Over the Dead (2)

The tunnel stretched deeper than expected. There were no sounds coming from below. In silence, Kai climbed downward as quickly as possible. The rope was quite long, but it had a limit. He just had to hope it was long enough to reach Area Four.

Daksha was with him. He looked over Kai's shoulder to ensure his safety.

The tunnel became darker the deeper it went. There were no lights or sounds in the lower parts, just total darkness.

However, on the other end of that darkness, someone was waiting. A small red light blinked when he reached the end of the rope.

"What now? Take the ladder?" Daksha asked.

"No, we'll take the jump."

The floor was still barely visible, but Kai sensed it wasn't far enough to seriously injure him. He made his decision.

Ideally, he would have liked to figure everything out beforehand, but sometimes, he had to trust his gut and jump anyway.

When he jumped, there was no hesitation. Breaking through the still air, he shielded himself from the fall by channeling the remainder of his mana through his lower body.

Thump!!

The fall was less violent than expected. He landed with only a slight cramp in his legs.

"Ugh..."

After stumbling on his first step, Kai started to run toward the edge of the room he had landed in. This place was just as dark as the last one.

"Can you sense someone?" Kai asked Daksha. After all, he could always rely more on the beast's sense of smell than his own.

"A lot, actually," Daksha said, expanding his range of perception. "Wait, what? No way,"

The result shocked him. He didn't expect this, and neither did Kai. His senses couldn't deceive him, but even so, he could barely believe them.

"What happened? Something wrong?" Kai asked, concerned.

"There are at least five hundred people on this level, and a hundred of them are soldiers."

"So what? We expected this, right? There may be more people here, but we can't turn our backs on them."

"Yes, but what we didn't expect is, fifty of them are awakened."

"...What?" Kai was stunned.

The Awakening is considered a gift. Only one out of thousands is chosen by a higher power, or wherever it comes from. To humans, it is bestowed. It happens very rarely, and very randomly. No one knows why it happens, but everyone knows that awakened people do not just appear like mushrooms after rain.

---

The one building in all of Area Four that stood out from the symmetrical civilian quarters was located in the southern corner. It was the Infirmary Command, a large unit built as the central hub of information and coordination, connecting the outer base to Area Four. It was specifically designed for civilian evacuation and hazard treatment.

After the lockdown, this place had taken command to organize the injured and prepare for evacuation.

"Our evacuation route can only... lead us to the gate... but with it swarming with monsters... we can't use it," the doctor said.

The head military doctor was in a difficult position. His words stumbled as they came out, and his nerves shook every time he swallowed. Any misstep could cost him his life.

On his knees, he looked up at a red-haired young man sitting calmly in the office. Behind him lay the bodies of soldiers. Crimson had taken control of the infirmary during the military counterattack. The place held injured soldiers and doctors, all non-combatants, and all valuable as hostages. He could now use them as leverage.

"Our escape routes are compromised. We can't get out of here. We're stuck," the doctor continued.

Crimson was an intimidating presence. The doctor could barely keep his composure. He needed to hold out until Bucky arrived with reinforcements, and escape with them through the bunker.

That is our only other way out of here. I must not let him come with us.

But it was too late. Crimson was already onto him. His squad had entered and taken control of the place as their exit strategy.

"Hmm..." Crimson nodded like he understood the doctor's words, then immediately punched him in the face.

"Argh!"

"You're wasting my time. You think we don't know?" Crimson smiled. "I know there is another way in the deep chambers. I saw the nukes..."

The doctor's eyes widened. His skin went cold with fear. He knows.

"Now, tell me about that bunker."

---

Fifty superhumans gathered in one place is a rare event. Unless a large, shadowy organization like Spade was involved, the awakened did not usually gather in large numbers. Human communities had been scattered ever since the apocalypse began.

The military hated these people, because they were the only ones powerful enough to question the new world's authority. Some were even used like suicide squads in remote regions.

"Are you sure?" Kai asked.

"Yes, and twenty of them have high-level mana. Which is not possible for a regular awakened human. That means..."

"It's Spade." Kai understood what was happening. "They survived," he said, though he wasn't surprised. After coming this far the way he did, he would feel stupid not to expect it.

"Do you think they will—"

"Still want your head? Yes. But I don't think they'll try to kill us right away, considering the situation."

"No, we can't take that chance," Kai said. "They might still kill me before we even get out of here."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

The truth was, there wasn't much they could do. Their options were limited. He couldn't just walk into the middle of the crowd. He guessed they might already be fighting the military. Both sides considered him an enemy. Enemies recognized Kai faster than allies did, so stepping out would only make him a target from both fronts.

Hiding was the only option, at least until he could come up with another plan. However...

"There is something we can do. But..."

Kai was never one to play it safe. Those who were afraid to take a step back never crossed the finish line.

"But what?"

"We need to hide ourselves first."

"You mean..."

"Remove... my mana core," Kai said, serious as ever.

The mana core. The primary source of an awakened human's powers. It is the part of the body where all energy is stored. The Awakening, as far as research could tell, is a process that unlocks a human's potential. What triggers this process remains unknown.

The mana core is as essential as any organ in the body. A high-level awakened, like Crimson, can immediately sense someone like Kai nearby. This phenomenon is called "Resonance." It guides them through instinct, allowing them to feel the presence of another core.

Obviously, an awakened can't remove their core. It is embedded as deeply as the heart.

But Kai was a special case. He wasn't awakened. His powers came from a different source, known as the Tether. Even Kai didn't know exactly what it was. The technology existed long before the apocalypse. He discovered it during his black operations for the organization and used it to reach where he was now.

"If you're thinking right, then think again, Kai." Daksha knew it was their only viable option, but he couldn't help being concerned. "The last time you lost connection, it took you two years to restore it. You spent those years in prison. This time... you might lose your powers forever."

"...I know."

Nothing in the world would spare him the consequences. But choices are tied to consequences by blood, and he had signed up for it long ago.

He was sure his other side would agree. Surviving today mattered more than keeping his powers. Failing tomorrow while fighting today was better than failing today by doing nothing.

"Give it everything you have."

"Okay," the fox agreed, reluctantly.

Both of them walked quietly toward the nearest closed door to begin the process. It was incredibly simple. Kai had swallowed the "key" long ago. If the fox could make him spit it out, he would become powerless.

"Do it."

===