A few hours into the journey, they finally arrived at their destination.
General Marcoshall: "This is as far as I'll go. I need to head back to the agency and report."
Ailin: "Alright, sir."
General Marcoshall: "I expect great things from you, Agents."
The 8 S.d bikers saluted.
8 S.d: "Got it."
After the vehicles left,
Aristar :"What's the plan?"
Ailin: "We'll wait for the right moment when they come out, and then we'll attack."
Raminda: "Where can we hide?"
Kauno: "Hmm... I think it's better if we hide up in the trees to ambush them."
Raminda: "That's a good idea, but I'm afraid of heights."
Kauno: "Well, let's split into two groups.
Four of us will hide up in the trees, and four will stay down below."
Kauno: "Do you all have your telescopes?"
Ailin: "Sorry, I left mine behind."
Kauno: "Alright, Aristar, since your rifle has a telescope, you can be the one to give the signal when they come out."
Aristar: "Okay."
Down below,
Vail: "You know, sometimes I think Kauno would make a better leader than Ailin."
Raminda: "Yeah, but Kauno just doesn't want to."
Meanwhile...
_Phone ringing_
General Claudine: "Hello... Oh, you called. We're about to leave now."
General Marcoshall: "Where are you headed?"
General Claudine: "Our flight is today."
General Marcoshall: "I see. I just wanted to ask you something. Do you remember a case from 17 years ago?"
General Claudine: "What about it?"
General Marcoshall: "The file case O.D.A1156987."
General Claudine: "Huh? Wait, the Craw incident? What happened?"
General Marcoshall: If I recall correctly, one of our members turned into a zombie goblin. That's the mission my students were tasked with - to take down the zombie goblins.
General Claudine: Marco, did you abandon your students?
General Marcoshall: Yes, because it was their mission.
General Claudine: Why did you leave them?
General Marcoshall: I had faith in them. Besides, I knew where you were headed. You've discovered one of the O.D.A.'s secrets, haven't you?
General Claudine: Huh? Wait, what do you mean?
General Marcoshall: The beloved prince called me earlier while we were on our way to the forest.
General Claudine: Hmph. Well, as for you, go back to them. Don't be like me, who got too comfortable and lost everything.
General Marcoshall: I understand.
(The call ends)
General Marcoshall: Ah, I remember now...
(flashback)
(Marcoshall's shock is revealed as he sees Claudine's tearful reaction to something)
Claudine is seen looking at the aftermath of a devastating scene... the students of Deputy Claudine Brime are unrecognizable due to the destruction... likely because of their own trust.
Night falls...
Aristar: They're here.
Kauno: Everyone, get ready.
(Everyone is wearing night vision glasses)
_RAAAURR!!_ (A loud roar echoes)
Ailin: Ahh, it's terrifying.
Aristar fires his rifle first.
Ailin: Weapon Activate!
(Ailin activates her own weapon)
The monsters start attacking, and the battle begins.
From afar, a black bird watched.
Whisper: "Its Time."
Something suddenly charged at Kauno. As her sword clashed, but her vision blurred as if she was dizzy. Then, zombie goblins charged at her all at once.
Ailin: "Huh? K-Kauno!"
Raminda, Moiku, Vail, Vali, and Takari rushed to help Kauno, but...
Kauno: "STAY AWAY FROM ME!!"
Kauno unleashed a powerful lightning bolt. Ailin's weapon sprang to life, and she yanked herself away.
Meanwhile, a monster grabbed Aristar and flung him far into the woods. The five S.D. bikers lost consciousness, and the zombie goblins were incinerated.
Kauno: "Ah? What did I do? Im- impossible?"
After the chaos subsided, Ailin emerged.
Ailin: "Kauno, what does this mean?"
Kauno: "Stay there!"
Ailin: "But..."
Meanwhile, Aristar regained consciousness.
Aristar: "Huh? What happened? Why am I here?"
Aristar continued walking.
Ailin: "I know this isn't your fault."
Kauno: "Don't move! I don't want you to get hurt. Stay there!"
Aristar: "Huh? Impossible, Kauno? You're the one who did this?"
They fell silent.
Ailin: "Wait, Aristar, it's not-"
Aristar: "You should have stayed out of this mission if you weren't okay with it!"
Kauno is Still Silent.
Aristar: "Tell me why you did this!"
Kauno: "I don't know."
Kauno stormed off.
Aristar: "If that's how you are, then I don't want someone like you! Selfish!"
Ailin: "Wait, Kauno!"
Aristar: "Why are you leaving?"
Ailin: "I'll follow her."
Aristar: "We need to call for backup. You're the leader; this can't end like this."
Ailin: "The mission is over. You call for backup."
Aristar: "Eh? Wait, Lin!"
Ailin: "You don't know anything about Kauno."
Ailin quickly left.
Meanwhile...
Kauno: "Is this the first curse she mentioned? Ugh, I wasn't careful enough."
Ailin: "Kauno!"
Kauno: "Tsk, that woman..."
Ailin quickly saw Kauno.
Ailin: "Kauno, thank goodness you're okay."
Kauno: "Why are you so persistent?"
Ailin: "I want to know."
Kauno: "Stay away from me."
Ailin: "So I can help you."
Kauno: "Huh?"
Ailin bound Kauno with her chain.
Kauno: "Wait, what does this mean? Let me go."
Ailin: "I don't know what's buried in your heart, but I see it."
Kauno: "Huh? You see... (sign) It's a curse. If you go against it, it'll just repeat itself. I don't know how many times."
Ailin: "No matter how many, I'll help you. I'll be here for you."
Ailin approached Kauno, holding the blade's edge of the chain, ready to destroy the shallow curse.
Kauno: "Wait, I'm getting nervous."
Ailin's other hand grasped Kauno's face.
Ailin: "Don't worry, it'll be over soon."
As Ailin began to pierce the curse...
Kauno: "Ahh!! I-I feel... like I'm being electrocuted."
But Ailin dispelled the curse, enduring Kauno's pain. Seeing Kauno's suffering, Ailin couldn't help but kiss her.
After they finished, Ailin released Kauno from the chain.
Kauno: (blushes) "You... why did you do that?"
Ailin: (giggles) "Sorry, I couldn't bear seeing you like that."
Kauno: "Thanks."
Ailin: "Wait, where are you going?"
Kauno: "I'll go far, far away. I'll leave."
Ailin: "Huh?"
Meanwhile, as the vehicle stopped, he got out, and General Marcoshall's appearance caught him off guard.
General Marcoshall: What The.. What does this mean?"
Next chapter: 11 The Forced Decision.