“Damn... To think that we’d get briefed by the High General of Emtza himself.” Khatuu whistled.

Akairo had a similar reaction.

It seemed as though retrieving and destroying the cube was a really important objective.

He wondered why the United Armies weren’t sending as many soldiers up there as possible.

Akairo’s confusion almost turned into bubbling rage as he remembered the day he saw the cube first but Z stood up, bringing him back to the present.

She walked up to the wall which was plastered with images of Koryfílófou.

“The Devout have probably taken back the site since the last team went dark. I assume it’s been one big back and forth. We’ll drop in via this river and clear the Area. Me and Khatuu will then keep watch while the kid and his guardian dig through the rubble to find the device. Any questions?” Z asked but no one spoke.

She then led everyone back outside and, after getting into the armoured cruiser, they made their way back to their base of operations where Z led everyone into the hanger where Bella rushed towards the ship which had its rear door open seemingly automatically.

She rushed into it while everyone followed behind.

Bella dashed into the cockpit and promptly shut the door while everyone else took one of the eight seats in the fuselage.

The seats faced inwards and since Akairo sat opposite Zabu, the two locked eyes for a moment.

They were then interrupted by Khatuu who wrapped his arm around Akairo’s neck.

“Once we hit the ground, it’s a free for all kid. Hesitate even for a second and a bullet could give some of your grey matter some breathing room.” Khatuu said with a grin but this only made Akairo’s anxious heart race.

“Aww, don’t tell me you’re scared.” Khatuu teased with an ever widening grin.

Khatuu’s words rung in Akairo’s mind.

Was he scared?

Yes.

But this was nothing compared to what he felt that day and so he took a deep breath and sat upright.

“I’m scared, yes but I won’t hesitate.” Akairo said with eyes that burnt.

Khatuu’s eyes flashed green.

“Glad to hear.” He said while applying more pressure on Akairo’s neck.

“Knock it off.” Z sighed making Khatuu let go of Akairo in an instant.

“Hey, I was just making sure the kid wasn’t gonna shit himself once we hit the ground.”

Z simply scoffed beneath her wrappings making Khatuu roll his eyes.

“Anyway, our destination is an entire continent away. It’s a long trip so... Yeah.”

Akairo nodded before resting his head on the back of his seat.

He was tired of looking to Zabu for answers and chose instead to focus on what lay ahead.

He knew it would hurt but he thought about Engel.

He thought about her face and those of Hamia, Lieve and Irren but this just led to a twisted scowl forming on his face as he realized that if the cubic device really was the one responsible for destroying Eastview, then it was of the highest importance that this mission be completed.

And so, with eyes that burnt I’m spirals of flame, he sat.

Determined to do whatever he could to ensure that no one else would suffer as he and so many others had.

He would leave this world once every single cube was destroyed.

.

..

Akairo struggled to keep his eyes open as the seventh hour of silent flight passed.

He was then shaken awake by Bella’s voice which came from the earpieces.

[Ladies and gentlemen, we are fast approaching our destination. Please prepare for departure.]

Z was the first to stand up after removing her seatbelts.

Khatuu did the same prompting Akairo and Zabu to follow suit.

The four then stood by the ships rear door as it descended, something Akairo could feel.

“Bella, be sure to pour some salt and pepper over the site before you leave.” Z said.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

[Yes, ma’am!] Bella sang.

[Doors open in three.]

The lights in the fuselage suddenly went dark only to be replaced by s single red one.

The door then suddenly opened, revealing that the ship was flying incredibly close to the surface of a river.

The ship slowed down a little and just as it did, Z jumped out of it and fell into the river.

Khatuu gave Akairo a pat on the back before jumping down as well.

Akairo took a deep breath before following him and Zabu jumped shortly after.

Akairo struck the river and sunk quite a bit into the water but he, while feeding a little bit of Tal into his muscles, swam up and gasped for air.

He frantically looked around for the others in the dead of night but gasped as something grabbed him.

He looked to his left to find that it was Khatuu.

He placed an index finger above his lips and pointed to the riverbank before swimming in that direction.

Akairo followed closely behind him and the two eventually joined Z and Zabu on the shore.

The river was deep in the heart of a thick forest and the spot where everyone stood was at the foot of a hill.

A strange sound the came from the north and up the hill.

It sounded like rapid gunfire only it was so rapid and impactful, Akairo felt each bullet as it struck the ground.

[Let’s go.] Z whispered, although her voice was clear thanks to the earpiece in Akairo’s ear.

She led everyone up the hill and it’s here that Akairo’s heart began racing.

He kept his thoughts in the present and maintained his low stance as he followed Z.

The gunfire eventually ceased and silence befell the forest.

The group eventually reached the first buildings of the village.

[Stop.] She said and everyone complied.

This also allowed everyone to get a good view of what was ahead.

Most of the buildings in the village proper had been reduced to flattened piles of rubble.

Z looked up at the roof of the building they were next to, one of the few which still stood, and turned to Khatuu.

[Go to the specified building and, after checking if the area is clear, blast away some of the rubble so that the kid and his guardian can start digging.] Z whispered and everyone nodded before watched as she, in a single motion, jumped onto the roof of a two storey building.

[You heard miss bossy pants, let’s move.] Khatuu said before dashing into the village.

Akairo and Zabu ran closely behind him but not two second passed before Akairo spotted a corpse on the ground.

It was managed and burnt and it’s shape was instantly steered into Akairo’s mind making his already racing heart knock on his chest even harder.

He looked ahead and saw countless more bodies strewn across the village. All of them bathed by the dim light of the half moon.

He followed Khatuu and Zabu to the largest pile of rubble in the village and it’s here that the ground trembled.

The air around Khatuu’s body twisted as he squeezed his hands into fists.

His shadow expanded to encompass the rubble before him and Akairo watched in awe as he raised his arms.

All of the brick, steel and mud then began rising.

[Scanner’s picking up something approaching fast from the north. Looks like we will be joined by some company soon. What’s the call, sister Z?] Bella asked.

[Shoot whatever gets too close down.] Z instructed.

[Yes, ma’am.] Bella said as more and more rubble rose from the ground revealing that beneath it all was a large space which was probably the true location where the facility’s operations were held

An underground lab of sorts.

Akairo’s eyes widened upon seeing a few cubic devices at the bottom of the uncovered pit and one of them looked fairly undamaged.

“You see that?” Khatuu asked through gnashed teeth.

“Y-yeah.” Akairo acknowledged while Khatuu’s arms shook.

“Rush down and-“

“I’ll do it.” Zabu said before quickly jumping into the lit where he grabbed the mostly undamaged cube.

He then started climbing out of the pit, the sounds of gunfire filled the air.

They were followed by an explosion and a cheerful yeehaw from Bella.

[Just melted an unmarked bird, haha! Couldn’t tell the make but it was pretty high since the bastard made almost no sound and was only detectable due to its high Tal readings. Speaking of which, I don’t think the crew are too happy with what I did and they are making their way to your location fast!]

“They survived?” Akairo gasped unthinkingly as Zabu left the pit.

“Hehe, don’t worry about it, kid. We got what we came here for. Let’s prepare to evac.” Khatuu said before finally lowering his arms, allowing all of the rubble to fall with a loud crash.

Akairo nodded before turning to Zabu who tightly held the cubic device.

Khatuu turned to leave the village but just as he did, the ground shook.

He turned to the north and eyed the distant treeline as the ground shook even more.

Due to the dark of night, visibility was beyond poor.

Akairo then watched as a ball of fire rushed out of the woods towards Khatuu’s face but he simply struck it down with the back of his hand.

Three figures then emerged from the treeline.

They, like Akairo and company, also wore military gear only theirs was a pale grey.

Two of them wore masks while the third did not, revealing his bizarrely familiar face. He had a rugged appearance with long curly hair and an equally curly beard.

“Well, what do have here? Another group of thieves who have come to impede the efforts of our lord.” The man said while walking towards Khatuu and company.

The man raised his hands dramatically but just as he did, Khatuu dashed towards him at an incredible speed.

“Here!” Zabu said while placing the cube in Akairo’s hands.

He then joined Khatuu in charging towards the grey soldiers.

[Boy, get back here with that thing!] Z yelled prompting Akairo to turn and run but just as he did, he heard an explosion coming from behind.

He turned to find one of the gray soldiers dashing towards him while using a Windpath technique to run faster. This also kicked up a ton of dust.

[Keep running!] Z snapped making Akairo resume his run towards her.

He wan all while enriching his every muscle with Tal.

He felt the soldier get closer and just as he felt that he was going to be grabbed, a gunshot pierced the air and Akairo heard something fall and tumble behind him.

He ignored it and ran towards the building atop which a crouching Z could be seen.

“Throw it to me!” She yelled and Akairo did so.

Z lowered her rifle and caught the cube but just as she did, something tackled Akairo to the ground.

Akairo was terrified to find the soldier from before mounted over him and while it was true that Z had shot him in the head, his head was made seemingly of metal and so the bullet was half lodged into his metallic skull.

He raised his fist to punch Akairo who raised his arms defensively.

The soldier punched his left arm breaking it instantly.

Akairo let out a pained cry but before the soldier could punch him again, Z shot him again in the head.

However, much to Akairo’s dismay, the soldier, after violently jerking to the side after getting shot, sat up and glared at Z.

Akairo let out a wild scream before activating his shadow and sensing all of his embers into the soldiers exposed skull via its many orificeses.

The soldier let out many pained screams and he clawed off sttios of his own skin as he tried to reach the fire that burnt in his skull.

He then desperately tried to kill Akairo but another bullet struck his head from above and Akairo made his embers burn so hot that they completely melted the soldier’s head off.

The soldier’s headless corpse then fell onto Akairo who simply let out a horrified cry.