Chapter 52: Area 17 [ 2 ]

The next morning…

Occasionally, when Hostile-level Scarlet Kins were slain, their corpses, blood, or lingering scent would corrupt the location.

These tainted areas produced aberrant creatures… not quite Scarlet Kin, not quite animal either. They never evolved, never grew, and fed exclusively on humans. People called them “bugs” for their tenacity.

These contaminated zones were known as Areas, and fifty-four currently plague the world.

These Areas required Moon Killer surveillance due to their tendency to attract lurking Scarlet Kins. Moon Killers’ Emotional or Protector States typically granted healing abilities, making such missions relatively safe for them. For tier-7 ranked students, however, it was certain death.

Scar, Julien, and Purple received their assignment: survey Area 17 for three days. The Area lay deep within Barbados, near the forbidden border zone where humans never ventured. Their supplies were packed and ready, but just thinking about the mission filled them with dread.

Area 17 was born from the remains of a venomous Scarlet Kin, a massive serpent, one hundred meters long, that Collier had defeated more than a century prior. Its corpse decomposed rapidly, contaminating everything: trees, buildings, and even the air itself.

Dense fog obscured everything, making navigation nearly impossible, particularly at night. But worse were the skeletal hands erupting from the ground across the terrain, twisted fingers stretching upward in desperate, jagged poses.

They looked organic but horrifically decayed, even worse than Scar’s hands after channeling decay.

The battle must have been legendary. People would pay fortunes to witness how Collier defeated such a creature. His prowess was unquestionable, his place in history was assured. But here, now, that counted for nothing.

“My, oh my… this appears far more dangerous than I anticipated.”

Purple said, scratching her head as an awkward smile crossed her face. Ahead, the fog stretched endlessly, moving with slow breaths as though it lived.

“Wait… everything you said back there was a bluff? No plan whatsoever?”

The words left Julien in a quick breath, nervous sweat beating on his brow.

Scar remained still, eyes locked on the deadly landscape while he contemplated what awaited them. Only one ending seemed possible: the bugs would grab their limbs and rip them apart piece by piece.

“I’ve heard that just one of those jagged hands is strong enough to pull a wagon. And there might be Scarlet Kins in there too. We’re definitely going to die.”

After Scar’s words, Purple turned to both Scar and Julien and let out an exhausted sigh.

“You guys need to trust me a bit. I said this was more than I expected, not that I couldn’t improve our chances of survival.”

All ears sought her out in eagerness.

“Not a single Scarlet Kin in there. And if any were, they’d have indulged themselves too much to bother with our corpses.”

Hmph.

“This area was recently sealed with a barrier. Barriers aren’t supposed to stretch past 150 meters, so this one was exceptional and only permitted after a Danger-level threat emerged from it and slaughtered eight humans.”

She smirked.

“I warned you Lovis was a fool. A staff member who couldn’t even be bothered to pay attention to the details.”

It sounded promising and gave them a moment of hope, but dread crept back quickly. Scarlet Kins aside, Area 17 was lethal on its own. There was a reason the survival rate sat below 2%.

Several problems already weighed on Scar’s mind. The barrier around the terrain would alert its caster whenever anyone entered or exited, no retreat would be possible, even if things turned deadly. And they needed ten bug kills to satisfy their sentence, leaving them no choice but to see it through.

’I believe Purple is underestimating Lovis. This feels less like anger and more like a meticulously designed punishment.’

Julien’s expression blackened. He adjusted the luggage on his back.

“When you began provoking Lovis, I believed you had a strategy in mind. But your current approach weakens our position. Even so, I need you alive. I won’t allow you to die.”

When he spoke, everything changed. Purple’s expression turned lethal, as though Julien’s words were daggers to her pride.

“What exactly are you implying? You think I’d put up with him without a plan? Watch your tongue next time.”

Julien remained steady, but displeasure crossed his features. Perhaps he was angry that Purple couldn’t help them through a crisis of her own making.

Purple exhaled and practiced a soft smile.

“You’re precious to me, both of you. I refuse to stand by and watch you die here. Believe me, I’ve crafted a plan that gives us at least a twenty percent chance to survive.”

Confusion seized Scar. Surely he’d misheard? But no, reviewing her words confirmed it, she’d called him precious. Before now, Purple had always emphasized that they were acquaintances only through Julien.

’Is she planning to use me or something?’

Purple looked at Scar and Julien directly, her usual calculated smile on her lips.

After several quick motions, she braided multiple threads into a single long, reinforced line. Tying one end around her waist, she gave the other to Scar and Julien, who secured it around themselves as well.

“It’s not just the bugs we need to worry about. There are pits, rising hills, and areas of sinking mud. The water is said to be toxic, poisonous, and filled with venom.”

Exhale.

“This thread will prevent us from losing each other. And if someone’s in danger, we just trace it back and help.”

She glanced through her mind for a moment.

“I can sense whatever my threads come into contact with… I’ll spread them across the terrain. That should help us locate the bugs quickly and secure ten of them. But listen carefully, the threads will be useless if you keep bumping into them. I won’t know what to trust if that happens. Walk in a straight line. Stay directly behind me.”

Finally, a soft smile tugged on Julien’s lips.

This sounded flawless. With the thread tied around their waists, the distance between them was nearly six feet. This would give them breathing room and help them walk in a straight line.

“What do you think? Should we get going?” Scar asked with obvious optimism.

Here goes nothing…

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