Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 79: No Time (2)

"The hell...!" Commander Fred felt his environment change so rapidly that he barely had time to register anything. "What did you do...?" He growled as he leapt off Caleb’s shoulders and distanced himself.

He didn’t feel any sort of danger vibes from Caleb, but the fact that he did something he couldn’t perceive bothered him. Looking at the man, he noticed he had changed his clothes too.

’Since when?’ He wondered curiously and that was when he realized where he was. ’Huh?’ The commander’s eyes widened in shock.

"We’re at the garrison?" He echoed as the surrounding knights stopped in their tracks to observe.

One moment they were doing their own thing, then the next, they saw their commander pop out of nowhere with some guy dressed in all black. But what really got their attention was how on guard their commander was.

His actions had prompted the knights to be guarded as well, their hostility directed at Caleb. The only thing holding them back was the command to attack.

"Stand down." Fred ordered and dismissed the knights. "There is no problem here." The commander stood upright as he stared at Caleb.

"Where to next?" Caleb asked, dismissing everything else. "We are on a clock, remember?" He understood the commander’s caution towards him, but they were in a hurry.

"We have to get to the teleportation hub." Fred sighed. "We’ll talk about your actions later." He took his communication artefact and sent a quick message to the duchess, explaining the change of plans.

"Make sure to return with him." The duchess ordered. "He’s still not cleared yet."

"Roger." Turning to Caleb, he uttered no words as his figure flickered, disappearing from the garrison.

"Ooh..." Caleb chuckled as he disappeared as well, his senses locked on the commander. "Challenge accepted." It was but child’s play keeping up with the commander’s speed.

In fact, Caleb was so fast that it appeared as though he was jogging along with the speedily moving commander. The difference was that vast.

’He’s gotten faster too.’ The commander realized. ’Even if I apply my speed magic, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep up.’ The reality hit him hard, reinforcing his own desire to grow stronger.

.......

As the group of commanders processed his words, Caleb spread out his domain sense, covering an effective radius of one kilometre.

[Mana core: 100%] {Will stay that way till core runs out of energy, if ever.}

[Strength: 360 units – 970 units]

[Speed: 359 units – 930 units]

[Stamina:420 units – 1002 units]

[Domain sense: 520-meter radius – 1 km radius]

[Intelligence: 1110 units – 2700 units]

With the constant influx of energy refining his body, his physical stats were going through the roof and showed no signs of stopping.

’What the hell happened here?’ Caleb genuinely wondered. ’From the looks of things, the chaos has settled, but this level of damage is something else.’ Caleb found the person he wanted.

’She’s as pretty as ever and has grown stronger too...’ Caleb smiled, but then his expression changed a second later. ’So she did in fact do something...I’ll get to her soon. In the meantime...’

His gaze turned to the only knight who wasn’t a commander. It was obvious he was the one with the information.

"What is happening?" Caleb asked the question everyone was waiting to know. "I don’t think you guys have the luxury of looking at me when there’s a real problem on your hands."

"Right." Knight Uriel nodded, snapping out of his thoughts. "This is what is happening...."

The commanders had to put their questions about Caleb aside as they turned to Uriel. The knight went through what happened in the dungeon with the demon, his encounter with the Royal Commander and what happened in the city.

"So our presence here is more to stand against the coming demons than to help with the recovery efforts." Daphne summarized.

"That’s right." The knight nodded. "I’m not sure what the situation is with His Majesty, but the commander said to split yourselves up."

"That’s good." Caleb said, stepping away from the group. "You guys do what you gotta do." He looked at Fred. "I’ll come find you. Don’t die."

He briskly walked out of the chamber, leaving the commanders speechless.

"Just who the hell is that guy?" One of the commanders muttered, turning to look at Fred for answers.

"Remember the incident of someone crippling a baron in George’s duchy?" Fred looked at the commander from the Vawns duchy.

"That’s him?" The commanders widened their eyes in surprise. "I thought he was put down."

"Not exactly..." Fred shook his head. "His punishment was to clear a Tier 3 dungeon alone."

"What?"

The commanders turned to look at the exit, but Caleb was long gone. Turning back to Fred, they seemed to be in disbelief. Even they were not certain of clearing a dungeon solo.

"Yes, he cleared the dungeon, and even went as far as causing its collapse." Fred sighed.

"That’s interesting and all, but we aren’t here to share stories." They had no time to waste mulling over someone. "We should split up and join His Majesty and Lance. Who knows what the situation has turned into..."

"She’s right." Commander Eric agreed and then proposed. "Six of us should go to the dungeon, another six to His Majesty’s side and at the same time watch out for the demon coming from the front lines.

The commanders quickly made their plans while Uriel stayed back to observe, silently praying to the goddess to help them overcome this madness.

"Alright, let’s go."

The knight commanders rushed out of the hub, each group heading to a different location. Commander Fred ended up going after His Majesty.

However, he couldn’t help but think of Caleb.

’I get the feeling this would be a whole lot easier if Caleb joined us...’ His instincts served him well. ’I may not know how strong he’s gotten, but I know he would be more than enough.’

........

Jess and the others arrived at the capital to see a level of destruction they had not imagined.

"There’s nothing we can do now except help the knights." Crusher said. "You guys may have people you know in the city. Go find them and make sure they’re okay."

The tigerkin ran off without hesitation.

’I don’t particularly have anything or anyone here.’ Jess thought as she looked. ’My former party members should have left a long time ago. I just need to get out of the city... There’s still someone I have to deal with.’

The catwoman ran towards her apartment, ignoring the cries and wails of the people. Fortunately for her, the place she rented was still standing.

Once she arrived, she headed to the reception to clear her details, take a few things she left behind and exit the city.

She had thought there would be some kind of fanfare once they completed their mission, but with how things went, it was unlikely.

A sudden knock on her door got her attention. The catwoman frowned in confusion, not expecting any visitors.

’Probably the staff...’ She mused as she moved to open the door. ’I don’t think I forgot anything, did I?’

"How can—" Jess opened the door to say, but the words got caught in her throat.