"Easy-1, you're doing well." Squad Alpha said.
They were the first generation psykers. They were the first generations, but they didn't have a psychoframe, so they joined the battle as squad leaders. As veterans should, they looked to be at ease even in such harsh battle conditions. They had prevented the two ceremonial sites the fastest.
KOOONG!
They didn't have time to leisurely greet Squad Alpha. Earthquake-like tremors shook the whole city. This was due to the widening dimensional crack. There were too many Elu mages holding ceremonies to open the dimensional gate that the speed at which the crack opened exponentially quickened.
"We don't have time to quickly run down what happened up to this point. Assist Alpha, Easy-1"
The squad leader of Alpha team said while looking at Han. Han nodded and commanded his squad members. Han quickly looked across Squad Alpha. There were two psykers and two soldiers. Han quickly ran through Squad Alpha's skills with his data bracelet.
'Alpha-1, squad leader has a unique electric shock skill. Alpha-2 has a self-reinforcement ability.'
It would be best if he could read through their whole profile, but he didn't have time. Alpha and Squad Easy arrived to the next ceremonial point. There were exponentially more minions gathered around this ceremonial site than the previous locations. It seemed that news of the attack against Elu mage ceremonial sites had spread.
"Simon and I will eliminate the Elu mage. The rest of Squad Alpha should provide cover fire."
Han commanded the squad members. Han understood Simon the best. He understood the other's temper, skill, and behavioral pattern like the back of his hand. They had already worked together twice in real battle as well. In day to day life, they didn't communicate or interact at all. Their personalities clashed quite a bit. However, in battle, they were very suitable teammates. If Canute and Jose were his friends that had his back, Simon was a comrade he had total faith in.
"Let's go, Simon."
Han's eyes glowed. Simon followed behind him. The minions swarmed immediately. Han acted as the vanguard as Squad Alpha came charging out. Squad Alpha took care of the grunts, and the Elus quickly blocked the view.
"Huu."
Han listened to the sound of his breath and heart beating. He could see a psychic shield up ahead. Han wielded his spear and swung.
Swaaa!
The psychic shield ripped. Han and Simon entered into the ceremonial zone. They spotted the Elu mage in the midst of the ceremony. The Elu warriors guarding the mage charged at Han. Han dashed forward shooting his gun. The Elu warriors held their shields.
"Simon!"
GUUUOOOO!
Simon mustered his telekinesis to maximum strength. He pulled off the Elu warriors' shields. He couldn't pull off the shield from their grasp, but he moved the shield just enough to provide an opening to shoot the Elu.
PUUH!
Han lowered his stance and stabbed the Elu with a magnificent stance. The Elu's blood flowed on the ground.
"Forward! Catch the Mage!"
Simon shouted. Han delayed dealing the finishing blow to the Elu warrior and rolled forward. He had total faith in Simon's words and ignored the Elu who was still breathing.
KOONG!
Simon used his telekinesis to take the shield off a fallen Elu warrior and threw it to the remaining warrior. The Elu warrior flinched at the impact and in a matter of moments, Simon's blade was just before the Elu's neck. Simon used his remaining telekinesis to lift all the rocks and wreckage from their immediate surroundings.
Hudududuk!
Simon spread the palm of his hand to make the Elu mage into a pin cushion of rocks. To protect itself, the Elu mage wrapped itself with a psychic shield.
'However-'
Han held the end of his spear. His spear punctured the psychic shield.
-Dragon bone nullifies psychic shields.
KWAJIK!
Han's spear pierced through the Elu mage's chest. The Elu mage's body spasmed. Han roared and attacked another time to completely end the mage's life. The light from the Elu mage's ceremonial site completely dissipated. The tremors in the vicinity of the dimensional crack zones settled a degree.
"It's not over yet."
Han dislodged his spear from the mage's corpse. The number of minions hoarding around the area was increasing by the second. It would be harder to retreat now. Han felt exhausted, but he forced himself to run to the rear.
The grunts jumped out from between the buildings. There were more than several dozens of them. It would be impossible to deal with all of them with a simple rifle. The grunts completely disregarded the rifle shots and charged at them. They were wild creatures geared with a simple blunt weapon, but were menacing in such large numbers.
"WauJAK!"
The grunts grinded their teeth as they charged. Han and Simon, who forced entry into the deepest part of the ceremonial site, were in the most danger.
"Don't look back and run!" Corporal Zhai appeared from the front and provided cover fire for them. He shot the enemies until his magazine was empty, but the grunts could not be stopped.
"Piss off!"
Simon used his telekinesis to push back the grunts. This was only a temporary measure. There was great resistance when it came to using telekinesis on living creatures that had flowing blood. People could easily lift a 100 kilogram item with their telekinesis, however many couldn't use their telekinesis to lift even a single human. The grunts were only slightly pushed back.
"Damn it, I'm so tired!"
Simon's face appeared to be completely flushed red as he ran. They could only manage to catch their breaths after rejoining with their squad while shaking their rifles.
Bang! Bang!
Squad Alpha had a grenade launcher with them. They shot their grenades toward the hoard of minions in the distance. The explosion shook the area as the minions screamed.
"How many more of these guys are there?"
The squad members of Alpha Team complained. Alpha and Easy squad members each took positions on the left and right as they retreated. If they dropped their guard, they could easily get surrounded by the hoard of minions.
'One psychoframe has already been used. There are only two left.'
They would need to call for a psychoframe pilot's support if they can't retreat from this place. That also means that the chances for other squads to call for support decreases. Ark must maintain at least four psychoframe pilots on standby in the case that dragons are actually summoned here. Amongst the seven psychoframe pilots, only three can offer ground support. Ark has already notified the troops before they were deployed.
'We must escape with our own efforts.'
Han observed the rallying minions. He momentarily paused shooting his gun and slipped between his squad members. He pulled out the Tirania city map from his data bracelet. His eyes scanned the map quickly. He zoomed into his current location and confirmed everything available to him in the surroundings.
'Think.'
During his second year in Ark, he took several days to read through his opponents' profiles and battle terrain to set up a battle plan. However, in actual battle, military tactics must be thought up impromptu a majority of the time. Han's fast calculations and observation skills shined the most in actual battle. It seemed like a flash of light passed his thoughts. Han grasped the sliver of hope and opened his eyes from the darkness.
'A swimming pool.'
There was a giant community swimming pool not so far away. Even if the city was in ruins, the swimming pool should still be full to some extent from the rain water.
'If there is water in the pool… squad leader of Alpha team can use his electric shock ability.'
Han felt conflicted. This could end up to be a futile effort. However, one can never be 100 percent sure in battle. They can only work to raise the chance of victory to the best of their ability. Han sent a message to the Alpha team squad leader who was about 20 meters away.
"Alpha-1, we will lead the way."
Alpha squad leader looked to Han and nodded. Han looked at his map and chose the fastest route. They arrived at the location in a short moment.
"This should be the place."
When the Alpha squad leader saw the swimming pool facility, he instantly understood Han's intentions. They walked in. This place was originally constructed to be a water amusement park, but now it's just a place of rusted ruins. There were stains of old blood here and there.
"It's dried."
Han's lips trembled. He could see the dried floor bottom of the pool which has become warped and distorted through time. The swimming pool floor had a crack that let all the water leak out.