Chapter 80: Monsters Outside the Gates

Two weeks later, in the underground city of Safe Haven, Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, and Corie stood before the Chimaera Z-X inside the city’s only hangar. The five of them looked upward, watching the cables connected to the body of the Chimaera Z-X and the technicians who appeared to be repairing or examining the giant robot. Mary approached the five of them,

"Well... now your robot has a place," Mary said, looking up at the giant robot before her.

"Was this hangar unused before, Sister?" Clyde asked.

"This hangar was empty... but we always keep one empty hangar just in case we ever get a GEAR to defend the city, though I never expected you guys would be the ones using it," Mary answered.

"Is that so, I thought it would be tough for us to fit the Chimaera Z-X in this city," Craig remarked.

"At first we didn’t want to place your robot here either, for fear it wouldn’t fit, but when you tried bringing it in and it turned out the hangar was large enough, there’s no problem anymore," Mary replied.

"Awesome... now if needed, the Chimaera Z-X can launch right up," Casca stated.

"Right, it makes it easy for us to access it too, totally practical," Corie added.

"I’m glad if it works for you... Celes, are you used to this city yet?" Mary asked.

"I am, Sister Mary, I actually feel more comfortable in this city compared to the small town of Utopia... and it seems the women and girls who came with us are already starting to mingle with the people here," Celes answered.

"Well... even though they’re from various races, they’re obviously used to it here since we’ve been dealing with them ever since this city was first established," Mary said.

"By the way Craig, what are your friends doing?" Clyde asked, pointing toward the feet of the Chimaera Z-X.

Everyone looked ahead, seeing Nate enthusiastically looking around with a wide smile as he examined the Chimaera Z-X, with Dana following closely behind him.

"Ah... sorry, Nate’s just like that, he’s a fan of mecha, comics, and anything sci-fi related, and Dana came along with him too; ever since the simulation, they’ve been like that," Craig explained.

"Is that so, but after getting out of the hospital, they look a bit older than us... maybe around 17 or 18 years old," Celes replied.

"Well... more or less, in the simulation, me and them were already high school seniors, so it makes sense," Craig answered.

"Still, it’s not that far off, even though we look 15, they’ve also kept their youth, probably because they’ve been asleep inside those tubes for so long," Clyde noted.

"Could be," Craig replied.

"Then why does that one look like she’s trying to get close to your twin sisters?" Mary asked, pointing to the side.

Clyde, Celes, and Craig turned to look in the direction Mary indicated, seeing Lyra trying to strike up a conversation with Casca and Corie. Even though the twins’ faces looked displeased and sullen, and they gave brief, dismissive answers, Lyra looked full of cheer and enthusiastic as she tried to talk to them, as if attempting to warm up to both of them,

"Sigh... well, back in the simulation, Lyra was my childhood friend, she grew up with me and for some reason, she said she wants to get close to Casca and Corie," Craig said.

"Understandable, out of me, Celes, and the twins, they’re the only ones who look cold toward Lyra, especially whenever you talk to Lyra, they immediately scowl," Clyde replied.

"Hmm... true enough, last night during dinner, Lyra tried chatting with Casca and Corie, but... the two of them just looked away and ended up skipping dinner because they went straight to their room," Celes added.

"I know they’re jealous, but why? What on earth is there to be jealous of?" Craig asked, puzzled.

Mary, who had been listening to the three of them, smiled and shook her head; she knew precisely what was going on between them and Lyra. Even so, she stayed quiet and said nothing, letting the three of them discuss it. But suddenly,

"Uoooong,"

An alarm sounding like an air raid siren echoed through the air. Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, and Corie instantly moved into a state of readiness, while Mary began speaking into her walkie-talkie. Nate, Dana, and Lyra ran over to approach Craig. Once Mary finished talking,

"What’s wrong, Sister Mary?" Clyde asked.

"A pack of Ravagers is fighting with some Swarmers near the city gates; that alarm was to call the troops to stand ready atop the barrier walls, we need to head over there," Mary answered.

"Alright... let’s go," Celes said.

As they moved to leave, Lyra grabbed Craig’s arm from behind, causing Craig to turn and look at her.

"Be careful, okay," Lyra said, full of care and looking anxious.

"Yeah... I’m heading out," Craig replied with a smile.

"Casca, Corie, please take care of your brother and yourselves too," Lyra added.

"Uh... yeah... don’t worry, we’re strong," Casca said, wrapping her arm around Craig’s.

"Yup... you just step aside and stay put here," Corie retorted coldly, wrapping her arm around Craig’s other arm.

"I’m coming, I want to see," Nate said, raising his hand.

"You’re out of your mind, you’ve already seen it before," Dana countered.

"But I want to see the five of them transform again... they seriously look like Kamen Rider or Power Rangers, you know I’m a fan," Nate replied.

Hearing that, Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, and Corie could only smile. About a week ago, Nate, who had been discharged from the hospital earlier and was walking around the city, had indeed witnessed Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, and Corie put on their combat modes when three Skitterers and two Swarmers breached the city and caused a panic.

At first, the five of them assumed Nate would be terrified of them, but unexpectedly, he became enthusiastic, asked a ton of questions, and was overjoyed like an otaku whose favorite world had come to life. Craig turned back and pointed at Nate.

"You stay right here, don’t go up top and stay inside the hangar, I won’t be long... I’m serious," Craig instructed firmly.

"Huhu... no fun, bro, okay I’m staying here, guarding Lyra and this girl I’m already tired of looking at," Nate said, pointing at Dana’s head with his index finger.

"Thump,"

Dana stepped hard on Nate’s foot, causing him to hop around holding his foot with a pained expression on his face. Following that, accompanied by the gazes of his three friends, Craig turned and left to catch up with Clyde, Celes, Casca, Corie, and Mary, who were already running ahead out of the hangar and toward the elevator to reach the surface.

Upon reaching the surface, they sprinted directly toward the entrance, seeing numerous GEMA units and infantry troops running toward the gates alongside them. Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, Corie, and Mary raced toward the fortification wall, which resembled a fortress, and ran up the stairs to reach the top.

When they arrived at the summit, they met Selma, who was already standing behind the fortress barrier,

"How’s the situation?" Mary asked.

"Just look for yourselves, it’s not too critical, but it can’t be ignored," Selma answered, gesturing forward with her chin.

Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, Corie, and Mary looked ahead, seeing about seven or eight large-bodied Ravagers circling two Swarmers like a pack of wolves stalking their prey. One Ravager leaped forward and pounced on one of the two smaller Swarmers. As the five of them watched closely, the Ravager tore furiously into the Swarmers, who seemed completely unfazed by it all.

Suddenly, the Swarmers split apart like amoebas into two, and something resembling tentacles or liquid shot out, binding the Ravager. Then, the two newly split Swarmers closed back in with the two Ravagers trapped right in the middle, and just like that, the two Ravagers were swallowed up. The Swarmers’ bodies fused back together,

"Celes, it looks like those monsters called Swarmers are getting bigger," Clyde noted.

"Yeah... they’re our failed little siblings who ended up like that, we have a lot of them back home too," Celes replied.

"Please don’t discuss that, Sister, I’m trying hard to push that thought out of my head," Craig pleaded.

"Yeah, really... stop that conversation," Casca and Corie chimed in unison.

They continued watching the unfolding battle between the pack of Ravagers and the two Swarmers just outside the city gates. But suddenly,

"Graaaaah,"

A loud roar echoed as a massive black bear emerged from behind the ruins and trees, sporting long claws and a hairless, stocky body. Its shiny black muscle fibers twitched and shifted, making it look exceptionally muscular. It stood about 59 feet tall, its face resembling that of a ravenous bear with glowing red eyes.

The monster seized one of the Swarmers and crushed it to pieces, then kicked the other Swarmer away, after that it went on a rampage, obliterating the Ravagers that attacked and surrounded it. In the end, only that monster remained standing, turning its gaze toward the city. Selma lowered her binoculars.

"Nephilim Beast tier 3: Crusher... it’s looking this way... don’t let it get any closer! Everyone get ready, and don’t take it lightly... this monster is extremely dangerous," Selma yelled.

"Understood, Boss!" the soldiers shouted in response.

Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, and Corie readied themselves to defend the city, their eyes turning red as they glared fiercely at the monster that had now turned to face the city.