The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 51: Break away. (Part 1)

Chapter 51: Break away.

1 Year 2 months after the Fall:

"Vanter, on your left!" I called out and dived for cover as the white claws of a Rift Walker snapped down where I had stood. I narrowly managed to pass through the rocky alcove and bouncing out the other end I raised the dagger in my hand and took aim. My throw was accurate and stabbed into its oval head. A moment later a beam of yellow light shot through its chest. Vanter stood on the ridge high above us, already readying another shot. I felt the mana in my body swell and in an instant, I teleported from my position on top the Rift Walker, my hand holding the dagger I had just thrown. I raised my other fist. Zen Style Martial Arts: Heaven's Pierce. My fist fell and released a bright light that cracked across it ceramic like body. The Rift Walker burst apart.

I looked up and saw the battlefield around us. A dozen Rift Walkers were being suppressed within the rocky gorge. My target had just fallen and only a few remained. In the distance I could see Ana and Shin supporting Aria. She alone had already taken down four of the Rift Walkers. Though she was still getting used to her growing strength she was already a powerful asset. The other teams were wrapping up their own targets.

"Vanter what do you see, are we clear?" I called into my radio.

"We're clear. Just the clean up to go," he replied. "This is the third attack this month. Should we be concerned?"

"I think we're fine. The fact we're fighting here means they haven't found the dungeon's true entrance."

"Hope you're right Captain. Oh, looks like I can help out Shin. He hates it when I help him." A beam of light shot from his bow, piercing the Rift Walker Shin had been facing. The dwarf cursed and instead of saying thanks pointed his middle figure at Vanter on the ridge. Vanter replied the same.

"Okay, let's pack this up," I gave out the order.

**

Aria Friend:

We sat around a lowset table laid with sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee. Vanter, Ana and Endi sat on one couch, while Erin, Zen and I sat on the other. Dad as usual was off to the side, enjoying the morning tea. We were in one of the parlour rooms of Elastire and what had become our meeting space. It was too dangerous to show our faces in the city and since then my school had closed its doors. The entire city had been shaken from the attack and could only blame them as suicidal terrorists. It was hard enough to hide the truth and the people at the ISPA had their hands full with it. We however had been biding our time, laying the groundwork for our reply to their assault.

Zen began the conversation, "I spoke to Master Powel this morning. Our agents have taken their position and are ready to turn when we tell them."

"They really don't suspect the Violet Oath at all?" Vanter leaned forward. "It's kind of hard to believe that they let us in so easily."

"I thought the same," Zen nodded. "We have no reason however to believe they're on to us. Master Powel spoke to their management himself. He explained our absence as a change in leadership and now we're completing jobs again, they hired us unconditionally."

I sighed, "That just goes to show how much Callus did for them. They think everyone in the Violet Oath is on the same grain."

"Many of us were and some still are," Zen's expression became tense. "We can trust those we sent out however."

"And where are they now?" Vanter asked.

I conjured an image of the world for Zen and she pointed at the map, "Three of our teams are in the United States, one in China, one in Japan and two more in Europe. They've completed their respective jobs and are in the middle of delivering the packages back. Don't worry about the people they kidnapped, we're holding them for now and replaced them with body doubles. By the end of today, we'll see exactly where they go."