Descending Into A Novel-Chapter 113:City of Creatures (11)
Raymond fidgeted around with a little cube in his hands, a quick magic device he created that when destroyed would immediately send a signal straight to instructor Sienna. ๐๐ฃ๐ฒ๐๐จ๐ฒ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐.๐ฐ๐๐ฆ
The cube was quite durable, but upon coming into contact with Raymondโs time-attuned mana. It would immediately shatter into pieces.
As he fiddled around with it, Raymond suddenly remembered when instructor Sienna explicitly told them not to cause trouble for her on this mission.
...sheโll understand.
Next to him, Ellen garbed in a matching set of a black. Quietly scrolled through social media on her phone. A keychain of a miniaturized bow dangling off of it.
Their combat equipment was a far cry off from what many expected. While it was true they might occasionally wear full plate armour(Noelle always wore it due to her innate power), their regular combat attire was quite different.
Take Ellen, who was wearing just a regular windbreaker and trousers. With bracers, a quiver, two daggers on her thighs and a few vital areas covered. It was more modern tactical then what most expected.
But there was a reason after all, for someone like Ellen. Comfortable clothing that she could run in was much better for her as an archer then heavy armour that weighed her down. Modern technology was simply better suited to her needs.
Of course, this only applied to individuals like Ellen, Raymond and Audrina.
The others, would wear actual armor. Noelle had her innate power, whereas the others wore something more lighter. Gauntlets, vambraces, breastplate and the likes.
The sole exception was Lin Qingyi, who chose to wear a black-purplish Wulin style robe. Which offered practically zero protection. She had even gotten permission from the academy to modify her uniform into something resembling it for the sole reason of it being what she was used to wearing. A lot more drastic of a change compared to Audrina, who simply widened the head hole on most of her shirts.
Even Cador was wearing armour! Granted, the guy (or wolf?) probably didnโt even need it. So it was purely for show, but at least he still wore it.
Zachary, who was late as always. Finally showed up, a classic and expected protagonist trait. Making him open his mouth to complain.
"Didnโt we agree to meet at 9? What took so long?"
"I was just preparing myself. It took a bit longer then I expected."
Standing up, Raymond stretched his body. His physique as a perfect human already kicking in as he got ready for action. Plus, with his new magic he had just finished creating. He was more then ready for this raid.
Holding his wand he pointed it at himself, channeling his mana into his newly created spell. "Cloak of Ice."
Frost gathered around him in a swirling pattern, ice forming itself into a mystical looking cloak around Raymond within. The blue ice was slightly transparent, showing a blurry image of his white clothes underneath.
Despite being made of ice, the cloak still seemed to flutter in the wind. Raymondโs current appearance showing off his identity as a mageโthe only one in the entire group.
One of his time magic was a spell called Cloak of Time, its main purpose was to protect him from the dangers of his own time magic by essentially making sure his own time remained constant. But it also had a neat bonus effect of improving any time magic casted, the power and efficiency would be improved making it much easier for him to cast. The only downside was its constant mana drain, but his passive mana absorption as a perfect human usually made up for it.
This newly created spell, was Raymondโs method of making up for his shortcomings in ice magic. Due to lacking the proper attunement, his ice magic was weaker then what it could have been. He had been substituting the attunementโs role by using his purer mana and just putting more mana. But it had always dragged him down.
Using the base of Cloak of Time, and the fundamentals of Surrounding Ice Control. He created this new spell. An entirely original spell created solely by him.
Seeing Raymond prepare, the others all did the same as well.
In a flash of light, Noelle was fully covered from head to toe in a silver and black armour. A Royal blue cape materializing behind her as a winged helmet adorned her head. A faint glimmering aura of starlight surrounding her. Proof of her Asteria Family Arts. Holding her spear in her hands, she was easily the most menacing looking.
Seeing the glowing pair of wings and halo on Thomas,who was standing next to Noelle. Raymond couldnโt help but think that their entire group was really bright. Zachary had yet to unlock a power-up from the system, but he was just as bright.
But now that he had his own power-up, it really felt amazing!
This is coolness! This is beauty! This is awesome!
No longer did he have to simply stare at the others, lamenting that his own were still sealed by the system or that he was too weak to cast them. Now he had his own!
Lucy, unbeknownst to the others. Quietly activated her Art, a blue snake which was coiled around her leg melting into her body. From the outside, she appeared completely normal and calm as she always did.
Lin Qingyi held a tang sword in her hands, eight other swords floated behind her. An ethereal purple aura covering each sword as they pointed at the sky. Leaving behind a trail in the air as they bobbed up and down ever so slightly.
With all of them ready, Raymond took a deep breath. Holding his wand as he changed his dimension-attuned mana.
"Mass teleport."
***
"What is this?"
A brown-haired woman stared at the envelope in front of her. A knot forming in her stomach as her colleague (and enemy) gave her a smug look, snarkily announcing to her.
"Oh you donโt know? Youโve been fired Colleen. Pack it up and leave. Effective immediately."
She frowned, trying to hide her anger."That doesnโt make any sense. Iโve always done everything I was asked to. I ev-
He waved her off,"Just shut up will you?"
She quietly balled her fists at her side, her nails digging into the flesh of her palm.
"Itโs simple really, higher-ups wanted someone who could make better use of RD. Someone like...me."
Silence stretched between them, his last statement making it clear what had happened.
Colleen grit her teeth, "Someone like you? Donโt make me laugh. RDโs the most valuable asset in this lab and itโs still growing! All of your suggestions might as well be equivalent to torture!"
Was this her karma for working here? After being promoted, she had tried to change the policies to treat the creatures here better. Something that got her loathed by her colleagues.
They came to this lab for a reason after all. To receive the funding and clearance for the sick and twisted experiments they couldnโt do legally. Now their new boss suddenly wanted them to be nicer?
"Theyโre monsters. Not people. Why the hell do we need to treat them with kindness and respect? They would kill us if they ever had the chance to!"
Loving animals in Mirovia City was the norm, but there would always be a few oddballs sticking out no matter what. How individuals like this managed to survive in this city was a question only they could answer.
"Theyโre monsters because you treat them like monsters!"
"A monster doesnโt change just because you treat it like a human! Iโve always hated this philosophy of yours! The way you treat them, itโs sickening. So hurry up and pack your things. Starting from today onwards, this is my office."
Colleen swallowed, steadying her mental state as she glared back at him. "You bastard. Youโre enjoying this arenโt you? Finally getting to put me down like how youโve always wanted to."
He didnโt deny it, his grin widening barely. But just enough for her to notice.
"Iโm just doing my job."
She really wanted to lunch his damn face in.
He stepped back slightly,"Youโve got five minutes. That should be enough to pack your things and leave."
Turning and walking away, he left without another word. Leaving her all alone in her office.
She leaned back, staring at the ceiling as she dragged a hand down her face. The weight of it all settling in, slowly exhaling.
โI need to find a new job...โ
BLARE!
Collen shot out of her chair, an extremely loud almost siren like alarm blaring. Startling her and making her forget what she was thinking about.
She cautiously opened the door to her office, looking outside and seeing several people running back and forth, anxiety on their faces as they panicked.
"Attack! The place is being attacked!"
"Whereโs the guards?"
"My research! I was so close t-
A raid? Now?
What incredibly perfect timing!
She was already fired, she might as well just take everyone down with her then! Screw loyalty, the higher-ups never treated her loyalty well, why should she?
Colleen felt the rage inside of her calm down, not because it had been extinguished. But because she knew, it would receive its revenge soon.
Screw this damn place, she never liked it anyways!
