“Here, Alma.”

Alma took the papers from Shinzo, three in number. They contained a list of points of interest across the borough that could contain evidence to the bombing spree that was happening currently. As of now, the Baptists plus his superiors were flying in Yatsar’s SMVs going to incident-after-incident and clearing them.

Which meant he needed to provide a substantial lead when they eventually finish.

He scanned through the contents. “I envy your conversation skills, Shinzo. Most people whom I have the pleasure of speaking to usually aren’t listening—”

Shinzo crossed her arms underneath her breasts but held a small, teasing smile. "Less talking, more reading, scholar."

“Yes yes, of course.” I expected nothing less from a former shrine maiden of Kogitsunemaru. The information she has collected is precise and organized for my viewing pleasure. Let's see... “‘Rumors of Free Supplies’, ‘Monster Dens’, ‘Locations of Unexplained Suspicion’, ‘Possible Rogue Hideouts’...”

“Take a look at the first heading you mentioned.” Shinzo tilted the papers down and pointed at a few items under the header. “‘SSS Goods’, ‘Odyssey Elementary School’, the ‘Public Markets’—they have similar stories that emerged in the same timeframe: a group of saints who decided to donate their stockpiles for free.”

Alma hummed inquisitively and read their summaries thoroughly. “So if I’m understanding your implications correctly, Shinzo, you’re suggesting these ‘saints’ have ulterior motives behind their generosity?”

“That might be connected with the bombings, that's exactly the point I'm getting at. In an isolated environment, it’s not suspicious at all. But I’ve heard the same story too many times, at the same time, and at a time when generosity wouldn’t necessarily manifest in the right conditions.”

She's absolutely correct. I'm not as well-versed in human psychology as she is but even I can notice a pattern in these details. A worrying pattern, indeed. “I’m convinced. I’ll begin my investigation with these saints first. While I have you here…”

Alma quickly flipped through the pages to see if he had any other questions but none of the entries enthralled him. All except for one underneath ‘Miscellaneous’ on the very last page.

The top entry was named ‘Cognitive Hazard’ which detailed: There are reports of a cognitive hazard in Lower Dawns around Raksha Avenue that is activated through sight. Any subject who has viewed the hazard described it as ‘an ordinary building you’d see anywhere’ and that ‘it’s been there forever’, but none could use specific terms about its physical appearance. They insisted that nothing anomalous is occurring.

Subjects who maintained visual contact with the hazard will experience a sudden onset of anxiety after five seconds. The anxiety will rapidly increase in the seconds after, accumulating into a sudden need for the subjects to flee the area. After thirty seconds of maintained visual contact, subjects will be compelled to self-harm (scratching, biting tongue, etc) in increasing intensities until they finally look away.

Once visual contact is broken, all subjects immediately have a strange disinterest in the illusion regardless of its effects. They seemed to lose some memory of the event. Those who have physical scars (from attributed self-harm incidents) will either be confused about their origins or display an odd detachment.

They can only recall spotting, again, ‘an ordinary building you’d see anywhere’ and insisting that nothing strange is happening, displaying a dispassionate desire to investigate the hazard further.

The hazard has affected even A-Rank Slayers. The effects seem to be permanent.

All attempts to neutralize the illusion have failed. They have confirmed that no matter the medium of visual perception (e.g. remote surveillance via UAV, surveillance skills such as Blackviper’s [Night Assassin’s Vision]) the effects will manifest and they will be forced to retreat and lick their mental wounds.

The following have failed to neutralize the illusion: anti-illusion skills and devices, anti-demesne skills and devices, anti-magick skills and devices, conceptual skills and devices, explosive ordinances—basically everything under the sun. Mental resistance items have failed to protect our people.

Not once did the hazard retaliate. Because the hazard does not seemingly pose an active danger to Ordo’s security, the commanders in the area have decided to leave it be and warned civilians and any personnel to avoid the site.

After reading the summary there was a strange elation filling Alma from the bottom-up—the thrill of a mystery to solve. This wasn't the first time that he had encountered a cognitive hazard and he was torn between discovering more and avoiding them completely. The danger they posed could not be overstated enough, yet for that very reason he wanted to pick them apart piece-by-piece. Hazards like these were one of the scariest creations within the multiverse, and the most intriguing.

He bit the inside of his cheek to prevent an unsightly smile. “A cognitive hazard, isn't it? Reading between the lines, I believe it's most likely a defensive mechanism for a demesne located in the same spot. Really though? It's amazing how I wasn't notified of its existence earlier. It went completely under our radar."

Shinzo nodded and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “I was surprised too. I've heard about the hazard just the day before from a Lieutenant that was stationed there. Since no one has cracked the case yet, I thought I'd hand the files over to you. But the bombings come first, Alma. Then, you can solve this mystery.”

“Of course, I won't be negligent with my responsibilities.” Alma neatly stacked the papers together. “I’ll message you if I need any further details.”

Shinzo said her goodbyes and left for her medical station where no doubt she had tens of patients waiting for her.

Alma returned to his workshop and analyzed the locations underneath 'Rumors of Free Supplies' that Shinzo had emphasized earlier. There, he'd found SSS Goods to be one of the distribution sites of Carn's Apocalyptics, using the notion of charity to spread OBDs throughout the borough.

Afterwards was a cascade of events which would eventually lead to Operation Wolf Prowl.

Righteous Jin Tiehan had tasked him to perform further analysis and mark additional distribution sites, plus other delegations to provide intel for the field operators. It wasn’t arduous—he'd accomplished far more difficult things and in worse environments—and with several pots of coffee, he finished everything within hours and also managed to give Althea Shen her new Lightning Spirit, Shandian.

Warning her about Jin Tiehan.

Now he had free-time to investigate other pursuits, at least until the Vice Guild Master gave him more things to do.

Alma grabbed hold of his stained coffee mug and drank the rest of its bitter contents, thinking out loud, “Let’s see… I’ve completed my preparations for the upcoming operation, so I ought to finally investigate the hazard.”

Excitedly, he rolled his chair over to a table he'd mentally designated as 'Storage' and plucked three sheets of paper from the top: the list that Shinzo gave him. He read through the hazard's details again.

“Let’s see where this leads us," he said to himself.

Alma channeled his mana.

[Skill Activation: Automatic Scroll Transcription]

In front of him manifested a pale scroll that would automatically transcribe anything he said.

He said rapidly and clearly, “Title: 'Investigation of the Raksha Cognitive Hazard'. Upon visual perception of the cognitive hazard, two phenomena are observed: one, believing it is an ordinary structure that has existed before the outbreak; two, adamantly defending its supposed mundane state; and let me correct myself, there is a third form, producing enough anxiety to ward off any potential dangers—even to the point of self-harm.

“Despite this, the cognitive hazard does not showcase any hostile intentions to Ordo. It has a low likelihood of being a Slayer's handiwork because, well, I would love to meet them and pick their mind on how they managed to produce such cognitive effects. Such complexity, then, must be attributed to a third-party. A monster, an enemy perhaps.

“According to Shinzo’s summary, the hazard has resisted various neutralization measures from anti-demesne to conceptual attacks, which leads to my understanding that this has to be a very high-grade formation. Especially since it has affected even A-Rank Slayers.

"I theorize that the hazard is a defensive mechanism belonging to a demesne located in the same area, but that is merely a preliminary hypothesis before I begin my proper investigation. In order to observe the anomaly, I require mental resistance items although Shinzo had stated that such things are ineffective. But it's better to go with than without, praying that my status as an S-Rank Slayer can provide me with enough natural resistance."

Alma thought about the options before sighing, standing up. “I will visit Catalyst and the weaponsmiths as they have the equipment I require. Pause transcription.”

Alma raced to Yatsar’s and Thunderstrike Hammer’s hanger where they were currently manufacturing their superweapon using the [Godslayer Claymore], Gigantomachia's signature. Strewn on the ground, parts and mechanisms haphazardly littered their workspace in varying stages of completion. However they were far along enough where the general picture was clear.

They were making an artillery cannon.

Alma had to physically pull Yatsar to the side and asked him for the [Cognitive Protection Headgear]. He'd created a set last year due to an expedition that had monsters who attacked via cognition.

He dug one out of his [Inventory] and handed it to him.

Next was Catalyst. Alma knocked on the door of her personal demesne, causing her to shout profanitied. Alma explained his case and within a couple of minutes, a [High-Grade Mental Resistance Potion] popped into his hands.

He smiled and bowed his head. “Thank you, Catalyst—”

“Get out.”

Returning to his workshop, Alma drank the [High-Grade Mental Resistance Potion] and put on the [Cognitive Protection Headgear], a metal cap empowered with at least a dozen enchantments.

“Resume transcription,” he said, rolling to one of the counters and pulling out a bulky laptop. “Let’s pray that these high-grade items will protect me. Activating and taking command of Yatsar ML-8 Carrion over Lower Dawns near Raksha Avenue.”

Made by Yatsar, the ML-8 was an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)—a drone—designed to survey and perform tests over large areas through special sensors and devices. Alma had relied the Carrion throughout the week, allowing him to remain in Grendel Arsenal without going out and conducting tests himself. There were a few exceptions but the ML-8 made things spectacularly efficient.

Using the cameras, he searched the streets for the anomaly in question—

Alma slammed the laptop shut and tore off his [Headgear], went flying. It banged against a rolling utility cart and knocked into an open toolbox, spilling its contents over the floor in a concert of banging metal.

Sweaty hands, heart racing, mind fumbling.

In the brief second in which he spotted the demesne, in that spot where an ordinary building would be, he was witness to a thousand bulging eyes suspended, isolated from any whole body, twitching and convulsing and darting like a swarm of locusts. They were looking for something, looking across the entire city. And then, in unison as though they shared one mind, the bloated pupils creaked across the disgusting whites of their scleras and witnessed him from beyond the screen.

And in the second after, he was looking at an ordinary building you’d find anywhere within the city.

“...Eyes,” he said, shivering. “Eyes. The mental resistance I’ve accumulated has barely prevented me from completely falling for the cognitive hazard. I’m experiencing a heightened sense of intense anxiety and existential fear, so let me repeat this again if I forget it: eyes. I saw eyes.

“Eyes. Where has that symbol been significant before? Eyes, eyes, eyes…” Alma shut his own eyes and began thinking while his heart was still racing. Then, he opened them and felt warmth in his head. “Pereyra. The Lesser Watcher.”

Alma leapt from his chair and ripped a picture from Storage. A picture of the Lesser Watcher in its true form. “Pereyra’s true form resembles a satellite with hexagonal plates. In each plate, it appears to show a hole of infinite depth with walls lined with eyes. Eyes, the same motif I've uncovered in the hazard—the demesne. The same eyes that I've spotted. Only a cosmic entity could produce such a potent thing.

“Why? If this demesne has a relation to Pereyra, it would’ve been destroyed unless maintained by a third party. Third party? The rest of the Sungrazers. The demesne, however, requires an active user because the structure itself is not ‘alive’ in most cases. Who is controlling it? A Sungrazer? No, they're commanders so it has to be a minion. For what purpose? A siege on Pillar Dawns—no, they abandoned that objective. They want to destabilize the city—”

He paused.

“Nothing is a coincidence.” Alma opened his personal laptop and accessed his spatial distortion research, projecting it on the table. “‘Find the hidden connections between the stars and there you will find glory.’ That is what you said once, Master Alzahrani.”

Alma excitedly exhaled and fetched his coffee mug but found it empty. He cursed and put it down, going over his research once more. “The bombings were perpetrated by Carn’s Apocalyptics. Carn has not been found despite extensive tracking and surveillance efforts; with our methods, his continued evasion is downright impossible and could only be explained through his collaboration with the Kreutz Sungrazers!

“Thus, in order to evade capture, Carn has been put in Pereyra’s demesne and quite possibly inherited its powers! That is his true base of operations! I need to…!”

Right away he began further research.

***

“Oh?” Jin Tiehan read the transcription of the Raksha Cognitive Hazard, an eyebrow cocked. “I was wondering why your tools were scattered over the floor here.”

With a foot, he motioned down at the clattered toolbox on the ground, lightly kicking a few screws underneath the rolling cart.

Alma nodded, drinking what was certainly his hundredth coffee for the day. “Yes, I was excited. But in regards to the report, I am not one-hundred percent certain that this is guaranteed to be Carn’s whereabouts but this would answer many of the questions we have.”

“A hypothesis,” said Jin Tiehan.

“A hypothesis that I am very confident in, yes.”

“They haven’t confirmed if Carn is in Gnosis Facilities—the base of operations for his men. But yes, regardless if Carn truly is in the demesne or not, anything potentially related to the Sungrazers—even tangentially—warrants a thorough investigation.” The Martial rolled the report and tucked it into his robes, once again artificially smiling. “Thank you for your work—”

“No, Shinzo's the one who initially informed me of its existence,” Alma told. “Without her reporting, we wouldn't have known about it."

“Shinzo?” Jin Tiehan canted his head but then nodded. “Ah yes, Shinzo. Have you told her about your discovery?”

Alma shook his head.

“I see. The last time I intruded, she was, what you would say, swamped with patients so I would not personally bother her. Please conduct further research without jeopardizing yourself to the cognitive hazard. I will inform the others about the discovery and see where it takes us.”

“Yessir.”

Despite what Alma thought of the Perfected Cultivator, the child cultivated from even before his conception, he genuinely believed that despite Jin Tiehan's innate shortcomings as a human, he would stop at nothing to ensure Ordo’s security and the lives of his comrades. That was the creed of Slayers around the world, really.

Slayers were taught these things from the moment they emerged into greater power. They were taught the value of companionship. Of their comrades and allies. They were taught the beauty of the world. To protect their home through the deaths of monsterkin. Never would a Slayer turn their blades against their own people, to bring destruction instead of prosperity, and nor would they pursue a ravaging path of power.

Of course not everyone adhered to these principles and those who stepped too far from the path was rightly punished. And from this ethnical deviancy was Jin Tiehan, a direct creation of a compromise in morals. But Master Jin Junjie was as intelligent as he was ambitious. His son was taught to value the world.

In his own way.

And yet…

“Shinzo,” Alma asked her as they were on the ground, watching as the Graylord’s SMVs circle and soon enter Gnosis Facilities’s airspace, “who will be tackling the demesne we spoke about earlier?”

“The demesne?” she questioned, confused. “What about the demesne? Did you solve it?”

“Yes?” Slowly a great anxiety ate away at his stomach, more powerful than what the Raksha Cognitive Hazard had given him. Like a plant, it began as a seed then flourished, feeding off his spiritual pain. “Of course, I’ve—!”

Someone squeezed between them, a swirl of brown and white hair coming into vision. Catalyst. “Stop chatting and focus on the operation. The sooner we can get this done, the faster I can return to Grendel.”

Alma grabbed Catalyst by the wrist. “But—”

"Are you going to be a problem, Saloumi?" a woman’s voice boomed inside his head as though God was speaking to him. But this was not God. This was evil and this was a threat.

Frantically he searched for the source, then like cold water pouring over him, his gaze dropped to the woman glaring at him with a fury found only in the harshest tundras. She batted his hand away.

Catalyst turned to Shinzo and engaged her in a conversation about the OBDs with none of the anger she manifested before. An excellent yet frightening display of theatre, a skill that Alma didn’t realize she had.

"Guild Master Jin didn’t discover anything substantial with your lead," she told him as she simultaneously entertained Shinzo.

"Is this…" Alma countered using the same communication technique, "…Is this why Guild Master Jin pulled me here at the last moment, informed me what was happening so negligently late? What in the Lord’s name are you planning with him, Catalyst?!"

She countered, "I advise that you put your energy into ensuring the operation’s success, Saloumi. In these times, your end might come suddenly like it had with Archknell. Unlike Glory Guild, we will find a fitting successor.

"You’re a smart man. You understand."

Alma, against his better wits, turned and walked away in a stumble. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t calm his steady heart.

Righteous Jin Tiehan was worse than any monster, he told Althea this. Righteous Jin Tiehan shouldn’t be fully trusted, he told her this. As long as the destination was abundant with providence, there was no road that he wouldn't follow.

Master Jin Junjie was a brilliant man beneath his desire for perfection, and for that reason he was ignorant to the monster he'd created. Worse than any demon. Worse than any Nemesis.

Everything Alma had told Althea was learned through personal experience, from watching that man attain power effortlessly and endlessly.

And in Alma’s child-like assumption of which he projected onto all Slayers, he made a mistake that would have disastrous consequences.

He foolishly believed that Jin Tiehan considered himself to be a member of humanity.

***

It’d been three hours since the search for Fragment Carn began. The Graylords, Duskheads, and Baptists were tearing through Dawns building-by-building, room-by-room, searching for Pereyra’s demesne. Nearby forces had joined and despite their combined efforts, they did not discover the cognitive hazard just yet.

Yet.

In those three hours, Fragment Carn had observed Ordoian troops and fired upon them through windows, resulting in over a couple dozen fatalities already. More wounded.

Seraph had tasked Alma to locate the demesne but he knew the endeavor was fruitless. After all, he already found the bloody thing in the first place! But what could he do while oppressed by the perfected tyrant?

What was taking him so long to complete his objective? Him and Catalyst? And Blackviper, his sidekick. They provided themselves the best opportunity to do whatever they want, so why haven’t they finished this operation by now?

As Alma sat in a little corner of a room in a makeshift operational base, staring at a laptop screen as though he was in university again struggling to write his essays, a cultivator strode through the open doors with his high ponytail swaying during his stride.

He discovered the pitiful sight of the Scholar Journey and had a smile which possessed a glimpse of sadism, purchased through vile schemes.

“Alma,” said Righteous Jin Tiehan, “have you discovered anything pertaining to the Fragment?”

He said nothing and stared down at the keyboard.

“Alma?” Jin Tiehan stepped forward sounding so concerned but he knew better. “If you are exhausted, please drink a [Stamina Potion]. Even high-rankers have their limits.”

"Why?" Alma asked him directly into his mind. "By allowing Operation Wolf Prowl to continue, you have killed two dozen men and women already. Once they discover your treachery, you will be arrested—"

"You are not an illogical man so please refrain from making unfounded presumptions." He opened his System and seemed to scroll through his messages, but that was an act to not look unnatural.

"Why? Why did you purposefully conceal my findings with the others? Is it because of Conqueror—?"

"Oh, please. Conqueror is a separate objective. My motivations have always been selfish." Jin Tiehan’s sadistic smile was revealed cutting teeth. "I simply saw an opportunity and took it."

The answer dawned on Alma. His blood turned cold. "You’re trying to seize Fragment Carn for alchemical purposes. That’s why Catalyst is siding with you. Nothing good will arise from using cosmic matter as mere ingredients in a potion!"

"Have Master Alzahrani taught you that? As far as I am aware of, this is the first time in world history that we have a biocosmic matter available for research. There is no precedence for you to fear."

"So why haven’t you accomplished your goals and put an end to your scheme sooner?"

"Because the demesne is harder to penetrate than anticipated." A small chuckle left the cultivator. "I am not omnipotent, after all. I have been diverting manpower away from Raksha Avenue but it is only a matter of time before it is discovered. Catalyst has mostly given up on the endeavor, especially after being shot at numerous times by Carn."

Alma audibly scoffed. "Why have you sought me out, then?"

"Because I require your tongue." Jin Tiehan did not. "Tell them that you have discovered the demesne. The others have resources that Catalyst and I lack so tell them. Tell them and you will gain praise from the city, and my father will personally reward you."

After the scoff came a laugh. It felt like years since Alma last laughed. "I'm not interested in material things. And even then, what am I supposed to say?"

"What you have found." Jin Tiehan glanced around to ensure that no one was watching them. "Do not think, Alma. Any other issues will be my responsibility. Speak and your worries will disappear."

Ah, that was it. This was another opportunity for Jin Tiehan; he was a master at capitalizing on these moments, being able to recognize multiple avenues of success. Here, what he wanted was obvious: Alma’s submission. To fully subjugate a Journey, bringing him into the dark folds of Martials Guild with Catalyst and Blackviper—and his father.

"If I refuse?" he challenged.

"Can you?"

Could he? No, his spirit had conceded this battle from the second the scheme was uncovered. He could’ve informed Seraph but didn’t, could’ve informed Milkor or Conqueror or even Shinzo but neglected to. All he had to do was activate the System and send a single message. And he couldn’t. Typing a single letter repulsed him and paralyzed him with disgust. Towards Jin Tiehan, towards himself.

What a selfless decision it could’ve been.

But Alma realized he was far too self-interested to bring himself to press ‘SEND’. Of all the horrors lurking in the multiverse it took a single man with a simple scheme to have him see this: he instinctively treasured his own life and career more than the world.

If this was Alma’s natural instincts, then what did that say about him?

"Alma?" Jin Tiehan inquired, knowing his tongue had spilled blood.

“I—“

“The demesne has been located,” said a man through the radios. “I repeat. Pereyra’s demesne has been located.”

Alma muttered, “Conqueror…?”

“It is a cognitive hazard found on Raksha Avenue. I repeat, we found it."

Jin Tiehan hissed a chuckle; for the first time it seemed he was genuinely annoyed. He placed his hands behind his back, fingers tense. "It seems your god has given you mercy, Alma. Please rest. You deserve it after your work."