Chapter 222: Calamity

Chapter 222: Calamity

Chapter 222 - Calamity

Kai scrambled off the chair, grabbed his sword and almost tripped on his backpack to get out of the long closet serving as his room. He extended his senses through the ruins. It was time to roll the dice.

People shuffled around him in a frenzy of activity on par with the churning mana. Essence was streaming into the underground tunnels just like in the recorded anomalies, but the Veeryds site was unique. The already dense mana was rising beyond anything he had experienced before.

From the remains in the basilisks den, the beasts must either be summoned more frequently or in greater numbers. Ranks of men and women ran with wrinkled uniforms to their assigned tasks for the emergency. Everyone had received orders on how to behave in case of an anomaly, though the unease remained palpable.

When dealing with obscure magical phenomena there was always a degree of unpredictability. No amount of preparation could guarantee their safety. Kai could feel tense anticipation brewing in his gut. The last few anomalies had brought grim surprises and acquainted him with death.

Calm down, this is the chance you need.

Being an external contractor, Kai had not been made privy to the internal plans. His only duty was to be available for any command. He set himself by the door of the officers chamber, sword hanging from his belt and wand stored in his pocket. He was the personification of a model soldier ready to be deployed.

Youre looking too eager.

Improvisation set his face in a somber grimace just in time for Seryne to emerge from her room flanked by six other officials. Given the position he chose, her eyes soon landed on him. She waved him closer without stopping her march. Youll join the team heading to the summoning chamber.

So much for not forcing me into danger. Not that I can complain.

Kai strode after her, trying to find a place in the group of people. Yes, maam.

Bert scrunched in a scowl. Maam, we dont need

Not now. The captain hushed the chief scout down with a hard glance, turning back to him. Be ready by the western exit in one minute.

With a curt nod, Kai headed for the designated place. He had been cultivating the image of a kid in way over his head, resigned to do what he was told. His contribution to the scholars research had been negligible, and his only talent was Hallowed Intuition.

From the two levels in Improvisation, he was doing a discrete job at it. Besides Makyn, everyone else hardly realized he was there. The more they overlooked him, the easier it would be to steal the Altar from under the Republics nose.

Thirty people assembled in the western chamber, more joined each second. There were only two possible ways to deal with a mana anomaly: bunker down or go to meet it head-on. From the soldiers he overheard, Seryne had made plans for both, thankfully she hadnt picked a cautious approach in the end.

Hmm Makyn might have helped sway her decision.

Kai hadnt failed to point out the disastrous consequences that the appearance of another beast with innate Earth magic would have brought. Not only could it ruin their plan to trap the basilisk underground, but the summoning chamber could also be destroyed. Spirits knew what the consequences might be.

Fall in! Well head out immediately. Captain Seryne came to lead the group personally.

Well, I didnt expect that. Though shes bringing most of the camp with her

Around fifty people had formed up, two-thirds of the soldiers and most of the mages. Only the support personnel and the blue contingent from the council remained in camp.

Valela and her cohort came to see them leave. Her face was a blank canvas. Knowing her, she must be vexed at being sidelined, but she still preferred to keep her contingent out of danger given the choice.

Nelynna and another Earth shaper stepped forward to unlock the exit. Boulders and slabs of ivory rolled over with a staggered rumble. The departing group smoothly divided into three teams to be more maneuverable inside the narrow tunnels.

A vanguard of twelve people jogged into the dark first. To his surprise, Seryne placed him in the main group behind her and an old mage. If he were to take a guess, his safety wasnt what she was worried about.

Speak up if you perceive any danger.

Despite being away from action, Kai was relieved. He wasnt that eager to face the basilisk again. Hed be close to the people making decisions to react accordingly.

Itd be so much easier if the Altar was some random rock no one cared about. Why does it have to be in the jaws of a basilisk?

Kai exhaled a slow breath as they moved out into the tunnels. He had tried not to indulge in pointless commiseration, but heading towards danger, he couldnt help cursing the evil lizard. That King had turned an easy quest into an uncertain venture with its greed.

Hed continue to search the ruins for the slim chance the artifact he perceived on the basilisk wasnt the Altar, but at this point, the chances were very slim.

It had been a couple minutes since the disturbance started, colorful currents of mana still streamed underground. The flow of essence was in complete chaos. While Mana Observer had proved it could pierce the basilisk's cloaking, he held little hope of spotting it in these conditions.

The group marched at a reckless pace, weaving around the obstructed passages for the summoning chamber in the center. Kai was forced to run to keep up with the yellow professionals.

Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, he felt exposed without his faithful porter watching his back. Makyn had been assigned to the rearguard who followed from a distance to ensure the basilisk wouldnt strike the main group from behind.

Probably not. And his emergency plan to jump into a portal was equally doomed. Whether the yellow beasts were attracted by the anomalies, or the Hidden Sanctuary was chock full of them, itd be like facing the basilisk on his own.

Wait a second, where is Makyn?

Kai scanned the chamber, skulking to the entrance. The rearguard should have caught up with them by now.

Fuck. He must be alright.

Maam.

Seryne turned to him with her eyelids wide open. Another danger?

No, its the

I dont care. You dont understand what this means! The high command will want a piece, but its mine. I found it her voice turned into incomprehensible whispers.

Either she lost it, or she has put together the pieces.

Maam, its important Hallowed Intuition howled in his mind, urging Kai to pay attention to the fight.

The portal had blinked out of existence. The soldiers had managed to kill the second six-legged bear, one more lay dying in a pool of blood and a fourth one was engulfed in burning essence. Not just to his mana sight, actual flames danced on its pitch-black fur growing brighter.

Kill it now!

If the soldiers heard him, it didnt make a difference. With two spears stuck in its torso, the creature stood over the bodies of its companions and roared like a living pyre.

Kai just had time to raise his wand when the flames burst forward to swallow the chamber, a wall of water formed to meet the surging inferno. He channeled more mana into the shield to stop it from evaporating and expanded it to include more people.

Beyond the rippling spell, fire quickly consumed the oxygen of the chamber and died down. A searing wave of air washed over him when he lowered the barrier, the stinking rot replaced with an unpleasant burnt smell.

Fuckfuckfuck!

At the epicenter of the blast, three soldiers had turned into charred husks together with the spiteful bear. Further away people moaned in pain with severe burns, some saved by their shield skills or high attributes.

Kai cast his hose spell to cover the chamber in a drizzle and lower the temperature, overwhelmed by the amount of destruction around him. He didnt know how to help.

It wasnt supposed to go this way, not even in his worst-case scenarios. Elemental affinities meant those mutant bears had been at least C-rank and they got four of them. In a moment, the situation had turned into a bloodbath.

A dozen people were down with severe injuries. There was another clear patch where a mage had summoned a transparent shield, while more had found shelter by jumping back into the tunnel. Soldiers run to help the fallen companions and distribute healing potions, though those would hardly be enough.

Captain, what are your orders? Bert was unscathed with the rest of the vanguard guarding the entrance.

Seryne stared at the scene with a transfixed look. Retreat to camp. Now.

What about the wounded?

Have someone carry them, we cant waste time. This is a matter of extreme urgency. She scanned the devastation with a grimace. Where is Seargent Makyn?

Bert avoided her gaze. The rearguard never reached us. We were still waiting for them when the anomaly appeared.

Cursed gods, why cant anyone do their job? We cant wait for them.

Ill prepare the wounded to be transported, but we might not have enough men to carry everyone and protect ourselves from the basilisk.

Then leave the dead behind and get them later. I dont care how. Just find a way to get us moving. Seryne waved him away and went back to mutter to herself.

A rising anger woke him from the shock of the event, Kai marched into her path. Keeping himself from shouting in her face was the hardest thing he had done today. Only his worry for Makyn made him maintain a tone of forced politeness. Were in the den of a basilisk, you cant just leave them behind to get eaten. If we send someone to search for the rearguard, well have enough people to transport everyone.

When I need the opinion of a child, Ill let you know, she scoffed. You dont even understand whats at stake. This is more important than any one person, I need to contact the mainland immediately to salvage this.

His nails dug into his palms. Self-control wavered. Would it be so bad to stab an officer of the Republic? To think he had extended his shield to save her from the fire.

What an idiot.

Kai was about to vent a long list of curses when he perceived a new group approaching the chamber. Only two people remained from the rearguard, leaking trickles of light.