Moon Theory (ABO)Ch75 - regroup, unit one

[present time]

Two shots ring quickly in succession. The fumbling boar is hit cleanly on the jowl and snout, spurting out unsightly brown liquids. With terrifyingly perfect accuracy, the third bullet ruptures through its skull and soon, only a gooey, bony mess is left on the ground. HB4ytI

Colonel Yang fluently swings his rifle behind his shoulder. He juts a thumb at the corpse and says simply, “Pack it up. The next retrieval point is six miles southwest.”

“Understood, Colonel Yang,” comes the reply of an unknown soldier. The person has an average build and most of his features are hidden underneath a helmet and a valved mask. It is difficult to differentiate him from the group of ten, all of them donning the same protective gear and uniform. They get to work stowing the anomaly inside a wooden crate.

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On the other hand, Colonel Yang doesn’t care to wait one second. He briskly heads toward one of the three parked vehicles and climbs into the passenger seat. Li Jiayun makes room for him to sit – or rather, the redhead soldier retreats to the other side, offering up all three seats for the colonel’s choosing. Yang Rong settles in the middle.

“Six miles southwest as I’d mentioned,” he says – tonelessly, but there is still hard-edged command. His words would hold attention no matter how trivial. “The Erunium valley wolf spiders can be killed rather easily, though they have abnormally keen eyesight. We’ve been informed of ones with twelve eyes as opposed to the usual eight, and some of its kind have grown to be more than ten inches in length. Extremely poisonous, near red-level danger – I need not mention the radioactivity level.” ildBkd

“The best course of action would be to burn down their nests,” Li Jiayun says with a small frown. “Though we’d risk causing a valley fire and attracting more unwanted predators. Intel has also warned of snowshoe hares in the vicinity. The creatures have gotten more dangerous, especially by the forest. We’ve been handling the situation for weeks at end.”

“Take another minute of rest,” Colonel Yang says as he takes a quick glance outside the window, trailing his eyes over a laggard soldier. The person’s movements stick out from the rest – more sluggish and awkward, his hands trembling per lift of a crate. “And keep an eye on him. There is a possibility of infection, though it is too early to gauge.”

“—Him?” Jae inquires from the shotgun seat. The young man peers outside as well, studying the unknown soldier. It is nighttime, however, and their vision is limited. “He looks fine to me, though I can’t tell whether or not he’s injured. But Colonel Yang, normally you would just call him out and tell him to strip—I mean, I had to trek up a mountain half-naked the time I got grazed by a cow. Are we changing protocol? Or are we less strict to them because they’re not part of our unit?”

“Waste of time,” Colonel Yang only answers curtly. “Whether or not General Xie’s subdivision dies is none of my concern.”

Jae pries further. “Why are we even on a joint mission? They’re complete rookies—I mean, they had to ask me of all people to check their safety equipment!”

Li Jiayun answers him – only because Colonel Yang has no intentions to. “Their sergeant has died on the field. We’re—ah, I mean Colonel Yang is temporarily overseeing them. Perhaps for a week until they transition?”

“One day only,” Colonel Yang corrects her as he leans against the seat. “We’re not escorting them to the Nexus. Likewise, they are not allowed to impede on my mission and hence, we go our separate ways after depot.”

Li Jiayun blinks. “Your mission—” hB5vfx

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

“—A personal mission.” Yoo Seok is the one to answer her instead. The black-haired soldier taps on the steering wheel and muses, “Escorting a certain someone to the city. A very bold affair, Colonel Yang, but how do you suppose you will keep him away from the eyes of the military? They’ve raised the commission reward within the last few days. In other words, he has a visible bounty on his head and news of his existence has already spread far beyond.”

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“…” Finally, a subtle crack of Yang Rong façade – a weakness that wouldn’t be seen if not for Yoo Seok’s oddly discerning eyes. The colonel lets out a low sigh. “…I’ve concluded that everyone except me had guessed Noah’s genetic makeup. His physiology as well. Turns out, your colonel is the least perceptive of all.” MxcYea

“A simple conjecture,” Yoo Seok says. “But your scope is narrow, Colonel Yang. You say you haven’t abandoned your title, yet you are not following orders from Command. Such is treason and very unlike your pragmatic self, I might add. Soon, your wavering will be our downfall.”

“’Our,’” Yang Rong repeats. “And why have you correlated yourselves with me?”

“Naturally, a commander who cannot lead is useless on the field.” The young man is still locking eye contact. Both alphas are poised in their stances, but Yoo Seok displays more prominence – really, it may just be that Yang Rong is a conflicted mess. No matter how stoically he tries to come off, his mask is not seamless. Yoo Seok juts a thumb toward the ten other soldiers outside the vehicle. “And naturally, a commander who refuses to lead will only bring about conflict. Unit 101 is assigned to you because they lost their sergeant, but it hardly seems you are filling a gap.”

Yang Rong’s lips thin. “Do not go overboard, Private Yoo Seok. I control my unit as I wish. And you, a foot soldier, is a dispensable asset.” VX0U r

The young man suddenly chuckles. The echo of it travels lowly inside the vehicle, and the three passengers are taken aback. Laughter rarely comes from Yoo Seok and none of them braced for how pleasant he sounds – the perpetually stone-faced man, mysterious and brooding, can actually give such a reaction. When the chuckles even out, Yoo Seok’s amusement is never-fading.

“It is unfortunate I’ve never found you intimidating, Colonel Yang. I’ve only pitied you.” Yoo Seok gives him a once-over and continues with a light smirk. “As much as you sound like the general, he has certain stoicism you do not. And you, Colonel Yang, do not mean half the things you say.”

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Before Yang Rong could retort with any wit of his own, one unknown soldier walks up to their vehicle and taps on the tempered glass window.

“Colonel Yang,” he gives a salute, “the anomalies have been checked and packed. Awaiting your next orders.” kdGZR8

Yang Rong immediately reassumes a strict tone. There is more hard-edged intensity when he speaks to anyone else other than the First Unit and a certain silver-haired individual. “Southeast to Erunium. I reckon you are familiar with the terrain?”

“Unfortunately not, Colonel,” the man replies. “The 101^st Unit has never ventured this far. Most of us have little combat experience against non-mammal creatures, and arachnids are not our usual types of enemies. We will follow your lead, Colonel Yang.”

“Don’t fall behind,” Yang Rong says.

With another brief salute, the soldier leaves to his team vehicle. 0tCP89

Then, a mere five minutes later, three military trucks roll past scorched soil and burning weeds. In the foremost vehicle are the First Unit soldiers who are tossing out flame grenades and tranquilizer bombs in a timely fashion… and in the other two vehicles, the 101^st Unit soldiers are paused in action, unsure of what to do.

Even as a radioactive hare rams against a side door, they can only brace for impact and go full throttle, following the truck in front. The coordination is terrible – and Colonel Yang isn’t giving orders either, merely choosing to stick his head out the window once in a while to pelt down bloodthirsty foe. The colonel handles his weaponry so fluidly with not a single misaim. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the more novice soldiers who are struggling with their rifles.

It is not only that they lack experience, but when led by a wayward and uncommunicative leader, they are unsure of how to contribute. Colonel Yang has the same blank look on his face as he shoots the head of a large mutated lizard. The bullet is strong enough to send convulsions down its scales, rupturing its body in half, splattering its entrails onto the following vehicle’s windshield.

The driver brakes abruptly in shock, his foot stomping onto the panel so hard it causes the vehicle to skid harshly across the ground. The tires turn a jerky angle, causing all five passengers to lurch forward and brace for certain impact. eD9WVX

The vehicle on their tail also has to brake in response, but the driver’s reaction is a tad slower, causing an unavoidable roadway accident. The second truck collides brutally against the bumper, crushing the hard plating and breaking apart several aluminum components. In succession, both trucks swerve clockwise, and one is unfortunate enough to slam against a tree.

A quick series of movements one after another, and now some the soldiers of Unit 101 are knocked unconscious, their vehicles dangerously close to the roaring valley fire and a pack of ferocious bighorn sheep.

Loud shouts can be heard as the few conscious soldiers roll up their windows to fend the creatures away.

“—Colonel Yang!” Li Jiayun says frantically as she reloads a magazine, peeking her head out the rear window. The loud commotion almost drowns out the sound of her voice. “There are four anomalies approaching the reserve vehicle—should we turn around and provide backup?” RtjAcK

“…” Yang Rong sighs as he tosses one last grenade. Hundreds of insect nests are blown up in front, engulfing the vicinity in thick black smoke. The colonel grabs a black mask from the roof compartment and pulls it over his face. When he speaks again, his voice is slightly muffled. “Filter masks on. Readjust your vests and make sure not an inch of skin is exposed. Yoo Seok, reverse gears. Don’t get too close—we’re parking for a bit.”

Yoo Seok hums an affirmation and smoothly makes a U-turn. As he drives back, Jae and Li Jiayun are hastily throwing on their fireproof jackets and double-checking their harnesses. Colonel Yang, on the other hand, doesn’t have on as much safety equipment. His tattered jacket is tossed to the side after a previous scuffle – the holes on the material hardly provide much protection and so he had opted to discard it altogether.

When he exits the truck, he immediately shoots down a crawling lizard. His combat boots squelch past its remains and he doesn’t blink an eye before aiming his rifle at the pack of bighorn sheep currently surrounding an unnamed soldier – Colonel Yang didn’t care to inquire for their names nor titles.

An incendiary bullet pierces through a sheep’s mane and another bullet, shot by Li Jiayun, blows the creature to its death. The soldier in front is amateur despite his fully decked gear, and it is with much difficulty that the First Unit manages to preserve his life. When the four sheep are reduced to an unidentifiable muddle on the floor, the soldier scrambles toward them in a hurry. c745xN

“—Colonel Yang!” He bows hastily. “Thank you for saving me, I—”

“Keep the unnecessary chatter,” the man cuts him off curtly, turning to inspect the two dislodged vehicles. Despite the hard collision, the damage isn’t unrepairable. Only some external damages, and the engines seem relatively undamaged. Yang Rong looks at the driver by the wheel and frowns. Passed out and cushioned by an airbag. “How are their vitals?”

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“Uncertain, Colonel Yang,” the soldier answers. “I will start immediate first aid.”

Yoo Seok is the first to drag the driver out of the seat. The person is thrown onto the ground without a care, and before the soldier can inquire, Yoo Seok gives him a hard look. “He is infected.” WdFCAk

The soldier replies, “I see. A preliminary screening should be done.”

Yoo Seok crouches down to unzip the top of the man’s jacket. Sure enough, on the man’s chest, above his bulletproof vest, is a three-inch cut. The wound has clotted and is hardly noticeable if not for the purpling around it. Yoo Seok points it out critically. “His body is twitching even when in a state of unconsciousness. An hour ago, he was injured by a swarm of tiger beetles. He was wearing proper face protection – it is unfortunate, however, that he didn’t heed to recheck his harness. The signs were apparent – strange contortions, odd posture, slow reaction speed. If his limbs were functioning properly, there would not have been such a heavy collision.”

The 101^st Unit soldier nods and aims his rifle at the man’s head. “I see. Then in accordance to protocol—”

“Colonel Yang.” Yoo Seok ignores the other soldier and turns to the colonel. “Your orders?” aVXM0d

Yang Rong’s countenance remains cold – his face is mostly hidden underneath his mask, but his green eyes are narrowed in certain imposition. He waves a hand at Yoo Seok, gesturing for the young man to step aside. The colonel crouches down, takes off the victim’s vest and pries apart the black fabric of his shirt.

By the ribcage – or rather, etched inside the ribcage – is a glob of squirming beetles and grotesque slabs of some slimy, larvae-like substance. As the insects drill deeper inside, the unconscious man’s body jerks and convulses on the ground. The nearby soldier takes a step back in horror.

In the minute they’ve spent conversing, a few more soldiers of the 101^st Unit have gathered around in a circle. Most of them are dazed from the collision, but their body language shows extreme revulsion.

“I don’t believe you need a forensics expert to confirm his death,” Colonel Yang says with a frown. “An unrecorded species of coleoptera. Abnormally clear shells, long forelegs and rhino-like horns. Tortoiseshell beetle, perhaps, but their iridescence is uncanny. Yoo Seok, hand me a specimen jar.” NjR0 v

When he turns to receive the specimen jar, several large beetles suddenly emerge out of the victim’s intestines. Colonel Yang doesn’t miss the sudden movement in his peripheral and he stands abruptly. One large beetle, however, flies upward so quickly even the colonel has little time to react.

The insect is half the size of his palm and its horn is about as long as a finger. Yang Rong promptly reaches for his dagger but he was a millisecond too slow – the beetle pierces through his forearm, tunneling itself inside his skin.