Now Near Manila

“I mean, really anyone can use it. Um, like, as long as it’s charged with mana, which anyone with a mage-type class can do,” the teen girl continued her explanation.

Phillip nodded as he half-paid attention to Lexie’s lecture on the basic functions of the state government’s magitech communications device. Although, to call it a ‘device’ was a bit of a misnomer in his estimation.

It was more of a kludged together amalgamation of large battery-powered generators, a rugged laptop, the kind meant for outdoor use, and what looked like a satellite phone system, complete with a small dish antenna.

The other half of the magitech wonder kids informally dubbed L&L by the others, Louis was busy inputting what looked like some kind of code into the laptop while occasionally throwing annoyed glances at Lexie.

“Interesting,” he said after a moment.

It truly was fascinating. He had only received the briefest of overviews on how the R&D team hoped the device would allow them to communicate within the gray fog that had engulfed Manila.

“So, you guys did all this?” he ventured.

Louis snorted and rolled his eyes.

“I came up with the magical code that makes it all work. I was working on it for so long, but it finally came together when I got my Magical Programmer Class!” Lexie beamed up at Phillip.

“The entire team did this,” Louis said. “Every part of this system was someone’s work. From the script inside the generators that allows the batteries to be charged with mana to all the other magic stuff you’ve got to do to the hardware and software in everything. It’s too complicated to explain.”

“I can see that,” he noted mildly.

“Well, Jake was the one that really got things moving once he figured out the mana into battery process,” Lexie said.

Louis pouted and threw himself into his work with even more vigor.

It had been a long time since Phillip had dealt with teenagers. Spending the last hour with these two was downright nostalgic.

“You guys running tests? Debugging?” He knew some of the lingo.

Louis blinked. “Yeah… at least I am,” his eyes darted to Lexie for a split-second.

“I already told you that you won’t find any. My code is elegant and clean.” Lexie smiled smugly.

“Lexie! If you have time to bother our bodyguard, then you’ve got time to help us over here!”

Phillip regarded the brawny, stern-faced woman standing with a pair of Mechanics at the back of a second SUV waving Lexie over.

Maya looked to be about Cal’s age. The woman was in charge of the R&D support component of the operation. This included L&L, the mechanics and Pilot Pete, who was now relegated to random task helper since plane was gone.

Maya was somewhat unique in that she had a Communications Engineer Class, which was her profession in the old days and a Mage Class, which she had picked up after. Most people held Classes that were one or the other. Old or new.

Though, it seemed like Maya would eventually merge the two and obtain something like Lexie’s.

Perhaps, Cal was right and it was a matter of self-image combined with what a person did that determined their Class.

He was certainly glad that he didn’t need to deal with such things. It had been hard enough coming to terms with becoming a physically superhuman specimen. Regressing in age, at least from a physical appearance standpoint, had been especially difficult to take. Until his wife got it through his head that an existential crisis over looking and feeling younger was stupid.

“Sorry, sir. I have to help with maintenance now,” Lexie exhaled theatrically.

“Those magic shield generators saved a lot of lives. I think it’s vitally important that they’re in working order,” he smiled.

“I know… it’s just so boring.” Lexie flounced away to help Maya.

“Finally… I can concentrate,” Louis said.

Phillip opened his mouth. Then shut it. Old memories of working in his office with constant interruptions from co-workers wanting to talk about everything except for work, ran through his mind. He shook his head ruefully and left the teen alone.

He walked around their closely parked vehicles and focused his attentions on the outer edges of the abandoned rest area.

The sky darkened as night drew closer

Cal had just left to deal with the slavery issue.

He pushed those thoughts away. He didn’t want to think about the poor people when he couldn’t do anything about it in the moment. Neither did he want to think about what it would cost his son to do, to act. Would that he could take that burden himself. Unfortunately, he was a blunt instrument. All he could do was hit things until they stopped being a threat. That wouldn’t have properly solved this problem.

Thoughts were distracted as his circuit brought him near where Doran drilled his spear unit. The new recruits were coming along adequately according to the gruff man. The unit shifted from a two-deep line into a box-shaped formation. Not quickly and smoothly enough if Doran’s berating was anything to go by.

“What do you think?” Hanna remarked as Philip drew near.

“They’re doing… okay,” he said.

“I meant that,” Hanna pointed at the fast food place closest to the spear unit, “for dinner and maybe breakfast tomorrow. A change from travel food.”

“Jollibee… haven’t had that in, well, over ten years.”

“Often repeated words,” Hanna nodded.

“We’d have to claim it. Kill the monsters, the boss and secret boss. Then someone will have to do the cooking. The rangers are out on patrol duty.” He watched the spear unit for a moment. “They aren’t ready for a boss fight. Even if it’s a small structure.”

“I’ve soloed a Yoshinoya before,” Hanna said. “I like beef bowls,” she shrugged at Phillip’s raised brows.

“We need to protect the Quest critical gear and their operators,” he gestured at the R&D team.

“I’d volunteer the Watch, but…” Hanna said.

He glanced at the large van parked at the far end of the row of vehicles.

The Watch was clustered around it.

One look at their downcast faces and funeral was the immediate thought that came to mind.

Except that was partially wrong.

They had lost a brave man in Ron, but it was Max that now occupied their thoughts.

The man had lost an arm and was unconscious most of the time.

He might not have been in immediate danger, but it was still hard on his friends to see him like that.

“No fast food then,” he said.

“Guess not,” Hanna said.

Phillip returned to his circuit with a nod.

----------------------------------------

Monsters attacked as soon as the sun vanished over the horizon.

They didn’t come from the encroaching rainforest around the rest area.

They burst from within the structures.

A new development for everyone.

Desperate commands filled the air.

Lights suddenly illuminated the space around their parked vehicles.

Torches and light orbs revealed the monsters.

Bleating, goat-like things the size of men came in the dozens.

A blue-white bolt of lighting chained through a handful, leaving charred corpses.

A small stone whistled through the air to embed in one’s forehead.

“Spells only! Conserve ammunition!” Demi’s voice was calm and clear.

Phillip grabbed Louis and tucked the boy under one arm. He sprinted for the closest vehicle. “Everyone get inside!” The rest of the R&D team scrambled, but they were used to random monster attacks and got in quickly. Phillip shoved Louis inside and shut the door. Just in time to then turn and punch a lunging monster. The blow sent it careening back into others, scattering them like bowling pins.

He scanned the rest of the battlefield.

Doran had the spear unit turtled up in the box formation they had just been practicing.

The monsters threw themselves on a wall of shields and spears.

Hanna wielded sword and shield to meet the charging monsters, while the others fired spells or threw things from cover behind and inside vehicles. Demi was the only one shooting with her Threnosh recoilless rifle thanks to the abundance of its ammunition. Beside her, the newly-recruited Jovita, armed with a baston in each hand, stood ready to protect the Watch captain.

Phillip leapt into the sky and crashed down into a thick knot of monsters. He crushed several just by landing on them and scattered the rest with the earth-shaking impact. He swung his arms and killed with each movement. As far as he knew he was the strongest person in the world from a strictly physical muscles standpoint. Two of his children surpassed him only when they used their abilities to augment their physical might.

The monsters tried to swarm Phillip. Their teeth broke on his bare arms. Claws only tore clothing. Butting horns skidded off the thick steel plate he wore over his torso.

The fight was violent, but over quickly.

“What are these things?” Trevor said from atop the van.

“They kinda look like part of the beastman faction, except more… beastly,” Jake shrugged.

“Sigbins,” Demi looked to Jovita for confirmation.

The stern-faced woman nodded sharply.

“I’d say that’s likely,” Phillip added. He wasn’t a hundred percent on the idea that the monsters were somehow based on human myths and legends. In this case he vaguely remembered multiple descriptions of the sigbin, many of which contradicted what was written in the books they had used for research. “Why not—”

A deeper bleating sound filled the air. Then another and another. From three distinct locations.

“This isn’t over! On alert!” Demi barked.

“Alpha versions or bosses?” Hanna eyed the three structures lined up on the other side of the parking lot.

“Bosses don’t leave structures,” Jake said. “But then again this is the first time that indoor monsters came out to attack. Which is kinda blowing my mind right now.”

“I’ll take that one,” Phillip pointed to the gas station.

The spear unit was closest to the structure and he decided they’d need the most assistance against a more powerful version of the sigbins.

“I should be able to take one on my own,” Hanna glanced at Demi.

“Take that one,” Demi gestured to the Jollibee in the center. “We’ll handle the last one,” she eyed the convenience store on the end, directly in line with the van.

Phillip was caught off guard when the gas stations doors exploded out in a spray of glass shards.

“Brace!” Doran roared just in time.

Something big and fast slammed into the front of the spear unit. Men and women were forced back, but thanks to the Skill managed to keep their shape mostly intact.

This sigbin was twice the size of the normal ones. Corded muscles strained beneath the surface of its mottled gray skin as it pushed forward, grasping clawed fingers toward the people. It ignored the spears stuck in its chest and stomach.

Phillip rushed over with thunderous steps. He grabbed the monster’s gnarled horns, one in each hand, and heaved. He threw the monster over his head and slammed it into the ground, cracking the asphalt. Without releasing his hold he planted a knee on its back and twisted his arms.

The bone horns were strong, which worked against the monster as Phillip continued to turn its head.

The deep bleating reached a frenzied pace as the monster fought against Phillip’s immense strength.

A loud crack silenced the large monster.

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“They always smell so bad,” Phillip said.

Two more to go. He rose and stopped.

It appeared that his help wasn’t going to be needed.

Hanna was in the process of de-limbing hers, while the Watch engulfed theirs in spells and projectiles as it struggled to move toward them. A thick, white substance had fixed its feet to the ground.

“Any one hurt?” Phillip looked to the spear unit.

“Just a few scrapes and bumps,” Doran said. “We did good!” he raised his voice for the benefit of his unit.

“That you did,” Phillip agreed. “Not many are able to withstand a charge from something this large and strong.” He understood the benefits of morale.

“We’ll be ready for Manila,” Doran said.

Phillip kept an eye on the dark interiors of the stores as he made his was over to the vehicles. He wasn’t certain, but he thought he could see movement.

“Do you think these are the bosses?” Hanna wiped her blade clean of dark blood.

“Danger sense has dropped to base levels,” Demi said.

“Might be a good time to take out the secret bosses. We can get fast food, supplies and gas. Enough that we don’t have to worry about it later,” Hanna ventured.

Phillip found that he could go for a few buckets of chicken joy.

Demi shook her head. “The two of you are the only ones I’d allow to risk it. The rest of us aren’t right enough to take on a secret boss. I’m also concerned about our people out in the forest,” she looked south.

“I can solo it. Phillip can stay here. Besides, he’s the only one that can respond quickly enough if they set off an emergency flare,” Hanna said.

“That would leave us without either of you in the event of another attack,” Demi countered.

“You’re the captain,” Hanna shrugged.

“My son won’t take too long. Once he’s back we can take the buildings,” Phillip said.

“Hopefully the rest of the night goes as well as this fight. I don’t want to expend resources before we get to our actual Quest location,” Demi said.

----------------------------------------

The sun had just set over the mountains to the west.

Cristos blended in almost seamlessly with the tree that he was using as a perch to keep an eye on the wall straddling the highway. Every so often he used the scope on his battle rifle to check on the guards standing in their tower. He used a combination of Skills and skills to maintain the camouflage. The former almost made a mockery of the years spent acquiring the latter through hard training and experience.

He didn’t want to be here. Didn’t want to be a part of whatever Quest these people were on. However, he followed orders and the datu had given him several. Some specific and some broad. Personally, he was dubious on the possibility that he could even accomplish some of these orders.

These people had destroyed the aswangs.

Power practically radiated off of several of them.

It wasn’t tangible, more like his instincts warned him.

They wanted something. People like that always wanted something.

Was it a threat to the order he had sworn to protect and obey?

Could he even do anything to stop them if it came to that?

He had doubts.

He knew when he was around dangerous people.

One of them was nearby.

Patrolling their zone in her own way.

His Skills would allow him to detect her if she was relatively close, but with her speed… he banished the thought.

He couldn’t allow himself to lose the fight before it began.

He was a soldier. He’d do his duty to his utmost. Others may have given up on the nation, but he hadn’t and wouldn’t even to the end of his life.

He refocused his perceptions. Sight, sound and smell. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by errant thoughts while sitting in the dark rainforest surrounded by monsters and mutated animals.

He settled his breathing and continued his watch.

A hundred yards away in the shadows of a gnarled tree a tall, sleek killing machine turned her furred head to focus her canine ears on Cristos.

The man had steadied his breathing.

He had such control that Rino had to strain to hear him from this distance even in her full Weredog form.

An over-large snake slithered down the tree’s branches and struck.

Rino snatched it out of the air with one clawed hand and tore its head off with a quick bite.

She spat.

Mutated animals tasted terrible.

She heard Cristos shift so she moved further away.

Despite her large size she was almost a ghost in the dense undergrowth.

The watch captain had given her orders she thought was unfair. Not only did she have to patrol the assigned zone for threats, but she also had to keep a watch on Cristos for signs of betrayal.

The man was an actual ranger from the pre-spires days, who had apparently obtained the same Class. Special forces training and experience along with Skills was a potent combination or so she’d guessed.

This was proved by Cristos’ ability to track her movements when she got too close to him.

Nevertheless, Rino continued to prowl her zone, occasionally returning to check on Cristos from different directions to remind him that someone was watching.

She indulged her killer instincts on the monsters and mutated animals that failed to get out of her way.

Giant rats scattered in all directions, but not before she had torn a score to pieces.

A binturong, like the ones she had feasted upon right before they had left Ilagan to begin their journey south, leapt at her after she had cornered it against a large outcropping of rocks. She slashed it near in two pieces.

Some didn’t flee. Strange stick men assailed her, drawing blood with the sharp tines of wood that grew from their bodies. Teeth and claws turned the monsters into kindling.

An enormous mutated porcupine crossed her path.

She left it alone.

The animal part of her mind agreed with the rational part on that decision.

It didn’t take long for the inhabitants of that part of the forest to realize that death stalked them that night.

They fled. Some did it on instinct, others did it based on a mind closer to true intelligence.

Even the spirits took notice. They grew cautious and remained hidden.

There was one exception.

One being that had no cause to fear any other in its domain. It grew angry.

Others had come before. Threatening. Taking what wasn’t theirs to take.

It would do as it had always done.

First, the two closest interlopers, then the larger groups beyond.

All would be defeated and devoured.

The ever-present smile on its face grew wider.

To the north of Rino and Cristos was the next zone before the main base camp at the abandoned rest area. This was where Rayna’s Rangers, original members and new recruits, patrolled.

“For rangers, you are very loud,” Ambrose said.

“We’re more urban rangers,” Hardhat replied.

“So, what’s with the fucking heads?” Mouthy said.

“Er… I’ve already explained…” Ambrose said.

“Mouthy,” Hardhat warned.

“What? That was like a two minute explanation. Kid’s a Headhunter. He’s got tiny fucking heads on his belt. Don’t you want to know more? Like what’s the process? There’s got to be a whole process, right? Do you just cut off a head and magic it all small and shriveled like a nut sack? Speaking of which, why the fuck just heads? Why not dicks and balls? Probably get some good power out of those things,” Mouthy shrugged.

“There is a process and it does involve magic, but I also use chemicals,” Ambrose said.

“So, your Class needs prep time?” Hardhat said.

“Yeah, well…” Ambrose paused, unsure on how much he should reveal. “I can get something out of heads I take in battle, just not nearly as much as with these,” he gestured to the shrunken animal heads tied to his belt.

“You ever used human?”

“Mouthy!” Hardhat said.

“Quiet,” Two-toes hissed from her position further up the formation.

“You got to think that you’d get better abilities from human heads,” Mouthy said. “Like, maybe even Skills or something like that.”

“I don’t do that,” Ambrose said stiffly.

“Why the fuck not? You’ve got to use your Class to its full potential and shit. I’m not saying just shrivel up any person’s head, but bad guys would be fair game. Shit, if you’re going to kill them anyways…” Mouthy shrugged.

“That doesn’t feel right to me,” Ambrose said.

“Don’t be a pussy,” Mouthy said.

“Mouthy, that’s enough,” Hardhat hissed.

“Don’t bitch at me. We’re supposed to maximize our Classes. This guy gets a unique one and he doesn’t want to go all out cause it makes him uncomfortable? Maybe if you went all out you could’ve done something about Chains,” Mouthy growled.

Ambrose frowned and opened his mouth, but Rai stopped him with a look.

“We’re sorry about your friend, but like we’ve explained there was nothing we could’ve done. The gabunan was too powerful,” Rai said.

“Might have been able to if you were fucking stronger,” Mouthy hissed.

“That’s enough,” Hardhat grabbed Mouthy’s arm to stop her from getting in the young men’s faces. “Rayna’s brother said the same thing. He killed the bastard. Chains got revenge.”

“We should’ve been there. She shouldn’t have been alone. Her and ‘scratch,” Mouthy said.

Two-toes slowed so that the rest of the patrol could pass her as she drew even. “This isn’t the place for your bitching,” she hissed at Mouthy. “You’re making us look bad in front of the noobs,” she jabbed a finger at Ambrose, Rai and handful of other recruits from Ilagan.

“It’s why we joined you,” Rai began. “We are weak. Standing in front of the gabunan… well, we don’t ever want to be in the same position again. Next time we’ll be strong enough to act. Even if it still means our deaths.”

“We won’t go out like punks again,” Ambrose said.

“You’d better not if you want to be a part of our team,” Mouthy grumbled before pushing her way past them to move higher up the formation.

The rangers, old and new, continued the rest of their patrol without further conversation. They weren’t silent by any means. They rustled leaves and broke branches as they forced their way through the dense undergrowth.

Sgt. Butcher was surprised and worried that they had yet to be attacked. Neither monsters, nor mutated animals had been drawn to the amount of noise they were making.

The lights from their torches and spells should’ve acted like beacons in the pitch black rainforest.

She raised a fist to signal a halt.

“Anything, Aims?”

“I don’t see anything,” Aims replied.

“Not even with your Skills?”

“I’m more about target acquisition and I definitely don’t know my way in the wilderness, but I’m pretty sure that I haven’t missed anything. At least, visually,” Aims shook his head. “I haven’t seen a single monster or animal. Not even movement that wasn’t caused by a random breeze or falling branch.”

“Suggestions?”

“We’re supposed to kill stuff before they reached base camp. We aren’t doing any of that now. With all the noise we’ve been making I was sure we’d be getting attacked every step of the way. I have no idea why we aren’t. So, I’d say we should move closer to the highway. Maybe take up a defensive position on the hill overlooking the bend that leads to camp,” Aims said.

“If we have to fight it’d be better to be on familiar ground. Plus, if we’re closer to base we can support them and they us,” Sgt. Butcher said.

“This isn’t our best environment,” Aims agreed.

“Alright, take us to the highway.”

Sgt. Butcher hacked a new path through the undergrowth at Aim’s direction. The rest of the patrol snaked their way behind them.

Fifteen minutes later Rai’s head perked up, eyes widened. “Uh oh.”

“What?” Ambrose said.

“Yeah, elaborate!” Hardhat demanded.

“I was running a connection to a few forest spirits around us. Just low level, enough that if there was any sort of disturbance, like something big and/or dangerous moving toward us I’d maybe get a heads up,” Rai said. “Well, I just lost them.”

“How the hell do you lose spirits?” Two-toes said.

“It feels like they just… went into hiding,” Rai shrugged.

Ambrose grabbed a shrunken animal head from his belt and muttered a few words. The head disintegrated into nothing in his softly glowing hand.

“That’s some creepy shit,” Mouthy said.

“We’ve seen much worse,” Hardhat said.

“Noise, lots of it. Coming from that direction,” Ambrose pointed to the south.

The others strained their ears, but couldn’t hear anything.

“Right, not messing around with this,” Two-toes whistled. “Sarge, I think we’ve got incoming from the south!” she called to the head of the formation.

“We’ve got two, maybe three minutes,” Ambrose said.

“This isn’t a good location to fight from. Aims, tell me you see a better spot,” Sgt. Butcher said.

“There’s a bunch of big rocks in a small clearing, two hundred yards at about 2 o’clock,” Aims replied.

“The highway?”

“Nowhere in sight.”

“Lead the way,” Sgt. Butcher slapped Aims’ back. “Everyone on Aims! Double time!” she barked.

What followed was a mad dash through the dimly-lit undergrowth.

No one questioned the order since they finally heard what Ambrose had picked up on first.

The stillness had been broken by what sounded like a stampeding herd of very large animals. Leaves shook, branches snapped, trees fell.

They reached the clearing and began climbing the rocks when a huge shadow slithered out of the darkness snatching the last man in line. The new recruit didn’t have time to scream as a fanged mouth swallowed him up whole.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Aims’ revolvers lit up the darkness with brief flashes illuminating the mutated animal as it tilted its head back to swallow the unfortunate man.

“Giant motherfucking snake!” Mouthy spat.

“Cobra!” Rai corrected.

“Giant venomous snake… much worse,” Hardhat said.

The mutated cobra’s tongue flicked out, tasting the fear in the air. It flared its hood as it raised the front portion of its body.

Aims, who was about ten feet up on the highest point of the rock formation, found himself level with the giant serpent. Its eyes were quite striking.

The perfect targets.

Aim’s revolvers roared.

The giant serpent reared back with blood spraying out of its ruined eye sockets.

It hissed and disappeared into the undergrowth to their left.

“It’s moving around us,” Ambrose said.

“Watch our six!” Sgt. Butcher called.

“Wait! It sounds like it’s headed to the east,” Ambrose said.

More shapes came rushing out of the rainforest depths.

“Incoming!” Aims shouted.

“Hold fire!” Sgt. Butcher said.

“What the fuck is going on?” Mouthy said.

The monsters and mutant animals, though all much smaller than the giant cobra weren’t paying the rangers any attention. They were even ignoring each other as they moved around the rock formation and disappeared into the undergrowth.

“They’re running from something,” Two-toes said.

“So… shouldn’t we be doing the same?” Hardhat said.

“You’re too slow,” Rai said.

“This is your home. What could they be running from?” Hardhat said.

“We’ve never been this far south,” Rai said.

“Whatever it is, it sounds heavy,” Ambrose said.

“Well, shit on a stick. We’re gonna find out,” Mouthy said.

A looming shape parted the trees past the edge of the clearing.

A loud howl shook the night.

A burst of gunfire illuminated brief flashes of violence just at the edge of their lights.

“Rangers, steady! Hold fire until I give the order!” Sgt. Butcher roared.