Free Web NovelChapter 37: Spire War [1]
In a private office high within the Heavenly Spire Headquarters, Brawn stepped in without knocking.
Azina stood before a glass wall, overlooking the swelling crowd gathering below.
"What happened?" Azina asked.
Brawn heaved a tired and heavy sigh.
"Vanguard somehow found a gap in our security and seemed to have summoned monsters into the City. The guards could only flee at the sight of someone whose level they couldn’t determine. I believe he’s one of the two leaders of Vanguard."
Azina stayed silent, but Brawn knew she was angry. This lady that liked to have the world in her palm suddenly realized she didn’t.
"Call that old man," she said flatly. "I know he has hidden men. Use them."
"And forget discretion. Anyone assigned to Nue’s army moves now."
Her eyes darkened.
"We strike Vanguard tonight."
Brawn hesitated before speaking.
"Madam, if the rest of the army moves, the Awakened in the city would not handle the monsters properly... There will be casualties."
Azina turned to Brawn and walked close to him.
"And if we don’t do this, we’ll give Vanguard an opportunity to base here. What I am doing is for the greater good."
Brawn gulped and nodded.
"Alright, ma."
He decided against telling her that he couldn’t find the man.
As Brawn was leaving, Azina said.
"Oh, and make good use of the Outliers as well. You can figure out the details."
- - - - -
In the center of the Heavenly Spire city, in the district that held the HQ.
There was a wide, stadium-like structure. It also occupied the largest area of land in the district.
The stadium roared with panic—shouting, pushing, bodies colliding as fear spread faster than reason.
Civilians were gathering there to reach the underground of the city, which was also an inner part of the mountain.
It was opened years ago during the world war and served as protection to war victims then. Now, people were rushing it fearing the underground wouldn’t have enough space for everyone.
People were rushing into the stadium, making way for the double doors that were present in the walls below the mausoleum style seats.
Above the countless people filling the stadium, a coalescence of mana gathered.
It gathered to form a mass of black and white swirling energy that frightened the people as they thought it was a gate.
Panic was already brewing when someone walked out of the gate, standing on a blue translucent floor midair.
It was a tall man with a brown ponytail and a long structured face, wearing a white T-shirt, a brown vest, and cream pants while holding a walking stick.
His staff struck the air with a sharp crack.
The sound cut through the chaos, calling the attention of the people.
"Good evening, everyone. I am Farid Dashar, wielder of the class, Aegis Architect."
The majority of the people who entered the stadium first were elders, ones whose memories of the times after Day One were fresh.
So, they immediately knew this man. The best support ordinary people had witnessed. The vice-leader of The Spire party.
"Everyone, please calm down. I will make sure every corner each of you reside in is safe so no need to cause a stampede."
As everyone was trying to wrap their heads around what was happening, someone asked the question.
"F-farid? Is that you, Vice Leader? Didn’t you die?"
Farid smiled from his vantage point.
"Die? I can’t do that yet, I still have work to do."
The man hit the stick he held in his hand and closed his eyes.
Everyone looked up at the stadium’s top that had no ceiling.
A blue construct began spreading, wrapping itself around the stadium.
Through the roofless stadium, they saw the tall buildings surrounding the stadium get covered by the blue translucent construct.
This was the ability of a top-tier Level 69 man.
At the familiar sight of the blue barriers, the hall started cheering, the grim atmosphere beginning to dull.
Farid’s smile remained as he opened gates that surrounded him, a path made of constructs extending directly out of the stadium.
"Men, go defend our city," Farid said.
"Yes sir!" Affirmative yells sounded as hundreds of people darted out of the gates and walked on the construct path.
The last person to leave was Farahd, who stepped out and stared at Farid.
Farahd was close enough to see the white of Farid’s eyes slowly turn red.
With a dark smile, Farahd said:
"Don’t die, old man."
Farid chuckled. fгeewebnovёl.com
"Keeping your path stable longer is increasing the chances of my death by the way."
Farahd looked at his father with one last sad look.
Then he also departed. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
And so...
Farid started his life-threatening defence against all monsters that could harm the Spire.
While...
Farahd and his men, along with the averagely skilled Awakened in the city, began their hunt against the monster invading their homeland.
- - - - -
Cohen, using information Farid had given him, was on Ragon, circling the night sky above the city.
He scanned the battlefield from above, eyes flickering from clash to clash.
He was looking for his party amongst all the awakened who had chosen to stand their ground against the monsters.
Just when he was trying, he heard a yell from below, specifically a dark alley.
"Cohen!"
’Dax!’
Without hesitation, Cohen jumped down from Ragon.
As he descended, a black and yellow gate opened in his descent path, spewing out Blight, the Elk.
Cohen landed on Blight’s back, before the Elk majestically landed on the floor.
Looking at the four who gave him wide eyes, he said, "I need your help."
Dax immediately asked, "Is it Stein?"
Cohen shot a suspicious glance. "How’d you know?"
"I can smell a hideous stench and it smells very familiar," Dax said.
Without thinking much of Dax’s abilities, Cohen said to them:
"Were you heading to him? I must warn you that this will not be an ordinary hunt."
"Can’t you see Dana is silent? We’re dead serious right now," Abraham spoke.
"I see a business success from this!" Dana gave a tense smile.
Cohen took a moment to see all their serious faces, affirming that they were ready.
He opened a black and yellow gate that let out five Nebula Rams, including Hide, and Bobby.
"Let’s ride!"
They all mounted the Rams, with Cohen riding on Blight.
They darted towards a district not so far from where the monsters had been released.
On their way, they saw the distant monsters clashing with the Awakened.
Monsters of various animal types, mostly between Levels 10 and 20, filled the area.
The problem wasn’t the quality of monsters, but the quantity.
Just when things were looking tough.
Blue constructs began wrapping around the buildings here.
’Farid...’
Almost instantly, hundreds of men had appeared like a wave, supporting the monster lines here.
Farahd intentionally crossed paths with Cohen and his party.
Cohen kept on going, towards the region where Dax said he felt Stein’s presence. His Perception of Gray was limited on this grand stage.
During their search, the party noticed another fight occurring not far from the monster release area.
There, they noticed Azina fighting against a man on equal grounds.
"What is happening? Who is the Madam fighting on equal grounds?" Dana said out loud what the rest of the party thought.
At their moment of distraction, something shot at the group with immense speed and pressure.
The next moment, a loud crashing sound could be heard.
Cohen, on Blight’s back, saw the Elk’s crown of antlers holding a human’s hand in place.
Stein slowly lifted his head, meeting Cohen’s gaze.
He smiled.
"Round two."
