Wolf Monsters (2)
The platoon leader made a quick call. "Split 3rd Platoon into Squad Leader Jo's squad and Deputy Squad Leader Jo's group. Squad Leader Jo, recover the monster corpse. Deputy Squad Leader Jo and the rest, follow me!"
"Yes, sir!"
The platoon leader turned toward the direction of the loudest signal flare out of the three shots. We hurried after him, feet pounding the ground.
How far had we gone? Up ahead, our company's 2nd Platoon's soldiers were locked in combat with another wolf monster.
"3rd Platoon, joining the fight!"
"Yes, sir!"
The platoon leader charged straight at the wolf again. 1st Squad and 3rd Squad took their positions to support 2nd Platoon. I focused on my magic. No repeating that last mistake. From the start, I cranked up the output, aiming to shatter its skull.
"Platoon Leader! Can you grab it like before?"
"Give me three seconds!"
No, it's not like I'm casting a spell—how's three seconds gonna cut it?
But incredibly, he pinned the wolf in exactly three seconds. Had he gotten the hang of it after grabbing the first charging one? This guy's got some serious combat sense. Thanks to him, I didn't have to fire from afar—I could blast the wolf's head up close.
"Thanks for the support."
2nd Platoon's deputy stepped forward to thank us. After a quick check on their wounded, the platoon leader asked what happened.
"Judging by the direction you came from... that first flare was from 3rd Platoon, right?"
"Spot on."
"We heard the flare and were heading that way when this wolf monster suddenly lunged out of the darkness. At first, we thought 3rd Platoon was under attack. Then more flares went up elsewhere..."
"Yeah. Means there's more than one wolf monster."
2nd Platoon's deputy nodded. "You're heading to the other flare sites, right?"
"Damn right."
"Then we'll join you."
"Leave minimal personnel to recover the wolf corpse and follow."
"Yes, sir."
How many was this now? Sixth one? I wasn't even thinking about collecting the corpses anymore. We just dug shallow graves and buried them.
"Short break."
"Yes, sir."
A collective sigh of relief escaped the soldiers at the platoon leader's words. Back-to-back fights in the midnight mountains had drained our stamina. With autumn closing in, the pre-dawn breeze chilled us to the bone, especially as the sweat from the last fight dried.
The squad leaders built a campfire. 1st Squad huddled together; the platoon leader and I joined 3rd Squad to warm up.
"Any injuries?"
The platoon leader scanned his troops. No one raised a hand. Seemed like no new wounds since the first fight. We'd gotten the knack for handling these wolves—bigger than regular ones but easy enough to read once you knew their habits, aside from all those eyes.
Anyway, we used the time to rest properly. The knights, including me, took turns meditating to recover mana. If only the staff still had those leaves growing on it—I could've munched some for a mana boost. Damn unicorn ate them all.
Beedleedlee—
Another signal flare echoed. Wanted more rest, but no such luck.
"Move out. Aldric, put out the fire completely and catch up."
"Yes, sir."
The sound was closer than expected. We didn't run far before spotting the wolf monster. But this time, things were different.
"Grab it!"
"It's getting away!"
The wolf was fleeing desperately, chased by another platoon. It brushed past our platoon at about a five-meter gap. We whipped around and gave chase.
The wolf's leg was injured—blood poured from the eyes there. The distance closed bit by bit. Then a sheer cliff loomed ahead. We'd cornered it.
Or so I thought. The wolf charged straight into the cliff—and vanished without a hint of impact.
I've seen this before. Platform 9¾ at that railway station to HoOwarts.
"What the...?"
3rd Squad Leader Aldric Lowell's voice echoed hollowly; he'd caught up by then. The other platoon—who'd been chasing from the start—and ours rubbed their eyes, staring at the cliff.
"It definitely went into the wall."
The platoon leader's gaze was on the ground. Blood from the wolf trailed unnaturally into the cliff. He prodded it here and there with his warhammer.
"Doesn't feel like rock. A mana barrier's blocking access."
"What do we do? Zap it with lightning?"
"No, alert friendlies first. Fire a rally flare."
At his order, we selected and launched a flare. Soon, our company commander arrived with company HQ and 1st Platoon.
The commander listened to the briefing and approached the cliff. He fired mana from his staff, probing the barrier.
"Strong repulsion field. Good call not messing with it."
"So what now?"
"If the path's blocked, make another."
He knelt, jamming his staff upside-down into the ground. Massive mana surged from his body, channeling through the staff into the earth.
Ku-gu-gu-gu...
The barrier—no, the gap between barrier and cliff—began to part. Soon, a cave larger than the barrier yawned open.
Before enlisting, I'd seen his mana attribute listed as earth in the docs. Back then, it was just data; seeing it live was insane power.
"Since when was there a cave here?"
The commander's face was grave. The Silver Eagle Corps couldn't have unknown spots in the Irons pine Mountains. And mutated monsters coming and going from one? Full emergency.
He stood and turned to the other company's troops. "You're 1st Company, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hold here and brief 1st Company Commander when he arrives. Tell him to prep for anything."
"Yes, sir."
"3rd Company, follow me into the cave."
"Yes, sir."
Big enough for a wolf to run into—it was larger than expected. But pitch-black inside, no light.
"3rd Platoon Deputy, light it up."
"Got it."
An electric orb floated above my palm. Converting electricity to light was easy with my modern knowledge.
"Enemy attack could come anytime. Stay sharp."
Up front: platoon leader. Behind: company commander, 3rd Platoon including me. Rear: 1st Platoon and HQ.
The long passage was streaked with the wolf's blood trail. Following it led to a fork—three paths.
"Stick to the blood."
The commander chose without hesitation. Monster extermination was the goal, after all.
How far? At the trail's end, we found a gruesome sight: a wolf dead from blood loss. Beyond it, piles of wolf corpses.
The bodies were grotesque. One with a bloated limb, another split open in places, one where eyes had overgrown into corneal skin...
"Fuck..."
The curse slipped out. Some soldiers dry-heaved.
"Someone's been doing modification experiments on wolves here."
The commander's voice ground like teeth. "Doing this shit right under the legion's nose...! 3rd Company! Move out again. Back to those other forks we passed..."
His words cut off.
Ku-ku-kung!
A massive explosion rocked the cave, slamming our eardrums.