Chapter 43
Shai, stunned, whirled around to Akil. "Akil, is there any information about this? The cabinet should have let me know."
"My liege, I beg your pardon. Just before the tests were completed, I received notification from the minister of defense. A gate appeared north-west towards the Mediterranean Sea at approximately 120:0 PM today. Obelisk dispatched a small team to inspect and ascertain the level of the dungeon. It was registered as a tier 2 dungeon. As such, a single team of tier 3 and 4 hunters was sent to clean it up. However, roughly thirty-four minutes after they entered the dungeon, the collection crew recorded this footage.
Akil handed Shai his tablet, and Zale pushed closer to see what the concern about a tier 2 dungeon was. As was routine, Obelisk sent out a five-man team of hunters. The collection crew was small; only three extra people were needed for what little loot there might be. The collection crew set up their camera to watch as required.
After thirty seconds into what looked like a normal clip, cold white wisps seeped from the swirling blue gate. The cold air gathered around the bottom. Then, the gate flashed white, blinding the camera, and a screech that distorted the audio shrieked. When visual returned, the gate was a vibrant scarlet and bleeding frosted energy into their world. It was like Siberia descended on the desert.
The footage ended.
"Akil, what is the report after that?"
"Pharaoh, a team was dispatched and confirmed the level of the dungeon afterward. It is a tier 10 dungeon."
The whole team gasped, some dropping valuable equipment. "And you waited to tell me this why!" Shai raised his voice.
Akil shrank slightly but replied, "I am deeply sorry Pharaoh. I wanted the experiment to be finished unhindered. It was a big breakthrough for you, after all."
Shai looked ready to berate Akil but stopped with a deep breath. "Everyone here, clean up and get to safety. The project is not on hold. Collect and report whatever you find without hesitation," he announced, then spun on his heels and marched off.
Zale, still in shock, jogged after him. "I know I'm not an expert, but in my country, the last tier 10 that appeared wiped out most of the south below Atlanta. Do you have any plan?"
Shai shook his head, face set like stone. "I will have to consult with parliament and my cabinet. However, a much as I hate to say it, most of this is out of my hands. Only Obelisk holds the power to deal with these disasters.
"I will not sit by idly, though. I will do what is within my power to rally the people and call Obelisk into action. I will not let my country fall. I am going to speak with the leaders of Obelisk immediately to handle this situation swiftly and efficiently."
Zale nodded. He didn't understand the politics, but watching Shai storm the administration building and use his authority to sit in on the meeting was impressive. Zale had no business in a place like that.