The summoning of the beasts made Gaston wonder if there was a connection to the recent events, and in a way there was. The defenses of Japan were holding up and because of the technological defenses and the air superiority alongside and the grids of defense made it possible for Japan to subdue some of the storming events that happened for the past hours

Ayumi had logged the death toll of the civilians, breakers, and military personnel within the last 42 hours. One of the awful things that Gaston noticed was the age range around 18-30 years old were dead.

“So many dead.”

Ayumi said as she operated this automatic system that sent an SMS to those who have been identified by the system. They will be getting a decent amount of credits. But credit was never the proper compensation when it comes to the death of a life. It was a heartless system that didn’t care for the death of humans. It did not have the heart to emphasize and was run by code and logic. And that logic dictated that every death must be paid with credits.

Gaston had been here for the past hours. He was living in this room with Ayumi. The staff had provided a sleeping bag and food. There was a shower room two halls away from the control room where Ayumi and Gaston were.

“Data is completed. Systems are still green.”

Gaston announced. Ayumi dragged the touchscreen panel and attached the all-green status on one of the boxes on the interface. She pressed her handprint on the interface. She was studying the tactical map on the holographic screen.

“Looks like our monster isn’t moving for now.”

“Defense grids are optimal, but I don’t know how long it will be. Multiple storming events, weakened grid systems, and even the railgun got close to being destroyed by the sudden appearance of a type-5 biomass entity.”

Ayumi tapped her fingers on the panel. She gave Gaston a questioning look that she had never shown him until now.

“ You are calm. This must be nothing to you, Gaston.”

“I spent seven years being a freelancer. If I have learnt nothing from that time. I must be very bad at my profession.”

Ayumi manipulated the system to run on automatic. Gaston saw the systems operating automatically. She crossed her arms with that certain look on her face.

“You’ve been busy as an Adjutant. Most of the time Adjutants like you just watch the spreadsheet, make contracts, and then cooperate with a lawyer regarding the agreements. You’re handling almost everything regarding, not to mention you showed up with a warning from CERN and the UEDF. That’s not normal to begin with.”

“Circumstances are hard, aren't they?”

He said with a calm voice. Ayumi nodded her head slowly, turned towards the systems panel and manipulated the grid systems again. The holographic projections showed the state of the defenses once more. There was a filter function that showed how many units were on the field.

Breakers were many, but most of the field was still populated with soldiers and mercenaries who were armed to the teeth. The streets were a mess. But the thing is that most of the places that are not part of the defense grid were populated with biomass entities. There were fighter planes engaging them from the air. Long-range weapons tearing them from a distance.

Japan was at war with the biomass entities. It was a siege with one of its biggest enemies a city-size abomination that could trample the nation if it starts to move.

Honestly, Gaston could tell that there were many movements in the shadows as well. Political interests, personal interests, and diabolical ones mixing into this big melting pot of chaos. Sparrow, Ayumi, the Overwatch of the Consortium was in a box, but it also made Gaston concerned because the Consortium was tightly locked. Sparrow won’t be able to escape so easily if she was inside this metal box of a fortress.

The continuous attacks. The storming and the spawning events that keep on happening were irregular despite how regular these are in the world. They are like tornadoes, earthquakes that are not easily predicted, but can be noticed when they happen.

Gaston thought about the past days he had been here. The constant disasters, and the threat of the Ahra Cult. The ichorium engines and the interest of the Babaika Lions to Japan as a whole. Gaston had a bad feeling ever since he got into this city. The orders from CERN, the UEDF, and the Consortium stank like bad water on his nostrils.

If it wasn’t for the damn debt.

Gaston would have not stepped foot on this nation.

It was then that Gaston found himself checking his HUD. He saw an incoming voice line from aboard. He switched to the internal speakers, and then encrypted it with his private line.

It was a video call. On the screen was Janna carrying her buster sword that was emitting bioelectricity. The red spark of light coming her eyes was deadly. Her missing eye was leaking this flare-like light. Behind her was a view of butchery. From the looks of it, it was one of the dead lands that have been abandoned by the EU.

“Janna, it looks like you are in trouble?”

“Not really. Seems like it was a trap by holy romanists, hoping to trap cultists worshipping Simon the Magus. Oh, don’t look at me like that, you know that there is a renaissance of people treating the ichorium as ‘magics’ and making use of it to create complex systems. Not that it matters if they get hit hard by something or someone. From the looks of it, this madness will continue on until we start thinking we are warriors, mages, rogues, rangers, and priests.”

“You’re not injured are you?”

“A bit drained after T4’s kept appearing. Anyway, I called you to let you know that there are schemes at play here. No wonder the bastards had to use that card to send you to that place. Gaston, be careful of the Ahra Cult, they are bigger than we expected, and it looks like we underestimated them.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means you must be wary. There are forces now that are trying to occupy the islands closer to the ring of fire. I don’t know what they are doing, but it doesn’t do good for us if they are willing to move like this. Also, watch out, they are targeting the Overwatch of the Consortium. Are you with her right now?”

Gaston glanced at Ayumi for a second.

“I am.”

“Tasted her yet?”

“What? No, why would you even say something like that?”

“Dunno, just tired, okay?”

She was among the dead type-3’s and type-4’s. From the looks of it she was finishing off a type-5 when calling for him. Janna wasn‘t someone who would call in the middle of the field unless it was necessary.

“Janna, tell me, do I have to drop the mask?”

“When you can. That place isn’t safe. I don’t know how they did it, but it seems like there are crazy people in this world who can bait these monsters into doing what they want.”

“They seem to think that they’d rule the world after they destroy it. I really don’t understand these bastards.”

“It’s escapism from the future of this planet. You know that. You know that there is only a little time left. Until that time is done, we must keep fighting.”

Gaston found his face hardening. His pate became cold and vicious. If Ayumi had looked at him, she would have her legs turned into jelly.

“Not that look. Never that look, at least not when I’m around.”

“Sorry. I just don't know what they’d get. They are risking everyone for the sake of a chance that they can be part of the biomass. They seek heaven through hell. That’s what these delusional bastards have believed...and I hate that I understand it.”

Gaston nodded. A soft smile came to him, replacing that cold and vicious look that he had. Janna smiled, although a part of her face was covered by a creature’s blood.

She lifted her buster sword that emitted a dangerous light. “It really helps that this thing is sharp, a shame that it's too heavy sometimes. Multi-functional weapons are impractical when it comes to human warfare, but are impractical enough to deal with the impractical as well. Do you have your exoskeleton?”

“I have. It doesn’t really suit me. The voltage isn’t enough that it might burst if I use it.”

“That’s the point. It keeps you from fucking up. Anyway, this has taken long. Keep the Overwatch safe until the behemoth is dead. It’s best if you keep close to her all the time. The Managers of the Earthside Consortium probably knows something we don't. Now that there is trouble like this. It must be safe to assume that there are rats hidden in the box.”

“I see. I guess even places like these are not safe. So what should I do?”

“The Babaika Lions are not exactly good people. But if you manage to get into their flying fortress, then there is a good chance that you can keep her safe.”

“Safe? What would be her use once the control panel here is gone?”

“Do you really think they’d just place the heart of the consortium in that place? No, they’ll keep multiple sites, but the master control should be in her hands. She’s assigned to Overwatch for a good reason.”

“How do you know this?”

“Why would I send you to a place I haven’t researched? I’m your handler, and partner. Do you think I want to lose you? Dumbass, anyway, keeps her safe and makes sure that the system's grid defenses are functional. Listen, I know that you are still tired, your time in the split-realm of the Golden Gate was… barbaric. But there are times that we have to keep on moving forward.”

“The situation must be very dire.”

“Yes, that’s why I’m calling you. Heads-up, it won’t be petty soon. Please don’t die if you can. Shit, it’s losing, the signal is--”

Gaston felt it. That awful feeling of space tearing apart and the sound drowning. His vision slowed down. His arms released a dark and red visible static electricity as he saw Janna’s connection being cut.

He grabbed Ayumi by the back of her neck, pressed her down on the floor, and then placed his arms up, palms pointed at the ceiling. Time seemed to start to flow normally through his eyes, as the three feet thick slab of metal landed on his palms.

His exoskeleton creaked. He supported the thick ceiling of metal with his shoulders until everything became calm. Gaston lowered the thick slab of metal he was holding on and placed it down.

Ayumi’s eyes remained on him.

“Are you okay?”

“I-I am. Thank you for that, but what happened?”

“Storming event, but from the looks of it this happened on top of us. There is no metal in the world that can stop space from tearing apart anything, no?”

“Yes.” Ayumi crouched. She activated her bracer and her eyes were dazed. “A storming event, right here in the center, is this bad luck?”

“I’m afraid not, Ayumi. It seems like our biggest mistake is to place the threat of the cult to the side. Also, would you mind if you get out of this box?”

“Can I even get out?”

Gaston’s eyes shone red for a moment. It felt like a pulse that pierced through the walls.

“It should be safe. For now, we should take this time to get out of this place.”

“There are people around.”

“Oh, I understand, Ayumi. But if there is a detonation this close, do you really think that they would survive? No, even with bioshields, I doubt that they can survive that long. Do you understand, there is a need for you to survive.”

“Did you know this would have happened?”

“No, not until someone just warned me now. I guess this is fortune as well, being in this metal box. So for now, let’s leave.”

Gaston placed his feet down and lifted the ceiling wide enough for her to get out.

“Now go!”