Spreading Breath of the Void’s tendrils throughout the sector, Gale saw everything clearer than before. Mounds and mountains of flesh still littered the surroundings. The giant skull behind the tower left questions wanting to be answered about how this monstrosity moved in this place in the first place.

But in certainty, the tendrils fed him no information of any other live beings in the sector. It was just him and the grotesque flesh abomination masquerading as a swordsman in front of him.

Gale took one step forward. The abomination replied by taking a drawing stance as its skinless thighs stuck out of its robes, readying to dash and strike. Its ocular lens aperture contracted at him.

Sighing, Erebus materialized in Gale’s hand in a swirl of mist and dark. Before he reached back to the sector, he had to do something about the visual effects this thing had, otherwise people would be asking too many questions.

Gale looked down on the abomination in front of him. Erin wasn’t responding and that worried him more than this thing’s killing intent in front of him.

I am already there.

One Step activated. Reality bent and folded around him. At the edges of his vision, the mountains of flesh squished in on themselves. A sudden headache formed at the front of Gale’s eyes. Bile dared to rise up. His pathways burned with the flood of essence pouring through them.

[Max Load Breached: 500/150]

One step forward, boots hitting the metal floor. Erebus cut through space, cutting a diagonal line through the creature’s midsection. A streak of darkness that held the stars trailed the blade, consuming everything in its path.

The middle section of the abomination simply vanished along with the fading streak of dark. Its upper half toppled forward while its lower half toppled backward.

[Warning: Continuous Load breach has a chance of 10% of creating Origin Core cracks.]

[Holy Order Acolyte]

[Stage: Late-Resonant]

[Description: A warrior of the Proctor’s Holy Order Army. Once human, perverted into machine and flesh. To stop the pain, they pray to Mohrusy for a divine blessing.]

Gale gasped for air while simultaneously forcing bile from coming up. If he didn’t have Dainv Combat Arts, he would’ve toppled over by now from the vertigo he was experiencing. Guess all this amount of workout on his Core did come at a cost if he kept overdoing it.

Without waiting to recover from the onset of backlash from the skill, Gale kicked away the top half of the torso in front of him to the side of the road. The two pieces of flesh melded in with the rest of the flesh piles at the sides of the road. Erebus dematerialized back into the space storage.

Taking another deep breath, Gale once again continued walking forward. He focused on the road ahead, no longer caring about the stench of the rot around him.

When he finally reached the elevator door, he sat down on the elevator floor in a lotus position. He’d meditate throughout the whole ride up.

Pulling out his phone, he pressed the PTT button and spoke into it. “Erin, I’m at the elevator. Bring me up.”

The elevator shuddered, lurching upwards at high speed, making Gale feel like his weight doubled until it stabilized at a familiar speed. It would take four hours until this elevator reached the top.

Sitting cross-legged on the elevator’s floor, he closed his eyes and regulated his breathing. “Guide, put me into meditative state.”

[Query accepted. Command accepted. Initiating motor control.]

His posture straightened up as did his cross-legged position, which shifted into a looser form. Breathing turned into a steady rhythmic cadence, allowing his mind to calm down.

The essence pathways started to slowly absorb the air all around him, filtering it for trace Origin. A slight burning sensation could be felt from his spine, probably from the use of 1200 essence all at once being pushed through the pathways. It was the first skill that had used up that much essence all at once.

His thoughts drifted to Erin and what was maybe happening at the sector. She usually always answered him pretty promptly. At most, maybe she’d have a minute of silence, which was already awkward enough. But she would always answer.

There was something different with this silence. Gale was worried about his friends as well. Did something happen to them? Were they still fighting in the Prosperity sector? Or worse yet, maybe the Protection Sector had been breached by the abomination or the Proctor’s army, whatever they were called.

Four hours was a long time. Who knows how long he had fought Arad for in that tower as well? When he fought Arad, he entered into a trance where he no longer felt pain. All he could think of was forcing his will upon the monster in front of him.

As he breathed out, he had an itch to clench his fist, but that would break the meditative state. Anxiety crawled up his throat at the thought of having to explain how he came about this new sword of his. Would Rachel and the others be curious about the ‘why’ or would they just accept it and say the sword was cool? No matter what though, Erin was probably right.

This upgrade could potentially flip their situation from a negative to a positive. It was a one-time skill per fight, but one action in a battle could throw the momentum to their advantage in any fight.

Hours passed in the dim light of the elevator. His essence pool filled drop by drop.

[Essence: 614/1960]

Better, but nowhere near what he’d need for another One Step. Still less than a third of his capacity. The elevator slowed, making him feel weightless for a second, and then it stopped.

Gale rose to his feet, stretching muscles stiff from hours of stillness. The door slid open with a hiss.

The inner defense hall with its flesh creep infested open box design, still stayed the same as before, except for the few more sacks of Sacred Wombs hanging by the walls.

He moved quickly across the open space. Just in case, Erebus materialized into his right hand in its halberd form. He crossed the Core Chamber, no changes there, but something tugged at Breath of the Void’s tendrils at the outer defense hall.

Two fleshling scouts were waiting just a couple of metres from the door, aiming their sights at it.

Gale moved quickly, making sure to keep himself out of line of sight of the broken door to the outer defense hall.

Upon reaching the door, he materialized Weber Balista in his left hand. One quick peek, he fired at the left fleshling scout.

Thwip.

The dark green ray blinked as it pierced a hole through the shoulder of the left fleshling scout. It somehow ignored the pain, and the two fleshling scouts fired their poles back at Gale’s position. Poles hit the wall, creating a porcupine on the wall by the door where he took cover.

Balista dematerialized back into space storage. Spider mechs had the shield while these shits didn’t care about their flesh. No point in using Balista when he hadn’t learned how to change essence type yet.

Momentarily, the poles stopped. The fleshling scouts were reloading. Time to strike.

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Gale dropped low and dashed forward, weaving in a zigzag pattern. Another shot tore through the air where his head had been a second before.

Pounce. Halberd drove through the chest of the left fleshling scout while the remaining one fired another at him. A pole grazed his cheek. Blood dripped from the line.

Erebus Altered back into a straight spear, and Gale pulled back, jumping off the body and slamming it onto the floor.

Throw. The spear drove itself through the head of the remaining fleshling scout.

Fight ended.

Walking over to the fleshling scout, he pulled out Erebus. One quick check with Breath of the Void’s tendrils revealed there was nothing else in the sector that was moving. There were a lot of living things, but those were part of the flesh creep or a Sacred Womb.

Gale moved through the outer defense hall and into the transit hub. The train sat motionless on its track, doors sealed tight.

Walking over to the door, he knocked on it. Nothing interesting happened.

He pulled out his phone. “Erin, I’m at the transit hub. Train’s locked. I need entry.”

The train’s door suddenly opened, but still, no response from her. Gale stepped inside, the doors closing immediately behind him. The train shuddered and began to move, accelerating away from the flesh infested sector. He collapsed into the nearest seat, Erebus dematerializing as his hand went limp.

The train slowed to a halt, arriving at Protection Sector. Gale quickly got up from his seat and exited the train when the doors slid open. The clean air of Protection Sector hit him first. It was almost like he hadn’t had clean air like this in years, truthfully though, it had probably been only less than 24 hours.

He went through the first defense hall, through the Core Chamber and then through the inner defense hall. Taking the elevator down, he walked along the concrete path and heard voices through the door.

“-don’t care how infested it is! He’s my brother!”

That was Kyle’s voice. Sounds like they were arguing about something. Stepping into the lobby, five people were gathered around a round table near the control console on the left side of the hall.

Erin had her arms crossed. Rachel was by Kyle, tending to him and rubbing his back while glaring at Erin. Ollie and Lily stood on the further side of the round table. Only one missing was Clyde. Washroom maybe?

Kyle spotted him first. “Gale! Talk some sense into this bitch.”

All heads turned his way.

“What’s happening?” Gale asked, moving closer to the group.

“Clyde disappeared behind in Prosperity Sector,” Rachel said. “When we got into the train, he was already gone. Something took him.”

“We’ve been trying to convince Erin to let us go back for him,” Lily said. “And she’s refusing.”

Erin’s face showed no emotions at all as she said, “I have merely stated facts. Unity sector houses the primary nest of these invaders. No rescue attempt would succeed.”

“We don’t know that until we try,” Kyle said, almost a yell.

“And Erin didn’t even respond when we told her to stop the train,” Rachel said.

“I was occupied with a battle down in a different sector. I had redirected guardians to capture a strategic stronghold,” Erin said. “It resulted in the train’s automated systems prioritizing mission completion over individual safety.”

Kyle slammed his hand on the table. “We need to get him back.”

“Your attachment does not alter the facts,” Erin replied. “Unity sector contains the highest concentration of aberrations in this rift. To attempt a rescue is to court death.”

“We don’t care,” Rachel said, glancing at Gale and then back to Erin. “We’re not leaving anyone behind.”

Looking at Ollie, he’s the only one that hasn’t said anything yet, but at least he had a determined look on his face that said he’d follow what the group wanted.

This argument was obviously a circular argument between Erin and everyone in the group. But if Erin said that Unity sector has the highest concentration, then that would make the rescue too difficult to attempt.

Erin stepped forward. “Gale. Our primary objective remains reaching the exit node. One life does not weigh heavier than the whole.”

Gale saw Kyle clenching his dagger, probably ready to strike at Erin for calling his brother ‘one life’.

“Do you know exactly where in the Unity sector he is?” Gale asked.

Kyle tapped his temple. “I can feel him. Not exactly, but enough to find him once we’re there.”

“He’s alive then?” Gale pressed.

“He’s alive. Erin’s shown us where he is in the Unity sector. He’s near big flesh structures,” Rachel squeezed Kyle’s shoulder.

Of course. Rachel was always like that. She hadn’t changed much since the Eclipsed. Always the first one to run to those in need of comfort. As much as she berated and beat on Kyle in the past, right now, Kyle needed to calm down the most.

“Emotions cloud judgment,” Erin replied. “Unity sector houses their command structure. To call this rescue mission ‘suicide’ would be an understatement to the word.”

“This isn’t about emotions. Our survival on that last defense would also depend on having a hard hitter like Clyde or are you just going to ignore that fact?” Lily asked.

“I’m so fucking tired of hearing about concentrations and probabilities,” Kyle spat. “That’s my brother in there!”

Ollie moved around to get a clear view of Kyle. “No one’s saying we don’t care about Clyde.”

“Really?” Kyle stood up, looking down at him. “Because it sounds an awful lot like you’re ready to write him off.”

“I didn’t say that!” Ollie shouted. “I just don’t know if I can…”

“Can what? Lead us through that shit?” Kyle said. “Figure it out! That’s what you do, right? The tech genius? We can’t leave him there!”

Kyle dropped to his knees, hands clutching at Ollie’s armour. “Please. I’d beg if I have to.”

Rachel brought up Kyle from his knees, bringing him back to the chair. Rubbing her hands along his back, she said, “We’ll get him back. Right, Gale?”

“Every minute we sit here, I can feel him disappearing,” Kyle whimpered.

Gale felt his heart ache at the last word. Disappear. Could he really abandon Rachel if she were the one captured? No. It wasn’t just about Rachel. If it was any of them, he wouldn’t.

“The probabilities still state that regardless of what we do, the possibility of rescue is close to nil,” Erin said.

“I want to hear her say it,” Kyle said, looking up at Erin. “Tell me to my face that my brother isn’t worth saving.”

“Worth is irrelevant,” Erin replied. “The exit takes precedence over individual survival.”

“He’s not just an individual!” Rachel shouted. “He’s one of us. Through thick and thin, for better or for worse. We’re going to save him.”

Gale stepped forward, standing as straight as he could. He looked Erin in the eyes before repeating Rachel’s words, “We’re going to save him.”

Everyone looked to Gale. When Rachel tried to add something, he held up a hand, stopping her before even a word was uttered. The same went for others. Kyle clutched at his thighs, looking up from the seat at him. Ollie and Lily held their breaths at what was about to happen.

Erin spoke first. “The plausibility of this mission is nil. I cannot allow you to proceed through with this plan.”

Gale stepped forward, close enough to hear Erin’s silent breathing. “You’re missing something here, Erin. Possibility, probability, plausibility, and whatever else. None of that matters when one of us needs help.”

“I do not understand the confusion here. Proceeding with the mission will lead to certain death. The war against the tide over one individual’s life.”

“Erin, is that your choice as a leader?” Gale said.

“It is the choice that will give us the highest chance of survival.”

“Surviving isn’t math.”

“Against the concentration-“

“I don’t care, Erin. I reject your decision!” Gale yelled.

Rachel opened her mouth but couldn’t utter out any words. The temperature increased in the room, but suppressed by the cold that came from Erin.

“Gale-” Rachel tried to cut in but was interrupted.

Erin took a step backwards. “You will sacrifice the larger group’s survival to execute a suicide mission?”

“It’s a rescue, not a fucking suicide,” Kyle said.

“No, Erin. That’s not what I’m saying.” Gale ignored Kyle.

“Then what is it?” Erin asked.

“I’m saying, you are the one who told me to accept. This isn’t about probabilities anymore. It’s about doing what we can to fight life back at its own game. Were you not the one that said greatness and success needs no proof?”

“Ridiculous. This matter is different when failure in this regard needs no proof. To fight the game of life is to survive against its currents. The unlucky ones who do not survive are mere stepping stones.”

“And that’s the difference between you and me, Erin. I will lead the way I see fit. I said this to Arad too,” Gale said. “I will lead with kindness!“

Rachel put one hand on her mouth while clenching her fist on Kyle’s shoulder. Kyle didn’t seem to mind as no words escaped him. Lily nodded, smiling softly at the words he had just said. Ollie, on the other hand, took a deep sigh though his expression looked as if a whole load of weight had dropped from his shoulders.

Each and every one of them had been through hell in this unclassified rift. Even Ollie, who usually looked pristine, no longer cared about how his armour wasn’t perfectly aligned to make him look professional.

They were all disheveled, not from the encounter they had at whatever they did in Prosperity sector, but from probably fighting the personified unmovable mountain in front of them. Erin had probably rejected any tactical or strategical suggestions from all of them. She did take the position of leader through force after all.

And that’s probably the only way to get through to her.

“Tell me. Will you say the same when you are in the face of death?” Erin asked as she stepped back.

“It’s funny. When I was faced with the most terrifying enemy I’ve ever encountered, I cowered in the face of it. But even though I was scared out of my wits, I still took my steps forward,” Gale took another step forward. “To those I fear, I will be fierce. To those that stand behind me, I will be the kindest protector they will follow. That is what I choose. I choose to be that kind of protector. And if I’m not, then I only deserve death.”

The temperature of the room lowered as Erin thought of a response. Gale had defied her.

Darkness seemed to deepen in the shadows of the room. Arad’s snickers could be heard from one corner. The eyes all around poked out their pupils from the shadow to watch Erin intently. The familiar flying eyeball by Gale’s shadow glared through her.

A small smile appeared on Erin’s lips. “This is the road that is endlessly difficult. Do you really choose this path?”

“This is my path. You will either follow or leave,” Gale said.

A pause. 10 seconds maybe. That was a long time in a conversation, and this one was an argument.

Erin took a deep breath before saying, “Very well, Gale Hathie. This disciple will follow your wish. We shall rescue the twin’s other half.”

Gale turned to everyone. Each of their eyes looked at him intently. He looked at them one by one before saying, “We need a plan.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep