Chapter 19: The Wayward
The convoy moved slowly across the dry plains toward Manswill.
Dust followed the military vehicles like long fading ghosts behind them.
Inside the transport truck the mood was completely different from the battlefield they had just left.
Soldiers laughed.
Some retold the story of Champagne's power for the fifth time already.
Others kept glancing at Daito like they were trying to understand who exactly he was.
Meanwhile Wasabi Yuko sat on top of a supply crate swinging her legs while eating something crunchy.
"Man… that fight was crazy."
She pointed her snack at Daito.
"You killed like… what… two hundred?"
Daito replied calmly.
"One hundred ninety-three."
Everyone in the vehicle went quiet for a second.
Brandon blinked.
"You counted?"
Daito shrugged.
"I always count."
Fah-jin leaned forward with interest.
"That's… kind of terrifying."
Aerin crossed her arms proudly.
"You should have seen him against Bugardi."
Brandon tilted his head.
"Who?"
"The king of my tribe," Aerin replied.
"Biggest monster I've ever seen."
She pointed at Daito.
"He cut him in half."
Brandon stared at Daito.
"…I'm starting to like this guy."
Wei-Wan Lou watched the conversation quietly.
His eyes were calm but observant.
He had noticed something the others hadn't.
Daito wasn't celebrating.
He wasn't relaxed.
He was thinking.
Hard.
Finally Wei-Wan spoke.
"You're worried about the Chancellor."
Daito looked up slightly.
"…yeah."
Champagne leaned forward from the seat across them.
"That guy didn't seem scared at all."
Aerin nodded.
"He left like he already won."
Daito's voice was low.
"That's because he probably did."
Everyone looked at him.
"The Chancellor didn't come there to kill us."
Wei-Wan's eyes sharpened.
"You think it was a test?"
Daito nodded.
"Yes."
"The armored Freaker."
"The numbers."
"The timing."
"He was measuring something."
Fah-jin frowned.
"Measuring what?"
Daito looked at Champagne.
"Us."
Silence filled the vehicle.
Champagne slowly leaned back.
"…that's not comforting."
Brandon cracked his neck.
"Well if he wants a fight we'll give him one."
Daito shook his head slightly.
"No."
Everyone looked at him again.
"That's exactly what he wants."
Wei-Wan nodded slowly.
"I agree."
"The Chancellor is the type who plans three moves ahead."
He looked at Daito.
"You've fought him before."
Daito nodded.
"Once."
"And it cost me everything."
The vehicle grew quiet again.
Even Wasabi stopped chewing.
Champagne studied Daito.
"…then what's the plan?"
Daito stared out the window again as the lights of Manswill slowly appeared in the distance.
"We stop reacting."
Wei-Wan leaned forward.
"And start hunting."
Aerin smiled slightly.
"I like that."
Brandon grinned.
"Oh now we're talking."
Fah-jin stretched her arms.
"So we're invading a mad scientist's lab."
Wasabi raised her snack bag.
"I'm in."
Champagne looked at Daito.
His expression had changed.
Less hesitation.
More resolve.
"Guess I'm joining the rebellion now."
Daito finally looked at him.
"…you sure?"
Champagne smirked.
"My father started this mess."
His eyes hardened.
"So I'll help end it."
VRRMM!
The vehicles rolled through the gates of Manswill.
People in the streets saw Champagne and immediately began cheering.
"CHAMPAGNE!"
"CHAMPAGNE!"
"CHAMPAGNE!"
But this time something else happened.
Some people pointed at Daito too.
"Who's the swordsman?"
"The quiet guy?"
"He's the one who killed the King!"
"King Killer!"
Aerin laughed.
"Well…"
"Looks like your reputation is spreading."
Daito sighed quietly.
"I don't want a reputation."
Wei-Wan smiled.
"That's usually when you get the biggest one."
As the convoy stopped in the town square—
SWOOSH!
A messenger suddenly ran toward them in panic.
"Sheriff!"
"Sheriff Marcus!"
The Sheriff stepped forward immediately.
"What happened?"
The messenger was breathing hard.
"There was a transmission intercepted from the border towers."
Everyone went silent.
The messenger looked around nervously.
"…the Chancellor's lab…"
"…has been found."
Daito's eyes slowly lifted.
The war had just taken its next step.
* * *
The Sheriff's command room was louder than usual.
Maps covered the walls.
Pins marked sightings of Freakers.
Stacks of papers and radios cluttered every table as officers rushed around trying to organize the sudden chaos.
At the center stood Sheriff Marcus Camberley, arms crossed tightly as he listened to the report.
Wei-Wan finished explaining the encounter.
"…and that's when the Chancellor escaped."
Silence filled the room.
The Sheriff stared at them.
His jaw tightened.
"You mean to tell me…"
He pointed at Daito.
"…that the man responsible for half the horrors in this world is still alive, has an army of Freakers, and you didn't tell me?"
The room became tense.
Daito answered without emotion.
"It was none of your business."
The room froze.
Even the soldiers looked uncomfortable.
The Sheriff blinked slowly.
"…not my business?"
His voice rose.
"He's threatening my town!"
Daito didn't react.
"You asked about our intentions."
"That was the answer."
For a moment it looked like the Sheriff might explode.
But before the argument could escalate, Champagne stepped forward and placed a hand on the Sheriff's shoulder.
"Easy."
Marcus looked at him.
Champagne spoke calmly.
"If there's one thing I know about my father…"
His expression hardened.
"…it's that he's relentless."
"And resourceful."
The Sheriff sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead.
"That man just refuses to die…"
Then he turned toward the map wall.
"One of my informers just came in."
He pointed to a location several kilometers beyond the border mountains.
"We may have found his laboratory."
Everyone in the room leaned forward.
Daito's eyes narrowed.
"…may?"
The Sheriff nodded.
"That's the problem."
Daito spoke quietly.
"It could be a trap."
Everyone looked at him.
"The Chancellor isn't careless."
"The last time we found him he was inside his lab."
"And the Freakers destroyed it the moment the fight started."
Brandon folded his arms.
"So he has multiple labs?"
Fah-jin shrugged.
"Wouldn't surprise me."
Wei-Wan nodded.
"A scientist like that would never rely on one location."
Champagne sighed.
"And to make things worse…"
He stretched his sore shoulder.
"…we're exhausted."
The group felt the truth in those words.
Only the "Outsiders" had not used a lot of energy fighting earlier.
Champagne continued.
"The Chancellor said he'd return tomorrow."
"So if that's true…"
"…we need rest."
Aerin suddenly raised her hand.
"Oh, don't worry about him."
She pointed at Daito.
Everyone turned.
Aerin said proudly:
"He's probably back to eighty percent already."
The room went quiet.
Brandon blinked.
"…what?"
Fah-jin laughed.
"That's impossible."
Aerin shook her head.
"Nope."
"Before we even came here he fought the king of my tribe."
"The fight lasted hours."
She looked at Daito casually.
"And that was just this week."
Everyone slowly turned to Daito.
Daito said nothing.
But he didn't deny it.
The Sheriff stared at him like he had just discovered a new species.
"…what are you made of, kid?"
Daito simply looked away.
After a long pause the Sheriff clapped his hands once.
"Alright."
"New plan."
Everyone focused.
"Daito."
"You'll travel with these new savages…"
He nodded toward the "Outsiders".
"…and investigate the lab location."
"You'll take whatever equipment you need."
He pointed toward the armory.
"Weapons."
"Armor."
"Vehicles."
"Anything."
Daito shook his head.
"I don't need anything."
Aerin's eyes suddenly sparkled.
"…oh no you don't."
Before Daito could react—
Grab...
Pull...
She grabbed his arm and started dragging him.
"Come on!"
"We're fixing that boring look of yours!"
Daito resisted slightly.
"I'm fine."
"You look like a walking corpse."
"I basically am a walking corpse."
"That's not the point!"
They disappeared into the weapons room.
The others stood there awkwardly.
Brandon scratched his head.
"…should we help him?"
Wasabi laughed.
"Too late."
Meanwhile, Champagne walked toward the intelligence desk.
"I want everything you have on my father."
The information officer nodded quickly.
"Research records."
"Old files."
"Locations."
"Everything."
Champagne's eyes were cold now.
"I need to understand how he thinks."
* * *
Across the building, the town had already started moving.
PACK! STACK!
People packed supplies.
Mechanics checked vehicles.
Children peeked through windows, hoping to see their hero Champagne again.
The entire town of Manswill was alive with energy.
Nearly thirty minutes later—
Boom!
The armory door burst open.
Aerin walked out first looking exhausted…
…but extremely proud.
"Alright!"
"Everyone look!"
Daito walked out behind her.
The room went silent.
SHINE! SPARKLE!
His new outfit was completely different.
A long dark combat coat with reinforced shoulder guards.
GLOW!
Light armored sleeves.
A fitted black shirt underneath.
A belt system carrying throwing knives.
Boots reinforced with metal plating.
DOPE!
His sword now rested across his back instead of his waist.
The whole look was sleek.
Dangerous.
Stylish.
Brandon's jaw dropped.
"…okay that's actually badass."
Wasabi whistled.
"Damn."
Fah-jin grinned.
"You look like a final boss."
Even Wei-Wan nodded approvingly.
Aerin crossed her arms proudly.
"See?"
"I told you!"
Daito looked down at the outfit.
"…it's heavy."
Aerin slapped his back.
"That's called armor."
Champaign laughed.
"Well…"
"Looks like you're ready for war."
Outside the transport vehicles were already prepared.
People gathered around them taking photos and cheering.
"CHAMPAGNE!"
"CHAMPAGNE!"
"CHAMPAGNE!"
VRRMM!
The engines started.
Wei-Wan climbed into the lead vehicle.
"Time to move."
Champagne walked over to Daito.
"I'll stay here."
"Gather information."
Daito nodded.
"Aerin too."
Aerin pointed at him.
"Don't die while I'm not watching you."
Daito responded calmly.
"I'll try."
* * *
The convoy rolled out of Manswill under the orange sunset.
Inside the vehicle Wei-Wan looked at Daito.
"So…"
"Ready to hunt a mad scientist?"
Daito stared ahead into the dark mountains where the lab supposedly waited.
His voice was quiet.
"…I think he's hunting us."
And far away—
Deep inside a hidden underground laboratory—
BEEP! BEEP!
High Chancellor Vannian slowly watched surveillance footage of the battle from earlier.
He smiled.
"Excellent…"
"These children are growing faster than expected."
Behind him…
Three massive Superior Freakers slowly opened their glowing eyes.
Tomorrow…
The real hunt would begin.
to be continued....