Platinum Skies (The Manifests Series #2)

{[37]} A Loyal, Royal Return

Mina got incredibly disoriented when the teleport happened. She had been into cryostine portals before, but never this so sudden. Never this quick.

Perhaps it was meant to be that way. The whole thing was a trap, after all. It was never meant to be comfortable.

Now, she's in an unfamilliar place that seemed to be filled with danger.

But that wasnt all. She got split up woth several members of the team, and now, they were facing an entity that was so common, yet looked incredibly dangerous.

It was a Koul'in snowman.

A common cannon fodder summoned from a small mystical shard, widely known to horribly represent Earth's snowmen. They were meant to roam aimlessly and attack those who arent from Arwenrost. An efficient killing machine that can be modified by different means. They can be found with earthly items fused to their body, or hand-fitted with armor to become even deadlier.

This Koul'in snowman, in particular, looked like it was fitted with the highest grade of technology possible. It had a thivk armor, sleek shoulder, elbow, and knee guards, and steel-laden wires connected to its vital parts. On its left hand was a high-caliber dark blue rifle, and on the right, a thick, steel-bore gauntlet that served as a shield.

Mina, Hangyeol, Jinwoo, Ryujin, Youngsook, and a few of Sanghoon's men readied for the worst.

The snowman gazes upon the team, and suddenly aims its rifle. Jinwoo immediately draws his own rifle in response, and shoots the enemy on the head with pinpoint accuracy.

The armored snowman staggers, yet it regains its footing again and aims its rifle once more.

"Everyone, disperse and take this tin can down, NOW!" Jinwoo boomed. The team immediately splits up and takes cover as the snowman droid unloaded its clip towards them. The team fights back, but the bullets just ricochet off the enemy's armor.

Mina was the only one without any weapon, and she is forced to duck for cover. She didnt know how to wield a gun, after all, and her training basically consisted only of close-quarters combat.

She was still also disoriented, as if something was contorting her head in agony, so she wasnt much of help to the team.

Ryujin notices this, and comes to her aid.

"Mina-sunbae, are you okay...?" Ryujin asked. "You dont feel well."

"A bit, yes. Perhaps its just teleport sickness.. I'll manage." Mina said as she smiled at Ryujin.

"Okay. Stay by me, I'll protect you!" Ryujin replied as she brings out her incapacitating pistols and began shooting together with the others.

The armored snowman masterfully shoots through the team and their hiding places despite them splitting up. If not for the thickness of the crates around them that gave them proper cover, they wouldve been shot with pinpoint accuracy even from behind.

"The bastard is repositioning to evade our fire!" Youngsook declared. "Get your sights on it as fast as you can!"

"Enemy now at your 2' o clock, watch out!"

"Hey, you! You're dangerously close to the enemy, create some space or you'll get shot!"

"The bullets just bounce off of the damn thing, watch out for the ricochet!"

The exchange of commands and gunfire continues. The snowman does a great job of dodging most of the bullets, and its shots are now getting more accurate.

"Ack...!" One of Sanghoon's men soon gets shot and falls to the ground. Another man covers him.

"Man down! Man down! We need medical assistance...!" The man said as he covered fire.