Outside the fort

Fort Naraki was not a single structure with strong defenses but rather a small town that was later fortified to function as a defense center against monsters threatening farmland and the city of Enzo itself.

There was a wall surrounding the entire town with a height of 15 meters, built with durable materials such as stone and other construction materials. Additionally, observation towers were present at each corner of the town along the wall, providing a wide view and strategic surveillance points.

Furthermore, there was a grand and sturdy stone gate controlled by gatekeepers who opened it in the morning and closed it at night. The rules were strict, and they wouldn't open the gate even if a group of mercenaries arrived late.

A railway connected the fort and the city of Enzo, serving as a link for supplies and transportation of residents in and out of Fort Naraki.

Inside the fort, there were a central market, residential areas, entertainment zones, lodging areas, and a communication center connecting Fort Naraki with Enzo through radio and telegraph.

This view changed Ren's perception of Fort Naraki.

Initially thinking it would be dull, he was proven wrong. There were many genomancers and mercenaries, with the latter usually wearing uniforms like the Z army, while genomancers often donned full armor and carried striking cold weapons. Regular people, in contrast, wore inconspicuous casual attire.

Ren followed the other four squad members to arrive at an inn. Akihisa rented several rooms, assigning each room to two people. Perhaps by chance or not, due to an odd number of female members, Ren ended up sharing a room with Nishino. Unlike Ren, who was nervous due to having a more mature mental age, Nishino seemed unfazed, possibly considering Ren just a kid.

Ren placed his belongings, carrying only a pistol in his pocket and the Sakura Serenity sniper rifle on his back. Of course, he also brought sufficient ammunition.

He and Nishino regrouped with the other squad members.

"Alright, this is a map of the area around Fort Naraki. As you can see, there's a specific division regarding this area. Zones A1-A8 are closest to the fort, almost no monsters here. Next is zones B1-B16, a bit farther from the fort than A1-A8, some monsters are often found, usually targets for low-level mercenaries.

We'll operate in area C22, more monsters here, but the density isn't too high. Areas E to J are where the genomancers operate, so don't venture too far from C22.

Alright, that's all I wanted to convey, so let's depart."

Along with the squad, Ren walked out of Fort Naraki.

When outside the fort, the first thing that caught Ren's attention was the centuries-old asphalt road, cracked and adorned with plants on the sides.

The four-member squad walked on this old road, with Akihisa leading the way. Tall grass on both sides limited Ren's view, but the tranquil atmosphere convinced him that he was still in zone A.

They continued until they reached the ruins of the former city. Some dilapidated buildings appeared destroyed, covered in moss. Plants adorned the surroundings, making the ruins not look like remnants of a city at all.

In zone B, they took a more winding path, and the roars of monsters and gunshots started to be heard.

The four-member squad finally arrived in zone C22 after walking deep into the city ruins. This time, Akihisa led his squad silently, occasionally crouching or even lying down. The number of monsters here was much higher compared to zones B and A.

Ren couldn't imagine how many monsters were in zones D and beyond.

Akihisa stopped the four-member squad and gave instructions, "Alright, we'll begin our operation. Yuji, Nishino, lure one monster here. The rest, get ready to find a comfortable spot; snipers should climb somewhat high buildings."

"Alright, Captain!"

Ren watched his seniors, Yuji and Nishino, leave without any objections. He suppressed his curiosity and entered a building he thought was still sturdy. Some other snipers did the same, choosing different spots.

After climbing the stairs and reaching the rooftop, Ren stood and surveyed the area.

There were three types of monsters in zone C22: Hell Hound, Venomous Dracolizard, and Rodentis Umbra.

Hell Hound was a dog-like monster with high agility and speed, also possessing a keen sense of smell. However, it was the easiest to hunt among the three types in this area.

Venomous Dracolizard was the strongest individually, but it was highly afraid of sunlight and usually hid inside buildings.

Rodentis Umbra was a rat-shaped monster, theoretically the weakest individually, with a maximum length of only 60 cm and height of 30 cm. However, Rodentis Umbra lived in groups and attacked enemies in a compact manner. Even Venomous Dracolizard avoided this rat-like monster.

These monsters had their own ecology. Rodentis Umbra consumed plants, Hell Hound hunted all kinds of meat, including their own kind and Rodentis Umbra. Their jumping ability was crucial for Hell Hound to evade the pursuit of the rat group. Then, Hell Hound would be hunted by Venomous Dracolizard.

Ren refocused on his task after seeing Yuji and Nishino running from the pursuing Hell Hound. They used the ruins of the building to slow down Hell Hound. Occasionally, they shot their pistols again to continue attracting the monster.

Once the Hell Hound fell into the trap, the members of the four-member squad shot at its face, hoping to hit both eyes. However, the Hell Hound seemed to know human behavior; it closed its eyes and relied on its sense of smell.

As soon as it caught the scent, it ran towards the aroma. Unexpectedly, it headed towards some rookie squad members like Daichi and others.

In his frantic rush, Daichi sprinted heedlessly, unaware of the debris blocking his path. The looming danger of the Hell Hound closing in heightened the tension in the air. The other squad members shouted warnings, desperately trying to redirect Daichi away from the impending peril.

As the Hell Hound closed the gap, its eyes shut tight, relying solely on its acute sense of smell, the atmosphere became charged with suspense. Daichi, still oblivious to the impending collision course, continued his reckless sprint toward the ruins.