The Wastelander

by Tipsy Wanderer

  “Remember. The more complicated, high-tech, and high-level a weapon is, the more dangerous it is to its own wielder. If you end up relying too heavily on those high-tech weapons, death will be quick to arrive for you. The best weapons are the ones that appear everywhere. They are easy to deploy and easy to use. For a truly talented assassin, even grass and twigs can be used to take another’s life.”

  They had known each other for a full month, but Mantis had always been very taciturn, seemingly treasuring his words as if they were gold. He had never said so many things at once so Cloudhawk felt like he was getting to know the man all over again.

  He was a superlatively talented physician, a strange scientist who liked to dissect corpses and organs in search of mutations. He was also an incredible apothecary who was able to extract fluids from various mutated plants and use them to create medicinal salves… but it seemed as though all of these things were just his secondary professions!

  Slyfox was a gunner. Mad Dog was a warrior. Mantis was an assassin.

  Perhaps Mantis’s evolutionary metapowers weren’t as high-class as those of Slyfox or Mad Dog, but assassins didn’t necessarily need to be the strongest individuals around; they were, however, the most dangerous! Cloudhawk would rather piss off a madman like Mad Dog or a crafty bastard like Slyfox than a viper like Mantis!

  Cloudhawk unconsciously mimicked the scalpel-tossing motion. “What type of training do I need to do if I want to reach your level?”

  “Your task for today is completed. Leave.” Mantis began to put away his tools without even looking at Cloudhawk. “And take your gun!”

  Cloudhawk had been feeling rather irritated, but upon hearing the last few words, he nearly leapt for joy. Mantis might seem like an icy fellow, but he was actually quite warm-hearted. Not only had he kept Cloudhawk’s weapon safe for quite a few days and then returned it to him, he had also taught Cloudhawk a lesson.

  In the wastelands, firearms and bullets were used as a common currency for barter. You would always be able to use them to trade for food. Afraid that Mantis might change his mind, Cloudhawk immediately grabbed his gun and left.

  As for Mantis, he continued to focus on dissecting and handling his corpses. From start to finish, his facial expressions had not changed a single time.

  Upon returning to his room, Cloudhawk pulled out his gun and excitedly rubbed his hands across its surface repeatedly, almost as if he were stroking a lover’s hands. He’d never been as excited as he was now.

  Cloudhawk knew very well that bullets were actually even more valuable than firearms. The reason why the majority of the mercenaries did not use firearms was because bullets were too expensive. A pound of mutabeast meat could only buy you ten or so pistol bullets. Aside from elite marksmen like Slyfox, using guns was a completely impractical and un-economical decision for most mercenaries.

  But despite all that, this gun was still the first valuable possession Cloudhawk ever had. Cloudhawk lay there in his bed, his gun by his side. Even though it held only a single bullet, he felt a sense of safety and security with it nearby. Everything was turning for the better.

  Cloudhawk let out a long, contented sigh. Just as he was about to blow out the candle and go to sleep, he suddenly heard several loud, clear sounds echo in the skies above the outpost.

  CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

  The sounds completely shattered the stillness of the night. Cloudhawk had never heard this noise before. It sounded almost like a large gong being struck, with each sound being both loud and enduring. The sudden clanging noises brought a sense of unease to all who heard them.

  Cloudhawk had no idea what was going on. However, he had been living here in the outpost for more than a month; he was no longer the clueless and rash kid he once was. He carefully pushed open his door to stare at what was happening outside, rather than foolishly charging outside in a blind panic.

  Blackflag Outpost was a bedlam of commotion. Many men holding torches ran around and countless cries and startled shouts filled the air. Cloudhawk was able to vaguely make out one particularly horrified, high-pitched scream.

  “A beast wave! A beast wave is upon us!”

  Cloudhawk had been in the outpost for more than a month; he knew exactly what a beast wave represented. A cold chill instantly filled his entire body and an uncontrollable terror quickly rooted itself in his heart. This was terrible!

  BANG! His wooden door was suddenly kicked in and three outpost soldiers charged in and grabbed him unceremoniously.

  “What the hell are you guys doing?!”

  “A beast wave is attacking. All men are required to take part in the defense. Those who shirk from battle will die!”

  The entire outpost was in a state of chaos. The outpost guards were running around everywhere, grabbing everyone they could. All of the men were corralled like a herd of ducks and then split up into numerous temporary squads.

  Cloudhawk wasn’t even given a chance to explain, nor would any explanations have mattered. The Tartarus mercenary company was an important part of the outpost’s combat forces; they would undoubtedly be sent to a place even more dangerous than here. And so, Cloudhawk just allowed himself to be conscripted into a squad of roughly two hundred people.

  A series of clanking sounds rang out as a guard dressed in a full set of steel armor walked over towards them. He was clad in at least two or three layers of leather armor underneath the steel and he wore a half-mask that served as a breathing apparatus. The other guards all stood by his side, with this young elite guard dressed in a perfect set of armor clearly being their leader. “I’m Lain, the captain of this squad and a member of the elite guards of Blackflag Outpost. I’ll be responsible for commanding your group in defending against the attack.”

  Captain Lain spoke with great difficulty, as if every single word were extremely taxing for him to say. It was almost as though someone had stuck a lever into his mouth, making it difficult for him to speak. There was an extremely deep scar on the side of his neck; most likely, the wound that caused that scar also impacted his vocal chords.

  “Right now, a large number of mutabeasts are launching an attack against our outpost! All of you, pick up your weapons and protect our home. Fight them to the bitter end!” Captain Lain’s hoarse voice rang out like the cry of an owl in the night, causing the listeners to shiver with fear.

  18 Wolf Pack

  The fire pots had all been set alight and Blackflag Outpost was thoroughly illuminated by lamps and torches. Terror swept through the entire outpost like a tempest, spreading from person to person like a plague. The sounds of sobbing and screaming could be heard everywhere as the terrifying beast wave drew closer and closer.

  Beast waves! They were the most terrifying natural disasters that existed in the wastelands! Each was a unique type of battle for survival that only wastelanders encountered, a battle launched by large numbers of hungry mutabeasts against the outposts where many humans gathered.

  Cloudhawk had just arrived a month ago so he had naturally never experienced one of these beast waves personally. And yet, he had heard some stories regarding beast waves from the older mercenaries. Supposedly, the vast majority of human outposts in the wastelands ended up being destroyed by beast wave outbreaks. Each beast wave portended a calamitous baptism by blood. Even if the outpost under attack was strong enough to resist the beast wave, it would still suffer heavy losses and rivers of blood would flow. Was Blackflag Outpost going to suffer this same fate as well?

  An atmosphere of terror and despair pervaded the outpost. Even Cloudhawk felt rather nervous. He had never experienced a calamity like this before and had no idea regarding what he would face.

  Just as everyone’s hearts were in a state of disarray, a series of frenzied growls could be heard rumbling outside in the wilderness. It sounded like a rumbling landslide, like waves crashing against the shore! The terrifying sounds represented pure bloodlust, madness, and brutality all joined together and unleashed in a single tidal wave of
noise. The spiritual pressure this wave brought alone was enough to shake even the deepest parts of one’s soul.

  What sort of terrifying creatures could possibly make such hideous sounds? Cloudhawk stared from his position on the walls and was able to vaguely make out something. A large number of short, stooped black figures were advancing at high speeds under the moonlight. They had pairs of dark green eyes that blazed like abyssal fire and brought a completely different aura to the biting cold of the night!

  What in the world were these things?! Just as Cloudhawk was pondering this question, one of the bow-wielding outpost archers who stood with bow drawn in one of the archery parapets let out a terrified shout. “Oh, shit. ROTWOLVES!!”

  “Fuck, fuck! I can’t even count the number of rotwolves!”

  Every single outpost soldier was a carefully selected elite warrior. They were reliable in both personal power as well as mental fortitude, but when faced with such a terrifying sight, even people as strong as them couldn’t help but quaver when they spoke, revealing the horror they felt. As for the squads of irregulars? They were even more terrified.

  “The wastelands are filled with those rotwolves.”

  “Oh my God… we are all doomed.”

  “There’s no way we can beat that many rotwolves. Everyone, run for your lives!”

  The motley crew of irregulars captained by Lain almost immediately began to break down. Rotwolves were enormous mutant wolves that roamed the wastelands and were so named because their flesh was so putrid and poisonous that there was no way to make it edible. Most normal mutabeasts weighed around eighty kilograms, but rotwolves didn’t seem to have an upper weight limit. There had even been sightings of enormous rotwolves weighing five or six hundred kilograms!

  These particular mutabeasts were not only brutal, but also extremely crafty. Every ordinary rotwolf would be a match for two or three ordinary outpost guards in power, but tonight at least seven or eight hundred rotwolves had already appeared. Things were looking very grim. No one knew how many more rotwolves were lying in wait. Even if there really were just eight hundred, it would be a calamity for the outpost!

  Captain Lain had clearly never expected the situation to be this grim either. His face paled slightly and his sword hand started to tremble, but he still spoke out in his hoarse voice to calm his men. “Just a few hundred wolves, while we have several thousand warriors. The hell are you all afraid of? Man up!”

  But who could possibly maintain their calm in a situation like this? Although the outpost held thousands of warriors and was protected by a defensive perimeter, who could guarantee that front-line soldiers like them would be able to survive? More and more soldiers started to flee.

  “Archers!” Captain Lain was able to tell that the situation was about to spiral out of control. He immediately lifted his sword high into the air and the six archers behind him immediately drew their bows. The archers on the watchtowers all turned towards him as well. “Kill them!”

  Cloudhawk could clearly hear the bowstrings twanging. The first wave of arrows weren’t aimed at the beasts outside; they were actually aimed at the fleeing warriors within the outpost. Twang! Twang! Twang! Several fleeing soldiers let out miserable cries as they fell to the ground. As for the archers, they once more nocked their bows and aimed the cruel arrowheads towards the others.

  “That’s what happens to deserters!” Captain Lain’s hoarse voice rang out in everyone’s ears. “If Blackflag Outpost is destroyed, do you really think you’ll be able to find another place to live? Hell, without Blackflag Outpost, will any of you even be able to survive in these wastelands? Pick up your damn weapons. We live or die with the outpost!”

  Faced with those taut bowstrings, everyone had no choice but to silently acquiesce. As for Cloudhawk, he felt a degree of respect for Captain Lain. He truly was a valiant and charismatic warrior, and his words were spot on – once Blackflag Outpost fell, would they ever be able to find another place like it?

  He might not love this place, but this wasn’t the time to leave it! He’d rather die than end up a wastelands scavenger again! Cloudhawk tightened his grip around his short sword. He had decided to defend the outpost to the bitter end.

  Captain Lain’s methods proved to be quite effective in quelling the chaos. He split the regular soldiers and inserted them throughout his troops, knowing exactly how unreliable his irregulars were. Not only could his regular soldiers help smooth out the average level of strength in each section, they would also be able to serve as his supervisory sergeants once battle began.

  The wolf pack moved closer and closer to the outpost. The night was filled with their long, drawn-out howls. Even the earth shook slightly as the crazed, bloodthirsty wolves advanced like a foul wind and it was as though a dark haze had appeared around the hearts of the men who saw them.

  “They are about to attack!”

  “Shoot them!”

  “Shoot them down!”

  The wolves in the pack were actually quite dispersed. Several of the agility metahumans in the vanguard were the first to act.

  Cloudhawk immediately heard a few sparse gunshots blasting out in the night air, accompanied by the whistling howls of arrows being shot. Quite a few agonized howls emerged from the wolf pack. Apparently, a number of the rotwolves had been hit.

  However, attacks on this level were simply ineffective in serving as a deterrent. In fact, when the beasts smelled the blood and felt the pain emanating from their fellows, they seemed to have been whipped into an even greater frenzy. The howls of the wolf pack only grew increasingly fierce. The battle was about to erupt!

  Captain Lain commanded his soldiers, “Fire in volleys and don’t stop! Rotwolves don’t have wings. Keep them outside our perimeter!”

  Cloudhawk was extremely tense. It was just a group of wild animals, right? Nothing bad would happen. Nothing bad would happen! The outpost had sturdy defenses and countless experts defending it. It also had…

  Cloudhawk wasn’t even able to finish his self-comforting thought before a terrified, despairing voice rang out right next to him!

  “LOOK! The sky!”

  “What’s that in the sky?!”

  The moonlight was blotted out by what looked like storm clouds. When Cloudhawk unconsciously lifted his head to stare into the sky, his pupils immediately shrank. No… those were no storm clouds. Those were teeming masses of flying creatures moving at incredible speeds!

  Cloudhawk was only able to see countless pairs of red eyes flashing in the night sky. Judging from their silhouettes, he could just barely tell that they seemed to be enormous bat-like creatures. Just as the wave of rotwolves hit the outside perimeter, the strange winged creatures dove down from the skies like an unstoppable tidal wave. They struck down like thunderbolts upon the outpost guards and also struck like thunderbolts against the outpost’s morale.

  “Danger! Get down!” It was unclear who called these words out and it didn’t really matter; anyone who encountered a situation like this would almost instinctively lie down. Cloudhawk felt as though a gale blew past his head and the entire world seemed to be filled with the sound of flapping wings.

  “Aaaah!” One of the soldiers on the watchtower was knocked into the air. Even as he fell, around twenty black shadows flashed past his body and clawed at him with incomprehensible speed, each tearing away a section of his body. His body seemed to be as flimsy as wet tissue; in the five short seconds he was in the air, over twenty strips of flesh were torn off his body as bits of blood and gore flew everywhere. He screamed in misery as his blood and flesh scattered… and then he slammed on the ground with a thud.

  The person landed in front of Cloudhawk. When Cloudhawk saw what he now looked like, he felt a sense of frozen terror within the depths of his very soul. Almost all of the man’s flesh was gone and his ribs were all clearly visible. The organs had been ripped out of his stomach and his face had been torn asunder as well. He was completely beyond recognition.

  Possibly b
ecause this had happened so quickly, the poor bastard was somehow still alive despite having been absolutely maimed and disfigured. A gurgling sound could be heard from his throat and his hands and legs were trembling as though he were trying to climb to his feet.

  A few seconds ago, he was a hale and hearty man. Who could believe that this would happen to him in just a few seconds? What a calamity!

  The strange, giant bats circled in the air above the outpost. Each wing was over 1.5 metres long and had hawk-like claws and sharp beaks that were as dangerous as razors. The outpost was filled with miserable screams as many people suffered injuries in an instant.

  This creature was a type of bloodthirsty animal that loved to eat carrion! They often followed the scent of the rotwolf pack. These two different types of mutabeasts, however, would not engage in direct combat with each other. Rather, they would generally hold a tacit agreement to jointly attack certain targets.

  Just as Cloudhawk rose to his feet and took two steps forward, a giant bat dove down towards him at high speed, raking at him with those sharp claws. Sensing the impending danger, Cloudhawk once more fell to the ground and the giant bat scraped by right above him.

  It was raining blood in the area around him, with a few chunks of meat and skin landing every so often. The warriors on the watchtower who were responsible for shooting the wolves were almost instantly ripped to shreds and broken apart, with all of them dying to the sudden attacks from the giant bats.

  They were finished! Cloudhawk’s heart sunk into despair. With the mutated bats launching aerial raids and disrupting their back lines, there was no way the outpost could mobilize their archers and gunners to attack the wolves from afar. As for the hundreds of powerful rotwolves, once they charged into the outpost they would deliver an absolutely destructive blow to the defenders!

  What were they to do? What were they to do?!

  Cloudhawk stared at the silhouettes dancing through the chaos. Finally, he understood how weak any individual person was in a war. Not even Slyfox or Mad Dog would be able to do anything at a time like this, not to mention him!