The food they served to them wasn't bad— neutral, but not bad. A good thing in consideration of the military cuisine's taste. "Hah, I should stop thinking in troupes. The Internet has melted my brain."
It was crowded, because many people, not only soldiers, but women and children, some men too, were there, eating and trying to forget the events happening around them. Some were crying while eating, and others barely avoiding a breakdown… Things got so messed up.
Now, they are a dorm for four people, in bunk beds. He is on the bottom bed, while Cain is above him. The room is plain, a base dorm. 'Which makes sense, we probably will be only temporary guests here.'
People are running and talking outside, making some noise. Despite all of that, it wasn't enough to keep his friends from sleeping to their heart's content. Spencer lost consciousness the moment his head touched the pillow, same as James.
While Cain is feigning his sleep, for some reason. 'He wasn't so strange back then.' He was normal, but something happened… for sure it has to do with Barghest.
Thinking about the internet, K.J picks up his phone, less dirty than before, but something tells him that the blood stains won't dry. Unlocking it, messages from his contacts, most of them being goodbyes or messages of uncertainty.
His heart sinks to the stomach. How many of his friends are alive right now? How many of them have powers to protect themselves? Will they ever talk to each other again? Nothing of this is fair…
Looking at his family contacts, his uncle, father, and brothers are okay, at least that. Lawrence and Elliot sent messages too, things are rough back in the city, but they are managing.
"Elliot awoke his power, believe that? He can make pistols shot like cannonballs. Wonder what Wendigo will give me." Another spark of light in the darkness. 'I should search about Skoll while we still have the internet.'
A quick search reveals much about this figure. A big wolf, son of Fenrir, eats the sun. Nothing about flames or darkness there… 'Wait, if it eats the sun, and the black flames dim the day…'
The reason the sky got darker was him. There is no mention of flames in the few pages he sees, but the myths may not be 1:1 with what this thing can do. 'Yet, he is the son of Fenrir, must be pretty strong.'
While not knowing specifics, Fenrir is said to be a big and mean wolf. Then his son must be very strong. Son of Fenrir… then this is why some monstrous dogs heard him? Some sort of hierarchy?
He can't know, not right now… Besides his bed, the sword. No mention of Skoll having a sword, or acquiring one. Just what happened for a metal bat to become a sword? How can this work?
'Maybe I'm thinking too hard. There were monsters sprouting from the ground.' Applying logic to insanity is a fool's endeavor. For now, just accepting things as they are, will prevent a headache.
"I should log in for the last time…" His gacha games are still up. He should log in for the last time, if the world goes to hell, being amongst the last ones to still log in will be a personal achievement.
Surprisingly, the servers are still up, in all of his three gacha games, lots of rewards for the devs. "Farewell gifts" is the name of the campaign. Will be held as long as the servers are still here.
The hope for things to go back to normal still is there, but even he knows it won't be possible. For the rewards to not go to waste, he rolls for the last time, spending everything in the banners that are up.
Leveling his characters, playing the voice lines… How long will it take for them to be a distant memory? 'Why am I having such grim thoughts?' Better not dwell on this too much. Hope his gacha servers will stay up even in Armageddon. A little bit of happiness for the future…
A pillow hits his face. "Go to sleep, motherfucker. Your thoughts are not as silent as you think they are." Surprisingly, Cain lashes at him. His thoughts were silent, then why— 'Oh, enhanced senses, I get it.'
With a sigh, K.J turns off his phone, putting it behind his pillow. Time to try and sleep. Once again, a familiar voice calls for him. 'Let's meet each other again.'
…
"Hey, sleepyheads. Time to get up, Lieutenant Colonel wants to speak with you four." An annoying voice calls for them from the door, an annoying voice he knows. The voice of—
"Yes, it is I, Major Anthony. Although you guys can just call me Tom." Did he just read his mind? Even if he still has to get up? Grunting, K.J rises from the bed, pinching his temples in annoyance. None of his friends are much better.
"What hour is it?" Asks the metalhead, grimacing. No one should be awakened so early… The military is truly only for the strong and resilient.
"Around Midday. You guys entered a coma, no one managed to awaken your lot until now." This was all the wake-up call they needed. Every bit of slumberness and laziness got flushed out of their system. They went to bed at 10:00 p.m. he slept around 11:00 p.m. because of the gachas.
Did they sleep fourteen hours? How and why? He only slept so much in the worst period of his life… are he and his friends so tired? He didn't even notice. Even with the superhuman physique…
"Don't worry, you guys went through a lot. Either way, we have our superiors waiting." Our. Glancing at Spencer, his expression turns from a grimace to outrage for a split second, before becoming a frown.
'Thank God you managed to hold yourself back, Spencer.' Much like Elliot, he isn't the type to trust authorities, even less to be included amongst them in such a manner. James and Cain noticed it too, but chose to be silent, like him.
They are going into the talks with the wrong foot. Exiting their dorm room, the base is like yesterday, people are busy.
Some joints of his body feel sore, an after-effect of bad sleeping and the hell of yesterday. What a wonderful combination… 'In hindsight, drinking so many energy drinks wasn't a good choice…' He doesn't regret it, despite it being something done in the heat of the moment.
Sometimes, enjoying the moment is the most important thing to do. They walk towards a room, an office room. Major "Tom" opens the door for them, so they step in to meet with the Lieutenant Colonel.
"Oh, you took your sweet time. Boys, I want to present Konrad to you. Konrad, those four will be your acquaintances from now on, they also have extraordinary powers." A boy waves at them— younger than Lawrence, even.
'He looks like a fifteen-year-old. Did he take it upon himself to fight or…?' He doesn't look the part, even Lawrence, the youngest in their group, was 17 years old. For all accounts, Konrad is just a teenager.
For a child, to fight monsters in the chaos of yesterday is way more than reckless. "Hmm, Mister? You are staring too hard." The boy points toward them, but instead of K.J, he is pointing toward Cain.
His eyes are golden, like the eyes of a wolf. Big claws on his hands. His body starts to tremble and shake. "Oh? Don't mind. Just don't like being in the presence of a King of Beasts, big cat."
The boy's eyes are wide in recognition and surprise. Just what is going on amongst them…? 'Wait, big cat. King of Beasts, Cain is a dog… Lion?' If it is a Lion, then it is not normal to draw this type of reaction from someone who has a hellhound's powers…
Of the famous lion he knows, then this boy must be… "Can I tell them, Lieutenant Colonel?" Shyly, the boy looks towards the military officer, who just waves his left hand, in a wordless approval.
"Well, my name is Konrad Rayford. Got the five-star Nemean Lion." The Nemean lion. The beast was taken down by Heracles in the myths. This exclaims the discomfort of Cain. Who looks ready to fight right now.
"Lieutenant Colonel, can I exit the room? Don't think I can stand in the same room as him without causing a fight." The Lieutenant Colonel nods, and Cain stomps out of the room. The boy blinks, surprised.
'Guess some dogs can't stand cats no matter what.' In consideration that the other one in the room is the Nemean lion, it is understandable why Cain can't stand it. However, why is he fine with him? 'Wait, Skoll is a six-star. The Nemean lion is a five-star.'
Skoll must be stronger than the lion, this is why he is fine… "Well, you also smell dog, sir. You don't have a problem with me?" The boy asks him, genuine curiosity in his eyes. Why not indulge him a little?
"Nah, I'm fine." The Lieutenant Colonel sighs. Pinching his temples, something bothering him. What? Only he knows, due to the recent events plaguing the world.
The Lieutenant General coughs, calling their attention. "Some of these monsters are almost bulletproof, needing heavy caliber to be damaged and killed. You four and Konrad are our only "easy" options to kill the bigger monsters. Two of you have your combat prowess attested by the drones."
The drones… managed to film him and James without them noticing, they must be pretty high-tech. The high-ranking officer continues, A tone of heaviness in the man's voice, he doesn't like this predicament.
"While we can deal with most, our ammunition is not endless. Some of these monsters can fight even headless, needing great amounts of ammunition to be dealt with. You guys don't have to help us if you don't want to, but all help is appreciated in these trying times."
He doesn't like this predicament a bit. He could simply coerce them into helping, kick them out if they refuse, and yet he is asking for help. The Lieutenant Colonel's eyes are resolute and honest, with no smell of fear, anxiety, or lie in him.
Honestly, he has no problem fighting those things… better than being sulking in a corner doing nothing. "I acc—"
"What do we gain out of it?" Spencer cuts him, his tone disciplined, yet demanding. Why would he demand something out of a bloody high-ranking officer in a military base!? Does he have a death wish?
"Pardon me?" This time, even the relaxed soldier from the little they know about him, Anthony, gets an edge in his tone, a heaviness in them, he could feel even without the powers. Just what problem Spencer had put them in.
"What do we gain out of it? We will be putting our lives at risk to help you guys. We won't be putting ourselves at risk for nothing." James, breaking out of his stoicism, looks worried over Spencer's actions.
The boy looks worried, to the Lieutenant Colonel, to Spencer, to Anthony. Rage boils inside of him. How could he ask for more, when they are in a situation where wounded, women and children, the elderly, count on them?
They are the only ones with powers, goddammit! If they don't help them, who will? K.j advances on Spencer, holding him by the collar of his generic black shirt. "Listen here, you little shit. There are wounded here, women and children. What do we get by helping them? We get to stay here and help. They need our help."
He feels the swelling inside his heart— the telltales of the black flames. Spencer clenches his teeth, lightning starting to spark. Out of himself and his eyes. "And? They are not anyone we know. We will be risking our lives for STRANGERS. We have to get something out of this."