Olley: I wonder what my mother would think if she knew that her daughter just suddenly got arrested. Actually, I'm a lot more scared if she thinks this was just bound to happen. What do you think, Arc?

Arc: I think you should keep quiet while the officer is reading his statements. He's already quite pissed that you didn't shut it for the entire journey here.

Police: For the last time! Keep it down! I don't get paid enough for this job. So? Why are you here? You two don't even have any identification or border visa?

We were now sitting in a small stone cell with the head officer looking down at us. His black mustache fluffing up from the frustration of listening to Olley. It was quite warm in here that it made me a bit sleepy. Though if I started yawning I'm sure that he would just get mad. He was wearing some kind of weird outfit that didn't look like something a guard would wear. Is it just a Plauxian thing to wear that? It was a purple cloth fleece with some metal paddings on it. What was strange was that he was also wearing a red and white striped skirt to his knees. Olley took a great giggle when I pointed that out moments ago.

Arc: I don't know if this should matter but I'm Adamian.

Police: ADAMIAN!

Olley: Oh look at what you did now Arc. You scared him.

Arc: Relax, I'm going to hurt you. I'm just passing through.

Police: If there's an Adamian here… Then something is going to happen! I have to get to my family now!

And just like that, he left in a rush. Did we really have such a bad name in Plaux? The head of police rushed out with the gate opened up. It didn't seem sensible to just stay here so I modded some fire on my hands to melt the iron cuffs like a laser. Olley turned her binded hands to me and I did the same. Seems like this city is really scared of Adamians.

Olley: Now what? You scared off our informant chief.

Arc: I don't know. Find another? We don't exactly have a map towards the capital either.

Olley: I thought you Adamians always have this plan in your heads. Like some super cool elite team.

Arc: We are an elite team but our plans aren't that specific.

Olley: Anyway, we should go anyway. I have an idea!

Arc: Where to?

Olley: The pubs! Or rather the inn. I've heard from the other guards in the background that's where they would go. Maybe that's the place to be for information!

Arc: That's a bit strange. I didn't hear a thing.

Olley: Maybe I just have superior hearing then.

Arc: Just get the hell out already.

Olley: I'm the one that's waiting for you to bust the jail door already.

Arc: Are you going to be like this all the time?

Olley: Maybe~

I surged my eyes preparing to break apart the cell door towards the outside. However, as I was about to release something, the cell walls were already busted open! The explosion shot both me and Olley towards the cell bars. Now I was in pain! There was still smoke everywhere making everything harder to see. Now instincts started acting up because I could feel some magic in the air! Was this Terra!? I grabbed Olley's shirt then threw her to the wall. There was a thud beside me, I probably threw her a bit too hard there. But a second later, a powerful flamethrower shot in the original spot that Olley was in! The flames cleared the air showing our assailant. It was one of the guards but there was something wrong about him! His eyes were completely dark blue! A dark matter was spreading all over his veins. The way he walked looked absolutely horrid as he limped forward. His mouth steaming out the flames.

Olley: You could've moved me a little bit smoother?

Arc: Fight now! Battle phase!

Olley: HUH!? Got it!

The problem wasn't that it was just one guard. There were more right behind the first. Some of the normal guards were moving towards them. However, as they aimed their weapons at them. These monsters simply bursted different elements at them! Destructive air blasts! Flame breathes! Magic was all over the place! My hair was starting to tingle from the sudden amount. I surged my eyes then shot out a hurricane to the roof. My cannon broke through making the ceiling a bit more visible. Grabbing Olley, I shot us up using a ground pillar. It was just like some kind of weird prophecy. The city was slowly erupting with explosions! What the hell was happening! A loud horn suddenly went off.

Loud speaker system: Everyone! This is not a drill! Mutants have been detected in sector M. At all costs do not leave your homes! I repeat! This is not a drill! All citizens must stay in their lodgings until everything has been cleared…

Something about these mutants didn't feel right. That was genuine magic in the air. Not just some kind of random pseudo magic! It was real Adamic magic! Olley held my hand as we jumped back into the building's roof. Citizens were slowly running away from these strange things. Blue veined monster. It reminded me of what magic would look like if it was contaminated with something! But even then, it would only happen to magic borns! These are Plauxians.

Olley: What's happening!?

Arc: That's what I want to know!

Olley: Everything is breaking down. We need to help those citizens into their houses!

Arc: We can't do that right now.

Olley: Well I never said I needed your help.

Arc: Hey, if it wasn't for me, you'd be incinerated there.

Olley: I didn't ask did I? Do you want to live your life with regrets? I don't! Go without me! I don't care!

My mind started to buzz again like some kind of strange noise. Olley's face wasn't like the normal expression she had on. It was determined just like hers. Without another second of hesitation, She jumped off the building running with her boot wheels. How could she just make that decision! This place was going to be leveled! Adamic magic isn't for the untrained. That's why children are trained the most because they're the most destructive. What more random citizens who don't have a clue on how to use them! This is basically suicide without proper training! This girl is going to be the death of me! Damn it! I'm getting too soft! I modded my boots then chased after her. Her mother wouldn't be pleased about these heroics! The city's structures were already starting to burn down. Mutated citizens were starting to spawn much more as I kept dodging some encounters. As I turned the corner, Olley was fighting off three mutated citizens trying to protect a family. I felt a sudden surge again in the air!

Arc: OLLEY GET DOWN!

She ducked then I surged my right into a hurricane haymaker! The air cannons blasted the mutated citizens out of sight. Olley came back to the family then helped them get inside. I walked up to her but from the looks of her eyes she still wanted to help more.

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Arc: Fine! Let's just do this already.

Her expression turned into a big happy one as she raised her hand up. I looked at it and it was similar to how Able did when he seemed happy.

Olley: High five? Don't leave me hanging?

Arc: High five?

Olley: Here like this!

She opened up my hand then sort of just clapped it for me. Such a strange ritual but it did make her happy. I should teach this to Nex when I see him. There was another explosion that happened nearby. Olley went first to investigate if there was someone out there that needed help. What was I even doing? Why am I helping these locals? This should be the most optimal time to go and find some clues. But now I'm following someone I just met. The smell of the air was filled with iron, burning, and ashes falling. It felt like the place was truly falling apart after just a couple of minutes of me arriving! We kept sprinting around to where people would need help. Screaming could be heard from multiple areas and we're only just two people. Others were also helping but this was some kind of new age of calamity. An invasion? More mutants started to come as we kept helping some others. I'd shoot some hurricanes to buy some time. However, this wasn't going to end soon. I tapped Olley shoulder, signalling her to watch over for a bit. There seemed to be some moderately tall buildings to see everything happening. After a quick air burst, I was hanging on the ledge of the structure nearest. The fires were spreading this way! That means that the monsters were coming from that side! I jumped over towards what seemed to be that area. Landing on the ground, a surge came through my veins again. It shot a bright blue power through my eyes. I placed a seal on the ground then created a large wall then shot it hard through the buildings! It decimated everything in its path. Everything that was in the middle of my wall was cut in half even if it were made of metal foundation. After feeling that it was long enough, I dug deep again. Another surge came up, I shot another ground wall to my right to finish the border! There was no way that they could break through this unless they coordinated an attack. They seemed to be mindless for now like some kind of drones. Leaping to the top of the wall I erected, there they were on the ground trying to get to the other side. Citizens that seemed to be infected with something in them. These creatures made the air smell terrible or at least for me. This potent smell was magic being used. Only Adamians can smell it. That's how we sense magic being used. Looking at the other side of this wall, this side of the city was burning right in front of me. Strange how I feel powerless to do anything about it. I wished I knew that something like this would happen.

After taking one more good luck, I jumped down back to Olley. She was holding one of the guards by the back of his neck collar. It seemed pretty important to her that this person was knocked out.

Olley: Good job on the wall. I didn't think that you could do something like that. But it must be pretty easy for you huh.

Arc: These kinds of things are a lot more difficult than you think. I'd have to study how to shape ground like people who have ground affinities. If I lost focus for one second there, it would've caused a tremor. Even simple walls require finesse.

Olley: Whatever show off. Anyways, check this guy out. He's one of the guards that were running away from the scene without helping. He might know something if he wasn't with his other guard buddies helping.

Arc: Pretty smart of you.

Olley: Thanks!

Arc: Let's get to a safer place for now. This place is going to shit.

Olley: But we have to help the rest of the district!

Arc: I've blockaded what was the most of the invasion. Despite the destruction from these random things popping out. They don't seem to have a mind. So isolating them in one area was the only thing I could think of to help this place out.

Olley: But what about the people on the other side!

Arc: I know it's hard but we have to leave it to their government. It's been a rule of Adamians to not get involved in political matters if they can help it. Help them with the least amount of work.

Olley: You're such a stickler for the rules y'know that.

Arc: Rules keep people like us alive Olley.

Olley: Fine! Hmph!

Arc: Let's just get going already. We need our answers.

There weren't many places that weren't still recovering from the damages. Some places were still removing corpses. Another section was still also fending off the remaining mutants that weren't walled off. Looking at the sky, reinforcements have started to arrive from what seems to be the main city. Silver floating air ships deploying armored soldiers with modern style technology. They were landing on the isolated spots as we continued on towards a safer destination.

Eventually we made it to a random house that seemed abandoned. Olley threw the man on the corner of the room. The force of the impact managed to wake him perfectly up from his unconscious state. He looked like he was still in his early adult years based on his physical features. His armor covered most of his head but there was one thing that caught my attention. It seemed like his evolutionary feature was his legs. They unscathed despite being exposed to multiple explosions. As he started waking up, his expression slowly turned into despair. However, Olley had already tied up the soldier's torso and arms. He was basically a worm trying to wriggle his way out.

Arc: Hey! You're awake. Mind explaining what's going on? We just arrived, is this normal?

Soldier: Normal!? You call those things normal!? You must be crazy or something. Those things were using magic! This can't be happening! It should be impossible!

Olley: Not completely impossible! We have an Adamian in our midst right now!

Soldier: AN ADAMIAN!? SO THIS WAS YOUR FAULT! THE CITY BEING DESTROYED WAS YOUR FAULT!

I walked up to him then gave him a strong left hook. It sent him face down on the ground with a hard sound. This guy was starting to get restless.

Arc: Why did you have to mention that? Now he's going to be a lot more annoying to get information. Calm down will you. We just said that we just arrived in this district. We're a bit confused ourselves.

Soldier: THOSE THINGS! THEY'RE MONSTERS!

Olley: I think he needs another clobbering!

Soldier: NO! PLEASE DON'T!

Olley: Then stop shouting! Geez… Calm down. We aren't going to kill you. We just want to know what's happening.

Soldier: If that's the case then cut me loose! I don't want to feel like some kind of insect!

Arc: Fine but if you run before we get what we need, you might get pummeled again.

Soldier: I won't run! I promise!

Olley: You heard him Arc. He promises~

I hopped him back to his feet then started untying the rope around him. He touched his cheek to soothe the pain from the punch. It didn't seem like he was going to run so I didn't respond to any of his movements.

Soldier: You have names?

Olley: I'm Olley! District H.

Arc: Adamian, 24th Arc. You got one too?

Soldier: Kier. District M. So you two are the outsiders that I've heard about. I might not be the one who should say this but you guys belong here especially you.

Olley: Don't worry! I'm just here because of my partner! Right?

Arc: I'm not your partner. You're just tagging along because you want to.

Olley: Oh, don't be shy now. You came to me when I went off on my own. If you really didn't want to be my partner you'- AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! THAT HURTS! STOP IT! STOP IT!

Arc: For someone so fragile, you sure do have a big mouth on you. This is the mouth that's causing me trouble isn't it? I just met you and you're already declaring strange things.

Kier: Well you two seem close.

Arc: I don't think so. We just met.

Kier: Sometimes it's not the time that defines how you bond with others.

Olley: Who is this guy and why is spitting embarrassing stuff.

Kier: Hey! I'm just saying what's on my mind!

Arc: That was pretty embarrassing…

Kier: You two suck.

Arc: Well? What's happening?

Kier: No clue… To be honest, I just kind of got scared of what happened.

Arc: You're absolutely useless. Olley, you should've picked up someone else than some random guy.

Kier: Wait a minute, I'm not that useless!

Arc: You're not giving us anything to work with.

Kier: Wait, let me give something else! You guys did kind of save my life anyway. Lately, the city was already in some tension with a group of individuals posing as merchants. Our police force tried our best to find these people but to no avail. They've been selling peculiar substances all over Hyer. So far not even the capital's security have been able to spot at least one of them. Though we know all of this because of an increase of drug related cases in the city. Disputes, carriers, and users but never the dealers. That's probably why one of the reasons why sudden strangers falling off the sky meant trouble. Everyone has been on edge for the last few years.

Arc: What does that have to do with anything outside?

Olley: Sound like a lot of trouble to deal with...

Kier: I don't think any of you were listening! Don't you guys think this has something to do with them? You girl! What was your name again? Olley? Haven't you ever heard of these merchants? You lived within these walls!

Olley: Not really, I would just be running around the forest areas in my free time. Whatever happened in the village doesn't really concern me.

Kier: You serious?! You should start paying attention to what's happening in the city!

Olley: Why would I care for a city that forces its ideals on people.

Kier: What's that supposed to mean?! Hyer only takes care of it's people.

Olley: Say that to my face when you've lived in district H. Living like some kind of savages when you know they're better stuff out there.

Arc: Calm down you two! This isn't getting us anywhere, Kier continue.

Kier: Well I'm not sure but I'm sure this has something to do with the merchants and the missing scientist.

Arc: Missing scientist?

Kier: I don't know the details because I live in district H but I've heard that capitol's lead scientist just decided to leave.

Olley: You mean that quack that helped decide this shit on us?

Kier: I guess you can put it like that. He did help our city progress much faster though. Those inventions of his got us out of some pretty dark stuff.

Olley: That only matters to people who live in District M and L.

Kier: Hate to admit that but that's true.

Arc: Tell me more about the merchants.

Kier: I'm just a lowly guard Arc. These are just things I pick up from hearing from my superiors on duty. All I know is that the disappearance happened a hundred hours ago. Technically just two days ago.

Arc: We'll still need some more information. Is that everything? No Adamians involved?

Kier: No, the only Adamian we've encountered so far was you and the scientist.

Arc: Hate to break it to you but that scientist isn't Adamian.

Kier: Impossible, how else would he have such great inventions and magic? He looks exactly like your kind too.

Arc: There are different types of our humans apparently. I've just learned this a day ago or so. But I know for certainty that he isn't Adamian.

Kier: Strange… I guess we just assumed he was. He said he was human.

Arc: That he is but not Adamian.

Kier: One last thing about that I want you guys to know as thanks. Those people I've seen turn into mutants. They were rumored drug users. That's why I think it has something to do with the hidden merchants of the city. If you're planning on helping us then help us find these dealers or merchants! They've been a plague to this city!

Arc: No, I don't think we will help. The only reason I wanted to help was because Olley was being a child.

Olley: I am technically a kid y'know~

Kier: No way! You guys have to help! You guys have some sort of powers or something! You in particular Adamian! I saw that wall you made! You need to help this city!

Arc: I have other directives to follow like you soldier. I can't just abandon them to help a city in crises.

Kier: What about you Olley? Convince him! You live here too!

Olley: Uh… I'm not really interested in city politics so~ I'll just tag along with this guy.

Kier: WAIT!

Kier jumped down to his knees on the floor. He sounded like his life depended on it. I was starting to get creeped out on this guy. Who just depends on random strangers like that? We just met after all. Though when I look Olley why do I feel like this hopeless guy too. I looked at Olley then she gave me a bright smile and peace sign. Right, I forgot why I'm even with her. She seems a bit annoying at times too but why is she even referring me as her partner? Looking back on the soldier down on his knees, I could sense his sweating from here.

Kier: PLEASE ADAMIAN HELP US!

Arc: No, we got stuff to do. I can't just help out a city.

Kier: I'm not going to let the city fall in ruin like this!

Arc: How?

Kier: Like this!

Arc: Oh what!? Get off my leg before I blast you with a hurricane!

Kier: PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! WE NEED THE FIRE POWER! WE'RE TOO PATHETIC TO HANDLE THIS OURSELVES!

Olley: Groveling? That's a bit too low…

Kier: I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE! I KNOW THIS GUY CAN HELP US!

Arc: Get the heck off of me already!

Kier: NO!

Arc: You guys are useless...