Beyond M-Eclipse: Easy Mode LIVE

———(Random Grunt)———

“What are we even doing anyway?” I asked the guy next to me as all of us were waiting inside this tiny building.

“No idea. They’re bringing out the Big Five for this including the leader himself. Probably a big gig kinda thing.” One of my seniors said. Then why are we even here? One of those guys can easily mow down an army or something, right? Definitely could turn me into mince meat if I even look at them funny, but I don’t really know.

“Kinda overkill ain’t it?” Someone else remarked. “Can’t we slack off instead of actually preparing an ambush? Would they even notice?”

“Look, I get where you’re coming from, but if any one of them notices that we’re slacking or one of us snitches then we’re all dead meat. Best to at least play along.” Another person chimed in. “Our glorious leader isn’t exactly… you know?”

“Alright fine, then how about we just swing our weapons into the air like in those movie sets.” The lazy guy suggested.

“As long as it doesn’t look like we’re trying to be off the clock.” Someone else said. “How do we even know when this’ll start?”

“When the commotion happens, I guess?” Another guy said. “Just make sure to listen in to any sound and quickly pop out of the shop the moment things get ugly. Try to stay out of the path of the six guys and then… I don’t know.”

“Seriously though, do we really need to be here? I guess if there’s like a bunch of people we need to capture, but what do I know? They’re not telling us anything.” I said to the group. It’s annoying that we’re stuck in here waiting for the cue.

“Whatever. Let’s just hope it ends quickly enough so we can go home. These guys and their absurd ambitions are pissing me off.” The lazy guy said. “Anyone got people outside the city so I take refuge there? Anyone?”

“Dude, why are you asking that now? What if someone comes over and checks!” Another guy pointed out.

“So how many people are even involved here besides those six and us?” I asked since it looks like everyone got a memo on this.

“I think it was almost everyone?” The lazy guy spoke up. No way that’s true, right? That’s over a hundred people aiming to jump someone or something?

Before anyone could say anything else, there seemed to be something happening outside already, judging by the sound of things breaking.

“It’s starting already?” I said out loud while looking to peek out to see the commotion.

*Thrown* *Crash*

Before I could even see who they were fighting, someone was thrown our way and crashed right into the nearby street pole, not bleeding out or anything but I doubt he’s in a fighting condition with how brutal the impact was. Probably out cold, even.

“The atmosphere is getting really oppressive here.” The lazy guy said as he and the others walked out with their weapons. With the fight starting we seriously can’t just stand around right now. “What the hell are they fighting?”

*Swing* *Crash*

No one can tell what is happening with such a massive crowd of people trying to rush someone. Is this like an army going against an army? Why are there so many people up and about in the streets? And what was that just now? It’s like some sort of explosion with how many people were being blown away. I can even feel the harsh wind from here.

“Hey look! Those six guys!” Someone in our group called out as we ran over to the site of the battle.

“I can’t see it from here!” I complained since I’m not as tall as he is. There are still a ton of people blocking our way as they’re charging in. I can see a few people jumping into the air, but it’s hard to make out who they are from here. Seriously, am I meant to know what’s happening right now?

“Hey, we can’t stay put, right?” Someone in our group asked.

“Okay but how are we supposed to get in there right now?” The lazy guy asked, looking at the massive crowd of people from our organization just sorta sandwiching in on each other.

*Slam* *Bash* *Crash*

“Woah!” All of us quickly ran out of the way of people suddenly being launched our way, all of them rolling on the ground in pain and passing out entirely. I think I almost got hit by one of them. Why were they thrown around like a kid pelting rocks?

I still don’t know what was happening, maybe those guys were thrown around for getting in the six guys’ way?

“This is looking bad, not gonna lie.” The lazy guy as we walked closer toward the center of the conflict. There’s a smell of blood in the air and it looks like a few buildings are missing. Why is it still not over yet? I thought they put in all the stops for this?

*Leap* *Bash* *Smash* *Grab* *Slam*

I can see someone jumping up to a rooftop and beating the guy standing there, pummeling him with what looks like a shield before grabbing him and throwing him down into the busy street.

*Sizz* *Swing* *BOOM* *Crash*

“Gah!?” Suddenly a massive explosion erupted and everyone got blown away. I couldn’t withstand it at all and got blown away. I don’t even know where I am right now. I’m trying to keep myself from rolling on the floor for multiple seconds straight.

My vision is blurry and my head is all fuzzy from the impact. It felt like I got punched even though no one actually threw a knuckle sandwich my way. What happened to those who were caught up in the middle of the explosion?

By the time I got back up and walked over to look, a massive gash was drawn on the street, and not a small one either.

*Bash* *Strike* *Smack*

The person who was on the rooftop kept fighting, wielding a sword and a shield and looking like a young adult at most. He looked somewhat ordinary and probably wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention if he wasn’t throwing people around like they were practice dummies.

I see one of the guys he was throwing around clearly. A humanoid cat with black fur and fighting with nothing but his claws. It’s one of the five personal subordinates of our boss. Why is he being overpowered so easily?

“Don’t mock me!” The catman’s voice rang out as he swung his arm towards the young man.

*Whirl* *Crash*

That one swing alone obliterates the building that young man was staying on, forcing him to be sent flying but look weirdly unscathed.

*Leap* *Swing* *Block*

Someone jumps towards the flying boy and tries to swing an axe at him, only for it to be stopped by a shield and all momentum he has halted, sending him dropping back down while that guy is still in the air somehow.

“Rah!!!” A red humanoid lizard ran over to him once he finally landed back down, looking much bigger and more intimidating than the young guy that seemed unfazed by everything that happened so far.

*Swing* *Block* *Rumble* *Crack*

He swung his fist and was quickly blocked by the shield, but what came after was a massive shockwave resulting from the two clashing, causing the ground to shake and causing multiple cracks to form on the ground.

What the hell am I supposed to do, man? What is with these demigods fighting while us plebs watch from the sideline?

*Smack* *Bash* *Kick*

The red lizard gets his shit rocked quickly after the young man breaks the stalemate and delivers a series of shield strikes and kicks.

*Swerg* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

Gunshots rang out in the fight as the young man covered himself in some sort of barrier while trying to look for the location of the gunman.

*Swing* *SLICE*

He suddenly swung his sword towards a nearby skyscraper. I think I saw a flash of light earlier? What was that?

*CRASH* *CRUMBLE*

“R-Run away!” Someone yelled out as everyone saw the top of the skyscraper collapsing and began taking down everything below with it. I need to run as well! Why did he do that!?

*Rumble* *Crash* *Crack*

The ground shakes again from such a massive structure falling to the ground in its entirety. Is that guy insane!? Why did he have to do that!?

I ran away so I don’t know what happened exactly, but he seemed to be walking in the direction of the collapsed skyscraper. The gunshots stopped a while back and I can’t see anyone running into him like a few minutes ago.

“What the hell are we seeing here, man?” One of the people in our ragtag group asked.

“No idea, but it doesn’t look like we’re winning.” Another one said.

*Kick* *Bash* *Smash*

He began beating down anyone still daring to come his way, in the end I saw five people on the ground, all of them unresponsive… That was the five top subordinates, right? Why does it look like he was bullying kindergarteners?

There is one more person left who is still standing while everyone else is ready to ditch this godforsaken town. At this point we might as well scatter into the wind and never look back.

I know that having that kind of thought about our leader is bad, but what else am I supposed to do, with how monstrous that guy was, do we even have a choice in the matter!?

*Clash* *Clang* *Block* *Parry*

The two of them began to clash and it felt like each exchange left the ground beneath us rumbling ever so subtly.

“All of you! Attack!” Suddenly the leader screamed out at us. No way in hell he’s actually making us do that at this point!?

“Ooh!” Some people were still eager to fight and ran past us toward the middle of the storm. Are we for real? I know that there is strength in numbers, but with what we just saw there’s no way I am getting even close to that!

“[Quake]” A calm, or perhaps a voice of someone truly bored, rang out in a way that felt chilling.

*Quake* *Crack* *Split* *Sprung*

Suddenly the ground split open, cracks formed in an instant and everything quickly became uneven, some piece of the road sprung up like a pillar while the others sank down leaving many holes in the ground that everyone trying to come to the leader’s rescue tripped over or even fell directly into it.

*Grab* *Swing* *Crash*

I don’t know when it happened, but that young man grabbed one of the pillars sticking out of the ground and swung it right towards the leader who was still shocked by the sudden spell, sending him crashing into a broken down building.

In a few seconds, everything seems to break down, turning into a wasteland…

———Orrel———

“Huh? Is that for real?” Kenni said with a smirk as she sat down on the bench. “They seriously think that would work?”

“It’s not surprising that they would think that. Who would’ve known that this place has the technology to nearly perfectly assess all the events happening on Earth? Certainly a massive breach of privacy.” I still don’t know the full extent of it, but the fact that the mission description shows so much detail makes it clear this is extremely advanced and not something we could quite comprehend just yet.

“Well, too bad for them. When you stared into the abyss, it stared back.” Kenni said with a smirk. “A bit longer than I thought. If it was me… Eh. I might mess around a bit longer.”

“Such an understatement…” I can’t help but say while we wait for his return. I want to know how it actually goes on his end.

*Zoom*

“Here comes our hero…” Kenni said with a smirk as Useph walked towards us with the culprit in his hand, dragging him across the floor like he’s a trash bag. “So, how was it?”

“Nothing special.” Useph answered.