After filling up the plastic jugs with water, Irvine and Aezel finally get the truck back on the road. Despite the smooth ride, Irvine sits in moody silence, his face broadcasting dissatisfaction. He hasn't said a word to Aezel since they left, but his sulky aura speaks volumes.
Aezel, of course, notices it. It's impossible not to, given his sulking could rival a toddler's tantrum. Her earlier assessment of him hardens, there's no way a soft-hearted guy like Irvine could have killed the Spiky-spine White Fangs back in the Morbid District.
Not wanting to drag this awkwardness into the mission, as the team leader, Aezel decides to soften the blow with a practical excuse for her actions.
"They may look like failed lab chimeras," she says with the tone of a teacher explaining algebra to a stubborn student, "but they're social creatures. They hold grudges. I killed seven of them, and if I'd let that last one live, it would've hunted me down for revenge faster than you can realize your mistake."
Irvine grumbles something unintelligible, which Aezel generously interprets as, Please, go on.
"And don't forget how cunning they are! That sad face you saw? Could've been a trap! Who knows? I bet our friends are fighting the same monsters right now."
And sure enough, her prediction is spot-on. The same Gnoll Muckfangs are storming Elea and the rest, but this time, with a bigger reinforcements.
Jack the pervert is on the bus roof, using his sniper to aid the team. Well, mostly aiding. Below, Elea hurls fireballs with her usual elegance, Cody Oughan wields his twin tomahawks with flair, and Oogorim sprays bullets from his Gatling gun like confetti at a parade.
Meanwhile, Barry the detective and Lily stand guard inside the bus, handguns at the ready. They're not firing, just posing like two over-cautious parents guarding their kids'. Their main job? Protecting the medical ladies, the two undeniably useless women who appear to have joined the mission solely for comedic relief, or at least, for an emergency response plan.
Then there's Maya, crouching in the corner of the bus, covering her ears like a kid hiding from fireworks. Tears stream down her face as she whispers, "Dear God, please protect my Irvine and bring him back safely!"
It's debatable whether she's genuinely worried about Irvine's safety or just hoping he'll show up and save the day. Either way, Maya has her own unique logic: when in danger, pray for Irvine, never anyone else, not even her father. Always Irvine.
Her logic isn't exactly rooted in heroics. She knows Irvine's not a knight in shining armor. He's just the one person who doesn't laugh at her when she prays to God. Indeed, in this world full of atheists, Maya is a rare species, a girl who still believes in God's existence.
The medical ladies, Litzy the sexy blonde and Rebecca with her exotic tanned skin, exchange disgusted glances, as if Maya's prayer has personally offended their worldview.
"Hey!" Litzy snaps, shoving Maya's shoulder. "Are you so desperate you're praying to something as silly as God? How pathetic can you get? Ezlenmir's reputation is bad enough without a lunatic like you dragging us down."
Rebecca chimes in, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, I can tolerate a lot of stupidity, but praying? That's where I draw the line."
Litzy nods smugly. "We should report her to the academy. No way Fracklosk's security should depend on someone this useless."
Maya's lip trembles as she rushes to Lily for comfort, tears pouring down her cheeks.
Seeing her friend cry flips a switch in Lily's head. She pulls out another handgun, and then clicking off the safeties with dramatic flair.
She points two guns at those two medical ladies. She is not like Maya who believes in the existence of God. However…
"I can't stand the bullies who make my Maya cry! Say one more word, and I swear I'll make you regret it!"
Instead of backing off, Litzy and Rebecca laugh in her face, as if Lily is holding water pistols instead of deadly firearms.
"What now?" Litzy sneers. "Gonna shoot me in the name of your silly God?"
"Go ahead!" Rebecca taunts. "Prove how cowardly you are!"
Truth to be told, Lily wasn't just joking around with her words. Without thinking much…
Bang! Bang!
The guns fire before those two ladies can blink. Thankfully, Barry the detective grabs Lily's hands just in time, redirecting her aim upward. The bullets miss the medical ladies but graze the edge of the bus roof.
Up top, Jack yells, "Hey! What's going on down there? Did the monsters get inside?"
Barry sighs. "It's nothing. Just an accidental shot."
"Accidental shot my ass?!" Jack snaps. "I heard two gunshots!"
"Focus on the monsters, Jack!" Barry shouts back.
"Monsters? What monsters? The only thing aiming at me is you people!" Jack huffs, grumbling as he returns to his scopeless sniper.
Well, he tries to focus. But then Elea's fireball lights up the area, and Jack catches a glimpse of her cleavage peeking out from her sports bra. The sniper rifle in his hands suddenly feels far less important.
Thankfully, the others pick up his slack. Elea and Cody, both are Seed A students, continue dispatching the Gnolls with ease. Oogorim, however, is another story. This Seed B student can't maintain his composure in spitting out his bullets.
Who knows if he had a panic attack, or this is just the nature of an Orc who loves war. His enthusiasm for war translates into a spray-and-pray shooting style that wastes more bullets than it lands.
One thing for sure, Elea doesn't like it in the slightest bit, and throws a small fireball at the back of his head from his blind spot.
Blff!!!
Still looking so fine, Oogorim turns back to show his mad face. "Hey watch out! I'm on your side!"
"Not when you are wasting those damn bullets!" Elea throws another fireball at him. "I value them more than your existence."
Oogorim avoids that one fireball before pointing his Gatling gun at her. "You want to start a war with me? You better announce it first so that I have something to say to the higher ups after killing you!"
"Killing me, you said? You think you can kill me with the stupid brain you have? Then try me!"
Oogorim sees Elea directing her left hand toward him. For someone who has been in the same team with her for a year, he knows that this elf girl is going to cast another fireball.
"Fine!" He yells. "I'll take it as your declaration of war!"
Why fight NPC monsters when you can have a fight with much higher difficulty against another side character? Amidst the chaos of the Gnoll attack, a new battle brews, this time between teammates.