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[sub]The Canal[/sub]

[indent][color=#91a3b0]A harsh rumble roared underneath, prodding torrents that surged through a singular course across the canal. Underneath was unwelcoming, a darkened blanket of shaded azure that harboured nothing but indifference. Metal fragments tossed and scattered, descending towards an unrevealed abyss where the sunken drift to seek eternal rest. 

Nic's descent underwater quickly altered into a mere juncture of life and death as swift, successive strokes helped to swim himself away from the pitching debris and climb towards the surface where he would regroup with the other SOLDIERs. Labored breaths accompanied his emergence from the depths of the canal, squeezing his eyes shut to rub off the unpleasant sting that the waters granted. When he settled, he brought himself back to the raven, his visual field synchronizing then supplying an aerial surveillance of the listed Shyp. As the others were seen, Nic mentally enumerated each until he could put up a total count from the last surveyed SOLDIER; something wasn't right. When he was about to motion the bird to do another scan, a request prompted a deviation from his self-appointed task. 

It was Sammael, his name converging with Nic's brittle memory within the last second. Scanning the shorelines seemed feasible for the raven's purpose, but leaving the SOLDIERs who were undocumented from the surveillance's total count would somehow defeat the whole purpose of being a team. Perhaps it could be given utmost concern and attention once granted a convenient time. 

Taking the fellow SOLDIER's request, he nodded and had the bird take off towards the given route. The creature stationed at a palm tree after its quick flight, talons hooked on the sturdy branches with its six eyes aiming for the described spectacle of a hostile company. As foreseen, a mass of infantrymen were marching straight to the shoreline. They were prepared, but so was SOLDIER. 

[b]"There's a lot of them out there, but I guess numbers shouldn't matter given our equipped arsenal."[/b] Nic's spoken words screamed of overconfidence, but that was his natural way of raising everyone's morale to anyone who would be listening. [b]"Anyway, there's a path up ahead that might be used as some kind of shortcut. I'll scan further and see if there are more of these unwelcoming people patrolling the particular area."[/b]

As signaled, the raven then left its spot to reach another site with an unobstructed view of the designated location. 

[b]"Now if we can just avoid any unneeded attention, we can secure a shortcut, remain undetected until we-"[/b] Nic interrupted himself shortly upon sighting a compulsion of fiery recklessness. It was Kain, and seeing him advance to the shores with nothing but brute force, Nic was left with his eyebrows furrowed. [b]" ... or we can blow up our cover and just kill everyone."[/b][/color][/indent]
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[sub]The shorlines[/sub]

[indent][color=#91a3b0]Clamorous cracks of gunfire rained from thickets of tall weeds to the expanse of trees and vegetation. Nic rushed to take cover, immediately calling out the raven once crouched behind a boulder. The rule was to wait until the detected foes would move past his line of position. He waited, eyes peering over their movements, studying their verbal motions in an attempt to predict where they would proceed next. Patience managed to sustain his cover. Within the following moments, he anticipated them to be lured by the SOLDIERs who were segregated for distraction. They were still there however, but when one of their comrades gestured to move forth, opportunity struck as Nic bolted towards the clustering trees, opposite to where the men were advancing. 

Abruptly, he stopped a few meters from where he sprinted. His crimson eye swept upward, sighting a pair of dark wings fluttering between leafy branches. The raven has arrived and with its quick scouting mission finished, he now needed to catch up with the infiltration team and tell them about the shorter route he had found. As the bird landed on his shoulders, Nic continued to move through the area. Muffled gunshots were heard from a vicinity. He glanced and saw two more infantrymen from afar. They were several meters away from where he was, so it wouldn't be a problem for him to leave his trails as he sprinted once more. Before he did however, sudden metallic clicks were heard nearby. When he turned to see, there were four Archadian troops coming out of nowhere; their rifles all trained at him.

[i]Shit[/i]

Reluctantly, Nic raised his hands albeit the absence of being demanded to do so. He reckoned they wouldn't say much from how they looked. They were meager grunts deployed for their own, misled cause. But Nic couldn't simply portray a certain kind of disrespect that would somehow convey their purpose as worthless pawns. They were still men, but because of what they believed, they led themselves to their own damnation. 

[b]"I'll drop my weapon as long as you hold fire. Deal?"[/b] He was doubtful they could understand. Archadians bore a different kind of language, but knowing the facts still prompted Nic to speak up. After all, communication was key to make sure his head won't catch a bullet from their rifles. 

He was looking for a verbal nod. When he pulled Selena out from its holster, the men tightened their grip of their weapons, but when Nic freed his fingers from the revolver's trigger, leaving a few to hold the grip, one of the troops gave him an approving nod. A grin flashed from Nic's face as a he slowly let the gun slip from his clutches. 

[b]"I'm glad we're able to have an understanding."[/b] He said, his voice sounding earnest from the intercession. 

After that, time seemed to freeze from the frames of action. Nic released the revolver, the men fixing their gazes at its gradual descent. And just as when the wind shifted, Nic swung his arm, snatching Selena a second before it could reach the ground. He rolled to his left as he caught the gun, holding it in place with his index finger attached to the trigger and its electrical charge calibrated to a full six bars. With a resounding wind of its cylinder, three successive shots were fired, all aimed at the first three men. Ionized bullets would find their way piercing through their armour and onto the targeted spot which were their chests. The distracted men fell with only one left. Nic fired another shot that was aimed at the man's knee. Once hit, The grunt screamed, his weapon dropped as he painfully squirmed to the ground. 

Mercy forced Nic to not leave the wounded with its unbearable stance. With the raven sitting back to his shoulder after the quick, messy scene, its six eyes gazed at the Archadian soldier. Afterwards, green tethers swirled outward from its opened beak, connecting to the soldier's chest. For the entire duration, the target's life force was siphoned, ending his consciousness as it was all transferred to Nic. It then granted him a satiated feeling, like a soul empowered from its restlessness. He felt his drowsiness voided, replaced by a euphoric sensation that he knew could only be influenced by one truly voracious being. 

He took one final glance at the fallen men. 

[b]"May your souls find peace."[/b] With thoughts swam in pity, he knew best to not waste anymore time and find Corbyn as quick as possible. He only hoped the blaring gunshots of Selena didn't attract anymore unwanted adversaries. 

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