To say that the next few hours were frantic would be an understatement. James and his teammates were bustled off to be fussed over by a team of medics, while Mr. Bethany led a group of powerful Awakeners into the dungeon's maw.
Several Agents tried to approach them to ask questions about what happened during the dive, but the healers firmly rebuffed them. The patients needed rest, they said and did not budge, no matter what cajoling was employed.
James appreciated the assistance, especially since he had several things to consider. He had yet to tell his friends what happened with the red energy and the fight inside the void, and while he would have usually done that immediately, he'd prefer to do so where he couldn't be overheard.
"I'm fine," James grunted after Maria shot him the umpteenth worried look. "My status says I'm ok, and the healers found nothing."
"Are you sure? You were out for quite a while, and that energy at the end..." Maria trailed off, her concern evident despite her attempt at composure.
James offered her a reassuring smile, though his mind was far from at ease. As the healers continued their work, checking vitals and applying restorative spells with practiced efficiency, he discreetly pulled up his status screen, a flicker of blue light momentarily illuminating his face in the dim light of the makeshift medical tent.
STATUS WINDOW NAME James Summers AGE 19 AWAKENING 2nd TALENT Psychic Juggernaut TITLE Protector of the Weave LEVEL 193 MP 2.860/2.860 STR 120 VIT 80 AGI 80 SENSE 119 MIND 120 STAT POINTS 0
James assigned the leftover stats, bringing MIND on par with STR and SENSE. He felt a brief flare of heat in his head as his brain adjusted to the new level of processing power, but it was gone before he could grasp the sensation.
There are just a couple of levels left before the Last Five. Well, I don't think I need to do anything more than what I have already done. Getting a title should grant me great evolutions by itself, but mine explicitly says that it will increase my odds. That's not something you see every day.
The absence of traces of the red energy was a relief, but it also raised questions. James speculated silently, his gaze unfocused as he considered the possibilities. The System's intervention had been swift and thorough, suggesting it possessed mechanisms to cleanse or absorb such corruptions, which meant it happened often enough. The idea that the System had decisively removed any remnants of what he suspected was an Abyss's shard from him was comforting and unnerving.
It was comforting because it meant this kind of thing was well in hand. The System wouldn't allow such corruption to remain free for long. But it was also unnerving because the very need for this kind of intervention meant the System wasn't perfect.
And then there is that vision. I have no idea what it might mean, and I don’t think speculating without any basis is a good way to go. It left me with more questions than answers.
His contemplation was interrupted as a healer approached him with a clipboard. The man had a full head of shockingly white hair and a round face. His glasses had several arcane symbols inscribed, probably to help him with diagnostic spells. "You're remarkably stable, given the reports we received. Is there anything else you think I need to know?"
James met the healer's gaze, weighing his response. "Nothing else comes to mind. My status says I'm fine."
"Very well, just ensure you rest and report any unusual symptoms immediately," the healer advised with a professional nod before moving on to the next patient.
James's teammates, recognizing his reluctance to discuss the red energy in detail, respected his privacy. They exchanged knowing looks but chose not to press the issue further. Their silent support comforted him, a testament to the trust and camaraderie they had built.
The medical tent's atmosphere was one of controlled chaos. Healers weaved between cots, administering aid with a blend of magic and traditional medicine. The glow of various spells cast a soft light, illuminating the faces of the Awakeners under their care. Despite the urgency, there was a method to the madness, a testament to the AA's efficiency in dealing with crises.
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As the initial flurry of activity began to subside, a towering figure emerged from the direction of the dungeon. Mr. Bethany, with his imposing stature and deeply lined face, moved with surprising speed for a man of his size. His eyes scanned the area until they found Team 0, and he made a beeline towards them.
Upon reaching the team, Mr. Bethany's gaze softened, though his eyebrows remained knitted in concern. He conducted a quick, visual inspection of each member, his eyes lingering on James for a moment longer than the rest.
"All right, let's have a look at you lot," he said, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to echo slightly in the open space. Despite their protests, he insisted on a thorough check-up, his large hands surprisingly gentle as he assessed their condition.
James felt somewhat suffocated by the attention and finally asked, "Mr. Bethany, what has you so worked up?"
The question seemed to release a valve, allowing the older man to sigh heavily. He glanced around, ensuring they had a semblance of privacy before clapping his hands once. The air seemed to ripple, and all sound coming from outside the tent stopped. Then he spoke in a lower tone. "Since Leila disappeared, I've been... adrift," he admitted, his usual stern demeanor softening. "Hearing that you sent out an emergency broadcast was a wake-up call."
He paused, his gaze distant as if recalling painful memories, then refocused on the team. "While you were down there, a powerful pulse of energy originated from the Mariana Trench, sweeping across the planet. It temporarily upended communications. The AA believes that caused the anomalies in the dungeon you experienced."
"The Mariana Trench? What?" Ezekiel said, befuddled.
"Indeed. Although it isn't technically correct to call it an EMP, that's the closest thing to what happened. All radio waves were momentarily disrupted around the globe, and it took several hours to restore connections. Since it happened at the same time as the anomaly you reported, it's believed to be connected. Since an S-rank dungeon is known to be there, any study of the EMP's origin is impossible."
The implication was clear: the AA found an explanation that didn't involve delving too deeply into the specifics of their encounter, whether that was because they didn't want to know what really happened or because of other, mysterious reasons James didn't know. Mr. Bethany's insinuation that they should allow the AA to believe this version of events was not lost on James and his team.
"There's more to discuss, but not here. There is only so much I can do to get us privacy," Mr. Bethany continued, lowering his voice further. "Come to my office for tea next time you're at HQ. We'll talk more then." Though phrased casually, the invitation carried an undercurrent of urgency, suggesting the conversation would be anything but ordinary.
The atmosphere in the medical tent shifted subtly as Mr. Bethany's presence drew more attention. Initially deterred by the healers, agents hovered at the periphery, their curiosity piqued by the interaction between the veteran Awakener and Team 0. The agents, dressed in the standard-issue uniforms of the Awakener Association of black suit and tie alongside dark sunglasses, were evidently not used to being denied for too long.
Having completed their sweep of the dungeon, they had returned to get some answers to the questions that must have been raised during their exploration.
It's not like we know everything, either. The ants weren't polite enough to explain what they were doing or what the fuck the red energy was.
One agent in particular, the woman with sharp features and a gaze that seemed to miss nothing, who had initially emerged from the van alongside the old man, stepped forward. "Mr. Bethany, if I may," she began, her voice respectful but firm. "The preliminary analysis of the Queen's remains indicates it was a creature of D-rank. Could Team 0 provide insight into how they defeated such a formidable opponent?"
Before James or any of his teammates could respond, Mr. Bethany interjected. "Agent Hawkins, the details of their encounter will be fully documented in the report they'll compile. I assure you, it will answer all your questions." His tone, though polite, carried an undercurrent of finality.
Agent Hawkins' expression tightened slightly, her professional demeanor momentarily slipping to reveal a hint of frustration. "Of course, Mr. Bethany. However, given the unusual nature of this dungeon's activity, any immediate insights could prove invaluable. There are several discrepancies we need to solve. Team 0 has information that we need." The woman, it seemed, was someone not used to being told no, and she maintained only a veneer of politeness when talking to her nominal superior. She looked at Team 0 much like a hawk would an unsuspecting prey, and her emotions confirmed that impression.
To James, the agents arrayed behind her all seemed in various states of annoyance at being denied access to information and anticipation of getting their hands on it. No one appeared concerned with pushing a team of young Awakeners that had just emerged from a harrowing experience.
It was then that Mr. Bethany stood, his towering form casting a long shadow over the assembled group. "Are you questioning my directive, Agent?" His voice, though not raised, filled the space. His presence went from that of a concerned old man to a seasoned warrior in a second, and James almost believed he was about to strike the woman down.
Jesus, ok, I get that it's important not to talk about what we saw down there with just anyone, but are things in the AA so bad that he needs to go this far? Well, considering what I suspect happened to Miss Walker, it might be actually more surprising that he's still hanging around. Still, the old man is scary when he wants to be.
The tension in the air was palpable as agent Hawkins met Mr. Bethany's gaze. James could feel the genuine desire to face off against the old man within her before her sanity reasserted herself, and she decided it would be better not to push too much. After a moment, she relented, stepping back with a deferential nod. "No, Mr. Bethany. We'll await the report."
Yeesh, that's a lot of resentment. I understand not liking being given orders or confronted like this, but there is obviously something else at play. God, it's so annoying only having a part of the puzzle. Just enough to know a lot is going on, but nowhere enough to find out what that is.
With the confrontation defused, Mr. Bethany turned his attention back to Team 0, his expression softening. "You've all been through enough today. Rest now. We'll handle the debriefing once you've had time to recover."
"Thank you for that. But was there a need to go that far?" Lauren asked.
Mr. Bethany sighed, smoothing out his mustache. "No, I might have been a bit too brusque with Hawkins, but they have been getting on my nerves lately. Low-rank agents poking about, prodding, and asking questions they should know better than to ask. Things are changing, kids, and not for the better."
That was in line with what James had observed in the AA. The atmosphere was becoming more stifling as some internal war between factions was waged, and those outside of it could do nothing but hunker down and hope they didn't get swept away by the tides.
Or if you are powerful enough like he is, you can just tell them to go fuck themselves. I don't know his level, but Mr. Bethany feels at least B-rank. Possibly even more since his energies are so tightly controlled. I wouldn't want to make him angry, either.