Protagonist?Antagonist? I Reject Both

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In Sector 11

A strange atmosphere prevailed with soldiers lined up, their guns at the ready. The automatic defense systems were in full operation, and large antennas hovered above the platform, scanning the perimeter for any signs of intruders.

Yet today, an eerie stillness pervaded the sector. There were no distant roars, no flickering shapes on the horizon, just a profound silence. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The usual alerts and movements were absent, leaving the soldiers puzzled. They exchanged confused glances, their senses on edge, trying to make sense of the unusual absence of monsters.

While soldiers are still in their positions with befuddlement, they didn't dare to lower their guards in case of a mishap.

Who knows if they lowered their guard and soon an earthquake shook the place and from cracks a monster appeared.

Sophia, Irina, Mac, and Cameron stood atop the wall, overlooking the bare battlefield with puzzled expressions. The once chaotic scene of battle was now eerily quiet, the absence of monsters marking the first time in years that they had not appeared.

"What's going on?" Cameron asked, his eyes scanning the barren ground. "This is the first time in years we've had no monsters show up."

Irina frowned, her gaze shifting from the empty battlefield to the darkening sky. "It's unsettling. Could they be regrouping, or is something else happening?"

Mac, arms crossed and with furrowing brows spoke in a solemn voice, "Whatever it is, it doesn't feel right. We should be prepared for anything."

"In such a situation, there is always calm before the storm.

Cameron nodded in agreement. "The calm before a storm, perhaps? Or some new tactic from the monsters?"

As the group continued to speculate, Irina and Sophia's eyes darted toward the sky. Dense clouds had gathered, swirling ominously, their presence adding to the atmosphere of unease.

"Do storms often happen here?"Irina asked, staring at Mac's expression.

"No, there hasn't been a storm. As for rain, as for the report, there hadn't been any since the last 10 years."

"Then, why are there dark clouds,'' Cameron spoke.

Gwen, Irina's daughter, sneezed unexpectedly. "The wind feels quite chilly today," she remarked, shivering slightly.

Sophia smiled and raising her hand touched her.

A soft fire flame bathed her."Thanks, Sister Sophia!"

While all of them conversed in deep, a figure walked towards them.

Just then, Elena appeared beside Sophia, her expression thoughtful. "Why don't you ask the shadow? Can't you communicate through shadows?"

Her sudden appearance startled everyone and they looked at her with deep curiosity.

Mac glanced at Elena and then at Leon's family. Elena or her company's job was to send resources along with weapons.

They would deliver and leave but she had been staying here and watching over it. She didn't engage in battle nor did she interfere.

Moreover, the situation always becomes tense since Sophia has appeared.

Sophia eyes Elena coldly, and asks "How did you know this?"

"I guessed. If he can control many people from afar, there ought to be a way to contact him in case of emergency after all he won't let others harm his close ones," Elena spoke blankly but Sophia felt that girl was feeling sour and jealous.

Irina turned to Elena, a spark of coldness shone in her eyes. "That's a good idea as the ghosts are low-level and can't contact him. Maybe in the future when they become stronger it might be possible."

In fact, they could contact him but Irina didn't want to reveal it.

"I see," Elena muttered with a mysterious gaze.

.......

Leon, sensing the looming threat, gripped his great sword tightly.

 He summoned all his strength, and a fierce burst of qi erupted from him. Dark, swirling energy coalesced around the tip of his sword, forming a powerful aura of darkness.

"Fuck!"

"This is really a pain in the ass."

 Leon leapt into the air, with his sword pointing towards the sky.

As he swung his blade towards the oncoming dragons, the dark energy from his sword crackled and surged with violent force.

The clash of his sword against the storm's fury was monumental, lighting up the place with a blinding explosion of dark and golden energy.

The dragons' roars echoed through the place as they descended down from the sky

As Leon leapt into the air, his sword was about to strike against the descending lightning dragon, a sudden shiver ran down his spine. A sharp, prickling sensation spread across his back, raising goosebumps in its wake. In that fleeting moment, his instincts screamed at him, warning of an immediate and dire threat.

With a quick, instinctive turn, Leon's eyes widened as he scanned the surroundings. The lightning strike seemed manageable, yet the real danger loomed behind him.

The transition from his focus on the tightening dragon to the new threat happened in less than a millisecond, a split-second decision driven by survival instincts.

"What is this?"He roared.

Behind him, the ground erupted as numerous sharp, tentacle-like appendages surged upward, their edges gleaming with a deadly sheen.

The grotesque strands of twisted and sharp tentacles shot out.

 Leon's heart raced as he recognized the immediate danger; he barely had time to react.

Just as he raised his great sword to defend himself, figures appeared in a blur of motion, Avelin, Terpas, Hella, Seeker, and several others.

[Leave, this matters to us.]

They charged into the fray towards the tentacles pulling out their own weapons and crashed onto the threat with the encroaching tentacles in a desperate attempt to shield Leon.

However....

SWOOSH!

Something went past them hefty.

The tentacles were not only sharp but also impossibly strong, slicing through any defenses with ease.

Despite the frantic efforts of his ghosts, the strands broke through and continued their relentless advance. Leon's sword moved in a swift, defensive arc, but the strands were too powerful.

In the next instant…

 A sharp pain erupted in Leon's side and blood trickled down from the lips.

At this moment, he looked up to see the lightning crashing into him and his expression distorted.

"Damn!It seems I fucked up."