Chapter 22: Academy Dean
Inside a closed apartment, a human and a Vashin can be seen together. Thorez lay on a bed as he swallowed a pill he retrieved from his utility belt. Samuel walked around the room looking for a change of clothes. The suit he was wearing wasn't appropriate for the kind of challenges this apocalypse zone would bring them.
"Hey man, what's that pill you ate?" Samuel asked. Thorez gave him a small glance before answering "It's a healing pill. It increases the body's natural healing abilities. Although it's not as fast-acting as those monsters' regeneration. It will get me back into fighting shape after a few hours."
"Why didn't you take it earlier?" Samuel asked again as he kept looking for clothes. "I did take one when I first took my belt. But I made sure you didn't notice. Unfortunately, the strain I put my body through made the healing process slow down greatly " Thorez replied.
Samuel: "I see. Well as for what I'm doing" Thorez interrupted him by saying "I didn't ask" Samuel ignored his words "I'm looking for some clothes but whoever lived here must have been smaller the me. Luckily I found these babies" He said with a smile on his face. Thorez could only sigh as the human kept talking. Samuel brought an opened shoe box that was decorated like a present. The shoes looked very much like those used by basketball players.
Samuel then says "I don't know if these were a gift or something but I'm taking them" he wore the shoes right after. Once they were on his feet Samuel felt a little better. Like he could run and walk more freely. Too bad his other clothing was still unsuitable for combat and adventure.
Suddenly one of Sai's drones entered the room and her voice soon followed. "Okay I've made a map of the surrounding area. I've covered 6 kilometers in diameter and have found a lot" The drones then projected a hologram of the area she explored. Samuel and Thorez gathered around the hologram. Sai went on to explain what she had found.
Within this area, there were approximately 5 thousand plus of those Aurora mutants. Most were from the 3rd stage to the 8 stage of the mortal rank. Sai could only estimate their strength based on the data she collected from observing them. The interference from the apocalypse zone doesn't allow her to use inspection through the drone.
That was not the end though as she had seen a few Aurora mutants that displayed power similar to those in the walker rank. Their current goals are to accomplish the missions assigned to them so they can leave this realm. Due to the unique properties of the apocalypse zone, those stuck inside can't leave until the mission is completed.
And every one that entered this world got the same mission to save it. That means Samuel and Thorez have the same mission. So helping each other would only benefit them.
The only reason Jack escaped the apocalypse zone he was in was through the will of Nexus teleporting him rather than his own Karna. Currently, they have 2 objectives. First to find food or other useful supplies and weapons. There is a building resembling a police station 5 kilometers from them. If they can loot it. Their weapon problem will be solved.
There are also many shops from big to small ones. Sai marked 3 medium-sized stores that have food, clothing and other stuff they might need. Throughout her investigation, she discovered that a large mall 5.5 kilometers in another direction from the police station had signs of life. Sai detected a group of humans that were most likely inhabitants of this world.
They seem to be trapped in the mall because it is surrounded by hundreds of Aurora Beasts. None of the aurora mutants there were walker rank but it won't be easy going to save them. Not only does their mission require them to save as many people as possible. They also need to discover the truth behind the apocalypse that has fallen in this world.
So they have to save those people whether they want or not. The three of them spend the next couple of minutes discussing what will their next course of action be. In the end, Thorez decided to split up. He had used his gauntlet to contact his comrades that would possibly be here. He got a few responses and now his main goal is to get back to his team.
Although he appreciates Samuel's help at the end of the day they are still enemies. Helping each other survive and complete the mission would be good. But Samuel is too weak as of right now and Thorez would rather be with his own people. So in conclusion Thorez would only stay here to heal his wounds. He should be ready to go by tomorrow.
Samuel will head towards the stores to gather supplies today. He will try to loot as much as possible. Then tomorrow they will part ways. Things were about to get very active so both men got ready for whatever they would need to do.
…
Planet Solomon, Celestine continent, Celestial academy
Date: 5 February 2560
It was slightly over an hour since Samuel and the Vashins had disappeared. The place where the academy's realm tunnels previously were. Was surrounded by a large number of students, teachers and other academy staff members. They all went around looking for survivors and trying to fix as much of the damage done.
Right in front of the place where the realm tunnels used to be many teachers could be seen. All of them had their heads lowered as an older man with grey hair stared at the now-empty holes in the group. The elderly man looked like he was in his 60s but his figure was tall and his refined suit could not hide his muscles. His red eyes glowed with fury as he spoke.
"How did this happen?" his deep voice spread through the entire area. The teachers opened their mouths but no words came out. "I said how did this happen. On the very soil that nurtures the finest talents in the federation. And none of you have anything to say." He roared in rage as his cane slammed into the ground.
A shockwave spread through the area and a suffocating pressure fell on everyone around him. Many teachers and students felt like a large force was pressing them down. This man is called Clause Blaze and he is the Dean of Celestial Academy. A powerful 9-star Karna user and a Royal.
Not only had his academy been attacked for the first time In its history. They had failed to stop the attackers and let them escape with all their realm tunnels. From reports given to them by Sovereign. The Vashin that attacked them had Karnas which is something that was never even thought to be a possibility. Another report showed the appearance of a Vashin with 2 horns.
All Vashins that the federation has ever fought with have only ever had 1 horn. According to Sovereign's data, this Vashin was twice as strong as the 1-horned ones. And to make matters worse a teacher, a few students and some staff members have gone missing.
This event alone had made him the worst Dean to ever be in charge of Celestial Academy. For a man who valued his pride and image as much as Dean Clause did, it was only natural for him to get enraged by this situation.
"Sir we all rushed here as fast as we could but the Vashin teleported away before we…" one of the teachers tried to explain only for his word to be cut off by the Dean's shout. "Excuses! That's all you can provide me with. What about the missing students and Academy staff members? How are we to explain this to their families? What about those who died? What are we going to say to their families and the media."
The teacher could only lower his head in shame. Their Dean had been on another continent and rushed back to the academy grounds as soon as he heard what happened. The fact that they had failed him and the academy made them all feel shame. He trusted them as the best of the federation and they failed.
Suddenly everyone's wristwatches beeped as Sovereign spoke. "According to collected data and our systems tracking technology. We have determined that the missing students and academy staff members are trapped in Nexus. An urgent assignment has been given by the military. A search party will be formed in the Military academy. All 4th and 3rd-year students who wish to help in the search may go to the military academy to register. Three teachers from each academy will go with the students.
This will also include a large team of soldiers" After Sovereign said this everyone got some hope. If there was even a slight chance that the missing people were alive they had to save them. "You heard the announcement everyone get this place cleaned up. All those who wish to join the search party can register. From now on increase security around the academy to the maximum." Dean Clause said as he walked away from the area.
In a corner of the area where Samuel was teleported. A group of students could be seen talking to a hologram of a woman. "So Samuel is ok?" Blessed asked the hologram of the beautiful woman in front of him. "Yes, he was teleported to a place called an apocalypse zone. He can't teleport out until he completes the mission he received." Sai said to the group of Billy and his friends.
"This is crazy why did this have to happen today." Billy said "I guess we won't be having graduation today" Rick added. The orange-haired girl in the group called Abigail stared at these guys like they were crazy. "Guys your friend is stuck in a dangerous location in Nexus filled with monsters and crazy Vashin that will kill him on sight. But you guys are so relaxed" she asked the boys confused by their behavior.
Everyone else in the group nodded their heads agreeing with Abigail's words. But Billy only let out a proud smile "Of course we're worried. But it won't help us to panic." Billy said "All we can do is join the search party to help rescue him", Rick said.
"Plus Samuels is a tough guy. He won't go down easy " Blessed added. The other members of the group were just stunned by how much these guys trusted Samuel. 'His only a blind guy with a 1-star Karna, what's so special about him' they all thought to themselves.