Arc 1 P5

Coughs a common thing in this place. Unlike that place where they claimed to have 'triumphed' over sickness and extended life expectancy by more than fifty years, tthis hellhole was hell on earth. Did the word hell appear twice? Then that wasn't enough description on how rotten this place was.

The ring coiled on a girl's neck glowed a soft green. The word 'Shiska' was sloppily engraved on it indicating the name she liked to be called.

"Everyone line up!"

The commandant's booming voice resounded loud and clear all throughout the camp. It's not early; in fact, it's already nine, but the people sleeping inside the tents were too exhausted to wake up.

However, once that voice started calling for them, they have to get up. In just a couple of seconds, everyone was lined up in neat ranks and files.

"Today is Tuesday, so those who's Leashes greened, stay. Otherwise, do chores. Tuesday is meat day. Make sure it stays an 'A' and not turn into 'E'. Understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!"

Shiska clicked her tongue. It's been months since her last taste of meat and it's always the damned Tuesday group who suffered with all those calls.

It's just the same, boring extermination sesh again. Why can't they rotate? Stupid lottery putting me in this damned vegetarian group. Damn, might as well develop a couple of stomachs with how they only leave us damned greens every. Single. Freaking. Time.

As expected, the commandant issued the same orders. Clear out the tainted at the important zones. Simple and exhausting.

"Too bad we couldn't gnash on some of that good stuff again, huh."

A playful voice joined her once they changed into their combat gear… or what qualified as 'combat gear' to them. A worn-out cloak, musty boots, dented and rusted canteens, it didn't look like provisions from the well-off walled city miles away from them. Unfortunately, that's all they've got.

"Must be nice to be a vegan," Shiska said to the girl who wore a frilled dress with flashy colors. Her Leash had the name Ambrosia.

"I'm not a vegan, nya~I just live for the sake of living," She finished her bleak statement with a cutesy pose.

"Well, looks like we're paired again. You got a new buddy now?"

"Nope. What I got instead was… drum roll please~"

Shiska indulged Ambrosia and tapped her lap in a clumsy, out of beat drum roll.

"Shiska-nya, your rhythm is way off, you know?"

"Shut up, your distracting me that's why."

After burning a ton of energy and focus to get it right, Shiska finally got the timing right. As she raised her hands in triumph, Ambrosia also raised her new item. It's a staff.

Even Shiska was impressed. "Woot, a new relic, huh. That's nice."

"Hehe~I know, right? The name's a tongue twister but I like it very much."

Once they got out of their tent, a man around their age awaited. On his back was a staff-like weapon wrapped in dirty, bloodied bandages.

"Morning, Leroy!" Ambrosia smiled and waved at the man.

"Conserve your energy. We've only got so much calories to spare."

Shiska sighed. "Way to rub vegan Tuesday, Leroy. Sigh, I hope someone spared us some meat later."

"Provided it won't spoil by then."

"Aaah! Synthetic shit sucks!"

The trip was short. As they ate their breakfast consisting of a bland nutritional goop along the way, Ambrosia livened up the atmosphere with songs she heard back when she's invited to the city. Her voice wasn't bad, but the other people in the transport truck bopped to the beat. The way everyone enjoyed the ride looked like they weren't headed to a battlefield.

"Remember to stick to your teams and always, and I mean always, follow your operators' commands. You're not in grade school. You know what happens to disobedient soldiers. Move out!"

"Oh, we're lacking one member. Great," Shiska checked her supplies one more time. As always, she's in charge of carrying the luggage and first aid. Armed with only a handgun, she's there to provide backup.

Once the commandant issued their orders, they're turned over to the students playing war games in their classroom. In other words, they're on their own. A bunch of sheltered children knew nothing despite them having almost similar ages.

"One, do you copy?" The voice of the operator sounded crisp and clear through the earpiece.

"Loud and clear."

"The area we're assigned is a high-rise condominium dating approximately 160 centuries ago. This sixty-nine storey building was built to accommodate the rich letting them own a whole floor for themselves so don't be surprised if each floor would look different than the next. Structural integrity seemed fine at the moment, I advise you to proceed with caution. I'll monitor any changes in the building just in case."

"Got it."

"…"

"Anything else, operator?"

"Are you really teamed up with a young girl?"

Shiska's blood boiled. All of a sudden, she had this urge to punch this yapping lady so bad. Every time they had to do this annoying job she's always assigned to this yapper. She thought there's going to be a shift sometime soon but, as it turned out, she's stuck to this girl like how she's with the Tuesday group. Every. Damned. Time.

A damned history lesson isn't enough for you, huh? You also wanna do empathy play? Sick bastard.

"Why do you ask?" Her throat felt dry from suppressing her budding rage.

"Nothing, really. Is your partner there? Ler—"

"Let's just stick to the codenames, yeah? Good."

Shiska regretted snapping off as soon as she did. However, the hypocrisy had to stop somewhere. If the yapper wouldn't draw a line, she would do it for her, just as how they've always done everything for these 'humans'.

"Two here. Awaiting orders," Leroy broke her silence and patted Shiska's shoulder.

"R-Right. Commence mission."

Ambrosia had already gone off before them that's why once they entered, the area was filled with crushed and twisted bodies.

"What the…"

Shiska couldn't help but fear the girl happily blasting off tainted after tainted as if she's controlling space. The staff in her hands exhaled fumes as the tiny mechanism inside it worked miracles to perform physics-defying magic.

"Both of you, please provide backup to… Cu…Cu…Cute…"

Shiska didn't wait for the operator to get over with her embarrassment and shot the tainted aiming at Ambrosia's back.

Ambrosia gave a thumbs up to Shiska. "Nice assist, One-nya! Now that we're assembled, CutieAngel and her friends will slaughter you all now~tehee!"

True to her word, the horde of tainted was decimated almost singlehandedly by Ambrosia. The relic was simply too powerful.

"Be on your guard. Something's not right," Leroy said to her without letting the operator know.

You don't have to tell me. Just look at that monster she's using and anybody would understand!

Every time she waved the staff, it produced a shockwave that, for conditions unknown, would distort the space and everything in it. The tainted and furniture caught up would be compressed, twisted, or simply explode like a pimple. Shiska was trying to focus on keeping Ambrosia safe, but Leroy seemed to have something on his mind.

"Shiska," Leroy joined her side when they took a break. "Have you noticed?"

"The relic? It's disgustingly scary."

"No. About Ambrosia."

She looked at the girl jumping atop a half-destroyed king-sized bed. She seemed to be enjoying the mission. She's even singing as per her operator's request to 'lift up morale'. They knew the guy behind the line was fanboying hard. There's literally no other reason why Ambrosia was stuck with him just as how Leroy and her was stuck with the hypocrite yapper.

Leroy tapped the weapon behind his back. He still hadn't used it and simply used Shiska's spent magazines to clobber the tainted. Aside from their loss of sanity, those tainted were the same as Leroy and Ambrosia. Human, yet not considered as one.

Meanwhile, Shiska had a realization. "Now that I thought about it, yeah, that's odd," She turned to the communicator. "Yap—operator, can I ask something?"

"Sure. No guarantees about the answer though."

"Great. So I was just wondering, if there's a case of, I don't know, General Change whatshisname? The military guy. He's the only human who could activate and use relics, right?"

The line fell silent for a few minutes. Leroy talked to Ambrosia to keep her busy in the meantime. They can't let the girl in on this one yet.

"Not that I know of," the female operator finally answered. She seemed to have seriously looked up their database.

What a flimsy lie. I can hear your bewilderment, madam yapper.

"Why did you ask? Did something happen?"

"Everything within expectations. Your leadership has been peckable—spec—great so far."

"…I see."

They went up. Ambrosia seemed to be in high spirits but Leroy had been covering for her for more instances now. The state got worse the higher they went. Her exhaustion finally showed when they're at the twenty-eighth floor.

"Operator, CutieAngel needed needed a break. She's passed out so I'm just letting you know."

"Got it," There seemed to be so exchange happening on their side. Although faint, Shiska could feel her operator was in an argument. "Kindly tell Angel to try her best with the relic. It's given by General Chen Jiyan himself so we're… well, we're monitoring her progress."

"Shiska!"

Leroy threw the magazine in her way just in time to intercept a sharp talon about to slice her. The tainted's attack veered off course grazing her cloak. Shiska used the opening and shot the tainted dead.

"What are you doing? Take care of Ambrosia. Don't daze off in the middle of battle."

Even Leroy seemed to be showing more emotion today.

As she cradled the still unconscious Ambrosia in her arms, the unease in her chest continued to grow.