The Black Pits

'An explosion?' Kesiar immediately furrowed his brows upon hearing the loud explosion. He then looked towards the group of five chatting inside a barrier of some sorts then at the door.

He was still in a state of confusion until his cafe's door creaked and another explosion echoed along with the surprised cries from the children outside

Then, without hesitating again, Kesiar sprinted towards the cafe's door while his mind was a mess.

'What's it this time, dammit?' He lamented sourly. 'The whole of Lower Street District was turned upside down due to a small scaled explosion of a Blevoics' truck before. But compared to this, the past incident pales in comparison...'

Opening the creaking door as it slammed into the wall due to the great force it was pulled with, Kesiar immediately covered his eyes due to the blow of hot wind that blew straight on his face!

"Cough, cough!"

He heard numerous coughs In his vicinity mixed along with his as he waved his hands vigorously in front of his face, trying to get rid of the dust that was making him cough.

Then, opening his eyes, he looked around as he was immediately startled!

The Lower Street District's Blanco Sector was considered to be well off in terms of the citizens of the Lower Street District.

Because of the cafe called 'Bright Days Café' that was situated here, along with the fact that there weren't that many wastes and that the street was rather 'clean' (even though it was by no means clean by Kesiar's standards).

But right now, Kesiar frowned tightly as he saw the street he was accustomed with covered in yellow and thick dust.

The dust was thick as if the whole place was barren and placed near a desert where heavy winds often carried with them sands that hit the walls of the houses, making them dirty on a regular basis.

But as far as Kesiar knew, those deserts only existed in stories and fairy tales and Lower Street District was by no means situated near a desert.

He looked around as he saw a "friendly" neighbour of his complaining on how much sand had entered the interior of their house due to a gap in the walls and another complaining about their clothes hung on a thick thread which were now covered in yellow sand, bringing about new terms of "fashion".

But that wasn't all, many glass windows of the houses were obscured by yellow and thick dust which almost resemble sand.

A small stall placed near Kesiar's cafe — so Kesiar's cafe could provide the stall and the stall owner some light at night — was long since blown off as Kesiar saw the familiar stall owner panicking, collecting all the stuff that was scattered all around the ground.

Then, looking back, he noticed that his own cafe looked dilapidated too.

Withdrawing his gaze back from the scared children, Kesiar turned to look towards the centre of the explosion.

There — far into the distance was a pitch black "thing" that shot from the sky.

If someone were to ask Kesiar how it looked, then Kesiar would immediately answer: "It looked as if some giant from the sky was spitting their phlegm on the earth."

But contrary to his expectations, the "phlegm" like thing got covered by the buildings of the Lower Street District, now obscured by his sight.

'Another explosion?'

Kesiar waited expectantly but nothing happened, not even the signs of an explosion happening in the distance.

"...A distraction for the authorities?" Kesiar muttered to himself while calculating many possibilities, at the end, sighing to himself. 'Gotta clean up the cafe...'

But just at this moment!

Crack!

'Wha—!'

Kesiar turned to his surprise and faced his cafe which was now covered in yellow dust as he furrowed his brows tighter.

The windows were broken with unaligned cracks!

"Do not move," But before he could even take a step forward, Kesiar felt a cold metallic sensation towards his neck as he didn't dare to even gulp.

The cold voice said coldly: "If you value your life."

Inside the cafe.

As the "barrier" placed by Estize was retracted, Belite got up to his feet and asked, "What happened?" But before getting a reply, his feet had already moved towards the wide open exit.

But his feet soon came to a halt.

Crack...

"Damn..."

Belite clenched his teeth as he looked down at a thick arm wrapped around his neck and its muscles that were still visible while being covered in white bandages. He immediately tried moving his arms and legs as a thought appeared in his mind.

'Whoever it is, they are well prepared. They even took precautions against my Blessing.' Belite found unsurprisingly that his arms were tied behind his back while his waist and legs had limited maneuverability. He also noticed the bandages wrapped around the person's arms and legs as a precaution to his Blessing.' As expected, being a special needs student in the famous Cvoilics Royal Academy and having your Blessing broadcasted live on television is no good thing...'

He tried to make do with what he had and tried to wrap his legs around the calves of the person behind him but he stopped after he heard a stern voice.

"It's useless," The voice echoed directly in his ears. "Even if you manage to escape from me, the reinforcements are gonna arrive soon."

All of this happened in a few seconds. The four transfer students from the headquarters of the Everlasting Alliance had already drawn upon their artifact, relics or magic items — Belite didn't know much about them nor did he recognise them. But even with all the resources they had on their hands, they had grave expressions on their faces.

Belite soon got to know why.

"...But that's if you escape from me." The stern voice echoed in his ears once again as he felt that the head belonging to the voice slowly retracted from his ears. "'Unwanted Hand' Belite."

'This nickname...' Belite felt a headache. 'The last time it was mentioned, chaos befell...'

Belite swept his gaze past the four grave transfer students as he tried to make minimal movements lest his neck gets snapped the next instant.

"What are you all waiting for? Help, guys! Help!" Belite said, his voice reverberating on the dilapidated walls as a lone lizard stared at him with its vertical pupils. He suddenly felt that the lizard was enjoying the drama.

But despite his words, the four transfer students — Estize, Benchike, Arlecco and Beatrice remained frozen on their spot, not making a move.

"Good kids," Belite heard the stern but familiar voice echo in his ears once again. "If even one of you makes a move, then this kid gets it. The one outside too."

The four transfer students of the Everlasting Alliance had grave expressions as they watched the man who gripped Belite's neck in his arms smile.

"But o' citizens of the Alliance, don't think that your selfish acts to attack me just because you don't care about this one's life will go unpunished." The man grinned. "If I'm forced to kill this kid, then you all will join him."

Listening to the crude and street-like common language coming out from the man's mouth, the four transfer students looked at each other in unison and nodded, as if coming to a decision.

Under Belite's surprised gaze, all of them dropped their weapons to the ground as he then heard Beatrice, who was the most quiet among all of them, say.

"Why are you here?" Beatrice had a scowl on her face as her next words surprised Belite to the core.

"...Leader of Blevoics — 'Mountain' Armado."

'Shi...' Belite almost cursed, realising how bad his predicament was. 'The 'Mountain' Armado? Even the 'Bald' Kennedy is better than him!'

Belite was frozen on the spot until he heard the sound of glasses cracking and the door opening.

Creak~

Belite heard as the door creaked once again as two pairs of footsteps rang in the cafe.

'Kesiar...' Belite clicked his tongue before he forced out a smile.

"Uncle Armado—" He tried lifting his head to speak, and buy time. "It's been a while—"

His words died in his throat as he felt the grip around his neck tighten, rendering his ability to speak useless as he felt the oxygen reaching his lungs reduce.

"Looks like you can still speak," The 'Mountain' Armado snorted loudly. "Little Bell." He then turned his head to look at the door. "Looks like Kesiar is with you as well."

He sneered. "Well look at this... Both the 'Unwanted' brats meet their wanted fate."

Belite smiled, revealing his pearly white teeth to the four transfer students even though he was unsure whether Armado could see him.

"Why such unpleasant and drastic measures after all these years? Why don't we sit and have a nice and peaceful chat?" Belite pleaded. "After all, 'No one is irreconcilable in the Lower Street District.'"

"Hmph, those are for the weak." Armado snorted as the smile of a ghost appeared on his face. He then declared. "We of the Lower Street District will no longer be the weak."

'Will no longer be weak...' Belite shuddered.

Belite immediately saw Estize shudder at a distance.

Armado's eyes shone with an extremely hostile glare as he stared at Belite.

"...And you owe me a blood debt as well. I should have killed you the moment I saw you entering this café."

Belite's expression froze as he instinctively gulped.

"'We of the Lower Street District?' When has the Lower Street District been so united?" Benchike asked with beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead, completely ignoring Armado's seemingly complicated relationship with Belite. "C'mon now, don't tell me..."

Belite felt the grip around his neck relax slightly as Armado sneered.

"You have tested our limits for long enough, nobles and citizens of the Everlasting Alliance," Armado said coldly. "It's time we test yours."

"Let's see if the great and mighty Alliance, the Temples, and the sixteen star noble families remain unchanged after this."

'A plan that affects the whole Eastern Peninsula?' Belite was stunned. 'What has the Lower Street District of Cvoilics — the biggest district in the capital city of the Welleysworths Union planned?' Belite tried his best to piece the puzzles together but he lacked enough information to guess the accurate information.

"It's hilarious, Mister Armado." Estize said with a grave expression. "You know that you can't escape from what you have done." Belite noticed that Estize might have realised something as he looked at the young boy curiously.

"All of this for what?" Estize sighed. "Just because some no-named nobles threatened your authority for a short amount of time?"

Belite looked at Estize and heard Armado laughing beside his ears while he felt the grip on his neck tighten as he lamented.

'Gods, what am I now? A vending machine?!'

"Kid... Kids, you have no idea what we have gone through." Armado shot a glance at Belite coldly. "Even this unwanted trash only knows bits and pieces."

Belite felt the grip slowly tighten around his neck as he was barely able to breathe.

"Mi-Mister Amado..." Belite squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, and smiled. "Maybe... Maybe it's better to not kill a hostage 'unwantedly' and 'accidentally?'"

Armado's face turned cold and rigid as he heard Belite's words. He then exerted force into his hands, seeing Belite's despicable smile.

But all that talking around wasn't in vain, though, as spell light shone brilliantly in Belite's hand.

Armado's eyes suddenly widened as he backed away, grunting in pain as his wrist had a seering red colour etched on it, the bandages he wore now burnt, exposing his bare skin.

"Burning Hands!"

…

On seeing my actions, the transfer four students sent by the alliance's headquarters — Estize, Benchike, Arlecco and Beatrice — who's goals had partially changed for now, grabbed their weapons once again.

As I felt the exhaust the spell had on my mana pool, I backed away further, distancing myself from Armado.

I knew the man. Far better than many, and knew for instance, that he wouldn't come alone.

Just like a mountain contains various animals, this mountain, too, contained a fierce animal.

Plants burst forth and demolished what remained of the fine wooden building, another familiar face coming into my view as I used Red Block to shield myself, forming a spherical shield on my forearm.

"...Bell, it has been a while," The "Plant Walker," Gellard greeted me. He looked older, much older than he had been when I had previously seen him.

"Oh, you have white hairs on your temples, old man." I said, to provoke him as various members of Blevoics' burst forth from behind us.

The transfer students of the alliance remained useful in dealing with the mass of gang members. They would hopefully finish that quickly and help me… hopefully.

Gellard laughed hearing my words, and his short laughter soon came to an end, "Things have happened, Bell… Armado has gone crazy ever since you left, and I had to deal with the shit you piled up. We were once weaker than we had ever been, and… we still hadn't found you."

"Now you have," I smiled. Since my Circle's Rotation was initially completed, the mana I could draw forth was increased, though by a little bit.

I chanted quietly, using Red Block as I ran, unwilling to meet my foe.

But plants quickly converged wherever I went, blocking my path.

"Where will you hide… where will you run… Why must you run?" I heard the voice I dreaded the most at the moment, noticing Armado closing in on me from behind, like a madman.

Then, the scenery around me suddenly changed.

Armado's charge halted, the plants growing in the surroundings suddenly receded, and everything just became dark.

Then, amidst the receding plants, I saw a horse on fire, in its literal freaking sense!

The horse ran, its movements making wisps of flame detach from its body and catch the plants nearby.

As the plants burned, a man that seemed half-southern and half northern appeared, his hands engulfed in pitch-black and opaque darkness.

I soon recognised him, as I shouted in delight, "Mr. Orsent!"

It was the librarian! Surely, he would have noticed the abnormality of me storming out of the library or something else. But was it worth following me all the way here?

As the question rang in my head, I took the opportunity while the others stumbled and quickly ran towards Armado.

He was in the midst of regaining his steps and quickly did so when I came into his view.

He grinned, maniacally, when he saw me.

"Come!" He billowed, coming to almost embrace me.

I took a step back, pushing my arms in front to grab his arms, and he didn't resist, instead, he fell forward, grabbing my shoulders.

Ouch, this won't work.

I kicked myself off the rumbling ground and raised my feets to kick him while he supported me, but the momentum worked against me as he threw me onto the ground, almost falling upon me.

But I rolled, managing to avoid getting squashed, but I had a cut across my right cheek as it blinded my vision.

Bastard had a knife, damn. How old style!

Gritting my teeth, I widened the distance between us, tearing a piece of my shirt and casting Enhance on it to throw at him.

It did slow him down but not by much. As the spell Enhance at the Third Dimensional merely made the object used more durable and harder, it didn't increase its speed much.

But since the shirt turned rigid, without flipping around, it was still fast enough to slow him down.

As the plants still somehow obstructed my path, I maneuvered around them, meeting Armado.

I was somewhat confident though, that I could defeat the man again since I had already done so, even if that was quite a different "defeat."

I stepped back as he lunged at me to grab my face, Burning Hands evocated, I moved my hands to reach for the area that was burnt, hoping to finish the fight soon.

But Armado backed away just as fast as he'd lunged, his moments monstrous.

But he was nearing his fifties now, I could definitely see through his ruse. Good job concealing the laboured breaths, old man.

I didn't care as the fiery red on my hands faded, a red shield forming on my forearm.

I waited and went near Armado, slamming the shield against him.

He held, surprisingly.

With red blood flowing between the gaps of his teeth, he muttered loudly enough that only I could hear him.

"Despicable Blessings for a despicable man," he then threw me off, my vision instantly shifting as I noticed the plants above me were rapidly burning away.

It didn't matter if I won the fight anymore, I thought. Since the librarian had brought many staff of the academy here, they were easily overpowering Gellard. Armado would be no big deal, then.

But trying to survive till then, I got up..just then though, the area surrounding me and the plants rapidly decayed, the forces of the academy halting.

In the silence, I saw that most of Blevoics' gang was dead, the transfer students prevailing with the help of some magical artifacts.

Just then, I noticed a grin on their faces, as if all else had been settled.

Boom!

A brilliant bright light burst forth, removing all the plant havoc covering my view and path, forming a circular hole that was connected to the outside, revealing the Lower Street District beyond it.

…and from the forcibly torn circular hole, people covered in grey and black armors burst forth, a few of them having spherical shields of force on them, a symbol of crescent moon shining visible on their shoulders.

The personal superhero forces of Barley Whitetwin, the noble who had claimed in-charge!

Just as I wondered how chaotic the situation could get, I witnessed the personnel bearing the symbol of the academy turn back, stabbing members of their own rank, firing spells too.

Various spell lights suddenly overwhelmed my view as I witnessed chaos within the ranks of the academy personnel, the spell lights slowly dying down as what remained of the academy's side lunged at the noble's forces.

Shocked by the sudden change of events, I saw a flaming horse head towards me, spotting the librarian, Mr.Orsent behind it.

"Enough games, I suppose. We will help you once, Armado. He is yours,"

Armado, who had been thrown off due to the brilliant light, took the bone halberd handed by the librarian and came after me.

This time, though, he wasn't grinning.

As I casted Red Block and saw Orsent preparing a spell through my peripheral view, I noticed that Armado had misstepped, his arm extended, with the halberd he held crashing into the ground in front of me.

Taking the opportunity, I raised my foot and stamped the halberd, putting all my strength as I slammed Red Block against his face.

He crashed a feet or two away, hitting the ground. I took a moment to realise, and saw that the librarian had suddenly frozen, with what seemed like a sea of bugs pouring in from the circular hole created by the brilliant light.

"What chaos you bring on your first day at the academy, Mister Levester Bostorne!"

I heard a familiar voice and saw Eric standing on the mass of insects and bugs.

"I knew from the moment I sensed two souls inside you that you were trouble," Eric jumped, landing in front of me, "But… Looks like you were a hired rat," he said pointing to the transfer students who were staring at us.

"You can sense souls?" And you can sense Him? Just how damn strong is your Blessings, dude?!

Wincing due to the cut on my cheek, I saw Armado fighting off against the insect horde of Eric, while the bugs and beetles went off to fight against Orsent.

"That's the difference between an Essential Heart and wizardry. Damned southerners," Eric said looking at Orsent, directing a few of his beetles to fight towards Orsent.

He wiped the blood flowing from his nostrils and grinned, looking at me. "C'mon, now. Just a bit of blood, and that's all. Still something that wizard can't get past,"

With a moment of respite to think, I did that much, my eyes looking at the circular hole that was formed.

Why did the librarian betray the academy, why in the first place, was he able to gather such huge manpower of the academy?

Looking at Orsent, he merely used spells to fight the horde of insects, not using any Blessings or the authority of Essential Heart.

Just as I was wondering, beads of light started rising around me, one from me, another from Eric, and then another from Orsent and so on…

Then, as I felt my thoughts feeling sluggish, I saw the points of light turn slightly black as they formed a spherical circle.

Then, rays of light from the spherical circle converged inside its area, forming a brilliant light.

I cursed, pushing myself out of the way as another one of those massive light beams was fired, destroying foes and allies alike as it stopped for none.

Then, as it receded, I spotted the lifeless husk of Gellard falling from a high point on his Plant Paradise, crashing into the ground.

Armado, as if alarmed, roared, and as things seemed to be reaching its conclusion, I ran towards the exit — the circular hole torn open by the light, with Eric on my side.

My sluggish thoughts became normal, eventually becoming sharp as my brain processed at an unnatural speed.

Why did Orsent betray us? And moreover, what was a southerner doing in the north's best magic academy?

Moreover, how could the Lower Street District organize such manpower? I doubted Orsent was from the Lower Street District, but the amount of funds needed to organize such a setup would cost a small state's finances.

Just then, things started clicking.

Whether because it was due to my increasingly rapid thoughts, the conclusion I came up with sounded plausible.

The Bald Harbingers! The Bald Harbingers and its leader who was arrested in the Three Southern Wings!

It was definitely possible that a plan had manifested from there, but without much clues, I couldn't be sure.

As I ran towards the exit with Armado on my tail, I noticed a fantasy. Why had I gained an Essential Heart just as the academy had started?

Just as the question clicked in my head, I realised I had stepped out of the Bright Days Cafe, escaping safely from the chaos… Or so I thought.

Another one of the questions I had in my life was answered today, though.

Why was the number of superheroes among the Blevoics' ranks always confused? Why was Blevoics' able to stand and recover even after Armado had gone mad? Why… did Blevoics' remain as the number one gang in the Lower Street District?

Everything was answered, as I looked at the bright red light that shone on my face, its radiance mixing with the absurd setting sun beyond the horizon…