I've chosen to follow you!

Astonishing every life form inside the room, Fein declared, "I'll be the bait."

"What are you-"

"I know what I'm saying. I'm the most suitable candidate for this role." Fein turned his head at Yulia. "Ain't I right?"

Yulia sighed in defeat. "If that's what you've chosen.."

Ran patted his shoulder and said with his mournful voice. "Well rip. We'll make sure to remember you for forever."

"Please don't act like I'm already dead." Fein shoved his hand from his shoulder. "Now that the bait has been selected, we should begin with our formation." Said Ludic.

"About the formation." Fein asked. "Ms Yulia. Can we use comms?"

"With the help of the radio signal boosters, the Crows, we can."

"That's great."

Back to the meeting where everyone gathered. Yulia standing in the middle while the rest stood on her both sides, she explained. "We are taking 70 members from here. 20 will invade into the vessel via chopper and depart after eliminating every undead. 35 will be sent to operate the armed ships and helicopters the government is sending us tomorrow. You will be on standby until a command is made. The rest 25 will participate in the battle in the port. I'll provide the layout of your positions later. Please divide yourselves into the team that I've just mentioned."

"But.. who will be the bait?"

"I'll come to that eventually." Yulia added, "This time I'll also attend the battle myself. So i won't tolerate any failure. I'll provide adequate ammunition, so please prepare your guns and rifles. It is gonna be a long ranged attack. Keep supporting Kuina Lemberg, who'll fight alongside the bait Fein Rasmond."

The clamouring of all the people resounded inside the room. All became restless because of their curiosity hitting the peak.

Someone actually agreed to be the bait. It was not a small feat.

"Silence!" Rebuked Yulia. "Meanwhile I'm gone, Ludic and Eudimor will be in charge of this vessel. They'll be connected with us via telecoms. If need be more people from here will be sent there. Those that have already decided to relax in this vessel, I'm sorry to burst your bubbles, but you might be called anytime into the battlefield. Keep your weapons prepared, my dear comrades."

Her words sent shivers down their spines, stifling them with horror.

"That's all that I needed to say. I hope it answers all your questions."

With those words she concluded the meeting.

As everyone began to leave the meeting room in preparation for the battle, Kuina and Fein followed a DOR member who said that he could provide them with weapons.

On their way to the infantry, Fein glanced on top of her head while Kuina walked next to him. He averted his gaze and asked her, "Why did you wish to protect me when you know I'll die there?"

"I know.." she spoke with a grievous heavy tone, "I know. That's why i wished to support you."

"Isn't it just pointless? You should just attack from a far range like others."

Kuina paused. Clenching her fists, straightening her hands on both sides, she shouted, "I want to do something for the person who didn't care for his own life and decided to sacrifice himself for people!"

Both the person who led them and Fein paused. They slightly turned over to listen to her wailing.

Kuina raised her lowered head, revealing her saddened face. "I've chosen to follow you, Fein! Let me fight alongside you! I promise I won't be a burden!"

She thinks that I'm sacrificing myself?

Fein squinted his eyes.

How naive. I'm not so good, neither do i care about people.

"Fine." He replied. "Just don't die on me."

Kuina aggressively nodded her head in agreement. "I won't!"

Inside the infantry, they found Ran trying out his new rifles.

"These guys are heavy. Specifically assault rifles." He put down the AS Val rifle and picked up hand pistols. "I prefer dual SIG Sauers. These guys are easy."

"That's a good choice, Ran." Kuina, harbouring required knowledge about arms, appreciated Ran's choice. The Sig Sauer was indeed a light weighted hand pistol with perfect grip. Even the recoil wasn't too complex for new users like them.

Though she prefered Glocks. She walked closer to the shelf displaying Glock pistols, ignoring a collection of Deaguls and MPX lying just before it. She plucked out a series 14 Glock and requested to test it.

Most people looked fascinated plus knowledgeable about guns and rifles, but it didn't intrigue Fein.

Fein stood still at one corner as he was lost. It wasn't like he didn't know to use guns at all, he simply wasn't comfortable using it.

"Which one do you prefer, Mr Rasmond?" A person from the management team asked him.

"Oh I'm not interested in guns."

"Then would you like to check the blades?"

"You keep blades too?"

"Yes. Please follow me."

In a quiet cabin, the lights from the ceiling glistened on the blades displayed on the shelves. With every breath, Fein could find the lingering scent of polish that was used to polish the blades. Someone maintained every metal in this room with utmost care.

"You can choose any of these."

Fein took a glimpse of all the blades across the room until he stumbled upon a black blade. It wasn't made of metal like most others. It was..

"Obsidian!"

A 15 inches long Obsidian blade. The width of the dagger gradually reduced from the hilt to the tip. It was so thin as to cut through the wind. The black blade glinted brilliantly under the light. Fein could see his face reflecting on its shiny black surface.

"Yes. It is carefully crafted with stone obsidian."

"Is it okay if i held it in my hand?"

"Sure."

Fein anxiously took the blade in his hand. He could sense the majesticity of the blade with a single touch that even his breathing stopped. He sighed and chuckled as if the blade asked him, 'Did you get scared?'

"Can I use this blade?"

"Sure. It has a certain name, Alaister ll."

Though he found it a bit weird to hear a blade's name, he accepted it without questions and raised it towards the light. "Alaister, huh."

I'll make sure to use you until you wear out.

"I'm glad Alaister ll found its new wielder." Yulia stepped into the room, smacking her palms together. "You know, each and every of its past wielders died just the next day after choosing it?"

Fein relaxed his eyebrows and spoke in his monotone voice. "You don't need to raise red flags Ms Yulia. I'm ignoring the thought of death for a while."

"It is a cursed blade though."

"Interesting. And.. how did the curse originate?"

"The Chief of DOR requested to keep it maintained saying it was both a curse and a blessing."

"Where did he find it from?"

"Nobody knows. People were fascinated with its introduction. This blade was the first choice, not until all the wielders began to die." Her voice broke with a slight scoff, "I suggest you to avoid it as well, unless you want to.. actually.. die."

Fein took the blade regardless, saying. "It'd be more fun to break the myth. Don't you think so, Ms Yulia Orks?"

Yulia's surprised eyebrows, relaxed and her facial muscles contracted into a positive reaction.

"Sure. Astonish me, Fein Rasmond."