LOGINShare
Chapter 6: Old Dogs Cannot be Taught
publish date:
2020-09-07 16:52:33Jakob rested his back on a tree while the rain pours down. His helmet has cracks, and the plate on his armor fractured. A meter away from him was the 10m belua he hunted, and alongside the belua was the spawns of belua that tried to rush him.
His six-shooter laid inches away. Cutter sword shattered like shards of glasses on the grassy floor. His grappler stake is attached to the 10m belua's neck. He turned his device on and saw that his canisters and battery pack were empty.
He encountered a 10m belua and a horde. He couldn't avoid the stake that almost took his chest. The plating around his chest saved him, but it caused a concussion.
"What the hell," Jakob could tell his injuries were regenerating.
He couldn't believe that this was happening to him. Fate should have sent someone other than him who was despondent. Standing up, he saw a trekker flying past the forest.
"Are the Recon Corps back?"
He saw more of these zipped past him. The rain didn't let out. It kept on running on the side, wetting grass, concrete, and dripping on the ruins.
"I should start collecting," Jakob said.
He first collected the 10m belua's head. Then he took the rest of the head and stuffed them inside a rucksack. He tied the 10m belua head on his back and limped his way back to the sanctum. Along the way, he encountered belua's that smelled the heads he collected.
He took a belua out using the same method he used when he runs out of bullets or shatter his cutter sword.
He used his grappler stake like a whip, and knock the enemy down. Tacking the belua, he wrapped his lightweight exosuit supported arms around the belua's neck.
After crushing the belua's neck, he continued trekking the wetlands until he reached the lines. He held on to his spoils as the line carried him back to the sanctum.
When he took a step, eyes gathered around him. How could he not when he was limping while carrying a 10m belua's head on his back and a rucksack filled with 2-5m belua's? Add up that his appearance looked pitiful. He was leaking blood slowly, and although his regeneration mended him, it wasn't working well if he does not take a rest or didn't move.
"Um," Misha eyed him. "You okay?"
Jakob looked up. "I am. Is the transaction done?"
"In a minute," she said slowly. "You've been hunting hordes, Jakob."
"Hmm," Jakob nodded, leaning on the counter. "Would it possible if I patched myself up?"
"I didn't mean to stop you," Misha said. "The credits will be sent to your account."
Jakob didn't say anything and went to the clinic. Inside, he found the wizened doctor name Rod who was performing a suture. After the stitching, he turned his eyes to the limping Jakob.
"Here again, Jakob?"
"Doc," Jakob sat on a stool."
"Bad limp," he inspected his wounds. "You've been doing this for two straight days. Why not rest?"
"I'll rest when I am dead, Doc."
"Then don't expect treatment from me," Doctor Rod said. "Bah, come here, what are the specifics of your regeneration ability?"
"Rest, and it should work well."
"Passive type, and not the active type," Doctor Rod produced a serum. "Your body's a strong, no body fat, and your bones, hmm, must have been a tough belua."
"10m belua."
"Your insane, and the number?"
"A two-horde."
"And you are alive."
Jakob nodded. He let the Doctor fixed his leg and allowed him to inject the serum. The serum shot in him made him tensed up. The sensation felt like his inner flesh being stretch and burned repeatedly.
He spat out blood on the basin provided by the Doctor. Jakob felt unfortunate to have the regeneration ability. For someone with a death wish, it only means a way for him to survive.
"You look pained in the heart," Doctor Rod said. "Dona, she might not be the prettiest, but she's a good girl."
"Did you do her, Doc?"
Doctor Rod narrowed his eyes. "No."
"Then, why say something like that?"
"Just noticed how she rarely comes for medicine now. She's even eating perfectly fine now."
Jakob didn't say anything. He let the Doctor cure him and then sat silently on the side of the clinic without any noise. He watched the glass window fogged from the water and wind.
It was then that he took notice of the alert that came from his device.
"Recon Corps has gathered," Doctor Rod said, tapping on the device he had as well. "Looks like the outskirt missions have been well."
Jakob's expression didn't change. He waited for his wounds to heal, and it took five hours for the serious ones to recuperate. He looked pathetic, and even the patients coming in looked at him warily.
With his light exosuit's plating broken, and weapons useless. He had to go to the mechanics again for some repairs and items. He earned a lot, and yet for a person who had a death wish. He's planning to get protection.
Leaving the clinic, he sauntered on the metal halls when he saw the commotion in the sanctum. Filled with the Recon Corps and the Outriders that had attached themselves to the Corps, Jakob thought back to the last days again.
Shaking his head, he eyed the woman standing alongside her teammates. Miss Mei Ya was acquainted and was with her teammates now, and he wasn't surprised by this. Fate will happen, and although he didn't know what was going to happen to him, he knew that someone like him wouldn't be able to change.
He had grown old watching the world burn before him. How could an old dog force back into a young body still be taught? Throughout the years, Jakob had realized his limits already. He knows where he stands in the cruel world already.
Jakob frowned, even in this world, he didn't dare to climb near that mountain flower. Prancing away, he went to the mechanics to have his equipment repaired, not knowing of the eyes that took a glance at him.
Latest chapter
The Outrider Chapter 49: Unspoken Words
The orbs of light hanging on the circular tower not far from where he was lighted Jakob's face. The veil of rain splits the lights. On the community, there was a group of people opening the hatches so that the floodwater whirls down the drain. From the second-floors of the buildings, there were men and women dressed in thick gray clothing.Jakob rested his back on the bench. He looked up. The flyers of Aured City numbered about hundreds a day. The city consumed fuel than any of the bastion cities. He had been ignorant of the world. Jakob did not have to know about the city. All he knows back then was how to survive a day outside of the city.Jakob clenched his fist. He had done something to change something. He did not know what it was that made things turned out this way, but he could not understand the empty feeling. The feelings he had while in battle were like momentary and fleeting."I really cannot do it," Jakob said. The rainwater was like spray hitting h
The Outrider Chapter 48: Blues
Jakob stood behind Helga. She wore a sharp business suit with a red tie. She had gloved her hands and tied her hair into a ponytail. She spoke to a man armed to the teeth. Though he looked intimidating, Helga did not show any stiffness or being overwhelmed. How could he, when Jakob was standing behind her with such an expression?The two talked for minutes. Helga shook the armored hand of the man and started strutting to the pad. The Karnifex was on the landing pad. Helga stood. She took out a cigarette from her pocket, lighting it up. She looked up at the Aured Sky."Just a drizzle of rain," Helga said.Jakob folded his armored arms. Helga snickered."You are getting used to that suit.""Hard to take it off when it seems like you are making use of me too much.""Can't help it, you are a good at what you do. Also, the Boss wants to personally make sure that my safety is secured."Jakob surveyed the area. The personnel from the buildin
The Outrider Chapter 47: A Moment For Dona
Dona liked to mix drinks. She had become a better mixer than ever. It seems she had a natural talent. Helga had praised her drink, and when Jakob comes home, she would give him a stiff one that would ease his muscles. They had not done it for a long time, though she did not mind it. He was always full of thoughts and his mind would wander.Not that it matters to her as long as he comes home safe from his missions. He had become one of the terrifying people that Haven knew after his recent works, which made him quite an important person. Just by association, they treated her with respect. Dona knows she was riding on his coattails. It did not bother her that there are those who would call her hurtful words.Jakob was not someone who was a restricting person. For someone who started the relationship with cash, he was someone who did not bother too much about it. He was not a wasteful man. He was thrifty, and he liked to eat nutritional food with fondness. He acts like an
The Outrider Chapter 46: A Different Route
The event definitely took the attention of the people to the fields of Gharasu. The discovery of the cattle-human, and the appearance of the beluaman showed the world who the true enemy was again. They discovered the steelfort project hidden from Humanity. Leaders gathered to address the issue regarding the Project.Commander Stan Blackwells, accompanied by Anastasia and Karl arrived in the conference of leaders. Karl, the holder of the access key to the satellites around the world announced that he is siding with the Commander of Recon Korp. The move alongside the appearance of Commander Blackwell, supported by both human and etherian made the Leaders accept Commander Blackwells' status as one of the protectors of Aured City.As for where Sanctum and Haven stands in the issue, they answered by showing their neutrality in the matter. The first request that Karl made was to take back Gharasu and the steelfort. The government moved to prove that they are accommodating. T
The Outrider Chapter 45: A Change of Path
[System switching to backup power][Warning][Exceeding below the fifty-percent damage threshold][Activating life support systems][Warning][Deactivating heads-up display][Exhausting heat][Warning]Jakob swings the greatsword at the beluaman. The beluaman raises the ground, forcing Jakob to use the grappler stake to swing around the beluaman's attack, using the momentum created by the weight of the greatsword to hasten the swing. He turns around to smash the greatsword down on a 15m belua."Still alive, J," Helga called, "you are making Dona worry.""Got to buy time, Hel," Jakob flattened the greatsword to block a root spire. He grappled on the 15m belua, threw the greatsword, caught it, and pummeled a belua pouncing at him. Landing on top of a belua, he stabbed the greatsword's tip."Your suit is a mess," Helga said, "the amount of repairs it'll need is going to cost you. Nonetheless, the ether forge,
The Outrider Chapter 44: Blackwells and Anastasia 2
Her opinion towards humans were low. Anastasia will not work with these humans if she had the chance to do so. Blackwells changed her opinions of them. This time she had to admit. Humans were not as inferior as she thought. Their technology were keeping them alive. Even their medicine and drugs have started evolving. The suit this Outrider was wearing and the ability to lift her Blackwell's sword was enough to indicate.Still, it was odd in a sense that she did not see the usual side effects. He did not even take the usual syringes that one would take. Her and her Blackwells have been part of the many meetings and experiments. They share the burden of turning their fellow etherians into good soldiers.Therefore, she did not recognize any signs of modification other than the well-made exosuit. Deep in the swamp, hit by the rain, and surrounded. Anastasia kept her calm while pulling her Blackwells away. Blackwells conserved his energy. His eyes lacked light. There is an
