Chapter 314 Down The Hole We Go

Ramirez led the large group over to the Equipment tent. A blonde woman looked up and smiled at everyone.

"This is Team Zephyr, they'll be going down with Lisa's team." Ramirez informed the woman.

"Alright, let's get you guys all fixed." The blind woman motioned them over. Manny led the way, lining up first. "Alright, Team Zephyr, it looks like you guys will need light gear and the usual survival kits. George could you help me get this team sorted out?"

"Alright, Ariel, I'm coming." George huffed as he stood up and moved over to the makeshift front desk. George plopped down and clicked the keyboard a couple of times before motionin for the next person to come. "I'll help whoever's next."

Lee Seng moved over and George looked up at him.

"Just the usual light and survival kit?" George asked.

"Yup." Lee Seng nodded. George clacked away.

"Can I get your name?"

"Lee Seng Chang."

"Ah, the Creator's son is here." George chuckled. "I didn't think we'd get you coming here. Just give me a second and I'll grab your things from the back." Lee Seng nodded and watched George take another look at him before wandering into the back of the large tent. George wandered back with the fear and set it in the table.

"Here ya go." George said. "Was that everything you were supposed to have?"

"Uh, the techs said something about helping them carry their poles. Do I get that here or…?" Lee Seng's voice trailed off.

"Ah, the techs will have it near the hole. Go there when your team is done." George answered as he sat down. Lee Seng nodded and slipped the backpack on. He grabbed the glasses and took off out of the tent.

The group got their survival kits and light gear. The lights were glasses straps that could be easily adjusted to stay on your head in case of a fall. Lee Seng played with the strap, tightening it and untightening it as he waited for his group to finish their things.

"All good." Olivia told the group as she popped out of the tent.

"That's everyone?" Ramirez asked. Manny looked around and did a quick headcount, nodding. "Alright, let's meet Lisa's team at the hole."

Ramirez lead the team to the hole. It had a large makeshift building over it. They had somehow fitted it with electricity and water in such a short amount of time.

"Alright, the techs should be over there." Ramirez pointed to his right. "Just go through that room and they'll fit you with the fear they need you to carry. They'll lead you to the hole entrance. Good luck, everyone."

"Thanks you." The group sporadically thanked the man for his guidance. Manny led the way to the right. They entered a large room that was labelled, Tech 4.

"Ahh, this shit doesn't get any easier to carry." Caleb complained.

"Make sure your straps are on well. We don't want an incident like Tech Team 6." Lisa chuckled.

"Oh, boy. All that expensive gear just went flying down the hole " Tiffi chuckled. "Best to be safe."

"Oh, you're here." Marcus noticed the students first. "Come in, come in. No need to be shy. They're just about done."

"How many poles do you think you can handle?" Tiffi asked standing up from her desk and wandering to the large section of 2-3 foot poles.

"I can do 4." Evan answered.

"You sure?" Tiffi asked. Evan was a small young man and she had her doubts that the young man could have that much weight on him.

"Mmmhm. I'm a tank. It's normal for me to have so much weight on me as part of my training." Evan told her. Tiffi nodded and motioned him over.

"Alright, I'll attach them to your backpack. Your backpacks are specially designed to hold large items like these." Tiffi told them.

She fitted four into Evan, 4 onto Manny, 4 onto Ritsuka and the rest went into Lee Seng.

"You sure you can carry that?" Tiffi asked worried. "You look like you're gonna topple."

"I'm fine." Lee Seng shifted his backpack, tightening the straps and making sure the straps are attached properly. He easily moved around and turned to show Tiffi he didn't really feel much. 8 poles were attached to him and the three other guys had opted to help with the load.

Liz didn't want to carry anything too heavy. She needed to be mobile and Olivia didn't mind it but the guys insisted they carried it. The rest.of the techs had about four poles on them, totaling the poles to be about 32 poles.

"32 should be enough?" Marcus asked.

"Plenty to even cover for any extra damaged poles." John answered.

"Well, if that's that, let's go." Lisa motioned.

"Have a good trip. Remember, if you're in danger try to protect yourselves over the fear." Tiffi told them. "Team Zephyr, if you can't handle the mission and think everyone will be at risk, say something and let's get you out safely. Marcus and I will be guiding everyone."

"That reminds me, y'all have comms?" Marcus asked looking at the students.

p "Yeah, they were a gift from the Academy." Manny answered.

"Lemme pair you into the channel. That way if you get separated, at least we can hear you and guide you correctly with the maps."

Marcus and Tiffi worked to pair the team's comms to their channel.

After they finished, Marcus and Tiffi gave them the okay to leave. Lisa, John, and Caleb led them left and down the right hall. The hall was the same hall used to get into the hole building. It led straight to large doors that were guarded by Penumbra guild members.

"Tech 4 headed to Zone 1R." Lisa told the guards. They checked their holos and nodded. The doors opened, sounding a loud noise.

"Good luck Tech 4 and Zephyr. Be safe down there!" A Penumbra guard told them. Lisa and the other techs waved goodbye to the guards before descending.

"Alright, let's take formation then." Manny told them.

"Alright." The group answered. Lee Seng moved easily to the front, passing the techs. The descent was long with rest stops along the way. The place seems to be fitted with similar poles that emitted lights and probably had wires going down the poles.

Lee Seng's steps were a bit louder than usual but he easily flew down the stairs.

"Lee Seng, I'm going to input a map through your comms. It'll be off to the top right. You can use that to know when you're approaching the first floor. Move the map as you wish. That goes for the rest of you too." Tiffi told them.

"Roger." Lee Seng answered. He watched as a map appeared on the top right. He tapped his ring and watched it enlarge. He was moving fast down the stairs. He would probably make it down in another two minutes. He was quickly leaving behind his teammates.

"Remember to stay within our sight." Manny reminded him.

"Yeah, I will." Lee Seng tapped his ring and watched the map go back to its spot.

Lee Seng was taking a look around the lit underground floor as his teammates all came down. "Oh boy, those stairs are a time." Olivia commented.

"Thankfully there's a platform to go up." Evan pointed. The loud metallic noise of the paltform whirring to life pulled the groups attention to it. They watched a couple of groups going up.

"Alright, we're down here." Lisa spoke.

"Yup, seeing everyone crystal clear. I'll light the path you need to take. Maps will highlight the path you need to take." Marcus spoke. Lee Seng watched as a path lit up on his map. The path they were suppose to take startrf to glow a specific color.

"Blue and green is the path we're taking." Lisa told the group. "It should take us to Zone 1R."

"Alright. Are we good to go?" Lee Seng asked.

"We're good. The faster we get there's theore time you can rest afterwards." John commented.

"Sure, we're good whenever." Manny told the techs.

"Alright, let's go. Lee Seng you can continue." Lisa motioned. Lee Seng nodded and followed the map and the blue and green lit lights. He looked back a couple of times to check how far he was from his group. He went until one of his teammates said something.

"Back a little bit." Olivia told him. Lee Seng waited for a bit until she gave the okay. "Yup, that distance."

"Alright." Lee Seng started again. The smell of dirt flooded his sense of smell as he pushed forward. The cave seemed to be fitted with this metal poles to keep it from easily collapsing. Poles of intricate designs kept the place up and it reminded him of the mineshafts he saw online.

'You know, the underground kinda just smells the same. Dirt and something wet.' Lee Seng thought.

'I'm surprised you aren't scared of being so deep underground.' Keng commented. 'I thought humans would be scared of being too far underground and too high in the sky.'

'Well, I am, kinda–'

Lee Seng's ears twitched. He stopped. The cave was vibrating off of a strange shaking movement.

"Earthquake?" Lee Seng whispered.

"Is something wrong Lee Seng?" Liz asked. The sounds of the earth ripping grew louder. The metal held the dirt cavern together well.

"Oh shit." Lee Seng muttered as lights began to flicke