Chapter 21 - Battle of Reach I

(Second bonus chapter. Can't sleep so I write till morning.)

Two days after his day off with five Alice touring the city while enjoying what it has to offer.

It wasn't even morning yet. It was 3 am in the morning when Adam accidentally noticed a fleet of Bullhead and Atlesian battle fleets flying past Vale and heading straight to Reach.

Agent appeared soon after to inform Ada what just happened. Apparently the Grimms had ceased their attack on the Zombie Grimms. Without an opponent to fight, the Zombie Grimms set their eyes to Reach. The battle had started two hours ago. The local garrison with the Huntsmen sent from all four kingdoms gathered in reach due to tbe anomaly, fought against the horde of Zombie Grimms.

Due to the strategic location of Reach, located on top of a plateau. Reach was originally a supply outpost from the time of the great war. Thus its location was well defended with bunkers all around the plateau.

However, as Adam feared. A flying Grimm was infected and now there is a giant flock of Zombified Nevermore attacking Reach. The fleet of Bullhead was to send supplies of ammunition and other necessary supplies they lacked.

As for the Atlesian battle fleet, they have to send out support despite the state of their military after the assassination attempt on General Ironwood because they are the bastion of Humanity. They have to show support against a common enemy despite the infighting to succeed General Ironwood's position. They cannot afford to lose the trust people have on the Atlesian military.

"What is your order, Master?" Agent ask and wait.

"I will go alone. My identity is well known due to my guns and armor, the Atlesian will immediately recognise me and I cannot let them learn about any of you yet." He said.

"But…" Agent want to argue that it's dangerous but the current Adam is immune to the Virus after taking the Flawless Progenitor Virus. His new strength is also quite monsterous. To crush steel and lift truck like nothing. "Alright, Master. I will prepare a Bullhead immediately."

"Thanks, Agent." Adam is relieved that Agent didn't stop him. He understand they worried about his safety but to the point of preventing him from fighting is troublesome.

———

An hour and a half later, a Bullhead hover over the battlefield just outside of reach. From the distance, he can see numerous flashes of light illuminating the edge of the plateau from the continuous shooting of firearms.

The Zombie Grimms that couldn't fly are desperately trying to climb up the plateau even if they have to stack up their body like the scene straight out of World War Z, the battle in Jerusalem of zombies scaling the wall.

"Happy hunting, Master." Agents send off Adam on the open hatch as Adam jumps off the aircraft and lands on the ground without any injury.

He summoned the Ronson 5x5 which immediately appeared in his hands as his HUD was going online and the aim assist software was calibrating itself automatically. His reason for choosing his shotgun is simple, he will engage mostly in close quarter combat and it's literally his most augmented gun which has the highest damage.

Adam then sprints closer to the battlefield.

He isn't the only one fighting on the ground as there are teams of Huntsman and also Atlesian mechs and robots sweeping the Zombie Grimms while the Atlesian warship's main cannon is providing fire support on the ground while also fighting over the air superiority against swarms of Zombie Nevermore with AA batteries.

His first encounter with enemies was a pack of Zombie Beowolves. Unlike their fresher counterparts from Ansel, these are much smaller in size, with almost no changes in size and carrying the smell of decay while their body looks shriveled up and their fur no longer glossy and look sickly.

They mindlessly rush toward him before opening their jaws wide in an attempt to bite him to spread the infection. But before they could reach Adam, he fired his shotgun and tore a hole through the jaw and head, destroying the brain which killed the host of the virus. Without the brain, the virus can no longer puppet the host and the host will truly die.

The next Beowolf also gets pellets through the skull, turning it inside into mush before it falls on the ground and dies.

The third one manages to sneak up behind the second and almost bite Adam's arm but he delivers a swift left hook to thwart it's attempt before he stomp the head with his boot which smash it open like watermelon.

"Ugh! They smell like rotting corpse!" Adam immediately regretted it because now his boot smells too.

More Zombified Beowolves swarming in on him but he came prepared. He took a few Incendiary Grenades from his Inventory which he obtained from GFL world and tossed two in front of him.

The burning flame easily sticks to their fur and turns the Beowolves into a running ball of fire. Unsurprisingly, the Zombified Beowolves didn't care if they were on fire and just kept attacking him but soon few started dying from being cooked alive. The virus isn't immune to heat after all.

Also another thing he noticed, the XP he gained from killing Zombified Grimms is higher and they also drop Cash.

"Maybe its a way to encourage me." Adam mutters as he increased his pace as he getting more comfortable fighting.

He summoned Operators to assist him while he toss more Incendiary Grenades to burn the increasing number of Zombified Grimms swarming his way.

While the number of Zombified Grimms he diverted away from the main battlefield is just a tiny fraction of it, its a progress regardless. If only he can conveniently borrow a nuke or something. Perhaps then he can do a significant change.

The fire from the Incendiary Grenades had caused quite the ruckus as he just started a forest fire, intentionally or not. This attracted a team of Huntsman to his position. But to their surprise, they found Adam fighting against those Zombified Grimms alone with surprising efficiency.

"Let's help him quick!"

The team of Huntsman approach Adam which he noticed as green dots on his minimap means allies.

"We are here to help. Where is the rest of your team?" The leader of the team wielding a mechshift chainsaw and shotgun combo asked.

"I'm alone without team." Adam replied and stomp another Beowolf that tried to sneak up on him which is difficult because he have the minimap that reveal the location of all enemies in his vicinity.

"What! You are either a brave person or a reckless bastard." The team leader scold Adam while he shot down three Beowolves with wind Dust enhanced slug shells and cut down two more after transforming his shotgun into a chainsaw.

"I'm not a Huntsman to form team." Adam shrugs.

"Wait, you are mercenary? Do you even have Aura?" The leader look stunned for a moment and almost sneak up by another Beowolf but thwarted by his teammates.

"I do." Adam lied and make his barrier appear for a moment by injecting more energy. "I have a Semblance too." He lied again and show his Protective Aura skill which increases the defences of allies close to him.

The Huntsmens look in surprise when their body is covered by a blue glow. They can feel their Aura Barrier become more rigid and sturdy under the effect of the skill. Almost as if their Aura Barrier thickness doubled.

"Although it didn't have wide range. It only affects people nearby me." Adam added.

"Damn, you would be an invaluable teammate if anyone know about this. Yet you are not a Huntsman." The leader sighed regretfully. "Well, how about joining us temporarily?"

"Sure." Adam agreed immediately.

Thus Adam secured a temporary teammates for this battle.

———

On the Atlesian battleship, Winter and her team of Specialists didn't join the battle below and instead tasked to guard General Ironwood who insisted to participate. Which, in her opinion is better than leaving him in the chaotic pool of Atlas that had been brewing with conflict.

After the assassination attempt, General Ironwood is even more convinced that Adam White is a threat, thinking its a retaliation from the organization backing him.

Winter's opinion is also the same but he had it in for him. Had he not purposely antagonize someone, would anyone try to retaliate at him? No. It's precisely because he tried to antagoize someone that they retaliated.

Also she heard of the new budding Dust mining company, SF Heavy Industry. Seemingly endless amount of fund, purchasing raw material and acquiring companies and factories effortlessly. Her theory was this is the attempt of the organization leaving the shadow.

She remembers from what she heard from Adam. Their organization wish to combat the threat of this outbreak and this perfectly fit what they are doing. As a high ranking officer, she had access to many restricted information which includes the scale of the outbreak. Although it hadn't reach the human settlement, almost 60% of Grimms in the Vale side of Sanus continent are infected Zombified Grimms which is the second generation of infected created after normal Grimms were infected by the Mutated Grimms.

The sudden surge of Grimms a week ago is definitely the main cause for the numbers to bloat this high. But the sudden stop of Grimm coming out to fight yhe infected Grimms now cause the infected to turn their eyes towards the human.

Had Atlas military not being embroiled with internal strife and political conflicts, the Atlas military could mobilize their military faster. But instead, it hindered the decision making and many undermining the General order that they were mobilize only after the infected had start attacking the frontier settlement. To add insult to injury, they did so simply because they couldn't afford losing their face as the Defender of Humanity. They forced General Ironwood on a life support and send him to battle in such state.

Sometimes, she even wonder who is she fighting to protect? Are they even human? They act more like animal than human.

"Hey!" Someone shouted behind her.

Winter turn her body to check at the source of the commotion to found a dozen Atlesian Knight march into the command room with their visor glowing red.

"Something isn't right! Stop those knights!" Winter order but before anyone could, they open fire and shot at the staff keeping the ship afloat and the terminals.

Winter quickly rush to disable those Atlesian Knights along with her team of Specialists. But another scream caught her attention.

"Assassin! The assassin killed General Ironwood!"

Then to add on top of it, the ship suddenly lose control and falling off the sky. Red light and alarm flooded the control room as a smiling staff escaped the control room during the confusion. That person is definitely the assassin but Winter didn't have time to persue him. She still need to worry about the ship crashing down. If they did, they will crash straight unto the garrison and doomed the entire battle. If the ship cannot be saved. At least she need to divert it away from the plateau.

———

"What the hell happened!"

Everyone including Adam temporarily stopped fighting and look up to the sky to see the Atlesian warship suddenly tilted and fall from the sky as if it lose its flying ability.

[Emergency Task Triggered!]

The Atlesian warship is falling off the sky due to an unexpected circumstances. However, a key figure of this world is boarding the ship.

Objective

-Ensure the survival of the future Winter Maiden, Winter Schnee

Reward

- Aura (Not unlock)

- Concept Null (Semblance)

"Winter Maiden?" Adam look at the screen in front of his eyes that is gleaming with a curiousity.

Obviously the title mean something but he didn't know what it mean. But the description stated Winter is a key figure of this world. Which is the equivalent of saying she is a main character or an important character.

"Sorry, but there is someone I need to save on the falling ship." Adam informed his temporary teammates his wish to partway.

"What are you talking about? Do you think we will let you charge alone deep into the enemy's line?" The leader shake his head with disappointment. "Even if we are just a temporary teammates, we fought like true brothers. No way we gonna let you go on your own."

"Am I right, boys?"

"Yeah!" The other three revv their mechashift chainsaw to show their agreement.

Adam swear these people are crazy. Perhaps he should see that coming earlier. They wearing biker jacket made of leather, leather trouser and a sunglasses looking like a biker gang members. They all have variety of saw as their mechashift melee. Clearly something isn't right with their head.

"Well… I have to thank you in advance then." Adam could only agree with how spirited they look to help him.

"Let's go!" The Brotherhood of Saw charged ahead with their chainsaw evicerate anything that stood in their path.

This is their way of thanking Adam for letting them achieving their dream of wielding their chainsaw in battle which normally would be impossible because their Aura Barrier isn't strong enough to tank enemy attack. But now it's possible and other than boosting their Aura Barrier strength, he can also heal them with his 'Aura Healing Technique'.

—————

(I know many will ask what Concept Null is. Well, I sort of think of this question. What kind of power is perfect for Adam who cannot wield magic because his magical trait of is Anti Magic as a result of obtaining the System which explicitly said he will not be capable of wielding magic and as compensation, it bestow Adam Anti Magic trait as a means to fight against opponent with Magic.

Trait is linked to soul and Semblance is a tangible projection of Aura which is more personal. Aura is simply liberation of soul. So obviously, his Semblance must have Anti Magic property. Considering in the future he not gonna just meet with magic, supernatural power etc, I thought of Concept Null.

So, Concept Null or Concept Nullification is a little over exaggerated, he cannot nullifies concept.

Concept Null work by, for an example, Adam fight against an enemy that have magic. He can infused his attack with Energy/Aura that will temporarily nullify the opponent ability to use magic and his barrier will contain energy that can dissolve the mana particles.

Of course, it not as easy as one shot to suppress the opponent ability to use magic. It would depend on the opponent. If strong, take more effort. If weak, take lesser effort. Also, it's temporary. Once Adam stop attacking, the Null energy will slowly dissipate. If opponent is stronger, the energy dissipate faster and vice versa if weak.

He also isn't limited to just magic. Superpower, psychic power, divine power, whatever power can be affected. He however cannot affect tech and natural body. So, his weakness is obviously someone that is physically stronger, technological weapon and ganged by multiple power type at once.

With this power, he can hold his ground even against a god. But winning is an entirely different topic because he still need to overcome his opponents physical strength, technique, experience and weapon. He is also a bane for all magic user. Kiritsugu will be proud if he is Adam's father. A true Mage Killer.

This is not totally decided yet and subjected to changes depending on the readers opinion but the core of the ability to seal and nullify will not change.

Ok, enough rambling. Adios!)

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