CHAPTER 85: MISSION: RETRIEVE THE MAGICAL BEAST EGG!

All fifty members of the country’s Shinigami Soldiers were now being transported to the dreaded Paradisus Legion in private buses.

After a few hours of travelling through the terrain, Liohime’s peaceful rest inside the vehicle was interrupted by a loud voice from the driver’s seat as the bus came to a complete stop.

"Alright everyone! We have reached the district border! Any further out is the vast land that belongs to the place where you are all about to head to! Please exit the bus quietly and heed the details of the directions that you will hear from the highly esteemed client who is ahead of us in his jeep!"

Just like that, Liohime, as well as pretty much everyone else got up within seconds, and with an uneasy silence within a vast majority of passengers, everyone proceeded to obey and exit.

And on meeting the client who stepped out of his own jeep, the large group listened attentively as the masked man raised his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Alright then, this is it," he proclaimed. "Beyond this point belongs to the Paradisus Legion’s outer layer that will slowly descend into the two other layers inside the vortex-like land. Thus, continuing with vehicles will make you an easy target as well as be pointless in the long run. I will remain here while you all go off on your own, but rest assured that I will now give you specific directions to follow for the first two layers, as not much is known about the third and deepest layer."

With this statement, he now proceeded to give the group one of the most important pieces of information that they would surely need for this mission:

The direction to retrieve this Magical Beast egg is simple, but of course, the obstacles are tough. For the first layer, just keep heading straight on this path while you keep the silver-laden Paradisus Tower in your sights. That tower lies in the center of the first layer and will be the gateway to the descending path to the second layer. However, Magical Beasts that roam around it and fierce guards in the tower who do not allow non-authorized entry will be present. Deal with those obstacles, and you will enter the second layer of the Paradisus Legion."

Liohime narrowed his eyes, a bit annoyed by the struggles that he would have to overcome. Of course, he was aware of the dangers that this place would have, but it still pissed him off having to hear about it in person.

As for the second layer:

"The second layer is mostly hidden under the first layer, shadowed with only little sunlight entering the edges near the center. However, the entry to the third and final layer is not through the center, as it is blocked off and covered by earth. The second layer is divided into three main areas, and to reach the third layer, you must travel to the opposite end from your starting point in the middle. The ’Lost Forest’ is the quickest yet the most dangerous way to the third layer. Choose that path if you are confident and you will reach the Waterfall of Hell."

T-The Waterfall...of Hell!?

"Not much is known about the final layer as most parts of it are undiscovered., but the Magical Beast egg is believed to be situated there. Unfortunately, you will have to search for it without any guidance from me. Do your best while in there, but if you are unable to continue the search, don’t hesitate to turn back while you still can, but you’ll have to say goodbye to that monetary reward while the journey back to the surface would surely be harsh."

Most Shinigami Soldiers exchanged worried glances, and some others exhaled with anxiety, but the client’s next words brought their attention back to him as his personal attendants began to hand out a variety of smartwatches.

"This is one of the latest technologies in science, and you’ll be able to use it. It’s called a ’Giver Watch’. You can only use this to contact me when you locate the Magical Beast egg, and once you face the watch’s screen at it, the egg will be scanned and teleported into my hands from my own ’Receiver Watch’, which is able to receive teleported small objects."

A series of gasps and excited mutters drifted from among the Shinigami Soldiers, and Liohime’s eyes lit up with shock as he was handed a Giver Watch.

On strapping it onto his wrist, he couldn’t help but grin, but he quickly regained his focus.

His bet that he had taken part in with his co-workers was still on, and the stakes could not be higher than this, as his own life would be in danger consistently throughout this mission.

Still, with various items in his arsenal now, especially his precious Magical Beast Girl, his stress had lessened to a great extent.

"Alright then," the man stated with a clap. "That should be everything! Your mission begins now! Good luck, stay safe, don’t die, and accomplish your duty."

At once, everyone else saluted, and the group dispersed into a pandemonium of hasty movement, as Liohime was taken aback, freezing in place for a few seconds before following the crowd."

S-Shit! This is it, he thought, as blood pumped excitedly throughout his entire body.

This is it, this is it...

THIS IS IT!

Caught in the middle of a crowd of unfamiliar Shinigami Soldiers, he tried scanning the area around him for his Polar Town co-workers and found Jolene who glanced back at him at the same time.

At once, his feet begged to change paths in order to meet him, but as they continued to gaze at each other, he could somehow read her thoughts.

Do your best, Lio.

She bit the inside of her cheek as the world around them slowed down with time, and the air turned cold as he narrowed his eyes.

Do your best, Jolene.

And then, reality returned as they separated for good, commencing their journey towards the hellish heart of the Paradisus Legion.