Chapter 189: Fate of Crescent

Chapter 189: Fate of Crescent The gap between the domes wasn’t any more than a kilometer.

A distance that would be crossed in less than three minutes at the speed the beasts were moving.

Holland suppressed the rising sensation in his chest and clung to the gun tighter. He needed to be prepared for when they crossed the seck dome. It wasn’t going to last more than a second if hit with the same attack as the first.

Loud whirling sounds could be heard starting up at several points on the wall, the second set of recruits and soldiers powering up the plasma canon and setting their aims.

"Hold!"

Instructor Josh’s voice reached them, holding the recruits who were about to strike out of terror.

He had no doubt been attracted by the flash that destroyed the first dome like a fragile glass bowl.

"Rifles! Hold till they break through the second dome!!" The familiar voice of their Instructor restored some of the discipline that had been beaten into them through their training, contesting with the fear that had almost overcome them.

"Canons! Fire when they reach the dome!"

’What’s the point when it’s all gonna be gone in a second?’

Holland’s thoughts churned, filled with the images of the bright blue light bearing the same shade as the dome itself before it struck, shattering one of their greatest defenses to shreds.

Still, he was a soldier, one who followed orders.

He waited patiently, watching the army of rabid beasts approach through this scope, keeping an eye on the looming shadow in the distance – one which bore a force he didn’t think they could resist.

The tremors beneath his feet had increased substantially, and he could see the tiny stones shake along the faint roars in the distance that were beginning to be heard by everyone on the wall.

"Haa..."

He wiped the sweat off his palms, seeing the beasts who were now less than 200 meters from the dome.

His eyes kept flickering between the shadow in the distance and the encroaching army below, expecting an attack like before any moment from now.

They had the momentum already, and they were definitely going to capitalize on that.

"NOW!!"

The order was given, and several deafening shots were fired from the huge plasma lasers the moment the first beasts touched the dome, which blocked them out.

Laser beams the size of four human torsos were fired from the mouths of the cannon, tearing across the army of beasts like a sickle through overgrown weeds.

The first wave of beasts that crashed into the dome was instantly obliterated, blasted into nothingness, leaving nothing but charred earth behind!

Not even their bloody remains were spared.

Holland’s gaze switched to his right where smoke was coming off the mouths of the cannon, his eyes wide with surprise.

This was the first time he had seen the cannons in action and it was beyond what he had ever imagined.

If only they could keep the beasts at such a distance and continue firing.

His mind went back to the attack that had shattered the first dome.

It had yet to be used again, confusing him.

The gap cleared by the cannons didn’t last long and another wave of beasts took the place of their fallen kin, crashing into the dome.

"Good, we might have a chance if we keep this up!" Holland splurted excitedly, his words reaching the equally excited and relieved recruits around him.

The soldiers on the other hand, only spared him a glance before training their gazes back on the enemy in the distance.

’Shouldn’t they be happy?’

Their solemn attitude brought confusion to Holland and that was soon shared by other recruits at the silence at the wall.

No attacks were being fired!

Looking back at the cannons, he could see several recruits and soldiers with water or ice abilities trying to cool down the still-smoking cannons with beads of sweat running down their faces.

"That’s how it always is. The laser cannon isn’t a weapon that can be used repeatedly. It comes with certain disadvantages."

A soldier beside him spoke up, noticing where he was looking.

The attempts of the soldiers and recruits barely looked to be doing anything, their abilities being vaporized upon contact, releasing plumes of hot steam into the air.

From a distance, it looked like a fire was burning at several points on the wall.

"Haa!"

Holland left his position with turmoil within him.

It was six hours already, and time for his shift to change.

This time, he couldn’t fall asleep to regain any strength. He instinctively understood the reason behind the pointless order to use the first shots of the laser cannon.

’Raising morale’

He glanced at his fellow recruits who had ended shifts with him. They all had smiles on their faces, talking about how things were going to go well now that they had seen the power of the cannons.

Speaking about how all that was happening was still within the plans of the commander and there was a part of that plan that would get them out of this situation.

"Bunch of idiots!"

He ground his teeth in frustration. He had never been more annoyed at how utterly foolish his fellow recruits were until this very moment.

"Haa!"

He was forced to pull himself together. Looking at it objectively, the base had taken the best course of action.

Nothing good was going to come out of a fear-stricken fighting force. They would have lost the battle before it even started.

The six hours of rest passed by in a flash and it was his turn to take watch.

The cannon had been used again in the last hour.

It took them five hours to get it functional, and it would most likely take a similar amount of time to restore its usefulness.

Nothing had changed so far at the second dome. The beasts were clawing endlessly at the dome but it held up well against any attacks that were thrown at it, finally living up to its reputation as one of their defenses.

There had been no information passed on to them about the nature of the first attack responsible for the destruction of the first dome.

It was best to say and believe that the higher-ups were working on it.

Unfortunately for Holland, as long as the threat of that attack and whatever existed beyond the shadow in the distance remained, he would never feel confident in the possibility of their survival.

"Any ideas what that first attack was?"

The voice of the commander was demanding, filling the room which held all the instructors — the strongest fighting force of Crescent.

"Nothing?"

His gaze darkened seeing the silence and lack of response from everyone present.

"We don’t have anything?!"

"Just say it!" He slammed his hand on the wooden desk. The hesitancy sensed from some of the instructors was pushing him to the limit.

"We think it might be...that, sir!"

Instructor Angy, a female instructor with petite features and a head full of bright pink hair packed into a bun, spoke up

"That’s impossible! Origin has been keeping an eye on it since it first appeared. There’s no way they’d let something like that out of their sight!" Another instructor shouted in denial.

"Does it look like Origin is in control of anything right now? Why does it seem so concerning that they failed to keep track of one thing!"

"Typical of them"

"Enough!"

The commander silenced the instructors, rubbing his fingers on his aching temples.

"Now isn’t the time to be having reservations against Origin. We are both part of the same organization, don’t forget that!"

"Besides, they are our only way out of this. If that attack was from what we think it was, then we....."

He let the words fade into the tense atmosphere of the room.

He had just confirmed Holland’s speculations in a way that left the more knowledgeable instructors in a gloomy mood.

"No matter what! We hold the wall. At least till Origin arrives!"

"The fact that they haven’t used that attack again means they can’t. For now at least. They have no reason to hold back."

"The plan stays the same. This is a siege! One that lasts till we hear the horns of Origin at our backs!"

"Hasten the cleanup. We would only get a slim window to react when they show up. We have to be ready!"

"Dismissed!"

"Yes, sir!"

The commander let out a series of orders to the instructors, giving no room for discussion. It had all been decided and they didn’t have much of an option anyway.

"Those Origin and beast scums!"

Instructor Josh said with gritted teeth upon leaving the office, one of his fists embedded deep in the wall beside him.

The other instructors spared him not more than a single glance before moving on.

Instructor Angy on the other hand, remained for a moment, sparing a sweet smile before hopping away. An action that only infuriated him more.

...

Meanwhile, at Origin, the message for help had arrived, and the higher-ups had gathered to decide the fate of Crescent!