Chapter 105

  Very few Walkers preferred Arachs the size of buildings, which was a clever thing to think. Even if they knew they existed, sleeping because of large existential spiders needed no further thoughts. It might be worse than their imagination of fantasies, snakes, various mammals, insects, or birds.

  Almost every case was similar to Arachs. Many Darks could grow accustomed to insanity that was the Madness and not everything was about Insectoids. Most places were long turned to overruling matters of rulers and Sapients, or various Primevals or Demons.

  Others were so much worse because it was impossible to describe one type of Darks as the worst of the worst.

  But if one asked Walkers what was the worst, they would describe something without hesitation. It wasn't about Ranks or some Dark Aspects. The sheer matters of what got closer to perfection than themselves should make one shiver.

  The power of upgrades and Rank-Ups were great. Then, one had Skills that mattered much more for Walkers than Ranks because of their imaginations, distinct levels of brilliance, and power to accumulate experience and growth.

  Darks didn't have all of those aspects. They had insanity within them, making them bizarre like their numbers and instincts. Even among them, there were anomalies and strange prospects, while the Corruption itself could encompass them like the Dawn itself.

  In these past hours, the worst that Dreadus met were some Rank 7 Darks, so things proceeded better than they expected. If some Rank 8 Dark showed up, Reaz and Dreadus would have to work together to make their escape possible. That might've put tremendous pressure on the rest of the team, if not a calamity.

  With fleeting priorities, it was a wonder if luck brought them here in one piece, or their running was their escape. Reaz didn't want to waste time or effort on shitty plans, so she didn't care what Dreadus was thinking after she reached out to the most feasible escape plan.

  It wasn't a matter of pride. Even Reaz had to acknowledge how terrifying this situation became. So she had no stops, even if such a team truly wanted to leave, only some of the Rank 8s would stop them. It would come with some sacrifices while killing them was less than likely. Alas, why care about secondary plans, if the harsher one worked for a greater cause?

  They escaped most grips of those lands and arrived at their destination. It wasn't the closest one, since the possibility of escape involved some high-class individuals. Not Reaz.

  Before Dreadus was a startling picture, as well as something and someone very annoying. It was part of his success, yet also a problem. He hated politics. He detested some people because of it. What if he hadn't met the girl clinging to his arm? He wouldn't be here, perhaps. Right. Maybe he should've been long dead, and the girl was his precious token and surviving treasure that made him alive.

  But then, Dreadus realized it might be worse than his brief view over that cursed flag. Those dark-clothed people made familiar groups, and the one approaching them dropped his mood to the abyss level.

  That incoming glistering asshole didn't escape his sight. “It is a fucking Academy, Reaz?!” Dreadus mumbled, turned, and barked at her smirking, bloodied, and innocent face.

  “What?” Reaz said shamelessly. “You see, things have been bigger than expected, and I kind of felt there was no other choice within my reports than to rely on what is and could be available. In fact, there weren't big expectations, nor time to give it more time. I knew Federation wouldn't be ready for something like this. Academy is. It is always ready to make numerous heavy moves, and this one was exactly that. Our mission... I mean, our sudden find shocked some people. Us included, I reckon.”

  “But him?” Dreadus held onto the duo on his chest and knew there were no wrongdoings in Reaz. They were close, or closer than he wished.

  “Per your words, I was in charge of the backup plan, dear Captain. Of course, something like this wasn't part of numerous ideal or subjective backups, so I went ahead and it changed from something minor to something large. Help is where it should remain. That Holy Land was demanding, yet this Sea is ours regardless of your nonexistent and unaffiliated complaints. Now....”

  She stopped speaking and faced approaching members of the Academy right when Dreadus wanted to smack her to the other side of this damned plain. Approaching them was someone Dreadus didn't like. First, Butlers were wearing black suits, and they were following one unlikely figure that he would recognize with closed eyes. It was the Principal of all potential problems that could come from the layers of the Academy.

  Younger than one would guess, blond, and prettier than that damned crystal, he had his own treasure etched into his forehead. Shaped like a cross with a thicker gem in the middle, it looked like a third eye, an arrowhead going from his brain, or onto the brain. It was hard to see, but it had no tip or edge to call it like some unicorn spike. It felt like a strangely shaped gem that was dull and kind of flat.

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  Rank 8 Walkers were almost a handful in the present society. This one was the leader of the Emblem Academy and the sole creator of its existence, which hid numerous masters of comparable caliber to him and the peak of the Federation. Other hegemons could've moved, yet he arrived personally, which cracked many nerves that Dreadus still had left.

  Even Reaz was surprised to see him walking to their groups as if he had gone to a garden. But if anything made sense to her, she knew her reveals put many gears into some important judgments. This meeting was the result and it was better to arrive than wait or go further without security.

  It was a good idea. Add more hours and the siblings wouldn't be able to keep up with their Arcana or Emblem, and more troubles would be able to much in their lacking wait times.

  It wasn't a matter of that crystal. Some things can't stabilize with treasures beyond their imagination. In some sense, it wasn't clever to regard the unknown effects of that thing. Dreadus thought it wouldn't be clever; and if he already thought that far, or at all, it described how difficult it was. In the worst-case scenario, they would have to discard the water altogether and carry the crystal alone. He could've done that personally and let the siblings relax, but he couldn't be sure.

  They had no idea what was more precious or how this treasure even worked, so they had to prioritize the mystery by taking everything they could bring. Thus, Reaz made a correct, albeit annoying choice for her questionable Captain.

  For the sake of this crystal above them, many people made their moves, and Walkers rushed to this destination like dogs for food. Still, Reaz expected something else for some reason, or someone different.

  It was a bit late to think about it, but there were numerous safe zones scattered around Australia. This one wasn't the closest to that Holy Land, but the one that they told her to reach. They succeeded and Reaz had no regrets about involving anyone. After all, she was close to the Academy and had many friends there, and it was the quickest way to solve everything.

  Alan Fain wasn't one of them; he walked toward the group with his own vigor and playful Butlers, who were known as the most significant support group of Walkers in the entire world.

  Fain's origin was unknown, his age or ideas were unpredictable and often misleading like his seeking for answers. He was an enigmatic Walker who came like lightning to this place many decades ago, changing the world by realizing some truths and choices and establishing an unlike era. He seized his chance by force, letting or forcing many powerful Walkers under his Academy, which left many places without significant power. That alone was a sensitive prospect that spoke of loyalty, lack thereof, and politics.

  To this day, many people dislike Fain for capturing Walkers around the world in all kinds of matters. Then, there were Walkers who didn't budge, feeling that his weird personality that was changing in a heartbeat was terrible. His motives and moves were often unexpected, but his Academy was a strong and validating existence that established itself by protecting everything regardless of politics or some deals.

  In that senseless point of focus, it was a private place akin to a nation that connected pretty much everything; China, Japan, Africa, and Europe, let alone the whole of America that was the closest.

  How or why? Many had no idea how it happened or what they did. What mattered was their reputation and acts that showed some restraints, and made Walkers into true hegemons of mankind. That wasn't the case for every place.

  Fain forced many Walkers to leave their home places, which wasn't against any rules, but it ended many lives for sure. That slowly changed when Walkers under the Academy started to do their—or his—orders.

  Many people doubted his strange politics and ideas. Ways with words had substantial power in today's world, or around the Walkers, who had their subjective hate towards him, but they were in the minority because they couldn't afford it, or they did despite not being clever or good about it.

  After all, Fain had results to express and crash opposite parties by doing what many wouldn't dare to do. His Academy was a complex power within an intricate power structure that was outside the normal views. It was stable enough to call it a pivotal society that would never crumble, while their help and rate of improvement were better than anything else.

  Dreadus detested Fain for some other things, or it might be simply a personal matter because that guy was eccentric and every meeting created a foul taste in his mouth.

  Fain's clothes were simple for his rank and reputation, and a smile on his face and gentle steps gave him an unconcerned look as if those Darks pushing against the defensive layers of this safe zone were less than ants.

  Upon walking closer, his eyes lingered on Dreadus before reflecting the light above. He judged the treasure of dreamy unknowns and smiled even further. He almost clapped.

  “Oh, this is the most splendid cause, dear Federation Walkers. It is a Crystal Water Sea.”

  “What?” Dreadus asked.

  “I decided to call it like that. Isn't it pretty?” Fain expressed and his smile was as glistering as his Emblem.

  Dreadus frowned and felt awkward because of the girl and that damned purring and sleeping Hound around her. They were resting on his chest, wrapped in his cloak.

  However, his concern wasn't good or wrong. He achieved what many didn't because of his conviction and luck in meeting this unknown girl. Fain must give this privilege to them! They found it and exceeded what many never did. The situation surpassed his expectations even when many things changed from the norm.

  “You are probably wondering what I am doing here, dear Federation Walkers. When I heard the report from Reaz, this sort of attention was guaranteed, Dreadus. You don't have to be like this. You won this one out. I almost clap. Almost. You will get plenty out of this mission for yourself, so be proud and steady after this run. Or are you tired? I will call some support immediately!” he shouted the last part and glanced behind him to point towards his Butlers.

  Dreadus groaned as if his wounds were returning. They could not. Not after what happened in that cave. “Like I give a shit. We are fine not because of you! Now, will you care of this mess more than myself?”

  “You mean the Crystal Water Sea, what you've done, or what is to come?” Fain turned, and most Butlers tensed up behind him.

  “Doubtful. I still found it... well, there are some things to take care of first. Merits come later and this one is big.” Pointing behind him, Dreadus looked at a massive cloud of multiple Hordes approaching, followed by massive creatures and immense Dark Fogs the size of the biggest Corruptors that finally caught up. “We barely got here in time, so... I am begrudgingly acclimating to your presence, Fain!”