2. Human vs Alien Battlefield

Several army cars began to move away from the military headquarters in Neophi City. Before the car Victoria was in left the field, the girl cast her gaze at the large building where she had served for several years. After Victoria got her medical degree, she joined the military and became a medical soldier in charge of treating wounded soldiers.

This war would be a fierce battle. According to the reports they received, aliens attacked the residents and intended to control the earth's resources. Flophi Village was indeed blessed with extraordinary natural resources, not only clean air, but underground in the village, there were gold, copper, and various other necessities that were supplied for the country. If the area fell into the hands of the enemy and controlled it, then the Morphile nation's humanity would be destroyed. In the village, there was also a big secret that not many people knew about.

Victoria thought about the mission given to her. What kind of alien technology should she get? Instead of protecting the village from being taken over by aliens, her superiors wanted the technology that aliens had. Did that make sense?

The trip took about four hours. They would arrive at Flophi Village at night.

Even though they were soldiers who had been trained physically and mentally, of course, they still had fears buried deep in their chests. However, Victoria could still see the anxious expressions on her comrades' faces. As a leader, she was responsible for her members.

"We will return safely. I will try my best to carry out my duties. So, you must try your best to protect yourselves and carry out your duties," Victoria said, breaking the silence between them.

"Is that a promise, Captain?" asked one of them. "That you will protect us?"

Victoria was silent for a moment.

"Yes, that's a promise. So, try so that you can return together for a long time."

Although Victoria encouraged her comrades, it did not ease their vague fears because they were aware that the task they had this time was something dangerous and difficult, the possibility of surviving the attack was only 50%.

"If you're afraid, why didn't you just stop when asked earlier? If you go home now, you'll regret it because we're already halfway there. So, get rid of your fear and be braver!" Victoria said firmly.

The girl's words managed to make some of her friends excited because it would be useless if they stopped in the middle of the road. A soldier's job was indeed hard, the contract they signed meant they were ready to die.

The bright sky was now starting to get dark. The lights of houses, shops, buildings, and streets were on as if accompanying their departure. Far from the city limits, along the road, there were only forests, gardens, and stretches of rice fields. The location of Flophi village was still relatively remote, but the population there was quite large.

When the sky finally got dark and the stars were scattered there, it was unknown whether the stars were encouraging or belittling those who had just arrived at the border. The car stopped because in front there was a checkpoint that was tightly guarded by soldiers.

"We'll be there in a few moments. So you have to be prepared. Whatever happens, stay together," said Victoria before they got out of the car.

They would soon arrive at the location of the war between humans and aliens. Victoria looked at her friends' faces one by one, recording them in her brain's memory to create memories if something happened to the others. Being a leader is not easy, and the responsibility is great but Victoria can do it.

The car finally stopped moving, and instructions were heard. Victoria's team looked at each other to make sure. Before they got out of the car, the necklaces that were their identities were collected by Victoria.

Victoria took a deep breath as she got out of the car. They would walk towards the military camp that had been provided. The night was very quiet. According to reports, aliens would attack during the day, at night their vision seemed to be impaired but aliens would still attack if they heard loud noises and found humans.

"The medical soldiers will follow team two to the base that has been provided. Teams one and three will be on standby," said Sean who led all the teams. "As much as possible, don't make loud noises that could potentially invite monsters," he added.

They followed Sean's orders and started walking towards the military camp.

"You okay?" Sean's voice greeted Victoria who was making sure her team was running well.

"What do you think? If you're okay, then I'm even better," replied Victoria.

“Why are you so sarcastic? I’m just worried about you,” Sean admitted.

Victoria turned her head in disbelief when she heard the man’s confession. Did she hear correctly?

“Are you worried about me?” Victoria replied, almost laughing. “No, thank you. Just for you,” the girl said, then left Sean alone.

Sean kept pace with Victoria.

They walked on the uphill asphalt road. Their right and left were dark, only lit by the soldiers’ flashlights. Sean was still walking beside Victoria, watching the soldiers’ backs.

“So, we’re a team,” Sean said in a low voice that only the girl could hear.

“Then? Even so, I’m not on the front lines like you. I’m behind to treat,” Victoria added.

“I know. What I mean is –” Sean’s words stopped when a strange sound was heard from behind them.

Hearing the sound of dry leaves rustling made them automatically turn their heads and be alert. Their sharp gazes were fixed ahead, at the end of the dark road, only lit by the flashlight that Victoria was pointing.

“Keep walking, we’ll be on guard. You guys should also be on guard, walk slowly,” Sean warned.

They didn’t need to be reminded twice to follow Sean’s orders. A male soldier approached Sean to join him on guard.

“You can follow them, Vic,” Sean said to Victoria who was still on guard.

But the girl didn’t obey him.

“Hey, Vic!” Sean scolded.

“Shut up and focus. Someone is approaching,” Victoria replied.

They were on guard, raising their rifles, with their fingers ready to pull the trigger.

The closer the sound got, the more tense the situation became. It was clear that the sound was not just one or two, but it sounded like a lot.

“They’re coming,” said one of the colleagues who was on guard with the two of them.

“Get ready. Shoot as I command,” Sean said.

Both Victoria and the man next to Sean nodded following his orders.

The sound grew clearer and closer, there was movement under Victoria’s flashlight. The creature jumped like a frog, but its movements were fast.

“Shoot!” Sean shouted.

The sound of gunfire rang through the air. The little creatures were not just one or two, but several that approached them and the three of them shot at all the strange creatures that came.

Not only was the sound of the wrong shot from their three guns behind, the same gunshot was heard but it sounded very loud. Sean's attention was momentarily diverted to the back.

"Focus, Se!" Victoria scolded.

Although worried about his friend behind him, Sean had to focus on the attacking enemy. When they were done there, they could make sure and help the others.

The speed of the monster was beyond expectations with a gurgling sound like a bell. Their movements were so fast that it was impossible to predict where they would attack. Sean fell when a monster charged at him, making Sean bounce on the road while holding the monster.

"Vic!" Sean called.

Victoria herself was busy so she couldn't help immediately, and neither could her friend. Until the monster's sharp fangs almost stuck into Sean's skin, someone managed to beat the monster until it turned to ash.

Both Sean, Victoria, and Paul were equally out of breath.

"Almost." Victoria sighed, who managed to shoot the creature without hurting Sean, but it turned out to be just a small scratch on the man's cheek.

Paul helped Sean to stand up.

"Are you okay?" Victoria asked Sean.

"Yeah. That was close," Sean replied with a sigh.

"I had to find the right target or the bullet would have hit your forehead," the girl said.

Sean looked at Victoria.

"I'll treat your wound after we get there. Come on, let's find the others," Victoria said, reminding them of the shooting earlier.

They continued their steps to catch up with the group that had walked ahead. The road was dark, there was only a dim moonlight in the sky. But they could see the bodies lying on the road. They checked one by one, several soldiers had fallen and that made them sad. It turned out, they were on a battlefield between humans and aliens.

The night atmosphere became quiet after the last shot was heard a few minutes ago. What about the others? The three of them looked at each other with sadness mixed with anger and regret for not being able to protect the fallen soldiers when they got there. Now they had to find the others. Where are they going?