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 PEOC 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.
***
Outside, the forcers were…dying on the inside. Their breaths became heavy, cold sweat dripped down their faces as an unusual pressure pressed them. Matthew, Josh and Nolan were sitting onto ground, meditating. The unease and pressure combined with the recent death of Frank had made their anger climb. To calm down, they began to meditate.
"Don't think of anything just nature…" Josh whispered.
The others released a slow exhale, then filled their lungs in the same manner. They focused only on the sounds of nature and their minds began calming.
Suddenly, the darkness within the abyss rippled as if it had finally sensed the presence of the expedition team. From within the abyss, A ghostly skeleton-like figure with rags covering his half-body emerged swiftly. The ghostly figure scanned its surroundings being unnoticed by the stressed enforcers. Eventually, it locked onto its closet prey – Matthew and rushed at him.
Josh and Nolan opened their eyes, feeling a strange presence nearing them. They spun around and saw the ghost rushing at them. The figure entered Matthew body in the next second. 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!" 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.
"Matthew…?" Josh muttered. "Matthew…?"
"Hey! Can we get some help?! Matthew is acting weird!" Nolan shouted, turning behind to call out the other enforcers.
His voice reached the enforcers who saw the situation. They were confused at first but when Matthew slashed Nolan, their confusion turned to 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 and placed him on the ground. One thing was clear that this was not 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.
"Fired from what?"
"From staying up all night to seal chaos fragments because the only other magician was killed." Amelia sneered.
"Alright – alright, fine…" Arthur sighed.
"Yeah, right…" Amelia turned around. "I'm heading back to my spot."
Arthur sighed, contemplating for a moment. He spat out saliva, disgusted by the taste of the air. Then, he lifted his head and yelled out.
"Major!"
Major flinched from across and approached Arthur. Arthur raised a brow, noticing that he looked better than before.
"Are you feeling, okay? My apologies for forcing you to do this."
"It's okay, no need to say sorry…I've somewhat gotten over Frank's death…besides that what did you call me over for?" Major smiled with sadness.
"…Check him out." Arthur pointed at Matthew.
"Huh?" Major lowered his head.
His eyes widened as he saw the lieutenant general's body. He crouched down and checked on his captain.
"Is that…the demon's aura?" He questioned.