Five men in black outfits, wielding katanas treaded through the depths of an overgrown forest. They stepped through the muddy floor and pushed through the bushes, watching carefully for any animals. Eventually, they made to a lake that was overgrown with algae. The leader turned around and asked his team in a calm manner.
"Alright, looks like this is as far as we can go right now. Let's head back. It's already been a few hours."
They nodded and began heading back but just in that instant, they heard the water splashing and rumbling. All their heads snapped towards the lake as the water continued to move violently. Then, the leaves rustled, bushes waved as if something was pushing them.
"What the hell?" One of them whispered.
Then…a python emerged from it but not just any python – a dark-skinned snake that looked to be more massive that its counterpart. Its crimson eyes gleamed at them and hissed – hungry for food.
The enforcers body froze unable to do anything as they saw one key detail. A dark aura covered the entire surface of its skin from top to bottom as if it was swimming in a black ocean. Their jaws shook, eyes twitched and fingers slipped as the creature slowly approached.
"RUN!!!" The leader shouted
But it was already too late. With unnatural speed, the python coiled itself around the leader as the others escaped. The turned around to see their captain's head being ripped off and his body swallowed whole. With tears in their eyes, they dared not scream and kept running.
***
Back at the camp, Arthur was casually chatting with his team. Nyx was wandering around aimlessly while Matthew was joking around with his friends. Charles was managing the super-laptop. Suddenly, four enforcers rushed out of the forest, sticks and mud covering their body.
Arthur instantly noticed and walked over as they fell. He crouched down and asked in a calm manner.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"N-N-No! I'm not." The enforcers replied – his eyes swelling.
'It seems like something happened over there…'
Arthur comforted the enforcers as the Nyx noticed their presence, approaching. After a few minutes of calming them down, Arthur inquired.
"What happened over there? Where's your captain?"
The enforcers didn't reply for a few seconds, their eyes hollow as an owl's.
"…He's dead. "One of them finally spoke up.
The camp went quiet – too quiet. Arthur's eyes widened and Nyx frowned.
"How…?" Athur murmured.
"…He got…eaten alive by a-a-a-a python or something. I don't know, okay!" The other enforcer burst into tears once more.
Arthur stood up and locked eyes with Matthew.
"Gillispie, this is your unit. Take them back to their tent…let them rest for a while."
Matthew shrugged and took them with the help of his mates. Arthur's eyes became cold as he thought…
'Our first death…'
Nyx stopped him and said in a solemn tone.
"Ask them, everything that happened."
"Why? It's not my unit?" Arthur replied, a new coldness in his voice.
"…I don't think the others would do a good job…besides, I'm the supreme commander, you have to do what I say, don't you~?"
Arthur paused for a while before replying. "…Yes, ma'am."
***
Hours passed in a flash as Arthur waited outside the enforcers tent. He heard only cries and screams resounding behind the fabric, causing his eyes to swell a little as well.
"What do you think happened to them?" Maple inquired, leaning.
"Honestly…I don't have a single clue." Arthur wiped his eyes.
"Well…a death wasn't not expected, was it?" Maple said.
"I could count the days I was expecting someone to die and on the day I don't…this happens." Amelia crossed her arms.
"It's good that there weren't more casualties…let's meet up with the others since we've fully explored this area." Harvey patted Arthur's back.
"Yes…" Arthur murmured.
After some more time, he entered the tent. Inside, all the enforcers were sitting together, not talking but processing what they had seen with their very own eyes. He could see they were tired and…broken. They had witnessed something truly traumatizing.
"Hey…" Arthur sat beside one. "Can you talk?"
The enforcer's lips bubbled. "…Yes."
Arthur smacked his lips, curving them inward.
'This isn't good…are they still processing?'
Wanting an answer to his thoughts, he asked in an assuring manner.
"Are you still thinking?"
The enforcer nodded, clasping his hands and digging them into his head. Arthur saw one of them begin to hyperventilate and tried to help but was beaten to it by another. The enforcer rubbed his comrades back and helped him breathe.
"It's okay…we're safe now."
Small tears dropped from their eyes on to their cheek which they quickly wiped away. Arthur sat back, sighing heavily.
'These UEOC enforcers are quite mentally weak…'
Then, he decided it was finally time to question them. He patted the one clasping his hands, drawing his attention. With a soft smile, he asked.
"What happened?"
The enforcer blinked, locking eyes with the lieutenant general as his breath hitched.
"H-His head…was ripped off…t-then, his whole body…"
Another spoke, continuing the chain.
"We were exploring the last bits as instructed but…but…but then, I-it appeared."
"What appeare-?" Arthur tried to speak up but was interrupted by another voice.
"A python! A-A massive p-python with – with dark skin and…a dark aura…aura..."
Then, they finally fell silent. An awkward but heavy atmosphere formed in the tent they were in. The enforcers rocked back and forth – their minds being unable to process their leader's death. Arthur sighed, shaking his head and stood up. He looked at them one more time, pity washing over him as he did so.
'Guess that's all I can get from them…'
"Now…where is the supreme commander?" He muttered under his breath.
He exited the tent and searched for Nyx, planning to inform her of his discoveries.