Chapter 215: Passing By
The desert stretched endlessly under a blazing sun, its golden sands shimmering like waves on a frozen sea.
The air was dry and heavy, carrying the faint tang of metal and gunpowder.
A light breeze did little to cool the soldiers standing at the edge of a narrow canyon.
This spot was carefully chosen because it was narrow enough to keep them from being surrounded by the enemy.
They set up their line along a makeshift barricade of steel spikes and sandbags.
Parked behind this barrier were several military-grade Humvees, their dark green paint chipped and worn from years of use.
Each vehicle was outfitted with mounted weapons: some had Gatling guns, while others carried missile launchers capable of unleashing devastating firepower.
The soldiers themselves were a mix of hardened veterans and desperate fighters, dressed in mismatched armor that showed their limited resources.
Many clutched assault rifles—mostly old AK-47s and M16s—while others carried heavier weapons like grenade launchers and sniper rifles.
The metallic clicks of loading ammunition and the hum of idling engines created a backdrop, interrupted only by the occasional shout of an officer.
Then, the ground began to shake.
It was subtle at first. But soon, the vibrations grew stronger, rattling the Humvees and sending ripples across the sand.
A low, chittering sound rose from the canyon, growing louder and more menacing with each passing second.
"They're coming!" a lookout yelled from atop one of the vehicles.
From the swirling sand and dust of the canyon, the first scorpion appeared.
It was massive, at least twice the size of a car, its brown, segmented body gleaming like polished stone.
Behind it came another, then another, until the entire narrow path was filled with them.
"Open fire!" the commander roared.
The Gatling guns roared to life, spinning rapidly as they spat out hundreds of bullets per second.
Streams of lead tore into the advancing horde, sparks flying as some rounds ricocheted off the scorpions' tough exoskeletons.
The soldiers aimed their rifles, firing in quick bursts. Each bullet was meant to hit the creature's weak spots, like their legs or soft joints.
At the same time, the missile launchers fired fast-moving rockets into the middle of the swarm.
Every explosion sent sand flying and tore apart the scorpions, leaving pieces of their broken bodies scattered on the ground.
But the monsters kept going. For every one that was destroyed, more crawled out .
"They're not stopping!" a soldier yelled, his hands shaking as he reloaded his gun.
"Hold your ground!" the commander shouted, his voice firm and steady, carrying across the line of soldiers.
He could feel the pressure mounting, but he wasn't about to let it show.
"We can't let this horde get past here, or we risk giving up more settlements!"
The soldiers nodded in unison, determination setting in as they gripped their weapons tighter.
There was no room for hesitation, no luxury of second-guessing. The air was thick with tension, every soldier bracing for the inevitable clash.
On top of the canyon, a figure appeared. She wore a black military uniform with crisp white edges, and a sharp hat with a shiny badge.
Her long silver hair flowed behind her, glinting like metal in the sun. In her hands, she carried a long, red weapon—a sword that looked like it could cut through anything.
At first, the soldiers didn't notice her. But then, she leapt down from the rocky edge, landing with a powerful thud.
"It's her!" someone shouted. "Major Skyler is here!"
A wave of hope swept through the troops. Morale soared as they realized who joined the fight.
SWOOOOSH!
She moved with breathtaking speed, every step and swing of her weapon perfectly timed. It was almost as if she could predict their movements.
One by one, the monsters were cut down without even having a chance to react.
Just like that, a single person managed to change the tide of the battle in humanity's favor.
Soldiers stared in awe as she cut through the swarm, her slim figure darting around the snapping claws and stinging tails.
"Let me handle this!" she ordered, her voice firm and confident.
The soldiers followed her command without question.
One of the creatures lunged at her from behind, its pincers inches away, but she spun around in a blur. Her red blade glowed in the sun as she sliced the monster's head clean off.
"She's amazing!" one young soldier shouted, his face lit up with admiration.
"Of course she's amazing; she's an S Rank awakener. This is easy for her,"
"Yeah, but it's not just about being strong. She's also really hot." added by another.
The commander, overhearing his soldiers comments, couldn't help but shake his head.
"Stop fantasizing," the commander scolded them. "Someone of her caliber is out of your reach. Even an S-rank awakener tried his luck, and guess what? He got rejected."
One soldier muttered, "Even an S-rank...?"
The commander nodded. "Yes, even someone as powerful as that."
"Don't get caught up in dreams. Respect her for what she is—strong, capable, and far beyond the likes of us."
One soldier, still sheepish, scratched his head nervously.
"I wonder if she'd like me if I'm even stronger than an S-rank," he joked with a playful grin, not entirely serious.
The commander, however, didn't share in the humor. He snorted loudly, a harsh sound that made the soldier shrink back slightly.
"Stronger than S-rank?" the commander shook his head. "That's impossible. They're already the peak of humanity."
The soldiers chuckled awkwardly at his sharp tone. It wasn't that they didn't understand his point—it was more that they had gotten carried away in the excitement of it all.
"Peak of humanity?."
The soldiers froze, looking around in confusion, wondering who would dare speak up against their commander.
Standing behind them was a man draped in a black robe, his face mostly hidden in shadow.
They didn't recognize the person—this wasn't anyone from their squad, nor anyone they had seen before.
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One soldier, standing closest to the figure, instinctively reached for his rifle, his fingers tightening around the grip.
The commander's eyes narrowed as he assessed the stranger.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
The figure looked up, a small, smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"I'm just a civilian passing by,"
The soldiers exchanged uncertain glances. No one was sure what to make of him.
Civilians didn't just wander into battlefields, especially not when things were this dangerous. But one thing was for sure, not just anyone could come here without sufficient ability and training.
Slowly, they started to consider the possibility that this stranger might be an awakener, just like Major Skyler, sent by the military to lend a hand if things went south.
"Bro!" a soldier with brown hair came closer, his tone light and casual.
His laughter broke the awkward silence. "Your question! So, does that mean you think S-rank is not the peak of humanity?"
"Can she destroy an entire city with a single strike?" the figure inquired, his voice devoid of arrogance.
He was simply trying to measure the true extent of S-rank, driven by curiosity rather than malice.
"That's totally impossible!" the brown-haired soldier declared with a dramatic shake of his head.