Fiends.
A collective term for malice-harboring entities from a different dimension. Before the world came into such a state, these fantasy creatures were featured in various fictional works.
And on that fateful day, all became a reality.
Chaos soon took over Karmir City. The air is filled with screeches. Low-tier they may be, but Rodents are a menace in groups. Some were panicking, some were crying. Anxiety devoured the citizens whole.
I escaped with Mr. Push from the location. I'm not someone capable of handling such monsters. I'm a non-combatant, after all.
I already contacted my parents.
"Pa, evacuate to the relief center as soon as possible! A fiend appeared near our home!"
Without waiting for his response, I ended the call and went our way towards the nearest relief center.
What incredible luck I have, so I thought to myself.
"Mr. Push? Are you okay?"
"Yes, yes. Oh dear. I'm so sorry about this. If it weren't for my bad knee..."
"Oh, please, don't be like that, Mr. Push. Now, let's go."
Little Macy is definitely safe. Schools and universities are occupied by wannabe hunters and teachers with a Contra License, an essential identification for fiend hunters.
There's no one to defeat it yet? I turned my head around to check.
This time, the fiend that appeared is a Rodent. It's just a mouse with sharp claws on its two front feet and is as big as a car. There's only one of them for now, which is a bit of a relief.
No, that won't do. I won't be complacent. If there was a rare variant nearby, we're beyond saving.
Why did I know about it? It's related to my work. I mean, past work.
Thankfully, two hunters were grabbing its aggro. One was using a mace and shield, while the other was using a couple of daggers.
Hunters, as the name implies, hunt fiends day and night. They're often hailed as heroes, especially the high-ranked hunters. They have the heavy responsibility of securing the safety of the citizens.
"Ugh..."
"Mr. Push!"
"I-I'm okay. Don't worry, I can still move. Now, let's go."
____
The two hunters are doing what they can until backup arrives. While they still can hold on, they can't deal a decisive blow. In their own words, their main DPS hasn't arrived yet.
"What's taking him so long!?"
The shield user bashed the Rodent with his shield. He was aiming for the head as he swung his mace, but it evaded and whipped its tail. He managed to fend it off as he groaned.
"Stop the crap and just focus on the fiend! We need to stall for time. Dang it, if only I got better weapons."
The guy wearing a typical ninja suit and wielding daggers swiftly dodged the tail but was about to be stabbed with the Rodent's claws. A shield hurled rapidly spun by his side. It repelled the attack, but the ninja was pushed away due to the fiend's swing.
"Nice timing, man!"
"Hah, now that's something! Like I'd let you get my comrade, you giant pest!"
"Sorry! I'm late, aren't I?"
A third person appeared behind them, gasping for air. In his hands is a cannon. It was shaped like the typical RPGs seen in shooting games, but instead of a physical bomb, it uses the user's magic power.
Mages exist, of course. But they're rare, and even if some people have magic powers, if they can't shoot it out of their body, then they're still unqualified as a fully-fledged mage and would rely on tools like the cannon. Another advantage for mages is the perk of being able to use a staff or a wand that amplifies the effects of their elemental attack. All the quasi-mages do is throw a lump of mana.
To summarize, real mages don't need tools to release their power; quasi-mages do.
"Eat this!"
The newcomer shot a load of mana at the fiend, greatly dealing damage. The Rodent squeaked in pain as it fell on the ground.
"Hurrah!"
The two frontliners celebrated with a high five. The shield user poked its carcass with its mace.
"I wonder if the core of this one sells decent."
"Don't worry, it will. Right...? W-what the...!?"
"Huh, what's wrong?"
He spotted the ninja pointing at their comrade behind. He was trembling.
The horrid display of their friend's lower half, bathing in blood, was in full display.
They're now in the presence of the artist of such a gruesome event. It donned white fur, twice as big as its normal variety. It's the rare variant.
___
"Rodents spotted at Karmir City. Citizens, please evacuate! A rare variant is also spotted! Please proceed with caution!"
The blaring warning repeatedly reverberated in the city. As we were staying inside the relief center, people were flocking in droves to find safety.
To make things worse, A rare variant appeared. That's beyond those two I saw earlier! I hope they're alright.
"Tessah, dear!"
This voice...mother's!
I quickly turned around to see my parents. I hugged them both. The two of them were then greeted by Mr. Push, who expressed his thanks to me.
"Kenny! You're here."
"It's all thanks to your daughter helping me out, Vard. You and Mae raised her well."
Vard and Mae Elande, my parents. My father is a well-built man with gray hair. His dark brown eyes showed sincerity, and his kindness knows no bounds. My mother was the more mature, strict version of me. Her black hair and eyes were as dazzling as the night sky. She's strict and would surely reprimand me if I were to err, but she was gentle and responsible as a mother and as a wife. They're my priceless fortune.
"Ma, are you two alright?"
"As you can see, dear."
My mother did an elegant twirl to show that she's completely unharmed. As for my father, he's busy glaring at the occasional glances of young men around us.
"These guys. Get your own girl, dammit! She's mine! She's my beloved wife!"
He boldly declared an incredibly awkward statement. Please, Ma. Stop him from blabbering more than that!
I look at her and realize that it won't happen. She was blushing and hugging Pa from behind, all while rubbing her face on his back.
"Ugh..."
"Isn't that great, Tessah? Your parents are lovey-dovey."
"Mr. Push, it's too much for my eyes. I just got my heart burned, skewered, sliced, and murdered."
A faint "Hoo" escaped Mr. Push's lips, showing pity as he patted my shoulder.
"No, please don't make that face, Mr. Push. I don't want pity."
"That's right, my dear daughter! You should stay strong! Romance is in our blood!"
Pa exclaimed to the top of his lungs, Ma by his side. She's clapping as if celebrating.
Thanks to this ruckus, the tense atmosphere subsided, albeit slightly.
"Ah, right, blood. Ha...haha."
I don't think that's it, Pa. If only that bastard had gotten a sliver of your personality, it might've been different. Not that I would pursue him anymore.
"Why didn't I have the same meticulous eyes as my Ma?" I muttered subconsciously.
___
Outside, the fight between hunters and fiends ensued. For Karmir City, a city located at the border of the country, a request for hunters to help would take a week. Most of them stationed themselves in the capital city, Kentron. Fortunately, there is a system in Contra that mandates three middle-tier and one high-tier hunters.
But even that has a flaw.
This time, the high-tier hunter was summoned back to the capital due to personal reasons, and there's nothing in the said system about replacement.
In other words, it's up to the three middle-tier hunters. And the three of them alone can't stop the fiends on their own. They had to rely on the low-tiers.
If only their coordination won't have a hiccup.
"Please, listen to us! A rare variant of a Rodent can kill us all if we don't help each other!"
"Gah! A pipsqueak is a pipsqueak! It's just a damn giant rat, but white, right!? Why the heck are we waiting here! Let's deal with them already!"
"This is why you're still low-tier! You bastards, you think they're easy prey!?"
"What did you say, you punk!?"
As the squabble continued, one of the middle tiers silenced all of them by shooting a myriad of ice shards behind them. Glancing, all of them were horrified to see twelve Rodents succumbed to death by her attack.
"Arguing more than this would be futile."
From her lips escaped a visible breath, occasionally seen in cold conditions; she sighed. Her crimson hair reached her waist, and her green eyes narrowed as she observed the spectators. Her tall stature made her more visible, adding more to her stunning features.
A rogue low-tier and a bossy mid-tier. Water and oil can't be mixed together, so she thought.
"Everyone, just deal with them all. In your own ways. However, we would not be held accountable for your actions, as you prefer to exercise your right to be independent in the midst of this situation."
She ran away towards the direction of the concentrated miasma blocks away.
"That's definitely the rare variant. I must make haste."