Aya assessed the approaching monsters, but something was... off about them. There were at least ten creatures, but most were of different species.

'Why are they cooperating?'

The way the monsters moved was all wrong, as well. Erratic and twitchy, as though the creatures were sick.

"Sister Aya, I need you to buy me a couple of minutes."

"Understood." Aya nodded dutifully as Carver dashed into the wreckage of the shuttle.

Alina, Jael, and Aya hurriedly adjusted their armor. Unlike the Vanguard or the special forces of The Arc's military, the Order of the Blazing Path could not afford Dark Steel-coated alloys. Instead, they wore the same polymer armor used by Arcturus City's police force, augmented with an additional layer of steel for added protection. The Sacred Flame, the order's insignia, was printed in red on their chest pieces.

Aya unholstered her Nova NP-2 pulse pistol, strapped to her thigh, while Jael and Alina checked their Aegis AP-6 pulse rifles. Both weapon types were military surplus.

Jael's hands were shaking as he attempted to load the magazine. Aya leaned in and inserted it for him, steadying his grip.

"You'll be fine." Aya placed her arm on Jael's shoulder. "Stay with Sister Alina, she'll keep you safe."

While Alina and Jael got into firing positions, Aya began marching toward the advancing monsters. Clutching her pistol in one hand, she raised the other in a swift motion, causing a wall of clear, crystallized ice to rise from the barren ground.

Through the frozen formation, Aya could see the distorted form of a massive monster charging forward. The wall of ice shook as the creature rammed its head into it again and again. Cracks began to form in the ice, along with splatters of the monster's fetid blood.

'This... This is insane, even for a monster.'

Despite injuring itself, the monster continued to slam its head into the wall of ice until it finally shattered through. The creature's matted gray fur was soaked in its own blood, and maggots could be seen crawling on its skin.

If eyes were the window to the soul, then all the monsters Aya had encountered were twisted, evil, and full of malice. But the yellow eyes of this creature were... desperate, as though it had given up all hope.

With its grotesque head protruding through the wall of ice, Aya gazed into the monster's eyes for a moment. For that reason, she was caught off guard when the creature opened its maw, full of razor-sharp fangs, and roared.

The monster's behavior did not match the look in its eyes.

Aya took a step back, aimed her pulse pistol at the monster's head, and pulled the trigger. The muzzle flashed, and a high-velocity slug thundered as it pierced the creature, fragmenting part of its skull.

'Not enough.'

The monster roared and began slamming its body against the ice barrier once more. As it roared again, Aya stuck the barrel of her pistol inside the creature's maw and emptied the magazine.

Finally, the monster stopped moving. Its neck slumped lifelessly through the hole it had breached in the ice wall, with steam, blood, and bile gushing from its gaping gullet.

Another monster, smaller and more agile, leaped over the icy barrier and landed next to Aya. She clenched her fist, and crystallized ice formed around the creature's legs, immobilizing it.

The creature snarled at Aya, baring its jagged teeth, yet the look in its blood-red eyes was that of a being that had lost the will to live.

The monster spasmed its head sideways in rapid, erratic movements, snarling as it thrashed against the ice that held it in place. Meanwhile, more creatures arrived at the ice wall and began to slam against it, cracking the formation.

Aya kept her cool, replacing the empty magazine with a full one in a practiced, fluid motion. Once loaded, she aimed her pulse pistol at the monster's chest and fired repeatedly. Chunks of bloody flesh and bone sprayed away from the creature.

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It wasn't enough. The monster's organs remained protected behind its tough hide, muscles, and bones. Aya pushed her free arm forward, forming an icy shard from her palm and hurling it toward the monster. The shard breached its damaged chest and pierced its heart.

After a final weak growl, the monster slumped forward, its legs still trapped in the ice. Meanwhile, the rest of the monsters had finally broken through the ice barrier, smashing it into bits.

Utilizing her superhuman speed as a Blessed One, Aya dashed toward the shuttle, clearing the line of sight for Alina and Jael, who then opened fire on the advancing monsters.

"Use the sights!" Alina chided Jael.

Despite their AP-6 pulse rifles having greater stopping power compared to Aya's pistol, it still wasn't enough to bring down the monsters. In order to slow the creatures and provide Alina and Jael with more time to land their shots, Aya continued to raise obstacles and temporarily immobilize the monsters with her ice powers.

The leading monster, a six-legged horror riddled with bleeding puncture holes, finally collapsed when a well-placed shot pierced through one of its dozen eyes. However, the rest of the unlikely monster pack was almost upon them.

At that moment, the sound of screeching metal could be heard, as the door of the shuttle's small cargo hold was sent flying and a mech fighting unit charged to the front.

Carver had been a MAP operator during his time serving in Arcturus City's military. The Mobile Assault Platforms, or mechs, were used to level the playing field between regular humans and the monsters infesting this world.

Of course, the government would not sell such advanced tech to an independent organization, especially one following the ideology of a foreign city. As so, Carver had spent years constructing a mech of his own from a patchwork of junk and salvaged parts.

The miniature mech was a mass of mismatched steel armor panels and mad ingenuity, grating with each heavy step forward. Huddled inside the machine's torso, Carver raised its two metal arms and pointed them toward the advancing monsters.

The six barrels of each of the two miniguns above the steel mech arms began to spin, spitting explosive-tipped bullets at the grotesque monster pack with devastating speed.

Chunks of flesh, bone, and carapace were obliterated in seconds. When the dust settled, the ammo was spent, and Carver's guns were spinning on empty. Half of the monsters had collapsed onto the barren, blood-soaked ground. However, the remaining creatures, injured as they were, charged ahead with erratic movements, as though possessed.

"The reclamation begins now!" Carver's commanding voice sounded metallic through his mech. "Slaughter the monsters infesting our world!"

With heavy thuds, the mech charged toward the remaining monsters. An iron fist struck the bleeding head of a reptilian creature, which slashed its claws in return, tearing into the machine's steel armor. Aya supported Carver with her powers, slowing the monsters and finishing off the weakened ones. Jael and Alina picked their shots from a safe distance, though Jael mostly missed.

It took another ten minutes for the party to defeat the strange collection of monsters. Usually, when packs and hordes realize they are losing, some would attempt to flee. However, in addition to their unusual species variety and erratic behavior, these monsters continued attacking until the very last.

The mech had taken quite a bit of damage, so Carver left it smoldering near the shuttle. While he, Alina, and Jael went through the monsters to ensure they were all dead, Aya kept watch and recuperated from exerting her powers.

"Not bad for your first battle, Ash Disciple," Carver said, nodding and patting Jael's back.

Jael tried to act composed but could not hide his grin after being acknowledged by a man as respected as Carver.

Alina shook her head and chuckled as she approached a fallen monster, her pulse rifle aimed at the creature's head.

"Wait, what's that?"

Something was crawling under the creature's pale, sickly skin. Alina leaned in to get a better look, and then the thing burst through the skin, splashing blood as it lunged at the medic and latched onto her neck.

The little monster had the appearance of a pink, fleshy worm, with a round maw, full of tiny, sharp teeth. Alina attempted to grab the creature but began to scream in agony as it burrowed into her neck.

Carver ran to Alina's aid as she collapsed and twisted on the ground, howling in pain. Aya rushed over as well, trying to locate the invading creature.

"It's... it's on the back of her neck..." Jael stammered, looking like he was about to vomit.

Carver turned Alina onto her stomach as she continued to howl and flail her hands. The creature was nestled under her skin at the nape of her neck.

'Dear god... is that what happened to all of these monsters?' Aya fixed her gaze on her comrade, unsure of how to help her.

"Kill me!" Alina raised her head and pleaded with Carver. Her eyes were red and all the veins in her head and neck were bulging.

"...Go with God, sister."

The battle-hardened veteran lowered his head before drawing a dagger from his belt. In one swift motion, Carver thrust the blade into the monster and Alina's neck underneath it, killing them both instantly.

"Burn all of the corpses," Carver ordered stoically, heading to the shuttle to retrieve a crate of white phosphorous grenades.

The rotten odor of the fire and burning monsters filled the air as Carver attempted to contact the Order again, while Aya and Jael stood guard. Everyone was in a somber mood, keeping to themselves.

'Is that a...?'

Aya had to rub her eyes to make sure she wasn't imagining what she was witnessing. In the distance, she saw a man and... three skeletons running in the direction of the shuttle.