Ficool

Chapter 21 - Roll Out!

A large cloud of smoke rose in the distance, followed by the loud, churning sound of engines.

 

Then, one by one, fast-moving black dots appeared on the horizon.

 

Like a swarm of insects, more and more armored vehicles sped forward, forming what looked like a moving black patch of land.

 

The vehicles moved with frightening precision as if the narrow gaps between them didn't matter.

 

None of the drivers seemed worried about crashing.

 

The army of armored vehicles charged ahead with force, knocking over trees and scaring off animals in their path.

 

Inside one of the hundreds of vehicles, William sat shoulder-to-shoulder with his original squad members.

 

No one spoke. The squad sat quietly in their seats.

 

Only five members remained. Cain was still in the hospital.

 

The army of vehicles moved steadily for hours. Then, one by one, they slowed down and began forming three neat rows. Engines quieted.

 

They were getting close to enemy territory. Staying loud wasn't an option.

 

Leading the fleet were five massive trucks, each with a giant roller on the front.

 

These cleared a path through the thick forest, flattening anything in the way.

 

From here on, the battalion advanced slowly and quietly to avoid alerting any monsters too soon.

 

At the very front, a row of armored semi-trucks drove in tight formation, surrounded by heavily armed escort vehicles.

 

Inside one of the lead trucks sat Major General Isaac, Dr. Henry, High Mage Gerald, and a group of scientists in sealed suits.

 

The top three leaders gathered around a small table with a glowing holographic map between them.

 

"According to scouts," Isaac began, "the Mountain-Eaters have widened their patrol zones. They'll spot us as soon as we enter the poison fog.

 

That means we'll need to fight our way through hordes of Mountain-Eaters. 

 

Gerald will stop them from tunneling under our vehicles and ruining our formation.

 

After that, we secure the Eclipse Orchid. The vehicles will form a barricade while the scientists uproot the plant.

 

 Then, we escape the same way we came."

 

Isaac slammed his hand on the table for emphasis.

 

"That's the basic plan. Any questions?"

 

"This all sounds a bit too optimistic," Dr. Henry said. "What if things don't go as planned?"

 

Isaac nodded. "This is just a summary. My elite squads are trained for the unexpected. You just focus on the plant. Let us handle the rest."

 

He turned to Gerald. "Anything to add?"

 

"…"

 

"…Gerald?"

 

"…Huh? Oh—yes, yes. I agree." Gerald jolted upright with a loud snort.

 

His wrinkled face and white hair made him look older than the others.

 

His soft blue eyes met Isaac's, then Henry's. They stared at him silently.

 

Scratching the back of his head, Gerald gave an awkward smile. "Uhh… could you repeat the last part? I missed it. Haha—"

 

Isaac sighed. "Your job is to stop the Mountain-Eaters from digging under us."

 

"Right, right! Got it!" Gerald said, throwing up a clumsy salute.

 

Just then, Isaac's bracelet buzzed.

 

"General, we're ten minutes from the poison fog."

 

"Understood. Alert the elite units. I'll join them shortly."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

Isaac turned back to the others. "Get ready. We're entering enemy territory."

 

"Understood," Dr. Henry said.

 

"Duly noted," Gerald replied.

 

Moments after General Isaac stepped out of the truck, a loud warning blared across the entire army.

 

[Attention all soldiers! We are about to enter the poison fog. Please ensure your protective suits are on and prepare for battle.]

 

[Attention all soldiers...]

 

Red lights flashed as the alarm echoed through the convoy.

 

Soldiers scrambled into position. The air was tense.

 

Some climbed near the windows. Others mounted the tops of vehicles and strapped in tight.

 

A few manned the heavy guns on the roofs.

 

Within minutes, everyone was ready.

 

Aeris crouched on the vehicle's roof with her sniper rifle aimed forward. Drakna took his place as the driver. Lina was posted up top as a scout and shield mage.

 

Tonto, usually the healer, was now the team's main offensive mage.

 

Due to his lack of field experience, William was assigned as support and stayed seated inside with the healers.

 

The rest of the squad manned their windows, ready to fire.

 

Before they entered the fog, Gerald stood tall on top of a semi-truck.

 

He gripped his staff with both hands, its surface glowing a soft brown.

 

Wisps of liquid mana floated around the staff, dancing like ribbons.

 

In the next moment, the mana was absorbed into the staff. The glow turned brighter.

 

Gerald raised his staff high, then slammed it down onto the roof.

 

The magic transferred from the staff into the truck and surged through the entire convoy like a wave.

 

At that signal, the rammers leading the convoy roared forward into the fog.

 

They crashed through trees and brush with ease, clearing the way. Hundreds of vehicles thundered behind them, shaking the ground.

 

General Isaac had already abandoned stealth. With an operation this large, there was no way to stay hidden.

 

"General, Mountain-Eaters detected—200 meters ahead!"

 

As expected, the moment they entered the fog, they were spotted.

 

The earth trembled harder as a massive horde of Mountain-Eaters approached.

 

"100 meters!"

 

"50 meters!"

 

"30 meters!"

 

Then the red dots on the radar stopped.

 

"They're about to surface! Fire on sight!" the radio officer shouted.

 

Realizing that couldn't dig further for some reason, the Mountain-Eaters decided to surface.

 

"OPEN FIRE!!"

 

A storm of bullets rained down on the monsters, shredding their rocky hides.

 

Gunfire and spell blasts echoed through the forest.

 

After a few minutes of nonstop firing, the battlefield went quiet.

 

The vehicles rolled forward again, speeding deeper into the fog.

 

Mangled Mountain-Eater bodies were scattered everywhere.

 

Still on alert, the soldiers scanned the landscape, waiting for a second wave.

 

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then thirty.

 

No second wave came.

 

Inside a heavily armored truck, General Isaac stood surrounded by floating monitors, his frown deepening.

 

"General Isaac, something's wrong. The Mountain-Eaters stopped attacking."

 

"I can see that," Isaac said, eyes still locked on the monitors.

 

"Could it be an ambush, sir?"

 

Isaac paused. "It's possible. Or they destroyed the plant and retreated.

 

Either way, we underestimated their intelligence."

 

"What should we do next?"

 

"We keep moving. Tell the army to spread out."

 

"Add extra protection around the scientists and their gear. And send scouts to search for hidden Mountain-Eaters tracking us."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

Then Isaac raised his bracelet and called someone:

 

"High Mage Gerald, I need your help."

 

***

 

In the hazy poison mist, visibility was low. The sound of trees falling and being crushed echoed through the forest.

 

As the noise grew louder, headlights pierced the fog one by one.

 

Hundreds of armored vehicles rolled out, their lights shining like glowing bugs through the dense green mist.

 

It had been thirty minutes since the Mountain-Eaters' first attack. But since then, no movement. No ambush. No scouts. No fleeing enemies.

 

The forest was eerily silent.

 

"Scouting Team C, what's the status of the Eclipse Orchid?"

 

"Scouting Team C, please respond!"

 

"Apologies, sir... we've lost track of all Mountain-Eaters in the area."

 

"What do you mean?!"

 

"Twenty minutes ago, they all dug deep underground and vanished. We tried to trace them, but only found signs they moved east."

 

"So you're saying they left the Eclipse Orchid unguarded?"

 

"Negative. We still can't detect anything past the purple mist."

 

"I see. Hold your position and report any changes."

 

"Roger."

 

The officer turned to General Isaac, who stood by a holographic map surrounded by top commanders.

 

"It's a trap," one officer said. "They want us to walk into it."

 

"But why risk fighting near the Orchid? They might destroy it."

 

"Maybe that's their goal—to stop us from getting the plant."

 

"But the Orchid is a powerful weapon. Would they destroy it without a fight?"

 

As the officers debated, Isaac stayed silent, deep in thought.

 

After a moment, he turned to Gerald.

 

"High Mage Gerald, your thoughts?"

 

"Hmm? Well... we barely know anything about this place. So, let's assume the worst—that they have something that can wipe us out without damaging the Orchid."

 

"Fair enough. When we reach it, can you scan the area for ambushes?"

 

"Of course."

 

Twenty minutes later, the army reached the edge of the mist. Beyond it stood the Eclipse Orchid, a giant plant hidden in the haze.

 

"Gerald, please begin the scan."

 

"Understood."

 

Gerald's eyes glowed sky-blue as mana gathered around his staff, turning the gemstone a deeper shade of blue.

 

The glow spread down the wooden shaft, changing it into something that looked like a shimmering crystal.

 

Then, with a sudden flash, a bright blue beam shot from the staff. It cut through the thick poison fog and slammed into the wall of purple mist ahead.

 

A moment later, the fog split.

 

A clear path opened where the beam passed, cutting through the thick fog.

 

The mist pulled back, forming a tunnel.

 

At the end of it, the Eclipse Orchid stood tall—now fully visible to the army.

 

Gerald squinted into the distance. "I don't sense any Mountain-Eaters. They're either too deep underground or just beyond my range."

 

Isaac frowned. The Eclipse Orchid stood before them, wide open and unguarded.

 

"Trap or not, we're here to take that plant."

 

He gave the order.

More Chapters