Stefan: I have to say I can't be bothered to get a driving license but having someone else who can just drive you places is awfully convenient. I have to thank Hanes for it somehow when we finish this.
I guess I could ask him what his favorite food is and make it. Oh but then it wouldn't be a surprise , I wonder if Saber knows. Anyway so that is what is happening right now. Me, Hanes and Adam are going on a trip to a Serbian village in mountains because according to our government connections it's been taken over by some weird creatures. They do not seem to be trying to expand so for now government is just quarantining the area. How noble of them. Making sure no humans can run away and spread the bad news. I am guessing they also are jamming the signals inside so we won't be able to contact the base and will only be able to talk to each other. At least there is 3- well 6 of us, tho one didn't introduce themselves yet, so I won't be lonely.

Hanes: "So how are we going to infiltrate the quarantine?"

Stefan:A natural question. One I was expecting to hear earlier honestly. Tho i'm not sure if Hanes will like the answer. "We'll stop when we arrive at the spot GPS is leading you to. It's close to the military road block and close to a forest. We'll use the forest to sneak in. I'll lead with you and Adam following me. Well you will have to be carried by Fiore to keep up but yeah."

Hanes then let's out a sigh.

Stefan:I understand it buddy I really do. It was embarrassing just having him catch you back when base was attacked so it will probably be much more embarrassing having him princes carry you trough forest but there is no other way.

Fiore:"Don't worry partner. I'm gonna be so gentle you will feel like a bride being carried into her new home "

Stefan: And Saber deals out a finishing blow to Hanes's pride. It's a miracle he isn't protesting but I guess he understands the situation.

Hanes:"We're there." Hanes says with stoic voice even with his shattered pride.

Adam:"Ok park a bit off the road and in the forest there."

Stefan:Hanes does as he is told and we leave the car. Our servants besides Saber are in spirit form since having them in physical form will just make sneaking in harder. And so we start moving. I jump up on a closest tree and Adam copies me. Hanes however-

Hanes: "Oh dear God." I slowly get into Fiore's arms who seems incredibly entertained by this, and then he jumps up.

Stefan: After that bit we start moving, I jump from tree to tree and they exactly copy me with Adam jumping on last tree I jumped and Fiore on one before that. The reason why we are moving like this is because military is probably spread throughout the forest meaning that if we just walked on the ground we would probably run into them. In fact we already flied over 3 squads. Like this at most they hear the rustling of leaves. This goes on for a while until-

Adam: He stops? "What's going on boss?" Why would he stop this just allows them to find us.

Stefan: It is what I feared. "I can smell blood and used bullets."

Hanes: He can smell used WHAT?

Stefan:"If I am not mistaken to our right below us is one of the roadblocks, which most likely means they shot down someone there."

Hanes:"So what if they shot a civilian dead then we can't help there."

Stefan:"That is the thing. I can hear 7 heartbeats. 6 calm ones, most likely military squad, and 1 really weak one. In other words he is still alive." As I say that Nightingale materializes next to me.

Nightingale:"Then we must help them."

Stefan: I nod. And since I know what others are thinking i'll say immediately."We won't be found out by military. I'll take them out before they have a chance to send a signal."

Hanes:"Well that sounds like a plan. I agree then."

Stefan:"Ok then lets-" I say when suddenly Adam cuts me off.

Adam:"Wait Boss let my servant take care of this. This is his forte. Archer use these tranq darts."

Stefan:Then finally materializes the archer. He wears white winter clothes and has a mask with only holes for eyes. He doesn't seem to have materialized his weapon but I can only guess it is a gun based on his relatively modern clothes.

Archer:"Well I can't shoot these out of my rifle."

Stefan:Oh there we go.

Archer:"But I can probably throw them and hit soldiers no problem."

Stefan: And he goes. He quickly sneaks up to soldiers blind spot using his spirit form and then hits them with tranquilizer darts quickly. They had 5 cars and one heavily armored vehicle on road which made it harder to manage but he still did it. Afterwards Nightingale immediately runs in and diagnoses the harmed civilian.

Nightingale:"Two shots, one In each lung, 4 shots in abdomen."

Fiore:"That doesn't sound survivable."

Nightingale:"Maybe if I wasn't here."

Stefan:And so she begins to work. Without a care for rhyme or reason she will save someone who had both his lungs punctured , many hours ago.

Nightingale:"Left lung is only grazed."

Stefan:Oh one is only grazed I guess. Well one shot lung and one grazed at least sounds more survivable. "Anyway you guys go and start killing the monsters i'll stay here until Nightingale finishes and then we'll go as well."

Adam:"Got it boss!"

Stefan"Oh yeah actually Adam can you go to that house, the lights are on so there might be someone there. Also can you give me Prototype 113?"

Adam:"Oh sure Boss! You've got some plan?"

Stefan:I give a prideful nod.

Hanes:"Understood commencing operation.."

Stefan:I wave them off and then turn to Nightingale"Ok now while you are doing that I have to do a bit of rearranging."

SCENE END

Hanes:And so we parted in search of monsters that apparently took over this village. Still I can't believe he is taking his time to enable his nurse servant, or maybe both of them worry a bit too much about human life.

Fiore:"What is it Master? You seem a bit displeased."

Hanes:Is it that noticeable?"While I did agree to help the shot man I can't say I am to pleased with it. I understand the Berserker has unreasonable needs but i'd expect Stefan to influence her at least a bit."

Fiore:"What's wrong with helping a person that needs help?"

Hanes:"Nothing, usually, but our mission here is to exterminate monsters. Life of that man in no way helps us."

Fiore:"Damn Master, you are really cruel."

He says with a snicker in his voice.

Hanes snorts in response.

Hanes:If only you knew how cruel my world was. I still remember people of my village killing each other for any food of scrap or water, and how vultures would later gather around the bodies. Still... That world under blood red sun, that was my paradise.

SCENE END

4 minutes later

Stefan:"Ok Florence, he should be safe in our car. Let's go and do our job now. We can't force those 4 to do everything."

Nightingale:"Of course Master, but you keep surprising me. I expected you would be prioritizing the mission usually."

Stefan let's out a light laughter.

Stefan:"Our mission is to kill monsters right, but monsters don't put any time limit on us. Simply put it's the same if we kill them now or 2 hours from now... I know what you think. Letting monsters roam longer would lead to more people being killed, but you see I have a theory." As I say that I step on the road as there is no more need to go trough woods as we took care of roadblock in front of us."You see it's been a day and a bit since the monsters started to attack. If they killed some people on first night what do you think happened during day when people who survived realized what happened? They tried to run away, and they got killed on roadblocks. The only reason this guy lived is he got lucky by a few millimeters otherwise he would have already started rotting. And I can tell this place reeks of dead. I could however tell there were two living people in same house that you could see in distance from the road roadblock was on."

Nightingale:"Shouldn't we then-" I tried to interject but my Master cuts me off.

Stefan:"Which is where I sent Adam and his servant. Don't worry it will be fine."

Stefan:I strike a pose with my index finger raised to the sky."Now my servant, a quiz time. Since everyone is dead, monsters are out of food right? Well that or their food is at roadblocks.
Now what will monsters with no food do then?"

Nightingale:"Well if we guess that they can't feed at roadblocks due to armed soldiers they will..." It takes a moment for it to set in."We made a hole in a roadblock they can get out!Worse they can feed on soldiers!"

Stefan:I once again strike a pose this time with a my hand holding my chin like you'd see on TV."But that is why we are a step ahead of them. Where are the soldiers?"

Nightingale:I look at him puzzled. Of course I remember what you did with them."They are in armored vehicle. But you didn't lock it did you you didn't bother finding the key? So they can just open it and come in!"

Stefan:"Elementary my dear Florence! " As I say that I take off my glasses again.

Nightingale:His eyes. I didn't notice cause of glasses but they are slits like snakes or cats, and his iris looks like it's formed out of four crystals.

Stefan:As I take a look my vision gets muddy again. Back at hospital I accidentally went "too far" with them and saw something I shouldn't be able to, or at least something my eyes aren't supposed to see. But now I am using them as I am supposed to. I can see vibrations in air and ground that I would usually hear and feel trough touch, I can see mist that I would usually smell, but I can also see more than I would usually hear,feel or smell, heck I could see the smell of whole village and see the heartbeats of only two living people by only slightly looking over my glasses. But like this. It's like I have radar of whole area. "As I speak monster are checking the cars in roadblock we destroyed. "

Nightingale:"Then we must stop them!"

Stefan:"We already did. Like I said we are a step ahead of them."

Nightingale:As he says that he pulls out a something with a button.

Stefan:"Prototype 113 consists of 3 parts. A can that sprays pain. Small chip that goes on sprayed paint and a detonator that i'm holding in my hand. And before you say it don't worry." I press the button and explosion is heard nearby from roadblock. "The amount that I put on it's not strong enough to destroy armored vehicle." And now the screeches are heard."But it's strong enough to chase away our little monsters."

SCENE END

Archer:"Adam you don't seem to mind that explosion?"

Adam:"That was prototype 113. It probably just means Bosses plan is going well. I wish I could make sure but it seems like jamming even works inside for our communication devices. Anyway we are almo-" I get cut away by gunshots. They came from house we were heading towards but we are coming from houses back so and it seems shooting is happening in front or inside of house. And then I see it next to house. Between 3-4 meters tall emaciated, with deer head and sharp claws on it's arms.

Adam:"Archer quickly go on the house i'll dispatch of that thing and quickly head inside!" Archer nods and takes his spot.

Adam:While that happens I hear a door get broken but I need to concentrate on enemy in front of me. It didn't notice me so it will be an easy kill. I draw my two katanas and make a leap towards it. It will take me half a second to kill it and get in front of house. Tenth of a second passes I slice at the air and creature in front of me. Now that it's separated into 5 pieces I touch the ground and make another leap. In fifth of a second i'm in front of house and turning around. Another tenth of second passes and I have turned towards the house. Good tenth of a second faster. I see an open door and at the end of hallway a dead woman with a shotgun, a door I heard get slammed open. Then I hear screams from room to the left. No time to look. I leap forward, and remember how Boss thought me. By scream I deduce where the child is and while crashing into room trough window ,with closed eyes I slash everywhere around it.

Adam:When I land I open my eyes and see creature in pieces and a scared little girl, with tears in her eyes. Damn I am not good at this but I must try."Hey kiddo, don't worry anymore help has come!"I say trying to sound as positive as possible.

Petra:"...Really? You are help?"

Adam:Surprised at the fact me talking worked I reply"Yes, yes, we are help!" As I say that a gunshot Is heard from a roof. I can tell it's from Simo but I have to tell that to kid. She looks petrified."Don't worry that was my friend who is also here to help."

Archer:I inform Master trough our link"Master I just shot down a monster you cut down a bit ago. It seems like they regenerate."

Adam:"THEY WHAT" As I say that I turn around to a mass of flesh behind me forming up again, and I cut it down again in same motion.

Petra:"Aaaah." I scream accidentally.

Adam."Don't worry kiddo follow me we'll take you somewhere safe. Actually!" As I say that I take her in my arms and princess carry her. "It will be faster like this." I tell her with a smile."Archer i'll take her back to our car, you roam around and take out these creatures!"

Archer:"Roger."

He exclaims and immediately jumps from roof back down and shoots down monsters that started rising again.

Archer:"Heh you'll have to do better then just be immortal cause I also have unlimited bullets!"

SCENE END

Stefan:"Those later shots came from Archer. Don't worry i'm sure they have situation under control. Meanwhile." I look at exploded cars.

Nightingale:"No corpses? They must still be alive, we must get rid of them before they hurt someone!"

Stefan:"Don't worry this is better. Had they not lived I would have had to track them where they came from, like this we just follow them which is easier."

Nightingale:"Follow them where?"

Stefan:"To their lair." As I say that I put my glasses back on and start to run.

Nightingale:"But how are you sure they will take us to their lair?"

Stefan:"Because remember what we concluded before we even went to this mission. This is a trap. Anyway Nightingale you don't follow me. Go towards where gunshots came from, there might be hurt people there."

SCENE END

Adam:As I reach the car I see familiar face."What are you doing here Fiore?"

Fiore:"Hanes heard the explosion and got worried so he sent me back to scout."

Adam:"Oh that was all part of Bosses plan don't worry about."

Fiore:"Yeah I figured as much. So you found a kid?"

Adam:"Yeah I brought her to car to-" As I am about to say that little girl whose name I found out is Petra screams.

Petra:"Daddy!"

Adam:"Huh?"

Petra:"Daddy! Dad! That is my dad in the car!"

Adam:"Oh that is your dad, great to hear. He should be fine since Berserker took care of him."

Petra:"Berz-Ber-Berzkr?" I struggle to say foreign sounding word.

Adam:"Oh don't worry Berserker is a nice nurse that took care of your dad. We ran past her as we were arriving here, so i'm guessing she is going to help you mum as well!" I say as I pat her head."Anyway I think I should go and follow Boss now. I have a bad feeling about this."

Fiore:"I guess i'll stay and take care of these 2 , car is magically protected but still better to be on side of caution."

Adam:"True than i'll leave Petra and her father in your protection and go." I say as I put down Petra and start running.

Petra:"Oh goodbye Mister ugh... Mister ugh..."

Adam:I stop and turn with a smile"It's Adam!"

Petra:"Oh goodbye Mister Adam!" Oh God I hope I didn't blush when he turned around.

Fiore: And so he goes. Oh how I wish I could tell them the whole truth but i'm under a command spell. I can only hope everything turns out fine.

SCENE END

Stefan:I track the beasts trough forest as usual, I look at footprints on grounds, displaced grass, broken branches, and their stench. I do not usually have a problem with strong smells but these ones especially stink. Besides that tho I was really cool when I blew up those cars wasn't I? And I even made sure soldiers didn't get harmed. Wohoo. Florence was even impressed heh. Well now it's the time to exterminate these monsters and i'll only be cooler. Not that I often care what others think but Florence is different. She really reminds me of him, kind and willing to help others to a fault. Having her think highly of me then really boosts my ego heh heh. Oh i seem to be close, the stench is getting stronger. I slow down and take a look while hiding behind a tree. Oh a cave. I see. Makes perfect sense for monsters layer, I wonder if i'll find treasure in there. Eh no corpses would already be enough of a gift I guess. I slowly get to the entrance of the cave. Well I guess they have nowhere to escape now. I enter it. It's dark but I use echolocation to get the feeling of my surroundings. I knew putting on a blindfold and walking around with it would prove useful and yet everyone laughed at me huh. Who is laug- That train of thought gets however cut off by a sight In front of me. A giant 7 meters tall muscular creature with deer head and claws. Did it see me I wonder for a moment until I get my answer in a form of a roar. It sounds like no animal on this earth and frankly like it would scare the shit out of anyone less experienced with monsters. "I guess it's time to dance!" I scream and get into my usual stance.

At that moment the creature finally attacks our protagonist. It slashes at him with both of it's claws from above which he easily dodges by shifting a bit to the left. The creature however isn't finished. As a new arm sprouts from it's torso and attacks him, this time having him dodge it by jumping back.

Stefan:"So you are able to quickly transform your body around huh. I guess I should try any sort of lock on you. " This however also means it's probably nearly impervious to damage. Tsch. It must have some sort of core then. And as I strain my ears I manage to hear a heartbeat. Good I know where it's coming from now to attack. The creature stands up and looks at me. It's not a look of a predator preparing to attack it's prey nor of animal protecting itself. It's a look of a dead beast forced to live. Don't worry i'll give you peace soon. As I say that I charge at it. Too quickly for it even to react I reach it and slam my foot in front of it, shaking the ground and making it lose balance. It's about to fall on me when I unleash it. A punch from my left arm with my whole body behind it. I and it lift of the ground and it hits the ceiling of the space we are in. As I land I move so the monster doesn't fall on top of me. It's heart should be crushed now... it should be but- As I think that the monsters attacks me again this time by it's antlers extending, this time there is no dodging, so I block with my left arm and try to jump away. Luckily it only lightly pierces it even tho I slam in the wall behind me and my glasses fall off. That is when I realize tho. That my left arm looks like it's been chewed and spit out. The bones are sticking out at places and muscles are wrapped in ways they shouldn't be. Then the surge of pain comes. Like lightning to my brain but i'm used to worse. Now with my eyes unobstructed I look at it and see. Three hearts beating in unison. That is why it lived. I only crushed one heart. I stand up and take a stance again, this time with my right arm forward due to my left being useless. I dodge another charge by jumping to my left , this time making sure I make no contact with the monster.

That is because he realized. It must be that the monster can also transform other lifeforms when it comes in contact with them. When he was coming here he was tracking 3 monsters but now there is only one. It's not that they fused however, no they got absorbed by this thing. This thing is their main unit so to say. As long as it's alive all the monsters will be as well. That is the secret to their immortality. And how did Stefan conclude all that? Well...

Stefan:It's splitting apart? But the hearts are staying within the main unit. Damn and the heart I destroyed also regenerated. This would be easier if it just split apart into 3 smaller monsters with a heart each but I guess not. The smaller monster charges towards me. I have to try something. I throw a roundhouse kick with my left leg at it and break it in half. It didn't fuck up my leg however the thing seems to be regenerating, so they are immortal as long as main unit lives. I guess I should attack it then. Huh and I have a perfect move for this situation.

As a beast on a hunt looks at monster he straightens his posture and walks up to it. He has no real stance and simply looks like he is going for a stroll. His body relaxed and loose. The monster approaches him.

Stefan:When it gets in my range I fire off. 3... 2... 1... FI- I feel something digging into my right hand. I jump back. A bullet. A sniper bullet. It was moving faster then sound so I had no way to react to it until it touched. I take a look at my hand. Destroyed. It's as if someone started cutting the hands from the thumbs side and stopped in the middle before ripping out parts of hand around the cut. Basically hand is part of hand above tumb is only half connected to lower half of hand. "I can't do it with this." I say to myself. Like this I can't destroy all 3 hearts. I must wait for others so we can perform a combined attack or... I guess if she could patch me up that would work as well. But more importantly I once again jump this time forward and then to the side to dodge the monster. The reason I jumped forward is...

As he thinks that he touches his neck. It's bruised.

Stefan:This time the sniper went for my neck huh. Not to mention he is somehow shooting at me from outside the cave by making bullets drill trough the ground. Either way I must continue-I once again jump this time back- dodging this sniper while also dodging this monster.

SCENE END

Adam: Those gunshots. They weren't from any of us, so it's either 1. Civilian fighting a monster 2. Soldier fighting a monster or 3. An enemy. And my instincts are telling me it's an enemy. As I think that another shot is heard this time from a bit in front of me. "Who are you?" I shout at what seems to be an old hunter, shooting at a hill.

Old Hunter:"Me? All I have for a name is Mirko."

The strange man says as he stands up.

Mirko:"And as for you well based on those 2 swords i'd say you are Adam Niki, which would also mean you are my enemy."

Adam: As he says that he lifts his sniper and takes a shot at me, luckily as I had enough time to react because I saw him I managed to dodge to the right.

Mirko:"Not too fast."

Old hunter say as he charges at Adam with his bayonet.

Adam: Shit! Shit! I must move my left sword in the way!

Mirko: Hmpf he barely managed to block I think as I still put pressure on his sword."Too green!" I yell before kicking his left leg on which most of his weight was.

Adam: Damn this old timer is good. As I fall I basically punch the ground propelling myself in the air.

Mirko:Like I said too green. I reload my rifle as he is in the air and quickly take a shot at a helpless target.

But there were still surprises in store for this old timer. A sound that would best be described as a swish is heard as Adam's left sword cuts trough the bullet, at the same time as his right sword flew towards Mirko.

Mirko: I dodge by quickly shifting my weight backwards. Tsch I guess even old dog can learn new tricks.

As he thinks that he jumps backwards to dodge Adam who was falling towards him.

Adam:As I land I scream out"Damn grandpa you are really good at this." with a smile.
Mirko:"Pih grandpa. I'll teach you to behave when talking to your elders."

And so they once again stare each other down, one ready to fly and cut his enemy at moments notice and other ready to aim his gun and pierce his enemy in the same moment.

SCENE END

Stefan:Huh it seems like gunshots stopped. I guess now I can focus on you again. I think as I take a stance with my right arm forward once again, tho I don't plan to use either arm much since both are in pathetic condition."Anyway." I say as I charge at the roaring monster and kick it up into air, since I figured my shoes protect me from it's "flesh transforming" ability. "Let's dance!"

SCENE END