My Tribrid System: More than a Monster-Chapter 84: Captain Raze (1)

Chapter 82

It didn’t take long for the battered squad to reach the swirling vortex, located just a few dozen metres from where the brutal struggle with the Aberrant had unfolded.

Without a moment of hesitation, they leaped through the shimmering threshold one by one, their forms blurring and vanishing into the ethereal light until the very last person had stepped through.

Soon enough, they found themselves standing in the familiar, quiet forest where the gate had first manifested.

The heavy transport bus that had brought them here earlier was long gone.

They weren’t shocked or even particularly surprised; the driver’s priority was the safety of the hundreds of Aspirants who had successfully evacuated.

It was evident that the moment the others escaped the gate, the driver had been notified of the sudden threat and zoomed off, likely assuming anyone still left behind was already dead.

Two minutes later, the gate behind the squad began to warp and twist violently before snapping shut with a sharp, electrical buzz.

This sudden discharge startled Van and Chloe, causing them both to let out a loud yelp before they managed to regain their composure.

"So... what do we do now?" Kai asked, his voice weary as he stared at the wide expanse of forestry surrounding them.

The prospect of getting back to the Corps seemed daunting.

It had taken them nearly an hour to reach this location in a high-speed vehicle, and now, they were stranded.

The only viable option was to trek back on foot, but with their battered bodies and lingering injuries, that would easily take over an hour—perhaps much more.

Walking would undoubtedly worsen their conditions, a fact they were all painfully aware of as they stared blankly into the distance.

Nobody could find the energy to reply to Kai’s question, as no one had a definitive answer.

"So... are we just trapped here?" Chloe asked the question weighing on everyone’s mind, her voice beginning to shudder with fright.

The horrors that lay deep within the woods were unknown to them, making her fear entirely understandable.

"Not exactly," Trisha finally uttered, her gaze fixed firmly ahead. "I’m sure they must have alerted the Corps about the Aberrant by now. In turn, the Vanguard Order would have been notified.

Since it’s just a single threat, they wouldn’t send a massive force, but someone will be dispatched to investigate. We just have to remain in this spot until help arrives."

Ray furrowed his brows, his voice skeptical.

"... And how sure are you that help is actually coming?"

Trisha turned her head toward him.

She stared for several long moments, scanning him from head to toe with her ice-cold eyes.

It was clear she was playing back every detail of the incident involving Ray back in the portal.

A few seconds passed before she finally provided an answer.

"Help will arrive." Having said her piece, she fell silent again, returning her focus to the horizon.

"Welp. I can’t keep standing around," Kai grunted.

He scanned the immediate area until his eyes landed on a rock with a relatively flat surface.

Dragging his feet toward it, he plopped his ass down, grimacing in pain and sheer exhaustion.

The others remained standing in the same spot, a heavy silence hanging over the group for several minutes, broken only by the occasional nervous shuffle of Chloe’s feet.

During this time, Ray could feel the constant, heavy glances from the others. It was as if they were... scared of him?

In his mind, it made sense.

He had, after all, transformed into a literal monster right in front of their eyes.

However, one person’s gaze lingered far longer than the rest: Chloe’s.

This continued until Ray couldn’t take the scrutiny any longer.

"Okay. That’s enough staring. I’m not a monster."

"..."

There was a long moment of silence as the others, with the exception of Trisha, stared at him before letting out a collective, heavy sigh.

"No one called you a monster, Ray," Van uttered softly, shifting a bit closer to his friend in a show of support.

"Then why the constant stares?"

Kai stared at the boy for a few more moments before a small smile touched his lips. "I don’t know about the others, but I’m just fascinated by your ability to transform. That’s all."

’An ability? Is that what he thinks this is?’ Ray wondered internally, the weight of his secrets feeling heavier than ever.

"I don’t care what you are, Ray. You know I will always stick by you," Van began, his voice steady as he stared deep into the gray eyes of the Aspirant before him.

"... I’m just shocked by what I saw today. I have stayed by you for almost your whole life, yet I never knew you could do this."

"Neither did I," Ray mumbled beneath his breath, his gaze falling to his newly regenerated hands.

The truth was far more complex than a simple "ability," but now wasn’t the time for a lecture on his internal roommates.

Trisha, who had been silent, finally shifted. "I don’t care," she said, her voice cutting through the emotional tension like a blade.

"I absolutely don’t care whether you transform into a beast or a dragon. As long as you have the strength to take down an Aberrant and can hold your own ground, do whatever you want."

She paused, slowly tilting her head to glare deep into Ray’s eyes.

"... But be warned. If it turns out that you will become another threat like the Aberrants, I won’t hesitate to cut you down." She dragged out the last sentence, making sure every syllable emphasized her cold resolve.

Ray wasn’t the slightest bit frightened.

He glared back, his own determination hardening.

He wasn’t looking for approval, and he certainly wasn’t ready to prove himself to anyone.

His goal was the elimination of the Aberrants; if someone stood in his way, they were an obstacle.

But since Trisha shared that goal, he saw no reason to spark a feud—yet.

"We will talk about this better when we get to our dorm," Ray whispered, catching Van’s anxious glance from the corner of his eye.

Then—

The rhythmic, heavy thrum of blades spinning with immense momentum wafted into their ears, causing everyone to shield their eyes and look up.

High above the treeline, a heavy-duty helicarrier hovered, its massive frame dwarfing a standard helicopter.

The vehicle descended with a mechanical roar, the downdraft scattering dust and dried leaves in a violent whirlwind.

It touched down smoothly, the landing struts hissing as they took the weight.

The side door glided open with a pressurized hiss, and a figure stepped out.

The man was around 5’7", but he carried an aura that made him seem much taller.

He walked toward them with a measured, predatory calm.

His jet-black hair was cut into a short undercut, the top slicked back, though a few rebellious strands fell over his forehead.

His obsidian eyes were sharp and absolutely deadly as he scanned the bedraggled Aspirants.

He had high, sharp cheekbones and a small, jagged scar just beneath his lower lip.

He stopped exactly a metre away, his gaze drifting past them to the spot where the gate had been.

It was gone.

"Aspirants," he said.

His voice was calm and cold, but possessed an underlying firmness that demanded instant respect.

Kai, who had been resting on the rock, shot upright as if electrocuted.

The goofy, relaxed smile he usually wore vanished instantly, replaced by a mask of rigid military discipline.

He snapped his hand to his chest in a perfect salute with three fingers pressed tightly.

"Captain Raze!"