Entrapment, The Killing

After the first day of the mission, 2 weeks and 5 days slowly went by. Heian Ciemnosc and Elena were the team leaders and the highest in command for this mission.

Unlike any other mission, they weren't of opposing qualities, appropriateness and ideas. Since even within the same club, leaders can become a heavyweight for each other. However, that was mostly not the case when it came down to the 'best' clubs, such as the Saberbone Diabolical Club. Thus, the almost 3 weeks were spent with relative ease and tranquility. Only some Sub Students were reprimanded for wanting to step out of the camp alone. And another punched into semi-coma trying his luck with Elena after seeing how 'easy' she was whenever Heian Ciemnosc came and brought her away.

During these days, investigations and reconnoitering were underway. The place they needed to check out was to the northeast of their encampment, and only those like Victor and Aleksander could go along. Fortunately, besides another 2 from Elena’s team, 4 Sub Students were good enough to be brought into the shadows and out of the encampment. Sometimes, they stayed outside the camp for a couple of days.

Whenever another organization or City was confirmed to have involvement and participation in a large-scale meeting, the reconnaissance team would send back word, images, and observations via Fauna. After all, if they used a Universal Conveyance messaging system, they would be intercepted since they didn’t have any Second Step Craftsperson among them. But in reality, Heian Ciemnosc could create a mechanism within the camp, personnel array formation, or a tool for each student here to hide from regular sensory systems, technologically, array formations, or both.

On the other hand, along with those who could Craftsmake in the forging profession, Heian Ciemnosc started a little activity around the camp to create tools for mass murder. Typical things in a mission like this. But this time, very few explosives were being made. Although creating talismans was the least reputed profession in the Wrath Nihiltiy Academy. Seeing Heian Ciemnosc do that a lot in the first 5 days made the rest join him.

On the other hand, Elena kept everyone alert and their senses looking for possible movements. They weren’t stupid enough to provoke any of the Fauna around, only hunting some little Fauna here and there, not too close to the territories of some bosses around. Training everyone physically every early morning to late morning. She kept everyone quiet and obedient. Even Heian Ciemnosc was forced to reveal his ugly torso many… many times…

Violet, Sakura, and Oleg were Craftspeople in the forging profession, even better than the ‘barely getting good’ Elena. But the days were mainly bland, with little to nothing entertaining. If anything, in the nights, some fooling around happened within each team, and the Sub Students went many steps beyond it. On the other hand, Heian Ciemnosc and Elena would go on 4 to 5 dates every week at night, doing whatever they did when no one saw them.

A couple Sub Students were dared to chase after them and see them bang each other, but they returned paralyzed and needing several days of foster care. And as for what they were doing. It was reasonably uncomplicated: sleeping together without gasps, moans, and begging for impregnation. Nothing lewd, nothing absurdly lewd.

Thus, almost 3 weeks were spent like this as the gathered intel became obsolete, meaning there would be no more surprises or things to discover until the meeting day arrived. Which was just about to happen…

… On the night of the 5th day of the 3rd week since the beginning of this mission. Heian Ciemnosc and Elena’s teams were gathered beyond 1,000 kilometers from their camp. The Sub Students were right behind them. Everyone knew what they each had to do. And as they were covered by one of Heian Ciemnosc’s array formation moving tools, hidden from the sensor from the suspicious organizations’ higher-ups, they lay prone on the ground just more than 300 meters from where a few tens of thousands of gathered suspicious Ashes Soul realm cultivators.

They couldn’t use any means of communication right now. They would only be successful without something hiding it from the enemy if they could send mental messages without a tool, but that was clearly impossible.

One of them was a group of 12 people lying prone on the ground, sliding slowly towards the meeting place where thousands and thousands were chatting and debating each other. Everything could be heard perfectly from the short distance of dozens of meters. Only one thing was in common about their chatting: the Wrath Nihility Academy.

However, it was not about discussing whether to attack the Academy or reconsiderate. Instead, it was about how to move next. Though they were debating and intensely chatting with one another, some with more emotion and ardor than others, they were all of the same mind to strike the Academy in one way or another. Some were hasty, others too hasty, and some too slow in the head of those too hasty.

There was another group of 12 on the other side of the place where the meeting took place. They were similarly sliding through the ground towards the few tens of thousands, listening to their words, speaking them so freely as if this Kingdom wasn’t the Wrath Nihility Academy’s. But they were silently watching and hearing them speak. It would all be over once the sunlight fell from the sky again.

They were silently approaching, akin to a reptile underwater about to lunge up and draw any victim into the water or from the side, sliding slowly but surely towards the back of an unsuspecting enemy. The 2 groups’ eyes were not forgiving, so as to speak, but didn’t look scary. They were simply clear and showed calmness.

If this wasn’t the Academy’s doing in changing their mentality from a world full of purity and honor to a reality of betrayal and filth under the nail. Then what was it?

Fwoosh- tap, fwoosh-tap, whoosh whoosh whoosh.

“!?” - “!” - “??” - “Be careful, who’s there?!” - “Hey, show yourselves. Which organization are you from?” - “What the…?” - “AAAAAH! They’re no-” - “Help, aaaah!! Crabstynian re-” - “Noo, kguaaaaaahh!!”

The 2 groups suddenly launched themselves forward. They didn’t stand up but were already impulsing their bodies forth with all their physical strength and Power Energy. The dirt and grass under their feet were flattened, and the rest around their footprints at launch-time became disordered and looked messy. But under a sludgy surface - it had become as solid as a rock.

They moved fast, their shins accompanied by the wind as it lighted the weight their bodies carried with already quite a few tools and devices at hand. They didn’t directly rush into the mob and get themselves killed in under a minute. It would be simple, even in a surprise attack. Instead, they separated at a quick pace and detoured while still running towards the mob.

Some Ashes Soul realm cultivators tried stopping them as the 2 groups couldn’t be recognized, wearing all black and anti-Spirit Sense on their bodies. But some devices and tools could be seen under their black clothing. Yet, as they tried to simply intercept some of the black-clothed people, they were turned into mush and exploded into blood. That was when they noticed there were Crabstynian realm cultivators among the 2 groups!

Even though they noticed the impending danger, they weren’t as fast or prepared as the 2 groups. The black-clothed people ran at an absurd speed, sometimes seemingly about to trip every now and then, but they always ended up keeping on and throwing some tools or devices on the ground. They were embedded by the force they were thrown, and the edge limb used to bury itself into the ground, almost disappearing into the grass.

More Ashes Soul realm cultivators tried directly killing off these black-clothed people, but it was still hopeless. The black-clothed figures could send Power Energy attacks to help each other and not let any enemies get close to them. The black-clothed people didn’t rush into the mob. They simply kept running around. After observing for a moment and realizing the black-clothed people won’t attack them as long as they don’t try anything, the Ashes Soul realm cultivators remained stagnant.

That was naturally a mistake as they didn’t know what was coming… Of course, they also thought it acceptable to remain safe without moving and see what the enemy was planning. Take a breather and analyze things was but in the manual of survival. And these Ashes Soul realm enemies were bent on keeping it that way before attempting to run away all at once, in case it was needed.

From their point of view, they would wait before fleeing. Nobody was bored to wait and see if an army was coming here, either from the Wrath Nihility Academy or a rare loyal Second Step organization to the Academy.

However, when they were already preparing to plan an escape, they were suddenly struck with the creepy sight of those devices thrown to the ground, growing strange veins and forming a small cupola-front shield made of pure energy but also looking like a membrane. And just as those things started, they dug into the ground and disappeared from their eyes and Spirit Senses!

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Pshiift- veiuuuuuuump!

A light green luster came from underground, exactly lined up with the devices and tools thrown around the mob. Then, slim beams of light soared from underneath where each cupola-front shield was sunk. They all went 2 meters above the ground before suddenly streaking to the left, forming a barrier which became increasingly taller until it reached the bottom, covering a height of 11 meters. This all happened in just a few seconds!

Those who tried escaping right then and there, able to wake up from the stupor, were hunted down by the black-clothed people. Not many reacted in time, but even if they did, they would have only been able to push against the barrier as it was forming and not go through it.

“!!!” The mob was stupefied. In no more than a couple minutes, 2 dozen people have managed to entrap a few tens of thousands. They didn’t know only several of those 2 dozen were in the Crabstynian realm. But the show from earlier was enough to deter anyone from keeping proving. At least for the level of order and experience these people had, which was clearly low.

“It’s a barrier! Protective array formation!” - “What?! But why…?”- “Everyone, don’t panic. They must have fucked it up somewhere. Take advantage and kill them, leave just a few alive!” - “Gaaah!” - “Haaah!” - Kuuuh!”

The Ashes Soul realm cultivators sent Power Energy attacks at the dozen black-clothed figures. But right then and there, they were by their attacks as they bounced back from the barrier and hit them. Some were too unprotected, feeling too much at ease, thus losing a limb or directly their lives. And for the third time, a large-scale disruption of thoughts in the heads of all these trapped enemies occurred.

As they stopped attacking out of instinct, without anyone yelling, they gulped down and observed the people outside more carefully. The black-clothed people were calmly and leisurely standing, looking at them as they chatted with each other. Those within the protective array formation couldn’t hear those from outside, and vice versa.

“Lo- look! They’re doing something! Someone quickly try your Universal Conveyance. Alert the commanders! Our leaders!!” - “They can’t attack us, why?” - “Ha! It’s a 2-way protective barrier. The imbeciles can’t do nothing to use as we can’t to them!” - “They have to come inside and fight us!” - “Ah! I tried it. It’s possible. We can message our commanders. Someone quickly do it!”

As more and more thoughts were turned into words, yells, and excitement, the enemies became gladdened and looked at the black-clothed people again. But in their eyes, it was no longer the precaution and fear from before. It was the sight of a hunter preying on the dumb, unprepared, and delicious prey.

“Look! They’re taking their clothing out!” - “They’re taking Mortal weapons out like they’re nothing, shit… don’t tell me…!” - “Goddammit, it’s the Wrath Nihility Academy?! Damn it!” - “So they knew?” - “There must be an army coming here. We have to kill them fast! Tell our commanders, quick…”

After about a minute, the black-clothed people undressed and revealed their Wrath Nihility Academy uniform and club jackets below. Their previous clothing was so tight it didn’t seem like they had something below them, but they also appeared sexless. Afterwards, they tore their black clothes off and threw them on the ground around the light green barrier. Their appearance and identity were exposed.

Elenas was among them, and her group of 12 consisted of 7 of her team members and 4 Sub students. The other group was 2 of her team members and 10 Sub Students. Elena was recognized. How could she not be? Her image and whereabouts undoubtedly were influential, as thousands of the trapped enemies’ eyes shone before using their Universal Conveyance to brazenly transmit information into the open air.

She narrowed her eyes at the sensation, and sure enough, she felt vulnerable and targeted, just as Heian Ciemnosc had told her she would. He was also right about the next thing he told her about. She would want nothing else but not one of them to remain alive for one more moment than necessary. Her eyes flashed murderous, and as she took her gauntlets off, tearing them into tiny pieces and sending them to another free spot around the light green barrier with her Power Energy conjuring some Wind particles, she took a halberd out of her Covert Space bag.

With her Mortal Horror Blood Halberd in her right hand, she left her left hand simple and wearing nothing. But her Power Energy streamed into her left wrist’s veins, and her hand was surrounded by a translucent aura. Her Academy clothes were her uniform, but she wore a little steel-blue cape below her Saberbone Diabolical Club’s 2-tier jacket and on top of her uniform shacket.

Her upper body was slightly protruded forward, inclined to the right as she showed more directly the left side of her body to the mob. She looked, with ease, at the trapped enemies for 5 minutes as her team and the Sub Students calmly waited before finally giving her order.

“Enter, sow hell onto them!!” Elena’s face scrunched up, and she didn’t use any roughened-up voice as she, together with her group and the other one on the other side of the barrier, stepped into it together. After she finished her commanding words, with her halberd raised and glaring into their enemies' hearts like a lustful, vindictive abomination, the groups following her orders roared in unison.

“Huaaaaaaah!”- “Haaaiyaa!” - “Hooohhh!!”

Vium… vium, vium, vium… They entered the entrapment, not impeded by the barrier for whatever reason the enemy cultivators couldn’t momentarily think of. Their minds were occupied with the thoughts of winning such a ‘battle’ against such a student of vital importance to the Wrath Nihility Academy. Playing with her body and sending the skin of her face back to the Academy were just things that would ensue after the ‘battle’ was over.

Elena’s group was first to enter and first to gain attention. More than half the entrapped enemies turned in her direction and immediately pushed to be the next to fight her, not caring at all about trampling their comrades of other organizations. They wouldn’t die from it, only feel humiliation, and even perhaps dig into the earth to safety, so it was whatever.

She was at the center but towards the rear of her steep laurel formation. The other 11 in her group wore precious equipment that could easily protect them from any non-Mortal graded weapon and most tools, even when a Crabstynian realm cultivator were to use their 7,000 kg of bodily strength and all Power Energy into it. Nobody else but team leader Heian Ciemnosc had made them for her team.

They each wielded a shield-tool, not equipment. It wasn’t a piece of equipment simply because it would break before even 5 minutes were over. So, instead, Heian Ciemnosc made shield equipment-tools. They consisted of several layers, with the substantial part being the mechanism behind those layers protected from the sides by some of the most precious materials for a First Step, not at the peak.

It didn’t have more than 7 layers, and each was even tougher than their armor. Their armor was bulky and white in color. They had to be seen and identify each other as they traveled in the river of enemies, blood, and killing. But their shields were of a pretty obscure gray color with smallish bright gray dots. They could deflect, block, parry, and deviate any attack, even from a Crabstynian realm cultivator. But they were prone to break and dent when being heavily hit.

They couldn’t be used to bash the enemy away, and they would be forced to slam other enemies at times, risking an injury or lots each time, in case it was needed. However, at least for the moment, the enemy cultivators didn’t seem bothered to figure out their weaknesses. The majority of the tens of thousands all pushed to reach Elena.

The other group was in a semi-square formation. They were 4 at the front and sides, leaving their rear open. But they were also facing the entire lesser tens of thousands of enemies. And even though they consisted of the most Sub Students and only had no Crabsytnianrealm cultivator in their ranks, they fearlessly entered the light green barrier, placing their formation’s opening against the protective array formation.

Elena was standing still on her spot. Her formation stopped for a few seconds as she looked at the sky. A few Power Energy projectiles were launched from the distance. Some others were Power Energy attacks, moving more recklessly and dangerously than the former.

‘Not even a single distance-based Art, only techniques.’ She thought in her head as every projectile or bout was ‘eaten’ away by the ceiling of the light green barrier. However, no one seemed to witness it or thought this protective array formation had a feature to neutralize all aggressive moves from those without a mark or selected or even instinctively selective system that any array formation can have. And for many more features than that.

It wasn’t that Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t that good to implement it. But besides wasting tons of Powerful Stones to block the enemy cultivators’ attacks, it was such a waste… He had better plans for it. And it was, just perhaps, something never actually seen before… Not in the complete version of a Craftsperson’s thoughts.

Twiiing~, swush. Whoosh, swash- clank- crusshhh splasshhh~~~...

Elena’s left hand was relaxed beside her thigh, her brown eyes calm and even somewhat cloudly as she looked at batch after batch of projectiles and bouts being stopped by the light green barrier’s ceiling. They were trying to consume the array formation’s source, sending many targets to neutralize.

At that moment, a dozen brave Ashes Soul realm cultivators at the peak, without Mortal weapons, wearing only roes, jumped and moved to intercept Elena to put holes and lines of red and dark pink all over her body. Yet, with just a swing of her Horror Blood towards the ground with her Power Energy infused to the halberd, translucent light, plastic red thin, slim ribbons coiling around its shaft and her right arm.

But with that simple swing, she turned her head to neutrally face the idiotic bunch hacking down at her with hammers, maces, axes, and some with a sword. The wind raised from the ground, creating blades that went up with the halberd’s light, plastic red energy infused within. It met them and went through them, dissipating right after passing through the last few bodies of the enemy cultivators, screaming ferociously even though those before them had ceased.

Every weapon the idiotic bunch held was broken, but their bodies were seemingly all right. Yet, when they landed their feet on the ground, they not only powerlessly fell to the ground. Their bodies were separated into dozens and dozens of little pieces and accompanied by the steel fragments from their weapons around the grass and dirt, dyeing everything red and gruesomely.

Now, the already dead idiotic bunch at the rear knew why those before them had ceased screaming and boosting their morale.

…