I am at my absolute limit, and I may collapse at any moment. If I had known I'd have to exert this much energy for the past few days, then I would've worked on my stamina. Why did I, of all people, choose the most difficult request when given options that are much easier to accomplish…
"Mr. Parker! A colony diurnal bats are heading this way!"
"What?!"
On hearing my colleague's warning, I spun around in a panic, feeling the sweat on my palms as I clutched the steel in my hands. A distant chorus of flapping wings drew nearer, and a colony of brown giant bats coasted along the ruined skyscrapers, their leathery wings beating in harmony. They had large, pointed ears with tiny grooves in the ridges. With ruby red eyes, they seemed to radiate a light, and when they opened their wings, the thin membrane shimmered the same hue. Packed together, they flew in droves, with the sound of their wings like the low rumble of a wolf pack.
I turned around to the other superhumans awaiting my orders. "Fall into formation B! Do not stray from the group and fight together!"
"Sir yes sir!"
The superhumans followed my instructions and organized themselves into three groups of five. Every team has an officer that issues commands to their subordinates in the event of my absence. Keeping a firm hold over the situation is essential in order to ensure that everyone is adhering to the rules and not being negligent. In the absence of order, disarray will follow and the chain of command will be destroyed like a sandcastle in a storm surge. If one group were to fall, then the remaining members in other groups even it out. Because of this method, formation B is usually referred to as the defensive formation because of the ratio of defensive superhumans each group has. There are specialties given to superhumans, which are Tanker, Mage, Assault, and Controller. Formation B possesses more Tankers than the other formations, which is why I chose this arrangement instead.
"Formation complete," a superhuman named Daniel shouted. If I remember correctly, he is of the Assault specialty. He is also the officer of group two.
Confirming that they were indeed ready, I turned around and faced the horde. We were at a four-way intersection filled with rubble and potholes from our previous battle. Traffic light poles bent at odd angles, and a row of cars flooded the streets, creating a makeshift maze. The left street was entirely blocked off when a two-story office building collapsed from a rampaging erymanthian boar. Thankfully, group three killed the creature before it caused any further mayhem. I couldn't dispatch the creature myself, as I was busy dealing with a troop of goblins that took refuge in an abandoned McDonalds. One of them was even chewing on a cardboard cup holder!
"Prepare for combat!" I yelled at my colleagues.
The first batch of diurnal bats swooped downward. Their main weapons are the little horns on their noses and claws on their fingers. One horn can be as little as an adult thumb, or as big as a soup can. As long as you avoid those and keep your eyes peeled, then they aren't that much trouble. It's their sheer numbers that are worrisome. A colony can reach numbers that can block out the sun itself if left to procreate. We are here to prevent that from happening while also simultaneously getting rid of the monster threat in this city. It is a long and daunting task that will have you buckling and bending. In just under a few days, nests have formed all over. We might as well be called exterminators.
"Mages! Unleash your spells!"
A vortex of mana swirled behind me, causing the hairs on my skin to spike as I cleaved through a diurnal bat with ease. As I slashed at the airborne creatures with message after message clouding my vision, the temperature around me rose. Hot flames whizzed past, engulfing the screeching bats as they tumbled onto the ground like electrocuted birds.
[Congratulations on defeating 2 D-Rank monsters! You have earned 10 points!]
"Tankers, protect the Mages! Controllers, buff the Assault as they begin their attack!"
Raspy chanting from the Controllers filled the loud streets, and a plethora of the Assault lunged forward as they hack and slashed through the wave. With the help of the Mages firepower, the Tankers protection, and the Controllers buffs, the monsters that could pose as a cloud were reduced to merely half, not even fit to serve as an umbrella for the glaring sun. Moments later, the last of the diurnal bats was slain when Daniel lodged a longsword through its jugular.
"Mr. Parker, all threats have been neutralized," said Daniel, wiping away a bead of sweat. After surveying the area for any more monsters, I faced my colleagues.
"Good work today, fellas. This sector of the city has been secured. After I notify Mr. Reed of our status, the clean-up and evac crew will alive and dispose of these corpses. Until then, sit tight. Also, make sure everyone of these bastards is dead."
"Sir yes sir!" they collectively roared. At my command, each superhuman had a blade in hand and stabbed at each corpse's head. The officers kept a watchful eye of the sector, making sure no monsters lurked nearby. As they were busy with the tasks given, I glanced at my Status.
Name: Joel Parker
Rank: 23rd
Points: 1363
Strength:69 Agility:43
Durability:60 Mana:55
Masteries: Body Strengthening Lvl 5 Axe Cleave Lvl 5 Night Vision Lvl 3 Heat Resistance Lvl 3 Warrior's Taunt Lvl 2 Executioner Lvl 3 Axe Whirl Lvl 3
Hm… I've passed the thousand mark today. I've killed ten diurnal bats, which equates to 50 points. If I keep up the pace, then I'll be able to reach 1500 soon. But that's if Mr. Reeds sends us to another monster infested city. Having one platoon led by a Six Hunter travel to different cities with the most danger can be quite tiresome on the body. It has been a struggle to handle the recognition of being one of the best in the world. Expectations have to be met, and if the results are underwhelming, you'll get flak for it. Even then, if The Six Hunters aren't doing their jobs, then what good are we for? Life isn't easy, and it will not bend its knee purposely for you, no matter how much you beg for it. It's a cruel mistress to everyone and doesn't discriminate. I know that much for certain…
"… I should probably inform Mr. Reed now," I sighed, fiddling with my watch. Sending a quick status report was easy, and I attained a swift reply from Mr. Reed, signaling that clean-up was on their way. It'll take them approximately 20 minutes to reach this sector. They would arrive earlier, but they have to take many detours to make it here safely due to blockages and lingering monsters. Our work isn't perfect. There's bound to be a few stragglers.
"Mr. Parker, may I have a minute?" said a soft voice. When I looked up, the officer of group one was strolling toward me. This one was Nicole Jenkins, a C-Rank Controller superhuman. She had impeccable posture, black shoulder-length hair that was straightened, and thin-framed glasses that sat on her button nose.
"What is it, Nicole?"
Nicole stopped in place and gave me a quick salute. "I have come to inform you that all hostiles are eliminated."
I waved my Status screen away and glanced past her shoulder. Behind her, the rest of her colleagues have taken refuge in front of a clothing store. One of its windows was cracked, and many clothes were strewn around. Four superhumans guarded the intersection while the other officers passed around rations from the Dimensional Pouch each platoon was given. They chatted amongst themselves like teenagers at a cafeteria lunch table. Though the scenery was dreary with the post-apocalyptic setting, they were still smiling, as if their spirits still held on hope of a better future.
"That is all to report, Mr. Parker. What are your orders?"
"Clean-up crew will be arriving in half an hour, at most. You guys can take a short break. You all deserve it for a job well done.
Nicole's cheeks dimpled as she said, "Thank you."
With a head-tilt, the lady rushed over to the smiling superhumans and informed them of the good news. Some of them waved and gave me a bright smile, and I returned the favor by giving my own. After a quick chuckle, I returned to my Status and peeked at my Stats once more. Switching over to the next tab was the Inventory. I had an axe, two health and stamina potions, runes procured from Iris, a back-up weapon in case my axe broke, and the Medusa Head. Next was the Missions tab. A winding countdown awaited me.
[03:17:23]
"Three days and 17 hours left until the next stage. How wonderful... I don't know what awaits us, but it's nothing good…"
Speaking of countdown, I'm still worried about Laila's warning about war. Is Cardinal Nicholas really going to start a war between athios and humans? That seems dumb, no? From what Laila had told me, there wasn't a chance in hell that the athios have enough firepower to win, regardless. Every nation ruled by a human will work together and fight back against the athios if they so choose such an outcome. There's no way anyone in their right mind will side alongside Cardinal Nicholas, right? Ah, but this is us we're talking about. Depending on how you present yourself and what sugar-coated words you spew against a specific few, then you could convert even the unwilling. A person's tongue can be quite the powerful tool. And just like any tool, you need an adequate amount of proficiency to wield it. Is Cardinal Nicholas one of those people?
As my thoughts stray far apart, a sharp beeping noise cut through the air. When I looked down, it was my watch acting up. A notification appeared, and the words in it alerted me greatly. Words issued to me by none other than Mr. Reed himself.