Unexpected Threat Ahead of the Way

Luminova woke up, stirring gently beside Lady Elinalese. It was morning, and the first thing she sensed was the delicious aroma of freshly cooked fried egg and meat. She slipped out of the tent quietly, not wanting to disturb Elinalese, and stepped into the crisp morning air.

As Luminova exited the tent, she found Vincent cooking over a portable stove. Five new people, dressed in peculiar uniforms, stood nearby, keeping watch. 

"Good morning," Vincent greeted her, glancing up from the stove. "Breakfast will be ready soon."

Luminova's curiosity got the better of her. "Who are these men, Sir Vincent?"

"Ah they are working for me," Vincent answered. "There's nothing to worry about. They'll join us in our journey."

"I see…in that case, it's a pleasure to meet you all," Luminova bowed to all the special forces soldiers. The soldiers nodded in acknowledgment, their expressions remaining professional and focused.

Earlier in the morning, Vincent studied the features of the summoned personnel. Believe it or not, they are actual humans, with unique faces and characters. But what's more important is that they have absolute loyalty to Vincent and possess exceptional combat skills, making them valuable allies for the journey ahead.

As the rest of the group began to wake and join Luminova and Vincent, the air filled with the sounds of morning greetings and the sizzle of breakfast cooking. Lady Elinalese emerged from the tent, her hair slightly tousled but her demeanor were still composed and regal.

"Good morning, Sir Vincent," Elinalese greeted, her eyes landing on the special soldiers present in the camp. "Uhm…who are they?" 

"They work under Sir Vincent," Luminova interceded, noticing the princess's hesitation. "They will be also joining us in our journey back to the Kingdom of Eldoria."

Elinalese's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "I see. Then we are indeed in capable hands. Good morning to all of you."

The special forces soldiers nodded respectfully. "Good morning, ma'am."

"Ma'am? Why are they calling me ma'am, Luminova? Do I look old to them?" Elinalese asked with a hint of playful indignation.

Luminova chuckled softly. "I don't think they mean to offend you, Milady." 

"Breakfast is ready," Vincent announced, gesturing to the plates of food he had prepared. "Please, help yourselves."

The group gathered around, enjoying the warm meal in the cool morning air. The special forces soldiers maintained their watchful positions but joined in the meal.

After breakfast, Vincent led the girls to one of the spots in the camp and there, the girls saw something they have never seen before. It was kind of a metallic box with green paint all over it. One had four wheels and the other one had six wheels. 

The one with four wheels was the Oshkosh M-ATV, and the larger six-wheeled vehicle was the M939 truck.

"What are these?" Elinalese asked, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.

"They're vehicles," Vincent explained with a smile. "This one," he pointed to the M939 truck, "will be used to transport all of you. And this one," he indicated the Oshkosh M-ATV, "is for me and the soldiers."

The girls approached the M939 truck, touching the metal with hesitant fingers. "I've never seen anything like this," Luminova whispered. "How does it work?"

"So you mean you don't have vehicles in your country?" Vincent asked, tilting his head to the side.

"We do have vehicles…but they are pulled by either a horse or an oxen," Elinalese explained.

Vincent chuckled softly. "These are a bit different. They run on engines, not animals. Much faster and more reliable for long journeys."

"Engines?" Elinalese echoed, curiosity filling her voice. "What are engines?"

Vincent thought for a moment, trying to find a way to explain it simply. "Engines are machines that convert fuel into motion. They power the vehicle and make it move without the need for animals."

Even with Vincent's explanation, the girls didn't seem to fully comprehend the concept. However, they were intrigued and trusted Vincent's judgment.

"Just trust me," Vincent said reassuringly. "You'll be safe and comfortable during the journey."

"Now, let's get you all aboard, starting with you, Milady," Vincent said, motioning for Elinalese to step forward.

Elinalese hesitated for a moment before nodding and allowing Vincent to assist her into the M939 truck. The other maids followed suit, with Luminova being the last to climb in. Once everyone was settled, Vincent ensured they were all comfortable and secure.

"Alright, everyone," Vincent called out. "We're ready to move. This journey should take us about two hours if all goes smoothly."

"Two hours?" Luminova exclaimed. "That's impossible. It would take days if we use the horse-drawn carriage."

"But this is not a horse-drawn carriage, and you would think otherwise once we get moving," Vincent replied with a confident smile. He climbed into the Oshkosh M-ATV with his four special forces soldiers, giving a quick signal to the driver of the M939 truck to start the engine.

The vehicles roared to life, the sound startling the girls at first, but they quickly settled back into their seats, trusting Vincent's assurances. As the convoy began to move, they marveled at the smoothness and speed of the vehicles, a stark contrast to the bumpy, slow rides they were accustomed to with horse-drawn carriages.

The journey through the forest and over the hills was much quicker than any of them had anticipated. The special forces soldiers kept a vigilant watch, ensuring no threats approached the convoy. Vincent periodically checked in with the driver of the M939 truck, making sure the girls were comfortable and calm.

Suddenly, one of the soldiers in the Oshkosh M-ATV noticed something ahead. "Sir, there is an element ahead of us," he said, his voice tense but controlled.

Vincent immediately grabbed his binoculars and peered through them in the direction the soldier indicated. There, partially obscured by the trees, he saw a tall creature wielding a massive tree bark. The creature stood at least twelve feet tall, with rough, grayish skin and a single large eye in the center of its forehead. 

"What the heck is even that?" Vincent exclaimed. 

"We don't know sir…but should we continue moving?" 

"Yes, of course, stop the vehicles," Vincent ordered. The convoy came to a halt, and Vincent handed the binoculars to one of the soldiers, keeping his gaze fixed on the creature.

He exited the M-ATV from the passenger side and walked towards the back of the M939. Upon arriving, Milanova asked.

"Sir…why did we stop?" 

"We stopped because we spotted something ahead of the way," Vincent revealed. "We need you to identify it and tell us if it poses a threat."

Milanova's eyes widened with concern. "What kind of creature?"

Vincent gestured for Milanova to follow him back to the front of the convoy. As they approached the Oshkosh M-ATV, Vincent took the binoculars from the soldier and handed them to Milanova.

"Here, take a look," Vincent instructed, pointing towards the direction where the creature was seen.

Milanova peered through the binoculars, her breath catching as she saw the monstrous figure. "By the gods," she whispered. "It's a Cyclops!"

Vehicles: 

Land: 1x M939 series 5-ton 6×6 truck, 1x Oshkosh M-ATV

Air:

Water:

Amphibious:

Spawn personnel count.

Infantry: 0

Special Forces: 5 

Officers: 0 

Non-combat personnel: 0