MA: 85. The Aftermath (Arc 2 Epilogue - Part 1)

“The report of a Corrupted outbreak was, in all accounts, underplaying the reality of the situation.”

The march of dozens of footsteps erupted.

Over fifty personnel draped in red body suits and carrying the insignia of Scarlet Logic ventured into the lands that used to be the Forest of Everlasting Envy. Decaying, dark branches hung overhead.

An exclusion zone of approximately twenty kilometers was created to contain all elements of the Corrupted. Civilians – who were either villagers or Adventurers – were considered elements, and were, therefore, annihilated on the spot.

“The Fodder have reported the Corrupted Zone being at least two hundred kilometers large. There are also patches of untouched thickets.”

There was a discrepancy with what was observed by the Fodders firsthand and what the new Team were discovering. While it was not uncommon for the interior of a Corrupted Zone to differ from the outside world, this was too large of a difference.

Bodies that had been stripped to the bone thanks to the advanced decay of the Corrupted Zone were crushed beneath their boots.

Animals that happened to enter the vicinity of these 50 members were immediately captured by a tri-pronged staff that emitted a crimson, electrical glow.

This was called an Unstable Capturer, and it allowed Scarlet Logic’s Collection Teams to capture targets, be it animals or humans, by disabling their magic and paralyzing their bodies.

Indeed. These members were not ordinary Scarlet Logic Fodder. They were not here to clean up the aftermath of the devastation, nor to lend a hand and rescue potential survivors.

“Manager. Zero signatures. We can make the argument that it is impossible for even high-ranked Adventurers to have survived within a time-accelerated Corrupted Zone for three months.” One member spoke, their facemask glowing red with each syllable spoken.

The manager, who wielded a red-glowing halberd, stopped in their tracks and observed the work of their underlings.

Then, they tapped their ear, activating a small ear cuff. This was a CognitO Transmitter, which allowed Scarlet Logic members to communicate telepathically with one another as long as they had a CognitO Receiver. This was another silver cuff that was attached to a separate ear to reduce interference.

“Fodders, up till hours ago, had spotted a red-haired Adventurer and a White Dove. We have received orders from our Red Giants to recover them at all costs.”

Superheated blades cut through foliage and remnants of homes. Holes were burst through floorboards with a single punch in an effort to hunt down even a remotely living soul.

The Manager then rested her halberd on their shoulder and wiped their blood-soaked hand along the Scarlet Logic insignia on their arm. It was the image of a butterfly caught in the sights of a crosshair.

And above it was the image of dawning sun.

“They relayed it to us. The Dawn Team in hopes that we can track, capture and return with these two. You understand how valuable a Healer alone is. Now, imagine the combined value of a human with red eyes.”

“It won’t take long to find them in the wild. Red eyes are highly sought after.” Another member spoke.

This woman was the Captain of the Scarlet Logic Dawn Collection Team, which was the second in command to the Manager.

Scarlet Logic had various Teams with varying roles. Collection was but one of them, as there were the Elimination Team, the Subterfuge Team, the Interrogation Team, and so forth.

What made them truly different were their rankings. Fodder was the lowest of the low in the Scarlet Logic hierarchy, with Dawn coming second.

Naturally, those in the Dawn Team were significantly more powerful, disciplined and armed.

“We should start by searching Slavers. There are many people using the chaos as a business opportunity. Justica Arms can only do so much.”

Rotting remains of countless civilians and wild animals littered the forest floor as they ventured deeper. Their goal was to investigate the heart of the forest where the Corrupted, as well as their target had last been spotted.

But they were not here just for this.

“ImpulseWorks were curious as to how a Corrupted was able to exert such a powerful Corrupted Zone.”

“Countless Corrupted spilled from the trainwreck. But neither of them is powerful enough to dominate the Central Forests of Justicia to the point where even Justica Arms struggled to make sense of it.”

There was a hill.

A hill of bones and flayed brambles sat in the middle of the forest. At the very top was a shriveled sapling surrounded by a garden of bones that had been arranged to look like roses.

“We have reason to believe that this Corrupted may have resonated with what the Queen is looking for. The ‘Egg’. We must find it before Justica Arms catches wind of it. They must not become involved under any circumstances.”

The Manager and the Captain alongside several others climbed to the top of the hill as the rest gathered at the bottom. Once atop, the Captain slowly removed their facemask, revealing blood-shot eyes and scars that riddled their face.

“By all accounts, it was likely the resonance of the Egg that spawned the abnormality. Whatever that Egg is. The Red Giants have also kept two Genesis Stones in these forests. Not too sure what those are either, but they say it guarantees our presence here.”

A Genesis Stone was an ill understood, indestructible material that was said to originate from the pale Nexus. Nothing else was known about this material, nor could it be used for anything for that matter.

Not even the Manager knew the truth.

But they didn’t need to.

All they had to do was follow orders, for their Queen did all the thinking for them.

“Precisely. It is all part of the Queen’s plan. To question is to rebel. You understand what happens to traitors.”

“All the deaths you’ve experienced come crashing back. Your nerves are dialed to ten times the sensitivity. When all deaths have been experienced, we will be terminated for good.”

The Manager reached down to touch the withered sapling.

“Termination is the price we must pay.”

Then, she crushed it in her palms.

“An awful lot of roses. Does it not remind you of our Nest?”

“If you left two of the same roses then who wouldn’t be reminded of our birth trials? I’m already planning of method to take down my last iteration. If I believe that I’m going to be shot in the head, then I’ll make preemptive measures to dodge. That’s when… You get the picture~”

A part of the Replication Cycle of a Scarlet Logic member revolved around their ability to eliminate their past iteration. Upon rebirth, within the heart of their Nest, they were to fight a cloned version of their old self to the death.

If they failed, then it was proof that the past iteration was superior, and that one had not learned from their mistakes. This would often lead to a demotion or severe consequences.

If successful, then they were allowed to live as the new iteration of their old self.

They could walk free from the pools of red with a smile on their face.

“I can’t wait~ Is there a village nearby? I’d like to test if a superheated scimitar works better at sawing through bones than a sword enchanted with ice magic.”

The Captain wore a sinister grin, their face lighting up at the prospect of senseless violence.

“Justica Arms won’t miss them. We’ll write down that they were caught in the unfortunate aftermath.”

Any level-headed leader would look at this person as though they were scum of the world. However, the Manager merely erected their posture and coldly uttered:

“Do as you wish.”

The Captain, alongside the present Dawn Team members, saluted the Manager with perfect synchronization.

“Will do, Manager! If I find anyone useful, then we’ll be sure to collect them. Our reserves have been getting dry as of late–!”

Their words came to an abrupt stop as a warm, red liquid splashed on the faces of the Dawn Team. There was no utter of shock or surprise in response to their head suddenly blowing up.

Instead, they took aim into the surrounding forest, as if something had snapped inside of them.

“Projectile-based weapon. Potential Mana Reaper. Possibility of a Justica Arm must not be ignored. Low possibility of a magic-conjured projectile.”

The Manager spoke succinctly. They did not need to be told that they were under attack. Such was the level of discipline and coordination of Scarlet Logic.

However, this alone did not matter in a world where might ruled over right.

Before the Manager could even begin to reach for her weapon, her shoulders were struck by red, crystal bullets. Red after images assailed them from the forest. But even with the number of injuries they amassed, none of them grunted, growled or screamed.

It was an eerily silent fire fight, punctuated by the delayed sounds of magical gunfire.

The Manager scoured their surroundings, yearning to see who their assailant was. Their red eyes burned with fury, but that suddenly turned to terror the moment multiple figures lunged from the trees.