In the middle of a deserted city, a strangely equipped squad moved forward cautiously.
They wore scale-studded soft armor, tactical helmets and goggles, and carried matte-finished long knives. Modular rifles were slung across their backs, and one of the bigger men even had a dark, tube-shaped weapon strapped there.
It was a peculiar mix of styles. The squad seemed to be searching for something.
They moved carefully and slowly. Enormous, scaled monsters appeared without warning in this deserted city, and any disturbance could bring needless danger.
They cautiously made their way into a wrecked shop. Static crackled from the microphone clipped to one of their collars.
"The area's clear. The target is somewhere nearby."
After receiving the message, the squad leader gave an order.
"Take a brief break, then start searching!"
The squad relaxed a little. A short figure picked up a crumpled bag of potato chips from a collapsed shelf and dusted it off, grumbling as she did.
"Damn it, there are more and more Dragon Beasts gathering around here lately. Do we really have to come looking for that so-called savior?"
"Are there even any survivors here? If you ask me, we'd be better off letting some people into the shelter and then shutting the blast door!"
The short figure continued muttering.
Most of the squad seemed to share her feelings. The only exception was the burly man leading them. He glared at her and snapped, "Don't question the officer's decision! Besides, we all know the shelter can't fit that many people!"
His words made the short figure flinch.
She fell silent at once.
The squad continued resting and replenishing their supplies.
But the burly leader wasn't as confident as he appeared. That was only natural. Looking out at the desolate, lifeless city before him, who could have