Volatile Reaction #32

Standing at the beach south of the base, I found myself staring into the distance at the NO. 1 Wildlife Sanctuary. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing, and the feeling of my boots sinking into the sands provided a small comfort against the turmoil in my mind.

Beside me, Elena shifted her weight, her eyes fixed on the same distant cluster of pointy, mountainous rocks shrouded in mist. From this far away, it looked like nothing more than an ethereal silhouette against the horizon, but the sight was enough to make my stomach churn.

"I'd appreciate it if you stepped staring in awe, looking like a great eagle stature... preferably now so we can make the journey sometime today," Elena said, her voice carrying a hint of impatience.

I rolled my eyes, trying to shake off the unease that had settled over me. "Give me a break, will you? The place looks a bit intimidating... I just need a minute..." I admitted.

Vito appeared beside me, his presence as unwelcome as ever. "You can somehow keep your cool while dealing with SHIELD's spooks, but a little trip has you on edge?" he mocked, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "I can never tell if you've got a pair on you, or if you're just bipolar..."

I glanced at Vito, letting out a weary sigh and palming my face.

Vito chuckled, a low, grating sound. "Awe... and here I thought you'd be happy to see me after a couple of days of not seeing this gorgeous face of mine...."

He wasn't wrong. Vito had been a constant presence on my first day back on Palbagos Island, his sarcastic remarks and relentless badgering making it difficult to focus.

But over the next several days, his appearances had waned until he was completely gone by the fourth day. I had been too absorbed in exploring the island, hunting pals, and upgrading my gear to feel any stress, but now, staring at the sanctuary, the old anxieties crept back in.

Elena's voice broke through my thoughts. "Look, I get it. The place looks daunting, the PDF goons are scary. But we've been preparing for over a week now... you're as ready as you'll ever be."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. She was right. The wildlife sanctuaries belonged to the PDF, a bona fide army, well-armed and trained. It wasn't the first time I'd faced a daunting task, but something about this place unnerved me.

"We'll be fine," Elena continued, her tone firm. "We've got each other's backs, and we know what we're doing."

I took another look at the distant sanctuary, trying to draw strength from her words. This had been a refuge, a place where I could lose myself in the simple, primal tasks of survival. But no matter how much I tried to pretend, it was no haven.

Palnagos Islands had their own chalenges and dangers, and I would have to face them sooner or later if I wanted to thrive, both here and in the Marvel World.

"Alright," I said, my voice steadier. "Let's get moving."

Elena let out a sigh of relief that honestly grated on my nerves as she retrieved a pal sphere from her pack and hurled it into the ground. I mimicked her actions, and soon enough, two Vanwyrms materialized from the spheres, both equipped with leather saddles.

The massive, feathered beasts towered over us, their sharp eyes gleaming with intelligence and a touch of wildness.

Looking at the two Vanwyrms, I felt the pit in my stomach grow deeper, a vivid memory of almost falling off a ladder in my past life flashing through my mind. Heights had never been my friend, and the idea of riding a gigantic bird across a vast expanse of ocean wasn't exactly filling me with inner joy.

Still, I decided to keep my past trauma to myself, not wanting to showcase yet another lame moment today.

I took a deep breath and climbed into the saddle, my legs tightening around the creature's back, and my grip holding the saddle harder than I cared to admit. The Vanwyrm let out a loud shriek, spreading its wings wide. I glanced over at Elena to see that she had already mounted her Vanwyrm. With a confident pat on its neck, her mount took to the sky, flapping its wings and hovering overhead.

Vito alternated his gaze between me and Elena, a smirk playing on his lips. "If you keep acting like a pussy, you won't keep the boss position for long. Soon enough, she'll be the boss of you."

I shot him a glare but chose not to comment. Instead, I gave my Vanwyrm a tentative pat on the neck. "Come on, buddy, take us up, but take it ea—"

My sentence was cut short, replaced by a loud "whoa" as the Vanwyrm suddenly flapped its wings and took to the sky, lifting me along with it. The ground fell away rapidly, the ocean below transforming into a vast, glittering expanse.

The wind whipped against my face, and my heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to focus on the task at hand.

Elena's Vanwyrm led the way, gliding smoothly through the air. I did my best to follow, adjusting my grip and trying to find a rhythm with the creature's movements.

Vito's taunts and presence faded into the background as I concentrated on staying balanced, the thrill of the flight mingling with the fear still gnawing at me.

"You're doing good!" Elena called out, her voice barely audible over the wind. "Just keep steady and follow my lead."

I nodded, though I wasn't sure if she could see me. The Vanwyrm's powerful wings beat a steady rhythm, and gradually, I began to relax, the initial terror giving way to a cautious exhilaration.

The view from up here was breathtaking, the island's lush jungles and rocky cliffs stretching out as I looked back, the sea a shimmering expanse of blue as I set my eyes on the horizon. It was a magical experience, to say the least.

After what felt like fifteen minutes of soaring through the sky, the island finally came into closer view. Surrounded by jagged rocks jutting out of the water, it looked nothing like a wildlife sanctuary.

The massive rocks leaning over the island from the back, visible even from a distance, seemed less like a natural occurrence and more like something man-made, with strange symbols and square shapes etched into their surfaces.

The island itself appeared barren, dotted with a few dead trees here and there.

What caught my attention the most, however, was the sight of seven soldiers dressed in black military garb. They surrounded a large creature that looked like a bipedal, stocky bear covered in yellow fur with black lightning bolt patterns on both of its arms and its white, round belly.

The creature roared loudly, using its long, sharp claws to swipe at the soldiers while they kept a cautious distance, prodding it with long cattle rods. Their actions only seemed to anger the creature more as it let out an even louder roar, electricity dancing around its body.

I turned to Elena to ask what the hell was going on and what that thing was, but my words didn't even seem to register with her. Her eyes were glued to the creature, her expression darkening. Then, out of nowhere, she let out a curse through gritted teeth.

"Motherfucker," she spat before diving down toward the soldiers, fury etched across her face.

I barely had time to react before she was plummeting toward the scene below. "Wait! What the hell is going on!" I shouted, but it was too late. She was already descending rapidly, her Vanwyrm's wings cutting through the air with powerful strokes.

Eyes wide open, I watched as Elena jumped off the Vanwyrm once she was close to the ground, landing squarely on one of the soldiers and knocking him to the ground. In a fluid motion, she swung her baseball bat, the heavy thud of impact echoing over the shoreline.

Her Vanwyrm didn't stay idle either. With a fierce screech, it swooped down, seizing another soldier in its sharp talons and breathing a jet of fire into his face. The soldier's scream was cut short as the Vanwyrm dropped him onto the jagged rocks near the shore.

The sight of Elena drawing her shotgun and diving behind cover to exchange fire with the rest of the soldiers finally snapped me out of my daze. I urged my Vanwyrm downwards, the creature responding immediately, and we dove towards the fray.

Landing a few meters from Elena, I dismounted quickly, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I could hear the distinct crack of gunfire as she returned fire, her shotgun booming with each shot. The soldiers, momentarily disoriented by her sudden attack, scrambled for cover.

...

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