Outside the Gate.
It was currently extrely silent. Every gaze remained locked on the conductor’s image, flickering across the screens of those watching the broadcast. It’s figure bathed beneath the bright lights, basking in them as its re presence took everyone’s attention.
But amidst its overwhelming presence, there was sothing else.
Sothing like...
Dread.
An overwhelming feeling of dread.
—H-ha... This situation...
A voice whispered in the broadcast.
—...So far, we have yet to confirm the number of deaths, but... it appears to have already passed the double digits.
Everyone had seen the deaths.
Many of the angles showed the brutal way in which they died.
It was a sickening sight, but one that everyone was accustod to. This wasn’t the first ti a broadcast like this had been shown.
—...We still are unsure of the exact number, but... the situation looks to be extrely dire. The major Guilds have... yet to make any major move, but it’s not because they don’t want to, but because the anomaly’s power appears to be far stronger than previously anticipated.
As the cara panned to the reporter who stood before the opera house, she described the entire situation in detail.
From ti to ti, she’d falter, but she was quick to recover.
—We’ve also been made aware of the fact that the Guilds from the main island will be given the green light to act. The current situation has spiraled beyond a point whe—Uh?
The reporter faltered, her voice breaking a mont later with a faint, unmistakable tremor as she pressed her hand against her finger.
—That’s... a-re you...?
From her voice, one could visibly feel it.
The subtle hint of panic and fear within it.
—Are you sure...? Yes, yes... I will report it imdiately.
The reporter visibly took a deep breath before staring at the cara once more. With her lips twitching, she turned back to the opera house before looking back at the viewers.
Her tone grew extrely grim.
—I’ve just received news that the scale for the gate has been slowly increasing. The gate’s rank...
She paused, her face growing pale.
—...It’s increasing at a rapid rate. I’m afraid we’re soon going to have an ranked gate in our hands.
Her words made the hearts of many tighten.
Was this going to be the birth of the next ranked gate?
***
A short pause ensued from the second phase to the third phase.
No one knew how long the pause would last, but that didn’t matter. They used whatever ti they had to regroup and assess the situation.
"....Is everyone okay? How many casualties on our side?"
The Section Chief was the most alert of everyone present. Pulling his hand away from the Team Leader, he looked around to check on the situation. His heart sank the mont he saw the state of his team.
A lot of the mbers looked dazed and out of it.
Even Kyle and Zoey were struggling to keep focused. And this was in spite of the barrier that he had helped set up with the Team Leader to block out all the noise.
Thankfully, they were all still alive.
Dazed, but alive.
This was all that mattered to him as he continued to look around. Thankfully, not everyone was out of it. So had already snapped out of it and were hurriedly helping the others recover.
They were quite orderly and thodical with their actions. The first to move into action were the nders. With their Decree, which specialized in healing and clearing the mind, they were essential for the gate.
Knowing full well about their importance, the Section Chief had especially made sure to bring at least four to their team.
A soft white glow enveloped their hands as they activated their node and helped everyone recover.
The Section Chief took note of the sight before nodding.
Although the situation was desperate, everyone was still able to remain focused.
Taking a few breaths, the Section Chief took out a small device from his pocket. One that looked like a pocket watch.
’It still hasn’t increased in rank. It’s still rank. Good.’
From ti to ti, he’d check on it. He knew that it would be of no use, but it still helped him better understand the level of danger. He was saving up all his energy for that mont.
The mont when the gate increased in rank.
That’d be the mont he’d have to go all out.
Eventually, his gaze fell on Clara. She seed to have fared better than the others, but even then, she was struggling.
Not because of the piece, but because of what was before her.
The conductor’s presence was still rattling her.
The Section Chief felt a headache. At all tis, this was one of the most important tis when he needed her, but it was clear that she was in no state to help.
This wasn’t sothing that the Section Chief could bla her for.
Such ’traumas’ were extrely normal.
It usually took a little bit of ti with so rehab and therapy, which Clara had been taking, but the sudden reappearance of the Conductor had caused her to spiral back to her old trauma, resulting in this situation.
Although unfortunate, the Section Chief could only hope for her to snap out of it.
’The Conductor has already explained the layout of the gate. The first part is divided into three phases, and the entire performance will consist of two parts: an ensemble and a solo. We’ve already survived the first two phases, but the third phase of the ensemble still lies ahead, followed by the solo performance.’
The Section Chief turned his attention towards the Team Leader. The mont he did, his expression turned grim.
Her face was ghostly pale, and it was clear that, despite his help, she was reaching the edge of her endurance.
’...This is not good.’
The Section Chief could vividly feel that the situation was starting to spiral out of his control.
Looking around, he could see that the other teams were also struggling.
No, not quite everyone...
Focusing his attention towards a certain section, he saw several figures sitting without much of an expression, their hands crossed as they seemingly watched the show without much concern.
And as if sensing his gaze, one of them turned towards the Section Chief.
Soon, their gazes t, and Hers offered the Section Chief a smile.
"...."
The Section Chief only stared for a brief mont before looking away. It was obvious that those who ca in smaller groups had an easier ti, unlike the Section Chief, who had to ensure the safety of everyone present.
However, it was also clear that those from the central island were different.
From their composure to their deanor.
He could tell that they were used to this type of madness.
Closing his eyes, he turned his attention back towards his team. They had all sohow managed to snap out of it and were quickly working together to recover their own energy.
But it was a little too late.
By the ti they began to move, the air itself seed to change.
"Hurry up! Get ready—!"
The Section Chief hurriedly pressed his hand over the Team Leader’s shoulder. A do once again appeared over their area.
Creaaaak!
The wooden stage creaked, and the conductor raised its hands.
WAMM!
The music exploded.
The third phase.
The Requiem.
It had begun.
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