The City of Above

41:45

Now they are indeed present in the City of Above, somewhere at the east area of the city. The Guardians, Defenders and Hackers are staying on some buildings near the walls on different position in the area, while the Strikers are vanished on the walls themselves, watching the outside world. RY4N, as a Guardian himself, but as the Leader at the same time, just stands with Officer KYR4 who is helping her small group and the rest of the Hackers. And of course C0NNER is with them too since he needs help, as they are guiding LUK3 and another Striker, IZA4K. Or, well... guide... it's not really the appropriate word here anymore. Just to make sure they are alright.

[RY4N]-Alright, what's the situation for you all?

[/ELL1OT]-Well... My group doesn't seem to be able to find anything. The Strikers are wandering around, but they don't seem to have any clue about what exactly do they need to see.

[/J4CE]-Mine too. Are you sure the demon rumour is true, RY4N?

[RY4N]-That's what the Great Leader said. It's not like I know how these creatures even look like.

[/J4CE]-Alright, alright... Then what do we do?

[RY4N]-Let me think...

He does take a small pause, then starts talking to his Strikers.

[RY4N]-LUK3, do you see anything?

[/LUK3]-Nuh-uh! It's pure darkness there! I don't see any sign of life.

[/IZA4K]-Yeah, he is right on this one. The suns are gone after all and it's hard for us to see anything. I mean, yeah, the light from the walls does cover up a small portion of the area that circles them, but more than that, there is nothing to see.

[RY4N]-Alright... then let's try something.

[/IZA4K]-"Try something"...?

[RY4N]-Mr. EZR4H told us about a special device they use if they encounter demons. We managed to get some from the Central Base a few days ago and maybe it can help us now. Do you remember what I gave you in the equipment and you guys started questioning it?

[/IZA4K]-Yeah...?

[RY4N]-There should be a small button on it. Press it and throw it in the dark area. Then, tell me if you see anything.

[/IZA4K]-Alright then...

RY4N doesn't hear anything from his soldier anymore. He waits a few seconds to see if he says something, but starts the conversation himself in the end.

[RY4N]-IZA4K, did you do it?

[/IZA4K]-Oh, yeah, I did it. I managed to throw the device without making it appear on their cameras. I mean... I hope I got it right, 'cause if they see the device appearing out of nowhere from my position, then they will be aware of our vanishing equipment...

[RY4N]-So what's the situation?

[/IZA4K]-Well... I understand why Mr. EZR4H uses them against the demons and all, but still nothing.

[RY4N]-What do you mean?

[/IZA4K]-I mean that the device has created a small light in the area I threw it and all, but I couldn't see anything there before it disappeared.

[RY4N]-Maybe if you throw more?

[/IZA4K]-Let me see...

He makes another pause, but this time the Striker talks first.

[/IZA4K]-...No, nothing. I threw around three but I don't see anything. Do we maybe have a clue on how do these creatures look li--

[/LUK3]- --IZA4K! I hear growling!!

[RY4N]-What? LUK3, what's happening?

But no response this time. Seems like after LUK3 has said his words, everything turned to silence.

[RY4N]-LUK3?? LUK3, respond to me! Nothing once again.

[C0NNER]-So, he got eaten by the demons in the end, huh...

[RY4N]-C0NNER, I'm serious! Don't laugh!

[C0NNER]-What, I cannot joke around now?

[RY4N]-LUK3! LUK3, say something!

Yet no response. He waits a few seconds as he gets more concerned. But LUK3 manages to respond in the end.

[/LUK3]-Y-Yeah, RY4N! I'm here!

[RY4N]-Oh, dear M1NERV4... Stop scaring me like that, LUK3!

[/LUK3]-S-Sorry, RY4N. I just got a bit paralysed.

[RY4N]-What do you mean?

[/LUK3]-W-Well... Seems like you were right with this equipment and all... 'cause they've made their appearances in the end. A-And it seems as they continue coming.

[RY4N]-What's the situation?

[/LUK3]-U-Umm... I could only hear them a moment ago, but now it seems like there are glowing lights that come from the darkness of the outside that look towards exactly our position, e-even though we are vanished with our devices.

[RY4N]-How many are they?

[/LUK3]-Umm... Many! T-Too many!

[/IZA4K]-...He is right, RY4N. I see them too.

With that, RY4N finally sees progress and starts talking to the other groups.

[RY4N]-Okay, all the Strikers should take the equipment I gave you and throw it outside the walls! Inform your people immediately, everyone!

He waits a few minutes for everyone to inform their Strikers and get a result, and it does seem as he gets somewhere now.

[/J4CE]-RY4N, my Strikers report glowing lights outside the Great Walls!

[/D4NI3L]-Mine too! Besides them, they hear distorted and corrupted growling coming from their position! And it's not only one, it is combined with many more!

Lucky us that we cannot even see what they are talking about, nor a creature like this, huh... But at least we hear what they say about them. I mean, we only focus on RY4N's position at the moment, so it is impossible for us too take a look on what exactly they report.

[RY4N]-So the rumour is true... The demons came back... But why...?

[KYR4]-One question. Just by curiosity. Can we throw LUK3 outside so he can analyse the creatures? Maybe we will find some clues on what they want.

[/LUK3]-H-Ha ha...

[C0NNER]-But why do we know so little about them if they exist for thousands of years?

[RY4N]-...It is simply our fear, C0NNER. These creatures are able to kill us with their own bare limbs, without the need of any gas. Because we were afraid to get killed by them, we only tried to keep our distance.

[C0NNER]-But if we continue doing so, how would we be ever able to find out more about them?

[KYR4]-You have your right and all, but how do you propose to do so? We do not have any special equipment against them.

[C0NNER]-I was just asking... Maybe if we manage to manipulate them, we can use them as a weapon in this war, hm?

[KYR4]-Oh, that sounds like a cool plan. Announce me when you do so and you didn't get killed in the process.

[C0NNER]-Ha ha.

[/IZA4K]-...To be honest now, RY4N, they manage to scare me too. We are not even able to see them properly and even so, they give me chills down my spine.

But... it is progress after all. The Great Leader demanded for them to see what's the situation with these so-called demons of the outside, and RY4N managed to find something on this subject.

[RY4N]-Alright. We will move to the next area for now to see the situation there too.

The Southeast Military Base

49:21

Seems like the mission is done now. Everyone got back to the base, put back the equipment and some already get ready to leave in order to go to their houses. KYR4 is one of them for example, yet C0NNER seems as he still wants to stay at the base for a while.

[LUK3]-Come oooon! Hurry up, KYR444!!

[KYR4]-Why are you rushing me?? Just wait up!

[LUK3]-Just hurry!!

[KYR4]-Oh, for the love of...

[C0NNER]-I still don't understand why you've accepted in the first place, Officer.

[KYR4]-Maybe 'cause he would've annoyed me anyway? You know him damn well, C0NNER.

[LUK3]-Oh, yeah!! C0NNER, come with us too!! You are going to your apartment as well after all, right?

[C0NNER]-No, not yet. I'm staying a bit around the base to help out someone.

[LUK3]-Oh, come oon!! Let us accompany youuuuu!

[C0NNER]-It's gonna take a few hours, LUK3. Just leave without me.

[LUK3]-Ninini... *sigh* Okay... KYR4, come oon!! You are so sloooow!!

[KYR4]-Just wait for a damn second, you idiot!!

Yet while they argue, RY4N seems to note some things from the mission and sign a few papers to get them to the Great Leader. When he is done, he goes again in the Great Leader's office, but this time, He doesn't seem to be present. It is a bit surprising actually, but he just sits down on the chair in front of the Great Leader's desk and solves the paper.

He gets rather bored as he waits minutes for Him to come, and concerned a bit too. So he decides in the end to give Him a call to see where He is. He takes his airpod from his communication device and starts calling Him. But He does answer this time, not like other times.

[RY4N]-...Hey, CHE5TER, I was wondering where you are. I am in your office and I couldn't find you at the base. Anything wrong?

[/CHE5TER]-Oh, no, no. I'm just a bit off with work. I was talking with someone in the meantime until you guys came back from the mission. You can leave the papers on my desk. I will look around them when I come back.

[RY4N]-Mhm... So who is this "someone"? Another crevaator?

[/CHE5TER]-Hahah... Oh, okay, you got me. Yeah, I was talking with a small crevaator to see something from an area nearby.

[RY4N]-Alright... Then anything new?

[/CHE5TER]-No, not really. It's not something big either, so don't worry. I will come back to you in a few hours if needed. I just stay a bit longer to solve something out.

[RY4N]-So, I assume you won't tell me anything this time either, huh?

[/CHE5TER]-Don't make such a scene, RY4N. I will tell you one day everything you wish to know. But right now, I'm just a bit busy, like always.

[RY4N]-Alright, alright... See you in our room then?

Yet now, looking at His position too, we see the ruler in the City of Above, with one of the Officers from the M military present with Him, as he looks rather annoyed again.

[CHE5TER]-...Yes. See you there.

And so, He ends the call and looks at the young Officer standing in front of Him.

[DU5TIN]-...So you lie to him as well.

[CHE5TER]-Oh, but I do not lie. I did whatever I told him earlier already. No need of me to invent something.

[DU5TIN]-It is still categorised as lying since you didn't tell him what exactly are you doing now. But as blind as you are, I do not see why should I explain it to you over and over again.

[CHE5TER]-Hm, so I'm the one blind, huh? Then what's up with that eyepatch?

[DU5TIN]-Ha ha... Make fun of me, won't you?

[CHE5TER]-Oh, I'm just joking around, Big Brother. No need to take it personally now. So, I assume you know about the problem with those creatures as well, right?

[DU5TIN]-Yeah, what about them?

[CHE5TER]-Mind telling me what's up with them? Since you are a citizen of this city and all, I was thinking that maybe you know more about them than I do.

[DU5TIN]-Aren't you a citizen as well or what?

[CHE5TER]-Oh, I am. But I was rather meaning that you are one that doesn't need to hide himself from the soldiers, right?

[DU5TIN]-...

[CHE5TER]-So, do tell me. What is this problem all about? What do these demons want?

[DU5TIN]-...There are two inconveniences with your request here anyway. One: I do not have any permission to tell you anything about what's happening around the military, especially to criminals like you.

[CHE5TER]-Oh, you flatter me, DU5TIN. And the second one?

[DU5TIN]-Simply that... I do not know anything about them in particular either. You waste your time asking anybody about them. No records were found to talk about these creatures.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* So you don't know anything about them either, huh...

[DU5TIN]-Why do you wish to know so much about them anyway? What do you win from continuing this charade?

[CHE5TER]-Well, I'm afraid that these "demons" are the only thing that may actually make us co-operate in order to get rid of a common problem. Or maybe fear if you wish to call it that way. No matter the race I am or what your people desire, these creatures are something that both of the sides want to get rid of. And since they are a common enemy, maybe we can help each other until we know they've disappeared completely.

[DU5TIN]-Foolish you to think that the M borns will work with the C borns in this life, CHE5TER.

[CHE5TER]-That is... not exactly what I mean.

[DU5TIN]-Then? What did you mean?

[CHE5TER]-I was rather thinking of two Errors working together rather than a C born and an M born. I mean... after all... I have a plan.

[DU5TIN]-Oh, yeah? Heh, then let's hear your plan, "Seven". What did you think about?

[CHE5TER]-Oh, nothing much. I was thinking that you might provide me with useful information about these creatures from whatever source you find. Doesn't matter if it's real or not, just find what you can.

[DU5TIN]-And what would you do?

[CHE5TER]-Simple. With the more information you give me, I can think of a plan that your people can use in order to get rid of the problem. Even if it takes days or even months. I am a man of my word after all. As for how you thought of the idea when they will ask you... you could simply say that you've done your research. Nothing more.

[DU5TIN]-That's it? I will work my butt out and you will only wait for my information?

[CHE5TER]-I will try to find something myself, do not worry. I have people everywhere after all, and you are one of them, remember? The whole thing about you refusing to help is simply a different story. But I do believe that this will be the first time we will work together to solve something out. Right?

[DU5TIN]-...

[CHE5TER]-So what do you say, Brother?

He looks a bit in his eye, seeming a little pissed by His affirmations, yet his little brother talks again, saying a final word.

[CHE5TER]-...Truce?

And by saying it, He puts His right hand standing on the air, in a position looking as if He waits for DU5TIN to shake hands with Him. DU5TIN doesn't seem pleased with this idea though, and of course he wouldn't be. Even though they are brothers, they've been in a conflict for so many years that they cannot even remember what started it.

But this time, he needs a bit of His help. This problem threatens both of the cities, the city in which he lives and tries his best to serve it, and the city that he isn't even aware of, not even till this day. Though working with someone that you hate is simply Hell, he needs to do so in order to protect his city. It is also the same thing that CHE5TER does, trying all His best to gain another ally in order to protect His people. They have things in common, they are brothers after all. Both Errors coming from the same Original which both of them try to protect.

In the end, DU5TIN gives Him his right arm and shake hands, making peace between them for the time being. Or at least until the common problem is solved.

"...Truce."