Aeterna - IC

[wonderweiss]

The asaassin was pelted with rocks and fell to the ground with a thud, but not before muttering an order.

"... Men... ASSASSINATE!!!"

One of the assassins used their powers to completely muffle his footsteps and knocked Otori out with a poison rag. Then he grabbed the body and put it aside.

"Now men, FIRE!!!"

The assassins fired a barrage of bomb knives. Then came the bad part.

"NOW!!!!!"

The low-frequency noise turned immediately into a high-pitched blast. It was so unbearable, the pelted man's fate was sped up and he died on the spot. After which, the one carrying Otori took off. Now there were only three left.

"Go go go! Find a fire mage and kill them!!!" All charged forward.

[Kilelicus]

Everbloom Forest - 9:13 AM

Phenom took a moment to familiarize himself with the locations of the remaining assassins before looking back to Jason.

"HEY JASON! WATCH AND LEARN! YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE ONE OF THE MOST FUN TRICKS SPEED MAGES ARE CAPABLE OF!"

Phenom pulled back his arms, as though he were loading cannons. His first target was one of the soldiers to his left side. His body spun to align with the target and his right arm fired outward at hypersonic speeds. His arm shattered the speed barrier and generated a directed sonic boom that plowed into the soldier, likely crushing him with the force. The recoil caused his body to slide backwards, which helped with his second attack. One of the soldiers to his now-rear was the next target.

Phenom brought his arm back fast enough to swing his body back in the other direction. This was followed by his left arm firing another sonic boom at the second target with equally devastating results. He left the final soldier to Jason, since his body was too exhausted to do anything besides dodge the incoming bombs and prevent the sound waves from impeding his motion

[S121]

Everbloom Forest - 9:13 AM

Jason sped up his neural impulses, increasing his reaction time and slowing down everything down. Using Phenom's method, Jason then sprinted straight for an assassin and performed a supersonic strike that looked to be an imitation of a baseball swing.

The weight of the sword plus Jason's strength, plus the supersonic speed of the swing caused the blade of the Chainsword to go completely through the assassin's torso, creating a loud boom and sending both parts flying through the air.

"How's that?", Jason asked Phenom as he avoided more explosive knives.

[wonderweiss]

The last one alive was close to death. The noise stopped.

"... *cough*... You all... You're not getting anywhere... With u- *cough*... Damn... I never really... Wanted this... I just wanted support... I was homeless... Then he got me... I owed my life... To him..."

[Kilelicus]

Everbloom Forest - 9:14 AM

Phenom waited for the soldier to finish speaking and die while he caught his breath. When the soldier breathed his last, he looked at Jason.

"That works... well enough.... haaaaaaa.... I... really need to rest... for a second..." Phenom huffed "I've been using... my speed... too much..."

Phenom sat himself down. "Just give me a second to catch my breath.... We'll rest for a second and then head to Adhibe... We that Otori guy can wait... if we charge into Regius immediately, we'll... well... we'll just be mowed down..."

[wonderweiss]

The assassin laid there. Then he sent a message to HM.

"... Commander..."

"Yes? What happened?!"

"I'm sorry... but we've failed you... the offenders... they killed us off... But... we wore them down... and..."

"And what?!"

"... we... captured the target... we fulfilled that end... of the mission..."

"... you... all of you... you did well. Rest easy. You are dismissed from your duties."

"... Thank... you... comm... an........ der......."

The assassin then died. Meanwhile, the other assassin carrying the merchant had finally reached Regius.

"My apologies. Do not take this personally, but the questioning room is to be secret."

The assassin then put a poison rag to the merchant's mouth, knocking him out. Then, in the town infirmary, the assassin was being treated. HM rushed in.

"Quickly, give me a report!"

"Yes sir." One of the healthy soldiers said. "The staff in the center was a bomb, sir. It was nothing but a mere hindrance. It was set to explode after it moved. Unfortunately, number 32 was the victim here. The other six went on fighting."

"I see. Well, I'll be taking my leave now. It has caught my attention that one more assassin has taken off because they have captured a target. Please, get better soon."

HM exited the infirmary. Damn! Squad three was one of the best ones! Oh, nevermind that! Sidna can take care of them, next. Or perhaps Vox. Either way, I cannot risk sending another squad just yet.

He headed to the questioning room to meet the merchant and eventually, Otori.

[Kristia]

Everbloom Forest

Kris was sick of the never ending assaults, so she pulled up the tired Phenom and looked at him "You will tell me what you and Tyrus have been killing yourselves for, an emperor wouldn´t go against one man just because he is the leader of a rebel group, unless you two are direct family, which is a theory I have, there must be an important reason for that" she said.

The huntress was about to ask more questions, but felt the fire magician move on her back "There will be spies in Adhibe, and you two can´t go on speed magic forever, so we are going to the mountains, I got some outposts hidden in the many areas, and don´t worry, only a madman would try to venture through them" she explained already tracing the route in a mental map

Picking up her arrows, Kris looked at the group "Our time is gold now so I suggest you to follow me and do as I say, the wilderness is full of misteries for humans" she said and handled them some herbs "some medicine if you get poisoned or paralyzed, just in case." she said walking through the forest towards North

[S121]

Everbloom Forest

Jason put away his now crimson Chainsword and spoke as he ran after Kris.

"What about Seki? She needs an actual medical professional. Can you honestly tell me that there will be a doctor on the way to the mountains?", Jason asked Kris in a serious tone as he walked backwards in front of her.

[Kristia]

Everbloom Forest

Kris looked at Jason "I got medical supplies in my outposts, I didn´t survive out there just by myself, there are people who went back to their roots and live as tribes, many of them have doctors or shamans as many called them in the outside world, they are trustworty, but let me warn you that their people are the first thing they care for, so we must respect their choices" she countered

Moving through the forest path Kris explained, I don´t know about you, but I lived most of my life in the wilderness on the outside world, there are things technology can´t do and in this virtual world we lost almost if not all of the technology, thats why many people died in the first months when the empire surged, but there are tribes around all Aetherna, the ones who may know about it can be counted with one hand including myself, if it wasn´t for them, I could have lost my life sometimes" she explained lifting the clothing of her right arm showimg many scars from slashes and burns from both animal and human causes

[Kilelicus]

"The mountains are far too close to Regius, if you ask me, but if you say they'll stay out, i'll take your word for it." Phenom said as he forced himself out of Kris's grasp, "as for your theory, its unfounded. The only family i have left is my little sister and she... Well... She's trapped in the Void thanks to him. As for why he waged war on me down in Spera, i dont know myself. It as as if there was something there he wanted..."

[Kristia]

Everbloom Forest

"Well then, our first outpost is over there" Kris pointed to a fisure in a rockwall "Inside of it lies a series of caves, we can shortcut the mountain and find the first tribe in a matter of hours, inside the caves is my outpost, there we can gather supplies and treat Seki, there is and thanks to your speed magic I can deal with her injuries properly so she can atleast be able to live, then we can go to the tribe and get her fully back" she said tracing the map

First was the fisure, then passing through it were many caves in a laberynth crisscross with a rock as the outpost, finally there was the village inside the mountain

[S121]

Everbloom Forest

Jason was upset that Otori was taken so easily, but knew that they had to keep moving.

"Well, I'm ready to go. Are we still using speed magic? I can still keep going. All I ever need is at most, ten minutes of rest to fully recover from even the worst strain. Are you ready to speed out of here?", Jason asked Phenom in a calm tone.

[Kristia]

Everbloom Forest, into the fisure

Kris walked into the fisure and heard Jason´s idea of speed magic "You can use your magic, but im not responsible if you get lost into the laberynth and starve" she joked while letting the darkness engulf her persona as she walked into the cave

Looking through the many paths, the huntress touched the walls and felt the many surfaces, rubbing each of them with her finger and tasting them, she looked at the group outside the fisure "If you are ready, follow me" she said

[Major Mario]

Everbloom Forest (@Kris and the group)

Sounds of shuffling grass and brush reached the rag-tag group's ears. While the forest was host to many creatures big and small, it seemed that this one was larger and more uncommon than any of the others. The animal did not move carefully, nor did it seem to belong in this area. It snorted and whined before emerging from the brush and coming into view of the group. There it stood silent.

It was a packmule, and it was laden with an assortment of above-average quality armor and weapons fit for adventurers of all stripes. The stubborn beast flicked its dark ears as its tan body quivered. It seemed that the mule was without its master, or perhaps it had escaped? The chewed-through reins around its neck seemed to support the latter, but the mule looked distressed. It looked over at the group and lowered its head to snort before trotting over to them at the cave entrance.

(( Support Character Added: Bob the Packmule. ))

---

Unknown Interrogation Room (@Wonder)

The poison was enough to knock Eric Reynard out cold. He hardly groaned a word of disapproval. In his state of pain, being knocked out was a godsend. He would rather be knocked out than feel the blood run down his limbs and over his burn wounds...

[wonderweiss]

There was the merchant, laid in a health room. He was being treated for all of the wounds that had occurred to him. At the same, HM had finally arrived.

"Give me the report."

"Yes sir. I found this man near the explosion. He may most likely know what happened and, if lucky, who did it."

"I see. Well, for now, you are relieved of your duties. Unfortunately, half of the group is wiped out, and it would be too risky to send squad 3 without proper replacements. Go, make use of your time."

HM handed the assassin 5000 dollars.

"Sir, I... I don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything." He said with a smile. "Just go and live your life. And remember, if you ever get bored, then know that A. we will find replacements as soon as possible and B. the training squad is always in need of assistant trainers and demonstrators."

"Yes sir."

The assassin walked out, went to the changing room, and hung his uniform. HM stared at the merchant.

"... speaking of replacements... it would take some effort to survive a blast from that range."

He walked out of the infirmary.

"... perhaps I might find one really soon. Nurse, notify me when the patient wakes up. He should wake up within a good few hours."