The Abandoned building with the mechanism
When the abominations started to attack, just like with City Hall, Sloane had put up a barrier on the building. That was why, the two werewolves who came with Mackenzie and Kayden, were still safe from the attacks from the abominations.
Mackenzie, Kayden and Priya appeared within the chambers with the mechanism.
"Thank goodness you're all safe" one of the werewolves said
"We heard some explosions going off" the other werewolf said
"That was the doing of these two" Priya said as she gestured to Mackenzie and Kayden. "Thanks for getting me here, Mackenzie" she said as she let go of Mackenzie's hand and walked towards the mechanism at the centre of the room
"Not a problem" Mackenzie said as she let go of Kayden's hand
'Rosco won't be happy to find out I've been holding Mackenzie's hand' Kayden thought with a sigh
"Leave the rest to me" Priya said as she professionally operated the mechanism
She was pushing certain buttons and flicking some switches, which left everyone else in confusion.
For a while now, Priya had been studying her ancestors' books on the mechanism and processing each of the information she came across in the books. It got to a point where it felt like the mechanism almost seemed to have been built by her.
Priya flicked a switch and several screens showing all six locations of the tunnels appeared. A small hole where the crystal was to go, suddenly opened up. Priya placed the crystal in the hole and the whole mechanism lit up.
"Look at that" Kayden pointed at the screens "The pillars are collapsing"
When everyone else in the room as well as their team members who were outside of the building saw the phenomenon currently going on, they were all confused....all except Priya.
The pillars of light were in fact, falling in a strange way. However, as it fell, the ground shook while it lit up in the same bright yellow colours as the pillars.
Moreover, someone like Sloane and Mackenzie, who had a bird's-eye view of the whole town, could see that the light was spreading around the whole of Greenwood Springs, stretching all the way to the ending of the small paradise that separated their artificial island from the next town.
Once the light spread all the way to the very edges of the artificial island, the light grew like walls which wrapped the whole place in its bright yellow light before creating a film over the sky. Once the whole of Greenwood Springs was completely wrapped in the bright yellow light, another pillar of light struck down from the film in the sky, on the abandoned building.
"This is crazy" Timothy's voice rang out in everyone's head
"In our world of magic, I'd say this is completely normal" Sloane said
"Priya, this is supposed to happen, right?" Nathan asked
"Yes" Priya said as her eyes glowed before she touched the pink crystal pendant she had placed in the keyhole. "Lock" she said as the crystal turned and the bright yellow light turned into a bright pink colour.
******
Northern Tribe
The Imperial Palace
Leon Michelle was sitting on the throne in the castle with a crude expression on his face as he tightly clenched his fists
"Tch. It's another failure" Lucifer said, while in the body of Leon "I must meet with the mastermind who's been putting a damper on all my plans. That bastard has been making me look like a damn clown" he yelled as he slammed his fists on the throne.
******
A little away from City Hall
Sloane smiled as she watched the pink light fade and the newly installed barrier on their artificial paradise seem non-existent.
"Priya, was it successful?" Sloane asked, despite knowing the answer herself
"Boy, I'm drained" Priya said "However, without a doubt, it was successful" she said and cheers erupted through the telepathy
"Honestly, I'm suddenly starting to enjoy this" Sloane said
"War?" Nathan asked
"Nope" Sloane said as she put away her weapons. "It's just, I never knew revenge would feel so sweet" Sloane said as she stared at the sky. Another inch of her blonde hair turning a beautiful white colour. "I don't know why, but just imagining the expression that asshole is making right now, really raises my spirits" she said
"Honestly, if all of my plans literally ended up buried underground, I wouldn't be happy either" Timothy said
"Isn't that what makes the expression more priceless?" Priya asked
"Well, enough of that. Thanks to that light, the remaining abominations were cleared up" Sloane said as she began to walk back towards City Hall "It's time to honour the aftermath of our victory. Finish up where you are and meet me at City Hall" she said as she cut the telepathy
'I'm gonna enjoy burying you, you little imposter' Sloane said 'You'll definitely pay a hundred fold for all the pain you've caused me and my people all these years'
******
City Hall
The townspeople had been feeling the tremors from the fight going on outside of the building. However they made sure not to make a sound; just as they had promised Sloane.
It got to the point that, as the battle prolonged, they were gripped by fear and their legs couldn't hold out so, they all resorted to sitting on the floor and any available place of sitting.
"Why the hell did this have to happen during our generation?" Sarah asked while looking at Jake
"I'm more curious about something else, Sarah" Jake said
"I can guess what you're curious about, but that is highly impossible" Dian said "Even if Priya is with them, I'm sure that she isn't like them. I knew her mother the longest and she was pretty ordinary"
"Sloane Michelle and the Connor family were also normal" Irene said while shaking. The woman was clearly spooked by the happenings around her. "At least, that's what I thought until a few days ago, when strange things started happening. Now that I've seen it with my own eyes and heard things that can't be unheard, I can't even begin to imagine how many humans in this building are not what they say they are"
"I get what you mean, mum" Jake said as he glanced at Eric and Norman who were calmly having a conversation with each other by the door while the building continued to shake
Suddenly, the tremors stopped and for a while it seemed like everything was over. Eric and Norman stopped talking to each other and stood up before Norman went ahead to unlock the doors.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Someone yelled in fear
"What does it look like he's doing?" Eric asked back
"Eric, you're going to get us all killed" Dian said as he stood up "You can't act recklessly just because you're the Mayor's grandson"
"Ah. I forgot to announce this, but it seems like now is the best time" Norman said as he unlocked the doors and dropped the key on the floor "From this moment on, Greenwood Springs no longer exists" he said with a smile as cracks began to appear on the ice dome
"What's that supposed to mean?" Irene asked as she and the rest of the crowd stood up
"You can ask the owner of the land we currently reside on, about that" Eric said as the ice dome completely shattered before disappearing "Because, it seems like she's done on her side" he gestured towards the doors of the building.
Norman pushed open the doors before stepping out of the building with Eric following after.
"Damn, it's freezing out here" Norman said as he continued further away from City Hall
"She probably casted a heating spell on the inside to keep us warm" Eric said while staring at the town "But it's clear now, we definitely can't keep living here...unless we have a death wish"
"What?" Sarah let out as she ran out the door to take a look at the town "What...What is this?"
Curious, everyone in City Hall rushed out of the building only to be met with a disastrous sight. Many of the buildings were beyond recognition, there were some black blood splatters here and there, as well as several bodies laid out on the ground.
'A war between monsters is scarier than I thought' Jake thought
"I think I'm gonna be sick" Owen said as he clutched his stomach before looking at Norman "How can you act so normal when such a scene is in front of you?"
"I've seen a lot of dead bodies" Norman said "Especially the bodies of foolish teenagers who entered the forests. Well, what was left of their bodies" he said calmly
"Were things really this bad?"
"If we had stayed in town, wouldn't we have all died?"
"What do we do now?"
"Mayor, please tell us what to do"
"I'm no longer the Mayor. Just another ordinary citizen" Caesar said "Although, now that it's come to this, it would be best to head into town and salvage what we can" he said sadly "As you can all see, this town isn't safe anymore. The Princess has only promised us safety for five days and then, we all have to leave this place. Gathering important documents, money, rations and clothes will be sufficient"
"Is that all you can tell us?" Dian asked "After everything we lost? You're telling us to pack up and start all over again in another place? Didn't your family make deals with them in the past? They are meant to protect us"
"Yes. That's exactly what my grandpa is telling you" Eric said "Our ancestors already sacrificed their futures for this town, Mr Rodrik. They fought for a land that wasn't even theirs for centuries and were just freed from that burden today" he said "However, Sloane showed us some grace and is planning to protect us for five days. If we refuse to depart after five days, whatever happens to us has nothing to do with her. The contract is already over"
"To top it all off, Sloane isn't obligated to protect any of us" Norman said as he took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips. "The mighty queen who massacred thousands of demons and also owns the land we've been living on like tenants, was never obligated to protect us" he said as he lit his cigarette before placing his hands in his pockets, and walking away from City Hall "I for one, am already sick of this town. The time you all have to be listening to nonsense, you should use to pack up your stuff"
"Honestly dad, I'm tired" Jake said with his head lowered "Eric, I think it's about time I thank you for what your family has done for us. I'll be packing up my stuff if you need me" he pat Eric's shoulders before leaving
With that, the crowd of people gathered at City Hall began to disperse and Dian could only grit his teeth as he left with the rest of the Rodrik family.
Eric stood in place as he watched everyone leave City Hall. His grandfather had decided to take a seat on one of the steps in front of the building as the old man let out a sigh.
"I'll head home and pack up our stuff. Can you wait inside, grandpa?" Eric asked with a small smile
"Sure. Go ahead" Caesar said "I can't move much anyways so, I have nowhere to go"
"I'll be back" Eric said before leaving
Caesar stared at the cloudy sky and he had a saddened look, as he thought about his past
"I really don't know how we'll continue to live after this" he mumbled as he let out a cough 'I was born here, got married here, had kids and even had raised my own grandchild here. I somehow understand how Dian feels' he thought as he soon went into a coughing spree and his hand was covered in his own blood.
"So, this is how everything ends" Caesar said as he slowly shut his eyes and he could feel his body getting weaker 'Ah. I should have said my goodbyes to Eric while I had the chance. Roxanne, my darling wife, it seems like I'm coming to join you soon' he thought, as his body suddenly dropped to the snow covered floor.