Do we really have to do this?" Kean asked, as he finally got into the right state of mind.
Gilbert who stood at the forefront of their squad, didn't hesitate to respond.
"Don't think like that Kean. Otherwise, you will get us all killed," his tone was serious.
With that, the fell in line behind High Knight 1A5, following him toward the lift zone.
Throughout the journey, Gilbert kept scanning the area, taking in every detail of the military base around them.
Adam, noticing his focus, drifted closer, his voice quiet
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
Gilbert looked at him briefly, maintaining his pace.
"It'd nothing just observing the base. The number of Styx they carry around make them seem….. endless."
As if on cue, a team of collectors drove past, hauling mounds of Styx corpses on in massive floating platforms, the stench of blood wafting through the air.
Soon, they arrived at the lift zone, several giant metal open platforms attached to thick worn metallic cables, their surfaces stained with rust, proof of years of service in a place that never slept.
The lifts groaned, shifting as they came up, carrying tones of Styx remains, collectors, and injured knights sending their watch.
Meanwhile, the ones descending carried fresh knights ready to begin their watch.
Kean released a low whistle, wiping his tactile gloved hand along one of the rusted cables. As he pulled his hand back, his entire palm was coated in rust.
"Considering the danger here, the Federation could at least spend some money to update this place, I mean knights risk their lives here every day," he muttered.
"The Federation doesn't believe in wasting money. It's cheaper to keep things as they are until they break." Vivian explained in a matter-of-fact tone. "Besides, despite how they look, these lifts have been in service for years without major accidents, at least not a machine accident anyway. All the damage you see is more from battle damage with Styx not from everyday wear and tear. Nothing a little servicing can't fix."
Gilbert, listening to their exchange, cut in with a question of his own.
"And what about the lives lost because they refused to update the equipment?"
Vivian exhaled slowly while taking a small scoot away from Gilbert.
"The number is far lower than you think. Indeed, the Federation can't afford to treat knights like cannon fodder, but it is still cheaper to sacrifice a few than to update the entire military complex on a large scale. It is a simple calculation."
She then gestured vaguely to the fortified surroundings.
"This place wasn't built all at once, it expanded over time, pushing forward as we forced the Styx back. There was even a time when we couldn't get close to the trench's edge we fought them using the wall of the Citadel."
Gilbert nodded softly and said no more, he then led them unto an empty lift following their platoon, their new platoon members barely acknowledging them.
The platform groaned, slowly descending.
As the walls of the trench came into view, it revealed its history of wars, deep claw marks, scorch patterns from ballistic and energy weapons, and melted stone from bio-attacks.
When they looked closer, it became even worse, body parts of Knights and Styx alike were woven into the rock walls, their remains entangled with the battlefield.
Anastasia and Chen Mei reacted severely, with Anastasia even vomiting at the sight.
As they passed the two-hundred-meter mark, the sounds of fighting finally reached their ears, distant but getting closer.
Sporadic Styx could be seen, some clinging to walls, others drifting in the air.
However, the guards who traveled on the lifts swiftly neutralized any that strayed too close, ensuring the platoon remained idle for now.
After traveling another two to three hundred meters, the lift finally came to a halt.
Upon arrival, the guards swiftly cleared the area, eliminating any stray Styx lingering nearby. Along the trench walls, dark caverns loomed, their depths unknown.
High Knight 1A5's voice came over the comms, clear and authoritative.
"Listen up, your area of responsibility has been sent to you. Your task is to clear your designated zone of all Styx. Once the area is secured, you are to remain there for a minimum of four hours before marking it as clean. Only then will you receive instructions for your next target."
"This cycle will continue for five days until our watch is complete. If you are overwhelmed, you may request backup and if there are squads nearby, they will assist you. However, be warned, do not stray beyond Grid CL1, especially toward Grid CL2. If you run into something beyond your capabilities there, no rescue will be sent."
He took a brief pause.
"Alright, move out!"
With those words, the squads split off, diving into the maze-like tunnels.
Some relied on helmet lights, their beams cutting through the suffocating darkness, while others opted for night vision, hoping to sneak past the Styx.
Gilbert turned to his squad, his tone firm
"Alright, we'll stick to night vision while moving. We'll decide in the helmet lights depending on the situation," he instructed copying the squads which are posted here permanently. With that, Squad 5A9 advanced, their forms swallowed by the endless depths of the trench.
They moved in formation, with William taking point due to the tight confines of the tunnels.
After they traveled for a hundred meters, they were attacked by Styx, but William managed them on his own dispatching them efficiently without activating the heat feature of his spear blade. Instead, he held it in a choke grip, maneuvering with greater control in the limited space.
After covering several more meters without reaching their designated zone, Gilbert had them switch positions, pushing himself to the forefront to take over leading the squad forward.
For nearly an hour, they maintained this rotation, alternating between William, Gilbert, and Kean, until they finally reached their zone a wide chamber.
Upon entry, the squad spread out quickly, eliminating any lingering Styx in the area.
Gilbert then climbed onto an outcropping of a rock along with Adam, using it as a command post to overlook the chamber.
The other positioned themselves strategically, Anastasia and Chen Mei tucked beneath the rock, staying clear of any high-risk attack zones while the rest of the squad secured their surroundings.
They stayed alert for several minutes, but nothing happened. Eventually, Kean grew bored and started to kick rocks in an attempt to score them into the tunnels leading elsewhere.
"Could you stop that, you idiot?" Vivian complained.
Kean grinned before kicking a stone in her direction.
"What? It's not like anything's happening. I think they overhyped the difficulty down there," he shot back.
"I must admit, Kean is right for once," William said, still keeping his guard up.
"You guys, quiet," Gilbert instructed.
The entire squad fell silent.
For several seconds, there was nothing, only the muffled sound of their breathing.
Kean glanced at Gilbert but Gilbert simply motioned him to stay silent.
Then, they heard it.
A low shuffling sound along the cave floor.
The sound grew closer, accompanied by a guttural growl, bark-like vocalizations, the noises reverberating through the chamber.
The squad snapped into high alert, their senses sharpening.
Vivian turned to Kean.
"Hey, idiot shouldn't see what you've caused. As a matter of fact shouldn't you have been the one to pick up on this?" She shouted over the comms.
Before Kean could reply to her salamander-type Styx emerged, their bodies slick agile, and unnervingly fast with metal running down the spine with the shortest being five feet in length.
Without hesitation, the squad went into attack mode, dispatching them efficiently, the year of experience in fighting low their Styx honing their reflexes.
Gilbert remained at his vantage point, overseeing the battlefield while using his pistols and shoulder-mounted assault rifle to fend off the Styx. Simultaneously, he coordinated his squad, his command confidence visibly sharper than it had been before his first deployment.
Despite the steady stream of enemies, he stayed calm and collected, issuing precise orders as he assessed the situation.
"Adam, conserve your energy, only fire if someone is in immediate danger. Vivian, lower your output for now. I'll tell you when to go all out, we might need your flames to create an opening plus we don't want to run out of oxygen we need to conserve our tanks."
"Aye, aye, Sergeant," Vivian replied, adjusting her flamethrowers, their flames shrinking slightly.
A moment later, she threw a jab in Kean's direction "Hey idiot, is this exciting enough for you? Why don't you try to see if you can score a rock in one of their mouths?"
Kean, hearing her challenge, swiftly pinned down the salamander he was battling with his dagger, then finished it off with a precise shot from his pistol through the mental gland. Without missing a beat, he turned, kicking a stone straight into another salamander's mouth before pouncing on it.
"GOAL! and the crowd goes wild. Truth be told it's not that exciting yet," he quipped, his pistol firing relentlessly.
With a sly smirk, he added.
"And just so you know, Gilbert's a freak when it comes to using his armor, so he doesn't count. If it were William, now that would offend me."
William effortlessly sweeping away at least three Styx with his spear, adding his commentary.
"If we have Gilbert, why do we need you then?"
Vivian giggled, catching onto the tease immediately.
"Yeah, Kean, why do we need you?" she echoed with mock curiosity.
Kean, not one to let himself lose in banter, fired back without missing a beat.
"Why don't you ask Gilbert to scout, then? What about you Vivian I don't exactly see the need for a human torch."
They once again fell silent as the battle continued, after over an hour of nonstop violence Kean couldn't help but comment once again.
"Is it just me or are those tunnels still filled with salamanders?"
Gilbert noting that he was right instructed.
"Vivian clear a path, Kean I want you to cut through without being seen, find the end of this beast tide."
Right as they were about to execute his commands a loud growl rang through the cave very distinct amongst the noise.