Chapter 6: Reuniting in Survival!
News Anchor: We are currently live over Seoul with multiple dungeon outbreaks appearing on the surface from out of nowhere. The Hunters are hard at work performing rescue operations and fighting off the Abyssal Disasters. Luckily we have yet to meet a formidable foe. We will keep you updated on the events as they unfold.
Nagato: Things are getting bad out there. I hope the Top rankers we have right now will be enough.
Meihua: Normally I wouldn't be worried at all, but after hearing the prophecy from Geni and seeing the Wolf Abyssal Disaster, I can't lie and say I'm not anxious. On another note, is Romy alright?
Nagato: I've stabilized her internal structure and repaired everything I could. It looks like whatever hit her did more than just bruise. There were multiple points of fracture in her sternum. Her clavicle, hip bone, and left radius were broken as well. It's no wonder she hasn't woken up at all. She's experienced more pain than any normal human would be able to withstand. Luckily she's a draconian.
Meihua: That sounds terrible. If only I was more cautious. We should have realized that something was off when the dungeon stayed open. I really hope Ji-hu and Atlas are alright.
Nagato: Hey don't worry about that. Like I said before, Sir Paxis has most definitely saved your friends by now. He's extremely capable in these types of situations since he has numerous shadow summons at his disposal. On another note, are you sure you're ok? You have a lot of cuts all over your body.
Meihua: I'll be fine. Please prioritize Romy. She's like a little sister to me.
Banging on the infirmary shutters surprises the duo
Meihua: That sounds like bad news.
Nagato: What do you want to do?
Meihua: You stay here and protect Romy. I'll deal with whatevers trying to get in. If I tell you to run please take Romy with you. I know you're strong, but I can't risk Romy losing her life.
Nagato: I can't just leave her to go on her own. But I don't want to argue either. Ugh, what should I do? What would sir Paxis do?
As the duo are about to continue their argument they here a voice from beyond the shutters
Atlas: OI! IS THIS THE INFIRMARY? YO MEIHUA IF YOUR IN HERE OPEN UP. JI-HU'S GONNA DIE IF WE DON'T GET HELP!
Meihua: Worried look. Nagato stay here. I'll go open the shutters.
Nagato nods and motions for her to hurry before the outsiders attract the attention of more Abyssal disasters
Meihua runs to the shutters and opens them up to find Atlas carrying Ji-hu
Meihua: What happened!? Why are you both so injured? Was the Abyssal Disaster that tough? I knew I should have come to assist you.
Atlas: I'll explain everything as soon as we get Ji-hu help. He did some weird trick when he saved me then immediately knocked out. Is there a medic in there?
Meihua gives Atlas a weird look
Meihua: Sorta. Just come in quickly. We don't know if there are more Disasters nearby.
Meihua picks up Ji-hu so that Atlas can finally relax a little as they head inside
Meihua: Nagato! Is Romy in a stable enough condition? Do you think you could help these two?
Atlas: Wait Romy. She's ok? Thank the Heavenly Sanctions.
Nagato: Yeah I've just been trying to relieve her pain, but she's basically all good to go.
Atlas: Hold on, you're a doctor? Aren't you a little young?
Nagato: No, I'm a hunter. My ability is a little special so that is why I was able to heal your friend.
Atlas: Well I'm sure Ji-hu won't complain. He took a massive hit just as I came into the room. I'm not sure whether or not he fainted because of the hit or because he used that weird ability.
Meihua: You said that earlier. What do you mean by weird ability?
Atlas: I dunno. One minute I was being choked by the Disaster then I heard Ji-hu yell STOP and then the Disaster got completely squashed. It was incredible. Do you remember Ji-hu ever having an ability like that?
Meihua: Disregarding how you were even getting choked, you're telling me Ji-hu killed a Disaster that you had trouble with and did it with an unseen force?
Atlas: Well when you put it like that it kinda makes it seem dumb, but I'm dead serious. No pun intended. I'd be 6 ft under right now if it wasn't for Ji-hu.
Nagato walks over with another weird device attached to his head
Nagato: Alright, it seems Ji-hu's condition stabilized. It looks like he didn't get hit as hard as Romy. His body seems pretty durable, what's his Sacred Art?
Meihua and Atlas look at each other
Meihua: That doesn't make sense. He isn't really durable at all. In fact he's more fragile than any of us. His sacred art is Dimensional Control.
Atlas: There is no way Ji-hu tanked a hit that hard so easily. It looked like his body got ragdolled. Also how bad did Romy get hit.
Nagato: I don't think you want to know. It was pretty bad. Besides, I took care of it!
Atlas: Just tell me kid.
Nagato: Sigh. Fine. She had multiple fractures in her sternum and broke her clavicle, hip bone, and left radius, but she's completely fixed now. I'm quite the talent so you don't have to worry. Although, she will feel the pain quite a bit so I suggest one of you comfort her when she wakes up.
Atlas: Uh. Meihua, do you think you could help her? I don't think I can talk with her yet.
Meihua: No. You need to talk to her. She'll want to see her brother especially now. I'm not gonna be her shoulder to lean on when her brother is right here.
Atlas: … Alright
Atlas walks over and lays next to Romy
Nagato: So back to what you said about Ji-hu. You guys said he was the least durable out of all of you?
Meihua: Yes. He's more of a hit and run attacker. In terms of AP he has very little. His durability is even less. Why do you think he isn't as damaged as Romy?
Nagato: Well when I looked at his skeletal structure it just had hairline fractures and no broken bones. He was bruised quite a bit, but still nothing compared to Romy. So I can't really say. Maybe your friend Atlas saw things wrong?
Atlas: I was perfectly fine when I watched him get bodied.
Meihua: If Atlas claims Ji-hu took a hard hit then he really did so. Atlas has no reason to lie.
Nagato: Now that I think about it, I did see a weird lapse in his brain waves.
Meihua gives him a worried look
Nagato: Oh sorry, not right now, he's perfectly fine mentally. But when I looked at his internal structure his brain waves seemed to be, how do I say this, unnatural? The normal pattern it had when I first looked at him changed almost instantly to this erratic rhythm. Then it went back to normal
Meihua: Should I be worried?
Nagato: Well not exactly, since he's fine right now, as long as it doesn't happen again it shouldn't cause any long lasting problems. He could just be stressed after everything that happened.
Meihua: Well I guess that's not terrible. Although we're gonna need to find out what caused him to be in this state. And what weird ability he used.
Nagato: You four are the chosen warriors in the prophecy, correct?
Meihua: Wait, how did you?
Nagato: Sir Paxis remember?
Meihua: Right, of course you would be informed about the prophecy, that would explain why you're here.
Nagato: Actually no, I just follow Sir Paxis everywhere. Learning from a hunter of his caliber was a no brainer.
Nagato: But back to what I was saying. Now this is just a theory mind you, but what if Ji-hu is going through a Divine Ascension?
Meihua: Divine Ascension is real? I thought those were myths.
Nagato: Nope they exist. They make up most of the top 10. While they're few in number their power is very real and very devastating.
Nagato: And since you guys are supposed to help end the Abyss, wouldn't it make sense that all of you would gain some sort of power up? A boost in levels like in a video game. Maybe his emotions triggered some sort of response which is why his brain waves were all funky.
Meihua: You are scarily intelligent for your age. But how can he even be going through a Divine Ascension? His mastery is a little over High Tier Beginner Mastery. I thought Divine Ascension only occurred in individuals who trained at Absolute Mastery.
Nagato: While you are correct, you have to remember that you four are part of a prophecy that will bring the end to this war we've been fighting. So it's understandable why you guys would start powering up out of nowhere.
Meihua: …
Nagato: Like I said, just a theory. Maybe some food for thought, but if I turn out to be right then that's good for us. It means we'll move forward finally. We can finish a battle that we've been fighting for centuries. Also who doesn't want to get stronger? You look like a person who wants to improve.
Meihua: Yes you are correct. Ji-hu, Romy, and I all wanted to become stronger, but each hit roadblocks.
Nagato: What about Atlas?
Meihua: He was just lazy, but now he has reasons to improve.
Atlas: Hey, I'm right here you know.
Nagato: Then there you go. You all had reasons for not improving further with your abilities. About time something changed right?
Meihua: …
Atlas: So anyway where are all the other doctors and patients?
Nagato: Oh yeah, the roof caved in and separated this section of the infirmary from the other. But you don't have to worry, there are multiple entrances on each side of the infirmary and they have capable hunters with them.
Atlas: So it's just us in here? You think we should just wait till this is all over or-
Knock Knock
Meihua: Not this again. Do you think it could be Sir Paxis?
Atlas: Why would Sir Paxis be coming to the infirmary?
Nagato: Oh I'm his disciple so he could be coming to retrieve me after finishing off the Abyssal Disasters in the HQ.
Atlas: Neat.
Nagato: I'll go open the shutters.
Nagato jogs over and begins opening the shutters when he sees Geni standing on the opposite side
Nagato: HEADS UP! IT'S A HUMANOID ABYSSAL DISASTER!
Meihua: WAIT HOLD ON DON'T EXPLODE HER!
Geni: Explode who?
Nagato: You can talk?
Meihua: This is Geni, the being from outer space. She's the prophecy bearer. If you're here Geni then it must mean Eui is with you.
Geni: Surprised. Actually I sent Eui to go save you four. I thought you wouldn't be able to handle a general from the dungeon if one did appear. I only came here because she told me I needed to stay safe.
Nagato: Wait hold on, so you're the being from outer space? It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Geni.
Geni: It's a pleasure to meet you as well. Now could you explain to me what exactly happened at the dungeon you were left at? Are the other three ok?
Meihua: They are thankfully safe now. Both Romy and Ji-hu took massive hits, but it seems Ji-hu is … evolving? He was hit as hard as Romy yet took little damage compared to her even though Ji-hu's durability was never that good.
Geni: How strange. Could this be a part of the prophecy?
Meihua: And also Atlas thinks he awakened a new ability. Apparently there was a Wolf Abyssal General and Ji-hu squashed it with an unseen force. Atlas says he would've died if Ji-hu didn't save him.
Geni: That sounds like Gravity Manipulation. It's a very difficult skill warriors on my planet could use. But to crush a General so easily ... incredible. I knew his potential was boundless, but to think he would unlock such an incredible ability so soon.
Geni: Where is he? I'd like to speak with him.
Nagato: Um he's actually still unconscious, we put him next to Romy. I healed all of their wounds Ms. Geni so they're physically fine. However, both Romy and Ji-hu are going to feel the pain, so I doubt they'll be up for conversation.
Geni: Oh you poor souls. To have had to face a general so soon. If only I had warned you earlier.
Meihua: Well we all got out fine, so you don't have to blame yourself Ms. Geni.
Ji-hu: UGH. My head. What the hell happened?
Atlas: Uh guys, I think Ji-hu is awake.
The three turn to see Ji-hu sitting up on his bed
Geni: Are you alright Ji-hu? I was told you took quite the hit.
Ji-hu: I did? Where are we?
Meihua: We're currently in the infirmary. After you killed the General, Atlas dragged you back here.
Ji-hu: I can't stop thinking about the voice in my head.
Geni: Wait Ji-hu what voice are you talking about?
Ji-hu: I don't know. It kinda had my voice, but it wasn't my thoughts or words.
Geni: Hm. Interesting. I don't know of any Rift bearer who had other voices in their head. We'll look into it once we start training. I need to teach you how to use your gravity control. It seems you are progressing much faster than anticipated.
Ji-hu: Wait what? Hold on. I controlled gravity? But that's not a known sacred art.
Geni: You're right. It's because it's part of your rift bearing capabilities. It is your power Ji-hu.
Atlas: She's right, you know. I would be dead right now if you didn't absolutely obliterate that monster. I was getting choked out in that thing's grasp and then you yelled stop right before it got crushed.
Ji-hu: That's crazy. I can't really recall what happened, but I'm glad everyone is-
Ji-hu: WAIT!? What about Romy? Meihua is she-
Atlas: She's fine dude. She's over here with me.
Nagato: Yes she got hit pretty hard, but luckily I was here to fix your problems!
Ji-hu: Wait, who're you?
Meihua: He is our current and only medic right now. Also he's the disciple of Sir Paxis.
Ji-hu: Oh so you must be Nagato then, right? I heard about you on the news when you did that dungeon run with Sir Paxis. You were really impressive.
Nagato: Oh. Thanks! It's nice to hear that from others. And you're really impressive yourself. You tanked that bone breaking attack that Romy got hit with.
Ji-hu: She … got hit with what?
Atlas: Oh no. You shouldn't have told him he's gonna feel all guilty now.
Meihua: Ji-hu. None of this was your fault. We were all distracted and the General caught us off guard.
Atlas: She's right man. Besides Romy is fine now, Mr. Miracle over here completely fixed her.
Ji-hu: Still. If only I figured it out sooner. I could've stopped her from going through all that pain.
Atlas: Ji-hu, you of all people know Romy is stronger than you could ever imagine. She'll make it through with that sheer determination she's got. If anything this will be like an intense training sesh for her.
Romy: While I'd love to agree, I feel like I'm dying right now. I'm hurting everywhere. Could someone please get me some pain killers?
Collective screams from the group except for Geni
Group hug for Romy
Meihua: YOUR AWAKE! Don't ever scare me like that again.
Ji-hu: Thank the Sacred Sanctions, you're ok.
Atlas: Glad to see you still kicking.
Romy: Guys. Air. Neeeeed. Breeeeeathe.
Atlas: Right sorry Rom. You don't know how worried I was.
Ji-hu: What a wonderful brother you are Atlas-hyung.
Atlas: … Nagato, you won't stop me if I administer emergency anesthetics, right?
Ji-hu: Wa…wait, hold on. I'm still injured. I take it back heh.
Meihua: Jeez you guys are a mess. I was worried for nothing. I'm … glad you're all ok.
Meihua begins to tear up
Ji-hu: Hey no crying. We're all alive and well. And Geni is here somehow. Things are as good as they'll ever be. So don't be sad.
Meihua: Shut up Ji-hu …