The iron vehicle drove on the hard road, bypassing a never-ending red scenery until finally the tires screeched as the car stopped near a small hill.
From a distance, a silhouette of a destroyed city remained strong. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, rumbling and flashing silver veins that gave anyone who saw them a chill.
"We have arrived."
Peter tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He turned to the left, seeing his leader staring straight ahead without uttering a single word.
He peeked towards the back, and the other three were waiting for Cain to give further instructions. As the silence grew stronger, the four of them began to exchange glances, confused as to why Cain was silent at this moment.
Having no other choice, Rika, as the vice-leader, cleared her throat, causing the grey-haired boy to flinch.
"Cain, what are the next instructions?"
"Wait!"
Cain raised his right fist. This made the crew fall silent. They nodded slowly, thinking that their leader might have many things to consider before entering the designated area.
However, outside of his comrades' expectations. Cain wrinkled his eyebrows as he looked at the blue panel floating in front of him.
'I need to prepare.'
Using only his thoughts, the numbers in his status parameters changed. After deep consideration, Cain chose to spend all the bonus points he had accumulated to strengthen himself, not knowing what danger awaited him there.
...
Parameter up!
- Vitality: 28 > 42
- Mind: 33 > 40
- Physique: 33 > 40
- Agility: 47
- Sense: 33 > 40
[Remaining Bonus Point: 35 > 0]
'That looks decent enough.'
Cain blinked to dismiss the blue panel blocking his view. He stared straight ahead, looking at the place that was the destination of his mission. His eyes shifted left and right, taking in the entire landscape.
The city was built on flat land. There was a bridge connecting two landmasses separated by an excavation that stretched to both sides, probably where water usually flowed, but now it was only a gouged land.
He peeked to his side, feeling the driver's gaze who was twirling his fingers across the steering wheel.
"Okay, we're going in, prepare your weapons and after crossing that bridge, we will walk and explore the surrounding area."
His other comrades nodded and immediately checked their respective weapons, including Peter. Therefore, their car stood in the middle of the barren terrain, shivering as if waiting for the driver to step on the gas pedal.
Cain turned to his side, a katana with a black sheath. In the middle, there was a mark forming a hexagon, a place that stored the identical particles as those in his armor. He didn't forget the pistol placed on his left thigh; the boy was ready to face any situation.
"All clear."
He nodded, hearing the response from his comrades, and stared at Peter's face.
"Go!"
The car engine roared when the gas pedal was pressed. Not long after, they arrived at the bridge, built on a steel frame and equipped with advanced infrastructure that allowed it to withstand the cruelty of time.
After crossing the bridge and entering the target area, the cadets couldn't help but clench their fists as they saw the surrounding conditions. Not only ruins, but they saw iron parts stained with black fluids scattered on the road they were passing.
Cain could see several buildings still standing, leaving only walls and pillars that cast eerie shadows on the road. But at that moment, he widened his eyes when he found a piece of flesh attached to a metal. It was pulsating, showing signs of life.
He found the same thing several times as they went further into the city.
'This is strange.'
He was told that the site was at least clean from the aftermath of battle, thanks to the hard work of the seniors who were willing to do the dirty work.
Yet the report and the reality were far different. The wounds on the black iron scattered around looked new.
"Leader."
"Cain."
The voices of Peter and Rika merged, chanting a dark opening note that changed the atmosphere in the cabin, thick with high tension. Suddenly, the Humvee stopped, creating a G-force that pushed Cain's body forward.
Cain shifted his gaze forward, and his hand unconsciously reached for the katana beside him.
Far from his position, four virus beasts were patrolling. Their red eyes glinted sharply as they analyzed the surrounding environment.
The black pupil in his eye contracted as Cain activated his Eagle Eye ability. The boy swallowed hard, seeing that the form of the monster was precisely the same as the one faced in the simulation.
They were virus beasts of Common rank. A monster that acts purely on instinct without any intelligence. Also, given the distance, it was reasonable that they had not yet noticed their presence.
"Cain, what are we going to do?"
Abel asked, his deep voice providing a little room for the cadets to breathe. Cain couldn't hold back his chuckle and gave Rika instructions.
"Rika, do you see any monsters besides the ones in front of us."
"No."
Although saying so, Cain did not forget to help monitor the enemy's movements and the surrounding area.
"Good, Peter park this car near the ruin on our right."
"Alright."
Peter turned the steering wheel in his hand and slowly hid the car behind the shadow of a wall that was still standing tall.
As the car's engine vibration subsided, the group immediately opened the doors and got out simultaneously. Cain, Abel, Peter, Louise, and Rika set foot on the outside world for the first time.
The gray-haired boy frowned as he inhaled the murky, heavy air thanks to the cosmic virus mixed with the planet's atmosphere. However, thanks to the armor suit's filter system, they didn't contract the virus.
Cain brought the katana closer to his left waist. Particles in its sheath appeared; they began to merge with his armor suit. He turned to his comrades, who were gazing at him.
"Follow me!"
The other four squad members nodded. Cain took a roundabout way, sneaking behind to avoid the enemy's eyes while surveying the area they passed.
His instinct proved true; pieces of limbs from the virus beasts that were scattered grew more numerous the closer they got to the city center.
The atmosphere grew thick; he could hear his heart pounding. The boy took a deep breath, trying to calm his pulse.
Cain and the others finally reached the area where the virus beasts were. Without opening his mouth, he whispered something.
(I will go first, Abel, and Louise follow me from behind. Rika gives us support from behind, and Peter protects her in case an attack comes from behind!)
(Understood!)
The reply came in the form of a voice echoing in his mind, the result of the communication link connected between them. This was a significant advantage in a stealth mission like this.
Even though it looked practical, there were still limitations to how far this telepathic communication could work. One of them was that the target must be on radar, with a diameter of a dozen meters or more, in the outside world. Or it could go further in the city of Babylon.
Cain, Abel, and Louise stood side by side, their gaze straight ahead, facing the virus beasts that were still roaming randomly without clear command.
(Let's go!)
The moment his command echoed in the heads of the other members. Cain dashed forward, leaving a crack where he stood. His comrades widened their eyes, never knowing their leader hid such explosive speed.
As he reached the enemy line, Cain drew his katana from the sheath. A spark spurted from the sheath. It was not only for show, but a mechanic that caused the sharp tip of his katana to turn blazing red.
Cain, who arrived in front of a virus beast, raised his hands over his head. The monster turned, but it was already too late as he swung his katana straight down, splitting the machine's body into two.
[Integrity +15%]
Seeing its machine comrade split, the other virus beasts turned their red eyes and glared at the boy, who stood still, holding a sword.
Tentacles, formed by merging cables and flesh, emerged from their bodies. They whipped them in the air, causing a small shockwave.
Cain raised the corner of his lips and kicked the ground, but he was not alone; Abel and Louise, who were left behind, ran on both of his sides.
The tentacles started raining down on them. Instead of dodging, Cain swung his katana and cut all the tentacles that wished to kill him. He stood in front of the monster.
'Die!'
A crimson flash cut through the monster's body diagonally, splitting it in two.
[Integrity Sync Complete.]
[Integrity 100% Reached]
> Level Up → 16.0
> Parameters boosted → All stats +1
> Bonus Point 5!