The 7th region was home to numerous manufacturers that produced a wide variety of flavors, but these factories also contributed pollution, a drawing was once drawn by one of the governors and given to the council as justification for closing such factories, the council saw they were merely bright specks in an otherwise pitch-black sea, the governor declared that if factories continue, this is how the area will look in the future and that all that can be seen are the lights from the factories.
That was the story her father told her repeatedly until she knew it by heart, being Environmental Protection Association members, her parents believed that these factories had a part in the devastation of the area that humanity had fought so hard to reclaim.
As an eight-year-old girl, she had never thought about it, the boy who had recently moved in next to them was more important to her than her parents' social causes of improving the world, but now as she ran through those toxic fumes that covered the entire city, she felt disgust and a deep hatred for those factories and all the food they produced.
If someone was lucky and not eaten by Aloki or his body getting crushed under his house, those fumes would do the job and give him a slow death, the only sound that matched the sound of crying and sirens was the sound of coughing.
Finally, after running for several minutes that seemed like an entire hour, she saw an orange light pillar behind the smoke, it was blurry; she ran towards it; the orange light was the color of the army after all.
She finally stopped at a giant iron gate, two guards stood in front of the gate, who ran to help her, she said as she tried to control her breath and extended her index finger in the direction from which she had come, "Grandmother... soldier...there..." before she lost consciousness.
One of the two soldiers picked up the little girl and took her inside, while the other grabbed the communication device and ordered for two soldiers and a doctor to inspect and find injured people in the nearby area.
The soldier will check the nearby area without straying too far from the shelter, the shelter savity is their number one priority, and the safety of the majority must take precedence over the survival of just a handful, he cursed the Aloki who brought about this catastrophe, forcing him to consider the worth of human lives and choose which people to save and which to let perish.
The two soldiers quickly left the shelter with the doctor and followed the soldier captain who was waiting for them at the front, the four quickly moved in the direction the girl had pointed at; with the gas masks and medical equipment in a box in the doctor's hand, they dragged through the rubble.
Luckily, they arrived at the location before the elderly woman and the young soldier perished, the elderly woman's condition was observed by the doctor, after that lengthy trek, the young soldier lost all strength and collapsed on the ground to have a little rest.
"Mr. Rattle, glad you survived. We'll take it from here."
The captain, who was over fifty years old, said to the young man, who was not yet twenty, in a tone full of respect. The captain had become a soldier at least a decade before this boy was even conceived, but he had nothing but respect and appreciation for him, this young man was one of the ten conjurer in the Seventh region.
"I'll just rest for a little while, and then I'll go back to the front lines."
"Mr. Rattle, please slow down. You are too weak to rush due to your wounds and fatigue. Save your energy for the upcoming duties."
"You're probably right; I'll take a little nap."
"rooooooaaaaaaaaarrrrrrr"
They were cut off by a roaring sound as the neighboring rubble started to move, human hearts were instinctual to recognize this sound, which could only indicate "danger." A black tentacle coated in thorns protruded from amid the debris, and then many more—six in total.
"Grab the elderly woman and bolt from here as soon as possible."
One of the tentacles was moving toward them faster than they could react. Rattle desired to call forth his weapon, but his injuries from the previous battle prevented him from moving or calling upon it.
The elderly woman's body was on the gurney, and the captain, who stood in front of her, was the target of the tentacle, the captain shut his eyes, his service will now come to an end, he had no regrets about coming here, he hoped Mr. Rattle and the others may escape and the Aloki may take its time devouring him.
It seemed as though something was speeding toward him, but then it halted, nothing painful or uncomfortable happened, did he die in an instant, without suffering? No, the captain looked up and saw a man who was really tall, No, this man was a giant among men, not just a tall man.
"Private Jrandrys, at your service."
--------------
Before the tentacle struck the troop of soldiers behind me, I snatched it with my enormous hands, the men in front of me were in no shape to survive; it was fortunate that I was close to here.
The tentacle made an unsuccessful attempt to escape. throughout my recuperation, I worked on strengthening my arms, the thing behind the rubble pointed two tentacles in my direction when it realized it could not possibly get this one back, under normal conditions, I would have just stepped away to avoid attacks, but I had dead weight to defend behind me.
I let out a sigh, straightened myself, and concentrated all of my energy into my arms, then with a single breath, I extracted the monster concealed behind the debris, luckily the Aloki was far away so nothing struck us when the rubble flew.
I looked up at the flying creature, its six tentacles flailing wildly in the air, one of which I am currently holding in my grip, these tentacles gathered in the main body, which was a black ball with radiant green veins, I had always heard that the Aloki had an advantage in fighting at night, but seeing these veins glowing with such radiance made me record that information under nonsense.
Not too long after, he falls to the ground and made 'boom sound, the Aloki was still affected by the impact, so I used that to my advantage and yelled to the men behind me, "I'm going to distract him, so run away."
Since it appeared that the soldiers behind me were still unaware of the situation, I struck the ground hard to rouse them and make them realize that what was occurring now was real. the first one to awaken was the man the tentacle was going to strike, turning to the others he said, "You heard what he said, Narek, Bolm, pick up the old lady and go; Dr. Lone will walk with you and monitor her condition. I am going to carry Mr. Rattle." The soldiers moved quickly, and hearing the Aloki's roar increased their speed.
"Smudged Man, do you think you can fight that monster alone?"
Is there really any need to call me that, even though I announced my name when I saved you a second ago, sir the young soldier lying on the ground?.....It's okay; it's okay; I shouldn't care.
"I think I can handle it on my own, and besides, I don't think you can help.", Yes, I mean you, sir the young soldier lying on the ground.
The young soldier spoke from the soldier's back, "After you finish it, don't you dare go to the shelter. Head towards the south; the major battle is happening there."
Why does this boy act arrogantly? He might be a year or two older than me and yet act like the supreme commander of the army; did he hit his head or something? Can't he see the extent of his weakness? A fifty-year-old man picked him up and carries him on his back, and he dares to act arrogantly in front of me, the man who faces this terrifying being alone?
As a result of my focus on this foolish boy, the tentacle broke free from my arm and headed towards the main body. "Sigh." I don't have time for you, boy; get out of here, the battle that will take place now is not for the weak like you, so... shoo shoo.