章 23: CHAPTER 4: Surrounded
"This…when did I feel it first? This beast of steel, spewing forth torrents of fire and thunder. Its blinding flashes seared my eyes like molten iron, and its deafening roar shook the very foundation of my world. Lastly, the monster within the monster itself. A ferocious warrior came from unknown land, clad in cold courage, and strength… yet so gentle and warm… ah…I remember now.."
"I remembered now."
"A decade ago, our tranquil existence shattered like glass. I was once a carefree child, oblivious to the horrors that lurked in the shadows. But then, like a tempest unleashed, a monstrous creature, more vile than any demon, descended upon us. Its fiery breath, a noxious blend of azure and malevolent purple, consumed my parents, leaving our once-bright home a smoldering ruin."
"My younger brother, a fragile soul, clung to me, his voice trembling. 'Don't cry, sis,' he whispered, his own wounds still raw. 'I'll protect you.' I want to believe in him, but what can we do right now?"
"As the monster, its eyes glowing with malice, loomed over us, I felt a surge of despair. Our fate seemed sealed. But then, a deafening roar echoed through the chaos. A colossal, metallic beast emerged from the smoke, its presence shaking the very ground beneath us. It struck the Cerus with a force that sent it reeling,"
"Cerus in front of me, then suddenly-"
"Right now, there's no difference from before."
BOOM!
Ivan pulled the trigger of the main gun for the second time and finally, it unleashed its loud, deadly, and precise round that looked like a bolt of crossbow but made out of dense metal. The end of the barrel released a bright light in an instant and the powerful gun recoil rocks the 70 tons tank itself a bit.
And as for the receiving end, from the point blank range, the sabot round penetrated on the thick scale of that pangolin like monster. Its thick and supposedly invulnerable obsidian armor was penetrated as if it's just like a mere glass and the round passed through its whole body like butter.
The gigantic Cerus suddenly froze like a statue after the moment the metal monster in front of it spits fire.
"You down now, bastard." Ivan muttered, a cold satisfaction lacing his voice. Then finally, the once mighty and fearsome Cerus dropped dead on the ground. The ground yet shakes again from the impact, sending dust everywhere.
The Cerus head falls in front of the adventurer and they see the punctured head leaking its bluish blood. They can't believe that they will see the monster causing devastation everywhere to be like this.
Hearing the loud bang followed by the fall of Cerus. The orcs behind it stop on their tracks, still figuring out what had just happened. For the first time, the siblings get a new facial expression from the 'demons' they thought they would not see. And it's the terror from its widened eyes and mouth opened. They were looking at each other not knowing what to do after their most powerful ally was defeated instantly.
"Now, now, as for you runts, YOU CAN TAKE THIS!" with another trigger from his hands, he quickly pulled it and controlled another 50. Caliber machine gun on top of the main gun barrel.
Hell let loose on the forest again like a storm. The 'Ma Deuce' sent a rapid barrage of its thick as thumb and long as hand bullets.
The creatures, believing these bullets were mere arrows, tried to deflect them with their thick arms and shield themselves with their huge axe. But the sheer power of the .50 caliber machine gun was unstoppable. Flesh ripped, bones shattered, and screams echoed through the forest, a symphony of agony. The orcs, once a formidable force, were now mere fodder for the Red Musket's wrath.
The effects are no different from the damage Goblin took earlier.
Ivan swept the machine gun across the narrow pathway, a scythe of death mowing down the remaining orcs.
The adventurer can only cover their ears as the loud gun noises reverberate the whole forest.
But Ivan's attack never ends there. He noticed that there's third trigger from the 2 hand gun controller. He glanced on his left side and saw a half a meter rectangular machinery and there's a drum magazine attached to it. It must be the 20mm gun they modified as a coax machine gun, replacing the former 7.62mm rifle caliber gun.
Eye still focused on the gun sights, Ivan slid his middle finger on the third gun trigger and aimed it at the now fleeing Orcs. Ivan furrowed his brow then pulled the gun control.
The 20mm Oerlikon cannon roared to life as it released its high explosive round and found its mark hitting a single Orc then it exploded turning the Creature into mist of greenish splash as its body disintegrated in a violent instant.
Seeing the effects of the guns, Ivan let out a hidden grin and held both triggers tightly. The machinegun and the auto cannon both unleashed their devastation upon those creatures. The Orcs desperately tried to flee but can't outrun the wrath of the lead. "Haha! Get some!"
The adventurer watched in awe as they were seeing the huge demon shattered by this unstoppable force. They see the bright red tracers flying in the air and burning the Orcs, also the explosions of 20mm.
"Hey…sister. This…" Leo spoke to his sister.
"Yeah… there's no mistaking it, this really must be a panze-"
But suddenly, despite loud gunshots, both of them turned their heads behind as they heard a rustle of grass and branches. They were alerted immediately and ready to defend themselves but it did not last long when they felt that whatever creature surrounding them right now is falling back.
Ivan's carnage continues as he squeezes both triggers, until, finally, after a minute of pure chaos, his guns run out of ammo. He peered at his thermal sights looking for any signatures of remaining orcs but all he can see now is a pile of dead corpses lying on the ground.
Seeing this, Ivan let go the gun control and his adrenaline was fading out. With his cold and trembling hands, he combs his hair upwards following by letting out big breaths. It's been really a while since the last time he felt this way. This the same feeling the first time he deployed on the frontline and stained himself with blood.
It took himself a second before he regained his composure. "Wait, the adventurers!" Ivan quickly grabbed his rifle and opened up the hatch then climbed out of it. Opening it, he was greeted by the bold and sharp smell of gunpowder. The gun barrel of the 50 cal machine gun is glowing red hot showing how intense that fight is.
Ivan scanned the area quickly, his eyes settling on the two adventurers sitting by the side of the tank. Without hesitation, he jumped out and rushed toward them.
"Are you two okay?!"
Leo and Leila exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging their exhaustion. Slowly, they rose to their feet.
Leila brushed the dust off her pants with a calm grace before replying, "Yes, we're alright, thanks to you."
Ivan exhaled deeply, the tension in his shoulders easing. But then, his gaze shifted to Leo, taking in the state of his armor—battered, dented, and riddled with holes. Half of his visor is already destroyed showing his manly face already etched of numerous wrinkles and scars.
Seeing Ivan's concerned expression, Leo offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, it's just a scratch."
Ivan raised an eyebrow. "That's more than just a scratch…"
Leo chuckled, his voice steady despite the weariness. "I've survived worse."
Ivan was skeptical but decided not to press further. "If you say so."
Leila let out a weary sigh, her frustration evident. "He's always like this… throwing himself into danger and getting hurt along the way. I've scolded him countless times, but it seems his skull has grown too thick for my words to penetrate."
Leonard, with a gentle smile. "But, dearest sister, it is through your grace, despite not being a healer, that you have found ways to hasten my recovery. Your care is unmatched, and it strengthens my resolve."
Leonard then turned his gaze to the shattered head of the Cerus monster. His eyes, filled with awe, observed the weapon that had so easily felled the beast. "Sire, I must confess, the weapon you wield is most wondrous. It dispatched this creature with such ease as though it were naught but a mere pest. Say, what manner of sorcery is this?"
Ivan was about to respond when Leila interrupted, her voice steady and certain. "It's not magic. Am I correct?"
Ivan nodded. "You're right."
Leila approached the tank, placing her hand on its cold, metallic surface. She closed her eyes, feeling the sturdy, unyielding nature of the machine beneath her fingers. "So, it truly is a Panzer… a real one."
Ivan, puzzled, furrowed his brows. "Panzer? How do you even know that?" His confusion was genuine. How could these people, clearly from a medieval era, know about a Panzer when they seemed unaware of the assault rifle and grenade he had used earlier?
Leila offered him a mysterious smile. "There is much we wish to ask you, but…" She glanced in the direction of Bataen, her expression growing serious. "We must return there first."
Leonard's voice carried a note of concern. "Sister…"
"It's too dangerous to go back now," Ivan interjected, his voice firm. "You're both exhausted, and we don't know how many of these creatures might be out there." He glanced at the lifeless Cerus. "There could be more of these monsters lurking around. It would be wiser to retreat to Manilia for now."
Leila's eyes softened, but her resolve remained. "But we have comrades still out there… I can't just abandon them. They might still be alive."
Leonard stepped closer to his sister, his voice gentle yet unwavering. "Wherever you go, sister, I will be by your side."
Ivan hesitated, he fully understood the weight of her words. He too was haunted by the unknown fate of his own comrades. What if they had encountered a monster like this Cerus? Would they have been able to defend themselves? Where are they right now? Ivan clenched his fists, the uncertainty gnawing at him.
Regaining his composure, Ivan spoke with authority and acted by the book.. "Still, we can't launch a counterattack without knowing the enemy's location or their numbers. Let me do some reconnaissance first."
Leila stepped forward, raising her wooden staff as she assumed a posture of focus and intent. "Then allow me to handle it. I'll use a mana detection spell. I can sense anything within a 10-kilometer radius."
But as she prepared to cast the spell, her face darkened with regret. "I should have used this before Leo and I left. If I had, we could have known about the approaching danger… perhaps we could have avoided this…"
Her thoughts were interrupted as Leonard placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his silent support giving her strength.
With renewed focus, Leila lifted her staff high. The blue crystal at its tip glowed brightly as she began her incantation. "Mana Detection." A horizontal ring of green light radiated outward, spreading like a radar across the forest. The air grew still as the spell took effect.
Ivan, unfamiliar with the workings of magic, asked cautiously, "Did you detect them?"
Silence filled the forest, thick and unnerving.
"Sister?" Leonard's voice broke the silence, his concern evident. But Leila remained silent, her eyes wide with horror. Suddenly, her staff slipped from her grasp, crashing to the ground with a dull thud—the only sound in the oppressive quiet. As if the weight of the world had fallen on her shoulders, Leila collapsed to her knees.
Both Leonard and Ivan rushed to her side, kneeling in front of her. Leila's face was a mask of terror, her eyes wide and unblinking, her skin pale as if the very life had been drained from her. She stared ahead, trembling, as if she had just glimpsed the face of death itself.
"What is it? How many of them are there?!" Ivan urgently asked, his voice laced with panic.
Leila slowly turned her dilated eyes to him, her voice quivering as she replied, "Ce-Cerus… there's too many of them."
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