Now, Manila

Cal laughed.

The glass container had flown past his ear, made a complete U-turn and shattered on the back of his head. The liquid inside had instantly became a white foam that engulfed his entire head before hardening into a sticky goop. He waited a moment before telekinetically freeing himself with ease.

He was greeted by wide eyes and nervous looks.

“That was an impossible throw, Trevor,” he said. “And Santi, this substance is interesting.”

“Are you okay, sir?” Santi said hesitantly.

“Yeah, perfectly, why?”

“Well… that stuff is also supposed to be like pepper spray, well… bear spray,” Santi said sheepishly.

Cal liked his lips. There was a hint of spice to it. “I see. So, it’s meant to restrain and debilitate?”

“It’s one of my early creations. I basically mixed glue, foam and bear spray,” Santi said hesitantly.

“Relax, I’m not going to ask for the details. I figure since you’re an Alchemist you probably shouldn’t be sharing your secrets too freely. At least when it comes to non allies. So, do you have a version with something stronger than bear spray?”

“… maybe,” Santi said.

“I’m glad you clearly label your bottles,” Cal said ironically. “Thanks for showing me what you’ve got. You too, Trevor. I think that’s good for today.”

Cal made his way back behind the walls of their temporary base camp.

“Done wasting Santi’s supply?” Demi said.

Cal grinned at the stone-faced Watch Captain.

“I just had them use Santi’s most basic stuff or ones that probably wouldn’t be useful inside the fog.”

“So, you just played the fool to give them a few laughs?” Demi regarded him suspiciously.

Cal’s gaze drifted over to the different groups around him.

Some trained just outside the camp. Some prepared their gear inside. Others didn’t need to do either, so they sought some semblance of entertainment or a way to soothe their nerves.

“We’re moving soon, so I figured we could do with a laugh to take the edge off,” Cal said. “I’ve learned you can’t run at full intensity for too long. It’ll strip you down to the bone and leave you raw. I’ll willingly take the alchemical equivalent of a few pies to the face if it can alleviate some of that. Even if only for a moment.”

Demi nodded curtly.

They divided up into a handful of groups for Cal to ferry to the high-rise. Not that he couldn’t have taken them all at once, but rather the Watch Captain wanted to secure a safe landing zone.

To that end, Cal dropped Hanna and a split contingent of the best fighters from both the Watch and Rayna’s Rangers.

Not that they needed to fight. For some reason there were no monsters in the top five floors above the fog. Cal had made certain of that the previous day when he had flown the majority of the expedition’s equipment over.

Rather, the best fighters went first as a precaution in case that changed.

After the third trip to and from the high-rise Cal was greeted by his father.

Phillip’s clothing was covered in dirt and he was busy cleaning more of the stuff from his hands.

“What did you find?” Cal said.

“I dug about twenty feet down in a bunch of different spots and I found more of it,” Phillip said.

“Well, you’re here and…” Cal paused, “are fine.”

“The fog didn’t bother me. In fact, the tentacles noticeably kept their distance,” Phillip shook his head. “I’m with you on what you thought. It gave me the feeling that it’s alive. There’s a thinking thing behind it or the entire mass is alive. The thought of which is not as disturbing as I would’ve found it once.”

“Just one question then. Was it already there when you dug or did it fill in the space?”

Phillip pondered for a moment. “I’m not sure. It was there when I dug, but it’s possible that it filled in the space to quickly for me to notice.”

“I guess we can’t tunnel our way in or out,” Cal said.

“It was a long shot,” Phillip agreed.

“The Hyatt is the only option, for now.”

“Don’t get locked on to one route. We still need to find Eron, maybe we can make use of those wards in some way,” Phillip said.

“I’ve thought about that too, but you’re right. Two more trips to go,” Cal regarded the next group he needed to ferry over. “It’ll just be you, the spear unit and a few of others.”

“Don’t worry,” Phillip said.

“I’m not. I’ve been scanning the area for miles around. Some monsters, mutated and normal animals, but nothing that would take a shot at such a large group. Not that you can’t handle anything out there. See you in a bit,” Cal lifted the group in a telekinetic box and floated up into the sky.

“I’m not looking forward to that,” Doran said as he approached Phillip.

Nearby, Mouthy snorted.

The ranger was seated next to Alexa, Smores and pale-faced Max. The decision to leave the most injured with the last group had been made with their safety in mind. In the unlikely event of a random monster attack they would be parked inside the spear unit’s square formation, while Phillip killed said monsters.

Mouthy and Alexa had volunteered to stay with their injured comrades for reasons of their own.

“Try doing it at night. Nothing, except darkness all around you. Just about shit myself,” Mouthy said.

“Despite my fears of heights, being able to fly at such speed and without the restrictions of traditional aircraft is an undeniable tactical and strategic advantage. It’s a shame that Cal is unique. Although,” Doran eyed Phillip, “I have heard of Remy being similarly capable.”

“Rayna too,” Mouthy said proudly.

“All your children are capable of flight?” Doran said.

“Yeah, Eron as well,” Phillip said.

“And you aren’t? I wonder why?”

“I can’t explain,” Phillip regarded the grizzled Spear Sergeant uncertainly. “I don’t know why my family was so lucky to gain what we did from the spires?” He didn’t say what he truly wanted to. That maybe they hadn’t been lucky. With all that power came crushing responsibility and suffering. Power didn’t guarantee safety. The fates of his family and his wife’s family in the Philippines was proof enough of that.

“I’ve always wondered about that, sir,” Smores said.

Phillip stifled a sigh. The rangers, Rayna’s Rangers, had always treated him with more deference than he was comfortable with.

“Dumbass,” Mouthy hissed. “Mr. Cruces doesn’t like being sir’d… er… sorry, si—” she clamped her mouth shut.

“I’d rather you guys didn’t, but I’m not going to get mad about it,” Phillip smiled easily. He definitely wasn’t like his children in that regard. He was, had been, was still a generally happy person. Smiles came easily, naturally. “What did you want to know, Smores?” He could only shake his head at the ridiculous names the young people gave themselves. At least the sergeant used her real last name. A pity that it was fitting for the post-spires world.

“Just that you are physical strong and durable, a ‘brick’ as we call it,” Smores began.

Phillip was familiar with the term thanks to his kids.

“While Mrs. Cruces is much stronger and tougher than a normal woman of her size, her main ability is the creation of forcefields—”

“Get on with it Smores, everyone’s getting bored,” Mouthy said.

“I’m not,” Alexa scowled.

The two women traded glares.

“Well, all of your children can be said to have two abilities. One, like yours, Mr. Cruces, an enhancement to their physical capabilities and a separate ability. Although, I don’t know what exactly their abilities are, so I can’t make any theories as to how those relate to Mrs. Cruces.”

“One ability similar to the father and one to the mother?” Max said.

Phillip regarded the injured man. He was still pale and weak, but had improved since he had lost his arm to the aswang.

It reminded him of Cal’s own missing fingers.

An unpleasant thought.

“Yes, if I knew the true nature of their abilities…” Smores eyed Phillip hopefully.

“I’m sorry young man, but that information isn’t mine to share. ‘Opsec’, I believe my sons called it. Cal and Eron were especially insistent that I don’t share with others. It’s nothing personal,” Phillip smiled.

“Of course not. I didn’t mean to imply anything. I just wish to be of service,” Smores said hastily.

“Fucking nerd,” Mouthy muttered loudly enough that everyone could hear.

“Young lady, that isn’t a good way to talk to your teammate,” Phillip said.

“Er… I don’t mean anything by it, si— Mr. Cruces. Just, I don’t know, keeping it light, yanking his balls,” Mouthy winced.

Several of the nearest spear unit members snickered.

“It’s quite alright, Mr. Cruces. I believe it’s Mouthy’s way of maintaining team cohesion and morale. Although, I don’t quite get it,” Smores said.

“That’s because you’re intelligent,” Alexa added lightly.

“Shut up, bit—” Mouthy eyed Phillip with alarm.

“I suppose there’s an audience where that sort of language is okay. I just hope you’re aware of that, Mouthy,” Phillip said.

“Yes, Mr. Cruces,” Mouthy said.

Max laughed.

Others joined in.

Even Mouthy.

“They’ve got a good team,” Doran said to Phillip.

“I’ll take your word for it. It’s not my area of expertise,” Phillip said.

“But they’re your daughter’s?”

“I just go where there’s a dangerous thing for me to punch to death,” Phillip said.

“There is something to be said for simplicity,” Doran nodded. “It’s been one headache after another ever since I got my own unit. Take my guys,” he gestured to his spear unit. “Don’t get me wrong, the recruits we picked up have been mostly good. A couple even got the Spearman or Spearwoman Class, but the rest,” he shook his head.

“What’s wrong with them?” Phillip frowned.

“Nothing,” Doran said. “At least it’s nothing in their control. I think. Most of the new guys still have Spear Unit Trainee in addition to whatever class they had before. Like I said they’ve been doing pretty good. Training hard. Picking up the principles. The class system is frustrating. I know all the theories on that. A combination of subconscious self-perception, proficiencies mixed with prerequisites we don’t know and who knows what other bullshit. It might even be something I’m doing wrong with my training program.”

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Phillip nodded. He was broadly familiar with what the Spear Sergeant was talking about.

“Sometimes I wonder if I could’ve turned down the Class upgrade. Thrust the spear, block with the shield. It was simpler then. Now—”

“Somethings coming!” Max gasped.

“Just as we planned,” Phillip warned as he scanned the tree lines on both sides of the highway.

“On it,” Doran said. “Square formation!” he barked.

Phillip stood by as the spear unit quickly gathered into the formation. A single line of spears and shields on four sides with space in the middle for Alexa, Max, Smores and Mouthy.

“Where’s the threat coming from?” Doran said.

“The forest. I can’t explain. I got this feeling. Aggression. A lot of it,” Max said. The man was desperately scanning the edges of the rainforest encroaching on both sides of the stretch of highway they had used as a temporary base camp. He did this even as he struggled to stand while Alexa lent him a shoulder to lean on.

“Cal scanned the entire area. He didn’t find anything,” Phillip said.

“There!” Max pointed to the western side of the highway.

The tree line erupted in a cacophony of loud hoots. The trees shook and the sound of branches snapping and banging echoed across the once silent sky.

“I don’t think our shi— dinky wooden walls are tall enough,” Mouthy said. “You should ice them up,” she urged.

“I can’t waste my spells until I know the nature of the threat,” Smores said.

“Steady!” Doran’s voice was calm, firm.

The frightening sounds continued unabated.

But what had Phillip to fear? His strength was tremendous. His skin was stronger than steel. He stepped toward the tree line.

“Wait, sir!” Smores said. “It’s like a threat display or possibly a trap.”

“Or a distraction,” Alexa mused. “Max, you called it. Got anything better?”

“I don’t know, but I think—” Max turned to the other side of the highway.

Phillip’s gaze followed.

The racket from the west side continued.

They came out of the east in silence.

Over ten of them.

Large with lean, muscled bodies covered in gray and silver hair. Long, dagger-like canines in disturbingly familiar faces. Sharp claws on the end of long fingers, one of which was over-sized, almost like a short sword.

“Fucking gorillas!” Mouthy snapped.

“No, amomongo, wild ape-men of local legends,” Smores said. “The size of gorilla’s, but built more like chimpanzees. With… extras thanks to the spires.”

Phillip readied himself to jump over the spear formation and rush into the amomongo when the western tree line exploded.

More of them. These ones weren’t silent. They hooted and beat their chests, some held large tree branches in their hands, bashing them against the asphalt.

Distractions indeed.

The monsters from the eastern side cleared the base camps wooden walls in a single, easy bound.

“Taunts if you have them!” Doran called out. “Brace! Reflect Charge!” he roared a moment later.

The first few monsters threw themselves on the spears.

“Line rotate to the east,” Doran directed the spear line facing the south. “Line to the west,” he did the same to the line facing north.

The next group of monsters to reach them leapt.

“Ice wall!” Smores pointed.

The frozen structure sprang out of nothingness. Several monsters crashed into it, but one was merely clipped.

That individual crashed down on the spear line.

They had shields, but several hundred pounds of dense muscle knocked several of them to the ground.

The monster bit down and tore an unfortunate man’s face before several spears found it pinning it in place.

“Eldritch Dart!” Alexa blasted it in the face, burning its flesh away.

“Power Strike!” Mouthy finished it off with her machete, hacking through half its thick neck.

“They’re just going to go around or climb my wall!” Smores warned.

Doran urgently reformed the spear line.

While Max dragged the dying man back to the center of the formation. “I don’t have any healing spells!”

“Can’t do anything for him,” Mouthy said as she stood protectively in front of the mages.

The monsters fell on the spear line.

Steel points found homes in dense flesh.

Sword-like claws cleaved shields.

Skills were called upon.

Roars and snarls answered in return.

The amomongo fought like the natural animals they resembled.

They beat with fists. They bit and tore at vulnerable parts. Faces, fingers, groins.

“Thorn Armor!” Max yelled desperately. He went back to that night when the horrid monster had torn his arm off and ate it while he could only watch in shock. This time the monster’s bite wasn’t strong enough to penetrate the armor of thorns around his remaining arm.

Mouthy cursed up a storm as she hacked at the amomongo in an attempt to get it off Max.

“Ice Spray!” A shower of cold, jagged shards swept out of Smores hand and kept a few monsters back.

Alexa fired off pink darts of otherworldly energy frantically.

“Penetrating Thrust!” Doran’s spear head went through dense muscle and the steel cage-like ribs of a monster to find its heart. “Shield Block!” A powerful blow landed on his shield. Without the Skill he knew that both shield and arm would’ve broken. “Double Thrust!” He scored two hits with one move.

On the western side of the battle Phillip had managed to draw a majority of the amomongo to himself. Leaving only a few for the spear line to deal with.

He had done this by landing in their midst before the monsters had charged.

Teeth, claws and tree branches. The monsters hit him with all their ferocity.

Armor was pierced and dented. Clothing torn. But the flesh beneath was impervious.

Phillip punched, stomped and crushed until all of the monsters were dead or dying.

It couldn’t have taken more than a minute, but that was an eternity in battle.

His gaze turned back to the others.

He leapt back into the fray.

It was over as soon as he got involved.

He killed the remaining monsters with ease.

Almost in mockery of the immense struggle and sacrifice that the others underwent.

Not a single person was uninjured.

Cuts, bruises, broken bones.

But it was the dead that weighed on Phillip.

Seven more to the tally.

Cal arrived a few minutes later.

An explanation followed.

Phillip could see his son silently taking the blame for this.

“They’re your guys, Doran. What do you want to do?” Cal said somberly.

The grizzled man had an ugly cut across his forehead that he hadn’t bothered with yet. “I’ve got their names down in here,” he pulled out a small notebook from his pocket. “Next of kin too. I’ll have to go back north to let them know. But that’s for later. For now… I don’t want to leave them out here. Don’t feel right burying them where those things,” he spat, “can just dig them up later. Let’s burn them, keep the ashes, so I can take them back.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Cal said.

Phillip could only watch as his son ripped the wooden walls of the base camp to build pyres for the seven fallen spears. All of them had been recruited from Ilagan. They had all joined for their own reasons. Some to gain strength. Others hoped for Universal Points. Nearly all did it for those they left behind. Families and friends.

There was plenty of extra gasoline to help the fires burn.

They watched in silence as the flames consumed their fallen.

“I have plenty of points,” Cal said. “I’ll give the next of kin some. I didn’t consider it when we began this.”

“Rayna has a system for the rangers. It’s not critical because we don’t make people pay for things they need to live. So, I didn’t really think of it either,” Phillip said.

“I made a mistake. I don’t understand how I missed those things. I scanned the entire area. I definitely didn’t detect the amomongo,” Cal said.

“It’s not your fault,” Phillip said.

“Yes, it is!” Cal hissed. “The only reason I left you guys was because I didn’t find any threats.”

“Then it’s my fault too for not preventing their deaths. The monsters couldn’t even scratch me. I could’ve swept through the forest and killed them all before,” Phillip said.

“But I told you it was fine.” Cal’s voice barely contained the anguish.

Phillip knew that there was nothing he could say to change his son’s mind, but he wouldn’t be a father if he didn’t try his best. “You’re not a god. You’re not omniscient, despite what your powers might lead you to believe. You cannot know everything. All you can do is your best.”

“How do I know that I’m doing that?” Cal challenged. “What if I'm not?”

Phillip considered the question carefully. “You’ll know you’re on the wrong path when things like this,” he gestured to the blazing pyres, “no longer hurts you so badly.”

It was a bloodied and dispirited group that made the flight to the high-rise.

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

“Kuya Eron?” Lilah rasped.

“Drink first then talk,” Eron opened a water bottle and handed it to her. “Can you sit up by yourself?” He hovered, uncertain if the proud girl wanted or needed help.

Lilah shook her head and pushed herself up with effort until she was sitting up in her bed.

“Did you know that cats sleep like 20 hours a day?” Eron grinned. “You’re basically a cat.”

Lilah gulped down the water with alarming haste.

“Slow down!” Eron warned. “You’ll make yourself sick. Just small sips for now. You hungry? You’re probably hungry. Big magic does that.”

Lilah lowered the water bottle. “Did it work?”

“The portable ward? Yeah, but you shouldn’t have done that with letting us know what you intended first. It could’ve been— was dangerous to you.”

“I didn’t have a choice. My other ward was going to fail.”

Eron quirked his head to one side.

The silent hours sitting next to Lilah’s bed had given him plenty of time to think.

Namely, a belated realization had come to him that when he had set out with the portable ward his intent had been to go to a sanctuary further away. Not to his grandparents’ old home.

He studied the glowing ward where he had placed it on the desk. Its light pulsed gently. Nothing like the frantic beating that had carried them all to safety.

“The one at my grandparents’?” Eron said.

Lilah nodded.

Eron regarded her searchingly as the girl’s eyes were focused on the water bottle in her hands.

“That’s new,” Eron said lightly.

“I leveled up. I feel more connected to them…”

“That’s a good thing,” Eron said. Yet, a stronger connection suggested more risk and danger to her well-being. He studied her closely. She didn’t look to be in distress. Didn’t appear as if she was hiding it so as not to worry him. “You’ve cut off your connection to my grandparents’ house?”

Lilah nodded. “I— yeah.”

“Any other sanctuaries in immediate danger?”

“No,” Lilah said firmly.

“You’ll let me know the moment that changes, right?”

Lilah nodded.

“So, uh… I’ve been sitting here for like a long time and you wouldn’t happen to remember what you were dreaming about?” Eron said lightly.

Lilah’s brow furrowed as she looked at him.

“You were just saying some stuff,” Eron shrugged.

“Was it anything… weird?” Lilah’s eyes widened.

“Some stuff about protecting a scared baby.”

“That’s weird,” Lilah frowned. “I don’t remember anything like that. I just remember feeling really warm and like my heart was beating really fast, like it was going to burst out of my chest. Something was squeezing me from all around. And people were really scared. I was really scared… but I feel like that all the time…” her voice softened.

“Nothing wrong with being scared. It’s what you do with it that counts. You’re strong. Stronger than most I know. We’ll find a way through this,” Eron said.

“I don’t… I don’t know what else I can do,” Lilah whispered. “No matter what I do, everyone keeps dying.” Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Don’t cry,” Eron said in alarm. “You’ve done more than anyone can expect.”

Lilah wept.

Eron hesitated before embracing her. He carefully patted her on the back. She felt so small and fragile in his arms.

“Maybe the answer lies in your portable ward. Now that we know you can cast it that way. I’m thinking we can get a bus and if you can do a couple more we can ride it out of the city, out of the fog,” Eron said. “I know it’s hard on you, but what if we empty the furthest sanctuaries? Bring the people here and fill up the bus and boom we’re on our way. It might take a few trips…”

Lilah continued to cry and Eron didn’t know what else to do.

The door to Lilah’s room opened.

Dr. Rufo and Madalena rushed in.

The former’s eyes took on an odd-looking shine as he focused on Lilah.

The latter scowled at Eron with an unspoken command.

Eron sighed and let Lilah go so that his cousin could take his place in comforting the girl.

She was probably better for that anyways.

Eron stood to one side, uncertain if he should leave or stay.

It was several minutes of awkwardness for him before Dr. Rufo came out of his Skill.

The old man sagged slightly, but he waved off Eron’s concerned hand.

Dr. Rufo gestured for Eron to follow him into the living room.

“You better not be about to tell me something’s wrong with her,” Eron said.

“She’s not in immediate danger…” Dr. Rufo began.

“But?”

Dr. Rufo held up a hand. “Her body is breaking down. I’m certain of it now. I can only speculate, since I don’t have magical abilities, or rather the magical energy that you call mana—”

“Terminology straight from the spires.”

“I don’t care about those Christ-damned things!” Dr. Rufo snapped.

Eron blinked.

“Sorry… it’s hard to watch and be unable to do anything, while at the same time being responsible for Lilah’s predicament,” Dr. Rufo shook his head. “Never mind. Just an old man’s selfish thoughts,” he took a deep breath. “In my opinion she’s running out of time. Her magical energy is not replenishing at a rate fast enough to keep up with the drain. It’s starting to take from her body, her life force, if that’s what we can call it…”

“How much time?”

“Days… a week,” Dr. Rufo shrugged.

Eron clenched his fists.

It sounded like steel grinding together.

“We can’t wait any longer.”