1800 hours, 25 June 0145...

Earpods Music: Michiel Van Den Bos - Foregone Destruction

Dusk has dramatically emerged from the sky as we were all soaring over the magnificent Monakian rainforest, making our way back to the headquarters. Thankfully, our journey will only take a mere 30 minutes because HQ has graciously granted us the extraordinary privilege of using a faster Osprey. This exceptional mode of transportation will whisk us away to our crucial mission location in record time.

The breathtaking scenery completely mesmerized me, and I couldn't take my eyes off the cabin's window. The sunset bathed the lush rainforest in a radiant glow, and I took my gazing to the next level by jamming out to the ethereal breakbeat on my trusty earpod.

My friends' laughter abruptly snapped me out of my own little world. Reluctantly, I averted my eyes from the captivating scenery and realized I was confined in the somewhat cramped space of the Osprey. Even though they were tending to Scott's wound with only a few basic medical supplies, everyone seemed to be bursting with energy, as if they were joyfully singing to one another amidst these blackened times.

But I always pondered to myself that these good times are temporary because we must endure eternal suffering. However, I also hold the belief that suffering alone is not the sole solution to all problems. Although, in the end, suffering is all humanity needs to improve themselves.

But a distant grunt suddenly echoed in my ears, getting louder with each passing millisecond. The ominous grunt shivers down my spine, as if it were a warning of something wicked that I must address to my friend before it unleashes a nightmarish demise upon us.

"Guys, did you hear something?"

All of a sudden, they ceased their chatter and turned their gaze towards me. Joshua then curiously asked me.

"Hearing what?"

The growing volume of the faint grunt compelled me to address the group urgently.

"I've heard a distant, faint grunt, and I'd assume it came from the sky. Did any of you hear of it?"

Everyone stared at each other, desperately seeking an answer. But then Axel dramatically responded after briefly shaking his head.

"No. Maybe it's just the music in your earpods."

Even though nothing would go wrong, I'd predict that chaos would erupt if I didn't take any action. This prompted me to get up from my seat and head towards the pilot's cabin, using the all-powerful radar to seek answers.

"Tsuyuki?"

Scott's words came after he clapped my left thigh, eagerly inquiring about my desires. However, I maintained my composure and straightly entered the pilot cabin to address the pilot with the pressing question that had occupied my every thought.

"Sir, could any of you track down any approaching hostiles through the radar?"

With a mere nod, he effortlessly pressed the radar system's button in the cockpit while expertly piloting the Osprey.

And with a sudden beep, the radar detected a single hostile target that was far away from our position but soon approaching us at an astonishing speed, as he explained.

"I've spotted one suspected hostile on our six, approaching fast!"

Bingo! Every time I detect even the slightest hint of something strange in my surroundings, it's as if something wicked is on its way. The group began to feel apprehensive due to the unexpected information. When suddenly, the radar blared an urgent alarm after detecting an allegedly homing missile zooming towards us at an alarming speed that was closing in with each passing second.

"Wait, it fired some missiles? Everyone! Hold tight for evasion!"

As we tightly held ourselves to avoid being tossed around, the pilot quickly banked the Osprey, dumping flares to confuse the incoming projectile that could destroy our aircraft in no time.

After seconds of evading the flame of hell, the radar's alarm miraculously fell silent, signaling our triumphant escape from the menacing missile. It provided us with an enormous sense of relief, allowing us to peacefully continue our journey.

But all of a sudden...

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

BSRYAK

A colossal thud suddenly slammed the osprey in midair. And the deafening alarm warned us that the aircraft was descending to the ground before the impact.

Miraculously, everyone managed to maintain their composure and steadfastly held their ground, bracing themselves for the impending impact. The pilot was unbelievably calm, casually keeping his hand on the aircraft's control while effortlessly handling the intense turbulence that put the plane on the verge of plummeting.

"WORRY ABOUT THAT LATER ON, LET ME GIVE YOU A SAFE LANDING!!!"

The altitude was decreasing fast, and the slightly cracked windshield in front of us shows that we're about to strike the forest. But it seems like the pilot was more than experienced enough to handle this tough situation, as he kept lifting the steering wheel to prevent it from hitting the nearby tree's trunk.

And all of a sudden...

BSRYAK

The aircraft luckily crashed into the flat ground with a mighty force, its body unfortunately scraping the soil and colliding with a nearby tree's trunk as it slowed down. The aircraft's body may have crashed, but all of us miraculously survived without any wounds at all. We were all incredibly fortunate that the aircraft's impressively reinforced structure remained intact despite the impact, except for the engines, which the unknown invader fucked hard.

As everyone desperately regained their composure inside the slightly messed-up cabin, Axel unexpectedly addressed the group in worry.

"Is everyone alright?"

But suddenly, we hear a thunderous thumping sound coming from behind us, indicating something wicked that was the culprit behind our destroyed osprey, in search of their next feast. The pilot then dramatically emerged from the chaotic cockpit and cautiously addressed the group.

"Ha, this is nothing but a scratch! Hey, you better take care of that fool before it devours us sooner!"

While forcing my way through the chaotic cabin, I violently kicked open the cargo door, revealing a sight that was beyond belief.

A massive nightmare-inducing creature that appeared to be ominously towering over the carved path between the trees behind our wrecked cabin suddenly welcomed us. It remained motionless, displaying a massive, dark brown, scarred body that had sustained a severe cut, resulting in the amputation of its right arm and head. It appears to be wearing a gold garment across its hips. Below its fragmented ribcage, large incisor teeth appear to be growing out of its open wound. Blood soaks its feet, and a dark gold trident fuses its stretchy left arm.

I doubt if that monstrous thing was the evil mastermind behind the crash of our beloved Osprey, as it stared at us with a low grunt that was similar to what I'd heard previously before the crash. Hence, I glanced over my shoulder in a worried haste.

"Do any of you know what that monster is?"

Due to her intense analysis of the monstrous creature's appearance, Veronica was frantically typing away on her laptop to learn more about it. But then she dramatically halted her typing as she was engrossed in reading the information.

"Wait… that's…"

There was a mind-bogglingly peculiar pause as she was glancing at the laptop monitor in a delightfully curious silence. As I couldn't contain my curiosity, I got close to her while picking up my scorch arcs from the box.

"What's wrong?"

Out of nowhere, she urgently turned towards us, swiftly shutting her laptop and drawing her Dual Blades in a protective position in front of Scott.

"We're in real trouble this time! It's a supreme-type demon, the Forsaken Emperor! We have to restrain ourselves from fighting against it and let the reinforcements take care of it."

I watched in awe as the medical teams swiftly armed themselves with scorch arcs, ready to defend Scott against the impending assault of the Forsaken Emperor. The supreme-type demon's bloodied feet thudded heavily as it advanced towards us, exuding an aura of intimidation. Dragging the dark gold trident from its stretchy left arm, it left deep marks in the soil as it closed in on us.

By the time I looked at Scott, he seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. In cases of sudden panic, the medical teams inject him with various serums to immobilize him and protect him from potential infection.

As I felt the urge to fight against the demon, which was slowly approaching us with a mini earthquake, all of them suddenly stood up and collectively carried Scott's unconscious body away.

After all of them slowly got out of the wrecked Osprey, Axel suddenly reprimanded me with a worried tone.

"Tsuyuki, I know you want to fight that thing. But for this time, we have to work together."

I glanced back and forth between my companions and the approaching Forsaken Emperor. I couldn't help but sigh with resignation as I sheathed my Nakajima into my back and responded by helping them carry Scott's leg.

"As you wish..."

The Forsaken Emperor's menacing presence loomed, with its ability to unleash deadly attacks with lightning speed and lethal precision. Their bloodied feet could stomp on their victims and travel at lightning speed. And their stretchy left arm, which equipped a dark gold trident, could grapple with distant enemies for close-range kills or nearby objects in the environment for faster travel.

As all of us sneaked our way out of the supreme-type demon's sight before the runaway, the Forsaken Emperor stomped its feet three times, causing a minor earthquake in the surrounding area, and then...

HRRRRRRRRNNNNNHHHHHHHH

The demon's echoing, grunty roar, while not as annoying, sent a chill down our spines. It was as if the demon's echoing, grunty roar was a sign of a punished sinner who had escaped from the torture of hell to wreak havoc upon this world, venting its shackled, unlimited foulness.

Getting frozen in our place and witnessing the demon approaching us whilst whirling its stretchy left arm with dark gold trident across the sky with brutal whoosh, Christine secretly poked my left side as she whispered with a gentle smirk.

"You know what you want to do, right?"

As I cautiously cast an eye to my lower left, I noticed that she had literally struck my left thigh with a flashbang. It was a sign that she knew I would take the same nonchalant action for our last-ditch efforts before our runaway.

With a smirk, I accepted her flashbang by secretly releasing the pin and witnessed her throwing the flashbang high in the Forsaken Emperor's head. With that, I quickly drew my Kiryu, pulled the trigger long enough, and pointed it at the midair flashbang.

And suddenly...

BANG