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100 Systems Invasion 60. End of the Ritual
Invasion Day 17Wonosobo, Central Java, IndonesiaOn the seventh day, the last night and last hour of his ritual in the middle of Lake Wadaslintang, Artha gapped as he stood surrounded by still water. Something came from the darkness. Two white tigers of huge size and a beautiful woman riding one of them.Artha couldn’t take his gaze off them – not that he wanted to, anyway. It was an incredible sight. He never saw someone with such beauty in them. He knew her appearance was not what pulled his interest in her. The woman riding a white tiger, who could stop staring when it was a majestic sight like that?He almost forgot to continue his chants. Thankfully, there was no storm as a result of his negligence.The lake seemed to part in half, showing the stepping stones from the other side of the edge. One of the huge white tigers stayed by the lake’s shore, while the other tiger – with the most beautiful woman sitting on top – stepped on the stone. No white and black fur touched the wate
100 Systems Invasion 61. No Connection Found
Invasion Day 18Wonosobo, Central Java, IndonesiaArtha did anything he could to stay still on the stepping stone, clothes dripping wet as the lake parted ways for the supernatural beings in front of him.The beautiful woman wearing a long, green kebaya offered him a cup made of a broken human skull. The dark, red liquid seemed to call his name. She brought the skull up, almost touching his lips.Artha leaned closer and sipped the dark blood from it, forcing himself to hold his gaze against the woman’s eyes. He wanted to throw up right away, but he could only close his eyes at the moment.No matter what, he must not throw up. It was the worst feeling he had to suppress.A moment later, the woman was back on the tiger’s back. She still didn’t say anything, but her eyes shone under the moonlit night. She was proud of him, for who knows why.The white beast retreated gracefully; its long tail swayed like part of a dance. Once the white beast’s paws touched the lake’s shore, the water clo
100 Systems Invasion 62. Lost
The reddish sun finally set in, calling forth the dark and the moon to adorn the sky.A skinny teenage boy of average height walked through the woods. He wore unwashed jeans and a sweaty oversized t-shirt. A bulky bag strapped to his shoulders, making him bend forward after an afternoon without rest.A nametag hung from his bag, spelled Artha Sangkala.It had been a long day for him. Soon, as the night started, his world would expand.He didn’t expect this at first.The invasion and infectores – all were stuff coming from nightmares. But here he was, surrounded by moving corpses and endless horror.Artha wasn’t new to this kind of thing. Ghosts, demons, and the devil, he was accustomed to them since a baby. Supernatural beings were what he called normal. A psychic, people said to him. He didn’t mind when the unseen creatures were often better than normal humans.Although, after a long day fighting infectores and killing them as a last resort, he was fed up with violence. However, he w
100 Systems Invasion 63. Reorganized
It had been a while since Artha followed Eyang Wadas through the other dimension. He tried to focus, hoping the walk to be short. But, like many things in life, not everything goes according to his wish. As someone who could be considered a psychic, seeing ghosts and demons was something normal. He wasn’t afraid of them, nor was he interested in hearing whatever they say to him. However, the supernatural creatures in the other dimension were not like what he had seen. Besides their animal-like appearance and humanoid plant shapes, they could speak his language fluently as they tried to entice him into taking them with them. Some of them even offered food, all kinds of them, really. His mouth watered the moment their nice smell hit his nose. He almost grabbed a skewered meat a half-bull half-man brought in front of him, but Artha shook his head, clearing his mind from the craving and hunger. Eyang Wadas was testing him. Clenching his hands into fists, Artha refocused and followed
100 Systems Invasion 64. Drive Through
Invasion Day 19Rennes, FranceNate once again cut a corner suddenly into a backstreet that looked like it had hopped straight out of the pages of a comic book or gritty noir film.On the front passanger seat, a blonde-haired female pressed her lips into thin lines but didn't comment. At least, the area looked relatively clean, free of thugs or living proof of urban poverty, if she ignores teh infectores stalling on the road. She supposed he'd taken her to the classier side of the criminal realm.They traveled far enough down the street until they reached a series of warehouses, several of which had the eerie look of being abandoned.Keira, the blonde passanger, could feel her discomfort rising. She sucked a breath as they stopped outside a slate grey building with aged paneling. A single faded blue metal door stuck in front of it rusted at the hinges and some part of its edges.For his part, Nate looked entirely at ease. He seemed unconcerned, even whistling himself and tapping out a
100 Systems Invasion 65. Backwater
To put it simply, Mr. Bones sounded precisely like the kind of name Keira didn’t want to tangle with.She was pretty knowledgeable that mobsters usually stick to a nickname based on their usual torture specialty or killing method. Some article she found on wiki – oh, the horror – said so.The thought that Mr. Bones would easily break her bones was enough to send a shiver running down her body. As there was no way that the mysterious person they were meeting used the name Bones for his love of a crime procedural comedy-drama TV series titled ‘Bones’, right?Much less because the person Nate wanted to meet had such fascination with that 2001 slapstick comedy film made and set in South Africa. That would be far too ridiculous to think.Despite her worries, Nate swung himself to full height, giving her a ‘ladies first’ gesture.She gave him a skeptical look and pushed him forward instead, quietly demanding that he fulfill his promise about being her handsome and loveable shield. Although,
100 Systems Invasion 66. Smuglers
Keira's face scrunched up in a mix of confusion and annoyance. Nate must have told him about her. She shot him a glare, which he shrugged off innocently.She finally asked, "And who might you be?""I'm sorry, where is my manner?" Still holding out a hand, the man with slicked-back hair and candy cigarette hanging between his lips chuckled lightly. "Giovanni Montana, but people like to call me Mr. Bones.""Uhm… likewise?" Keira tentatively shook hands with him, hoping he wouldn't accidentally crush the bones in her hand, and quickly withdrew from him."Oh, no, please don't be mistaken. There's no need to be afraid of me, I don't hit women. They called me Bones not because I like to break bones, as you might have thought, but more about my, ugh… how do I say it, frequent rigid state of the certain organ on my lower half."Realization kicked in. Keira's eyes bulged out in shocking disbelief. That was truly unexpected. And horrifying if she thought about it again. She'd never have guessed
100 Systems Invasion 67. No Less
Inside was a rebellious edition of a corporate office, Keira concluded.Of course, it had posters of Playboy bunnies. Colorful glass with three bullet holes depicting an angel from the sky, who knows where a partially illegal businessman like Mr. Bones got it. Two golden horse sculptures on the table. As well as a blue pumpkin with a big hole on top – probably to empty the seed before he carves it."It's not even August," Nate muttered, a little too loud if his first intention was not to be heard by the building's owner. Although, the shabby businessman didn't give even a single reaction.Keira shifted from one foot to the other. Uneasy in this strange place and unusual situation. She lingered near the door, leaning against the wall as she wished this transaction would go faster.'Transaction,' she repeated in her head, trying to stifle her chuckle at her own choice of words.Hearing her, Nate looked over his shoulder; a raised eyebrow easily conveyed his silent question.Mr. Bones al
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- 100 Systems Invasion
79. Table Turned
The raid was a bust.The lieutenant didn't even wait until they were in the privacy of his office before chewing him like useless gum. He demanded, "What is this, Monroe?"Mark bit back the urge to say, 'What did I tell you about raiding it yesterday, Sir?' He waited quietly and avoided any eye contact from the many people in bulletproof vests with bold 'PPD' on their back, strapping their gun back into safety and rounding up their failed attempt. "Why did I spend three hours of driving to the middle of nowhere with a full squad to take down a drug lab and slavery den while there's nothing here?"Again, instead of pointing out that the raid should have been done as quickly as he had suggested, Mark waited."Tell me, Monroe, why are you even screwing up this bad after the rookie slip up with that fake journalist in the warehouse?"'This is not my fault,' he thought. "We are too late, Sir," he said."Too late? Are you saying I'm too slow to act?" Madsen retorted angrily. "Do you even k
- 100 Systems Invasion
78. Make a Move
"You're so annoying, do I have to remind you every hour?" Rhea grumbled from the passenger seat, watching the dark-haired man behind the steering wheel as the car drove itself to the hill house. "Old news," Lucian commented and then glared at her. "But I already said not to let him into this again."Of course. "Mikhal's right. You do sounds like a jealous secret boyfriend.""Ha. Ha." There was no humor behind that. "First, I am not your boyfriend, I'm your fiance. Second, you're the one keeping this a secret, not me."Rhea grinned, "You didn't deny the first one? Are you jealous?""So what?" She frowned but didn't say anything else. She still couldn't figure out why he was jealous of that tall coworker of hers. No matter how many times she asked him, Lucian wouldn't tell.'Or you just never believe his answer,' a small voice at the back of her head supplied helpfully. She brushed it off because it was total drivel. There was no way Lucian actually felt jealous just because he liked
- 100 Systems Invasion
77. Running for Life
She was not as reckless as Lucian sometimes said to her. But she was still new in this espionage thing, and Mikhal suddenly pushed her down to the ground. Her heart raced, pounding noisily along with the blood in her ears. Mikhal's tall figure was equally low by her side. Confidence may fool many people, but she had none of it right now. Especially not after a burly man in a tank top suddenly pointed his long firearm in her direction, right before she took another shot of the drug lab with her phone. Breathing quietly, they waited in suspenseful silence until the man turned his weapon away from their direction. Another man came out of the drug lab's door, probably exchanging words before both of them went inside again. Rhea exhaled in relief, shoulders slumping down as both Mikhal and her shared a look. They moved closer, trying to get more proof from the small window at the side of the building now known as the drug lab. Not only from the chemical glasses with some colored liquid
- 100 Systems Invasion
76. Into Hidden View
After four days of work, Rhea finally got her day off again. Mikhal texted her, 'Meet you at East Station in twenty.' Smiling to herself, Rhea texted back an affirmation. "So…" Liz glanced at her from behind the steering wheel, "If I may ask, where are you going, Miss Rhea?""Out," she merely said."Any specific place in mind?"Rhea locked her phone, "Not really."The bespectacled girl looked uncomfortable for a second before she asked again. "Do you have any companions?""Yes.""Oh. Who is that?"Rhea narrowed her eyes, not liking where the bespectacled girl was going with this. "Is this an interrogation?""No, of course, not." Liz hastily said, topping it with an awkward laugh that she tried to make it sound natural. "I'm sorry if it came out like that, Miss Rhea. I didn't mean to."She sighed, turning to the sturdy houses that came into view as they finally reached the town's area. "It's fine. Lucian ordered you to do that, right?" Liz stayed silent, so she'd take that as a yes.
- 100 Systems Invasion
75. Coping Mechanism
The cafeteria was full of cola and burgers. "Free dinner for everyone!" one of the senior staff called out as they entered it. Rhea grinned – almost jumped in excitement – as her favorite food was served in front of her for free. Emi, on the other hand, chimed in a loud voice, "We don't pay to eat here!"She stuffed her face with the burger. She sat surrounded by a white shirt and blue vest-wearing staff, finally having a nice break out of the craziness of the afternoon shift. "I can't believe I was so excited about it before."Emi smiled broadly, munching on her mouthful bite of burger. She looked funny. "Didn't I tell you that it's crazy?""Yes, but you carefully left out the fact that it is precisely like that oddball group all over again, except, it happens continuously. Marching in a group in the lobby, then shoving each other to get in the elevator. Why do we only have four elevators, anyway?""But it only happens in the afternoon. After that, it's pretty slow, isn't it?"Rhea h
- 100 Systems Invasion
74. Unwritten Law
Lucian had been at the scene of serious diplomacy once, ages ago as he was still ten, where his father was showing him how to negotiate with a foreign mafia boss from another country. Earl would sign an agreement of letting said mafia boss move into Livingard and give him a little territory on the border to set up whatever operation they had planned. Earl would get back his prized butler slash right-hand man safely in one piece in exchange. He was fond of that man, his favorite butler. A middle-aged friendly guy who had a penchant for cutting apples into beautiful figures and dragging Lucian out of bed before dawn for a morning run. So, hearing that his favorite butler would be back after missing – he was captivated by the foreign mafia after accidentally crashing his motorbike to the mafia's daughter on the road – for three days, Lucian was eager when his father wanted him to tag along. It was supposed to be a valuable learning experience for him.One of the foreign mafia subordinat
- 100 Systems Invasion
73. At Least We Try
'Let him be, don't talk to him, whatever, just ignore him.'She didn't even want to see him. But bottling her overflowing emotions? It was a ridiculous idea.Then a notification chimed in, breaking into her bubble of thought, pulling her from the suffocating underwater feeling. 'How's' your girl's day out with Emi?' Mikhal texted her, oblivious to the chaos she made herself. 'She was great.' She texted back.'Cool. No more outings today?' His reply came seconds later, followed by three dots, signifying he was typing now. 'Imma starts the afternoon shift today. Dunno what to expect.''Expect the worst.''Never know u'r such a pessimist.'She wasn't. Fine, maybe she was. Just at the moment, though. Rhea responded with a laughing emoticon. Followed by a string of crying yellow faces.'What was that?' She bit her bottom lip, 'I want to go out.' Her thumb sent it before she even read the line. She considered deleting it. No use, Mikhal already typed again.'I'm free, if you were asking
- 100 Systems Invasion
72. The Walk Down
Sprinting to the beach, Rhea suddenly stopped before her sneakers touched the wet sand. Quickly taking them off, Rhea looked around for a place to put them without getting worried that the wave would sweep on them or someone take them away. Not that she was suspicious of some people enjoying the beach there, or that her shoes were extremely pricey – they were, not that Rhea knew about that, because it was Lucian who paid – but Rhea didn't want to lose her only pair of sneakers.She looked back to Lucian's parked car on the edge of the beach, where the dry ground met with green patches of grass. Squinting her blue eyes, Rhea calculated how much force she needed to get her shoes to the car's side. The light brown-haired girl got into a stance as if she would throw a slider with her sneaker as the ball. Then, Rhea let go of one of her sneakers in a powerful side swing. It flew in a bent trajectory and landed safely on the dry sand, though still a little far away from the car."Ah, I need
- 100 Systems Invasion
71. Wolf in the Flesh
It was the first time Rhea saw a wolf in real life.The wolf looked like how a wolf would in a book or movie. Nothing special, unlike the jet-black wild wolf she saw in a show. Or the majestic white wolf in legends. The animal in front of her looked just like the usual wolf. Short, triangular ears. Broad snout. A long tail. Looking slender yet seems powerful in its built. Its back was grey, so was its upper head. While the rest of its fur was light brown, and the underside was white.Rhea could not believe it."Should we continue?" Jo asked, stepping slowly on the gas pedal.As Jo drove the car past the watchful gaze of the wolf, Rhea felt a shudder run through her body. Either it was a creepy coincidence, or Lucian somehow controlled the wolf to appear there and failed Rhea's escape. Which sounded impossible. Both of them.It was some minutes later that Jo stopped the car. They were near the first building in the outskirt of Stradfield's little town. "Are you sure you want to get off
