The Mysteries of Agent Scythe

Kabanata 3: AL-X

[Zin's POV]

We stood in line as we listen to Corporal Amphrite in front of us. "Y'all been training to fight for two years yet the higher officials wanted me to confirm your strength as a whole, as a team." Tahimik at seryoso lang kaming nakikinig sa kanyang ulat. I know where this is going.

"So we will have a practical training. I'll be releasing a dozen of Rank 3 Elvesmiths. You need to eliminate all of them in thirty minutes."

Elvesmiths Rank
Rank 1 - sensitive. a small dagger can already kill them.
Rank 2 - faster and stronger.
Rank 3 - have telekinetic abilities and faster healing power.
Sorcerers - can teleport and can curse humans
Royales - all of the above, other abilities can't further be explained.

"Now, pick your weapons. The enemies will be released in 10 minutes." Biglang nawala si Corporal at doon ko lang napagtanto na isang hologram lang pala at naroroon siya kasama ng ibang officials sa loob ng tainted na kwarto hindi gaano kalayo mula sa training hall.

The entire AEA Basement is made up of iron and magnesium grounded with cement making it the most indestructible building in the human's domain

The walls in the training hall are all painted in white, even the doors that makes it infinity and you won't be able to see the corners.

Sa gitna ng hall ay unti-unting bumukas ang sahig at umangat mula roon ang mahabang lamesa na may iba't ibang sandata.

"Are you kidding me? These weapons doesn't have any enchantment."

"How are we supposed to take them down?"

Panay reklamo nina Rud at Khort habang ako at yung iba ay nagsimula nang mamili ng armas na pwede naming gamitin.

There were so many weapons that 10 minutes is not enough to make us choose. It wouldn't be hard if I can only use my AL-X.

AL-X are weapons made exclusively for the armies by the scientists and armourers. AL-X has an element that makes us effective to annihilate the Elvesmiths which is the Alithium that came from the same asteroid where the first batch of Elvesmiths were found. Alithium has an enchantment ability that allows the user to take ownership which means that no one can steal it from you. Try to toss it, burn it down, or even smash it into pieces but it will always come back to its user... unless, the user himself gets killed and the AL-X will automatically shatter into dust.

And now, we don't have our AL-X for the mean time because we voluntarily left it in our dorm house.

"You'll be working as a team. Teamwork can always save your lives, so none of you will use their AL-X. Try summoning them and you'll be punished." Lahat kami ay napatangla at napatahimik nung marinig ang boses ni Corporal.

"Gosh, I guess we'll have to depend on our instinct," dinig kong bulong ni Vyre bago niya kinuha ang leviathan axe.

What should I pick? Lahat ng weapon na wine-wield namin ay wala, so we have to choose a weapon that are more closely alike to our AL-X.

"Seven minutes left."

There are six weapons on the table that i'm compatible with, but which of these can make me fight along with my team?

"Three minutes left."

I have decided to use the naginata (A two-handed pole weapon, consisting of a long pole with an axe-like blade mounted on it). I'm a middle-ranger, so long or any  short-ranged weapon are applicable to me though only some are compatible.

I'm not a fan of two-handed nor pole weapons but since it's an axe-like-hook blade, then i'll go for it.

"One minute." Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Callon na siyang natatanging hindi pa nakapili ng kanyang sandata.

"Hurry up, Callon."

Pinagpapawisan at kagat-kagat ang kanyang labi na pinuwesto niya ang  kamay niyang nanginginig para pumili.

"Choose any weapon, it doesn't matter if you don't know how to handle it, just pick one. I got your back," bulong ko na ikinatango niya. Agad naman siyang bumunot ng wakizashi (A Japanese short sword, often used as a secondary weapon to a katana) bago tumabi ng tayo sa akin nung unti-unti nang lumubog ang lamesa at nagsara ang sahig.

"Twenty-seven... twenty-six... twenty-five... twenty-four..." boses ng built-in program sa buong training hall.

"What should we do?"

"Zin, what's the plan?"

Agad nilang tanong sa akin na walang ideya kung ano ang mismong gagawin.

"Just stay alive. About the plan? We'll figure it out."

A dozen rank 3 are difficult especially that we're given an allotted time of 30 minutes. We don't have our AL-X which makes the Elvesmiths prey us easily.

Napaatras kami nung sa isang iglap lang ay may mga Elvesmiths na sa harap namin. They have been teleported by the computer and based on their appearances, they are freshly caught.

They looked almost like humans except for that they have red eyes. They all look frightening that I couldn't help but to smirk secretly.

"Begin!"

Mabilis kaming nagsitalon para iwasan ang puting elemento na nagmumula sa kanilang kamay at nagpapasabog sa kung ano man ang matamaan nito.

Mabilis akong tumakbo sa gilid habang iniiwasan ang sunod-sunod nilang paputok.

There are dozens of them and eight of us... we are only 20 in all that makes this entire training hall huge and wide.

Si Rud at Esthis ay hindi tumakbo at pinili na makipag-combat sa mga Elvesmiths. Falchion (A somewhat curved, single-edged medieval sword of European origin, with the cutting edge on its convex side, whose design is reminiscent of the Persian scimitar and the Chinese dao) ang gamit ni Rud at flail (striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain) naman ang kay Esthis.

The Elvesmiths doesn't have any weapons on their hands, only their magic. Mahigpit akong napahawak sa sandata ko nung biglang kinontrol ng isang Elvesmith ang sandata ni Rud at minanipula. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Rud nung unti-unting tumuon sa kanyang leeg ang sarili niyang sandata na sobrang talas.

"Rud!!"