4. An attempt between them

"Hey Ray," a junior of Ray's team asked.

He turned around facing his kouhai (junior). He furrowed his brows in confusion. "What is it?"

The said man twiddled his fingers in embarrassment. Even though Ray is in fact, younger than the rest of the group, his actions said otherwise. His charisma in dealing with the teams attitude and the intense bloodlust he has when facing the enemies made the entire team respect him fully. He sighed.

"I was wondering, how do you keep your sanity?" he thought about it a lot. Since he joined the force, he always had been the center of bullying. Everyday the torture gets worse. How did Ray even managed to stay in the force despite the fact, he faced worse? He dealt with the 4 traitors of the force and yet here he is, still standing.

Ray dropped the gun that he's been cleaning for a while. He looked at the bonfire litting in its glory. His eyes filled with remorse and sadness. "I never thought about it. Maybe it's because I kept telling myself,"

"Do it for them,"

The junior felt confused.

"Even how many times the world turned against me, my friends would always be them. Till my last breath, I'll live to see them happy," stars shined the junior's eyes beside Ray. His words inspired himself to become stronger.

He smiled for a while before placing his right gloved hand on Ray's left shoulder giving it a slight pat. "Say then, I might be older than you, but can you promise me one thing?"

Ray grimaced for a second. He finally spoke. "I'll try my best. I'm not that good at making promises," a smile plastered on his junior's face.

"Well, here goes. Even how many torture you went through, promise me you'll fight until the end. That includes us," silenced filled the atmosphere excluding the cheers from their other three teammates laughing at each other with a cup of light wine on their hands.

"Where are you leading me to?" Ray asked.

"I don't want you to stop doing the best for everyone. So please,"

"Hang in there, for us," Ray's vision started to become hazy as he heard those last words. A sudden urge of pain flows through his body.

......…..

Cough Cough

Ray let out a coughing fit after Sanders threw a bucket of water on top of his face drowning him. He opened his eyes slowly to see his kidnappers stood in front of him with an annoyed look.

'It was all a dream huh?' he thought to himself. Sanders went out of the room after getting himself involve into a small talk with the scientist. Atlas stood right beside him to change his bandage. He look at his now amputated right leg. He sighed loudly resulting in attracting the two.

"I'm sorry for yesterday Ray. As much as I hate to, I couldn't bear to lose my own body parts," he said as he kept changing his bandages to make sure there is no injection. In fact, he's making a pretty good job. The blood stopped flowing reducing his chance of dying from blood lost. Suddenly, Ray felt a sudden cold went up his veins. He shivered aggressively.

This earned a concerned look from the butler. "What's wrong?" the scientist in front of Ray laugh. He glared at the madman while chattering his teeth in coldness.

"The effect is taking a toll on you, yes? Magnificent. Just as how I predicted," ah, now he remembered. The serum that he had been given two days ago. Atlas shook his head and walked out of the door after finishing his job in attending Ray's wounds. There's nothing more he could do.

'I need to talk to Martha. The longer he's here, the thinner the chance for both Storm and him to escape this place,' he went to his room for a small meet with his boss.

As the door closed, leaving Ray and the scientist alone, loud cough started to erupt form Ray's throat. Some contains a little bit of blood infused with his saliva. But what the doctor is about to say will worsen his condition.

"Ah, just for your information," he turned around. His back facing the young soldier. "Your friends would like to meet us for an exchange," Ray's eyes went wide. He struggled through the metal chains clanking them together.

"Just what are you planning you crazy bastard!?"

"Hahahahaha, nothing. Just thinking about getting you some company that's all. That kid Ariel, is sure is interesting am I right?" Ray growled furiously earning himself a loud chuckle from the amused scientist. He continued his outburst while doctor made his way out of the room.

He put his index finger to his lips signaling for him to be silent. "Shhhh, just be a good boy and stay here. Grandpa will get you some company later on. Hahahaha,"

"Get back you here you sh!thead. I'll kill you!" the door closed. He struggled for another 30 minutes before fatigue managed to overwhelm him. He gasped for air intensely. The coldness inside him couldn't make it better. Ragsherum appeared inside his head with a worried look.

"Take it easy kid. We can't get out of here if you let him get to your head. Remember your promise?"

'Hang in There'

A pang of guilt hit him. How could he broke a promise to someone who had lost his live, to let him live for another day. He breathed in and out. He finally relaxed despite his worsening condition, His brain felt a bit mushy. He finally spoke to Ragsherum.

"You're right. I need to keep my composure. So, any plans," Ragsherum grinned widely.

"I thought you wouldn't asked,"

...….

While with the group.

Meeting point, Heyvard Hideout.

Hikari and the elite force meeting with the Sheer Clan.

3 p.m.

The group along with a 10-men group of elite forces made their way to a location that had been provided by the Sheer Clan themselves. They've agreed to give the intel of the 3 siblings in exchange for Ray's freedom. But they had other plans.

Ambush.

Just after Hikari hands the briefcase filled with intel, a bomb will detonate itself to approximately kill 5 or 7 members of the Sheer Clan. Then, the whole group will be separated into three groups. One group will go and find Ray, the second would be providing firepower to handle the Clan and lastly, and escape planner just in case things went dicey.

They finally made their way to a medium-sized bunker filled with Sheer Clan member. Hikari went first with the briefcase on his hand. The others stood near him to ensure his safety. One of the Clan's admin, Moule, went up to them.

He looked at Hikari with his glazing stare. Hikari held up the briefcase. He hastily took the briefcase from his hands and opens it to see a bunch of files being kept in a safe and neat position. Just as he closed the case. A loud explosion erupted near them.

BOOM

They reacted quickly. "Dark Storm!" Hikari launched his attack, summoning a bizarre storm quickly erasing their lives. Moule decided to make a run for it while the others were distracted but only to be blocked by Arithia and Sora. He used his bomb to teleport behind him thus made a quick getaway for himself.

Realizing this, Arithia shouted. "Get em Hikari, We hold off the others," she parried her opponent's swings. Hikari sheathed his sword and chased the damn admin. But then, something clicked inside him.

'Wait, this path.... Damn, we're jinxed!" he slowed his pace and went through his comms. "Sergeant, get out of there now! It's a trap!"

The admin smirked.

Two helicopter appeared out of the blue sky. Bullets fly through their miniguns. Hikari quickly activates his shield to avoid himself getting impaled by the iron particles. Arithia, Sora and Hiyama also manged to activate their own shield, but some of the soldiers didn't make it. They could only look from the inside as the soldier outside fall one by one.

"They already planned this through. This clan is not your typical brainless villain huh," Hiyama said as he struggles himself to maintain his shield. The others could only hope for the evacuation squad's safety.

.......

A missile marked its territory on a certain chopper belonged to the elite force.

"We're hit. Mayday! Mayday!" the Sgt Jonathan shouted through his comms trying to get attention from the headquarters. A soldier held Ariel tightly onto his grasp to prevent the kid from hurting. Aiwa kept a firm grip on the handle.

"HOLD ON!"

The chopper finally crashed sending Aiwa and some of the soldiers flying a bit. Aiwa luckily landed on a bush but that doesn't mean she's conscious. Ariel fainted between the soldier's grasp while the said man had a bloodied head.

His legs screamed pain as he tries to get up. A sudden drowsiness overwhelmed him as he too, passed out.

As I Aiwa laid on the ground, three Sheer Clan members appeared out of their hiding spot with SAGA-12 in their disposal. Their brown and dark green uniform filled with dirt and dust. Each one of them wore a mask of their own. One of them snickered as thought he earned himself a jackpot.

"The scientist is a madlad. Thanks to him we get to have this beautiful lady. He crouched down beside Aiwa's body. A mischievous grin appeared on his crinkled face. The other two nodded in unision

Just as the two was about to touch the poor girl, a knife went to one of the three's legs making him scream in pain. He shoved the culprit resulting him to be launched backwards. He pulled out the knife with a grunt. He aimed his rifle along with the other two. But what shocked him the most is the culprit himself.

A boy with cute face and cat ears whined lightly as the pain of being launched. Confusion filled the two while the other is filled with lust.

"HAHAHAHA, such treasure. I will make sure you will learn me as your master," he grabbed the kid with his arms pulling up from the ground. Ariel spat in front of me and swiftly pulled out a modified Glock-18. He quickly shot the pervert between his eyes.

Before the others could react, he finished the job by shooting the two at the abdomen to stunt them before putting his last two bullets between eyes, ending their live. He sighed tiredly. He quickly made his way to Aiwa and began to chant his magic.

'I decipher the nature of harmony. Heal my target from pain as they gain power and blessing. Crest Justify!' a yellow light engulfed the petite girl. Ariel smiled as he glanced at the modified Glock-18.

'I'm glad Ray-nii taught me a little bit about self-defence. At least I could actually use it to help Ray-nii and everyone else,'

'Please be safe Ray-nii. We'll be right there,'

......….

Ray's Cell

Ray roughly gazed the metal chain with a sharp edge of table that he made by breaking the metal thing roughly with his unstrapped leg. He flipped the table carefully so it would face him. He quickly reshaped the edge of the table so it could be sharpen.

He doesn't know if this plan could work. But he doesn't have a choice. It has been two hours since he tried to crash the two metal together.

Miraculously, the chain broke leaving his right arms to freely move. He channeled a little bit of Ragsherum's causing him to cough a little bit of blood, and broke the other chains. He supports himself using the table since he had lost his right leg. He stretched for a bit after not moving for a long time.

He continues to use Ragsherum's energy to make his escape route. He broke down the metal door with ease. But that cost him a lot of blood. The door had been infused with a strong iron and copper, making it a nuisance to be broken down. Before he went out, he snapped one of the legs to make himself a makeshift stretcher for him to move around.

'Having no leg is annoying. I couldn't even walk right!'

'Hey, at least you're still alive and definitely not blind! Or else it would be harder for the both of us to escape,' Ragsherum scolded him. They quickly made their way to a storeroom. Ray hid inside the room to avoid the guards patrolling around the area. An alarm broke off.

'So they've finally noticed my absence…' he thought to himself. He needs a weapon if he wants to get out of here. He waited until someone is unlucky enough to enter the room.

As if his prayers had been answered, a tall man with a SCAR rifle walked inside the room as if he's trying to find something. Ray silently crawled under the pile of boxes and arrived behind his back. He channeled some power before launching himself towards the poor guard.

They struggled for a few seconds before Ray had a firm grip on his head and twisted it, ending him completely. They flopped to the ground with Ray letting out a grunt. He dusted himself off. He scavenged through his belongings to find a Five-Seven pistol, SCAR rifle and a tablet.

'This could work!' he opened up the device and was grateful that it didn't have any password. He then scrolled through the files until he saw a map.

He then remembered. He needs to get a kid named Storm out of here too.

'If I remembered correctly that bastards said that he's on the other side,' he stopped swiping as he finally found his location.

The plan goes like this.

They haven't found him yet which give him a slight advantage. Luckily, he even found a keycard to unlock Storm's cell. He will break him out and then place him inside an armory near them. He would need to sneak inside the control room in the hallways to cancel the cameras. After that he would have to either way kill one of the admins. It looks like the nearest exit needs a high level keycard for them to escape.

He gripped his torned-off gloves. "You ready Rags?"

The general smirked. "Right behind you captain,"

"Right, let's go-" he was cut off short by a sudden large pain on his body. He could feel the sudden freezing torturing his insides. He coughed a bit of iced blood. He doesn't have much time.

'If I don't make it out alive. At least the kid is gonna be fine,' he thought to himself.

He sneakily walked under the crates and boxes to avoid being detected by the guards and cameras. He managed to end two guards. He hid their bodies inside one of the garbage dump. He finally made his way to Storm's cell. He made it inside and quickly closed the door. He was not expecting this.

A kid with light blue hair curled up at the corner of the dark room with bruise all over his body. His eyes were a bit red from the constant crying. He let out a small shriek seeing a stranger appeared in front of him with blood all over him.

'It's just like Ariel all over again. Please don't label me as a shotacon for this,' he carefully walked with his makeshift stretcher for support towards the poor kid.

"Please, don't hurt me….." he pleaded with sorrow in his voice. His voice sounded small and young. Ray looked at him with pity.

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you. Atlas sent me to help you," it managed to get Storm's attention. His eyes shifted towards Ray's own with a glint of hope inside him.

"Really!," tears started to stream down his eyes. He lunged towards the wounded soldier and wrapped his arms around him, hugging him. He cried softly wetting his torned hoody. He roundly pats his back to reassure him.

He separates the kid from him to look at him. "We're gonna get out of here, but you need to help me out too. Do you have any magic affinity?"

Storm held out his hands thus an ice particle started to build itself. Ray smiled. "Alright then, when someone is about to get you, or if I need that power of yours, you have to use it okay?" he ruffled his fluffy hair.

The boy nodded as a response. They got out of the room for Ray to execute his next step of escaping. He placed Storm in the armory just like he planned. He told the kid to wait for him. Ray wasted no time and rushed to the control room. A guard with a m4 rifle suddenly appeared walking out of the room. He quickly hid behind one of the corners. He sheathed his knife waiting for his prey to fall into his trap. Just as the guard noticed him hiding, Ray kicked his knee making him fall onto his legs. The sharp knife made its way to his throat, drawing the blood out of its flesh. His eyes rolls back as his soul leaves his body.

He quickly hid the body in the same corner. He grabbed one pillow that he found inside a trash can. He sped through the room finding it is filled with 5 Sheer Guards. He put the pillow in front a man that stood beside him and shoots his Five-Seven. The pillow managed to silence the gunshot. The others quickly tried to grab their guns but Ray finished it quickly by using his chant.

'Soul Reap!' a wave of dark energy impaled the remaining guards. He coughed a large amount of blood while shivering heavily. His head started to spin as he struggles to walk through the bodies of his enemies. Ray shuts down their cameras and the other prisoners.

'This would distract them for a while,' he could hear a loud roar coming from the cells. The room went red as an alarm went off.

"Attention all guards, keep the prisoners at bay. Find Ray Asaki! Use your new weapons to held him off," Sanders voiced out of the intercom.

'That was quick,' he went out of the control room to grab Storm and get the hell outta here. Just as he arrived, he saw a prisoner holding up Ariel in a chokeholde. He threw his knife to his side to make the man let go of him. Ray lunged towards him and landed on the man. He pulled out the knife from his sides, drawing blood. He stabbed him in the heart multiple times.

Blood splattered around the wall. Storm looked at the two in terror. Unpleasant memories started to play in his head. Noticing this, Ray wrapped his arms around his small body. Storm cried softly in his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I want to use my magic but it seems that I'm out of mana. Please don't leave me again," Storm pleaded. Ray looked at him in the eyes.

'I guess he must've thought he'll be a burden huh?' he gently patted his head.

"Don't worry, you'll getting out of here. I shouldn't left you alone," he picked him up bridal style. Storm couldn't walk after the incident earlier.

"Let's go!" he dashed out of the room only to face a large crowd. The prisoners battled the guards. Some of them managed to get a kill while some of them fall to their deaths with blood on them. But what surprised Ray the most is their weapons.

Fraghrayt.

He clicked his tongue. 'So they've replicated it. This is gonna be tough,' he repositioned Storm so he could be on his shoulders. He only has one leg, making it hard for him to carry him bridal style. He carefully blends in the crowds while avoiding as much fight as possible, He's grateful that the prisoners are too busy to even notice him.

Ray finally made it to the end of the room. One more door and they would be out of here.

Storm shrieked.

"What's wrong-" he was cut off short by a powerful force made an impact on his back. He fell down while holding Storm protectively. He looked up to see Sanders with his own Fraghrayt standing with it's glory. The bulky man cracked his knuckles.

"Just where do you think your going?" he walked slowly towards them. Ray stood in front of Storm with his battle stance. Sanders laughed.

"You still want to fight with that one leg of course. Oh don't worry. I'll finish you off. It will be painless captain,"

"And after that, the kid will be next!" he dashed forward and drew fraghrayt's blade. Ray managed to block the powerful slash with his knife but the strong force knocked him backwards.

"Onii- san!" Storm shouted in worry. Ray struggles to get back up on his feet only to be greeted with the blade impaled on his left shoulder. He groanerd in agony.

Satisfied, Sanders twisted the blade drawing more blood and a chunk of flesh screwed over Ray's body. He screamed and fell flat to the ground. He gasped for air after the intense amount of screaming. Sanders pulled out the blade and walked towards Storm.

The poor kid backed away in fear until his back hits the wall. A menacing grin foreshadowed Sanders's face. He held the blade to his neck.

"You, how long have I waited to kill you. I don't care if you're going to be the next heir. I should've been us!" Storm shuts his eyes.

BANG

A loud gunshot. Storm opened up his eyes to see Sanders gaping his mouth. The bulky man turned around to face a man wearing a dark blue combat armor holding a smoked gun. He roared in fury. He launched towards him only for him to dodge. Sanders drifted his attention from the two and continued to fight the pest.

The two went out to kill each other leaving Ray and Storm safely. Ray sighed in relief. He forced his body to Storm's trembling ones but ended falling down. Luckily, the butler, Atlas, managed to catch him.

"I got here just in time huh?" Ray looked up to see the butler smiled cheekily. Storm went up to the two hugging Ray.

"So you two have gotten closer. Lovely. Come on let's get out of here," Storm placed Ray's left arms around his neck to support him.

"How did you-"

"It's simple, I've contacted my master for a backup to both you and your friends. I've overheard your busy clanking of escape," the butler grinned. They arrived at a room. Atlas pulled out a syringe from one of the cabinets filled with pain reduction drug. He let the syringe went through Ray's skin.

"It won't be much, but I will help to ease your pain so you can escape easily," Ray chuckled.

"Thanks by the way. Even though you cut my legs. I guess I could count this as your ways of apologizing," Atlas replied back with a chuckle at Ray's remarks. Storm could only look at the two with a smile.

'It seems that they're in a good term. I'm glad,' his thought was cut off by the the door swinging loudly revealing the guards. Atlas pulled out his M9 Beretta and shot them in the head before they could activate Fraghrayt's shield.

"We need to get out of here fast! That weapon will kill us easily the moment he got us cornered. Ray stood back up and grabbed a metal long stick for his movement. The exited the room. Atlas marked for their escape.

Just as they almost made it to their escape vehicle, a body was thrown beside them. The man grunted in pain. The turned around to see an enraged Sanders with his blade out. Atlas clicked his tongue.

"You two, get out of here now! I'll distract this bastard," Ray shook his head.

"We're not leaving you behind. I'll fight-" Ray grabbed his sides as he shivered. Storm supported him with his small body.

'The serum is starting to control him. That's not good,' Atlas thought. Suddenly Sanders dashed towards them. Atlas pushed Ray and Storm out of the way while he himself rolled to the side avoiding his deadly stab.

"Just go now! Go to the location I've marked on the map," Atlas kept shooting but Sanders block using his energy shield. With a heavy heart, Ray and Storm sped off to their vehicle. Sanders ran towards them.

"Don't ever think of escaping!" but then, his path was blocked by a line of flames. He looked back to see Atlas holding a fireball in his hands.

"I guess I have no choice but to use my own magic. Come on Combatant 287, let's kill this disgrace of a human," the armoured man that rescued Ray and Storm stood on his two legs with his M4 rifle drawn.

"Right with you Commander!"

......

Ray and Ariel managed to get into a small land rover. Both of them took their seats as Ray started the engine. They strapped their seatbelts as Ray sped off to the road. He opened up the GPS to search for an escape route. Lucky for them, Atlas had already planned their destination.

Bullets started to rain towards them. He pushed Storm seats backwards to avoid the kid getting hit. He ducked down his head a little while keeping his attention at the road.

'Kid, an RPG!' Ragsherum warned. Ray's eyes went wide as he looked at the side mirror to see the large explosive fly towards them. He quickly turned on a small booster.

The RPG managed to land just in front of the back tires, launching the two a bit from the ground. Smoke started to fill the back of the car. Ray finally managed to exit the insane compound.

"I need to lose them somehow,"

...…

After a good one hour, Ray and Storm finally lost the Sheer Clan. He sighed in relief. But he still couldn't help but feel worry for Atlas.

'I hope he's okay,' he thought to himself. Storm looked at him.

"So where are we heading to?" he asked while tilting his head to the side. Ray smiled.

"In this map, It shows that there's somewhat a village nearby. We need to get there before night. There's too much wolves if we stay too long," indeed, they're now surrounded by nothing but forest. Suddenly, the tires started to burst. Ray stirred the handle.

"Dammit! HOLD ON!"

CRASH