章節 55: Going Back
Abigail ran, panting heavily, with the young girl still slung across his back. His legs moved swiftly through the dark corridors and scattered debris, each step burdened with growing responsibility. Thoughts of what was happening behind him, where Modeus and the spear-wielding woman were holding the line, only added to his tension. But in the distance, he started to see the light of the lift platform—a sign that he was nearing a safer area.
As he approached, he saw Takashima busy helping injured team members onto the lift platform. Their bodies were battered, some barely conscious, which heightened the urgency of the situation. Takashima, checking the condition of one of his team, looked up as Abigail arrived with the girl on his back.
"What happened?" Takashima asked with a worried tone, taking in Abigail's dusty appearance and the severely weakened girl on his back.
Abigail carefully lowered the girl from his back. "There were more monsters than we anticipated. They attacked relentlessly, but Modeus is holding them off. This girl is badly injured; we need to treat her immediately."
Takashima looked at the girl lying weakly on the ground, her augmented suit torn and scorched in places. He quickly nodded and turned to call one of his team members to help get the girl onto the lift. "Alright, we need to get her up. Make sure the area below is secure before we send more help."
"Got it," Abigail replied, still out of breath but ready to act. "Make sure she gets treated right away. She and the others are in serious condition."
Without further ado, Takashima and his team carefully lifted the young girl onto the lift platform, ensuring she was in a comfortable position before pulling the lever to send it up. The creaking sound of the lift mechanism filled the air as the platform slowly began its ascent.
Abigail paused for a moment, watching the lift platform ascend, before turning back to face the corridor where Modeus and the spear-wielding woman were holding their ground. The need to return to them weighed heavily on his heart, even though he didn't know what he would find.
As he made his way back down the corridor, the sounds of battle were gone. An eerie silence hung in the air, making his heart race. Where the roar of gunfire and the clash of swords had filled the space, there was now only an unnatural quiet.
Approaching the door where they had fought earlier, his heart pounded. He cautiously approached the door, feeling the tension crawl up his spine. As his hand touched the door, it creaked open slowly on its own.
As the door creaked open, Abigail was greeted by the sight of Modeus emerging from the room, his face smeared with dirt and his body drenched in the black fluid of the monsters. Over his shoulder, he carried the exhausted but still living spear-wielding woman. The monsters that had once swarmed the room were now all gone, their bodies strewn about like discarded rags.
Abigail rushed forward, a mix of relief and shock evident in his voice. "What happened here?" he asked urgently. "How's the situation?"
Modeus, still grinning with unrestrained excitement, answered nonchalantly, "Everything's fine. This woman's just a bit tired. Nothing to worry about."
Abigail glanced at the spear-wielding woman, who looked at him with eyes full of anxiety. Her voice came out raspy as she asked, "How is my lady? Is she safe?" Her panic was palpable, each word almost a desperate plea.
"She's been taken up on the lift," Abigail replied quickly. "She'll be alright."
Upon hearing this, the spear-wielding woman immediately scrambled off Modeus's shoulder, disregarding her own condition. She ran off, leaving Abigail and Modeus behind without a word, her sole focus on her lady's safety.
Abigail and Modeus watched her go in silence for a few seconds. Finally, Abigail let out a long sigh and shook his head.
"Well, at least we managed to save them," he murmured, turning to Modeus. "And you seem to have thoroughly enjoyed this fight."
Modeus, with his face still smeared with blood and black liquid, chuckled softly with satisfaction. "Absolutely. This has been the highlight of my day. Everything was so wild and challenging. I almost wish there were more of them."
Abigail looked at him with a mix of admiration and exhaustion. Modeus was always like this—no matter how chaotic the situation, he always found a way to revel in the madness of battle. "You're insane," he muttered, though a small smile tugged at his lips.
Modeus just laughed louder at that.
The two of them walked calmly towards the lift platform. The sound of their footsteps felt heavy in the sudden silence, a stark contrast to the chaos of the battle they had just left behind. The air around them was tense, though no more signs of monsters remained.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. Armed personnel in full military gear rushed past them, heading towards the door they had just exited. These individuals were clad in heavy military equipment, complete with automatic weapons and advanced tactical shields that seemed far superior to those of the artifact recovery or cleanup teams. They moved quickly, wordlessly, and with a clear sense of purpose.
Behind them appeared Takashima, the large man in the powered suit who had been leading their team. Upon seeing Modeus and Abigail, he paused momentarily and gave them a respectful nod. "Good work, you two," he said with a gravelly voice, but one filled with appreciation. "Head to the lift platform. I'll make sure your relic hunter ranks get a boost after this mission."
Abigail nodded quickly, still weary from the previous battle, but feeling a bit relieved hearing Takashima's words. "Thank you, Takashima. Are you going to continue exploring the ruins?" he asked, his eyes still scanning the area for any new threats.
"Yeah, I need to ensure there are no more monsters here," Takashima replied, glancing at the door behind them. "We'll continue with the exploration, but you can head out now. Your mission is complete."
Modeus, still pumped with battle adrenaline, grinned widely and nodded. "Go ahead. I'd be thrilled if there were more monsters waiting out there," he said, his tone eager for more combat.
Takashima shook his head with a hint of a smile on his lips. "You're crazy, Modeus. But I like your fighting style. See you later." With that, he rejoined the heavily armed team, running alongside them into the depths of the ruins.
Modeus and Abigail said nothing more. They continued their way to the lift platform in silence. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the now empty and quiet corridor. Abigail could feel exhaustion creeping into his body, but there was also a sense of relief knowing they had made it this far.
When they finally reached the lift platform, the scene above was starkly different. Injured individuals were scattered around, some lying on stretchers while medical personnel moved quickly to tend to them. The air was heavy with the mixed smells of antiseptic and blood, creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere.
Modeus scanned the area, his eyes searching the crowd, and asked Abigail, "Do you see them? The girl and the woman with the spear?"
Abigail shook his head. "No, I don't see them here," he said while surveying the surroundings. "They might have been taken to the Old World Network hospital. Their conditions were pretty severe; they'd need more intensive care."
Modeus shrugged, seemingly indifferent. "Well, we did our part," he said casually. "The important thing is we made it out alive, and I got a bit of fun out of it."
Abigail looked at him with a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. "Fun? You always find a way to enjoy the fight, don't you?" he said, sitting in one of the empty chairs near the medical tent.
Modeus chuckled and took a seat next to him. "Of course. You know me. Without a fight, what's the point of being here?"
Abigail sighed deeply and shook his head. "You're crazy, Modeus. But I have to admit, I'm relieved you were there. I don't know what would have happened without you."
Modeus just grinned widely, his face still smeared with the grime of battle, and shrugged again. "That's what teams are for, right? I enjoy the fight, and you keep us alive. A perfect combination."
Abigail stared at him for a moment, then leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment. The smell of smoke, blood, and sweat still lingered in the air, but for the first time since the fight began, he felt like he could breathe a little easier. Around them, medical staff and other workers were still busy, but for Abigail and Modeus, at least for now, they could rest.
"I hope there aren't any more crazy events after this," Abigail muttered, half to himself.
Modeus chuckled softly. "Don't hold your breath. This world always finds a way to throw surprises."
With a faint smile on his lips, Abigail could only nod in agreement.
After they finished resting and handed over the quantum artifacts and stones they had collected to the personnel at one of the site's trucks, Abigail and Modeus stood for a moment, watching the workers busy with recording and examining their finds. Modeus, looking a bit bored, started casually swinging his sword through the air.
"So, what's the plan next?" Modeus asked as he sheathed his sword, appearing much more relaxed than a few hours ago.
Abigail thought for a moment. "I think we need to head back to the Old World Network and get some rest. We've been out in the field long enough, and I'd rather sleep somewhere more comfortable than a medical tent."
Modeus looked at him, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Sleep? Seriously? How about we freshen up first and then grab a bite? The plaza in Old World Network has some great restaurants, remember?"
Abigail let out a small grunt. "Alright, I admit I'm hungry too. After we clean up, we can eat at that place we went to yesterday. They have amazing steak."
"Deal!" Modeus immediately agreed with enthusiasm. "Then let's get going. I can't wait."
The two of them hopped on the motorcycle they had parked not far from the ruins. Modeus revved the engine to a moderate speed, heading towards Old World Network, while Abigail sat behind, enjoying the cool evening breeze against his face. After a short ride, they arrived at their lodging, a futuristic building with glass balconies overlooking the city center.
Once they arrived at the hotel, they quickly showered and got ready for dinner. Abigail felt much more refreshed after his shower and was in better spirits after such a grueling day. Modeus emerged from the bathroom shortly after, dressed in casual clothes that still reflected his relaxed demeanor.
They headed to their favorite restaurant in the plaza. The place was just as they remembered from the night before, with modern hanging lights casting a soft glow and the enticing aroma of food greeting them as they walked in. They chose a table near the window, where they could watch the city slowly quiet down as night fell.
After ordering their meals—steak for Abigail and a meat pasta dish for Modeus—the atmosphere became more relaxed. Modeus leaned back in his chair while Abigail observed his drink before starting a conversation.
"You know, when we were rescuing that young girl, I noticed something," Abigail said quietly, swirling his glass. Modeus turned to him, intrigued.
"What's that?"
"I happened to catch a glimpse of one of the emblems on the girl's hoodie. It was a noble crest," Abigail replied, recalling the details. "And the spear-wielding woman with her... I just realized she was wearing the Royal Knight Aurelius emblem."
Modeus raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "Royal Knight Aurelius? Do they often show up in Fertissio?"
Abigail shook his head. "That's what puzzles me. Royal Knights are a royal guard. So why are they here, especially in such a state?"
Modeus pondered for a moment, slicing a piece of his pasta with his fork. "Maybe they have some secret business here. We clearly don't know the whole story."
"Perhaps," Abigail agreed, cutting into his steak. "One thing's for sure, they must have had a strong reason to come here with such a small team. But why just the two of them? Especially with that young girl who was clearly injured."
Modeus shrugged. "Who knows. But I guess we might run into them again if we stay in Old World Network. Nobility like them don't just disappear easily."
Abigail smiled slightly. "You might be right. After all, the world is too small for people like us. There are always connections popping up from somewhere."
Modeus chuckled lightly. "And if we do meet again, let's hope it's not in the middle of another monster swarm."
Abigail laughed softly. "Let's hope not. Though I have a feeling you wouldn't mind even if it did happen."
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with a bit of action," Modeus said with a wide grin. "But… I wouldn't mind if dinner like this became our new routine after missions."
Abigail nodded as he finished the last piece of his steak. "I agree. Sometimes, we need something a bit more relaxing."
They continued eating and chatting about lighter topics, the atmosphere growing more relaxed. Abigail felt a sense of relief at being able to unwind after such a grueling day, while Modeus seemed to thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie, his face lit up with contentment.
That night, despite the many unanswered questions, they were able to momentarily forget the chaos they had just faced. They knew that the world was full of mysteries, and their encounter with the spear-wielding woman and the noble girl might just be the beginning of something much larger.
***
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