Chapter 79 – The Eye of Trouble (8)

It was a foolish action. Joshua thought. There was nothing that they could ever do to the despairing abomination in front of them. It was clear to Joshua. It was clear to him how half of the men that he was with during the past days had their bodies hit by a burning hot laser. He saw Kars left arm get amputated. He saw the hunter with the hooded cape get killed by a precise shot at the heart.

Joshua saw clearly how Silo got his right foot cut and cauterized. If it wasn’t for the floating words that were helping him, Joshua wouldn’t have seen the laser coming to his neck. He tilted his head to the right. But the laser burned the left side of his neck. It felt like his skin was boiling. That hit alone made his vision perceive red veins.

He didn’t bleed. His wound was cauterized by that single shot. But the pain was there. Even the downpour of rain didn’t help. Joshua kneeled on the spot. He stared at the giant that grabbed another hunter. Using its sub-arms, the combat drone opened the hunter’s stomach. It scanned the body and the familiar language made Joshua shiver.

“Biometric scans suggest lower life form. Lacking any of the codex required vaccines. Counting...Scan Complete...The subject lacks 50 compulsory vaccines and thus violates Codex Law. Termination is a must.”

With that mechanical voice, the combat drone terminated the hunter. It used of its sub-arms to completely reduce the hunter into ashes. That scene alone made the hunters start to run. Kars stood up and tried to run. He dragged Silo while shouting at the dumbfounded Joshua to move.

The combat drone that was using the body of the High Ogre turned towards Joshua. It shines a blue light at Joshua and went to scan him from head to toe. There was a blinking of red and blue.

“Scanning...Subject has been vaccinated and meets the minimal requirements of the Codex Law...Error...The subject has been exposed to the current planet’s mutations. The unit detects unknown energy. Scanning energy...Error...Record not found...Rerouting database...Error...Databanks unavailable. Unit shall now proceed with an individual scan...Error...The unit has sustained damage against a Xeno species. Rerouting....Error...Computing power limited...Executing partition law. Judging...Complete...The threat must be neutralized to prevent Quietus acquisition.”

There was no need to talk about the obvious. Hearing that made Joshua sprint away from the combat drone possessing the Hogre, he did this mad dash as the enemy behind him points its barrels at Joshua. The barrels fired lasers. Time slowed down for Joshua as he dived to roll. He rolled sideways before pushing himself back up.

“To the forest Joshua, run to the forest damn it!”

Kars shouted while dragging the screaming Silos. Joshua ran towards them while trying to avoid the burning hot lasers of the abomination. It would be faster to leave Silo behind. Joshua thought of that. Kars also thought of that. But the two did not give in to that thought. They dragged Silo away while keeping their legs moving.

...

The enemy was relentless. It didn’t give them a quarter as it mowed down the trees blocking its path. Kars and Joshua were panting heavily. Silo was being dragged by them and he was a burden.

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They were relying on the obstacles to evade the enemy. But that tactic was slowly losing its effectiveness. The Combat drone was not stupid. Noticing the patterns it adjusted its strategy and proceeded to cut the obstacles using its laser armaments. This allowed the Combat drone to move forward faster.

Silo who was still in panic screamed louder. Joshua turned his head back. Seeing this abomination coming at them like a rushing bull, Joshua removed all of Silo’s bandoliers and made him cling on his back. It was a burden. Silo was heavy. He was a full-grown man. It didn’t help that he was screaming at him.

“DAMN ITTTTTTTTTT”

Kars shouted. Joshua then saw that the combat drone was just a few feet away from them. This made Joshua’s heart pumped like crazy. He tried to run away but Joshua felt his right foot aching badly. It made his face twitch in pain. Joshua wanted to just sit down there but he decided against the idea and forced himself to move.

The abomination with the use of the high ogre body didn’t give them the chance. It leaps up and stomped both its feet near them. Kars was able to roll away. But the moment he stood up. His body bent unnaturally and the sound of his spine cracking was clearly heard. Silo saw this and despaired further. Joshua was pissing his breeches.

But he moved. He moved because he knew that stopping would do nothing but engender him. He ran away sprinting while his eyes were leaking tears. He shouted his heart out in despair as the monsters chase him.

But the monster behind was too agile. It was able to catch up to the normal him and tried to swap Joshua. But the QuickTime-like ability of Joshua gave him some bit of chance. He was able to move out of the way by hairs breath but he was thrown away by the gust that the Combat Droned produced. Joshua saw the world twirl before his body hit the ground with a loud thud.

Joshua writhed. His vision was filled with red veins. All he could see was the world being tinted in red. He was coughing blood. But his ability was a double-edged sword. It allowed him to live and survive. But it also made him suffer. So when the abomination tried to terminate Joshua. He saw the floating words again that made his body move on its own will.

Indeed, he was unable to control his body. But he was able to feel the pain. Now imagine Joshua using his injured wrist to push himself away while a terrified Silo clings to him. It was a pitiable dodge that allowed him to survive death. But the debris created from the attack hit him. A sharp piece of stone hit him right in the ribs. He was still thrown away again. He was like a puppet without strings. Silo was able to cling to Joshua. But Joshua was unable to see with blood covering his eyes.

He tried wiping the blood blocking his sight. But what he saw was the floating words instead. He focused his mind and his body without any care. This pulled Joshua’s muscles but it allowed him to live yet again.

But the impact of the attack that combat drone did not give Joshua any quarter. And All Joshua could feel was his body falling down. He didn’t know where he was going. But floating words was enough to convince him that he was in for a long fall.

What am I doing anyway?

He asked himself.