Reborn As Noble

”Vital signs weak. Multiple lacerations, possible internal bleeding. She won’t last long if we don’t move now.” Garak tapped the side of his helmet, a soft blue scan light sweeping over Fayna’s body as he assessed her condition.

”Garak...”

”What now, Marcor?”

Marcor, who was watching from the shattered doorway, spoke in a low, tense voice. ”Enemy soldiers are closing in from both sides of the street. We’re boxed in.”

”Ugh! Good thing this region’s soldiers are starting to fight back against the enemy forces, so we don’t have to engage them directly. But damn, this is getting messy.”

Just as Garak was about to continue, a crackling voice came through his mana talkie. ”Garak, we can’t move toward your position. The region’s soldiers are engaging the enemy in the streets, and the risk of our presence being exposed is too high. We’re pulling back to the extraction zone.”

”Ugh! Fine. Fall back to the extraction zone and keep the helicopter ready. We’ll make our way there on foot.”

Garak checked Fayna’s condition one last time before lifting her onto his shoulder in a swift, practiced motion. ”We have to move out now, Marcor.”

”Just about time.” Marcor raised his mana rifle, scanning the area as he moved away from the shattered doorway.

”Through here.” Garak moved quickly, holding Fayna securely on his shoulder while his other hand raised his mana gun. He stepped out into the smoke-filled street, his eyes scanning for threats before he tapped his mana talkie again.

”Base, base, this is Captain Garak. Requesting Sky Eyes surveillance to provide a secure route toward the extraction zone. Over.”

”Copy that, Captain. Sky Eyes is online. Routing secure path now. Stand by.”

Garak exhaled sharply, his eyes scanning the smoke-filled street. ”Make it fast. We’re sitting ducks out here.”

A moment later, the base came back through. ”Secure route plotted. Follow the alley to your left, then cut through the burned-out building at the end. From there, head northeast toward the old mill. The extraction zone is behind it.”

Garak nodded, then glanced at Marcor, who was standing alert, his mana rifle sweeping the area.

”Let’s move.”

Marcor nodded, falling in behind Garak as they moved swiftly through the rubble-strewn street. He kept his voice low, barely above a whisper.

”I wonder why Sir Alf said not to reveal our presence here. We could have cleared this whole area in minutes if we were allowed to engage openly.”

Garak took cover behind a crumbling wall, peeked over the top, and raised his hand, signaling a clear path before motioning to continue. He moved forward, his voice low and steady as he spoke.

”Doesn’t matter why,” Garak muttered, his voice low and firm. ”It’s a direct order from the Sovereign. Our job isn’t to question it. It’s to follow it. We could fight every soldier in this damn town if we had to, but an order is an order. We don’t move unless the Command Center says so. We don’t engage unless it’s necessary to protect the target. And we sure as hell don’t expose the operation.”

He glanced back at Marcor, his tone hardening. ”So keep your head down, your rifle ready, and your mouth shut. We get the girl, we get out. That’s the mission. Nothing else.”

Marcor grinned behind his mask, nudging Garak’s shoulder with a playful jab. ”Since when did you become this serious, Garak? You sound like you’ve been promoted to general or something~”

Garak remained focused, his eyes scanning the rooftops and windows as they moved. ”I’ve always been this serious, remember? I’m the brain, you’re the strength. Duh~ Now focus, Marcor.”

He shifted Fayna’s weight on his shoulder, his grip tightening. ”Even with the best gear, weapons, and defense systems, even with a huge advantage over any enemy, we don’t know for sure what’s out there or why we must conceal our presence. Until we reach the extraction zone and safely secure this girl, keep your invisibility mode on.”

Marcor chuckled, giving a mock salute. ”Yes, my captain~”

Garak let out a low, weary exhale, shaking his head as he moved forward again. ”Ugh! Why do I always get partnered with an annoying guy like you?”

Marcor chuckled, shaking his head slightly before focusing on the path ahead, his mana rifle held steady as his eyes swept the shadows. But his steps slowed when Garak suddenly raised his palm, signaling him to stop.

”What is it?” Marcor whispered, his voice barely audible through his mask’s filter.

Garak tapped his mana talkie, his voice tense and low.

”Base, this is Garak. I have visual on an unknown contact. Approximately a hundred meters to the northeast. A female figure, wearing dark attire with glowing red stripes. She’s accompanied by several soldiers. Their build resembles dwarves, but larger. Their armor is completely black, also with glowing red veins, and it looks... alive. There are eye-like formations in the center of their chest plates. The air around them is thick with dark miasma.”

A long silence followed. Static crackled softly before the operator’s voice came back, laced with confusion.

”Garak, we’re not reading anything on Sky Eyes. Your path is supposed to be clear. No enemy signatures, no thermal readings, not even civilian movement in that sector. Are you certain of your visual?”

Garak’s grip tightened on his mana gun. His eyes remained fixed on the distant figures, his voice cold and certain.

”Yes. I’m certain of what I’m seeing. What’s the order, base?”

Marcor had already readied his mana rifle, aiming at the unknown girl who now had her eyes fixed on them, her mouth twisted into a manic smile, her eyes glowing a deep, unnatural red.

”Base?”

Before the base could respond, a sudden, urgent shout crackled through the mana talkie.

Javier’s voice, sharp and commanding.

”Get out of there! NOW!”

”Y... Your Highness?”

”No time to explain! Get out of there! Permission granted to open fire on anyone in your way!”

The girl turned toward them, snapping her fingers. A huge sword materialized in her hand, dark as a starless night, with veins of glowing red pulsing along its length. Dark miasma coiled around it like serpents, and the gauntlet on her gripping hand was a grotesque fusion of black metal and flesh, with sharp, jagged protrusions that seemed to breathe.

She rested the massive blade casually on her shoulder, her red eyes gleaming with predatory delight.

”Finally~ Found the Armand toys~ Mm~ this will be delicious~”

Her voice was a chilling melody, echoing unnaturally through the ruined street. She took another graceful step forward, her red-glowing eyes fixed on them. The black miasma around her sword writhed like living smoke, tendrils of darkness curling up her arm.

”Garak!” Marcor hissed, his finger tightening on the trigger.

”Fall back! Now!” Garak barked, shifting Fayna’s weight on his shoulder as he began backing away, his mana gun raised and aimed toward the girl.

But the girl’s smile widened into a terrifying grin. With a flick of her wrist, she pointed the massive miasma sword toward them.

”Playtime...? No~ Hunting time~”

A wave of pure darkness erupted from the blade, surging toward them like a tidal wave of corruption, swallowing the light and sound around it as it roared forward.

( End Of Chapter )