Without wasting another second, Durán fired, followed by the remaining soldiers, the mission had become more complicated than they had thought.
* Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang *
The bullets struck the boy's small body, piercing it uncontrollably and leaving him lifeless on the ground.
--Confirmed casualty, sir-- a soldier barked, before feeling his legs get wet. Looking down, he saw a bullet had pierced his leg.
Behind them, a grayish mass, the one responsible for the shot, held the corporal's weapon. From his stomach, the grayish mass began to seep through his pores, taking the soldier's shape.
--To the bus now! -- Duran shouted, trying to calm his soldiers.
In the distance, the boy was getting back up, slowly regenerating the newly pierced holes and spitting out the bullets from his body through some of his pores.
--No, don't resist! -- the boy's voice spoke, only to see his jaw slowly drop from the shots fired by the group of soldiers.
--Damn it! Vargas, what happened to the communications? -- Duran shouted, while Vargas coughed heavily.
--There's no response from the base, sir. It's like we're... cut off -- Vargas replied, alarmed by the failing systems.
--You said communications were open, and now you're telling me something's wrong? Get that thing working, or I'll cut your head off from this world myself! -- Duran retorted angrily, coughing heavily.
"Separated, yeah right, you incompetent little brat," Duran thought angrily, before realizing his cough was getting heavy.
It was strange, the mutated child hadn't attacked since they boarded the bus, and that's when everything clicked.
--It's a reality imposed by a user with Sunqu magic! -- Duran's shout echoed through the bus, and the soldiers with Duran immediately donned their regulation masks.
The energy was disgusting, a generated miasma that contaminated the body and even the mind, slowly and steadily polluting it. To a normal person, someone who controlled energy was no different from a living god.
"We will die." That thought flashed through Duran's mind, but he was an old dog and knew that even though he would die, he had to leave a sign for those who came after.
The walls of the bus changed, from hard metal to something more viscous and warmer. At the same time, small mouths emerged from the interior seats, and as if they were in a garden, they began to sing.
"I see, so here they were, children," Duran thought as blood trickled from his nose. They had already been exposed to a great deal of energy, and it had already caused illness in their bodies.
--Sir, it's impossible! -- Vargas shouted, his hands sticking to the walls. --At least it was an honor to fight alongside you for so many years
With a smile, Vargas prepared to carry out the final order.
Within the ORM, everyone knew that, no matter what they were exposed to, they had to pave the way for those who came after, that was the only way humanity had survived until now.
*Zas*
Tearing off the ORM's light suit, Duran and his soldiers braced themselves. They didn't know when they had entered the monster's domain, but they knew this would hurt.
Bending over on one leg, Duran felt his body lose all motor function. From his arms to his legs, he had no strength left, so the last thing he could do was pray for peace.
--Lord, hear my prayers. We ask you to watch over our souls, and although they are not free from sin, much less beautiful, guide us in your kingdom. But you know that we always fight and struggle for the common good. And that is… the salvation of humanity! Because of your disgusting abandonment, so witness the death of these your warriors! -- Duran screamed so loudly that his weak throat bled.
Inside the bus, the voices continued singing, changing from a lullaby to a joyful one. It was then that the soldiers inside closed their eyes, knowing what was coming.
*PUM*
Outside the forest, a group of soldiers stood ready to enter. They had been deployed because communication had been lost with Sergeant Duran's group.
It was then that they saw a 200-meter explosion, but they already knew the last order had been completed. Considering Duran's group's experience, they concluded that something superior to humans was in that place, something only humanity's last bastion could resolve.
--Call base and request reinforcements -- the soldier said, as if spitting out anger with the words. After all, the only ones capable of stopping high-level monsters were those arrogant users of Sunqu Magic.
--Tell them to call the Hero Tower. This mission isn't something the ORM can easily complete.
*END OF PROLOGUE INTERLUDE; RETURN TO POV*