Chapter 33: THE MISSION

VIVIAN

The transportation chamber finally opened. Vivian stepped out of the glowing portal and into the school’s inspection area.

This was where students returning from the Abandoned War Zone were processed before being allowed back into the academy.

A female officer immediately approached her.

"Your bag, please."

Vivian handed it over.

The woman placed it on a scanning platform.

A blue light passed over the bag.

Vivian frowned. "Why are you scanning it?"

The officer didn’t look up.

"Are you new?"

She nodded."Um.."

"We scan everything brought back from the Abandoned War Zone. We’re checking for illegal substances, contaminated materials, parasites, mutated organisms, and anything else that could endanger the school. And mostly for insects."

Vivian’s heart skipped a beat. Insect!! Insect!! Beeny is an insect. She called. "Beeny...bee..ny...can they see you?"

"Am in your sea consciousness.Vivian. and not am an insect. I am Queen Bee. Not a fly they can catch!"

"Oh." Vivian nodded. "That makes sense."

The machine beeped.

"Clear."

The woman returned the bag.

"Your body scan is clear as well. No signs of infection or dangerous contamination."

Vivian took her bag. "Thank you."

She stepped out of the transportation building.

Then she stopped.

Vincent Hale was waiting outside. Another man stood beside him.

The moment Vincent saw her, he strode toward her. "Vivian!"

He grabbed her shoulders and looked her over. "Are you injured?"

Vivian blinked. "I’m fine."

He checked her arms, shoulders, and face anyway.

"I said I’m fine."

Only then did he step back. Vivian smiled and pulled out the Beast Core.

"I got it."

Vincent stared at it. Then his expression became complicated. "You actually got it."

Vivian proudly placed it in his hand. "Of course. Do you know whose daughter I am?"

He looked at the Beast Core. Then back at her. His face suddenly hardened. "Why did you destroy the surveillance drone?"

Vivian’s smile disappeared. She raised both hands. "I didn’t."

Vincent narrowed his eyes.

"I would never destroy school property."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Yes."

She nodded seriously. "I am an innocent student."

The other man coughed to hide his laughter. Vincent rubbed his forehead. "If you hadn’t destroyed that drone, I could have reached you much sooner."

Vivian’s expression changed, noticing his change of tone.. "Why?"

Vincent went silent for a moment. Then his voice lowered. "Your father."

Vivian froze.

"What happened to him?"

"His beast went into a frenzy during the Supreme World mission."

Her face immediately paled. Supreme world? When did he go there? She thought.

"Is he hurt?"

"It’s been a week."

Vincent’s expression was grim.

"You should go see him."

Vivian’s breathing stopped. "Why?"

"Because after the military finishes dealing with the incident, he’ll be transferred to the...." He hesitated. "Vivian..."

She stared at him.

"You should see your father one last time."

Her heart dropped.

"No."

She suddenly turned and ran.

He called. "Vivian!"

She didn’t stop. Her bag bounced against her back as she sprinted through the corridor.

She couldn’t lose him. Not him. Not after everything. In this world he is the only one she could.rely on. Only him is her family.

The elevator doors opened. Vivian rushed inside and repeatedly pressed the rooftop button.

"Come on!"

The elevator shot upward. One minute later, the doors opened.

Vivian ran onto the rooftop. She activated her communicator.

Her flying car immediately descended.

The door opened. She jumped inside. "Take me to my father!"

The vehicle’s artificial intelligence responded.

"Destination?"

"Haxia Military Hospital!" She knew all soldiers get treated there.

The car accelerated. "Faster!"

"Maximum speed has been activated."

Vivian gripped the seat.

"Faster!"

Her eyes burned. A tear slipped down her cheek. Please.

I don’t want to lose Issac.

She had already lost enough. She couldn’t lose him too. He is the only one that truly loved and cared for her in this world.

The flying car suddenly changed direction.

Vivian frowned. "Why did you change the route?"

No answer. She looked through the window.

Her heart skipped. There was no school or building beneath her anymore.

Only endless forest.

"What...?"

Only then did she realize that this wasn’t her flying car..the interior design was different and she was too anxious to notice.

Before she could react....

BOOM! Another flying car slammed into hers.

The vehicle violently shook. Vivian screamed as the alarm blared.

HAXIA MILITARY CONFERENCE HALL

Caelan Drayke sat among several military commanders.

A massive holographic map hovered above the table.

A female commander stood before them. "An unusual incident has occurred in the Elyndra Desert."

The map zoomed in. "A Python that was previously classified as A-Rank suddenly evolved to SS-Rank."

Several commanders frowned.

"And there’s more."

The holographic image changed. "The male Python has produced offspring. Which is unusual except he was experimented on. But there is no record to prove that."

The room went silent.

"All of its offspring have tested at S-Rank strength."

A commander cursed under his breath.

"Impossible. This dirty creature won’t let us be at peace."

"Thirty soldiers have already been killed."

The room became tense.

The female commander continued. "We require an SSS-Rank ability user for this mission."

Several A-Rank and S-Rank soldiers secretly relaxed.

Then she added, "The current plan is for S-Rank soldiers to support the operation with Mecha units. SS-Rank soldiers will lead the mission to be in order."

She paused.

"And an SSS-Rank Sentinel will be required for direct combat."

The relaxed expressions immediately disappeared. Everyone suddenly became very interested in the table.

The commander looked around.

"Who is volunteering?"

Silence. Nobody moved.

Caelan slowly raised his hand.

Another SS-Rank soldier reluctantly raised his as well.

The woman looked at Caelan.

"You?"

Caelan crossed his legs.

"I’ll go. Under one condition."

"Under what conditions?"

"I have one."

Before he could continue.. BANG! The massive doors opened.

Four SSS rank Sentinels entered.

Behind them walked Aston Fenrir. His guard, Luigi, followed closely.

The atmosphere immediately changed.

One of the SSS-Rank Sentinels stepped forward and saluted Aston.

"King Fenrir."

The other soldiers stood and saluted.

Caelan remained seated. His legs were still crossed.

A few soldiers exchanged nervous glances.

One whispered, "He really isn’t afraid of anyone."

Another quietly replied, "Those two have history."

"They can’t even stand being in the same room."

Aston’s eyes briefly landed on Caelan. He shook his head.

Caelan looked back. Neither man smiled.

Luigi walked toward the holographic display. "There’s another crisis."

The map changed. A planet appeared. "Ignora."

Luigi’s expression became serious. "A mysterious disease has appeared on the planet."

The room quieted. "It has already killed several soldiers stationed there."

The map displayed casualty numbers.

"Three hundred Orcs and four hundred human beasts have also died."

A commander frowned. "That’s too many."

Luigi nodded. "We believe the disease is being spread by Zerg insects."

Caelan’s guard, Ronan, immediately spoke. "How can you be certain?"

Everyone looked at him.

Ronan continued. "Fifty years ago, we ended the war with the Zerg Planet. If we attack them without solid evidence, we could trigger another war."

Luigi looked at him calmly. "We understand the risk."

"So what’s the proof?"

"We’re still investigating."

Ronan frowned. "Then why are we sending soldiers?"

"Because if the disease reaches Haxia, millions could be infected."

Silence filled the hall. Luigi brought up another screen. "We’ve already compiled the list of soldiers who will participate in the three-month mission."

He looked at the first name.

"The first soldier is..."

He paused. "Caelan Drayke."

Caelan’s eyes narrowed. The entire room became silent. Everyone knew Aston was deliberating targeting Caelan.