• Chapter #22: [DISASTER?]

Shido frowned as he heard what the enemy had planned. While the others had left, he stayed and monitored the area if the enemy came back. He had been feeling uneasy ever since they refused to do his plan, and it turns out, he was right.

Right now, he needs to warn them. They’ll never stand a chance should they get caught up in the Black Zodiac’s trap. He might not like Hiro’s naivety, but he’s still a comrade.

Taking out something from his bag, he opened up a Scroll of Transportation and Scroll of Communication. Both were expensive items, as only Craftsmen above Dominator Rank is able to create them. However, this situation’s good as any in using them.

*Rip*

*Shiiinngg~*

“Who…?— Shido?!”, A male voice sharply exclaims on the other side of the communication circle. However, Shido had no plans on wasting his time.

“Hiro, listen to me and quickly notify the others. There are 4 Supreme Ranks within the enemy roster.”, Shido immediately warned to Hiro.

“W-What?! F-Four of them?!”, Hiro’s gasp of shock and fear reverberated through the line. Only a few of them were transported, along with their strongest allies, which were the other 2 Supreme Ranks. If there were truly 4 Supreme Ranks sent by the Black Zodiac, along with their other members, they would be defeated with ease.

“Yes, and we need to hurry. They were planning to put an ambush on the Deity’s Temple and also the LightWays Media.”, Shido said, as on what he heard from the old man. He was most likely 1 of the 4 Supreme Ranks, and was the one who spear headed their entire mission. There were not only planning to steal Hiro’s sword, they also wanted to terminate the 2 Supreme Ranks and annihilate LightWays Media.

As for now, the remaining LightWays Media members are still battling the other Black Zodiac members back on Earth, and were surrounded with an Space and Time Concealment Wards and Barriers. It would be sometime before the Union HQ sensed something wrong.

So what they need to do, is survive long enough for the Wards and Barriers to wear off in order to call for back up. As of now, they stood no chance against the Black Zodiac members.

“Hiro, don’t make any rash decisions right now. Their primary objective is still stealing the Tyrant’s Blade. Be extra careful.”, Shido warned further.

“… You too Shido, be careful…”, Hiro replied. With that, Shido confirmed with a grunt and cut off their communication.

“This is very troubling… How can we prepare and survive the ambush…?”, Shido muttered, as he fumbled the Transportation Scroll he held.

“Bang!

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*Rumble!*

—?!

The wall he hid on suddenly exploded. Luckily, Shido was able to quickly jump away.

“There’s no need to prepare.”, A voice called out from the smoke and rubble, immediately making Shido summon his weapon and put on a battle stance.

After a few moments, wind swept on the smoke, clearing it out. The sight revealed something that made Shido clench his teeth and weapon harder out of anger.

What revealed was the members of the Black Zodiac, grinning at him mockingly and menacingly, except for the old man, who were looking at him impassively.

“You’re alone huh.”, The old man regarded Shido with amusement.

“Tch!”, Shido backed away once more, before holding the Teleportation Scroll with his left hand and ripping it with his teeth.

But to his shock, instead of a flash of light and a magic circle, the Teleportation Scroll hung uselessly.

“Wha—?! I… It didn’t work?!”, Shido exclaimed in shock and a bit of fear.

“Hah! Did you forgot who’re you dealing with, clean-freak?!”, Tatsumi sneered, as he walked besides the old man.

“The cautios Heir of the Matsamune has now been cornered.”, A woman stood beside Tatsumi.

As all of them now appeared, Shido sweated and shivered in fear. He tried to calm his being by gripping his sword harder, but his hand still noticeably shook.

“Bound Serpent….”

One of the most vicious Black Zodiac members, the Bound Serpent, stood before Shido. He’s been well-known in sealing off the power of his opponents, even the powerful ones, allowing him to reduce their power to Lower – Tier Rankings. And of course, he’s also able to create and place a Sealing Ward without Shido being able to notice anything.

However, unlike the Moon Rabbit, who overwhelmed his opponents with numbers and overwhelming spells, the Bound Serpent was also known for torturing his weakened opponents to death.

And now, he just found his possibly latest victim.

…

“The Lady of Sorrow was once a human?”, I asked raising my eyebrow. Right now, we’re inside the maze-like labyrinth deeper within the temple. So far, me and Lisa was able to find 3 things that could help us guide out of this planet.

Finding what had caused the Deity’s specific death would guide us to the second door. I had asked Lisa on why was this the reason, and she vaguely said that every Divinities’ death is different.

If someone wants to go in and out freely, they need to know who owns it and what their history is, basically. And for that, to find the specified reason of the Deity’s death, her life is needed to be viewed and analyzed.

“Not all beings came from human’s thoughts or nowhere, some had origins and rose up.”, Lisa stated, her blue eyes focused in front.

One of the hints that we have, is that she was once human, who was an orphaned genius and possessed the rare attribute on the kingdom she once belonged, called the ‘Magika’.

Another one is that she loved humanity, living life happily. This is probably because of her talent. Humans will always cling to those who would benefit them and leave them when they’re of no use.

The final one we have is that her vague representation of ascendance. It was some sort of painting, depicting the lady holding out her palms on a Victorian Era pocket watch descending from the skies.

“We still need to find more.” Lisa said to me. I nodded my head in agreement. Of course it was very easy for me to leave this place, however, as a former sim—

*Cough* Ahem, I mean, man of my words, I just can’t leave this beautiful lady out here, alone on this dangerous dead planet.

As a responsible otaku who likes people with a chill temperament, this is a must to do. In fact, I had a crush to the Class President is also because of this.

However, I have no feelings for her now. Matter of fact, I don’t have one even now, probably because of my wariness and irritation of my crush, if I had one, being again stolen by Hiro.

While analyzing and slowly muttering the glyphs written, I slowly saw Lisa hold her finger to her ear, a Communication Circle on it, in the corner of my eye. It was a few moments, but she frowned and at the end, her frown even went wider, with extreme concern and worry gleaming in her eyes.

With that sight, I turned to her and asked.

“Is there a problem?”

“The Snake… They had prepared several ambush places, with one outside of the monument. They also have 4 Supreme Ranks with them, who are now heading to their positions.” She said.

“Now that’s troublesome.”, I said, surprised at their rush. They sent 4 Supreme Ranks and many more High Ranked members for the sword? Just how much do they really want it.

Still, not all plans work out, despite their clear strength. I’m not confident that I could take on all 4, but I’ll see what I can do. For now, I need to finish these, much quicker, so that I might help them.

The less the chaos, the less the disaster.

I resumed scanning the text, and after a few moments, I then realized something that made me widen my eyes.

Even though there are 4 Supreme Ranks and others from the Black Zodiac, my [Plotter’s Discernment] still hasn’t acted up to confirm if this was Schemer’s aforementioned disaster.

Then, a vague thought came into my mind.

… But it can’t be right…? The Lady of Sorrow…?

[•END•]

Revised by BaNaeNae.