It was already May, and the outbreaks were happening more frequently. Falcon Scott was relatively safe, but our team had been tasked several times with containing newly emerging ones—and, of course, with the ever-present duty of defending the siege capital.
"It's my win again," I said happily, pulling down my blindfold.
"I understand everything, but it feels like you know my next move before I even think about it," Veylen complained, having lost another game of chess.
"Hahaha! It's not that I know your next move—it's that you have no other choice but to make it. I lead the game in a direction where you can only react to my moves rather than dictate the tempo."
"But there are moments when it seems like I'm ahead, and then suddenly, everything turns around."
"Don't let a momentary advantage cloud your judgment of the bigger picture."
"I'll keep that in mind, sir."
"Yes, that's the spirit."
Suddenly, I had a strange feeling. I focused on my senses and detected several vehicles moving toward Falcon Scott at full speed—but that wasn't all. They were being chased.
"Report to Army Command—an unannounced convoy is approaching, and they're under pursuit."
"Saria, get Master Jet and Master Winter to the southern wall. The rest of you, get there immediately."
"Yes, sir!" they responded and moved quickly.
I rushed toward the gate to go out. I knew most of our ranged weapons and attackers wouldn't be able to shoot if the Nightmare Creatures were too close to the vehicles.
"Open the gate!" I shouted at the guards.
"But, sir—" the guard hesitated.
"NOW!"
Terrified, the guard obeyed, and I rushed out. The convoy was now close enough for the soldiers on the wall to see it.
Just as they were about to report it, my cohort arrived at the wall, followed shortly by Jet and Winter with their cohorts.
"How did he know they were coming?" Jet asked, turning toward my team.
"We don't know, ma'am. Captain has a strong sense of his surroundings."
"We can't shoot like this. They're too close together," Winter said.
I neared the vehicles and activated my Aspect ability. Suddenly, the soldiers in the convoy felt invigorated, while the chasing Nightmare Creatures seemed to slow down.
"DON'T STOP! YOU'RE TOO CLOSE!" I shouted and met the creatures head-on.
Thanks to [Death Trap], the abominations had already focused on me. I started moving sideways, away from the convoy, cutting down as many of them as possible.
"Okay, this is far enough." I thought, stopping to fight the Nightmare Creatures.
I was quickly surrounded, with monsters lunging at me from every angle.
"Hahaha, just like old times," I said aloud, taking my stance for Heavenly Hand of Defense.
Luckily, there was no Tyrant controlling them, so they were unaware of their surroundings. Because of that, it was easy to use them against each other—blocking one and throwing it into another to stall a side for a moment, then cleaving through multiple foes with White Tiger Crescent Moon, and simply hacking and slashing my way through with my sword.
At one point, projectiles began raining down on the creatures while avoiding me. Of course, that didn't last long—as I moved around, a few arrows hit me, but they weren't too bad. They barely scratched my armor, and where they hit exposed areas, my other Aspect ability healed me so quickly I almost didn't notice the wounds.
About an hour passed in battle. It seemed Army Command had decided against sending melee fighters, instead sticking to ranged support. It didn't make much difference—like this, all the Nightmare Creatures focused on a single target: me. That made them easier to shoot down.
[You have slain a Fallen Monster...]
[Your soul grows stronger]
Soul Fragments: [2947/6000]
"That was easier than I thought," I exclaimed, walking back toward the siege capital.