"Sorry, I didn't mean my tone earlier. I just remembered all the deaths of my comrades so far. I guess I'm having PTSD, I've been insecure about being helpless ever since the incident where we experience ambush from the rebels. It resurface again after I saw how you guys could handle yourselves while me, a soldier, which has the responsibility of protecting the citizens, couldn't even do a single thing aside from watching you."
He said while looking away from me.
If I were in his position I would probably feel the same. How would you feel when your job that you studied and practice for several years and risked life on would be taken by civilians in just one day and perform even better than you?
You would surely curse the world. However he couldn't blame it on us since we received it out of nowhere and we are also clearly using our power to help.
His insecurity remind me of the time when my crush, which we are technically in a talking stage, decided to abandon me for a girl. I did blame the world that time for being born as a guy and not a girl instead.
"It's fine, I understand. I have a spell that could seal specific memories, do you want me to seal your memories for those certain events? However it will make you weaker, after all, those instances which you fought with your life on the line, contributed to who you are right now." I suggest.
"I guess I need to overcome my insecurity and grow as a person along with those experience. But after I retired and wanted to settle down, could you please do that for me?"
"Oh sure, just ask me by that time."
Silence followed after that. No one talks, we only wait for them to arrive.
Minutes later we could hear some foot steps.
"Let's all exit now. I still need to retrieve the bodies of the fallen and repair the damages outside as well."
"You could even do that?" Someone said and I just nodded and exited the gate first.
I immediately used my detection ability to detect all fallen individuals including monster carcasses in the surroundings.
I wrapped all of them on my mana and float them all to where I am. It's a basic mana control that is not even in the category of magic, and could easily resist even by normal individual as long as they are alive and conscious.
"Such a wide range magic. My spells, though long range, couldn't even reach what you can. Aside from that, your mana is still plenty. You are very easy to notice because of your radiating mana." Our fire mage commented which made me curious.
"Oh, you could detect my energy as well? Are the other awakened the same?" I asked .
"Yes, we could easily tell that you are the strongest one here even if you won't show us your skills." Our tank said.
"Your mana is even denser than the hydra we fought, it feels like you are on a different category." Frizel, also commented.
"I see, I guess all other awakened will be able to tell who's stronger at a glance. By the way stop referring to me as the strongest, you are putting unnecessary pressure on me. I almost got eaten by the snake earlier and burned to death as well. Although my spells are strong and could easily kill someone, but if something fast and undetectable came into my way, I'll definitely die before I could even perform a single spell."
I said.
"We are all the same. But you couldn't really blame us if we refer to you as a strongest. It's feels like it is imbedded on our instincts not to antagonize you." Our assassin said.
"You are just exaggerating things."
"Of course we're not." They really have to reply all at the same time together.
Maybe I haven't feel the same way as them because I have yet to see a person that has a lot of mana than my self.
I probably have those instincts that they were saying as well since I couldn't feel a sense of threat from them even after they show me what they can do, which is impossible if you think of it in a normal person perspective.
Dead monster are piling up infront of me while I lined up the human casualties on the side. I then begun to transfer them all to my pocket world. Leaving nothing here.
"Please report that instincts you were saying earlier when we return." A soldier ask someone from the awakened. I didn't know who he was talking to since they are on my back.
They probably thought that the job is over after seeing all the dead vanish.
I look back and saw that the gate is no longer there. All of them saw my expression and look back as well and they notice that the dungeon if finally gone.
"We manage to close it." Our summoner happily said. And everyone has a happy expression in their faces.
"I still need to repair the damages here. So please wait a moment."
I begun to use my detection skill to know the radius of the damage area and after confirming it I release ton of my mana to it and begun chanting.
--Time Journey --
The houses that has been burned returned to their old self and even the military trucks and equipments even their tents returned to what they where before as well. The entire place returned to the fortified one with only soldiers missing.
"What an amazing ability."
"You never cease to amaze me"
Everyone started praising me after restoring everything that has been damaged in the entire city.
"I've detected several living people who didn't evacuate the city. They even numbered more than a thousand. These people really are a pain in the butt." I said.
"Well, there really are people like that. There's nothing we could do about it." A soldier replied.
"I guess that's true. Let's return to Esperanza now, it's night already and I'm getting hungry." I said and everyone agreed.
We then heard choppers coming our way it seems like they are here to investigate if we succeed or not.
"Let's announce our victory ourselves. Teleport."
We teleport and arrived to the tent in which the Mayor and Lieutenant along with other high level officials are gathered.
They all look shocked a little at our sudden arrival.
"We succeeded." I declared and everyone cheered.
"Thank you for your hard work everyone." The Mayor said.
"Yes yes, I'll announce to the people now that the entire Bayugan City is safe." I said and manipulate my mana ang perform basic but huge projection spell in the sky, showing me and the others in the room.
"Good evening citizens of Bayugan City. We finally manage to close the dungeon gate and eliminate all the monsters that manage come out from it. I hereby declare that Bayugan City is now safe. You can now return to your home."
I announce and wave at them before stoping the magic.
"Your success save the Bayugan City. Thank you for all of you who participated." The mayor bowed this time.
"It's fine It's fine. So please stop that. By the way, I have with me all the casualties during the monster breakout as well as the bodies of the monsters. How should I deal with it?"
I said and the Lieutenant immediately look our way.
"You have all the dead? We will return the civilian's to their family and hold funeral for our heroes before delivering them back to their families. About the monster's can you surrender them to us?"
"I'll only give you some but I want to keep the majority of them. I needed them for magical research purposes."
I said and the soldiers are looking at each other giving eye signals and it seems like they agreed onto something.
"Yes, we will be fine with that. I will call people now to help deal with the casualties. Could you please put them at the court." He said and I nodded and walk out immediately.
While walking I could even heard the Lieutenant commanding someone before asking Clark for report.
As I walk someone approach me.
"Hello, are you Mr.Archie? The awakened who deal against monsters who come out from the gate in Bayugan City. Could we ask you for an interview?"
A female reporter along with a camera man asked me.
"Uhmm you see I still have things to do." I said but she suddenly got closer to me.
"What is it? Are you performing magic? Could we see it?" She asks.
"Ughmm... You see, I retrieve all the casualties we have in Bayugan City. The Lieutenant ask me to place them here at the court." I replied hesitantly.
"Oh, could we see it? could we record it?"
"Ughmm... Actually I don't know if it's ok."
"It will be fine, we were just going to record it and cut some scene to include on our news. We will just request an interview for you later on when you are not busy, please agree to be interviewed by me."
"Well ok,if you are being polite and considerate like this then I guess i couldn't say no."
She then smile happily.
It seems like being a reporter is a though job as well.
They put up their camera and start recording.
I then immediately use my skill and line up all the dead bodies in the basketball court.
"There's a lot of dead" Commented the reporter.
"Yes, they all died fighting the monsters that escape the gate during it's opening. I've been awakened too late already so I couldn't help them." I said.
"They are the real heroes of this battle" I added.