NOVEL NEXT Chapter 58: A Little Spark
The system responded to his call instantly and a translucent blue screen popped up in front of Allen's eyes that was only visible to him.
[--------SHOP--------]
[M67 Fragmentation Grenade - 50 CP]
[M84 Stun Grenade - 30 CP]
[M18 Smoke Grenade - 20 CP]
[Multi-Tool Swiss Knife - 10 CP]
It showed a simple grid of icons under the heading however most of the squares were grayed out and blurry.
They were the items that he could have access to in the future but currently hadn't unlocked. For now only four of the all icons were clear and available for purchase.
Alright I think two would be enough, I can't afford too much after all. Allen thought. I just hope I'm not too loud with this.
Buy two M67 fragmentation grenades.
[Confirm Purchase: 2x M67 Fragmentation Grenade?]
[Total Cost: 100 CP]
Confirm.
[Purchase Successful.]
[Inventory Updated]
The shop screen vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Allen then glanced back at the drone feed floating at the side of his vision.
The ghostly green view showed the area around them clearly with the drone hovered silently high above its body slightly tilted to the side, giving him a wide view of the dark plains.
There was no movement.
For now there weren't any approaching patrols or anything like that. They were still alone.
He turned to Luna who was watching him with a confused look on her face in the dim moonlight.
"Wait here," he whispered. "And keep watch."
Luna opened her mouth to ask what he was doing but he was already moving therefore she closed it again and simply nodded, with her hand resting on the hilt of her sword as her eyes scanned the darkness around them despite not being able to see much.
Allen crept closer to the rough wooden wall until he was right beside the thick and sharpened logs. He crouched down and moved a little more closer.
Then, he started digging.
He didn't have a shovel hence just used his bare hands, clawing at the hard and cold earth right at the base of the wall around where the logs disappeared into the ground.
He worked quickly while being quiet enough to his surroundings and pulling out handfuls of dirt and small rocks then and now, tossing them aside.
The work was slow and tiring however there weren't any other option but to keep at it, therefore he did exactly that.
Luna watched him and her confusion was growing but she stayed silent trusting him for now.
After a few minutes, Allen had dug a deep enough hole that was maybe a foot deep and a foot wide, right up against the base of the wooden logs.
He brushed the loose dirt away from the edges, satisfied with his work.
He then raised his both his arms with his palms open. A thought flashed through his mind.
Inventory. M67 grenades.
With a faint shimmer of light that was almost invisible in the darkness two heavy and round, olive-green objects materialized in each of his hand.
A fragmentation grenade.
Holding the heavy and round grenade in his hands Allen stood up slowly from his crouched position. He kept his body low while staying in the deepest part of the wall's shadow.
He carefully brought one grenade close to his mouth and held through the small metal ring on top of the grenade with his teeth.
He gave it a sharp pull. The metal pin scraped as it slid free and dropped silently onto the dirt. He heard a faint click as the spring-loaded safety lever and the 'spoon' popped up slightly against his palm. He kept his hand clamped firmly around the grenade, holding the lever down.
He took one last glance around. The area was quiet. Luna watched him with her eyes wide with confusion but trusting him.
He leaned forward and gently tossed the grenade underhand into the shallow hole he had dug right against the base of the wooden logs.
Wasting no time he did the exact same thing with the other grenade in his hands, tossing it into the hole he had made.
The moment both grenades left his hand he spun around and dashed back. He reached Luna in a couple of seconds.
"Cover your ears if you don't like loud noises," he whispered quickly.
"What? What did you—" Luna started to ask as she was completely confused.
Before Allen could answer though, a sudden and bright flash erupted from the base of the wall where he had dug the hole.
It wasn't a huge or fiery blast but rather a contained and violent explosion directed upwards and outwards. A split second later another similar explosion rumbled their surroundings.
A loud and sharp CRACK ripped through the night air followed instantly by the deep THUMP of displaced earth and splintering wood.
The ground beneath their feet shook from the force. Dirt and rocks and jagged splinters of wood rained down around them.
The sound echoed across the plains and was sharp and unnatural in the quiet night. Allen immediately checked the drone feed.
No movement from the gate guards yet, doesn't seem like they heard it. Good.
As the dust and smoke began to settle in the faint moonlight, they could see the effect. The thick wooden logs that made up that section of the wall weren't blown to pieces.
But the explosion right at their base where they were dug into the ground had done its job. The logs were ripped free from their foundation.
They were leaning inwards at a crazy angle, splintered and cracked at the bottom as they were held up only by their own weight and the pressure of the earth loaded behind them. They looked ready to fall over at any second.
Luna stared at the damaged wall with her eyes a little wide. She had clearly expected something completely different maybe like a magical beast or something but not this. Not a simple and brutal force that just ripped the wall from its roots.
"Let's go," Allen said, already moving forward again.
Luna snapped out of her surprise and followed him quickly. They reached the leaning logs and placing their hands on the rough and splintered wood, they pushed together.
With a loud groan and the screech of stressed wood the heavy logs tilted further. They hung there for a second while being balanced precariously before they crashed inwards, falling onto the ground inside the camp with a heavy THUD.
The way was open now. It was a narrow gap wide enough for one person at a time. However, that was more than the acceptable result.