In the AEOC HQ, Arthur sat in his office with dark circles under his eyes. He scanned documents like a machine. Arthur's head drooped, the papers blurred together. The next thing he knew, his forehead hit the wooden desk with a dull thud that echoed across the room. He tried to lift it, but his body shut down before he could protest.
Hours passed in a blur, and Arthur awoke while saliva dribbled down his mouth. The door opened with a click, Kaiser entered, draped in a white cloak trimmed in black. He also wore a tactical utility belt, self-lacing sneakers, and a bodysuit in the same colors as his cloak. His red hair caught the light, his sharp hazel eyes piercing Arthur. He sat down on a chair in front of Arthur's table and crossed his legs.
"You tired?" Kaiser asked.
"No – No, I'm awake, Sir Kaiser," Arthur said in a panicked voice.
"Really? I hope you're not lying to me~ sleeping on the job…I might consider it taboo."
"Wasn't sleeping, sir. Just tired after three days on the job." Arthur said in a firm tone.
Kaiser Wilhelm – the commander of EOC and Apex forcers stood before him. His chaotic aura radiating with defiant energy that made Arthur shiver.
"I can take that as an answer. How many fragments have opened since the class alpha one?" Kaiser said while crossing his arms.
"Five – five this damn past week." Arthur answered with a bit of frustration.
"You alone? Taking care of all those rifts?" Kaiser questioned.
"Yeah – because you said you needed some time to prepare." Arthur retorted while organizing his documents.
"Oh, come on! If the Apex Forces came to a simple Beta Fragment, what would those civilians think? I don't want people thinking we're in some sort of national crisis." Kaiser widened his arms.
"So, what did you do?" Arthur said, placing his hands on the table.
"I went to every news station to inform them of the matter and spread it to the entire country. Took about a week but I can finally help you." Kaiser sighed.
Arthur nodded and moved his documents to the side. He drew a sharp breath and locked eyes with the commander.
"So, Sir Kaiser…have we gotten any kind of response from the UEOC?"
"The UEOC, Huh… Let me think." Kaiser replied and rubbed his chin.
"They said they will also agree to postpone the expedition until we can stabilize our condition."
Before, he could say anything else though. Alarms went off in the AEOC HQ. Arthur instantly jolted up while Kaiser raised a brow. Arthur rushed towards the door but before he could reach the handle, he was stopped by Kaiser who held out his left arm. Arthur's eyes widened as he crashed into the commander's arm. He wobbled back and asked.
"Hey, why are you stopping me?"
"You've worked enough. Let me handle this…I want to do something after going to all the news stations." Kaiser replied in a light tone.
"Then, at least let me help you–" Arthur said before being interrupted.
"No – No, the human body requires at least 6-8 hours of sleep every day, Arthur. You haven't slept for a few days. So, if you don't want to die, I hope you will consider my offer." Kaiser stated while pushing Arthur back.
"…Yes, sir." Arthur answered and fell in the chair.
"Great! I'll see you in a couple of hours." Kaiser said as he exited Arthur's office.
Kaiser calmly walked through the halls of the headquarters and made it to the lobby. Everyone's head snapped in his direction, following him as he walked through the building, waving at the enforcers who were trembling with his mere presence. He made it to the parking lot and then froze.
'Oh wait – I don't even know where the rift is?'
He pressed his earpiece and asked in a shy voice.
"Hey? Arthur, where is the fragment?"
A long sigh came from the other side and after a few moments, Arthur said in a hoarse voice.
"Two miles away, south—near the capital train station."
"Okay, thanks!" Kaiser replied as he hung up.
He tapped his earpiece, transforming it into a pair of glasses. The glasses displayed a compass, pointing south. Kaiser grinned, tapped his glasses which made it convert back into an earpiece. He took out his keys and made his way towards a bike. The bike was extremely futuristic and glowed like a bulb. He sat on it and inserted his keys, turning the bike on. He revved the engine as it glowed with neon light and then sped towards the location of the fragment.
A few minutes later, he was in front of a black rift with lightning spewing out of it. He jumped out of his bike, putting his keys in his pockets. He pressed his earpiece and said in an excited tone.
"Hey, guys~. I need you to be here ASAP."
Then, he cut the signal as chaos beasts started to come out. He quickly scanned them with his eyes, checking them visually and determining weaknesses and imperfections in their bodies.
'Should I use my weapon on these pitiful creatures?'
He chuckled and then said.
"Yes."
He grabbed a dagger-like object from his utility belt and pressed the button on it. Instantly, the small dagger expanded into a spear. The spears base was made of black titanium, and the tip was made of processed titanium. He swung it a few times, testing its power.
Kaiser blurred forward. The first beast lunged—and split clean in half before its roar finished. The air cracked like thunder, shockwaves scattering the others. Blood sprayed the street, and Kaiser stood in the center of it all, spinning his spear like a windmill. He made the battlefield a one-sided massacre. The beasts howls and cries echoed throughout the city, creating a reverberating melody that stung one's ears.
In a matter of seconds, Kaiser stood upon a mountain of dead beasts. The unintelligent monsters were now backing off out of pure fear. Kaiser lunged onto a beast. He pierced the chest and stomach of the monster in a fraction of a second. The beast howled in pain before it crashed into the ground. He went onto the next, not wasting any time. Left and right, he struck each beast so fast they couldn't even see it.
After a few moments, he asked in a confused tone.
"Are you going to come down here? Or should I finish off the rift?"
Above him, on the building. Four individuals were either sitting or standing. One seemed to be a woman, and the rest were men. The woman had long blonde hair that touched her shoulders, hazel eyes, wearing a sleeveless shirt, blue pants, tactical utility belt and boots. She rested her chin on her palm and muttered.
"Yeah, kinda do but…I feel like five of us would be overkill. Don't you think so captain?"
"Yeah, you're right. It would be really~ great if another just spawned right as I'm saying this."
And as he said that a call came from his earpiece. He pressed it while piercing the chest of beast and lifting it into the air.
"Yes~, Arthur." He grinned while throwing the beast.
"Another 3 chaos fragments have opened near the airport, inside of a supermarket and a bowling alley. There all near you." Arthur grimaced.
"Three?" Kaiser froze mid-sentence.
Then, his smile widened.
"Guess today's gonna be fun."
He cut the call and turned to look at his team.
"Hey, guys! Go to the airport, bowling alley and the local supermarket."
His teammates shadows disappeared as he finished his sentence. The last one jumped down from the building, landing softly on the road. Kaiser turned back with a sly smile and continued his massacre of the beasts. After a few hours, he stood atop a mountain of corpses as the fragment spewed out more beasts. One beast struck tried to attack but its hand was sliced.
The beast gritted its teeth and struck again with even more force. Kaiser smirked and stabbed its heart, lodging his spear through its heart.
"Now, the fun starts~"