Extra's Descent-Chapter 365: An Unfamiliar Burden [4]

The rise of a new dawn came up.

Twenty four hours had already passed since the exam started—or rather, the failure of an exam.

Evelyn's thoughts were in disarray after what happened to Brandon—added Yi Jihyeon's unconfirmed fate.

However, she had a job to do—to close the academy ground perimeters—prohibiting anyone to step foot inside—or any of the cadets to leave the premises.

The entire day, she had been so busy that the events hadn't registered to her yet.

But then, after a moment's silence—allowing her to get her thoughts together—it finally hit her.

Something bad could've happened to Yi Jihyeon, and Brandon might not be…. coming back.

"...."

She turned her head outside, staring at the window.

The rise of a new dawn.

But it was snowing heavily.

An oppressive feeling bottled up in her chest.

A feeling she shouldn't have been feeling.

Especially because….

[December 14, 2149].

[Happy Birthday!]

Phone notifications flooded her screen.

It was her birthday.

***

Brandon stood still, staring at the scene blankly.

"...."

Corpses of humans lay strewn everywhere—sending chilling goosebumps all over his skin.

The ground, once green, was now soaked in blood.

Bodies lay scattered like broken dolls, limbs twisted, faces frozen in terror. Pools of crimson seeped into the earth, staining the grass.

He looked up at the sky—an oppressive shade of gray, no light penetrating the heavy clouds.

The trees surrounding the area, what should've stood tall and proud, were now shattered. Branches torn apart, trunks splintered.

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Among the twisted roots, bodies slumped, lifeless eyes staring into the void.

Some had gaping wounds, others were barely recognizable—faces frozen in terror.

Thirty, fifty—too many to count.

Squench. Squench.

Each step echoed, the wet soil squelching beneath his boots.

The air reeked of death, a scene he should've grown used to by now.

Thirty, fifty bodies—too many to count.

A horrifying sight.

What the hell happened here!?

Certain memories were triggered in his head—giving him a massive headache as he tried pushing them all back down.

But Brandon could only give an incredulous look.

There was no way the tower's fifth floor had wiped out an entire battalion—much less a group of powerful rankers.

It was not the death itself that gripped his chest, but rather, the turn of events.

From the exams, the tower's reality, his fight to escape the tower, and now this.

It was all too much.

Squench. Squench.

However, he continued to walk, unable to utter any words.

It was hard to discern their identities, their faces were drenched in blood.

From what he knew thus far, the Dimensional Tower were guild jurisdictions.

Meaning, they were on his side. Holy Britannia's side. Assets that boosted their firepower in the war.

But now, they were all here.

Dead.

—You hypocrite.

A certain voice rang from behind him, making his brows furrow.

—You're about to gag aren't you?

It was Lumian. He could hear his voice as if he was really there, crystal clear.

—After everything you've done so far, it only affects you if you're at the short end of the stick, huh?

Brandon clenched his jaw, trying to ignore Lumian's voice echoing in his mind.

Squench. Squench.

He walked through the field of corpses, the scent of decay clinging to the air.

It was then.

"...."

Halting in his steps, his eyes drifted to a familiar insignia on the ground, stained with red—Blood Crescent Moon.

"Shit…."

He knelt and picked up the insignia.

A Guild—one of their own.

But not just any Guild.

The strongest Guild currently.

—Look at you, pretending to care.

"Shut up."

Brandon's eyes narrowed, his hand trembling as he squeezed the insignia in his hand.

These people were supposed to help, protect, support.

Now they were nothing but broken remains.

Squench.

Brandon forced himself back on his feet, swallowing the bile rising in his throat.

The scene, the smell—it was overwhelming.

Memories triggered once more, a familiar gruesome scene just like this.

But memories…. they were nothing but fragments.

The real deal was much more different—much more suffocating.

He needed answers

....He needed to know why they were here and what killed them.

—You know nothing, Brandon Locke. And that's the truth.

Brandon shut his eyes, blocking Lumian out, and pushed forward.

Things had been going well so far.

But this….

This took the cake.

It completely shattered his firm belief that this cold war was possible to win.

Just as he was about to drown in the abyss of his thoughts—trying to push the triggered visions in the back of his mind….

"Is…. anyone there?"

A female voice rang from somewhere, hoarse and exhausted.

Brandon raised his head.

"I'm over here."

The words had managed to leave his mouth.

"Please…. Help me…."

Her voice reached his ears, it sounded like she was trying to muster her strength just to speak clearly for Brandon to hear.

"Hold on."

Brandon rushed to the source of the voice.

In the next moment, he saw it.

"Huuk...!"

Brandon's breath caught in his throat as he saw her slumped against the shattered tree, her face pale, her eyes half-open.

Yi Jihyeon—the examiner—Blood Crescent Moon's Guild–Leader.

She should've been a valuable asset in the upcoming war.

Brandon was without a doubt familiar with her.

How could he not when she was the renowned Yi Jihyeon?

In every progression she was relevant, the woman who was known as Lucian Frost's mentor.

"Yi Jihyeon…?"

She shouldn't have fallen like this.

Not in a place like this.

"Who...?"

She blinked, struggling to focus, her voice weak, barely a whisper.

"Hold on, I'm here."

He quickly looked over her injuries—deep gashes, blood still flowing. She was barely holding on.

She tried to speak, her gaze distant and filled with regret.

"Please... help..."

"Don't talk. Save your strength."

Brandon muttered, voice cracking slightly.

She shook her head, her words faltering.

"They... They were—Cough!"

A cough interrupted her, blood trickling from her lips.

Brandon swallowed hard. He knew time was running out, and there was nothing he could do for her.

Certain sacrifices could've been made to save her, but…. weighing the pro's and con's, it wasn't worth it.

And additionally, he could sacrifice the mana he had now for her too, but it wouldn't be enough to save her.

It would only delay the inevitable—her death.

He too needed to escape, to prioritize his survival over hers.

And so, the only logical thing he could do was extract information from her.

"What happened here?"

"You…."

However, Yi Jihyeon replied differently, her hands drenched in blood—mixed with the dirt, touched his face.

"Why are you here…. cadet?"