and most of her hair was still brown. Her light eyes looked him up and down. Well, so now youre a corporal, huh? Im glad, Marian said with a genuine smile. From what Raed told me, I thought you''d make it sooner or later. The mention of the sergeants name and his ex-wifes sincere congratulations caused a knot to form in his stomach. The bloody, desolate image of Raed being thrown against the V4-1 by the demon flashed through his mind. Yes... was all he could manage to say. Well, what can I do for you? Marian asked. I hope Raed didnt send you to tell me hes canceling our Saturday date. It wouldnt be the first time Dragen felt worse and worse. He was good at killing enemies and following orders, not at emotional conversations, and even less at giving condolences to his sergeants ex-wife. The truth is... it has to do with the sergeant, he said, gripping his military cap tightly. I... The corporal looked down and nervously glanced around before looking Marian in the eye again. I didnt want you to hear it from the media. What do you mean? the sergeants ex-wife asked, worried. Has something happened to Raed? The sergeant... is dead, ma''am. Im sorry. Marian took a step back in shock, her hands covering her face, and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh no. It cant be," she whispered as tears streamed down her face. Her legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed. Seeing Marians reaction, Dragen immediately knew that the sergeants ex-wife still loved him as much as he had loved her. The corporal despised himself for having doubted her, and he hesitantly approached Marian. I uh Dragen began, unsure of how to comfort her. That was an aspect of his genes he hated. Drauos generally had a hard time expressing their feelings, as most of them culturally saw it as a sign of weakness. They were born for work and war, not for romance or drama. But before he could find a way to continue, Marian hugged him, letting her tears carry away her grief. Dragen awkwardly returned the hug, and for a moment, he felt a comforting sadness. 22. Regrets Andrs heart was beating so fast he thought it was going to burst out of his chest, tearing through flesh and bone. The hallway he was in was lit by flickering lights, barely illuminating his surroundings. The walls were streaked with irregular trails of blood, and the floor was covered with bodies, mutilated and horribly wounded, making them barely recognizable. Andr''s eyes fell on one of them, and a cold sweat ran through him as he recognized Miriam, the soldier from his company. "Damn, shit. What the hell am I doing here?" he thought, trying to remember how he had ended up in this hallway. He couldn''t. Andr looked over the other bodies of his former comrades. Ricty, Kaltar, Ordwulf they were all dead. Behind him, he heard the heavy sound of footsteps. Andr quickly turned around, his mind once again trying to figure out what was happening. "I''m coming for you, human," said a deep, malevolent voice. Suddenly, the soldier remembered he was being chased by something evil, terrifying, monstrous. Andr turned and ran, not caring what was chasing him or what had happened to his companions. He just wanted to get out of there. But before he knew it, something grabbed his leg, and he fell flat on the floor. The smell of blood and organs overwhelmed his senses. "Dont leave us. Please, Andr. Help." Andr turned. The soldier Ioan was clutching his leg with a bloodied hand. His face was mangled, and half of his body was missing. Panic took hold of Andr, and he tried to break free by kicking his former comrade. The sound of the footsteps grew louder. Andr knew that thing was almost upon him. He let out a scream, pulled out his pistol, and shot Ioan in the head again and again until he let go. Andr stumbled to his feet, crashing into the wall of the hallway. Shit, shit. Andr forced his body to move and ran in the opposite direction of his pursuer. He ran longer than he thought possible through the endless hallways until the sound of the footsteps faded. He found a door to his left and opened it, hoping it was an exit. It wasn''t. Andr entered a room with lighting similar to that of the hallways he had been running through. On one side of the room were two elevators. One was fully open, and the other was partially open. Leaning against the doors was Neisa, who was being strangled by a tentacle emerging from inside the elevator. "Help me, Andr. Please," managed to say his childhood friend. "Hang on, Neisa!" Andr said without a second thought, rushing to her aid. When he reached her, Andr pulled out a knife and stabbed the tentacle repeatedly with all his might, until it finally broke, held only by a thread of flesh. Neisa gasped for air and then coughed. Andr helped her up. From the elevator shaft, they could hear the scuttling of legs approaching. From the other elevator doors emerged a humanoid creature, raw and exposed, walking on all fours and upside down. Numerous tentacles, moving like a sunflower searching for sunlight, emerged from its stomach, which opened like a mouth filled with bloody teeth. Its neck extended over a meter, and its face, full of holes and covered in blood, both cried and laughed.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Andr recognized the monster instantly. It was the one that had killed Burmac. "We have to get out of here, now!" Andr shouted, but his friend seemed unable to move. The creature approached at a terrifying speed and, with a swipe of one of its tentacles, knocked Andr''s childhood friend aside. Andr tried to shoot, but another tentacle knocked the weapon out of his hand, and two more tentacles ensnared him. The creature lifted Andrs body and brought it closer. "You save her and leave me to die?!" the creature shrieked. "What?" thought Andr, and then something inside him twisted. The creature had Burmac''s face. "It can''t be, you''re you''re dead." "Because of you, you miserable rat! You abandoned me!" Burmac screamed, bringing his face close to Andr''s. "Just like you did with the sergeant and the rest of the squad! Just like you did with those children!" "I I had no choice!" "You dont deserve to belong to the Regiment of the Fierce Stewards," Neisa shouted this time. "Youre a coward! You even abandoned me!" "No, Neisa," Andr replied, shaking his head. "You know I would never abandon you." Suddenly, Neisas body bent in an unnatural way, her head spun like a top as her neck began to stretch, and her stomach tore open, spilling blood and tentacles. "Yes, you did," said his friends head, now level with him. Her face had become demonic. "You even left me, your beloved, to save your damn skin. And now I am one of them!" "No, you made me! You told me to go!" Andr shouted, desperate and distressed. "No, it was your cowardice that did it," said Isen suddenly, who had appeared on the other side. His skin had turned pale, and his eyes were yellow. He had finally revealed himself as a demon. "And now shes one of us," he said with a laugh. "You bastard! Its all your fault!" "But dont worry," Burmac interjected, "because youre going to join us too." The tentacles holding Andr captive started to pull him toward Burmacs mouth-stomach, drawing his body closer and closer to the demons insides. "No, never! Let me go!" "Dont resist, darling," Neisa said. "That way, we can finally be together. Just like you always wanted." "No!!" Andrs voice ripped savagely from his throat as his body was devoured by Burmacs mouth-stomach. "No!!" Andr screamed as he jolted upright in bed. It had been another nightmare. He was drenched in sweat. "By Ibelir... it was another damn nightmare," he said, running his right hand over his face. "But that will happen if you dont keep Neisa away from that damn battle mage," a voice said. "What?" Andr said, turning quickly to see who had spoken. No one was there. He was alone. "Must have been my imagination," he thought. Andr pushed off the sheets, got up uneasily, and went to the bathroom. He turned on the faucet and looked at his face. He was exhausted, covered in scabbed cuts and swelling. He looked like a living dead manand in some ways, he was. The military life had worn him down beyond imagination. He wasnt made for this life. He was tired of risking his life every day, of killing people, of everything. He wished he hadnt listened to Neisa when she suggested joining the Armed Forces of Ibelir. If hed listened to his parents and hadnt enlisted, hed now be working in some middle-class area. It would be a dull life, sure, but at least it would be safe. In the end, what good had it done to choose love over reason? None at all. Just pain. Andr scooped some water in his hands and splashed it on his face. Then he ran his right hand over his face to wipe off the droplets and dried himself with a towel while still looking in the mirror. "If you dont do something, the battle mage will take her from you," the voice said again, drifting through the air. "No!" For a moment, Andr imagined Neisa and Isen kissing and making love in the darkness of the tunnels. "No..." he repeated, shaking his head. "How can I be thinking about that instead of worrying about her safety? This is starting to get to me..." Andr sighed. Then he opened a drawer in a small cabinet and took out a photo of Neisa in a tight bikini. He stepped into the shower and began to pleasure himself, thinking of her. 23. Predators Bargu had lost all sense of time. The tunnel that was supposed to lead them to the other side of that drauo passage had turned out to be just another piece of a labyrinthine network of foul-smelling, dark tunnels that led nowhere. By Ibelir! Are we ever going to find the way out? the soldier cried in despair as they emerged into yet another arruk tunnel. I cant take this anymore! Tell me about it This is endless, Bargu said, with none of his usual cheerfulness. Those tunnels were unnerving him. He wasnt sure if it was because of the stories his father used to tell him about the Death Miners, or something deeper, tied to his genetic heritage. But they brought out a resentment he hadnt even known he carried. Of all the places I could die, I never imagined it would be in one of these filthy tunnels, Bargu spat on the ground. I just hope my father never finds out. Come on, its not that bad, Bargu. The soldiers right, Isen said, his voice devoid of emotion. Weve run out of food and water. If it hadnt been for that small natural pool we found, wed already be on the verge of dying from dehydration. Well, except Bargu, since he needs far less water than we do. Hed last much longer. Bargu noticed the soldier giving him one of her accusatory looks, silently blaming him for his lack of empathy. Great And on top of it all, Im going to die alone, he said sadly. Dont listen to him, Neisa said with a forced smile. Then she turned to Eliad. Im sure the hunter will find the way out soon. Right? I hope so, the hunter replied. His greenish-gray eyes shifted to meet Bargus earthy ones. Actually he began, this might be the perfect time to use that extraordinary sense of direction your kind supposedly has. Bargu felt a pang in his heart. He knew what Eliad meant, and that was the most painful part of all. I Bargu began, his voice a mix of shame and sorrow. I cant use the sense of the rock. If only I could he thought. He wished with all his heart that he had inherited something from his fathers side of the family. But he had only taken after his mothers lineage. Not that he disliked itthanks to that, hed discovered his passion for music. But deep down, hed always longed to carry something from his fathers traditional lineage. You cant? Eliad asked, studying the drauos face closely. Isen was doing the same. I thought all of you could use it. Bargu shook his head. No Only sedentary drauos can attune to the rocks to detect veins of ore and find their way in the tunnels of the underground world, Bargu bit his lip. The only thing sedentary about him were the gypsum minerals streaking his body. And I Im a chromatic. Sorry. Get out of here, sky-licker, a voice from his past whispered in his mind. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.Youll never be a sedentary, said another. Couldnt you at least try, just to see if I told you I cant! Bargu snapped. He was frustrated with himself and hurting. Didnt you hear me? Bargu Neisa said softly. Eliad sighed. Fine Then well have to rely on my sense of direction. As Eliad and the others resumed their march, Bargu approached the wall and placed his palm against it. He closed his eyes. He knew he wouldnt hear the voice of the rock, but he wished, just for once, that he had been wrong all these years. Nothing, except the whisper of the breeze. *** The tunnel turned right and continued straight. Despite the flashlight beams, everything remained uncertain. That infinite and impenetrable darkness made her feel small, weak, powerless. She hated it. The soldier looked around, trying to find something to occupy her mind. A series of irregular holes running along the tunnel walls caught her attention. What are those holes? she asked. Which ones? Bargu replied. Theyre tunnels made by the erukidos, Eliad answered. Neisa studied the hunters face for the first time. Like her, he was human, probably around thirty years old. His short brown hair, streaked with black, was slicked back, and his beard was neatly trimmed. Unlike her own eyes, his tired ones had a grayish-green hue. Those are... the creatures we saw earlier, right? Neisa asked. The ones we found near the remains of the treasure hunter convoy? Exactly. The erukidos belong to the working class of the arruks. One of their tasks is to search for food, Isen chimed in, as if eager to flaunt his knowledge on the subject. Took you long enough to speak, Mr. Know-It-All, she thought with a smirk. In other words, us, Bargu added. Can you believe it? We must taste awful with this rough, hard skin. Neisa felt relieved to see the young drauo had regained some of his usual humor. For a moment, she considered asking him about the rock sense they had mentioned earlier and how he was feeling, but the thought that it might depress him again made her hold back. She could always ask later, if they got out of there alive. Well, we humans probably dont taste great either, Neisa said with a smile. Do we know where these tunnels lead? The hunter, noticing her gaze, realized the question was directed at him and replied. They could connect to many places for instance, other arruk or drauo tunnels. They might even intersect with Ibelirs new network. But they could also lead straight to one of their hives or connect to a city in Ibelir, or even another country. No one knows how far their tunnels extend, but according to some drauo writings, it was once believed they stretched across the entire world. Bargu nodded twice, seemingly to affirm the hunters words. Though Neisa wasnt sure if he actually knew or was just trying to look informed. She smiled to herself. The tunnel began to slope downward slightly. A faint, unpleasant smell reached her nose. And if those tunnels were made by the erukids, who made the ones were walking through? The stone-eaters, Eliad replied. Bargu spat. Damn them. The stone-eaters? Neisa asked. Silence, Isen suddenly said. Sir? Neisa asked, puzzled. No matter how unpleasant she found him, this abrupt shift was unusual. I hear something The group stopped. What is it? Eliad asked, his expression suggesting he already knew the bitter answer. It sounds like quick clicks and snapping noises? So theyve found us after all Eliad said as he drew his other pistol, switching on the small flashlight mounted on it. Prepare yourselves! Arruks! Damn, Im so sick of this mission, the soldier muttered, raising her rifle. A buzzing sound, created by dozens of rapid clicks and snaps, grew louder and louder. Come on, you bastards! Bargu shouted, aiming into the darkness. The yellow glow of their eyes in the shadows was the first thing to appear. Fire! Isen commanded. 24. Plans The naked bodies of the Exterminators lay sprawled across the enormous bed that had once belonged to the leader of the Drokis. The bedroom occupied nearly the entire floor of the gang''s headquarters. The walls were adorned with bladed weapons, photos, and punk-style posters, along with a sixty-four-inch cyber-television and the emblems of the Drokis and the Pisonous Snakes. Scattered around the room were numerous worn-out pieces of furniture filled with clothing, a few firearms, a cube computer, and, above all, drugs. Most of the drugs, however, had already been consumed by Brako, Tania, and several other gang members who had taken part in the celebration that culminated in an orgy. But their achievement had been monumental. Thanks to the simultaneous, coordinated attacks of the three groups into which the gang had divided (plus another that had remained to defend the base), they had, in barely a week, dismantled most of the gangs in the southeastern section affiliated with the Pisonous Snakes and occupied their bases. Their message had been clear: the reign of the Pisonous Snakes and their affiliated gangs in the Hive Zone of El Cobre had come to an end. Whats the matter, grump? Already out of ammunition? Tania teased, touching herself lasciviously to Cuervos left. Yeah, Im done. Ive never seen a woman so insatiable, Brako replied, gesturing with his hand as he got up from the bed. Im off to get high. Boss, theyre all yours. Come on, big guy. You barely lasted two rounds, Cuervo said as he felt soft breasts press against his back and slender fingers trace the scars on his chest with sensual precision. The leader of the Exterminators didnt need to turn around to know it was Arithya, an Ankhelar renowned for her expertise in espionage and assassination. Her kind, like the Egils, originally hailed from the continent of Dunea. With their graceful build, elegant demeanor, and average height of two meters, the Ankhelar exuded an innate nobility that bordered on the divine. Their skin, ranging from golden to dark tones, was nearly hairless, and their sharp, regal features were accentuated by their large, pointed ears and slightly almond-shaped eyes that shimmered with vibrant colors like gold, emerald green, fuchsia, cobalt blue, or, in rare cases, deep purple. Their hair also varied: white or gray for those with dark tones, and red or orange for the golden ones. The young Ankhelar, with green eyes and soft curves, had led one of the groups that assaulted the southeastern section of the hive. More than one rival gang had fallen without even realizing they were under attack. Screw you, Brako said as he left. Thats what I want! Tania shouted. Well, it looks like youll have to double your efforts, Arithya whispered to Cuervo. Her ebony skin contrasted sharply with her silver hair. The leader of the Exterminators brushed aside Arithyas delicate hands and turned to face her. The beautiful Ankhelar, who usually kept her hair tied back, now wore it loose, falling freely to her shoulders. A pendant depicting a hooded figure holding a knife hung around her bare neck. A thick X-shaped scar crossed much of a tattoo on her forehead. The tattoo was vibrant blue, almost as if it were alive. To Cuervo, as well as to any other inhabitant of the Hive Zones, it was simply a blend of art and violence decorating her skin. But to Arithya and all the residents of an empire called Ankunari, it represented something deeper, something more ambiguous. You can count on it, Cuervo said as he pounced on her. Hey! Dont you dare leave me out! Tania exclaimed, desperate to have something hard inside her again. *** After the third round, Cuervo got out of bed, dressed, and grabbed his weapons. No matter where he went, he always carried them with him. In the Hive Zones, you never knew when you might need them. That was something everyone in the Hive learned sooner or later. He had learned it at the age of nine, when a rival gang fired submachine guns through the glass window of the small diner where they were. Unarmed, Cuervo, Ilian, and the other The Dispossessed present were forced to defend themselves with broken glass, utensils, and chairs. Covered in blood and with multiple wounds, only he and Ilian had survived. That day was just one of many that had forged their bond into something stronger than blood or love. Like his own shadow, Arithya rose from the bed and began dressing with the subtlety possessed only by assassins and thieves. When she was finished, she tied her hair back. A tongue click of disapproval echoed through the room. "Cant Cuervo even go to the bathroom without his watchdog?" Tania said, leaning against the headboard. She waved dismissively and added in an even more mocking tone, "Youre pathetic." Cuervo turned to look at her. If not for Tanias many sexual encounters and her unstable, mocking personality, Cuervo might have thought the fair-skinned, freckled girl was jealous. "Dont worry, Tania," he said with a smile. "Ill send someone to finish satisfying you." Tania rolled her eyes and gave a brief mocking smile before responding, "Just make sure they do it better than you." The leader of the Exterminators didnt take it as an insult. He left the room with Arithya following behind and opened one of the doors in the antechamber. He walked a few meters down a hallway and opened another door leading to a different floor, which, along with the one above it, had been molded into a duplex-like lounge. In the middle stood a massive L-shaped couch, scarred with numerous cigarette burns. Reclining on it was Brako, still savoring the effects of the drugs. The fiery drauo often used substances to quell the constant rage caused by his "fiery curse," though his addiction and a certain event in his past had led him to abuse dissociative drugs to escape it all. Cuervo was no stranger to drugs. His parents had been addicts for as long as he could remember. He hated them, and at first, his disdain for them had been palpable. But by his early teens, he had learned that in a place ruled by violence, betrayal, and despair, the strange thing wasnt that someone used drugs but that someone didnt. On the other side of the couch was the aehul Thefuil, his gaunt face focused on an RPG game on a cutting-edge virtual reality console operated by neural impulses. In the back, at a table, the drauo Stalos played cards with three other members while they drank and smoked. In a corner by the staircase leading upstairs stood an old model of a female service robot, deactivated. Cuervo preferred flesh and blood, but he hadnt been able to resist the allure of the service robots either. A little farther away, on the balcony overlooking one of the tunnel streets inside the Hive, Atho smoked while staring into the horizon. The watchful face of the former soldier, hardened by years of service and the fruitless search for his brother, bore a melancholy that went beyond mere sadness. Cuervo had neither been able nor willing to promise that they would find his brother. But he had assured him that the Venomous Snakes would pay. In truth, his promise of vengeance had little to do with Athos loss and was more a strategy born of mutual sentiment to gain a new ally. He had told himself that. Deep down, Cuervo knew it had been a promise born of unspoken empathy, an act of solidarity in a brutal world. Without saying anything, the leader of the Exterminators grabbed one of the empty chairs and placed it near the low table in front of the couch. He sat down and poured himself a glass of whiskey from a nearly empty bottle. With the corner of his eye, Cuervo saw Arithya lean against a nearby wall. Always silent and expectant, he thought. Cuervo took a rolled-up map from the table and spread it out. It had numerous annotations about the different neighborhoods of the hive and the gangs that controlled them. From names and affiliations to the number of members and business dealings. Elio had spent months researching the criminal underworld of the hive. And even with the help of Arithya''s informant network, he hadn''t managed to uncover everything hidden within the endless tunnels and streets of the hive. Even though people were born in these zones, the hives were so vast, changing, and dangerous that most residents never truly got to know even a quarter of what it harbored within. In fact, there were many inhabitants who never even left their own micro-neighborhoods. The sound of heavy, mechanical footsteps caught his attention. A human with cybernetic arms and legs was coming down the stairs. Part of his skull was metal, and one of his eyes was cybernetic. Like the other mechanical parts, his metal eye seemed like an amateur job, put together with scraps. Old, worn-out single-lens glasses made his brown eye appear larger. His messy hair covered part of his face. It was Elio, the brain and co-founder of the Exterminators. A brief, melancholic nostalgia took over Cuervo. He and Elio had been born in the same neighborhood of hive ZCE 04, also known by its inhabitants and many Catlon citizens as "The White Hive" because it was the hive that produced and distributed the most drugs in the city. Unlike him, and most hive inhabitants who got lost in the spiral of destruction and misery these places bred, Elio had taken refuge in books and education, and had even dreamed of leaving the hive to attend university. But life in the hives was cruel and merciless, and those who tried to escape were often considered worse than traitors. So, when Elio finally tried to leave that life behind, some members of the Hard Fists, a gang affiliated with the Venomous Snakes that controlled parts of the entrances and exits of his section, beat and mutilated the co-founder of the Exterminators, leaving him on the brink of death.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Seeing that merciless scene somehow reminded Cuervo of when he and his most loyal group of The Dispossessed were gunned down by Ilian and his gang. Blinded by months of pent-up rage, Cuervo had come out of the shadows and dismembered the members of the Hard Fists with his claymore. Seeing Elio half-dead just because he had wanted to escape that cruel place where he had never asked to be born, Cuervo decided to take him to the same person who had saved him: Old Mara. Of course, compassionif it could even be called thathad not been the only reason. Cuervo knew that someone as smart as him could be very useful in carrying out his revenge. After that, Elio had become the first member of his gang and, in turn, one of the people Cuervo trusted the most. You shouldve joined the party Cuervo said. I prefer not to waste my time on trivialities Elio replied with a serious tone, but not judgmental. I have better things to do than destroy my neurons and give in to primal impulses. Let me doubt that Cuervo added with a smile and took a drink. Elio stood in front of Cuervo and sat rudely on the armchair. A creak was heard. While you were wasting time rolling around like a pig, Ive contacted Zhekog. A what? Anyway, never mind. How did our wild friend do? Zhekog was another of the Exterminator captains who had led one of the attack groups. The wild one, whose thirst for battle surpassed everything else, had preferred to continue attacking gangs affiliated with the Venomous Snakes instead of returning to celebrate. That insatiable thirst and his innate brutality, combined with his combat skills, were the reasons why Cuervo had decided to recruit him. It was as if his most merciless side had taken humanoid form. Theyve wiped out the Rolilotis and taken over the last buildings in the two-piece neighborhood. Now theyre heading toward the Black Shadows'' territory. The Hive Zones, considered by some as districts, were divided into several areas, and the buildings within them formed "neighborhoods" that contained homes, businesses, and even illegal clinics and educational centers. Each of these neighborhoods, whether horizontal or vertical, could be controlled by one or more gangs. Any dead? We lost two members the semi-cybernetic human checked the cyber-table integrated into his arm. That makes a total of thirty Exterminators since we stormed the area Anyone important? Despite the lack of sensitivity in the question, no one seemed to be disturbed. Yeah, fuck you! This hand is mine! yelled one of the Exterminators sitting at the other table. No, Elio threw a disapproving glance at those at the table. Most of them are rookies, and some have a bit more experience. But no one important. Alright. Send Luro and Nalia with some of the guys to look for new recruits. Lets see if this time they find someone decent. Cuervo looked again at the map Elio had written. With this, that just leaves the Pen-Vulvas, The Black Shadows, and the Brugo Boys. Hows the drug situation going? That had been the main reason the Exterminators had attacked the southeast area of the southern Copper Zone; that was where the largest number of gangs manufacturing drugs in the hive were located. No matter how much he hated it, Cuervo had learned that to reach the top of the hives, you had to take control of them. In a place where more than eighty percent consumed drugs to some extent, taking control of the drugs meant taking control of the majority of the population. The mere word drugs seemed to break Brako from his trance. In the back, Atho used the scope of his rifle to check something. Elio pulled a cable from the cyberpad and inserted it into a port on the back of the book resting on his lap. He then opened it, and the smell of paper spread throughout the room. The content of the book''s pages was projected onto the screen of his cyberpad, and with a flick of his fingers, it expanded above the table. He then gently adjusted his single-lens glasses and skimmed the pages. When did you get here, boss? asked the drauo, still half-drugged. Seeing the screen filled with numbers and letters, his eyes narrowed. Are we going to watch a movie? With the last raid, weve taken control of about sixty percent of the drug production in the hive, said Elio. However, we hardly have any cooks to make it, since we took out the old ones, and not many are willing to go up against The Pisonous Snakes. I still think it was a stupid move to kill the cooks too. It wasnt, and isnt, negotiable, Cuervo said firmly. Well kill every single one of those who serve The Pisonous Snakes. Now thats what I like to hear, boss, said Tania suddenly, entering the room in her underwear. Those bastards only deserve lead. By the way, werent you supposed to send me someone to finish the job? Right, I forgot. Tanias face suddenly grew sad. Her blue eyes seemed on the verge of tears. Why does everyone leave me? Im sorry, Cuervo said, turning his gaze to The Exterminators who were playing at the table. Guys, who wants to play with Tania? No one answered. Tania''s face suddenly changed again, as if the other side of the same coin had appeared. "What''s up, you sons of bitches? Did they cut off your balls or what?" Tania headed towards Stalos and the rest, slamming her hand on the table. "You know what? Forget it. Im done with all these fucking fags." She walked over to the sofa and sat between Thefuil and Brako, her legs spread and her arms crossed. Elio looked at her with disdain, then turned his gaze to Arithya. The ankhelar had made a living for many years not only as an assassin but as a spy and informant. She knew how important it was to set feelings aside in order to achieve a goal. Cuervo also looked at her. "You know my opinion," Arithya said, the pendant hidden under her shirt. "I think Elio is right. We would''ve saved a lot of time and energy if we''d left them alive. It''s not going to be easy finding cooks willing to go against The Pisonous Snakes. And even less so after we''ve taken out many of their colleagues." "Oh, come on, babe," Brako intervened. "That''s why we call ourselves The Exterminators." "That''s right," Tania mocked. "Otherwise, we would''ve called ourselves the Saye Girls or something. You know?" She made a farting noise. "Dumbass." Arithya rolled her eyes. Elio scoffed. Cuervo took a drink. "And what about the drugs they already made?" Elio adjusted his glasses. "Leaving aside the waste made by our members," Elio''s cybernetic eye focused on the drug-addicted drauo, "we tried selling them, but most people are hesitant to buy drugs from us." "Why?" Brako asked. "What''s the difference who sells them? Drugs are drugs." "Fear, distrust," Cuervo said without waiting for Elio''s response. "Exactly. Most of them have spent nearly their whole lives buying directly or indirectly from The Pisonous Snakes. They know the power and influence they have in the Hive, so they think that sooner or later, The Pisonous Snakes will take back what''s theirs. That''s why they prefer to endure the withdrawal and survive rather than risk buying and facing retaliation." "Cowardly rats," Tania said. "Of course, there are those who don''t care who they buy from as long as they get their fix," Elio glanced at the fiery drauo and then scanned Tania and Cuervo, "but those are few, and theyre generally not reliable customers." "Kid, are you trying to tell me something?" Brako said. The minerals on his face gleamed. "Damn circuits." Tania slapped Elio''s remaining flesh shoulder and stood up to look down at him. "Are you insinuating we''re a bunch of junkies?" "Please, I beg you. Give me more Herkuna. I promise I''ll get more clients." The image of his degraded mother begging a member of The Pisonous Snakes for more drugs flashed through Cuervo''s mind. For a moment, he felt his facial muscles tighten. Even the taste of whiskey turned bitter. "I''m not insinuating anything, I''m just stating the truth." "You arrogant piece of shit..." "Enough!" Cuervo''s voice rang out firm and imposing. His face showed that he wouldn''t tolerate any more comments on the matter. "So what can we do to fix it?" Thefuil asked, having removed his virtual reality helmet. Tania looked like she was going to make one of her usual comments to Thefuil, but Cuervo''s gaze instantly made her change her mind. Her face turned into that of a puppy. "We have to make them feel safe." "And how do we do that?" Tania said. "By promising them peace and love?" "By letting them know weve come to stay," Cuervo said with a devilish smile formed from anger and pain. "And that we are the new rulers of this hive." "Oh! I love how that sounds!" Tania said excitedly. "I think Im getting wet again." "Exactly, and for that, we need more members and to form alliances," Elio said. "Even if we finish off the affiliates of The Pisonous Snakes in this section, much of the hive still belongs to bands affiliated with them. So they probably wont take long to try to recover their main business. Not to mention the Houses of The Unrecognizable and The Masters of the Echo." What do we know about them? Cuervo said as he observed the map with annotations. Neither house had ever had a presence in the hive where he was born. The first is famous for their aggression, Arithya intervened. So, theyll likely attack us to try to take over the lucrative business of The Pisonous Snakes. The second, on the other hand, is more pragmatic. Theyll probably want to take advantage of the situation and offer some kind of allianceor even try to bring us under their umbrella. Cuervo clenched his teeth. The scars branded into his flesh with fire reminded him of the moment Nasriel, one of the local leaders of The Pisonous Snakes, planted the seeds of betrayal in Ilian by offering both of them a place in their ranks. We wont ally with any house, Cuervo said. He wasnt about to make the same mistake again. And we definitely wont join them. Theyll be the ones kneeling before us. By Ibelir, that turns me on! Tania shivered. At the very least, I think we should talk to them to see what they propose, Elio shifted uncomfortably in his chair under Cuervos murderous glare. He adjusted his glasses. We also have the option of seeking alliances with gangs that arent affiliated with any house. Or we could look for smaller gangs that could join us. That would consolidate our power and allow us to remain completely independent. Our own criminal house! Tania punched Brako. Can you imagine? Yeah replied the drauo, not entirely convinced by the idea. Any suggestions? Well, I managed to find some flowers among the weeds. A mocking laugh was heard, but Elio ignored it and changed the content on the holographic screen. The Breaker Brothers. Theyre made up of humans, drauos, groks, and tralfs, and they specialize in extortion and robbery. Theyre a bit uncontrollable and violent, but we could use them to force other, more mundane gangs to join us or, Elio glanced at Tania, make them buy and/or traffic our products. Plus, their raw strength and destructive tendencies would be a perfect match for Zhekog and his crew. Violence and destruction, Tania said excitedly. Oh yes, they have to be ours. Right, Cuervi? Admit it, girl, Brako said. You heard groks and got all wet. Tania let out a giggle. Honestly, yeah, I wont lie. Theyve got massive guns. Another interesting option would be the Guardians of the Word, Elio looked at the ankhelar. Arithya knows them and has worked with them before. Theyre a gang made up of humans, gnoglers, aehuls, and tralfs that specialize in surveillance and selling information. As you can imagine, they work for all kinds of gangs and people, so theyre not trustworthy. But if we could somehow bring them under our control, we wouldnt just take an important source of intelligence away from our rivalswe could also use them to discredit and destabilize other gangs and houses while spreading the image we want of ourselves. Personally, I think theyre one of the best options, Arithya said. But also one of the most dangerous. So I wouldnt rule out eliminating them either. I could handle talking to them, Thefuil offered. If theres one thing Im good at, its diplomacy. I get through most RPGs without fighting much. Despite his druggie face and his mood swings, Elio said as he adjusted his glasses, I have to admit hes the smoothest talker weve got. Even among the other aehuls in the gang. Thefuil smiled. Cuervo placed the map on the table and pointed to a spot with his finger. This is where well go. Brako, who had fully recovered by now, looked at the point his leader was indicating and let out a growl. Youve got to be kidding me. The sound of a rifle shot echoed through the room. Were under attack, Atho said. 25. Dead End The sound of gunfire and screams blurred with the incessant wailing of the erukidos. But despite having superior hearing compared to most species inhabiting Terrarum, Isens level of concentration was so intense that he barely heard an echo in the distance. In front of him, piercing through space and flesh alike, a thousand particles of magic moved so slowly they seemed motionless. He couldnt see them, but he could feel them. The battle mage traced mental lines through the thousand points as if drawing a map until he found the spots from which he wanted to cast his spells. Then, he opened the spiritual gate that allowed him to connect the magical currents with his inner energy and shaped the magical particles into what he had envisioned. Isen''s eyes glowed, and the battle mage felt both energieshis own and that of the magical particlesmerge to bring the spells to life. Moments later, elongated, sharp stone stalactites materialized from the very rock of the ceiling and tunnel walls, extending to pierce the faces and bodies of several erukidos. The satisfaction of seeing his power in action filled his being, but only a faint smile reflected the pride he felt in his ability. Suck on that! Bargu shouted gleefully as he saw the last erukidos fall lifeless. Yes! Neisa exclaimed with euphoria, seeking Bargus gaze for a shared moment of triumph. But when she saw his face, her expression changed drastically. W-whats wrong, Bargu? Isen didnt need to hear the drauos response. He couldnt see in the dim light as Bargu could, but in the distance, he could once again hear that disturbing buzzing. This isnt over, is it? Eliad asked. Isen nodded and turned to face the endless darkness. Theyre surrounding us. Shit. Im almost out of ammo, Neisa said after checking her magazine. Same here, Bargu added, already preparing to fire again. And this time, I doubt well stumble upon another ammo stash. We cant stay put, Eliad interjected. The only way were getting out of here alive is by running. And where exactly are we going? Bargu asked. These tunnels dont lead anywhere. If I have to die, Id rather do it fighting. Eliads right, Isen said as he began to manipulate the magical currents. His hand and sword became engulfed in flames. Remember, we have a mission. If we die here, all of Anlova might burn. He doesnt realize how creepy that sounds with his hand and sword on fire, does he? Bargu whispered to Neisa. Apparently, the scene had brought him back to his usual self. I mean, he sounds like the villain in a movie. He has no clue, Neisa replied, trying to stifle a laugh. The erukidos emerged from the darkness and launched themselves at them once again. The fire surrounding Isen''s hand intensified, and with a flick of his wrist, it surged toward the erukidos like the flame of a flamethrower. The subterranean creatures howled as the tunnel filled with the stench of burning flesh before their bodies disintegrated. Behind him, the repetitive crack of rifles told the battle mage that the soldiers and the hunter were also engaging the Arruks. Isen turned just in time to see Eliad halt the advance of two erukidos with precise shots to their heads. Ready? I love this part, Bargu said. The rifle fire ceased, leaving only the echo of the hunters pistols. Grenade out! Bargu and Neisa shouted. Isen drew an imaginary line with his arm, and a wall of stone blocked the tunnel. The explosion caused rocks and the bodies of the subterranean creatures to burst apart, forming a barricade of rubble, organs, and limbs. The soldiers finished off the remaining erukidos, and Isen turned again to unleash another torrent of fire on a dozen more creatures crawling along the walls of the tunnel.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Now, go! Eliad shouted as he continued firing in different directions. Bargu, take the lead and guide us with your vision, Isen ordered. Yes, sir, the soldier replied, being the first to start running. Eliad and the battle mage followed the soldiers, dodging the living bonfires. When Isen passed the two holes from which the small humanoid creatures had emerged, he came to an abrupt stop. Cover me! Isen shouted, cutting off the head of an erukidos that was preparing to attack him. But didnt he just tell us to run? Neisa said, stopping in her tracks, turning around, and getting ready to fire. Make up your mind. Eliad, who seemed to have understood Isens plan, quickly moved in close to him. Isen manipulated the magical particles while his companions provided cover fire, and the rocks shifted, sealing off the small tunnels. That should hold them back for a bit, Isen said. Lets move! The four of them continued through the narrow tunnels quickly, but cautiously. As much as Bargu could see in the dim light, they had no idea what awaited them beyond his line of sight. Every so often, they encountered more holes in the walls of the dark passage, reminding them that sooner or later, those subterranean creatures would be hunting them again. After what felt like several hours, the group came across another fork in the path. Two tunnels stretched into the blackness of the earthtwo paths that could lead to despair or salvation. By Ibelir I hate this, Neisa muttered. Do you see anything, soldier? the mage asked. Nothing specific, sir, Bargu replied. Just more endless tunnels. That answer seemed to hit the young drauo harder than the rest of them. I see. Eliad? At this point, I dont even have a shred of orientation left, the hunter replied. We could be near an Anlovan city or even outside the State by now. Hundreds of meters away, Isens ears picked up the clicking sounds of the erukidos. It was clear they werent willing to let their prey escape. Theyre coming again I cant take this uncertainty anymore, Neisa said, starting to walk into one of the tunnels. Lets just go this way. I think we should reconsider, soldier, Isen replied, not understanding her sudden resolve. Marching on, added Bargu. Shes got guts, Eliad said with a smile. I think Im starting to like her. I may not be an aehul, but Ive got your back, hunter. The battle mage pushed his thoughts aside and ended up following the soldier and the others. How long had it been since the last time he did something like this? The echoes of the erukidos grew louder behind them, drowning out the sound of their own footsteps as they ran. The tunnel took a sharp turn to the right, dipped slightly, and then leveled out again. Then, Bargus unexpected shout made the group stop so abruptly they nearly crashed into each other. What now? Neisa asked. I dont think stopping is a great idea with all those things chasing us. No way out Bargu replied, his voice trembling. What? Its a dead end. Youve got to be kidding, right? Neisa said. Im afraid not, Bargu confirmed, moving forward. Look. Desperation washed over their faces when they saw with their own eyes that the tunnel had come to an end. There was no way forward. All that remained was to face an almost certain death. Well, I guess this is it, Eliad said, resigned, as he turned around and prepared for one last battle. This world will never change. I Neisa began to say. Im sorry. This is my fault. Nah, girl, Bargu replied. There was no way to know which of the two paths was the right one. Probably neither was. He gave a sad smile. Besides, at least Ill die fighting. Im sure my father would be proud of me. While the rest of the group spoke, Isen took a closer look at the wall that blocked their path. The battle mage didnt know much about the behavior of the stone-eaters, but if they were giant worms that fed on the earth and the minerals within while carving out tunnels, how could the tunnel end so abruptly? The only way that could happen was if the creature had died, since it was technically impossible for it to turn around and go back the way it camethe tunnel was the exact size of its body. Thanks, Bargu, Neisa said. Im glad that if I have to die, at least its by your side. Youre a good companion Isen stepped a little closer and touched the wall. Wait a moment, he said. The texture and pattern are different. I think this isnt a natural wall; it was built to block the tunnel. And what does that mean, sir? Neisa asked. Everything related to the underground was a mystery to her. An ancient drauo tunnel, said the hunter and Bargu at the same time. I believe so. I dont mean to be pessimistic, but what difference does it make? Neisa said. The fact that the tunnel is blocked doesnt change. Wrong again, soldier, Isen replied. If this wall is part of a drauo tunnel, it means the stone is probably about a meter thick, maybe a little more. So, if we can open a hole, well gain access to the ancient tunnel. Do you think you can? the hunter asked, watching as the erukidos crowded just a few meters behind them. Yes, Isen answered firmly. But it will take me some time. Then youll have it, said Eliad, squeezing the triggers of his pistols. 26. Zhekog Zhekog wrapped his rough hand around his opponent''s tiny head and slammed it with brutal force against the brick and drywall wall. With eyes full of terror, the member of the Black Shadows tried to resist, but the difference in their strength and size was so great that it was like a mere ram trying to withstand the charge of a bull. The Black Shadows head punched a hole in the wall, and Zhekog shuddered at the sound of bones cracking. He pulled the man back and turned him around to take a good look. He wanted to see him struggle, to see him fight. He wanted to know if he was strong enough. He wasnt. Zhekogs face twisted with rage and disappointment as he watched the Black Shadow collapse, unconscious. "Weak," he thought. He stepped closer, raised his heavy boot, and crushed the man''s skull with force. "Die, you fucking grok!" someone shouted. Zhekog turnednot enraged by the insult, but drawn by the prospect of facing a new opponent. Would this one be strong? A low-caliber bullet struck his horned helmet. His face twisted in disgust, and he gripped his axes tighter. If there was one thing he hated more than the weak, it was firearms. He sprinted forward and struck his opponent mid-run, sending him flying through the broken doorway of the micro-apartment and bouncing off the hallway wall. The grok stepped toward him and watched him closely. "Weak," he thought. But he already knew that. Only cowards used firearms. He raised his axe and drove it into the mans back. The Black Shadow writhed like a fish. From the doorway of another micro-apartment, about eight meters to his left, Dero suddenly appeared, as if he had been thrown. Deroone of his Karnax Fangs. Cuervo may have defeated him, and they may have joined the Exterminators, but that was only until Zhekog could defeat Cuervo and take back what was rightfully his. According to the rules of the Savages, the moment he won, he would have the right to claim the entire Exterminators gang as his own. But he didnt want a gang full of weaklings, whores, and junkies. He wanted a gang of strong, ruthless fighters. Warriors who, like him, had been hardened in the heat of battle and carried an insatiable thirst for glory. Dero stood firm and prepared to continue fighting. He wore the same horned helmet and war paint as his leader. A new enemy appeared through the doorway, and Dero spun to dodge the charge while simultaneously driving his saber through his opponent. The Karnax Fangs were true warriors, and as such, none of them were allowed to carry firearms. "Chieftain, over here!" Dero called out. "Chieftain"in their Khazzuk tonguewas the word groks used to refer to their leaders. Though there were only two groks in the gang, Zhekog had shaped and developed his band according to the traditions of his people. Just then, a gunshot rang out, and a bullet tore through Deros shoulder. The human cursed and dove back into the micro-apartment. Almost at the same time, another Black Shadow emerged from a different micro-apartment. Half of her head was shaved, while the other half sported long, dyed-green hair. Her brown-hazel eyes gleamed under the dim lights, and multiple piercings adorned her face. She wore an Akro plate vest, dark like the rest of her clothing, and carried two knives. It was Esthar, the leader of the Black Shadows. Zhekog eyed her under the flickering bulbs. "She finally comes out. I was getting sick of wandering this damn maze." He grinned. "Is she strong enough to be worthy of being taken?" For the groks, combat was not just a means to an end; it was a way of lifean obsession. The only way to earn respect among their kind was through battle. The only path to glory was proving oneself the strongest. And the only way to create powerful bloodlines was by defeating and claiming strong rivals. "This will be your grave, beast," Esthar spat before charging at him. "You have guts. Me like that," Zhekog said in his thick accent. Despite all his years in the city, he still struggled to speak common Ibelirian. Zhekog turned with difficulty to face her. The hallway was narrowbarely enough for two humans to stand shoulder to shoulder. And he was as wide as two men. No doubt the human intended to use that to her advantage. But he didnt care. A fight was a fight, no matter the conditions. With raw strength and speed, Zhekog raised one of his axes and swung it down at the human. But with feline agility, she dodged to the side and slashed at his exposed bicep with one of her knives, leaving a red gash across his thick skin.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! She had likely aimed to stab him, hoping to disable his arm, but his hardened flesh and muscle proved tougher than the strength of the Black Shadow. Before Zhekog could react, the human spun around while leaning forward and struck his chin with an upward kick. Despite his strength, he felt his sturdy legs falter. The savage attempted a horizontal strike, but the loss of balance and the narrowness of the hallway rendered it ineffective. The Black Shadow dodged the blow, spun again, and delivered a kick directly to his chest, causing Zhekog to stumble back awkwardly. Without wasting time, and with deadly precision, the Black Shadow threw the knives she was holding. But Zhekog was no novice in combat; with a swift tilt of his head, he allowed his horned helmet to take the impact of the knives. Sparks flew, and the knives deflected, embedding themselves in a nearby door. The human, slightly surprised but still focused, drew two more knives and prepared for another attack. Zhekog, having recovered, stood imposingly and snorted. "Damn it. This way, I won''t be able to hit her. Then..." Zhekog released his heavy axes behind him, flexed his legs, and lowered his center of gravity. "What are you doing, beast? Is that your way of surrendering?" asked the leader of the Black Shadows. Zhekog smiled and charged. Esthar, in a reflexive act, threw her knives again. But her nerves had failed her, and she had thrown them too quickly, allowing Zhekog to block them easily with his armored forearms. Frightened, she decided to risk it all. At the last second, when the grok was already upon her, she drew one last knife and, with a flick of her wrist, tried to stab him in the neck. However, the force of the tackle caused her to miss, and it partially embedded in his collarbone. The Black Shadow was sent flying several meters down the hallway. Zhekog, touching his wound with a grunt, quickly approached his opponent, who lay stunned on the ground. He grabbed her as if she were a sack and, using all his strength, hurled her violently against the ceiling. She bounced off and fell. The sound of her impact against the floor was deafening. The human was left severely injured and unconscious. Zhekog had emerged victorious, but his opponent had not been bad. He grabbed her by the Akro-plated vest and lifted her to his eye level. For a moment, he considered capturing her to claim her later. After all, according to Grok traditions, it was his right. Perhaps human pregnancies were not as fast or multiple as those of Grok women, and of course, their union could only produce half-breeds. But still, a strong warrior could be born, one who would carry on his warrior legend. However, that would mean disobeying Cuervos orders to eliminate all members affiliated with the Venomous Serpents. And he was no filthy, treacherous Tralf. He was a Grok, and for that, he had to respect and obey his chieftain. At least, until he could defeat him. Zhekog let out a grunt of disapproval and, with a swift, forceful movement of his wrist, snapped her neck. Then he cut off one of her fingers and pocketed it. Suddenly, a tremendous roar echoed, and the massive head of a heavy hammer smashed through the wall of one of the micro-apartments lining the hallway. Bloody remains of a shattered skull slid down the hammerhead and the wall. "Horcon..." Where is cat!? I kill! Shes here, idiot, Zhekog shouted in his language. I already finished her. Horcon cursed and struck the wall again, making the hole double in size. Through it, the Groks head appeared, his face furious, his single eye darting desperately from side to side. When he saw Zhekog and the corpse of the Black Shadows leader, his expression twisted even further. Zhekog looked at his old friend. His skin had a pale grayish tone. His sharp teeth, some of them broken, had turned brown from tobacco and poor hygiene. Beneath his helmet, his head was completely bald except for the sides, where the hair formed a semicircle that merged with his thick, unkempt beard. The massive scar running across his blind eye was a reminder of his failed attempt to seize control of the gang. Of course, Zhekog bore him no grudge. He had lost to Cuervo, and the Fangs of Karnax had been forced to join the Exterminators. So Horcon had deemed Zhekog unworthy of leading them. And as was common among the Groks and the Savages, when someone believed their leader was unfit, they would try to take command either through combat or assassination. Luckily for Zhekog, Horcon had not been one of the few Groks who resorted to murder. "You''re going to have to try harder if you want to take my place, Horcon." "Oh, I assure you I will, Zhekog," he replied, emphasizing his name. The fact that he hadn''t called him "warlord" was his way of making it clear that he still didn''t acknowledge his leadership. Zhekog growled as he watched Horcon''s bearded face disappear. He turned around and continued walking slowly down the hallway toward the micro-apartment where Dero had entered. The establishment, which took up at least three or four living units, was what they called a "silence nest"a place removed from the hustle and cruelty of the hive, where customers could immerse themselves in their own world. To achieve this, the place had soundproofed walls and individual hermetic capsules. Using pills that heightened the senses, screens, and a wide variety of sounds, users could experience pre-designed scenarios, emotions, and sensationssuch as the feeling of flying above the clouds, diving into crystal-clear waters, or walking through a peaceful forest during the third season. The place had once been the base of the Black Shadows, and after the battle, numerous bodies lay scatteredboth clients and members of both gangs. Much of the furniture was damaged to some extent. At the center of the establishment, leaning against an open capsule that had been used as a barricade, was Dero, talking to another fighter. The human, covered in wounds, had switched his weapon to his other hand. His black mane was streaked with blood. Upon seeing Zhekog, he started walking toward him, but Zhekog signaled for him to stop. "Warlord, we''ve taken control of the Black Shadows'' base. All that''s left is to find Esthar...That bitch took down Disa and Noloe." "Yeah, I killed." Dero, accustomed to his warlords lack of grammar and vocabulary, understood immediately. "As expected! They should be stronger. But they died in battle. Like warriors. I''m sure the war god Karnax is pleased." Zhekog nodded. Dero holstered his weapon and reached into one of his pockets, pulling out a cyber-tablet. Zhekog disliked those electronic devices, but he knew they needed them to communicate with the rest of the gang, so he allowed a limited number of Karnaxs Fangs to carry them. However, they were always to be kept hidden. "Ill report our success to..." he began to say, then stopped. He tapped the cyber-tablet a couple of times and then read something. "Warlord, it seems we have our next target." Which one? "The Breaker Brothers. They''re an independent gang dedicated to extortion and assault. The..." He hesitated for a moment and looked away from Zhekog. "Boss," he returned his gaze to his warlord. "He wants us to go and convince them to join us. He doesn''t care how we do it." "And Penisvulvis and the Brugo Boys?" "Apparently, the idiots attacked the old base of the Drokis looking for revenge." Dero''s eyes widened slightly. "According to the text, Cuervo single-handedly took down both leaders in hand-to-hand combat." Damn it! Why are you getting further away every time? 27. Beings from the Abyss Sergeant Dasa of the Death Miners stared at the three-dimensional map floating above her cyberboard. With a finger, she tapped one of the quadrangular lines. It turned orange, and with a flick of her fingers, the image zoomed in, displaying only the selected quadrangular line and some notes in text form on the right. "If my calculations are correct, were already here..." The sergeant lowered her gaze and reread the notes to herself. "Connection door opening mechanism damaged, cannot be opened... Columns stable. Malfunctioning rune lamps and no trace of arruk tunnels." Alright, short-sticks, the sergeant said firmly over the general channel. Weve reached the door we need to fix. Supposedly, there are no arruk tunnels around here, but the last report was a month and a half ago. So, everyone to your positions and stay sharp, just in case. The convoy started moving again, continuing slowly through the tunnel stretching out before them. Despite its age, the palm-shaped stone columns remained as splendid as on the first day. According to the records, only one of them had ever needed near-total restoration, but the work had been so masterful that only the regiments stonemason masters could tell it apart. The rune lamps that still worked provided enough light for the drauo eyes to see in the dimness almost as clearly as a human would in daylight. Numerous shields of ancient drauo clans and kingdoms lined the walls. The domesticated idars they had released flitted about, glowing with a bluish light, signaling the absence of corruption. Then, all the beauty and splendor of the ancient tunnel vanished in an instant. A trail of dismembered bodies stretched out ahead. Stop! the sergeant ordered, and the convoy obeyed as if it were an extension of her will. Possible contact. Stay alert. After a few tense seconds of silence, the sergeant continued, Bermag, any reaction from the moles? None, maam, replied the miner corporal. Alright, moving on. Machine gunners, stay sharp, the sergeant commanded. The moles hadnt detected any arruk presence, but Dasas experience had taught her they werent always right. Sometimes, even when they did detect something, it was already too late. In the depths of the earth, vigilance was everything. Sergeant Dasa often wondered if, during the days of the ancient Drauo Empire or the Drauo Kingdoms of Ibelir, the roads had ever been safe enough for her kind to travel without fear. The convoy continued its slow march, alert to any possible attack as the soldiers observed the massacre that had taken place. The paved ground of the path had split into small streams of black and purple that converged into a hardened, dry sea reeking of decayed earth, minerals, and flesh. Scattered across it were what seemed like hundreds of limbs and heads from all kinds of arruks, violently torn or cut off. Some had been split in half or gutted, while others had been crushed as if someone had tried to squeeze the juice from a piece of fruit. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The towering columns rising above that sea of death were stained with dried blood and bore impact marks, as if arruk bodies had been hurled against them. In the distance, the massive doorbroken and left untouched for what could have been hundreds of yearsstood wide open. Yet that striking detail faded into the background, overshadowed by the gruesome feast of flesh and dried blood. "By Ibelir What the hell happened here?" the sergeant thought to herself. In all her years, she had never witnessed such brutality. Could it have been a fight between different colonies? Bredog suddenly asked. The sergeant noticed he had loosened his grip on the auxiliary machine gun controls. Like the rest of the platoon, he was a drauo. Looks like we showed up late to the party, commented old Bali from inside the mechanized golem. But there was no trace of his usual bravado in his tone. The igneous drauo had clearly lived long enough to recognize that this was something unheard of. There are no records of two separate hives in this area, and they all seem to share the same color and form pattern. So, I doubt it, Dasa replied. Besides, there are too many mutilations, contusions, and precise cuts. Arruks prefer to tear, bite, and pierce. I dont know who or what did this, but Im glad they did, Brologa said from one of the protected turrets, shaped like a pilots cabin, on the right side of the S-12. Same here, added Brakia from another turret on the opposite side. They did us a favor. As the sergeants truck passed by one of the columns, Dasa spotted the body of a droka with its head smashed and deformed as if a spiked mace had crushed it. Beside it lay another with a gaping hole in its chest, as if someoneor somethinghad violently ripped out its heart. The sergeant turned her gaze away, but a little farther ahead, atop a dozen dismembered bodies of smaller arruks, was another droka, split wide open. The drokas were creatures belonging to the warrior class of the arruks. Their bodies, raised on beast-like legs, stood as tall as the groks. Their muscular arms ended in sharp claws, and from the back of their bodies extended four long, jointed, and pointed limbs, along with a tail. Their tough heads had four eyes positioned to give them nearly a full 360-degree field of vision. Their large, elongated mouths were filled with sharp teeth. Bony plates and scales covered much of their bodies. "Who or what..." Dasa wondered. For a moment, the sergeant had also considered the possibility that the massacre had been the work of another Death Miners platoon or a group of mercenaries. But none of the bodies showed any marks from rifles or machine guns. If this wasnt the result of a clash between different arruk colonies, nor the work of Death Miners or mercenaries, then what could have caused such carnage? Savages, perhaps? The sergeant had seen more than one of them in action and had heard stories of brutal wars between arruks and savages. But even before she was born, no savage groups had been sighted in the States tunnels And then, the sergeant remembered a miner they had found four years ago. He had been unconscious beneath the gutted body of another miner, surrounded by a pile of mutilated and disfigured miners and soldiers. When her platoon managed to revive him, he had a psychotic breakdownpunching, kicking, and biting anyone who got close while desperately screaming, I have to run! The being from the abyss is here! Its going to kill me! A drop of cold sweat slid down the sergeants neck. For the first time in a long while, Dasa felt a deep, overwhelming fear. Sir, I think Ive spotted a humanoid body! shouted Drokek from the machine gun platform in the front cabin. Stop! the sergeant roared. The convoy came to a halt again, and the sergeant scanned the faint beam of the machine guns light. In the distance, the head and arm of what seemed to be a man or a womanwith long hair, and either human or aehulprotruded from a pile of erukidos corpses. 28. Stone Guard Theres that damn rock, Brako said resentfully as he looked through one of the tunnel streets large windows. Then he popped some pills into his mouth, chewing them like candy. I think its even more imposing than before. Elio turned and observed with curiosity. In the distance, connected to the intricate urban sprawl by metal walkways, tunnel streets, and multi-level roads, stood an imposing cluster of hexagonal buildings. Dozens of pipes and cables ran along its structure. Massive stones and metals protruded from its fa?ade, which reached all the way down to level zero, giving it a rocky appearance. Numerous screens and neon signs advertised everything from underground fights to food. Amidst it all, enormous letters spelled out "Guardia Ptrea." Thats insane! Tania said. All of that belongs to them? Yes, Brako answered with a hint of pride. Is that? Elio focused with his cybernetic eye, emitting a subtle yet perceptible metallic sound, like the screech of poorly lubricated gears struggling to align. In some areas, the clusters of buildings were reinforced with layers of concrete and metal, forming bunker-like structures. Inside, a few drauos clad in Akro plate armor similar to the ABA-L held machine guns and missile launchers, guarding the perimeter. It looks like a real fortress And its members are armed like soldiers. No wonder no one dares to attack them. Cuervo is insane if he thinks theyll join us He sighed. Why does he never listen to me? Its too soon, Cuervo, he finally said with resignation. Even if Arithya, Thefuil, and Zhekog pull it off, we need more leverage. Lets stick to the original plan and focus on bringing more gangs under our control until were strong enough to negotiate. We still have time. There goes the buzzkill, Tania said, crossing her arms and pouting like a sulking child. Do you always have to be so meticulous? Sometimes you have to take risks, Elio, Cuervo said without looking at him. You, of all people, should know that. Cuervos voice faded into the echo of his own heartbeat, each pulse like a hammer striking the anvil of his painful past. The images came with brutal clarity: the cold, sharp concrete against his cheek, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, the sound of flesh tearing and bone shattering. The mocking laughter. The insults. That night, he had risked the little he had for a glimpse of hope and freedom. And the result had been his current body. Elio felt a knot in his throata mixture of anger and sorrow, like a chain tightening around his chest. Why is he saying that? Is he mocking me? Or does he just not understand that it was the worst mistake of my life? Huh? Tania asked, surprised. Then, twirling a strand of her red-and-black hair around her finger, she pouted. Tin Man knows what it means to take risks? She smirked. I dont buy it. Her expression turned curious and playful. Come on, tell us! Elio felt the anger overpowering the sorrow. But he didnt let himself be carried away by emotion. That led to illogical actions. And he didnt do those. Not anymore. Leave it, kid, Brako said, placing a hand on Tanias shoulder. Even without his skull-shaped helmet, his scarred face and his massive, armor-clad body were enough to make anyone hesitate to challenge him. Not everyone has to shout their battles for us to know theyre warriors. Elio has the right to his secrets, just like the rest of us. Oh? So you have one too, huh, big guy? Tania leaned forward. If not for the small Akro plate protecting her chest, her tiny breasts would have been visible through the usual low-cut top she wore. None of your business, Tania, Elio finally said, adjusting his glasses. Why dont we keep moving? Standing around here wont get us anywhere. Lets go, Cuervo said, and without waiting for a response, he started walking toward the walkway. His face, scarred by battles, betrayal, and the abuse of his parents, held a terrifying darkness no one dared to challenge. Tania clicked her tongue, but like the rest of the group, she simply followed their leader in silence. Elio walked slower than the others, always lagging behind. His mechanical legs were outdated and slightly corroded. With each heavy step he took, the screeching of metal violated the silence of the group. Like the rest of his cybernetic body, his legs were the result of a rushed and improvised operation by a Cyberfusion Masteralso known as a Cyber-Implant Medical Engineerfrom his home hive. The Cyberfusion Master had done what he could with what little he had. And to be fair, the work had been far better than anyone could have expected. Still, they left much to be desired compared to the more advanced cybernetic implants. The group began crossing the metal walkway, the sound of their rudimentary cybernetic implants blending with the heavy thud of boots against steel. Elio watched the movement of the cylindrical tubes as his arms flexed, palms facing the sky. Since starting his criminal career, he had amassed enough money to buy more modern cybernetic implants. Yet, he had chosen to keep the ones he had. They were a reminder of the consequences of his own stupidity. A reminder that dreams had no place in a world as brutal and cruel as this one. And yet, despite always carrying his metallic shield with him, Cuervos words had struck deep within him. Who are you, and why are you coming to this part of the hive? a voice asked, thick with authority. Elio lowered his arms and looked ahead. They had reached the end of the walkway. Several members of the Stone Guard gang stood watch at the entrance to their sector of the hive. Theyre definitely used to security work. Huh?! Tania snapped, her face contorted in annoyance. And what the fuck do you care who we are or where were going, huh?! Thats not gonna help us get in Why does she always have to be so dramatic? What did you just say, brat? one of the guards shot back. Both were clad in Akro-plated armor. One held a shotgun, with a hatchet hanging from his belt. The other carried a riot shield and a spiked mace, with a pistol holstered at his waist. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Can you ever shut up? Brako growled, pushing Tania out of the guards line of sightsomething Elio silently appreciated. Were with the Exterminators. The Stone Guards took a step back, raising their weapons, ready for a fight. Our violent reputation has spread faster than I thought Elio adjusted his single-lens glasses. Maybe thatll give us more leverage in negotiations. Were here to talk to your boss, Durak, Brako continued, unfazed, his amber eyes locked onto the guard with the shotgun. Cuervo didnt react either. And why the hell would we do that? the guard asked. See? Tania tilted her head, resting one of her pistols on her shoulder. We should just kill them and force our way in. Tell him Brako is here with them, Brako said. I doubt hed turn down a beer with me. They know each other? Elio thought, surprised. Cuervo smiled. *** "Copy that," one of the guards said through the communicator in his helmet. "Alright, Durak wants to see you and hear what you have to say, so well escort you to our base." That old man still cant turn down a beer, Brako thought nostalgically. "Wait!" Tania said as she started walking. "You know the boss of these Rockmounts? No way." She placed a finger on her cheek, pretending to be confused. Then, she looked up and side to side before lowering her finger to point at Brako. "Then again, youre a Rockmount too, so I guess it makes sense that you know him, right?" Brako, looking utterly confused, turned to Tania. "Rockmounts? What the fuck are you talking about? That word doesnt even exist." Tania rolled her blue eyes with a smug smile. "Isnt it obvious? Theyre like mountains, but with legs and a bad attitude." She shrugged. "Or like rocks that decided to put on a uniform and play soldiers." Brako grunted and sighed. "Youve got way too much imagination, kid." He tilted his head. "But yeah, for many years, I fought in their pit and even helped them out on some missions. Back then" Brako trailed off, hesitating whether to continue or not. "See? Thats exactly what I was saying. Youre just another Rockmount." Brako narrowed his eyes but then let out a faint smile. Tania winked at him, though Brako wasnt sure if it was because she was pleased with her own cleverness or if it was meant as a sign of camaraderie. He looked away, glancing around the area with nostalgia. "The Rock," as this cluster of buildings was known, maintained the labyrinthine construction typical of other parts of the hive, yet it was designed in a much more orderly and coherent way. Metal platforms with staircases and elevators spanned the various levels of the structure, connecting the austere buildings and tunnel-like streets paved with stone and metal blocks. Electrical cables emerged from underground, intertwining with the structures like veins of energy that breathed life into the area. Forged lamps hung from buildings and poles, casting a dim light that blended with the neon signs of shops and bars, creating dancing shadows on the rocky walls. The doors of an elevator opened, and the group stepped inside. One of the guards escorting them pressed a button, and the lift began to rise. A man in a work jumpsuit, half-tied around his waist, watched them ascend as he smoked a cigarette. Hes probably wondering what we did Brako thought. For these people, the Stone Guard is the closest thing to a National Defense Corps around here. For a place where gangs clashed daily and life expectancy was practically nonexistent, La Roca was one of the safest zones. Members of the Stone Guard patrolled its streets and, depending on how much they were paid, provided security for the various businesses housed within. After years of brutal struggles for control over the cluster of buildings now called La Roca, the Stone Guard had taken charge of its renovation, both inside and out, turning it into something akin to a fortress. While fights and murders still occurred almost daily, and everyone had to pay a tax to live or set up shop there in exchange for protection, its inhabitants enjoyed a level of peace and stability that most hive dwellers couldnt even dream of. A mechanical braking sound echoed as the elevator came to a stop inside a building. One of the guards opened the door and started walking. The other waited for the group to step out before following behind, ensuring none of them "got lost" along the way. They dont trust us Smart. They continued through the interior streets of the buildings, passing through multiple doors and weaving through a maze of turns, staircases, and platforms that connected to the tunnel streets. Eventually, they emerged into a small two-level plaza built within the inner courtyard of several buildings. Makeshift stalls and street vendors lined both sides of the plaza, leaving a narrow path for pedestrians. A diverse assortment of goods was on displayeverything from outdated technology to supposedly exotic animals. Merchants shouted their offers, their voices competing against the constant murmur of the crowd. "The double plaza market? I hadnt realized we were heading this way," Brako thought, frowning. "Theyre making us take detours to confuse us. They must think I wouldnt remember their streets." The group crossed the plaza and entered another tunnel street, then continued along a metal platform that ascended before merging into another street. Here, the buildings overlapped with those on the sides, varying between five and six stories tall. Plastic plants and laundry hung from balconies. The facades displayed rocky decorations and the neon glow of the occasional bar. Children ran through the street, playing with things no normal child would consider toys. Some adults chatted with each other, while others entered or exited bars. "Are we there yet?" Tania asked, her expression bored. Her hands rested behind her head. "Were almost there," replied one of the guards, though he seemed somewhat confused. Brako and the others passed through the residential area and once again continued through the labyrinth of streets and platforms. As they entered a tunnelwider and more open than the previous onesthey found themselves in an atmosphere that exuded decadence masked as glamour. Neon lights from various clubs and bars blended with the flickering holographic ads for drug cubes and brothels, casting reflections and shifting shadows on the uneven pavement. The interplay of light and darkness gave the street a dreamlike quality, almost like a mirage amid the harsh environment of La Roca. The noise of the crowd filled the airgroups of young people laughing and chatting, solitary figures moving with intent, stationed guards watching the establishments and arguing with hollow-eyed patrons, shadowy figures slipping through the darkness, and members of the Stone Guard walking with imposing strides among the masses. The pulse of electronic music seeped from the venues, mingling with the murmur of conversations and the footsteps of passersby. The air was thick with the scent of garlic and grilled rats from street kitchens, mixed with the sweet, heavy aroma of synthetic smoke and chemical fragrances, all tinged with the sharp acidity of sweat and euphoria. Brako recognized the place immediately. He had spent years squandering his combat and mission earnings here, getting high in its narcocapsules to try to forget the guilt of causing his comrades deathand the shame of being cast out, not just from the Incessants, but from his own clan. "I told you not to overdo it with the sedatives," said a voice in his head. "What? I Why?" As if by magic, everything around him transformed into an urban battlefield. In his arms, pale and bloodied, lay his comrade and friend, Jorgin. In front of them, slumped against the wall of an old building, worn down by neglect and combat, were the dead bodies of several mercenaries from the Derko group. Mercenary wars, fought between companies'' hired guns, were common in the streets of Ibelirs cities. "No, damn it, no. Jorgin wake up, for fucks sake." "Hey, big guy, Id like to stay here too, but the others are leaving." Brako blinked. It was Tania speaking to him now. Cuervo and the rest were watching. The battlefield was gone. He felt a powerful urge to inject himself with Katemin, but his anger held him back. It was ironicwhat he had spent years trying to erase with sedatives was now the very thing helping him resist the urge to overdose. "That fiery curse of yours isnt a burden, its your power. Rage is part of you. Dont hide it or try to suppress it with drugs. Accept it. Master it." Cuervo had once told him. That phrase was what had finally pushed Brako to join the Exterminators. Brako clenched his fist, gripping it tighter than even his teeth. If not for his tough skin, he would have drawn blood. "Lets go, little one," he growled. The group pressed on, leaving the drauos past behind. After a long walk, they reached a wide street that connected to a road with a security checkpoint. In front of them stood a massive, fortified, rock-like estate with a spherical shape, clearly remodeled from old buildings. Numerous guarded walkways linked it to the surrounding structures. Members of the Stone Guard patrolled the entrances and the perimeter. On the buildings front facade, a symbol was displayeda sturdy shield superimposed over the outline of a mountain. Beneath it, the inscription read: "Security Group C The Stone Guard." 29. Corpse What the hell was a human bodyor that of an aehul, male or femaledoing there? That made everything even more confusing. If Dasa returned to the theory that the arruks had fought some kind of mercenariessince it was practically impossible for someone of those species to have belonged to the Death Minersthen why was that corpse lying there alone? No matter how strong those mercenaries had been, there was no way they could have left such a massacre behind and lost only a single soldier. She also considered the possibility that the arruks simply hadnt noticed the corpse. But she quickly dismissed that thought as stupid and impossible. When they hunted or fought along the roads, they never left a body behind. It was far more likely that they had been forced to abandon itout of fear, or... No, that couldnt be. In all her years as a Death Miner, they had never found a body that the arruks had refused. They didnt care if their victims were alive or dead, what their gender was, or even their species. All of them served as food. Unless their victim had something that repulsed them. Of course, it could also be a trap. She had never seen arruks use bodies of other species as bait, but those creatures were getting smarter by the day. However, if by some chance that corpse truly had something that had made the arruks reject it, it was worth the risk of recovering it for investigation. Something like that could change the course of the war against the archenemies of her kind. Corporal Gradi, Brologa, Brakia, Grudo, the sergeant ordered. Get out there and bring me that body buried among the arruks. It might be useful to us. Yes, maam, the drauo soldiers responded. The rear door of the second cabin of the S-12 truck opened, and the Death Miners stepped out in formation. In the tunnels of the underground world, one never knew when or from where an attack might comeeven in old drauo tunnels. They moved along the left side of the S-12 and advanced slowly toward the pile of erukid corpses, where the body of the human or aehul lay hidden. The dry blood and limbs crunching beneath their feet mixed with the kinetic and electric hum of the living machines joints moving behind them. When they reached the pile, they stopped. "In position," said Corporal Gradi, her nerves on edge. "It looks like the bodies are starting to decompose." Given the conditions of the tunnels, that means at least four or five days must have passed "Alright," Dasa said. "Recover the body carefully." "Yes, maam," the corporal replied. Brologa and Brakia began pushing aside the arruk corpses to extract the supposed victim''s body, while Corporal Gradi and Grudo kept watch on their surroundings. Behind them, the mechanical giant stood on alert. The machine gunners of the S-12 watched the tunnel with their fingers resting on the trigger buttons. Let this not be an ambush "We got it, maam," said Brakia, who had hoisted the corpse onto his shoulders. "Looks like an aehul..." *** Eliad spun on his heel, slicing an erukid that was lunging at him clean in half. He stopped, then, with a flick of his wrist and a thrust of his shoulder, drove the tip of his sword into anothers head. The metal pierced the creatures flesh like butter. Its back limbs and mouth pincers twitched involuntarily for a few seconds before all life left its body. Eliad lifted his gaze and pulled out his sword. His breathing was ragged. His leg was bleeding, and he was starting to feel the tingling of the erukid venom coursing through his veins. Ever since Isen had begun his spell to open a breach in the wall, they hadnt stopped killing erukids. At first, they had used their firearms, but once they ran out of ammo, they had no choice but to fight the subterranean creatures in close combat. Neisa and Bargu were using their rifle bayonets like spears. Their bodies were in worse shape than his. "Isen!" the hunter called out as he prepared to impale another erukid. "How much longer?" "Almost there," the mage answered from the back. "Hold on a little longer." "He better hurry, sir!" Neisa said, bleeding from multiple wounds. She stepped forward and clumsily stabbed an erukid in the eye with her bayonet. The creature convulsed in pain, and the soldier slammed it against the ground. "In case he hasnt noticed, we dont have all day!" "Well, I could spend all day killing erukids," Bargu said, driving his bayonet into another creature. An erukid dropped from the ceiling, landing on his head. Its back limbs tried to pierce his armor but failed. The drauo grabbed it by the arm and hurled it away. "Get off me, damn it!" A mix of clicking and hissing roars echoed through the tunnel, followed by heavy footsteps. "We''re screwed," Bargu muttered, already spotting what was coming. "Drokas!" What a coincidence they have to show up right now Eliad thought. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "I don''t know what those things are, but Im taking them down," Neisa said. "We didnt come this far for nothing." From the darkness, walking upright among the arukidos, several drokas emerged. They were as tall as a grok and even more terrifying. One of them opened its mouth, filled with razor-sharp teeth, and let out a menacing roar. The limbs on its back tensed as if they were wings. "Stay back," Eliad said, shifting his sword. Inside, he began burning his inner energy to suppress the effects of the venom and gain strength and explosiveness at key moments. "Ill handle them. You protect Isen." *** Even though Isen wasnt watching, he knew exactly what was happening. The gunfire had been replaced by sword strikes and bayonet thrusts. The screams and groans told him of the erukidos'' deaths and the wounds suffered by Eliad and the others. The slowing footsteps of the Fierce Stewards soldiers and their heavy breathing indicated they were exhausted and badly injured. "Come on" he thought, somewhat uneasy. The battle mage hadnt realized it, but that unease was highly unusual for him. No matter the moment, the companions, or the opponents, Isen usually remained calm and impassive. But for some strange reason he still didnt understand, he feltor rather, he wishedfor his spell to be completed as soon as possible. Isen reopened the spiritual gate and once again used magic particles to create another thin heat ray, continuing to pierce through the ancient rock. He had decided that the best approach was to carve out a sort of doorway and then remove the block so they could pass through with ease. Of course, once on the other side, he planned to seal the gap behind them so the erukidos couldnt follow. "Almost there." Fifty meters behind him, he suddenly heard different footsteps. A few seconds later, those things let out a high-pitched roar. He didnt know what they were, nor did he want to imagine. He couldn''t lose focus. But for a brief moment, they reminded him of the furious red demons they had once faced. "Stay back," Eliads voice commanded as his footsteps moved away. "Ill handle them. You focus on defending Isen." The battle sounds intensified. The hunter''s movements became much faster and stronger, as if enveloped by a renewed and explosive energy. It wasnt the first time he had done this. Isen had felt these sudden changes before, like when they chased the demon that had possessed Michael, the runic power plant worker. The sharp sound of wind being cut, followed by metal slicing through flesh and bone and two tremendous groans, told Isen that the hunter had already taken down a couple of them. But then, the impact of a limb against a body and the dull thud of flesh hitting the ground told him that Eliad had fallen. A moment later, the sound of a boot pushing off and a sharp spike clinking against the floor followed. "Watch out, Bargu!" Neisa''s voice called as she closed the distance between herself and the drauo. Her footsteps were softer, more graceful. At last, the heat ray had finished its work, leaving the stone block separated from the magnificent drauo wall. But before he could turn to inform the others, the sound of flesh being pierced reached his earsjust moments before Neisas cry of pain drowned out everything else. A small pang struck Isens chest. He turned and felt a strange sensation rising in his stomach. A droka had impaled the human in several unprotected spots and was now lifting her into the air. Its massive maw opened, releasing a growl of satisfaction. Bargu struggled to his feet and clumsily leaped at the droka, driving his knife into its neck. The creature roared in pain, swayed, and after another stab, finally let go of its victim. Its joints twisted unnaturally, and its claws tried to sink into the drauos helmet. They didnt pierce it, but cracks began to formit had already taken multiple hits. Without hesitation, Isen manipulated the magic particles and formed an ethereal arm that latched onto the block he had cut. He lifted it and hurled it at the drokas body. The creature was sent flying, and Bargu collapsed. Eliad had to step aside after finishing off another foe to avoid being struck by the massive stone. "Its done! Move forward!" Isen commanded in a calm yet imposing tone. *** Bargu, go ahead and get Neisa out of here, said Eliad as he watched several stakes emerge from different points, piercing another droka and preventing it from moving. Bargu clumsily approached Neisas body and hoisted her onto his shoulders. He was struggling to move as well. If it hadnt been for the drauos innate resistance to arruk venom, he would likely have been in the same state as the human. Eliad blocked the hard, razor-sharp tip of one of the drokas limbs. He severed another, and with a quick movement, parried the third and fourth. He traced an arc in the air with his sword and, using his other hand, drove it into the creatures flesh. He dodged the swipe of a claw while pulling the sword out and spinning on himself. The creature stretched its neck to bite him. Eliad channeled inner energy into his right hand as he finished the turn and struck the drokas face with the pommel of his sword. The bone scales and flesh gave way, and the creature was sent flying, crashing into the wall and leaving behind a dark stain. Lets go, hunter. The combat mages voice made Eliad turn. The drauo was already crossing the passage, dragging Neisas body. The hunter finished off two more erukidos and sprinted toward the mage as shards of earth flew through the air, piercing the drokas and erukidos charging at them. You first, he said, stepping forward. "You dont have to tell me twice," he thought, crouching to pass through the opening. A sudden wave of heat, followed by dozens of agonized screams and the smell of burning flesh, made him stop immediately and look back into the arruk tunnel. Small fires flickered in the darkness. Isens body collapsed. "Damn it. If I have to come back for you, then there was no point in going first." The hunter rushed back into the tunnel. The gray smoke rising from the charred bodies of the arruks blended with the surrounding darkness. In the distance, beyond the flames licking the stone, the sounds of more arruks approaching could be heard. Eliad grabbed Isens body and quickly dragged him to the other side of the tunnel. *** We got it, sir, said Brakia, hoisting the corpse onto her shoulders. Looks like an aehul, sir. Though, to be honest, I cant really tell the sex of their kind. The sergeant took a relieved breath. Neither can anyone else, Brakia. Alright, bring it inside. Sir, Bermag cut in over the general channel, the moles are getting restless. So those bastards finally showed up... Dasa mused. Hurry up and get back here, fast as hell. Bali, Drokek, Bredog, stay sharp. Then, the wailing of dozens of arruks swept through the drauo tunnel like a gust of wind. The soldiers froze, instinctively raising their weapons. The beams of light from the mechanized golem and the soldiers guns shifted. Seeing in the dim light didnt mean seeing in total darkness. They had to turn the blackness into twilight. Sightings at two oclock, Drokek reported. The beams moved. Two figures were running toward their position. Halt! Bali commanded from inside the mechanized golem, his voice echoing mechanically through the external speakers. Arruks! one of them shouted without stopping. A few seconds later, dozens of erukidos began pouring into the tunnel. The echo of their clicking filled the air. The massive rotary machine gun of the mechanized golem roared to life.