Chapter 30 

September 11, 2014, the seventh day, 10:30 am Wednesdays Earth time

As every candidate waited for their names to be announced Grey was , writing down all the available information he could recall in his mind, one by one the candidates were being called, Grey mind was not in the preliminary test  but was more focused on  creating a design  that was  suitable to the information he gains today , the  number of participating candidates who passed was nearing its end when Grey  was called  alongside four more as  five of them must  break the  concrete drainage pipe,  the  three participant used  martial arts to  punch and kick the pipe but they failed to  even dent it, the fourth participant was a woman age 18 and was the pride and joy of their wealthy  family, 

She was seen by her family as gifted because she single-handedly protected her  family from ten ghouls that forced their way into their  luxurious mansion,  Mary Anne Knowles was  able to eliminate the should with ease and  even  gain notoriety in social media as a truly talented princess, her arrogance and beauty was over the top, but  her  skill was indeed true because the concrete drainage pipe were lined against each other in rows, to make the test much easier, break the pipe, and then after move toward the cargo plan and enter,

as of now, they were the last five candidates, sadly she was the 100th candidate that passed, but as soon Grey voiced out, that he hadn't done anything yet, the rank 45  female  Magus laughed and told him the preliminary candidate quota had been...

a massive impact echo as Grey took a jab at the concrete drainage pipe and obliterated all the lined five pipes in front of him, after the smoke and dust cleared, he stated to the two Magus that not passing this test was not an option for him, the force was so powerful the two Magus were stunned to see, with just slight jab he was able to demolish an entire row of concrete pipe instantly.

  The sheer strength displayed by Grey left the two Magus speechless, their eyes widening in disbelief. It was evident that Grey possessed an extraordinary level of power, far beyond what they had anticipated. As they exchanged glances, a sense of urgency filled the air - they knew they had to reassess their expectations and prepare for a much more challenging test to ensure this was real.

The quota of  candidates was filled and adding him will  undermined  the Magus Association's firm rule about taking only 100  passing  candidates, after the amazing showcase of Grey power, the male-level 45 Magus  decided to give Grey another test, to everybody's surprise  the  male Magus release his killing intent that made the  failed participant  feel nauseous, signifying they were really that weak and the 100th that passed showed a little  resilience to his killing intent,  the male magus told everybody this is just one of the skills they will  learn  as the  study at the  Magus  institution as  official Cadets, he was focused on addressing those who failed  thinking Grey will  be affected but he was wrong, as soon as he looked at the final participant  he was shocked to see he wasn't even paying attention to his speech, and even raised a question  about the killing intent he was emitting, 

"is this another test?"

"if I can  produce the  same  output will you let me join?"

Even before the magus could speak, Grey unleashed a terrifying killing intent. This was something that made everybody, even the 100 candidates who passed, tremble in fear. He was like a savage beast that was going to kill everybody. Even the two magus nearly fell down on their knees in fear; they were all paralyzed to the spot. The menacing aura holding him in a tightening grip made breathing increasingly difficult for everyone in the area.

  The sheer intensity of Grey's killing intent seemed to suffocate the air, leaving a heavy silence that hung in the atmosphere. It was as if time itself had frozen, and no one dared to make a move, afraid of provoking his wrath. A cold wave embalmed all of them as the hairs rose on the back of their necks and a chill ran down their spines. The sheer power emanating from Grey was palpable, causing a sense of dread to wash over the onlookers. Each second that passed felt like an eternity as they awaited his next move with bated breath. 

as Grey saw the Magus's facial expression, he knew he had done enough, the female Magus was still trembling and  tried to  gather her strength  and slowly stood up, and  after a few minutes  they understood that he was indeed gifted and didn't even hesitate to ask Grey to join the rest in the cargo plane, as soon as grey  pick up his bag, everybody was gasping for air, the fear still lingers  around them, some even  thought he was possessed and was vile,  some  were outrage by this and protested to the two magus decision, especially  those were hoping to become a magus,

the female magus took out and held out artefact and showed them if there were possessed among them, this artefact would instantly glow red but  when she  threw it toward Grey and 

"catch!"

nothing happened, confirming he was  not possessed  by an evil spirit,

Grey held on to it for a few  seconds and  when the female magus gave him a  sign, he threw it back to her and continued to enter the cargo plan,

the 100 candidates saw him entering and understood he wasn't  ordinary, feeling a murdering aura from him a few seconds ago had already created two emotions about him first was fear and the other was dislike,

Grey already understood that  this would happen, but he didn't care, fulfilling his mission was the most important thing right now, if air travel wasn't prohibited he  didn't have to do this, but after weighing all his options  this was the safest way to get enough authority to go to Derbent Naryn-kala the old fortress in Russia that is now designated as dead zone, 

Grey, never had any issue being alone, he preferred it that way, trust and skill are important to him, and gaining a new friend who shared the same mindset as his teammate was never an option for him, death is always around them, and protecting everybody will eventually lead to his own death, he was not heartless and cruel, he understands fully that when a person in danger loyalty, friendship even love will be forsaken to save their own life, especially among those he hasn't shared any time together, but he also knows the value of camaraderie in dire situations. Despite his reservations, he remains open to forming alliances if it means increasing their chances of survival. He believes that in a world filled with constant danger, having someone to watch your back can make all the difference. 

but for Grey, you need to prove your worth and demonstrate your loyalty before he fully trusts you. He has learned the hard way that not everyone can be relied upon, and he values actions over words when it comes to determining someone's true character. Grey believes that trust must be earned, and he will only consider forming a bond with those who have proven themselves capable and dependable in challenging circumstances. 

as he sat at the very far end corner of the military cargo plane, he sat on the main cargo deck with numerous cargo in the middle stack and tightly tied he could sense all the candidates looking at him with vague expressions on their faces, wondering what kind of person he truly was. Grey's calm demeanor and focused gaze showed that he was unfazed by their scrutiny, confident in his ability to demonstrate his character through action rather than mere words. 

most of the candidates were  dressed in a casual manner as if they were going on a vacation trip,  some were  wearing lavish clothing, Grey was the only person who came wearing tactical combat clothing dark brown tactical jacket on top of a dark green shirt and  camouflage  pants  and  military booths he on has  one backpack bag with him, as the bulk cargo plane door was closing the two  magus  entered and orders all them to hold on as they were about to depart,

As the bulk cargo plane door was closing, the two magus entered and ordered all of them to hold on as they were about to depart. The passengers braced themselves for takeoff. The sudden rush of excitement filled the air as everyone eagerly anticipated their destination. Grey was taking a nap, and as soon as the plane was stable in the air, all of the candidates started exchanging pleasantries with one another, sharing their ordeals and tribulations in this difficult world they were currently living in and bonding over their shared experiences. They found solace in each other's stories, realizing they were not alone in their struggles. As the plane soared through the clouds, a sense of camaraderie and unity began to form among the passengers, creating a supportive atmosphere throughout the journey. 

The two magus were talking to each other about the 101 candidates and doing hardly anything to ensure the passengers were firmly following the safety regulations while inside the cargo plane, unaware of the potential risks they were exposing themselves to. Despite their conversation, the passengers remained oblivious to the magus' negligence, relying solely on their own intuition and adherence to safety protocols. Some of the candidates were indulging themselves in boasting about their skills and achievements as they flaunted their influence and wealth, completely disregarding the importance of maintaining a safe environment for everyone on board. The magus, consumed by their own ego, failed to realize the potential consequences of their negligence and the impact it could have on the lives of those trusting them for a secure journey. 

Grey was still conscious of his surroundings. 

One of the reasons he dislikes these individuals is that despite all the death and destruction that had occurred around the world, many spoilt brats were still living opulent lives without giving death and mayhem a second thought. Grey's disdain for these individuals stemmed from their obliviousness to the suffering that surrounded them. Despite the chaos and tragedy in the world, they continued to live in luxury, unaffected by the consequences of their actions. It infuriated Grey that they were so consumed by their own self-interest and ego that they failed to recognize the potential harm they could cause to others. 

The entire world was being ravaged by supernatural entities, and these people were preoccupied with what glory awaited them as they became Magus. They were blind to the fact that their pursuit of power and status was insignificant compared to the larger issues at hand. Grey couldn't help but feel a sense of despair, knowing that these individuals were contributing to the destruction rather than working towards a solution. After a few hours, they all finally succumbed to sleep. All of their brandish exhibit finally ended as they were now tired from all of their boasting.

Grey also already expected that most people who survived were wealthy being poor and powerless were instantly killed, for the very simple reason they had no capability to protect themselves, some were saved by pure luck, courage and wits, and others were just too resilient and smart enough to escape with their life intact, many overcome by joining hands and protected each other under the idea that death awaits them if they don't band together, forming a strong and united front against the challenges they faced. 

This sense of unity gave them the strength to persevere and navigate through the treacherous circumstances they found themselves in. Despite their initial differences, they realized that their survival depended on their collective efforts and support for one another. 

Unlike the wealthy families, who could rely on their resources and privileges to weather the storm, their greed and pride were their strongest assets, but they were ill-equipped to handle the challenges that came with adversity. Their narrow-minded focus on accumulating wealth and maintaining their social status hindered their ability to adapt and find alternative solutions. Consequently, when faced with difficult times, their lack of resilience and humility became apparent, leaving them vulnerable and unprepared for the hardships ahead. the only thing that saved them was their money, which allowed them to alleviate some of their struggles

  their reliance on wealth was their solution to almost every problem they encountered. However, this reliance on money created a false sense of security and prevented them from developing essential life skills and coping mechanisms. As a result, their ability to navigate challenges and grow as individuals remained stunted, ultimately limiting their overall personal growth in learning to fight and survive,

However, they didn't give it much thought because they thought that money could fix everything. They failed to understand that experiences, connections, and personal development rather than merely financial security are what truly foster personal growth and fulfilment. 

Additionally, several privileges for the wealthy were never fully abolished because civilization didn't collapse and many cities around the world were still standing. Due to the resulting great disparity between the wealthy and the rest of society, inequality has persisted and real progress for all has been Hindered, as a result, social unrest and discontentment persisted around the world, underscoring the necessity of tackling structural problems rather than depending exclusively on financial solutions.

Grey and the entire community living in their underground community were molded to see the urgency to see the bigger picture and not revert back to their previous lives. They understood that this was just the beginning; many walled cities have returned to their old ways of seeing life as a lavish social construct and Grey was determined to prevent that from happening in their own community. They knew that maintaining their newfound perspective was crucial for the long-term survival and progress of their underground society. 

They were committed to breaking free from the cycle of materialism and superficiality, embracing a simpler, sustainable, and well-trained way of life to survive, as more cities were returning to their former glory, embracing consumerism and excessive wealth. Grey understood that their community had to remain steadfast in their values and resist the temptations of the outside world. They believed that by prioritizing sustainability, self-sufficiency, and genuine human connections, they could create a thriving society that would serve as a beacon of hope for others seeking an alternative way of living. 

The internet was never eliminated or disrupted; even with a few nuclear explosions from faraway parts of Europe, social media and entertainment survived, allowing the community to stay connected with the outside world and exchange ideas.

This enabled them to learn from other communities' successes and failures, further enhancing their own strategies for long-term survival. Additionally, the presence of social media and entertainment served as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a balance between productivity and leisure, ensuring their society remained vibrant and culturally enriched. Even under the harsh reality that millions had died,

September 11, 2014, the seventh day, 3:05 pm Wednesdays Earth time

as they continued their travel, the cargo plane captain advised the  passengers that they received an order to accommodate space for a very important cargo that was on an open-air field a few minutes away,  the order directly came from the Magus  training facility, Grey had a bad feeling about this, emergency  cargo pick up tends to carry a lot of issues,

having no information  on this matter was  something Grey  never liked, considering the area is open and they were unprepared for any sudden situations, even  having two level 45 magus won't be enough to  increase their  survival chances,

Considering the two magus, are they fully prepared to fight, do they have sufficient fighting experience to face a demon? Killing a vile for him was still hard but not impossible; they are still human beings that became mass murdering psychopaths, but demons have a different story; it nearly killed them before, and convincing the two magus was like talking to a wall; they will never listen to him; dying while going to his main destination was out of the question; they might as well get ready to fight and ensure that if the worst comes, he will fly the plane himself; hopefully the training simulation that his uncle ordered before to create has sufficient information. 

As he prepared for the upcoming landing, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The memories of his previous encounter with unexpected attacks weighed heavily on his mind, reminding him of the danger that awaited all of them if they became careless. 

Their stubbornness remained unchanged, leaving him with little hope for their support as the cargo plane descended toward the open field. Something was off as numerous huge cargo containers were parked everywhere. Everywhere, in the area was an old abandon cargo logistics center. 

Indeed, there was a huge runway for a plane to land on, but seeing there were so many metal cargo containers all over the warehouse surrounding the place was a big issue for Grey, too many hiding spots for potential threats. He knew that navigating through the maze of containers would be challenging and increase the risk of ambush. As he scanned the area, he couldn't help but wonder how they had overlooked such a crucial detail during their landing, as the plane landed and gradually slowed down to a stop on the runway.

  Grey's heart raced as he prepared himself for what lay ahead. He knew that every second counted, and he needed to find a way to neutralize the threat hidden within the labyrinth of cargo containers before it was too late. 

Because, for one sure thing, they are not seeing what he was seeing. His all-seeing eyes were showing him hordes of ghouls and vile's hidden away waiting patiently for their next kill, ready to unleash chaos upon the unsuspecting candidates. Grey's mind raced with strategies and plans, trying to figure out the best approach to eliminate the threat without causing further harm. As he prepared to step off the plane to get a first-hand view of the location and see what the cargo they were going to pick up. or it was just a ploy to trap them, knowing well that vile's can still think and plan. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, wondering if they were walking into a carefully orchestrated ambush. Despite the uncertainty, Grey knew he had to stay focused and trust his instincts.

September 11, 2014, the seventh day, 3:27 pm Wednesdays Earth time