First Mission

Griffin Village or some people called it Samurai Village, a place where most people know how to use katana, and some of them even called a legend. This place is surrounded by trees, near the river, and full of wild animals and Outsiders. But even it's surrounding is dangerous, this is one of the safest places because most of the people here know how to defend themselves.

Early in the morning, me and my father practicing wooden katana.

I raise my wooden katana with my two hands and run towards my father. When I attack my father just dodge it and hit me in my stomach.

"Guh!"

*It hurts*

I always feel this pain whenever we practice.

"Greg", my father calls me.

"Yes father"

"Your weak"

Hearing it to your own father is more painful than hitting by wooden katana.

"But it's okay, if you continue practicing, you will able to fight those monsters and you might become the strongest."

I lighten up from hearing that.

"But there's something that lacks you."

*Lacks me?*

My father stares at me long before he speaks again.

"I see, you lack of will to win"

"Will to win?"

"Yes, you must have it on your heart. For that, you will always succeed in every fight."

"Yes, father"

"The person who doesn't have the will to win will always lose. That kind of person is weak. So Greg, my son, don't become like them. Understood?"

"Yes father"

Father pats my head and went back to his position.

"One more time, Greg"

I hold my wooden katana with my hands and runs towards my father. I swing my wooden katana on him but he immediately moves backward. He raises his wooden katana and swing to me before the wooden katana connect...

"Huh?"

I open my eyes.

*It's a dream.*

I sit on my bed and touch my head.

*Why I'm dreaming about that?*

I don't know why I have that kind of dream.

*Maybe because of Hiro.*

The guy named Hiro. When we fight, I can see he has potential but I can't see to his eyes the will to win.

I lean back on the wall.

*Does father is wrong because I almost defeated or maybe he's right because I win in the end?*

I think of the answer long but I couldn't.

I look at the window, it's already morning.

I stand up and go to the bathroom. I take a bath, brush my teeth, and went outside.

When I go down the stairs, I spot Hiro sipping a cup of coffee while watching Vinna practicing outside. It looks like he's enjoying it. I also saw the others coming this way.

"Yahoo! Morning Hiroro and Greg!", Ernesta shouted.

"Everyone", the Commander calls us.

We went to the meeting room. This is my first time coming here, maybe also for the two.

The Commander sits in front of the big table while we went to the chair in the side.

"Before we start, let's welcome our three new members."

"Yey!", Ernesta shouted

Ernesta pulls something on her uniform, it has a cylinder shape. She aims it at Hiro and she pulls the cap and it explodes right in front of Hiro's face.

It released colorful things inside and spread inside the room and Hiro's face.

"Hiro! Are you okay?", Vinna asked.

"Yeah, it just a party bomb. It won't kill me.", Hiro replies while his face is full of things that came from the thing called party bomb.

Hiro brushes his face.

"Ernesta", Commander glared at her.

"It's okay, Hiroro will clean this for us."

"Wait wh-"

"Ernesta"

"Okay. Hiroro and Vinna"

"Wait why I'm-"

"Ernesta", Commander calls her again.

"Okay. Me and Hiroro."

"Okay, let's continue."

"Wait how about me?", Hiro tries to protest but it's useless.

"It's okay Hiroro, I know you love cleaning, I'm just helping you out."

Hiro didn't speak again.

"Okay, for our next mission. Oh, this is your first mission for you three."

Commander pointed us three that sitting side by side.

"Okay, let's start."

She clicks something on her hand that makes the window close automatically. After that, there's an image appears on the wall. The image appears to be a map of the forest where the Headquarters is in the center.

"Base on the report, there are some Outsiders that detect on the South-West, three kilometers away from the Headquarters."

The image zoomed at the location that Commander talking about.

"So you want us to eliminate those.", Hiro asked.

"Yes. From the south of the location, there's a small town there. I want you to eliminate the Outsiders before in reach it there."

After she spoke, Ernesta stands on her chair.

"Okay guys, let's go!"

Before she goes outside, Commander calls her.

"Ernesta"

Ernesta slowly turns around to her.

"W-what?"

The Commander just stares at her without saying anything.

"Okay, okay, I will just get the broom. C'mon Hiroro we have to clean this place."

She grabs Hiro on his arm and pulls him.

"Ah wait-"

Hiro couldn't do anything.

After ten minutes, the two came back.

"Okay, let's go guys!", Ernesta shouted.

We start to walk away from headquarters.

________________________________________________________________________________________

After walking for almost forty minutes, we arrived at the spot where the Outsider appears.

I notice that Lulu has her doll with her.

"Hey, do you really always bring that doll with you?", I asked.

"Yes", she replied.

"Why? I mean, it can be a disturbance when we fight."

"Huh? What are you talking about?", Ernesta asked.

"Well, what I mean is-"

"Oh, I see. That doll has an amulet on it."

"Wait, what?"

"Yes"

Lulu shows the pentagon-shaped amulet on the chest of her doll.

"Wait? But amulet only attached on weapons right?"

"Huh?"

Ernesta scratches her head then pointed her finger at Vinna's hand.

I look at it, there's nothing strange.

"You really don't get it?"

"Uhm, no?"

*Wait?*

"Gloves are not weapons."

"Yes"

"I see"

*Did I really not notice or I just think that Vinna's gloves are a weapon?*

"Looks like our smart Hiroro can't notice anything huh."

"What's that even mean?"

I look up to Lulu and apologized.

"Uhm, sorry for disturbing you."

"No, it's okay."

She lowered her head.

*Looks like I scare her huh.*

We stop from walking.

"It looks like they not here.", Rick said.

There's no one here except us. No Outsider at all.

"Maybe they went back.", Ernesta said.

"Yeah, but we should check it first if they really went back.", Darius suggested.

"So, what's the plan?", Ernesta asked Darius.

*I wonder, why she's asking Darius even though she is a Vice Commander*

"Okay, let's split, I and Lulu will look to the south, Greg and Vinna to the west, and Ernesta and Hiro, you two to the east, and Rick stay here, look if something lurking around.

We split and take a look at our location.

After ten minutes of looking, we didn't find anything strange.

"Looks like they went gone huh."

We went back to our position.

"We should go back no-"

Before Darius can even finish his word, Outsiders appear in our sight.

"Wait what?"

"Darius, what's the plan?", Ernesta asked.

We already surrounded by them.

"Just like when we searching. Same partner, same location."

"How about the north?", Ernesta asked.

"Okay, I handle the north. Hiro, go with Lulu in the south and Ernesta go with Rick."

"Okay"

I run towards Lulu.

"By the way, Hiroro, stay from her when she uses her amulet."

"Huh? Why?"

"Just do it!", Ernesta shouted.

*Sighed*

"Well, it doesn't matter. Lulu, don't worry, I'll protect."

Lulu nodded.

The Outsider has a monkey figure with gray-skinned and blue lines on its two hands and feet. I just notice, their eyes are beautiful, they like the sky at the night.

*Wait, no time to amaze.*

The Outsiders start jumping on us.

I draw my two knives and slash the outsider in my front.

The others start also fighting them.

There are too many of them for me to defeat them.

"Uhm, Mr.Hiro"

"Yes?"

"Stay away please"

"Huh? O-okay"

I run away from her. Lulu hugged tightly her doll, the amulet in the doll light up. The outsider the five meters near around her, drop down for some reason.

"Mr.Hiro!", she shouted

I took the opportunity and stab them one by one the outsiders.

I walk towards Lulu.

"Hey, what did you do?"

"I make them sleep"

"Oh, I see"

*What a compatible skill for a kid*

________________________________________________________________________________________

On the west side of our location, me and Greg fighting the monkey Outsider. I slash every outsider the comes to me. They are fast and also annoying.

I look to Greg, he looks doing well. He dashed towards the three Outsiders and slash them at the same time.

While looking at him, there are some Outsiders appear on my left side. I hold tight of my sword and swing it to them, making them cut into two.

Next, I find Hiro, he looks doing well also.

The Outsider continues to multiply.

*This is bad*

"Greg, let's get back"

Greg nodded.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Vinna and I decide to get back to the group. As we run, more Outsiders appear in our sight.

I slash them one by one, the other one jumps on my back but before he could land, I thrush my katana on his neck.

They keep appearing and multiplying.

"Vinna, go back first."

"Okay"

As the Outsiders run, I dash towards them and slice everyone who gets near to me.

*I already kill more the ten but they keep appearing none stop.*

I decide to follow Vinna.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Lulu and I struggling as the Outsider keep attacking us. From 1 to 5 to 20. They keep appearing non-stop.

"This is not good. Hey, Lulu, you okay?"

"Y-yes"

*She's scared*

They keep attacking and I keep slashing whoever gets near to me. One Outsider jumps towards me and I thrust my knife to his stomach, it keeps struggling even though I stab it.

"Huh?"

There's more Outsider jumps towards me.

"This is bad"

I push the Outsider in my knife and block my head with my hands.

"Huh?"

*Nothing happens?*

As I look, there's a barrier in front of me.

*It's*

"It's made of wind."

"Sorry, this is the only thing I can do."

It's Darius who speaks.

He walks towards me but one Outsider jump on him.

"But"

He spins his staff and smashes it to the Outsider.

"I can still fight."

I can see the square-shaped amulet on the top of his staff.

"Huh"

Everyone is here.

"So what's the plan?", Ernesta asked.

"I don't know, they keep appearing", Darius reply.

"Hey, Ernesta"

"What?"

"I know is not the time for this but why you're asking Darius about the plan even though you are a Vice Commander?", I asked.

"To be honest, Darius is more like a leader than me. He always has a great plan and also a great leader."

"I see, but does the Commander know this."

"Who knows. Maybe it's better if not hehehehe"

I bring back my focus on Outsiders

We already cornered by Outsiders.

*This is not good*

This is my first time encountering this many. I don't have a plan for this, especially I don't know what my amulet capable of.

"So, what's the plan Darius?", Ernesta asked.

"I don't know."

He creates a barrier between us and the Outsiders.

"Let me think first."

"Hey, Hiroro, you should think also."

Ernesta poke me in my back.

"This is my first time doing this. I don't know what to do right now."

As I protest, I saw Lulu, she's almost gonna cry.

*Darn, I know it's not time for this but.*

I grab two candy in my pocket and give the other one to Lulu.

"You want some ?", I asked.

She nodded.

I eat the other one.

*Now, time to think.*

I remember our conversation when I interview by Commander and also the first time I encounter an Outsider.

"Hey, are you finish thinking?", Rick asked.

He keeps shooting Outsiders behind the barrier. It seems like you can't go inside but we can go outside whenever we want inside this barrier.

By the way, the way he shoots is really accurate. He hit every one of them in their head.

"Looks cool Hiro?"

"Huh? Yeah."

"My amulet called Precision Amulet, I can shoot precisely without any problem."

Showing his gun with a hexagon amulet attached to it.

"Yeah, it looks like."

*Huh?*

I look at his pistol and remember what I'm thinking back then.

"My barrier won't last any longer", Darius said.

We don't have time.

*Now I know what to do*

"Rick"

"Yes?"

"Lend me your gun."

"Huh? Do you really think I lend my precious gun to you?"

"Just give me the one who doesn't have an amulet."

"O-okay?"

He grabs another two guns and passes them to me.

"Stay inside the barrier."

"Wait, where do you think you're going Hiro?", Vinna asked.

"Don't worry, I have a plan."

I run outside the barrier and the Outsiders chase me.

"Hiro!"

After running a minute in the forest, I stop and Outsiders immediately surrounded me.

I exhaled.

"Well, it's not or never."

They start jumping on me.

"Please work!"

I close my eyes. After five seconds.

The Outsiders stops or should I say they move slower.

"It works."

My actual plan is to use the Outsider to activate my amulet, although there's a chance that it won't work, I still have to gamble in order to save them have no choice.

I hold the guns tight it starts shooting them.

After that, the time goes back to normal and the Outsiders drop to the ground. I already use all the bullets.

"I guess that's enough."

I look at the dead Outsider and think.

*Are they really an Outsider or did they only turn into Outsider?*

I don't know whether they came from another world or there's a virus spread that causes them to be like that.

Both are scary.

*I wonder, how many people died because of them?*

I remember suddenly what Greg said to me.

*Your weak*

Maybe Vinna is stronger than me and she didn't need my help, but if that's the case.

*Then, I will help the person who needs it most.*

"Hiro!", Vinna calls me.

Vinna running towards me, followed by the others.

"Woah! What happens here?", Rick asked.

"As expected of Hiroro."

Ernesta grabs my shoulder and smiles while giving me a thumbs up.

"Hey, how did you do that?", Rick asked me.

"Well"

*How should I explain this?*

"Come on, no time to explain. Let's go home, I'm tired and hungry. Shall we?", Ernesta request.

"Okay"

"Hiro, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm okay."

Ernesta still holding my shoulder.

"You really abused the kindness of your amulet aren't you?"

"I think so."

We went back to Headquarters and report what happened.