Rangers Endgame

Chapter 124: Return to the Backline

YAKERU:

The sun had begun to dip towards the horizon, but Yakeru still hadn't found any trace of Aoi or Kenji. He was hoping to find them at the southern infirmaries where they were originally stationed, but when he arrived, he was horrified to find them in ruins.

Smoke billowed from scorched craters, and trampled tents lay over the deceased who weren't lucky enough to have evacuated. Medical tools were scattered over the crimson-infused soil, and the air reeked of a horrible mix of metal and charred remains.

It took an iron grip on his nerves to keep calm, as there was still a chance his friends made it out in time. He did a quick search around the area, but the longer his gaze swept over the fallen, the more worried he was. So, he decided to look elsewhere.

Thankfully, the neighboring infirmaries remained untouched by bloodshed. Still, it took around an hour of searching before he pulled back the tarp on the fifth tent.

Patients lay in stretchers with medics and healers monitoring their conditions using artifacts. When his eyes found Aoi on the opposite side of the tent with Kenji at her side, along with other rangers he didn't recognize, he let out a soft sigh of relief. Although they were okay, Aoi in particular was in an infirmary bed.

Some of the rangers bowed respectfully to her, while others did so apologetically, as if they'd caused her trouble. With the noise and clashing conversations in the space, he wasn't sure what she said, but she gave them a look of reassurance before they left.

When she saw Yakeru approach, she must've noticed the worry underneath his wavering mask of calm, because her expression turned sympathetically soft. "You must've seen our post."

Yakeru nodded as he gave Kenji an acknowledging pat on the shoulder and slipped into a seat next to her. He looked her over. Her arm was in a sling, and her calf was wrapped in bandages.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better. In fact,"—she looked at Kenji—"if it wasn't for him, things would've been much worse. He was the core reason why we have survivors at all."

Kenji shook his head modestly. "Everyone contributed. I just wish we could've done more."

"I'm sure you did all you could," Yakeru said.

Aoi seemed to do her own little examination, her eyes looking over Yakeru for any signs of injury. When she didn't spot anything, however, she looked on in puzzlement. "Was the southeastern perimeter attacked?"

"Our side was hit, yes. But our team handled it," he answered.

Kenji and Aoi shared a look he couldn't quite read before Kenji added, "And you fought too?"

Yakeru's face scrunched somewhat unnaturally as a result of him trying to hold back the intense confusion at the odd question that Kenji should've known the answer to. "Yes? Why wouldn't I?"

Their bafflement only grew more apparent as they, again, glanced at one another as if not believing his words, then looked back at him. Yakeru was now genuinely freaked out.

"Is there a reason you're looking at me like that?"

"You mean to say that you went into a battle and came out of it not half dead?" Kenji wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "It's a miracle."

Yakeru rolled his eyes. "Funny." He regarded Aoi again, then added, "If you hadn't helped me train, then...let's say I'd be forced into early retirement."

She smiled. "I'm pleased to hear you had a good change of pace."

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone limping their way. It was a teenager around their age with green eyes and messy dark hair, supported by a woman in her late twenties who had on a medical uniform. When Aoi saw him approach, her eyes flashed with surprise and relief, then hardened with suppressed frustration.

"Tati, why are you out of bed? Your recovery takes priority." She scolded.

The woman gave him a side glance and a look that said, "Told you."

The kid, Tati, he now knew, ignored the look and regarded Aoi. "Please, you endured worse and still managed to save me and a lot of others. The very least I can do is pay you a visit." He tried to bow but sucked in a sharp, pained breath as his hand shot to his bandaged stomach. The medic helped him right himself, and he opted to dip his head instead. "I'm sorry I caused you trouble."

She waved a dismissive hand. "I would've done it again."

"To show my appreciation, how about I treat you to a meal?"

Aoi looked at the medic with a polite smile that doubled as a silent plea. "Ma'am, would you kindly escort Tati back?"

She gave a firm nod, understanding the actual meaning behind her words, and practically hauled the dejected Tati away. Aoi waited until they disappeared behind the tarp to let out a sigh.

Yakeru turned to her, shooting her a quiet smirk. "I see you have admirers looking out for you, too."

Her face flushed with embarrassment. "Please don't be so cruel as to tease me."

"By the way, I know she was on the eastern perimeter, but have you seen Fuyumi?" Kenji asked, a tinge of worry in his voice. "After the village was decimated, and the light pillars afterwards...we know that Second Grades can drill through numbers."

"I left her in an infirmary at the southeastern perimeter. She had a run-in with a Third Grade." Yakeru confirmed.

Aoi's face paled with concern, but he raised a hand to forestall the inevitable bombardment of questions she had. "She's okay, just exhausted. The Third Grade is in custody right now."

Aoi let out a relieved breath and lay her head back. "First a bloodhound, now a Third Grade. She has an unhealthy habit of getting into trouble." She then shot a wry look in Yakeru's direction. "A bit like someone else I know."

"I'd argue Fuyumi's more so on the responsible side of the spectrum," Kenji chimed in.

As they bantered back and forth, the tarp to their tent was pushed aside, allowing the light to pour in and cast a silhouette of a brawny figure. For a moment, Yakeru thought Kateshi was walking in, but when his dirt-streaked white uniform phased into view when he strode inside, he knew he was mistaken.

The medics and healers all suddenly paused their tasks to bow in respect to his authority, and Yakeru and Kenji followed their example. The man’s presence was a bit different than Sentinel Kiyoshi’s or Haruka’s. His powerful gait and bulky warhammer with grooves webbing across its surface charged the air around him with a kind of strength worthy of his title.

He set his weapon down, his seasoned gaze sweeping the tent’s interior. Something in his eyes seemed tired or sad, but it didn't reach the forefront of his gaze.

"Many of you know who I am," he started, his baritone voice resonating through the antiseptic air. "For those of you who don't, I'm Sentinel Dai. Every one of your efforts has contributed to the outcome of this raid." He paused, glancing over the wounded that still needed treatment. "To get to the point, I'm here to relay that the raid was a success. The Savior has fallen along with his underground empire and prized creation. Rest assured, all of your efforts will be rewarded in due time."

Victorious murmurs rippled through the tent at his words. Despite their wounds, the patients lit up with triumph, pride, and unspoken congratulations. The healers' and medics' expressions more so reflected admiration for their patients' valor on the battlefield.

"This is going to be the most lucrative mission yet." He heard someone say to his right.

"You're telling me. I can finally buy that set of Venom Spewer armor I had my eye on!" Another ranger in a cast said in anticipation.

"Was it really worth it, though? Many will never see that reward." A woman with a burn scar on her neck that stretched to the corner of her jaw said with a somber air.

"Such is the unfortunate nature of this profession." A man at her bedside patted her bandaged shoulder consolingly.

Kenji hung his head in gratefulness for their success, while Aoi's eyes fluttered closed, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Sentinel Dai’s eyes drifted to the grassy floor, the hardness in them quivering for half a second, and he opened his mouth to say something else but stopped himself. The tent grew quiet to hear what else he wanted to add, but nothing came. Instead, he lifted his head, the veteran’s hardened expression returning, and continued, as if abandoning his previous train of thought.

"We will be vacating the area in the following days, and the wounded are to be relocated to Capital hospitals for further evaluation. That is all."

With that, he spun on his heel and disappeared through the tarp. Yakeru, Kenji, and Aoi all looked at each other.

"What do you think that was about?" Kenji asked anyone who had an answer.

"Something tells me we’ll find out soon," Yakeru responded.