After reaching the camp, Kaelis group saw the bushi soldiers hauling the body of the female kabane into the fire and a few covering the hole made for the fallen.
"What happened here?!"
Ayane rushed forward and questioned one of the men.
One of the men straightened at her call. "Lady Ayame. Well you see, a kabane attacked?"
"A kabane?! How did one get this close to the camp!?" She was shocked at such news.
"It was a pregnant lady who was on board the train all this time. I don't know how, but she transformed inside the camp."
"You mean to say she was infected before camp was set up and just now transformed?" Kaelis asked.
He had thought the infection would turn them within less than thirty seconds.
So there is some kind of immunity. He thought.
"Maybe it's due to her immune cells getting more active that she managed this long." Murmured Kaelis. He did say she was pregnant.
But if a pregnant woman can last so long, then… he looked towards Mumei and ikoma.
"What was that Sir Kaelis?" It seems that they heard him.
They all looked to him for answers as it seemed he had some notion on it.
"Just thinking. Do any of you guys know anything about the body's immune system?" He questioned.
If they had had even the most basic knowledge of biology, he could've shared some ideas but he doubts they have reached that far.
"Immune…system…?" Pure confusion.
"Thought so. Just know that the body has its own defensive mechanisms. It fights viruses and infections. The stronger the immune system, the longer it takes for you to turn into a kabane."
That gave them an idea but they would have to do research further into biology to find out about things like white blood cells and red blood cells etc.
While they fell in thought, the bushi remembered something.
"Oh lady ayame. Kurusu was looking for you a moment ago."
"Really? Do you know where he is?" She blinked.
"I don't know where he might be currently but he said he was going to inquire about the repairs." He informed her.
"Alright. Thank you."
"It's my pleasure. Men, finish covering the body and get a report from—"
"Ahhh!!"
Not even before he finished giving instructions, the bushi got interrupted by a scout running and shouting.
"Speak! What is the problem?!" He questioned the scout.
After reaching the bushi and catching his breath the scout told them.
"Kabane! A whole lot of them are coming!"
!!!
This news triggered the whole camp.
"Kabane!?"
"Kabane are here!"
"Quick! Get on the train!"
People began running around like headless chickens, they rushed to the trains.
The soldiers drew their weapons and prepared to defend.
"Approximate how much do you think there are?" Kaelis asked the scout.
"Probably close to a…thousand." He uttered sweating buckets.
Hm. Seems easy enough. He turned to Ayame. "Go inform whoever's doing repairs to wrap it up and get the train moving."
"A-alright!"
"You two…" he pointed at mumei and ikoma. "Go with her."
"Are you planning on fighting all of them?" Mumei asked.
"Nah. Seems like a waste of time. I'll just hold them off til the trains begin moving. If they die out by then, cool." He shrugged.
The conversation bugged both the bushi and the scout.
What is this guy saying right now? Is he retarded? They thought.
Well. Their brain was operating on the notion of him being a normal human who could get overpowered by 2 of them.
"What are you guys still standing around for? Get moving!"
As they scrambled, Kaelis flew towards the sky.
Overhead, due to the trees blocking his vision, he enhanced his senses with spirit and began counting at a superhuman speed.
"100…267…512… 841…1,387…so about 1500 then. Then…"
Vroom
A flash of silver bloomed in his hand.
A beautiful silver and white sword. The handle is intricately designed with floral motifs, accented by a blue gem.
Its glow brought a little illumination to the environment with its radiance putting a pause on the ruckus below as people looked up to the heavens.
The sword was made from fairy crystals, found in the forest of sprites and was imbued with the attribute of [Light].
He pointed the sword at the incoming swarm as a light orb began forming at its tip.
Its glow began intensifying into a solid sphere before, BRRZZ.
Multiple beams of solid light blasted off from the orb in the direction of the kabanes.
…
"What's going on?"
The light shining in the sky drew everyone's attention.
They had seen a situation similar before. Back at the station.
Some began praying to god, some continued running, while some already knew the cause.
"Th-that's kaelis!" Ayame, who was at the train's entrance, looked back and mesmerized by the scene.
"He truly is a god!"
"Maybe we don't have to worry anymore."
"What do you mean Mumei? We have to do our part!" Ikoma berated.
"Just saying. It seems he is gonna wipe them out at this rate."
"Enough! Let's go! Ayame!"
"Right!"
They pushed the door and entered.
Gasps rang out from inside the car.
"Lady Ayame! Where have you been?"
"Kurusu!"
Mumei quickly informed them. "Kabaneri are here. We have to get this train moving, now."
"I knew it, shit." Kurusu had expected this to happen. "Alright, inform Suzuki immediately!"
The order was executed swiftly.
Though Suzuki was reluctant, when the options were to stay and die or get moving, there were no other choice.
Civilians had already secured their belongings and were on the train already so they immediately started the train.
Kurusu grabbed a steam gun and headed for the top of the train to help the other soldiers hold off the kabanes.
Though he wondered why he heard no sounds of guns being fired. Has something gone wrong? He thought.
Up there though, when he reached, he saw the soldiers standing there dumbfounded staring in the same direction.
"What is going on!? Why are you just standing there like idiots!?"
He looked towards where they were staring and he too joined them in being dumbfounded.
What he saw brought flashbacks to the station. But the difference was that this time, instead of flying swords—it's beams of light.
Beams penetrate the monsters at incredibly high speeds. It was surreal.
"What…the…?"
He pinpointed an area where the light shown constantly and even with the train moving, he saw a figure clearly.
"Kae…lis?"
Chapter 10 end.
Attribute: [light]
Type: elemental
Nature: speed, illumination, truth
Opposite: dark, shadow, deceit
Description: enhances light properties(turns things into glow stick)
Effect: Blade attacks deal light-element damage, effective against dark, undead, or corrupted beings.
Passive: wielder gets [minor light manipulation]