“Record the data right now!”
“345.126.091… recording of space waves complete. Beginning to gather data!”
Gazing at the electronic screen, Manny couldn’t conceal his emotions. He rubbed his hands together and stared at the data before him. Ever since this black slate was uncovered, he had never seen such strong reactions from it. But for the past few days, it seemed to have come alive. It constantly transmitted signals to the outside world, which excited the research team led by Manny. They had worked hard for years and there were finally some results. They felt like their hard work had finally paid off. Shortly after Manny gave his orders, folks of the huge experimental lab got busy right away, returning to their seats in an orderly manner and beginning to record all data released from the black slate. Looking at this scene, Manny felt his eyes watering. When he unearthed this black slate back then, he knew instantly that it was an extremely crucial discovery! And now, everything was finally coming to fruition!
“Professor Manny, everything is going well!”
“Good! Continue!”
Stifling his agitation, Manny stroked his large beard and replied. He lowered his head and typed all over the keyboard to compare the new and old data. Ever since the black slate was dug, Manny had been constantly researching it. He was astounded to discover that it was always releasing a faint signal to a certain place in deep space as though trying to make a connection. This instantly piqued his curiosity. He detected that this black slate from outside human civilization might possibly be the bridge of contact between civilizations in outer space! Human civilization might possibly change entirely due to its existence!
Even though Manny tried searching for a pattern to the signal to decipher it, but what exceeded his expectation was that logically, the signal transmission of any civilization should be objective. However, the signal from this slate was extremely chaotic. It would occasionally send out a series of orderly waves, followed irregular ones. This left Manny in a headache. Even though he tried everything, the progress was extremely slow until recently when it suddenly had a strong response for some unknown reason. The irregular signal waves were also gradually being grasped. Next, as long as he decipher the signal, they would enter a whole new world!
Beep———!
At the same time, the ear-piercing siren blared, disrupting the old professor from his thoughts. For some unknown reason, he instinctively had a bad feeling.
“What’s happening?”
“Professor! The signal waves from the black slate are becoming unstable. The speed has become faster than we predicted… no, it can’t be detected. We can’t record it!”
“Increase power output immediately. Also, transmit all previous data to the main computer! Activate the isolation system!”
“High energy response detected in the target, Professor! Suppressor power has reached a critical point!”
“———!”
It only took an instant.
Manny looked on helplessly at the black slate floating in midair as it suddenly exuded a mysterious and murky white ring of light that expanded to the surroundings. Standing before the massive ring of light, the specially-reinforced tempered glass and alloy walls stood no chance at all. They were as though non-existent as the ring of light passed through them, before continuing to proliferate. Shortly after, the bright, white light dimmed abruptly.
That wasn’t due to an issue in electricity. Instead, there was a murky curtain concealing the dazzling brilliance. In an instant, not only did everyone’s vision turn black, but the electronic screen flickering with images turned pitch-black and unresponsive. No one seemed to realize what happened. The instant the ring of light erupted, they instinctively hugged their heads and lay on the ground. And now, they cautiously crawled to their feet and exchanged terrified looks with one another. They were completely speechless. They also didn’t notice that their shadows were constantly twisting and distorting.
“W-What just happened?”
“Is everyone alright? Anyone hurt?”
Shortly after, everyone got up on their feet and stared at their surroundings in uncertainty. They couldn’t be blamed since what happened was too bizarre. After scanning the place, they realized the air was gradually transforming into a certain type of turbid, liquid-like presence and several strip-like objects were seen fluttering.
What exactly are those?
“Grrrr…”
While everyone was panicking, a sudden, deep growl of a monster rumbled in their ears, causing them to group together in a fluster. The soldiers in charge of security at the side raised their weapons and stared vigilantly at their surroundings. After all, they were sent here to prevent accidents like these and now, an accident had really happened!
“Leave here immediately!”
Even though Manny was unaware of what was happening, he instinctively felt like the situation was far from good. He extended his hand to push up his gold-rimmed glasses and commanded. The other researchers headed to the exit quickly under the escort of the soldiers. But it was a pity that their reactions were too slow.
“Ahhh!”
Screams filled the lab.
Blood splashed after one of the soldiers collapsed to the ground after being pounced on by a monster leaping out from the shadows. Before he got to fire his weapon, its razor-sharp fangs had torn his throat apart. At the same time, other shadowy monsters dashed across the lab swiftly and the researchers who couldn’t escape in time were also forced to the ground, turning into minced meat in the blink of an eye.
“Fire! Fire!”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The other soldiers finally pulled themselves together from the shock, raising their weapons and firing at the monsters that suddenly appeared, while shielding the fortunate researchers who survived and were escaping. But shortly after, they were shaken to realize that not only were their weapons ineffective on the shadowy monsters, but they had also attracted their attention. A few seconds later, many more monsters leapt out from the shadows. Not only from the surface, but also from above as they expanded their wings and pounced with bare fangs and brandishing claws.
The battlefront fell apart almost instantly.
“Arghhhh!”
Manny lay on the floor, widening his eyes in terror at this scene that was like hell on earth. Right in front of him, the researchers and soldiers were ripped apart and gobbled up by monsters jumping out from the shadows. They struggled to break free from the devil-like monsters, but were dismembered mercilessly at the very next moment. Manny had also witnessed a soldier with his leg bitten off and crawling toward the exit. However, he was instantly captured and tossed into the air, before being torn apart like a rag doll. The strong stench of blood assailed his nostrils, staining the white, spotless floor. But now, Manny could no longer care about that.
I have to get out of here. What exactly is going on? Where did the monsters come from? Damn it, why didn’t the siren sound!
Logically, the siren would sound automatically as soon as the core experimental lab was attacked and other places would be sealed off. But for some reason, the siren didn’t sound at all. Besides, the auto-defense mechanism used to eliminate threats was completely unresponsive. Of course, Manny didn’t know that the system had ‘defected’.
Ding——!
Suddenly, the experimental lab’s entrance in the distance gradually opened. As soon as Manny witnessed the entrance, he couldn’t help but take in a breath of cold air. Then, he widened his eyes in astonishment because it wasn’t the guards as he expected. Instead, it was three young ladies!
Two of them wore normal spacesuits, but the young lady leading the way startled Manny. This was his first time witnessing someone wearing a beautiful, long dress while strolling effortlessly on a moon base. What surprised him the most was the colorful radiance circling her like a translucent shield separating her from the outside. She also didn’t seem astonished by the scene at all. Instead, she knitted her brows and raised her right hand immediately.
“So many Chaos Beasts?”
Gazing at the hundreds of thousands of Chaos Beasts, Mini Bubble Gum and Canary were astounded. Fortunately, they had already sensed that something was wrong earlier, unlike the researchers unaware that they were facing imminent death. Erin sharply detected the presence of Chaos Beasts beforehand, which was why they put up a defensive shield before entering the lab.
“———!”
All of a sudden, the Chaos Beasts discovered the most threatening enemies. They growled, decisively switching their focus to the three young ladies and pouncing on them furiously. But at the next moment, they were struck by a destructive attack.
A bright, silver-whitish, and moon-like radiance flashed and whistled across the lab in a powerful force, eliminating the aggressive Chaos Beasts entirely. At the same time, Mini Bubble Gum and Canary also launched their attacks. Although this was the second time they met Chaos Beasts and their first time battling them, their moves weren’t rusty at all.
“Manil!”
Canary extended her right hand forward and drew a circle in midair. Along with her movement, a series of lightning bolts erupted all of a sudden, turning into a net of arcs that dispersed in all directions. The instant the Chaos Beasts pouncing on them touched the electrical net, they were struck away immediately. Canary swung her left arm downward and clenched her fist. Shortly after, blazing flames rose from the ground, engulfing the Chaos Beasts in front of her like violent waves and tides. In a series of loud wails, the Chaos Beasts swiftly retreated one by one. Apart from two to three burnt corpses on the floor, Canary’s attack didn’t achieve her desired results.
“Looks like I still can’t do it…”
Canary sighed at this scene. If she were at her peak, she wouldn’t have any difficulties taking down these Chaos Beasts alone. But now, she didn’t even have half the strength she used to. Fortunately, mages were a natural-born ‘maiden class’. If not, without Erin around, it would be too challenging for Canary to deal with the Chaos Beasts.
Lucky for her, she wasn’t fighting alone.
“Big Sister, don’t be scared. Leave it to me!”
Mini Bubble Gum said confidently, before spreading her arms apart. Along with her movement, a bright white halo descended from above, enfolding the majority of the Chaos Beasts. The Chaos Beasts began to move slowly under the effects of the halo. At the same time, Canary, who was telepathic with Mini Bubble Gum, had no hesitation at all. As soon as Mini Bubble Gum released a negative spiritual spell to imprison the Chaos Beasts, Canary raised her right hand. A dozen scarlet flaming spears appeared in midair, striking at the Chaos Beasts and penetrating them entirely. Shortly after, a string of sparks exploded. The Chaos Beasts that were imprisoned instantly howled in grief as they turned into coke, before vanishing into thin air without leaving a trace.
Although the trio’s combined attack cleaned up the entire experimental lab within minutes, Chaos Beasts continued to emerge from the squirming shadows. Looking at this scene, Erin twitched her brow and locked her eyes on the black slate. She sensed an endless presence of Chaos being exuded from it. It seemed like that was where the Chaos Beasts were summoned from!
“Miss Canary, Miss Bubble, I need your help to hold back their attacks. Meanwhile, I will seal off the slate!”
“Okay, leave it to us!”
After hearing Erin’s words, Mini Bubble Gum yelled in excitement. She raised her arms and shortly after, a dozen of pure, white patterns proliferated with her in the middle. The patterns twisted and turned into a huge, magnificent magical ritual that enveloped half the lab. Upon sensing the sacred power emanating from the white magical ritual, the Chaos Beasts were instantly agitated. Although they didn’t know what Mini Bubble Gum was up to, their instincts told them that something bad would happen soon if they didn’t eliminate this enemy!
“Niy Sler Basry soia…”
Mini Bubble Gum muttered a string of crisp, soft, and sacred chants. She extended her arms and swung them to the side. Then, golden runes appeared beside her. Clerics didn’t need to chant spells all day. But this time, not only did Mini Bubble Gum chant a spell, but she also summoned runes around her. If players were to witness this scene, they would be flustered because this meant that Mini Bubble Gum might soon release a terrifying and explosive force!
Although Chaos Beasts weren’t players, they sensed the sacred energy constantly coalescing around Mini Bubble Gum. Then, hundreds of Chaos Beasts once again pounced on her, snarling and revealing their razor-sharp claws to rip this young lady apart. But it was a pity that perhaps due to their extreme fright or chaotic nature, they neglected the other young lady beside Mini Bubble Gum.
“Winas!”
The calm air trembled, turning into violent gales under this crisp voice without any warning. The coalesced wind blades shredded the approaching Chaos Beasts like a meat grinder. The Chaos Beasts at the back were also struck away as they shrieked. Canary stretched out her right index finger and drew a line across the air horizontally. The surrounding temperature plummeted. White crystals appeared in midair, forming a strong shield. Canary followed the momentum and swung down her right hand. After softly chanting under her breath, raging flames erupted with two fiery dragons pouncing on the Chaos Beasts. The flames flashed continuously, dispersing the Chaos Beasts.
She was clearly a long-range class and yet, she was able to take offensive and defensive stances. Besides, she was also able to protect herself perfectly. This ‘maiden class’ sure lived up to its reputation.
“… Has Fartiy Lan!”
After Canary and Mini Bubble Gum resisted a wave of attacks from the Chaos Beasts, Mini Bubble Gum’s spiritual spell was finally completed. She yelled out the last line and raised her arms high.
In an instant, the world changed.
The runes emanated a bright, golden radiance. Then, as though reflecting like a mirror, the runes drifting around her flashed constantly. Shortly after, a mysterious and sacred magical ritual appeared before her. Then, it spun slowly and within a second, something resembling an hour hand turned to the summit.
“Glorious Sanction!”
Blinding, golden radiance like the sun enveloped the entire space. The bright, unprecedented, and massive sacred power wiped out the lab that was completely contaminated by Chaos instantly, causing the Chaos Beasts to howl in grief before turning into ashes immediately. As Mini Bubble Gum cleared up the space, Erin arrived at the black slate successfully. She raised her right arm, made a few hand gestures swiftly in midair, and grunted softly.
“Balc!”
A silver-whitish ray of light emitted from her fair, slender fingertip, quickly forming a circular pentagram that enfolded the black slate. Under her oppression, the shuddering black slate—like a time bomb—that was about to explode calmed instantly. Then, it lay quietly in Erin’s hand without any signs of activity.
The radiance dispersed.
Everything returned to its original peace. The seemingly black mist that engulfed the entire lab vanished without a trace. In an instant, the place was so silent as though a violent battle didn’t just happen. Manny lay on the ground in shock, widening his eyes at the uninvited young ladies. What happened just now completely subverted the knowledge and common sense he had since birth. It could also be said that he even suspected if he was dreaming in that instant!
Who exactly are they?!
