ALMIGHTY

Chapter 23: Encased Memories

Knock knock.

Two knocks sounded at the door of the Head Principal's office. He was forwarding transactions to the Head Treasurer. Education at the FMA wasn't free. That also included that there was a fee for the entrance examinations.

"Haiiii, Head Principal," a muffled voice behind the door said.

"Come in."

A lively woman with purple hair and a well-curved body walked into the office. The woman wore grey business attire. She was the world's strongest magician, Mei Sakaki.

"Greetings, Mei." Aegis took a sip from his tea and placed the mug on the cup holder that rested on his polished, wooden desk.

"How are things?"

Aegis elegantly thrust his hands towards one of the expensive chairs, indicating that the woman had the permission to sit down, and she insisted.

"Things are fine." He took another sip of his tea before he replied.

"And, my son?"

He placed the mug on the cup holder and tapped on the desk. Suddenly, hundreds of small holograms appeared in front of Aegis. At the center of the holograms stood a bigger one which displayed a horrifying sight.

"I knew you were about to ask that, so I opened up the holograms for you. See for yourself."

Aegis wagged his finger in a 360 motion, which caused for the holograms to face Mei. She got as close as she could to the bundle of holograms. She focused on the one in the middle, since Aegis pointed at it.

"You've never truly explained to me how this event works."

"The Tower of Challenge is a tower that creates as many small dimensions as is necessary. When a floor gets destroyed or cleared, it gets replaced by a new dimension, which the tower creates all by itself. However, there are exceptions. For example, one of the second floors, and the 99th floor. The participants join in teams of two to climb the tower. The teams duel in a battle in the odd-numbered floors..."

"—Wait. Something's strange. Oh, no... Horu! Aegis! What is the meaning of this?!"

"I am quite bewildered. There is not...!" Aegis took a peak at the origin of the commotion that Mei caused and nearly spewed the tea out of his mouth when he noticed the strange sightings on the big hologram in the middle.

The hologram displayed piles of corpses, pools of blood, and a couple of familiar faces. The situation was over Aegis' head.

"I'll be damned. Mei, advance a 'Code Red'.Get ready to evacuate the students."

"Right away!"

Suddenly, angelic wings sprouted from Mei's back. She took a glance at the hologram and disappeared without taking flight; she just up and vanished.

The Apostles? This can't be good. If they're here, then... Whilst Aegis agonized over the sudden appearance of the Apostles, the bigger hologram displayed a gruesome scene.

On the 99th floor of the Tower of Challenges...

~~~~~

"I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!"

Horu or Ignis. It was unknown. What was sure, was that they'd lost their minds.