Chapter 19: Apocalypse now

Name:Dungeon Raider System Author:
Chapter 19: Apocalypse now

Cassandra made her way among the crowd as if she was an idol of the old times, back when the news would be filled with celebrity gossip instead of government propaganda. Walking in between her mesmerized fans, people stared at her with admiration in their eyes and some of the most daring even attempted to speak to her, but they were quickly met by an icy glare.

"I see you made it, midget." Cassandra scoffed.

"I'm glad you're alright too Cassie" Luna said impassibly.

"You know I hate that name, geez! Anyways, I'm Heavenly Sword now." Cassandra said.

"That is... uh... too long..." Luna said in a stutter.

"Speak properly would you!? Why did I even bother coming here?" She said as she gazed at her sister's companions. "Hey you! do I know you?"

"I- Uh... ah... I take the anthropology course with you." Uriel said after flinching.

"For the love of... Huf! is the stutter contagious or what? Hmm... I remember now, you're the idiot that pulled my hair the other day! I see you made new friends, Luna, and they're just like you, that's good. Now come with me." With that, both sisters left towards the colonel who was already waiting for them.

The reason why she was called by the colonel was because he suspected that Cassandra might be the VIP Mister Flanagan was talking about, but Uriel didn't even bother trying to take a guess because he was still in a daze.

Cassandra wasn't just pretty, she was a force of nature and, if before meeting her in person Uriel was already interested in her, now he was starstruck.

The students reacted just like kids who were told Santa doesn't exist. They couldn't believe his words, but there was no trace of his usual kind smile nor did he squint his eyes. Colonel Windfire was dead serious.

"You may be wondering how could something like that be the truth, how come none of you knew about it. It's only to protect you, to protect your childhood... your innocence. If this was the old times, some of you may still be in highschool and your only worry would be which career path to choose, but those days are over, times are difficult and you've been deemed worthy of acquiring a trait. That's a responsibility as much as it is a privilege, from now on you're all considered adults and proper citizens of our beautiful country."

He proceeded to explain how they were forbidden to share this information with people inside the city, remarking the fact that it was considered a capital offensea, and the only ones who would be notified about the deceased students would be the closest relatives.

Finally Uriel understood why everyone's mood turned grim whenever the army announced the drafting of young students, why they wouldn't let kids acquire traits in spite of it being a 'safe' process, why so many people joined the army despite the pay being so low and also, why lieutenant Dragonfang acted so strange in front of them.

Humanity was actually fighting a losing war.

'Maybe Sam's theory isn't so crazy after all... maybe there are entire cities being wiped from the map...' He thought back on the lost city he briefly saw during his incursion.

Among the students, there were those that seemed shocked after the grim revelation made by the colonel, but there were also those who didn't bat an eye, as if they had known it from before.

Most of those students were, precisely, the rich ones.

'Just how unfair is this society that only the ones with enough money are allowed to know the truth of what happens behind the scenes? it's as if even if the world was to end, they would still keep everyone in the dark just so they kept doing their jobs. They still need their drivers, maids, plumbers... janitors.' His very own thought was a revelation, it was like opening his eyes to the truth for the first time.

'No way, this can't be it... could it be... Did the world already end!?' Uriel's eye twitched and he inadvertently took a step back. 'this is... the world after the world ended. We are a lost civilization!'