A discussion between her and Cloe came to her mind. In her life with them and in service to Kalika she never felt the sensation of losing someone, she always believed she would be the first to fall, unlike her companions, she was only good at using long-distance weapons.
Only to reinforce her hand-to-hand combat was she provided with an improved prototype of a high-density lance, very portable, but difficult to manufacture and afford. Still, this was only a gift from Cloe and Kalika, not something she thought of herself.
A gift from her best friend, and from the person who saved her, that made her feel less than the others in the group. None of Kalika's subordinates had a simple or pleasant life to mention, but among them they knew each other like the palm of their hands.
The right to die first was something that terrified her, not for herself, but for others, that they would leave her alone, that she would be abandoned again. She grew up understanding that these people would be with her until the moment they were useful, she imagined the same of herself.
She didn't dislike the fact of being a tool of Miss Kalika, because she saw something in her ideal, a world to create.
She would follow her in her purpose as long as she could be useful. And if dying was in her plans, she hoped to fulfill it so as not to be the last to fall.
"I'm a damn selfish person" she said to herself as she reached the bombardment zone
"There's not a single trace besides the incinerated corpses, but…she's not here"
When Emily arrived at the group under Kalika's care, she met a girl a year older than her, who at that time had a chronic problem in her spine; she never asked about the matter, just as she wouldn't have wanted to be bothered, neither did she want to be a bothersome newcomer, only when they met, she took it upon herself to take care of her before asking her.
She was not only her friend, she was like an older sister who received and took care of her when she still wasn't adapted to the group, showing that not everyone in the world was like where she came from; a smile that regretted her birth, but didn't want to see in the new girl.
Translucent eyes with a soft blue, the color of someone painting a clear blue sky and a delicate and sincere smile. Cloe is a 19-year-old girl who currently maintains her child's smile and behaviors of one, and deep down is capable of understanding better than anyone the feelings of other people.
That's why when her smile wasn't present, it's because someone did something intolerable, or because she dislikes some behavior or attitude of a person.
She is expressive with those who are trustworthy and can be extremely cold with anyone who tries to endanger her loved ones.
She is someone emotionally and rationally intelligent, only her smile and capricious eyes hide her twisted way of being at present; in exchange for who she was in the past.
Emily was the second to last to arrive at the group before Mia came. And that made her one of Cloe's proteges.
Now her older sister was the one who needed help.
All previous missions and dangers were greater than this one, she couldn't die because of others' lack of scruples.
"No matter what…live please!", a cry of plea and verdict toward the dark and dense jungle was a declaration, she would find her no matter what.
***
While Emily searched through the debris.
Caleb was performing a pincer attack with Ethan.
The difference lay in fast and precise attacks, taking advantage of the large space and poor visibility. Crossing and creating several gaps; crushing, piercing through, continuing straight then turning and hitting the disoriented enemy.
It gave the image of a scene of several pins passing through a honeycomb.
Any attack like this on a convoy could only be achieved in places with obstacles that not only reduce the opponent's speed, but also allow random escape denying simple patterns.
This is the jungle and for anyone it would be a problem to walk without falling, but for Caleb and Ethan it's common to do so, even if the last 3 months they were on arid lands, also not counting the previous period in other military territory missions, the nights are equally dark, it was a familiar feeling.
"We're being attacked, Phalanx formation!"
The men who were waiting for any movement in the undergrowth retreated at the order, took a distance of 1 meter from the vehicles and flanked their 12, with direction outward from the convoy, the other spare men got into the vans and even from the trucks flanked through the air, others on the ground knelt aiming upward, watching any movement up to the tree tops.
A formation known as the Macedonian Phalanx, with certain changes, but maintaining its essence.
A formation that allows defense and hunting of the enemy.
31 of the 40 men who arrived remained, the speed gave them a great surprise.
In the thoughts of both hunters came the sensation that their victims were not willing to be hunted, but would hunt before being prey, strike first.
It's as if the formation was already prepared to avoid being attacked from the start.
Although not everything was foreseen as at the beginning of the mission; this change was something they could handle thanks to their flexibility, there was even a somewhat different atmosphere, as if the convoy was trying to withstand something.
The defense formation is for a greater number of enemies, and although they didn't know how many they were fighting, it was clear that this defense strategy was very robust.
As if they already knew who they were going to fight.
This path was one of the two routes by which you could enter and exit the base.
"Ethan, we change formation, we'll attack in tangent cut forms while you distract"
"Okey!"
They affirmed while communicating with walkie-talkies.
The step is simple, one takes care of appearing in the line of sight, leaving a perfect profile for the enemy to shoot. However, at that moment whoever exposes themselves has to suddenly increase their speed while the other arrives at full speed and pierces the formation from 90º to where the bait is exposed, to avoid it. It's a fatal strategy that only unintelligent predators would use.
But for Caleb carrying a heavy shotgun and Ethan who only carried two hand weapons it was essential that they get close, since the assault rifles and light machine guns the enemy carried left them with few options and more because of the formation, even in the forest they would only have to get close to fall into the trap.
It should also be taken into account that a hand grenade could make the job easier to make them scatter, but they expose themselves to them throwing it back or starting to use the heavy cargo they have stored in their trucks.
"It would be easier to blow them up…"
The least they wanted was for them to scatter in quantity and clash with them face to face, the best thing is to keep your position, or they'd end up making them into sieves.
Finally they started after a signal from Caleb.
"Everyone don't leave your positions, bring the ashtrays!"
One of the men in charge noticed their movements in the shadows, while Caleb and Ethan maintained speed in different directions so they couldn't figure out their distance.
What seemed strange to the two is that they had already noticed them, a strategy that few would see in this darkness.
The attack began.
"!aaaaahhhhh!, !aaaaahhh!....!aahh!"
In the first attack it passed like a fine pencil stroke on a sheet, tearing apart the first 3 men in the top row, but being replaced by men from behind.
This strategy doesn't assume a formation easy to maintain, requires many pawns to be maintained, plus it's dangerous if a flank is completely pierced.
28 men remain.
Then came the next attack.
"But what demon…!aaaaahhh!"
The screams of 3 more men were dragged 15 seconds after the first attack.
But what puzzled the man in charge was the change of person, now it wasn't the same one who distracted everyone, it was the other one who attacked who showed up. The shots didn't take long, but although they had already seen the first attack and its form of operation; the reason why it's hard for them to confront is that no attack has a pattern after the previous one, the attack of whoever cuts the formation is completely random.
Even after reaching 21 men, he realized that even avoiding the distractor was a danger, he alone or the two could attack from the same side with their monstrous speed.
"That was effective, who said it would be easy to take the lives of my men" he spoke while looking at who led, but everything was already within his calculations.
At that moment from the top of the van he took a deep breath and then said:
"I see you're not mere murderers so I'll give you a welcome from my part, repent!"
The person in charge who had a gray shoulder pad with the number III on his shoulder pad gave orders to the men who had just brought 4 cars shaped like high-powered weapons.
For Caleb and Ethan it was a warning signal, to get away, being 8 meters away from them, but running at high speed and then stopping to distance themselves from them.
Showing the finger toward the East then upward the one directing them gave the signal with a tone and lexicon characteristic of what was supposed to be a dead language.
"!Ardeat!" (Word in Latin that means burn or let it burn.)
At that moment the 4 devices that looked like medium-load armament fired a powerful flame that easily reached 50 meters distance. All in different directions and moving the shooting angles according to their leader.
In the blink of an eye more than 2500 m2 were ablaze; then he proceeded to give an order.
"To all executors!, proceed to eliminate the threat, anyone who interferes with the elimination of #13 will be identified as an accomplice"
"Let's not waste the instructors' time and there will be a way to the complex"
For the luck of Caleb and Ethan, they managed to take shelter behind a tree large enough not to let the fire through.
The range of the flamethrower was ridiculous
"We almost didn't make it captain, but what the hell is happening here?"
They were not used to such interference and incoherencies, who the hell were they, why did they have such armament and above all was it the same Heiss they numbered as "#13".
The connection wasn't obvious, since with all the armament they carried, it was likely they were looking for someone else, but there was also the doubt of whether they were getting into something darker than what appeared on the surface.
The words mentioned by the masked man about the district resonated in their minds.
"We don't have time to waste on them, Emily still hasn't communicated which means she hasn't found Cloe, we must eliminate them before that"
"Yes, but what method do we use?, I never saw strategies so risky and crazy"
He wouldn't really know how strong the flamethrower is and if that's all the power it had, but for that reason he decided to take the risk.
"The problem isn't their abilities, their leader thinks, but he also makes mistakes, even though it was a good idea to have a flamethrower, it also makes him prone to not moving while lowering the fire so vehicles can pass, we'll attack at that moment"
"In the flames?, but… do you want us to attack their formation?, you want to take advantage of them getting confused in formation pulling out those machines"
"Exactly!"
"Not bad captain, they're careless from their confidence, who wouldn't be, those things have an overwhelming speed and power"
"Yes, this is something we should talk to Miss Kalika about, something big is happening, at least how a second-rate country has this armament; we need to get out of this as quickly as possible"
For the two who are aware and experienced in foreign wars, it is imperative to know why a second-rate country had such problems and potential dangers at the same time, something was underneath everyone's gaze.
The tragedy in France could only be the tip of something much bigger.
"From what I see, it's what we both believe they are, still they're a bit different from what we saw in Kazakhstan…. that would mean this country has those monstruosities walking around like nothing"
"The truth would be hard to believe even if they, this country has….."
"...a district"
Their voices became heavy, they were preparing their weapons for their next attack, they didn't have lethal equipment, but with their own strength it was more than enough.
Despite the idea of finding a district in this country, it made an echo in their minds, similar to the post-traumatic stress that soldiers had after the First World War, traumas that made their heads fade into blood and piles of bodies, finally just darkness.
It's no wonder their attitudes, since they had been under constant stress in those 3 months in Kazakhstan and what happened in the previous year and a half.
"We were never close enough to meet any of their executives or managers"
"I remember I have some marks from their traps on my side and traces of shrapnel in my body, nothing else gives me irritation and fear than having to face them"
"Would you prefer to face Miss Kalika's wrath?"
"Don't say that captain, those jokes aren't even said, …the last time I felt I would get trapped in that pit and couldn't get out"
"hahaha"
The smile and some laughter came from Caleb, with some irony, as if bothering his younger brother.
"But I do understand how you feel, plus if it's what we think, more will come for their objective, we're not enough and we don't understand how they are with respect to the Kazakhstan district, it will be better to finish and leave"
After nodding at his words, Ethan prepared a chain he had in his bag and Caleb did the same. And then they started to advance, each in different directions at a certain radius, like clock hands, but each in a perfectly synchronized lane, while they began to spin their chains at high speed, as if they were about to be launched.
At the end of the chain there was a small reinforced steel ball, when the executors realized it was too late.
The balls were thrown at the same time at the flamethrowers, destroying them instantly and being driven into the vehicles at the same time; at high speed the two ran in the 2 directions which caused them to be enclosed by the reinforced steel chains. Some between the chains and the vehicles, and others in the center like their leader.
"Go!"
Caleb gave the signal through the walkie-talkie and Ethan, released the chain running at full speed and jumping through the air with the help of one of the vehicles that was farthest from the center, from the air as if it were a dance he shot with coldness toward those who were prey at the moment.
While those tied with the chain tried to free themselves, those who managed to evade the chains were massacred by Ethan's pistol shots and Caleb's heavy shotgun bullets.
Those still chained were thrown several black balls that as soon as they touched them exploded into pieces.
"!!boom!", "!!boom!","!!boom!"
Prey to which they wouldn't show the slightest mercy.
Then came Caleb's attack who shot at close range with his shotgun at the leader's bodyguards pushing them then with brute force.
They only left their leader alive to get some information.
"!kahhh!"
A precise blow was received from Ethan, although he had resisted being caught, it wasn't so problematic knowing he was weaker than them, he finally gave in.
Although something wasn't normal in the situation and Caleb sensed it.
"I'm not in the mood so tell us quickly who you are and what your purpose is"
Without any response from his mouth it was a matter of 5 minutes and several broken bones and a destroyed face that he prepared to speak.
***
"…coff.ahh, I'm a third-class instructor, in charge of clearing the area before they arrive", he coughed blood and endured his agonizing pain, better than they expected.
"Why are you coming here and who is going to arrive, don't lie to me, I can see when a person is lying?"
Ethan's face indicated he was willing to skin him alive.
The instructor's gaze fell on the eyes of his torturers and with a cold smile only responded without much desire to cooperate, but with high ego trying to show superiority.
"Do you think this will serve any purpose?, they're already coming and they're not at your level, maybe you rival first-level instructors, but against the MASTERS and their lackeys you're nothing"
After his answer Ethan continued to beat him, if he continued like this he'd leave him like a crushed watermelon.
"!clofff!.."
He only vomited blood now, no longer complaining.
"if you want I'll tell you something !cof cof!, you should have paid close attention to how many of us there were before attacking !"jajajaja!"
Caleb's face turned to the surroundings where he saw a small part of the intact forest.
"Damn it!, we have to leave"
"That's right, you thought there was only one instructor you pair of idiots, there were 10 level IV instructors in the farthest truck hahahaha; you fell perfectly, you thought I'd let myself be captured just because you're good, well you're falling short and they're already coming hahaha, die inferior beings..!" "!Bang!".
Then everything went silent, a shot to the head from Caleb ended his state of ecstasy. And the 2 in a deep silence felt they were falling into the same traps they had to go through in Kazakhstan again.
It wasn't a defeat, but if there were 10 it was impossible to catch them now that they had wasted so much time with him and were already exhausted, especially because capturing that instructor was harder to corner than the executors who were simply trained in unbridled murder, not in training totally emphasized in strategy and greater physical abilities, an army with more intense training than most, but insufficient against monsters like Caleb and Ethan.
"If logic is correct, it's possible that level 2s are a bit stronger, I don't know how much or how many level III's they equal, I don't think there's much problem besides exhaustion, but I hope their levels aren't as wide as he said. If so, then those level I's are probably at our level"
"If so we might have to give it all, and as you say captain, the problem is the wear and tear"
The two looked at the body and then left it behind.
In the silence as they returned to look for Emily their thoughts remained in the words from two years ago of one of their companions.
"The basis of Miss Kalika's strength is not solely her ability, nor her strategies or intelligence, that's a complement and I would say it's 70% of her strength in itself, but understand something, that terrifying strength is not possible with just a weak body, so tell me; how will you all become stronger thinking your bodies and mind are at their peak? Don't be arrogant and pay more attention to what she teaches you"
That time each of the boys present had heard the former leader, before Caleb took command and their former leader went on a mission by orders of Kalika.
They naively thought that when he referred to body he meant purely the physical aspect, in the remaining years they realized what his words meant.
They knew that if they used their trump card they would be in danger against the enemy, plus incapacitated by the overexertion.
"Even after training another year with Miss Kalika I can't go past 8 minutes as he had said", it was a parameter, but for Ethan it was low or not as high as he wanted.
"I can last 10, but with the same chances of falling to the ground like a discarded rag, and even if we didn't last all that time, it's likely we'll have aftereffects in the following hours" Caleb for his part was more concerned with the consequences of exceeding his limits.
"Truly, I would have liked him to have given us the strategy to improve before he left, Miss Kalika only explained one part saying the rest would be a matter of us learning it"
"You know like I do, that giving us everything after saving us was enough to be considered fortunate, we had to make an effort"
For them it was already enough that they had been saved, fed and trained, part of their training would be to realize that the bases given by their savior were the key to drawing out their greatest potential, the problem is they still haven't found the most effective way to reach them.
"Yes, they are people who were born to break the wall that keeps the rest of humanity indifferent; they are the hope of future generations"
"I hope soon to be at their level…."
While Caleb spoke he suddenly stopped as if he felt something.
"Does something happen captain?"
A cutting silence stopped his sentence.
"Did you hear something?"
"Mmm no…!!!"
Suddenly a voice came out from the burned trees
"Well, well, you have good instincts gentlemen, to think that you would detect me!"
The 2 turned and got on alert, it was a boy about 17 to 19 years old.
After that person 12 more men followed, 8 with yellow shoulder pads with the number II and 4 with the number I.
The sound of the burning trees didn't allow them to hear that reinforcements were approaching, plus the idea that they were so close was illogical in form, 'what the hell are they doing here' is what the two thought. It's as if they were coming in waves, as if they knew the first would fall and more would come with their support.
"This is ridiculous"
Their complaints were justifiable, who has that much power in the world, the suspicions fit.
"Ridiculous?, ridiculous is that you 2 ended up with one of the 2 vanguards so easily"
The two were in shock at his words, "one of the vanguards, is there another?"
"From the east the other vanguard should come, but since the biggest problem started here we decided to come with a little more anticipation. The idea was to surround him and leave him without options, now I'm in a hurry so he can't escape through any of the nearby swamps… haaa! You really ruined everything"
With an exaggerated sigh he complained.
Their biggest concern was no longer the enemy in front, it was that Emily and Cloe who were still in the complex, if there was another squad it's likely they're already fighting them and if Cloe is injured the extra load probably falls on Emily.
"Well, it doesn't matter, as soon as the MASTERS arrive in time that monster won't escape"
In front of them they had a threatening aura, as if something was watching them, as if it were a wild animal.
Those who accompanied him were also not to be despised.
"Well shall we start?"
"Lykos remember that the MASTER told you not to do anything impulsive and to focus only on #13"
"Shut up!, no one asked you, if it bothers you go with the rest and search for that bastard, I want to stay with these 2"
"No!, I received clear orders, you have to go and wear down that bastard so the MASTERS can finish him off without problems"
"Who cares, they should be capable alone, if they're not capable alone then what good are they being in charge"
A small confrontation was being disputed, while Caleb and Ethan thought about how to get away best; either the 2 escaped or one stayed as a distraction. Neither liked the idea of leaving the other to fight, but neither did they know if they could easily escape from that place.
The question was an opening.
"If you want I can tell your MASTER that you didn't obey and that you stayed fighting with some good for nothings"
"Sometimes you lack eye for things, they are stronger than you and in any case you underestimate them, look who needs a corrective"
The gazes of the two clashed, as if hate and resentment were in the air, as if one despised the other for their status and place.
For Caleb the decision was crucial, either bring the rest of his companions so they had a chance or the two fought with odds against them.
Although they're not just anything, they know how to identify someone strong, the analysis of both was that they could take on level I's, but they had distrust about the one who surprised them.
Black clothing (military boots, dreal, blazer), white shirt and a strange silver shoulder pad on his left arm. All without any protection, very formal for what would be a fight in a place like this.
The decision was made, one would stay, the fastest would go get the girls out of the area. The one who stayed would have no choice but to sacrifice themselves and hold on so the others could escape. The probability that this person could escape afterward was only low, but if it was Caleb it wouldn't be unreasonable considering his tenacity.
Besides, if they communicated with the girls it would alert the enemy that there were more people in the area and they would go hunt them. If the other vanguard hasn't made noise it must mean they're hidden or that they haven't reached the center of the complex yet.
The conclusion was that one should flee to warn them and the other stay and distract them for as long as possible then escape even if they had to use their trump card.
He gave the signal at the moment the discussion reached its climax.
"Go"
Faint, but at the same time concise. Ethan exploded at a speed even greater than shown in the previous fight, the distance to the center of the complex was 2.5 kilometers.
The first idea was to ambush them at a far distance so they wouldn't reach the center where they'd search for Emily, but now he'll have to run that distance to save them from the other vanguard.
The two knew they were capable of withstanding that wave without problem, even if Cloe was injured, it's likely she could handle it.
But what if there was another vanguard covering that?, like the one they just met, it's a fact to say they could die.
But then, things that seemed bad got worse.
The distance between the enemies and Ethan was about 9 meters and when Ethan moved away there were already about 20 meters distance, covering that distance in 1.5 seconds, then Ethan asked himself at that moment after turning his gaze to the right "what the f…? this is impossible". His thoughts stopped after receiving a kick so powerful it sent him flying against the trees, breaking a medium tree that was still burning from the previous battle making a great crash in his fall.
Caleb's gaze remained lost and stunned at the great speed of the adversary. Ethan was the 3rd fastest of the 7 subordinates of Kalika and even though he hadn't used his full speed it did surprise greatly how Lykos moved.
It was a difference between 26 km/h and 47 km/h taking into account that maybe he had already noticed his intention running practically at the same time as Ethan.
"If you think you can leave without more you're mistaken"
"!Ethan!"
Caleb's shout showed his concern, if he didn't block the kick he probably would have been knocked out.
"You two are already my prey"
The boy now showed his bloodlust to his next victim.
"!Lykos!"
One of the level I's raised his voice in protest.
"Take the level II's and another level I and search the area for #13, leave them to me, just leave me two level I instructors just in case, now stop bothering and go search for the bastard!, I'll catch up when I'm done"
He had a great temper, but knew how to make correct decisions.
"Don't bother me later if the MASTER gets angry"
"Ha, that won't happen"
After they left only three enemies remained, but Lykos was already a threat enough to worry about. The speed and way he moved in those seconds was impactful, the precision of stopping with his leg at that speed and dealing such a blow, wasn't just anything. He was a formidable enemy.
Caleb was going to prepare to fight him, but changed his mind and decided to turn his back to the enemy and go against the level I's waiting in the other direction.
"Haha, do you dare ignore me?"
Lykos accelerated to go after Caleb, his blue eyes showed a bloodlust that overflowed, he wanted to see the enemy torn to pieces.
"I wouldn't get distracted if I were you", his words hit in Lykos's mind. Then he received back what he had dealt.
"!Who are you looking at bastard!"
An even greater collision speed and a spin ending in a kick aimed at the face, sent him back to the forest breaking several branches and destroying the vegetation as he rolled.
"Sorry for the delay captain, I didn't expect that. But it will be different now, I'll go all out"
"It's fine, but try not to wear yourself out too much, as soon as I'm done with them I'll help you"
"That won't be necessary captain, I'll destroy this garbage. What are you waiting for you bastard, I know it's not enough yet to break that shitty face"
His arm was fine, trembled a bit to Caleb's perspective, but it wasn't something that would prevent him from fighting.
Slow steps were heard coming out of the darkness, he removed the blazer and loosened the buttons of his shirt to improve his comfort.
Between laughs he came out, with his hand on his head touching his black hair, while looking with his dark blue eyes toward his enemy, while he stretched his joints after checking his condition.
A cold gaze was set on Ethan.
"I didn't think I'd see other people outside the districts who could access the area, the world is truly quite large and beautiful as to have unpleasant nightmares like you"
Ethan noticed the change, his aura was now colder, you felt pressure just breathing, he was at his same level or perhaps more.
"Ha, we may be unpleasant, but we'll be better than you district people"
Laughs began coming from Lykos's mouth, genuine laughter that said there was no need to hide anything else.
"Better?, you're just unpolished gems, you're not at the level of apprentices from each district. You don't even have mastery of the zone completed, how do you think you can stand against the strongest"
His comprehension of Ethan's state made him uncomfortable, that speed and way of moving plus the concentration gave him away.
'But… how did he know I hadn't completely mastered the zone' that person caused him more questions and discomfort the more he spoke.
It was as if he had seen him before, and that gave him goosebumps.
"Because why not simply abandon, the codex you're trying to protect must be eliminated, if you surrender we'll let you go and won't eliminate you. As you already know I don't have time to waste and if I concentrate on annihilating you I won't arrive in good condition to the next fight"
His murderous instincts hadn't gone away, but the words from the previous level I stayed in his head, already facing a codex depended on many resources and if he wasn't ready to face it he would be suspended, not counting the other implications of disobeying.
"I don't understand what you're talking about"
Neither of the two understood what he meant by "protect".
"If that's your choice, then you'll be eliminated"
His answer was understood in the wrong way and would begin a battle of attrition.