Alec entered the principal's office, his spatial key shimmering in the dim light. Three figures stood facing the principal: Jenni and Sutefu, whom he recognized, and an unfamiliar figure. "This must be our substitute teammate," he thought.
"You're late, but that doesn't matter now. I've assigned you all to a mission," the principal announced, her tone firm yet reassuring. "You all already received the message, but I'll explain further. First, allow me to introduce your substitute teammate."
The figure stepped forward, his presence commanding. "My name is Benzoh… Benzoh Gin. Pleasure to be your substitute teammate."
Alec scrutinized him, thinking, He must be the one with Kaijin during the meteor shower incident. I hope he's strong, but we already have heavy hitters. He glanced at Jenni and Sutefu.
"He will be your substitute teammate until Kaijin finishes recovering and training," the principal said, her voice steady. "Now, let's get down to business. A celestial aura that doesn't belong to our realm has been detected in a remote area. Finding it wasn't easy, but we managed."
She opened a drawer in her desk and unfurled a map, placing it in front of the quad team. "This is the location."
Sutefu reached for the map, scanning it intently. As she did, the principal continued, "We've discovered that they're kidnapping random civilians and draining their life force, leaving them old and depleted. So far, we know of thirty-eight missing individuals, but we have no idea how many might still be alive. If you find any survivors, rescue them and take them to the hospital for a check-up."
She finished her explanation and looked at the group. "Any questions?"
Jenni leaned in closer to the map, her brow furrowed. "Can I have a glimpse of that map?"
Sutefu handed it to her, and as she examined it, a concerned look crossed her face. "This place seems deep; it won't be easy to find."
The principal noticed Jenni's worried expression. "Is something the matter, Jenni?"
"Just wondering how we're going to locate this place with just this map," she admitted.
"Leave that to Alec. He knows what to do," the principal replied, trying to reassure her.
"Oh, by the way, how did the leadership tournament exam go? Did it go well?"
Jenni grinned. "Well, Alec and Sutefu applied, but when it was time, Alec quit halfway."
The principal's expression shifted to one of shock. She turned to Alec, waiting for an explanation.
"I got tired and decided to quit. Plus, it would be a pain if we both dragged for leadership," Alec replied, shrugging nonchalantly.
Sutefu shot him a disapproving glance. "Don't think you did me any favors. That was just the behavior of a loser."
Alec rolled his eyes, unbothered. "Call it whatever you want; I just don't like the idea of being a leader. I did myself a favor by quitting. I didn't do anything to help you."
Jenni looked at him, puzzled. "So why did you apply for the leadership tournament, then?"
"I didn't apply! Someone went behind my back and put my name on the list," he said, glaring at the principal.
Guess he found out, the principal thought to herself, a mixture of surprise and amusement flickering across her face.
"Ahem," she cleared her throat. "Well, that's all. The mission begins now. We will communicate through your devices."
As she prepared to dismiss them, Jenni asked, "What about our transport medium?"
"Leave all of that to Alec. You're dismissed," the principal said, waving them off.
Scene: Outside the School
Once outside, Alec prepared for their transport. He stretched his hand forward, fingers splayed, and a magic circle appeared. "Alright, guys, let's step into the magic circle," he instructed.
Jenni and Sutefu stepped into the circle, but Benzoh hesitated. "How long can you hold this magic circle in the air?" he asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
Alec sighed, disappointment creeping into his expression. "Come on, Ben. Do you think I'm a beginner? This is one of the easiest spells."
Benzoh frowned. "I'd prefer to fly with my wind manipulation pillar."
Alec shrugged, a sarcastic smirk on his face. "Hope you can keep up." The magic circle levitated, accelerating forward.
"What a pain," Benzoh muttered, flying alongside them, albeit with less enthusiasm.
Scene: The Kidnappers' Lair
Meanwhile, in the building where the children were being kidnapped and used for experiments, a scientist was taking notes as he monitored a series of pods containing civilians. "Fascinating. We'll keep this one alive; he would be of great use to the master," he muttered, peering into a pod.
A ten-foot tall figure, Hirako, entered, carrying three more civilians. "Place them over there," the scientist instructed, pointing to a vacant space.
"Have you found any suitable hosts yet?" Hirako asked, dropping the kids into the indicated area.
"Not exactly. Most of them just died as soon as the experiment began," the scientist replied, operating the control system connected to the pods.
"Why?" Hirako asked, his brow furrowed.
"It's because you keep capturing weak civilians and bringing them here, you fool!" the scientist snapped.
"How was I supposed to know that they were weak?" Hirako protested.
The scientist moved closer, frustration boiling over. "What's wrong with you, Hirako? Have you forgotten how to detect strong or weak celestial auras?"
"I haven't, but the celestial aura here is different from the one in Terra Firma, and it'll take time to adapt," Hirako defended.
The scientist rolled his eyes. "You big-for-nothing fool," he spat, slapping his palm against Hirako's face. Suddenly, a chiming on the computer caught his attention. He rushed back to the console.
"Oh, it's just a security alert," he said, slightly relaxed. He clicked a key that connected to the cameras monitoring the deserted area five minutes away from their location. Zooming in, he saw Benzoh flying towards them, along with Alec and his teammates.
"Excellent!" the scientist grinned mischievously, turning to Hirako. "Hirako!"
"Yes, sir?" Hirako replied, standing at attention.
"It seems we've got ourselves some more civilians, and they seem to have powerful auras," the scientist said, his eyes glinting with excitement.
Hirako smiled, anticipating his next orders. "What do you want me to do?"
"Go get Chin and Ren. It's time for battle," the scientist commanded.
"Yes, sir," Hirako replied, heading for the elevator.
As he moved away, the scientist thought to himself, This will be more interesting if the battle comes to them.
"Hold on a bit, Hirako," the scientist called, stopping him. "Go to the Doorless Chamber and wait for the battle to come to you. I'll send the same message to Chin and Ren."
"Finally, we get to use that room," Hirako said, his voice filled with excitement as he stepped into the elevator.
"This is going to be fun," the scientist said with a mischievous grin, cracking his fingers as he prepared for the chaos to unfold.
Scene: The Air with Alec and His Teammates
Meanwhile, Alec and his team soared through the air, the magic circle propelling them forward.
"Alright, we're two minutes away. If you'd like to back out, now's the perfect time," Alec joked.
"Quit making jokes, Alec," Jenni replied, her voice serious.
Sutefu glanced at Benzoh, a hint of concern in her eyes. "He seems kind of anxious. Maybe he still feels guilty for leaving Kaijin for dead during the meteor shower fiasco."
"Who could blame him? If I were in his position, I would've saved myself and the people too, especially since that was Kaijin's last wish," Jenni chimed in, trying to lighten the mood.
Alec shrugged. "Honestly, if I were Kaijin, I would've let them all die, including myself. I wouldn't want the stress of trying to stop a massive meteor that would lead to my death."
A silence fell over the group as they contemplated the weight of Kaijin's sacrifice.
"Alright, we're here," Alec announced, breaking the tension as he began to scout the area below.
"Man, this place is really crooked," he remarked, taking in the distorted landscape.
Benzoh landed beside him. "Yes, this is the result of the meteor shower incident. The higher-ups abandoned this place," he explained, surveying the area with a frown.
"I see," Alec said, rubbing his chin in thought. "Alright, let's start. Where's the building?"
"It's not exactly a building; it's more of an underground lair," Benzoh replied, scanning the ground for any signs of an entrance.
Scene: The Scientist's Observation
Back in the control room, the scientist observed them through hidden cameras installed around the crooked area. "They're here," he said with a grin, ready for the upcoming conflict. "Alright, let the show begin," he said as he pressed a button.
Trap is Set - Scene
Alec, Jenni, Sutefu, and Benzoh flew swiftly toward their destination. The ruined landscape beneath them was the aftermath of the infamous meteor shower, now a forgotten wasteland.
"We're two minutes away," Alec announced, eyes scanning the horizon as his magic circle hovered. His tone turned slightly joking, "If anyone wants to back out, now's the time."
"Quit making jokes, Alec," Jenni snapped.
Sutefu glanced at Ben, noticing the tension in his usually composed face. "He seems a bit anxious, huh?" she muttered. "Maybe he's still feeling guilty about the meteor incident with Kaijin."
"Who could blame him?" Jenni responded. "If I were in his shoes, I'd have saved myself and everyone else, especially with Kaijin's last wish."
Alec, though still scanning ahead, heard them clearly. "Honestly, if I were Kaijin, I would've let everyone die, including myself. Who wants the stress of stopping a giant meteor, only for it to kill you?" he added, joking as usual, but his mind was elsewhere. He glanced at Ben, thinking, I wonder how scared Kaijin and Ben must've been, knowing they were staring death in the face…
His thoughts were interrupted. "Alright, we're here," Alec finally announced. His tone became serious as he observed their surroundings. "Man, this place is really crooked."
Ben touched down beside Alec. "Yeah, this is what's left after the meteor hit. The higher-ups abandoned this entire area," Ben explained as he glanced around.
Alec rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I see."
Sutefu quickly interjected, "So, where's the building we're supposed to hit?"
"It's not exactly a building," Alec answered. "It's more like an underground lair."
Just as Alec was scanning for the entrance, an ominous clicking sound echoed from beneath their feet. Without warning, the ground gave way beneath them, revealing gaping tubes that sucked each member into different directions. Alec, Jenni, Ben, and Sutefu were all separated in an instant.
Sutefu's Descent
Sutefu cursed under her breath as she plunged down one of the dark tubes. "Damn it, we got separated!" She gripped her katana tightly, her instincts flaring up as the strong, contaminated celestial aura in the air pricked at her senses.
She landed with a sharp thud on her feet, katana already unsheathed and ready. She quickly scanned her surroundings—no visible door, no windows, just solid walls on all sides. 'What is this place?' she thought, unease creeping into her mind.
A voice echoed from behind her. "I'm right here. Where are you looking?"
Sutefu spun on her heel, raising her katana just in time to block a sharp strike from a Flyssa sword. Sparks flew from the clash as she came face-to-face with her opponent—Chin, who grinned menacingly.
Jenni and Ben's Descent
Meanwhile, Jenni and Ben fell down a different tube together, their descent swift and unsettling. A faint light appeared as they neared the bottom.
"Prepare yourself! We're about to hit the floor!" Ben warned.
Both landed smoothly, Ben on his feet and Jenni in a crouched position. They immediately scanned their surroundings, much like Sutefu. The ceiling from which they fell sealed itself off, erasing any sign of the tube they had just descended through.
"There's no way out… no doors, no windows," Jenni observed, suspicion in her voice.
Before Ben could respond, a loud whoosh pierced the silence. Jenni's eyes widened as she caught sight of a massive war mace hurling towards Ben's head.
"Ben! Duck!"
Ben didn't hesitate. In a swift motion, he manipulated the wind around him, generating a shield just in time. The mace slammed into the wind shield with incredible force, sending Ben skidding backward across the floor.
A figure emerged from the shadows, holding the war mace. His voice was low and dangerous. "You're in the Doorless Chamber," Ren declared as the mace flew back into his hand with a flick of his wrist.
Ben felt the weight of Ren's contaminated celestial aura pressing down on him. "What are you?" he demanded, feeling the sheer power of his enemy.
Ren vanished in a blur of speed and reappeared behind Ben, his mace raised high and ready to strike. "I am your end," Ren snarled, bringing the weapon down with lethal intent.
Alec's Descent
Alec tumbled down his own tube, muttering to himself. "Didn't expect to find the entrance this quickly… Well, at least it saved me some stress."
Instead of bracing for impact, Alec summoned a soft, bed-like magic construct just before he landed. He hit the bed with a soft bounce, lying back for a moment. "Ahh, nice—" His moment of peace was shattered when a dice-shaped explosive crashed into the spot where his magic bed was.
"Boom!"
Alec leaped to his feet in a blur, narrowly dodging the explosion. "Damn, that would've toasted me," he muttered, brushing off his coat. He glanced up, noticing the tube was now sealed shut. The room around him was devoid of exits—solid walls, no doors, no windows.
A hulking figure emerged from the shadows. Alec stared up at the towering, monstrous form of Hirako.
"Do you possess powerful celestial aura?" Hirako growled, his gaze locked onto Alec.
Alec tilted his head to the side, clearly unimpressed. Damn, this guy is huge, he thought. "Yo, big dude. I think I'm lost. How do I get out of here?"
Hirako smirked but remained silent.
Alec pressed on, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously though, why do you care about someone's aura?"
"It's none of your business," Hirako replied coldly.
Alec scoffed internally. So, this guy can't even detect celestial aura? What an idiot.
"Hey, big guy, where's the exit?" Alec asked again, testing Hirako's patience.
Hirako pointed to the floor beneath Alec's feet, a wicked grin forming. "You'll have to kill me first."
Alec looked down just in time to see five more dice-shaped bombs scattered around him.
"Damn it! More of those explosive game dice?" Alec cursed under his breath just as the dice exploded with a thunderous BOOM.
In the Scientist's Control Room
Back in the hidden control room of the lair, a scientist observed the scene through a series of monitors. His fingers drummed excitedly on the desk, watching as each member of the team was separated into different chambers.
"They're here," the scientist whispered to himself, a grin stretching across his face. "The trap is set."
He leaned back in his chair, enjoying the sight of chaos beginning to unfold. "Let the games begin," he said with a low chuckle, his fingers hovering over a panel of buttons that controlled the environment.
Principal's Office - Scene
The principal stood behind her desk, the dim light flickering overhead as shadows danced across the walls. Her brow was furrowed, anxiety etched into her features. "Alec! Are you there?" she yelled into the communication device, her voice tight with urgency.
Silence. Just the crackling static answered back, amplifying her growing dread. "Damn it, I can't get Alec," she muttered, frustration lacing her words. She turned to her right-hand woman, Vera, who was intently monitoring the devices scattered across the desk.
"Vera, any signal from the rest?" the principal asked, her voice a mix of hope and desperation.
Vera's fingers flew over the controls, her focus unwavering. "No, it's like the communication devices got crushed or something… wait, I think I've got a signal!" She leaned closer to the screen, her eyes widening with a glimmer of hope.
"Show it to me," the principal urged, a flicker of relief crossing her face as she stepped closer to Vera, peering at the small screen.
"It's Jennie's communication device," Vera said, her tone turning cautious. "But what happened to the others?"
The principal's heart sank at the implication. "Jennie… if she's the only one we can reach…" Her voice trailed off as she contemplated the possibilities, a knot tightening in her stomach. The room felt colder, the silence heavier. She looked at Vera, determination igniting in her eyes.
"We need to figure this out fast. If they're in danger…" Her voice was firm, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on her shoulders. She couldn't afford to lose any more students.
Vera nodded, her expression resolute. "I'll try to trace the signal, see if we can get a location."
As Vera typed away, the principal paced the room, her mind racing with worry and strategy. The stakes had never been higher, and time was running out.