Chapter 19:

4:12 pm.

"Sir! We got a report from the village!"

"No need to tell me. I'm already watching…" the General automatically says: his eyes glued to the projector.

The projector projects an overhead scene of a village. A village on the outermost border of a snowfield country. A village used to shelter the country's guards as well as their family, complete with its own convenience stores, school, and even some small businesses for the opportunity of work. Creating an endearing community.

But just like cancer, it comes out unexpectedly.

Like ants that had their nest disturbed, they all come rushing out of their hole. Those things swarm in, putting the 700 men he assigned in the village in all out retreat. They bare their fangs at everything that moves, red liquid dyes the road, even from 10,000 kilometers away, you can barely hear the frantic gunfire.

And among the carnage, running through the definition of hell, was a brunette carrying another girl. Her signature green leafy bow is clearly visible on the camera.

IF. The leader of Planeptune's Militia Group.

But where was the rest of her group? Definitely hiding. But what are they doing? Planning a surprise attack? Is IF being used as bait so the AWACS can focus on her?

"Sir, here's the report on the woman that IF is carrying on her back"

Interested in taking another approach to take out IF, the General takes the clipboard from his assistant and looks over the general outline of the person in question. However, it seems there's nothing of note in this nurse. Just a friend whom IF can't let go of. Is she lesbian?

From beyond the clipboard, he takes a look at the atmosphere in the war room. With the main force in Lowee unable to do anything with the being's rampage, the threat of those things in the outskirts of the country. Management of both morale and strategy has now gone off the window. Everything is tense, everyone is tense.

Putting down the clipboard, the General stands up, breathes in, opens up his throat, pushes his diaphragm, and says in a loud voice…

"Tell the men to shoot IF on sight! Do not stop the retreat effort! Keep her occupied in the village as long as possible. Sooner or later, she's going to break free. So, I want a team to intercept her approach to the city. It's possible they'll use one of our vehicles. Tell AWACS-2 to relay live information to everyone on the ground. If IF lives, then she'll wipe out Lastation!"

"SIR!"

4:14 pm

"Sorry, but I have to ask, but are stalkers really this persistent?"

"Ughh… Iffy! You insensitive jerk! Don't make me remember that!" Compa complains, lightly punching IF.

"Sorry, sorry… But I think I know how you feel though…" IF looks behind.

The distance between her and it is just 5 meters at best. She's barely able to maintain her pace as she ducks, weaves, jumps, hops, and vaults over the fighting that's happening around her. While it smoothly runs through the storm like water flowing through a crevice.

IF shifts up her gear as hails of lead shoot left, right, above, and around her. The air, rumbled by the tremble of the bullets exiting the muzzle, are tempoed by the occasional explosion of grenades. The orchestra of gunpowder is vocalized by their laughter. Their uncontrollable giddy urges from them as they enjoy their meal. A high-class performance for a high-class meal.

"Oop!" IF vaulted over a thing gnawing away at a spec ops' insides. Mid-jump she sees an RPG heading straight for her. The moment her feet land on the ground, she takes 3 wide steps then throws her body backwards. She bends from the knee up as low as she can, as the rocket flies overhead.

*BOOM!*

The rocket explodes behind her as she rises from her limbo.

She quickly readjusted the girl on back, then once again put power in her legs.

"Geez, what a surprise, it's still after me" IF drones.

To her, it's not even a surprise anymore. With how sudden its movements are, plus all the information she knows so far, it really shouldn't surprise her anymore that even an RPG travelling at 300 meters per second, can be dodge so easily.

"Compa, you stillokay? Keep your head low, alright?"

"Mhm…!"

IF lowers herself as she kicks the dirt underneath.

In front of her there's a squad holding their positions in the middle of the intersection, firing their weapons at the street on IF's left. They step back as they fire, slowly stepping to the middle of the intersection.

More of them come flying from the left street with their mouths wide open. They try to shoot them down, but their velocity is too much for bullets to drop them to the ground.

*CRUNCH!*

One of them tore off a head like tearing off a lollipop from its stick. A geyser of blood rushes out of the neck, blood raining from where he stood. The others just stand there: as they eat them.

"Tch!"

IF looks behind her: that thing is about 2 meters away from her.

"Damn…!"

Thinking that it's a better idea to not have any more of them chasing her, she turns to the sidewalk, hugging the array of houses she passes by; Compa tightly holds onto her friend. The thing behind them jumps, and lands on the rooftop of a house, still giving chase as it jumps from roof to roof.

With only 2 more blocks left before she reaches the group of them eating to their heart's content, she jumps and plants feet on the wall. Before gravity takes over, she takes 2 steps up on the wall, jumps towards a signpost of a shop.

"...!"

The thin steel that's holding onto the metal signpost bends, unable to hold the combined weight of 2 girls and a signpost. It sees this opportunity and leaps from the edge of the rooftop towards them.

"kh…!"

IF jumps and grabs the ledge of the rooftop.

*BANG!* *BNNNGGGGRRRRRR!*

Unable to stop, it smashes against the signpost. The signpost breaks off from the wall, and both of them crash lands on the sidewalk below.

*Kuhi?*

"Damn…!"

One of them notices the noise they made and looks over.

It sees IF climbing up the rooftop.

"*Kuhi! Kuhi! Kuhi!*"

"*Kuhiiiiiiiii!* *Hihihihihihihihihi!*"

IF takes out the belt from her jacket as she makes a mad dash towards the electric pole in corner of the street. The moment she reaches the edge, she jumps, throws and grabs her belt over the wire, and zip lines to the next 2 story building. A brief look to the side shows 4 new stalkers are now running towards her.

She lets go of the belt, putting her trajectory straight towards the window. She puts her feet up and shields her face with her arms.

*CRAAAAASSSSSSH!*

"Kh!"

She lands squarely on the wooden floor stopping herself from rolling to break her fall. Without giving time for her legs to absorb the landing, she forced her legs to place a foot one after the other and makes a run towards the door right in front of her.

"Iffy!" Compa suddenly called out.

IF pulls out her knife as she takes a look at what's behind her.

"—!"

She sees a pink object coated in liquid dashing through the air towards them. Without taking a moment longer to process, she slams her foot down hard, raises her knife, and swings at the thing heading towards her.

*SHING!*

"*GUHIIIIIIIIIIII!*"

She didn't cut anything. Instead, the pink object suddenly retreated and went into the mouth of a humanoid creature with red and black skin.

*CLASH!*

*GUHIIIII!*

Another one suddenly smashes in through the other window facing the road. The moment it lands, it jumps towards her with its arm raised. The tips of its stretched fingers are sharpened to a gleam. IF turns towards the do—!

"Fuck—!"

There's another one standing in the middle of the doorway, it's smile can be seen from ear to ear. With no more time to make any other moves, she runs and jumps through the 2nd window facing the road.

*CLASH!*

*GUHIIIIIIIIIIIII!* *GUHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!*

"Kh! I knew it!"

2 more of them were waiting for her to jump through the window. Their laughter uncontained as they open their mouths wide. Their saliva overflowing, their tongues awaiting. The most delicious meal is about to land squarely on their mouth.

IF quickly looks around finding some way to get out of this mess, she only has 2 meters left to decide. But with all the explosions happening, the muzzle flashes, the guns firing, there's nothing around her that she can use to get away from her predicament. Her friend hugs her as tightly as she could.

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she draws out her other knife and readies he—!

*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAACHHHHHHHHH!*

*GUHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!*

*SKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!*

6:00 PM

A lone humvee drives through the empty street of a ruined city. The driver was young, a rookie. Fresh from boot camp. He was now tasked to escort 2 high-profile personnel to a hospital that was abandoned because of the war. It hasn't been secured yet, since, as per orders, they're not allowed to actively find the remaining Planeptunians.

Through the rear-view mirror, the young rookie looks at the 2 high profile personnel sitting in the back seat.

Right behind him, a woman with sky blue hair, with cerulean colored eyes, along with what seems to be a signature, red graduation hat. And right beside her, behind the passenger seat, is a girl that seems to be just about legal age, with black rimmed glasses that goes nicely with her—

"Eyes on the road" she says, in the most familiar tone. And on her command, he looks back at the road before him.

"Kei should really put these rookies in the red. This guy has been looking at me since he started driving" she commented nonchalantly.

"F-Forgive me, ma'am. I didn't mean to ogle"

"Awww… How cute, he's blushing. Are you a virgin? Never had a girlfriend before?"

"N-No, ma'am"

"Good, good. You see, my friend here is also in the same predicament. But nonetheless, quite pretty. She's a bookworm but she'll take care of you lots. You might not have common interests, but I think you two match. How about it, Mina?"

"Would you shut up?" the air suddenly got colder.

"Awww… and here I am trying to play cupid to make your life a little bit colorful. Oh well…" she shrugs.

They both went quiet after that. The rest of the drive was uneventful. They got off at the abandoned hospital. A hospital that was once envied for its miraculous survival rate. An almost 0% death rate for any and all rare diseases. Even someone with cancer has a better chance of surviving in this hospital.

The two got off, the girl called Mina, walked ahead of her companion. The wind picks up, their long hairs sway with it.

The other looked backed, her black frame glasses fitting her, a smile that he remembered seeing through a matrix of light emitting diodes plastered on her face.

But…

In the mind of the rookie. His instincts as a mammal are telling him something.

Do not look at her eyes.