"Attention soldiers" A loud voice blared from the resounding microphone. Drifting the attention of all soldiers towards a certain direction.
"Operation EggHead is about to begin. We've detected the existence of three Ragnars northeast of Riverdale City"
"It's our duty as the military to protect our citizens from terrorists" the baritone voice continued. "I hope you've made your peace with your loved ones"
"God bless America"
Abrupt silence reigned across the hall filled with uniformed soldiers all geared up.
Soldiers moved with purpose, their faces determined as they prepared for deployment.
The room was a hive of focused activity, the air thick with the smell of gun oil and the sound of metal clicking against metal.
He exhaled a soft sigh, sat on a bench, and there was Reed Black.
Reed's heart was heavy, among the few dozen soldiers commissioned for this mission.
He's on the infantry team. Prepared to lead the way and their targets?
Ragnars
A new human race born from the hundred years of global pandemic. The great cataclysm that nearly wiped out the human population.
With gate breaks frequently occurring and monsters pouring into the human world. Humanity was on the brink of collapse.
Humanity teetered in the wake of chaos, forced to evolve to survive.
The exposure of mana radiation that seeped into the human world brought about the existence of a new race.
Ragnars: Humanity who awakened special abilities known as Talents. With mana coursing through their veins, they're Demi-gods compared to the average human.
Reed, an eighteen-year-old orphan, a fresh graduate of the Silverton Military Academy, was unfortunate.
He failed all his awakening tests. If he had awakened as a Ragnar.
He would have been contracted to a
Now he's on a mission to take down a few terrorists. Ragnars who attack and slaughter their fellow humans.
They're known as Fiends
**
Reed took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air as he grasped the sleek black AR-15 assault rifle by his side.
He gently cocked the rifle in preparation. Just then, a few soldiers noticed his gloomy expression, and he was approached.
There were three of them, and they were all Reed's agemates, with only one being three years older.
Their body language indicated that Reed's their friend. They giggled softly, with their movements coming to a halt.
They stood before Reed, their shadows engulfed his being and he slowly raised his head.
"What is it?" Reed asked.
One of them chuckled as he tapped Reed on his shoulder. He quickly took his seat, sat on the bench as well.
He wrapped his right arm across Reed's shoulder. "What's up with you Reed?" He asked.
"Huh?" Reed paused, "I don't understand that question," He said.
"He-he-he-he-he-he" the soldier chuckled, "We noticed Reed, when we were commissioned into the infantry unit, we saw your expression boy"
"Are you scared of death?" The soldier asked, still giggling.
Reed softly exhaled.
"Am I scared of death?" He asked, "You should know the answer already" He paused, "Who in their right mind isn't scared of death?" Reed asked.
"Leon isn't" one of the two soldiers that stood before Reed answered. Reed slightly tilted his gaze.
He glanced at the blonde soldier who sat by his side.
"Leon isn't?" Reed asked, and Leon chuckled. His smiles never faded.
"Well, you see. Our targets are Ragnars, regardless of their ranks and levels, it doesn't change the fact that we're ordinary humans"
Leon stated. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, his sadness couldn't be erased, Reed saw through the facade of happiness.
"Each and every one of us failed to awaken as a Ragnar so our only option to survive is to fight for our control" Leon continued, "If we're to die on the battlefield then so be it"
Reed gritted his teeth, his face fell, his brows furrowed.
Reed clenched his fist, and he tried to suppress his rage. He's a failure after all, an orphan with no family left.
All he needs to do is survive and earn money.
He softly exhaled. Breathing in the fresh air.
"There's no need to get angry at my own failure. I have no family, no one to miss me, so if I'm going to die tonight," Reed sighed, "Then so be it." He declared.
Every soldier present in the hall was a non-awakened human. Beings sent off to eliminate Ragnars.
This is a death sentence; they understood that, but none could defile the orders of the government.
They waited in the hall for hours, prepping and devising a plan.
More than fifty soldiers armed with rifles, all bullets were laced with mana, capable of killing monsters and even Ragnars.
As they waited patiently for the next order. Time went by fast and the evening drew them in.
The sunset was a sign for their deployment.
In Riverdale City. A vast curfew was imposed and all civilians were evacuated or they were sealed in their apartments.
No one was allowed to walk the streets after 6pm.
It was time for the military to make its moves.
Just then, the microphone resounded, and their commander's voice echoed. Everyone listened silently as tension soared through the roof.
In this barracks filled with soldiers. Major Sergio Langston and his two executives are the only Ragnars.
"Greetings soldiers. My name is Major Langston, and I'm sure you all understand what this hour is all about?"
Major Langston questioned.
"YESSS SIRRRR," All the soldiers answered in unison, with Reed being included. They were being watched by the surveillance cameras.
Major Langston continued. "Tonight" He paused, "Dozens of you will not live to see sunrise, our targets are Ragnars"
"They're terrorists involved in the massacre of the Vulgaria villagers and we've received reports they're currently in hiding within the walls of the Riverdale City"
"It's your duty as servants of the United States to take care of their trash. It's your duty to die for your country"
"And remember. Those who will die tonight, died with honor"
Reed listened to the speech from the bench he sat on. He clenched his fist on the assault rifle, his heart trembled.
He could hear his own heart racing violently. Leon noticed it; his brows furrowed.
"What's wrong? Reed" He asked. Reed took a deep breath.
"It's nothing" Reed answered, quickly cleaning up his sweat that dripped down his cheeks.
Once Major Sergio Langston was done with his speech. All commissioned soldiers left the hall, heading out of the barracks.
They were welcomed by the convoy of armored military vehicles waiting for them.
The moonlight radiated through the air.
Approaching footsteps echoed and a soldier took a step forward. All attention drifted towards him.
He had his face covered with a sleek black crow mask. Firmly gripping the AK-47 he held.
"Greetings soldiers. I'm Captain Arnold and I'm in charge of this operation, like the commander in chief explained"
"We've three targets, all terrorists and they're currently hiding inside Riverdale City"
"Be warned, they're killers and they're Ragnars. This isn't a capture mission, we're to kill the Ragnars on sight"
"If you encounter a terrorist and you're all alone" Captain Arnold paused for a second.
"Make sure to fight to the death" Captain Arnold declared. "You shall not go down without a fight, that's an order"