Chapter 23: A Trip to Disaster XI
Aetheris-Veston Border—Awakened Camp.
The operation had begun.
The opening act, once again was opened by Damian, who looked characteristically enthusiastic.
He was all smiles when Shane suddenly winced, taking a step back with a nervous smile on his face.
A high-pitched sound resounded; Damian unfurled his left sleeve. "Heh."
Then, on his arms, they all saw it clearly, a red circuit-like pattern around his arms.
Around the horizon, there was this unmistakable darkness that was slowly encroaching.
Aware of this, they had found a higher ground, where they would have been able to observe the situation.
Arianna and Enma had led most students away to carry out Shane's operation.
"Come."
Damain had said that. And they saw it. In the horizon, which had darkened, and the darkness, which was approaching—
Suddenly, red ripples appeared in the sky above the darkness, concentric circles expanding outwards like a pebble dropped into an ocean.
And what naturally happened was a resounding thunderclap that echoed the almost city-sized forest-plain-type Dungeon.
The world was reversed in several colors that flashed white, black, and all over again before the colors balanced themselves back again.
What was left was a huge earthquake on the horizon, along with a deep gorge that split the land, in two, was all that could be observed.
"...."
"...."
"And silence was all that was left." Shane had said that.
In the meantime.
The situation outside the dungeon had deteriorated at an alarming rate.
Naturally, it was to be expected; the Anti-Factions had spent far too long preparing for this ambush for it to be anything less than catastrophic.
"Kuh—!? It can't be… our midst has been… infiltrated… All this is an ambush."
At this point, the lines between ally and enemy had blurred beyond recognition.
The chaos that engulfed the residential area had gone beyond just the fire—it had become something far worse.
The rescue operations had been completely disrupted.
The first sign of betrayal came when he saw one of his own—a fellow security officer—
And then it spread, like an infection, a coordinated effort from within their ranks that sowed further disorder.
It wasn't just one or two; the Anti-Factions had moles buried deep, waiting for this moment.
And what happened on the other side?
He didn't know. But the unmistakable, bloodcurdling screams from beyond the wreckage he could hear with his enhanced sense told him that nothing good was happening.
"Damn it."
He clutched his side, his hands stained a deep crimson. His breath came out ragged, uneven.
He had already lost too much blood, but his resilience as an Awakener was the only thing keeping him on his feet.
If he had any mana left, he could have slowed the bleeding, at least long enough to keep moving.
But he had burned through it all in the rescue operations.
And yet, even now, he didn't regret it.
The only thing he regretted was not being able to help more.
And then—
"No. You people shouldn't be here—"
"Be silent at once. I am from the Rosebell family; this much is obligatory of me. Report. What the hell is happening?"
"Yes! It's a fire outbreak like Kaiden had said. I sense several injuries within. Additionally… this is not good… The security forces are turning against each other!"
"Ignore that for now, we need to deal with the fire. Those proficient in wind, water, and ice, let's work together."
Rescue…?
Reinforcement…?
It sounded like that. He was obviously far away, but with enhanced hearing, it was possible.
And thus, he had heard those distant words.
However, their overall voices sounded… young.
It couldn't have been Yosen students, could it? No. It was possible.
However, even if they were here, he would have loved to tell them that the attack here was a distraction.
Their main target, however, was the laboratory under the administrative sector.
However, he thought better about it. He should be thankful.
At any time. His reinforcements would come undone, so he should be thankful.
He was already close to the security station, where what remained of the security forces had gathered to contain the fire.
With their combined efforts, they had started to push the flames back.
But something was wrong.
No matter how much they fought against it, the flames kept spreading. Unnaturally so. Which could only mean one thing—
Someone was controlling it.
That was the real issue. Until they found the source, the flames would keep coming back.
But before they could figure out what to do next. A group of students arrived.
Naturally, having seen the outfits they donned, there was no doubt they were the Yosen students.
"No. You people shouldn't be here—"
An officer had tried speaking up, however.
"Be silent at once. I am from the Rosebell family; this much is obligatory of me."
A beautiful yet elegant blonde-haired young woman had silenced him just like that.
Were it her mates, she would have spoken softly, but when addressing people who were below her status, hired by the Affiliates like so, then she would address them as fitting.
Additionally, she flicked her fan towards the insignia that had been pinned to her clothes.
And seeing this, they obviously couldn't speak further.
"Report. What the hell is happening?"
Next, she had asked, but her focus wasn't on them; rather, her focus was on the damages that spread before her.
She took it all in before shutting her fan with a crisp snap, her expression twisting with barely restrained irritation.
"Since the fire department is here, it can work. We need to focus on containing the fire."
She suddenly muttered, and then, turning over to the students, she began.
"I need those proficient in wind, water, and ice spells."
Arianna had said such, earning the nods from about seventeen students from around fifty that followed.
"I can't use magic, but I can generate wind pressure with my enchantments. Will that be enough?"
Chitose had raised her hands up in enthusiasm as she spoke, earning a raised eyebrow from the refined young lady, but had also nodded.
"Acceptable."
As expected of muscleheads. But that was meant as a nice compliment rather than a harsh one.
"As for rescue, you can leave that to us."
Alfonso and Ciaris had stepped up.
Like the Creeds and her, they both had superpowers.
It would be possible to rescue people while using minimal mana during the rescue.
"I'll… support…"
The youngest of the Creed brothers stepped forward, summoning an absurdly large bag from thin air.
The moment it appeared, everyone froze.
It was massive—at least four meters tall and five to six meters in diameter.
"...What is that…?"
"Uhm… Healing potion, stamina potion, enhancement potions, and a lot more of them… oh, including—"
Hearing that, Arianna had rubbed the bridge of her nose.
No. No. Really, what did she expect from the Creeds?
Still, this wasn't the time to dwell on how ridiculous it was.
Pushing aside the creeping thoughts of what else Lucas had stashed away, she folded her fan and pointed it at him, her expression composed once more.
Lucas, for his part, looked satisfied.
"That is a wonderful help, Lucas Creed."
"For real…"
The security officers, on the other hand, just watched as the students took over the rescue operations.
While that was happening.
Administrative sector. Or to be precise. Underground that.
Laboratory section.
BANG!
It was a sound that rang out as a researcher fell limp to the ground.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Sounds like that continued resounding as the terrorists strolled across the hallway of the dimly-lit underground lab.
Now. It wasn't only the suited leader and his bodyguard.
Several others—men who had infiltrated as security officers—moved alongside them, their uniforms stained with fresh blood.
The researchers weren't just being killed for the sake of it; the Anti-Order was systematically dismantling the facility, wiping out its personnel while looting everything of value.
That was what they planned on doing. It was simple, really.
By making copies of sensitive documents that would be stolen here, and then, after that, depending on their worth, they would either be sold in the underground market or be tossed away.
"Haah… I didn't want to do this. But [Jack] had insisted."
Their suited leader had lamented in exaggeration as his shoulders slumped forward.
His tone was theatrical, almost mocking, as if the massacre unfolding around him was nothing more than an inconvenience.
"This wasn't part of [Joker]'s plan?"
"Well, the whole killing researchers and stealing their research materials? No. That's [Jack]'s plan."
Greedy [Jack].
He was known as such.
Naturally, he was one of those who ran underground markets and syndicates.
Rather than having more awakeners join the Anti-Order, he used them in another way.
He was that cunning. He had established a paradise for awakeners who loved to indulge in crimes.
This was perfect. After all, the affiliates wouldn't link it to the Anti-Order after all.
By using another identity, he had established this, flawlessly.
"Then, what about [Joker]?"
"Boss didn't say anything. He simply didn't argue against [Jack]."
Having known Jack for who he was. It's only natural that even someone like Joker wouldn't want the headache that comes with dealing with Jack.
And, besides, Ace and Queen had subtly agreed with the plan. As for who they would be selling those research materials to?
Influential, like-minded people, obviously.
Besides, it didn't necessarily have to be in continent-Helia.
Eugrish was there; the "other side" was there too.
Upper class people from the "other side" would no doubt be interested in things like this. Hence, there were no problems should things be done like this.
BANG!
Another shot rang out again, and it was the final one before they came to a stop.
Blocked by a wall made of Magisteel that even most tanks can never penetrate, due to its composition.
"Ahh. Should have expected this, really. Not only is it Magisteel, but without identification, we can't really breach past it…"
The suited leader muttered wryly. However, it wasn't even much of a concern.
Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a small card—a false identification badge. With an effortless flick of his wrist, he pressed it against the scanner.
[Identification successful]
He had passed the scan.
Normally this would bewilder anyone. But not them.
If anything, they had a look as if to say, and they think they can stop us with this flimsy barrier. That smug look was evident.
The door opened the side, as they were greeted by the interior of the main laboratory.
"N-no way, they've breached the wall!"
"Quick! Quickly destroy the—"
BANG!
Before one of the two researchers here could even finish his sentence, he collapsed. Blood pooled around him, a single bullet hole in his skull.
It would have been best if he hadn't spoken, but he just had to.
There was no helping it.
"Hiie! P-please, spare me!"
His voice was barely a whisper. His entire body shook as the terrorists flooded into the room, their boots clanking against the pristine floors.
He wasn't a fighter. He wasn't an Awakener. He was just a scientist, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This place was the main laboratory, and it was evident by its spaciousness.
Additionally, the state-of-the-art equipment is around. There was no doubt this place was treasured by the affiliates.
"Tsk. This is why I hate filthy rich people."
This time. It wasn't the terrorist leader nor the bodyguard that spoke up.
Instead, it was one of those who had taken the mission of infiltrating here as a security officer.
While saying that, he had pointed his gun and shot one of the research terminals, just to vent his anger.
"Well, well, calm down. We've gotten what we came here for."
His gaze landed on a circumscribed rectangular box at the center of the lab. He walked towards it leisurely, brushing his fingers against its surface.
"Hmm. Not bad; it seemed, even though it's a third-rate work, it was beautifully made."
"No—please, not that—that—that thing is—"
"I know. An incomplete mana reactor. At the very least, I was expecting a blueprint or something, but this is a godsend, ya know."
The man was praised with widened eyes.
However, for the Researcher… The researcher's face was drained of all color. At that moment, he knew—he was already dead.
Even though it was incomplete and third-rate at best, the reactor was still functioning. Theoretically, it could generate mana—just not at its full potential.
"I'm not that versed in all this MagicTech bull, so I wouldn't know."
The suited leader then said so while slumping over his shoulders.
"But still, we kept you alive for one thing, ya'know… here…."
Finally, he said that, Then, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out something.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward the trembling researcher.
"E-eh?"
The man caught it with trembling hands as his eyes widened when he saw it.
"This is…"
"Yuzz. A data drive. So, the thing is… upload everything you have on your servers over here."
Saving that, the researcher slumped over. He'd be better off being dead than doing this.
The fruits of their research could amount to billions. If one were to appraise the worth. The man knew this.
But when he hesitated—
BANG!
"GAHHH!"
A bullet struck his thighs.
The researcher screamed, collapsing onto his side, clutching the wound as blood soaked his lab coat.
It was the leader who had shot him.
"Oh, pardon me, that was just a normal gun. Next time? It'll be a laser through your feet."
Having heard that, the researcher trembled as he bit his lips, forcing himself to forget the searing pain.
He knew… if he didn't do as they said, torture awaited him.
All terrorists in this room. About twenty of them, all had their weapons pointed at him.
He can't escape.
"F–fingh…"
He mouthed, crawling over to the terminals, uploading every single piece of documents over to the drive.
"Ah, ah, ah. Did I fail to mention, if you try something like pulling a stunt to alert the HQ or anything of the sort, I promise—your corpse will be unrecognizable."
Having heard that, the researcher shuddered again, but he said no words.
He nodded and continued, despite the searing pain and the bleeding of his thighs.
Despite this.
He started praying; no, he knew—from the security footage he had the chance of accessing—no help would be coming. The Anti-Order was that prepared.
Yet, he continued praying. Not to a God, not to a Devil, as neither of the two would answer his prayer.
God had long forsaken him, and because of that, he joined a team of researchers for reasons only known to him.
The Devil, on the other hand, was working against him; they were the Devil.
So, he prayed against them.
However, what he didn't know was that, whatever he had been praying too.
A certain lazy Yosen student had heard those frantic prayers. They looked over from the hallway they were leading the weaker student body across.
On their face was a rare, eerie, and malevolent smile. "Very well then…"