Chapter 217
by post_apiChapter 217: Night of Calamity
Tonight marks the arrival of calamity.
The relentless rain showed no sign of easing, drenching the streets and alleys of Tatsumi City. A suffocating darkness shrouded the skies, forcing the citizens indoors. None dared venture out amidst the violent storm.
In his office, Mr. Trap sat in uneasy contemplation. The aged director of the Demon Hunt Agency gazed at the rain-lashed window, his thoughts consumed by tonight’s perilous arrangements.
The Black Star Faction had infiltrated Tatsumi City, their forces fully mobilized. The Demon Hunt Agency had uncovered their presence days ago, yet not a single faction member could be traced.
It was Ramos, the “Undefeated,” who ensured their invisibility.
Ramos’s power of prophecy was unmatched, far surpassing that of any Night Watcher. The “Book of Prophecy,” rendered useless under the interference of the Outer God, left the Agency blind. Every attempt at divination was countered, twisted into deadly misdirections.
Mr. Trap exhaled heavily, his voice weighed with worry.
“The sealing ceremony must proceed without fail. Should Tatsumi City fall to this calamity, it will be obliterated.”
Standing nearby was “Raven Reaper” Mo, Trap’s adoptive son and trusted confidant. Over two decades of working together had forged an unspoken understanding between them.
Mo observed the old man’s unease, a rare sight that unsettled him. Troubled, he asked, “Have the Eyes of the Empire and the Sword-Wielding Troop not arrived yet, Mr. Trap?”
“They’re not coming,” Trap replied, his tone grave.
“What?”
Mo’s shock was palpable. How could the Air Alliance forsake Tatsumi City in its hour of need?
Trap elaborated, “The highest city faces an unforeseen invasion from an unknown world, Aliin. A space-time passage has connected their realm to ours, threatening the Air Alliance. The kings themselves are at risk.”
He continued, “By law, protecting the kings takes precedence over all else. Until their crisis is resolved, neither the Eyes of the Empire nor the Special Investigations Department can assist us. This… is why the Black Star Faction chose tonight to act.”
Mo struggled to process the
dire implications. If the kings
perished, the Alliance would
plunge into chaos, its order
irreparably shattered.
“But the kings are not
defenseless,” Mo reasoned.
“With the Eyes of the Empire
and the legendary Mr. ‘World,’
no force beneath the gods can
defeat them.”
Trap nodded, his expression
solemn. “Our challenge,
however, is here—protecting
Tatsumi City from ruin while
the rest of the world battles its
own demons.”
Suddenly, the office telephone
rang, breaking the oppressive
silence.
Trap exchanged a glance with
Mo before answering,
activating the speakerphone.
A cold, detached voice came
through.
“Tonight, chaos will erupt in
multiple locations: Dawn
Pedestrian Street, Central
Square, and elsewhere. But
these distractions are not their
true objective.”
“Their ultimate goal is to
destroy the seal and let the
natural disaster consume
Tatsumi City.”
Trap’s face hardened as the
voice concluded. He bowed his
head slightly, his words filled
with gratitude.
“Thank you, mysterious allies
of Babel Tower. The innocent
people of Tatsumi City will not
forget your aid.”
Thunder cracked violently
across the night sky.
In the dimly lit villa, Ramos—known as the “Undefeated”—stood in the center of the hall. His scholarly demeanor, gold-rimmed glasses, and calm poise belied the storm brewing outside.
Behind him, over twenty figures clad in black raincoats and gray masks stood silently. They were the elite core of the Black Star Faction, though their numbers had dwindled in recent days.
Babel Tower’s relentless pursuit had eliminated many before the operation even began. Leading this effort was none other than Mu Ling, a friend of Yin.
Ramos’s voice carried a trace of lamentation.
“Perhaps this is cruel fate,” he muttered, his tone heavy.
He glanced at Yin, who stood silently among the group, her thoughts unreadable. Ramos suspected an unseen force manipulated the threads connecting Mu Ling and Yin, but the nature of that force remained a mystery.
Returning to the matter at hand, Ramos addressed the gathered members.
“Tonight, our objective is clear. The Ruin-level Relic must be obtained, no matter the cost. Only then can the Black Star Faction advance to the next stage.”
He issued precise instructions.
“Create chaos across the city to draw out Babel Tower and the Demon Hunt Agency. Leave their defenses in disarray. The Eyes of the Empire and the Sword-Wielding Troop will not interfere tonight. The Air Alliance is consumed by its own war, leaving us free to act.”
Ramos fell silent, his gaze shifting to a thin, black-clad man standing apart from the others.
“Tao Wu,” he said, his voice
steady. “The task of destroying
the seal falls to you.”
Tao Wu remained silent, his
expression cold and
indifferent.
Ramos turned to a nearby
table, where three black-and-
white cards rested upright,
their presence exuding an
eerie, otherworldly power.
“This is the gift of the Chaos
Star,” Ramos explained. “As
long as these cards remain
standing, Yin, Tao Wu, and I are
untouchable.”
In a quiet room elsewhere, Bai
Yan watched the rain through
the window, deep in thought.
The “Babel Tower” game had
revealed the location of the
sealing ceremony—the
seventh underground floor of
the Demon Hunt Agency.
Ramos undoubtedly
possessed the same
knowledge.
Bai Yan tapped the “Save
Game” button on his phone,
murmuring to himself.
“The game’s script predicts the
Black Star Faction’s victory,
the destruction of Tatsumi
City. But tonight, I’m the
variable they cannot predict.”
As thunder rumbled, Bai Yan
stood, his silhouette cast
against the dim light.
The storm raged on, and the night of calamity began.