Thea debriefs Sirius on the condition of the eerie city, Thea and her party had managed to clear up the third floor which is where they are at now. With the help of Adam and Anna, they scouted the area amd the Calamities on the third floor before clearing it. All of the calamities are Fallen, no Seed or Usurper.
"It's been long since we first entered the Abyss and cleared the third floor, maybe a few weeks? It surely would've helped if our phones work or if the skies would change. The sun doesn't rise so we have no way to count how long it had been. Back to the topic, the cathedral where the Gate brought us into didn't have any sort of Calamity nor were there any in the woods."
"What about the two headless statues? Anything irregular you guys found about it?"
"No, Adam and Anna used their Runes and it seemed like the two statues really were just statues."
Thea reassures Sirius as he nods before thinking over what she had informed him. They have no idea how long have time pass by around here. Humanity also doesn't know much about the Abyss, only that it isn't in the human realm and that it's always brimming with Calamities.
The only way back out of the Abyss is to find another Gate, since going back to the Gate they entered through is impossible.
"Moving on, when we decided to scout over the second floor. It is quite different from the third floor. On the third, the Calamities were moving individually. But on the second floor? They started moving in groups. We analyzed their movement patterns, where they went and what they do. We planned to pick them off one by one but it seem like these ghoul Calamity could sense when one group is being attacked."
Revealing a surprising information, Sirius nods before realizing that what happened when they first met as a look of realization fits his face.
Thea, noticing his reaction nods.
"Yes, it all led to that. We suspect that the ones on the third floor was like that too. But since they travel either in ones or twos. At most three, we could pick them off in one fell-swoop. But if its in groups..."
"Not only that but if you make a large move to kill them all — provided that you can — it would alert the others I assume?"
"Yes. We have yet to test whether if we isolate the group further away and attacking them in one fell-swoop but from what I gather. A few meters would instantly alert the other group that they are being attacked."
Sirius nods before suddenly, an idea popped up in his mind, though, he wouldn't it past her to already know how to advantage of the current situation.
"I assume you already have a plan?"
Thea smiles and nods, before quickly following up.
"Yes, at first we planned on subtly baiting them to an area by doing things such as making sounds or throwing stuff to guide them to where we want... But now that you're here, we still will be baiting them but in a different way. That is if you're okay with it."
Sirous nods, knowing what she is planning as she explains to her team more specifically.
"Everyone may not know this but remember when I said that Sirius used to be in my father's team?"
The party members nod, as Thea follows up with her explanation.
"Sirius has a unique Rune that allows him to gather mana and explode it, even when he was a Seed. So by doing so, he became one of father's party member back in the day to lure Calamities by gathering mana to bait Calamities."
Sirius thanks her in his head as she doesn't explain past that, indulging about his past experience when he first couldn't control the mana output from autonomously absorbing and releasing mana that he couldn't control.
Cassian probably had told her stories of his achievements with his party, which includes him. Maybe he had told her about him? Not to sound cocky or thinking himself of someone super important, but since both he and Thea are of the same age, Cassian may have told her about him.
"Though, the Rune doesn't allow me to actively use it. Like strengthening my body or using Blessings to activate its active enhancements."
Sirius quickly follows up as Thea nods at him before taking over the lead.
"So, we will be using the same plan that father used to with him. We will bait a group further away and then kill them in silence if possible. Now added with one more manpower, I'm sure this will all go fine."
"But as always, remember to stay vigilant. Especially so in the Abyss, never think that you're safe from the danger. For all we know a group of Fallen or worse, a Usurper is currently spying on us. Always think that the situation is at the worst, never relax."
Sirius adds, turning the atmosphere a bit grim as Anna sighs before suddenly speaking.
"Got it boss! But still, let's not talk about that out loud shall we! We've been in here for long without any sort of entertainment so it would really put our morales down to the mud here if you say something like that..."
Anna spoke with a chuckle as Sirius blinks a few time before nodding.
"Sorry."
Anna shakes her head before smiling and telling him it was fine. Following up, Sirius looks at Sol.
"Right, Sol. You're a healer right? How do you heal and to what extent?"
"I can only heal by touching the direct body part and stop the bleeding and increase the speed of regeneration for the body part to not at least get worst. I can heal minor scratches but for major ones I can only do what I said before. I also can't heal further than that."
"Mmh.. okay, first I need to request something from one of the guys and then from Sol."
The others nod as Sirius looks at Chad, Adam, and Yuki.
"Does any one of you guys have any spare pants? It might be a bit uncomfortable for Sol if I unsummon my armor right now. I'm only in my boxers."
As Sirius reveals that, everyone blinks a few times before Chad's eyes squint.
"Now that you mention it Sirius, that armor looks like a bodysuit with scales acting as your skin... But still, that looks cool on you, so... approved! Anyway, so you're only on your boxers? Is it because the armor is a full body?"
Sirius nods awkwardly as Chad nods back with a smile.
"I have a spare pants, here."
Adam said, unpacking a bag and throwing the pants, a green army cargo pants. Sirius nods before thanking him and going out of the base and looking around the base.
Going inside an alleyway, Sirius unsummon his armor.
Back inside the base.
"Lady boss! Can you tell me more about that guy?"
Anna asks, raising her hand like a kid in the school. Thea stays silent for a while, contemplating before finally speaking.
"I can't really tell much about him, and if I do know a lot about him, you should ask it personally to him. Not from me telling you more about him. But I can tell you a bit."
Anna pouts, her smily delicate face turning sad as Thea said so, but not until the last sentence as she perks up a bit.
"Father said that he was reliable. Despite the fact that not every mission ends in success and sometimes failure, every one of their missions, him acting as a bait always succeed."
Thea takes a break, thinking back upon the words of her father. It really seemed like he respects Sirius a lot...
"In addition, if things do go awry, he would always improv and cooperate with Father to compensate for the others if they made a mistake or something went wrong. We have yet to see his capabilities, but if Father told me the truth, everything will go a bit smooth-sailing at least."
Thea crosses her arms as the others nod, Chad meanwhile speaks up once more.
"Well, one needs to be able to do that much if they're called the First Generation. Otherwise we all wouldn't be here."
The sound of a door creaking resonates through the base as the others look at Adam before nodding.
"It's him."
Bare footsteps echo through the base as Sirius walks up to them. The darkness hug him, covering him in the shadows, but his light blue eyes could be seen visible in the dark.
Slowly, the moonlight starts to shine on him, lighting his figure. Green army pants with the hem hugging above his ankles, shoeless feet. A makeshift black cloth wraps around his left chest with blood staining the cloth.
Some blood dries up on his fine skin, his torso marred with old scars and a flat bruise right on his chest. On his forearms, two raised bruises change the colour of his skin. All in all, his body is a paint of blood, scars, and bruises.
The others could only stare in shock and worry, after all it's not a common occurrence to see a teenager with their body like that.
Sirius, a bit slow on the uptake simply walk up to the group before looking at Sol. Walking up to her, he kneels down in front of her as he look right at her eyes.
"Sol, I'll be taking the cloth off. This one is a recent one, the one from the snake I told you. Well not from the snake but from my fight with it. Anyways, I'm a bit shy so close your eyes. I'll guide your hand to my wound and you use your Runes to heal it, okay?"
Sirius speaks, as if there's no penetrating wound and bruises painted on his body.
Sol could only blink a few times before nodding and closing her eyes, confused but she follows his words.
Sirius smiles before unwrapping the cloth that is covering a gaping hole on his left chest right underneath his collarbone. It was quite lucky that the spike that penetrated his chest narrowly miss his heart and lungs.
Otherwise he might not have made it.
The cloth comes off as the air slice his skin, the air flows through the hollow part of his body as blood spurts and start dripping down. Sickly mess of flesh could be seen on the hole, a picture of gore.
"Close... your eyes..."
Sirius says in between hisses, his hand gently guide Sol's to his penetrating wound. Feeling the gentle fingertips, a yellow glow that radiates warmth touch him. The warmth spread through the wound on his chest.
He could feel flesh and bones knitting inside his body, the bleeding start to stop as the wave of nauseous slips from his mind. The process happened for a few minutes, soon after, the wound closes. Though the bones that recovered were pretty weak, it is still better than nothing.
Sirius tries to move his left hand, although it is still a tad hard to move, sluggish and akim to moving his hand inside a pool, it moved.
"You can open your eyes now."
Sol opens her eyes slowly, her red eyes opening to see Sirius clasping her hand on his chest with a gentle smile aimed at her, like an older brother's.
Letting go of her hand, Sirius stands before sitting back to where he was. He lets out a sigh as he position his arms on each leg, his head is cast down, eyes closed before opening them back.
"Sorry but, can we take a rest? 30 minutes would do if that's fine with you guys? I'll be rest up after that."
"No, no, it's fine. We were planning on taking a break for a few hours, we were getting sleepy anyway. Rest up."
Thea replies as Sirius blinks a few time.
"Got it, I'll watch over after 30 minutes of sleep."
"Ah... well I can tell the others watch over, Adam could do it first. You can just rest meanwhile."
"Got it. Adam the first 30 minutes and then me."
"Ah.."
Thea could only watch as Sirius summons his red sword and then laying it down next to him. His right hand grasp the hilt while he close his eyes, sitting as he sleeps instantly.
The others watch him in silence, with Chad speaking up.
"Well, we don't really need someone to watch over now do we? There's no more Calamities left, and Adam could confirm that."
"The man's been on the first year when Calamities were here and there. I guess it had been a routine, a habit for him to assume to watch over now that he returns to the battlefield. Habit dies hard."
Adam speaks in return, as Chad lets out an understanding sound. Thea then looks at Sirius before sighing.
"Well Adam, watch over us for the next 30 minutes okay? He probably will wake up exactly after 30 minutes."
With that, everyone starts to rest, either sleeping or looking over their Blessings or personal things.
Right when 30 minutes pass by, Sirius wakes up and see Adam sitting with his eyes open. Aware of his surroundings as he notice Sirius waking up.
"Damn, you really woke up 30 minutes exactly."
Sirius, now rested and feeling his body lighter than ever, could only tilt his head.
"That I did? What's wrong with that?"
Adam laughs before walking over to Sirius and tapping his shoulder.
"No, nothing. Well, I'm resting now. Tell us if you spot anything weird or dangerous."
Sirius nods as he carry his sword and walk to the corner of the building where light doesn't shine, seeing that everyone is resting, he takes off the army pants and summon [Boidae Shell]. The feeling of the armor hugging onto him feels comforting, Sirius smiles in satisfaction before walking back to the campfire and folding the pants and putting it next to Adam.
Sirius reel his left arm back and forth, feeling the effect even better now. Sol's regeneration speed effect truly work wonders.
Sirius walks outside the base and look around. Looking at the building and to the ceiling, an idea pops up in his mind.
'I could do that right? Let me try...'
Sirius activates [Stellar Force], stellar mana slowly forms the shape of stairs. The blue staircase scales up the wall of the building. Sirius could feel the mana in his soul rapidly burning. Climbing up quickly, Sirius reach the ceiling and let the stairs fade away.
Sitting on the ceiling, Sirius sighs before looking over through the whole city. After everyone is rest up, they will have to start their plan.
'Thinking about it, we didn't collect the Souls from the Calamities we fought before right?'
Sirius thought, should he go back down and collect the Souls? No, he shouldn't, he is currently on watch duty right now.
Or maybe... he could ask Adam to watch for a bit longer?
Currently, a lot of things is in his mind. First after one reach the Evoker class, one needs to build or incorporate mana vessels into the body or one can incorporate mana directly into the blood vessels.
One is longer and harder to build, while the other is the risky one and dangerous for the longer run but more powerful.
Second of all, farming the Souls on the bridge, he would need a bag to collect them all.
Third, watching over everyone and making sure no threat sneaks up on them.
Contemplating on it, Sirius sits cross-legged and close his eyes.