Tetsu targets the lich using the [Eye] rune placed on the camera. The lich erases the rune with relative ease but overlooks the Rune hidden on its staff's sole.
"You," the lich points its staff at the cameraman, and the globe at the top captures his image. With deliberate slowness, the lich drives its long nails into the globe and utters, "Mine."
The space around the cameraman freezes, ensnaring him, as Xomes catapults the Zeeches forward, and zombies encircle him with measured steps. Even the ants, Raptors, and Claytron seize the opportunity, converging from all directions.
For the first time, the cameraman relinquishes his camera and slips out of his sneakers. Tetsu observes the unfolding events in four cinematic reels as if he flipped through a picture book. In one frame, the cameraman lands barefoot; in the next clip, stretches his back; then, surveys the multitude of enemies; and finally, he's back with his camera, his surroundings void of creatures and trees.
"What just happened?" Tetsu turns to the lich, who appears more befuddled than himself. Long intrigued by the cameraman's class or level, concealed behind a shroud skill, Tetsu hesitates to probe further. With every moment bringing life and death closer, he dared not risk losing half or his entire mana pool to quench his curiosity.
"One day," Tetsu vows, pointing a finger at the cameraman, who has already vanished.
"You," the lich growls at Tetsu.
"No, thanks," Tetsu retorts, snatching the staff away from the lich and stashing it inside the bag. The lich loses its powers and slumps to the ground, and a devious grin spreads across Tetsu's face. Since then he ventured around the battlefield collecting more staff.
———<>|*|<>———
"That wretched human," Mor hisses, blinking away from the shared visions and redirecting the army's course.
"What happened?" Val inquires.
"Nothing, my lord. We have everything under control."
———<>|*|<>———
A zombie bites a lich and gazes at it in bewilderment.
"What are you doing?" the general lich chastises, striking the zombie with its staff. The zombie defies orders and blocks the staff. In a swift motion, defying a zombie's normal sluggish speed, it snatches and throws the lich's staff along with its arm.
"Thanks," Tetsu catches the zombie's arm and bids them farewell. "Ew." He discards both items into the backpack, his devious smile widening. Thus began the saga of the undead snatcher who pilfered the dead.
———<>|*|<>———
"A breach!" the scout Krantz's voice blared through the speaker.
"Move..." Krovath shoved Tarah aside and rushed to the balcony.
The central chest, linked to the scavenger's backpacks used for plundering spoils of war, now disgorged undead.
"No one can survive in such a chaotic space," Krovath exclaimed, incredulous at the sight.
"Survive... living creatures can't," Tarah corrected, sinking to her knees. "They're the undead. What do we do?"
Krovath shook her out of her stupor. "Now is not the time, lieutenant."
"Battle? Battle formations," she snapped back into action, issuing rapid instructions.
YOU ARE READING
The System
AksiyonTetsü & kilə were odd ducks amongst the oddest ducks-Never to fit in, never to be found among the crowd that blindly followed the ways of this world... Or the next... 14 years of crazy experiments later they, finally found a way to break out of this...
