"Ring formation, you say?" Sterling heard the name and spoke up. "I feel like I remember reading about it" She rubbed her cheeks as she looks down. Her gaze looked distant for a second before she looked back up. "That formation is used by the Krygstek during the war against the Arkula. It proved efficient against flying targets and destroys numerous Arkulan spacecraft in a single attack. It was later revealed that it originated from the Narukh'za. With their continuous expansion across the universe, they constantly fought with Zakana. It is said that they even fought greater Zakana, which means stronger Zakana" She started to explain to the squad to pass time as they try to escape the Zakana.
"They tried multiple formations and one of the formations that worked is the ring formation. They used this formation against the Krygstek during their war, and then the Krygsteks adopted this formation and called Ring Formation. They weren't sure how the Narukh'za called it originally but that doesn't matter" Sterling finished explaining with a small smile.
"And? What's so special about it that it was implemented in one of the books you've read?" Marve asked. "It's a book about observations of Narukh'za's behavior in battle, of course, it is told. But, if you paid attention to the history of all our conflicts before this ring formation, neither the Krygstek nor Arkula does not have any formations in fighting against flying targets more efficiently. I've thought they just kick ass with whatever formation they're on" She replied. Suddenly, Sterling's suit made a static noise, Kirin's voice followed after.
"You do sure read a lot. It's as she said, the formation came from the Narukh'za. It surprised us that the idea came from them. Who would have thought that they even think of being defensive, you know, them being... them" She laughed softly. "I thought they were always like 'Screw it, let's just shoot them'" She added. The squad briefly laughed. "I guess the 'Greater Zakana' isn't something to just brute force against. If they made the Narukh'za use their mind and prevent them from being aggressive, they are a serious threat" Carlos said. The soldiers grew anxious thinking about the topic.
Ten minutes have passed after their last conversation, escaping the flocks of Ravens in silence. The leading vehicle reported sightings of multiple ground Zakana creatures heading directly towards them. "Damn! Spread the ring! Give the vehicles inside a clear sight ahead!". The surrounding vehicles moved away, widening the encirclement and giving the double-formation inside a clear view of what was coming.
"Miss Kirin, we've almost thrown everything at the Ravens, we won't be able to deal with those Scratchers!" Carlos shouted out. Kirin moves into action and prepares to leave her hatch. "Focus as much as you can at the Ravens, I will get rid of those Scratchers!" She immediately opened her hatch and climbed up and closed back the hatch right away. Glancing up at the sky, she saw the Ravens cautiously hovering above them. Confirming the Raven's position, she turned to see ahead of the convoy.
Her eyes indicated the range of the Scratchers, the indicated range started from 900 meters and approaching fast. "Slow down! I will be on foot!" After she commanded the convoy, she jumped out of her vehicle and landed rolling. With the convoy slowed down, she quickly sprinted ahead to catch the Scratchers before they reach the first vehicle.
While sprinting, Kirin held up her right hand and looked directly at them. Her eyes projected blue light, illuminating her hands. A silhouette of a sword takes place in her hand and started materializing. "I'm using this sword for the second time again" She thought as she watched the sword appear in her hand. She rarely used swords during her active duties within the Arkula, and for the second time, she's charging ahead with a sword in hand to protect her people once again. The experience of having her enemies too close is an entirely different experience compared to shooting a gun. It was both excitement and newfound fear for her.
One of the drivers spoke up. "Is that a sword?" He asked. The squad heard him and immediately realized. "Hey, hey, do you remember Miss Kirin when we were on a bus during the recruitment? She also went out and killed the Scratchers with her sword!" Chirlin spoke with her eyes glittering. "Do you just realize how cool it is to face the Zakana head-on like that?!" She jumps in excitement. The squad smiles at remembering their first departure.
"It was disastrous, no way people inside the Shuttle will forget about that. Not even properly recruited to the military and we were already dancing in the palm of death" Sterling said. "And dealing with your enemies that close requires a lot of courage. Close combat engagement with melee weapons is not often encouraged, you know. Miss Kirin may look cool from here but I bet she's fearing for her life, having to run through the sands and charging ahead against the Zakana" Kirin heard their conversation and chose to remain silent.
Closing her distance from the Scratchers, Kirin took a deep breath and tightens her grip on the sword. The first Scratcher on her left leaps towards her, taking her in surprise. With barely avoiding the creature, Kirin leaned to the right and nimbly slashes to her left. The creature is hit between its chest and stomach, leaving behind a long slash wound. It lost balance and fell and rolled behind and got its head crushed by a Varen in the front of the convoy.
Right after the first Scratcher came another one to her left. The creature charges forth, raising its right arm. Confident, Kirin aims to cut its arm as soon as it swings to attack. Coming a bit close to the creature, her eyes calculated the creature and she quickly saw it about to swing its arm. With a deep breath, she readies her sword on her right side. As soon as she detects the creature attacking, she swung her sword in advance, cutting its arm before it hits her.
Kirin used the momentum and nimbly spun around to slash at the creature. Right after she is faced forward, another Scratcher is about to land its claws on her. With the soldiers' shouts, the convoy stopped to warn her. Kirin immediately dug her sword at the creature's stomach and quickly moved to the left. It missed Kirin completely and was stunned by the sword in its guts. Kirin then forcefully pulled her sword away, dragging the creature to its knees. She then grips the sword with both of her hands and raised it up and swung down with force, beheading the creature.
A loud cry is heard from her left. With haste, Kirin raised her sword close to her chest, its blade pointing to the left. She faced the last Scratcher and dug her sword into its neck, finishing off the creature. She heard another cry behind her and turned around to see a Scratcher approaching the convoy. With her sword still stuck on the Scratcher's neck, she used her right hand to draw her Resolver and shoots the charging Scratcher's head accurately.
The group of Scratcher is eliminated. Kirin pulled her sword away using her left hand. She turned and looked ahead in their direction and saw numerous Zakana heading in their direction. "Not good... There are more!" This time, there are Rangers within the group that made Kirin pull back. "Damn... I'm not risking taking acid from those Rangers... I'm going back!" She ran back to her vehicle and ordered the convoy to drive.
"Take out those Rangers so I can go back out there" She asked Carlos. He shook his head. "That's too much danger, Miss Kirin. I can see more past that first wave" He sighed nervously. Kirin was taken aback by his words and used her eyes to scan ahead. Past the Scratchers and Rangers, are more groups that have creatures she couldn't recognize. Even her eyes labeled the creatures unknown, without any entries recorded.
"Miss Kirin... This is not normal. Never in my life have I seen any of those..." Carlos said in a low voice. Kirin carefully analyzes the creatures. "Is that a human?! No...!" Kirin got her attention to a humanoid creature behind its group. Using her eyes, she was able to see it perfectly. Through the bluish display of her eyes, the humanoid creature with a grey body is being analyzed. "It's not...a human... It has glowing eyes, just like the rest of Zakana... Has claws like theirs but shorter, and have a horn to its left side of its forehead"
"That's clearly not something similar to a Scratcher, or Rangers. Not only that...!" Her eyes finished making records about the creature and looked at the group. "Bears?!" She saw multiple furry creatures that run with their two legs, with their arms on their side ready to claw anything in their path. "Shoot at the Rangers and Scratchers then avoid the next one! We don't know what those new Zakana does!" Her shouts slightly shook the soldiers. With the cannons of the convoy, they easily took out the first wave and immediately turned away from the incoming new wave.
As they turn away, Kirin continued to analyze the group. The large creature she ignored to see the humanoid creature is pointing its weapon at them. "Is that a machete?!" She saw the large creature wielding a stone weapon that is similarly shaped to a machete. "That one looks more buff than any bodybuilders!" The large creature boasts a very tough, muscular body. By just the looks of it, any people can guess it has extraordinary raw power.
"Miss Kirin! Wolf riders incoming!" One of the drivers shouted and Kirin immediately looked around. "R-Rangers on wolves?!" She saw multiple wolf-like creatures with Rangers mounted on its back. "Shoot them!" As she ordered that, The wolf riders spat acid on the convoy and used the wolve's agility to run around and confuse the convoy.
"They're behind us, shoot them!" Shouts are heard from all vehicles, trying to get rid of the wolf riders near them. "They got us distracted!" Kirin said as the group of new creatures gets closer. With the convoy's low speed, they are easily overwhelmed by the number of wolf riders running around. "We're going to die!" And finally, a soldier cracked and panicked, shouting their demise. "We're not-!" Kirin's shout is interrupted by a wolf rider climbing on the top of their vehicle. They heard the wolf howls above them.
"A howl?! Not good!" Kirin and the others immediately thought that a howl brings nearby wolves to come to their aid. "The Gallant... Averthos, how are you holding up?!" Kirin called out to the Gallant. "We're the same here, Miss Kirin. Fortunately for us, the wolf riders didn't notice us" Kirin felt a slight comfort in his response. "How do we get out of this?!" Carlos shouted, asking her. "We've come for your aid" A male voice replied instead. "You...?!" Kirin recognized the voice. Just in a pinch of time, Ladrak's squadron strafed at the ground, sending the wolf riders into panic.
"That's Ladrak!" Sterling perks up, also recognizing the voice. Hearing the gunfires from above, the soldiers were completely relieved from pressure. From the small windows and sights of the vehicles, they watched the Narukh'za squadron fly by. "Kirin Solana, the Lord has sent us to repel the aliens from your path" Ladrak stated his intention to the convoy. "Th-Thanks..." Kirin was overwhelmed, unable to say anything but to say her appreciation.
With Ladrak's help, the group of new creatures broke apart and scurried away in all directions. Despite this, the Demon Eagles chased the creatures and shot them dead. "Yeah, that's right! No mercy!" Some of the soldiers cheered as they saw the new creatures drop dead on the sands. Carlos chuckled in amusement. "The only time we're ever grateful for their sadistic nature" Kirin shook her head with a smile at his words.
The convoy is cleared out of any Zakana, the flock of Ravens has dispersed without them realizing it until later. This only lasted for a few minutes however, the convoy met another group after another. With the combined power of Ladrak's squadron and the Boar Company, they charge through the Zakana until Base C5 is in sight.
"Arkula base in sight. We are pulling away as ordered. Glory to Narukh'za, Kirin Solana" As he said his parting words, he and his squadron went away, heading back to where they came from. "Did he just say that to Miss Kirin?" Terra whispered to her squad. "Glory my ass..." Carlos shook his head. Everyone reacted to his words, but Kirin was just silent and appears in deep thoughts.