A loud bang echoed through the neighborhood as Eckart fired his rifle. The large ghoul collapsed, its head blown apart by the precise shot. As Eckart’s body began to glow with a warm, golden light, Micah’s holy flame ability shielded him, providing a comforting sensation.

Eckart, standing a hundred meters away from Mitchell’s group, called out, “Over here!”

He repeated the call, trying to catch their rescuers’ attention. The darkness made it difficult for Mitchell and his team to spot Eckart, despite hearing his voice. Eckart gestured to Micah, indicating he needed Rolly’s grenade launcher.

“No!” Micah objected, concern clear in her voice. “If you use that, it’ll draw the phantasms to us!”

“We don’t have a choice, ma’am,” Eckart replied firmly. “If we stay scattered, we’ll be easy prey.”

“Lyon!” Eckart called, turning to his teammate. “Hand me Rolly’s grenade launcher. We need to launch a flare and get their attention.”

Lyon hesitated, glancing between Eckart and Micah. Finally, he unstrapped the grenade launcher from Rolly’s back, along with an incendiary round, and handed them to Eckart.

Micah frowned, cautioning Lyon, “I hope this isn’t a mistake.”

With a swift motion, Eckart fired the flare, illuminating the surrounding area with a bright light. Mitchell, still fending off the pursuing undead, spotted the flare. “Over there!” he shouted, rallying his team towards the light.

2nd Lieutenant Armstrong barked orders, trying to maintain order amidst the chaos. The ward Mitchell held was weakening, the candle nearly spent. As the ghouls and crawlers pressed closer, Mitchell yelled, “Lieutenant, the ward is failing! We need to act!”

Armstrong nodded, making a quick decision. “Grenades, now!” he ordered. The team hurled their grenades, causing a series of explosions that tore through the horde, significantly reducing their numbers. The surviving crawlers hesitated, then retreated into the darkness. The ward’s light flickered and finally went out as the candle melted away.

As the smoke cleared, Micah’s group rushed towards Mitchell and his team. Lyon and Eckart were supporting a weak but conscious Rolly. Eckart, seeing Mitchell in his uniform, smirked. “Well, if it isn’t the fiery brat!”

Mitchell, equally taken aback, retorted, “And you’re still the same overdressed jerk!”

Micah cut in, her tone serious, “Enough, Eckart. I need to remove the holy flame’s protection from you.”

As she did so, Mitchell noticed something unusual about Micah. She, in turn, recognized something in him. “We need to talk, somewhere safe,” she said, her gaze shifting to the ward in his hand. “And that ward won’t work here; it’s too weak.”

Mitchell agreed, noticing the veil’s instability was lessening. He led the group to a bright lamp post near the river crossing, where they could rest. Curious about Mitchell, Micah began questioning him. “Why are you here? Are you an exorcist?”

Mitchell hesitated, then answered, “I have some knowledge and ability, yes. But I’m not an official exorcist.”

Micah pressed further, “Then what are you? What’s your purpose here?”

Mitchell sighed, finally revealing, “I’m an Abler, not affiliated with any official group. I joined the Legion for the money. I have my reasons.”

Micah’s eyes narrowed. “You realize that’s illegal, right? Operating as an Abler without sanction, even under the Legion’s banner, is against the law.”

Lyon interjected, “Micah, that’s not our biggest concern right now. We need to focus on getting out of here alive.”

Micah nodded reluctantly. “You’re right. But we can’t ignore the law forever.”

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Lyon asked Mitchell, looking back at him, “You were sent here to help us, correct?”

Mitchell nodded, looking to 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong for confirmation. Armstrong gave a curt nod, and Mitchell continued, “Yes, that’s our mission.”

Lyon nodded, his expression serious. “We appreciate the help. But you need to understand, the anomaly in this town is different from anything we’ve encountered.”

Mitchell, intrigued, asked, “What do you mean?”

“You see, what is happening in this town is out of a textbook portal event. Something’s different, and everything is escalating quickly,” Lyon explained.

Mitchell pondered silently, thinking it might be an isolated event, and then spoke, “I haven’t been here long compared to both of you. But it seems like you’re right. It usually takes several months for a usual event to unfold. You’ve been here for how long?”

“Only a week!” Micah replied, and Mitchell’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I see... I’m not an expert, but I’ll do my best to help get you all out of here,” Mitchell said.

Seeing Rolly weakened, Mitchell couldn’t help but worry. “What happened to him?”

Micah explained, “A Phantasmo Parasite has taken hold of him. His body may not be injured, but his soul is. He needs additional treatment at our facility in Severone.”

“I see...” Mitchell sighed, feeling sorry for his friend.

“It’s no time for that, Mitchell!” Eckart shouted.

“Have you no concern for your companions, Eckart Manson?” Mitchell snapped back.

“We have our mission; save the sentiments for later!” Eckart said, glancing back. A swell of the horde was forming, closing in on their position.

“We don’t have time to loiter and talk, people!” 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong said, lifting Rolly onto his shoulder. “I’ll carry him!”

The group found an unlit, uninhabited house and decided to take refuge. As they forcefully opened the door, two mercenaries, Alistair and Percival, with torches in hand, stormed the house. After confirming the area was clear, they signaled everyone inside.

Mitchell and the others shut the door, barricading it with anything heavy they could find. Micah climbed to the second floor, where the entire floor was dusty and appeared uninhabited for days.

"Are you sure this is a good plan, Mitchell?" 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong asked, concern evident in his voice.

"They'll catch up with us if we try to outrun them. Best to conserve our strength and hold up here for a while," Mitchell replied, noticing Armstrong’s worried expression.

Eckart went upstairs to see Micah while the others remained on the ground floor. Lucia tended to Rolly, using every bit of her knowledge to help him. Lyon, noticing Lucia's determination, said, "You've done enough. Don't strain yourself."

"I have to do something," Lucia said, her voice firm. "Everyone's fighting their hardest. This is all I can do to contribute to the group."

Lyon stood up and then went to the second floor to see Micah. Climbing upstairs, he saw both Micah and Eckart peeking through the holes of the windows of the house. Micah signaled Lyon to keep his voice down. Approaching the window, he saw the horde of the possessed passing by the house.

Their numbers widened Lyon's eyes. He realized that many had fallen to the possession of the phantasms. The scene was starkly different from the town they had entered earlier. The once lively town of Wales had turned into a ghastly place full of the possessed.

"What's your plan?" Eckart asked Micah, who was observing the situation with him.

"We'll stay here a bit and wait for them to pass by," Micah replied.

"Are you sure?" Eckart asked again.

"Yes, the possessed, even with heightened senses, can't pinpoint our exact location. Their eyesight has been robbed of them as well. Only sound and vibrations can attract them. This house will provide cover for us," Micah explained.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that..." Lyon muttered.

"Why are you here? Go back downstairs!" Micah ordered Lyon.

"There's an Abler downstairs, and he looks capable!" Lyon replied.

"That's not the point, Lyon! That guy lacks the training we have. It would be better if you return downstairs," Micah insisted.

Lyon sighed and went back downstairs, moving carefully and quietly. Micah remained with Eckart on the second floor, her eyes fixed on the eerie scene outside.

As Lyon went downstairs, he saw Mitchell and 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong talking. The floor was barely lit with small candles and the dusty curtains covered the windows. Lightning from the outside occasionally flashed and thunder rumbled after.

"How long have you been working?" Lyon suddenly asked Mitchell who was sitting before 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong on the floor.

Mitchell looked at Lyon and replied, "For several years, like five years if I could count."

"I see..." Lyon replied and continued, "Don't you have any interest in joining the orders? Like to be a properly sanctioned exorcist?"

Mitchell was in deep thought after hearing what Lyon said and moments later he replied, "I guess, that's not a thing for me. Even if I try to work with the order, I don't know if I can make a difference..."

"I suggest you join us, find your calling in the order." Lyon continued.

After their small talk, Mitchell's device suddenly died. It stopped emitting audio signals. The silence of the device puzzled him and Mitchell investigated further.

"I swear this device had battery..." Mitchell said.

Micah suddenly rushed from the second floor with her eyes filled with horror. "There's a terrible news everyone... the portal... it's beginning!"

Mitchell looking at her replied, "What portal?"