So, here we are—I was finally leaving the Health Division—and now walking into the Combat Division with Guinevere. The Magus Association is hidden from the Public in a realm beyond the Material World.
Apparently, the Grand Minister, Alexander, was the one to create this place.
Guinevere decided to take me away for my safety. So she says.
That other lady who was holding that unconscious guy stayed at the Health Division. I think her name is Ludra from what Lady Guinevere said.
"This place is massive."
I was looking around me. The Magus Association looked like your average academy, but with a multitude of castles; not to mention that it was built on top of floating land.
That's right, we're standing on a floating island in the metaphysical void beyond the material world.
"Of course it is. We have thousands of Wizards from across the globe coming here, so we have to make room." Muttered Guinevere as she lit a cigarette.
"So, Grand Minister Alexander made this place right? What was the reason to hide it from the public?"
"It's simple. Phantasms could have easier access to our HQ if we stayed in the material world. So, to make things much safer, we moved here."
I stuffed my hands into my pocket, chuckling, "Geez, it must've been tough staying back home, and dealing with Phantasms raiding the MA all the time, huh?"
"Tell me about it. Like, seriously, why did it take 50,000 years for someone to think of a bright idea like moving away the Magus Association into another world that only Wizards can have access to?!"
I shrugged my shoulders, giggling at her comedic frustration.
"Tehehe, but in the end… it all worked out, right?"
Guinevere stopped in her tracks, puffing smoke past her lips once she lit the cigarette.
"I guess so."
I also stopped in my tracks, looking up at her confused.
"Huh? Why did we stop?"
"This spot works. I rather talk to you here so I won't have my students eavesdropping on us."
I scratched my cheek, looking around me a bit nervous.
"A-Are you sure? I-I feel like a more secluded area works… rather than talking out in the open."
Guinevere poked my forehead multiple times, saying, "If anyone hears us, I'll just knock 'em flat and bribe them with hookers to keep their mouth shut."
"T-That's totally uncalled for!" I shouted, flustered as ever.
"What? It works every time." Guinevere said, shrugging her shoulders.
"You dirty old woman!!"
"Old? I'm only 26, chill out, Ba ha ha!"
Seriously, what the heck?! They made someone like this the Captain of the Combat Division? I mean, I guess that's fair. I saw how she fought, and frankly… she could've easily killed that Wraith if she tried a bit more.
But for some reason, she was holding back, maybe because I was there with Matilda.
"T-That's beside the point. A-Anyways, we're getting way off topic here." I adjusted my glasses, placing my hand against my hip before pointing at her, "You wanted to know about what happened, right?"
"Why are you so intense?" Asked Guinevere, clueless in her expression, "But yeah, I need to know everything, from the start."
***
"Die you fucking bastards!!!"
The sound of flesh ripped apart, as blood and guts filled the streets of Bellensworth. Dozens of men in dark suits were running through the city, evading the perception of humans.
They were too fast, yet silent at the same time. Nobody could perform such an incredible feat unless it was the Stealth Division.
"Greeeeeeaaaahhh!"
Phantasms fell left and right in the middle of the streets, yet the sleepers of humanity couldn't perceive their existence.
Those without Ether didn't even know that there was a metaphysical warfare all around them.
The dark-suited men eventually stopped in their tracks, concealing themselves with Ein.
"Move to the east. Phantasms are appearing too rapidly."
One spoke through an earpiece, alerting the others.
"Just what the hell is going on? Phantasms don't appear in large crowded areas like cities, so why now?! It doesn't make any sense." One of the men responded.
"I'm unsure, but we should ask questions later. We have to complete our objective as members of the Stealth Division. I rather get my intestines eaten out than deal with Supervisor Kotome's wrath."
"Right." They nodded their heads and vanished from sight, reactivating their Ether as they moved East.
Uncanny creatures of many sizes walked through the streets, interfering with the Apprehension streams of the sleepers.
The Stealth Division quickly made work of them. Slicing through the horde of phantasms, they fell one by one, however…
"Shit!!" One Wizard was caught in the hand by a bigger Phantasm and it started to crush him, violently. "H-Help me!!! Someone… help me!!" The sounds of his bones cracked, as his eyes became bloodshot red.
"Damnit, we attracted some B-Class Phantasm. This isn't gonna end well!"
"B-Class Phantasm? It shouldn't matter though, right? Remember what was announced? Apotheosis came back, which means the Prophecy of Olias should take place."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that the phantasms should be weaker as a result, so how the hell is producing B-Class strength?"
The men all trembled in their boots, unable to handle the B-Class Phantasm as Level 2 Wizards.
"This is fucking bad! We made some miscalculation!"
"H-Help meeeeee!!! Aaauhhhhh, God, please!" The Wizard was being crushed in the Phantom's hand until he exploded into pieces, raining with blood and guts.
The men all gasped, looking up at their comrade raining upon them.
"How silly." Muttered the Phantasm.
"I-It can talk? Shit… it's intelligent!"
"You humans are so weak and fragile, yet you attack us with your pitiful Ether. What did you think would happen when you attack creatures beyond your understanding?"
"S-Shut up! What would Phantasm scum like you know about us?"
The Uncanny creature gazed upon the bold wizard, smirking. It was pale, with no eyes, but only a large mouth with humanlike teeth. Its arms were slender, and its legs were a bit bulky.
It towered over them, laughing.
"Ke Ha Ha Ha! You humans are the ones who created us, and you call us scum? The irony in your words is comedy!!"
"Let's all attack it together. We can't let an intelligent Phantasm loose! They're too dangerous!"
"Alright!" The men shouted in synch.
"Do your worst. Humans of your caliber pose no threat to me."
It is said that the Phantasms that could talk are special. They're separated from other Phantasms from the fear, tradition, or lore that they embody being most potent, and dangerous of all.
The Wizards of Stealth Division knew they were outmatched, but they wouldn't just give up so easily.
They all charged from every direction, attacking the Phantasm in the hope to kill it, or possibly injure it enough.
"It is said that being killed by Ether erases you from the Collective Consciousness." The Uncanny creature smiled. "That is exactly what I'll do."
"Kill it!!!"
"We won't fall for that bluff! No Phantasm can use Ether!"
"You believe I'm some ordinary Phantasm? Ba ha ha ha!! Please. Know your place, worms."
A yellow energy emanated around the Phantasm, shocking the wizards to their core.
"It can't be… it's using… Ether?!"
"That's right." Its smirk grew wider until its aura exploded from its body, traveling towards the men.
"Shit!! Everyone, use Sehk! Protect yourself against its aura! This damn thing knows how to use Sehk as well!"
Beyond material augmentation, Sehk becomes a formidable shield, enveloping users in an intangible barrier of protection, incomprehensible to the sleepers of reality. This ethereal armor acts as a guardian, deflecting adversarial energies and providing protection against malevolent forces.
But, one can also use Sehk for malicious intentions, such as the Phantasm before their very eyes.
Gravity increased over ten times for the poor wizards as they fell flat on their faces, unable to move a muscle.
"T-This overwhelming pressure… Its aura is too huge! Gah!" Their bones started to snap as some fell unconscious.
To the public's eye, they could only witness men in the streets, screaming their lungs out.
"Ke Ha Ha! Not so Stealthy now, are you, Wizards?!"
The party of dozen wizards began to crush under pressure, as others exploded into gore, one by one.
Blood painted the streets, and people ran for their lives.
Everything became chaotic.
"L-Lady Kotome, we didn't plan for this! We didn't plan for the Phantasms to regain their strength! Forgive us!!" One called out to his captain until he also blew up.
They all perished with blood running down city drains.
Guts were hung in the trees, chunks of flesh scattered all over the streets, and a laughing Phantasm, mocking their deaths. It was an uncanny sight.
Pure silence, and only death.
"Kuhahahahaha! Fragile, all so fragile! But this will fuel me… and change me! I will gain a new form, and become unstoppable! A being of unfathomable power!! I will raise an army, and destroy those who destroyed my people! I'll become karma in its most fundamental form!"