We've begun to move, silently, into the forest, the clouds casting a veil of darkness, allowing my squad to move as invisible as the swift wind.
After a couple of hundred meters, we split up.
The plan was simple, one that I already enacted several times. After a few more steps, I allowed my focus to increase. After going to my position, I picked the binoculars and waited while doing the math.
It took approximately two days for us to get in position, after that, we abandoned the truck, since it would bring too much attention to us.
Naturally, I ordered the two who drove us to keep the engine on. We'll need it if things go south.
After that, we took our weapons and explosives. I instructed Bernard on where to use the Molotov, and while he was somewhat reluctant to do so, he had his orders.
It took an hour until they were in position and I picked the first sigh of movement.
Smiling, I walked once more, eager for the upcoming battle.
...
After separating, Bernard didn't waste a moment on getting to position.
Thanks to Oliver's monstrous strength, both him and Jesse were able to infiltrate by being literally thrown into one of the towers' ceilings.
With that out of the way, the soldier took his rapier and pierced, killing those in the vicinity while Jesse used his twin daggers.
After silently dominating that tower, they moved to the next, with Bernard's rapier changing for the backhand blade form, they stealthily killed more and more, him being in the front lines while Jesse changed his twin daggers into bow form and shot down anything that tried to move away.
This continued until they were sure there was no one else in the towers. Following that, their companions, who were sent there through the same method, gave the signal, and the young Esper threw a bottle on the sleeping quarters.
Bernard grimaced as he heard the screams, those souls being burned alive by the explosive Molotov with the dynamite the leader gave to him.
Regardless, they pressed on. After hearing that, the bandits who were still awake went to check, and one almost got the drop on him, but a bullet from seemingly nowhere burst his head open.
Bernard then went to join the fight, with more and more bullets raining down as they fought. Oliver joined them soon after.
"So, I'm guessing the bullets are Vincent's?"
"Yup! A short while ago, he asked me to throw him… been sniping from a tower ever since." Bernard found that impressive. And how could he not when a huge majority of the guns from his world had almost no piercing power, since the explosion from the powder wasn't concentrated enough.
He must be using his ESP… But how is he doing that on so many bullets? How strong is he?
After dismissing the thought, he focused on winning. When the bandits tried to regroup, they used flash bangs to force them to scatter, allowing them to become easy pickings for Vincent and Jesse.
So, as soon as the battle started, it was over.
Afterward, they reunited with Vince, him being congratulated on his strategy. While Bernard admitted it was brilliant, he still rather not killed other humans, especially in their sleep.
Even more with such a cruel method.
"Why the long face?" Oliver approached him, his easy demeanor and disposition making him eye his fellow homunculi in a strange light. While he wasn't there to hear the screams, Bernard knew him to be one of the most gentle homunculi back on the training program.
"We burned them alive, Oliver. We killed them in their sleep, in cold blood… Their screams… I can still hear it." He whispered, feeling disgusted all of a sudden.
Their blood was on his hands, their screams might haunt his nightmares for a long time.
That wasn't why they were made. They weren't created for killing humans. They were made to save lives from the demons and any threat that could come to the sun realm.
It disgusted him, made him sick.
Sighing, he chose to stop dwelling on such thoughts, lest he be angry on the entire trip back.
Deciding on congratulating his leader, he walked a few meters, but stopped.
Uneasiness.
A wave of cold washed over him. Sadness, anger, dread and all other kinds of feelings took hold in his heart. He almost choked with how strong they gripped his chest.
It wasn't only him.
Oliver wasn't smiling anymore, and even Vincent seemed alarmed.
His hair stood at its end, his legs shaking.
"Well, well, well… lookie what we got here…" He gulped, feeling the air shift as two presences made themselves known.
Vincent was looking to him, no, to something behind him. Behind Oliver…
Bernard tried to look, but couldn't. The fear of moving, of being preyed upon, was too much.
"It seems a few humans conquered this point for us, Balarmus."
"Yeah, we shoulda give them a big thank you, don'tcha agree, Velfamus."
"Indeed. What would our forefathers think we would be otherwise. Now, who should we kill first?"
His breathing was all wrong, he tried to get a grip, but couldn't.
Behind him.
They were behind him, they were going to kill him. They were…
"Why… why did they come here? The mission briefing didn't…"
"Oh, the sweet little human doesn't know… Shoulda we elucidate him?"
"Well, it'll be discourteous not to. We are, after all, intruding upon their realm." The one known as Velfamus spoke, his breathing stunk even from here. "This zone possesses a very strong Ether, and with all the explosions and negative feelings the dead carried to the afterlife, it opened a portal to our dearest Umbral, our accursed home. Now, we feel sorry for you, we much rather not stain this place with more blood, but good soldiers follow orders, don't you think so?"
As soon as those words left his mouth, a loud noise echoed. I noticed Vince looking at him, his hand outstretched with one of his guns… Gulping, I turned back, expecting to see the dead demon's carcass, but what I instead saw was the stuff of nightmares.
One was slim and short, possessing an almost Ethereal grace. He had insect wings and the face of a mantis, his hands coiled on themselves and his eyes glowed an ominous yellow.
The other, the one who was emulating a gentleman, was big. It looked like an orc, with two blades protruding from his forearms, with three, long and sharp horns on his shield-like head. His eyes were an eerie orange, and he was looking at Vince as well.
"Piss off, yer bloody wankers." Our leader said, his confidence giving me a boost. I tried to pick my backhand blade, but couldn't even move my arms. "Jesse, take Bernard and Oliver and get out of here. The rest of you will help me with covering their escape."
"But sir!"
"No buts! It's an order, soldier."
He looked resigned, but nodded. The insect, annoyed, flapped his wings at high speed, but was quickly shot back to the ground by Vince, allowing us to run away.
We ran… like cowards.