"We gotta do something about them," Toga grunted until a sly but familiar smile crept across her face.
"Okay, wait, wait... If they're as dangerous and as smart as you say they are, then wouldn't that mean they've got higher-grade essence cores?"
Well, obtaining essence cores was the whole reason they'd even started fighting the wolves.
Typical Roar agents always thinking about what they can gain, even in deadly situations. Their greed knows no bounds.
Ronal paused, considering her words. ' That's right… the essence cores. If they're smarter than they should be, does that mean they've absorbed more cores? '
He wasn't sure. He'd never come across any report nor piece of intel suggesting that essence cores affected the intelligence of Wirens. Besides, this lycan hadn't shown any strength beyond that of a Stage 3 corrupted lycan.
Still… something about them felt off. Not stronger just different.
" Them being smarter doesn't mean they posses higher-grade, or even multiple, essence cores. " Ronal paused not fully sure of his own words.
"But this doesn't mean the latter isn't the case.
Hearing his hesitation, Toga smirked that mischievous little devil grin of hers. She stood up with renewed excitement.
"Now then… let's go get those cores."
"Hold up, bulldog," Ronal countered. "We gotta think this through. Those wolves planned everything to wear us out before striking. You can't be sure they won't pull something again."
He was trying to stay cautious this time. The thought of high-grade essence cores thrilled him, but he needed to remain composed and tactical — he had to get them before the others.
But then, a troubling thought struck him.
' Wait… where are those bastards? '
Suspicion filled his mind. His thoughts raced from wondering where the other Roar members were, to whether they were even still alive. They were skilled, sure, but if they were all after the same Wirens, they should have been here by now or at least meet each other once.
'That's odd… Are they dead? No, that can't be. Lycans and wolves at this level couldn't have killed them. Unless… there are more of those things.
But if there were more lycans, there'd have been mana explosions all over the place. That couldn't be it.'
Then it hit him like lightning.
'We were lied to. We're not here just for essence cores… that bastard Gruger has another purpose.'
Realization and anger collided in his chest.
"FUCK!!!" he roared, startling Toga.
She blinked at him. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you yelling like you're pregnant?"
Ronal didn't even hear her. His mind was spiraling.
What is Gruger really after? Is he using the cores to distract us? No… if that were the case, why bring us along?
The uncertainty drove him mad.
"I… I've got to find out what that bastard's up to," he muttered, then bolted forward — sprinting in the direction they'd come from.
"What the... where's he going?" Toga frowned, completely lost. But then a new thought hit her.
What if he's trying to double-cross me? What if he's going after the lycans to steal my cores?
"That crook!" she yelled, dashing after him at full speed.
Ronal kept running, breath sharp, feet pounding against the dirt as he reached the clearing where the Metabus had been parked. He stopped, panting, scanning the scorched ground — the ashes from the earlier explosion still fresh. He turned toward the direction Gruger had gone.
Before he could move, a furious voice echoed behind him.
"You bastard!"
Toga lunged, tackling him from behind and slamming him into the dirt.
"You fucker! You think I'm a fool? You think you can just sneak off and steal my essence cores?!"
"Get off me, you wild freak!" Ronal growled, shoving her off.
She stood up, glaring. "You… you bastard!"
"Shut up already and listen!" Ronal barked, trying to explain, but Toga didn't care.
"Fuck you! I knew I shouldn't have trusted you, you… you—"
Her rant went on, her voice rising with every breath. Ronal couldn't take it anymore. He simply turned away, ignoring her, his mind already deep in thought again.
Ronal brushed past her without a word, heading in the direction Gruger had gone with the others.
Toga frowned, watching his calm, almost detached walk.
"Your plans were always dumb," she spat.
He didn't answer.
Thinking she'd finally struck a nerve, she stepped closer, her voice rising as she mocked him—his tone, his orders, his mistakes. Every thought that crossed her mind turned into an insult.
But Ronal kept walking.
He hadn't stopped because of her words.
Her opinions didn't matter to him at this point they were beyond irrelevant.
What stopped him was the sound.
A harsh, metallic screech.
It tore through the dry air, growing louder and sharper until the ground itself seemed to tremble. A haze of red dust began to rise from the direction ahead.
Toga's mocking tone faltered. "Is it… the Lycans?"
Ronal didn't respond. His gaze fixed on the distance, his instincts tightening like coiled steel.
'could it be those bastard '
He took slow, deliberate steps toward the sound. The air was thick with dust and the tang of burning metal. And then through the haze he saw him.
Gruger.
Dragging something massive behind him.
The ground shrieked under its weight, sparks cutting through the dust. And beside him walked Beecroft, face grim, eyes cold.
Ronal narrowed his eyes. 'What the hell are they pulling?' but toga and Ronal just continued to observe the feeling of being betrayed rose in there hearts
"Seems like you bastards were busy," Toga muttered, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Shut up, fool," Gruger snapped without even looking at her as he passed.
Ronal after staring at all of them noticing the presence of John beecroft he stepped forward and asked. "Where's Scalar? And the old man?"
Beecroft paused, his jaw tight. "They… didn't make it."
Toga's breath hitched. "What's that supposed to mean? Are they.... are they dead?"
"Yes." Beecroft's tone was flat. "That's exactly what it means."
'What the fuck… what the actual fuck is going on? '
Ronal's stomach twisted. He'd known something was wrong about this mission, but this... this was far beyond what he'd expected.
'Gruger talked about essence cores, that massive weapon he'd dragged along, and now one of Veil's hounds at his side it all stank of deception.'
He scoffed. "What—did you and the big dummy become best buddies now?"
Beecroft gave a humorless smile. "Wouldn't say that. More like… a mutual agreement."
That only made Ronal's unease grow heavier.
Then Gruger's voice ripped through the air deep and commanding.
"GET OUT!"
Everyone froze.
"I SAID GET THE FUCK OUT!"
They exchanged uncertain looks. Who the hell is he yelling at?
A trembling figure stumbled out of the Metabus—the same vehicle that had brought them here.
Their eyes widened.
The driver.
Toga's lips parted in surprise. "You've gotta be kidding me. The driver's still alive?"
"Didn't a Lycan crush that bus?" Ronal murmured.
"Who cares," Toga muttered. "He's alive, somehow."
"You called, sir?" the driver stammered, his voice shaking.
"Get the Metabus started," Gruger ordered. "We're heading back to the settlement. We've been gone too long."
"B-but, sir, the engine it's probably damaged"
"So fix it."
"I...I don't have the right tools, I might need....."
"I don't care!" Gruger's voice thundered. "You have a few minutes no, moments to fix it, or this red sand will be the last thing you ever see."
The group stared, tension thick in the air. Even Miss Kenny looked unsettled.
Gruger was desperate too desperate to return.
But they hadn't gathered a single essence core.
Ronal exhaled slowly. 'That lying piece of shit '
Without another word, Gruger hefted the Q.R.C. its weight dragging trenches into the sand and slammed it onto the roof of the Metabus. The metallic impact echoed like thunder.
Beecroft turned toward the noise, rubbing his temples. "So that's where that thing goes."
The machine screeched and locked into place, metal hooks anchoring deep into the vehicle's frame. A faint hum followed, low and ominous, as if the machine itself had awakened.