Chapter 13: WALKING WITH ABOMINATIONS

The orphanage's mansion was an impressive structure capable of housing almost a thousand children. It had a rich history of raising powerful knights and highly influential figures, be it in the government or great clans.

It had a sizeable military force bordering it. All efforts to protect the children from the abominations that crawled about the Torn Mountain.

Due to how many soul cores were constantly being developed at the orphanage, placing it in a residential area would have been too risky, putting the residents in danger of spontaneous Event openings. Abominations were also drawn to intense fluctuations of Celestial will, and soul core formation was one of the major causes.

The Torn mountains were also highly advantageous saturated with intense levels of Celestial Will, which was essential in soul core formation.

Given the highly uninhabitable terrain, the government had put a lot into securing the kids. The military forces placed around the orphanage consisted of Mostly Retainers and a few Cardinals. Of course, none were nearly as skilled as Captain Faux's Doves, but their capabilities could not be underestimated.

Twelve hours after the disappearance of the thirty-plus children, the government had tasked the entire force that bordered the orphanage to immediately begin the search.

After the Calamity—Caspian had gone missing, they immediately sent out the Doves and their captain Faux De'lean to find him.

Not long after the Captain had arrived, the NMG chopper that they had used to traverse the violent skies of the Torn mountain was now barreling towards the Dean's office.

"Sebas!"

Faux called out as his cloak had begun to leak dark steam.

Sebastian reacted almost instantly, placing his gloved hands on the wooden floor.

Sir Julian moved to grab hold of the Dean and his secretary, and almost instinctively he hurried to Faux's side.

Sebas and the nurse were already close by so before the chopper could reach them. They were all standing beside Faux.

It happened so quickly, one second a chopper was heading right for them, and the next the air seemed to sway and everything was immediately covered in darkness.

The mansion shook violently as the blade of metal dicing stone could be heard all over.

Sebas could hear the Dean's laboured breath right next to him. Drowning it was the sounds of screams and falling stone coming from outside the dome of deep darkness they were all huddled in.

The dome had no odor but the way it seethed and groaned seemed almost…alive.

When the sounds of toppling stones died down, Faux let go of his Will and the darkness around them wavered before dissipating.

"My God?!"

The Dean muttered as he gazed wide-eyed at the remnant of his once luxurious office.

"My chopper!!"

Captain Faux cried out, viciously grabbing onto his straw hat.

For starters, the once elaborate window had now been replaced by a gaping hole occupied by the front compartment of an NMG chopper.

Black wood sprouted from the point Sebas had placed his hands, growing into a thick wall which had cushioned the chopper's descent. If it hadn't been for his spell the chopper would have gone right through them.

"Ahh!"

The stunning nurse exclaimed backing as far away from the still dissipating mound of black flesh that Captain Faux had summoned to shield them. A contingency in case Sebastian's spell had failed.

"Miss Betty. Please confirm that we have backups."

The Dean stated his dark pupils were placed solely on the chopper in the middle of the room.

"Backup's for?"

She asked. The Dean turned to her with a deep frown lining his ageing brows.

"Everything!"

While the Dean whined to his secretary, Captain Faux, Julian, Sebas and the nurse closed in on the chopper.

Julian pulled off the metal doors revealing two men strapped to their chairs. They had lengthy metal scraps sticking out of their black armour, with blood seeping out of the seams of their armour.

Faux let out a sad sigh at the sight. Sebas meanwhile scrambled to their side with the nurse beside him. He knew enough about first aid but hoped that the nurse knew a bit more so he turned to her as he stuttered;

"I-is there any chance they could still be–"

Suddenly one of the men flinched.

"What the?!"

The next moment the straps that held them to the leather chair let up and Without wasting a breath they immediately leaped out of the chopper.

With the dagger strapped to their side, they went in for the attack. Lashing out at whoever they could see.

"Ahhh!!!"

The nurse let out a painful shriek as one of the pilots slashed at her throat. She held the wound wide-eyed as blood spilt from it.

The pilot was already continuing forward, aiming right for the Dean. But Faux was faster, appearing right between them the next moment.

The pilot's head came off soon after, felled in one fluid motion.

Julian was also quick to snap out of his daze driving his blade through the copilot's heart as he wrestled with Sebas on the floor.

The young Dove pushed the copilot off his body immediately after, as he ran to the nurse's side hoping that there was something he could do to save her life. Unfortunately, the wound was too deep. She had passed not longer after obtaining the cut.

While Julian stared solemnly at her corpse. Faux moved to inspect the corpse of his pilot or more accurately its head.

"Sebas?! Eye colour?!"

Faux asked as he pulled off the dead man's radio helmet.

"Sebas?!"

"Sorry Captain… green for the Pilot, black for his Copilot."

Sebas replied as he placed his hands over the nurse's eyes and closed them gently.

When Faux was done he went over to the other pilot and after pulling off his helmet, fell into silence. Sebas joined him soon after signing intently.

"Something is terribly wrong."

Faux kept his shrouded eyes on their stark white eyes and the frozen expression that plagued their faces.

"…Full moon."

"It isn't a ful–"

"I think you guys should see this."

Miss Betty said rushing into the room. They all followed after her and soon they were looking out a window that oversaw the courtyard.

"My God?!"

The Dean stuttered at the chilling sight that laid out before them.

The stone fence had been breached and the courtyard was now littered with armoured men clad in government-issued armor. What made the sight so appalling were the towering abominations that walked eerily calmly beside them.