Chapter 26

September 4, 2014, Fifth day, Supposedly 8:03 a.m. Thursday Earth time

As Grey woke up and check his watch he was on a positive note, knowing he still have two days, Grey wondered what was happening in the outside world, seven fans might be a short time separated from his sister and friends but in this unknown mountain he has already spent a month adapting and surviving, so as he says up Grey forgot he was on top of the Mountain Butte, the long rest was worth every single minute as he saw the entire area surrounded by a mysterious fog, he was hoping to gain information on was was his current location, and view sutter buttes that his family have live on for many generations.

Grey was now only seeing a fog encircling and covering the area going up and blending into the open sky, vast land that the elves were calling home and a different realm by itself, he was now completely sure that this was another supernatural phenomenon that nobody in the world has able to anticipate,

Grey was never the questioning type, but this was when his parents were still alive and well, the Chevalier family were always consistent, they will never change their ways especially if it doesn't need to change,

like what their grandfather would always say,

"If it's not broken. why fix it!"

he was confused and gland at the same time, but he has the type of person who always moves forward, Grey this was just another situation he has to overcome, the fear of change was never an issue to him, but not having a reason was upsetting him, in his mind everything that has happened and continues to happen was forced upon humanity, but Grey also know that many people who were belligerent and arrogant and stupid will do anything just to start chaos and make themselves feel special,

History speaks for itself, seeing the world go into a drastic change was not easy, but this was the reality he have to live in now, their small quiet home was ignorant to the harsh social settings of the rest of the world, he just wanted to now know why among countless people around the world, why did their parents have to be the ones who must die in a situation were it was created and orchestrated by somebody else,

and now after many days, he was sure, who or whatever started this chaotic change was still not yet finished messing with mankind's reality, as Grey climb down from the hammock above the tree line that was on top of the highest flat land on the mountain butte, he saw from the distance a few individuals slowly coming towards him and were wearing clothing that was meant for battle,

the one leading the rest was emanating an aura that was far stronger than the rest, he was carrying a spear and a sword on his waist, while the others were holding swords and large shields able to cover the entire body, their body was covered by armour to protect vital parts but was fashion so their movements won't be hindered at anyway, Grey assumed they were nimble and agile, the more they were wearing were thin but has that sturdy loo, a certain shine of elegance reflects on their metallic protection, their faces were covered but it doesn't block their vision not dampen their capability to breath normally,

The arrows on their quiver that were on their backs meant they also fought at long distances, they were fully equipped for war, and as Grey prepared his weapons, he was able to see that as the seven warriors came closer, they were more bound, walking as they rested a few meters away from their backs. May four dozen more warriors march toward his location. Grey's heart raced as he observed the approaching warriors. The sight of their sheer numbers filled him with a mix of anticipation and puzzlement thinking he made a foolish act in entering their domain and believing he just did what a normal person would do to find answers.

He knew that facing such a formidable force would require strategic thinking and quick reflexes. As he tightened his grip on his weapons, Grey's mind raced with plans to outsmart and outmanoeuvre the oncoming warriors, ready to defend himself and protect his allies at all costs. realizing that he was vastly outnumbered. and nowhere to go but to face them head-on was his only option,

Grey could only depend on his equipment and weapons in this kind of scenario, knowing that his skills alone would not be enough to overcome the overwhelming odds. He carefully assessed his arsenal, ensuring that each weapon was in optimal condition and ready for battle. Additionally, he mentally reviewed his training, recalling every tactic and technique he had learned to maximize his chances of survival. This must be the Guardians protecting their territory. Many things rushed into his mind; this situation was different from killing ghouls and monsters that came at him with malice and hate. The marching army was not giving off any bloodlust; they were calm and collected,

Grey understood the hard reality of being a soldier serving under a leader. Certain faiths and morals tend to question the motives of their leader's commands. Many wars were started by misunderstanding and foolishness. Did he make a mistake coming here because he wasn't prepared to take a life if they were just protecting their family and loved ones? To them, he was the intruder and a trespasser, and believing he was none of those was an arrogant mindset that ruined many opportunities to understand the perspectives of others. However, as time went on, he began to realize that the complexities of war often blurred the lines between right and wrong. The experiences he encountered on the battlefield forced him to confront his own beliefs and challenge the notion of absolute righteousness in a conflict-driven world.

This belief will now be tested; he can afford to lose, and he now knows this was also running through their minds. He understood that his previous arrogance had hindered his ability to truly empathize with others, and he vowed to approach future interactions with humility and an open mind. He recognized that to find common ground and work towards a resolution, it was essential to listen and consider different perspectives, even if they challenged his own beliefs.

But this time killing the enemy would destroy any chance for him to gain answers, so he wanted to incapacitate the enemy and leave them wounded and try his best not to kill any of the elven warriors that he also knew wouldn't hesitate to follow their orders to kill him where he stood, even though it meant putting himself at greater risk. He understood that by showing restraint and compassion, he could potentially create an opportunity for dialogue and understanding, ultimately leading to a resolution that didn't involve further bloodshed. He believed that by challenging the cycle of violence, he could pave the way for more peaceful coexistence between their two factions.

As soon as they reach a certain distance the one in the middle stepped forward and stood there waiting, as Grey was still preparing, Grey remove the weight on the Exo suit to make himself lighter, and nearly place his bag on the ground and took out his retractable spear and his tactical knife that he tied two feet of climbing rope on its handle so he could retract the weapon if he accidentally drops it on the ground, he still has the others hidden weapons but he must try his best not to give away his hidden trump cards until the very last moment, unlike hunting the group of Viles before, he was able to use his surrounding to kill the target one by one,

This time, he was standing on top of an open landscape that could kill him if he made the wrong move and fell from where he was now. He considered all of the factors, including the fact that the air was thin and it was going to be hard to move freely. looking at how they stood motionless means they had already adjusted their bodies to the lack of oxygen and were prepared for the challenges of the environment. He knew he had to strategize carefully and rely on his skills to outsmart his opponents on this high-altitude battleground.

September 4, 2014, Fifth day, Supposedly 8:05 a.m. Thursday Earth time

Grey was a few meters away from the groove trees where he rested, and it was the only place he could gain cover if they wanted to bombard him with multiple arrows, but going there was also a strategic disadvantage because it was near the mountain edge, so running toward the enemy as soon as they fired their arrows up in the air was his reasonable but crazy choice.

The adrenaline surged through Grey's veins as he weighed his options. He knew that if he stayed where he was, he would be an easy target for the enemy's arrows. However, charging towards them meant not risking an accidental fall off the treacherous mountain edge, but running toward the enemy meant offering himself right into the jaws of death,

with no guarantee of survival. Despite the hesitation coursing through his body, Grey's mind was now set on self-preservation, outweighing any rational thoughts. He took a deep breath, tightened his grip on his weapon, and sprinted towards the enemy, ready to face whatever fate awaited him.

As soon as he stepped forward, the rows of elven soldiers took out their bows and arrows and aimed into the air at a known angle, as countless arrows flew upward in a trajectory that seemed to blot out the sun. Grey's heart pounded in his chest as he dodged and weaved through the barrage, his instincts guiding him towards the enemy with blinding speed and agility, The deafening sound of arrows whistling past him only fueled his determination to reach his objective, pushing him further into the chaos of battle.

He was running at a very low posture, holding his weapons, he dodged and stumbled t to evade the falling arrows in the sky, Grey doesn't have the leeway to stop moving, Grey was able to reach the seven high-rank leaders, but as soon as he swung his weapon, six heavy, large shields blocked his way. The force he gave was strong enough to shatter the first shield, but his retractable spear got stuck on the second one, Grey has to adjust and use the impact to push the two elves holding the shield back. As they lean backwards, Grey immediately jumped over the shield, gained a foothold on the broken one,

and gained a foothold on the broken one and leapt inside their formation, catching them off guard. With his agility and precision, Grey swiftly incapacitated two more elves before they could react, creating a temporary opening in their defence. Seizing the opportunity, Grey quickly stabbed the nearest soldier with his knife in the body, where there was no armour covering him, causing him to collapse in pain. Grey was using all available angles at his disposal, but he could still feel the strikes coming from the enemy, it was heavy and fast. Luckily, with the upgraded and infused material on the gear, he was able to protect him from a fatal strike, but it was still inflicting damage, making him increasingly vulnerable as the battle continued. Despite the pain, Grey remained focused, strategizing his next move to outmanoeuvre his opponents and find a way to turn the tide in his favour.

The fourth Elven soldier was able to parry and break his knife. Grey was stabbed twice in the arm and shoulder, but with the help of the Exo suit, the wound was not deep, and he was able to give out a counter punch as he leaned down and gave the fourth Elve a liver hook punch, followed by a roundhouse kick in the chest.

Grey saw the incoming strike from the third and seventh soldiers, and without a bladed weapon, he used the remaining part of the knife that was still tied toward his lean down and gave the Fourth Elve a liver hook punch, followed by a roundhouse kick in the chest,

Grey saw the incoming strike from the third and fifth soldiers. Without a bladed weapon, he used the remaining part of the knife that was still tied toward his arm and use it as a whip, cracking it against the soldiers' legs, causing them to stumble.

Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, Grey swiftly disarmed them and incapacitated them with a series of well-placed strikes. like a tiger, Grey was proficient in close-quarter fights and knew the remaining soldiers would not attempt to follow up on the attack because this might endanger their teammate in the process. So they had to wait for an opening as Grey mauled the fallen enemy as fast as he could.

but a strike as his side was sharp and fast, was able to wound him with a 6-inch cut and a 2-cm-deep cut. Despite the injury, Grey maintained his focus and continued to defend himself with precision. His years of training had taught him to push through pain and stay alert amid battle. As he fought on, he strategized how to turn the tide of the confrontation in his favour, knowing that every move counted in this life-or-death situation.

As the remaining elves regrouped and tried to retaliate, Grey skillfully parried their attacks and swiftly dodged their strikes, keeping them at bay. With each precise movement, while he used his hand to navigate, medically stapling his wound as he moved,

Grey continued to dismantle their defence, leaving the elves bewildered and vulnerable. Grey's years of training and experience in combat allowed him to anticipate their every move, exploiting their weaknesses with calculated precision. As the battle raged on, he could sense the elves growing weary and disheartened, their morale slowly crumbling under his relentless assault.

September 4, 2014, Fifth day, Supposedly 8:10 a.m. Thursday Earth time