louisehourcade Chapter 194: Panic
Chapter 194: Panic
"What? A solo expedition?" Amanda reacted exactly the way Kyle had expected after hearing about the orders he had received from the higher-ups that day.
"What’s the big idea, Veronica? Were you the one who asked for this?" she complained, directing her frustration at the woman overseeing everything happening inside the base.
Veronica scoffed.
"You think so?"
Shaking her head, she continued, "I don’t have that much authority within the PSC. This decision was made by the entire council after a debate centered around your involvement in several anomalous events that have shaken the aether world."
The explanation was reasonable enough to warrant suspicion, and under normal circumstances Amanda would have accepted it. Unfortunately, her rationality tended to abandon her whenever Kyle was placed in a dangerous situation.
"Could someone from the Central Authority be plotting against him?" she muttered quietly.
The comment still reached the ears of the other two.
"Highly unlikely," Kyle said as he served some rice onto Veronica’s plate. "Those people are far too busy to care about a few incidents. I may have caused a stir back when I was working as a rogue, but now that I’ve come out and surrendered, I’m just a regular guy to them."
He wasn’t putting himself down.
If anything, the assumption brought him relief. Kyle enjoyed almost everything except attention, especially attention from people in power.
He was simply stating what he believed to be the truth. The Central Authority had no reason to concern itself with a rookie’s internship.
"But we still can’t rule out the possibility that the government is keeping a close eye on your every move," Veronica added, doing little to ease Amanda’s worries.
Veronica herself appeared uneasy as she continued, "I believe news of what happened yesterday, when you defeated that behemoth, has already reached them. Your habit of finding unconventional solutions during battles has drawn a lot of attention. So I wouldn’t be so certain that the Central Authority has nothing to do with this."
Kyle groaned.
"Stop it, you two. It’s just a myth-busting inspection tomorrow. I’ll go there, clear up all the rumors, and prove that I’m not some bad omen."
Both women fell silent and exchanged a glance.
Their eyes conveyed nearly the same message, carrying the exact same emotion.
Concern.
Kyle let out a sigh.
"So you’re both worried something will happen again tomorrow?"
Neither of them answered.
They didn’t need to.
Their silence spoke for itself.
Kyle shook his head.
"Well, if something actually happens tomorrow, shouldn’t we just admit that I somehow affect the rifts?"
CLINK
Veronica visibly stiffened. Her fork struck the plate with a faint sound before she looked up at him.
"Don’t say that."
Her tone was sharper than usual.
"If they ever become convinced that you have some influence over rifts and their behavior, nothing in the world would stop them from bringing you to the Central Region."
"She’s right, Kyle." Amanda immediately backed her up. "They’ve been looking for a reason to take away your freedom. This... this would be far more than enough to put you under constant surveillance."
The fear in Amanda’s voice made it clear that she shared Veronica’s concerns completely.
Kyle let out another sigh and leaned back in his chair.
The two women weren’t overreacting.
If anything, they were worried because the possibility sounded plausible.
Still, what exactly was he supposed to do about it?
....
"Old man! Open the damn door!"
Somewhere far, far away, a woman stood before a massive pair of ancient doors, pounding against them with enough force to make the heavy stumps tremble.
The corridor around her stretched endlessly into brightness, illuminated by pale blue flames flickering from iron braziers mounted along the walls. Their cold light danced across her face, revealing eyes sharp with panic and blazing with fury.
A few loose strands of golden hair clung to her flushed cheeks as she struck the doors again.
"If you don’t open these damned doors right now, I swear I’ll curse you to death!"
Under normal circumstances, Freya could have devised something far more terrifying than a simple curse. But panic had stripped away her composure, leaving behind only raw emotion and desperation.
Her fists slammed against the ancient doors once more.
Silence answered her.
Then a calm voice echoed through the corridor.
"What exactly are you doing? You sound less like a goddess and more like a cornered beast."
A second figure emerged from the shadows.
Tall and graceful, she carried a long spear in one hand. Silver armor covered her form, polished so flawlessly that the braziers’ light glimmered across its surface.
At first glance, Artemis appeared perfectly composed.
Only her eyes betrayed her.
Beneath their calm exterior lingered tension.
The same emotions Freya was no longer attempting to hide.
"Artemis!" Freya spun toward her. "Forget questioning me and call that stubborn old man out! Only he can stop those mindless beasts from reacting to my darling!"
Her voice cracked slightly.
She knew exactly what was about to happen.
And that knowledge terrified her.
Artemis’ grip tightened around her spear.
"I have already attempted to contact him," she replied in a stiff tone. "Unfortunately, he has sealed himself within the Chamber of Observation. Until he chooses to emerge, no one may enter."
"Then break the damned door down!"
Freya pointed violently toward the enormous gates.
"Do something! Anything! We don’t have time for rules right now!"
Artemis frowned. She had looked into fate and understood why Freya was so panicked.
She could see it.
Kyle’s inevitable outburst.
An eruption that would swallow everything in its path.
His existence was far more crucial than any human could comprehend.
Her gaze shifted toward the massive doors, and for a brief moment, her composure wavered.
Breaking them would damage the old man’s reputation among the Pantheons.
But they didn’t have much time either.
Just then,
Clank
The massive doors began to open.
The moment the doors parted, hurried footsteps echoed from within.
An old man strode out with surprising speed, his long cloak billowing behind him as though the air itself rushed to keep pace. Several soldiers of the heavens followed close behind, their golden armor gleaming with divine radiance, yet none dared move ahead of him.
Despite his age, there was nothing frail about his presence.
His tall frame stood straight as a spear, and every step carried the weight of authority earned over countless ages. A single eye, sharp and piercing, swept across the corridor, seeming to see far beyond the walls before him.
His silver hair flowed down his back like a river of moonlight, while his beard, long and well-kept, rested against the dark robes embroidered with ancient runes.
The trident in his hand appeared simple at first glance, yet its presence alone made the surrounding soldiers lower their gazes.
Odin.
The Allfather.
His gaze immediately found Freya.
"We need to leave, now."
Artemis frowned, "What happened? Where are you going."
"To Knull."
Freya was overjoyed, "Now you realize the urgency of the matter. Well, better be late than never."
Odin froze and turned to look at the woman before clearing the misunderstanding. "I am not panicking because I want to protect Kyle. I am going there to stop her from swallowing Knull."
Freya and Artemis both blinked in confusion.
And then...realisation dawned upon them.
Tharos.
Or formally feared as Goddess of Death.