The interior of the structure fell silent after the brief verbal confrontation. Angel walked toward the central table as if nothing had happened.
The other won, who were also in their underwear, remained where they were, but the atmosphere imdiately grew tense.
It was not open hostility, but sothing closer to the gravity of a eting where ti and consequences weighed too heavily.
One of them spread several maps across the tal table. Another activated a small screen connected to a portable device. The woman who had spoken first was the one who took the floor.
Her expression was serious.
"We’ve finished analysing the information from the past month."
She pointed to a specific spot on the map.
"Floor forty-eight."
Thomas slightly raised his eyebrows. Ark did not share all its information, and the floor system confused him.
The woman continued:
"The anomalies are altering the monsters’ behaviour. They’re still performing rituals throughout the Abyss. It’s no longer just random trash mobs; there are also smarter monsters and ones deeper below."
Angel studied the map they had drawn while the sa woman, nad Alexandria, continued explaining:
"We’ve found multiple zones where monsters gather around improvised structures made from creature remains... and corpses. Angel, they’re sacrificing won."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Ashley crossed her arms, not to rest them, but to protect herself. It was a subtle kind of self-hug.
"The first ti we thought it was territorial behaviour." She pointed to several marks on the map. "But it isn’t. Lee."
"Yes," replied the black-haired woman as she approached the table. That was her surna.
The screen displayed several blurry images: piles of corpses, strange markings, and symbols ford with bones. Ashley felt a chill run down her spine.
The woman continued:
"And that’s not the worst part." Her fingers tapped softly on the table. "The hordes are changing. In the past week, we ca close to losing the final defensive line five tis."
Angel crossed her arms while resting a knuckle against her lips and lowering her chin slightly.
"Five tis in seven days we were on the verge of failing to contain the horde breaches. If that had happened..."
She did not finish the sentence. Angel finished it for her.
"Ark would have been invaded."
Ashley and Thomas exchanged a silent glance. Alexandria continued:
"The expeditions are retreating." She pointed to several routes on the map. "We’ve encountered multiple groups escaping the Abyss."
The woman lifted her gaze.
"The monsters are driving them out."
Another woman spoke from the back of the room. Specifically, the redhead who had earlier tried to chase Angel’s companions away.
"If it weren’t for the won we have here, we wouldn’t have been able to hold the line."
Alexandria nodded, but then added:
"And even so, we need reinforcents." Her gaze fixed on Angel. "We need the Top Ten."
The room fell completely silent.
"Their powers surpass any mortal understanding," Alexandria declared.
Thomas swallowed. The Top Ten heroines. They already go on expeditions into the Abyss; what Alexandria ant was—
"But they always enter separately." The woman sighed. "They never coordinate with one another."
Several of those present showed expressions of resignation.
"But this ti we need sothing different. For the first ti, we need them to form a single expedition group."
Ashley and Thomas opened their eyes in surprise. Then they looked at each other with clear excitent. If there was sothing they both passionately shared, it was their admiration for the Top Ten. Seeing them together would be a dream.
Alexandria spoke with absolute clarity:
"We need their help... or Ark will be invaded."
The silence stretched for several seconds. Angel remained quiet, but internally she was already constructing the conversation she would have with them.
The idea sounded difficult, since the relationship between the Top Ten was not particularly good.
Finally, Alexandria sighed.
"And that’s only what concerns the hordes. We also made an important discovery regarding the anomalies."
Angel stepped closer to the table. Alexandria turned a folder around and slid it toward her.
"The heart of the Abyss reacted."
Angel frowned slightly.
"Reacted?"
"Yes. It reacted to you. When you returned to Ark."
Angel did not answer imdiately. Seeing her silence, Alexandria asked:
"Who were you with in the city?"
Angel slightly narrowed her eyes.
"How many days ago was that?"
"Four."
Angel thought for a mont.
"That day I had a eting with three people." She paused briefly. "ry..."
Everyone, including Thomas, imdiately recognised the na. Rank number two. Angel continued:
"And with..."
She did not turn her head, but she directed her attention toward Thomas behind her, almost as if she were analysing him.
"Do you rember the ti?" Angel asked.
"You an when the reaction happened, right?" She checked the data. "Between six and seven in the evening."
Angel slowly nodded.
"At sunset."
Her mind replayed the mont. The eting with Thomas and Iris. The walk. The conversation.
Alexandria asked attentively:
"Do you know who it was?"
Angel remained silent for a mont. Then she answered calmly:
"Yes."
"Who?"
Angel gently closed the folder in front of her.
"I’ll take care of that matter myself."
The redhead who had spoken earlier, nad Henrietta, questioned her with irritation:
"You won’t tell us? We’ve spent a week investigating all this on our own, risking our lives. And you won’t even share the na?"
Angel glanced at her with a sharp expression, as if she were looking at sothing insignificant. With complete elegance and serenity, she replied without turning her head.
"Are you questioning again?"
Alexandria answered for Henrietta, keeping her voice low:
"I’ll reprimand her, there’s no need for you to—"
"Silence."
Alexandria exhaled softly and lowered her head. Angel slightly turned her face toward Henrietta, her darkened pink eyes fixed on her while her chin remained slightly lowered.
"I’ll ask you again. Are you questioning ?"
Henrietta pressed her lips together and lowered her chin while a drop of sweat slid down her cheek. In that mont she regretted having been so impulsive.
Then she knelt on the floor and placed her forehead against the ground, naturally accentuating the curve of her waist in her underwear. With a slight tremor in her voice but maintaining composure, she spoke:
"Forgive . I won’t do it again, I promise."
Angel observed her without empathy or pity; however, she looked away while brushing her bangs aside and thinking:
’I don’t want to frighten my son, so I’ll let her off this ti; but I’m very displeased with her behaviour. Naughty bitch, I’ll punish her later.’
Behind her, Ashley and Thomas glanced at each other. Both understood they were in a place where they should not be.
After the scene, Angel cleared her throat, pulled a letter from inside her cleavage, and placed it on the table.
"This is what you asked to bring."
Alexandria opened the envelope. Inside were three white sheets and two photographs. Angel spoke calmly:
"Read it carefully." Then she turned toward the door. "I’ll step out for a mont to speak with my guests. When you’re finished, I’ll co back and we’ll talk more."
Without waiting for a response, she walked toward the exit. Thomas and Ashley followed her.
When they stepped back into the cavern, the air felt cool and damp compared to the interior. In a way, it was pleasant to breathe it.
Angel walked a few tres ahead of them while the crowd of heroines created a lively buzz.
Then she raised both bare, sleeveless arms above her head and stretched elegantly, releasing the tension from her shoulders.
"Ah..." she let out a small sigh. "What a beautiful place."
Ashley raised her eyebrows. Angel looked toward the interior of the Abyss that opened before the cavern entrance, ignoring all the won.
From there they could see fragnts of waterfalls falling in the distance, columns of mist rising from lower levels, and faint reflections of light filtering through the deep darkness of the Abyss.
The walls of the place were enormous and covered with irregular rocks, petrified roots, and natural platforms where past expeditions had left human structures behind.
The air slled of water, wet stone, and sothing older. Sothing that did not entirely belong to the outside world.
"The views are incredible," Angel said calmly.
Thomas and Ashley stepped closer until they stood beside her. It was the younger girl who asked:
"Which ones?", referring to the cavern or the won.
Angel looked at her with a kind smile, very warm and maternal. It genuinely amused her.
"There is certainly a lot to admire here," she replied.
For a few seconds, none of them spoke. Then Angel looked at Thomas.
"I want you to show your power."
Thomas raised an eyebrow. He turned a small flashlight on and off in the palm of his hand, a product of his gift.
"Do you need help finding your keys?"
Angel closed her eyes with a smile.
"That’s a serious question." She opened them again. "Knowing it or not... could rule out any connection between you and the Abyss."
Thomas stopped playing with the flashlight. Angel slowly walked closer to him and stopped less than a step away. Her voice beca softer.
"Please," she looked directly into his eyes. "Tell . It really is very important to ."
She paused, and her gaze softened slightly.
"Or I may never find the cure for my corruption."
Thomas remained silent. Slowly, he rubbed the back of his neck and glanced sideways at Ashley.
’I don’t like her finding out like this.’
But he also knew there was no point in hiding it any longer. He sighed.
"Alright." He lifted his gaze toward Angel. "I’ll tell you about my power."
Reviews
All reviews (0)