Chapter 18

August 29 2014, 8:09 a.m. Friday

Because the task of building the testing and research facility requires manpower and security to oversee the construction process, Malik, Saad, Levi, Lucia, Caleb, Seo Jun, and Andrew were chosen for their expertise in various fields and their ability to work efficiently as the secondary team. Lieutenant Russell Smith and his team provided guidance and support to ensure that the facility was built according to specifications and met all necessary security protocols.

The Thatcher land was already being utilized for the research facility, so the construction team had to carefully plan and coordinate with the farmers to minimize disruption to their operations. Additionally, environmental assessments were conducted to ensure that the facility's construction would not harm the surrounding ecosystem or wildlife habitats. and took necessary precautions to secure the area from Ghouls. That is surprisingly increasing its number.

Grey was sure something was going on in other areas that was causing the increase in Ghoul activity. He suspected that nearby construction projects or changes forced them to seek new territories, especially with the information about a rogue unit from the east. Grey believed that the information about the rogue unit from the east might have triggered the ghouls to expand their territories and increase their numbers. He urged their council to investigate the outer area of their state and changes happening in other areas to determine their impact on the ghouls' feeding behavior.

Grey never took unnecessary missions, but something inside him was telling him to venture further out of their state and explore new territories. He had always been a cautious person, carefully selecting missions that aligned with his expertise and minimizing risks. and the lingering need for him to find who was responsible for all of this madness that took the very lives of his parents,

But his uncle would never let him leave the country. Grey knew that his uncle's concern was justified, considering the dangers that awaited him beyond their state. However, he couldn't shake off the burning desire to uncover the truth and seek justice for his parents. With determination in his heart, Grey began preparing himself mentally and physically for the arduous journey ahead, determined to prove to his uncle that he was ready to face any challenge that came his way.

The only way he could go to Derbent Naryn-kala fortress in Russia was to become a magus, but he never had the opportunity to witness their skill firsthand, and the only city that has a magus recruitment center in New York City. All the time he spent training and fighting was not just to survive and live; his mind was recalling that moment when he witnessed how his parents got killed by something non-human; it was far beyond what they had encountered in the past 2 years. He needs to get to Russia, and if this means he needs to become a magus, he will do whatever it takes. Determined to avenge his parents' deaths and uncover the truth behind their murder, he planned to set off on a perilous journey to New York City.

Little did he know that New York City held the first key to unravelling the mystery surrounding his parents' demise. Major Andrew Dan Chevalier and Melissa Rose Chevalier knew this day will come and understood nobody can stop them, his uncle told him that New York was different from what they had here, but because of their vast manpower even in the midst of chaos they were able to seal their city by blocking each street with speed and brutally, like them, they never hesitate to kill an enemy, In this unforgiving environment, weakness was a surefire way to meet one's demise. and his uncle told him certain people see themselves above the rest, those who believe that a society or system should be led by an elite group or individual,

Grey plans to leave a week from now. They were just awaiting confirmation that the New York Recruitment Center would receive their confirmation. The Magus Association can only accept those who have emerged, show physical adulthood, and possess a certain level of spiritual aptitude. Even since the madness spread, many people all around the world have manifested a certain amount of superhuman ability.

These were the qualifications that they were looking for, except for those who had already received training from the Magus Association a year ago and had established a certain amount of mastery over their abilities. These individuals were exempt from the physical and spiritual aptitude requirements as their training had already proven their potential. However, due to the widespread manifestation of superhuman abilities, the Recruitment Center was overwhelmed with applicants and had to implement a rigorous selection process to ensure only the most promising candidates were accepted.

He was aiming to get acknowledgement and access to travel to other countries that were now regulated by the United Nations. Tourists and other leisure activities outside their respective countries were now prohibited, and individuals were required to have a valid permit in order to cross international borders. Strict regulations were put in place to maintain security and prevent further problems related to the supernatural.

These regulations were particularly important in light of recent incidents involving individuals who were infected and were vile with supernatural abilities. Most of these vile individuals manifest the power of fire, causing chaos and endangering lives in different countries. The United Nations believed that by implementing these strict measures, they could effectively control and monitor the madness movement and those individuals with supernatural powers, ensuring peace and safety across borders.

Remaining in their city for the past 20 years never had the opportunity venture out of his comfort zone, now became a hindrance. Many pieces of information were unconfirmed and still unreliable, making it difficult for Grey to make informed decisions. especially the news that many countries and large cities were able to have a normal way of life as if nothing happened.

Changes were implemented, like the creation and establishment of the Mage Association and training schools to help distribute magus knowledge and skills to more people. However, Grey couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and curiosity about what lay beyond his familiar surroundings. He wondered if stepping outside his comfort zone and exploring other cities could provide him with valuable insights and opportunities for growth. Besides this, everything was the same,

He now felt like a county bumkin if he finds out the reports were actually true, he finally gets the need needed answers the moment he start his journey, and new after a while his teammate will surely follow him based on the confirmation he himself will gain. This realization made him even more determined to venture into the unknown and discover what awaited him in those unfamiliar cities. He couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the new experiences and possibilities that lay ahead.

this was already discussed among his team a few months ago, and some accepted his decision but the rest pleaded with him to reconsider, some even told him nothing awaits him beyond the home they grew up in, but like Lailah, the two were determined to seek out the truth, the question in his mind was, why was their parent sent to that particular place, the very centre of all this problem, where their family's fate seemed to be intertwined with the fate of humanity?

He explained that he was just 18 when he and his sister saw their parents get torn apart. At that time, he was still weak and inexperienced in real combat, but witnessing such a horrific event ignited a fire within him to become stronger and more skilled. He knew that in order to uncover the truth and protect his loved ones, he needed to train relentlessly and prepare himself for the battles that lay ahead.

so his uncle gave him his approval to see out his destiny, he plans to train for seven days in the open wild starting that very night where the most vicious animals and hungry Ghouls and insane vile roam to hunt and gain more experience in killing mankind's enemy, Lailah was already aware of his older brother's plan as he gave him a hug and told him to wait for her soon she will be a magus the will make the enemy tremble in fear, grey smiled and gave his sister a kiss on the forehead and said

"you are the mighty nugget, my blood and my kin,"

"We shall send them all back to hell!"

Grey took his gear and a few hand-held weapons and went out, his uncle and auntie accompanied him as they go to the main weapons room, while Lailah was holding a dagger that Grey gave her when she was training on how to debone meat from the animal they have hunted,

she was holding in her hand, as her eyes burned with determination to be highly skilled and see her brother again, she opened her hand and let the small dagger balance on her palm, it slowly levitated and spin rapidly as she utter the words " wait for me brother!"

August 29 2014, 8:21 p.m. Friday