Ch. 18: " SQUADRON I pt. 3"

Stella focused her eyes on watching not even looking on how horrified her subordinates were.

"Rei do you remember the A-class demon that appeared back at the east?" Stella asked.

"Yeah, I still remember it, why?" Rei spoke.

"You're about to meet it again" Stella said.

"The A-class demon that attack us at the dome of the east was true monster who was not able to show its true power mostly because the east had already encountered an A-class before, but because of an unexpected guest Commander Rylee was sent to a coma for almost a year. And I'm about to meet again with such a monster, but this time I don't think we'll be able to defeat it"

"Rei... are you alright?" Erika asked.

They sat on top of the wall near the laboratory staring at the horizon waiting for the demon to appear.

"I can't really say that I am... that monster was capable of something but was not able to do it for two reasons" Rei answered.

"Two?" Erika asked.

Rei stared at Erika's eyes, his face was emotionless as he spoke it was as if a different Rei was speaking to Erika.

"One... the east knew ahead on what to do in case an A-class was to attack them as they had fought those class of demons before... two... that demon was being controlled by a much more terrifying monster, I don't know what it's called but I think it was something we humans should not fight under any circumstances" Rei explained.

Erika was shocked to see Rei make such a face that she immediately changed the topic.

"So... do you think the commander will be alright inside the dome?" Erika asked.

"I think she'll be alright after all she was able to silence a broken demon earlier" Rei answered.

*45 minutes earlier*

"Here are my orders, Aizer circle out the laboratory and eliminate all the zombies, Glenn you'll stay here and watch the screens..."

Stella was giving orders when Glenn suddenly spoke.

"Commander isn't this job more suitable for Aizer? Since there are things I don't know about technology" Glenn said.

"Glenn, can you handle clearing out the demon outside with your Zosma?" Stella asked.

"No" Glenn answered before lowering his head.

"Aizer can move more quickly since he has an Atria which means he can clear out the zombies much more easier, plus your job is to watch and report to me when something weird happens that I can't see" Stella said.

Glenn nodded while the others stood in silence.

"Next, Rei and Elaina, you too will stay on lookout for the A-class demon while Erika will stay here to defend Glenn..."

Stella was about to leave when Elaina raised her hand.

"Commander, may I switch places with my sister?" Elaina asked.

"Your reason?" Stella said.

"Because she won't be able to stomach watching the horrifying events that is currently taking place inside the dome" Elaina answered.

Stella stared at her for a while before walking towards a hidden door only meant for commanders to find.

"Hmm... is that so? Well you should talk to her with that" Stella said before walking inside the door.

Elaine smiled a bit and walked towards Rei.

"Please take care of my sister out there, I know this seems weird but there are things I don't want her to see" Elaina said.

"Elaina! I am not a child anymore! Please don't treat Rei as my babysitter!" Erika suddenly yelled at her sister.

Elaina immediately walked towards Erika to apologize to her and have a quick chat, Rei watched the two with a small smile in his remembering the life he had with his brother inside the dome.

"Alright everyone move it! Let's do what the commander has told us" Glenn spoke.

Elaina hugged Erika before standing next to Glenn, while Aizer, Rei and Erika walked out of the laboratory.

"There should some stairs that allows you to go up the walls over there... Erika please don't do anything stupid" Aizer said before leaving the two.

Rei and Erika follow the path that Aizer pointed and there they some stairs that led upwards towards the top of the wall, they walked there in silence, Rei walked behind Erika with the modified star in his left hand, while Erika held on to his black sword.

"I apologize for having you hold that for me" Rei said as they ascended the stairs.

"Its fine, I used to things like this, back at the capital's military some people would treat me like this and make me hold some of their stuff" Erika answered.

Rei did not peep a word as they got further and further upwards on the stairs, and after a few minutes of walking they had finally reached the top of the wall.

"Wow! The sun is setting!" Erika said.

Rei stared at Erika's joyous face as the wind blew at them and the sunlight began to disappear.

*Present*

"Are you cold?" Rei asked.

"Mhm!" Erika smiled while rubbing both her hands together.

"You can use this"

Rei took off his white coat and lend it to Erika, leaving him wearing only his pants and a white long sleeve shirt.

"Won't you get cold?" Erika asked.

"How should I post this... right now I don't feel anything" rei said with a smile.

Erika tilted her head thinking what Rei had meant, but once she saw him smiled she simply smiled back and curled up her body to not feel too cold. After a few minutes her eyes began to feel heavy causing her to fall asleep.

"Right now I don't feel anything? Why say something like that Rei... trying to act all cool while alone with a girl... sigh..."

Rei was deep in his thoughts as he stared at the darkness of the horizon waiting for a sign of the demon.

"Why sleep in a cold floor?" Aizer called out to Rei.

"Ah... I apologize I don't have anything to let her sleep on" Rei apologized.

"Don't apologize, this girl can sleep anywhere when she feels like it but I bet even with that she'd get a cold if she slept on a cold floor like this" Aizer said while standing next to Erika.

"How's the zombie hunt?" Rei asked.

"I've killed over 67, seems like there aren't that many near the laboratory" Aizer answered.

"Aizer have you ever killed a demon?" Rei asked.

Aizer was silent, he simply sat down beside Erika and stared at the dark sky filled with stars.

"Have you?" Aizer asked.

"I haven't" Rei answered.

"Is that so... I killed one before, back at the squadron candidacy exams" Aizer said.

"Squadron candidacy exams?" Rei was confused.

"Ah right... I heard from the commander that you and your brother were immediately selected by Commander Rylee without going into training so you probably wouldn't know what that is" Aizer answered.

Rei looked at Aizer before leaning his head and looking up the starry night sky.

"I still remember what happened that day, we were still young and had to go on trainings to be able to fight demons, all of us were thought that demons are merciless creature who will kill with no reason. Of course back then I was a stupid brat who thought he was the strongest, until that day came"

*5 years ago*

The candidates of Squadron I was eating at the cafeteria while chatting about their final exam for the candidacy.

"Glenn have you hear our final test for the squadron candidacy will happen later" Aizer spoke to Glenn with a joyous face.

"Aizer haven't you hear? The final test is a matter of life and death" Glenn said.

"Huh?"

Aider's joyous face slowly changed to a horrified face, he stood frozen after hearing what Glenn had just told him.

"Good morning Aizer! Glenn!" Erika called out to them.

"Erika! Don't run you might slip!" Elaina yelled at her sister.

"Big sister Elaina, is the final exam for the candidacy a matter of life and death?" Aizer asked.

"Huh? Weren't you told yesterday?" Elaina answered before sitting beside Erika.

Aizer stood frozen as cold chills began to pass through his body, people passed by him not caring if they bumped him or not.

"Aizer aren't you going to eat? If not can I have your share?" Erika asked.

"How... how could you stay calm even after knowing what could happen in the exams? Were about to die yet your calm??" Aizer screamed.

"Aizer calm down, if we work together like always we can defeat low class demons, and they also said that only C-class would be there" Glenn tried to calm him down.

Aizer sat in between Erika and Glenn his face was still filled with fear not knowing what could happen to them.

"Elaina is the next candidates ready?" Stella asked.

"Yes Ma'am!" Elaina answered.

"Aizer seems like you're up, good luck!" Glenn cheered.

Aizer was sent to a different group while Erika and Glenn were in the same, he felt uncomfortable with the ones he was paired.

"Release the demon" Elaina ordered.

They were all being watched by Commander Stella and a few laboratory staff members including a masked person who was sent by the directors.

As the demon was released it immediately charged towards Aizer who stood frozen in fear.

"Am I about to die here? Is this the end for me? Shit! Shit! Shit!"

"zer... Aizer! Get out of the way!" A man called out to him.

Aizer was still frozen and was only inches away from being eaten by the demon when he was pushed out of the way by the demon, He watched as the people who was paired with him slowly got eaten by the demon, their hands was trying to reach out to him.

Aizer slowly stood up and walked towards the demon with an Atria in his hand, the moment he got close he immediately stabbed its core he tried to keep stabbing it but it had already turned into dust, yet Aizer continued to stab the floor.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Aizer screamed while looking at the bodies of the dead.

Aizer walked out with his body covered in blood, he was greeted by Erika and Glenn with a smile but their face changed as soon as they saw his traumatized face.

*Present*

"That day I swore to myself that no matter what happens I'll protect Squadron with everything I've got" Aizer said as he tried to reach the sky.

"Is that the only time you've killed a demon?" Rei asked.

Aizer nodded before standing up.

"I'll go and kill some more zombies, you know what to do when the demon appears right?" Azier asked.

"Yeah"

Aizer left Rei and Erika who was still sleeping, Rei also stood up and looked at the dome of the south remembering what the commander had told them.

"That thing will collapse huh, I wonder how Nii-sans doing right now"

"Maybe he's worried about you" Erika suddenly spoke.

"Oh, your awake now" Rei said.

"Thanks for the coat... sorry I fell asleep on duty" Erika handed Rei's coat before standing up.

The two of them both stood beside one another looking on opposite directions.

"Erika have you ever thought of the reason that were at war?" Rei asked.

Erika was silent, she held to the sleeves of Rei's uniform. Rei looked at her only to see a horrified face, Rei looked at where Erika was looking at and saw it.

"I...It's... He....here" Erika stuttered.

The demon was smiling at them, its face was very different from the one Rei saw at the east, it was a creepy smiling face with only a red color to show its mouth and face. Rei was about to call the others when it suddenly vanished in a blink of an eye.

"You saw it too did you?" Erika asked.

Both of them were frozen and unable to move,

"What was that thing?" Rei asked.

The two of them looked at each other not knowing what they had just saw. Suddenly in the far distance outside of the walls a light suddenly struck down.

"The real demon is here" Rei said.

He immediately called the other and in an instant all of them except for commander Stella was standing at the wall.

"I can't really see it but I can sense it's presence" Elaina said trying her best to visualize the demon from a distance.

"The sun will rise soon, we stay here until the commander arrives" Glenn spoke.

[Chapter End]