Chapter 111: Protection Jade (1/2)
As the gears shifted and turned in the Iron Dome a few moments after the Ender disappeared in the fissure, Arthur knew he had failed. Despite being the only one to inflict an attack on the Ender, he still felt that he hadn't done enough to stop him.
”Where are you going?” Ivy asked when he was about to make his way toward the fissure. Space was twisted and anyone who got near it can get lost forever, but Arthur hoped he can be lucky enough to pass to the other side.
”I need to stop him,”
”No, you don't. You don't have such responsibilities. Besides, you should know about fissures.” Ivy grabbed his wrist as she said in an unrebukable manner. Arthur gritted his teeth and tried to untangle his arm, but she was stronger than he was.
”I know,” Arthur said through gritted teeth as he clenched his fist until they turned a shade of yellow. The investigations showed that there was a fissure as well the day his father disappeared, although no dungeon appeared. The similarity to the current situation made him question the real culprits behind his father's disappearance.
A thought, crazy and nonsensical, made its way into his mind. Maybe he would end up in the same place as his father if he entered this fissure?
However, he knew that was impossible. This was his desperation, of a reunited family and a broad shoulder to rely on so he could rest, talking these ideas.
”However,” Arthur tried to explain that this was something he had to do. This was a part of his legacy quest; how can he sit ideally?
”Just because we couldn't prevent it, it doesn't mean we can't stop it. However, jumping into a crack in space and time is not the answer. We'll work this out on the outside, we have others.” Ivy placed her hand on her shoulder and Arthur gazed into her serene dark eyes and nodded.
The grandmaster, now his expression grave, took out another runic card and transported them back toward the flying coliseum. They appeared in a hall different than the one that contestants were at.
”Young man,” The grandmaster looked at him and everyone else turned to look at him. Their eyes held confusion, admiration, and slight fear. ”Your words were right.” His voice was sincere. ”Yet we disregarded you as you tried to warn us,” The grandmaster slightly bowed his head. ”For that, I apologize.”
The hall turned noisy as everyone murmured among themselves. Arthur wanted to say it was okay, but the grandmaster already turned and started addressing the staff.
”Show us footage of the Iron Dome, immediately.” The grandmaster's amiable demeanor was gone and a strict aura took over. The staff scurried to carry out his orders. Soon, a screen showed the Iron Dome.
It would be wrong to call it an Iron Dome now, as it started morphing into something else. Metallic pillars appeared from different sides of the dome until it resembled a spider. To the crowd's horrors, the dome started to move.
”Heavens show mercy…” A man standing close to Arthur started praying. However, Arthur knew that the heavens wouldn't do anything for them. They were the ones responsible for stopping it.
[Stop the Enders from achieving their goal.]
His legacy quest was updated after he learned of the Enders' goal, and that was to attack Yalen. However, what for? Even with the weapon activating, the kingdom should be able to stop it. Did he need to intervene? There was also relief in Arthur's mind when he realized he still had a chance to stop the attack.
The Iron Dome was beneath the flying coliseum and the screen showed that it stopped. Then, from its round surface, many gates opened and Arthur realized they were the rooms they started at.
Mana gathered in the rooms and then fire, ice, air, lightning, and other elements were generated as they rained on the coliseum from below. As if several dams were opened and rivers of magic flooded, the coliseum walls began to collapse under the unceasing spells.
”Evacuate everyone, now! Call the association and give words to every nation out there! We need to stop this thing!”
Several orders were issued from the grandmaster and the hall turned chaotic. A broadcast was issued as the audience was rushed to the teleportation circle before the coliseum defenses could collapse completely.
Forests turned to wastelands and rivers dried under the attacks of the Iron Dome. All life ceased as it walked as the crowd felt despair. The nobility and politicians then started shoving each other as they tried running toward the teleportation circles that would send them back to their cities.