Rondo, Kartosh - 9:23
Jun's speculation wasn't exactly wrong.
These neighborhoods were left "untouched" not only because of the destruction that ensued from Dungeon Break, but also because there were many elements worth researching and testing on-site.
The size was also a big contributing factor, as the deserted areas include a majority of the suburbs, not just the outskirts alone.
Interestingly enough, the reason the authority gave the public to keep these areas gated off was not far from what they were actually doing.
The fact that Dungeon Break were happening in way higher frequencies than normal, that there are some "rare" monsters residing there, or even just atmospheric Ether being unstable to an unnatural degree...It is highly possible they all had something to do with whatever the lab is conducting.
That much was within Jun's deduction range.
Anything beyond that lacks conclusive info, so Jun didn't dwell any deeper.
However, people who live around these lands don't seem to grasp that very well, or at least someone like Harry, evident from him being too carefree for somebody like him - a first-year academy student.
Whilst they're not as weak as ordinary people, first years in general don't simply hold enough strength to act so recklessly as to casually jog around in the open in this kind of place.
Either way, this is just a needless detail unworthy of being touched upon.
Harry and Jun were undeniably stuck in the eye of the storm - in between all the inexplicable constant Dungeon Breaks.
CLANG! CLANG!----RUMBLE!
Right after Jun shouted "RUN!", the pair took off at the right turn immediately with Harry in the lead.
GRRAAAAHHHHHHH!
Running off with all their might, they could hear what appeared to be glasses shattering right behind their back, followed by deafening roars that began to head in their direction.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The ground shook in unison with the ever-increasing footsteps, producing an anxiety-inducing chorus that only spiced up the chase even more.
"Tch! How long does it usually take for a dispatch to come?"
Annoyed by the waves of monsters on his tails, Jun raised a question at Harry, who ran ahead as if his life depended on it.
"I-I don't know. Unless we reported and requested immediate help, t-they might not even come!"
"Then report it! I'll make sure to watch your back!"
"...."
Receiving back only silence, Jun was bummed out once again.
"You don't say..."
He had a rough guess in his head from his observation, but that couldn't be true, could it?
Harry turned his head back, his face a powerless man who couldn't be any more bitter.
"I...don't know how to contact them."
It was just a tiny doubt when he encountered Harry in this kind of place, but he didn't expect it to actually be this bad.
There were ordinary people hanging around this place without a care in the world, yet not even an emergency line was put in place?
It was ridiculous from his standpoint, but there was nothing he could do to fix that in his current situation.
'Such inconvenience.'
Spotting a rusty bent pole with sharp edges to his right, he leaped towards it and broke the thing into a makeshift weapon using his enhanced physique.
'Hmm?! That energy...?'
It was just for a moment, but Jun caught slight Ether vibrating on the roofs.
Undoubtedly, it was a sign of an intelligent being knowing how to control Ether.
'No hostillity…I see.'
GRRRR- THUD!
Right as a goblin poked his head out from the darkness, Jun swung its head flying with ease, seemingly knowing it was there from the beginning.
'Hmm…not bad, not bad. Too bad I can't do much right now.'
Holding the goblin's headless body in hand, Jun threw it at the waves of monsters before sprinting after Harry.
***
Even though there was an increase in distance between them, Jun easily caught up with ease.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
It was the same for the restless hordes, though.
"Harry! You good with metal rod?"
"What rod?"
Turning his head back again, Harry spotted a bloody rod now in Jun's hand for reasons unknown.
There wasn't even time to properly contemplate as monsters were popping up left and right so he blurted,
"Good enough to beat up pathetic bullies!"
A smile curved up on Jun's face.
"Then catch!"
"Eh?!"
WOOOSSSSSHHHHH!
At speeds unseen to normal eyes, the rod magically landed on his two shaky hands.
He didn't really know what to do with it, but he felt a great sense of responsibility rising in his heart, making it beat even louder and faster.
PUMP!PUMP!PUMP!
It was the fact that today was their first meeting that made this entrustment even more impactful.
Staring at the rod gripped tightly in his hand, Harry was filled with conviction
'I won't disappoint you, my fr-'
All of a sudden, Harry felt a strange pressure on his neck.
"STEP BACK!"
His body was promptly pulled back without warning-
'Wh-'
BOOOOMMMMM!----RUMBLE!
As if a nuke just dropped right where he stood, the ground shook even more violently than ever, causing Harry to almost trip over his steps.
One could even compare it to a brief magnitude 6.0 earthquake.
"Kuk...Jun?"
Coughing lightly, Harry could make out Jun's figure standing firmly against a dust storm.
'D-Did he just save me?'
"You OK?"
Harry nodded to Jun's side glance as he stabilized himself.
He felt extremely grateful for Jun's quick reflexes, but there was no time to think about that.
GRRRRRRRRR!----RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
From within the dust emerged a hideous, grotesque giant holding a club.
Its height easily surpasses 5 meters, and a green shade could be seen throughout its body.
The most prominent parts, however, were the limbs that could easily tear apart a human into pieces.
An orc - A Village level threat.
This monster alone can bring terror to several village-size areas at once with its destructive swings.
As if its appearance wasn't horrific enough, purple blobs were visible from head to toe as it approached closer, each step carrying a weight equal to a truck.
Its face, specifically, was deformed so much one could barely recognize it.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Worse comes to worst, the wave of monsters behind was catching up as well.
There was nowhere else to run on the narrow lane filled with run-down one-way buildings on the two sides.
"Shit! We're surrounded."
It was rotten luck.
That said, the only panicking one was Harry, who thought his life was coming to a futile end.
Gripping his rod even tighter, he faced the incoming horde with a frightened heart. Tears rolled down his closed eyes as he thought about his family.
'Mother, Father, Beryl...I'm sorry!'
------------------!
Suddenly, silence engulfed everything.
"Why are you still watching? We're about to die here!"
The voice definitely was Jun, but it was a strange remark that confused Harry, causing him to turn to Jun with his eyes wide open.
"What do you m-"
"Excellent! You can sense my presence, hmm?"
Out of nowhere, a strange gentleman voice cut in. For some reason, Harry's heart felt extremely relieved by the voice itself.
"I have no comment on that. Please save us?"
"Sure."
With a flick of the mysterious voice, fire pillars all simultaneously rose from the ground magnificently, burning even the orcs with little to no difficulty.
In no time, true peace was restored, as only the smells of burned remains scattered around.
It was an amazing sight for Harry, but that didn't seem to be the case for Jun, whom's expression remained unfaze.
"Have you seen all this before?"
Harry couldn't keep his curiosity in anymore.
When he thought about it, Jun's expression never really changed at all, as if he had seen it all.
Yeah, it was that kind of gaze.
"You can say that."
Unsurprisingly, it was a nonchalant, uninterested answer, yet it only piqued Harry's interest in Jun even more, but he decided to keep it in now.
"How do you like my magic?"
"..."
"It was great!"
Harry didn't know what the other party's motive was, but compliments were definitely the go-to for this kind of situation.
"Appreciate it!"
POP!
A funny sound clicked from behind Harry and Jun, and there he was - a handsome man in black suit whose height surpass even Jun.
"Greetings, children of Astrea! I have come to pick you two up as the train schedule has been pushed up due to…some unconventional circumstances."
The man had neatly combed dirty brown hair, accompanied by a pair of black lens glasses and a bright smile.
His black suit, covering his body from top to bottom, was without any signs of fighting at all.
It's as if the thing's completely brand new.
"I assume you two are...Harry Lambert and..."
"Jun Kether, sir."
"Right, I remember it now! Worry not about your belongings as we already loaded them on for you."
"Ah! So that's what that part was for!"
Harry was a bit confused but then realized what the man was talking about, while Jun was left in the dark.
Harry's recollections suggest there was a form sent alongside some kind of 'GPS' that guaranteed the luggage's safety and identity until it reached the academy.
On it, he could remember vividly being confused at a part of the Emergency Section, quoted:
'Under any forced circumstances that may alter schedules, will you comply with letting us do away as we need with your luggage?'
Turns out that adding the GPS allows them to track their locations and load them aboard beforehand if situations arise.
'The wording was quite something, to be honest.' He thought.
"OK, lads. It seems we don't have much time."
The man spoke hurriedly, contrasting his earlier tone. Harry can't help but notice the sudden change.
"Hang on to me. I'll teleport you to the train!"
A magic circle/formation began to light up under their feet.
It was another fascinating sight for Harry, who'd never seen such complex spells in his life.
Just as the formation got to completion in seconds, a strange feeling suddenly dawned on Harry.
The rod he held tightly was gone!
'My metal rod!?'
WOOOOSSSSSHHHHH! SPLASSSHHH!
'Hu-'
POOF!
The last he could remember was an earsplitting sound that seemed to hit something.