CHAPTER 355: 355-THE MAINLAND MONSTER

Clementine:

We had been asked to follow the ringleaders without wearing uniforms this time.

We were told to wear anything comfortable so it would be easier for us to stand in front of the South people and also to fight the monster.

I decided to wear simple black pants and a white shirt. I tied my hair into a high ponytail.

The others chose similar clothing. It had suddenly become extremely cold.

I wondered when summer would arrive. Every time we believed summer was close, we ended up disappointed.

I could tell the world was changing, but only for the worse.

As soon as we stepped toward the road with large umbrellas over our heads that could barely withstand the pressure of the wind, I noticed another car appear and wondered if the black squad was also being taken to the location.

"Come on, step inside," Ms. Lenora urged as she pushed me from behind when she noticed I had been taking too much time and focusing on the black squad instead.

Once we all settled in the car, I saw through the mirror that the black squad had arrived.

They started to climb inside their vehicle, and Ian turned his face toward our car briefly before he stepped in as well.

"So now we are going to fight the monsters and criminals here in the mainland too?" Mira complained as we sat together in the SUV.

"Clementine, you always take a stand for right and wrong. Why did you not say anything this time?" Renee asked me, sounding curious rather than judgmental.

"Because I want to know what is going on," I replied, letting them know I would have never agreed so easily.

It had never been our job to fight the monsters of the mainland as well.

But I accepted because I wanted to understand how a monster had appeared in the mainland.

I also knew Ms. Lenora would use the excuse that everyone from the crusader team was expected to fight monsters wherever they were found.

The drive to the South felt longer than usual. Of course it did, because we were stuck in a storm and hail several times.

When we finally arrived near the border, our SUV stopped. I struggled to open the door against the wind before stepping outside.

The others followed me. The cold wind hit my face at once. The umbrellas we carried flew away the moment we tried to hold them.

The sky looked dark with heavy clouds forming above us.

I took a slow breath while observing the weather and looking around.

The rain had already made the ground very wet, and the smell of damp soil filled the air.

People were still running out of their houses. Some held their children while others dragged bags across the muddy road.

They were probably trying to save whatever they could before leaving the houses they had lived in for years, afraid that the flood would strike them.

Their voices filled the area as they shouted for help and called for the council to send someone.

The water near the edge of the village had risen enough to touch the wooden steps of the lower homes. Many women ran around with panic clear on their faces.

"I do not want to imagine leaving my home like that someday," Renee complained, sadness covering her voice.

"Well, we did leave our home once in the worst way," Joshua remarked, and I took a deep breath.

The pack members running from their homes suddenly stopped when their eyes landed on me. One of the women pointed straight at me.

"Is this the group from the academy? What are they called?" she wondered while looking around.

A little girl with two ponytails yelled,

"Crusaders! They are the Crusaders! They are here! They will save us!"

Everyone began to look hopeful, and the pressure on us grew heavier. The rain was getting stronger too.

"Look, there is that red haired girl with curly hair. She knows how to fight the monsters. She will save us!" another woman shouted, pointing at me.

There was relief in her voice, almost as if she believed everything would be fine now.

So far we had fought monsters that came from the sky or lived on the earth.

However, I had never fought a monster that came from a water body like this.

We all began to walk forward, Joshua beside me while the other three followed behind us.

He kept his arms close to his body as he stepped over the muddy ground.

He looked very focused, and I was glad he was trying to be helpful instead of being his usual cocky self.

He also seemed more stern toward me than anyone else. Our relationship had always stayed somewhere between irritation and cooperation.

Even so, we worked well together, at least in the way I saw it.

"We need to find the source," Joshua remarked while scanning the area. We were now drenched from the rain.

"I know," I replied while adjusting my grip on the sword the ringleaders had given us.

This time they had provided plenty of weapons, but we chose sharp objects instead of guns because we were not sure if we would be able to aim into the water with a gun.

The alpha of the pack noticed us and approached, pointing toward the far side of the village.

"There is a river that runs along the outer border. It is not usually this strong, but today it has turned loud and violent. The water is smashing against the rocks and spilling onto the land," he explained, looking so worried that the frown on his face looked fixed.

"Got it. We will go there then," I responded while gesturing for my squad to turn around and move.

Another car appeared, and I noticed the black squad stepping out of it.

Before I could think about walking toward them, Joshua wagged his finger at me.

"There is no time for such interaction, Clementine," he hissed, making me clench my jaw.