Free Web NovelChapter 44: _A Cataclysm-Level Anomaly
Standing at the foredeck of one of the battleships surrounding Norfolk’s harbour was the Vice President of the federation himself.
He gripped the railing tightly, his glasses trembling when he locked his eyes on the Echo Rift. A massive pitch-black spatial tear standing above the sea like a black hole.
Immediately after he cancelled the Phoenix-Talon joint gala, he rushed here. Only to realise that the situation was far worse than his previous calculations.
"Sir!" A woman wearing a white shirt and black pencil skirt rushed to his side just then, handing him an iPad. "We haven’t been able to get an accurate reading of the Rift’s aether energy yet—but take a look at this."
Taking the iPad off her hands, he squinted.
It only took a few seconds of looking for his eyes to widen. "This... beyond S Rank?"
"Not just that sir," the woman shook her head, her expression grim. "We might most likely be dealing with an SS rank dungeon event. And from the energy readings... the monsters seem to be evolving."
The Vice President’s face was completely drained of colour.
He’d come here to see how things were going for himself. But this... SS rank? Evolving monsters?
"How’s the evacuation going?" He turned his neck back to the Rift, returning the iPad.
"The parts of the city closest to the harbour have been evacuated. But—"
"That’s not enough at all," he shook his head. "All local Hunter guilds should prepare to evacuate the entire city. Norfolk is lost. We’ll send planes ready for the process."
The woman blinked with surprise. A total evacuation of a city. One with tens of thousands of people. And that has been untouched since the Emergence.
That means—
"This isn’t a national-level threat anymore." The Vice President’s hands grabbed the railing again, so tight that his hands went white. "On behalf of the United States Hunters Federation, I’m classifying this as a Cataclysm-level anomaly. Ping the Canadian and Mexican federations."
A Cataclysm-level dungeon break.
The world has witnessed only six such events since the Emergence. It usually required the joint effort of multiple SS Rank Hunters to contain it alone.
"I want every top Guild in the country notified as well," the Vice President’s back straightened as he spun away from the foredeck. He took a few steps forward while the woman followed. "We need to act fast. Whatever is lurking in the sea now is—"
He didn’t get the chance to finish.
BOOM!
An explosion resounded, so loud it sent shockwaves and water droplets spreading for hundreds of meters. The Vice President jerked, head whipping back to the Rift.
Before his eyes, a massive water spout rose out of the sea. Completely black and corrupted like an oil spill and high as an average skyscraper.
The ships hundreds of meters away were pushed by the waves that followed, some tipping over while others barely held on. Hilary’s ship was no exception—the rocking movement making him stumble.
As the water spout receded, a deafening roar exploded from the depths of the sea. More ripples and waves spread through the surface, creating a tsunami headed for the city.
"Mother of God..." the woman gasped, clutching her iPad to her chest.
Before the eyes of anyone who dared to look, the bipedal monsters trooping out of the Rift froze. Not in fear. But in reverence.
Then out of the depths, a colossal figure began emerging. First, its dragon-like snout. Then its whole head which looked like a serpent’s. By the time half its body emerged, its massive form had already blotted out the moon.
Its serpentine body was covered in armoured blue scales that gleamed like gemstones in the dark. Its head was rowed with eight red eyes, all lined like slits.
On top of all that it had tens of ’small’ fins lining its sides, making it equally fish-like.
The Vice President gawked at the beast with a slack jaw and bulging eyes. His fingers shook, limbs petrified by the sheer pressure it emitted.
Meanwhile, back on top of that one building within the city, Valentine’s body grew rigid.
"That thing is easily SS Rank," he marvelled, unable to tear his eyes from its scales. "And this... Echo Rift is supposed to be the ’recycled’ energy remnant of an S-Rank dungeon Rift."
His mouth quivered.
As much as he wasn’t affiliated with the Hunters Federation anymore, he knew what the appearance of such a creature meant. One that thrived in the seas nonetheless.
Such a monster could lead to the decimation of whole countries within hours.
But one question burned in his head.
"Since the Emergence, Dungeon Rifts have followed rules that we’ve slowly come to understand," he mumbled. "The sudden appearance of an Echo Rift means there’s a possibility more like it can start popping up soon."
... How? What was the trigger for such an anomaly?
And why did he feel like he knew exactly what the main possibility was? Or rather... who.
★★★★★
Next morning, Phoenix Flight HQ.
"Daddy, Devon, wake up!"
Ambrose’s eyes bolted wide open the second he heard a loud bang on his room door.
He blinked a couple of times before groaning, attempting to sit up on the bed. That’s when he realised that something was clinging tight to his body.
He paused, memories from last night flooding within a second.
Shit.
Devon!
The Esper had his arms wrapped around Ambrose, still knocked out like a tranquillised bull. And the worst part? They were both still naked!
"Daddy?!" Orion banged the door again. "It’s eight AM already. Someone was knocking on the main door just now and I couldn’t answer because you weren’t awake."
[Good morning, sweetheart.] Aura chose the wrong time to pop up her notification screen in front of his face.
But it sure did a great job shining enough light to wake him up completely. Simultaneously, Devon stirred, scratching his jaw mid-sleep.
"We’ll be out in a minute, Orion!" Ambrose yelled, trying to push Devon’s strong arms off him again.
However, that proved futile, the Esper grunting before lifting him onto his chest. Ambrose gasped, his cheeks burning red.
Was he doing it on purpose?!
"D–Devon." He tapped the S-Rank’s chest. "Wake. Up. Orion is at the door."
At the mention of Orion, Devon’s golden eyes finally fluttered open. He angled his head to Ambrose, a small smile tugging his lips when he saw the Guide’s dishevelled blonde hair.
"Morning."
Ambrose stared at him, still flustered. "Devon."
"Yes?"
"...We’re naked."
Devon blinked. Right as Orion knocked again.
"Daddy?! Why is the door locked?!"
