Chapter 16

ERA Calendar: 2nd Month of the Year 3115.

Central Hemisphere.

Central Helia otherwise known as the Administrative Continent.

Up above a certain grand architecture.

"This feeling, my lady…?"

"No doubt, it's him. The one [the Illuminator] talked about, the one—other than me—that possessed his own kind of authority like mine."

"Wait, so that means—"

In a dark room, two figures stood. The two figures, despite the shadow cast over the room, can be made out by anyone.

One of them—a woman—stood before a massive window, gazing over the city below.

Even the tallest skyscrapers were dwarfed by the altitude of their location.

She looked south, her eyes fixated on that distance for a moment.

"Yes. Death has finally awakened."

Her aide's eyes widened slowly.

To be able to feel that aura of death despite being far away, not to mention her nerves that were on edge, just what is going on currently?

"It seems someone has stepped on Death's foot. They deserved it."

Hearing that from her lady, the woman's frown deepened.

Even her lady, the ruler of World Entropy, which can be said to be the most powerful organisation in the world that dealt with special cases like this, stayed her hands.

'Even death can't escape the gaze of the «Ever-Present». So why is she staying her hand?'

Death.

Or so he had been classified in the records given to World Entropy by [the Illuminator]; they only knew him by this name, and not even his name.

"I saw him; however his features… even my Authority cannot fully perceive them. If [the Illuminator] was right about him, then even with «Divide», I doubt it would be enough."

Her lady turning back had said this, before slowly walking out.

"Send a message to the others not to be on edge. If they don't want to die, that is."

Southern Hemisphere.

Southern Helia.

A certain abandoned factory.

He, the leader in black, felt it.

That feeling of having a cold steel pressed onto one's neck.

That suffocating feeling that is birth when you realize you're close to your death.

So much so, he felt.

However—

"Where is it coming from—? From there!?"

Finally, glancing over to the slightest distance in front, were those crimson—yet almost emotionless—eyes.

Death had found them.

"S-sir! What do we do!?"

Slowly, even his goons seemed to have finally noticed Death.

"Do you have to say!? Get him!"

The leader screamed, pointing towards the distance.

But as he did, those crimson eyes dimmed. Rather, it seemed to vanish.

Seeing this, their eyes couldn't help but widen.

"Wha—!?"

"Chih! Don't relax; keep your eyes out!"

Even with that said, all of a sudden, the entire place seemed to be darker than before. Everything also seemed to go silent.

Just what was going on?

It was a veil covering their eyes, and more so, noises were cut off from the world.

Then—

"Gwack!"

From nowhere came a distinct sound was made, and it sounded like it came from one of their fellows, followed by a thud.

They could understand.

They understood what had just happened.

"Everyone, form around me now!"

He shouted, but the darkness seemed to drown his voice.

As for those who held Celeste, at some point, they no longer felt the weight of the woman anymore.

'Kuh! What sort of sorcery is this? Why is an awakened on our tail!?'

"Gyaa—!"

His—the leader's—mind raced with those thoughts. He'd made sure to avoid those with connections to that world.

Especially with their operations being like this.

He'd confirmed multiple times. Investigating all those who were close to their target.

Certainly.

It's only obvious that people related to Awakened were no go.

Even they weren't as foolish as to mess with the supernatural world.

Currently, they possess no powers to go against Awakened.

Their job was in contrast, yet in tandem with that of the Anti-order.

Hence, most of the ones they'd taken out so far had to no doubt be people without relation to that world, as it would be their undoing.

'And now, you tell me this woman was secretly related to one!? Dammit! Who is it!?'

It certainly wasn't her parents.

As for friends, she never really had much of them.

Most were at best acquaintances. And even then she didn't have much of them.

Thinking of this is useless. Even if he does figure out who, it doesn't change this situation he was in now.

Thus. Realising the futility of the situation—

The man had turned his back in attempts to make a run for it.

However—

Death had caught up to him.

Crimson, emotionless gaze, eerie and malevolent. It was the type of eyes that people used to look at ants before killing them off.

Such was the gaze behind him.

"Did you really think you could run after you'd attempted to take something from me?"

"You have a death wish."

The voice was calm, eerily calm and soothing.

It was like they were singing him a lullaby. But this was no ordinary lullaby. It was one that sang for his eternal rest.

He wasn't ready for such a rest yet.

"This—your esteemed-ness, this isn't—"

"Quiet. I have yet to give you a chance to speak. Now spill everything you know, and I'll grant you a peaceful death."

Hearing that, he felt chills crawl up his body literally.

It was the wrapping of cold steel against his body, chaining him tight.

"Ghk!"

"Now, I permit you, speak."

"That—"

The chains wrapped tighter against his neck as he said that.

"I see. I know people like you always prefer death to spilling out your secrets. But I have yet to make my move."

Saying that, the whole world seemed to regain its light; no, it was only a little.

What had been there instead was a little flame that illuminated the visage of a young male.

Surely, as he'd felt it.

His men were already lying flat, face on the ground.

Shit.

He was doomed.

And. If he didn't miss it, sharp pointy reels were aimed at him.

"Ghk—I—"

Hesitation. And it cost him his right arm.

"Gahh!"

More so, the seering hit on his already cut off right arm, releasing a burnt smell like that.

'This—!'

"GYAH!"

The crazy bastard was burning the arm he had cut off.

Seriously, he had gone and done it. Messing with the wrong person, that is.

"Speak. And I'll make it less painful."