4-33: The Devil’s Rampage (5/5)
After a while, silence filled the area, and the black mist descended onto the surface of the sea.
The black mist had so easily given rise to such a powerful explosion, and yet despite being so close to it, it appeared unaffected.
W-Well surrender. Well obediently hand ourselves over and cooperate with the investigation, so please help our subordinates
Cherry spoke dispassionately, but no one opposed her decision.
It didnt matter anymore whether they were fighting a human or a monster. It was impossible for them to win, no, that wasnt even the problem anymore.
Because in the first place, they didnt even know how they were supposed to fight this thing.
I see we are confused.
Huh?
Fighting any further would only needlessly increase their casualties, so shed already given up, but the only response she got was that of a cold, unfeeling voice.
My position neither necessitates me to apprehend you, nor does it oblige me to treat the defeated according to the stipulations of the treaties.
The black mist had made it clear from the start that it was an unpublicized, illegal force.
Hence, even if they lost and even if they surrendered, they could not expect a decent end.
Eek, ah, ahh Noo!!
The only end that awaited them was the same tragedy that met their comrades.
When realization dawned on them, one of them finally broke down and made a run for it.
But no one reacted; the smarter among them knew that that thing before them would not allow them to flee.
Receive my will, Water.
In the next moment, the sea shook, and thin pillars of water rose from the sea, shackling them all, the soldier that fled and the soldiers that remained, all without exception.
D-Dear!!
The water lashed out like whips, deaf to whatever resistance they offered or whatever screams they cried, to seal their limbs.
When Joyces body was taken from her, Cherry cried out and reached for him, but he was already out of her reach.
Bound by the ropes of water, Joyces body hung limply from his shackles like everyone else.
No! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! Let me go!!
One of the soldiers cried pathetically, but no one blamed him.
After all, they all felt the same.
If anything, the other soldiers could only be envious that he could so honestly express himself.
Stop, gappu, guha, save
Dragged by the pillar of water, that soldier sank into the sea.
Bubbles surfaced where hed fallen, but they gradually lessened, until eventually, the bubbles disappeared completely.
Even if the soldiers didnt know the sea, they still understood what had happened.
Before they knew it, their omega team that was made up of 30 people had been reduced to just 6.
Knowing that their wails and resistance were futile, the remaining soldiers just trembled in fear.
Now, the noisy rabble have been done away with, so why dont we strike a deal, Assistant Commandant of Omega, former Lt. Captain Ronan.
A, deal?
Normally, if she were to be spoken to so nonchalantly like this after her subordinates had just been drowned, she would be raging internally, but now, she couldnt even find it in herself to become angry and just looked at the black mist with resignation.
In fact, she even saw hope when the idea of a deal was brought, and she listened attentively.
Hand over the information pertaining to the Gaen Volunteer Army and all people and organization related to it. Do that and I promise to spare your lives and hand you over to the defense force.
But, thats
Cherry intended to accept any deal the black mist brought forward.
She just couldnt see any other way for them to survive this situation.
But when she heard what the black mist wanted, she hesitated. Too many people would be sacrificed if she handed over that data.
She could feel the hostility of this thing on her skin. There was no way the others would be left off.
As a commanding officer, she had no choice but to weigh the lives of the few with the lives of thousands.
Kyaa, ah, ubu, agaNew novel chapters are published on
But in that moment of hesitation, another of her subordinates sank into the sea as though to rebuke her for her delay.
She watched as that soldier sink with shock frozen on his face, and then she turned to the black mist.
So void of emotion were the human eyes beneath the mask that it was doubtful if it recognized them as people.
Refuse if you want, it matters not. Your fates will simply come to an end here, and the life of the volunteer army will extend a few days, but thats all. In the end, its merely a question of effort on my part.
Apparently, the black mist just wanted to save itself the effort.
And she believed that. If it was this thing, it would surely be capable of it.
They couldnt even show their principles and position to the world.
And now, they were about to be killed by this monster.
Everything would return to nothing. They couldnt even show their pride or resist to annoy the enemy before them.
With their minds in a swirl of despair and helplessness, they couldnt think properly. And then again, another subordinate sank into the sea.
Ah!
Hurry up and decide. Unlike you Im not free. And make sure you think it through. The only ones in danger in the volunteer army right now are you three.
Everyone else has already been apprehended. They may be hurt, but they would be dealt with according to the law.
But as for them, the black mist(monster) was their judgment.
The unfairness of that and the disparity between their situations led the last remaining subordinate to yell.
Talk already! I dont want to die a meaningless death at a place like this! Thats the only thing left that we can do, so just spill everything already! Are you planning to watch me die too!? The female subordinate said.
T-Thats not what I Cherry said.
H-Hey, will the information about the execution platoons(our) headquarters or information about the other members do? I know a bit about our sponsors too! If you just let me off, Ill talk!!
The female subordinate desperately pleaded that she would do anything as long as she was saved.
The Ronan couple were shocked to see her acting like that.
Was this not the woman that was always concerned about other?
And yet in the face of an absolute existence, it seemed even the bonds that theyve formed until now were worthless.
How very human of you. So it appears that the difference in worlds is a trivial matter. That may not be enough to make me hate you, but It certainly makes me sick.
Eek! Ah, stop, Im, sinking, nooo!! I cant, die, at a place, like, ubu, bua, nbu
She desperately tried to call out as she writhed, but she sank all too quickly.
Already, her figure was gone from view, and the bubbles on the surface grew less and less.
Alas, Cherry didnt have it in her to watch until the end.
And now, all thats left are you two.
The comrades that have accompanied them since their time in the army have all been wiped out.
By a single incomprehensible monster, and so easily too.
And now, it was their turn.
Ahh, rest assured, Joyce Ronan, the next one wont be your wife.
Unable to do anything but watch, Joyces eyes were bloodshot, but when the black mists words resounded, Cherry screamed.
After all, that meant
No, dont!
Gu, gah, ah ah !!!
The water rope once again wound itself around her husbands neck to hurt him in front of her.
They constricted much harder this time, so fewer breaths escaped.
In pain and in search of air, Joyces mouth opened, but it was in vain.
Try as he might to struggle, the ropes bounding him were liquid.
His attempts to pluck off the ropes on his neck was a futile attempt that only served to scratch the water.
Cherry was made to watch as her husbands life grew weaker by the second.
Noooo, Joyce!!
What will you do now, Mrs. Ronan?
Before she knew it, the mask was right beside her, whispering by her ears, amused, but she didnt even have the leisure to be shocked.
Perhaps the monster knew that as well, which is why it sought to deceive her in such sweet voice.
Do you know? Death by suffocation is an ugly thing In its course, the human body will writhe, convulse, and discharge feces and urine. Are you sure thats how you want your husbands last moments to be? The choice is yours, Mrs. Ronan. What do you want me to do?
That was the gentlest and sweetest the monster had been to her, and yet, it was exactly in this moment that it resembled the devil the most.
Alas, she neither had the will nor the purpose to rebuke it.
I-Ill talk! Ill tell everything, so pleaseSave him!!
It was enough already. So long as that could be granted, it was enough.
She couldnt even remember what she was so desperate about earlier.
She just wanted this nightmare to end. For that, no price was too great to pay.
YepThats what I wanted to hear.
When she saw the water ropes loosen, and her husband finally breathing, Cherry was finally at ease.
For a moment, she wondered in a daze if the devil spoken of in the legends and myths of Earth could make such an innocent voice, but she banished the thought and stopped thinking altogether.