Chapter 539: Sealed Zone (1)

“There was an incident where over thousands of people were massacred without any warning signs.”

Inside the Kurbas Multi-purpose Gravity Dam’s inner gate, in a conference room, Keegan spoke, projecting a hologram onto the wall.

“Investigations into the cause of death confirmed that all victims exhibited identical symptoms of high fever, seizures, and delirium. We realized that severe radiation exposure was the cause.”

A map of Vulcan’s central district was illuminated through the hologram.

“The area where the exposure occurred was Sector 25. It was designated as a restricted zone along with Sector 19, among the very first.”

“Are you saying the Kurbas Dam was built to prevent radiation exposure from Sector 25?”

Keegan nodded at Felix’s question.

“Mana particle radiation exposure is difficult to detect, and because it accumulates in the body, it takes a long time to recognize its severity.”

“…”

“However, by concentrating the water resources of the 20-series sectors, it’s possible to dilute it to a level harmless to the human body.”

“…That’s a dangerous story.”

Felix said with a disgusted look.

“If this fact becomes known, even the Elder Council wouldn’t be safe.”

Keegan agreed with Felix’s words.

“If this fact were disclosed to the public, a few city council members might have to step down. But that’s all.”

“…”

“Decades have passed, and the interests surrounding the Kurbas Dam are so intricately intertwined that it’s hard to tell who should be held accountable anymore.”

Even if this issue were made public, who would dare to stop this massive multi-purpose gravity dam and claim to solve the problem of the restricted zone?

Just stopping the dam to briefly check on the radiation issue would halt half of the water supply facilities in the 20-series sectors.

The financial losses incurred during that time would be truly astronomical.

No one wants to step forward knowing that, nor do they want to take responsibility.

Especially knowing that this massive city is riddled with countless festering problems like this.

“Academia has concluded that it’s virtually impossible to artificially induce mana particle exposure.”

Ilya, who had been listening quietly, continued.

“Mana particles, which provide stable and efficient energy to living beings, require enormous investment just to decompose or extinguish them.”

“…”

“Mana particle exposure is something that’s difficult to harm the human body even with prolonged exposure to decomposition processes… For such a phenomenon to persist at this scale for decades.”

Ilya’s eyes glinted sharply as she looked at Keegan.

“What kind of experiments have been conducted in Sector 25, exactly?”

“…Let’s get back to the main point. The problem is that mana particle exposure has been getting stronger in recent months.”

“…”

Keegan spoke, his face slightly hardened, glancing around.

“At this rate, it wouldn’t be strange for harmful radiation particles to leak into all the water supply facilities in the 20-series sectors.”

The possibility of highly harmful radiation particles, beyond dilution by the dam’s water, directly flowing into the water supply of the 20-series sectors.

The resulting human casualties and financial losses would be immeasurable.

“The higher-ups suspect that a runaway phenomenon has occurred at the particle power plant located in the deepest part of Sector 25.”

Keegan continued.

“Therefore, your objective will be to enter the restricted zone, find the power plant, and eliminate the cause of the worsening exposure.”

“Specific location of the power plant?”

At Felix’s question, Keegan immediately had his attendants hand out something.

A blurry, distorted satellite image. The quality was so poor and the data so old that it was difficult to discern shapes.

“This is a photo taken via spirit satellite just before Sector 25 was designated as a restricted zone.”

“Terrible quality…”

“Fortunately, Adamant Thunder seems to be able to detect the concentration of mana particle exposure to some extent, so finding the way shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“You’re saying that if you hadn’t recruited Van, the difficulty of this mission would have increased significantly?”

At Ilya’s sharp observation, Keegan couldn’t retort and gave a bitter smile.

“Isn’t it true that in operations like this, the presence or absence of a wizard determines success or failure?”

“…”

At such a perfectly reasonable counter-argument, Ilya fell silent.

Honestly, it was obvious that even combining all of Ilya and Felix’s power and worth couldn’t catch up to Lennok alone.

Everyone present understood the value of a high-tier superhuman, especially a wizard who had completed and surpassed their Hierarchy through pure spellcraft.

“There should be more parts that need explanation.”

“Yes?”

Lennok’s sunken gaze turned towards Keegan.

“The dam’s location is Sector 22. The restricted zone is Sector 25. Even if we assume a straight line from the closest point, breaking through is difficult due to the barriers blocking the sectors.”

“…”

“According to Lucinder, the bio-code can only function for about an hour. We’ve spent about 20 minutes on travel and briefing, so we need to reach the entrance of the restricted zone within 30 minutes.”

Without waiting for Keegan’s reply, Lennok tapped the table.

“Considering what you mentioned earlier about ‘launching,’ it seems you want us to be ejected above the restricted zone and drop in… So before that, we need to reach the launch pad or ejection port.”

In the quiet conference room, only Lennok’s voice resonated.

“The fact that you haven’t mentioned that until now means there’s a hidden circumstance or secret regarding the location or function of the launch pad itself.”

“…A high-level wizard’s intuition is truly amazing. You’ve already figured that out?”

Keegan gave a wry smile and snapped his fingers, and simultaneously, his attendants began piling military equipment next to the table.

Clank, clank!!

Suits and gas masks similar to what others wore, as well as firearms, mechanical devices, communication equipment, and auxiliary gear.

Keegan spoke in front of the attendants who swiftly distributed display transmitters, tracking devices, and communication equipment to the four people.

“What I’m about to tell you now must be kept strictly confidential. It’s also why I’m telling you this last.”

As Felix flinched, Keegan’s face hardened.

“Inside the restricted zone… there are still survivors.”

“…Survivors?”

“We don’t know who they are or what their purpose is, but traces of their survival undoubtedly remain.”

Keegan lowered his voice and quietly whispered.

“And for some reason, the Senate has council members who periodically send food aid vessels for them.”

“…”

“This is the only means of bringing anything into the restricted zone at this point. Other methods are administratively, physically, and magically inaccessible.”

Listening to Lennok’s words followed by Keegan’s explanation, everyone finally fully understood the operation.

Board the food aid vessel, have the bio-code recognized by the restricted zone’s barrier, and enter.

Find the particle power plant inside the zone and eliminate the source of the exposure.

While others remained silent at the absurd difficulty of the mission, Keegan began connecting a display transmitter.

“The Kurbas Dam’s underground shelter routes are connected to military secret facilities, which include the island where the food aid vessel launch pad is located.”

“…”

“To activate the aid vessel, you must simultaneously occupy and breach the military positions guarding the launch pad from four directions.”

Keegan, who personally attached Lennok’s display transmitter to his chest, said.

“Manipulate four different control panels at the same time to activate the launch pad and board the aid vessel.”

That peculiar gaze, half old man and half young man, quietly met Lennok’s eyes.

“I will take full responsibility for cleaning up the aftermath.”

The conference room, now empty of the four superhumans.

A tense silence hung in the space where dozens of attendants still remained.

The sound of swallowing, pounding heartbeats, and rhythmic beeps mixed together, creating a strange melody.

Beep, beep, beep…

Amidst the beeps, someone quietly asked.

“Will it be alright?”

“What do you mean?”

One of the attendants was staring intently at the conference room wall with a worried expression.

“Even if we consider the other three, there are signs that Adamant Thunder recently suffered a major injury.”

“…”

“I heard he has difficulty moving without a life support device. Isn’t the condition too bad to carry out this mission…?”

Regardless of how powerful and great high-level wizards are, they are still living beings who die if their brains and hearts are damaged.

Even if a spellcaster excels in areas other than combat ability, they inevitably face solo action in such special operations.

That underground shelter route leading to the island where the food aid vessel launch pad is located. The private military soldiers of the Senate guarding that path.

Dealing with them alone isn’t the only problem.

“Considering the environment of the shelter route, we should have combat-capable attendants follow them right now.”

The underground shelter route is strong against external impacts but considerably weak against internal impacts.

If high-powered magic or techniques are indiscriminately used in the narrow, dark tunnel, the entire passage could collapse, and they could be buried alive dozens of meters underground.

Ultimately, they would have to reach their destination using mana that won’t damage the tunnel, or precise techniques, or robust physical strength.

In this regard, isn’t Adamant Thunder virtually a superhuman in the complete opposite condition?

An extreme situation where success is not guaranteed, even if he continuously repeats one-versus-many battles through his own combat abilities and localized mana manifestations.

No matter how many unrealistic achievements Adamant Thunder, the wizard from the shadows, has accumulated, can he perform at his true ability under such conditions and environment that suppress his power?

But Keegan, before answering, turned his head towards the wall where the other attendants’ gazes were directed.

“…Krod Azlan didn’t say anything about it.”

“…”

“The other team members also made no additional comments regarding Adamant Thunder’s well-being. It’s not something we should intervene in.”

The four screens displayed on the conference room wall quickly moved, and deafening gunshots and explosions began to echo consecutively.

Kwooosh!!

The four screens landed almost simultaneously on the ground and sprinted at different speeds.

Their movements indicated an assault on the missile launch pad at the center of the island, where the food aid vessel was located, from four different directions.

=How did outsiders infiltrate here…!!

=They are criminals invading the restricted zone, subdue them immediately!!

Tatata-tatang!!

As the island’s area was not small, the number of soldiers guarding the four directions leading to the launch pad easily exceeded several hundred in each quadrant.

As they were guarding a classified area directly related to the restricted zone, all the soldiers were considerable mana users.

They had support from firearms and rushed in without fear of close-quarters combat using mana.

The display screens of the superhumans, split into four, began to tremble slightly before the full-scale battle began.

Just as the other attendants were about to watch with tense expressions.

[There’s one fact I’d like to confirm before boarding the aid vessel.]

Lennok’s calm voice echoed in the conference room.

[You said the purpose of the food aid vessel was for the survivors who might still be alive in the restricted zone.]

“…”

[But the senators I know aren’t that merciful or compassionate. Unless they’re using such a pretext to hide their true objective.]

“…The existence of survivors in the restricted zone is a fact verified through various circumstances.”

[Is that so?]

Lennok chuckled.

[Are those circumstances because you, Supervisor Grimes, are one of those restricted zone survivors?]

“…!!”

Keegan said nothing, but the faces of the other attendants who served him undeniably turned pale.

[Your unique appearance, a mix of youth and aging. It was too alien to be an inherent constitution or a chronic illness. It seemed very much like an artificial disaster.]

“…”

[If the phenomenon occurring in your body is related to the exposure, I can somewhat guess what’s happening in there.]

“What do you wish to hear?”

[I just want an answer to my conjecture. There wouldn’t be another chance to ask if not now.]

“That’s a question beyond what I can answer.”

[I’ll wait until we’ve occupied the launch pad and activated the aid vessel.]

Clunk!!

At the same time, a heavy metallic friction sound came from beyond the screen.

[Take your time to think about it. It should be enough time for you to change your mind.]

“What exactly does that mean…?”

Keegan tried to answer, but then stared blankly, mouth agape, at the image projected on the conference room wall.

Unlike the other three screens transmitted through their devices.

The scenery on Lennok’s transmitter was changing completely.

Fizzzzzzzzzt!!!

As he hurled lightning from thin air, a soldier rushing out of the darkness plunged his head into the brilliant light.

Thwack!!

A headless corpse spurted blood where its neck used to be.

It wasn’t a one-time coincidence.

When he flickered flames at his feet, a superhuman who had sprung from the shadows burned alive.

When he raised the muzzle of his revolver above his head, they would, as if waiting, expose a vulnerable vital spot and get shot.

Every time the colorful radiance of mana, extending from his fingertips, illuminated the dark underground shelter route.

The soldiers, instead of avoiding its trajectory, rushed in as if begging for death.

The moment he grasped the opponent’s speed and position, he would predict their next movement and preemptively cast magic there.

He would seize the breath of the moment just before, so exquisite and precise that they couldn’t possibly avoid the pre-cast magic, leading them to their death.

A perfectly piercing and overwhelming offense and defense, so complete that even superhumans with reactions beyond human speed couldn’t see and react.

Even the attendants, who were watching together through the display, were speechless, staring at the screen.

“Thi-this is…”

“…”

An overwhelming predictive ability, transcending the speed of perception, akin to precognition.

This wasn’t a realm that could be explained by tactics or pattern analysis.

It was combat intelligence solidified into a single ability, repeatedly combining and calculating countless intuitions, judgments, experiences, and movements.

“Is this how a high-level wizard views the world…?”

Someone among the attendants muttered blankly, perfectly embodying the feelings of the others.

Even while directly observing, they couldn’t share that moment. They understood it with their minds, but couldn’t accept it in their hearts.

Even knowing he was a living, breathing human like them, every move and judgment emanating from his mind and mana had already crossed the boundary of life.

Thump, thump, thump!!

The lightning and flame magic, blooming with his will, never missed a single moment.

Like moths drawn to a flame, like madmen charging headlong into death.

The superhumans, rushing madly towards the brilliant mana Lennok unleashed, died with absurd ease.

The hand wielding and manipulating mana moved infinitely slow and leisurely.

But the speed at which humans died beyond the transmitter was fiercely and violently changing, as if grinding people.

Ka-ga-ga-gak!!

=Arrrgh!!

=Why, why aren’t you avoiding it! Hold on! Hold your position and maintain formation!!

=Im-impossible…!! From the beginning of the assault, he’s perfectly read- ack!!“

The superhumans guarding the passage weren’t just thoughtlessly charging at Lennok.

Instead, they were desperately trying to retreat, buy time, maintain formation, and hold out until their numbers accumulated,

But even such minor movements were forced into a gap, their bodies turned, their heads burned, and their bone marrow extracted.

The movement of mana dancing at the wizard’s fingertips had already transcended even the understanding of other superhumans.

The moment the battle of wits and psychological warfare began, he grasped all patterns with the first move and, conversely, dismantled the opponent’s mana.

Like foreseeing the future and grasping the opponent’s throat to cast them into death, fragments of electricity flashed, scattering countless bloodstains throughout the passage.

An unrealistic offense and defense, as if transcending the timeline, foreseeing and guiding others’ conclusions one step ahead.

The other three were also breaking through the shelter route, unreservedly demonstrating their truly unrealistic combat abilities.

But the combat Lennok displayed wasn’t even a fight of matching strength and speed with an opponent, facing death.

Death falling continuously like flowing water, countless corpses collapsing one after another as if choreographed by his gestures.

Beyond that, a path opened like parting waves, revealing the control room.

Thump!!

The massive shape of an island visible beyond the control room’s glass wall, the rocket-like form of the food aid vessel at its center.

And before that aid vessel, a grand barrier dozens of meters high.

The only passage to enter Sector 25 was right there.

A hand, visible on the display screen, grasped the button on the control panel without hesitation.

Only then did Keegan regain his senses, pressing the communicator and shouting in alarm.

“You mustn’t activate the control panel yet! You have to activate the devices dropped in all four areas simultaneously to unlock and open the barrier’s gate…!!”

[You promised to handle the cleanup.]

“…Yes?”

Beep!! Beep!! Beep!!

Simultaneously with Lennok’s reply, red warning lights began to flash in the conference room where Keegan and the attendants were located.

[Warning. Accessing system control authority of Kurbas Dam facility…]

[Permission for forced control intrusion granted. Underground shelter route security system forced shutdown.]

[Southern shelter route control authority forcibly ejected. Three types of identical access authority linked, forcibly ejected.]

Lennok had linked the Kurbas Dam’s system with the aid vessel’s security system simultaneously, forcibly hijacking the security of the other three locations as well.

Lennok had no intention of waiting for the other three people from the start.

Thwack!!

The firmly closed control room door swung wide open, and the path leading to the aid vessel extended directly beyond it.

At that moment, when Felix and Ilya’s figures began to become visible at the ends of the other three shelter routes.

The dozens of meters high barrier in front of the aid vessel wriggled, then slowly crumbled, revealing the scenery beyond.

The sight of the barrier blocking the restricted zone sinking into the ground.

As Keegan stared, mouth agape, at the sight, only Lennok’s voice echoed from beyond the display.

[Door’s open. Entering the restricted zone now.]