40 – Dissonant

Because the giant spider's leg was broken, we were able to catch up with it again. Ciara bumped into that creature, bringing it even higher into the sky.

"Let me control this bike, Ciara," I said. "You focus on cutting this monster."

"Roger that!" Ciara stood up just as I braked the bike. The monster then bounced off.

I spurred the bike again to approach the enemy while Ciara raised her sword. She then slashed that monster as soon as I brought this bike closer to that creature.

And we didn't do that cooperation just once. I kept approaching the monster from various directions, and Ciara continued to slash.

In a short time, the monster was reduced to small body pieces with thick white fluids.

"This time, we can do it relatively easily, Ciara," I muttered.

"Yeah." Ciara tucked her sword into its sheath. "Again, it is thanks to you, sir."

"Yeah, I just hope nothing bad will happen after this." I sighed, hoping this wasn't a sign that things were going to get worse.

Ciara took over the bike, then rode it down.

I then contacted Bonnie. "Are you okay? We have already managed to defeat that big ass monster."

"I'm okay, Axel. Liz is fine too." The tiny girl answered. "Our friends from the apartment were untying the cobwebs on my body. Even though I was wearing E.E.S, I felt my body was tied up in BDSM style."

"I'm glad you're safe." I don't care about her last words. "We will come to you soon."

"I'm glad Bonnie's okay too." Ciara joined in.

I was silent for a few moments.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second, Ciara?" I feel something bubbling in my feelings. "Please, slow down the bike. Don't go to Bonnie yet. I don't want her to hear this."

"Of course, sir." The super soldier reduced the speed of her hoverbike. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Can you guess the reason I asked so many people from that apartment to come here?" I feel uncomfortable saying this, but I think I have to. "And why did I choose to stay away from them? Yes, what I said was a lie. They really can't accept that strangers and stories of new residents who made the mess are true, but I was the one who asked us to be separated from them, not the other way around."

Ciara was silent for a moment, then responded. "I can guess the first question…. But after hearing you further, I don't know, sir."

"The monsters will be more interested in attacking large numbers of individuals." I was silent for a moment after saying that. "I don't want those monsters to attack us."

"As I said before, I'm not going to question the morality of your choice," Ciara replied without showing any hesitation. "I will obey your orders to the death."

"That's why I'm talking about this to you." If I were still in human form, I would have my heart beating fast and feel sick from this action. "I just want to let out what's in my chest…. I hope you don't mind."

"No, not at all." She looked down and smiled at me. "I will always be willing to hear how you feel, sir."

"Thanks."

***

We landed near Bonnie, Rayne, Greg, and Ben. I immediately found three bodies wrapped in cloth near them.

"If only our friends still held position and didn't run away, we won't lose them," Rayne complained, sitting on the ground without her helmet on and massaging her forehead. "Those cowards."

"We can't blame them. They did learn how to fight, but this is their first time." Ben chimed in.

"Didn't you see Bonnie earlier?" Rayne seemed to be even more agitated. "I'm sure she didn't have military training before, but she can fight well."

"Thank you for the compliment…." Bonnie grimaced. "But maybe that's because I'm wearing E.E.S. Otherwise, I don't think I could have fought them."

Rayne stared into Bonnie's face with an expression that seemed to say. "Really?"

"I apologize for not being able to lead them properly." Greg shook his head. "This is very unfortunate."

"I will have words with them." Rayne got up, then put on her helmet. "It's up to you guys to rest first or whatever. I'll bury them and go home."

"Before that, I want to talk to you, Rayne." I stopped in front of her. "But maybe I'm going to sound self-conscious because it has something to do with your house business."

Rayne folded her arms across her chest. "What is it?"

"This also applies to Greg." I looked at the leader of the apartment colony. "I just want to say. Instead of just blaming them, it's a good idea for you guys to make this moment a trigger for them to have a fighting spirit. Tell them not to let this incident happen again."

"Yeah, I agree." Greg nodded. "So they can have the courage to face adversaries in the future. Thank you for your insight, Axel."

"Well, that's common advice, actually." I noticed that Ciara glanced at me. "Nothing special."