p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: large;"Chapter 20/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/span/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;" person (General)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What do you mean we can't go!?" Vanessa questioned, in an angered tone of voice. "We did what you said! We closed that Anomaly!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That was only a developing Anomaly. We need to see a whole Anomaly being close. One where an Erpel shows up." The Boss explained. "We wait until another shows up and we watch you handle it. We'll let an Anomaly fully develop if we have to."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That's too risky." Scharf spoke up. "We're not risking lives for your little research."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"This research will save lives." The Boss said. "We need a sample of it, and we need it ASAP."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Even if we did get one, how long would it take you to figure anything out about it?" Scharf asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As long as we need to. The sooner the better." The Boss answered. "Even if you have to do it without Bereit."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"But he's the strongest out of all of us. We can't do it without him." Vanessa pointed out./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Then you'll have to make-do." The Boss simply said, until he walked away. "We'll let you know when we find another Anomaly." He added, leaving the room they were in./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa groaned as The Boss left. "Ugh. You can never trust an organization."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Now, to be real, he only asks for one thing. Then after that, we're out of here." Imbir said. "The sooner we do it, the better, even as dangerous as it may be."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I get that, but... what about Bereit? He... he left us..." She said, looking down. "He was our leader."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"He wouldn't abandon you guys." Scharf spoke. "Like he said, he needed time alone. He'll come back." Even though he didn't know Bereit for long, he knew Bereit was that kind of person that wouldn't abandon his friends./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"With something like that to be revealed about himself, I'd imagine he would need time to take it all in." Zelkova suggested. "To be the very thing we're fighting."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit is not an Erpel." Fallen spoke up, sitting by the door. "He just hasn't been turned yet. By them. And we're not letting that happen."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Though, hypothetically, if he-" Vanessa was then cut off by Fallen shushing her./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Please... don't say it." Fallen said, as if she was begging her. /span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party stayed silent, for a good amount of time. No one had the enthusiasm to speak, after what had just happened. They were aware they didn't lose Bereit for good, but they just felt bad for him. And the idea of Bereit knowing what he was just told, they could only imagine what could be going through his mind./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"At least 2 hours had past, and the party was alerted of another Anomaly that had appeared. As previously done, they reported to the front gate, and left once more. Though, this time around, not so much excitement to help The Boss out./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Though, they were carrying some new equipment with them. Some grapple tools in large tubes. The party wondered what that was for, but Imbir knew what they were planning./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They went West from the base, the base mostly being East of Wuste, heading to the center of the desert lands./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They only had to deal with a hand full of monsters this time around, which was odd. It seems the Anomalies were scaring monsters away from the area. Though, they weren't going to complain. It would only make the trip to the Anomaly end sooner and it saved them the trouble of fighting the small fry./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We're near the Anomaly, sir." One of the soldiers said, their wrist electronics beeping./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Boss nodded. "Alright." He then turned to the party. "That's your queue. But we're there for support, should you need it."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah, we're aware." Scharf said, walking past The Boss. The Boss noticed that they weren't so friendly as they were before, but he was aware of what the problem was. Not that he cared. He just needed to see an Anomaly closing happen./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/span/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;" person (Scharf)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Scharf wouldn't consider himself familiar with this kind of practice, but he knew the gist of it. Erpel appears, they kill it, and then the Anomaly closes. Though, he had to admit, Bereit's absence wasn't gonna make it any easier./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So... I guess we should use a summon to get it done as soon as we can." Vanessa suggested./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It would be easier if I did. But I need to make sure what kind of Erpel we're going up against." Fallen explained./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Agreed." Imbir added, having a new gun in hand, it being a handgun, but this one having bullets made for physical enemies, not paranormal. This one that was a bit bulky, with a large barrel and big frame, but it surely wasn't for show./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As the party approached the Anomaly, they could hear something coming out of it. An echoing hissing, along with the sounds of claws digging into the hardened sands from below. They all drew their weapons, ready for whatever was coming out of there./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Slowly, three snake heads came out, and all of it attached to an Erpel's body. The body was typical, it having the scaly body, the wings, and legs. All three heads hissed at them, having fire slowly start in their mouths. It's whole body crawled out of the Anomaly, all three heads hissing at everybody, the fires growing more intense. The fires then shot out of their mouths, flying towards the party./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Incoming!" The Boss shouted, as they all ran away from the explosion./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As soon as the smoke and sand cleared, Vanessa drew her gun and shot at it, the bullets actually breaking through the scales. She hummed to herself. "This should be easy." She whispered to herself./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The other soldiers shot at the head, as their enchanted bullets were able to go through it's scales, but they didn't react to it as much as Vanessa's shots./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"One of the heads lunged at the soldiers, grabbing one by the arm and pulling him in./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Before it could even drag him near, Fallen came in with her ice glaive, as she then cut through the head, making the snake head let go of the soldier's arm, leaving him with a gaping bite mark on his arm./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen watched as the head went limp, dragging back to the other ones. "Go see Zelkova, he'll heal that for you." She instructed the soldier./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The group came back together, as they were ready to focus on the next head. But the head in the middle bit into the other, as it twitched for a moment, and it moved again, showing it was capable of bringing their heads back to life./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I heard of Hydras with regenerating heads, but that's just weird." Scharf said, aiming his sniper./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"A crazy idea, maybe if we cut the fangs or break them, they can make the heads work again?" Vanessa suggested./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It might not be the fangs that heal it, but it's worth a shot." Imbir said, aiming his handgun right to the Erpel./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I'll draw it's-" Fallen paused a moment, getting an idea. "Give me a minute. I have an idea." She said to them, but then back up and spun her staff, the ice surrounding it melting away. She then placed her hand on top of it, with the wings aimed at the ground, covering her the staff from the sun. The shadow of her hand then spread, as it then formed into Sylph./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sylph turned from Fallen, to see the giant Erpel. "Wait! You want me to fight that!?" She exclaimed, clearly scared./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No." Fallen clarified. "Just catch it's attention." She explained./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Erpel sighed in relief. "Oh... okay, I can do that." She said, happy that she wasn't going to be the bait. Sylph then rose in the air and made all sorts of shadow animals surround the Erpel. They all falsely attacked it, to distract it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"All three heads would bite and throw fire at the shadow animals./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The left head opened it's mouth to throw fire again, leaving it's fangs open./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir! The head to our right!" Fallen called out./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Just then, Imbir took aim, and shot at it, the bullet blowing off one of it's fangs, reacting with a pained hiss. He shot again, taking at least two more shots to hit the other fang./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The head turned to Imbir and shot fire at him, though it was a lot weaker than before./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir jumped away, avoiding the smaller blast of fire./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The other two heads were mainly lunging and biting at the shadow animals, the distractions working./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen figured they'd have to get creative to had it keep it's mouth open. Fallen then had an idea on what to do. "Imbir, you've got your bullets with you, right?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir nodded./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Do any of them make them..." She paused for a moment, trying to find the right word. "Make them dizzy?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir nodded again, as he reached in and pulled one out that was a faded white. He twisted it, held it in his hand for a moment. "Shield your eyes and look away." He warned. He then threw it, everyone turning away heard the loud blast and flash of the bullet-turned-grenade./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked, to see the two heads were hissing and moving frantically, biting at every direction. Fallen formed her ice glaive again then ran to it. She brought her glaive down and then swung it up, piercing the bottom of it's jaw, and sank to the top of it's mouth. It kept it open, leaving it vulnerable. "Scharf, you're up!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Scharf aimed his sniper and blew the fang right off, as he then shot the other fang off. And to top it off, he shot where the brain would be, killing that head./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The last head, being on the right, turned to the dead head in the middle, opening it's mouth to bite into it, but Vanessa fired as fast as she could, breaking both fangs with a single shot./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Alright, let's finish it off!" Fallen declared, as she then charged at it, cutting right through the head. The other one threw fire at her, but she jumped away and threw her glaive at it, piercing it's head./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The head to the left looked at Fallen and started charging fire once more, but Imbir and Vanessa shot at the same time, their bullets blowing through the scales and out the other end of it's head./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The last head gave one last loud hiss, until all three heads were silent. The heads hit the ground, falling limp./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Grapples!" The Boss called out, as the other soldiers placed claws in the sands, loud stirring noises coming from them, then they shot claws at the Erpel./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Anomaly then began to have the strong pull like it always does, the party having backed up so they wouldn't have to hold on or worry about getting sucked in. It only took a few seconds for the Anomaly eventually closed up, their surroundings being complete silence./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Scharf sighed, stretching. "Well... mission accomplished." He then turned to Fallen. "And you handled everything pretty well, for a Summoner."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What's that suppose to mean?" Fallen asked, not knowing what he meant./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well, Summoners aren't the greatest fighters. And as for leadership, you lead us to victory." He explained. "In simpler terms, I'm impressed."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Umm... thanks?" Fallen said, not sure how to feel about what he said./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You're welcome." He replied, with a small smile./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I am impressed as well. You lead us as if you were the leader. Perhaps Bereit can learn a thing or two." Zelkova commented./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen shook her head. "I'd never reach his level of leadership." Fallen said, being modest. "He lets us do what we want during a fight. I was a bit too demanding." She felt like she had to explain herself, not wanting them to get the wrong idea./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So? Sometimes you need to do a little leading to survive. And you did it just fine." Vanessa said, with an assuring smile./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Boss then approached them. "There. You kept your end of the bargain, now we keep ours."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What?" Vanessa asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You got us a sample. Hell, we have a full Erpel we can inspect back at base. Though..." He turned to the new claimed Erpel. "Getting it inside will be a problem. Other than that, this victory will save lives. And certainly give us information on these Erpels." The Boss explained./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party was silent, thinking that his explanation wasn't over just yet./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And, since you did us a service, if you ever need backup, or anything we can do to help you, just give a call." He said, as he then handed Fallen a small device, that had a speaker, and some coloured buttons./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked at him, not sure if she should have this. She wasn't up to speed with technology. But she nodded, just to show appreciation. "Thank you." She said, as she then turned to the others. "Well, let's go find Bereit. He can't hide from us forever."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party agreed, as they set off to find him. Though, Imbir went back to the fortress, to see his weapon getting only a minor upgrade. His gun got the kind of upgrade where it's barrel got an enchantment where the bullets would have a slight damage to anything paranormal./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"With that, Bereit was only moments to being found once again. The question was, where was he?/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Save your game up to this point?/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yes/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/span/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;" person (General)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What do you mean we can't go!?" Vanessa questioned, in an angered tone of voice. "We did what you said! We closed that Anomaly!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That was only a developing Anomaly. We need to see a whole Anomaly being close. One where an Erpel shows up." The Boss explained. "We wait until another shows up and we watch you handle it. We'll let an Anomaly fully develop if we have to."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That's too risky." Scharf spoke up. "We're not risking lives for your little research."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"This research will save lives." The Boss said. "We need a sample of it, and we need it ASAP."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Even if we did get one, how long would it take you to figure anything out about it?" Scharf asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As long as we need to. The sooner the better." The Boss answered. "Even if you have to do it without Bereit."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"But he's the strongest out of all of us. We can't do it without him." Vanessa pointed out./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Then you'll have to make-do." The Boss simply said, until he walked away. "We'll let you know when we find another Anomaly." He added, leaving the room they were in./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa groaned as The Boss left. "Ugh. You can never trust an organization."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Now, to be real, he only asks for one thing. Then after that, we're out of here." Imbir said. "The sooner we do it, the better, even as dangerous as it may be."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I get that, but... what about Bereit? He... he left us..." She said, looking down. "He was our leader."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"He wouldn't abandon you guys." Scharf spoke. "Like he said, he needed time alone. He'll come back." Even though he didn't know Bereit for long, he knew Bereit was that kind of person that wouldn't abandon his friends./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"With something like that to be revealed about himself, I'd imagine he would need time to take it all in." Zelkova suggested. "To be the very thing we're fighting."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit is not an Erpel." Fallen spoke up, sitting by the door. "He just hasn't been turned yet. By them. And we're not letting that happen."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Though, hypothetically, if he-" Vanessa was then cut off by Fallen shushing her./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Please... don't say it." Fallen said, as if she was begging her. /span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party stayed silent, for a good amount of time. No one had the enthusiasm to speak, after what had just happened. They were aware they didn't lose Bereit for good, but they just felt bad for him. And the idea of Bereit knowing what he was just told, they could only imagine what could be going through his mind./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"At least 2 hours had past, and the party was alerted of another Anomaly that had appeared. As previously done, they reported to the front gate, and left once more. Though, this time around, not so much excitement to help The Boss out./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Though, they were carrying some new equipment with them. Some grapple tools in large tubes. The party wondered what that was for, but Imbir knew what they were planning./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They went West from the base, the base mostly being East of Wuste, heading to the center of the desert lands./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They only had to deal with a hand full of monsters this time around, which was odd. It seems the Anomalies were scaring monsters away from the area. Though, they weren't going to complain. It would only make the trip to the Anomaly end sooner and it saved them the trouble of fighting the small fry./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We're near the Anomaly, sir." One of the soldiers said, their wrist electronics beeping./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Boss nodded. "Alright." He then turned to the party. "That's your queue. But we're there for support, should you need it."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah, we're aware." Scharf said, walking past The Boss. The Boss noticed that they weren't so friendly as they were before, but he was aware of what the problem was. Not that he cared. He just needed to see an Anomaly closing happen./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/span/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;" person (Scharf)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Scharf wouldn't consider himself familiar with this kind of practice, but he knew the gist of it. Erpel appears, they kill it, and then the Anomaly closes. Though, he had to admit, Bereit's absence wasn't gonna make it any easier./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So... I guess we should use a summon to get it done as soon as we can." Vanessa suggested./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It would be easier if I did. But I need to make sure what kind of Erpel we're going up against." Fallen explained./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Agreed." Imbir added, having a new gun in hand, it being a handgun, but this one having bullets made for physical enemies, not paranormal. This one that was a bit bulky, with a large barrel and big frame, but it surely wasn't for show./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As the party approached the Anomaly, they could hear something coming out of it. An echoing hissing, along with the sounds of claws digging into the hardened sands from below. They all drew their weapons, ready for whatever was coming out of there./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Slowly, three snake heads came out, and all of it attached to an Erpel's body. The body was typical, it having the scaly body, the wings, and legs. All three heads hissed at them, having fire slowly start in their mouths. It's whole body crawled out of the Anomaly, all three heads hissing at everybody, the fires growing more intense. The fires then shot out of their mouths, flying towards the party./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Incoming!" The Boss shouted, as they all ran away from the explosion./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As soon as the smoke and sand cleared, Vanessa drew her gun and shot at it, the bullets actually breaking through the scales. She hummed to herself. "This should be easy." She whispered to herself./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The other soldiers shot at the head, as their enchanted bullets were able to go through it's scales, but they didn't react to it as much as Vanessa's shots./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"One of the heads lunged at the soldiers, grabbing one by the arm and pulling him in./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Before it could even drag him near, Fallen came in with her ice glaive, as she then cut through the head, making the snake head let go of the soldier's arm, leaving him with a gaping bite mark on his arm./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen watched as the head went limp, dragging back to the other ones. "Go see Zelkova, he'll heal that for you." She instructed the soldier./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The group came back together, as they were ready to focus on the next head. But the head in the middle bit into the other, as it twitched for a moment, and it moved again, showing it was capable of bringing their heads back to life./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I heard of Hydras with regenerating heads, but that's just weird." Scharf said, aiming his sniper./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"A crazy idea, maybe if we cut the fangs or break them, they can make the heads work again?" Vanessa suggested./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It might not be the fangs that heal it, but it's worth a shot." Imbir said, aiming his handgun right to the Erpel./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I'll draw it's-" Fallen paused a moment, getting an idea. "Give me a minute. I have an idea." She said to them, but then back up and spun her staff, the ice surrounding it melting away. She then placed her hand on top of it, with the wings aimed at the ground, covering her the staff from the sun. The shadow of her hand then spread, as it then formed into Sylph./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sylph turned from Fallen, to see the giant Erpel. "Wait! You want me to fight that!?" She exclaimed, clearly scared./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No." Fallen clarified. "Just catch it's attention." She explained./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Erpel sighed in relief. "Oh... okay, I can do that." She said, happy that she wasn't going to be the bait. Sylph then rose in the air and made all sorts of shadow animals surround the Erpel. They all falsely attacked it, to distract it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"All three heads would bite and throw fire at the shadow animals./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The left head opened it's mouth to throw fire again, leaving it's fangs open./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir! The head to our right!" Fallen called out./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Just then, Imbir took aim, and shot at it, the bullet blowing off one of it's fangs, reacting with a pained hiss. He shot again, taking at least two more shots to hit the other fang./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The head turned to Imbir and shot fire at him, though it was a lot weaker than before./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir jumped away, avoiding the smaller blast of fire./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The other two heads were mainly lunging and biting at the shadow animals, the distractions working./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen figured they'd have to get creative to had it keep it's mouth open. Fallen then had an idea on what to do. "Imbir, you've got your bullets with you, right?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir nodded./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Do any of them make them..." She paused for a moment, trying to find the right word. "Make them dizzy?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir nodded again, as he reached in and pulled one out that was a faded white. He twisted it, held it in his hand for a moment. "Shield your eyes and look away." He warned. He then threw it, everyone turning away heard the loud blast and flash of the bullet-turned-grenade./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked, to see the two heads were hissing and moving frantically, biting at every direction. Fallen formed her ice glaive again then ran to it. She brought her glaive down and then swung it up, piercing the bottom of it's jaw, and sank to the top of it's mouth. It kept it open, leaving it vulnerable. "Scharf, you're up!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Scharf aimed his sniper and blew the fang right off, as he then shot the other fang off. And to top it off, he shot where the brain would be, killing that head./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The last head, being on the right, turned to the dead head in the middle, opening it's mouth to bite into it, but Vanessa fired as fast as she could, breaking both fangs with a single shot./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Alright, let's finish it off!" Fallen declared, as she then charged at it, cutting right through the head. The other one threw fire at her, but she jumped away and threw her glaive at it, piercing it's head./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The head to the left looked at Fallen and started charging fire once more, but Imbir and Vanessa shot at the same time, their bullets blowing through the scales and out the other end of it's head./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The last head gave one last loud hiss, until all three heads were silent. The heads hit the ground, falling limp./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Grapples!" The Boss called out, as the other soldiers placed claws in the sands, loud stirring noises coming from them, then they shot claws at the Erpel./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Anomaly then began to have the strong pull like it always does, the party having backed up so they wouldn't have to hold on or worry about getting sucked in. It only took a few seconds for the Anomaly eventually closed up, their surroundings being complete silence./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Scharf sighed, stretching. "Well... mission accomplished." He then turned to Fallen. "And you handled everything pretty well, for a Summoner."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What's that suppose to mean?" Fallen asked, not knowing what he meant./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well, Summoners aren't the greatest fighters. And as for leadership, you lead us to victory." He explained. "In simpler terms, I'm impressed."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Umm... thanks?" Fallen said, not sure how to feel about what he said./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You're welcome." He replied, with a small smile./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I am impressed as well. You lead us as if you were the leader. Perhaps Bereit can learn a thing or two." Zelkova commented./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen shook her head. "I'd never reach his level of leadership." Fallen said, being modest. "He lets us do what we want during a fight. I was a bit too demanding." She felt like she had to explain herself, not wanting them to get the wrong idea./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So? Sometimes you need to do a little leading to survive. And you did it just fine." Vanessa said, with an assuring smile./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Boss then approached them. "There. You kept your end of the bargain, now we keep ours."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What?" Vanessa asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You got us a sample. Hell, we have a full Erpel we can inspect back at base. Though..." He turned to the new claimed Erpel. "Getting it inside will be a problem. Other than that, this victory will save lives. And certainly give us information on these Erpels." The Boss explained./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party was silent, thinking that his explanation wasn't over just yet./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And, since you did us a service, if you ever need backup, or anything we can do to help you, just give a call." He said, as he then handed Fallen a small device, that had a speaker, and some coloured buttons./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked at him, not sure if she should have this. She wasn't up to speed with technology. But she nodded, just to show appreciation. "Thank you." She said, as she then turned to the others. "Well, let's go find Bereit. He can't hide from us forever."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party agreed, as they set off to find him. Though, Imbir went back to the fortress, to see his weapon getting only a minor upgrade. His gun got the kind of upgrade where it's barrel got an enchantment where the bullets would have a slight damage to anything paranormal./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"With that, Bereit was only moments to being found once again. The question was, where was he?/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Save your game up to this point?/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yes/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No/span/span/p