Chapter 700: True Demonlord [31]

"Mist Flyers," rang about the channel, "-the monsters are here. What are the next orders, Meza?"

"Evacuate," proclaimed he loudly, "-we mustn't fight this battle." Blinding red lights firmed atop the gates and spun with beeps to marked the shutting of gates. With barely time left, Meza and Jonl slid under the metal sheet. Dust in the mouth and pebbles against the cheeks, they stood to a completely devastated first aid. Those of the healing ability ran about checking on others. Earlier, after the injured were taken for aid, they turned and attacked, a brave fighter of squad 28, stood ground, used an ability to imprison the monsters, and self-destructed. Survivors sat underneath a feeble shelter; a cough would crumble the roof.

"Here," a bottle came into sight, "-drink up, you must have been through a lot." 

"Water," she cared none for who gave and gulped, *cough, cough.*

"-Easy," he went about and tapped her back, "-slowly, drink slowly, you're still recuperating."

"I'm beat," she rose her legs and head, "-I want to sleep, my body feels like a mess."

"Good on surviving."

"Well, I do admit my survival rate is greater."

"I'll check on the others," voiced Meza. A standalone ex-tavern stood opposite the shelter, a push of the door, and many tired yet content individuals sat and spoke. Without much effort, a few steps led to an empty table. There, the squad leaders took notice and came for a chat. Squad 28, 32, and 33, sadly, 28 had but one member, and tis the leader who remained on standby. 

"What's the next mission?" inquired the leader of 33.

"Don't gloss by my squad's death," fired the leader of 28.

"Come on, Uonl, we spoke about this earlier. Meza isn't responsible for their deaths; we hold the blame too – the attack was so rapid I couldn't react."

"The long-range beast took us off guard, it decimated an armored unit. Any ideas on the death count?"

"Three from Squad 28 and two from the armored unit, today's one of the worse." 

"I ought to ask," voiced leader of 32, "-where did the orders come from?"

"The manager," said he, "-today is split into two-sector, one for supply and one for the fortification of the gate. I'm telling you, tis a complete mess. We barely had enough manpower to do on an expedition much less…"

*Warning: Boss Class Monster – Antronla has been spotted. Fighters are hereby ordered to exterminate the beast, orders from the manager, vigilantes are obligated to exterminate the Boss.* 

'Not now…'

"Hello gentleman," the doors swiftly opened, "-might I inquire to where Meza is?"

"The uniforms," whispered a few, "-the military…"

"Over here," he said.

"Glad to see you're well," the sternly dressed man stormed to the table, "-not much luck to be unbanned at this moment. I digress, there are greater matters to attend. I've been ordered to take command of Q3 Zone 3's leadership until the boss is defeated. Worry not, the military has taken refuge along the walls, they're ready to open fire."

"Why come to me?"

"You're the de facto leader," said he, "-no need to be humble, the squads know your leadership qualities. It's been firmed first hand in the field of battle. I'll stop the pointless drivel. Present Squads, take these," he slid earpieces, "-we'll be one in the field of battle. Meza, you're to stay by my side. Jonl is to join Squad 33 and Aptha the vanguard, she'll be in charge of taking point and healing the fighters."

"I must contest," he refuted, "-Aptha's not in fighting shape, she won't last a moment on the front lines."

"-and?" returned an emotionless stare, "-soldiers are expendable, I care not for the loss of a little girl. Squad 33, gather the forces and await further orders. Meza, tis best you not disobey," a disgruntled expression loomed in each step. 

'The military has no business here….' Few rounds about the premises and the gates were readied to be open, in a twist of fate, the monster began a slow approach. Transport waited, Aptha, barely able to stand on her own, stood with a heavy backpack and heavily loaded rifle, "-will you be ok?" asked another in the medic squad.

"I think so, don't worry about me," they vaulted into the horseman to hell. Mist spread outwards, distance red-glares, a chilling breeze, the engine toggled.

"Listen up people, fight with all your might, there's no need to hold back. We're going to take down this monster, trust me, the military has your back," the operation began.

'Something doesn't add up, why is the military involved, shouldn't they be preoccupied with the northern province. Supply mission, unbanned…'

*Grr* they sped past obnoxiously lingering presences,*bite* unbeknownst to all, a humble healer had the head cleanly taken off. Blood smeared across her visage, the horror forced silence, "-drop to the floor," cried another. Devourers, monsters of tiny humanoid stature and massive heads leaped side to side, their only target, the head, a single bite and one would be beheaded. '-am I going to die?' went across the mind.

The transports went full speed; any in the way were blown to the side, the remainder rejoined with the medics and opened fire, "-we'll cover, focus on driving to the location."

Out the mud and into the dirt, the fog lessened at the price of another giant. A completely skeletonized body, no innards nor weak spots, a shiny chrome-like substance coated its bones, over which was draped by a bullet-filled robe. 

'Reports says Antronla is the perfect weapon of destruction, no visible weakness, immunity to just about anything. Its slow attacks are easy to manage until it summons an ethereal bow, there, the battle is lost, rapid rate of shots and unbeatable accuracy. Why's the military invested?'

"Split," said the squad leader, "-we'll surround and launch our best attacks. Medics, hang back, for now, support when needed, rearguard, try and keep the other monsters at bay, if there's a break in formation, split accordingly. Listen, people, this mission isn't worth our deaths, I'd rather have a beer; any who dies without blood on their weapon will incur my silver rod.'

"UNDERSTOOD!" 

"Jump out people," it slid to a stop. Strong abilities went on the offensive. A pool of lava conjured underneath the boss who stumbled. Hefty objects dropped, those armed with superhuman abilities leaped straight for its face and punched, each impact would somewhat shake the beast, '-shit,' cried one, "-the skull's too strong."

"Try the legs instead," and off she leaped. The rear guard kept a smile, devourers came in full force – the moment they crossed out the fog, a bullet exploded their skull from the wall.

"Good shooting there, son," complimented one in a military outfit.

"Why aren't you providing covering fire?" 

"No reason, we can't afford to waste ammunition here boy. Our goal is to neutralize Antronla and not save weaklings. Best not disobey orders," he pointed to the side, "-else you'll be tied up." 

'Corrupt bastards,' he gritted, '-Squad 33 tried to rebel in vain, they had sharpshooters ready to take heads if needed.' 

Similar to the start of a run, the first few couples of meters are easy and fun. Admiring the sights, controlled breaths, a good sensation until the long-lasting pain shoots down, the blaring heat, the rough asphalt, pants, and tired legs. Refusal to fight a battle of attrition against bosses heavily impacted five minutes in, "-WATCH OUT," stone spikes summoned to impaled part of the rearguard, "-HEALERS!" cried an unfortunate survivor. "-Wait…" the earpiece didn't function, heavily red eyes remained shy of the shadows, "-child, strayed and abandoned, watch as your team dies, sufferance is what we feed upon, the servant has yet to wake. Now, those dead, be one and kill thy own kind," the stone stained with blood. The dead reawakened, "-I don't w-w-want t-to d-die…" *slash*

"Fall back," cried squad leader of 32, "-wait," he leaped to safety, "-why's no one responding… hello, ANGELA, DON'T!" 

'Huh?' she turned midway through her jump; '-did I hear my name?' *BOOM* an arrow released point-blank, tearing a hole through her stomach, the life wasted off her face. '-It choose to switch now?' a glance to the left showed turned mauling their comrades – the healers barely kept pace, people fell left and right, monsters came from the woodworks, '-they laid an ambush… they have intelligence?'

"We're losing men at a rapid pace!" exclaimed Meza, "-why's the military not helping?"

"Foolish Meza, have you not realized what this is?"

"…"

"Let me spell it out, the only reason we're here is to cull the vigilantes. Supplies are weak as is, luckily, I've assigned the more competent people into Squad 33, those on the battlefield will be left for dead. Also, the boss class monster would make a great military asset. There's a point in fighting your heritage, son of general Valentino, a genius strategist. I can't believe you didn't figure out our plans."

"I knew it," he dashed for the command center, "-if you want them to die, then, I'll prove thee wrong."

"Hello, Meza speaking, anyone there?"

"No use," laughed the officer, "-the earpieces were faulty; the easiest way to win a war is information, we won the moment they wore the pieces. Guess what, the blame's going to lie on you; thus, the general will swoop to save his long rebellion son. A touching story, don't you think?" 

*Bang, bang, bang,* "-military or not," gritted Jonl, "-I won't stand by and watch my friends die." 

"Kill the bastard!"

"No use, sire, we've been immobilized." 

'Why did I jump off without a plan,' *woosh,* he fired a grapple crossbow and made for the command center, *CRASH,* the window exploded, "-wake your ass up, Meza."

"What are you doing here," cried the officer, "-vigilantes are nothing more than pawns," he grabbed his collar, "-stand down or else."

"This is why I hate Alphian politics," *bang,* "-the sharpshooters were barely able to scratch. We might have no name, still, there's a shared sense of loyalty," he barged the door, "-come on Meza," quick to jump into a military-grade vehicle, "-we're going to help them."

The walls opened, guardians winked and wished good luck, Squad 33's members escaped landing atop the transport, "-glad you could make it," they entered through the roof, "-can't believe they have such luxurious tanks to carry them around."

"Not technically a tank, whatever," shrugged Jonl, "-sorry about my outburst; I can't break my promise as a friend." 

"We understand," said the squad leader, "-nothing pisses me more than conniving higherups."

"Meza, why you quiet?"

"Are you people insane?" the head buried in his hands, "-any idea what will happen to us after we return, if we return?"

"Drop the worrying, Meza. We're going to help comrades, what's wrong with that. Even if we're killed, I'd rather do so in saving another. We counting on you to guide us."

"Idiots," he pulled a remote command center, "-there's already been a lot of casualties, most have been turned, the survivors seem to be the medics."

"Stay away!" cried another, "-don't come any closer." Stones telepathically flung for the monsters, "-DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" 

"I'm sorry," sat Aptha, "-dead, they're all dead…"

"APTHA, HELP ME!" a tears riddled visage spun in desperation, *Crunch,* it tore off her throat and slammed her body to the ground, "-H-help m-m-me…" they bit, tore, chewed, and spat.

*Heatwave,* a pulse of energy blew aside the beasts, "-Aptha, come on," held by the neck, "-GO IN." 

"Uonl?" she mumbled in a dazed state.

"Alright you two, seal up the doors and windows," others stormed in.

"Understood," metal sheets summoned on either side, "-done," they panted. 

"I'm glad I met you brothers," he puffed, "-let's head further in, standing here is death," various barriers rose on the ascension to the first floor, "-finally," they dropped, the room froze in a hardened material, "-tired," exclaimed one.

"Uonl… the rearguard."

"Has been wiped out, yes, I know," focused on the outside, "-Angela was killed before my eyes," guilt forced a bite of the inner lips, blood dripped, "-if only the earpieces worked, I could have saved her," the expression tensed.