Chapter 31: Rescue team

Chapter 31: Rescue team

Back at the central hub of the base, the head instructors were all shocked to suddenly see Maze's life sign fizzle out.

Dutch shook his head slowly as he released a heavy sigh. "A casualty this early in the exam?. Such an unfortunate boy. He must have split off from the group momentarily and gotten picked off by a puppy."

Kate nodded in agreement as she studied the hologram.

"That seems to be the case. The others aren't moving anymore. Maybe they finally noticed he's gone and are now being more careful."

Ty remained silent, his expression darkening as he continued watching the display.

Dutch turned to Kate. "What was his name again?"

"Maze Art" Kate replied with a grimace. "one of the many children of Commander Terra Art. I really don't look forward to informing her about what happened to her son."

Dutch simply shrugged.

"It's quite unfortunate, but it shouldn't come as a surprise to her. Knights die all the time. She should have prepared herself for this possibility when she sent him to us."

Before Kate could respond, they suddenly noticed as another signal flashed brightly before disappearing. Then another, then another. At the same time, they received multiple signals from the devices of the trainees who had given up.

Dutch stood up abruptly, knocking his chair backward

"What in the emperor's name is happening? why are so many of them dying so fast!? And why are the rest of them giving up so easily?"

They noticed the other dots moving again, far faster this time as they began spreading out.

Kate's face drained of color as she came to a terrifying realisation. "Oh no.... They must have run into a large pack of puppies immediately they got to the second area. She clutched the edge of her arm-rest in concern.

"They aren't capable of handling something like that yet!"

"We have to immediately get out there and and save them."

Dutch's eyes widened in disbelief.

"I can't believe the puppies numbers have increased enough to form a large pack, so soon. They're even brave enough to get this close to our base."

Ty finally rose from his seat, his jaw clenched in frustration as he strode towards the door. "Don't worry about it, I'll go. I'll take a few members of my team with me just in case."

Kate shivered visibly as she watched more trainees life signals blink out one by one. "This... this is all my fault. I... I should have called for an extermination squad like the commander instructed. Now, most of them could possibly die, because of me."

Dutch sighed as he knelt beside Kate and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Now's not the time to be taking blame. Those are knights in training. I'm sure that they'll adapt to the situation after their initial panic. All they have to do is hold out. Ty is going to do his best to save them, so let's just pray he gets to them in time."

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The hangar doors slid open as Ty stepped out into Tomber's relentless storm as he gripped a Heart blade in his right hand. Unlike standard-issue weapons, this weapon would channel the power of a heart shard user more than they would any other weapon would be capable of. The blade was semi-translucent, reflecting and refracting the dim light of the surroundings. Behind him stood several of his men, armed with an assortment of guns, swords, and spears, awaiting his orders.

Ty exhaled slowly, as he tried his best to focus.

Moments later, He drew in a deep breath, filling his lungs completely. Then he began to exhale once again.

As he did this time, a shimmering bubble began to form from his mouth, expanding steadily until it was just as big and wide as him. It's colours switched several times until it finally settled on red.

With a final push, Ty released the bubble as it hovered just above the snow. Without hesitation, he stepped through it, emerging on the other side with a faint crimson aura enveloping his body.

"There's no time to waste. Go through it one by one," he ordered.

Several of his men exchanged reluctant glances, before sighing in resignation as they stepped through the bubble one at a time. Each of them emerged with the same crimson aura surrounding them.

This was Instructor Ty's Heart shard ability: Status Bubbles. It granted him the power to create bubbles capable of applying different status effects to himself, items or anyone he permitted to pass through them. Currently, Ty and his men were imbued with Red, which enhanced their speed tenfold of what it was originally.

Ty addressed all of them with a serious expression.

"You all have monitors showing you the positions of each trainee. Keep in mind that saving them is your main priority. killing the puppies is mine."

His expression hardened as he continued.

"Remember the protocol. If a trainee hasn't surrendered yet, you are not authorized to intervene directly. Inform them that they will only receive help once they officially surrender. If they refuse, move on to the next signal."

He looked each instructor in the eye, one by one. "Is that understood?"

"SIR YES SIR!" the instructors responded in perfect unison.

Ty nodded.

""Good, now let's move."

He said finally, as they began running at breakneck speeds. Their forms blurred as they raced towards the mountain path.