4 Transmigration (4)
"Captain!"
The soldiers salute Wolf.
"At ease. We've received orders to mobilize to that damned place again."
The soldiers can't help but tremble and look afraid, no one can blame for being afraid. Who is not afraid of an enemy you can hurt but can kill you easily?
Wolf looks at his unit, from a big unit of thirty men is now reduced to only ten. 12 people died in the first attack, while the rest are injured and still lay on the medical bot.
"No need to worry, I won't send you to your death and I won't let anyone do it either. The Federation knows our plight and sends specialists to help us. This is Spira, Foster, and Imba.
Our mission today is to escort and protect Spira and Foster to the barrier to study the damn thing."
"Sir, what about the hostiles? We can't handle them."
One of the soldiers spoke up.
"No need to worry, Imba here will take care of the hostels. He is someone who specializes in hunting things like those Invisible bastards."
All the soldiers look at Imba, they doubt Imba can handle the entities.
"Lieutenant Jack has personally verified Imba strength, so if you have doubt, take it to the Lieutenant."
All the soldiers are relieved a little, it can be seen that Jack is trusted and respected by the soldiers under him.
"Now, all of you, line up before Spira and Foster, they will bless you. It can offer some protection for you."
"Yes."
The soldiers line up orderly.
"Imba, follow me."
The two go to a counter.
"This is where the soldiers get their weapon. Unless it is an emergency, all weapons need to be recorded when they are taken out of the depot and given to soldiers. Normally, only soldiers can ask for weapons but you have been granted access to almost all weapons except the classified and special ones. Let me give you the clearance."
[Sir, a limited military clearance has been received.]
Ley's voice rings inside Imba's head.
"You got it, right? Now what kind of gun do you want?"
"I really want to say handcannon but unfortunately, my gift only works with physical contact so show me the melee weapon please."
Imba truly admires the one who thinks of the concept of handcannon. The big bulky weapon with astonishing power. Imba's favorite pastime is to play a game that allows him to use the handcannon. No matter if it's FPS or a hunting game. This mission is the perfect chance for him to try using one in real life but unfortunately, his gift doesn't allow that.
So Imba thought to quickly finish the mission and ask for permission from the lieutenant to try shooting one.
"Hm, I think I know a weapon that will satisfy you. Lokes, can you get me the Black Buster?"
"Sure, Sir give me your clearance."
Imba instructs Ley to send the clearance into the computer.
"Clearance verified, please wait a moment."
The staff input something into the keyboard, then the sound of gears moving sound from behind him. Quickly the wall behind him opens up and a black box is pushed out from it. The mechanical arm takes the box and places it on the counter table. It is a big and long box. The staff scan the number on the box before the box opens automatically.
Inside the box is a black buster sword. The mechanical sword takes the sword out.
"Black Buster, a weapon that combines sword and cannon. Total length 1,5 meters and weight more than 400kg. The blade is 1m long, 40cm in width, and 30cm in thickness, diamond cross-section with no tip. The cannon occupies most of the inside of the blade, it shoots a concentrated energy ball with high penetration power.
Made from tungsten alloy, tough, and with high shock and heat resistance properties. But, while the blade is hard, it is dull.
The crossguard can be used as a handle, the trigger is on the hilt. The energy battery is at the center of the crossguard, there is a button near it to eject the battery. The hilt is 0,5 meters in length, synthetic cover, anti-slip. Diamond-shaped pommel.
Evaluation: the creator has interesting ideas but failed to realize them the way he wants them to be. But still, he creates a somewhat effective weapon. It is a sword-shaped cannon that can be used to pummel enemies should the user run out of ammo.
Can fire multiple times and be used as a sword while waiting for it to cool down."
The cold voice explains the weapon to Imba. Wolf can see Imba is attracted by the weapon. Imba likes the Black Buster the moment he laid eyes on it. The sword shape and the big cannon in the sword. He just loves the concept of the Black Buster.
Imba grabs the hilt and tries swinging it, it is heavy. But Imba can move it effectively, he grabs the handle and uses it to help aims the Black Buster.
"It seems you like it."
"Can I really use this?"
Despite saying that, Imba doesn't want to let go of the Black Buster, he even wants to take it home after the mission, though he knows it is impossible.
"Sure. Oh and get him an S-Armor and combat suit."
"Will do."
The staff input another order and two little boxes quickly appear. Inside one is man spandex that covers everything except the face. Another box is a military combat suit.
"What is this?"
"To explain it simply, it's a downgrade of power armor. If power armor can multiply your strength, the S-Armor only gives a little boost to your strength and movement. The combat suit provides another layer of protection. With this, you are fully equipped. Go change."
"Okay."
There is a changing room beside the counter. Imba quickly wears the S-Armor and combat suit. Both have a size-adjusting function, so one size fits all. The combat suit is quite heavy while the S-Armor weighs the same as it looks. Imba feels the combat suit suits him quite well.
"Ho, it suits you. How about joining the army? I can use new blood in my unit. You can always use the Black Buster if you enter the army."
"Tempting, but I have no plans to enter the army at the moment."
"A pity. Let's go."
The two then go back to where the unit was. Jack is already there, waiting for them. Spira blesses Imba, just in case.
"Everyone is here, we'll begin the mission. Go in the A.T.V."
The A.T.V is a big black vehicle with threads in the back and a huge tire on the front. The A.T.V rushed out of the base after everyone got in. Imba finally can see the planet with his own eyes. It is a sand planet with the desert as far as the eyes can see. Devoid of plants and animals, a dry husk of a planet. There are a lot of mountains near the base.
"Now, let's confirm the sequence of the mission. When he reached the hut, put all energy on the energy radar. I want full coverage around the A.T.V and in front of it."
"Understood!"
The staff on the A.T.V answer Jack loudly.
"Once we confirm the number of the hostels, Imba will proceed to wipe them out while catching one."
"Lieutenant, how many entities have you discovered?"
"At the moment, five. You have to know, even the energy radar is barely effective on them. So the number might fluctuate, you need to be prepared."
"Got it. But if the number exceeds ten, I'll put my focus on capturing one and we'll retreat immediately after."
"Alright."
If it's just five, Imba has the confidence to handle them easily but if it's ten or more. That will be too dangerous.
"Then in the case, the number is right and after the entity is wiped out, Spira and Foster will disembark with the unit to the barrier. We will go back to the base before dark, with or without a result. We'll resume the mission another day. Is everyone clear?"
"Yes."
"Good. when will we arrive?"
"In 10 minutes."
"Pay attention to the energy radar."
"Yes, Lieutenant."
The whole A.T.V is silent. Spira and Foster are praying, the other soldiers are checking their weapons, Jack and Wolf rest. Imba also closed his eyes.
The 10 minutes pass quickly. When Imba opens his eyes, he can already see the black hut in the distance. When the A.T.V stops 100 meters away from the hut, Imba can clearly see the entities. They are even more disgusting when seen up-close, they are banging on empty air. But Imba can see some faint drawing flashing in the air when the entities hit. Imba doesn't know what that is.
"Position and number of the entities."
"Five, all in one place, in front of us."
"What do you see?"
"From what I can see, there are only five. I'll get going, please get the cage out."
"Godspeed."
Imba nods at Jack, he put on a helmet and disembarks from the A.T.V.
"Get closer when the fight starts and get the cage out."
"Yes, Sir."
Imba rush toward the entities, 100 meters is nothing for Imba. The entities quickly catch the smell of the living and turn to Imba, with a roar, they all rush toward Imba.
"Let's try it."
Imba holds the Black Buster and aims it at the entities, he pulls the trigger and a ball of energy shoots out from the Black Buster. It hit the entities and yet, it just passed through without harming the entities.
"It really is useless."
Imba shakes his head but quickly focuses, one of the entities already near him. The entity lunged at him. The strong smell of decay rushes to Imba, he sidesteps and slashes the Black Buster at the entity's waist. It doesn't cut it into two, but it throws the entity into the entity behind him. Imba rush and quickly slash at the two entities that have fallen. Imba's strength and the sword's weight combine, the entities bodies bend out of shape. They are still alive but won't be standing anytime soon. It won't end until Imba completely destroys their body.
The other three entities don't falter or rather, they don't think and are controlled by instinct without any emotion like fear. Imba jumped back as two entities attacked landed on his previous position. He swings the Black Buster and hits the two Entities in the head, their heads deform but the entity only staggers. Imba spins and hits the entity's legs and immobilizes them. Imba knows the reason he can easily handle the entities is because of the increase in his strength brought by the military-grade potion.
The last Entity slashes his claws at Imba but with a swing of the Black Buster, the entity's hands were scrapped. Another slash and the entity's legs bend to unnatural angles. Despite the heavy injuries that would easily kill a human, all the entities are alive and crawling toward Imba.
Imba looks behind and waves his hand to the A.T.V. To Jack and the others, it looked like Imba was slashing at the air and playing. But the energy radar shows the hostiles are already taken down, so with Jack's permission, the A.T.V drive closer. Only Spira and Foster witness the fight. They are astonished by both Imba's courage and strength. Courage for fighting the entities at close distance and the strength to easily take them down.
When the cage is out of the A.T.V, Imba pushes the entity with crushed arms and legs in. He looks at the other entities, their limbs are recovering. Imba gathers them and just pummels them violently. Slowly the four entities are reduced to a pulp of black mess. Imba finally stops, the entities are dead. Their bodies stop regenerating and slowly crumble down to black ash.
"Lieutenant, except for the entity in the cage, all other entities' energy is gone."
Jack is relieved and feels the federation chose the perfect person for this mission. The entity that stumps him is finally gone. Wolf and his units can hardly believe what is happening. The entities that almost wiped out their unit were wiped out by one person and from the looks of it, he did it pretty easily. Foster and Spira recall what Imba said that he was stronger than them in a sense, he wasn't lying.
"Then everyone disembarks, be cautious."
"Yes."
They all come down from the A.T.V and look at Imba, who is putting the Black Buster on his shoulder. But Imba isn't paying attention to them and keeps looking at the barrier, he sees the faint drawing moving in the barrier. He wonders what it is, he feels the word is calling him.
"Ley, record the word and put it into a separate folder."
[Yes, sir.]
Ley can't see the immaterial things Imba sees but it can see by scanning the image in Imba's brain. The cage is put inside the A.T.V again as the group walk to the barrier, Imba follows them from behind. Despite the entities gone, the soldiers are tense and keep looking around with their energy scope. The A.T.V also keeps the energy radar running at full capacity. Imba also pays attention to the surroundings.
Spira and Foster look at the barrier curiously, they touch the barrier and test many things. Jack and Wolf stand behind them. Imba looks at the barrier and he finds more and more of the drawing on the barrier. Some are the same and some are different. As time passes, he feels that the drawing is not drawing but words, a really complicated word.
He is shocked and curious, how can the words fly around and produce such a wondrous barrier. He looks more closely and he finds the rope with herbs hanging on them. Is it related to the word and the barrier?
"How is it? Do you find anything?"
Spira and Foster shake their head,
"We do find something but it is insignificant. We only know that the barrier is made from energy close to what we call Spiritual Energy. It is usually found on strong mediums and ghosts, but it is different. The energy here is more robust and it seems to be continually supplied from the inside.
Unless we can find the key to the barrier, to deactivate the barrier, we can only wait for the energy to empty or destroy the barrier with a strong energy-based attack. We haven't discovered anything more than that."
"I see, it is much better than nothing, I guess."
Jack isn't disappointed much since he knows that studying unknown technology will take a long time, especially a technology as unique as this. At this time, Imba suddenly touches the barrier and a change occurs.
"What?"
The barrier shines and the word that is floating in the barrier rushes to Imba's hand and into his head.
"AAAAAHHHH!!"
Strange knowledge rushed into Imba's brain. Others haven't calmed down and another change occurs. From the black hut, a black shadow rushed out like a bullet, aiming at Imba. he wants to dodge but his hand is frozen on the barrier and his brain is hurting from the rushing knowledge. The black shadow shot to Imba's head and a great flash of light like the sun came out with Imba as the center.
Everyone closed their eyes. The light persists for a minute before disappearing. When everyone opens their eyes again. The black hut and rope turn to ash, the barrier is gone. Imba disappeared.
