Chapter 23: An unlikely duo

Chapter 23: An unlikely duo

Xander quickened his pace and made his way back to the main road. The news of monster sightings at Windbell Park had spread among the masses like wildfire, making them abandon everything and flee to the safety of their homes.

The authorities had declared a state of emergency in Faros, imposing a curfew in the central regions. These drastic measures had left the streets utterly deserted, save for a few stray dogs and wandering kittens.

Windbell Park was still half a mile away from Xander's current location, and there wasn't a single cab or public tram in sight.

"Guess it's time for a nice evening stroll," Xander mumbled sarcastically as he crossed the road.

"Hey! Need a ride, Mr. Lone Wolf?" a voice called out from behind.

Xander turned around curiously and spotted a familiar face riding a jet-black motorbike.

The guy was nearly the same age as Xander, but had a much leaner appearance. He had cropped black hair and wore a pair of rimless glasses that made him look a lot more mature than he actually was.

"What the hell are you doing here? Didn't watch the news?" Xander questioned back.

The guy stopped his bike beside Xander and grinned. "I know what's going on. The good people of Merantis need us. And I'm just trying to lend them a helping hand."

"This isn't a joke." Xander frowned, staring daggers at him. "Those things which attacked the people in the park are from the Nightscape. You should turn back while you still have the chance, Riktor."

"Nope. I'm not heading back this time. Can't let you hog all the limelight again," Riktor replied with complete nonchalance, ignoring Xander's warnings.

Just like Xander and Leena, Riktor West was also a Dreamwalker. However, due to his repeated botch-ups, and careless attitude he had been expelled from the Dreamwalkers' Guild.

Xander knew Riktor wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was certainly more stubborn than anyone he'd ever met.

"Come on, man. What are you thinking? You need a ride, and I need someone to watch my back. We got this. Just hop on," Riktor added in a much softer tone this time.

"You were thrown out of the guild for a reason. You are impulsive and reckless." Xander reprimanded him like an elder brother. "You can't handle what's out there. Walk away from this one."

Riktor's eyes moistened at this. "Don't take this chance away from me. I deserve a second shot. This might be my last opportunity to prove that I ain't worthless. Please come with me, Xander," he pleaded in a cracking voice.

Seeing his teary eyes Xander couldn't say no, but deep down he knew Riktor would be of little use to him in a real fight. If only he had a ride, he wouldn't even give Riktor's proposal a second thought, but right now he needed to reach the park as soon as possible.

"Fine, just take me to the park," Xander sighed, climbing onto the back seat of Riktor's bike.

"Alright. Windbell Park, here we come!"

Riktor's confidence went up a notch now that the infamous Xander Nyxon was by his side. He twisted the throttle and rode off into the night, eager to clear his name.

Speeding down the deserted roads, the Dreamwalkers finally reached a checkpoint barricaded by cop cars. They were promptly stopped by a patrol officer and asked to turn back around.

Xander, however, paid no heed to the cop. Instead, he walked up to the barricade and turned on his radio. "I'm here, Chief. But your boys aren't letting me through."

Chief Volgin immediately dispatched Detective Locksley to escort Xander inside.

The Detective was a bit surprised to see another guy with Xander since it was well-known that Xander preferred working alone. Regarding the spare with suspicious eyes, he asked, "Is he with you?"

"What kind of a question is that? Of course I'm with him. We're a team," Riktor replied before Xander had a chance to speak. "I'm a Dreamwalker too. I came here as soon as I heard the Ethereals had invaded our world. You have nothing to worry about, officer. We got this."

Xander kept quiet for now and let Riktor accompany him to the park entrance. There they were met by Chief Volgin and his other officers.

The cops had managed to cordon off the whole area with spiked metal barricades and barbed wires. Behind the barricades were squads of armed patrol units equipped with semi-automatic pistols and 12-gauge shotguns.

"I was starting to think that you had turned tail and run back home," Chief Volgin sniped, eyeing Xander.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I was just getting my weapons," Xander replied.

"And who is this new fellow with you?"

Xander hesitated for a while before answering. "He's...a friend. Another Dreamwalker."

"That's good. We can use all the help we can get. The first responders tried to fight off those monsters, but those bastards overwhelmed them. It was a massacre. Our guns don't seem to be doing too well against them. They are a lot more resilient than they appear."

"Implings have hardened skin. You have to aim for their heads if you want to finish them off in one hit. Otherwise, it's gonna be a waste of ammo." As Xander looked around him, he spotted stretchers carrying the wounded to ambulances. "How did you get these people out?"

"We had help from other Mystics."

Out of nowhere, two shadows rushed past Xander. He turned around sharply and reached for his gun. He was about to pull out the Eyeless Watcher when two Shadowmancers appeared in the distance. They were each holding a wounded child in their arms.

The medics quickly rushed with their stretchers to carry the children to the ambulances.

Before Xander and his friend had the chance to ask any more questions, the two Shadowmancers teleported in front of the Chief.

"We think those two were the last of the wounded," the younger Shadowmancer replied.

"Yep, it's too late for the rest," the other added.

Chief Volgin nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you for rescuing them. You've done us all a great service."

"Just doing our part. But I still don't see how you plan on killing those monsters."

"Yeah, those bastards are pretty fast, and that big one looks like it could flatten a Gray Elephant in one blow."

"You don't need to worry about that. Xander and I will deal with your monsters," Riktor cut in before the Chief could reply. "Those creatures aren't from this world. They are Ethereals from the Nightscape," he explained with a knowing expression.

"Alright, then. I guess our job's done here," the younger Shadowmancer replied, tying his hair into a neat bun.

His partner lit a cigarette and added, "I thought Dreamwalkers were just a bunch of weirdoes fascinated with the occult arts. Never really imagined you people actually had any powers."

Riktor was about to launch himself at the duo when Xander stepped in. "Thank you for your service. Now get back from the barricades. This could get ugly." Turning to the Chief, he added, "I'm going in. Ask your men to move out of the way."

The Chief of Police picked up a megaphone from the nearest chair and spoke aloud, "The Dreamwalkers are here. Let them through. They'll handle those...Ethereals."

On the Chief's command, the cops removed the barricades from the front entrance and stood aside. Xander and Riktor marched right up to the barred iron gate at the entrance and pulled out their weapons.

One of the cops got up to open the padlock attached to the chained door, but Riktor stopped him. "There's no need," he said, shooting the lock off with his polished white 12-gauge shotgun. "It's showtime!"

Xander didn't like how overconfident Riktor was. Though the Implings were easy target practice for experienced Dreamwalkers, he was worried about the Goblin Berserker.

"That's a Dream Weapon. How did you manage to get your hands on it?" Xander asked, staring at Riktor's shotgun.

Riktor seemed a bit hesitant at first, but eventually revealed the truth. "I snuck into the Dreamwalkers' Guild. My system said I'd find weapons there. And sure as hell, the chest was right there in my old room."

"What about the other Dreamwalkers?"

"There was no one else there. Not even Guild Master Arwin."

"That's impossible. The three founding members are always there. I visited the Guild House last week. It was bustling with trainees."

"I'm not lying, man. There wasn't a single living soul in sight," Riktor added, touching his Chronica to prove he was telling the truth.

Though Xander was worried about the rest of the Dreamwalkers in Faros, he let the matter slide for the moment. Right now, a greater challenge lay before him.

"Stay by my side, and don't get too cocky," Xander said, pushing the doors open.

The Implings were still running wild across the park when the Dreamwalkers entered. Riktor retched at the sight of the corpses lying around them. Men, women, children, and even dogs. The freaks had slaughtered everyone they could get their hands on.

If not for the Shadowmancers and the timely intervention of the cops, the death toll would have risen even higher.

"I don't see the big guy anywhere," Riktor whispered to Xander. "Do you think he's gone back inside the portal?"

"No," Xander answered with absolute certainty. Staring into the distance he added, "The Goblin's right there. He's rummaging through the chopper's wreckage. I think he's found something interesting."

"That should keep him distracted for a few minutes, right?" Riktor asked, his voice faltering as his eyes made out the obnoxious shape in the distance. n-.o(.v./e-.L((b/-1(-n

"I don't know. Just focus on the Implings for now," Xander replied, conjuring a card from his set. "Play card: Destiny's Child."

Riktor was still loading his shotgun when the Implings picked up the scent of the new arrivals. They immediately turned around and started shrieking in their guttural voices.

"They know we're here. Get ready!" Xander cautioned, readying his revolver.

A set of new notifications appeared on his system panel.

[New objective: Eliminate the Implings in Windbell Park.]

[Bonus objective: Defeat the Goblin Berserker.]