Without Jaeger’s rifle running overwatch, the trio moved much slower and quieter, knowing they couldn’t risk blundering into another long-range ambush. The slow creep through the trench was made more trying when they reached a tunnel entrance.

  “Shit.”

  “No way we’re going in, right?”

  “No choice.” Jaeger pointed behind them. “The trenches lead here; it’s the only way forward.”

  Karl groaned and rubbed his face.

  “But without a Warden to hold the front, we’re walking straight into a trap.”

  Jaeger nodded.

  “Yes, but without my rifle, we’re more likely to die out here.”

  “But…”

  Milo turned and pointed a finger at Karl.

  “Enough, Scout Karl. Hunter Darkblade is in the highest rank of us, and even if his orders weren’t the logical choice, he is in charge until we rejoin the Captain.”

  Karl looked properly chastened and apologized to Jaeger.

  “Sorry, sir, I was out of line.”

  Jaeger waved the apology away.

  “I’m not one for rank, and considering our situation, I’m willing to let small complaints like that slide. So long as you will follow, I will lead.”

  Karl took a deep breath, and Milo smiled.

  “Orders, sir?”

  “Into the tunnel. Karl front, I’ll be center, Milo rear. We move slow and steady, eyes open for ambushes and signs of the others passing through.” Moving up to the tunnel entrance, Jaeger slipped his pistol into a holster across his chest, knowing it would be too loud for the tunnel confines. “Don’t forget to take your scotopia pill.”

  The others nod and join him by the entrance, taking formation as they do. Each of them removed a thick, wrapped package and revealed a thick pill and swallowed it down in a practiced way; as soon as it hit the throat, it dissolved, and a pulse ran through their bodies.

  In a tight-knit group, they move in, leaving the familiar overcast sky for unfamiliar darkness. Moving into the tunnel was unnerving and not unlike walking into the mouth of a hungry devil. The walls were moist and seemed to thrum in the fading light of the now faraway sky. Each step moved them further into the darkness, and soon enough, the only light came from the sparse amber stones, a stone that radiated a low level of golden light.

  Sound was both muffled and amplified, an overbearing pressure infused the tunnel, and seemed to oppress the very air around them. It made traveling through the tunnels disturbing and difficult. The splitting branches and side tunnels did not help it; they would come across. At each entrance, the trio would stop and carefully check it for traps. A necessary and prudent precaution, as it turned out, because in ten of them they found traps. Spring spikes, fire spewers, retractable lances, and even a cursed doll; that one would haunt Jaeger for decades. The idea of someone just leaving one of those unstoppable, killing machines cost him many nights of sleep.

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  Soon enough, the trio lost track of how long they’d been in the tunnels, with no real light or way to track time; each step felt like an hour, and every branching tunnel entrance a day. It became hard to maintain discipline and alertness like this, but the trip knew they couldn’t risk dropping their guard; even a moment could cost them their lives. As they reached another branching tunnel, Jaeger knew he’d have to order a break; he could feel himself losing his edge. He decided to let the others know after they cleared this entrance.

  Feeling a quick double-tap on the hand he’d placed on Karl’s shoulder, he knew the break would have to wait. Double-tapping Milo’s hand, they moved beside the scout to see what he’d found. They joined him in examining a trail of dark liquid on the ground; the light was too low and too yellow to identify it by sight. A gift from the CC’s was the ability to scent shared blood, so each of them could smell it; it was the blood of one of the company, and it was maybe minutes old. Moving back into formation, the trio followed the trail, an eye open for the injured member.

  The side tunnel they moved down was rougher and unfinished than the main tunnel. Piles of dirt lay along the path, and there were no support beams. This was done fast and crudely. It only served to make the group wary; this was clearly a tunnel used only by sappers. That meant the traps could be even more unforgiving and uncaring about friendly fire, since the only ones coming through would know where the traps lay. The blood trail stopped a few turns into the tunnel, and left in its place were bandages.

  “Good sign,” Karl whispered, earning himself glares from the other two.

  To make amends, Karl moved to inspect the bandages, hoping to catch a fresh scent. Crouching in front of them, he took a few deep breaths and caught an overwhelming scent. Satisfied, he turned to let the others know when he felt his chest burn; the stress was getting to him. Reaching down, he ran a hand over his chest and felt something foreign. Looking down, he was able to make out the form of a clawed hand sticking out of his chest. Slowly, he looked back at the others to question them, but all that came out of his mouth was blood and his last breath.

  —

  Jaeger watched as Karl went to inspect the bandages. The scout seemed embarrassed to have spoken, but Jaeger couldn’t blame him for his lapse in judgment. Maybe he’d push them to take that break; mistakes were getting made, and if these bandages were clean of disease or illness, then whoever had left them could last a little longer.

  Milo leaned in to get his attention and pointed at something further along the tunnel. Jaeger tilted his head and squinted his eyes. Was that a boot? It looked like a pair of boots placed against the tunnel wall. He had just taken a step forward to go investigate when he heard a new sound, and given the absence of any noise, he whipped his head to it; just in time to watch Karl die.

  The arm that pierced through the young scout emerged from behind the bandages and beneath the ground. Then slowly, like pus oozing from a wound, a figure spewed forth. Disfigured and off-looking, with an appearance like the most repugnant of Lowrian’s yet entirely alien to observe. Its skin sat awkwardly on it like an ill-fitting suit, bunched in some places, while tightly pressed in others. The hereditary tattoos across its body, marking it as coming from the coastal region, were distorted by bloated and patchy skin.

  “Abomination,” Milo whispered, and coming from one of Beseria’s Blut Sotilas, that meant a lot.

  The thing holding Karl shook its arm to the side and dropped the scout’s body. It wiped the blood on its dirty and dusty uniform before turning its saggy and disquieting face towards Jaeger and Milo. With eyes that burned like hot coals, it watched the duo for but a second before moving towards them.

  Jaeger held his knife close and waited for the thing to close in. Milo steadied his rifle, bayonet out. The creature hit Jaeger in a flying tackle that took the man from his feet. He found himself trapped beneath it as it raised its arms to strike him. Jaeger punched up with his knife, piercing its chest, and was startled by the black sludge that dripped out; it was viscous, foul, and thick. The creature seemed to take no notice of the injury and instead brought its claws down on his chest.

  It did take notice when a bayonet went through its head, though. A keening howl echoed through the tunnel as Milo stabbed through its temple. The creature didn’t die, though, displaying its beyond human nature, it reached for the rifle and wrapped a hand around its barrel. It then started to fight Milo for control of the weapon.

  With this moment of grace, Jaeger let go of his knife and fumbled for his pistol, drawing it from its holster. Using one hand, he placed it under the creature’s chin while covering his eyes.

  “Firing!” Then he pulled the trigger.