As everyone was still digesting the words said by Sean and Scarlet had dropped, especially Becky who seemed as if her brain was about to leak out of her ear. It was understandable that she would be the most affected by this revelation, considering she was responsible for everyone that lived inside of the base. With the discovery that mana was spewing out of the various rooms once thought to be only used for a simulation environment, Becky would need to decide how to share this information with everyone else.
Han didn't know for sure, but looking at the book that Scarlett had brought he had a good idea that it would be able to teach anyone how to utilize the mana in the air to gain new abilities. With what he has seen with the weapons inside of the Battle Arena combining magic and technology, he assumed that Helania and the others had decided to bring this world, slowly, into a place where magic would be actively practiced.
Chuckling to himself, Han didn't feel the need to comment on what Helania and the others were planning and only interested in watching how things would play out in the end. The people in this world was already facing a significant threat, so the introduction of fantasy elements would only make things more interesting.
"It feels like Star and Moon is leading us around by our noses, now that we learned about this substance and its connection to magic," Becky said slowly, as if not wanting to think such things are real.
Sandra nodded her head. "This is likely the case. Just looking at what they're able to accomplish is mindblowing and makes one wonder what else they are holding back. I remember doing research on them before all this had happened and this company seemed to exist for a long time, though usually only known by those inside of the industry. It wasn't only until just recently where they began to change into a household name."
Becky was quiet as she listened to Sandra's words. Her eyes just stared off into the distance to indicate that she was trying to think about the next moves. Her eyes flickered, and she said to them, "Let's move this to the conference room. I want you, Sandra, to contact those who need to be there. We can't just continue to talk about this without the others."
Nodding her head, Sandra began heading out of the room to contact the relevant parties. Sean and Scarlett followed after her.
Han noticed Scarlett glancing at him, seeming to communicate that they should catch up soon. He motioned with his head that he agreed with the idea and then faced Becky.
Becky had her head resting on her hands and elbows on the table.
Understanding that this was a lot put on her all at once, Han didn't interrupt and patiently stood there. He was wondering whether the new information affected Becky's need to see him, but the fact that Becky hadn't asked him to leave meant that she still had a need for him in the office.
Lifting up her head, Becky looked at Han. "What're your thoughts on learning that magic is real?" She asked him.
Shrugging his shoulders, Han responded, "I suspected the same way that Sean did when I learned that I could add those crystals to my weapon. I've had a suspicion that the arena wasn't just a simple virtual reality room, and with this new revelation, I think I'm right in my suspicions."
"Yes. I also wondered about the simulation room. If we were simply training in a digital environment, we would have been plugged into the system somehow instead of just being able to walk into that world. I get the feeling that this substance is involved to some extent for us being able to revive even after being killed by those monsters." Becky slowly breathed in. "I didn't want to think of such things, considering it likely meant that we're being killed and resurrected repeatedly."
"It does make things easier for us, with the world we're living in. Those modified humans aren't leaving anytime soon, and at some point, we're going to need to face them which would lead to people dying. If we're already used to dying, then it gets rid of one of the biggest hurdles that soldiers face when going into battle." Han said lazily.
Hearing Han's words, Becky shuddered at the thought. "We were never meant to become soldiers. The idea that we may have to go into battle against those things isn't something I'm looking forward to. Just keeping them at bay is something we're struggling to do in addition to our patrols around the area."
"I get the feeling that we may not only have to face those creatures," Han said. "In a world where supplies are limited, people inside a bigger group may decide that our base is worth the lives of their members." He remembered the group inside of the mall, who were willing to kill him and abduct the others for their own selfish desires.
"I find it a comfort that those types of people do not have access to this new information. Just thinking about those mobs of bandits being able to use magic against us..." Becky trailed off not wanting to finish the thought. Her face grew serious as she addressed him. "I want to talk to you about the reason I asked Sean to bring you here." There was a pause as she collected her thoughts. "First, I want to congratulate you on your win. Your success in the battles is really helping to boost morale inside of our base."
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"Thank you. I don't think we could have been as successful without the guidance from the more experienced teams. I've talked with the others, and we've decided to train as if to get ourselves prepared for anything that could happen in the future, which is why I think we're doing so well against other teams who still think of the games as just games." Han thanked Becky for her words.
"That's a good mentality to have and leads perfectly into the reason I asked you to come here," Becky said. "While you're waiting for the next game to begin, I wanted to request for you to make a trip to test out the new equipment. I want to see whether the weapons and upgrades work outside as well as they do in the arena."
Han lifted an eyebrow at this suggestion. "Is there a reason for this request?"
"Though my initial plan will need to be updated, I've meant to try and send some of the teams to the nearby areas. Through The Wire, I've been in communications with the other universities and companies participating in the competitions and have survived, and I think we need to rebuild the society we've lost with the coming of the modified humans." Becky explained. "We can't keep playing this defensive strategy, though I'm also not suggesting for us to go completely offensive. The way those things are able to adapt is too great of a threat. At the same time, we need to begin testing out what their weaknesses are."
"Do you think that this substance that's leaking out could be something used to fight against the monsters out there?" Han asked.
Becky raised both of her hands into the air. "I don't know. I honestly have no idea if those things even have a weakness. For all we know, those things developed the way they did because of this substance leaking out or existing in the world this entire time." She moved a hand to indicate the books on a nearby bookshelf. "Since the dawn of mankind, we've had stories about people doing fantastical things. Ancient kings building kingdoms and empires with the help from people wielding great power. Stories of wizards and sorcerers hiding in the shadow, helping out destined individuals to complete a quest given by the gods."
"I remember reading many of these mythologies during school, writing reports about how these stories were a metaphor about hubris and other themes. After learning about magic being real, I wonder what those teachers would think." Han agreed with Becky's train of thought.
Standing up from her chair, Becky walked over to one of the bookshelves and pulled out a book. It had an image of a multiheaded monster and a man wielding a sword while wearing the hide of a lion. "Ever since the modified humans appeared and I watched how they seemed to survive from most attacks and adapt to our attacks, I thought about this story about the monster that kept growing more heads." She opened the book and turned the pages as if lost in her memories. "It wasn't until the hero burned the stump of the freshly cut off head that he was soon able to kill the monster." Snapping the book closed, Becky looked at Han. "I want to believe that magic may be our version of this story, where we'll be able to turn the tide."
"What happens if those things were born due to the existence of this new substance?" Han posed the question to Becky. "If magic helped to form them and gives them the ability to adapt, a merger of science and fantasy, then what?"
Becky's eyes hardened at Han's words. "Even if that's the case... I don't want to allow humanity to be wiped out without a fight. Our species has gone through so much and to allow our existence to be wiped out, I can't allow it to happen without doing something." She shook her head to deny such realities. "As someone who is part of this base and leads one of the strongest teams we have, will you do this? Even if it means putting yourselves into a losing scenario?"
Han looked back at Becky and just shrugged his shoulders. "After hearing such an inspiring speech. What kind of person would I be?" Chuckling, Han said, "Maybe like in those old stories, we'll be able to get some divine assistance?"
Hearing that Han was willing, Becky smiled in appreciation. Though her expression changed as she returned the book back to its original spot and ran her fingers along the top of the other books, "I can only hope that such divine help is connected to the typical duality of good and evil. To think of being in a world such as our current one makes me wonder
about stories that are not tied to the simple duality, but instead has elements of uncaring horrors." Her finger stopped at a book that had ancient looking symbols running down the spine, the leather looking weathered and cracked.