Expedition

The training couldn't really be called anything but incompetent. The group had no coordination and it was impossible for everyone in the group to operate correctly. And just like that, the remaining month had already come to an end. With the fifth division having finished most preparations for departure.

Although Jack had indeed made his best to prepare the group for the expedition, it was impossible for them to have reached an appropriate level in the past 2 months. After all, the demon force didn't even have any equipment that could allow the demonic humans to gain any strength.

The fifth division had as of now gathered in the cafeteria of their building, having their last meal before their public execution.

"Sigh...This is it", Jack who said those words spoke in an exhausted tone, however, the other members noticed a big smile on his face, sending shivers down their spines.

Following this, not even Zain decided to say another word.

Finishing their meal, the group left the building to meet at the front entrance of the Core.

Around 15 trucks had been lined up, ready to leave at any moment, with many of them seemingly taking the equipment necessary to make a temporary base.

Jack could already tell what was the basic plan.

The fifth division would go forward and explore the tunnel, once that is done, the rest of the expedition would follow and set camp on the other side.

Basically setting an outpost for the future safety of the sacred land.

Crowds of soldiers had already formed around the group, many excited at the sight of progress for humanity. Many of them not knowing of the truth.

It wasn't long until another soldier approached the group, introducing himself as someone part of the second division, he guided the group to vehicles that rested at the front of the expedition.

Since only Jack and Zain could drive, the group divided themselves into two, with Carl and Lily following Jack to the first truck.

Time passed, and it was only a few moments later that Jack finally received the signal to move forward. Going past the gates, Jack was met with crowds of citizens all cheering for the expedition.

Unsurprisingly for Jack, however, Lily was jumping out of the window of the truck catching the air like a puppy. Carl also seemed excited like a little child that didn't want to show any of it.

Driving slowly through the streets like previously informed, Jack couldn't help but be angered the moment he started to hear a certain voice.

[HAHAHAHA, Hello my dear citizens, I'm Howard Chiesly, commander of the second division...I want to thank everyone who has come to send off our dear brave soldiers for the future of humanity. This expedition had been in the works in secret for almost 2 years, but it was only now that we were able to successfully achieve our goal...Together with our new powerful allies the demonic humans, we can now finally explore the outside world.]

Cheers exploded upon hearing the news of the expedition, however, amongst the crowd, Jack could see the doubtful looks of many.

He knew they were doubting everything the fat man had said.

But most of them were most likely questioning the demonic humans, whilst demonic humans were indeed a secret for the most part, it was actually public information that they indeed existed.

However, the public didn't know they were nothing more than experiments. And whilst Jack still had a lot of anger in him after hearing the announcement, he held it inside, as he knew that he would pay him back soon enough.

*

Finally, outside of the town, the expedition group made its way through the asphalt road that led to the only entrance and exit of the sacred land. Stopping before entering the tunnel, Jack was approached by a familiar face.

"Hello, Mia", Answering nonchalantly like always, Jack smiled while greeting her.

"Hello, Jack", Taking a deep breath before responding, Mia kept a stoic face as she greeted him.

Seeing as how there were many eyes, watching them, it was best for the both of them to act as they would normally do.

"Are you also coming with us, or are you just staying here for now?"

"I have to stay behind and stop anyone from deserting the mission, don't worry about it."

Feeling a sigh of relief, Jack murmured, "Thank god"

However, before he could even react, Mia grabbed Jack by the collar of his shirt and almost pulled him out of the truck. With their faces now closer than ever, Mia whispered into Jack's ear.

"Don't die on me."

The still-perplexed Jack quickly calmed down and responded to Mia's unusual message, "Don't worry, you little brat."

Finally letting go of him, Mia left the group alone, and Jack who turned around was faced with the aggressive and feral Lily, whose eyes were following behind Mia.

"Who was that?", The one asking the question was Carl, who was also ready to fight.

Seeing as though there was no point in hiding it now, Jack responded to the question with full honesty, "My sister."

***

After some more unnecessary waiting amongst the expedition group, with Jack and Zain at the front not knowing what exactly was going on, the green signal was finally given for them to advance.

Remaining behind, the second division units, watched as the two vehicles disappeared into the distance. Many of the second division believed, that the fifth division would perish on this dumb exploration.

However, Jack wasn't without tricks of his own.

Immediately activating his demonic abilities, Jack's eyes turned black with nothing but a red ring inside but unlike his demonic eyes, the dark surrounding immediately turned bright.

Allowing Jack to see in the darkness.

Lily also activated her shadows, creating a pair of ears, a nose, and some eyes, as instructed by Jack before the expedition.

The sacred land was basically a territory surrounded by large mountains with nothing but a large city on its plain, with the only way out of the territory being a large man-made tunnel created in the past.

However, even though this tunnel was once used by humans to enter this sacred land, it was now nothing but a dark land with dangers lurking in on every corner.

Or so was what Jack and the rest of the fifth division thought, however, now with twenty minutes of driving already having gone past with nothing catching the group's sight, they were finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

As the group got closer and closer to the light, Jack started to notice something strange. The light coming from the outside world was red.

And while slowly approaching the exit, Jack put his hand out, signaling Zain, "Prepare for battle if necessary."

After saying saw, Lily deactivated her shadow abilities, instead saving her energy for the possible battle as taught by Jack in the past. Carl had also grabbed onto his rifle and was ready to create a wall to protect the others.

Anastasia had activated her six strings, whilst Stefen on the other hand was putting on a pair of gloves full of spikes and blades made out of strings.

Jack started to slow down, and even now, he had yet to deactivate his demonic ability.

.

.

.

Finally existing in the tunnel, Jack and the others were met with a mighty unusual find. However, with no time to waste to look at the scenery, the group immediately stopped, leaving their vehicles and getting into the same formation they had practiced before.

But no enemies were on the radar, nothing was nearby, to say the least.

And it was only then that Jack was able to finally look around.

A red sun, black lands with red glowing magma-looking veins around, fires, and most of all desolation like nothing he had ever seen before. Noticing the surrounding environment, Jack proceeded to pull out a radio from inside his bag.

[This is the fifth division's commander, Jack Walcker, do you copy? Over]

[Zzzzt, this is the second division's unit two leader, Benny Jorad, are we clear to advance? Over]

[Yes, Over]

[Understood. Over]

After informing the rest of the expedition that the coast was clear, Jack finally started to analyze his surroundings.

Many questions were rising in his head, the more he looked around.

'How is the sun red on this side?'

'Why is everything black?'

'And why is it, that there is not a single being around?'

Looking downwards, Jack noticed that he was standing on the black soil that made the outside land. Lowering his body, he scrapped a little bit of the soil into his hands.

'It's not hot unlike what I expected.'

However, Jack found it to be nothing like dirt. It wasn't coarse, gritty, smooth, or even sticky.

It was like an unusual piece of dust, as the moment Jack had picked it up, the small particles of dirt started to fly up in the air, disappearing like a black powder. Jack also noticed something that greatly caught his mind, the black soil was spreading slowly, almost like a living fungus trying to spread itself anew.