Safe at last

Marcus turned to look at Arthur, his eyes widening in surprise. This guy had barely said a word since they met him. The only time he ever said something, which was very brief, was when he confronted Reed for Selene's sake. He had just been following the team like a bag of luggage. If not for Selene looking after him and the fact she might be furious if anything happened to him due to how protective she had been over him, he wouldn't have minded setting him up as a delay tactic to buy them a bit of time in this situation. Every second is cherished; after all, they could see the safe zone up ahead. All they need to do is survive these annoying, persistent selenites to be home free.

"You can talk?" he asked, as if wanting to make jest of him, but the situation of running and dodging attacks didn't make it funny.

Arthur rolled his eyes; he isn't in the mood for a team fight, not like the situation calls for one either. "I need you to do exactly as I tell you to do without questions," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "That is if you want to survive anyway," he added, making his standing on dying pretty obvious.

Marcus shook his head. "Mad man," he muttered in a low tone, stammering at the thought of one not afraid to die.

Arthur raised an eyebrow, waiting for his reply with a serious expression as the selenites were once again gaining on them.

"You better follow what he says, ball Brian. I don't want to die," Nora shouted out at him from another end, blasting one of the lower-level selenites that attacked her.

Marcus swallowed hard, not used to taking orders from anyone. But if it meant the difference between life and death, he would do whatever this crazy guy said. "Alright, fine," he said, gritting his teeth. "Just tell me what to do."

Arthur gave a curt nod. "When I signal you..." he began, giving not just Marcus orders but everyone else in the team a role to play.

The instructions were hardly believable as it sounded more like a fairytale hypothesis, generating doubts in their minds. But they still chose to follow it, seeing his voice calm and measured.

"I'll handle the selenites; you just focus on following the plan."

And with that, Arthur lagged behind from the group, leaving Selene's side, drawing the aggro of all the beasts as he seemed more like an easy prey to pick on first before the others.

And just like he predicted while giving a countdown, the selenites set their eyes on him. The first to make a move on him was the selenite with spatial motion innate skill, appearing suddenly behind Arthur, clamping its jagged teeth down on him to take a clean bite aimed to sever his head.

"Now," Arthur screamed, and the others sprang into action. As soon as Arthur gave the signal, the others sprang into action.

Marcus pushed his ability to the limit, shooting three arrows at the same time, all aimed at the angles Arthur had told him to aim for even before the selenites appeared. Using his telekinesis ability to the fullest, he controlled all three arrows while increasing their speed to where Arthur dodged at the moment the selenite appeared behind him. Two of Marcus's arrows arrived, piercing the selenite's pair of eyes square, causing it to shriek loudly in pain. But that was a mistake it should not have done as the next arrow swiftly pierced its throat from within as it flew into its mouth.

This had caused it more pain as it frantically shrieked more. Being an advanced level fathom variant selenite, its resilience is quite on the high side, as it didn't die from that attack.

Coupled with the selenite's incredible regeneration innate trait, that sort of attack is nothing.

As if all that were accounted for, Lyra had used a vine to toss Brianna, whose shield was placed in front of her chest, as she crash-landed into the side of the selenite.

Her super strength and shield active skill to withstand any attack and damage for a short time flung the selenite a few distances from its original spot.

As if the spot it would end up in had carefully been calculated, Selene's hammer activated with gravitational force came crashing on its chest alongside Nora's fire blast.

Hitting the same spot that further pushed the selenite backward as it growled in rage.

Unfortunately for it, that was its last growl as it was split into two fine halves, its body falling apart with its blood flooding out.

The team watched on dumbfounded, their eyes widened in shock.

This stranger had just predicted all the moves of one of the selenites, using a borrowed knife of another selenite to slay its comrade.

Just now, the selenite that was sliced in half was sliced by the windblade attack of one of the selenites.

He had carefully calculated everything, like he knew when and how each one attacks, their patterns and thinking method.

What a terrifying calculative move, is this guy some sort of brain ability user?

Just like the first selenite slain by Reed's team, all the other selenites forgot the running prey and dashed towards the fallen, fighting over a piece.

This gave the team ample time to initiate Arthur's second phase plan.

Escape, devouring that fallen wouldn't take long, in a nutshell.

They would be in a tough spot once again before they make it safely to the safe zone.

"This is our chance," Selene said, her voice firm and commanding. "We need to move now, while they're distracted."

The team nodded, and they began the initiation of the plan; they needed not doubt Arthur anymore.

Lyra used her ability to create a hardened cord vine with twin split ends at one of the ends while six split ends at the other.

Oliver transformed into his hawk form, grabbing one end of the twin split ends, while Nora's body burst into flame as she took to the air in a super nova form, grabbing the other end. Jace had made an energy field coating to save it from being burnt by Nora's flame, while forming an energy dome over the six others holding the six split ends at the other end.

But just as they were about to reach the safe zone, the selenites seemed to notice their escape. With a deafening roar, they took to the sky, chasing after the team.

Selene and Marcus used their abilities to aid the weight on the vine as Oliver and Nora shot up into the sky, flying towards the safe zone with the most speed they could muster.

Leaving behind the shrieking and growling of the selenites.

One of the selenites, with spike shooting innate traits, tried to shoot down the team, but the forcefield and Brianna's shield worked in full force to save the day.

The selenites shrieked and howled in rage as they watched their prey escape. They continued to chase after the team, but it was clear that they wouldn't be able to catch up.

As the team drew closer to the safe zone, they could see the faint outline of the barrier that protected it. Just as they were about to reach it, the selenites let out a final, heart-wrenching roar.

But it was too late, as none of them dared draw close to the barrier.

The team crossed the barrier, and the selenites were cut off, unable to pursue them any further. The team collapsed just after.

Breathing heavily as they had exhausted all their energy in this escape.

Just then, a heavy-duty military vehicle and mechas breezed past their exhausted bodies lying on the ground, catching their breath.

They were obviously heading outside the barrier, and of course the personnel in those vehicles and mechas were all high-level ability users.

The team watched in awe as the military vehicles and mechas sped past them. This scene just never gets old for them. The team felt a sense of relief wash over them.

They survived this ordeal, a miracle it must be as this is way too good to be a dream.

The vehicles and mechas reached the barrier, and the selenites' roars, shrieking, and thrashing could be heard. Many were trying to put up a fight as it's in their nature to battle on like mindless zombies, but it was useless as they died in their numbers at the hands of these powerful soldiers with high-level weapons.

Just then, a figure stepped out from one of the vehicles that had just arrived, walking towards the team.

It was a woman, dressed in a military uniform, her expression stern but one could still see the tiny outline of worry in her eyes.

"Selene, are you OK?" she asked in a commanding tone the moment she arrived before the group.

"I'm fine, aunty," Selene replied in an unnatural tone, obviously not happy to see her aunt.

"Selene, I don't believe that for a second," the woman said, her tone firm but not unkind. "You and your team just went through a harrowing experience, and you're telling me that you're fine?

You know I almost lost you; I can't even go through the thought of losing you after we lost..."

Selene sighed, knowing it would come to this, it was obviously Reed who had gone over to inform her. "I'm fine," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm just exhausted, and I'm not in the mood for all this. I just want to go home."

The woman knitted her brow at Selene's words, her eyes twitching, but she decided to rein in her anger.

She turned to look at her subordinates around who quickly averted their gaze, not wanting to be the scapegoat for her to pour her anger.

She turned to the rest of Selene's teammates who quickly shrank back, wanting the earth to swallow them and take them anywhere else aside the front of this lady.

"Your licenses to hunt outside the safe zone have been revoked," no one dared say a word.

Selene, on the other hand, staggered at her steps when she heard this.

Selene's heart sank. She had worked so hard to earn her license to hunt outside the safe zone, and now it was being taken away from her. She knew that this was her aunt's way of protecting her, but it still felt like a betrayal.

"Please, don't do this," she pleaded, her voice shaking. "I need to be out there, I need to get strong, I need to be able to help others. I can't just sit back and let others always care for my safety in here."

Her aunt looked at her, her expression showing her satisfied feeling for getting back at her. "I understand how you feel, Selene, but," she abruptly stopped as she now noticed the youngster Selene was bringing along to the car before she revoked her license.

Her expression was one of surprise and worry at the same time.