Base Takedown [Chapter 67]

I glance back and forth, from the map fragment to the road. After a few minutes of running, I reach the Precinct one base. I quickly look at the map again.

"I've already destroyed one base, there is six left in these five precincts. Wait, there was another on in Precinct three?"

I quickly look over the map and nod.

"So, there's one in Precinct one. Two in Precinct two. Two was in Precinct three, but only one is left now. Seems to only be one in both Precinct four and five."

I nod and quickly point my hand towards the building in front of me. I wait for a moment, but notice no movement around, or within, the building. I lower my hand and quickly move towards the building. The thick glass door allows me to peer inside, seeing the building completely vacant.

I see a chair spinning at a desk and quickly break the door down with a single punch. The sound of glass beneath my boot cracking and popping as I step into the room and investigate. I open, and investigate, every place that someone would be able to hide. I move through the building, checking all the upstairs floors carefully, incredibly confused.

"Maybe they fled when they heard about the other base?"

I mumble under my breath. I quickly use [Hellfire] while walking through and out of the building. The black flames easily melt the metal beams and eventually the building collapses inward. I hold up the map and quickly dash towards precinct two.

I jump and dodge around vehicles, easily running passed them. After a little over a minute, I reach precinct two. I immediately move to the closest outpost and notice it also looks suspiciously vacant. I kick down the wall and look around, almost agitated.

"Where is everyone? Did everyone head towards the center outpost? If so, I'll need to hurry. Don't want to keep Vex waiting. But there's no way the first outpost could've gotten passed me without seeing them, could they?"

I shake my head and burn that building down as well. Soon after leaving that outpost, I arrive at the second outpost in precinct two. Once again, I ram into the building and notice no one anywhere to be found. I cross my arms, feeling my stomach turn. I start feeling uneasy and concerned.

"This isn't right, or at least it doesn't feel right."

I growl, starting to become agitated. I quickly move outside and burn that building down as well. While walking away, I hear screaming. It doesn't sound like normal screams however, it sounds like someone screaming in the same manner a light flicks on and off. Starting and stopping in rapid succession.

I look around, feeling even more confused. For a brief instant, I see people running away from me. Upon blinking. They vanish and everything looks normal. The concerned looks of people staring at me, and the burning building, in horror. After a second they start running away, their screams matching the screams I had heard moments before.

"Am I going crazy?"

I mumble while rubbing my eyes and looking around, then turning my focus back to the map. I sigh and dash back into Precinct three, now seeing some guards mobilized on the road. I smile and reach back for my sword. As I start to dash towards the guards, something hits the back of my head.

I look back to see a rock on the ground. I stare at it, almost baffled that someone attacked me. I quickly scan behind me but don't see anyone.

"Hm, this is getting weirder and weirder."

I look back towards the guards, but notice none are there anymore. Almost as though they dissapeared into thin air, their batons laying on the road. I draw my sword and clutch it tightly.

"This is strange, very strange."

I slowly walk forward, almost cautious of everything around me. After a moment, I dash towards the other Precinct three outpost. As I arrive, I don't even check inside. I quickly burn it down and move to the next one in precinct four. The buildings slowly change and transition in architecture going from Precinct four, to five.

The buildings no longer look heavy and thick, they transition into smoother and sleeker designs.

"Rich community, I assume."

I mumble while dashing through the area. I soon reach the outpost and laugh upon seeing the structure. Most of the building seems to be made of glass and I can clearly see no one is inside. I laugh and rub my eyes.

"Where did everyone go? It's starting to seem more and more likely that everyone went to the central outpost."

I quickly melt down the building and move towards Precinct five.

"I wonder if Warren is handling his precincts without problems."

I mumble while running. I quickly reach my last target and stare at it, still confused.

"No one? I doubt that word of our attack could spread so fast, and even if it had, how could they have left so quickly? Unless maybe they just took a different route to get away?"

I shake my head, trying not to be too confused. I quickly start running towards Precinct eight and clench my fist.

"That just means we might have a massive fight at the main outpost."

I smile and continue running, excited for a good fight. After several minutes, I reach precinct 8. I notice there's suspiciously little traffic. I slow down to a brisk jog, but still easily pass all vehicles. Between two massive buildings, I see it in the distance. I weave into alleyways and around buildings, eventually reaching a open space to see the building I can only assume to be the main complex a few hundred feet away.

A large building, standing almost 30 stories tall. But its massive stature isn't from it's height, the building stretches over two hundred feet left and right. I can't help but crack my knuckles and ready myself.

"This looks fun."

I mumble, hearing Warren chuckle behind me. I quickly look back to see him staring up to the building in front of us. Before I can ask him why he's laughing, I hear a scream in the main complex. I look forward to see blood splattering against all the windows, almost a line of blood running down the inside of the glass.

I stand in shock for almost a minute, before watching Vex emerge from the front door. I quickly run over to him and notice his clothes are completely covered in blood. I'm at a loss of words as he calmly and lightly pats my shoulder.

"I got bored, let's go back to Illestra."

His words echo in my head for a moment.

No, something is different. None of this is right, what happened?!

I watch Vex wave to Warren to come over, presumably to teleport us. As Warren reaches us, Vex places his hands on our shoulders and nods.