Many of the draftees fidgeted in discomfort upon seeing the dark berserker. Besides the group that had seen no combat at all, they all faced the regular berserkers and just that had been enough to nearly kill them all.
Nero was the only exception who had faced multiple of them head on, and Arter was the only one who killed one with a single hit. But those were extreme exceptions. They could not even imagine what this dark monstrosity was capable of if it was considered even more dangerous.
"Specimen B is not nearly as physically strong as Specimen A, as you can probably see from its physique. However, Specimen B is much faster, and much more agile. Its body lacks the same defensive capabilities as Specimen A, but it heals just as fast, and has displayed remarkable resistance to most lethal poisons. Its natural bone armour is also very difficult to break.
Yet, by far, the thing that makes it most dangerous is none of these. Rather it is its intelligence.
"Specimen A displays the ability to learn, which means that if exposed to the same tactics for an extended period it will eventually adjust accordingly. But Specimen B actively displays strategies and tactics in its fights, and knows how to target the weakest or most effective point.
"Its neck and head are its weakest points, but due to its speed it's much harder to target it with the same card as Specimen A. We have not been able to come up with an effective solution against Specimen B yet, but a number of terrain alteration cards and diminution cards will be made available to you to pick from. Slowing it down is the most effective way to fight against it so far."
Nero raised his hand before the soldier could continue.
"What is it? Speak up, no need to raise your hand. We're on a time rush."
"Is Specimen B as immune to elemental attacks and effects as Specimen A?"
His blue flame's effect was used up eliminating the cursed energy of the regular berserkers, but on the off chance that the dark berserkers weren't leaking cursed energy, the drop in temperature might affect it.
"No, resisting elemental effects is a trait of Specimen A's tough skin. So if you manage to hit them with an elemental attack they will suffer the damage, but hitting it is the tough part. You need to keep that in mind. Facing both the Specimens you should take extreme care as they are highly lethal. But fortunately for all of us, the number of Specimen B compared to Specimen A are very few."
Then the soldier changed the picture again, this time displaying an image of a quadruped monster that looked like a miniature tiger, but it also had wings. It was a very literal interpretation of the expression putting wings on a tiger.
"These are another type of monster commonly found in the research facility. They have been titled Corrupted Mutt, or just Mutt for short. They are much more common than both other types of monsters and make up most of the numbers. Other than having high numbers and being slightly quick, they don't have any other significant features."
The soldier changed the picture once more, and showed a couple of pictures, one of a yellowish barrier of light, and another one that looked like a strange gun sticking out of the wall.
"This barrier and turret are something you have to be extremely wary of. Unless you have sufficient permissions and authority within the research facility, you will be attacked by them if you come close. The turret is not something you as a Neophyte can face, and the barrier will directly immobilise you if you try to cross it.
"Ordinarily, we would escort you to get you entered into the research facilities database first, but the only entry point we've discovered so far is above ground and taking you there is extremely dangerous. We still haven't secured the above ground floors. That means there is no safe way for you to cross the turret or the barrier so don't try.
If you're exploring the basement and come across these, mark it as a dead end and continue down a different path. You will be given cards to help create markers so that everyone else exploring can avoid dead ends as well."
Their briefing continued for a short while, covering some of the basics of what to expect in the research facility, before someone else came in with a case of cards and began handing some out.
Nero read the card and was impressed at the fact that the army had so quickly found a way to handle berserkers.
Name: Thunderous Clap
Image: A gust of air shooting out of a palm
Type: Force
Star rank: 0
Ability: [Shoot out a powerful penetrative force from your hand, effective up to 1 metre.]
Flavour text: "History will not remember the monsters we slayed, only that we won," - Morpheus Kade
Nero took three of these cards, adding two to his card case and replacing Dark-vision in his armour with this one. The condition of the city was well enough that it was unlikely that he would be faced with darkness, but even if he was, he could find the card from his case.
He did not end up replacing any other card, or taking any of the diminutive cards for facing against the dark berserkers since he didn't want to replace too many of his own cards.
Remi and Wendy took over that responsibility. Considering that Wendy's venom would not be effective against most of the enemies they were about to fight, she needed another way to contribute anyway.
Then, when they were ready, they got up to follow one of the soldiers to their entrance point. One of the draftees, the one that had fainted before and was a part of Pipo's team, started crying and hyperventilating, before he suddenly ran off in the opposite direction. The sudden change froze the others, and especially affected Aloe, Harold and the other researchers.
They were not combatants and were not expected to fight, but they could still contribute to this massive research facility just based on their knowledge of the Eldrim.
Yet that didn't change the fact that being sent into an active combat zone had them literally trembling.
"He lost a couple of partners to a Specimen A," Nero suddenly said to one of the soldiers watching the draftee run away. "I think he isn't over the mental trauma of it."
The reason Nero was explaining was because he did not want desertion charges to be slapped onto the draftee who had run away.
Desertion in Kolar, especially during times of war, was highly frowned upon.
But the soldier only shook his head and continued to lead them. What would happen to the kid who ran away was unknown.
"There is more than one entrance to the basement. We're leading you to the one that was taken by the team in need of backup. But remain vigilant. Just because the path has been taken before does not mean it's safe. The research facility is massive and we have not mapped it all out yet, or secured much ground.
That means that as you venture deeper, there is a chance you can also get attacked from your back."
"Other than the monsters, you haven't mentioned curses. What's the curse situation down there? Should we expect to face some?"
The soldier looked back at Nero.
"Let me give you a piece of advice that will stay valid for as long as you live. Always expect to face curses."
With that ominous warning, they were finally brought into the research facility, which had a considerably different interior from the cathedral. In fact, with its plain walls and standard tiles throughout, it looked exactly like what Nero expected a research facility to look like.
Dozens of guards were stationed at the entrance, and the heavy security continued deeper into the facility, but their presence didn't make anyone actually feel secure.
Every few seconds the building trembled ever so slightly under the force of a fight going on somewhere up ahead, and even here distant screams could be heard.
Nero looked at Leonard and nodded, signalling that he was looking forward to working with him. Despite their earlier fight, Leonard seemed to hold no grudge. Arter, on the other hand, only glared at Nero.
Soon, they were brought to a stairwell, and that's when their escort stopped.
"I hope you've memorised the way, because this place is like a maze."
One of Leonard's teammates pulled out his hand and a projection of the map they were supposed to follow appeared floating above his palm.
"We've got it."
"Then hurry. They're waiting for backup."
Nero's expression turned solemn once more as he began to descend the stairs, once more entering the fog that prevailed in the lower levels of Lumina. Compared to what they were about to face, the cathedral had been a mere warm up. He couldn't afford to fail.