LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 15: Targon City, Military HQ
Chapter 15: Targon City, Military HQ
Erix and Rin sat beside each other, locking their arms at the front, while Isabella and her son Aaron sat behind them as they flew straight toward Targon City.
Bloodwood Eagle could fly at 440 kilometers per hour. That much speed, however, was too much for the passengers on the giant Eagle.
They had no seatbelts and no support while flying open on the Eagle's back, so they had to grab the Eagle's strong feathers as Erix commanded the Eagle to fly at moderate speed.
While traveling, they suddenly noticed an intensely bright light flashing on the horizon before a strange wave passed through them and continued as if it would sweep through the entire planet.
"What was that?" Rin wondered.
"I'm not sure, but it did not affect us. I am not feeling anything bad," Erix said before he turned his head to the back.
"Are you feeling any discomfort, Isabella?" Erix inquired.
"Nope. What about you, Aaron?"
"Nothing, mum. But I am hungry."
…
Targon City was a large city with a military headquarters, so they decided to go there to learn more about the world's situation. Furthermore, they desired to fight more powerful creatures and monsters to level up and complete their tasks after becoming stronger.
The city was about eighty kilometers away by road, but they arrived in about twenty minutes thanks to the eagle ride and soon saw a devastating view of the city from the top.
Zombies were everywhere!
"There must be a safe zone somewhere, with civilians and military personnel, "Erix said.
"Yep. The military headquarters," Rin nodded.
They continued flying over the city ahead while looking at the disaster below.
Soon, they arrived at the military base after passing over a heavy barricade. But it wasn't that crowded.
"They're on that monstrous Eagle? How?!"
The people below were astounded.
As people rushed to make room, Erix ordered the Eagle to land. The military was then notified, and a group of soldiers and a few other civilians with weapons arrived.
"Where did you come from?" a military officer inquired before glancing at the menacing Eagle.
"Ravinfox City," Rin replied before asking, "Is there food here, or do we have to go out in the city for it?"
"Mum, I'm hungry," Aaron grumbled.
"We have food. But that mutated Eagle... It appears that you've tamed it somehow," said a slim man with short black hair, wearing a pair of transparent rims and a formal suit outfit.
He held a staff with dark brown patterns in his hand. It was of the same level as Fiend Frost Hammer and Oni-Taijin Sword. Uncommon-grade.
"Have you tamed it fully?" the man continued with a question.
"Don't worry. It won't harm anyone," Erix said.
"Mum, I'm hungry," Aaron said again, making soldiers and other adults awkward.
A soldier took Erix, Rin, Isabella, and Aaron to a warehouse with a single table and food on it.
The food was simple rice and curry with salad.
Erix and others self-served before eating on the floor.
Rin took out her mobile phone to check things, but it was dead. "Why did it turn off when the battery was still fully charged? I can't even turn it on."
Erix took out his smartphone, which was also dead. "Could it be..." Erix muttered as he guessed something.
"That bright light?" Isabella speculated.
Erix and Rin both nodded as they came to the same conclusion.
…
In a hall somewhere in the military headquarters...
Ben walked into a room filled with high-ranking officers and politicians of Targon City.
"Senator Ben. Is your family settled?"
"Thank you for your prompt assistance," Ben said as he sat in a chair. "So, what's the plan?"
"Aside from zombies, we face other threats from strange monsters. When the internet was still available, we could contact other countries and discover that multiple eye-shaped portals that spat monsters on our world had appeared worldwide and ten giant towers that touched Earth's stratosphere.
"But we don't have any information about the towers."
"For us, the current problems are zombies and mutated creatures. We have fucking mutated car-sized frogs and dog-sized cockroaches with enhanced physical characteristics. The cockroaches we encountered the last time we went out killed thirteen of our soldiers with their fast speed and acid spits."
"We killed millions of cockroaches with those pesticide controllers and ate billions of chickens. I guess it's time for their vengeance on us," a man said as he chuckled with a rueful smile.
"Stop joking, Lieutenant."
"I apologize."
"But here's the good news: we can acquire skills. In addition, killing zombies and mutated creatures strengthens our physical bodies."
"On a negative note, we gain nothing by killing these zombies and creatures with our guns and bombs. We must kill them with a physical melee weapon wielded by our own hands. Furthermore, bullets do not affect tougher, higher level mutated creatures."
"Another disaster struck us recently. The bright light on the horizon rendered electricity useless. Tonight there is no light. Our helicopters, planes, missile launchers, and other things that use electricity aren't working."
Ben nodded. "Fortunately, we landed just as that light appeared."
"Our next step is to contact Phoenix City and gather forces to create a safe zone there. One of the giant towers is near that city, and we hope to get answers about this whole situation there."
"I planned to go to Phoenix city after a short break here to get information, but..." Ben shook his head. "It will be difficult to move without vehicles now."
*Knock, knock...*
"Come in."
"What's the matter, Ralph?"
"Sir, some people arrived in the base riding a mutated eagle."
"Hmm? Do you mean... A tamed mutated creature?" Ben questioned, raising his eyebrows.
"Exactly, sir."
"Did you ask him how he did it?"
"Not yet, sir. They are currently eating, "
"You are free to leave."
After the soldier left, Ben reflected, "Perhaps someone from that group acquired a skill that allowed him to tame a beast."
"Possible."
"if that person can use that skill to tame flying creatures for us, we can reach Phoenix City," Ben stated.
"I say, we must strengthen ourselves first. Our soldiers have leveled up and gained power. Some civilians also have skills and are strong. One of them even has a job class called Berserker. That man is extremely powerful."
"Oh?" Ben was surprised. "How powerful?"
"He threw a projectile punch made of red energy, which destroyed a level 22 mutated insect, turning it into a bloody mess. The thing is, bullets had no effect on that creature's carapace, whereas that guy's projectile punch did and did that creature thoroughly."
Ben felt surprised before pausing to think momentarily and nodding to General Tark. "You are correct, General. We need to strengthen ourselves. With how the world is going, we must rely on human strength to survive."
With a somber expression, he continued, "Before venturing into the city, let us gather those who have leveled up and are powerful. We'll also take our soldiers who haven't yet leveled up and let them kill zombies with melee weapons to make them stronger."
Ben nodded and added, "We still need to talk to that person who can tame creatures. With helicopters rendered useless, flying creatures are the only way for us to travel faster. The capital city, Phoenix, remains our goal. It is the largest and most powerful city in our Westine Country, so our main force will be there.
"But, we'll move there once we're sufficiently powerful to defend ourselves on the journey, "Ben finished speaking and got up.
"Alright," General Tark nodded. "Lieutenant Pollyn, you gather people willing to face danger outside to become strong while I'll go to those groups of civilians with skills and weapons they got from those treasure boxes and tell them about the plan."
Turning to Ben, General Tark continued, "Senator Ben, I hope you can convince that man with the taming skill to help us. I'll send some soldiers with you to meet that person."
"Leave it to me," Ben said with a nod.