บท 6: Dual-legged Fiery Serpent
Everyone in the Jose team set out along with Gin and Astro, carrying their backpacks and weapons.
They moved along the streets of district 13 and reached the silver mist region border.
Gin could see a giant metal wall, which spread over as far as his eyes could see. In the heart of the wall, one could see a huge door, meant for going in and out.
Only after their identities are verified, the guards opened the security door and let them pass through.
Gin and Astro familiarized with themselves during the walk, since both of them are on the same boat.
He learned Astro is from District 1 and applied for the ranker exam mainly because of money and resources as he comes from a simple family.
"Brother Gin, what about you?" Astro asked.
"Same reason as you, but mainly for resources and breathing techniques." Gin replied.
"It looks like your dream is to pursue the martial path. So, which academy do you plan to join?" Astro asked with interest.
"I don't have any such plan right now. Anyway, there's one month till the entrance exam, so I am in no rush to make any decisions." Gin stated, lost in thought as he himself doesn't know what future awaits him.
Just a day before, he was just a nobody who couldn't even pass the ranker exam, with no definite future.
"What do the two little brothers are secretly discussing?" Karina arrived next to them and asked.
"Haha, nothing. we are just familiarizing ourselves." Astro shyly responded.
"Sister Karina, how much time does it take for us to reach our desired location?" Gin asked, curious.
"There's another wall located fifty kilometers from here, like the one we just passed through. The next wall is the true stronghold which divides the Silver Mist Region and Northern Wasteland."
"It's also where the silver mist army resides, and defend us from the magical beasts, vultures and some unknown foes."
"Our mission is just outside the safety wall, toward the eastern direction. We can reach there by nightfall."
"Can't we use the transport vehicle to travel?" Gin asked again.
"Yes, we can. But we don't know why? For the past week, any type of travel via vehicle has been banned near the wasteland region." Karina explained.
Gin was also puzzled by why the Silver mist government banned all types of transportation near northern wasteland?
He also knows transport artifact operates well only in the flat region. If you are traveling in rocky terrain or a forest filled with gigantic trees, it's a total waste.
"Travelling by foot is more secure than using vehicles. If you got attacked by any magical beasts or robbers, one can easily defend and attack unlike by traveling in a vehicle."
"That's only for normal transport vehicles, if you can afford combat type Vehicle then you can travel anywhere." Cotton also joined in the conversation while Jose and Shog walked in front.
Gin shook his head as he knows the price for combat type vehicle is not something normal people can afford.
Just a normal private car costs 100,000 credits, if it's a combat type then a minimum price level would be 10 million credits.
Despite being on foot, they traveled a long distance in a short time, considering most of the area around here is flatland.
Even though the journey is tiresome, just a short break is enough to reenergize everyone since all of them are rankers with good physical strength.
Like Karina stated, around nightfall, they spotted the safety wall some distance away from them. After 20 mins, they finally reached the safety wall.
"We will rest here for tonight, and resume our journey tomorrow." Captain Jose informed and went to talk something with the soldiers guarding the wall.
Gin saw several 'ranker' teams around the vicinity. It's not surprising since there's a lot of missions announced around here due to recent outbreak.
Even though the people at their level are not known about the details, they could discern something huge is happening inside the wasteland.
"Most of the rankers rest here before continuing their journey so there are a lot of tents. Choose a large tent enough for everyone to rest." Captain Jose came back and said to cotton.
"Captain, what's this whole commotion is about?" Karina asked.
"The soldiers also don't know anything like us, they just following the order."
"But, I heard they have been hearing loud noises from the wasteland lately and also several terrifying peoples with powerful status going in."
"What does that mean, Captain?" Cotton asked.
"I don't know. Don't ask about these things, they are just loads of trouble! We keep our head straight, finish our mission, and get the hell out of this place."
"I smell trouble here and I don't like it." Jose wrinkled his brows and answered.
Everyone then settled in a tent chosen by Cotton, for the night.
'Rather than sleeping out in the open, it's better.' Gin mused. Because, during his last two attempts of ranker exam, he always slept in open.
----
Early morning,
Before sunrise, the team of six set out. After passing through the wall, they traveled along the eastern side of the wall.
The journey became easier, thanks to the information and exact location of their mission that Jose got it from his friend.
The region around the wasteland is quite dangerous and due to recent wild beast outbreaks, they haven't even met a single soldier or ranker along the way.
Around an hour later, they reached the destination indicated on the map.
"Everyone, stay alert. According to the information, this region may be filled with vultures and walkers." Captian Jose warned.
"Brother cotton, what captain meant by vultures and walkers?" Astro asked, curious.
"Vultures are like bandits, but they are unique to Northern wasteland. Unlike bandits who are abundant in numbers, vultures are formed by a crew of five to ten.
And Walkers are fugitives who are wanted either dead or alive by the Human Union. So, they usually hide and survive in some of the dangerous places like Northern wasteland, where the Human union forces are weak.
They are very dangerous peoples, who rob and kills without batting an eye. You have to be careful around that sort of people." Cotton explained.
Even after searching for 20 mins, they couldn't spot a single dual legged fiery serpent, there were no tracks of them.
"I think the information may be a little inaccurate, we need to search the entire surroundings. Try to find any traces - footmarks, smell, or any useful trace will do." Captain Jose calmly announced.
"Gin, Astro and I, will cover the east while you three search the north side." Captain Jose explained to shog, cotton, and Karina.
Shog's group immediately proceeded towards the north, seeking for any tracks left behind by the wild beasts. Jose, Gin, and Astro continued their search on the East.
Even though it's only dawn, Captain Jose's eyes are like a hawk trying to find any traces of fiery serpents.
"Be alert and watch my back. Even though we are only in the exterior region of the Northern wasteland, we may encounter other magical beasts apart from the dual legged fiery serpent." Captain Jose warned both Gin and Astro.
After 20 minutes, Captain Jose got a message from Shog in his communication bracelet. 'We spotted the target.'
Within five minutes, Gin and Astro followed Jose and joined with Shog, Cotton, and Karina, who were perfectly hiding behind the shadows of a large rock.
With his exceptional perception, Gin noticed the group of dual legged fiery serpents, some distance away from them.
What he saw was a 20-foot long, dark red beast, with a long, pointed jaw filled with sharp teeth.
What differentiated them from ordinary snakes is their two strong legs with glittering claws and fiery body.
Gin noticed another five similar dual legged fiery serpents in the group. The size of the fiery serpents varied from 10 feet to 15 long.
But, the 20-feet long fiery serpent is what caused his heart to shudder like it's an entirely different level creature than other wild beasts.
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