In an alternate universe of the world of Solo Leveling. The Hunters Guild and White Tiger guild are performing a joint raid on an 'A' rank gate to build a friendlier relationship. The raid team enters the dungeon to discover it to be a red gate trap...
Cairn led everyone to a large gray door in the castle.
Author's Note: I don't think the manga ever specified what kind of building Aechmea's house was, so I'm just gonna put it as a castle. Also, Aechmea isn't with them in this part.
"I want to show you what I have been working on for the past hundreds of years..." (Cairn)
*Clack* *Kwaack*
With one strong push, the large doors slowly opened. It's as if nobody went inside for years.
Everyone then entered inside while Cairn was still leading them.
"It's pitch-black in here. I can barely see anything." (Cha)
"A moment please." (Cairn)
*Kreak!*
A second after Cairn said that, she snapped her fingers. With the sound from her fingers, the room started to light up.
"This.. is what I've been working for 800 years..." (Cairn)
"Huek!" (Choi)
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In front of the group was about 26 large test tubes big enough for humans.
However... what was in them weren't humans. They were Gems.
Some looked complete, others were missing one or two limbs, while the rest were in half.
Author's Note: According to the wiki there are close to 28 Gems in total, but it's not for certain.
"A-Are they.. Gems?" (Baek)
"Yes. It's them without a doubt." (Phos)
"I'm not sure what to think of this..." (Choi)
"Can they not wake up any moment now?" (Cha)
"5 of them are complete and can be woken up." (Cairn)
"There's something preventing you to wake them up, isn't there?" (Choi)
"Good perception, human." (Cairn)
"I have a rough idea as to why..." (Phos)
"I'm afraid of waking them up." (Cairn)
"What if they go insane!? What if they can't take it that Adamant is dead?! The project about Adamant hasn't had anything after 897 years! I can't take it if I have to see them shattering themselves with grief!" (Cairn)
'......' (Choi, Baek and Cha)
....
.....
......
"Wake them up." (Phos)
"But..!" (Cairn)
"Cairn!" (Phos)
"Hng!" (Cairn)
"When do you think you're ever going to wake them up? Another hundred years? two-hundred? three-hundred? seven-hundred? Maybe a thousand years? If not now then when?" (Phos)
"......" (Cairn)
"When are you going to stop hesitating? So what if they'll want to shatter themselves? So what if they can't take it that Adamant's gone now? Even if they don't accept it now, they'll eventually realize that they have no choice but to accept the changes and adapt. They'll adapt and live on." (Phos)
"You.... You're right. I need to stop being afraid of the possibility of them being depressed over the past. I just have to wait for them to get over it on their own." (Cairn)
Phos silently nodded in agreement to what Cairn had said.
While Choi and the rest smiled at Cairn finding a resolve.
Gem Walking SFX: *Tack Tack Tack*
Cairn walked slowly towards the control panel.
She hovered her hand over 5 buttons each with a different color.
