’Not again?’
Caleb wondered curiously as the violent shaking of the ground tossed around him and the Commander. It appeared this was not the first ti this had happened.
He hadn’t co across anything remotely related to an earthquake since waking up in the world. This was an entirely new experience. He was, however, taken aback by how violent it was.
If it weren’t for his natural regeneration ability, he would have sustained severe injuries. Commander Harrison himself was already a ss, bleeding from a couple of places on his head and then from his lips.
The entire base was rowdy as the soldiers and knights ran around to save themselves and whatever they could.
[Remnants of an unusual quake detected... Epicentre 3.65 km from the kingdom’s borders.]
The system prompt caught Caleb’s attention, making him realise this place wasn’t the epicentre of the quake. ’I see... It’s coming from across the borders. And it also explains why we’re being thrown around like dolls.’
It was a miracle the mana suppression cage didn’t break. The tent, however, ca loose, covering the cage entirely.
"Ugh...!"
Another groan escaped the commander as he was thrown into the other end of the mana suppression cage, snapping Caleb out of his thoughts.
While the commander was suffering from the effects of the quake due to his inability to use mana at that mont, Caleb was perfectly fine, aside from a few bruises he actively prevented from healing.
A minute later, the tremors ca to a stop, allowing everyone to have a mont of rest. The majority of the n at the base were severely injured, so with fractures, others with wounds bleeding profusely.
Supplies were ruined, and the set-up tents were all over the place. As the n ran around trying to get things back together, Skylar rushed towards the interrogation tent.
"Commander, are you okay?!" The assistant called out worriedly, looking as ssed up as everyone else. "You there, get up your asses and help get this out of the way!"
"Yes, ma’am!"
The commander’s assistant and the n standing guard quickly acted to remove the tent from the cage. After a bit of difficulty, Sklyar and the n were able to get the tent out of the way, revealing the state of the commander and the stranger.
"Commander Harrison!" Skylar rushed inside, quickly appearing before the bleeding commander, trying to get him to his feet. "You’re hurt..."
"I-I’m fine..." Commander Harrison waved off the woman, directing his gaze to Caleb, who was awkwardly positioned on his face, his ass pointed upward.
Ignoring the groaning prisoner, the commander turned to his assistant and asked, "How bad is this one?"
"Not as bad as the first one, but the damages are still serious." The assistant replied. "We’re fortunate we weren’t in any stone structures, or things would have been much worse."
"Hmm..." The commander nodded, touching the side of his head to wipe off the blood leaking. He sucked in a breath, feeling a sting from all the aches he was experiencing.
"Erm... A little help here?" Caleb chid in, drawing the attention of everyone present. "I’m just as hurt, you know?"
"..."
The commander looked at his prisoner, surprised at how Caleb could still be jovial in this situation. ’Is this person even human?’ He genuinely wondered.
What he did to Caleb should have left him in a coughing fit. Adding the tossing around they both experienced, Caleb should have been out of it.
"Get him up," the commander instructed the n behind him. Without hesitation, the n moved towards Caleb, grabbing the chair he was tied to and setting him straight.
The commander looked at Caleb, noticing the thin trace of blood trickling down the side of his face and lips. While Caleb looked wounded, it wasn’t as bad as the others had it.
"You seem to know about this earthquake," Caleb asked, breaking the mont of silence that settled around them. "Why don’t you tell more?"
"..."
For a mont, the commander didn’t respond, taken aback by Caleb’s audacity and fearlessness. He had no sense of danger whatsoever.
"You’re really sothing else, shadow." Commander Harrison stated, chuckling to himself. "Despite your bleak situation, you still have it in you to ask questions."
"What can I say? I’m that good at what I do..." Caleb replied smugly. "So what is it going to be?"
"You seem to be under the impression that you will be leaving here alive," The commander said with an underlying coldness in his tone. He moved closer to Caleb, coming to stand a few tens of centitres in front of him.
Caleb fearlessly looked up and into the eyes of the commander, "What makes you think I ca here alone? Better yet, what makes you think I can’t get out of here?" He replied with a defiant grin.
His response once again left the commander stunned. Never had he co across such a fearless person. Perhaps Caleb was simply putting up a front; he didn’t know, and he didn’t care.
"Let’s find out, shall we?" The commander replied with a grin of his own, retrieving a blade that was hidden in his uniform.
Behind him, Sklyar swallowed hard, afraid of the implications the commander’s actions might have. Killing the personal n of His Majesty was sothing they couldn’t just brush off.
Despite her thoughts, she didn’t voice any of her concerns, choosing to keep quiet and observe. She had been sent away before; she didn’t want a second send-off.
With one fluid move, Commander Harrison had the blade under Caleb’s neck, pressing just enough to draw a faint line of blood.
"Hehe, are you sure you want to do this?" Instead of fearing for the worst, Caleb simply laughed.
"You’re a strange one, shadow." The commander wasn’t afraid to admit it. "Even in the face of death, you show no fear. Too bad you’re the king’s people..."
"..."
Caleb did not respond imdiately, choosing to look straight into the eyes of the commander. After a mont of intense staring, Caleb made his last appeal for information.
"The least you can do is tell what’s going on, you know? That way, I can die knowing I fulfilled my mission to an extent."
His eyes shifted to the assistant, noticing how she appeared worried and unsure. ’I’m sorry for what’s going to happen next, lady,’ he inwardly added.
"Go to hell..." Commander Harrison was done humouring the shadow. As those words left the commander’s lips, he attempted to draw the blade from one end to the other.
’The hel-’
Before the thought could even solidify, a sudden but intense fiery force erupted out of Caleb, shattering the mana suppression cage and sending everyone around him flying.
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