Chapter 702: True Demonlord [33]
‘Good thing we had the extended wing,’ the scent of alcohol and medicine permeated. A bold wind carrying droplets scraped against the reinforced alchemist quarters. A few days elapsed since the incident. The masked assassin grew in repute and strength, casualty on said day was in the tens, worst the outpost had witnessed. Questions about the operations bombarded the manager, of which he gave a nonchalant response. The fighters weren’t pleased, the disappearance of Meza, Squad 28, 32, and 33 hit morale hard. Companionship from the respective teams was very much enjoyed by the tight community of fighters. A massive hole left their chests open, Aptha, the sharp mouth lass’s tantrums were duly missed. Rumors had it the bodies were taken to the alchemist quarters; fear of another attack stunted attempts at communication. Numbers were thin; assaults intensified; evolved monsters constantly materialized. Once a certain point was crossed, weapons and skills would be rendered useless, said fear forced the AHA to call in support from the military. Rationing grew harsher, the state didn’t provide much – leadership hung in the grasp of the military and AHA.
Fia’s exploits on the field kept what little humility was left. Without her, the soldiers would have forcefully invaded the dormitory and taken precedence in treatment and food. She fought and reached a deadlock, her true identity, hidden, for now, wouldn’t matter even if it were revealed.
Leather shoes echoed along the tiled floor, the extended wing held beds, patients, and nurses – the latter being puppets summoned from the Shadow Realm. Trained at the arts of healing, the help was very much appreciated. Immediately right slept the leader of Squad 33; Froy Empth, age 32, dark brown hair, large nose, a prominent forehead, and battle scars. Next laid the vice leader, Hina Loona, the same lady who restrained Antronla, her ability was mind control else known as puppeteering. Freckled cheeks, pimpled forehead, glasses, slightly orangish braided hair, average in height, and strong-willed. Her facial features were one common, albeit, the look of constant fatigue. Afterward, rested Henzh Yuel, an immigrant from the main continent – taller than average height and stature, he’d been unconscious ever since the surgery; crew-cut hair, small nose, and a bushy beard and mustache. Last member of Squad 33, Gilert Bart, an ex-soldier. Robustly built, firm rounded shape face, timidly grown hair, and an uncanny soft-spoken voice.
‘They seem to be doing fine,’ he walked and nodded at the patients, ‘-Henzh should wake in a few hours, the healings complete.’ Opposite laid Squad 32, or what remained of it – Uonl bore a common, friendly face save the thick eyebrows and darker complexion. Before the whole incident, one could say the smile and kindly shaped eyes were very social. Now, the latter seemed to burrow further into the sockets, dark circles, scratch marks from self-inflicted wounds. Horrid cries and yelped at certain nights sufficed to keep the ward awake.
Ginka and Kinka took up residence, both brothers were slightly on the chubby side, fluffily filled cheeks and kind expression, a fa?ade for they boasted insanely physical strength.
‘Uonl has flashbacks from the battle, emotional scars won’t be healed so easily. Narcotics will help ease the pain, take it slow, you were a hero and will return home soon. The concoction should be readied, the ritual went accordingly.’ Few steps deeper arrived Squad 05. Aptha and Jonl, able in mind and spirit kept to their beds for rest. ‘-Their exposure to Rantiam’s sudden appearance shook their soul, my bad I suppose.’
“How’s Aptha doing?”
.....
“Good morning, Meza,” he pulled the curtains, “-no idea as of yet, I performed the last procedure yesterday. Angela shows signs of improvement, too bad her team leader’s mentally scarred.”
“A-A-Angela...” whispers turned cries, “-Angela,” the bed visibly shook, “-don’t die, don’t die, don’t die!” an orangish hue surrounded his body.
“Nurse,” they nonchalantly injected narcotics, the tantrum cut short of a cacophonic mess, “-breakfast should arrive soon,” returned to Squad 33, “-Froy and Hina, Henzh should break the spell later. Greet him in good faith – ask Gilert to not strain the legs, they’ve only just been reattached. Magic has limits,” a wink later, the lab coat wearing alchemist left for the first floor.
“Didn’t you hear the man,” said Jonl, “-stop dilly-dallying, Hina.”
“I don’t want breakfast,” she covered her head, “-I rather starve.”
“Here we go again,” sighed Meza, “-I’m sorry, there are those who unfortunately can’t eat,” her covers pulled.
“-You too, Froy?”
“Stop it,” said he, “-we need to be responsible; part of the recovery process lies on us.”
“It’s boring...”
“Good morning you guys,” hailed Ginka.
“Good morning, Ginka,” they hurdled around Squad 33, “-I wonder what’s for breakfast today?”
“Always thinking about food.”
“Don’t roll your eyes at my brother,” fired Kinka, “-we require sustenance to keep such a luscious physique,” he struck a sensual pose in jest, they laughed.
“Honestly speaking, I don’t miss the dormitory at all,” added Meza.
“Say that again,” bobbed Hina, “-I miss the girls. We’d usually go out for a run around this time of day.”
“Then orders would arrive. What was the point of becoming vigilantes?”
“I know it’s been like a few days,” interjected Jonl, “-Hina, you remember, don’t you?”
“Remember what?” wondered Froy.
“The battle,” said Ginka.
“We nearly died, Angela and Aptha selflessly gave everything for a chance at survival.”
“I don’t remember much...”
“Antronla decimated the transport; Hina broke to her knees and screamed. We’d have died if not for the Alchemist.”
“I saw my squad be killed instantly, of course, I’d break down.”
“We owe our lives to him,” added Ginka, “-most of us here were either near death or were already dead. I haven’t had such a sensation before, a relentless force able to equal nature and the element, I swear, I’ve never seen such a spell before.”
*Ting, ting,* a maid arrived with breakfast, no emotions nor response, they split to give appropriate meals to the appropriate patients. The days were long and boresome, entertainment was few, going outside was permitted with exceptions. Read a book, watch television, or chat away in the lobby. Meza and Froy spend days chatting about the war, Ginka, Kinka, and Hina argued about food and the current events on the Arcanum. Jonl kept to himself for the most part.
“Mask Assassin,” the voice traveled across the room, “-you and your squad are to rest for the time being. The achievements are unprecedented; I feel as if the vigilantes have taken advantage of the strength,” shady and malicious, “-don’t take it the wrong way, we from the military have nothing but respect for the daily leaps into danger. There’s been an influx in monsters.”
“Be blunt, you don’t want me on the battlefield, scared a humble lady’s stronger than the soldiers?”
*Cough,* “-not exactly,” *grunt,* “-our fighters need the experience. How about a compromise, keep an eye on this supposed Alchemist. The doctors and nurses have sung praises of a man who can heal lethally wounded fighters. If we get him on our side, there won’t be anything to fear.”
“Humph,” she smirked, “-a mere officer thinks he has the authority to order that man around? Best not to strike a deal with the devil. Move against him and I guarantee everyone in attendance here,” she scanned around, “-will face judgment worse than I can imagine. How about this,” she spun, “-use my squad, I won’t get involved in the military’s affairs. Trying to weaponize the monsters is a hopeless endeavor. Keep treating the vigilantes badly and risk a coup d’état. The manager has a policy of live and let live. This is Odgawoan, not land ruled by the military,” the door slammed, ‘-idiot,’ she took flight.
“Insolence,” he punched the table, “-who does she think she is, openly threatening the military. I ought to rule with a silver hammer. Listen up, I don’t care about appearances anymore, have the operation move to the second state; use the bait and lure the bosses. A member of the Cobalt Unit has decided to join our research, understand?”
“Yes, sire!”
‘I’m ashamed at how corrupt the military is. At least I have him.’
Two bodies levitated on a bed of light. Scrolls and symbols went in a circle, the curse energy escaped in little increments. ‘-Researching a cure is tedious,’ face to a holographic display, ‘-the analysis isn’t even done. Every time I reach the end it changes; self-aware curses are the worse. Shouldn’t be surprised since it comes from Hades’ realm.’ Multiple strokes conjured a faint line, *Grant me knowledge, library of the all-knowing: Mantia.* ‘-the symbol’s unfinished, I forgot the stroke of life. Here,’ a gentle push carried the faint lines to the table where it split into identical copies. A small black hole above the wounded swallowed said symbol, ‘-final touches are done,’ head to the desk, *Release,* the light turned black then faded in a crackle of lightning. ‘-healing them is easier than finding a cure.’ Heavy footsteps ran up the stairs, “-IGNA, IM HERE!”
“Good morning Fia, what about the quest?” he stepped into the generously sized corridor.
“They pissed me off,” she pouted and made for the kitchen, “-make me something to eat, I’m angry.” The open-spaced upstairs split to have a containment room and research area while the opposite held a kitchen and rest area. A strong barrier went through the middle.
“What happened this time?” ingredients were made for the chopping board.
“The military has shown their true selves...” a press toggled the television, “-another murder?”
“Don’t condemn, are the military truly the military or an independent section of a greater body. Think about it, what’s been happening goes against Alphia’s citizenship rights.”
“No more, please,” she rebutted in annoyance, “-no politics, it hurts my brains.”
“-The reason why they walk over you,” a bowl slid across the counter, “-better earn your keep,” he smirked, “-clean those for me.”
“Fine,” she crawled to the sink, “-making a princess cook, have you no shame?”
“Hey, you ordered a meal from a prince, better keep up.”
“Always has to have the last word.”
*In other news, Count Gustav Oathtall of the humanitarian organization Green Light has taken a firm stance on condemning law enforcement’s way of dealing with crime. Here’s the report from Sandia M’karnie,* the scene shifted to a crowd-filled street, “-we mustn’t stand by and allow our youth to kill themselves in a pointless battle. Three days ago, four innocent high school students were killed in cold blood in an unfortunate exchange of gunfire. Stanley’s homage has become worse than a certain neighborhood. Law enforcement needs to take control of the situation, how many innocent lives must be lost until the populous wakes up. Green Light will lead in the campaign!”
“Yesterday, a mass gathering of like-minded individuals joined hands to protest against the growing violence. Though some oppose the movement vehemently, others say it’s a necessary action to reform the town.”
“The town’s turn to anarchy.”
“Lower the volume,” said Igna, “-they’ll keep on repeating the same things. The Chief of Police under close watch,” the stove toggled, “-we have our hands filled.”
“Igna, tell me, is there any chance we can win against the monsters?”
“Not in the least. The only way to win is fight fire with fire, an army against another army of monsters.”
“What if the Devil of Glenda takes to the battlefield?”
“Hard to say, it all depends on circumstances.”
*Thud, thud, thud,* “-Igna,” panted Meza, “-Henzh’s awake.”
“Good news then?”
“No, the eyes have turned black, he’s about to turn.”
“For the love of-” they dashed, ‘-he’s right, I feel the energy.’
Ginka and Kinka conjured barriers, “-he’s going to turn, get out, HINA!”
“No, I’m not leaving his side,” she buried her forehead into his, “-Henzh, look, it’s me, come on baby, remember who I am,” *grr* teeth sharpened, the transformation completed, ‘-baby...’
*BITE,* blood sprayed, “-idiot,” a frown had her in tears, sharp teeth dug into the neck, “-move back.”
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