— Meanwhile - The Hightower —
Within the opulent guesthouse reserved for VIPs at the Hightower, the Pope sat in contemplation. He was second-guessing the order he had given to Christopher to capture Envy and bring her here to uncover more about the anomaly known as the Whispering Hall.
The order had been issued under the assumption that Daniel would neither provide satisfactory answers nor cooperate willingly.
Unlike other individuals or higher-ups whose influence had been disrupted by the rise of New Atlantis and the Order of Ember, the Pope's concerns stemmed from his duty as the leader of the Vatican. He was responsible for ensuring that creatures of the night and abominations did not escape into the public domain and wreak havoc—a balance that the Whispering Hall had dangerously upset.
Seated with his closest confidants, specifically members of the Vatican's Secret Exterminator Unit, the Pope waited for news from Christopher, the strongest operative within the unit. Yet, as he reflected on the unfolding situation, he knew that once the arrow had been loosed, there was no retrieving it. All he could do now was hope that the plan would succeed.
At that moment, a TV in the room powered on automatically without any input. The screen displayed a bird's-eye view of the green plains near Envy's castle. The Pope was taken aback by the scene. From this vantage point, he could clearly see Christopher and his accomplice, the man in the owl mask.
The footage continued, showing several mechs descending from the sky to protect Envy. The sequence began with a strafing run to force Christopher and the man in the owl mask out of position, followed by the mechs forming a defensive perimeter around her. Then the screen shifted to a beam firing from the sky, followed by the explosion of the blue energy.
Everyone in the room witnessed the devastation: molten rock glowing red and sand turned to glass within the massive crater. The Pope immediately realized that this had to be one of the high-tech secret weapons of New Atlantis, closely guarded until now.
Ringggg
The Pope's phone rang, and he noticed that the caller's number was untraceable. He answered hesitantly, and a cold, familiar voice spoke on the other end.
"Call off your men and guarantee Envy's safe escape, or the next orbital cannon shot will be on your head," Daniel's icy voice demanded.
The Pope swallowed hard, a sense of impending doom washing over him. Considering the technological advancement of New Atlantis and the ease with which Daniel had hacked into the room's television, the Pope had no doubt that Daniel knew his exact location.
However, as the Pope of the Vatican, he couldn't capitulate so easily. His subordinates were watching him closely. If he gave in without resistance, how could he maintain their respect?
"Mr. Emberweave, are you sure you want to do this? You've fired a weapon on United Kingdom soil! Are you not afraid of starting World War III?" the Pope challenged, his voice firm despite the underlying tension.
"I don't want World War III. It's quite a hassle, even for me. But let me make one thing clear, Your Eminence: if it does start, I'll be the one to finish it," Daniel said coldly, his words sending a chill through the Pope, who instinctively swallowed hard.
Amidst the chaos, Christopher's crazed laughter echoed across the castle grounds. The blade flashing, fireballs flying, explosions erupted, and hundreds of blessed blades flew through the air while the man in the owl mask quickly evaded like a slippery eel.
Christopher was thoroughly enjoying the hunt, reveling in the thrill, while the man in the owl mask quickly retreated from the castle grounds in frustration, cursing under his breath.
The VTOL took off as Christopher and members of the Vatican's Secret Exterminator Unit, previously hidden in the castle's surroundings, emerged to join the hunt. They had all received the Pope's order to assist Envy's retreat, which required eliminating every threat in the area.
Most of the mercenary mages hired by the man in the owl mask had already been sacrificed in their attempt to poison Envy. However, a few remained, hiding among the surrounding area alongside the Vatican's operatives. This led to infighting between the two groups.
While mages wield a wide range of spells, including those tailored for close combat, the Vatican's Secret Exterminator Unit was specifically trained to deal with supernatural beings and heretical magic users. Armed with weapons still stocked with ammunition from Astral Corp, the Vatican hunters quickly and efficiently neutralized all the remaining mages attempting to ambush Envy.
— Meanwhile Greece —
On an undisclosed island in the Aegean Sea, hidden from the world, lay a secret magical laboratory belonging to the Cult of Lucifer. Days passed uneventfully on the island, as they should; its existence was safeguarded by a massive, invisible magical array designed to repel intruders and prevent detection.
Within the laboratory, a mage, a researcher working on a long-term project to open a gate to the magic origin, known as the Akashic Records. He conversed with his colleague about the project. This endeavor had been in motion since the dawn of magic, when Merlin had elevated magicians to an esteemed profession.
As they worked, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky, heavy rain beginning to fall. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed ominously above.
"Ugh, unpredictable rain again. Those weather forecasts by ordinary folk really need an upgrade. I didn't hear anything about a storm in the reports," the researcher grumbled irritably to his coworker.
At that moment, a brilliant blue flash illuminated the dark sky, followed by a streak of light descending rapidly.
"Huh? What's that?" the researcher muttered in confusion.
Before they could react, an immense burst of energy struck the mana shield protecting the island. The shield, formidable as it was, crumbled instantly, unable to withstand the overwhelming power of the blue energy for even a millisecond.
The beam exploded with cataclysmic force, obliterating the island in an instant. The intense heat melted rock and metal into molten red streams, while sand was vitrified into glass. The entire island was erased, leaving nothing but turbulent waters in its place.
If one were to investigate the site under the sea, remnants of the island might be found—a massive, glassy crater lying silent in the depths, the only evidence of the devastating strike from the orbital cannon.