Guardians of The Damned

Chapter 5 - 'Tis time

"Really? Is that how you see it?" he asked, more rhetorical than curious. Then he added, "Why do you care how I treat them? What are you, their dad?"

"No, not really," I replied calmly. "I'm their comrade. We've done a few missions together. I just don't want to make this place more miserable than it already is."

"Then they should quit. This place isn't for snowflakes. It's for soldiers." He kept walking, and we followed behind him.

"You're right." I stopped defending them and changed the subject. "So, why did you call us here? If it's about the mission, why not tell us in the meeting room?"

"That's not a classroom—it's a meeting room. And why did I call you all?" He smirked. "I wanted to show you something."

We walked in silence until we reached a restricted door, only accessible with high-level clearance. Wo scanned his card, and the door opened with a sharp hiss. Inside, a table waited with four yellow pears laid neatly on it.

"Are those...?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Fruits of Advancement," he said. "They're your reward."

"I know what they are. But why us? Is there another mission? Something you're not telling us?" I asked, suspicion creeping in.

"You're sharp, Sunny. I like that. Yes—it's an S-rank mission. I want you to take down Vie and his team."

My brow furrowed. "What did he do? I know the guy."

"Who's Vie?" Goo Han chimed in.

"An Honor who manipulates gravity," I explained. "He's strong."

"And dangerous," Wo added. "We've been investigating him. Found children in his basement. We're not sure what he did to them, but we know it wasn't sexual abuse."

His tone hardened. "One of the children escaped... and caused the death of a family of four. Only one survivor. The child had powers—not from the Great Tree. Artificial."

We went quiet, taking in the weight of it.

I asked, "Is the child okay? What about the survivor?"

"The survivor's in therapy. Saw his family die in front of him. It hit him hard."

"What did the organization offer in compensation?"

"Money. Therapy sessions. That's all they can do. No legal action—unless we find solid proof against Vie."

"And the child?"

"He's in a coma. His organs ruptured after using the power, but he's healing. He'll need about two weeks."

"Just another abuse of power by the Honors. Nothing new," Eve muttered. But her tone shifted, voice low and dangerous. "But doing something that vile to children... they're dead. Wo, give me everything. I'll bring those bastards down."

Ginto added, "Vie isn't just another Honor. He's crucial in the fight to reclaim the surface. If we lose him, we lose a powerful weapon."

"Don't worry. That part's covered. All you need to do is sneak in, get the evidence, and get out."

Goo Han suddenly asked, "If you and Vie fought... who'd win?"

I shrugged. "I might get into some trouble."

"But would you win?"

"Maybe." I gave a lazy answer. Then a thought struck me. "Wait... I've heard this before."

Eve cut in, "Isn't this reward a bit too much for what you're asking? The Fruit of Advancement is worth more than our lives."

"My life is priceless," I quipped.

"You're right," Wo said. "The reward is too good to be true, but whatever Vie's doing is worse. Be careful."

"If there's nothing else, you're dismissed."

"Wait—why am I here?" Goo Han asked, confused. "I'm not on their level."

"You're Sunny's chain. To keep him grounded."

"I'm not William Butcher," I muttered, noticing Eve and Ginto both nodding in agreement.

"I'm not going to lose control and kill innocents."

"It's not them we're worried about," Eve replied.

---

The neighborhood was quiet. We sat inside a black van that smelled like nachos. No one spoke. Not from nerves—but because no one knew what to say.

"You nervous?" I asked Goo Han. This was his first real mission—not the usual lost pets or petty thief type.

"What if I screw it up? It's too sudden."

"You'll be fine. Just guard the entrance and let us know if Vie comes back."

"That's simple. I'll do my best," he nodded.

"Good." I patted his shoulder.

The van stopped. The driver slid open a hatch. "Ten minutes. That's all you've got."

Ginto opened the door first, the rest of us following.

We were a few meters away from Vie's house. I took a long drag from my vape and exhaled. The smoke spread outward, covering the area in a thick fog. Thanks to city tech that mimics weather, no one would suspect a thing.

We snuck into the backyard. Bodyguards patrolled the area.

"Are you sure this is the place? It looks like a mansion," I said, squinting.

"That's not it." Eve grabbed my head and turned it. "That's his old house."

There was a simple wooden house next to the massive mansion.

"Why both?"

"He didn't want to tear down the old one. It has childhood memories. The mansion's just for show."

"I'm impressed," I said. "You really did your homework."

"Of course. So what's the plan?"

"I'll deal with the guards. You and Ginto get the evidence. Goo Han, you guard the entrance and keep watch."

"Understood."

"Let's move."

I puffed another cloud and shaped it into a staircase, floating over the electric fence. We jumped down inside. Eve and Ginto headed toward the house. I casually walked toward the guards. Goo Han stayed back, knowing he couldn't help in a fight.

One guard spotted me and raised an alert. Guns lifted, flashlights shining.

"Hands on your knees! Stop walking! Private property!"

"Easy, fellas." I raised my hands, unarmed.

They approached, weapons still drawn. One looked closer and recognized me.

"You're Sunny... F***! We've been compromised!"

He fired.

The staircase of smoke snapped to life, racing back to me and forming a solid wall. It wrapped around me like a shell.

More bullets came, but they were worthless. They hit the smoke and dropped uselessly to the ground.

I didn't let them reload.

The smoky barrier morphed into jagged spikes and lashed out—impaling the guards like they were made of paper. I waited as their bodies writhed, then stilled.

When it was done, the smoke shrank into a small cloud at my side.

The ground was slick with blood. Ten bodies, each with gaping wounds.

I stared at them with a blank expression, then turned back toward the wooden house.

Goo Han quietly walked beside me.

He didn't say a word.

It felt... wrong.