Chapter 6: A Teacher's Lesson? [2]

Wyland promptly went out of bed as the door creaked open. First was confusion then a thought and afterwards a realisation happening in the split of a second.

Standing right in front of Wyland was Instructor Obrex.

Giving off an powerful aura of strength and confidence.

"Seems like there will be no need to break any of your bones Wyland. Go change yourself. You know the routine already."

Walking out of the room and waiting by the door, Obrex rose an eyebrow. He knew something was amiss. The Wyland he knew would've already tried to punch him in the face.

And even then, something else about Wyland just feels out of place.

He couldn't put a finger on what exactly, which annoys him.

Obrex took a glance at Wyland's direction.

First what Obrex noticed is, the somewhat embarrassed expression on Wyland's face. Then the clumsy like behaviour.

Usually Wyland would be done changing in no time but today he seems quite slow.

Nothing of rarity of course. Everyone has a lazy day.

But for Obrex this was the first time he saw Wyland in such a state.

"When you're done, follow me. We are going hunting."

"H-hunting?"

Wyland asked as he left the dorm room.

"Don't act so surprised. This isn't the first time."

"..."

It was a bit jarring for Obrex as to how Wyland is behaving.

The two waited a bit for the elevator to arrive, revealing it to be void of passengers. Going inside, Obrex pressed one of the the lowest button that will take them to the underground garage.

"..."

"..."

An awful silence falls between them. Only the ambience from the elevator music breaks the ice.

This was even more strange to Obrex. Wyland was supposed to be more talkative, even if all that comes out of his mouth were curses and a lot of complaining.

He finally comments on the very unusual behaviour coming from Wyland.

"You are acting so differently today. Was the white room too much for you?"

"I... can't really say... maybe..."

"What's that supposed to mean? It was a yes or no question."

"I'm sorry."

"Haah, alright. Let's make a deal then. I make sure you don't land inside the white room as punishment anymore and in return you'll behave. Sounds alright?"

"Yeah... alright."

That was the biggest red flag for Obrex. Reclusive, timid and co-operative were things he would never see from the Wyland Ountilov he knew.

Something really bad must've happened to him inside that white room but before he takes any drastic actions to investigate it and find out what it is, he'll take him out on a monster hunting trip first.

Just to be absolutely one hundred percent sure that Wyland isn't pretending. If he is just acting, then there is nothing to worry about. If not, Obrex is going to have a long bad time.

When they finally arrive inside the underground garage, the two stop at a blue SUV.

"Get inside."

Obrex said as he opens the drivers seats door. Wyland quickly followed his command and took the front seat.

That's when Obrex throws him a paper bag with something inside.

"Your breakfast."

"Oh, thanks."

By the time the car started and drove out the underground garage, Wyland curiously looked outside the windows while munching on a tasty sandwich.

He could see many familiar things he had seen yesterday but as the car drove further away from the dorm building and the surrounding futuristic hybrid district, Wyland could discern a checkpoint of some sorts at the front.

As they drove closer and closer towards the checkpoint, the buildings around them begin to take a more minimalistic appearance. Looking like big rectangular metal monoliths.

The architecture is clearly heavily influenced by brutalist designs.

Once at the checkpoint, large metal walls with flashing lights separated the area where Wyland was currently waiting, from the other side where he could glimpse through the checkpoint itself a more distraught looking district.

One of the security guards at the checkpoint, carrying a Vector-styled weapon, walks over to the blue SUV.

"Going out hunting again?"

"Yeah, there isn't much to do when I'm mostly just babysitting him."

Obrex points his thumb at Wyland.

Jeremy sneaks a apathetic glance before giving a hand signal to his buddy who presses a single button that lifts the hard plastic pole up. In other terms, the "boom barrier" or the "boom gate" lifts up.

"Roads open, no need for ID."

Obrex gives a nod as he drives through.

"Good hunting out there!"

Jeremy shouts.

This district was much dirtier and grimier than the one they left. Not as bad as slums or ghettos, but certainly not nice either. Every building are just brutalist designs in iron shells. However it was more populated and much livelier with people roaming the sidewalk.

Overwatched by cameras and police drones. Even active police patrols with boots on the ground.

The only one who is stunned to see all this, is Wyland. However, Obrex has already gotten used to seeing it. Stoically looking forward.

As they continue through the outer district, something becomes painfully apparent. Another larger metal wall with flashing lights, at least twice the size than the one from the checkpoint, stands at the far edge of the city.

They quickly passed through the large open gate of the city wall without being stopped by the guards as there were none present. Only watchful cold iron eyes of the cities security systems.

Beyond the city wall reveals a wide lush forest.

Both civilian and military transports swarm in and out of the city like ants.

About half an hour later, the two had reached a certain part of the forest, known to be a popular monster hunting ground for Irregulars.

Parking there, Obrex unloads three tools. Only needing to take one.

Which is a large and long spear-like weapon, heavily reminiscent of a jousting lance.

Dubbed after one of the Celtic mythologies spear weapon "Luin Celtchair", one of the very first prototype attempts for making a melee weapon specifically for Irregulars to use.

It was made by Ruden Corp's "4th Irregular Melee Research Lab" after the first Tedeum invasion had lost its initial momentum.

With two extra tools left, Obrex throws Wyland a modern bullpup assault rifle used commonly by regular UDF and UNIF personnel. Its design is heavily influenced by bullpup rifles.

Subsequently, Wyland was also handed a straight single-edged sword with a holster.

A sword with a on hit mechanism where a thin line of plasma is created around the edge of the weapon. Making it an excellent and popular weapon for UDF and UNIF melee units alike.

Certainly miles better than a combat knife due to its longer blade.

Though, only downside is the limited battery life to have the edge infused with plasma on each hit.

Only for Irregulars is the downside basically nonexistent, for as long as they have enough Capacity to recharge it of course.

For Regulars though, the sharp metal edge will do in a pinch.

Wyland strapped the rifle around his shoulder and the sword at the waist.

"Uhm, sir?"

"You calling me sir? Are you actually doing this on purpose?"

"Ah well uh..."

"I don't know whats up with you today, but you calling me sir is even creeping me out at this point. Just keep calling me Obrex."

"Yes si- I meant Obrex."

Obrex shakes his head and sighs.

"You know how this goes. Stay close to me and don't run off on your own."

The deeper they went into the lush forest dotted by boulders and rocks, the more the pleasant atmosphere diminished. Overgrown strange fauna and the very faint smell of death invades their noses.

Birds' chirping became more and more distant. The feeling of isolation struck Wyland the hardest.

From an unusually large rock formation in a small clearing, the scraping and panting of an animal can be heard.

They got closer to the sound.

When the sound made itself known, it jumped onto the largest rock.

An unnatural mutant animal looked down on the humans with its many eyes.

•••

Messy, greying brown fur and predatory eyes in 10 digits that move independently of each other. It takes the form of a wolf-dog hybrid. Yet it is so alien and large enough to rival lions that it would certainly never have evolved naturally on Earth.

Fletching and growling, reddish saliva dripped down through its sharpened teeths.

It stared us down at a elevated position, as if it was the apex predator here.

I had no words for what I saw. No words to describe my feelings. Everything felt heavy and slow, but my heart beat faster and faster. Cold sweat run down my back like ice.

My body already pumped itself full of adrenaline at the sight of it. All I could think of was how to outrun this monstrous beast. My hands shakily grabbed the bullpup assault rifle.

At that moment, more of these monsters appeared. They jumped on and ran around the rock formations.

It was a whole pack of them.

That is when panic overtakes me like a speeding truck.

...run!

...Run!

...RUN!

I turned to run for my life.

But someone stopped me in my tracks when a hand out of nowhere grabbed me firmly by the forearm.

"Calm down Wyland. This isn't your first time. Take a deep breath first."

He was calm, relaxed, his eyes were full of courage. His presence alone was inspiring. All my panic was washed away as if by a magic spell. But there was something else behind those fearless eyes.

The largest of the monster pack jumps down from its elevated position. Sprinting towards us at an incredible speed followed by the rest of the pack.

Even worse was that they were pretty close from the start. I had only couple of seconds to decide.

Without even aiming I raised my gun and fired from the hip.

Click.

I was shaking.

My gun didn't shoot. Was it a malfunction? Empty magazine? Prop gun?

Seconds were like minutes. My brain short circuited. I had no idea what to do.

I stared at the monster pack running towards me.

That's when my eyes blinked and saw a magical scene unfold before me. The largest monster shattered into ice.

Obrex was right in the thick of it and pulled his lance out effortlessly.

All the monster packs paused and backed away as their presumed alpha leader of the pack was slain with such ease.

He turned towards me and put the lance over his shoulder to rest as if this was a daily occurrence to him. He didn't even care that there were still monsters around.

I was speechless.

Then, the most puzzling happened.

His courageous and confident visage was wiped away instantly, warped fiercely frantic and the hinting trace of dreaded terror.

He was already trying to throw his lance in my direction.

...

...

The last thing I saw, was that the air around his Lance sparked with face melting fire.

The last thing I felt, a split second stinging pain, back in my head.

And the last thing I heard, roaring, explosive flames.