《Non Perfection》
View of ruins
Opening his eyes, a view of ruins is revealed.
The remnants of a once-thriving city stretched endlessly¡ªcrumbled houses, skeletal skyscrapers, and streets littered with debris. People moved like shadows, their faces hollow as they scavenged for scraps or hauled buckets of murky water toward the encampment. The war had left its mark long ago, but the scars were still fresh, festering in the absence of aid or hope.
The air was thick with the stench of rot, and the sky loomed overhead, a sickly green hue that seemed to press down on the ruins he was standing in.
Standing at these ruins, was Erley, a medium sized skinny man with pristine white skin, black eyes and black hair that reached all the way to his chin.
"Where am i, what happened?"
Confused he looks around and notices a man with black hair and a long beard cooking meat in a sort of electrical stove.
"Hello?"
The man glanced up, his expression unreadable
"Hal, young one."
Erley asks, his tone sharper than he intended. The man''s indifference irked him, though he couldn''t quite place why.
"Where am i?"
"You are currently at the ruins England, the outer part of the city."
''England huh..''
With a confused look Erley asks.
"What happened?"
The man''s face darkened, a flicker of resentment breaking through his stoic mask.
"They destroyed everything. Doesn''t matter if they get what they want¡ªwe''re nothing to them."
Confused Erley sits down right next to him and looks around.
"Who''s they? i need you to explain this better."
With a weird expression the man responds and points to the southern direction of the camp.
"You should try and find our leader, he should be resting over there.."
"Alright thank you."
Turning around Erley starts walking with haste towards the part the man was pointing to.. however, he stops mid walk to listen to the last words of the man.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
"Be careful, you don''t wanna get caught knowing nothing, they will get suspicious of you."
"Ok thanks i guess..."
Stopping for a second Erley asks.
"But why arent you suspicious of me?"
Turning his head slightly the man responds.
"Because i can see it, you''re an imperfect."
Confused, Erley resumes his walk towards the southern part of the camp.
"Imperfect? what the hell is that guy talking about?"
The word hung in the air, heavy and unfamiliar. Erley''s brow furrowed as he walked away, the man''s words echoing in his mind
Arriving at the main building of the camp, which is mostly in ruins and is covered by a bunch of bed sheets, Erley got ready and entered the main "door".
Entering he saw a couple chairs and tables. Even though it was made in the ruins, the space inside was relatively big. He looked around for a bit then decided to keep walking towards the main the main room.
Currently the space was empty and desolate, it seemed as if it was abandoned. However when he entered the main room he saw 4 different people spread around the relatively big room. There was a round table in the center and sitting on one of the 7 seats was a man.
The room was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of damp stone and old wood. At the center of the room sat a man with sharp features, his dark eyes framed by thin glasses. He leaned forward, his fingers steepled, as Erley entered.
The man said, his voice calm but commanding.
"Hello, Erley,"
Erley freezes for a second.
"Hello? how do you know my name?"
''What is going on with these people why are they all so weird.''
The man smirks.
"I know a great deal about you. Sit down. We don''t have much time.
Erley exchanges a couple glances with the people around the room. Their faces were unreadable, their presence unnerving. Reluctantly, he took a seat across from the man.
"Let me explain."
"You''re an Imperfect¡ªa being with extraordinary abilities, but flawed. Every Imperfect is missing something that makes them human, whether it''s physical or mental. For some, it''s empathy. For others, it''s memory. For you... well, that''s something only time will reveal."
"Guess you could call it a "flaw" but such a description would be wrong."
"Your memories have been erased, as happens to all Imperfects. Relationships, vivid experiences¡ªthey fade. But the core remains. That''s why you can still speak, still function."
Erley''s mind raced.
"Who are you?"
the man replied, his voice steady.
"Elias,"
"I took you in when you were a child. Along with the others here, you''ll work to free us from London''s tyranny."
"London has been long attacking the people on the outside of England, this is due to the current queen, Maria Deinos, we don''t know why she''s doing it, but we suspect shes searching for something - or someone. The only people who knew the truth are dead now"
Overloaded by the amount of information Erley signals for him to stop with his hand.
"Hold on, hold on..."
"Slow down. You''re throwing too much at me. I don''t even know who you are, and you expect me to just... work with these people?"
Looking at him, the man with glasses responds.
"We''ll, i thought you would be more capable after your memories got erased."
"The reason why i''m rushing is because Japan is preparing to attack again, and we don''t have time for things like introductions."
"Accomplish your mission as soon as possible, then come back to me. I will answer any questions you have."
Looking at his companions Erley asks him.
"You really expect me to work with some strangers?"
"Yes, do you have any other options?"
"Tch.. alright.."
Erley clenched his fists, the weight of Elias''s words settling over him.
''Hes right, listening to him is the best option i currently have.''
Convoy
"I need you to accomplish this mission, it will take at least half a month. You guys can introduce yourselves during the mission."
Pointing to a girl resting her back in one of the wall.
"Now go, that girl over there is your leader, so go ask her about the mission and get going as soon as possible."
Erley stood up, his chair scraping against the rough floor, and made his way toward the girl. Elias left the room, his footsteps echoing as he went to manage other affairs in the camp.
The leader was a striking woman with wavy dark hair, black eyes, and ivory skin so clear it seemed almost unnatural. But her beauty was overshadowed by her eerie stillness. She looked hollow, as if she weren''t truly there. Staring at her felt like staring into a void¡ªunnerving and unsettling.
It was truly scary.
Erley approached cautiously, stretching out his hand in greeting.
"Hey im Erley what, um- is your name?"
The girl didn''t respond. Instead, she picked up one of the three swords resting at her feet and handed it to him. The weight of the weapon felt familiar in his grip, though he couldn''t place why.
Erley muttered, more to himself than to her.
"Uh, no introductions then?"
Without a word, the girl turned and walked outside, the rest of the group falling in line behind her.
The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the ruins as the group followed their silent leader toward the outskirts of the camp. The air grew colder, and the faint glow of lanterns flickered to life around the convoy¡ªeveryone except Erley had one clipped to their hip.
To the leader''s right walked a towering man, his massive shield slung over his shoulder. He was nearly twice Erley''s size, with a bowl cut, black hair, and a strong jawline. Despite his imposing physique, the man seemed nervous, his eyes darting around as if expecting danger at any moment.
Before Erley could approach him, someone slung an arm around his shoulders. It was a blonde-haired man with parted hair, bright yellow eyes, and a grin that seemed permanently plastered on his face.
"Hey how is it going dude! name''s Hao nice to meet you!"
Erley blinked, caught off guard by the man''s enthusiasm.
"Uh.. um, i''m doing good"
Hao says, his tone cheerful.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
"It''s nice to have someone new to talk to here!, hope you enjoy our little group."
"Yea, it''s nice to meet you, have you been here for a while?"
The blonde guy places his index finger in his chin.
"Hmmm. Yes actually. I''ve been here since the beginning, you know. One of the first to wake up. But honestly, I haven''t done much¡ªjust helping out around the camp and taking down a few Imps here and there."
''Imps?''
Erley filed the term away for later.
"I see, how long have you been here?"
"Around a month, not too long you know! Not too long. But its been fun! Though I do wish I had more people to talk to. But now you''re here, so it''s even better!"
Erley nodded, unsure how to respond to Hao''s relentless energy.
''The talkative type for sure.''
"I see-"
Before he could say more, a sharp voice cut through their conversation.
"Can you two stop the chit-chat, we are about to enter a non-civilized area."
Erley turned to see a blonde girl with messy shoulder-length hair and piercing white eyes that seemed to lack irises. She held a spear nearly as tall as Erley, its tip glinting in the dim light. Her posture was tense, her expression strained as if she were carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
She walked on the leader''s left, her grip tightening on her spear as she glared at Hao and Erley.
Erley asks, trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh, hey! what''s your name?"
"You dont have to know. Just be quiet before one of those things come and kill us."
Erley frowned, taken aback by her hostility.
"I see.. i will make sure to remember that."
The leader, who had been silent until now, spoke without turning around.
"Nothing will come after us here."
Her voice was calm, almost detached, but it carried an authority that silenced the group.
''Hm whatever.''
They continued walking until the leader raised a hand, signaling them to stop. She gestured to the smallest member of the group¡ªa young man with curly black hair, dressed in dark clothes that blended into the shadows. He hadn''t spoken a word since they''d left the camp, his presence almost as ghostly as the leader''s.
The young man responds, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I''m going."
In an instant, he disappeared into the ruins, his movements swift and silent.
It was still night time, under his black clothes it was hard to see him.
The convoy pressed on, eventually finding shelter in the remains of a ruined shop. They set up camp inside, the dim glow of a small fire casting flickering shadows on the crumbling walls. Everyone sat apart, the tension between them palpable.
The young man was still missing.
Standing up the leader locks eyes with the blond girl.
"Anna, follow me."
They both start going towards the outside of the shop.
''So that''s her name huh."
Erley sat quietly, his mind racing. It had been a strange day¡ªmeeting his new companions, learning about his role as an Imperfect, and now venturing into the ruins. He felt a headache coming on, but he pushed the feeling aside and decided to break the silence.
He turned to the tall man with the shield.
"Hey dude how are you doing."
The man looked up, his expression a mix of surprise and nervousness.
"Uh... hey. My name''s Moen. It''s nice to meet you?"
''Another weirdo..''
Erley forced a smile.
"Yeah, you too. Hope we can get to know each other."
Moen nodded awkwardly
"Yes me too i hope.. i can!"
The conversation died as quickly as it had started, leaving Erley to wonder if everyone in this group was as strange as they seemed.
Suddenly, the leader and Anna burst through the door, their faces tense. The leader raised a finger to her lips, signaling for silence, then pointed to the broken windows and door.
Looking around Erley is confused. He looks back.
Outside, the sound of heavy footsteps grew louder.
Covering all the broken windows in front of the shop, a grotesque beast appears.
A gross beast
The room fell silent, the air thick with tension. The only sound was the crackling of the campfire, its flames casting flickering shadows on the crumbling walls. Through the broken windows, a single eye of the beast glinted in the darkness.
The skin around the eye was grotesque, melted and pulsating with fleshy bumps that seemed to writhe unnaturally.
The firelight grew brighter, revealing the creature in its entirety.
It was a four-legged monstrosity, its body resembling a twisted lizard. Tentacles of raw, dripping meat protruded from its back, writhing like serpents. Its form was both alien and horrifying, a nightmare given flesh.
The beast turned its gaze toward the group, its eye locking onto them. Everyone froze, their breath caught in their throats.
"MOEN, GO!"
The leader''s voice shattered the silence.
Moen, the towering man with the massive shield, hesitated for a split second before charging forward. He raised his shield, his movements clumsy but determined. Before he could reach the beast, one of its tentacles lashed out with blinding speed.
Erley''s world slowed to a crawl, his eyes widening.
Moen''s head was severed cleanly from his body, tumbling through the air.
But before it could hit the ground, the skin from his neck stretched unnaturally, snatching the head and reattaching it as if nothing had happened.
The rest of the convoy sprang into action, rushing toward the beast from both sides. Erley stood frozen, his mind struggling to process what he had just witnessed.
The leader was the fastest, darting past Erley with two swords in hand.
Moen, now fully restored, slammed his shield into the beast, sending it crashing through the front of the shop and into the street outside.
A boom is heard.
''I have to move!''
Erley snapped out of his shock and rushed to join the fight, his crude sword clutched tightly in his hand.
The battle spilled into the street, the beast snarling as it faced the convoy. Moen stood his ground, his shield absorbing the creature''s attacks with a series of bone-rattling impacts.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
From behind Moen, Hao leaped into the air, a massive greatsword now in his hands.
He spun gracefully, bringing the blade down with devastating force. It plunged deep into the beast''s skull, but before Hao could retreat, a tentacle shot toward him. He barely managed to dodge, leaving the greatsword embedded in the creature''s head as he scrambled back behind Moen.
Anna, the blonde girl with the spear, emerged from the shadows of an abandoned car. She moved like a predator, her white eyes locked onto the beast.
She moved like a cornered animal, her every step tense and calculated.
In one fluid motion, she thrust her spear into its eye, the tip piercing through with a sickening squelch. Blood gushed from the wound, but the beast refused to die.
Erley watched from the sidelines, his mind racing.
''What can i even do here?!''
Looking up Erley sees somebody flying down from a nearby building.
Before the beast could retaliate, a small figure dropped from a nearby building, landing on its back with a thunderous impact. It was the young man in black, his dagger plunging into the creature''s flesh. The beast roared in agony, its body contorting as blood sprayed from the wound.
The lizard had no time to react before another attack rained down on him.
The leader moved like a blur, her twin swords flashing in the firelight. With two precise strikes, she severed one of the beast''s legs in a single second, leaving it unbalanced and vulnerable.
Lashing out with both of her swords, she continues to circle the lizard while slashing him non-stop.
Hao, now unarmed, darted forward and retrieved his greatsword from the creature''s skull. With a final, brutal swing, he cleaved through its head, the creatures skull split open. Blood spilling everywhere around the street.
Erley stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest. The entire fight had lasted mere seconds, but it felt like an eternity.
''What the hell!''
''What the hell just.. happened.''
The convoy moved with practiced efficiency, their coordination flawless. Even Moen, who had been decapitated moments ago, seemed unfazed as he adjusted his shield.
The leader knelt beside the beast, her swords carving into its flesh.
''Huh..''
Perplexed Erley looks back at Hao, who looked happy as always, however now he was clenching his fists and talking in a low voice.
"How did i miss the brain.."
Looking back at the leader, Erley says weakly, his voice trembling.
"Good job"
The leader glanced at him, her gaze piercing. For a moment, Erley felt something stir in his chest¡ªa strange, unfamiliar emotion.
"Everyone go back inside, Hao help me carve this."
Hao groaned.
"Me? why me again?!"
"Come, now, we need to move."
"Alright alright..."
Back inside the ruined shop, Erley sat in silence, his mind racing.
''What even is my ability? What are theirs?''
He glanced at Moen, remembering how the man''s skin had stretched to reattach his head. It was both fascinating and horrifying, a reminder that the members of this convoy were far from ordinary.
''Kind of creepy, but why did that remind me of the lizard in a way?''
Erley''s gaze fell to his crude sword, its jagged blade a stark contrast to the polished weapons of his companions.
''Now that i think about it.. why is my weapon so crude compared to theirs?''
The blade looked more like a long bar of metal that was sharpened by force instead of an actual sword.
He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
''_Well whatever, It doesn''t matter what I have. Next time, I''ll prove myself._''
Open the door
The convoy moved through the skeletal remains of the city, the towering ruins of skyscrapers looming overhead like silent sentinels. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the faint green glow of the sky cast an eerie light over the desolate streets.
''Where are we even going.''
Erley trudged along, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. In just one day, he''d been thrust into a world of chaos¡ªfighting grotesque monsters, learning he was an Imperfect, and waking up with no memory of who he was. It was overwhelming, but he refused to let it break him.
''So it''s true the day time is just a little brighter, its still pretty green though.''
The journey had been long, and though his body wasn''t tired¡ªthanks to his Imperfect physiology¡ªhis mind was exhausted. The faint brightness of the daytime sky offered little comfort. It was still a sickly green, but at least it was better than the oppressive darkness of night.
All kinds of thoughts coming into his head.
''Imps..''
Erley glanced at Hao, who was chatting animatedly with Moen. The big man nodded along, his expression blank, as if he barely understood what was being said.
"Hao! come here."
Hao turned, his ever-present grin widening.
"Yes?! what do you want."
"What are those Imps you mentioned? The ones you said you killed?"
Hao blinked, surprised.
"When did i tell you that?!"
"Uh.. literally yesterday"
"Oh! Right, right. Yeah, I''ve killed a few Imps. I mean, we killed one yesterday, didn''t we"
Erley frowned.
"Oh! so that was an imp? i didn''t know"
"Yeah, that was an Imp. Though the one we fought was bigger and stronger than most."
''And they killed it so effortlessly...''
"I see. Do you know what our mission is?"
"Not really. Myora hasn''t told anyone, i don''t think"
''Myora... so that''s her name''
The convoy came to a sudden halt. Myora''s voice cut through the silence, cold and commanding.
"We''ll rest here."
It was an alleyway that split 4 ways, in between a couple houses. The houses were ruined, they could have taken a rest inside one of the four houses around them, but it was too risky¡ªany imp could''ve made that their nest.
''We need to move.''
Indeed, being around four potential nests for imps was not a situation anybody would want to be in.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Myora began distributing supplies from the backpack Moen carried. Erley reached for a water bottle, but she snatched it back before he could take it.
"You. I can''t have you here if all you''re going to do is waste our supplies."
Everybody, except the small young man, turned to watch, their expressions unreadable.
Erley clenched his fists but kept his voice steady.
"Alright, don''t worry. Last time, I was just overwhelmed. I woke up and was thrown into a mission with no warning or experience. I''m not some genius¡ªI''m still human."
She keeps the bottle.
"Next time i will help, i swear."
She glances at the bottle for a moment, then hands it to him.
"Fine."
Taking the water bottle he goes back into his corner to sit down and drink.
Myora shares some last words for him. Her tone sharp.
"Just so you know, you''re not a human."
Erley glances at her for a second, He took a long drink, the words echoing in his mind.
The convoy resumed their march, the towering skyscrapers of the city center growing closer with each step. They entered the main part of the city through a broken road, the ruins of old buildings standing like forgotten relics.
"Get ready, this is where a lot of those imps are nested."
Continuing down the road, the small convoy keeps walking towards the center.
''Shouldn''t we be running?''
As if listening to his thoughts, Myora orders.
"Stay quiet. We don''t know what''s out here."
Annie, walking to Myora''s left, couldn''t contain her frustration.
"Have you guys not been here before?!"
"No, now stay quiet."
Annie''s face twisted with anger, but she fell silent.
Erley scans the area.
''We are in unexplored land, guess i have to stay alert but... I literally don''t hear or see anything dangerous or amusing here! what are we even looking for!?''
Erley shows his annoyed face.
Suddenly, a loud clang echoed through the air¡ªthe sound of a metal can hitting the ground. Everyone froze.
Myora turns sharply.
"Who was it?"
Pointing towards a building behind them Hao responds.
"Um, i don''t think it was any of us actually."
The building looked empty, its windows dark and lifeless. The convoy doesn''t see anything wrong.
''What was that.''
Erley''s eyes narrowed. He''d seen something move¡ªa shadow darting across one of the upper floors. It seemed as if nobody noticed it.
He says, with his voice low.
"Myora, we should run."
"Why? We can''t afford to attract attention by running"
"Alright whatever, i thought i saw something inside but i might just be hallucinating."
Myora gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing. The convoy keeps moving forward.
Ten minutes later, the convoy reached a cluster of older buildings. Unlike the skyscrapers, these structures were smaller and more decrepit, their roofs collapsed and walls crumbling.
Myora points to a small building at the end of the road. Its roof was intact, and it seemed empty¡ªa rare find in this ruined city.
"Alright, we''ll rest over there. Scout the area, well set up camp."
The road going down was surrounded by a bunch of buildings, which would slow down their walk by a lot due to the dangers that could be lurking within them.
Erley keeps glancing over his shoulder, his unease growing. Hao tries to reassure him.
"Relax, man. It was probably nothing."
But Erley couldn''t shake the feeling that something was watching them.
"Erley, Selth, Annie, go scout the area around, Selth scouts the left. Annie the right."
Erley takes a look infront of him, they were surrounded by buildings, behind him a tall building that seemed to hold apartments.
Erley nodded, his grip tightening on his crude sword. This was his first real task for the convoy, and he wasn''t going to mess it up.
Selth was already gone, his small frame blending into the shadows. Annie moved off to the right, her spear held tightly in her hands.
"Alright, i will be back."
Erley approached the building behind them¡ªa multi-story structure that might have once been an apartment complex. He jumped through a broken window, landing silently on the debris-strewn floor.
The interior was a mess. Broken furniture littered the ground, and the walls were stained with dried blood.
Broken glass and pictures sitting in the ground. Some of them too ruined to be able to recognize anything, some of them were still intact. Memories of a family, broken by war.
''Whoever lived here left in a hurry''
Suddenly, a sound makes him freeze. It was footsteps on the floor above him.
''Somebody..''
Erley moves quickly to the main door and goes up the wide stairs, he stops in front of a wooden door that was half open, his heart pounding.
From inside, he heard gagging¡ªa wet, choking sound that sent a chill down his spine.
He pushed the door open slowly, the hinges creaking.
A figure stood in the room, its back to him. It looked human, but something was wrong.
The door creaks.
The creature turns and locks eyes with Erley.
Second Awakening
The creature is a deformed human. Half of its face is disfigured by fleshy bumps, resembling the Imp Erley fought earlier. The parts that aren¡¯t disfigured are missing chunks of flesh. One arm is shaped like a scythe, while the other is split into multiple writhing tentacles.
The deformed human lets out a deafening screech and lunges at Erley with astonishing speed, its scythe-like arm slicing toward his head.
Erley reacts at the last second, leaning to the left and narrowly dodging the attack. He swings his crude sword in a counterattack, but the creature is already behind him.
The deformed human was already positioned behind Erley, Turning around Erley tries to cut him down however the deformed human easily dodges the attack and lands a counter attack of his own.
A boom is heard, smoke coming out of the building, part of the wall broken. Flying out Erley hits his back against the ground and rolls a couple meters to where the convoy was situated minutes ago.
However the convoy was not there, looking back Erley sees the convoy fighting around 10 of the deformed humans.
''Shit..''
Jumping out of the smoke the deformed human lands in front of Erley. Another ear-piercing screech escapes his mouth. This time, more deformed humans answer the call, emerging from the shadows.
''He''s probably some sort of leader.''
There are around nine of them. Their arms are more human-like, though their bodies are still covered in fleshy bumps and missing patches of skin.
''What do i do... should i maybe go and support the convoy? or try to fight this all alone..''
Before he could make a decision the leader rushes him again.
This time the other deformed humans rush in from the other sides, trapping him in a circle.
Surrounding Erley in a tightening circle. More deformed humans pour into the area, some breaking off to attack the convoy while others focus on him.
''Shit i''m surrounded!''
Erley blocks another attack from the leader, the force sending him skidding back a few meters.
''What-''
Erley moves swiftly to kill a couple of the deformed humans attacking him from all sides.
''Do i do..''
The deformed humans stop for a second, as if they were assessing their prey''s power.
''Are they.. thinking!?''
The deformed humans pause for a moment, as if assessing their prey. Then, all at once, they surge forward. Erley swings his sword in a wide horizontal slash, but this time, some of them dodge.
Panicking, Erley tries to leap out of danger, but it¡¯s too late. One of the deformed humans lunges from his blind spot, sinking its teeth into his shoulder. Another, on all fours, bites into his leg.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
''Fu-''
Erley struggles, switching the hand of his sword to free himself from the one biting on his shoulder. He pulls the blade free and drives it into the creature biting his leg.
But it¡¯s too late.
Even a second counts in such a situation.
The leader already charging, its scythe-arm raised for a killing blow.
Erley¡¯s world slows down and darkens. glowing points of light appear in his vision.
''Are those... Weak points?''
He kills the deformed human on his leg, but the leader is already upon him. The scythe-arm swings forward, aiming to cut him in half.
However there was nothing.
Nothing but air.
The heads of five deformed humans to the leader''s left side fly into the air. A figure dances between them, moving with lethal precision.
Seven deformed humans go down in a matter of second.
The leader turns, its back now exposed. Standing amidst the corpses is Erley, his back to the leader. He glances over his shoulder, his expression empty, as if he isn¡¯t even thinking.
The deformed humans on the right side were already regrouping around the leader, covering all his sides, some of them rush towards Erley.
''I have to kill the ones of the left first.''
The leader rushes towards him, however now his movements seemed.. slower. He easily blocks his attack of tentacles with his sword.
His scythe arm follows up with a low attack directed to his right lower body part. But its parried by Erley again.
His tentacle arm ready to attack again, but it was too late. Erley was already moving his sword to destroy all of his tentacles.
The leader tries to retract his tentacles, he loses 3 of his 5 tentacles, blood spraying from the severed stumps.
The leader''s posture is broken.
Erley spins, his sword cutting the leader in half with a single, clean strike. The upper half falls to the ground
His eyes meet the other deformed humans. His eyes above the lower half of the Leader.
The remaining deformed humans hesitate. Some try to flee, while others rush Erley in a desperate attack.
Erley sees it, all of the weak spots, every movement, everything was in his sight, he was analyzing every single thing.
He moves with incredible speed. Cutting down the ones that were rushing to kill him, moving swiftly between them he cuts one of the deformed human head.
''One''
He moves to dodge the claws and bites of another six of them, several arms and heads severed in the process.
''Seven''
More and more falling to his crude blade.
''Twelve''
The convoy is still fighting another horde of at least thirty deformed humans. Myora struggling to hold them back, her movements growing sluggish under the relentless assault.
Rushing forward Erley keeps cutting deformed humans down.
Annie¡¯s spear shatters against a leader¡¯s attack, and she¡¯s sent flying into Moen, who¡¯s barely holding the flank.
Erley flashes his sword, and with one wide horizontal swing, he cuts through eight deformed humans that were rushing him from the front.
''Twenty''
Behind him, the ground was littered with corpses.
''Twenty five''
He doesn¡¯t stop. He moves swiftly, cutting down deformed human after deformed human.
Finally he reaches the second horde that was falling upon the convoy.
Finally, he reaches the second horde overwhelming the convoy. The two groups have merged, but most of the second horde is focused on the convoy.
Hao keeps cutting them down with his greatsword, but there is no stop to them. Both Moen and Annie were out of combat at the moment. Annie had no weapon, and Moen was disoriented due to Annie hitting his back.
Myora and Hao are both holding the line as best as possible.
The circle of deformed humans tightens around them.
Suddenly, Erley bursts into the fray from the inside of the circle of deformed humans. His sword a blur as he cuts through the horde. He moves seamlessly, avoiding traps and strikes while cutting down one enemy after another.
He keeps cutting them down.
Legs, arms, heads blood spills everywhere as the corpses pile up.
All of this in a matter of seconds.
Erley was not stopping for even a moment, moving from deformed human to deformed human.
Assisting him was Hao and Myora, who were getting rid of the inner part of the circle.
From the outside Erley kept cutting and cutting, until there was none left...
Standing on top of all the bodies, Erley turns and locks eyes with Myora, his chest heaving.
His voice steady.
"I told you."
He collapses.
Skyscraper
The shadows wash over the ruins as the sun sets and the moon rises.
Another campfire was made, this time they used the wood around the building the convoy took refuge in. Silence hangs heavy in the air, broken only by the occasional pop of the fire.
Annie breaks the silence. her voice tinged with nervousness.
"That was crazy! you are telling me i was walking around with that thing?!"
Myora throws a glimpse at her. Her voice expressing a hint of curiosity.
"Makes me wonder what hes missing"
Hao crouches beside Erley¡¯s unconscious body, poking at it with a mix of awe and unease.
"This guy is pretty scary isn''t he? never would''ve expected that! It was so cool..."
He turns and points at Annie¡¯s broken spear lying on the ground.
"What are we going to do about that"
Annie frowns, but Myora answers before she can speak.
"We will take it back with us. Annie, you will use Erley''s sword for now. The forger should be able to repair the spear when we return."
She pauses, her gaze shifting to Erley¡¯s unconscious form.
"We will resume our walk tomorrow, no matter if hes still unconscious, Moen can carry him."
Hao¡¯s eyes widen in surprise.
"You aren''t going to leave him?!"
Myora¡¯s voice is cold.
"He might be useful in the future, why would i leave such a beast?"
Annie flinches, a frown appearing on her face.
"How did i forget? Where''s Selth?!"
A heavy silence falls over the group. Selth is missing, and no one but Annie and Myora seems to have noticed.
Myora breaks the silence, her tone devoid of emotion.
"He''s most likely dead."
The others turn to look at her, their faces pale. Most seem resigned, but Hao¡¯s ever-present grin falters for a moment.
''Shit. I cannot let this happen again.''
The convoy continues their journey through the ruins under the dim light of the sun. It¡¯s not bright, but it¡¯s enough for them to navigate without using their lanterns.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Moen carries Erley¡¯s unconscious body over one shoulder, his massive shield slung over the other. Annie grips Erley¡¯s crude sword, her discomfort evident as she adjusts to the unfamiliar weapon.
Myora alerts the convoy, her voice quiet but commanding.
"We are almost there. Ready your weapons we can''t afford to die here."
They pass a river that cuts through the heart of the city, officially entering the center. The skeletal remains of the once-great city loom around them, a haunting reminder of the civilization that once thrived here. Old-style buildings stand alongside towering, ruined skyscrapers, their jagged silhouettes piercing the sky.
Annie glances around nervously
''This place is a death trap. Tall buildings everywhere, we¡¯re just asking for trouble.''
Myora stops the group in front of a towering skyscraper, its upper floors barely visible in the darkness. She tightens her grip on her weapon.
"We will have to climb this skyscraper, once we are at the top we should have enough signal to communicate."
Hao raises an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
''So that''s why we are here.''
Myora continues, her voice steady.
"After that we will continue a little bit down the road, there should be an abandoned military camp with cars, most of them should be working."
Hao can¡¯t help but ask.
"What if the military is still there?"
Myora¡¯s gaze is icy.
"This place has been abandoned for 2 years, we just have to hope the people of the camp died."
After a short pause she adds.
"If they are not dead, we''ll kill them."
Hao shakes his head, turning to look at the skyscraper.
"Alright, but you could¡¯ve told us the mission earlier, you know?!"
Ignoring his words, Myora leads the group towards the dark inside of the skyscraper.
The reception room is massive, its grandeur now reduced to rubble. The faint light from the broken windows reveals a scene of destruction¡ªshattered furniture, dead plants, and debris scattered everywhere. The convoy moves cautiously, their lanterns casting long shadows on the walls.
Myora scans the room.
"Spread out, look for the stairs."
The convoy scatters to find the stairs faster, their lanterns bobbing like fireflies in the darkness.
Hao mutters to himself as he navigates the wreckage. He sees a lot of broken furniture.
"Theoretically it should be over here."
He was analyzing the layout of the skyscraper. He passes some broken furniture and a shattered fountain, his footsteps echoing in the empty space.
Myora¡¯s voice cuts through the silence, her tone sharp. She blinks.
"How are we stuck here? This floor is big, but it shouldn¡¯t be this hard to find some stairs."
She looks around, her expression shifting to one of alarm.
"Where did everyone go?"
Hao keeps walking and walking.
"Is there no end to this place?"
Hao stops in his tracks. He sees a some broken furniture, a broken fountain in the center
"Isn''t that the furniture i just saw?!"
He picks up a chair and drops it, marking his path.
"Just in case."
He continues walking. he mutters, his unease growing.
"What the hell."
It was the same furniture again, the chair laying in the ground.
Moen keeps walking and walking. His voice echoing from the darkness.
"Uh... why the lights getting further?"
The lights were getting further and further. Moen yells.
"Where is everyone going! Hey! Wait a second where did Erley go?! ERLEY!!!"
Annie keeps walking and walking. Her nervous voice joins the chorus.
"Where the hell are these stairs?, i want to get out of here already!"
She pauses, her lantern illuminating the room. Her voice shaky.
"Wait... why are there five lights? Wasn¡¯t there only four of us?"
A distant feminine voice can be heard.
"It''s not time for you to give up- Wake up Erley."
The voice grows louder, more urgent.
"Erley! Erley! wake up!"
The voice keeps getting louder. Suddenly a male voice cuts trough the feminine voice.
"Wake up Erley, don''t be a disappointment."
Erley¡¯s eyes snap open, tears streaming down his face.
Sleeping
Erley¡¯s body stirs as he tries to stand, only to hit his head against something solid.
''Ouch. Where am I?''
The room is dark, the faint glow of the moon filtering through the cracks in the walls. Footsteps echo through the building, growing louder with each passing second. Erley ducks behind the reception desk, his breath shallow as he peers out into the shadows.
A group of men enters the room, their white armor with blue accents gleaming faintly in the dim light. The armor is surprisingly clean, a stark contrast to the ruins surrounding them. In the center of the group stands a tall man with strong face, black eyes and straight hair, clad in sleek, metallic armor. Circuits and cables snake across its surface, exposed along his arms and legs. The armor is clearly designed for combat, advanced and deadly. A badge on his shoulder depicts four arrows descending behind a shield.
the man in the metallic armor asks, his voice calm.
"Did they faint?"
A faint, mechanical voice responds from within the armor.
"Affirmative."
The sergeant barks an order.
"Advance to the next room, find the ones that fainted."
The soldiers ready their weapons, flashlights attached to their rifles scanning the room. They wear gas masks, their movements precise and deliberate as they move toward the next room.
The sergeant pauses, glancing over his shoulder.
"I felt something looking at me."
He then presses a button on the neck of his armor.
"Did you retract the gas? Affirm."
The footsteps and mechanical voice start getting closer.
The mechanical voice replies
"Affirmative, you are safe to proceed without a mask."
The footsteps stop for a second.
Erley freezes, his eyes looking up, nervous. A few seconds pass. The footsteps resume. fading as the group moves further into the building.
Erley exhales slowly.
''Shit shit shit... what do i do?!''
Panicking, Erley tries his best to stay quiet under the reception table.
''Are the other guys alive? i should asses the situation, maybe those guys aren''t bad people?''
He crawls out from under the desk, his movements cautious. Suddenly, the lights in the skyscraper flicker to life, flooding the room with blinding brightness.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
''Ouch my eyes!''
Erley blinks rapidly, scanning the room. He spots Annie¡¯s broken spear lying nearby.
''Isn''t this Annie''s spear?''
Grabs it, gripping the shaft tightly.
Footsteps can be heard in the darkness.
"How long has it been."
Hao wanders aimlessly. The same broken furniture and water fountain haunt him every time he passes by. He sits down, crossing his legs, his usual smile replaced by a look of exhaustion.
"I''ve already tried every single direction and everything is still the same. I''m starting to lose hope..."
Forcing a grin, he puts a fist up in the sky.
"But i cant give up! i will save myself and the rest of the group!"
Annie¡¯s voice cuts through the silence, her frustration boiling over.
"TO HELL WITH THIS! WHY DOES EVERYONE MOVE AWAY EVERY TIME I TRY TO GET CLOSE?!"
It''s been days since she lost track of time.
She¡¯s been chasing faint lights ever since.
The lights look like stars, so far away that Moen can barely see them anymore.
Stumbling through the void, his massive frame dwarfed by the endless darkness. The fiery lights he¡¯s been chasing grow fainter with each step.
he whispers, his voice trembling.
"No... please come back. I don¡¯t want to be alone,"
Myora sits cross-legged in the darkness, her expression calm but determined.
"I''m not hungry, I''m not dehydrated."
She moves her eyes as if she realized something.
"I''m unconscious and this is all a dream. What could''ve done this? Was it a imp?"
She pauses, looking up, her gaze hardening.
"Whatever, i will soon find out."
She draws one of her swords, and in one swift motion. Decapitates herself. Her head flies through the air, disappearing into the void.
Back in the skyscraper, Erley grips the broken spear, his mind racing.
''What do I do?''
He hears voices coming from the next room.
In front of the sergeant 4 people lay, all of them handcuffed. The sergeant¡¯s voice is calm but menacing.
"Hm, they are probably with the small bitch we caught the other day."
A bald man with no nose responds, his voice raspy.
"The little man Ron got yesterday? Yes indeed, he probably got lost or something while trying to follow them. But what are they doing here?"
The sergeant shrugs.
"No idea. We''ll get the information out of them when we get back to camp."
The noseless man scans the room.
"Don''t you think its a little dangerous to have all these lights on?"
The sergeant smirks.
"Don¡¯t worry. Nothing will come close. They¡¯re afraid of that thing a couple floors above-"
A yell interrupts him.
"Who are you? Don¡¯t take another step!"
Erley stands in the doorway, the broken spear in his hands. He mutters under his breath.
"Around six in white armor, the guy in metal armor is probably the leader... and some weirdo with no nose."
''He looks like a homeless person.''
He raises his voice, steady and defiant.
"What will you do if I do?"
The soldier steps forward, however hes cut off by the sergeant. His voice cold.
"We will not kill you."
He pauses for a second, his face contorting into a fearsome gaze.
"We will torture you until we get all the information we can out of you."
Erley flinches but quickly regains his composure.
''It''s fine what can this guy do that i can''t anyways?''
The sergeant moves in a blur, closing the distance in an instant. Erley barely dodges the punch, the force of it grazing his cheek.
''Shit! too fast!''
The noseless man watches from the sidelines, his expression indifferent.
"Hmmm, should i put him to sleep?"
Before he can act, a voice cuts through the air.
"So it was you."
Flinching, the noseless man turns. Suddenly he is struck by a kick. Sending him flying away towards one of the windows.
The man bounces on the ground but manages to recover his posture.
''Shit what was that?! should i use my gas?!''
His gaze shifts to the ferocious fight between Erley and the sergeant.
''Fuck he doesn''t have his mask on.''
One of the guards is hurled toward him, but he swats the body aside effortlessly.
Myora breaks her handcuffs, her gaze locking onto the noseless man. She dashes forward, her fist aimed at his stomach. He blocks but is forced back several meters.
Meanwhile, Erley struggles to keep up with the sergeant¡¯s relentless attacks. A punch narrowly misses his head, and he contorts his body to avoid it. Suddenly, a blade extends from the sergeant¡¯s armor, slicing through the air.
''Shit!''
Blood spills onto the floor.