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Chapter 24: Secret Passage
🕑 Added 2024-03-29 17:03:30 +0000 UTC"Everyone, line up!" Serene commanded as Mayor John led Alice's team and hers through a tunnel in the basement. This tunnel, with its sleek metal plates forming a cylindrical path, seemed clearly designed for VIP evacuation. It was narrow but clean, a detail that had gone unnoticed until now. Serene suggested scouting the route before considering it for civilian use, given its apparent exclusivity.
"The heck, it's so cramped. How do we expect to fit 5,000 people through here?" Red Flame grumbled.
"Well, I guess the other frontiers have their challenges too. The finances..." Sapphire started, attempting to justify my father's decisions.
"Let's be real, this is an escape route! It's meant to be hidden like this. You can't compare an escape route to a six-lane highway, can you?" Alice interjected. Further along, a blast door blocked our way, which Mayor John opened using a passcode.
"So, we're outside the barrier now?" I queried upon the door's opening.
"Yes," confirmed Mayor John.
"Hmm... Intriguing," Serene mused, touching her chin thoughtfully. However, our familiars quickly brought us back to reality.
"This blast door wouldn't hold up for three hours against even low-level anathema," warned a yellow mouse with a fluffy tail that perched on Serene's shoulder.
"Ah, Sugar! You've gotten even cuter!" Alice cooed, reaching out to pet the furry creature.
"True, the door has its weaknesses, but let's not overlook its current value. While imperfect, this escape route can potentially save lives by offering an exit when direct defense against anathema becomes untenable," Felicia pointed out.
"The emergency barrier is virtually impregnable, barring attacks from exceptionally powerful anathema of the aberrant class. Why the need for escape?" Sugar questioned.
"It's a matter of logistics—water, food, and other supplies are finite," Felicia countered, emphasizing the practical considerations behind the escape route's existence.
"Valid point. We should compile our observations into a report and submit it to Zenith once we're in Eden. However, I need to further note that venturing outside into a usurpation zone carries significant risks."
"Such measures wouldn't be necessary in Eden, of course, but they represent forward-thinking appropriate for frontier cities," Serene agreed.
"Let's keep moving. Mayor, where does this tunnel lead?" Alice inquired.
"It leads to the airport," the Mayor replied.
"Perfect, let's proceed." We jogged the 4km distance, arriving at a basement directly beneath the airport lobby.
"So, this is the tunnel's end. Is it usually for staff only?" Serene observed, noting the 'Staff Only' sign and electronic lock on the red door.
"Due to budget constraints, this tunnel was designed as a means of escape, primarily via airplanes, should a crisis arise," the Mayor explained.
"Transporting five thousand people by air is impractical. Nonetheless, this will suffice; the harbor is just a short distance away. You can even see it from here. It seems our friends have arrived with their ferry," Serene noted, moving towards the harbor adjacent to the airport.
"I don't see anything," I said, scanning the blue expanse. The sea met the sky in a seamless blend, with no ship in sight. Yet, upon closer inspection, a peculiar refraction of light created subtle distortions.
"There's something causing that light refraction," I remarked.
"Indeed. That's the work of the stealth specialist Magical Guardian, Shadow of Light," Serene revealed. As she spoke, a figure materialized, clad in a yellow ninja outfit, prompting a double take from me. "Let's not introduce you right away, Black Lily. He's not too fond of blacks. Just keep a bit of distance, alright?"
"Uh, yellow?" Alice echoed my confusion, pointing out the unusual choice of color for a ninja garb marked by black and white lines on it.
"Well, we can't change the dominant color of our astral shift; it's beyond our control," Serene said with a wry smile, explaining the unique appearance of the stealth specialist, Shadow of Light, and shedding light on his apparent issue with black Magical Girls.
"Hey there. Where are the refugees?" the yellow ninja, known as Shadow of Light, greeted us.
"A rebellion occurred sooner than anticipated, but fortunately, we have an escape route," Serene explained, gesturing towards the towering kaiju-like monster in the distance. Even from afar, the sheer size of the creature, standing at about fifteen meters tall, was unmistakable.
"Wow, lucky me for being assigned here. That thing looks like it could be level 100 or even 150," Shadow of Light remarked.
"We've just completed scouting ahead. Next, we'll guide the refugees to your location," Serene informed him.
"How many are we talking about?"
"Around 4,700."
"That's going to be challenging. This ship has a maximum capacity of 3,000, no matter how much we try to fit everyone in."
"Do what you can for now. We'll arrange for the remaining refugees tomorrow before we make our exit," Serene decided.
"Make sure to capture this moment, Harakiri. It'll be valuable."
"No need for that. I'll have my sugar glider, Sugar, send the photos directly to you," Serene said. Serene, the yellow mage, and Shadow of Light, the yellow ninja, then exchanged data.
"Those in strike teams looking to level up will be thrilled once they hear about this. We can expect the B or A teams to show up soon," Shadow of Light mused.
"Alice, please organize the other Magical Girls to start moving the refugees here. Make sure we count up to 3,000, then head to this location. Black Lily, unfortunately, you'll need to stay put," Serene instructed, her gaze drifting back to the distant anathema.
"Black Lily? You're a black Magical Girl? I was curious how you managed so much black in your attire despite having white hair. You're one of the blacks? Wow! You pulled an SSR!" Shadow of Light reacted, visibly taken aback.
"That discussion can wait, Shadow of Light. I have something important to discuss with her," Serene interjected before he could continue his objections.
"Wait a minute. I thought I was familiar with all the Magical Girls assigned here, and she wasn't among them," Shadow of Light protested.
"She was contracted just three days ago. Drop it, Shadow," Serene cut him off, indicating there was no room for further discussion on the matter.
"Ugh! Duel me when you reach D rank, and you owe me a set of ninja clothes!"
"I'm sorry, but I can't spare many points right now," I apologized, bowing slightly to express my inability to accept his challenge.
"Enough with that. I need to speak with Black Lily. Do I need to repeat myself?"
"No, ma'am! I'll take my leave," he said before activating his stealth skill and vanishing from sight.
Turning to Serene, I inquired, "What did you want to discuss?"
"You're capable of creating illusions, correct? I swear, on my soul gem, not to divulge your specific abilities. But, could you tell me the range and duration of your illusions?"
"Fel, what does 'swearing on a soul gem' entail?"
"It means Serene will incur experience and point penalties if she breaks her oath," Felicia explained.
"How severe are the penalties?"
"Severe enough that less than 1% of Magical Girls ever break such oaths. It can result in level and rank downgrades."
"Understood. So, Serene Night, why do you ask?"
"I was hoping you'd use your illusions to distract those monsters," Serene explained, gesturing towards the monsters still aggressively targeting Guardian Command.
"Why?" I questioned, glancing at the distant creatures.
"We're trying to evacuate three thousand lives discreetly. It'll likely take half an hour to board them and another half hour for the ship to escape unnoticed," she elaborated.
"Can you do it? But first, I must ask, is it safe?"
[Shadow Spell: Summon a shadow clone with 50% of your STR, AGI, DEX, and VIT. Mana cost: 50/cast. Duration: 5 Minutes + Spirit stats x 3 seconds. Automatic Augment applied.]
Silence fell as I considered the limitations of my illusion – it could only last for five minutes plus additional time based on my spirit stats. No matter how I allocated points into spirit, it wouldn't be sufficient for an hour. However, considering my augment, perhaps there was a possibility to extend or enhance the effectiveness of my illusions for this critical task.
[The Ambivalence of Virtue and Sin]
Level: MAX
Virtue: Diligence
Place mana eyes, ears, and markings on surfaces you've touched, granting sensory access when placed within your own mana constructs. Mana cost: 30 upon placement, 5 per minute active, 1 per minute dormant. Limit: 20 eyes, 10km range before disconnection. Keywords: Wiretap, Dismiss.
Sin: Vainglory
Assign a mana construct as an alternate lifeline. In the event of a fatal attack or upon command, your essence teleports into the designated construct, potentially saving you, albeit at the cost of half your shield strength or a mana regeneration penalty. No mana cost. Keyword: Horcrux.
Armed with this augment, I'm safeguarded against the worst outcomes. By applying Vainglory to Felicia or a mana eye in my room, I could secure an escape route, regardless of circumstance.
"Okay… I'll manage," I assured.
"Truly? Splendid!" Serene beamed. "We'll begin in twenty minutes. Feel free to choose any vehicle."
"Yet, I'm uncertain my illusions can harm them. Will they draw attention?"
"Absolutely. Here, take this Thunderspear Javelin, imbued with my full mana capacity. It's yours to wield close-up," she explained, offering a partisan spear adorned with pulsating yellow gems. The blade, alive with electric energy, promised potency.
"Wow…"
"That's a Thunderspear Javelin, from the masterwork vault, each worth a thousand points."
"Wait, a thousand? That's beyond my means to accept," I hesitated, taken aback by the value.
"Fret not about the expense. At my level, it's a manageable investment. Besides, the points I earn for each civilian rescued means I'll net a total of 7,000 points from this operation," Serene clarified, highlighting the broader significance of our mission and her commitment to it.
I was taken aback by her explanation. Serene continued, "As the most powerful Magical Girl assigned to New Mesa, the rewards I receive are substantially higher. My team members receive about half of what I earn, while E and F rank Magical Girls are allotted a fixed amount."
Puzzled, I inquired, "Why didn't I receive the quest?"
"The quests are designated based on your physical presence and active participation. For instance, you were rewarded 400 points for rescuing those in the bunker, correct?"
"Yes, but no points were awarded for the others."
"That might be due to a limit on point allocation, a mechanism to prevent overexertion. It appears you've rapidly ascended to level 17, accumulating roughly 3000 points within three days. The system likely imposed a restriction to encourage rest."
Curious, I asked, "Why impose such limits?"
"MG progression isn't a mere game. Leveling up entails significant physical transformations. Rapid advancement could lead to dangerous mutations or even bodily harm. Additionally, immediate access to high-level vaults and skills could overwhelm newcomers, as their soul gem's arcane system might not be fully developed."
Alice returned sooner than anticipated, followed by a procession of refugees lining up at the tunnel's entrance. With a nod from Serene, who handed me the spear, I created a clone and placed mana eyes on my javelin, designating it as an alternative lifeline. I then entrusted my clone with all my gear and set out in a vehicle to lure the monsters away.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I sat in the jeep, questioning my decision to accept this daunting mission. Doubts plagued me, wondering why I volunteered for such a perilous task without any compensation, when I could have been safe within the Guardian Command, waiting for my turn to board the ferry. Yet, the persuasive words of my fellow Magical Girls, highlighting the stakes involved with thousands of lives on the line, compelled me to act.
"Sorry to impose this on you, but we're counting on you. The creatures with tusks are now heading towards the western district, just as Serene predicted." Felicia said.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, I managed a response through my tears. "Yes… I understand. I have to do this."
With resolve, I prepared the spear Serene entrusted to me and created a clone within the jeep. Taking a deep breath, I initiated the switch, trading places with my clone, ready to divert the monsters away and protect the lives awaiting evacuation.
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