Rodney’s heart sank even further when he heard the tremble.
But he took a deep breath and did what he had to.
He called Riley as he walked towards the edge of the wall.
"Riley, gather whoever you can and get to the underground base in the north of the city.
"I will send you the coordinates later.
"They are after the Southern Pillar.
"These bastards are called the Shadow Lotus, don’t underestimate them.
"Stop them with whatever you’ve got."
He didn’t even wait for Riley to reply and ended the call.
After he sent the coordinates of the underground base to Riley, he prepared himself for what was to come.
Soldiers and the awakened teams that survived looked anxiously at each other.
The tremble not only shook the earth, but also the minds and hearts of them.
They looked out into the distance and saw figures coming towards them.
Skeletal Tigers and Fire Warthogs came charging at them.
A demonic beast that was as tall as the wall appeared.
It looked like a Skeletal Tiger but with wings that were in the form of a bat.
"Thorne, please tell me you can deal with that." Rodney said and glanced over to Thorne Blackmore.
However, Thorne Blackmore was just as in despair as he was.
"That might be a Abyssal Tiered demonic beast..." He said with his face looking stern.
"Abyssal Tiered demonic beast..." Rodney murmured to himself.
There were only records of demonic beasts which were at Abyssal Tiered level, but none had been sighted for so long.
And yet, they would have to face one together with High Tiered demonic beasts.
Rodney started reciting whatever prayers he knew and prayed for the survival of those in the underground shelter.
Meanwhile, Riley looked at the coordinates of the underground base.
It wasn’t too far, and they might still be able to salvage the situation. He thought.
"Everyone, move out. We have to get to the underground base to protect the Southern Pillar."
Lukas nodded and followed the other team members.
Riley continued to brief them on what Rodney had told him as they got to the armored car.
"What is the Southern Pillar? Why is it so important?" Lukas asked.
"I only know it’s crucial for our survival." Riley replied.
Everyone else also nodded.
"Find whatever help we can? But there’s no one left." Rex interjected with his doubt.
"There might be..." Emma said and paused.
Riley knew what Emma wanted to say, and he also hesitated.
"What?" Rex asked again.
"Those guarding the underground shelter." Lukas gave him the answer.
Rex also frowned and kept his mouth shut.
Those guarding the underground shelter were mostly individuals that were too weak to be able to join an awakened team.
And other than that, they were students like Patricia, who hadn’t even learned about combat in the awakened academy.
Seeing that no one wanted to make the decision, Lukas gave his suggestion.
"We go to the underground shelter, ask for volunteers.
"And we only take in those that are good enough.
"No one from high school or the awakened academy should be considered.
"Give it five minutes and we leave."
Riley and the other team members nodded their heads as it sounded like a plan.
Wendy looked back and when Leeroy appeared behind her, she quickly hastened her pace.
She was only a few steps away from General Zephyr’s location.
Leeroy whipped his hand that stretched like rubber, trying to grab onto her ankle.
Ice spikes rose from the ground with every step Wendy took.
Leeroy’s hand swerved and avoided the ice spikes.
When his hands got near again, Wendy was ready and ice extended out from her hands, covering Leeroy’s.
It froze his hands and trapped his hands with the thick ice.
"Argh! You bitch!" He screamed in anger.
Wendy then took the opportunity and pressed her palm against the security entrance.
The thick steel doors slid open, and Wendy ran into it.
The ice holding Leeroy’s hands cracked and he whipped it at Wendy again.
His hands passed through the steel doors, but it was stopped when the steel doors slid closed.
Leeroy could feel his fingers brush against Wendy’s ankle.
"Damn it!" He cursed out loud as he knew that he was so close.
Wendy put her palm at the second security entrance, and it slid open after giving out a beep.
"General! Intruders!" Wendy shouted as she entered the living quarters of General Zephyr.
General Zephyr was on his bed in his sleep after his shift.
Upon hearing Wendy’s voice, he opened his eyes and sat up.
Lights turned on from his motion, and he immediately put on his uniform.
He was fit and had a stern look with a gray moustache.
"Wendy?!" General Zephyr was surprised to see her injured.
After all these years in the underground base, it had been uneventful.
He quickly pressed the alarm button that was on his wall.
But nothing happened.
There was no wailing of the alarm to activate everyone in the base.
Something hit onto the security doors giving out a muted thud.
General Zephyr narrowed his eyes and got ready.
Finally, the security doors gave way, and they were blown off.
The steel door flew at General Zephyr.
"General!" Wendy shouted as she saw the steel doors coming at him.
White flames appeared and engulfed General Zephyr’s body.
The temperature weirdly didn’t rise but it felt cold instead.
Redefining what the abilities could do, a mark of someone at Master Level Mastery.
Wendy thought to herself.
The steel doors when they touched onto the white flame, turned into liquid steel immediately.
"Ashen, you better get your ass here right now." Leeroy was standing at the entrance and thought silently to himself.
General Zephyr raised his right hand, with the palm facing Leeroy.
The white flames shot at Leeroy’s body.
Leeroy stretched his body long and held onto the ceiling with his hands, and his body bent to the side with a curve.
The white flames missed and flew past Leeroy’s body.
Leeroy’s body bounced back to its original position, and General Zephyr seized the opportunity to lunge at Leeroy with his fist.