Chapter 781: The Break of Peace, The Sudden Attack Towards the Mountain Base (1/2)
Day 185 - 3:21 PM - Mountain Base, Mount Malabito, General Nakar, Province of Quezon
It had been peaceful for quite a while. No attacks from [Evolved Animals], no appearance of [Mechids], and most of all, no [Infected] had ever been seen around the base for a long time.
The location of the Mountain Base was surely hard to reach. It was in the middle of the mountains, after all. Dangers was also in every corner.
But with enough preparations, supplies, and personnel, it was one of the better locations to settle in during the apocalypse. Of course, it was not the best. It was only because of the abilities of those that settled in this place. Or else, it might have been wiped out with the arrival of [Mechids] from space. If not, the dimensions fused together could have caused its destruction.
Very much most of the remaining settlements in the world.
Although at this time, the peace that the Mountain Base had for a while was finally disturbed.
”Quick! Inform Master!”
One of the [Tikbalangs] cried out as a presence suddenly entered their [Illusion Magic] around the base.
Usually, the [Tikbalangs] would not panic upon detecting the presence of an intruder. After all, the [Illusion Magic] they cast around the base would cause intruders to be lost inside the forest that it covered. However, not every single creature could be caught by the illusion.
For example, the [Mechids]. The [Illusion Magic] of the [Tikbalangs] directly affect the minds of the victims, fogging their eyes and distorting their sense of direction. However, the [Mechids] did not have an organic brain that the [Illusion Magic] could affect.
But it was not only [Mechids] who were unaffected to the [Illusion Magic].
There were others. One kind of those unaffected creatures was, of course...
People of the same race as the user of the [Illusion Magic].
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of alarm sounded from the eastern area of the base. And as rehearsed, the workers immediately made their way back inside the inner walls.
However...
The intruders this time were not just some [Infected].
”AHHH!”
One of the workers screamed as he saw several humanoid figures rushing towards him. With the upper bodies of a human, horse heads, and lower bodies, the intruders were definitely [Tikbalangs], [Infected Tikabalangs], indicated by the open flesh wounds all over their bodies.
Infected they might be, they were still among the infamous race when they were still alive. All of these [Infected Tikbalangs] still ran too fast. Regular people, and even most [Mutators], had no way of outrunning the group.
Even if the alarms were sounded early and the workers immediately retreated, it was not enough. The [Infected Tikbalangs] already caught up to the workers lagging behind.
Of course, the workers could not help but feel afraid. Even though they experienced fighting the [Infected] while gathering supplies in Pennsylvania, none of them moved as fast as the [Infected Tikbalangs]. All the workers could see was the vague shape of the intruders because of their speed.
RUMBLE!
Suddenly, the ground shook. A wall rock rose from the soil, blocking the way of the leading [Infected Tikbalangs].
BAM!
Three of the intruders slammed onto the walls. Living [Tikbalangs] would not make this kind of mistake. They were used to their unparalleled speed and would not have any problem avoiding the wall. The brainless [Infected], however, could not. As they slammed onto the wall, the force caused the three multiple injuries, even disfiguring their horse heads.
But it was not enough to kill them. Furthermore, there were more than just three.
”Quick! Retreat!”
Louis shouted towards the workers as he created more walls of stone to block the enemies. Luckily, he was working on the walls on the northeast side of the base. He managed to quickly respond to the threat.
With Louis present, however, the [Infected Tikbalangs] shifted their target to him. It was no news that the [Infected] were more attracted to beings with [Magical Energy].
Still, it was the better scenario. Most of the workers had no way of defending themselves against these extremely fast enemies. Louis could at least slow them down, even if his speed also had no match against them.
WHOOSH!
A shadow moved past Louis, rushing towards the closest [Infected Tikbalang].
SLASH!
The shadow swiped her hand, her long claws slashed towards the neck of the enemy.
NEIGH!!!
Unfortunately, unlike those of humans, the neck of [Tikbalangs] was much larger. The [Infected Tikbalang] with its wounded throat tried to attack the shadow with a loud neigh. It moved its head, trying to use its long neck as a blunt weapon, splattering its blood around it.
”Tsk!”
The shadow retreated immediately, clicking her tongue in annoyance. Her identity was no one else but Felicia, the feline [Mutator] with a pitiful past. She was currently in her cat form, giving her enough speed to match the [Infected Tikbalangs].
BAM!
”Felicia! Are you okay?!”
Louis shouted as he hurled a basketball-sized stone towards the [Infected Tikbalang] that attacked Felicia. Using its head as a weapon while heavily wounded caused the [Infected Tikbalang] to stagger. The stone smashed unto the head of its target. The [Infected Tikbalang]'s head exploded from the impact. Its headless body fell to the ground.
But the battle was not over yet.
”I'm fine!” Felicia shouted as she retreated. ”I'm just surprised my claws weren't able to cut off its head.”
”You two should concentrate on fighting first.”
A voice entered the ears of the two as another shadow joined them.
”Roan!”
Felicia exclaimed as she saw her older brother arrived.
”Don't space out!” Roan shouted. ”The intruders are fast!”
Roan shouted since the remaining [Infected Tikbalangs] already managed to go around the walls that Louis made.
Louis immediately retreated to the back while Felicia and Roan took the front. They were showing good coordination and understanding of each other's abilities.
SLASH!
Roan rushed forward to lead the battle. Unexpectedly, unlike Felicia, his claw swiped through the thick neck of his target. This was the difference in the strength of the two, considering that Roan was a [Level 3 Mutator].
”Damn it... their necks are tough!”
Roan exclaimed as he avoided an incoming attack. While he did manage to kill one in one swipe of his claws, it seemed that he had to exert a good amount of strength to do so.
By the looks of the situation, Felicia's attack before did not work not only because the necks of the [Infected Tikbalangs] were thick, but their bodies were also toughened when they turned.
As for Felicia, since attacking the neck did not work for her, she changed her attack method. Instead of beheading the enemies, she aimed to pierce their heads. It was more dangerous, however, as she had to attack a specific spot. It was far different than aiming for the more obvious parts of the enemy's body.
Around Louis, several pointed stones floated. Unfortunately, attacking the fast-moving [Infected Tikbalangs] by hurling stones was hard. Louis had no way of aiming for the heads, and most of his attacks were missing.