Platinum Skies (The Manifests Series #2)

[5] The Broker Bares His Fangs

April 27, 2023, 6:21 am, Subway Between Daegu Bank Station and Beomeo Station, Daegu, South Korea.

Zeke, Jihyo, and the rest of the team assessed the part of the Daegu Metro Line 2 where they fell---and realized they were right smack into Erythos' territory.

The train tunnel was full of faintly glowing stalactites of all lengths and sizes, and it seems like the clusters of these icy pinpricks are more frequent due east of their location---signifying that Erythos may be in that direction.

And its not like they have any choice, anyway--- the path on the opposite side of the subway was completely blocked by concrete, steel, and huge chunks of asphalt.

"The truck is useless now. We have no choice but to abandon it and press forward." Hangyeol said.

"Ugh... All that fortification for that truck, wasted because we fell in some sort of sinkhole." Hangyeol said as he rubs his temples.

"I'm actually worried. How about the biomagnetic traps? Will we get pulled towards one if we enter it's range even underneath it?" Zeke asked.

"I doubt it. We are several feet under the avenue, and the iron around this subway should absorb the magnetic field emitted by those traps. We'll be fine."

"That's honestly good to know, because it looks like we are going to take this path. Let's get our goods and get on with it." Jihyo said as the team grabs whatever supplies they can from the dangling truck on the side of the collapsed avenue.

Meanwhile, among the buried rocks and rubble, Zeke sees the corpse of the Koul'in captain, and next to it, his huge bluish spear. He picks it up and observes it carefully.

The bluish, silver spear was nearly as tall as him. It glimmered in icy power, and alot of the insignias on it seemingly glow as well. The spear had a multi-bladed tip and a segmented body that almost resemble cylindrical, blue legos stacked on top of each other.

Zeke then walks Vanta, sitting on the edge of the a few debris on the side of the subway, bandages wrapping around his left arm, left shoulder, right leg, and, left rib--- parts of his body that were injured the most due to his clash with multiple Koul'ins.

"Hey. You good?" Zeke asked.

Vanta nods quietly.

Zeke suddenly hands the huge blue spear to Vanta, much to his surprise.

"I believe this is now yours. It does all sorts of things we probably wouldn't figure out, so..."

"I... I can't take this." Vanta said. "Only the ones who passed the Verum Gelida Trial can wield this high-class spear..."

"The what now?" Zeke asked.

"The Verum Gelida Trial is a deadly test of strength, like a championship. Those who pass and be worthy can wield this high ranking spear, and those who can't are sent back to the lowest rank---"

"Okay okay, I dont really give a rat's ass to whatever that is. I only have one question. Do you know how to use this?" Zeke asked.

"...Yes. I think I know how. I've seen it work." Vanta replied.

"Then it's enough. Just take it." Zeke said as he hands the spear to Vanta. "At this point you should care less about those stupid trials and shit like that. Those don't exist in our way of life. If you want to live in this world, take note of that. We aren't like you."