Kapitel 50: Ambush (6)

" Come with me," Gerald says in his usual deep voice.

Yang and the others felt relieved the moment they saw him as the proctors usually only show themselves up when it's time to go back to Sense. Seems like they haven't realized the problem at hand.

Well, it's fine. Now that we got a teacher here we should be cleared from any potential danger.

Though it would've been better if it was Mr. Froil due to Rena but our lives are the most important factor at hand.

" You okay? " I slightly nudge Rena's shoulder. She was flustered and nervous as currently shown on her face, but she wasn't in despair like her expression from earlier.

Gerald took a glimpse towards her to see her face but Rena had her head down making Gerald ignore her.

She was nervous most likely due to Gerald finding her with her past crew even though he was ordered by their dad to stop her from doing so.

It should be fine as the others know the whole story already.

" Stay close. Something is amiss. " He whispers with a serious tone.

It seems like Mr. Gerald didn't know about the Shrieker incident yet, but knows that there's something wrong.

The anti-mana orb is currently working as of this moment as we all could die despite having the teleportation magic applied to us.

With that being said, they most likely can't communicate with headquarters as their phones and technology work with mana.

Besides it's not like that was what they needed to figure out everything as I'm sure someone as strong as the teachers could feel it.

" Mana isn't flowing properly. " Gerald says.

Mana still exists in the environment and in our bodies. We could still use our abilities as even Rena was able to slow her descent down earlier using her flames.

The only thing that is affected are tools, trinkets, charms, and other related objects. As if they're trying to keep us here, alone.

Someone of Mr. Gerald's capabilities would've figured that out already. And everyone would be suspicious by now.

I'm sure there's some group out there with a severely injured friend who should've teleported away from now but is still somehow suffering from their injuries.

" We're going to look for everyone nearby and then head to Mr. Froil. "

As he says so, Yang and the others look at us confusingly. What does he mean by something that feels amiss?

" It seems like the charm applied on us doesn't work anymore. " I say with a calm expression. I didn't want to tell them about the Shrieker incident as Mr. Gerald was here.

I don't trust him a single bit, not because he was a pawn of a dictator, but more so because his clothing was too concealed.

An eye. A monochromatic pitch-black circle with a small slit in the middle resembling the eyes of a snake.

No, I'm not looking for a dangling animal body part, but a tattoo of one.

Mr. Gerald was wearing a black turtleneck paired with his staff uniform which was identical to our uniform's design but is different in color. Ours are white and gold while theirs are black and blue.

Though everyone had the same exact clothes, the only difference with our clothes was the turtleneck he was wearing.

The turtleneck that was hiding his neck, was the only place for the Original's contracted mark to appear. The symbol of Originals. It was seen on the clothing of every single Original, and also on the contracted human necks. Though it was a brand for the Originals, the mark was a poison for the contracted. The moment that it senses any form of betrayal or snitching, It will summon a snake that will coil up the host's body and devour them from the head down, all while under an extreme paralysis poison.

Regardless of its use, it was a sign that a traitor was among us.

No one should be aware of the mark as of this moment and will be only public information the moment the Pillars escape this situation and ultimately tell the story to Sense.

The purpose of this attack in the original story should be obvious. Kill a few students and cause everyone's trust regarding Sense to collapse. And if the biggest academy crumbled, humanity would be dinner as they would grow weaker and weaker without any future prospects.

This was the reason why I think they attacked 1b as well.

1A was an obvious target as many of the top guilds' young masters who obtained their parent's talent studies in that class. They are the richest and most blessed children in the entire human race. It would even be an understatement to say that a single person in that class was enough to duel anyone of a different class in the school of the same year and win. Besides, even if they didn't know of it yet, five of the strongest individuals to ever study and be born currently reside in that class.

Class 1b however, wasn't really strong in terms of talent. But they have authority and fame. Though they don't have the biggest backing unlike that of the talented 1A's, 1B still had the authority of respectable and well-known guilds around different sectors. Losing your beloved child under the protection of someone who claims and shows off their might would obviously be catastrophic for Sense's reputation.

Yang looks at me in worry the moment I said that we could die. What did that mean?

He suddenly thought of events that could pertain to the sudden shift in mana behavior.

And I'm sorry to tell you, but yes it was indeed dire.

" You. " Gerald says in a deep grunt calling out to a group of people killing kobolds in the distance.

" Mr. Gerald? " They say with confusion. Was it time to go back already? It was a little too fast, wasn't it?

Shit...

As I come to realize who he was calling, I couldn't help but form a small frown.

It was Reign and his crew.

I took a glimpse towards Rena who was already troubled by Gerald, only to be faced with another problem.

Jian and the others seemed to have noticed us as well, causing their faces to frown in annoyance.

" Could we help you sir? " Reign says in an annoyed tone. He tried to sound respectful due to Gerald's position in Sense, but the fact that he was Rena's brother seemed to be quite annoying to him.

" You're coming with me. " He says in his usual emotionless and deep voice as he looks at Reign straight in the eye.

What? What is this guy talking about?

Reign didn't respond to Gerald, but that question was clearly plastered on his face as if he was looking at a crazy man.

" I'm sorry Mr. Gerald. You're a great guy and all, but I won't be coming with you. I'll wait for Mr. Froil and we'll follow him instead. " He says with a casual smile. This was what Reign was good at. Sounding weak and respectful to the strong, but bullies the weak whenever he has a chance.

" You wanna die? " A chilling deep disgruntled voice escape Gerald's mouth.

...

Reign and the others didn't move a muscle. They flinched at his words as if they were looking at a crazy man.

Rena who was next to us look at Gerald with anger. She wasn't shocked as if that was normal behavior to him, but didn't say anything as Reign would be an even bigger annoyance if she interrupted there.

" If so you could be bird feed if you want. " He says before turning his head into a dark alleyway a decent distance toward our left.

What now? They all look at him realizing that he was staring at something.

And as curiosity and trying to figure out what he was even thinking pushed on everyone's mind, they all shifted their heads towards the pitch-black alley.

" What is that? "

The silhouette of a massive man stood directly in the dark alley.

It looked like a bodybuilder who was competing professionally, but how come there was someone like that here in the first place? The biggest man in the class was Yang, yet he looked tiny in front of that thing. Was it a Guardian roaming about and stumbled in this sector?

They all look at him trying to figure out what it was. It looked human yet its arms were thick and goes all the way to the ground.

As if it was a gorilla...

" That... " Rena stares at the alleyway in fear as if she realized what was in front of us.

" Help meeee... "