Anya sat quietly in the back of the hover car, the soft hum of the engine barely registering in her mind as she gazed out the window.
Her wild purple hair, usually unrestrained, was neatly pulled back, revealing sharp, focused eyes that gleamed with anticipation.
Despite her calm exterior, anyone who knew her well could sense the brewing storm within- the battle craving side of her that thrived on chaos and combat.
The driver, a tall, muscular man named Doran, glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Doran had been with Anya’s personal guild driver for years, a reliable warrior with a no- nonsense attitude.
He was well aware of her dual nature-calm and collected one moment, a whirlwind of destruction the next. Right now, he could tell she was in her ‘calm before the storm’ phase, and he knew better than to disturb it without good reason.
“Doran, how’s my team doing on the leaderboards?” Anya’s voice broke the silence.
Doran hesitated for a brief moment, then replied, “We’re sitting at second place, Guild Master. Just a shy inch away from first.”
Anya’s gaze shifted from the window to the rearview mirror, her eyes narrowing slightly. The loom of intensity in her expression was unmistakable.
“Second place, huh?” she muttered, a touch of her battle-hungry nature beginning to surface. Doran nodded, keeping his tone even. “Yes, ma’am. Currently the Reapers are holding on, but our team is closing the gap. They’ve been pushing hard all night out there.”
A mischievous grin suddenly appeared on Anya’s face, a spark of excitement in her eyes. “So, they’re almost there… but not quite.”
She leaned back in her seat, her fingers drumming lightly on the armrest.
“Tell them to keep up the pressure. I’m not interested in ‘almost’-we need to be on top. And if they’re having any trouble out there, tell them their Guild Master is on her way. We’ll see who’s left standing when I arrive.”
Doran couldn’t help but smirk at her words, the familiar feeling of anticipation that always accompanied Anya’s battle-ready attitude.
“Understood, Guild Master. I’ll relay the message. They’ll be glad to know you’re coming.”
–
Now about to board the plane.
The aircraft’s ramp hissed open, the smooth metal surface reflecting the harsh lights of the hangar. Anya walked up to the ramp with the confidence of someone who had faced death countless times and came out on top.
Her boots clanked softly against the metal as she approached the interior of the aircraft.
A small team of technicians were already waiting for her, one of them holding a sleek, advanced tech suit in his hands.
The same one the Reapers and White Comets were able to recently get their hands on. The technician, a young man with nervous air around him, stepped forward as she approached. “Guild Master Anya…”
“…we’ve got this new tech suit for you. It’s the best on the market right now-enhanced agility, reinforced armor, and integrated targeting systems. It’s what the top guilds are using in the wastelands.”
Anya gave the suit a short glance, her expression nither impressed nor disappointed. She appreciated the effort, but she had little interest in gadgets that claimed to make her better.
Experience had taught her that too much reliance on tech could be a hindrance in the heat of battle.
She lifted her hand. “I appreciate the effort, but I won’t be needing it. Stuff like that just makes moving in battle a hassle. I don’t need a suit to slow me down when the real fight starts.”
The technician looked a bit surprised but nodded, quickly stepping aside.
Anya continued her stride toward the cockpit, only to be stopped by Doran’s voice calling out to her.
He had been with the Berserker Guild long enough to know that Anya wasn’t one for unnecessary gear, but he also knew the importance of certain precautions.
“Guild Master,” Doran said, “at least wear your mask. You’re heading into the wastelands, and you know how rough it can get out there.”
Anya paused, glancing at the mask Doran held out to her. It was a custom piece, designed specifically for her-sleek, black, and with red markings that resembled the emblem of the Berserker guild.
She took the mask from Doran, a slight smirk playing on her lips. “Fine, but don’t expect me to stop fighting if this piece of metal breaks out there.”
Doran smiled slightly, relieved that she agreed. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Guild Master.”
With that, Anya slipped the mask over her face, feeling it click into place. She then turned to head further into the aircraft, as the ramp closed behind her and the aircraft powered up, Anya felt the rush of anticipation building once again.
She was ready to go lead her team into the heart of the wastelands, and this time, there would be no second place.
‘I wonder how that boy is doing out there.’
She thought, referring to Alister, crossing her legs and she sat, placing a hand under her jaw thoughtfully.
Anya leaned back in her seat, a mischievous grin spreading on her face beneath her mask as she continued her thoughts aloud.
“Lately I’ve been wondering about how exhilarating it would be to face a mythical creature head-on. Imagine, a mythical drake in combat-I’ve heard they’re formidable, almost mythical in their strength.”
“Knowing the boy owns one, I can only imagine the thrill of testing myself against such a creature. One-on-one, just me and the drake, pushing it to its limits. It would be nice to see how much it could take before it breaks. Now that would be a challenge worth savoring.” There was no doubt in her mind that she would be the one putting pressure on the monster, not the other way around. Such was the absolute trust Anya had in her own abilities.
She paused, her eyes narrowing, she suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
“But of course, securing our spot comes first. The mission must be completed before I start any drake hunting. It’s always best to save the most exciting part for last, after all.” She said, folding her arms just below her chest.
…
Atop this mountain of carcasses sat Kael, the Reapers Guild’s leader. His sharp green eyes gleamed with satisfaction and anticipation under the soft glow of the moonlight.
The mountain of monster corpses seemed to serve as both a trophy and a reminder of his ruthlessness and skill.
Kael leaned back against a large, twisted pile of corpses as he looked around the chaotic scene. The members of his team moved about, gathering their gear and prepping for their next sector. They had been going non-stop for several hours now, and yet, it didn’t look like they were were getting exhausted.
Aria was at her console, tapping away and ensuring everything was on schedule. The
occasional crackle of radio static filled the air.
Kael turned his head slightly, speaking to Aria.
“How long until the pickup jet arrives to take this next batch of kills?”
Aria glanced up from her console, her blue eyes reflecting the soft glow of her equipment.
“The pickup jet should be here in a couple of minutes, Captain. Everything is on track.” Kael’s smirk widened as he leaned forward, his gaze shifting to the rest of the team. “Good. Let’s make sure everything is wrapped up neatly. We want to leave no room for error.”
As he spoke, Kai approached, his usual arrogance tempered by a rare focus. “So, will we be making any moves on our targets in the next phase?”
Kael smiled. “Like I said before, easy there, tiger. Things will slowly fall into place in due
time.”
“It may not mean much to a rich kid like yourself, but getting all this turned into cash and then nearly tripled is what got me out here in the first place.”
“Although the excitement of killing monsters and the thrill we’ll get from completing our other mission are undeniable…”
Kael nodded, the smirk never leaving his face. “I’ve got my eyes on the prize first; everything else is secondary. Besides, the other mission will be handled later. For now, we handle this cleanup efficiently. No surprises.”
Mira, stretching her arms and adjusting her gear, spoke up from a distance.
“I can’t wait to see what’s next. This place is crawling with monsters, and I’m itching for
some more action.”
Rex, towering over the others, let out a low grunt. “Let’s get this done. I’m ready for the next
round.”
Kael’s eyes twinkled with a mix of mischief and anticipation. “Alright, Reapers. Get ready. Once the jet arrives, it’ll haul this lot out so we can move on to the next phase. We’ve got a lot
riding on this.”
“So, let’s ensure this place is clean, I don’t want any stranglers, not a fan of surprises.” “Mira, keep an eye out. Kai, double-check the perimeter. Jin, you’re on standby for any final
shots if needed.”
“Let’s wrap this up quickly.”