Meanwhile, as Rin and Ms. M were devoured by the earth and taken to their destination…
The Newtons finally arrived at Forbidden Blood after learning about their son's sudden disappearance during the reselection.
"So, what can I do for you, Mr. and Mrs. Newtown, on this lovely Friday?" Vice President Calvin asked calmly as he glanced at the parents of Isaac Newton.
"You know why we're here, Calvin, so stop with the pleasantries and tell us what happened to our son?" Mr. Newton spat angrily as he tried not to let his emotions take over and cause him to punch Calvin in the face to wipe away that annoying smile of his.
Fortunately, even though Mr. Newton was furious about the whole situation, his wife helped calm him down by gently holding his hand and giving him a reassuring smile that said everything would be okay.
'Isaac... just where are you, my son? Hopefully, everything is okay, and we will be able to see you soon.' She thought with worry as her eyes trailed the room, seeking answers to a question that couldn't be fulfilled.
"Sigh, it seems... um, you guys have already received the news," Calvin said softly as he could resonate with how the Newtons felt in the moment, following the sudden disappearance of their son, Isaac.
During a match under the eyes of a prestigious academy that not only wielded vast wealth but also power beyond understanding. Nevertheless, even with all that, they still couldn't stop or prevent a student from being kidnapped or worse, killed underneath their noses.
Swoosh! Crack! Thud!
"Calvin! Enough with this pointless chatter and tell me where my son is!" Mr. Newton shouted with unmasked rage and sorrow as he sprang out of his seat, grabbed Calvin by his shirt, and pinned him against the wall of his own office.
"JAMES!" Mrs. Newton screamed in shock and terror as she tried to stop her husband before he did anything drastic.
"WHAT SABRINA? AREN'T YOU WORRIED ABOUT OUR SON'S WELL-BEING AS WELL! WHAT IF HE'S-" said Mr. Newton as he gazed at his wife, before suddenly pausing in fear as sweat dripped down his forehead.
"Don't you dare say it, mister," Mrs. Newton said slowly through gritted teeth as tears began to swell in her eyes, which she tried to keep at bay, yet couldn't as tears poured down her face like a faucet that would not turn off.
But while she was sad at the possibility of her son's death, she was also angry at the audacity of her husband to even think for a second that their son might be dead.
"Sorry," Mr. Newton muttered quietly as he released his grip on Calvin once he realized he may have gone too far. "Nevertheless, could you please tell me where my son is, or at least what happened to him in detail, Vice President Calvin?"
He said tiredly as his earlier anger dissolved, replaced by the anxiousness of a father desperate to find his son before it was too late.
"Of course, sir, just give me a moment to bring up the footage and the evidence I've collected surrounding the situation," Calvin replied as he fixed his clothes and sat back down, before immediately getting to work.
"Thank you, and I do apologize for my earlier conduct, as it wasn't right of me to take out my anger on you." Mr. Newton said after a moment of realization with shame, while his wife smiled with a gentle nod.
"Don't worry about it, Mr. Newton, as I would probably act the same way in your case."
"Thanks."
***
At the same time, as the vice president recounted Isaac's disappearance to his parents, backed by video evidence of the incident, Rin and Ms. M finally reached their destination.
Swoosh. Thud.
"Damn, couldn't we have just taken an elevator or something to get here instead of falling into an abyss of darkness? Only to learn that it was just an illusion, which altered your perception of time for those who entered," Rin complained as he fell from the sky and landed in the city square of the hidden city within the small mountain.
"Pfft! Relax, Mr. Kurama, it was only a 1000 ft. drop, and what would be the fun in that?" laughed Ms. M, once she noticed Rin's annoyed face as he grumbled something in disbelief while glancing around at his surroundings.
"But anyway, welcome to Iron City, home of the strongest fighters and guardians of Forbidden Blood! Now, while I would love to give you a tour of this magnificent city and its various wonders, Mr. Kurama, I sadly have work to do. Which means we must hurry up and drop you off before the night guards arrive at solitary confinement. So, chop-chop and let's get this show on the road."
Mrs. M exclaimed as Rin just blinked twice before sighing and going along with her to wherever cell AX3 was, as they left the city square of Iron City and headed deeper into this hidden fortress.
Bypassing a collection of gray buildings inscribed with runic sigils and fluorescent glyphs, illustrating a city connected to the future yet held in the past.
A city built on purpose yet lacking a soul... for while it resembled fireflies in the night, during the day, it was but a singular mass of gray. Not black or white, just neutral gray like a beast that devours everything and leaves nothing behind, not even remnants of what once was here.
'Now, just what was it that Uncle John said I needed to unlock my Seven Celestial Stars and form a Star Body again?' Rin thought before remembering the white cubic glyph he discovered in his mindscape, following Uncle John's ascent before his 15th birthday.
"Mr. Kurama. Mr. Kurama. MR. KURAMA!" Ms. M said repeatedly before shouting his name in frustration and annoyance at being ignored.
"Hmm, yes?" Rin asked in alarm as he looked up at Mrs. M, after losing track of what he was thinking about.
"... sigh, just why do I even bother?" Mrs. M muttered before repeating what she said earlier to the inattentive Rin. "We arrived at our destination, buddy."
"Oh, so what now?" Rin asked as they stood before a rundown and conspicuous black building on the outskirts of Iron City.