⌏▫☆ Hwang EunHa◆▫. ¸

“Have you seen a spatial tear before?”

“No.”

“I’ve seen images of it. Not the real thing.”

A portal that leads to another new dimension. It’s something that can happen anytime, anywhere, a unique natural phenomena.

Some spatial tears were temporary, while some others derived from an unstable flux of energy may last decades or even centuries depending on how fast its resources are depleted.

“You’ve seen them from picture books?”

“Yeah, from picture books.”

“How about you, Mr. Liu?”

“Guys, know what? How about calling each other by first names? Don’t you think it’s a little distant to call each other by last names? Let’s be open here.”

Talk about charisma.

“Then, Liu ChaiWen, have you seen a spatial tear before?”

“That’s better, and er, no. I have not.”

“Hey, I think it’s cooked. Someone picked them up, I’ll toss in new ingredients.”

The soup was bubbling with fish pieces, mushroom, seaweed and tofu. I pushed new seaweed into the broth and grabbed a few slices of fish with my chopsticks.

Hotpot.

Ayumi suggested this for dinner. Everyone supported the decision.

“What do you think is inside of it?”

“Fish.”

“That’s not what I meant. I’m referring to the spatial tear!”

“Your death.”

“Son of a…”

The truth is, no one who had entered a spatial tear made it out to tell the end of it.

“I know you guys won’t do it, but seriously do not try to touch the tear alright, HaeLi-ssi? We don’t want to get into trouble.”

Ayumi said out of concern.

“Then we can at least try to throw a stick into it.”

“Hey, good idea!”

“It’s not everyday we get to see a real spatial tear you know?”

Still, the group was playful nonetheless. I took a sip of water.

“It’s a little late, but how about we introduce ourselves?”

I suggested.

With the exception of Ayumi, this was the first time I’m paired with the others in this squad. While I knew their names, I didn’t know much about their background.

“Self introductions… like what?”

“Oh, right. We still haven’t introduced ourselves.”

“Is that even necessary? You practically know our names right? And it’s even stitched on our uniforms.”

“I do think it’s important to have some background information of each individual to learn about their habits and personality. That way, it would be easier to resolve any conflict should it happen.”

“Well, that’s Commander Hwang’s daughter for you.”

Liu ChaiWen snapped his fingers.

“I think Hwang-nim is right, we should try to talk about ourselves a little.”

With Ayumi in support of my suggestion… the two Kims started off with their introduction.

“Alright boss. Then I’ll go first.”

Kim HaeLi and Kim Daiki. Both had the same first names, and if not for their introduction, I genuinely would’ve assumed they were siblings.

HaeLi-ssi joined the military because she wanted to one day become as brilliant as her elder sister, who held the position of a lieutenant. Feature-wise, HaeLi-ssi’s body was svelte, had sexy curves and voluptuous chests that I honestly admired.

Meanwhile, Daiki-ssi joined because he was simply interested in the military. It was a boy’s romance to sling guns and hunt down demons. He was the one with the wild hair and a rebellious vibe.

“Mr. ZhenKai?”

“My turn next? Alright.”

His voice had quite the nice ring to it.

Lin ZhenKai’s introduction was short and concise. Name, age, home, and purpose. He didn’t talk about his dreams, but he did speak about his admiration of those who had sacrificed themselves in battle.

“Alright. Nice to meet ya’al! My name is Liu ChaiWen!”

After that, we have the spry Liu ChaiWen. Dark brown hair, a low angled nose and tight chin. This guy… he’s the most handsome dude in our squad.

He said that he wanted to become an admiral someday. Besides basic military training, he was also actively keeping up with the latest information regarding ship operations, basic engineering and advanced CQC techniques.

As for Wang Ayumi…

“Um… can I talk about my favourite food instead?”

I was surprised Ayumi chose to close up about this.

“Is hotpot your favourite food then?”

“Eh, uh, yes. Thank you.”

HaeLi-ssi pulled the conversation elsewhere, the main topic went askew. I… should probably ask her why in private later.

“Last is the big shot herself, Hwang EunHa-nim. Please take it away.”

Daiki-ssi gestured towards me.

I sighed.

“To be fair at least, I’ll give an introduction even though I’m sure you lot already know who I am…”

And I didn’t need to even continue as they just exploded off into their imagination.

“Yes!”

“The daughter of the noble born Hell General!”

“Nobles don’t exist.”

“But she’s just got that air to her, you know?”

“You read too much into fantasy.”

The Hell General? Is that what the people think of my father?

“Hey, Hwang EunHa-nim, I know it sounds ridiculous, but I’ve heard that you can fly? Is that true?”

At Daiki-ssi’s question, their gazes deepened.

Naturally, a frown began forming on my face.

“Yes.”

I didn’t feel like lying was a good option here.

“So the rumours were true!”

Besides being the daughter of an influential figure, I was born special—to put it in other words, I’m a mutant.

This concludes the introduction of the surveillance squad.

.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*☆▫.-⌎

⁛ Origin Year 134, 11th of GuYu.

“Private Hwang EunHa reporting!”

“Cadet Kim HaeLi reporting!”

“Cadet Kim DaiKi present!”

“Cadet Liu ChaiWen reporting for duty!”

“Cadet Lin ZhenKai reporting!”

“Cadet Wang Ayumi reporting for duty! All members present sergeant!”

“Good. Ease up.”

“““Op!!”””

I am Hwang EunHa. An E-3 private in the ranks of the 1st United Army. I believe myself as an outstanding individual among the peers of my group.

It’s my dream and privilege to serve humanity as a soldier.

“Cadet Wang Ayumi.”

Sergeant Pang will be our squad leader for this coming operation.

“You will be second in command. Ensure that everyone is prepared and equipped to head out by tomorrow. Be here in the morning at 5 am sharp. I want no delays, understand?”

“Sir! May I speak my thoughts?”

Ayumi raised a question.

“What is it?”

“Why did you anoint me instead of Private Hwang EunHa?”

I’m clearly the most experienced cadet in the interim squad.

So why exactly did he choose Ayumi?

“I believe it is important to give equal chances to everyone.”

He said. Then turning to me.

“Private Hwang, you have no problems with my decision I hope?”

“No sir.”

And there we have it. I also trust Ayumi. She and I have been squad mates in a number of past missions, so I was comfortable with her taking the lead in this.

“Right. So does anyone else have any questions regarding our mission for tomorrow? You may speak.”

“No sir!”

“No questions here sir!”

“Even if we do have any questions, it’s not too late to ask it when it happens. Right?”

“Questions are always welcomed. In any case—squad!!”

“““Op!!”””

“Fall out!!”

“““Op!!”””

The mission tomorrow was simple. A regular scouting of a spatial fracture in the mountain forest of HuaShang Outpost. It’s a routine thing the military guarding this island has to do twice per week.

The difficulty of this mission was… negligible. No more than a simple hike.

“Private Hwang, stay back for a bit.”

“Yes?”

I was just about to leave the field when Sergeant Pang called out. Ayumi, and the other squad members had their gazes on me.

“Hwang Eunha-nim. We’ll see you at base.”

Ayumi said, prodding the rest to leave along with her.

“Alright. Thank you Ayumi.”

I turned to the Sergeant once their presence had left.

He scratched his dark blue hair awkwardly.

“Well. Where should I begin…”

“Maybe we can begin by telling me what do you want to talk about, sergeant?”

“Then, how about the recent battle at Horyuji?”

…The Battle of Horyuji. Seriously?

“I heard that you contributed the most in the fight?”

What? Me? No.

That’s a farce. A damn lie.

“I’m sorry, but I think you’re greatly mistaken…”

Before I could finish speaking, Sergeant Pang abruptly placed his hand on my shoulders.

“It’s not your fault.”

I bit the inner side of my lips.

“Now then. I hope you use that experience of yours to help sharpen the senses of your squadmates. This mission isn’t as dangerous as the one you fell into last time, so you can take it easy.”

“Are all sergeants as nonchalant as you?”

“How many times do you think I’ve walked that trail with you greenhorns, huh?”

“Yeah…”

“Be sure to tell the rest to do their best. I may seem like this, but I’m quite strict, you know?”

“Alright.”

How I wished that was the case. A sergeant like him, how strict could he be?

¸☆▫.-⌎.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*

“Wah. The room here is better than expected!”

We were finally assigned a temporary dormitory after the brief roll call. HaeLi-ssi squealed in excitement and jumped right on the bed.

A cabin of six. The exact number to fit the squad of us.

“I’ll be taking this lower bed.”

“I’ll take the top then.”

“You guys pick the beds, it’s not like we’re going to be here forever. I’ll take this desk instead!”

“Then I’ll pick this cupboard! Perfect for my clothes!”

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a dorm this lively. How characteristic of them. I turned to Ayumi.

“Which bed are you going to take?”

“Well, how about that one?”

The bunk beds were triple deckers, and the arrangement resolved into one side male, one side female. I took the highest bed on the girl’s side.

“Say, do you guys play games before you sleep?”

Daiki-ssi asked.

“You play games?”

“Cards, dice, board games.”

“No. I usually read a good book.”

“What book?”

“Prana Mechanics.”

“No, no. I’m not good with those.”

Mr. ChaiWen, sounding like a smart ass, had his nose buried in his study. Left was Daiki-ssi and HaeLi-ssi playing cards in the business of gambling their possessions away.

Mr. ZhenKai took his towel.

“Then I’ll go take a bath, see you guys.”

And left first.

That prompted me to think the same.

“Ayumi?”

I called out to our squad’s leader-in-command. She was silently tucked away in the middle bunk, already busy drawing away on a sketchbook.

“A-y-u-m-i…”

I called out to her again, at a closer distance this time.

She blankly lifted her head to look at me. With a delayed response…

“Ah, yes, what is it?”

“…What are you drawing?”

“Drawing.”

After a miffed delay, she flashed her sketchbook towards me.

Clothing designs, gun parts, and mechanical joints. Concept sketches as they were called. For the level of details she puts into her sketches, these random doodles were nothing to scoff at.

“They’re good.”

“Haha. Thanks.”

“Ms. Ayumi, EunHa-nim, you should join us! The game is getting quite heated!”

Sorry Daiki-ssi. Not interested.

“No, it’s alright.”

“Come on! Just one round!”

“Ayumi, want to go to the bath house with me?”

Staying here would only create more nuisance, so I thought maybe it would be better if we left.

“Ah, hold on, I just want to complete this last part—”

It’s been a while since I last saw Ayumi properly. I wanted to ask how she was doing.

-☆▫.-▫.｡.:* ▫⌎.☆\*: .｡ ▫.-

The place was steamy and busy, with many females wrapped in a cloth or nothing at all, chatting away with one another. I’d have no conversation partner otherwise if I didn’t have Ayumi by my side.

“Uh, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I offered to clean Ayumi’s hair.

Her hair was a beautiful shade of moonlight blue. Straight at the base, and then slightly curly at the fringe. I don’t think she permed her hair, how unusual.

“Your hair is beautiful, you know that right?”

Being so close and seeing just how tiny she was made me question how she carried so much military equipment with such a small body.

“Y-You think so?”

“I really think so. If you let it grow a little longer, I think you can go to the salon and tell them to curl your hair. It would suit you.”

Ayumi’s hair slightly touched her shoulder. For a girl, it was neither long nor short.

She then lowered her head and said.

“EunHa-ssi. I’m sorry if I can’t fulfil my role as the leader well.”

I’ve been her superior in past missions. So this is the first time she held a position above mine.

Still, I don’t think she should devalue herself in this way.

“Personally, I think you’ll do fine as a leader.”

“But I… I’m still inexperienced. Not like you.”

“What do you mean? I’m still a greenhorn, you know?”

I mean it really. After all, we were still budding cadets. The learning process is still long.

“You were there at the Battle of Horyuji, right? When I heard the story I was afraid that… you would definitely quit the military after going through all that, but it seems…”

“…It’s not a lie that I almost gave up…”

“…You’re still here, standing.”

What people assume to be a heroic tale of sacrifice was a mistake that cost that many lives.

“Was it scary?”

She asked.

Was it scary?

To be frank, it was horrifying.

“I’m glad you managed to survive.”

“…Thank you.”

My head hurts.

Ayumi turned around and looked at me. Her gaze held me.

“My brother died.”

Sky blue hair, turquoise eyes, that same sleepy look. If only she wore her glasses like Chief Wang then… ah.

“Can you tell me what happened that day?”

How didn’t I not notice, she is…

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

Cloud Hives are giant nests of corrupted marine life. They congregate and turn themselves into a self containing ecosystem, one that was parasitic in nature.

The common laws of prey and predator don’t obey in a Cloud Hive’s ecosphere. Normal marine life like Cloud Sharks and Sky Tuna that were supposed to be in a prey-predator relationship will work together once infected to expand the hive as if guided by some inherent ordinance.

It happened around five months ago.

Bearing 34∘, 30 kilometres out from Horyuji Outpost, a Cloud Hive which spanned several kilometres had been detected. A team was sent to perform reconnaissance in order to gather information about the Cloud Hive. It was an emergency that required utmost attention.

A queen-class demonica had leaked past the Second Stratum defence line and built a nest in the Third Stratum. This was the first time a Hive of this scale had been seen here. So a reconnaissance team was sent to do a pre-assessment.

The operation consisted of nothing more than to complete some measurements and composition diagnostics off the coast of the Horyuji’s Satellite region.

I was meant to be a witness in the battle of Horyuji, not a participant.

But my brother put me on spot. So against my better judgement, I took Chief Wang KeZhi’s offer and joined the scouting mission.

They said it was safe, so it didn’t make sense.

…Even though they were all veteran soldiers at their peak.

…Even though the plans were perfect.

Some unknown factor just had to creep in and ruin everything.

That factor was me.

I was the only one who survived in the end.

¸☆▫.-⌎.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*

⁛ Origin Year 134, 14th of Hana.

5 months ago.

“Cheer up. I’m sure he didn’t mean what he said.”

Chief Wang KeZhi said, trying to console me.

“There’s no way that’s true. My brother has hated me since birth.”

I was sulking while sitting atop a rock.

“Well, uh… even if he did mean it, we’re here to prove him wrong aren’t we?”

“I’m still dead weight to the squad though.”

We were at Observation Point 1, located near the ridge of a small satellite island closest to our ship. While Chief Wang and I talked, the rest of the reconnaissance squad were busy studying the Cloud Hive.

“Sergeant Wang, I believe we need to move closer. There are a few demonica species we were unable to identify, and the location of the queen remains unknown. The Cloud Hive seems to have formed an unusual cluster-grape shape.”

“An unusual cluster-grape shape?”

Curious, I stole one of the unused binoculars and checked with my own two eyes.

Sure enough, the black mass looked like a bunch of round balls stuck together. It was rather disgusting.

“I can’t even tell what creatures those are.”

“Of course you can’t. You need to look at it from the telescope.”

Chief Wang chopped my head lightly. Ouch.

“What do you suggest sir?”

“Observation Point 4.”

Our airship was hidden by the coverage of the satellite islands to avoid alerting the Hive. If we wanted to get any closer, we could only move forward by foot.

The day turned orange, twilight settled in with the passing of time. Thanks to the proximity between the small satellite islands, moving from one observation point to another simply involved hopping from one island to the next.

“This is… troubling.”

However, we faced a problem in the final jump between two islands. The gap in height between our current island and the target was way too extreme.

“Let’s wait one day and see. The temperature difference may cause the islands to shift.”

“Then let’s camp here.”

High temperatures cause the island to ascend, low temperatures cause the islands to descend. The smaller the island, the greater the fluctuation in elevation.

That’s the simplified version of how it works. A more scientific explanation would be as follows:

Islands all contain a core of prana. Prana is a naturally occurring material that converts temperature to directional kinetic energy. Of course, it’s important to remember that temperature is also a form of kinetic energy.

So equation-wise, we would have:

Molecular kinetic energy (100%) -> General kinetic energy (~102%).

The conversion process happens through a complex quantum process known as ‘shifting’. The details of this I have yet to comprehend. What I do know is that the ‘shifting’ process is affected by the sum of ionic potential, which in simple terms would be electric potential. The greater the ionic potential, the higher the in-the-moment ‘conversion rate’.

At night, the atmosphere’s general ionic potential decreases because of temperature.

So because of this, the ‘conversion rate’ reduces, leading to a lower output of kinetic energy, causing the general descent of the islands.

Smaller islands are more sensitive to this change because the prana cores are typically much smaller than larger islands. The volume-to-surface area ratio of the prana cores has an effect on the proportion of ‘conversion rate’.

“Are we not going to start a campfire?”

I asked.

We were having our MRE in the dark. I felt uncomfortable because of it.

“It’s best not.”

Chief Wang explained.

“Some demonica are sensitive to light. So until we have a clear gauge on the Hive composition, I would advise not.”

“But didn’t you confirm that there’s no demonica around this region?”

“It’s better safe than sorry.”

He answered seriously.

“Alright.”

But it’s annoying.

Yet what can we do? This is a mission of high importance, not some simple cadet expedition.

I went to bed early.

While they took turns as sentinels. I was told to sleep through the whole night.

When dawn broke, I woke up and washed my face.

When we checked again, a visible shift between the height of the two islands was seen. But unfortunately the difference was still too great to cross over.

“What do we do now?”

“We’ll try an alternative path.”

“Chief Wang, how about we try this instead?”

I kicked my boots and ignited the prana inside me. Leaving a breath of white mist, my feet lifted off the ground.

“I can fly a little. So I’ll try tie a rope and let it down for you from up there.”

“…What?”

“Since when… oh, right. There were rumours, weren’t they?”

“Why didn’t you tell us yesterday then… you wrench.”

“W-Well! It was too high yesterday! This height is more manageable!”

The gobsmacked expression of the squad was a pleasant surprise. I flew upwards and tied the nylon-composite rope around a tree.

“It’s done, catch!”

“Are you sure it’s tight enough?!”

They shouted at me from this distance.

“You can test it with a weight… but I guarantee it!”

They hadn’t much of a problem climbing it.

That said, in order to save time, only Chief Wang and Sergeant Ko crossed over. The rest stayed back to prepare for a speedy return.

“Let’s not take too long.”

“Right.”

We made it to the next ridge, finally arriving at Observation Point 4. The telescope was taken out of its case, Chief Wang began inspecting the hive and …

“Sergeant Ko. Code Yellow. List this quick, Lionfish, various small fishes, Shrimp Horde, Moray Eels, Red Sharks, Ash Dolphins—”

“What?”

What’s Code Yellow?

I picked up the binocular hanging around my neck and checked the Hive.

“…Huh?”

A black mass was coming our way.

And fast.

“—Sirens. Okay, let’s go.”

“At once.”

They quickly packed up the items and ran.

I, being the only confused one, chased after them.

“W-We got noticed?”

“Apparently so. Quick. This way.”

“Sergeant, we’ll leave the ropes.”

“Ms. Hwang, tell them we’re on Code Yellow. Prepare your weapons, we’re heading back to ship.”

“Understood!”

My veins sparkled faintly as prana burned within me.

The temperature change had made the islands shift. With the height difference widened, it was even scarier now compared to then.

But… this wasn’t a time to panic.

Leaping off, I controlled my prana emission carefully and finally landed.

“Code Yellow!”

I shouted.

“““Received.”””

They responded as if they had been trained for it. The squad’s expressions changed at once.

We left the camp baggage behind and only moved with the important equipment and guns. When Chief Wang and Sergeant Ko arrived, we made a break into the coral forests.

Run. Flee. There wasn’t much time to ponder so much.

Before, we arrived at Observation Point 4 mostly descending. However, to return to basepoint we would have to ascend.

“We’ve not secured our return route, how should we…”

“I’ll help!”

I leapt between the gaps and secured the ropes between the many islands in our ascent.

“I’ll tie the next one in advance!”

“Alright. Go!”

Prompted by Chief Wang, I went ahead and secured our route for the last connecting island.

And then… the forest went completely silent. A certain chill that tingled my spine.

“…What was that…”

I felt something.

Something…

Click.

I released the safety pin of my Glock.

I pointed towards the space between a gap in the canopy. The light shining through the spaces of the leaves. I squinted my eyes.

A flicker of the shadow. I pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang!

A great rustling of leaves.

Bang!

A wave of eels. I fled as I fired.

Each bullet skewered the enemies as I had calculated. But a magazine of twelve couldn’t have possibly dealt with a swarm of twenty. I ejected the current magazine and loaded the next one.

Fins tinted in red, its skins protruding with blackish scales and eyes like rubies—an Ash Dolphin rushed in. Dodging to the side, the dolphin then let out a high pitched squeal.

Giiiiiiii—!

“Ngh?!”

The noise loudly reverberated in my inner ear.

It was painful.

Pushing against the nausea, I pulled the trigger on my Glock and killed the dolphin with two bullets to the brain.

I exhaled as if vomiting. The eels caught up with me and knocked me over.

“AHHH!!!”

They bit into my uniform. Their teeth failed to penetrate the fabric but I could feel the bite pressure.

“Damn you fuck…!”

Their bodies squirmed on top of mine, pressing me down.

I ignited my prana and forced myself to fly upwards. In the air I shot down the eels, each as large as my arm, and killed the remainder with a knife.

“…Huh?!”

I should’ve died there but… I didn’t?

What the hell kind of behaviour was that?

“Ms. Hwang!”

“Chief!”

“…You.”

“I’m fine! We need to get going.”

“…Right, let’s go. Good work.”

Seeing the corpses littered on the ground, and the bloody mess of my uniform, if he couldn’t tell as much I’d have prescribed him new glasses.

The rest of the squad arrived looking just as shocked as he was. But we hadn’t the time to lose.

The infected eels were just the beginning.

We quickly crossed the gap between two more islands and ran following the trail we came from previously when…

~♪

“!!!”

“This song… wait!”

If it wasn’t worse, as if on time a shark stuck down through the canopy up top.

I pushed Chief Wang out of it’s course and backed off. The shark, missing its target, slammed into the earth with its snout broken.

The squad opened fire, we killed the shark but the singing…

~♪

Light was leaving everyone’s eyes. The brief opening the shark created had won out. Before anyone could put on their earplugs we were already all bound by the siren’s spell.

What’s more to say… huh? No, hold on. I’m unaffected?

“Chief?!”

I shook his shoulders.

“Chief Wang!”

Rustle~!

A second shark shot out of the bush. Immediately, it decapitated one of the female soldiers which had been bound by the siren spell.

I stood there, dazed.

The blood that spilled everywhere, spreading…

What did I just see…

She died.

“W-Wha…”

She just died.

We’re all going to die.

…Get a hold of yourself EunHa!

I tore the rifle gun off Chief Wang and pulled the trigger.

“!!!”

With the current state of the situation, my greatest concern would be breaking the spell. Alone, it would be impossible to cover for all five of them.

The earlier I kill the siren fucker the greater than chances of their survival.

The panicked firing of ammunition managed to tear into the shark which had killed one of our allies.

~♪~♪

On beat, more demonica-turned dolphins, sharks and eels rushed towards us.

Click.

I sprayed the gun, and immediately cleared a path.

Click—!

I flipped the gun and jammed it into the mouth of an incoming shark. It was useless now without access to the magazine.

A shadow loomed, instincts reacted faster than my mind. I escaped the jaws of the eels by a quick acceleration into the air.

Bursting through the canopy of leaves, I saw it.

The siren amidst the small Split Hive of demonica, singing. Tens of hundreds of eels, fishes, dolphins, sharks… there were even killer whales among them.

I pulled out my measly Glock and pulled the trigger. Repeatedly.

The demonica acted like voluntary shields and took the hit to protect their ‘queen’.

“Damn it!”

The siren stopped singing and looked at me.

Lustrous black hair, blood red eyes. Fin-like ears, and horns protruding from the head. A lithe naked upper body and a gorgeous tail covered in black scales. She was as beautiful as folk-lore made her out to be. But…

“DIIEE ALREADY!!!”

Stuck in a life or death escapade. I hadn’t the mind to enjoy the sight.

From Ash Dolphins that covered her using itself as a meatshield, to Red Sharks that threatened to amputate my arm.

Using everything I learnt from flight control training, I weaved in and out of an omni-directional assault by multiple demonica.

My gun ran out of ammo. I wanted to reload.

And in that slip of concentration, an eel bit into my hair, completely screwing my balance.

“GHH!?”

A dolphin rammed into me. I fell towards the trees. Eels surrounded my body and restrained me.

“Damn it what the fuck!?”

All in the presence of the siren’s mindful watch. I was being crucified in the air.

“𐌸𐌰𐍃𐌺𐌿𐌾, 𐌹𐌲𐌽𐌳𐌰𐌷 𐌰𐌽𐌾𐍆 𐌴𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌿𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌲.”

I’m dead.

I’m supposed to be dead.

But why aren’t they killing me?

I’m completely vulnerable.

“𐌱𐌹𐌸𐍃𐍉𐍂 𐍃𐍀𐌰 𐌼𐌹 𐍆𐍂 𐍆𐍉 𐌱𐌹𐌿𐌰𐌹?”

Is the siren trying to talk to me?

I couldn’t understand a single word.

“𐌿𐌻𐌰𐍂 𐌼𐌰𐍈𐌽𐌰.”

Cackle, cackle.

—!

“AHHHH???!”

A dolphin’s shriek from directly behind pierced my head. The pain made my world go completely white.

Alive… why am I still alive? Why are they keeping me alive? It hurt. What was going on even? I can’t even think straight. I realised then I had most probably lost. It was bound to happen one day anyways.

BANG.

A spray of light blue blood exploded from the side of the siren’s head. And then a barrage of well-aimed bullets that pierced holes into the side of the eels that held me, and the dolphin behind.

Body limp, unable to do anything, I entered a freefall.

Breaking the canopy branches, bruising all parts of my body I didn’t know—I thought I was dead… until someone cushioned my fall.

In my hazy consciousness, I witnessed the person who tried to save me… slowly die from being crushed underneath.

“I…m sor.”

Sergeant Ko’s last words.

“Let’s go!”

“Damn it! Sergeant Ko! I’ll help you up!”

Chief Sergeant Wang pulled me up and carried me on his back. Meanwhile another soldier tried to help Sergeant Ko but… only blood pooled all over the ground.

“Chief Sergeant he’s…”

“Leave him! We can’t afford to lose another one!”

““Received!””

Two had died.

One from a shark. The other one by me.

They could only leave the corpses behind, because we were still being chased.

As eels charged in, and sharks weaved in from the flank… one, two soldiers more disappeared. It was only me and the Chief left.

I was still trying to grasp reality.

The siren’s appearance was the surprise that nailed our demise. But in the same breath, the only reason the siren would’ve come in the first place was because of: me.

I brought them death.

“Ms. Hwang I…”

I’m truly sorry. He let me down from his back.

I realised I could stand, though a little wobbly.

“Run.”

Run?

“Escape. To the ship.”

He said, with an unflinching gaze. Based on our current location, it was only a little further away.

But not far enough that we’d reach in five minutes.

“No… I’ll… fight.”

Talent? So what? You’re still useless on the battlefield.

Those very words that brought me here. My brother’s sneer.

Let’s prove him wrong.

Chief Wang’s kindness.

To prove him wrong…

I must… at least make sure Chief Sergeant survives.

If I can’t do even that then…

“Hwang EunHa. Make sure this sees to safety…”

I’m a failure.

“…This is an order.”

Everyone…

Died…

I…

Can’t just…

Leave everyone…

“…Please.”

A failure.

The briefcase containing all the information obtained from the scouting mission. It was now in my hands.

The final objective of the mission… the last torch.

I had the responsibility of bringing them back.

Their legacy.

-☆▫.-▫.｡.:* ▫⌎.☆\*: .｡ ▫.-

“Your brother, Chief Wang, died protecting me.”

Ayumi and I, having just finished our bath, took a stroll out under the night sky. The cold air was a nice contrast to our warm bodies.

She remained silent for a good portion of the walk.

I hated it.

For the sake of those that died having kept me alive… it was wrong for their deaths to embellish whatever fake heroism the military believed I displayed. The only thing I did was bring back the data they entrusted me with.

I was no hero. It was an excuse to keep me alive.

I wanted atonement. To have more and more people learn of the real story, so that someone would tell me that I was wrong. To relieve this guilt. This… agony, I was the one who killed them.

Hit me. Get angry at me. Scream at me.

“EunHa-ssi.”

I killed your brother. I killed your family. I am the sinner.

You have every reason to judge me…

“…It’s not your fault.”

“…?”

What?

“The Cloud Hive may have just been moving in your direction. There’s no proof or evidence to show that you were the one they were aiming for. What made you think that they were targeting you anyways?”

Resistance against the effects of a serenade.

Being spared from death multiple times.

The siren that tried to communicate with me.

A human with the ability to…

“Just because you can fly?”

Ayumi looked deep into my eyes.

“Do you really believe that you’re at fault just because you can fly?”

I’m at fault.

I’m the one who caused their death.

I held them back because I was their most important target to protect.

“You were the one who saved my brother’s legacy. If you hadn’t used your ability to fly in order to warn the others, what do you think would’ve happened to the whole fleet? Have you taken into account your own contributions? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Ever?”

I attracted the attention of the Hive.

I attracted them with my ability, my prana, no doubt.

Had I just sucked up my brother’s words and not joined the mission…

“EunHa. Have some compassion for yourself.”

Her words struck my heart like a hammer.

You were supposed to say that I’m guilty.

Scold me,

Scream at me,

Strangle me…

“Y-You’re wrong.”

“Then prove it.”

I wanted to believe that Ms. Ayumi was right.

I wanted to believe that Ms. Ayumi was wrong.

I shouldn’t have listened.

I shouldn’t have admitted…

Her eyes remained fixed on me without flinching.

That unflinching gaze. It was exactly the same as that of Chief Sergeant to which I owed my life to.

Truly.

“I’m sor…”

She suddenly jumped at me. Her arms wrapped tight around.

Under the light of the lamp, under the skies in which the stars and galaxies blossomed. Without saying a word, she wept.

For I was the person her brother saved. The person who would prove her wrong.

-☆▫.-▫.｡.:* ▫⌎.☆\*: .｡ ▫.-

⁛ Origin Year 134, 12th of GuYu.

P-SCAR rifle check.

Modified Glock 17 check.

PRANA-type AWP check.

A few PP-grenades and a machete.

“You’re going to bring a sniper?”

“It’s my favourite gun.”

“Wow, it’s huge. Won’t it be a burden to carry?”

“Part of training, I guess.”

I’m not bringing a spare magazine for my AWP. My AWP holds ten rounds, the average effective distance is between 500 metres to 800 metres. I doubt I’ll be using it during the hike but I’m bringing it because it looks cool.

Ayumi and Kim HaeLim-ssi’s loadout was much simpler. A pistol and rifle, that’s all.

“All good?”

“How about the boys?”

“Lazy pricks.”

Kim Daiki and Lin ZhenKai were still asleep. The only one currently awake was Liu ChaiWen.

“All good.”

Mr. ChaiWen said, confirming his loadout.

“Kick their butts.”

HaeLi-ssi commanded with an orc’s face.

“Okay.”

He smacked the other two boys awake with his mud-stained boots. I couldn’t help but notice a little squiggle to Ayumi’s forced smile.

¸☆▫.-⌎.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*

Vines and moss hung off tree canopies, colourful coral plants growing between the thick roots of massive trees. The gurgling of some of the bubble coral accompanied the clicking sounds of snapping shrimp, notifying me of the wilderness we were currently in.

Still, the hike up the mountains wasn’t that hard. There were dirt track roads that made the trail much easier to follow. It also showed that the outpost was equipped with land vehicles available should anything happen. But normally, for an inspection like this, they would do it by airship.

The only reason why they weren’t allowing us the convenience of using the airship was because we were treating this as training.

I heard the spatial tear site was right beside a shallow stream quite deep into the forest.

“You kids have become quiet. What’s wrong?”

Sergeant Pang asked.

“How much longer do we have?”

“It’s boring.”

“EunHa-nim, don’t you feel tired?”

“Not really.”

“No fair.”

We’re not even half-way there yet, and HaeLi-ssi was complaining.

“Isn’t this how it normally goes?”

“Same as marching.”

“You lot should really experience the real thing some day. Only then will you understand just how lucky you are.”

I think the sergeant is the noisy one. The only sounds we should be producing were crunching footsteps. And even that should be kept to a minimum.

“Then how about we play a game?”

Sergeant asked.

“Seriously?”

“If you don’t deduct points for our examination performance.”

“Then how about if I add points?”

“Good!”

“I don’t like the sound of this…”

“Whoever comes up with the most interesting story will earn themselves one point.”

“One point out of a hundred? Seriously…”

“That’s stingy.”

“You guys are the stingy ones.”

Sergeant Pang clicked his tongue.

“At least curb the boredom here.”

“Wait a second, aren’t we out in the open right now right? Then EunHa-nim, can you show us your flying?”

“No.”

“Eh? Why?”

“Because I’ll attract demonica.”

“There are no demonica here. Relax.”

“It’s better safe than sorry.”

“Awh…”

“Ugh. Fine. Fine. When we return, I’ll show it to you guys once.”

“Yes!”

I wish everyone would forget about it.

Heaving a sigh, Ayumi and I exchanged glances once. Her lips seemed to lift a little.

¸☆▫.-⌎.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*

“Alright, we’re here!”

“This is a river?”

“I don’t see anything though?”

“Look! A giant crab!”

“Be careful… those claws will come aiming at your nuts if you’re not careful.”

“Ew! What the hell are you saying?!”

Everyone seemed excited.

“I’ll take you to the spatial tear tomorrow, it’s not too far from here. For now, let’s assume you need to set up camp and take a break.”

Sergeant Pang said.

“Boo. No fair!”

“How is this unfair? I’m suggesting a break for your sake. Minus marks.”

“Ah?! Stingy!”

“Now then. Cadet Ayumi, I’ll leave the rest to you. If any help is required, you can reach out to me over there. However, I will factor that into your individual performance. So I’d suggest handling things by yourself, and only question the things that are of serious concern. Understood”

“A-Alright!”

Her fake smile is failing. Okay, let’s do a quick check.

“We all brought our basic camp supplies, right?”

“Here is mine.”

“Then we’ll start with setting up a base.”

The sky was ripening into an orange hue.

“It’s getting dark.”

I hinted. I’m afraid that we wouldn’t make it for a meal if we don’t cook now.

“We still need to create a campfire.”

Campfire… in the original curriculum, nothing was said against building a campfire. However, Chief Wang’s explanation still rang clear in my mind.

“Sergeant Pang, I have a question.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I know we’ve been taught to set up a base with a campfire to prepare our meals, however, I was told once by a sergeant that creating a campfire will only attract the attention of demonica. Do we assume this is a demonica free zone as it currently is, or do we actually assume it is an unexplored region?”

Minimal light would be used to blend in with the night. Avoid attracting any unnecessary eyes.

“What do you think?”

Fuck you and your smirk. I need proper answers here.

“Sergeant, I’m not trying to joke. Serious here.”

“We’ve done checks just a week earlier. There were no signs of demonica anywhere. Even recent reports would suggest so.”

“Alright.”

Then I’ll assume that this is a demonica-free zone, judging from how confident the sergeant was with his info.

“Guys, I’ll go find some firewood. You guys set up your tents first.”

“Alright!”

“What? Will you be alright going alone?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Then I’ll help you set up your tent.”

“I don’t think it’s wise to go alone so… I’ll go with you.”

“I don’t mind.”

I dropped my bags and only brought my Glock with me. I need the extra hands free to scavenge for dry materials. Ayumi and I entered the woods with an expandable bag and rope strap each.

Most coral are calcium-based, so they weren’t suitable for combustion. However, some species of sponge could help, those are flammable like cotton.

Or maybe dry seaweed or kelp. Yeah. I remember seeing those.

“I think we can head straight for that to collect dry seaweed. I know a kelp forest nearby.”

Nightfall was approaching, time was of the essence, we didn’t have time to try our luck finding sticks.

Ayumi stopped just when I was about to enter a shadowy field.

“Did you bring a flashlight…?”

She asked, her voice hesitant.

“No. I didn’t.”

“Uh… maybe we should go back and bring a flashlight?”

“Are you afraid of the dark by chance?”

She was accountable, but also rather timid. This wasn’t the first time she stopped me because of fear.

I held her hand.

“EunHa… sorry.”

“No. It’s not your fault. Let’s go together.”

I’ve been with her for so long, yet I didn’t know anything about her past.

It was because of her brother that I’m alive today.

It wasn’t right to assume anything. It wasn’t right to find fault with someone I should be thanking.

We reached the kelp forest quickly. The thick canopy made the place dark as if night had already fallen.

With my ears scanning, I held my eyes shut for a full minute, allowing them to get accustomed to the dark. The grounds became scarcely visible after that.

“Ms. Ayumi, we’ll be picking up the dry seaweed now.”

“O-Okay.”

She was afraid. She had always been afraid. Yet she chose to work in this field.

As I wrapped the dry kelp into a bundle, I glanced over in her direction.

She was entranced by the small puddle of glowing coral. The small plankton, usually invisible to the naked eye, began to glow as they fed on the microparticles being released by the coral.

Seeing the sight, I came to the thought that sincerely… Ayumi really wasn’t suited for the bloody nature of war.

“Ayumi, can I ask… why exactly did you join the military?”

“…”

She was silent. But after a bit, she spoke. Her response was… somewhat as I expected.

“It’s not like I wanted to.”

She was forced into the field. Being the only child left in her family.

“My brother promised me that he would support my dreams. I was… actually going to leave the military.”

Born into an authoritarian family that idealised military achievements, Ayumi wasn’t interested in fighting.

She was interested in design. She liked beautiful things. She admired gadgets like guns, the way the pieces function, the way things are put together.

She wanted to support the world with her ideas. Still part of the military, but from the back lines.

Inventions and ideas that would save the lives of those that risk their own in the battlefield.

Her dreams were noble but far out. Like the galaxies and stars in the unreachable skies. She could never attain it. She could never attain it because she lost her only hope.

Her brother… died because of me.

“I know I don’t belong here. I know I’m incompetent, unhelpful… but what can I do? I can’t do anything. I have no other options.”

I don’t know how to put into words this feeling tearing away my heart. But one thing was for certain: fate plays tricks with people.

“Thanks for telling me.”

“I should be thanking you for listening to me.”

“Ayumi. I promise.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, I promise.”

After this mission, I will do everything in my power to help you achieve your dreams.

My father should know of people that are part of the weapon processing industry. If not him then the Saint.

The world is in need of creative minds like…

Chills.

My head snapped in the direction of the dark. Further… somewhere further, just beyond the visible boundary… something.

It was the same sensation I felt back during the reconnaissance mission. I touched the handle of my Glock.

“…Ayumi. We shouldn’t stay here too long.”

“Ah, yeah!”

“And lower your voice.”

“…”

She shuddered, probably catching on to my hint. I held her shivering hand.

With rolls of dry kelp on our shoulders, we fled. I kept glancing back, kept questioning, kept wondering.

We came out of the kelp forest and entered the sparse coral-woodlands. Out of the dark, the evening rays of orange light were like a grand welcome back to safe haven.

We both heaved a sigh.

“We’re out. Thank God.”

“Yeah. Thank God.”

The chills I felt… they had never been wrong.

But it didn’t attack us. I never saw any hints of movement or any bristle of sound, which made it hard to debunk my intuition. Either way, I have to notify Sergeant Pang about this.

At camp, HaeLi-ssi and Daiki-ssi were complaining about who should start the fire. The tents had all been raised, the bonfire’s base had been built with chunks of rock.

In the end, I decided to do it. The dry kelp Ayumi and I procured made the process much easier. Then we began preparing our MRE.

We didn’t exactly actually need the campfire to warm the food as it came ready with an exothermic pack. In a way, the campfire was only built for comfort purposes.

“So you don’t suggest starting a campfire?”

“No. Which is why I’m in a dilemma. Why would they still recommend building a fire when it’s dangerous?”

“So should we extinguish it?”

Everyone turned to Ayumi.

“Let it naturally die out.”

For now at least, her suggestion was for the best.

“Here’s the bag for the trash.”

“Thanks!”

Daiki-ssi opened up a gelatin-based plastic bag and threw his stuff inside before handing it out to us.

“Looks like you guys are doing well. Good. Keep it up.”

Sergeant Pang came to our camp and nodded with delight.

“Have you eaten, Sergeant?”

Mr. ChaiWen asked.

“I’ll do it later.”

“Where are you going to sleep?”

“There. Don’t you see my tent?”

Sergeant pointed to an elevated rock formation not too far away.

I then turned to Ayumi and asked.

“Ayumi, do you want to sleep with me tonight?”

We each had individual tents, but considering what she just went through…

“Ah, no it’s alright…”

“What’s this? What’s this?”

Mr. ChaiWen dug his nose in between our conversation.

“Nothing to do with you.”

This matter is between us girls.

“Remember to arrange your shifts tonight. I won’t be awake all night, so don’t just rely on me if a night eel shows up to steal your stuff.”

Sergeant advised.

“Then could we be in the same shift… Hwang EunHa-nim?”

Ayumi asked.

“Since you’re our leader, it’s fine for you to decide right?”

“Yes!”

The pair was decided on a biassed whim.

Me and Ms. Ayumi.

HaeLi-ssi and Mr. ZhenKai

Daiki-ssi, and Mr. ChaiWen.

“EunHa-nim, I’ve been meaning to ask but… Can I just call you EunHa?”

“Yes? Of course, I don’t know why you even call me using an honorific to begin with. We’re the same age.”

“Then… thanks EunHa.”

Ayumi giggled. Cute and cheeky, like an axolotl.

Yeah.

Some people are just built differently.

Ayumi and I took the first shift. Taking this opportunity while the rest were already asleep, I went to Sergeant Pang. I left Ayumi behind for a short while. I didn’t want to create panic.

“Sergeant, I have something to report.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“There’s a possibility that there are demonica nearby.”

“What?”

Rather than immediately denying it, he asked for details.

“What did you see?”

“I didn’t see anything. I felt them.”

Sense and sight. In the battlefield, the former triumphs the latter. His expression deepened.

“I’ll take note of it.”

“Will you do anything about it?”

“We can only wait and see how things progress. It shouldn’t be possible for the military to have missed something. We only recently cleared the area for threats.”

“And how recent is that?”

“Two days ago… regardless, anything could happen out here. If they are nearby, then it’s better to not provoke them.”

“What if they find us first? That demonica I felt most likely sensed me too.”

“Seriously? Just when I thought this would be a light trip, this happens…”

He ran his hand through his hair again out of habit. That’s really unprofessional.

“I’ll let the authorities know. Let’s just pray we pass the night without problems. After seeing the fracture first thing in the morning, we’re leaving using the main road.”

He agreed to apply easing measures despite the fact that I had no proof for my claim. It was clear he didn’t take my words simply for naught.

Still, in better judgement of the situation, there was a feeling telling me to defy his order. A feeling that we should treat this as an emergency.

But I didn’t listen to it. I swallowed it back down.

-☆▫.-▫.｡.:* ▫⌎.☆\*: .｡ ▫.-

I woke up feeling the chills wracking my body. My eyes snapped open. A drop of dew on my nose fell off.

I grabbed my P-SCAR rifle and aimed towards the forest.

Crap. I actually dozed off.

White mist condensed as I breathed out an icy breath. My hands were shaking.

The night had passed undisturbed. I propped myself up from a leaning position to scan the surroundings of the camp.

Kim Daiki-ssi, and Mr. ChaiWen who were supposed to be on guard during the last shift were asleep. This would warrant a punishment in the real army.

I planned to stay up all night but it seems I failed. I stood up with the rifle still in hand as I walked towards the sleeping dudes.

I was about to knock them lightly with the stock when I noticed the already opened MRE packaging from yesterday.

The trash from our previous night’s meal created a trail towards an opening between two trees, where the deflated trash bag was sitting… completely shredded.

Something had been here.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

The light of dawn scattered across the forest grounds. Gravel and small boulders in the stream sparkled with dew.

Sergeant Pang, like me, had chosen to stay up during the night right up till the last few hours in the morning.

So he looked dead. The dark circles under his eyes told as much.

“Did you not sleep well?”

Ayumi asked, looking alternately between the sergeant and me.

“I’m fine.”

Thanks for the concern. I’m good. Really.

“Everyone freshen up and pack your bags. We’ll head to the fracture site in ten minutes. Check your weapons, and the MRE, bring them along.”

“““Yes Sir!”””

I dipped my face into the cold water, and patted my hair down. The stream was too shallow to be used to take a proper bath… though, it’s not like I would.

I exposed my clothes a little to wipe down parts of my body.

“Wow. You sure have a sexy body. I’m envious.”

HeaLi-ssi, who was also washing up beside me, quipped with a scrutinising gaze. I felt like I was in the sight of a pervert.

“Is that what you have to say after looking at yourself?”

I replied.

While I am aware of my well portioned body shape and attractive appearance, I still think HeaLi-ssi’s overall figure was more seductive. Her every motion was like a tantalising performance. Heck, I wonder how soft her breasts would feel if I tried groping them.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

Ayumi’s expression hardened.

“This morning.”

Her voice was shaky.

“You noticed the trash bag right?”

“I did.”

I wasn’t the only one.

“What do you think it was?”

By chance some creature had slipped by and noticed the scent of food. How would Daiki-ssi, and Mr. ChaiWen, those on guard shift at that time not have noticed?

Upon closer inspection, the trash wrapper had obvious claw marks. The MRE packaging inside seemed to have gone missing too.

“Maybe it was a small creature.”

I dozed off during the time it happened, yes. But even so, I didn’t sense anything unusual. I would’ve woken up if it was anything serious.

“A small dandy shrimp.”

“Perhaps.”

“Wheewh. I was so concerned about what Ayumi said I thought for a second there something had actually passed by our camp.”

Mr. ChaiWen and Daiki-ssi both exhaled in relief.

But… something had…

We were aware. We just took it for granted.

¸☆▫.-⌎.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*

“Here is the spatial tear. Please have a look, and don’t walk past the red line.”

“Oh wow, this is so trippy.”

The thing sparkled when our flashlight hit it at an angle. Under normal light, it looked just like a pure black void.

If you looked at it 90∘ from the side, you would see nothing. But as you shift closer towards the perpendicular surface, it expands into a jagged shape.

Like a mirror, there were a lot of black cracks running along the ridges. It really did look like a fracture in space.

HaeLi-ssi picked up a rock and threw it into the portal.

Voooouppppp. A mysterious sound, like a slowed vacuum was emitted as the rock entered.

“Private Kim HaeLi.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t do that.”

Too late sergeant. The rock hath gone.

“I wonder what happens if we try to put a long stick through it.”

Would we be able to pull out the stick afterwards? I for some reason wish to know the answer to Mr. ChaiWen’s question too.

“What do you think would happen?”

“I don’t know Ayumi. I really don’t know.”

Unless the Sergeant goes away, we won’t have any chance of testing it out.

“Right. Everyone brought their MRE here right? We need at least 30 minutes of observation, that’s protocol. So while observing, we’ll have our breakfast.”

Said the sergeant as he cracked open his MRE. Following after him, everyone did the same.

The conversations were light. The air was refreshing.

The gentle sounds of flowing water accompanied our breakfast. It was peaceful.

“Guys. I need to go for a bit.”

HaeLi-ssi suddenly stood up.

“What?”

“Bathroom break.”

“Pfft. Sure, sure.”

“Um, I’ll go with you.”

HaeLi-ssi and Ayumi.

The two of them slipped behind a large boulder a distance away, out of sight. I eyed the three boys who were eyeing the rock.

Daiki-ssi looked at me.

“What?”

“Oh you know. It’s not like we’re going to peek or anything are we? Why that gaze?”

Boys were always on the lookout for anything lewd. That’s what I don’t like about them.

I finished my MRE and checked the time. Exactly 30 minutes had passed.

We cleared up our items and waited for the two to return. Five more minutes have passed.

“Hey. EunHa-nim.”

You don’t need to tell me.

I stood up from where I sat and went to look behind the boulder to check. My brows furrowed at the discovery.

“They’re not here.”

“What?”

“Seriously?”

“Maybe they went back to camp. You know, because of that.”

Periods? No way.

“Seriously. I’ll have to deduct points for not being clear about their instructions.”

Sergeant Pang told us to return to camp first in case they were still around the fracture site. He would search the parameters in case they were anywhere around.

While waiting for his return, estimated time: ten minutes, we were to pack up all our items in preparation of our return to HQ, that included both Ayumi and HaeLi’s items. We’ll meet him back here at the fracture site before heading off towards the main road.

“EunHa-nim. Why were you sleeping outside last night?”

“So you were the one who put a blanket over me?”

“Uh, well, obviously?

Mr. ChaiWen, a playboy, noted. But not my type.

“There might be demonica around. So I was concerned.”

I said.

“What? How?”

“Wasn’t this a safe outpost?”

“Hold on, hold on. We can’t just brush off her assumptions. She’s been to the battlefield, she knows her shit which means…”

The four of us went completely silent. Ayumi and HaeLi-ssi had gone missing. Was there any better proof than this?

Mr. ChaiWen was the first to speak about his observations.

“Did someone move our bags outside our tents?”

The hair on my arms stood upright. A churning feeling in my stomach.

“Private EunHa. We give you full command.”

Mr. ZhenKai declared, and we readied our weapons.

Something… my eyes kept shifting between the tents.

The crevices between the corals, the spaces between the trees, the gaps between the leaves. I tightened the grip on my rifle. Something…

“Kikiki.”

I quickly turned towards the gap between two trees.

A distorted silhouette. Peeking out from behind.

Skinny hands. Fins. A grin. Blood. I pulled the trigger.

A puddle of black blood sprayed as it’s body fell to the ground—

“!!!”

“ZhenKai and Daiki take my two flanks. ChaiWen, my six o’clock.”

Deep Ones. A half-fish-half-humanoid monster.

Nobody was hallucinating. Two girls were missing, and there were sentient-class demonica around.

“We’ll gear up properly and leave towards where we came.”

I shot the tents and stomped them down. Fortunately nothing was hiding inside.

We did a clean sweep of the campsite. I slugged my PRANA-type AWP over my shoulder and hooked on a few PP-grenades over my belt.

ZhenKai open fired.

“What?!”

I turned towards the forest and pulled the trigger.

Bloodeaters swarmed out of the trees.

“WAIT?!!!”

And very swiftly they moved in to close in.

“What do we…!”

I shot the nearest PP-grenade.

The wave of prana, blew my consciousness away for a split second. My body felt incredibly heavy right after. The Bloodeaters had temporarily lost their ability to fly and flopped to the ground.

“D-Damn it.”

“No. No way this…”

As I shot and stomped every last Bloodeater on the ground.

“We’re moving.”

“““Understood!”””

“A nod would be enough. Save your breath.”

We advanced quickly. Unnatural gunshots rang out in the distance.

“What…”

“We’ll head in that direction.”

I had no idea if it was Sergeant Pang or someone else. But since it continued in the general direction of the fracture site we were supposed to regroup at, trying to save whoever was in trouble was the first objective we had.

We quickened our pace towards the last position where we heard gunfire—the depths of the thick coral forest.

At an uphill incline, we found ourselves engaging a swarm of Deep Ones. Their disgusting bodies illuminated by the morning light, razor sharp teeth lifted into a grin as large beady red eyes widened into a smile. There were almost a dozen of them, all holding sharpened sticks.

“Split up!!”

We took cover between the trees and opened fire.

The Deep Ones weren’t stupid to let themselves be shot either. They slipped through the gaps of the trees and flanked us.

I shot an imminent Deep One who was aiming for Daiki-ssi. Its head burst like a watermelon.

And another who approached Mr. ChaiWen… he dodged its spear and sliced its stomach open with a swing of his bayonet before I could do anything.

We managed to kill four Deep Ones, the rest fled. But… the respite only lasted for a short while.

“AAHHHH!!!!”

“ZhenKai!!”

Corrupted Venom Eels and Galvanic Crabs took their place, ambushing us from above.

.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*☆▫.-⌎

Lin ZhenKai was a man of few words. He often kept his thoughts to himself, speaking only what was necessary.

Actually, I bumped into him once even before we officially met. On the way here when I was stepping down from the airship, I remembered that he offered to carry my luggage. It was unnecessarily sweet of him. He was a reliable person even before we became squadmates.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

“Guys. I think it’s over for me.”

ZhenKai said, finger brushing over his neck. There was blood.

“I won’t make it.”

He got bit by the Venom Eels. The expressions of both Daiki-ssi and Mr. ChaiWen darkened.

I quickly opened up whatever medical kit we had, hoping that I’d find antivenom or something similar but…

“It’s too late.”

Many more crabs and eels were approaching.

ZhenKai leaned against one of the trees, clammy sweat on his skin with heavy breaths. He raised his gun and continued to fight.

I knew as much as he did—we couldn’t save him.

“Cadet Lin ZhenKai.”

I’m sorry. I raised my rifle.

“Despite our short encounter, it was an honour working with you. "

“Thank… you.”

The venom only took a few minutes to take effect. By the time the wave of demonica ended, he was already gone.

.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*☆▫.-⌎

Sometimes I wonder why Kim HaeLi joined the military. She was witty, silly, outspoken, unabashed, and sexy. She said she admired her elder sister for her achievements in the field, but was her intention really that pure? Admiration could only push one so far.

I wish I could’ve asked her more about it.

I wish I could’ve seen her rise to the top.

She would’ve looked so good in a general’s uniform.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

We finally reached the clearing. Low coral plants and flowers covered the plateau which reached the cliff’s drop. And… above the plains was a small Cloud Hive.

Waiting. Taunting.

Laying in the middle of the open field was a girl still breathing. Blood poured on the white flowers.

Kim HaeLi.

I couldn’t hear her voice, but I could read her lips.

Run.

¸☆▫.-⌎.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*

Kim Daiki was more of a spoiled brat kind of guy. He took things lightly and liked to crack jokes to liven the mood. He and HaeLi were similar in nature. Both were naive, extroverted greenhorns that were excited to learn and grow.

If only their last names were different.

I would’ve shipped them.

They look good together.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

Daiki lost his mind and ran towards HaeLi.

Deep Ones, Bloodswarms, Corrupted Venom Eels, Jellyfish, Sharks, Thunder Rays—demonica split out of the Hive and attacked.

Even a PP-grenade wouldn’t be enough to stop this one.

Daiki, you idiot.

I grabbed Mr. ChaiWen’s shoulder.

“We’re leaving!”

“But Kim Daiki—!”

“He’s dead!”

I know it’s morally incorrect.

I know it hurts to admit.

But this was what the Hive wanted.

We can’t listen to the siren song.

We had to leave…

ChaiWen pushed my hand away, and defied my orders he charged in.

“Liu ChaiWen?!”

“Daiki! Get back here!”

Yet, despite my efforts, we all fell for its bloody serenade.

-☆▫.-▫.｡.:* ▫⌎.☆\*: .｡ ▫.-

The person who left the strongest impression on me was without a doubt Liu ChaiWen.

As I had mentioned, he had good looks and a killer charm. While I wouldn’t say I’d fall for him, I admire his zeal and passion.

Behind his exuberant personality, he was probably the only one in the squad who took his dreams seriously.

I wish he hadn’t done what he did.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

“EunHa-nim… I think this is the end. Hahaha.”

“No… rest, you’ll be alright.”

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault that I put you in so much trouble.”

ChaiWen stumbled and hurt his leg while we were escaping, pained groans leaked from his lips. Seeking shelter behind a rock, we were forced to a temporary halt.

We were the only two left alive.

ZhenKai was bitten in the neck by the eels during the first ambush. His death came by the venom that coagulates blood in his veins.

HaeLi died from blood loss, having served as live bait to lure us in.

Daiki was skewered into the ground by a Deep One that attacked from above.

And ChaiWen…

“EunHa. Leave me.”

“No. I’ll carry you.”

“EunHa!”

“I’m trying to save you!”

I was going to lift him on my back when he finally revealed his leg which he had been hiding. The skin was severely swollen, black veins protruding—spreading.

“I was hit.”

By a small box jellyfish. He admitted with a pained smile. The poison was… advancing.

Death was a common thing on the battlefield. This fact was obvious.

“I can’t… I can’t just leave a comrade behind…”

I know it’s something I should get used to. It should be easy to tell what I should do in this situation. So why…

Why?!

“UGHH!!”

BANG!

I aimed up and pulled the trigger. It pierced a Deep One who tried to sneak up from above.

Its corpse fell no more than ten metres away from us. Our position had been compromised.

“ChaiWen! Remember your dreams! Remember what you’re fighting for! You wanted to be an admiral, remember?! Don’t give it up! Don’t you give up! You have to live! You must live!”

A will to live.

Everyone had a reason for living…

“So you actually remembered…”

He squinted his eyes. A tear drew a line down his cheeks.

“Thank you.”

Get a hold of yourself!

“ChaiWen!!”

He slumped to the ground.

“…Please!”

I grabbed his shoulders.

Tight.

ChaiWen!

Liu ChaiWen…!

Wake up!

WAKE UP!!

-☆▫.-▫.｡.:* ▫⌎.☆\*: .｡ ▫.-

It was a failure of decision making, a failure to hold command and order. They entrusted their lives to me, I foolishly let them die just like that.

Just like last time, just like this time, my blunder had killed everyone. Why was I even still alive?

“What happened to the rest?”

Sergeant Pang asked, his expression grave.

I lowered my head. His hand flinched.

“It was my failure. I’m sorry, I…”

“Eun… Ha, it’s not your fault.”

Ayumi squinted her eyes at me.

“HaeLi-ssi too… sacrificed herself… for us.”

She held my hands weakly. Her eyes trembled.

“…We will take the path towards the main road. The scouts have already reached the terminal point. We only need to find them there.”

Sergeant Pang said.

I wanted to ask why… why when I had already warned him about the looming danger that the scouts didn’t perform their duties during the night.

“If they’re gone as you said… then there is no reason to wait any longer.”

But my anger turned to guilt.

Sergeant had been waiting for us.

He expected us to survive.

But in the end, I was the only one left.

Their death’s could’ve been prevented if only I focused on reaching the fracture site. I should’ve just ignored my wish to save another life and focus on the mission. I…

“Let’s go.”

I don’t know. I don’t know what I should’ve done.

¸☆▫.-⌎.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*

Sergeant Pang SeungJi was one of the few most compassionate leaders I’ve been put under in a while. He was quite nonchalant but, during times when it counted, he was there for us.

I just… wish I had pushed my opinion harder against him. If he had taken my word more seriously, this…

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

“This is Sergeant Pang of the Tear Site Inspection Squad. A Cloud Hive was discovered. Four personnel have died, one severely injured. We need assistance immediately! We need immediate—”

A spear had pierced Ayumi’s stomach.

Her hands managed to grab the shaft before it managed to come through the other side. I killed the Deep One who threw the spear.

She crumbled, I held her.

“Ayumi! Hang on!”

The din in my ear was deafening. I could barely hear Sergeant Pang’s words as the sounds of my heartbeat thumped like mad…

I pulled out the spear from her. She coughed up in pain, but I didn’t have any other options here…!

Dropping the bag and pulling out the first aid kit, I grabbed the whole box of gauze and forced them all underneath her shirt.

We had no time.

“Put pressure Ayumi! Put pressure and take deep breaths!”

She nodded, wincing. Tears spilled from the corner of her eyes.

Please. Don’t die. Don’t die.

The Deep One turned the corner and jumped at sergeant.

“Uwaarrgghh!”

I rammed into the demon creature with the stock of my rifle.

When sufficient distance was achieved, I fired. Black blood sprayed everywhere. Sergeant Pang propped Ayumi up.

“EunHa! I’m counting on you!”

“Roger that!”

I swapped the half empty magazine for a new one.

We crossed the low river. And ran past a man wearing common clothes.

“What the…”

Who? I turned around impulsively.

“Sergeant! He…!”

“Leave him!”

“…But!”

Am I stupid? Ayumi was dying.

We don’t have time… to waste on a guy like that. So why…

EunHa, you will soon meet the God’s Emissary. When you do, you must… must protect him.

“!!!”

Every tick of the second closed the distance between us and the approaching horde. My body moved before my mind could react…

I gripped tight around the rifle’s handle.

“Hwang EunHa!!”

Sergeant Pang yelled.

I jumped past the coral shrubs and pushed my way towards him.

This is stupid.

I’m going crazy.

People fight everyday.

People die every day.

So why was it wrong to leave someone like him to die?

This selfish thought of, ‘I don’t want another life to end because of me’. When will I ever learn my lesson?

Or because of some stupid prophecy?

He is your fate. It spoke to me over and over, the Saint’s oracle.

A Deep One rushed out. I pulled the trigger.

The bullet blew off its head. Blood splattered against the clothes of the man still standing there unmoving. The Bloodeaters and Corrupted Cloud Eels quickly locked onto my revealed position.

“Wake up!!”

My hands reach his wrist.

Don’t let go of him, ever.

“—?”

“The fuck is wrong with you!”

I pulled him towards the direction of our escape as I got ready a PP-grenade.

“EunHa what…”

“Move your legs not your mouth!”

I hadn’t the time to care how this man knew my name. Pulling the pin, I threw the grenade towards the imminent horde.

Sergeant Pang sniped the grenade mid-air, and a blast of prana incapacitated all the demonica in its range.

“Damn you.”

Was all Sergeant Pang said as the four of us ran from the point.

“W-Where the hell is this?!”

“Fucking shut it and run!!”

A stunned look on his face as he registered my words.

It came to my realisation that this guy wasn’t a soldier. Question spun in my mind. Why now? Why here? And why did it have to be me?

“Hwang EunHa.”

Sergeant Pang stopped.

“I’ll leave Wang Ayumi to you.”

He pushed Ayumi into my care.

“What?”

“She can’t last much longer at the pace we’re moving.”

Shit. Her lips are so pale. How much blood had she lost? He loaded his shotgun.

“I’ll hold these bastards off. Find a place to stop her bleeding first.”

“You what…”

“Go. I don’t want to see another person die.”

You… why…

“Go!!”

The blast of his shotgun rang out. A hole was blown into the demonica swarm.

An explosion of a grenade, the whole wave was incapacitated.

Useless… it’s useless! It would’ve been much better if you just followed along! What’s the point trying to be a hero when you’re going to die?!

If only Ayumi wasn’t in such a critical condition we would’ve…

“No! I won’t—”

Against my complaint, he, the God’s Emissary, took my hand.

“EunHa. I don’t know where the fuck this is. But let’s go!”

He already had Ayumi lifted over his shoulders. And with his finger tightly wrapped around mine, he ran.

“—SERGEANT!!!”

Slowly, gradually, the sound of imminent gunfire slowed.

…I didn’t even know where we were, or how it even happened. When I came to, I was in a cave treating Ayumi’s wound. Desperately.

The puncture site was deep. Injecting her with morphine and cleaning it up with antiseptic, I forced a gamgee into the wound to stop the bleeding.

My crap, shoddy first aid…

She groaned painfully.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry!

-☆▫.-▫.｡.:* ▫⌎.☆\*: .｡ ▫.-

⁛ Origin Year 134, 2nd of Hana.

With my hands gripped tightly against the door handle, I pushed it open. Taking in a deep breath, I greeted.

“It’s an honour to meet you… Saint Wu XiaoLe.”

Seated behind the rich oak desk was a woman with bright pink hair and silver blue eyes. Paperwork was strewn all over the table’s surface.

In a military uniform instead of her saint’s dress, she looked almost burnt out with that forced smile. The saint, I heard, was graceful as was majestic. But seeing her like this, I couldn’t help but feel offbeat.

Why was she forcing so much upon herself? What drove her to this state? Why did she look so… desperate?

“Hwang EunHa.”

She recited my name.

The kindness in her voice warmed my heart. But there was an inkling of unexplained reverence and terror in her eyes.

She shifted out of her seat and stood in front of me.

There was an emotional impression in her eyes. Her sticky gaze, I didn’t know how to respond to. I didn’t even know why the Saint called me today.

“I’m glad.”

“Wha…”

“Happy birthday EunHa…”

And then she hugged me.

I froze. This was the first time I met her so… is this a test of sorts? Did I just fail? I know today is my birthday, but the fact that she knew was an even bigger surprise.

“Um…?”

“S-Sorry, I got ahead of myself.”

She slowly lifted from me, wiping a tear from her eyes. I… seriously have no idea what was going on. Did I offend the Saint in any way?

“Nice to meet you, EunHa. May I call you such? I don’t mind if you call me XiaoLe.”

“Eh, uh…”

What was this… the saint was offering me friendship? No way, there must be some trick to this. I don’t believe she called me to her office out of the blue just to make friends or wish me happy birthday.

How did she know about my birthday anyways? Had she been stalking me?

“Then… Saint XiaoLe?”

“That would do fine. Thank you EunHa.”

I didn’t know why I thought she felt much more mature than what her age suggested.

“Oh yes, I can’t forget. Here.”

“This…”

“It’s a gift for your birthday.”

She presented me with a platinum ring. It looked a little worn out, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

“Okay?”

I was confused. Why would she give me something like a ring?

She smiled solemnly.

“I know it’s abrupt, but I have an oracle for you.”

“Huh?”

An oracle? For me?

“For you, and you only. So listen closely, EunHa.”

Her languid expression from earlier turned grave.

“EunHa, you will soon meet the God’s Emissary. When you do, you must… must protect him.”

“From this point onwards, you shall suffer many pains, and it will challenge everything you once thought as important. You, and him, will face many hardships together.

“He is your fate.”

“But most important of all, don’t let go.”

“Don’t let go of him, ever.”

“The fate of humanity depends on this.”

¸☆▫.-⌎.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*

⁛ Origin Year 134, 13th of GuYu.

Wang Ayumi was my friend. A comrade that I’ve been with on numerous missions. Whenever we were paired up, she would always be by my side, the sweetest person I’ve ever met. She was scared, timid—kind. Like a little axolotl.

The moment you see her, you’d want to coddle her up. She wasn’t suited for a battle in the front lines. She’d serve much better supporting us from behind ranks.

Even when fate was against her, she didn’t allow it to break her spirit. She tried her best to face her fears for others.

I wish… I wish I had known about her plight earlier.

Much… much earlier.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

“Eu… nHa.”

Her breathless voice…

“Sor…”

“N-No. D-Don’t speak, it’s all fine! Ayumi! You must survive…!”

Please. Live…

“I-I’ll definitely pull you out of the army after this. I’ll find people to help you make your dreams come true. You’re going to become a designer. It’s a promise! A promise okay?”

I shed tears that she should’ve. She closed her eyes.

“Th… k, ou.”

“Ayumi…?”

A tear slid down her cheeks.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

Her hands were cold.

They had been cold ever since then. I had been holding her hands for so long, why did I only realise it now? The absence of the rise in her chest, the pale-blue colour of her lips.

Was it because of the dark that I didn’t notice?

A minute ago she was alive, breathing. A minute ago… Ayumi, I thought we promised?

I would save you.

I would help you achieve your dreams.

I would make sure you don’t go through this kind of suffering again.

So why…

I raised her body and pressed my forehead against hers. Tears… no matter how much I shed, how much I begged, how many times I prayed…

Again. And again.

How many times do I have to go through this?

How many deaths do I need to cause to learn from my lesson?

How many…

Just how many people will die because of me?