Chapter 553: Abnormals (1/2)
The overhanging quarters of the Lieutenant stood a few meters from the elevator. Parties of fighters stood ever so close to the edge, some sat, some watched, some held binoculars, others used the scope of their weapons. Monsters after said wall were slow, sluggish, but active. None seemed to be in a fight. Promenading along told one thing, the gusts were very much strong; one misstep and tis a trip to a harsh fall.
”Might I ask why you're shaking like a feather?”
”Feather?” paused the startled guard, ”-I guess I'm a little concerned. Heck, the lieutenant isn't that good a person. He's renowned for bursting into ire for being woken from a nap.”
”Isn't it a lie?” refuted Igna.
”No,” refusal by shaking of the head, ”-I saw the whole event play out. Not so much a push than a kick.” From there, the conversation dulled as they came closer. An ajar wooden door left ample space to sneak a peek.
”Stay here,” gulping for the door to push further, the guard vanished in the ever-present shadow of the inside.
Screams rattled inward out, a glance at the surrounding guards showed bored glances, they sighed, '-here we go again,' whispered some to others.
”The sun feels nice,” a man dressed in uniform exited. Murky curly hair slapped to the forehead and cheeks, redden marks of waking from a nap, the tales were true. Grimy and shining, the face shone like a newly varnished piece of wood. ”You're Kinless?” a few listless steps led him to sit on the edge, ”-join me, standing around does the body no good.”
”Alright,” side by side, ”-lieutenant Mello, I've come for the –”
”No need,” he interjected, ”-I know the details. Call me Mello for short, I don't care for military stuff. This job is like any other. Now that I look at you,” the eyes narrowed, ”-weren't you the boy Misna found beyond the walls?”
”Yes, that's me,” said he quietly.
”Fate brings you to where you were found. A tasteless job,” reaching for the pocket, ”-care for a swig?”
”No, thanks.”
”More for me,” he gulped, the stench fluttered to the nose.
'Whiskey?'
”Don't get distracted,” said Mello, ”-you sure about going alone over there?”
”I guess so, I mean, it is a graduation exam.”
”About that,” facing the outpost below, ”-it's pretty simple. You'll fight, the grading will be done by the wall-guards,” to which he pointed to the left, ”-see those guards standing atop the quarters?”
”Yes, what about them?”
”They're strong fighters and very competent soldiers ordered to guard the walls if ever the threat is greater. Think of them as a special team of elite tasked as the last resort,” checking the watch, ”-I ought to catch up on some sleep. You've gotten access to fight, go there and don't die. It's always a pain to clean up dead-bodies. Take care, and don't show off, Misna will be disappointed,” he stood.
”May I ask where she is?”
”No idea, not here anyway,” a goodbye turned yawn, the man disappeared within the shadows of the quarters.
'What a weird individual,' thought he moving to the other side. Few parties were already on the move below, running towards a horde of beasts.
”Igna, Igna,” signaled Lingling, ”-are you heading out?” her team scurried behind.
”I guess.” Veterans kept scowling at their lack of seriousness. Dagger-like glares stabbing their backs in cold subjective judgment.
”Noticed them?” added Goldie, ”-always staring us, kind of a bad environment to train.”
”Well, best get to fighting,” said Lingling, ”-you coming with?”
”Sure,” said Igna, ”-I'll do what I can.”
”Follow us then,” without notice, they leaped off the side, *Protection of the Wind Spirit,* cried Lingling – an upwards gust slowed the fall till a bubble of air held and stopped the landing impact.
'Crazy idiots!' And so, Lingling and her team jumped into battle. The monsters were weak, goblins of low ranks. For the most part, Igna stayed at the back and killed any stragglers. Their team were coordinated, anticipating the other's move and so on. Acrobatics from Anne, a cold-hard defense from Kein, overwhelming attack power courtesy of Goldie, support in terms of healing and enhancement from Lucia, and lastly, the coordinator; Lingling.
'Killing off the small fries is boring,' thought he looking about. Frost and Pegasus were spotted to the right, Lampard, Rena, Anna, and Jen were to the left engaged by their targets. The veterans stood back, helping in finishing, whilst other ran in head first to steal the glory. Monster drops were valuable after all.
'Something doesn't feel right,' thought Igna stood by a dead-tree, '-there's this weird feeling in my chest. The signet ring's weirdly acting up, are the monsters reacting to me?' The atmosphere changed, the sun hid, the clouds loomed overhead, the mist of Totrya extended onto the battlefield. 'The ring,' clutching the fist, '-something's bad!'
”Master,” resounded a heavy whisper, ”-get ready to fight. Monsters fight to train, and so must do our leader. We're sending the humanoid-goblins who've evolved beyond the normal capacity. Be careful and enjoy.”
”Vesper,” thought he, ”-Éclair, scan the area!”
”Can't,” said he, ”-the signal is jammed. No way to help, toggling to battle-mode, good luck!”
”ARRRR,” a fading scream ended in a crash, the tree broke, blood splattered across the face. The lifeless mutilated body of a veteran, broken bones extruding out the skin. '-Disgusting,' he gagged. Deathly shouts surrounded left right and center. A pair of glowing eyes whisked out the mist, a five-meter-tall humanoid with features of an ogre mixed with a bear. Sharpened claws as opposed to nails, muscular features, and the smile of a kid. *BANG,* a downward slam cracked the very ground, sending Igna back a few meters. It soon sank, the humanoid wasn't goblins, a new breed of monsters, unknown and unreported. The wall sounded the bell of retreat, sadly, there were at least five kilometers between them and safety. '-We need to get away,' he ran to the nearest tree. The fog lessened in intensity, '-where's Lingling and her team?' he scanned to no avail.
”HELP US!” cried a lady running for her life. She faintly caught Igna's eye, a sense of relief flushed her expression, *RARR* to no avail, the monsters pounced to tear off the upper half of her body and stare coldly. Entrails dangled off its elongated jaw.
”RUN, RUN!” screamed Lingling unknowingly passing Igna.
”OVER HERE!” he screamed.
”Finally,” she slid into cover.
”Were you chased?”
”No,” a blank expression, ”-they're dead.”
”What?”
”Anne's dead!” cried she,” those monsters came in ambush, it cleanly took off her head. I couldn't do anything…”
”What about the rest?”