Free Web NovelChapter 46: _You’re About to Be Part of History
Somewhere else in Aurelia City, another S-Rank Esper woke up to news of the Cataclysm-level anomaly, in the most annoying way possible.
"Viktor darling?" The voice of the Glacier Talon Guild master was melodious, carrying easily throughout every crevice in her mansion without her needing to yell.
She sat on a luxurious white sofa in her living room, one leg crossed over the other and a cup of iced tea in hand. Her icy blue hair was lush and straight like silk, cascading down her slender shoulders in waves.
From his bedroom, Viktor’s eyes bolted open, his chest falling with a sharp exhale.
"Viktor?!" His mother called again, voice sharper this time. "Don’t be lazy, child. It’s past eight AM. Come here."
The Esper sat up in bed, rubbing his forehead. The one time he decided to sleep in his mother’s house this happened...
He adjusted his blue night robe, stepping out of the bed. "Coming mama!"
After a long walk down the hallway and then descending the curling stairs, he arrived at the large living room, squinting slightly due to the lights from the crystal chandelier hanging above.
His mother glanced over her shoulder, a smile curving the corner of her thin lips. "The news, boy. Come see the news."
Viktor’s brows knitted as his head swung to the big screen television.
News?
Soon enough, he saw what she was talking about. A reporter was displayed live on screen, giving the latest updates on the Norfolk dungeon break.
When Viktor saw the headline, he froze, heart slowing for a second.
Cataclysm level Rift Anomaly?
"SS Rank dungeon Rift." He muttered, half-lidded eyes slowly blinking off the faint traces of sleep. "This country has had only what? Five?"
"Six." His mother corrected, sounding more amused than alarmed. "This would be the seventh one. The last one also happened to be the last dungeon raid I ever partook in."
She sighed, eyelids batting as she reminisced.
While she seemed to be taking this lightly, Viktor’s jaw tightened with uncertainty and worry.
An SS Rank dungeon break was already bad enough. But this Rift was vastly different from anyone that ever appeared since the Emergence.
Echo Rift.
Formed by the remnant energy expelled by a closed S-Rank dungeon. And now it was being listed as SS Rank?
"It’s been so long since the United States Hunters Federation has been on their toes," his mother continued, dropping her cup on the centre table. "And this time it’s not just them. Every Hunters Federation from every country is raising concerns that this could become a pandemic if not contained."
The way she spoke about the anomaly, as if it were some exciting scientific breakthrough, made his stomach churn. But that was just Irina Morozov for you.
Always so excited at the prospect of dangerous dungeon Rifts.
"By the way, darling." His mother’s neck spun around. "My sources tell me the top Guilds in the country are being mobilised. I won’t be surprised if we get pinged soon."
As if on some divine timing, her phone rang with a notification. She whipped it out unhurriedly, eyes skimming over the screen for a moment.
She smirked. "Oho. Look what we have here already."
Without another word, she handed the phone to her son whose frown deepened. He raised a brow at the message displayed on the device:
GLACIER TALON — EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT ORDER.
Destination: Norfolk.
He heaved a shuddering breath, eyes sliding back to the television. "So it begins..."
His mother took the phone, rising gracefully from the sofa. "A culmination of our country’s top guilds." She turned to him, a hand on her waist. "Get dressed, darling. You’re about to be part of history."
While she trailed past him, making calls to other high members of the Guild, Viktor’s thoughts wandered.
A seemingly ’simple’ S-Rank dungeon raid had led to the death of an S-Rank Esper from their Guild.
Mordecai.
Of course, his family had been compensated, but no amount of money could replace the worth of an S-Rank. Now the Federation was deploying Hunters to face a phenomenon they didn’t understand yet?
Something of Cataclysm level?
"Death has never felt so close," he smiled wryly, fists curling beside him. Then he recalled something. "Phoenix Flight must’ve gotten pinged too. I wonder how dear old Devon is reacting to all this..."
He paused, mind settling on the face of a peculiar Guide. One who’s been avoiding his advances for days.
"No way a C-Rank is getting deployed into something like this." He snorted. "But still... with his performance at the last raid..."
... What if?
★★★★★
Phoenix Flight HQ
Back at his suite, Ambrose swallowed hard as he watched the aerial clip of the so-called dungeon boss of the Echo Rift. It looked like a literal sea dragon, with a body so huge it cast a shadow over the deserted city ahead.
On the flip side, Devon’s curled fists trembled. Even from the screen it was clear that that thing would make the S-Rank queen centipede that they defeated its pet.
It loomed over everything like a god, the water around it spreading for hundreds of meters blackened like there was an oil spill. Before the aerial footage could get a closer look, the creature roared, sending tremors that made the camera static.
Devon’s heart fell to his stomach.
Leo...
Any shred of hope he had last night was gone.
"We apologise for that disruption," the reporter back at the studio cleared her throat, adjusting papers. "The beast is now being tagged as the ’Leviathan of the Echo Rift’. The top Guilds from all around the country are being summoned to Norfolk as we speak. Reports suggest..."
The rest of her words died off in Devon’s ears when his phone buzzed just then. So did Alisha who was blinking at him with concern.
PHOENIX FLIGHT— EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT ORDER.
Destination: Norfolk.
When Ambrose stretched his neck to see the message on Devon’s phone, his body grew rigid. Just in case, he pulled out his phone to see if he got a notification.
As expected... nothing.
"Well," Alisha lowered her phone with an unenthusiastic sigh. "From an S-Rank raid to our first Cataclysm Level mission. Looks like quite the eventful week..."
Devon didn’t answer.
His eyes were still locked on the frozen image of the Leviathan on the screen.
Then—he muttered quietly. "...Leo."
