489 A Monster

"Huh? What happened here?" A level 7 soldier looked around in confusion.

He and his squad were currently in the Drowner Dungeon—deep in the mini-ocean.

The reports came as a shock. Most of the time, the estimate of when a beast was going to ascend was correct, not this time.

So, the team responsible for this area had to hurry, giving up all other tasks.

"It's dead, captain." Another member said, with a confused voice.

In front of them was a large and long corpse—the giant snake. If it was put on the ground, it'd scare the heck out of people. Nearly a mile long and as thick as a large bus, it only looked more intimidating in the water.

In fact, even for the captain who had a long experience of dealing with magic beasts, imagining such a gigantic thing move freely in this mini-ocean was scary.

"The Autopsy report?" The captain shook his head and glanced at the woman awkwardly.

While she wore the same black uniform of the emergency squad, she still stood out. On top of her beautiful face and slender figure, her purple earrings added to her charm.

She was the last to join his squad but also received the most attention.

Unlike everyone else, she was neither a water awakener nor a level 7. Rather, she was a space awakener and a peak level 8.

Normally, she'd be assigned to a much stronger team. But the problem was that she abruptly took a long leave citing medical reasons and only recently returned.

'They are questioning her loyalty.' The captain sighed and he knew exactly what they were thinking. 'Even if she did join Shadow Guardians, they're over, right? Why do you still keep this going?'

Whatever the reason, she was their assurance in entering this dungeon when they knew beasts of high level were about to descend here during ascension.

If the beasts were level 7, they could cope. Level 8, they could leave them to her. And most importantly, if level 9, she could teleport them away.

"No problem, captain."

The woman teleported to the snake's head and her space sense enveloped its body completely before fixing on its head.

If the snake's head could be compared to a bus, then half of the bus was forcibly torn apart.

The woman carefully studied the aura while checking the readings from her device.

"It died recently. Just three minutes ago." Her first report caused everyone to widen their eyes.

"But how? We didn't see anyone." The vice-captain of the team said in a disgruntled tone.

He and others thought that since a level 8 entered their team, she committed a crime severe enough for such a demotion. So, they looked down upon her. In the army, criminals within were treated worse than criminals outside.

'Idiots.' The woman snorted and ignored him while the others fell into contemplation.

"Maybe it's a level 9 senior? They won't be caught by the dungeon guards who are too weak." A soldier raised a finger and proposed.

"Yes."

"That makes perfect sense."

"Not only sneaking in, but also one shotting this creature…I guess it's at least level 8."

The teammates nodded and supported the opinions.

The captain, however, didn't.

Unlike his team which was full of newbies that just reached level 7 and were in their early 30s, he was a veteran and was almost 50 years old.

Of course, his talent was evidently lower than them, but his experience was vastly superior.

'The chances of a high awakener saving the situation are slim to none.' He smiled bitterly.

As far as he knew, only one person had the ability to sneak into dungeons and arguably the strength.

'Dreamer'.

It was a very wild guess, but ever since he heard that Dreamer was found at the Mars spaceport, the captain had a hunch that he was coming for Earth.

"Incredible…" The woman let out a gasp, drawing the attention of the squad.

"What is it?" The captain hunched forward, not noticing the tremor and anticipation in his own voice.

"There are nine different auras. The first attack has two auras and is done by a dual awakener. But the second attack is just…incredible." She looked at him and said with a gasp.

"You mean the second attack had seven auras?" The captain deduced what her words meant and flinched.

The woman nodded confidently.

"Are you sure?" The vice-captain scowled. "Maybe it's seven attacks."

"You heard that right. Seven auras in one attack, not seven attacks with a different aura each." She said with unshakable confidence—and it shook everyone.

"…Impossible." The captain shook his head.

"I insist." She pressed on.

"We'll report what you got to say. Let the higher-ups decide." The captain waved his hand.

To be sure, he didn't believe a bit of what she said. It was clearly impossible. So, he suspected that she was either crazy or was trying to misdirect them.

'I think she'll be expelled.' He shook his head inwardly.

"Let's check out this dungeon first. If there's any beast that's about to ascend, end it."

Thus, the emergency squad got to work.

As the captain didn't trust her, the woman wasn't assigned any task. She was told to be 'on hold' for any emergencies.

"Seven auras is impossible. Am I going crazy already?" Luelle rubbed her chin in confusion.

'If so, then I better have the last talk with her.'

She tapped her purple earring and a special comm appeared in her arm.

A woman with sky-blue eyes appeared in front of her. She seemed to be surprised to receive the call and hurriedly asked. "I tried finding, but you were no longer on Venus. Where are you?"

"Earth." Luella shrugged nonchalantly.

"It's dangerous!" Blue Flash sighed.

"I know." Luella didn't seem to be bothered and continued. "And I contacted the Shadow Guardians outside Earth."

Blue Flash's chest heaved up and down. Even though the ones outside were less than 1% of the ones on Earth, they were still precious.

But remembering their current situation, Blue Flash shook her head bitterly. "How many of them hate Enigma?"

"Well, 30%," Luella answered after a moment of recall. "The 70% don't believe the allegations. Unlike the ones on earth, these guys traveled more and know the world better."

"…I should be happy, I guess." Blue Flash said lightly and then her eyes sharpened. "What did you do with the 30%?"

"Heh. Aren't you girls busy escaping? I heard Dreamer is also with you?" Luella smiled.

"I have a lot of time if it means killing." Blue Flash smirked.

Luella flinched lightly at her cold eyes but quickly regained her composure.

"Sucks to be you. I killed them already." She covered her mouth and giggled.

"…"

Blue Flash rolled her eyes and suddenly asked. "Why did you join the emergency squad?"

"…is every Athena agent so privy to army files?" Luella asked with a bitter tone.

Blue Flash already found her posting even though it was supposed to be a secretive issue.

"It's only me." Blue Flash shrugged and narrowed her eyes. "And don't deflect my question."

"Tch." Luella clicked her tongue at the failed attempt. "I came to join the military for real this time. What else should I do? Shadow Guardians are over. There is nothing we can do."

Blue Flash fell silent. Recalling Varian's figure, she blurted. "Don't be so sure."

"Don't give me that." Luella waved her hand.

"Alright, what did you contact me for?"

"You see, I made a new discovery on a set of aura samples. But even I think it's impossible, but no matter how I check, it's correct."

"You were never wrong." Blue Flash frowned.

"I think so too. So, maybe I'm going crazy." Luella shrugged. "If I go insane, then publish this report after I die."

Saying so, she tapped her comm and sent the files to Blue Flash.

"Seven auras in one attack?" Blue Flash exclaimed.

Luella squinted at her reaction.

It was a surprise, yes. But not the kind of surprise when you encounter something impossible. But the kind of surprise when your secret is exposed.

Blue Flash, however, quickly composed herself and checked the auras and their corresponding levels.

"Body, Space, Lightning, Morpher, Telekinetic, Telepath are all level 6. And water…it's level 3! Just how?!"

"Hey, hey, what do you know that I don't know? And why are you being surprised at the water path?" Luella questioned eagerly.

"…One day." Blue Flash didn't seem to hear her as she muttered in a daze.

"Oh heavens…it was had been only one day, but…" Her chest heaved up and down as she weakly collapsed onto the couch, her knees no longer having any strength.

"We have a monster..."