"Ugh, Bruno! What is wrong with you? You've been whimpering non-stop since this morning, I don't know what to do with you anymore."
"Oh, Brother Cole? What's up?"
"Oh, Justin! Nothing much really...it's just that my dog has been acting weird since this morning. It seems afraid of something but I don't know what is!"
"...it does look like it. Have you checked if there are other animals around?"
"I did already and there was none! I even tried to gauge his reaction to certain things in my house but none of those seems to be the culprit."
"Maybe it spotted a Skydemon then..."
"That's absurd! This place has been untouched by those abominations! I saw no shadow of them here, it's not like they could turn invisible!"
"Right...that's weird then..."
"Isn't it? I don't really understand why he's being like this."
It's a well-known thing that animals are more sensitive than humans, especially when it comes to danger. What these two gentlemen failed to notice was that it wasn't just this dog who was reacting this way.
The birds were oddly silent since this morning as well. Usually, some of them would choose to migrate somewhere else, preferably somewhere far from danger but they don't have anywhere to go beyond this place, the Outside World is far more dangerous than what's coming here.
Other animals are also in a state of panic or preparation for the upcoming danger. They could feel it in their bones, the marching dread coming closer and closer.
The skies were dark and gloomy, those who are attuned to their surroundings would notice the faint killing intent in the air, it was not coming from the metropolis, but instead from outside and it was seeping here.
It's as if something dreadful was coming that will ultimately swallow the entire metropolis whole.
Oracle Felicia walked through the streets, unseen by most and silently observing the surroundings. She looked at the state of people and saw that they could feel fear on an instinctual level.
Some of them don't even know that they're afraid, because practically nothing has given them any reason to panic just yet, even so, they could subtly sense something wrong on the horizon and it is affecting them on varying levels.
The animals are more straightforward and followed what their instincts told them to do...
'...how unpleasant.' She mused to herself as she looked at the west, where the Black Fog was prophesized to appear.
It's not visible...yet.
But it's definitely coming. There's no mistaking that since they could feel this kind of discomfort from this far.
The situation is a bit dire, to be completely honest.
They are horribly lacking in manpower to deal with all of the things happening in Fantasia. The Cult of the Skydemons might've turned inactive during the past couple of days but knowing better, she knows that they're just waiting for something.
'Those fools are also not answering any of my calls...' she angrily slapped her walking stick on the ground upon being reminded of that.
She's been requesting backup from the higher-ups of the Federation but all she got was that they're busy and they're all occupied right now. They couldn't afford to send a person here to help since it's going to risk a lot of things.
Even as she explained that their actions would be useless if everybody dies, they still remained adamant about their decision, much to the Oracle's disappointment.
Unfortunately, her hands were tied as well. That's why she could only rely on Ashton and the rest.
It was he who came forward and said that he will stop the march of the Black Fog. He said he has a way. He didn't explain but at this point, this is already better than nothing.
Thinking about this, she sighed and eventually arrived at her destination.
She's at the barracks. She will station herself here to make sure things wouldn't go awry.
The moment she arrived, the staff were already assembled and were waiting for her instructions.
"Listen up." She said in an authoritative tone. "Today might be a rough day for all of us. Be on alert all the time. Expect an attack at any given moment and be ready to deploy our forces should the need arise! Do not hesitate, for every time that you would, people's lives are going to be at stake."
"Our forces might get stretched today but that's fine, this is going to be a tough battle. I am expecting that the Cult of the Skydemon will do something huge today. So again, I want you all to be ready. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Oracle!"
"Alright, go do your duties." She then waved her hand and entered her office.
Once she sat down, she sighed and looked out of the window. She perceived the horrible air surrounding the metropolis and couldn't help but feel worried.
'Children...you all must succeed...'
"Damn...so that's what a Black Fog looks like." Mary swallowed nervously as she stared at the looming darkness slowly crawling its way toward the Last Bastion.
Alice and Blake also stared at the thing, their faces looking solemn as they did so.
There's still some distance between them and the fog itself, but they could already feel the suffocating killing intent brewing within. The creepiness and the aversion they felt towards it was skin-crawling.
This was also the first time they willingly left the Last Bastion. Well...the 'willingly' is debatable since Ashton took them out here from the Grotto Heaven so they didn't have a choice but at the same time, they're not running away since they couldn't.
If they ran, then what did they train so hard for?
Still, nobody could blame them for being afraid. After all, everything here was out to get them. And they just so happen to be facing a Natural Disaster no less, of course, they'd feel some sort of fear and hesitation.
However, their desire to overcome this was stronger in them, and that's what kept them grounded.
In stark contrast to his friends, Ashton was relaxed.
Don't misunderstand, he's ever vigilant to his surroundings. In fact, the things he could notice and are paying attention to were probably more than what his three friends altogether could handle.
Nevertheless, he appears like he was in the middle of a vacation. Slurping in a smoothie as he casually stood there looking greatly unbothered by his putrid surroundings.
He looked out of place, especially since he was wearing a white cloak. This also makes it difficult to believe that this same guy was the most experienced out of this group.
'...oh, it seems that the perverts took the bait. Time to reel them in.' Ashton mused as he casually tossed the container of the smoothie back into his inventory without the three noticing it.
He then glanced at the bottom left corner of his vision and saw a list of names as well as their HP and MP bars.
[Party]
[Blake Richards]
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
[Mary Summers]
Hp: 100%
MP: 100%
[Alice Chrome]
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
This is yet another function of the System that was introduced to them; the Party Function.
Well, Ashton didn't reveal the System to them. He has no plans to, honestly. He just added them here and told them to not ask any questions. He explained how it works and forced them to accept it how it is.
Through this, he should be able to monitor their situations better since it's going to be more chaotic later.
"Arm yourselves...they're coming." Ashton casually pointed out.
This, however, startled the living daylights out of them. The trio immediately took out their weapons and went fully on guard.
A few seconds of tense silence occurred and then, they heard a hair-raising moan from the depths of the crawling fog.
That was akin to a fuse lighting up as it sparked everything to motion.
Suddenly, several blurs leaped out of the Black Fog. They ran in a fast and erratic manner toward them, making it hard to make out what they truly were.
"Shit! Ghouls!!" Mary cursed as she hurriedly plucked the string of her bow to shoot at the running menaces.
That's right, the animalistic and horrifying moan they heard earlier was the battle cry of a Ghoul Demon. Now, at least six of them could be seen running towards them with tongues wagging, scattering acidic spit everywhere.
Mary continued shooting but her accuracy was horrible. Alice and Blake were sweating coldly while holding their position.
They didn't expect that out of all things that will come out of that accursed fog, it'll be a Ghoul first and foremost.
It had to be known that none of them managed to win against a Ghoul during their simulations. That's likely why they're panicking right now.
Ashton, of course, saw all of this and shook his head. He mumbled something unintelligible which none of them heard.
It was then that they heard this...
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Strings of projectiles flew from behind them, accurately piercing the skulls of the demons running them down. The impact caused their heads to explode before catching on pure white flames which disintegrated the rest of their bodies.
The trio looked at Ashton with wide eyes.
More specifically, they are all staring at the pair of firearms he's holding. One of them was raised and smoke was rising from its barrel.
"Calm down, will you? We haven't even started yet."
