The next day...
Reluctantly because of Sterling's pleas, Nyx was forced to set up camp near this…abyss. The code name that Sterling had given it upon discovery was The Abyss. After they had set up camp, everything had become unusually harder. The air felt as if they were moving through an ocean of sand, the food began tasting like rusted iron and they always felt pressure of their body as the abyss had separate gravitational field.
Suddenly, a chaos fragment ruptured the nearby space. Analyzing it with their meta glasses, the enforcers realized it was an Alpha-class fragment. Nyx immediately launched an attack, using her shadows to crush the beasts and rip them apart. After a few minutes of this, Amelia sealed the rift using her magic. The rift shook violently went the seal stuck to it but eventually, calmed down and vanished.
Nyx slumped into her chair, dark circles tainting her beautiful blue eyes.
'Can't I get a bit of rest…'
She had been up all night with Amelia since the magician of the UEOC was utterly useless in the situation because he couldn't seal the Delta-class fragments that spawned. Amelia rubbed her eyes, her hair ruffed and hands dropping.
'This is the worst…'
While the enforcers were going through hell, Sterling and the other scientists were having a fun time researching the abyss. Non-chaos incarnates weren't affect by the abyss for some odd reason.
"Oh Jolly! This is amazing! The gravity is 0.7 times stronger here…but why aren't we feeling it?" He questioned in excitement.
Charles puffed his cigar. "Perhaps it's caused by the chaos? Maybe we can't feel it because we aren't chaos incarnates?"
"A possibility – yes but there could be another reason." Sterling replied.
"Like?" Charles questioned as another researcher rushed between machines behind him.
"Maybe the gravity is because of the abyss. The abyss has large amounts of chaos unseen in humanity history…well, except for seventeen years ago." Sterling inputted something into the super-laptop.
"That just means my previous assumption is correct." Charles pointed out.
"Is it? Really?" Sterling thought for a moment. "Oh, yes. You are right. My apologies."
"It's okay. Half of our theories are wrong anyways."
The two researchers laughed heartily.
"Anyways, let's get back to our work, shall we?" Sterling asked.
"Of course!" Charles stated.
***
Matthew, Josh and Nolan stood close the abyss but not near the edge. Cold sweat slipped down their face at they stared into the moving darkness that filled the rupture.
"Maybe we shouldn't do this…" Nolan whispered into Josh ear.
"Oh, shut it. I'm already stressed as is. I just want to look at something that puts me at ease." Josh replied in a raspy tone.
"This darkness puts you at ease?" Matthew chuckled.
"I know you're not the talking." Josh hissed.
Matthew curved his lips inward. Josh clicked his tongue and continued to look at the darkness. Feeling an urge, they stepped forward, approaching the edge.
"Guys…" Nolan halted beside them. "I don't think we should approach this."
As they stood on the edge of the abyss, Josh stated in a solemn tone.
"If you're so afraid, then why don't you just step back? Huh? You damn hypocrite."
Nolan shut his mouth after that but would soon regret not following his gut feeling. Suddenly, the darkness rippled. The enforcers eyes widened as a ghostly skeleton-like figure with rags covering his half-body emerged from the abyss. Impulsively, the stepped back but it was already too. The ghostly figure rushed at Matthew, entering his body.
The lieutenant general's pupils disappeared; his consciousness slipped from his brain as if another person was taking control.
"What the heck was that?!" Josh exclaimed, stepping back.
"Matthew! Get back!" Nolan shouted.
The two looked at their captain but he didn't respond. Instead, he slowly turned around, a massive dark aura covering his body. Immense fear took hold of them as they unsheathed their blades at the same time as Matthew.
"Hey! Can we get some help?! Our lieutenant general is acting weird!" Nolan shouted, turning behind to call out the other enforcers.
His voice reached the enforcers who saw the situation. Confusion was the first thing they felt but after Matthew slashed at Nolan, shock. They began running towards them. Josh was the second victim as his shoulder was cut by Matthew. When another slash was about to finish him off, another enforcer got in the way.
The man had silver hair, blue eyes and hung a three-star insignia on his chest – Arthur.
He pushed the katana away and rushed at Matthew. He got behind him and kicked him forward. The rouge enforcer was caught in a hold by Harvey. Maple knocked his sword off his hand, catching it easily. Matthew started to growl as his mouth bubbled. Eventually, Harvey chocked him into unconsciousness.
Then, he let him go. Harvey caught Matthew on his arms and placed him on the ground. One thing was clear that this was Matthew. All of them could see the massive dark aura flowing around the lieutenant general.
"I just got discharged and this is what I have to deal with…" Arthur muttered as he sheathed his katana.
"The more important to ask is what happened to him." Maple stated.
"We'll figure that out." Arthur replied. "Hey! What are you waiting for? Get the two injured people to the paramedics!"
The enforcers flinched and took Nolan and Josh away. Arthur sighed and waved at Amelia to come over. Amelia blinked in a daze and slumped over to her captain's side.
"So…? What do you need from me?" Amelia yawned.
"Figure out what's wrong with him." Arthur ordered.
"My brain's fried…ask Major or something." Amelia replied.
"…" Arthur paused for a moment.
He knew the other option – Major but he was debating whether to call him or not.
"Captain." Maple called out.
Arthur snapped back. "Yes?"
"You can call Major. It's okay." Maple stated as if she already knew what Arthur was thinking.
Arthur smiled sadly.
'I'm really a bad leader, aren't I? Putting enforcers to work two days after their friend died.'
"Major!" Arthur yelled out in a soft tone.
Major lifted his head and approached his captain. Arthur raised a brow, noticing that he looked better than before.
"Are you feeling, okay?" Arthur inquired.
"Yes…I've somewhat gotten over Elke's death…besides that what did you call me over for?" Major smiled with sadness.
"…Check him out." Arthur pointed at Matthew.
Major's eyes widened as he saw the lieutenant general's body.
"Is that…the demon's aura?" He questioned.