Without so much as a glance back we continue our dash for the convoy. Moments later we arrive, and I leapt straight up to the turret whilst the team get on the back trunk.
The car is a four wheeled drive of significant proportions. At least 30 people could sit on the back trunk with room to spare. The turret is mounted to the roof with a latched manhole that goes into the back seat compartment.
A man that Mark paid off earlier was already in the driver's seat starting the car. He had shot 3 people who tried to take the spots Mark had reserved for himself and his team, myself included.
The moment my fingers reached the trigger I started firing. The turret is unloaded but a large pack of ammo is located directly beneath my feet. The plan is simple. I'm going to use my ability to get us the fuck out of here. Which means firing like a psycho at anything on our flanks whilst the convoy moves. That includes straggling people who are in the way.
The turret is omnidirectional and spins easily so every time the tide gets thin on one side I switch to the other. As the convoy fills up more turrets start firing but they aren't nearly as effective as my own bullets. Mine shred everything they touch, leaving nothing but a eviscerated corpse behind.
As soon as the cars are full, we start moving. The drivers have to dodge and weave to prevent getting overrun but the warriors on the back are dealing with anything that gets close enough to stab. A few of the cars struggle more than others but I don't have time to deal with that.
Firing endlessly at one of the gateways I open a path for the lead cars which turn sharply to take advantage of the opening.
My mana is decreasing rapidly but I keep firing. That's because we had planned for this. The moment I conk out from mana exhaustion Mark will pull me out of the hole and into the back. They'll look after me as we travel and one of the men in the backseat will take my place whilst the other siphons ammo into the turret. Then when I wake up ill man the turret again if needed.
As I blast a type 3 who the fuck knows what into pink mist our driver follows the convoy out the opening and beyond the castle gates. A total of 73 cars get beyond the gates, carrying over 2000 people. Three quarters of our number never made it. 22 cars were lost before reaching the gates.
In the open muddy fields, we follow a designated escape route that has slightly harder ground. Being in the middle of the now single file convoy I'm not too worried about getting bogged but the back end of the convoy is.
As we speed after the car in front of us, I continue firing at tides of creatures until we get enough speed and distance to but the castle and the tide behind us. A few of the faster creatures are after our tail end but that's not my problem.
Being utterly exhausted and mana deprived I call for the switch, climbing into the back with Mark's help. Laying in his lap and without another thought I pass out.
*****
Reeling from an immense headache I slowly open my eyes, staring straight at the moon. It was daytime when I passed out, overcast but still early in the day. I slept well into the night.
Nursing my headache, I roll over to take note of my situation.
I'm still on the trunk but Mark and the others are laying down as well now, trying to rest as much as possible as we drive.
"Vir", following Marks soft voice I curl towards him and snuggle up tightly, gasping his armour plate. He rolls over and puts his arm over me to bring me closer. He's still wearing his armour because we aren't in the clear yet and likely won't be for a long while yet.
The journey is supposed to take 3 days, but any number of things could go wrong on the way. If we lost too much fuel in the escape, we may end up on foot or some people may be left behind.
With immense effort I squint towards the turret to see one of the soldiers dutifully surveying the area, as best as possible in the dark. Seeing a long chain of ammo flowing into the back compartment I assume my ability isn't needed right now and drift back to sleep.
*****
The next day I stir awake at dawn with everyone else. Still nursing that headache we start preparing rations for everyone as the car continues to bump up and down on the dirt.
We aren't able to use any of the old roads because the towns are either overrun by monsters or blockaded by cars. At least we assume they are. We have no way to tell so to prevent delays we are taking the shortest dirt route possible.
"How do you feel Vir", Marks says whilst checking me over for injuries. He would have done this yesterday too. The turret men are in the most dangers during a siege after all. The reaper knows I have far to much experience in the turret.
"Horrible", I reply honestly. Frankly mana exhaustion is one of the most horrible things you can experience. I've never gone through labour but if that hurts more than this then I might just die if I ever go through it.
My entire body feels like its deceased, and my head is throbbing like a drum being smacked with a club repeatedly.
"Any monsters last night?", I ask.
"Nothing so far. Its like every monster in the area was attracted to Brund Morrows".
That's not too strange. The monsters are definitely attracted to humans and a large population of them is a good feed. But for there to be absolutely nothing is a bit odd.
Thinking things through I ask him another questions "do we know how far we've travelled?"
"Somewhere between 50 and 60 kilometres. There's still another 100 before we reach Wesker".
Nodding in understanding I lay back down and dangle my legs over the edge. There isn't a whole lot to do but sleep at the moment.
Mark joins me and we each stare at the sky mindlessly as we bump up and down.
*****
The next day we ran into the first monsters since we left Brund Morrows. A group scouting ahead saw them from height on a mountain range.
It was a pack of at least 500 creatures, ranging from mutated species to invasive monsters the size of semitrailers.
This put a hard delay on our journey as a convoy of 70 cars, even on a mountain path far above them, was going to attract them. Whether the smell of humans or the noise of the cars did it wouldn't matter. So, we took a detour around the other side of the mountain.
*****
3 days later Wesker came in sight, or at least what we assumed was Wesker.
Parked a few kilometres away we could see the black mass of monstrosities that signified a siege. The smell of blood and smoke was in the air.
This explained why we hadn't come across many monsters apart from that one pack. From the looks of the battlefield, this siege has been ongoing for quite a while.
The sounds of thunderclaps and war machines were ringing even as far as where we were.
I looked to Vir who understood my meaning immediately and jumped into the turret hole, relieving the soldier on active duty. If this siege has been on going simply waiting around for it to end before waltzing inside wasn't going to go down well with the locals.
We will need to join the fight to get on their good side. I wasn't the only one thinking this either. My team was already checking their armour and weapons whilst unloading from the cars.
Before long the orders came, "DISEMBARK! FORM RANK ONE AND PREPARE TO ENGAGE"!
It was a known strategy. Over the journey battle formations were discussed through the convoy. A total of three formations were agreed on. This one had all the warrior types form a line and the cars line up behind them carrying the mages and artillery.
"Vir, open up with normal ordinance, save your mana".
"Roger"
I can't have her passing out on us before we are behind friendly lines.
I draw my sword and ready my shield as I take position in front of our car. Not only do I want to be near her to help if she gets in trouble, I also consider one of the best shooters we have.
My team has gotten smaller after our grand escape. Before I had 9 men under me, now I have 5. Vir isn't technically on my team but given the situation no one will argue with me.
In the front line I position myself a step away from my adjacent fighters. Castro is on my right. He's holding a full body rectangular shield that pairs well with his ability [Reflect]. Whenever he takes a hit with either his body or shield, the damage is absorbed and reflected to the next enemy he touches.
It's perfect for shield bashing larger monsters.
On my right is Douglas, the modern-day equivalent of a swashbuckler. His attitude fits the description perfectly and he wields a single blade like a captain on a ship. His ability is an odd one, [Sea Legs].
His ability gives him an innate understanding of balance which gives him almost perfect footing regardless of environment. The thing is his balance is always 'almost' perfect, so he always looks like he's stumbling.
Nevertheless, he's a deadly warrior and bold to a fault. Watching him rip through enemies in a battlefield is always awe inspiring.
My own ability is much simpler than either of theirs. It's called [Survive].
[Job Class: Leader (Innate)]
[You can survive. You must survive. No matter what survive. He needs you to survive.]
The description of [Survive] is an odd one compared to others, especially the 'he' part of it.
Regardless my ability isn't easy to determine its effect from the description. From what I've learnt through unfortunate experiences and conversations in the camp, I am more focused in battle and when injured than an ordinary person.
I was once gravely injured, losing the lower part of my left arm entirely below the elbow. But I kept fighting.