“… Spirits never rest; they are everywhere, within us and among unseen beings. Good or evil, they endure until they feel it is done or they are undone…”
----------------------------------------
“I am Hyun Ayame,” she said, her voice calm, yet carrying an unsettling edge. “I deal with things that go beyond what most people can see.”
Axka watched Ayame walk past without a glance. “Etherea? As in ghosts?” She ignored him. His question hanging in the air, unanswered.
“Guess I’ll take that as a yes,” he muttered, stepping into the shed.
“Dangerous for a girl to be alone here,” he added, trailing behind her. Still, nothing.
Ayame kept moving, her silence like a wall between them. “C’mon, don't leave me hanging,” he urged, his voice a mix of frustration and curiosity as he trailed her deeper inside.
The atmosphere was thick with shadows, and he attempted to lighten it. “Nice place, Negus,” Axka joked, but she shot him a withering glance before moving on. Well, at least I tried.
As Ayame grabbed a sword from the wall and strapped it to her back, Axka’s eyes widened. “That's a cool sword!” The pale blue hilt caught his eye, reminiscent of a clear, serene sky, but the rest remained in shadow. “Can I hold it?” he asked, but she ignored him and walked out.
Axka made a playful “tck” sound, pouting slightly. “So, where exactly are you going?” he called, jogging to catch up.
“I’m hunting the Corrupted Elemental. It’s going to fight back for the building,” she muttered, barely audible as she moved with purpose.
“Wait up,” he said, stepping in front of her. “Okay, maybe you're mad at me for being disrespectful. I’m sorry, alright? Let me just introduce myself—My name’s Ax—” She brushed past, uninterested.
Frustration burned in his chest. Why was I always brushed aside?
Axka overtook Ayame, blocking her path once more. “What did I do wrong this time? I just want to know what's going on.”
Her focus remained unshaken, but inside, she couldn’t help but feel the loneliness his words carried. Ayame paused, barely glancing at him.
“I’m wasting my time with mere introductions. If I start explaining, you’ll never understand and will just ask more questions. You’re not important here. My job is.” Her tone was flat, her expression unreadable.
“Who exactly hired you to do this?” Axka pressed, his voice sharper as she kept walking. She turned her head slightly, enough to respond.
“A man,” Ayame said curtly.
“A man? What's he looks like?” He pressed, determination fueling him.
“He has teardrop tattoos and a ‘0.1%’ tattoo on his na—” she began, but he interrupted.
“Caden. It’s him, isn’t it?” Ayame remained silent, but the way her eyes narrowed told him he was right. Before he could ask more, a low rumble echoed in the distance.
Meanwhile, not far from the shed, the darkness outside seemed to deepen as Aime struggled with a stubborn flashlight, frustration spilling over. “Shit! Why the fuck won’t this turn on?!” he muttered, slamming it against his palm. Suddenly, a bright light cut through the darkness, freezing him in place with fear. As it drew closer, the rumble of a quad bike echoed, and he recognized Officer Romero's voice. “Hop in, you passed the test.”
Relief washed over Aime as he clambered onto the bike. They sped back, the wind whipping past them, and he caught sight of Smitty and Officer Mendoza trailing behind. “You pissed your pants yet, Aime?” Smitty shouted, laughter tinging his words. “Shut up!” Aime snapped, irritation flaring. Meanwhile, Caden was already on his way to the camp, taking an alternative route with Takoda.
A few moments later, inside the darkened corridors of the abandoned building. The wind howled outside as if the building itself was alive with unseen beings, pushing a group of Achievers—girls only—crept through darkened corridors, their flashlights casting jittery beams of light. Whispers of fear floated among them, one girl gripping another’s hand tightly as they searched for posters. “I think we’re lost,” one whispered, eyes wide with anxiety.
“Don’t worry, I saw some arrow signs to guide us back,” another replied, though her voice trembled. “Do you think we failed the test? We haven’t found anything here,” the leader fretted, glancing around.
Suddenly, one of the girls gasped. “Look! I found something!” She pointed to a thin piece of paper covered in strange writing. They all crowded around, eyes wide. “This is the scariest poster I’ve ever seen,” one remarked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Let’s just get this back to camp,” the leader decided, glancing nervously down the corridor.
Unbeknownst to them, an Abyssor lurked in the shadows, drawn to the one who had stripped the seals from the paper, its presence a dark brings a sense of danger.
“I will own her.” The Abyssor's voice was a cold hiss, seething with ancient malice. “She will be my slave.” It slithered into the girl like an invasive fog, its dark energy clawing into her soul, suffocating her will. Its kind had thrived on fear for millennia, and this girl would be no exception.
“I feel weird,” the leader murmured, pressing a hand to her forehead as strange visions flooded her mind—shades of Abyssors lurking around, the seals being stripped away. A scream erupted from her, a piercing sound that shattered the stillness, echoing through the broken window nearby. Everyone in earshot, including the teachers at the entrance, froze at the sound.
Riding toward the camp, Caden's focus was interrupted as the blood-curdling scream pierced the quiet. Takoda, sitting behind him on the quad bike, gripped Caden’s shoulder tightly. “Did you hear that, Mr. Caden?” Takoda asked, alarm creeping into his voice.
Caden’s expression darkened, sensing something was terribly wrong. “Hold on!” he shouted, spinning the quad bike around and accelerating towards the building. “Woah!” Takoda reacted, gripping the bar tightly as the bike shot forward.
Elsewhere, Officer Mendoza en route to the camp area with Romero, snapped his head toward the direction of the scream, eyes wide. “You hear that, right?”
“Let’s go!” Romero replied, urgency driving them both as they sped towards the building.
“What is going on?!” Smitty shouted, but his question was swallowed by the roar of engines, the officers focused solely on the path ahead; focusing on the path, passing through bushes and tall grass. “Radio check, radio check,” their walkie-talkie crackled. “If you are receiving this, please respond!” Officer Mendoza grabbed his walkie-talkie. “Mendoza here!” he responded.
“We heard the screams, what’s the situation, over?” the voice on the other end asked.
“Herr, we are moving to the source. Standby for backup!” Mendoza replied.
“Acknowledged!” came the response before the walkie-talkie fell silent. Aime and Smitty exchanged puzzled looks, questioning what was happening.
As the blood-chilling scream echoed through the building and beyond, it carried across the air, reaching every corner of the surrounding area. Near the dimly lit shed, Axka tensed as the sound reached his ears, instinctively muttering, “The fuck was that?” He glanced at Ayame, whose eyes had already narrowed, her entire body suddenly on high alert.
Ayame bolted past Axka without a word.
“Wait—” Before he could finish, Hyun was already gone, moving faster than he could react. Axka wasn’t going to sit idle. Not when everything inside him screamed to follow.
Axka began to chase her, but his voice trailing off as he caught sight of the collapsed form of Mr. Lawson just a few steps behind.
“Shit,” he blurted out. He couldn’t just leave him there, but he needed to figure out what was going on. Fuck it.
He pulled Mr. Lawson onto the quad bike and aimed to get to the building fast. Axka hurriedly grabbed his body, hauling him up with a grunt and securing him on the bike. He couldn’t shake the image of the scream echoing in his head.
With him in place, he hopped on and gunned the engine, accelerating like a racehorse out of the gate toward the building. His heart pounded in sync with the roaring engine, every second stretching into an eternity as he raced to uncover the source of that scream.
After passing Axka without a word, Ayame’s senses sharpened. The scream was a signal she couldn’t ignore, and every instinct told her she was running out of time. her feet already moving in full stride as if driven by an unseen force. Her focus was razor-sharp, her body reacting instinctively to the scream, every muscle primed for action.
As she sprinted, her breathing steady, Ayame began chanting under her breath:
“Technique: Heighten Aura!”
Her Etherea Vision amplified, revealing all the Aura surrounding the entire area and enveloping it in a mystical glow. She sharpened her focus on the building and noticed that one of the seals had been stripped off. The Corrupted Elemental was close—she could feel it, pulling her deeper into the chaos.
Ayame’s Etherea Vision lit the way as she raced forward, eyes locked on the stripped seals. She didn’t slow, didn’t blink. There was no time to waste.
At that very moment, Caden pulled up to the entrance, his heart racing. He dismounted the quad bike in one swift motion, his eyes scanning the scene. “What’s going on?!” Caden demanded, urgency lacing his voice as he faced the group of teachers huddled near the entrance.
Ms. Lyra stood frozen, her hands trembling as she waited for help. When Caden arrived, she turned, eyes wide with panic. “The screams… we heard them,” she stammered, her voice unsteady. “The students… they’re still inside.” Her hands fidgeted, twisting the edge of her shirt as fear tightened her chest.
Caden’s jaw clenched. He knew something was terribly wrong. “Takoda, wait here,” he ordered, his tone sharp as he dismounted. “Don’t let any of the students go inside, okay?” He rushed into the building, suppressing a cough as he ran. “Please be careful!” Ms. Lyra called after him.
“I will, babe,” Caden replied, his voice fading as he disappeared into the building, determined to find the source of the scream.
A few minutes after Caden had disappeared into the building, the teachers stood near the entrance, exchanging nervous glances. The tension in the air was palpable, and the uncertainty gnawed at them.
From the corner of her eye, Ms. Lyra caught sight of a figure approaching fast, running with purpose.
It was Ayame, her face set with determination as she sprinted toward the building.
“Wait! Stop!” Lyra shouted, her hands waving frantically to get Ayame’s attention. But Ayame didn’t slow down. Her focus was locked on the entrance, her pace steady and strong.
Takoda, still sitting on the back of the quad bike, watched in surprise as Ayame sprinted past the teachers. “Who is that?” he muttered under his breath, noticing her as she quickly closed the distance.
Without breaking stride, Ayame darted through the entrance, disappearing into the building before anyone could stop her.
As Ayame disappeared into the building, the teachers were left standing at the entrance, their shouts of warning still echoing in the air.
Just moments later, the distant hum of engines grew louder. Officer Romero and Officer Mendoza arrived on their quad bikes, pulling up to the entrance with urgency etched across their faces.
“Can anyone explain the situation?” Romero asked, jumping off his bike and scanning the crowd. His eyes darted from face to face, searching for answers.
Ms. Lyra, still shaken from watching Ayame sprint into the building, stepped forward. “There’s a girl—she just ran inside. And we heard screaming… the students are still in there,” she said, her voice trembling.
Romero’s expression hardened as he exchanged a look with Mendoza. “Stay here,” he ordered, pulling out his radio. “Backup, standby—there’s something going down here,” he muttered into the device before turning back to the group, controlling the situation.
Takoda spotted Aime and Smitty approaching through the small crowd of teachers and students. They stepped toward him, waving to catch his attention. “Yo, you won’t believe what I just saw,” he started, his voice still filled with disbelief.
“What now?” Aime asked, looking both concerned and curious.
“Some girl ran inside the building—faster than our athletes, I swear. It was crazy,” Takoda said, shaking his head.
“Faster, as in Paragon fast or criminal fast?” Aime asked, eyebrows raised.
Takoda shrugged, still unsure. “Criminal fast, I think. But did you hear that scream earlier? That’s what really freaked me out.”
“Yeah, she screamed so loud it felt like it rumbled up to the sky,” Takoda said, and they continued discussing the chaotic situation unfolding around them.
Just as Aime finished his sentence, the rumble of a quad bike echoed in the distance, growing louder. Axka saw a crowd gathered around the entrance, skidding to a stop near them. Ms. Lyra’s eyes widened when she saw Mr. Lawson. “Axka! What happened to Mr. Lawson?” she gasped, rushing toward them.
Axka dismounted calmly, his tone serious. “There was this girl—she came out of nowhere, and Mr. Lawson... he collapsed,” he explained.
Ms. Lyra’s face paled as she glanced at Mr. Lawson, then back at the building. “Could it be the same girl who ran inside?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Before Axka could respond, Officer Romero stepped forward. “I’ll take Mr. Lawson back to the camp,” he said firmly. The teacher was carefully moved to the back of the officer’s bike, and within seconds, Romero sped off, leaving the group standing in tense silence. “What exactly happened, Ms. Lyra?” Axka asked, looking for answers.
“I don’t know. Right now, Mr. Caden is trying to find all the students and bring them out,” she replied.
“Alone?!” he exclaimed, incredulous.
“Yes. Please wait here, okay? I will tell the officer to get you back to the camp.” She instructed him, but Axka couldn’t just sit idly while Caden was inside alone. Spotting his friends waiting behind the crowd, he walked over to them.
“Hey, bro,” Takoda called out as Axka approached. “I heard it. Caden is inside the building,” Axka responded. “I think I’m going in to help him.”
Aime whispered urgently, “Are you crazy!? Did you hear those screams earlier? They scared the shit out of me, dude.”
“Then stay here, damn it! I still want to go inside to help him,” Axka snapped back. Takoda shook his head. “The teachers don’t want us to go in there. Even Caden told Ms. Lyra not to let anyone else in.”
“I can’t let him do it all alone, brother,” Axka replied firmly. Smitty sighed. “Alright, let’s run inside when we get the chance.”
Aime shook his head, clearly terrified. “Are you serious?! What if we get caught? Do you want us running around until one of us throws up?”
Smitty shrugged, excitement gleaming in his eyes. “When else are we gonna see an Anomaly user up close? This could be our only chance.”
Takoda glanced at Axka, knowing the weight of that statement. “Look, I think we should bring the others out. When we get inside, we should split into two groups.”
“Nice plan, Takoda,” Smitty agreed. “Alright, get ready. When I start running, you guys follow. As soon as we’re inside, both of you take the upstairs while Axka and I take the ground floor,” Takoda instructed. They all nodded in agreement, steeling themselves for what lay ahead.
They waited for a moment when the teachers and officers were distracted, then, with a brief nod from Takoda, they made their move. The Slingers made a break for it, sprinting into the building while the teachers and officers talked nearby. Officer Romero spotted them.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
“Hey, brats!” he shouted, causing the teachers to gasp. Officer Mendoza tried to keep up but only reached the entrance door. “GET BACK HERE! TURN BACK!” he yelled, but the boys kept running.
“Like one of our escapes!” Aime blurted out, and Axka and Takoda cackled as they ran.
They moved through the darkened hallways, shadows clinging to the walls like whispers of something forgotten. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the faint stench of old wood and neglect. Their footsteps echoed in the silence, amplifying the eerie stillness.
“There!” Aime’s voice broke the quiet as he pointed to the stairwell ahead, his beam of light flickering like a nervous heartbeat. “See you boys later!” Axka called, but the weight of the building pressed down on him, a constant reminder that they weren’t touring, they were rescuing.
As Axka and his friends split up, the tension inside the building only seemed to thicken. Every echo and creak added to the uncertainty of what lay ahead. At that same moment, deep inside the building, Ayame arrived at the scene where a group of students huddled together in fear. In the middle of them was Caden, holding a girl who trembled uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears, her eyes darting around in panic.
“Ms. Hyun!” Caden called out, his voice strained. He held the hysterical girl close as she whimpered in his arms. “She needs your help.”
Ayame moved forward with a purposeful stride, her senses on high alert. The air was thick, oppressive, as if the Abyssor’s malevolent presence had seeped into every corner of the room. The girl’s screams had died down, but Ayame could feel the Abyssor clawing at the edges of her mind, its dark energy still rooted inside her.
“She’s been possessed by an Abyssor,” Ayame said, her voice steady, but beneath her calm exterior, her heart quickened. She knew how dangerous this moment was, sensing that the Corrupted Elemental was about to use the path they were on. I must be quick.
Her hand hovered over her sword’s hilt. “Awaken, Yurei No Ken.” A conjured image of her strapped-back sword materialized. It was identical to the original, floating beside her as it’s glowing with ethereal light.
“Delay it,” she commanded, and the sword flew off to find its target, phasing through the wall. The other girls watched in awe, as if witnessing a fantastical story come to life, while Caden focused on the possessed student, clearly worried.
“You may not know me yet…”
Ayame slowly unsheathed her sword. “But your kind will. Unbind yourself from her body, or I will make you.”
Caden, trusting her but anxious for the girl’s safety, pleaded, “Please do it without hurting her,” as he held the girl tightly. Ayame nodded, though she could sense the Abyssor’s persistence. She began the exorcism, forcing the Abyssor out of the girl, who writhed in agony. She could sense the Abyssor’s malevolent grip, suffocating the girl’s spirit.
“Ms. Hyun!” Caden’s desperate voice echoed in her ears, but she couldn’t afford to stop. The girl passed out and the Abyssor emerged, screaming as it tried to escape through a nearby wall, but Ayame pursued and stabbed it.
Those watching saw her holding her sword as if against an invisible foe, but Ayame could see herself piercing the Abyssor, watching it fade slowly and die.
“Don’t worry about your student. She’s just unconscious,” Ayame said, sheathing her sword.
Caden let out a heavy sigh of relief. She really had me worried there. He gently picked up the girl, stifling a cough as he cradled her. “Girls, follow me. Hold hands tightly while we move,” he advised. “Are you coming, Ms. Hyun?”
“No, bring the others outside. This path is not safe,” she replied. Caden nodded, concern etched on his face. “Please be careful.” He then led the group of girls out.
As they descended the stairs, a lightning bolt zipped by so fast that Ayame barely managed to dodge it. The impact reverberated through the floors, making Caden and the girls downstairs stumble slightly as they continued toward safety.
Ayame quickly got back on her feet, her sword arriving just in time. She saw the Corrupted Elemental moving straight ahead.
“Fulmen,” Ayame whispered, her jaw tightening. “I have to keep up with it before it causes any damage.” With that, she started running, her conjured sword following close by.
***
Ever since the screams had faded away, Axka and Takoda slowed their pace as they wandered through the abandoned school’s gym, searching for Caden.
“Any sign of him?” Axka asked, his voice echoing slightly in the empty space.
“Nothing, bro. Not even anyone around,” Takoda replied, tension creeping into his tone. Axka sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on them.
“Let’s just keep walking until we find someone from the Achievers,” he suggested, trying to maintain focus.
“This place is huge, way bigger than ours,” Takoda commented as they stepped out of the gym, cold air hitting their faces.
“Yeah, but nothing beats our views,” Axka replied with a smirk.
Takoda nodded in agreement. “You’re right.”
As they kept walking, Axka suddenly felt an urgent need to piss. All that running around and a lot of water he’d chugged before leaving home caught up with him. He glanced around, hoping for a miracle. Great, just what I need right now.
“Bro, I need a bathroom,” Axka muttered, urgency clear in his tone.
“Just piss somewhere. I won’t look,” Takoda quipped with a grin.
“No way, bro. I ain’t uncivilized fuck. I gotta respect the place too,” Axka shot back, causing Takoda to chuckle.
“Okay then, let’s go. There’s gotta be a bathroom nearby,” Takoda replied, and they resumed their search.
After a few more minutes of wandering, they finally spotted it. “Here we are,” Axka said as they approached the abandoned bathroom.
“Wait here; who knows if they start coming around?” he instructed before heading inside.
“Make it fast, bro,” Takoda called out, his tone half-joking, half-impatient.
“I can’t just make it go instantly!” Axka shouted back, hearing Takoda's amused chuckle echo outside as he tried to finish up.
Not far from the bathroom, something created its own form, appearing as a thick thunder line, visible only to those with Etherea sight.
It was the corrupted lightning Elemental, Fulmen, took a stop from its own pursuit.
Though weakened by Ayame's sword, Yurei No Ken, it still searched for a new target to drive off the uninvited guests in its self-claimed home.
Not far from where Fulmen stopped, Takoda leaned against the cold wall, trying to catch his breath. Then, a faint crackling sound echoed through the empty corridor, like distant thunder. It was subtle at first, almost as if his mind was playing tricks on him.
“Hello?” His voice trembled slightly, unsure if he wanted an answer. He hesitated, but curiosity overpowered fear. Slowly, he moved toward the source, each step amplifying the electric hum that grew louder with every second.
Axka paused inside the bathroom, frowning as the eerie quietness outside crept into his senses. “Takoda?” His voice echoed back at him. Something felt off.
Takoda, meanwhile, edged forward, heart hammering with each step. The air around him hummed with an unnatural static, the smell of ozone thick in the corridor. Then, out of the shadows, it appeared—Fulmen, a jagged line of living lightning, its form crackling and twisting in the air. Its malevolent figure locking onto him with a predatory intensity, sending a shiver of terror down his spine.
“Oh shit!” Takoda barely had time to process the sight before panic took hold. His feet moved before his mind could catch up, and he bolted down the path he came from, his breath coming in short, frantic bursts. He had never seen lightning forming on its own.
“Shit, shit, shit!”
From the shadows, Fulmen blinked forward, closing the gap between them in a flash. One moment, it was far behind; the next, it was nearly on top of him, only to slow again as it recharging.
Takoda’s breath came in short, frantic bursts as he ran. Behind him, Fulmen crackled and hissed, its movements erratic and terrifyingly fast. At any moment, it could surge again, its burst unpredictable like a lightning strike from nowhere.
Each time it gained on him, closing the distance in random bursts before falling back into a slow, menacing crawl. The corridor filled with the scent of ozone, the electric hum intensifying with every second as Takoda scrambled to stay ahead.
Just then, Axka stepped outside, a wave of relief washing over him. “Phew, that was a good one.” As he caught his breath, he heard someone call his name.
“Axka!”
Takoda’s voice cut through the silence, sharp with urgency. Axka turned just in time to see Takoda sprinting toward him, his face twisted in fear. “Axka, run!” Takoda’s voice cracked with panic.
“What?” Axka barely had time to grasp Takoda’s words. “What are you running from?” Axka locked his eyes on Takoda as he rushed past him, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Then he heard—a crackling, thunderous sound from the direction Takoda had just fled.
Axka quickly shifted toward the sound and froze— a bolt of living lightning crackled its way toward him, its jagged form zigzagging like a predator closing in.
What the fuck is that?! His pulse raced.
“AWW SHIT!!!” he screamed, launching into a sprint after Takoda, his feet pounding the ground in time with the crackling thunder chasing him down.
“TAKODA!” Axka’s voice cracked with panic as he tried to keep up. His muscles screamed in protest, but the only thing louder was the crackling behind him. “WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME ABOUT THIS FUCKING LIGHTNING?”
“I’M LOSING IT, BRO!” Takoda’s breath came in gasps, his feet slamming the ground in rhythm with the electric crackling. “FUCK!” The thunder grew closer, swallowing their curses.
Takoda bolted past Axka, his breath heavy with fear, as the crackling thunder followed close behind. The same rumble reverberated through the walls above, where Aime and Smitty walked softly, exchanging uneasy glances. The sound felt closer now, like a storm creeping toward them. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah, but… it doesn’t sound like rain,” Smitty replied, his voice tense, sharing the unspoken realization between them.
“Maybe it’s a Rogue?” Aime gripped his flashlight harder, discomfort washed over him. “Or it could be Renegade…”
“Shit, we’re really in danger then,” Smitty quickly responded, the realization sinking in. “Well, I was already expecting it,” he added with a resigned tone. “Let’s just keep searching for them before we get caught by whatever’s out there.”
Ayame arrived at the place where Takoda had fled, her sharp Etherea Vision catching traces of the corrupted energy left behind. “It’s already found a target,” she whispered, her heart quickening. She sprinted after it, the thunderous sound still echoing from somewhere ahead.
As Axka and Takoda kept running, The air crackled with electricity, each spark leaving faint singes on the ground beneath their feet. Axka’s muscles burned from the sheer intensity of his movement, but it was a familiar burn—not exhaustion. He pushed on, driven by instinct rather than fear, though the urgency of being hunted was undeniable.
The thunder echoed behind them, growing louder with each step. The crackling heat followed closely, just enough for Axka to feel it prickling against his skin. He kept his focus forward, but a quick glance back confirmed it—the living lightning bolt was gaining on them, its electric form racing with unrelenting force.
The crack of thunder triggered something primal in him—a fear buried deep he couldn’t quite explain. Every time the sky roared with thunder or split with lightning, the same dread gripped him, cold and unshakable.
A flash of memory flickered in his mind—an explosion, a bang once, sharp and sudden, but the memory stayed blurred. Shaking it off, he focused on the chase.
“Dude, it’s catching up!” Takoda’s voice, usually steady, was filled with panic, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The fear in Takoda’s voice only fueled Axka’s own. They couldn’t outrun its pursuit.
That’s when it hit him—the lightning Elemental, Fulmen, only gained on them when it reached a corner. It’s moving like a ghost… The thought chilling him to the bone.
“Axka, you have to use your Anomaly! Now!” Takoda’s voice was laced with desperation, a tone Axka had rarely heard from him. The sheer panic in Takoda’s voice sent a chill down Axka’s spine. Takoda’s fear hit him like a cold wave.
There wasn’t time to think—only to act. His mind raced, a chaotic blur of instinct and dread, but he knew he had to focus. He couldn’t afford to lose control now.
The lightning charging up as it had before. It was about to burst forward again.
The air crackled with energy, and a blinding flash cut through the dark, followed by a deafening boom, so loud it felt like his skull was vibrating. The hair on his arms rising with static electricity, hot on his heels and Fulmen began striking them with its bolt. He felt the searing heat on his back as the lightning bolt closed in just inch away from him.
For a moment, everything froze —instinct took over.
With a sharp breath, Axka shot forward, his body seemingly defying gravity as his Anomaly kicked in. A pulse of energy rippled outward from him, expanding that sent a violent shockwave surging down the corridor. Walls trembled, debris scattered, and windows shattered. The corrupted Elemental was flung backward, its twisted form momentarily caught in the blast.
Axka didn’t stop. Grabbing Takoda, he surged ahead, his feet barely touching the ground. Behind them, the corridor exploded into chaos, the rumble of thunder from the Anomaly chasing them. The heat from the friction ignited a fiery line and flammable objects behind them, as a vapor cone formed at his back.
Axka activated another Anomaly, forming a nearly invisible barrier in front of him, shielding them from the wind and debris rushing through their path. The sight reminded him of a jet fighter cutting through the sky—a sight that once inspired him. With his force Anomaly in full effect, everything slowed around him. Even Fulmen’s rapid strikes appeared sluggish.
A quick glance confirmed it—Fulmen was nowhere in sight.
Confident in his lead, Axka made a split-second decision to halt. His defensive Anomaly absorbed the impact that would have torn him apart, stabilizing everything within its effect. He braced for what followed—the scorching heat, deafening boom, and gushing winds with trailing of debris closing in fast. In mere seconds, the chaos reached him, but his Anomaly held strong, deflecting the storm with ease.
As Ayame pursued the Fulmen, a sudden pulse of unfamiliar energy surged through the air, freezing her in place. She sensed something powerful—something she hadn’t expected. The walls trembled, followed by a shockwave that reverberated outside, causing the building to shake and everyone to flinch.
“What’s going on?!” people around the building exclaimed as they heard the intense, explosion-like sound. The entire structure vibrated, and a wave of heat radiated from within, all caused by Axka’s Anomaly.
The sound was so loud that even the students gathered at the camp area turned toward the building, fear spreading among them, where Officer Romero, still reporting to Officer Schmidt, suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Officer Romero quickly pulled out his radio. “Something’s going down inside. We need NCCS unit, now!” he barked into the device, his eyes fixed on the building’s trembling structure.
“Is it a Renegade?” someone murmured fearfully. “I’m scared,” another voice whispered. Sensing the growing panic, Officer Romero worked to calm the frightened students.
Elsewhere, on the far end of the first floor, Aime and Smitty felt the building tremble.
“An earthquake!? It must be a Rogue,” Smitty speculated, trying to make sense of the situation. Aime dropped his glass in shock. As he bent down to retrieve it, he noticed a group of shadows standing ominously at the far end of the corridor. Fear gripped him.
“S-Smitty!” he called out, his voice trembling with anxiety. Suddenly, one of the shadowy figures turned toward them, and then all of them began running in their direction.
Smitty quickly rushed from the nearby room to Aime. “What!?” he asked, glancing at the shadowed figures. Before he could react, one of the shadows wrapped him in a tight hug. Then she released Smitty. “Sorry, I was scared,” the girl whispered, though it was clear she was using the situation as an excuse to flirt. It turned out to be two groups from the Achievers.
“It’s fine, but you both should head to the far end of the stairs. It’s safer there; it’s dangerous in here,” Smitty advised them, urging them to leave the building for their own safety.
As the girls started moving out, Aime finally found his glasses on the floor and stood up. One of the girls paused and said, “I think we saw two groups of girls from Mavericks still on the ground floor.”
“Thanks for the heads up!” Smitty replied, turning to Aime, who was now back on his feet. “Let’s go!” he urged, and they both started running toward the ground floor, determined to find and warn Takoda and Axka about the situation.
As they both keep searching for their friends, Smitty saw a beam of a light. “Hey, over here,” a voice called from the other end of a room. Aime and Smitty heard it and finally located the Maverick group of girls on the ground floor. “You girls okay?” Aime asked as he noticed some of the girls leaning against the wall, partially hidden in the room's shadows.
“Kind of,” replied the girl who had called out to them. “A broken glass and some debris from the building gave us slight wounds during the earlier quake.”
Aime, surprised, blurted out, “I didn’t realize there were girls in our Mavericks group.” Smitty gave Aime a quick look of realization before turning back to the girl. “Can you walk outside?” he asked.
“I guess so,” she responded. “Well, you ladies should head down these corridors. I think it’s safe now, whatever that was. We still need to check on our boys,” Smitty instructed, pointing them toward the safer path outside.
The girls began to move out slowly, nursing their light wounds. As they did, the girl who had called out earlier planted a quick smooch on Smitty’s cheek—a mix of flirtation and gratitude. Aime, standing beside him, shot him a side-eye, clearly jealous. Smitty caught Aime’s look and raised an eyebrow, smirking as he shrugged it off.
Noticing the exchange, the girl said, “Don’t worry, you’re cute too.” Aime responded with a smile, feeling a bit of admiration from her. As the rest of her group got a few steps ahead, she quickly caught up with them.
Aime, still feeling a twinge of jealousy, gave Smitty a look. “What? At least she said you’re cute,” Smitty teased, noticing Aime’s lingering expression.
“But you always get admired by more girls than I do!” Aime protested, pointing a finger at Smitty’s face.
“Well, at least we’re both admired by someone. Not like Axka.” Smitty laughed.
“Shit, now that you mention him, we need to find him fast,” Aime suggested, the urgency of their situation returning. Smitty nodded in agreement, and they both moved out, following the path that Axka and Takoda had taken earlier.
It’s gone, Ayame noted as she reached the last known location of the corrupted Elemental.
Weakened but not destroyed. I have to find it before it recovers. Her eyes followed the path carved out by Axka’s Anomalies, she began to consider the aftermath.
What destruction caused this? Was it the Fulmen?
Ayame paused, assessing the destruction. This path was no longer usable, but there was no time to lose. She scanned the obliterated path. she commanded her sword, “Scout!” The sword phased through the walls.
Her gaze hardened as she continued down the another path, her determination unwavering.
Meanwhile, Outside the building, Caden emerged from the front door, carrying a possessed girl in his arms, while the group beside him reached safety. “Are you alright!?” a teacher asked as they rushed over to help.
“I’m fine,” Caden responded with soft coughs, though his focus remained on the distressed girl in his arms. “Does anyone have water for her to drink?” he asked, his voice full of concern, wanting to ease the terror she was experiencing.
“Don’t worry, Auxillarion Forces is on the way,” Officer Mendoza reassured him. But Caden, so focused on the girl, didn’t realize that some of his students, who were supposed to wait outside, were now missing from his view.