Chapter 701: True Demonlord [32] (1/2)

”Played,” a chuckle escaped, ”-played.”

”Sorry?”

”We were played,” said she ominously, her mind clicked, a bit of her persona swapped, the cheerful side, magnet for trouble, didn't speak nor smiled. An empty hollowness spoke from the depth of her mind, ”-people died, friends died, everyone's dead.”

”Hey, get a hold of yourself,” cried Ginka, ”-sanity and patience,” said a whisper.

”Why,” asked a curiously childish innocence voice, ”-why?”

”Because,” interjected Kinka, ”-we've seen family die, their blood, their last breath, it's all encroached in the memories. Once you pull the trigger, there's no going back. This is the world we choose to become a part of, a dystopia strong-armed by the AHA and military. Even if we wanted to escape, there's no way out.” Slams against the metal plates resonated, a shiver went up Uonl's neck, ”-he's waking…”

'Distant,' though the events played before her eyes, the mind projected a third person's view, an elevated scape; Uonl's fear, Ginka and Kinka's uncertainty, the shaky support structure, death could come any second, '-am I going to die?' flash images of one being mauled to death cut across her thought, ”-help me,” it said, ”-help me, don't stand still.”

'Go away,' the images closed the gap, '-don't get any closer,' her feet physically kicked.

”GET AWAY,” she screamed, ”-I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE!”

”Calm down!” cried Ginka holding her shoulders, ”-stop, snap out of it,” *smack,* her pale cheeks reddened slowly, the blank stare had a spark of color twirl in the pupils, '-what am I doing?' the field of view returned to blurry, '-I saw myself in a pitiful state,' the images kept on flashing, '-be strong, can't afford to be the weakling here,' she pulled herself to a stand aided by the wall, ”-Ginka, Kinka, I appreciate the help,” she leaned heavily against the wall, ”-I'll heal the wounds,” her palms stretched to form a line around the trio, ”-be healed.”

”Don't strain…”

”Leave her,” interjected Uonl, ”-look closely, she's putting her best effort so we have a fighting chance.”

”He's right, brother Kinka. The barrier won't hold strong.”

Meanwhile outside, the dormant Antronla bore its empty eye sockets to the survivors, the ethereal bow pulled, a purple haze wrapped about the arrow's tip, *-click,* bones cracked, the bow released.

”NOW!” screamed across the empty field, ”-Jonl, clean them out.”

”Understood,” he laid atop a rooftop aided by the grapple, '-I didn't train under Kniq for nothing.' *Art of the marksman, boon from the gods, grant me the foresight into my enemies, bless my humble self with the ability to see and save all; Divine Boon – Precognition,* temporary shadows of where figures objects and anything in between lit the field in a volley of gunfire, ”-I'll take care of the small fries, save them, you guys.”

”Squad 33 will handle the big monster,” to which the wheeled tank dashed forth, ”-it has a cool-down period of 30 seconds before the next attack.”

”Got it,” before the approach, ”-we have one goal, and tis the rescue of the medics. We'll gamble on Antronla using its bow, the moment it shoots, we gun it,” down on his feet, *Martial-Arts: Dreal's fist,* a punch and the door flung across. A horde of turns glared their intent, '-just because I stand in the back, doesn't mean I'm weak,' he took on various stances, minimal movements, graceful as dormant water and explosive as waves against the shore, '-Use your ability for the sake of another. I'll be very disappointed if I ever see you using what I taught to terrorize others,' whispered a nostalgic voice, '-watch me, master, I finally understand what you meant,' kicks, punches, grapples, the threatening turned flung outside one by one. The prior first arrow, fast and unseen, missed by a large margin, the responsible, a lady in Squad 33 who took up a spot beside Jonl.

”I'm beat,” she dropped to her knee,”-messing with a boss-level monster is exhausting,” they watched onto the confused behemoth being toyed by skilled driving, ”-never knew Meza was a fighter.”

”He's strong, very strong,” said Jonl, ”-he'd make a great adventurer.”

”Aptha, Aptha!”

”STAND DOWN!”

”IT'S ME,” he screamed down the hall, ”-Uonl, it's me.”

”Meza,” heart to his throat, *gasp,* ”-way to scare a grown man.”

”Ginka, Kinka, where's Aptha.”

”Meza, good to see you.”

”Where's Aptha?” heavy steps halted immediate of the door frame, ”-Aptha, I found you,” he ran to her side, ”-Hey, are you ok?”

”Don't worry about her,” said Uonl, ”-she used her last strength to heal us.”

*Ding, ding, ding, ding,* rang simultaneously across the field. Fear flashed across their faces, Antronla firmed and kicked, '-no…' *BAM,* it exploded on impact – the bow reappeared and drew. ”-I'm out of bullets,” panted Jonl, ”-Hey, hey, we need you,” shaking the lass gave no response, ”-Squad 33's d-d-dead…”

”Run!” screamed Uonl, ”-KINKA, GINKA, RUN,” he took Meza by the arms and sprinted; the last words of squad 33 resonated deeply, the walls broke per a shock wave, ”-RUN!” they leaped, '-Aptha,' the arms stretched, '-l-let m-me s-save her,' a friendly smile returned on his way down, '-don't worry, it's my turn to save you,' mumbled across the parched lips. Reality settled to the normal pace, a flash of white leaped out the building to halt the arrow, *bouf,* ”-KINKA, GINKA, LAST ORDERS, TAKE MEZA TO SAFETY, WE NEED HIM ALIVE!” they landed.

”Understood,” Devourers flung from side to side, *Heatwave!* shockwave after shockwave, ”-RUN!” he screamed and didn't defend himself, the turn made for his ribs, legs, arms, and yet, the shockwaves kept on shielding Meza. The white light of before landed in a puddle of blood, ”-Aptha,” coughed Uonl, *HEATSHOCK* a sphere of heat charred the remainder, ”-you had the blessing of the gods, didn't you,” no response came. Golden colored hair laid in crimson, the body curled, the arrow ran through her stomach, ”-if not for the sacrifice, we'd have all died,” he dropped to her side, ”-I swear, vigilantes are undervalued,” head to the floor, consciousness faded. *GRRRR* resounded throughout devastated grounds, the stolen transport laid in a whirlpool of flames; those who fought prior were left dead. A rescue operation turned bloodbath, '-I failed, I failed… I failed,' tears ran down the brother's cheeks, Uonl's passage kept on burning despite the lack of consciousness, '-Aptha…' he wept silently, '-I-I…'

”Why,” Jonl's heart throbbed, ”-I should have been more careful,” blood ran down the sharp facial features, ”-WHY DIDN'T I SEE IT!”

”S-squad 33, d-dead,” whimpers clambered to the side, vultures swarmed the skies, vile and wrapped in a dark miasmic stench – the prey, bodies.

”Master, are you sure it wise to get involved. I thought the moniker of medic sufficed in this mission?”

”What have I always said,” black outline landed before Jonl, ”-whims are the best way to live. There's more to find and discover, legends often say, chosen heroes rise from the rubble of the chaos. Here we stand before true heroes; selfless and humble, they tried hard to rescue the comrades to no avail. The potential for is true, henceforth, I, Igna Haggard, pledge to save those who've fought arduously.”

”Why are you here?”