Arthur pushed his feet, rushing forward. His mates followed behind as the rain danced around them. A beast swept at Arthur but he vaulted over his hand. He pulled his katana and cut its shoulder. The beast screamed in pain but before it could react, Maple appeared in front of it. She pierced its heart, gripping her katana tightly. The monster froze and then its body went limp. She stepped on its body and jumped over, catching up with Arthur.
"Disperse!"
As Arthur shouted, his mates scattered. He rushed forward and pierced another beast. However, the beast didn't falter and struck Arthur. Arthur's face crumbled as he flew away. He caught himself and stood up. The beast was right in front of him. He frowned and pushed his blade forward, piercing its stomach. The beast froze and then fell. Arthur wiped his face and walked forward.
"Why can't they just be in the heart? Why the stomach also?" He complained.
Suddenly, he froze as a loud screech echoed throughout the battlefield. The entire unit and even the beasts froze, lifting their heads.
'No…it can't be.'
From the dark clouds, something broke through – a creature with grey skin, crimson eyes and wings like that of a bat. Arthur gritted his teeth.
"Air-types incoming! Stay clear!"
The unit moved before he finished his sentence. The flying monsters swept down with their talons but struck their own instead. However, the beasts who were struck did not die. Their flesh squirmed and slowly started to regenerate their head. Maple moved – striking down one beast after another. After a few minutes, she had wiped the beasts.
But she didn't stop there. She moved like a viper, piercing the hearts of her enemies but some did not fall in one strike. She pulled her sword and struck their stomachs, not giving them a chance to attack back. Then, she slipped on the mud and fell. She squirmed, trying to stand up and wiping the mud from her back. She then wiped her and continued forward.
"That was embarrassing…I hope Arthur didn't see it…" She muttered under her breath.
She shook her head sharply as a helmet fell beside her.
'What?'
She furrowed her brows and turned around, seeing a headless enforcer. He heart dropped and rage filled her mind. Maintaining her balance, she sped ahead and leapt onto the beast. She stabbed it multiple times in a fit of rage.
"Damn you…"
***
Harvey grunted and pierced a beast's heart. Another approached from behind but was struck with a backwards strike to the gut. The beast froze and fell, splashing onto the ground. He looked at the beast from a few moments before concentrating once again. He rushed forward and helped another enforcer who was being overpowered by another monster. He blocked its strike, pushing it back. He gripped his sword and rushed forward. The beast swung but was blocked. Harvey slid his blade along its claws and pierced its heart.
Another one fell.
He then heard a screech from the sky. Realizing an air-type chaos beast was swooping down, he pulled the other enforcer down with him. The monster's talons barely swept past them, ripping Harvey's clothes. He stood up and wiped his chest. Then, he turned towards the enforcer and opened his mouth.
"Are you okay?"
The enforcer flinched and stuttered. "Y-Yes, Mr. Harvey but…are you okay?"
"I'm fine. The beast didn't hit me hard."
He put his hand on his head and said in a fatherly tone. "Be careful next time."
He then shook his head and rushed into the heat of battle. with Maple as the enforcer looked at him with admiration – just long enough for a beast to cut him in half.
***
Kay cut a beast arm and the next second pierced its heart. He was with the majority of the unit, batting in the front lines. He panted and straightened his back. He swung his katana a couple of times as his breathing steadied. He bounced on his feet, warming up in the cold rain.
'I don't get how they can live in this cold."
He rubbed his hands together for a few moments and then stepped forward. He leapt and landed while crouching. He lifted his head and saw a beast right above. His face dropped as the monster's shadow covered his figure. As the rain stopped for a moment, his eyes widened. He gripped his katan and swung rapidly. Then, he sheathed his katana in a cool manner. The monster froze and then was cut into multiple slices.
Kay stood above the poor monster's corpse as he muttered in a low voice.
"Just my luck…"
He looked forward and saw his fellow enforcers battling. One of the fell at the beast's hand and his heart instantly fell.
'No…why?'
He bit his lip as he unsheathed his blade. He rushed forward and vaulted onto a beast – piercing its heart. Without pausing, he leapt onto another and cut it in half with his momentum. The beast's body fell in both direction but it didn't die. With trembling – adrenaline filled hands, he pierced its heart and cut its shoulder in one swift motion.
A maniacal smile formed on his face as he rushed forward. He sliced the beast like an animal, not caring about their blood covering him. His clothes melt from their corrosive nature as he finally stopped.
"IS THAT ALL YOU-"
Then, he slapped himself.
"Kay, chill. It's not serious."
Back to his senses, he didn't waste a moment, leaping into the heat of battle with immense fury.
***
Arthur sheathed his blade as another air-type beast swept at him. He ducked and avoided its talons. He frowned.
'Alright…time to end this.'
He held his finger like a gun, pointing its at the flying creatures. He aimed, locking onto his targets for a few moments. Then…he released a glowing which blinded him. As he opened his eyes, he could see the creatures remains falling from the sky like meteors. He smirked and fried again, hitting another. He did this for a while until all the creatures had fallen. He was exhausted by the end of it. He held himself on his knees while panting heavily.
Then, blood dripped from his nose. He froze and lightly touched his lips.
"Damn…I overused it."
He muttered as he wiped his nose. Then, Maple came up from behind.
"Arthur! Are you okay?"
"Yes…I'm fine. I just overused my attribute."
"You should be more careful. I'm worried about you y' know?"
Arthur raised a brow. "And why would you be worried about me, Maple?"
Maple froze and stepped back awkwardly. "I-It's – you're out captain! Why wouldn't I be worried? You're the most important to the unit. You're the lieutenant general and-"
Arthur waved his hand. "That's enough…I understand."
For some reason, he could feel butterflies in his stomach but didn't know why. And why was his face getting red? He shook his head, covering his feelings. Then, he heard the fragment rupture again as if it was on the brink of evolving.
"Is the containment circle ready. Amelia?" Arthur shouted with urgency as the fragment shifted.
"Yes, sir!" Amelia replied as she completed a circle with many shapes and which was written in ancient language.
He waved her hand and the circle stuck to the rift. The rift shook violently for a few moments, threating to rip the sky bur calmed down. The next second, it disappeared as if it hadn't existed.