Chapter 436 100.1   - Watchers of Arcane

<Human Domain, Northeast Entrance>

The northwest entrance to the human domain stood as a formidable barrier, its gates flanked by vigilant patrols. The thick forest and treacherous mountain paths surrounding it added to its impregnability.

The guards, clad in sturdy armor and armed with sharp spears, stood at attention, unaware of the approaching storm.

From the shadows of the dense foliage, the solitary figure emerged. His steps were silent, a predator moving through the night, every motion precise and deliberate. The same wind that swirled in the cave now whispered through the trees, heralding his approach.

With eyes that gleamed like molten gold, he fixed his gaze on the entrance. His presence alone was enough to send shivers down the spines of the patrols. One guard turned, his eyes widening in shock as he caught sight of the intruder.

RUMBLE!

"Intruder!" the guard shouted, raising his spear in alarm.

Before the sound could fully escape his lips, the figure moved. In a blur of motion, he closed the distance between them, his fist connecting with the guard's chest. The impact was cataclysmic, a single punch that shattered armor and bone alike. The guard crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The other patrols rushed to intercept, but their efforts were futile. With each strike, the figure dispatched them with ease, their bodies falling like leaves in a storm. The once secure entrance was now a scene of chaos and death.

As the last guard fell, a new presence made itself known. Beside the figure, seemingly materializing from the very shadows, stood a young being.

Draped in an elegant robe that flowed like water, his movements were a dance; each step imbued with grace and purpose.

The young being's face was serene, almost ethereal, eyes an otherworldly intelligence. He regarded the carnage with a calm detachment, then turned his gaze to the figure beside him.

THUD!

In an instant, he knelt down, his eyes looking to the ground.

"Sir Cadmus."

Cadmus nodded once more. "Is the thing I asked for ready?"

The robed man replied, "Yes, your request is ready." With a fluid motion, he produced a hologram from within his robes.

The hologram depicted a scene where a young boy, whose eyes also turned vertically yellow, stood with an intense expression. The boy's voice echoed through the projection, filled with power and determination.

[By the will of my call, father of all,]

[Hear my cry through the storm's enthrall.]

[With the power of thunder in hand,]

[I summon the heavens to strike this land.]

As Cadmus heard this, an immense pressure surged through his body, a raw power that radiated outward. The air around them seemed to ripple, and the very ground beneath them trembled.

The pressure was so intense that it crushed the lifeless bodies of the fallen guards, turning them into mush.

His eyes were locked down onto the hologram.

"Einherjar."

He mumbled the name.

*******

<Arcadia City, Wednesday Evening>

A cab pulled to a stop at the edge of Arcadia City, where the urban landscape gave way to more secluded surroundings.

Inside stood a young man as he paid the driver and stepped out, the sounds of the city fading as he walked down a narrow, dimly lit path leading into the outskirts.

The path was lined with tall, overgrown foliage, casting long shadows that danced in the moonlight.

"Choosing such a place…."

Out of all the places it could have been chosen, it was this place. A place where countless different crimes had been committed. Even now, he could feel some gazes on him.

Astron's senses were on high alert, every rustle and whisper in the night air sharpening his focus.

'Though, they are most likely from the organization.'

There was a reason why he hadn't used his stealth abilities, especially his [Shadowborne]. Since he was sure he was being watched.

The smartwatch's map guided him deeper into the outskirts, leading him to an old, abandoned structure partially hidden by the overgrowth.

He checked the time—7:55 P.M. He was early, just as he intended. Taking a moment to survey the area, he noted the strategic advantages and potential exits, preparing himself for any unforeseen circumstances.

As the clock ticked closer to 8:00 P.M., the watch vibrated again. A new message appeared:

"Enter and follow the light."

A faint glow emanated from within the structure, casting eerie shadows against the crumbling walls.

–WROOM! Following that, a portal opened right before his face.

"..."

Yet, he hadn't entered, just looking at the portal itself. The reason for that?

'The portal is flawed. It is a trap.'

He was able to sense what was happening right before his face. The portal, though opened via spatial manipulation, was, in fact, not connected to anything.

What did this mean?

It meant that the place was a pocket space and unstable since pocket spaces were never meant to be stable to begin with.

Thus, he did what he needed to.

SWOOSH!

Threw a dagger right through the portal.

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Following that, his ears perked up, and the sound of something stabbed came from the portal.

In an instant, something rushed through the portal toward him. A monstrous creature, its face contorted in agony, its body bleeding from multiple wounds, lunged at him with ferocity.

The monster's claws were aimed directly at his face, moving with deadly speed. Astron remained calm, his mind working faster than his body.

Instead of focusing on the immediate threat of the claws, he raised his dagger to his right, anticipating a different danger.

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The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed in the chamber. At the same moment, the monster's claws passed through his face, dissipating like smoke.

It was an illusion, a clever deception meant to distract him from the real threat.

Astron's dagger had blocked a hidden blade aimed at his side. A figure emerged right before him out of nowhere, retracting the blade and stepping back with a hiss.

"Impressive," the figure said, its voice a raspy whisper. "You sensed the illusion and the real attack. Not many can do that."

The figure seized him from head to toe.

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At that moment, countless different whispers enveloped them, and then another figure revealed itself.

This time, the figure was a lot smaller compared to the first one who had shown himself.

"How did you find out?" the small figure asked, curiosity evident in their tone.

Astron took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "The sound of something getting stabbed came from the portal, but I had already withdrawn the blade once I threw it."

He raised his hand, revealing small grey strings attached to his fingers, leading back to the dagger he had thrown. "Since I had withdrawn the dagger, it wouldn't make sense for something to get hit. Yet, such a sound still came from the portal."

The childlike figure tilted its head, pondering Astron's explanation. They put their index finger to their lips in thought. "So, using such a trigger mechanism itself has a flaw... Next time, I need to change the conditions of the triggering."

Astron nodded slightly, appreciating the analytical approach. "Indeed. A different method might be more effective."

The first figure, still cloaked in shadows, chuckled. "You're not only perceptive but also unshaken. Impressive, indeed." Astron glanced at the two figures. "Is this assessment over, or is there more you need from me?"

The childlike figure stepped forward, their eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and admiration. "I had my doubts since the new member was pretty young, but it seems my doubts were mistaken."

Before the childlike figure could say more, a presence materialized behind her. Reina stepped out of the shadows with a swift, silent grace. Her eyes locked onto the young figure, irritation clear in her gaze.

"Who gave you permission to conduct this test?" Reina's voice was sharp as she reached out and grabbed the young figure by the ear, causing the childlike figure to wince.

"I-I was just curious," the young figure stammered, trying to pull away, but Reina's grip was firm.

"Curiosity does not excuse unauthorized actions," Reina scolded. "You know better than to act without approval."

Astron watched the interaction, noting the dynamics between them. Reina, while stern, seemed more exasperated than truly angry as if this was a recurring issue with the young figure.

'I see. Either a unique mental condition because of a certain backstory, or a uniqueness stemming from a trait.'

He thought, analyzing the young figure. There were many powers that had affected the users, traits that limited the actions of the user itself.

From how it looked outside, it was evident that this young one had a special condition.

'And, I should stop viewing her as a young one. She is still using illusions to make her seem small. What a weird bunch.'

He thought.

Reina released the young figure's ear, giving her a final stern look before turning to Astron. "I apologize for this... unauthorized test. It was not part of your scheduled assessment."

Astron nodded, maintaining his calm demeanor. "There is no problem."

Reina's expression softened slightly as she addressed the young figure. "Return to your quarters and reflect on your actions. We will discuss this later."

The young figure nodded, casting a quick glance at Astron before scurrying away, leaving Reina and the shadowy figure alone with him.

Reina sighed, her composure returning. "Now, let's proceed with what we originally intended."

She stopped and then smirked.

"Are you ready to see something interesting?"

"..."

Before he could even answer, she flicked her fingers.

Suddenly, everything became blurry. Countless whispers overwhelmed him, and a torrent of information surged into his ears.

Astron felt like he was losing himself in an ocean of knowledge and sound. The sheer volume and intensity threatened to drown his very essence.

Yet, this time was different from the last.

On the last time, he was not able to keep himself away from the effects of the flow of information, yet he knew such a thing could happen.

And to deal with that, he remembered a certain moment when Lilia had used [Magnetism] as an anchor to show arrows without even touching them.

Anchor.

By creating an anchor, he would allow himself to stay away from the flow of the information, removing the risk.

Astron focused intently on his very conscience.

He visualized an anchor, a tether to the real world, something solid to cling to amidst the chaos.

'Focus...' he commanded himself, forming the anchor in his mind. It took the shape of a small, unyielding island in a stormy sea, a place where his consciousness could rest and remain grounded. He concentrated on this mental image, pouring his will into it.

Gradually, the chaos began to recede. The whispers grew fainter, and the deluge of information slowed to a manageable trickle. Astron felt his consciousness stabilizing, the anchor holding firm.

When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in a different room. It was vast and illuminated by a strange, ethereal light that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. Symbols and runes adorned the walls, pulsing with a faint, otherworldly glow.

Reina stood before him, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "Impressive," she said. "Just by seeing it once, you were able to anchor yourself. Most wouldn't be able to do that. You truly are a promising recruit."

Astron took a deep breath, steadying himself. "What was that?"

"A test," Reina replied, her tone matter-of-fact. But after seeing the look Astron gave to her, she coughed. "It was a joke."

Reina continued her tone, now more serious. "We have crossed dimensions. This is not just another room."

Suddenly, as if a veil was removed, the walls around them began to dissolve into thin air, revealing an expansive, bustling space. Astron's eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight before him.

They stood on a raised platform overlooking a massive underground complex. The scale of it was staggering. People moved with purpose, some running from place to place, while others were deeply engaged with advanced technological equipment. Holographic screens floated in the air, displaying streams of data, maps, and tactical information.

Reina gestured broadly, a proud look on her face. "Welcome to the Arcadia Base."