NOVEL NEXT Chapter 87: Discovery
Quagmire silently tailed what is left of a platoon of ghouls, from numbering of more than fifty that is almost a hundred. That is now reduced to a mere few numbers of about six ghouls. He would have loved if he was able to kill some more, but alas, he needs to them to be alive, so that he would be able to see what their base was, due to fascination and intrigue, but also just so he knows.
With quick, precise, and firm footsteps, he was able to stay silent without the remaining ghouls knowing or understanding that they were being followed. Moments passed by, and from minutes turned into hours of relentless pursuit.
It did not take long before he reached what looked like a ruined fortress. Confused and intrigued, he carefully observed the movements of the ghouls. They arrived at the ruined gate and were greeted by a few ghouls who were guarding it. They made some strange hand movements, and their lips opened and closed, meaning they talked.
He did not hear the conversation as the gate was a little far away from the forest shrubs where he was hiding, and around them, there were no available obstacles where he could hide. After the remaining ghouls spoke with the guard, they were let in, and with that, his last remaining clue.
Now that he has traveled far, he might as well gather more information; after all, the more information you have, the better advantage you have against your enemies. Mindlessly attacking and charging has always been ill advised; however, since ancient times, there have been brain-dead people who chose otherwise, and so he would not like to be part of that band of people.
Every action he takes would cost lives, precious lives. He seeks glory and honour, but there are none if there are sacrifices. Therefore, as his role as the commander is to conserve his forces and deal the most effective amount of damage to enemy foes without much sacrifice.
Once the ghouls were inside, Quagmire, not wanting to waste time, immediately went to gather information. His eyes darted through the surroundings, surveying them, trying to find something of value, and something that he could use to climb.
When his eyes landed on a certain item, his mouth was left agape, which then twisted into a pleasant smile. On the far side, there was a knocked-over ladder, which was used for sieges. However, it seemed quite old, but nevertheless, he chose it.
With incredible speed and precision, he directly went over the ladder, while stealing glances at the palisades' top, he saw that there weren't many guards except for the gate, and so after moving into a far more secure location, he placed down the ladder, and let it lean on the wall.
After securing it, he raised his knee and, with firm and precise movements, he was able to quickly move up the ladder. Once he reached the top, he quickly hid, and once it was secure, he crouched and observed the place.
There was no ounce of life that could be seen; even the sky was bland, there were no birds or animals, and there was only the aura of death that permeated the surrounding areas.
His skin was tingling, due to how strong the aura was, but for some reason, within the aura, there were others, as if there were living people within. Confused, he observed the surroundings more, after quite a while, deduced that this fortress was razed to the ground, and judging from its walls, it was quite ancient, but those that were inside were quite new, and some seemed to have just been burnt recently. Therefore, the attack jus recently happened, and the life force he felt that was permeating through the aura of death was survivors.
Unfortunately, he was a single person, and still establishing his foundation, and right here seemed to be there encampment, and he cannot afford to spare such time and resources, earlier he had trouble fighting more than fifty ghouls, and he survive thanks to his instincts and terrain, here, there aren't any.
Therefore, it pains him, but there are also things that need to be done for first contacts. However, just to be sure of their numbers, he would have to scout and retreat after. Thus, with a sway of his legs, a twist of joints, and contraction of muscles, he went down the ground and surveyed silently in the shadows.
Unfortunately, he stumbled upon a terrible sight; there were indeed living people, but they were living in a state similar to livestock, almost as if they were farming the myriad races of this world he was on.
He saw ghouls butchering people, slicing limbs with crude swords and knives, all the while smiling and taunting the person. He was so disgusted and wanted to take action, however, with the force of a mountain, he resisted and stopped from acting out.
Right now, he has no power, nor anything, therefore, what he must focus on expansion and establishment of foundation, so that he may effectively end this fight against the ghouls, and discover the secrets of this world, and finally establish the foothold of which humanity would rest and stand on in the coming future.
Thus with seething anger, he made an escape. Unfortunately, due to his anger, he stepped on a trap. With the trap set, various alarms rang out throughout the fortress. Soon screams of fury and anger reverberated throughout Quagmire, angry was suddenly humbled, and with it anxiety flared up, due to him bumbling.
The ground rumbled, as the fat mans starts to move, and so he begins his hasty escape, he did not hesitated and brought out his pistol or handgun, this time he would not hesitate, since everything has gone to crap, he might as well throw everything out, and start going guns a blazing. Though he felt bad that Habagat would not be fed, though he was a wolf cub, still a wolf nonetheless, he might be able to find food on his own in the wild.
Throughout his time, he always comes with a plan, it seemed that fate has other plans, and so sometimes he would need to be forced into a corner in order to grow and gain various insights.