Overlord

Elena landed just as Mira, Luna, And Rell finished off the last of the Shadows attacking them. 

"I took care of it." She gestured.

"Yes. You took care of it." Rin's Light orb blurted out. 

"Thanks Rin..." Elena let out. 

"Well, I guess we won't be needing back up to kill those leviathan class." Rin sighed. "Meet up at my waypoint and we'll discuss the next move forward." She said. 

"Roger." Luna saluted. 

The group continued to make their way out of the city, walking along the abandoned streets. It was much quieter now, so much so they loosened their formation a bit. Rell walked slightly behind the group, eyes affixed on Elena. After a couple minutes, he decided to approach her. 

"You're very good at using Wind Nin." Rell complimented. "I've only seen a few people who can use it to soar through the air like that." He said, Alicia in particular coming to mind. 

"I was always able to use WInd Nin like this, every since I was born, I think." Elena replied, hiding an embarrassed blush. "But that Nin of yours is crazy Rell. I've never seen anything like it." 

"What is that Nin anyways?" Mira leaned in close. "I've read a lot of books of the old world, but something like that was never really mentioned." 

"It's Shadow Nin." Rell responded. "It was very rare, even in..." He stopped himself. "How long has it been since this city fell?"  He asked. 

"About 140 years." Mira responded. "I'm guessing you're from before that time, right?"

Rell didn't answer. 

"Figures." Mira noted. "None of us have ever seen a human before you. There were some reports in the previous generation, but the last known sighting was about 25 years ago." 

"That's amazing. That means you're like, super old." Elena pointed. 

"Elena please be more sensitive. He's lost all his friends, his loved ones, his very way of life. Haven't you read even a single manga I've given you?" Mira scolded. 

"I'm not that into the fantasy stuff." She waved. "Too close to home." She looked at Rell with a guilty look. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to dismiss your situation like that." 

"Don't worry about it." He shook his head. "You keep calling me human, like you all aren't. You look like humans to me. What are you exactly? Androids?"

"Yes. We're androids." A voice said. 

It was Rin. She had climbed down the building she was on and had met them halfway. The twin tailed red hair girl stood atop a car dramatically in order to tower above the rest of the squad. She wore a tactical looking maroon jacket over a crop top shirt that exposed her midriff. She also wore a tactical belt lined with pockets was wrapped around her waist with a pair of brown shorts that completed her look. She carried her rifle over her shoulder by its strap. 

"Wait is that what we are?" Elena gasped in shock. 

"Robot. Beep boop." Luna added. 

"No you idiots! We're clearly organic! That's clearly blood coming out of you Elena!" Mira yelled, pointing at the bloodied bandage on Elena's side. 

"Oh!" Elena clapped, Luna joining her. 

Rell sighed.

Rin jumped down from the car, wrapping her arm around Rell's shoulder and pulling him down to her height. 

"So you're the famous human huh?" She grinned. "Not a bad looking one. Thought you'd be uglier." 

"Is that a way to greet people?" He asked. 

"That aside. Girls." Rin addressed.  

"Yes boss!" The three said in unison, forming a line and saluting. 

"Stop giving this one so many answers. Could be a Shadow spy." Rin said. 

They all gasped in shock. 

"What?" Rell shook his head, which was still wrapped around Rin's arms. 

"Answers ain't cheap. You're gonna have to pay up if you want anymore of those." She said, rubbing her fingers together. "The way you took down that leviathan's barrier, you think you could do it with an Overlord?" 

"What's an Overlord?" Rell asked. 

"I said no more answers!" She squeezed his neck, causing him to gasp for air. "Basically, could you take down a barrier twice as the strong as the one you broke?"

"Probably..." he coughed. 

"Good." She smirked, releasing him. "You just might have some use to us Sisters." 

"Use?" He asked, massaging his neck. 

"The Commander wants to meet with you back at headquarters." Rin grinned. "Girls, this idiot right here might be the key to finally winning the war against the Shadows."

"Wow!" Elena gasped. "Rell, you're like, amazing!" 

"Are you making fun of me?" He shook a fist at her in response. 

"I see. So we're trying to see if his Shadow Nin can kill an Overlord." Mira noted, adjusting her glasses. "Yes, if that were true, it's the one thing we were missing." 

"Win!" Luna raised her hands. 

"Exactly." Rin waved her finger. 

"So we're going home?" Luna asked. 

"Yep!" Rin said. 

"Woo." Luna raised her fist. 

"Wait a minute. I never agreed to this." Rell interrupted. "I don't even know who you girls even work for. I'm just trying to figure out what happened to me, and where my friends are!" He protested.

"Playing hardball huh?" Rin clicked her tongue. 

"The Commander will answer those questions." Another voice said. It was one of the Light Orbs that was following Rin. "Rell Trevalls, of Squad Seven. You were companions with the hero Alicia, correct?"

"Yes. That's right!" Rell walked forward. "Do you know where she is? Where Anto, Mara, or hell even West is?" 

"She will have answers for you, but you must accompany these girls to the Sanctuary for those answers." The orb said. 

"Guess I don't really have a choice." Rell shook his head. "Fine. I'll go." 

"Very well. Captain Rin." The orb turned towards the red haired girl. 

"Ma'am." She answered. 

"Please continue with your current mission." The orb said. 

"As you wish." She replied. "Well you heard it here." Rin pointed to Rell. 

"Let's just get to this sanctuary already. I hope it's not too far." 

"It's a day's hike!" Elena smiled. 

"Great." He sighed. "If..." Rell stopped, noticing something. 

At first, it was a little hum. He turned to investigate it. It was coming from back towards the city. The sound grew louder, now resembling the beating of drums. 

"Rell?" Elena's voice was muffled, just enough for him to register. He ignored it. 

The noise was louder now. Rell cuffed his ears in pain as the song echoed in his ears, like a loud cacophony of instruments all playing out of tune. 

"Not good!" Rin's muffled voice said. "Get up!" She said, pulling at Rell. He pushed her away, the pain unbearable. 

Something emerged from between two tall sky scrapers. Two enormous hands reached out, grabbing the rooftops and pulling the rest of the fat body upwards. The Shadow stood over the two buildings, using them as handholds to support it's overweight body. It's belly protruded out, convulsing which each breath the Shadow seemed to take. It craned it's large head towards Rell, a smile on its bloated face. The music stopped. 

"Rell." It said. 

Rell screamed, as the Sisters dragged him away by force. The Shadow kept watching him, it's blank white eyes staring into his own, till finally, the darkness took him. As he fell asleep, the eyes remained watching him. 

He was in the darkness again. The Shadow Rell smiled.