Mutagen

Day 364 - 6:49 PM - Northwest Fields, 38th Satellite Settlement, Muria Sacred Fortress, Mount Muria, Kudus Regency, Central Java, Indonesia

The battle between the Moon Chasers and the [Infected] horde continued for several minutes.

Using the defensive line as cover, the initial barrage of bullets from the Moon Chasers halted the initial frenzied advance of the horde. The blood of the [Infected] began to taint the pitiful-looking crop field before them.

However, the firepower of the Moon Chasers was far lacking to maintain the initial momentum. With sheer numbers alone, the [Infected] horde advanced their ground, moving closer and closer to the defense line.

"What the hell is this?! They just keep on pouring out of the forest!"

A member's voice echoed among the continuous gunfire. As the person said, the [Infected] was like water from a dam suddenly pried open.

"If you have time to talk, you have more time to shoot! So, shut up!"

Another member reprimanded the first one. There was no time to chit-chat and complain. The enemies were gaining ground every second that passed.

"Two more armored ones! Incoming!"

One of the few members of Team Four present under Nelia shouted.

Team Four, led by Nelia, was the spotters and snipers of the group. Their weapons varied from light assault weaponry to snipers. While they were the ones with the most advantage in range combat, it was also the team where those with less close combat abilities gathered. With most of their members ordered to take over Team Six's task of guarding the Settlement, only the snipers were present in the defense line.

After hearing the report, two members of Team Six, led by Edge, dropped their machine guns and picked up rocket launchers. This team was clearly the heavy assault team of the Moon Chasers. However, they were also the defense team. They were not only armed with heavy weaponry such as machine guns and rockets, but most of them carried shields and bladed weapons. Unfortunately, rocket launchers and rocket shells were expensive. The team only had three RPG-7s with limited ammo for them.

The large armored [Infected] ran across the field and faced the two rockets fired.

BOOM!

One of the two armored [Infected] had its face and chest exploded. Unfortunately, rockets could be hard to aim accurately all the time. One of the rockets missed, causing a large explosion into the smaller members of the horde instead.

"Sorry! My rocket missed!"

The member that fired the rocket apologized.

"It doesn't matter!" Edge replied to his member. "Just load another one and fire!"

That was right. There was no need to apologize. While it might be a waste, such a situation was expected. Not all bullets would hit their target. That was how guns and gunfights mostly worked.

ROOOAR!!

Cheetah-like roars entered everyone's ears. A larger, shadow-like figure began rushing among the horde. It was a [Mutated Infected] running on all fours, with its body covered with black scales, armed with blade-like claws. There were four of them. The number was not that threatening, but the fact that they were running while among the other [Infected] made it hard to hit them.

The Moon Chasers kept track of the four mutated ones. Since these four ran faster, they would easily overtake the [Infected] in front of the horde. Once they did, there would be no cover to hide behind anymore.

And the Moon Chasers did as such.

BANG!

The snipers fired their rifles at the four. However, to everyone's surprise, the four [Mutated Infected] began running erratically, evading most, if not all, bullets that were supposed to hit them.

"Get ready for melee!"

Luna shouted, preparing to step forward with Bajing to intercept two of the four [Mutated Infected].

Nelia also aimed the new weapon she received from Mark. She was still confused as to how it would work without any bullet, but since it was a sniper rifle, it should work as such.

With Nelia's enhanced eyes, the movements of the four [Mutated Infected] looked slower. It would be no problem for her to take down the other two at the right moment.

But Nelia's eyes shifted to the back of the horde. She saw something glowing amidst the darkened area covered with trees. Her eyes widened as she saw several shambling [Infected], with glowing sacks of skin under their chin and on other parts of their bodies.

"Spitters incoming!"

Nelia shouted as she shifted her aim from the fast-moving ones to the ones she spotted.

And then, Nelia pulled the trigger.

"Huh?"

Nelia was suddenly confused.

Nothing happened.

It was just a momentary confusion as Nelia immediately replaced her weapon with the old sniper she had. She managed to dispatch three spitters in one go while the other snipers also joined in.

On the defense line, Edge stepped forward together with Luna and Bajing.

The four fast-moving [Infected] clashed with the three immediately.

Bajing and Luna dodged the sharp claws of the two they were facing. Luna was the first to end the clash, amazed by her upgraded weapon. Melfiss cut through the sharp claws like it was tofu, beheading the enemy in one go.

Bajing managed to kill hers too. However, she felt that her new daggers from Mark did not seem different from the regular daggers she used before.

On the other hand, Edge found himself in a predicament. Using the tower shield he got from Mark, he defended against the attacks of the two [Mutated Infected]. However, he also found out that he could not take the sword sheathed out of the shield for some reason.

"Damn it! I can't take out the sword! Someone help me with this!"

Edge cried out, causing Luna and Bajing to come to his rescue.

"What is happening? Is it defective?"

Luna asked Edge after killing the [Mutated Infected].

"Mine is also not shooting!"

Nelia shouted from the watch tower, informing them about the defect of the weapons Mark gave them.

"Mine also."

Limabela arrived, realizing her pistols also were not firing.

"Mine felt no different from a regular dagger."

Bajing also complained.

"WHAT IS THAT!"

A sudden shout from the members halted the conversation of the leaders.

The trees within the forest began to fall one after another. Everyone watched in surprise as they saw an almost three-meter-tall object come rolling out of the forest. It was like a giant ball.

Without pause, everyone shot the ball. However, the bullets got repelled by what seemed to be an armor-like shell covering its body.

Edge ran and picked up his rocket, firing it immediately. However, even the rocket posed no threat against the rolling metal-like ball. The explosion might have caused it to slow down, but it was still rolling towards the settlement.

The ball continued to roll, crushing even the other [Infected] on its path. Another two rockets were fired at it, but it did not make much difference like the first one.

"SH*T! Everyone get out of the way!"

Luna yelled as the ball soon arrived, crushing their wooden barricades without resistance.

There was no stopping the three-meter-tall ball, whatever it was. It would likely cause damage to the settlement, but they could do nothing about this strange thing.

However...

"I'VE ARRIVED!"

A small figure appeared before the rolling ball with a loud and lively shout. Held in her hands was a large hammer that exhibited a glow as lively as her voice.

Then, the little figure took a stance, swinging the war hammer larger than her onto the incoming ball.

CRASH!

The sound of the ball's armor getting dented entered everyone's ears. The hammer crushed through the armor, splattering the flesh of the [Mutated Infected] inside it.

And then...

"IMPACT!"

The little figure yelled mid-swing as her hammer exuded a strong pushing force, causing the remains of the crushed ball to fly back to where it came from.

Along the way to its return, the giant metal ball destroyed dozens of [Infected] before it crashed back into the forest.

"TEAM FOUR REPORTING FOR DUTY!" Ellie yelled while holding her giant warhammer. "We're done evacuating everyone into the bunker! I also left a few people to guard it!"

It was amazing how the small Ellie could have a louder voice than the continuous gunfire.

However, everyone's attention was not on her voice but the prowess she showed just now. There was no way they would not feel shocked. Ellie had just flung the unstoppable ball back to the forest, around more than two hundred meters away.

There was no way Ellie was that strong.

"How did you do that?"

Edge asked Ellie as they went back to their defensive positions.

However, instead of answering, Ellie posed her own question.

"Why are you guys not using your weapons from Mark?"

That question made Edge, Luna, Bajing, and Limabela look at Ellie's war hammer. It was much larger and grandiose than they remembered after Mark gave it to Ellie.

"Ours aren't working," Edge explained as he tried to take the greatsword out of the tower shield. "I can't even get the sword out of it."

"You guys didn't prick yourselves, already?"

Ellie asked, making them even more confused.

"What?"

The four could not help but voice out after they laid out their commands to their teams.

Ellie then leaned forward to Edge, looking at the shield and the sword sheathed in it.

"Here! Here! Flick the cover!"

Ellie said to Edge, pointing at something just under the hand guard of the greatsword.

Edge saw what Ellie was pointing at. It was what seemed to be a thin, moveable cover. It was something similar to the battery cover toys had.

As instructed by Ellie, Edge flicked the cover open, revealing a half-inch pointy needle inside.

"Prick your thumb on it!"

Ellie urged Edge.

"What?"

Edge said in confusion. It was not only him but also the other three with them.

"Are you people really weebs?" Ellie questioned harshly. "If you find a needle protruding out of a mysterious weapon, it's obvious what to do!"

The four were flabbergasted.

It was something common in Japanese and Chinese fiction. A magical weapon would need the blood of its new master to function.

"What are you hesitating for?" Ellie frowned. "Just do it!"

Ellie then grabbed Edge's hand and pushed his thumb into the needle on the sword.

Edge was surprised as he felt the sudden sting. His blood trickled down the needle as it unexpectedly retracted. He immediately pulled his hand away and out of Ellie's grasp to check his thumb, only to find no wound on it.

And then...

Edge entered a trance for a second or two.

"Edge? Are you okay?!"

Luna asked as Edge looked strange, only for her to suddenly step back.

CLANG! TSSSH!!!

Noises came out of Edge's tower shield. It suddenly expanded in a sci-fi-like fashion, revealing glowing crevices and decorations.

Edge went out of his stupor. The first thing he did was grab the handle of the greatsword. Then, he pulled it out without a problem, revealing a shining, silver-colored, one-sided blade with magical grooves and a majestic glow.

"This is amazing..."

Edge was at a loss for words.

"The giant ball is coming back!"

A shout interrupted the amazing sight.

The ball that Ellie stopped before was rolling back to them. However, it was rolling erratically, as parts of its armor were dented and broken. It would be possible to stop it now if they could shove an explosive at the broken parts of its armor. However, it would be hard to do so with how fast it was rolling.

Along the path, the ball crushed more of its horde. However, just like most [Infected], it did not care as long as it could attack the living humans.

"I'll deal with it again!"

Ellie immediately stepped forward. If she stopped it once, she could stop it again.

But to everyone's surprise, Edge stepped in front of her.

"I'll do it this time."

Edge said.

"If you say so."

Ellie shrugged and left.

Luna was worried, but Edge gave her an assured look.

In no time, the ball was rolling back at them. Worse, it was bouncing along the way because of its dented armor. The jumping giant ball would be harder to block than before.

However, Edge stood firm. He held his tower shield in front of him.

The giant ball gave its last bounce. Edge immediately ran to where it would likely land.

Edge inclined his tower shield, facing the falling ball. Then, spikes shot from the bottom of the tower shield, fixing it tightly to the ground. As everyone watched, the ball and the tower shield collided. However, upon impact on the shield's surface, hook-blades flipped out of the tower shield. The blades sliced through the ball's armor, even affixing it in place.

The ball was not just stopped. It was caught.

But Edge was not done. He stretched his right arm upward, holding the greatsword in his right hand.

"BURST!"

Edge yelled, and the greatsword expanded, showing holes on the opposite of its blade. The holes then spewed flames like a rocket, and Edge swung the greatsword at the momentum the flames gave.

SHING!

The sound of a swung sword could be barely heard. The next thing they saw was the giant metal-like ball getting sliced in half.