Chapter 23: When the smoke clears
The locusts were still destroying everything in their path.
Butchering every living thing in the vicinity of the gates from which they repeatedly spawned.
Security on the island was flailing, might as well throw out the iraid and baygun sprays or any other local pesticides that the students could get their hands on.
None of that crap worked, defense was at an all time low.
The current weapons were ineffective and the students were being slaughtered where they stood.
Still out of the students, some kids were putting their lives on the line to save others and their heroic acts didn't go unnoticed.
One of the brave sports was Nate who, determined to save the lovely Katherine who was scared of the bugs, did something he never thought he would.
Nate threatened the old janitor, "tell me old man where do you keep the chainsaw?"
Fearing for his life, the man who was being held by the scruff of his neck, led the way to the garage where such machinery was stored.
The janitor's face was white and his hands shook.
As he struggled with a bunch of keys until he managed to find the one that opened the padlock.
Just as Nate let go of the janitor he ran for dear life determined to save his own skin.
The janitor couldn't help but think that the quality of the private college had gone down the drain, "they are just letting in anybody these days."
He then ran right into Brian, the advisor shook him, "where's Nate?"
"Wh..Wh..Who?..." jabbered the janitor his voice was shaking.
"Get a grip on it old man, the young boy that was just with you, where is he?" yelled Brian.
He didn't mean to shout but he felt so annoyed, like he was slowly losing his mind.
Brian felt like all the students were his responsibility.
He had done the right thing and let his group safely to the auditorium.
When he lost his temper and got into a shouting match with Nate.
Upon seeing that Kate wasn't inside the auditorium the young man had been determined to go and search for the haughty socialite.
Unlike Brendan's friends that seemed superficial, Nate had a genuine interest in pursuing Katherine.
Nate was very insecure when it came to Katherine.
If it came down to money and prestige Nate was lacking in that department.
If he wanted to win Katherine's affections then he needed to act fast.
Brian had been the only thing standing in Nate's way and he shoved Brian hard out of the way and escaped outside.
"Let him go," the other students had cried, "it's too dangerous out there"
Their cries fell on deaf ears.
Brian was stubbornly determined to bring Nate back; he would not let another student who he managed to grow fond of die on his watch.
He ran in the direction to the garage and found Nate just in time before he could even open his mouth to lecture Nate.
Nate yelled frantically, "duck!"
Seeing what was in Nate's hand Brian didn't think twice to do what he ordered and dropped to the ground instantly.
Nate let loose the flame thrower above his head and the heat from the fire singed Brian's hair.
A barbecued locust swollen from the blood and body parts of humans it greedily consumed earlier fell to the ground smoking like charred meat.
Not giving Brian time to recover or speak, Nate handed the warm flamethrower over to Brian prefering to go with a chainsaw as his weapon of choice.
Then Nate was running out of the garage with Brian on his heels, as Nate ran towards the last place he recalled seeing Kate.
"Help is finally here," said a relieved Brian, but he said that too soon.
Seeing the new threat that appeared in the sky the Locust General brazenly sent a third of his troops to attack the newcomers.
They watched as the army helicopters got swarmed and battered by locusts and watched with a mix of awe and fear as one of the helicopters fell from the sky.
It landed right on top of the auditorium, the helicopter crashed into the generator that was on top of the auditorium and exploded causing a huge fire.
Pandemonium erupted inside the auditorium and a few more lives were lost as students trampled over their fallen comrades to escape the fire that threatened their lives.
In the aftermath of the explosion, when the smoke had finally cleared.
Despite what the students felt seeing people die in front of their eyes, all hope was not yet lost .
Something that resembled the first batch of army helicopters appeared in the sky but these newcomers were remarkably different.
All were a shiny, full black in comparison to the camouflage that the army used on their planes.
The shape of the helicopters were designed a bit different too, a more modern feel sleeker design.
It was clear that whatever these newcomers were using was more technologically advanced and they made the army look like they were still stuck in the stone age.
Humans started firing at the locusts from midair with lasers, some had what only could be described as superpowers as they parachuted from out of the helicopters.
They served as distractions to help cut down on the number of locusts attacking the helicopters.
Using firepower that they emitted from the palms of their hands to clear the way from the locust swarms that tried to destroy the helicopters.
The students watched in awe as these humans with superpowers fought to turn the tides of war against carnivorous locusts.
Not all that alighted from the helicopters were warriors, some were healers too and they set to work immediately caring for the blood and bruised with medical kits.
"Drive them back," shouted a commanding voice from one of the helicopters that were bigger than the rest.
The Locust General was furious he needed spirit power, now more than ever before.
So he went after Charm once again, no more toying with his food.
The Locust General needed to eat to regain his strength.
He flung the woman out of his way, puny with no strength.
The female dared to stand between him and his meal.
Miss Francis was flung with such force that she hit her head.
Then collapsed unconscious against the wall of a nearby building before she crumpled to the ground.
Just as the furious General was about to attack Charm with outstretched claws.
A young man with flashing golden eyes and shiny black hair appeared out of nowhere.
For the first time in a long while the Locust General felt fear.
He didn't even sense the young man and Zinc seemed to have five times the spirit power of Charm.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone