Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 14 - Blackout

Chapter 14 – Blackout

Because of the power outage, everything in the sprawling metropolis sank into darkness. The towering skyscrapers, usually bathed in neon and electric hum, now stood as looming black silhouettes against the night. The only light came from the stars, their faint twinkle barely cutting through the gloom. Yet, a far more ominous glow illuminated the city—the fiery trail of massive meteors streaking across the northern sky before crashing violently into the planet.

A blinding mushroom cloud surged upward, turning night into a brief, blazing dawn. Moments later, a thunderous shockwave rippled through the air, vibrating the very sky.

"What was that?" I muttered, my voice barely audible beneath the rising wind.

Then came the delayed explosion, a deafening roar that seemed to tear through the atmosphere itself. The force was so intense that even Myrrh, who always faced danger with a smirk, cried out and clasped her ears in pain.

"Kyah!" she shrieked, crumbling to the ground.

The ground beneath us trembled like a beast waking from slumber. Glass windows shattered in unison, sending shards cascading like a deadly glittering rain onto the darkened streets below. The once-pristine skyline was now littered with the glitter of broken glass, reflecting the chaos in sharp fragments.

It became harder to see. The outage left the city in a suffocating void of shadow. Only the pale glow of the night sky and the distant Earth hanging low on the horizon, illuminated by the reflection of the sun, provided any trace of light.

Myrrh stood shakily, trying to regain her composure, but her wide, panicked eyes betrayed her fear. Her voice trembled as she turned toward me, gazing back at the destruction with disbelief. "No way... Xyraxis has never had a power outage before. Even the Archonlight Tower... it's completely dark!"

"What does this mean?" I asked, my own voice hollow, as if the answer would bring something far worse than a simple explanation.

Myrrh shook her head frantically. "Let's go back!"

Without hesitation, we bolted toward the emergency exit, our footsteps echoing in the darkened hospital halls. The downward spiral of the stairs stretched before us, endless and foreboding. With the elevators dead due to the blackout, our only option was the stairwell. Thankfully, faint blue LED backup lights flickered on, casting eerie shadows on the walls and barely illuminating our descent.

After what felt like an eternity, the primary lights flickered back to life, filling the stairwell with a harsh, sterile glow. Relief washed over me for a split second, but that momentary comfort was shattered by the hospital's PA system crackling to life, its voice cold and urgent.

"Attention to all people in the Xyraxis Hospital. You are instructed to vacate the premises and follow the nurse's guide to your designated underground bunker. I repeat, all people in Xyraxis Hospital. Please vacate the premises and proceed to the underground bunker."

A shiver ran down my spine, like icy fingers brushing my neck. An inexplicable dread crept into my chest, mingling strangely with an unsettling thrill that made my heart race. Something terrible—something beyond my understanding—was happening.

"What the hell is going on here?" Myrrh muttered under her breath, her eyes wide and fearful as we continued down the stairs.

After what felt like hours but was only three minutes, we reached Miss Mirana's room. She was already standing, supported by a nurse, her face pale but relieved.

"Myrrh, Zaft... Thank goodness you're okay," Miss Mirana said, her weak smile a small comfort amidst the chaos.

Before we could respond, the nurse raised her voice urgently. "You two! Follow me to the underground bunker immediately! You'll be safe there."