Grief, The Traitor

Darkness began to cover the sky, as if it telling the candidates to immediately start their mission. Ain along with the other candidates from groups 1, 2, and 3 have gathered at the main gate of Cerberus Center Head. Heim and Vabica were also there.

Heim was in charge of group 3 while Vabica was in charge of group 2, which Riev and his twin were in. Not long after they waited, Came a large black 6-wheeled car with Cerberus logo on the right and left, driven by a man who was in charge of group 1.

They couldn't use Trava because it was too flashy to travel by air. After all, the forest they were going is not that far away. They have to go overland using a special car for Cerberus troops.

About 2 hours journey they took until finally the car stopped. They had to park far from their destination to prevent their movements being noticed by the Night Blood bandits.

After the bandit camp was spotted, they immediately set up a strategy. Group 1 immediately occupied a point near the entrance to the camp. Group 2 standby on the hill along with group 3. They were accompanied by Vabica and Heim who immediately watched the six candidate movements, assessing the detailed of their planning.

They are lucky to have Kiev in their group. Kiev have a long-range weapon in the form of a rifle. That would make it easier for group 2 to knock out the guards around the main tent where the leader of Night Blood was.

Ain had been silent all this time watching the bandit camp area at the bottom of the small hill where they were. "Something is not right," said Ain with furrowed brows.

"What is it?" asked Heim. Heim also realized that something was wrong there. But he used that moment to judge Ain's ability to observe.

"I've looked up the information about the bandits. They are a group of barbarians who love to party. Every night they party with loot from the town near their camp. But this time it's so quiet. Too quiet for the famous 'Night Blood' barbarian," Ain put his right fist on his chin. He has a habit of putting on that pose when he is thinking hard.

Heim smiled with satisfaction at Ain's answer. "You're right. Something's not right. But we can't back off. Everyone, be ready."

Ain briefly glanced at Agna. He saw Agna's brow wrinkled. "Maybe what she said is true," he thought.

After the signal was given, group 1 started moving. They attacked openly at the entrance of the camp, quite a distance from where Ain and the others were.

[•X-Code•]

Group 1 managed to divert attention. Many bandits ran to the main door. Groups 2 and 3 ran from the top of the hill towards the right side of the camp, the closest spot to the main tent.

Riev ran at the front with a girl in his group. Ain, Lond, and Agna ran behind them. Meanwhile, Heim and Vabica followed from behind while assessing and at the same time being alert if anything dangerous happened.

Riev touched his ring, took out a long large scythe. A weapon said to have been used by the god of death in fairy tales.

With the Scythe Riev cut down several guards who were about to attack them. "Now!" Riev said to the girl in his group. The girl took out a whip, but she fell because her feet were caught in her own whip. She was so nervous that she couldn't control her own whip.

"Tch!" Riev was furious, there was a little regret he felt because he had chosen that sloppy girl as a member of his group. The task that the girl was supposed to accomplish now has to be accomplished by him.

Finally, it was Riev himself who shot through the guards. Fortunately, Kiev helped by shooting the guards who were about to attack Riev from behind and from the side, a direction Riev could not see.

The atmosphere of the camp was chaotic by the attacks of the Cerberus candidates. However, the conditions there were still confused for Ain. He did not think that the bandits could be defeated that easily. "Then, how weak are the Munkan's security forces so that they can't face these very weak bandits?" he thought.

"Up!" Riev loudly gave the command after clearing the way for group 3. The bandits were still plenty, but Riev and Kiev were able to keep them out.

"Ain, be careful," said Riev as he glared at Ain as soon as they passed. Ain nodded as he continued to run towards the main tent which was bigger and more luxurious than the other tents, it has the same size that is often used by circus groups, except this one is not colorful. Only jet black can be seen on the surface of the tent.

[•X-Code•]

The smell of blood surged as soon as they entered the tent, giving a gripping sensation. There are a lot of bodies, which had been cut into several parts, lay there. In the center of the tent sat a middle-aged man. The man was carrying a stump, the head of the bandit leader.

The presence of that man's figure made Heim eyes widen, his body trembled until his teeth gave a grinding sound.

The man stood up and threw the head that he was holding earlier.

"Grief !!!" shrieked Heim. He touched his ring until a large sword appeared bright blue but slightly transparent. The sword was not made of metal, but condensed plasma. That's the weapon technology of the Cerberus army. Unlike the Prototype weapons given to the candidates which are still made of metal.

"You guys step back! Even if you are three, you can't beat him!" shrieked Heim as he dashed towards the man called Grief.

Heim slashed Grief quickly. But Grief managed to dodge, and even Grief launched a continuous attack at Heim very quickly. So fast it was almost invisible.

Grief launches various forms of punches, then ends with a kick that makes a loud sound in Heim's stomach. Heim bounced away, drawing closer to Ain who was just stunned to observe Grief's every move.

Heim who was lying on the ground tried to get up, but instead he vomited blood. His body was shaking violently from Grief's attack.

"Y-You..." Heim glared at Grief. Grief smiled broadly until his canines showed.

"Cerberus. It's so easy to hook you up" Grief grinned disparagingly.

"What is your purpose…?!" Heim tried to speak even though he was weak. A sore stomach made it difficult for him to breathe.

Grief pointed at Agna who looked pale. "I want to take the girl."

Hearing Grief's words, Ain put himself on guard in front of Agna. He intends to protect her.

Grief smile broadly at Ain's attitude. "A heroic kid, huh?" he said disparagingly. However, Ain did not say a word.

Lond who had been silent for a while, took out his axe while pulling Agna roughly. "Master! I did it! Can I join you now?!" he hugged Agna.

Heim was both surprised and angry to see Lond, who turned out conspiring with Grief.

"Oh, I see…" Ain said calmly. "I understand now," he continued again. Ain changed his position from his original stance, now standing straight with his hands tucked in the pocket of the jacket he was wearing. Grief fell silent at Ain's words. Meanwhile, Heim looked at Ain with an astonished look, not understanding the meaning of Ain's words.

"What do you mean...?" Heim said softly while holding his stomach which was still in excruciating pain.

"Agna whispered something to me when i introduced Lond to her. She uttered one sentence, "Traitor". At first, I didn't understand what she meant. Several times I tried to ignore it. But Agna seemed to want to tell something, i know she is not an ordinary girl. She has an extraordinary analytical power. She can find out all the data about me. Even to the unreadable thing such as my blood type. That means, she has the ability to read someone's DNA. It wasn't impossible for her to find out a traitor. At first, i still didn't know what kind of traitor Lond was. Then, about the condition of this camp. Just as Master Heim also sensed that something was wrong here. My instincts say that it has something to do with Lond," Ain explained calmly. Inside, he was afraid of Grief. But Ain, who could not express his feelings, looked calm instead. It's an advantage for him.

"Ha ha ha. Interesting. But, it's useless," said Grief confidently.

"Oh? I'm not sure about that," Ain replied with a confidence that was no less than Grief's.

Boom!! Suddenly Lond collapsed to the ground. His body was filled with needles stuck at several points. Heim still doesn't understand what happened. But after Heim turned to Agna, then he understand. Agna's weapon is an infinite number of needles.

"Have you noticed, Master? Agna's weapon is those needles. She has high analytical power, of course she can find the nerve points of a person's body. I've proven it, "Ain explained to Heim.

"Yes! She stabbed me with needles so I couldn't move!" said Riev. He and Vabica entered the tent, following those who were already inside first.

Ain turned his head and then glared at Riev.

Riev understood the meaning of Ain's gaze, he smiled and said, "Take it easy. Kiev is calling for reinforcements. Soon the Masters will arrive. It took only a few minutes to arrive here using Trava" Ain nodded slowly.

Heim who was still trying to stand up observing the two young men. "Ain… You planned all this? Just armed with one word from Agna…?" Heim still did not think that Ain could devise such a ploy with such minimal guidance.

Ain was silent, did not answer Heim's question. His mind was in deep thought, looking for a way to survive there.

"Riev, Master Vabica, please take Master Heim and Agna out," said Ain after his long silent.

"W-Wait Ain! Don't be reckless! " denied Heim who tried to get up to approach him.

But Riev took him away. "Riev?!" Heim tried to return, but his weak body could not resist Riev's strength who carried him out.

"Master, didn't you pay attention to Ain's hand?" asked Riev calmly.

Heim was silent at what Riev said. He did see Ain put both hands into his pockets, but he did not expect that there was anything else in his plan. At first, he thought that Ain's attitude meant nothing.

[•X-Code•]

As soon as Riev, Heim, Vabica and Agna were outside the tent, then Ain took his hand out of his pocket. He holds a small ball in his right and left hand. He threw the ball to the ground, causing a small explosion followed by a rapid release of thick smoke from inside the ball.

"No matter how strong, he won't be able to move in this condition," Ain said as he pulled out his weapon.

He had prepared a mask equipped with infra-red beforehand. So, he could see through the thick smoke. He quickly attacked Grief, but Grief was able to avoid his attacks. Even in a thick puff of smoke, Grief was able to keep up with the attack without having to watch Ain's movements.

The two of them just attacked and evaded without being able to hit each other. Until finally Grief paused and then said, "Okay, that's enough."

Instantly the smoke in the tent blew out, blown away by the wind. Ain's heart was beating fast, his body felt so heavy that he fell on his stomach. He could not move his body even at the tip of a finger. He couldn't even speak.

Grief walked slowly and then stood to the side of Ain's head. "I never thought that my plan could be thwarted by a Cerberus candidate. Your name is… Ain, right? I can't wait to see you again," said Grief as he walked away.

Lond, who was previously paralyzed by Agna's attack, called out to Grief softly as Grief walked through him. However, Grief ignored it, he didn't stop, not even even glance at him the slightest bit.

Before long, a few Trava's came thanks to Kiev turning on the emergency signal from his bracelet. Unfortunately, Grief was no longer there when reinforcements arrived. They were immediately brought into Trava. as well as Ain and Lond who were inside the tent.

Ain was in the same Trava as Heim. They both lay side by side, limp helpless.

"Master, what is Grief doing? My body suddenly couldn't move. Is that… Magic?" Ain asked who still had a sense of wonder.

"There is no such thing as magic. There is only something we do not understand. Did you forgot? "

"Yes I know. But it feels like magic. "

"It's nerve-disabling technology. Advanced technology that not even Cerberus has. But rather than that… Ain, what was the reason you are so intense in the tent? Your answer will determine your graduation. Cerberus is not a dumb army, who sacrifice themselves for the sake of friends. We don't know those words, "asked Heim while turning to the left, where Ain lay limp.

Ain's body begun to move a little, but he still feels very weak. "I only take action only after counting the success rate. Grief can even beat you, the Martial Master of the Left Head Cerberus. If Riev was stalling for time, this plan will surely fail. He had already fought when he opened the way. Agna? Of course she's the last choice i'll take to buy some time. I also can't let Master Vabica interfere. This is our battle, candidates. To be honest, I'm a little disappointed by your actions, Master. But I'm sure, there is something that is making you out of control. So, the highest rate of success is by putting myself in the position of stalling time. At least, if I fail, there's only 1 victim. Isn't that best done? " Ain explained his thoughts in detail. Only when explaining plans or mission-related matters, could Ain speak with such flexibility.

"H... Hahaha..." Heim just laughed without being able to answer Ain's words. He tilted his body to the right, his back to Ain. "See you at the graduation ceremony" Heim said quietly.

Ain heard those words. But his mind still wandered over what just happened. "Grief..." he said to himself.

From the bottom of his heart, Ain wanted to fight Grief once more. He hopes to meet him again to finish their fight.