A flock of aircrafts traversed the sky above the ninth district of the First Settlement. Their ramps spread open and one cube after the other fell out. As the raging winds blew inside, three figures stepped toward the edge, their colorful hair tousled as they gazed at the cityscape below.
Even from such an altitude, it wasn't all too difficult to notice the eeriness that had spread all across. The evacuations were underway and so the streets were bustling with the people moving toward the designated shelters. That caused the silent areas to stand out, and in such a situation it couldn't mean anything good.
"Don't tell me you're getting cold feet."
Eleven looked up and glanced beside her. AK let a teasing smile play on her lips. The distinct uniform the idols usually wore was replaced by a Valkyrie's pilot suit.
"If that was the case I wouldn't have volunteered." The blue-haired Valkyrie smiled back. "You on the other hand, I still can't believe you chose to tag along."
"After all those complaints she still came." Twenty Two smiled wryly.
"You talk as if I had a choice." AK shrugged. "The three of us are stuck together. There is no way I could've stayed behind while you two are out here."
A short distance in the back, a certain Nephilim watched the interaction with a hand on her mouth, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Right beside her, Tove looked down at her with disgust.
"I'm... I'm simply moved." Sygin said. "To think she had such strong bonds. I was worried for nothing."
"Guess my services aren't needed here."
A Third Nephilim stepped forth. This one had her hair cut short, wore the rare male version of the Nephilim uniform, and held a rose in her hand for some reason.
"No one asked for them." Sygin deadpanned. "Why are you here anyway?"
"Ms. Idol, if you would."
"Understood."
Nodding, Eleven turned to face the open ramp once more. She took a deep breath, tapped the floor with her sounding staff, and summoned her halo. Seconds later, she floated out of the aircraft and gracefully descended toward the city below.
Twenty Two watched her with concerned eyes. AK placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile, momentarily banishing the worries plaguing her mind. The two summoned their halos and followed their friend out.
Seconds later, several translucent domes spread over the ninth district of the First Settlement. The eeriness surrounding it seemed to disperse only to return right after. The subtle, barely perceivable change was enough to confirm that something was truly wrong with the area.
"That's strange," AK spoke in a low voice, as if afraid to be heard. "Why isn't it disappearing?"
"That just means it's not something tangible." Tove, who had just teleported out, gave her guess. "Or it might not be harmful to begin with."
The Nephilim was a bit perplexed. She was sure the source of the eeriness was their target, but the lack of a reaction to being enveloped in the Cleansers' abilities didn't bode well.
"Solveig, go down and check."
"Eeeeeeh!!!? Why me!!?"
"Move your lazy ass before I shove my boot in it!"
Solveig swallowed her complaints and did as she was told. Her figure glowed a faint purple as she slowly descended. Everyone felt the moment she entered the area enveloped in the eeriness, but as they waited with bated breaths, nothing seemed to happen. The Nephilim they watched suddenly disappeared, and before anyone could ask, she suddenly appeared beside them.
"What is it?" Tove asked right away.
"It's... it's silent..." Solveig answered, her voice tinged with confusion. "I... I couldn't hear anything. There is... there is no sound..."