The Transcenders

Chapter 62 - Obscure War (1)

Part 7: Obscure War

Driving throughout the night, Seth, Aaron, Ejiro and Snoid passed the mountains east of the Obscure Guild, followed the wastelands, and finally arrived at a temporary military base in the Wandering Lands.

They went on the single gravel path to avoid landmines and stopped at the entrance. There were barbwires stacked on the electric fences. The gates were closed, and soldiers guarded on each side.

There weren't many defences. For instance, there wasn't an enclosing shield like many cities in the major guilds, a giant dome.

However, there was surveillance. A small white drone with an explosive stuck to it descended in front of the vehicle.

"It's not often that unannounced guests come to the frontline," said the person flying the device, "You need a permit to enter."

Seth opened his window and showed him his identification on his watch's screen.

The man standing in a monitor room, overlooking countless cameras, didn't bat an eye as he glanced at the driver.

"Seth Rayn. DA agent?"

"Yes, but I've retired. I'm a teacher now."

They waited a short moment in silence for the drone's speaker to say something.

"Alright. Come to the command post. My superiors want to meet you."

The gates opened.

They drove to the parking lot and left the vehicle. Other than cars, hundreds of aircraft, tanks and robotic machinery were parked, each appropriately sorted in rows.

They walked along the barracks. It was still early morning, so most soldiers rested inside their pointy tents. They exchanged looks with some soldiers and went onwards.

The four left the barracks and arrived inside Lope village. Once the war had begun, most citizens had migrated away. With its strategic position and being a ghost town, the alliance had set a temporary base there.

Approaching the centre of town, the current state of the war became apparent. Some walls were full of missing posters, soldiers and citizens alike, queries, and pleas from loved ones.

The buildings were old and grim, the streets hard and uneven, and the few journalists on the pavement held their cameras toward Snoid warily. He didn't look much different from regular people, but his slitted piercing eyes, green hair, and the fact he was a prisoner made it clear he was a cursed.

They arrived at what seemed like a plaza, only it was just as run-down as the rest of the city, the fountain dry and cracked, and the commercial buildings had all closed down.

It was alarming how two weeks of the war was all it took for a once cozy village to transform into a lonely and sorrowful place.

Breakfast wasn't ready yet, so the cafeteria, now the mess hall, was also locked. Near there, a few soldiers were checking their equipment, some speaking, meditating, or sleeping.

One of the soldiers arrived at the plaza and found them. He walked over and saluted. "I've been tasked with bringing you to the tactical operations centre. Follow me."

He brought them inside one of the closed buildings. They passed the computer room In the hallway and arrived at a small office beside it.

Seth entered the wooden, cozy room while the rest stayed in the corridor. It was the commander's office.

"What brings you out here, Seth?" Said a 50-year-old man who was stroking his grey beard.

"Hello, James Rack," Seth sat on the couch left of him.