The human camp that Steel had come across while on his way to the flesh storm was a rare insight on humans.
The structure of their camp was remarkable. It prevented any devil spawns to enter the boundary of the human camp . It was like an impenetrable shield of defence.
The shield isn't actually a real impenetrable shield though. No shield is strong enough to stop a devil spawn. It is just made in a way to let the humans know about the unwanted guests and then deal with it swiftly.
That's probably achieved with like cameras, movement detection and other type of tech to monitor the whole surrounding. But who knows, there could be other sets of defences placed in the camp. Steel isn't knowledgeable about the particulars.
It had some inspiration of elven tech design. Whatever Steel knows about elven technology form the random research articles that elves have made public. He can find a lot of similarities but also differences made by humans to improve or make it easier to use.
However, these technology is useless against him. For whatever reason, it is almost impossible to notice him by others in camera footage. Even the movement detection fails to identify him. But only if he won't start announcing his presence to the others and be cautious. His stealth ability isn't invincible but just a convenience.
There are humans that he had to be vary about. All of them is an individual who has unlocked their souls. These humans are usually known as perfected humans. Even though they have not perfected themselves. For a normal individuals, these people may as well be superhumans.
So in a way, Humans are dangerous than devil spawns. All because they're far smarter and vicious. Now add an unique ability that is tied to them. That is a recipe for disaster.
What if there is an individual who can see through his stealth. That would be the worst of all worlds for him.
So it is best to be on his absolute guard. He has made his choice so he has to deal with the consequences.
However, when he finally reached the human camp he found nobody. The camp and all the equipment are still here but there is no one is sight.
'that's strange. Could it be that all of them left to investigate further?'
It made sense as they are here to investigate something. He was hoping to find out what they could be investigating.
If he had to guess then it should be the flesh storm. But making a camp so far away didn't make sense. So he basically don't know.
As he walked into the camp with absolute caution. He search the place thoroughly, making sure to not leave any trace of him if they're just away in some emergency.
He even decided to get all the supplies that he needed. Some medicines, bandages, some useful dagger or survival knife and even some food for himself.
He was starving a little. Surviving only on the tasteless devil slug's meat for weeks is hard. Sadly his hunting has bare no fruits so all he has is that disgusting and useless Devil spawn.
In comparison to devil slug, the little food containers is hundred times better. He couldn't help but salivate in the mouth. He wanted to try is so bad. But right now, he doesn't have time so he better hurry up.
While he is gathering all the supplies. River watches through his eyes and asks.
[this is where you wanted to be?]
He replies.
[yeah. I needed supplies to survive the rest of our journey, unlike you. If I wouldn't die from my injuries than I would surely die form starvation.]
River doesn't need to worry about starvation and she isn't easy to hurt. She may as well also just be a sort of supply for Steel to carry around. She already is converted into a backpack by Steel so there isn't really much to argue.
So she grew silent and let Steel do his job.
During this whole plundering he hasn't lost his cautious nature. He is still keeping an eye out and his ear sharp. If he heard something then he would be able to react in time. Probably.
Soon enough, not more than after ten minutes. He is finally done with his plundering.
He doesn't have a huge bag of supplies. He only took the essentials. If he had a bag with an infinite amount of storage then maybe he would let his greed go rampant and take all. But for now, that's all he got.
Steel really found this whole event strange. it was just too easy. Wasn't there suppose to be some difficulty in this stealth point of this journey?
Whatever the case, he is glad to not encounter any humans. He was so afraid of them at the start.
But he is still curious. What happened and what were they even investigation in this place?
It would be best to leave but it wouldn't hurt to check things out, right? He would be careful. Also it could be some valuable information.
As Steel searches inside of the tents. He finds tents that belongs to the humans. There wasn't any difference about them. They were fairly normal and highly maintained.
Humans are so strange to Steel. He has interacted with them. But he still don't what to think of them.
Soon after searching few more tents, he finds the one he was looking for. A tent that is like a headquarter.
It had a map of the lower part of the East world. There were some marking on it but he failed to understand the meaning of them. The tent had few papers left alone on the chairs and a table with a detailed information about the devil spawns that are found in here.
"This is so useless. Every devil spawn is unique. I don't understand what's the point of making categories and trying to find a pattern."
He rolls his eyes and starting looking around.
He didn't find any grand secret. Just the info on devil spawns. Like their movement patterns, the locations of the most dangerous ones and few other things.
"are they looking for some devils spawn?"
He sighs.
All he did was wasted time. He still has no idea what are they looking for and what is the point of Searching for a devil spawn.
Steel has to leave now. but before that he peeps outside a little before leaving to check if something has changed. Hoping to not find Humans outside. He heard nobody but why not be cautious.
As he did his eyes widen with terror.
A endless blade that is like a mirror. It is floating above the human camp like a living creature with a will. Dozen of precisely cut human body parts, or the whole human bodies, were penetrated by the mirror blade.
Legs, arms, torsos, beheaded heads were decorated on the mirror blade in a macabre art. The blood dripped form above onto the ground.
He wanted to curse but he was petrified with what he saw. All he could do is fall backwards inside of the tent. Away form the Devil blade.