Chereads / Mana Unleashed Evolved / Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Echo (3)

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Echo (3)

Suddenly, a ringing sound roared in Reiner's ears closely followed by a burst of a burning bright light. It was the kind of brightness that shreds and sears through your retinas forcing you let out a scream of pain and curse the wretched light. A light that made you feel as if you had gazed upon the sun for hours on end and you were now feeling the results for your pain-staking stupidity.

A sense of dread welled up inside Reiner as he laid on the floor in anguish. As the ringing died down he could faintly hear the sobs and whines of other children around him, however, at that point an overwhelming wave of fatigue brushed over him and he drifted off into a deep slumber almost immediately losing consciousness.

BANG

BANG

BANG

A series of obnoxiously loud noises awoke Reiner, as his eyes began to adjust to the surroundings he realised immediately he was no longer in in Westminster and began to ponder upon what had happened. He concluded that where ever he now was, was likely due to the explosion that happened earlier.

BANG

BANG

Those obnoxious bangs had resumed immediately interrupting his train of thoughts. He slowly glanced upon his surroundings he was encased in a small oak wooden cabin room. The entire room was bare and simple besides a small mattress which he had just woken up on. Directly opposite him was a huge steel door- it was a door but it more closely resembled the entrance to a bank vault. The banging was emanating from there. Reiner slowly stepped towards the huge steel door and called out.

"Hello?" Reiner shouted at the top of his lungs hoping for a response from someone who could shed some light on the situation at hand.

The banging immediately ceased but no reply came.

"Hello?!" Reiner cried this time in a more worried tone.

There was still no response but at that very moment a series of loud metallic clinks and clanks resounded through the small cabin.

The massive door slowly began to slide open to reveal an enormous grand tree which stood majestically reaching towards the skies piercing through the clouds as if trying to surmount the entire universe. It exuberated a sense of natural pureness and serenity yet still giving of an aura of power and control.

Surrounding the grand tree were 7 awe-inspiring mountains each as mystical as each other, as Reiner was admiring the scenery before him. He realised something, why was he so calm? Though he was vastly more mature than the average 6-year-old due to his unfortunate circumstances he still should have reacted to what had just happened. Why was he just accepting his newfound circumstances so lightly and how did he even get here?

Reiner could feel something sinister in the works, again he looked around him this time in an attempt to ascertain where the banging had been coming from. As he looked around he could not find anything what so ever besides the luscious scenery he could not find any signs of life but then a monotone voice sounded through his head.

Temp world sync

Stand by…

Entities loaded pocket realm synchronised

Out of seemingly no where the entire landscape was filled with children, teenagers, demonic beasts and a massive ogre like Viking appeared standing next to Reiner.

"FOLLOW ME, MAGGOT" Roared the Viking.

"Where am…" Reiner attempted to enquire before being quickly interrupted.

"SHUT YER STINKIN' TRAP AND FOLLOW I DON'T WANNA EAR ANUTHER SOUND FROM YE" The Viking shouted in a sort of broken English that must've sounded perfectly normal to him.

Timidly Reiner followed the disgruntled, old ogre like Viking- keeping perfectly silent in an attempt to appease his rage. As they followed the muddy worn-down path making their way towards the huge tree. After what Reiner measured to be 30 minutes though he had no way of checking, so he could not be certain, they seemed to have reached a plateau close to the base of the tree. Now that he was up close he could see that the base of the tree carried a thick stench of blood and skeletons littered the floor surrounding the roots. An icy wind blew around the tree as the Viking drew near even he seemed to hesitate but with a solemn face he spoke.

"Walk forward 10 meters and say the following words 'escalier ouvert' and go down the staircase that will be revealed to you there you will meet the rest of the new initiates to camp C666"

Reiner though confused followed the ogre like Vikings instructions with haste in fear of being stomped to death by him for being too slow. He swiftly marched forward to the specified spot and uttered the phrase mentioned by the Viking and sure enough a stair case revealed itself. He stepped down the staircase slowly and eventually began to see the bottom of the stair case.

At the bottom of the stair case was a dimly lit hall furnished with a series of long tables and dimly lit by floating orbs of light magic. All the seats were full by the children he had been with before he had lost consciousness. There was one older boy who prompted Reiner to sit on the empty chair, Reiner followed the instructions and sat down.

Abruptly, an archaic, creaky voice began to speak slowly "Welcome to Camp C-666 you are all here today as we are unable to ascertain which one of you children the 'fallen ones' were after. The fallen ones interrupted the awakening ceremony and we believe their target was one of you. They dispatched 3 evolution grade Ifrits, a grand sage and a namikaze, London has fallen, everyone within was obliterated. If not for the quick actions from team zodiac incapacitating all of you and teleporting you all to this pocket dimension in the northern wasteland you would all be dead too. You should be thankful"

This news shocked everyone in the hall some of the children began to weep and despair upon the realisation that their whole families had passed away and they were alone. To Reiner this news had little to no impact he was already alone, he always had been since the passing of his grandfather.

The archaic voice began to continue "You will now be raised and trained in our facility. This pocket realm was created through the collaboration of a French druid and several Great saints. You now all have 2 options: your first option is a serum will be place before you it is a random mix of DNA from wandering beasts in the northern wasteland you can choose to inject yourself with it and become an evolver you will then be induced into the Demonic control sect where you will learn to cultivate and in time become a good lap dog for the world government and either be sent to fight in celestial battles or serve in the front lines against the 'fallen ones'. Your second option is we kill you and extract your blood line essence and abilities and give them to someone more useful. You have 10 seconds to decide if you have not decided in those 10 seconds we will assume you have chosen the second option."

A new monotone voice began to echo out

"10" – some children began to cry

"9" – some children began to question whether it was real

"8" – half of the crying children were shot in the head

"7" – some children began to inject themselves

"6" – the rest of the children swiftly joined them

"5" – all the children had injected themselves

"4" – silence encompassed the hall the rest of the crying children bit their lips to keep silent

"3" – no change

"2" – no change

"1" – Reiner injects himself.

The dreadful archaic voice rang out once again this time a hint of joy could be heard in his tone

"You are the fifth wave of children to be induced to this camp you will now be collectively known as wave Echo. The fun will now begin…"