CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: FAKE ZONE, REAL DANGERS PART 1 - THE FIRST DAY OF THE SCHOLAR YEAR PART 6.

Mayrzzya’s revelation astonish and terrifies Otzzana, the poor maiden making an extra effort to keep the Active Emeneld functional at all times.

The foreign sensation is like using weights when she is crushed, scorched and electrocuted.

After all, a layer of energy is coating the user’s skin. Ethereal or not, it has its own apparent mass, temperature and orientation.

Which is reflected in one of the Seven Phenotype the Emenelds can have.

Also, the Active state of the Emeneld must be reached with complete consciousness, adding an upsetting level of difficulty, especially if the user has a Higher Grade from birth.

The Trinity of N’Ïrk is silently joined by Friggia’s Trinity. Lining up in a Pentagonal formation with Niveilia at the center. N’Ïrk at the front. Bräzzeya and Friggia on the sides, while Å’Vría and Mayrzzya are in the back.

The acceptance of Å’Vría comes as a big surprise for Mayrzzya. N’Ïrk is quite fond of the Busty Lady. Their short, not sneaky make out, was a wild spectacle to watch. Which only enhance the puzzlement within the haughty arrogant Sister of Myrrha.

"Hubby?". Calls Niveilia, concern plaguing her voice. "Shouldn’t we detoxify Otzzana?".

"That is not needed at all Wifey. The gas here isn’t lethal. It can make you sick in large quantities, with a severe stomach pain, or even occasional diarrhea. That’s why the Active Emeneld is mandatory. It filters whatever we breathe, and anything that can be detrimental for us, is not allowed to cross and reach us, including the bad smell, small insects and so on".

"B-But Mayrzzya said...".

"A small partial lie Wifey. Diarrhea can kill you from dehydration. And the stomach pain can transform into food abstinence, hence...".

"Dying from self starvation...". Murmurs Niveilia with awe and fear. Nervousness augmenting, slowing her steps, but the relaxed attitude of her Boyfriend is somehow reassuring.

"Exactly Wifey... , STOP!. EVERYONE!CEASE YOUR ADVANCE!".

The change of intonation and volume of N’Ïrk’s voice, causes an abrupt halt on the formation. Though he tries to warn both Triskelions.

The young man crouches, digging carefully the watery mud, encountering a thin metal cable that guides him towards a mine that looks like a claymore type.

The device is well hidden among the mud and moss, causing him wariness.

He analyzes the explosive, searching for additional mechanisms nearby. Finding no booby traps, N’Ïrk proceeds to deactivate the device, noticing that the writing on the object is mostly unknown.

Except for two signs he has seen before in the Outpost. The first symbol is the emblem of the «Commonwealth», a sworn enemy of the Zindrack Conglomerate.

While the second glyph is the distinctive the Rätten always scribble in their caves. The species is conformed by primitive anthropoid rats, scrawny and short. Their height doesn’t reach the 1.40 meters, barely having a tallness of Four and a half feet if they are abnormally strong and intelligent.

{Is Coordinator Lycaonia trying to confuse us?}

N’Ïrk opens the claymore’s carcass, the interior stun him. Not literally. He is just startled by the quality of the thousands of tiny pellets.

The little objects are not made of plastic or polymer. Not even iron or steel. It is Iridium, an expensive but excellent conductor of Empiric Energy.

{What the heck!}

He hastily turns to grab the cable, peeling off the end, seeing platinum with a layer of steel.

{No Way!. This is not something a Test should have. Platinum and Iridium are difficult to obtain in their pure form. The Rätten don’t have this level of technology. Neither does the Commonwealth}

"Be careful where you step, there may be mines buried in this area".

"Mines?". Asks Å’Vría. Receiving a short explanation from Mayrzzya. "Explosives that detonate with pressure. Usually when you step on them. But certain models can do conical explosions, like the Claymore N’Ïrk has in... his... hand...".

The damsel is stupefied, her mind froze as she sees the type of pellets contained in the weapon, almost hyperventilating at how useless is her only medium of defense.

Iridium alone is not a threat for the students, even if it is a bullet fired at Mach 5.

However. Iridium coated with Empiric Energy, can pierce through any Emeneld with a Nullification inferior to six.

It may look meaningless, but most students are rookies who don’t possess sufficient Nullification or enough Amount to counter the Advanced Penetration of high quality pellets.

Å’Vría doesn’t understand the extend of the situation, for her, the solution is extremely evident. "Mayrzzya. If pressure alone is sufficient to activate this traps. Can’t we just emit a wave of Empiric Energy to detonate all the mines?".

"That is doable. But could give away our location and possible pathway...".

Not far from the group, the dull sound of a dry shot is followed by a red flare descending on an allied Trinity.

No warning comes from anyone, as a burst of bullets, pierce through the fog, mowing down several rotten trees, splinters flying in every direction.

The panic takes a hold of the adjacent Trinity, braking their formation and running in distinct directions.

Two explosions occur in their scape, first a minefield, taking out the legs of man. The second blast unleashes the powerful salvo contained in a claymore.

The pellets tear through the female student, in an instant, many holes appear all over her body, the exaggerated amount could cause trypophobia in anybody who’s eyes looked the scene.

Screams of pain and terror are cut with the sound of vomit from the students. One of their classmates has died, another may not walk again, and another horizontal rain of bullets is destroying the gloomy landscape.

"TAKE COVER OR DEPLOY BARRIERS!".

Mayrzzya’s words fall on deaf ears. It’s not that the students want to go against her, but they are too overwhelmed by the situation to have an adequate reaction.

N’Ïrk is different, he has been in plenty of battles, and is not fazed by the decease of a stranger. Focusing in locate the source of the problem, and strike it hard.

The young man aims his right arm to the fake sky. "«Bradderock»". The metallic grey graphite Ammunition is impulsed out of his palm with geater power and speed, thanks to The Tyrant’s Grasp.

The shot makes a parabolic trajectory, and as if it were the shell of an artillery cannon, it explodes on the target, demolishing every single thing within a radius of forty meters, showing that some of the trees are hollowed, having stairs to go down, into a series of underground tunnels...