NOVPUBThe world has bme dark once again...
The wind was tame today, and the scent of fresh ground hot his nose the moment he came to.
Cain looked around with furrowed brows.
'Its changed... a bit.'
They had reappeared right where they had vanished.
Things didn't seem to have changed much, the most of the changes laying in themplete absence of whatever remnants of Balangol were left in this place.
Susan took in a deep breath,
"There is no celestial presence whatsoever."
Jenny shook her head,
"That is to be expected."
Cain sighed, "Well, it doesn't matter. We have work to do."
Cain reached out with his mind,
'Hunter, can you hear me?'
There was a momentary delay. Then a voice reached his mind,
'Cain? You're back...'
Cain's brows furrowed. Hunter sounded rather unpleased.
'What's the matter? Did something happen?!'
There was another moment of silence.
Then Hunter's voice reached his ears again,
'No, it's good to hear from you again. In fact, I would have it no other way. Really...'
Cain sighed, 'Where are you? We need to have a chat.'
Evangeline turned to him, "Hunter?"
Cain nodded then let out a tired sigh,
"He said he's at Alvi's place. Apparently, we've been gone for two weeks. Things have bme a bit... tense around here, he said."
Evangeline frowned, "Is that so..."
Cain nodded with a grim look on his face.
Whatever Hunter had told him did not make him happy at all.
"Let's go." 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
***
The air was stuffy.
Staring at the crowd gathered in front of him on the opposite side, Hunteruldn't help but feel a bit stressed out.
"This has been going on for days now. Don't these idiots ever get tired?"
Hunter remained silent, merely observing the situation.
Within Alvi's huge house there were many people gatheredembers of the Iron Beetle that were in cahoots with Alvi, as well as a few independent merchants.
Alvi sat at the head of a table, a stern, dark look on his face.
"For the last time, Alvi. Asking us to give more than we already have is like telling us to op up water with a basket. It's a lost cause."
Alvi let out a menacing growl as he glared at the man that had just spoke,
"Even if we disregard how stupid your argument is, what does that have to do with me? Keep this in mind... If that barrier goes down, we all bme Devil shit. If that is not enough reason, then I don't know what is."
The man grimaced,
"That is not the point, Alvi. You've already taken so much. I'm saying there is nothing left to give!"
He spread his arms wide,
"Look around you, Alvi! Do these look like the faces of men with surplus in their inventories? Do we look like we each all have a hundred Grade 5 mana shards just lying around?!"
Alvi shook his head,
"Then go look for it. I don't care how you do it. This is a matter of life and death. I have basically emptied my safe to keep you all alive and away from that madman's hands. If you don't have anything to give, then it is best you forfeit your life."
The man's face went pale as he fell silent.
Behind Alvi, Jack wore a light grin as he scanned the crowd,
'They sure don't look happy today...'
And howuld they.
Everyone currently understood the dilemma they were facing quite well.
The Devils had been attacking the Dome for the better part of two weeks now.
So far, they had managed to hold out for a while, thanks to the support of the Temple and the Golden Asura's in the form of mana shards andres.
Initially, they had thought they would be able to hold out for a long time, maybe as long as six months to a year. But they were quickly proven wrong.
On the fourth day of the Devil's resilient attacks, the energy supply to the Dome had suddenly spiked up.
Over theurse of the next few days, itntinued to climb until it became clear that there was something very wrong here.
Even the scandalous amount of manares that man, Cain had given them didn't seem enough anymore.
In the end, it hasme to this.
They had resorted to scraping as much resources as theyuld together, hoping to buy enough time before the inevitable happened.
In that time, however, a certain devilish bastard hadme back from the Trial of the Snd Order. Together with his team, he had bme the first individual to ascend to the snd Tier.
The moment he had ascended, Carrion immediately took over as much of the Iron Beetle as his greedy pawsuld hold.
Since he didn't have the power to go against him, Alvi had decided to bempliant in the meantime.
This had led Carrion to be even more brazen with his demands. Even Gilead, was powerless to stop him. After all, heuldn't go up against a Tier 2 human and think heuld keep his life. It was rather unlikely. He was rather lucky Carrion had not decided to go after his head.
His glance fell on the two men standing at the other side of the room, hidden in an obscurerner.
They were the two representatives of the Golden Asura.
'Hunter and Dan, was it...'
Besides providing a steady stream of mana shards that had kept the Dome up, the Golden Asura had been laying low.
Jack grinned.
If he knew what was going on, there was no doubt Carrion also had an idea. Meaning the relative peace they were enjoying now was merely an illusion that would fade soon.
"Right now, we need men that are ready to take the trial or we will lose our standing in the nearest future. Hell, we might not even make it too see such a future because we will be dead before that happens." Alvi said in a calm tone after staying silent for a while.
He pointed his hand at Jack,
"We can't afford to stay passive right now. Keep bringing in as many mana shards as you can, and I promise. There will be a place for you all in the future I build. You canunt on it."
Jackuldn't help but smile wryly,
'Boss, are you sure you should be saying all that now?'
When looking at Jack, the expressions of a few people around softened.
This was because Jack was a part of the few people crazy enough to take steps out of the Dome to fight off Devils attacking it.
And live to tell the tales...
Efforts to push back the Devils were being made everyday, and while they did have the advantage for now, it was apparent that said advantage was slowly being bled away.
The supply justuldn't keep up.
The weapons maintenance, the ammunition, the mana shards too.
Even the lives that were being thrown at the dark tide of Devilish nightmares...
They were all precious resources, and once lost,uld not be ruped.
Meanwhile, the Devils had a far easier time replenishing their lost ranks.
The humans that did die on the battlefield were turned into zombies, or taken to bme sustenance to birth new Devils and nightmarish abominations.
It was a losing battle, what they were fighting...
One that seemed impossible to win.
The entire room was silent.
Most of those here were rather weak, without access to the system, and had only utility based blessings that were notmbat oriented at all.
They didn't have anymbat experience, and a glare from a Devil would force out all thentents of their stomachs.
When faced with such a terrorming, it was hard to stay loyal to the weaker side.
"Alvi, quite frankly, I don't believe we have what it takes to go against Carrion right now."
A man
Alvi's eyes widened. His neck creaked as he turned to the side,
"What did you say?"
The man who had spoken was the same man who had worn a mask on that night he had introduced Cain to Alvi.
The man shrugged,
"Alvi, I think you put too much faith in that boy... Cain. Isn't he gone to do fuck all right now? It's been two weeks since anyone heard from him!"
Alvi's frown turned menacing,
"That's because he's attempting the snd trial. How many times do I have to tell you this?!"
The man sneered,
"You say that, but I believe Carrion also attempted the Trial roughly two weeks ago."
Then he shook his head,
"Face it, Alvi. Your Savior Kid might as well be dead. It's no wonder his people can't do anything right now. They can only run about like headless chickens."
'So much for being grateful.' Jack snickered to himself.
Alvi's face turned red,
"You fool!"
He snorted, "What? Or are you trying to say you believe, without a doubt the boy still lives?"
Alvi's eyes narrowed.
"Another day of unproductive rubbish. Luckily, this should change soon." Dan muttered silently to himself.
Just then, the doors to the room slammed open.
