Unrelenting part 3

Somewhere in the city Kasugai, Four Armored vans drive down a freeway, catching the eyes of man drivers and kids. Those who can take pictures with smiles on their faces.

"so i'm gonna go out on a whim here and guess that..."

A young man with brown hair speaks, in a playful tone. his finger dramatically raised before landing on a young woman with black hair in a nice singular braid, and freckles that are lightly sprinkled along her face which complements her soft rosy cheeks. 

"hm?"

"you're Yuki Shoku-"

he proceeds to point the right of the girl landing on a young man with black hair and a spiky crew cut. his red snake like eyes, was focused on the the girl's figure unbeknownst to her, his gaze slowly shifted to the brown haired boy once his name was spoken. 

"Kuzu Uwaki-"

"..."

His eyes practically  stares into the boy's soul not saying a word yet his growing frustration palpable. the boy quickly moves on pointing to another young woman who appears to be around the same age of the first girl. her expression almost indifferent, fox eyes that makes it hard to see the colors of her irises.

"A-and you are  Ataka Kokoro..and you-"

not wasting much time on the girl he points at Hikari, whos stares at the boy's finger not really sure how to respond.

"you must be Hikari Samson!"

"Heh-heh...yeah, that's me... and you must be Nozomi Yume"

'its pretty obvious since we all entered the van in the order our names were called but I'll keep that to myself given he's the only one trying to start conversation.'

Hikari chuckles awkwardly wearing a  small smile.

"Mhm. that's right! but you can call me Nozo."

"..so..Nozo.."

"Yeah..?"

Nozomi says with a bit more enthusiasm than necessary making Hikari a bit hesitant to speak.

'this guy...'

"you seem very excited.."

"Who wouldn't? we're on our way to become Sanctifiers! miracles who goes head to head with the disastrous Nephilim!"

Nozomi says dramatically, his fist clenched, voiced dripping with passion.

"Its like living in an action movie!"

"hm...that's...an interesting way to see it."

Nozomi noticed Hikari not sharing his excitement.

"hah..sorry i tend to get carried away when i talk about stuff like this" 

seeing Nozomi shrink back, Hikari quickly speaks.

"No, no that's not that at all! its just that...my reason for doing this isn't as...Cheery heh-heh."

"Really? why?"

"W-well.."

"Because this isn't a fairy tale."

Ataka's voice cuts in carrying a edge of bitterness. catching the attention of both Hikari and Nozomi. the rest of the squad listens quietly.

"Nobody but you see this as some game. many of us are doing this because our circumstances demands it. some of us have even lost people close to us doing this stuff. the reality is, in this line of work,  people die and our chance at dying will only increase the higher  we progress in rank and faction."

Nozomi opens his mouth to speak, but his words get caught up in his throat. he looks down in embarrassment and shame.

"Its fine to have something that drives you in this kind of work, but don't let your ignorance be the reason you die early and let the very people who rely on miracles like us for protection down."

Ataka's words hung in the air like an anvil. for a moment the van was silent, feeling the weight of her words nobody was willing to add nor refute, all silently understanding.

"...i understand."

Nozomi says with a low and dejected tone, he hung his head not bothering to look up for the rest of the ride.

........

Eventually the van comes to a stop, faint sounds of what seems to be faint gunshot and explosions that are enough to shake the van.

"Alright everybody out the vans. We've arrived."

Ms. Choi's voice rang out.

"C'mon, line up in the order your names were called .."

As the trainees step out of the van, one by one their eyes widen as they see the sight ahead of them.  towering creatures that ran on all fours, a lot of their outer layer of skin closely resembled a rusty brown color making it almost impossible for most to be seen from afar, others have a much more tar colored skin. Mane like tendrils wriggled from the necks of some moving about as if it had a mind of its own. Various discolored spikes protruded from their back resembling that of brittle stained teeth. Bright yellow eyes that glowed within the dust clouds. Guttural screeching and Moaning coming from the beast could clearly be heard from where the trainees stood.

various men and woman  in black suits stand on top of platforms with peculiar looking guns that looked as if it was incased in something black. As They shoot down at the Creatures the bullets penetrate  unnatural sized holes through the monster's bodies dropping many like flies.

those who aren't shooting on top of the platform are on the ground fighting with the beast head on. faint aura exudes from their bodies some charge in punching holes into the abominations,  while others use a shield to guard those on the front line to the side people are healers who are healing the injured. once they're healed the immediately get back up and runs back into the fight.

The trainees watch from a safe distance,  they're washed with a multitude of emotions such as awe, fear, and self reflection as they begin realizing what exactly their getting themselves into.

"Woah! is that really a Nephilim?"

"They look so much more terrifying when you see them in person.."

"I've seen bigger on the news."

"we might be cooked..."

"Speak for yourself! if those guys can defeat them that easily this should be a cake walk!"

Despite the majority bickering the trainees from squad four were silent watching with steel resolve. Yuki's expression resembles that of interest as she licks her lips a single thought going through her mind.

'mmm...Nephilim~'

Kuzu stares with a deadpan expression his eyes staring with deep intensity, he clenches his trembling fist, barely containing what seems to be his excitement. a small smirk creeps on his lips.

Ataka's brows furrows unwavering by the conflict going on in front of her. her gaze shifts to Nozomi who's visibly excited. He has his his fist clenched determination evident on his face.

Ataka lets out a quiet sigh her annoyance clear.

'Ugh that moron is gonna get himself killed..'

Ataka looks over the shoulder for  a brief  moment before her eyes widening as she's able to read the expression of Hikari.

To her surprise Hikari's expression showed neither signs of excitement or fear. Just a cold glare that ran a shiver down Ataka's spine. His eyes barely showed any signs of anxiousness.

'What the..what's his deal he seem totally different' before stepping out of the van-'

Ataka's thoughts are cut short once Hikari's gave shifted to her catching her staring. Ataka's  stopped breathing for a second  as Hikari's gaze cause a flash of old memories to briefly surface, showing a little boy with dark brown skin standing before her, covered in blood  as he holds a rod like pipe dripping with dark red liquid. A pile of lifeless Nephilim scattered along the floor, he looks over his shoulder sharing a frightening glare that resembles Hikari's.

'No way...! Could he really be that boy from seven years ago..!?'