The void shimmered in an unknown part of the new world, it's blue sun radiating silently as the three figures appeared in what seemed to be a camp...
The military had entered and stabilized an entrance and exit gate not long ago, pitching their tents inside to make a camp and mustering zone for the ascendants.
In the base, there were soldiers dressed in army green uniform, most of them ascended personnel.
"Whoa! Now this place has some ambience..." Baldur cat called. The blue sheen of the shining sun spread its rays giving a dim and cool feeling to the atmosphere, and although it was smeltering hot, they weren't bothered at all.
Luara and Mei made no comment, looking at the security unit checking out the Ascendants at the gate.
"Squad?" One of the soldiers ask, stretching his hand as if requesting something. Luara placed her card on his palm. He picked a card reader machine and swiped.
"Hmmm. Please go to the garage tent over there. You have a vehicle booked down for you" the soldier nodded, before saluting at them, then he picked a walkie talkie and made a call to someone. Luara seemed unperturbed. She walked to a large tent not too far with a big entrance. Baldur and Mei followed, Baldur looking around with curiosity, Mei deep in thought, her heart rate increasing ever so slightly.
They walked into a garage with multiple vehicles. Some parking spaces were empty as many were moved. Most of them were military grade carriers, with a few tanks and heavy vehicles. A guard stood at the entrance and gave Luara a pair of keys as she entered. She looked at the keychain and read its number, before leading the team down towards military humvy.
"Hey, muscle..." Baldur was speaking, but before he could finish, Luara cut him off.
"I'll drive"
"Shotgun!" Li Mei called almost immediately.
'"Whaaa...?!" Baldur exclaimed audibly, stunned in place. Then he looked at new girl in the team and asked.
"Hey Mei, how on earth do you know about shotgun?"
Li Mei stopped, tilting her head back, and for once, Baldur imagined her smiling...
"I watch a lot of western movies, and I learnt English when I was a kid. So I do know most of the lingo"
Baldur chuckled and shrugged.
'Well Damn, she got me'
***
And hour of driving and the team reached a dead end. Most Evo-Beasts had already been. Cleared around the zone, making encounters nigh-impossible.
"Ahhh, c'mon. Where's the fighting?" Baldur groaned, wiggling in his chair as he pulled out his spear as swung it.
Li Mei's eyes were focused around them, looking for traces of any Evo-Beasts or battles in the area. Sometimes she'd get the occasional remnants of combat, but nothing substantial.
Luara seemed to be focused on her driving that she didn't even bother looking around.
Just as they made a turn to an open area, Li Mei picked up something. Almost instantly, Luara stopped the car before she could alert them.
Baldur began to channel energy from his special gauntlet, sending that Quather around them. Luara immediately pushed it door open and dashed in front of the team.
'So fast!' Li Mei thought as she placed her hand on the car door and slipped out the window.
The fact that they reacted so quickly before she spoke really shocked her a bit, but she got over it.
'Its better. They are alert enough to work with'
It was an open field, and just a few metres away, an Evo-Beast that looked like a large grey lizard sat just on a small hill, basking in the sun. It seemed not to have noticed the vehicle that drove by just over five hundred meters away. And the energy it emitted.
*Frill NeoGecko... C-Class, stay sharp, it won't sense us for now* a message spoke in Mei's head. Her eyes dilated, her ears twitched.
*When did you cast telepathy?*
'His cast time was too fast for a C-Class Ascendant. Most D to C-Class ascendants usually took about 5 seconds of uninterrupted meditation and sometimes, chanting to cast a spell. That's why support spells were usually cast just prior to an encounter, to speed up battle readiness.
*Its the gauntlet. It allows me to store spells for quick casting. And I can double cast easily*
Just then, his gauntlet shone again, casting a stream of green Quather around them. It was then she realized, though he was casting from his spell gauntlet, he was also casting from his free hand. For an Energizer, that was remarkable.
Barrier!
Swiftness of the wind!
Just as he finished casting, the FrillGecko suddenly opened his eyes, it's eyelids narrowed. It had sensed the movement of Quather in the air, and it was very unhappy about it.
It stood on its legs, full stature showing. It was a lizard that looked like a prehistoric spinosaurus, with a red frill expanding from history neck. This frill emitted Quather waves when it roared, vibrated and quaked, glowing crimson. The energy from the roar caused a seismic effect, shaking the surrounding area and also, the teams mind.
*Mental attack! Don't worry*
The Barrier he cast earlier seemed to alleviate the pressure, making it bearable.
"Look alive" Luara spoke for the first time, grabbing her shield and unsheathing the sword within it. It shone blue due to the suns rays. Li Mei pulled out her daggers and readied herself. Baldur's spear was already out, a large QC glowing from the bottom, while it's blade was pointed at the Gecko.
Luara charged almost immediately, dashing about three hundred meters instantly. Then she roared, passing Quather into her vocal chords.
Taunt
The lizard turned it's gaze to her, aggravated in its gaze. It jumped off the hill that acted as a small podium, it's hulking ten feet tall and sixteen feet long body soaring. In mid air, it swung its body, as if in a flip and flung its tail directly at Luara, wo braced herself. She channeled Quather around her body, lifting her shield she called.
Light Wall
A wall of golden light shone from her shield as the tail descended. Once it hit the light veil, a flash of light burst out. The lizard crumpled backwards, rolling on the ground.
Just as it landed, a shadow grew from its shadow, which then lunged a dagger in its hand into it. The dagger suddenly appeared in reality, stabbing it's right flank. Blood gushed out from a small puncture wound.
Grevious Suture
The wound suddenly turned from a small puncture to a larger gash. The lizard turned to swing it's arm to catch the shadowy figure, but then it's gaze was torn away from the shadow. Right in front of him, a being of blinding and unadulterated holy light shone. The lizard charged forward, rage in its green slitted eyes
Just then, green light began to shine next to the left flank of the lizard. The grass around suddenly grew, creating blades vines that held it's right hind leg.
Call of Nature
Weakening touch
The vines suddenly emitted a grey light, causing the leg attached to it to weaken. This stumbled the lizard, stopping it's charge again.
BANG!!!
A force as heavy as an on rushing vehicle hit the lizard's jaw, sending its face and grime upwards. Luara swung her sword into its neck, opening a wound.
Grevious Suture
Li Mei had emerged from the shadows, rubbing her hand over the open wound. The wound worsened, spilling more blood.
The lizard roared, anger and a hint of fear filling the air.
It tore its retraints and jumped into the air, spinning its body in a round about manner.
Indomitable as Light
Luara roared, the tail swing hitting her shield, her feet rooted to the ground. The rebound sent the lizard on its back.
Call of Nature
Greater Binding
The Lizard was bound in all its limbs, keeping its soft underside vulnerable.
Li Mei appeared from the shadows again, her second dagger now unsheathed. She channeled Quather into her body, dark energy tendrils gushing from her pores. The shadows around her suddenly converged, the area beneath her feet and everything in a fifty metre radius was covered in shadow.
'A domain skill, at the D-Class. Monster' Baldur thought, making sure not to let his voice heard over the telepathic channels.
Li Mei's eyes turned colder, killing intent brimming, she then suddenly vanished.
Sound stopped
Light slowed down.
It all happened in a flash, but then Li Mei appeared just next at the other side of the Lizard, sheathing her daggers.
Sound moved
Light sped up
Swiswiswisiwssshhhhh!!!
The underside of the lizard ruptured, bursting in a wave of blood and bile. Some organs even ruptured, splashing their fluids incessantly.
Baldur was amazed, shocked by how efficient her ability was, and her knowledge on how to use it.
'No wonder the captain praised her so... She's way effective at her job that most people in her class.'
Luara seemed not to be too shocked, but a smile beamed on her lips. She didn't deactivate her beaming shield as she looked beyond the hill.
Li Mei, untouched by the splashing blood and gore reappeared next to her and said...
"More incoming"
"Good, it won't be an Asgardian operation if we don't do take on herds"
Li Mei nodded indifferently and looked at the charging figures of more lizards, lead by an even larger one, larger than the one they killed.
C-Class first tier
It was going to be a long fight.