"Squad C, advance!" the commander commanded.

"Yes sir!" Sheira replied, drawing her sword.

Squad C advanced with a higher speed ahead, opening the way for the troops.

Squad C, led by Sheira. Front line, advance, and opening the way.

Commander's squad, led by the commander. Behind squad C, to back up the front line and backline. Eyes of the formation.

Squad B, led by Eamon. Backline, secure the backline. Back up the commander's squad and squad C.

Sheira's POV

The woods are up ahead, we should slow down a bit and stay close. We have Eamon and his squad in the backline. The commander is also with us this time. Yuri and his squad are guarding the kingdom while we are away. Hopefully, they will be okay.

"Attention!" the commander exclaimed. "We're entering the woods, stay close to each other. Prepare for a surprise attack!"

"Roger!"

There is no sound of them. It's pretty quiet here, and that's weird. The woods embraced a profound silence, as if nature itself held its breath. Not a rustle disturbed the air, and the quiet settled like a delicate shroud over the ancient trees. The stillness was so absolute that the mere whisper of a breeze or the distant murmur of a stream seemed hesitant.

"Ready your swords! They could attack anytime," the commander warned.

Suddenly, a male soldier yelled, "Look out!"

A Heian jumped out of nowhere.

"Ahh!!"

He finished a soldier in seconds!

"Aria, Blair, Cara! Stay together and protect each other! The three of you, fight together!" I shouted.

"Yes, mam!" they nodded, drawing their sword.

I should help the others. Please, stay safe.

Eamon's POV

"Ahh! Stop!"

Ugly dogs. How dare you eat my comrade.

I sliced its neck, blood spread to my cloak, leaving a crimson stain.

"All of you! Aim their neck and slice it open with your swords! We're killing them for real right now!" I commanded.

"Roger!"

Another one huh? Such ugly-looking faces. Your neck looks thin and my sword's thirsty right now. Don't worry, I will end this quickly.

"Sit," I said, hoping the Heian could obey me. But maybe I hopped too much, these creatures know nothing but to slaughter humans. I charge towards the Heian, slashing my sword in its neck.

Tsk. Filthy dogs. "You should've been a good boy."

Who's next?

Huh? I spotted a Heian not so far from here and it was acting weird. Why that Heian is...dragging its friend? I should just slash it with my sword.

"Take this!"

Huh? Unexpectedly, this one's quick. "You're faster than your brothers. I see, can I take your legs off first?"

I cut off its leg, making it paralyzed, unable to run anywhere.

"Thanks. Now your neck is mine." I sliced its head so deep, chopping off its head.

I told you to be a good boy. You should've been more attentive and learned some manners.

I looked around, it seemed that I was quite far from the formation. I should regroup. The backline should be clean for now.

Sheira's POV

"Behind you!" a Heian charged at the young woman, finishing her off instantly.

"You killed my comrade! Now take this!" I sliced the Heian's nape, the creature fell to the ground, lifeless.

They should've shown themselves earlier outside the woods. I didn't expect them to be patient and wait for us to enter the forest.

The commander's objective is to capture one Heian, that's all we need for now.

***

The commander began, "Listen up brave soldiers! Now we all know that their weakness is the neck."

"Now that we have known their weakness, we now have an objective."

"Our priority this time is to capture one of them and bring the body back to the kingdom for research."

"This way, humanity will discover more about them."

"How they are here? How do they multiply their numbers? Why do they eat humans? Why do they try to wipe out humanity? Those questions need an answer."

"And we should find the answer as soon as possible before they wipe humanity out of this world. Understood?"

"Understood!"

***

We should capture at least one of them for a better future. It depends on us, how will humanity survive in the next few years.

That's Cara! Aria! And Blair!

"You guys okay?" I asked.

"We are," Aria replied.

"And we successfully take down a bunch of them!" Cara exclaimed with joy.

"That's right big sis! Don't worry we can handle this," Blair gloated.

I looked at them as I praised, "Brave and strong girls."

A Heian emerged as a mere silhouette, hidden within the enigmatic shadows. Yet, the thickening fog threatened to shroud the scene entirely.

"Hey guys! There is one over there!" Aria exclaimed, her finger cutting through the mist to point at the elusive figure.

"Let's take it down!" Cara urged with determination etched across her face.

"Count me in!" Blair chimed in, her keen eyes fixed on the approaching threat as she brandished her sharp sword.

"Big sis!" Cara's voice echoed with a mix of excitement and urgency.

"Huh?"

"Watch us," Cara giggled, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes.

I smiled proudly, observing them in the dim light. They possessed a seamless chemistry, supporting each other as they relentlessly attacked the ominous beast, slashing it repeatedly.

They're not just skilled; there's an undeniable charm to their unity that warms my heart.

As the fog thickened, a sense of urgency permeated the air. "It's better to bug out! Wait!" I called out, my voice cutting through the mist like a desperate plea.

But...

With an unsettling grace, the Heian executed an unusual move, its tail swishing through the air with unexpected precision. The blow struck Aria, sending her sprawling until she collided forcefully with one of the ancient trees, blood spurted everywhere.

"Aria!" My scream echoed through the mist.

In response, Blair, fueled by a mix of anger and concern, charged towards the Heian with her sword raised high. Yet, her swift attack missed its mark as the elusive creature deftly evaded her blade.

Undeterred, Blair leaped past the creature, only to face an unexpected turn of events. The Heian, with a sudden burst of speed, lunged towards her, its jaws clamping down with a chilling finality.

"Huh?" I stood there, stunned, as the unexpected horror unfolded before my eyes. Cara, attempting to flee the battlefield, fell victim to the merciless advance of the Heian. In a gruesome act, the creature charged forward, raising its foot and ruthlessly stomping her, extinguishing her presence from the unfolding tragedy. The once-confident pursuit now hung in the air, overshadowed by the harsh reality of the Heian's brutal retaliation.

CARA!!! ARIA!!! BLAIR!!!

Huh? Wha-?

You guys...I was too late.

"Please..... Stop," I cried desperately.

The Heian, the perpetrator of the merciless onslaught, attempted to flee the scene, disappearing into the shrouded labyrinth of mist.

"You?! Why... are you running?!" My voice rang out, a mixture of grief and rage converging in the swirling fog.

"You killed my sisters! COME BACK HERE!!!" The words burst forth from me, an anguished cry that pierced through the stillness. With every step, determination fueled my pursuit, driven by the need for justice and retribution for the deaths of my sisters. The mist seemed to thicken with my resolve, as I chased after the elusive figure.

"Stop!" Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, grabbing my hand with a firm grip, halting my relentless pursuit of the escaping beast.

"Eamon?!" I exclaimed, recognition dawning as his features emerged from the mist.

"Enough," he uttered.

My gaze shifted between the fading silhouette of the Heian and Eamon's presence that restrained me, torn between the thirst for vengeance and the unsettling realization that this encounter was far from ordinary.

"Let me go!! It killed my sisters!" I exclaimed, my voice a blend of desperation and defiance. I struggled, moving my hand forcefully in an attempt to break free from Eamon's grasp, the raw anguish of loss propelling my determination. The mist seemed to cling to our entwined figures.

"Sheira... It's gone, it runs so fast, you can't catch up. You'll just die if you chase after it."

"But-"

"No buts!...... We should regroup."

I stopped. Unable to contain the torrent of emotions, tears streamed down my face, each drop a poignant echo of grief and frustration. The weight of loss hung heavy in the air, mingling with the mist that veiled the unfolding tragedy. In that vulnerable moment, the world around me blurred, and the pain of the recent events washed over me like a relentless tide.

Eamon's POV

Huh? What is that? That Heian is bigger. We should fall back, going deeper is suicide. There might be hundreds of them there.

"We caught one! All troops fall back!" the commander commanded.

"Roger!" our troops fall back, leaving the battlefield. We reached our objective, it's time to bug out.

Sheira's POV

W-what just happened?

Aria...

Blair...

Cara...

The memories of my sisters pop into my head.

***

"Big sis Sheira! What's your dream?"

"Dream?"

"Everyone has dreams, right?" Aria asked, like asking for approval.

"Well, my dream is to become sisters with you three!" I expressed.

"I feel the same. Once everything is settled, I want to hang out with you like a real sister!" Cara was excited.

"I'm eagerly waiting for that day. I love you!"

The memories shifted to another one...

Cara walked closer, grabbed my left arm, and said, "Let's have dinner together after tomorrow's expedition!"

"That sounds good," Aria added. "We should have dinner together! Consider it as a reward for our amazing big sis. It will be so much fun."

"Agree! How about you, big sis?" Cara urged, her eyes sparkling.

"Of course," I agreed. "Let's have dinner together. Just the four of us. We will be having a party!"

"Yes!"

"Can't wait!"

"Let's work hard then," I smiled proudly. "I love all my sisters so much!"

"We love you too! Big sis!" Cara uttered.

***

Today, my sisters died.

Goodbye.

I loved you more than I ever imagined.

All of you made me laugh harder than I ever thought I could. You cared for me deeply, standing by me through thick and thin. We shared dawn walks as the sun slowly bid farewell to the day.

You showed me the true essence of family.

Family isn't about sharing blood or DNA.

Family is where you feel secure and loved, a place where you can truly be yourself.

A place you can call... home.

But why? Why all of you lied to me!? We promised to have dinner together, didn't we? Why should... you leave so early?

Please, Aria, Blair, Cara, promise me this. Just one last wish. Please, wait for me. One day, let's walk together across a galaxy full of stars.

I hope you have found peace. You can rest now, and let your big sister get the job done.

I love you, Aria, Blair, Cara. My best friend, My family.

I will miss all of you for the rest of my life.

I cried and cried and cried. My surroundings turned pitch black as I imagined their sweet smiles. I cried and cried and cried, I'm lost in desperation.

The time we spent was lovely, memorable, well-spent, and important to me.

Don't worry, your big sister is fine here. I promise I will bring victory to Ziyou. All of your sacrifices will never be for nothing.

Rest in peace, Aria, Blair, and Cara.

And again, I lost a family.

To be continued...