"Watch the stair, Burr."

"Yes, miss Newl."

"Mr. Benjie, the ramp, please."

"Got it. Take care of those girls."

"Yes, I will."

Newl walked to Nina and the girl who came out of nowhere. Rather than being afraid, she looked more excited to be there.

"Rain."

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"My name. Just some trouble for you to spare."

"Alright, thank you. And you come from... where?"

"The forest! Just outside Teakwood? Around there somewhere. Oh my- Is this somewhere far away?"

Rain stood up, looking all around her. She stopped at Newl and stared. She snapped out of it a couple of seconds later with nothing to share.

"Sorry, Rain, are you aware of our location? The place you said is a couple of kilometers that way."

Rain didn't answer. But to be fair, she didn't have the time to respond. Del didn't care if he spoke out of order.

"That girl jumped here."

"I'm sorry?"

"The girl comes from somewhere far. She jumped through space."

"Wha-" Newl was stunned.

There was none evidence to support Del's wisdom. But Newl had no other random theory she could come up with.

"Is that really what happened?"

"Yes! I think so? If it's not for that scums..." Rain's questioning tone complicated the situation. Her mumble, even some more.

"Alright, dear. Um, Can you tell me everything leading up to you humping here? EVERYTHING is welcome."

"Time is running out. So the questioning is done."

Newl was so done with Del's interruptions. But there was really a problem coming. The outcome of Rain's bizarre situation was somewhat distracting.

"The hordes are coming. I will go. If you want to be fully prepared... There is no talking time."

Del told the truth. They were loose right below the horde's base floor. They had been found. And if they still wouldn't continue, it would become an issue.

WOOSH

"WAIT! Where are you- Wa- DEL!"

"What the hell? He some baboon or something?"

Del ran with all his might to one side of the parking room. He jumped through the railings outside. He caught himself on the floor's roof. Finally, he flung himself up, jumping into a mad group of Arthros hordes.

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"Did he just tell you he's suicidal!?"

Benjie threw a bait of a question. But the lady of the Zele family found it not too amusing. She gestured for everyone to gather on the ramp.

"This will be our new plan: Burr, keep your views on the girls. Benjie, me and you." She gestured up. "We use Del's distraction!"

"I'm sorry, Miss Newl. But staying on this floor would not be good."

"Agreed. Some do fly. Better if the kids follow us through."

"You two... Okay, I got it. But... Just find a corner and wait for the fight to end."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Newl reloaded her six-shooters. Benjie armed himself too. Burr tore his sleeves off.

"UUGHHHH! HAAA! ARRRGHHHH!"

Slowly but surely Burr's looks changed. His skin changed hue to a more greenish one. Some features changed too. His body got comparatively huge and his ears tapered to a point.

"WAH-"

"Is that man a genetically enhanced human!?"

"Uh, what?"

Rain yanked Nina who didn't understand anything happening. Including how Rain could be so unbothered.

"It's super rare! They say it's only a two percent success rate."

"His body is augmented?"

"Yup! That old man's eyes! That's a cybernetic enhancement. This man, genetic. They crossed his body with traits from other species... I thought meeting an elf would be today's high..."

She was super excited. Maybe too excited.

"Elf...?"

Nina finally saw who Newl was. She noticed the ears but thought it was some weird genetic thing. She wasn't fully wrong. But between her business casual and her six-shooters, the image didn't fit Nina's image of elves.

"GeT BAcK!" Burr's humble whisper sounded almost like his stern voice normally sounded.

"Alright, we all know what we have to do. Girls! Be careful and always be with Burr!" Everyone was prepared. "Let's go!"

---

virrrr...

Dusk's bike was electric so it had low volume but produced a higher pitch. Unlike combustion engines, electric motors could stop all the way too. Hence there was no idle rumbling from it.

Dusk had stopped slowly so as to not hurt Vinne who he was with. In front of him was a car with three people in it. The two stopped in the opposite direction of a small open field.

"..."

"Ah, I'm sorry."

The three came out of the car and were on their feet. Dusk would follow but there was a problem for a little bit. The one riding the bike has a hard time standing up before the one in the backseat.

He would need to swing his feet back. So Vinne getting off first was expected.

"Dusk Zele!"

"Captain Charles. And the extermination team!"

"Ah, please, just call me manager. Captain is a bit extreme."

"I see. So you guys the one Eric sent to the scene?"

"Yes. Officially we're looking for a missing pack of fiends. Haha."

"Eh? Oh! Extermination team, right."

Char bowed his head, opened his arm, and lifted his jacket's shoulder seams. "You know how it is" seemed to be what he tried to express. He then stood straight and put his right hand forward after deeming it was enough.

Dusk and Char met their hands in between. Dusk shook the other two's hands with a smile brimming.

They seemed to know each other's name and acclaim. But Eric Cyntral, their mutual acquaintance never did the introducing.

"I know you haven't but I have to ask. Have you found more clues?"

"Nothing for sure."

They moved closer to the bike. Erika moved their motor too.

"Alright, let's match our two maps." Char brought out a tablet that had a map of places they had gone through.

"What these mark for?" Few of the areas had circles and x on them.

"Hmm? Oh! Those are sightings reports where Arhtos horde used to be. We visited the exes, we're moving on to the circles."

"So, you think?"

"Yup! Ugh... We're checking them. What about you? and your little sister too."

"Hah..." Dusk took a look at Vinne. "I'll protect her. We're going with you."

Char handed Lemmy the tablet and stood with the team on his sides. They looked like hotel crews lining up to welcome a high-end guest with pride.

"Alright! Then we'll be your guide." Just like before, Char bowed his head theatrically with a smile as wide.

Both sides returned to their rides. Char put his thumb up outside. Dusk returned the gesture to provide an answer.

ERGHRGHRGH

Before they even tried to leave, a monster raised their attention. It cried loudly. The monster was a giant monitor lizard. The monster that was supposed to be the militia's fight.

"Why is it here?"

Before Dusk could decide anything, the lizard died. Erika had exited the car and threw her sword with all her might. The word collided with the lizard's head and sent it to the other side.

Her sword was made out of light. So she didn't have to go there for her and her sword to be unified.

"Bosses! That plan is a big no. If we don't take care of this, the city will quickly be overridden by reptiles!"

ERGHRGHRG HISSSSss ERGH!

Just beyond the little open field, from the forest on the east side, multiple giant monitor lizards came stomping their way in.