The flames of Crimson raged in Area 2. guarded by Squad 9 before, but burned to cinders just as the new guests were making themselves comfortable as they attacked. But really, crimson enjoyed doing most of the work.
The screams of burning matter, his enemies, were a sweet melody to him. No armor or guns could hold out in front of the awakened infiltrator who came inside the base. The soldiers were sitting ducks as they fell one after another at the hands of Crimson and his vengeful fires of destruction.
"This is getting too easy," Koul commented, squatting away his blood-stained blades from the sludge of filth it gained from killing soldiers.
"..." Crimson remained silent.
Almost all the signs of life were snuffed out in smoke and flames just a moment ago.
Now it looked more like a burning hell than a military facility.
"...Something doesn't feel right." crimson muttered. He saw his way out. The way he came in. Both are clear. He had his lackeys waiting outside, on the off chance that someone survived, to kill at the only exit possible.
So why did he feel like he was missing out on something?
Something he overlooked. Something crucial.
"What do you mean?" Koul asked, walking behind Crimson and taking his place beside him.
Crimson turned his face right, glancing at Koul with his left eye, unfocused and narrow. "It's still bugging me. We're dealing with Zeff, you know. I don't know why they gave us a mission to eliminate him. Killing a Rogue has never been our job. The high guys did it better than us. Why, I wonder, did the High Spade let him live for three years after he went rogue? Why not kill him on the spot just then? Why send him to jail when, obviously, he never regretted his actions."
"..." Koul thought. He paused for some time. Then he answered "I don't care." like a musclehead with knives he was.
"I mean, we never questioned before right? What changes now? I'm more interested in killing the so-called Zephyr guy to care about all that."
They reached another wall as they walked. The metallic wall, like others of its kind, melted in the 'heat' of the absurd aura of fire surrounding crimson as he walked.
His powers were at their peak. He was more ecstatic about it when he learned to adjust his flames to not hurt his allies.
Walking through, and removing the 'obstacles' that cache along the way, this group of aggressive invaders reached an area where they encountered a troublesome opponent.
They didn't know, however, what part of the base they were going to. So diverged from the path that Kai initially took to reach the bottom of the base. And instead, Crimson reached the Civilian quarters. The sensitive Area Four. The most closely 'looking after' region of the base.
The refugees of once proud New Yorkers live there now. Of course, not all. Since only the ones who abide by the military rule lived there. Most others, either egotistical proud ones, or idiots, drowned in their awakened powers and became wanderers of Godfall Apocalypse. As much as one preferred to be alone, outside the influence of others, factions, and already established organizations (Like spades), they couldn't because being in a group had a higher chance of survival than being solo adventurers.
It was a smart move to be in a group. Be it big or small. The least it would serve was buying time while you escape. after all, Priority for oneself comes first.
"Who are you?" the tall, broad-chested, and intimidating figure asked, donned in a clad black mask and suit of metal, holding a firearm with both hands, guarding the entrance with others like him.
Crimson stopped in his tracks.
'This could be a problem.'
The guys in front of him, for some reason he couldn't explain way, didn't feel like humans he encountered until now.
It wasn't in terms of league. It was Something basic. didn't feel human-like to him.
So instead of an answer, he gave another question, "What are you?"
This was a special unit. Designed specifically to guard the civilians in the base. They refuse all missions obstructing their duties as protectors. They had the power to do so since their establishment. No one can boss them around.
Programmed, would be more accurate. These guys weren't human like Ctimson thought.
That was the reason for, even after memorizing the blueprints of the entire base, Kai avoided crossing paths with these guys in Area Four. Even though Area Four had the shortest route to Area Six.
It wasn't out of fear, but to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Ssk. Ssk.
The communicator whizzed in their west, garnering their attention.
It came from the survivor of burning Area Three.
["... aak. Under Attack."]
It said all they needed to know about the situation. About the red-haired man and group of ten in front of them.
"Seal the doors-"
The man was about to say but got interrupted midway. His vision was turned upside down.
"Huh?"
One moment he saw Crimson's face. The next, his foot. He saw Crimson's tattered boot on the ceiling floor. Standing upside-down.
Wait. That's not it.
He realized the next second, widening his eyes in slow motion, that the redhead and everyone else were standing upright. Even Koul was surprised. It was the soldier's head that was inverted. Falling down the floor.
Thud-
His head and body separated, The leader of the guards, head rolling, was taken out in the blink of an eye.
The space around him was morphed. The sparks made by the friction of sudden attack, are suspended in the air.
Crimson turned around. He saw the black-haired woman, Mera, using her Ability 'Space Masque'.
"It seemed you needed help," Mera said. "I'm sorry I acted out of order, but my hands moved on their own."
Crimson sighed.
'It must've been her sense of danger at full high.' he thought. 'can't blame her, with the danger they pose, as the weakest, her powers acted on her own. Being awakened by ancient gods has its failsafe attributes.'
'But still…'
The other guards, emotionless under their masks, hissed in anger. "You made a big mistake."
"Yeah. I can see that." crimson commented.
The headless body of the leader moved. Electric sparks coming out of the circuit, made a sonic vibration and the body stood up.
Under the heavy armor was the face of a cyborg, programmed AI to 'protect' Area Four from external threats. Or rather, as Leo modified them, they kept the people inside, preventing them from going out.
"Hostility detected." one said in a metallic tone.
"Targets confirmed. Eliminating…"
The security was on full alert, All doors, except the giant one, the entrance to area four, opened and other bots came out.
"... Just great." crimson said.
He knew it was easier to kill these robots. He could just wave his hands and turn them into a pile of molten iron. But the tricky part was their numbers. Even if he melted their bodies, these fearless bastards would keep coming at him until their bodies melted, further blocking him.
But he wasn't worried.
"Mr. Taryn." crimson said, calmly. Placing his sight behind him. "It seems we need you. Would kindly lend us a hand," This time, in a polite tone.
An old man with gray hair, black eyes, a polished coat, and square glass above his nose, came forward when his name was called out.
Koul understood what Crimson intended to do with this.
***
Meanwhile, inside Area Four, Unknown of the hell unfolding just outside their doors, the people went to the daily lives they lived for the last two months.
It was built separately from the rest of the base. Detached and only a tunnel connecting it in and another out. All walls are coated with titanium and lighted just like a city outside.
It looked no different than a City at night, if not for the roads resembling hospital corridors. A small town underground. Better than the rubble above.
Of the many identical buildings, necessities were taken care of by the military and kept alive only because of the 'Hydroponic farming with artificial photons' and the underground "Deep farms". The heart and Food of the military. Cultured by technology and modern survivors, it was the only job that made sense than joining militants.
Farming continuously every day, it was harvest day. It was modified, the concentration, and amount of necessary fertilizers, so it yields better quality and quantity of plants. The results, with green leaves and budding hope, could be seen today. A rewarding result, and at the right time too. Since the reserved food supply was running out.
The reserved food, frozen in cryogenic and limited, was left for emergencies. But people feeding for three months almost left barren.
The food was scarce, and if the underground farms were not successful, it would end badly for everyone.
"Looks good to me," William commented. "Sir Leo would be happy to see this. After today's harvest, we won't be getting the bare minimum food anymore."
He was adjusting the concentration of nitrogen on one of the sections of plants. Section 27, which he was in charge of. And his wife, Sera, was supporting him today.
"..."
For some reason, she had a grim expression on her face. Like she was afraid of something.
Turning back, he saw Sera walking off as soon as the job was done.
"What happened to you? You've been acting strange since morning." William said.
William was a 35-year-old father of three children. Two sons and one lovely daughter, Nina. He had a younger appearance than his age.
"And how are you so calm, Will? Our son is going outside and these grains worry you more?"
At that, William dripped his tone. "... Jake will be fine," he said. "We talked about this the day he was awakened. What can we do? Hide him among us and risk being kicked out? Risk starving?"
"You don't understand…" Sera muttered in a low voice.
"... Of course I don't. I lost our second child when he was a kid. My son, Just like you. Broken, just like you. Worried for Jake, for Nina. What do you expect me to understand more?"
"..."
"I've seen death, Sera." William continued. "Too much death. And believe me... Starvation is the worst of their kind."
Sera remained silent. Biting her next words, not letting go. She knew anything she might say would only serve them both. Before the apocalypse, William was a doctor. He was just as helpless, if not more, for his family. Little Nina was the only comfort waiting for them at home.
"We'll wait for Jake. Trust in his newfound powers. And go back to Nina. I'm sure it won't turn out like Kaiser."
***
If you find any mistakes in the chapter, comment them below as I can fix them as soon as possible.