Chapter 5: Unprecedent Disaster
Romy: What's going on!? Why the heck is there a Dungeon on the surface?
The intercom suddenly blares
Commander Cho: THIS IS COMMANDER CHO. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. MULTIPLE DUNGEON PORTALS HAVE OPENED ALL OVER SEOUL. WE NEED ALL ACTIVE HUNTERS TO IMMEDIATELY HEAD OUT AND BEGIN RESCUE OPERATIONS. HUNTER EUI PLEASE CHECK ON THE PRIORITY TARGET. I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL. ANY AND ALL HUNTERS PLEASE IMMEDIATELY HEAD OUT AND BEGIN RESCUE OPERATIONS. HUNTER EUI PLEASE CHE-
Eui: Alright this is definitely not ideal. Manon you go head out and help the rest of the hunters, I'll take care of Geni. You 4. Take care of this dungeon. I'm sure whatever level it is you should all be fine.
Ji-hu: Wait Eui. This might be the first part of all the outbreaks Geni was talking about. The portals are most likely going to be filled to the brim with Abyssal disasters. Geni even said something about there being Generals among the regular disaster levels.
Eui: Ok. That is more than definitely not ideal. But I still have to get Geni so if you guys find something you can't fight just run. I'm sure there are other Hunters working here right now. Just be safe, all of you.
Meihua: You be safe as well Ms. Eui. And you too Ms. Manon.
Manon: Alright I'm heading out, we need to go save the populace.
Atlas: Alright let's go kick some ass.
Ji-hu: Pulls out sword from dimensional rift and prepares a teleport beacon. I hope there aren't any generals in this portal.
Romy: We got this! We can hold the line here.
Meihua: Ms. Eui, please take care of Ms. Geni, I still have many questions.
Eui: Alright kiddos see you soon.
As Eui leaves the facility the first monster steps out of the portal
A wolf like creature with a skull for a head, body covered in stars, and a singular eye in the middle of its skull makes its presence known
Ji-hu: What the hell is that!?
The first wolf creature rushes at Atlas and takes him out of the facility and into the hallway
Romy: ATLAS!
Atlas: I'LL BE FINE ROM TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!
Romy: Ji-hu what do we do?
Ji-hu: Atlas is gonna be fine, we gotta take care of this portal.
More wolf like creatures come out of the breakout
Ji-hu: Romy you have to support us, we'll cover you.
Romy: Got it. Let's take care of this quickly.
Ji-hu and Meihua rush forward each taking a wolf with them
Romy starts building geo constructs and hurls them at the other wolves
Ji-hu: Romy aim for their eyes!
Romy: These things aren't so tough we got this!
Meihua: Don't let your guard down, we still have a few more to kill.
Mei smashes one of the wolves' faces in
After finally clearing all the wolves the group head toward the portal to get a better look
Ji-hu: Why isn't the portal closing? Seems empty to me.
Meihua: Wait, shouldn't one of us check on Atlas.
Ji-hu: He flew down that hallway right?
Romy: I was worried when he flew off, but these things weren't so bad. I'm sure he's just annoyed he got knocked away so far.
With the group distracted they miss the giant clawed arm stepping out of the portal
Ji-hu turns around feeling that something is off
Ji-hu: ROMY WATCH OUT!
Romy: Wha…?
Romy gets smacked into one of the facilities pillars and lays motionless
Ji-hu: GO TO HELL YOU F**KING ASSHOLE!
Ji-hu rushes forward and pulls out his gauntlets from two portals
He then punches the new Disaster but it does nothing
Meihua: JI-HU STOP!
Ji-hu jumps away and gets into a fighting stance
Ji-hu: MEIHUA TAKE ROMY AND LEAVE, TELL ATLAS TO HELP ME KILL THIS MONSTER
Meihua hesitantly nods and runs towards Romy to take her to the infirmary
Meihua: YOU BETTER NOT DIE ON ME JI-HU
Atlas: Man that dog was annoying why'd it throw me so far away.
Meihua runs through the facility hallway not realizing she just passed Atlas
Atlas: Hey, Meihua where the heck ar-
Atlas: Is … is that Romy?
Meihua: Atlas I need to get Romy to the infirmary right now. Please help Ji-hu, he's really mad. He's trying to fight some giant wolf Disaster. He won't survive if you don't go. Trust me. I'll keep Romy safe.
Atlas grimaces and stays eerily quiet
Atlas: Stay safe Mei.
Atlas rushes off towards the direction Meihua came from
Just as Atlas arrives Ji-hu is thrown into a wall
Atlas rushes to tackle the Disaster general but gets stopped
Atlas: You messed with the wrong person bud. Imma beat you into the ground so hard you aren't gonna remember what the sky looks like.
Atlas delivers a wild haymaker into the Abyssal Disaster but it only moves backwards a little
Atlas: Che
Atlas starts sending heavy jabs and right hook toward the beast, but gets caught and thrown
Atlas: F**K. I really said I wouldn't get mad and throw myself into this fight, but man this thing is really starting to piss me off.
Atlas lands then jumps into the air with fiery fists and attempts to smash down onto the beast, but he gets grabbed by the neck
As the monster starts choking the enraged Atlas Ji-hu finally comes to his senses
Ji-hu: Ugh. What just happened to me? What's going on? It feels like I got hit by a truck.
Memories of what just happened start to flood Ji-hu's brain as he looks up to see Atlas being choked
Ji-hu: You … Monster … Let him go …
Ji-hu starts to struggle harder as Atlas' arms go limp
Ji-hu: I can't let him die here. I can't fail now. If I wasn't so damn useless. Please … don't kill him. I'll never be able to look Romy in the eyes ever again.
Ji-hu trembles as he holds his arm out toward the two
Atlas: So this is how I die? Man that's kinda pathetic. I really should've trained more. I'm sorry Rom. I wasn't a very good brother was I?
Ji-hu: STOOOOPPPPPPP!
Right as it looks like Atlas is about to die the beast gets crushed into the floor with its arm still holding onto Atlas being held above the ground
Ji-hu faints and his head flops to the ground
Atlas: Heavy Breathing. What just happened? Man, I was losing consciousness there. Did Ji-hu just save me? What the hell was that?
Atlas breaks free from the Disaster's arm and runs over to Ji-hu
Atlas: OI JI-HU! You good man?
Atlas picks up Ji-hu by the arm as the portal behind them starts to finally close
Atlas: Damn. What the hell was that Abyssal disaster? It looked nothing like that wolf that tackled me earlier. Man I'm glad that wasn't how I died. Romy would have so killed me. Wait a minute. Where the hell is the infirmary?
Back to Meihua running off towards the infirmary
Meihua: I definitely remember seeing the infirmary when we walked past Chen Nao. Where the hell is it? Romy isn't going to last much longer.
Meihua spots a digital screen with directions to the infirmary
Meihua: There it is. Thank goodness we made it just in ti-
The floor breaks as an Abyssal Disaster comes out from underground
Meihua: You have got to be kidding me. I have to deal with this quickly before it's too late.
Just as Meihua was about to unleash an assault on the beast it starts to convulse and explodes
?: HEY! OVER HERE! GET IN BEFORE MORE OF THEM COME!
A young male is standing by the infirmary entrance motioning for Meihua to hurry
Meihua rushes forward with more strength than ever before and quickly clears the distance
Meihua: Thank you so much. My friend needs immediate medical assistance, so please take her to a doctor. I need to go back and help my other friends they're in great danger.
Meihua tries to rush out but the hunter from before stops her
?: I'm not letting you go out. Let Master finish off the ones outside. He will save your friends I'm sure of it.
Meihua: Your Master? What are you talking about?
?: Oh right, my bad. My master, top ranker #20 Sir Paxis!
Meihua: Sir Paxis? He's your master? Who are you?
Nagato: I'm Nagato Kuko. The student of Sir Paxis. And I won't let you leave when you yourself are injured. Rest assured Sir Paxis will be done shortly and will need more assistance. Let me help you.
Meihua: Alright fine. But, if my friends suffer because I wasn't able to reach them I'll make you pay. I don't care who your master is.
Nagato: frightened look. Alright alright please no need to be so scary. I have full confidence in my master's capabilities. Your friends are probably fine already.
Meihua: Hmph. By the way, what did you do to that Abyssal Disaster earlier?
Nagato: Oh. Uh nothing much I just changed its internal structure into a bomb then blew it up from the inside. No biggie. A little messy though.
Meihua: … That's seriously impressive. What is your Sacred Art?
Nagato: It's Biomechanical engineering! Although I'm not even close to reaching Absolute Mastery like Sir Paxis.
Meihua: You were able to transmute organic material into a bomb from inside of an organism and you're not at Absolute Mastery? That's amazing. What rank are you?
Nagato: I'm ranked #939.
Meihua: You seem a bit young for someone this high in the rankings. Unless I'm mistaken?
Nagato: Nah. I'm only 15. They said I'm this good because I'm a prodigy, but honestly I don't feel really smart.
Meihua: You should have more confidence in yourself. You have a really good set of abilities and use them quite well.
Nagato gives Meihua a thankful look
Nagato: Oh you said you needed to heal your friend right? I can help with that!
Meihua: Wait, what do you mean? Didn't you say you're a Biomechanical Engineering user? I don't think you can repair damaged tissue that easily.
Nagato: No, but I can do this.
Meihua looks on in shock and wonder as Nagato seems to create organic material out of thin air
Nagato creates some sort of device and places it on his head
Meihua: This … this is beyond just regular Biomechanical engineering. You're creating matter out of thin air. How is this even possible? I know you said you're a prodigy, but not even Biomechanical engineering users with absolute mastery can hope to achieve this.
Nagato: Well they did say I was special.
Nagato goes up to Romy and starts completely renewing the damaged tissue
Meihua: With Romy knocked out cold it seems she can't even feel a thing. I'm glad we made it in time. Hopefully the others are ok.
Eui finally makes it back to room 555
Eui: heavy knocking. GENI! WE HAVE A BIT OF A PROBLEM! I NEED TO ESCORT YOU TO A SAFER AREA. I THINK THE BREAKOUTS YOU MENTIONED TO JI-HU ARE STARTING TODAY!
Eui gives a quick look around and notices how empty the hallways are
Not a single trace of a Abyssal Disaster nearby or human for that matter
Eui: That's odd. Why is it so empty here? Ugh whatever I'm sorry Geni I'm gonna kick the door down.
Eui smashes right through the door to find Geni asleep on the bed
Eui: Geni how can you possibly sleep with all this noise going on outside? Well actually there wasn't anything outside, but that's besides the point. Didn't you hear the announcements? Hey Geni. Wake up!
Geni seems to be in a heavy sleep
Eui: Ugh don't say I didn't warn you.
Eui moves to apply some frost to Geni's neck, but instantly pulls away
Eui: What the hell? Why is she so cold? I actually felt that. Is this bad? Oh what do I do? How do I get her to wak-
Geni wakes up and sits up extremely fast
Geni: What is going on. I had the strangest dream. I finally landed on the planet I was supposed to find and … Oh hello Ms. Eui. I guess that pleasant dream was a reality. I'm so glad.
Eui: Oh thank the Sacred Sanctions you're finally awake. How are you such a deep sleeper?
Geni: Oh my apologies. I didn't realize you were trying to wake me. I've slept for centuries before so it is quite hard to wake me up.
Eui: Yeah I definitely figured that one out.
Eui: Anyway we have to evacuate, the outbreaks you told Ji-hu about are happening all over seoul right now.
Geni: Oh my that is terrible news. Is everyone ok?
Eui: Well. I kinda had to leave them with a portal on their own cause Commander Cho told me to come get you. I have faith that they can-
Geni: What? Oh my you shouldn't have done that. If there's an off chance that a general appears among the Abyss' ranks they're done for. They're incredibly dangerous. A general is about 5 times stronger than its minions. Depending on what creature they are facing it could spell doom for them.
Eui: Oh … Yeah that's pretty bad.
Geni: Yes. I suggest we move to aid them immediately. I doubt even someone of your caliber could handle a High General by themselves let alone a group of untrained children.
Eui: UGH. But I have to get you to safety. Ok ok. New plan. You're pretty fast right? I need you to get to one of the safe zones. If you use the map I gave you you'll make it there in no time. I'll go bail the kids out just in case it's something not even I can handle.
Geni: Very well. Please make haste. Every second will count.
Eui speeds off back towards the training center as Geni starts swiftly walking towards the infirmary