Chapter:15

Semi-Stages are stages between Stages.

For example,

Stage 0.2 is a Semi-Stage of Stage 0.

"I am here to request Aid from your Clan to help explore that Stage."

Leo looked at the official of The L.A.B.

Even though he knows that he can't refuse the request for a Raid by The L.A.B. He still had a few questions and found it a little suspicious, why they were trusting a newly formed Clan for tracing a new Stage.

This is a crucial job since it determines how dangerous a level is and what kind of dangers the Stage might hold.

"Ugh… Can I ask you why you specifically came to request aid from our Clan? I mean we are pretty much a new Clan?"

The officer looked as if he was expecting that question the moment he walked into the room.

"Well, the reason is The majority of Ravage Corps are busy because Base Delta on Stage 32 was attacked by a group of The Violents and also you all have made quite a name after clearing a Nest."

At that comment, Bella and DRC smiled and made some poses.

"Ohh…you know that we are special."

"Just as she says."

Han Ji looked at them with an awkward smile and sweat dropped.

'I won't be surprised if someone told me these two are secretly dating.'

The official ignored them and Leo joined the posing game but stopped the moment the official opened his mouth

"Anyways, but still why just us?"

"Actually, it's not just The All-Stars Clan, the Dominators will be joining, alongside some L.A.B officials from White Feathers, a Researcher with some Ravage Corps soldiers."

'Oh, so he didn't come just to recruit us.'

Han Ji thought.

Han Ji remembers reading about the White Feathers,

They are a department of The L.A.B. that carries out mapping and research around the

Stages, and check for any environmental dangers on the Stages.

Leo rubbed his chin and hummed he was thinking about a question.

"The Stage was discovered, a few days ago and the Tracer there has been sending logs, according to the given information, the Stage is expected to have an SHR of 2-3 stars, the Quiddities spotted so far are Hounds, Dollings, Skin-stealers." The official replied as If he read Leo's mind.

Leo still thought for a second but then replied warmly

"Well it's not like we can refuse, so tell us when to be ready?" Leo asked.

The official nodded.

"Please meet up at The Hub in 2 hours."

The official replied and continued to walk out.

Leo, who looked at the official's retreating, sat down.

He looked at everyone then smiled.

As Everyone smiled back.

"Well team, you already know," Leo said and continued to eat.

"Yes leader." it was DRC

"Si!" It was Bella.

"Aye-Aye Captain!" it was Han Ji

***

Han Ji was in his room right now packing his backpack.

'Food…check.'

'Almond Water… check.'

'Ammo check… check.'

'Gas Mask… check.'

'Machete…check.'

'Radio… check.'

'Medical Supplies… check.'

'My Note..'

He paused when he looked at his notebook.

He knows that he was less likely to die on this raid since his team survived a fight against a complete Nest of hounds.

Now they have a bigger party on a Stage with a lower SHR.

'Still, let's just write down something to calm my nerves down.'

[Journal Entry: 7]

[It's me again, so as I wrote in my last entry, I am a member of the All-Stars Clan now and we the All-Stars are getting our first Raid as a Clan, moreover, it's an Official Raid, I am still pretty nervous even though We survive in a worse situation because of Leo's perfect plan, my wild a*s imagination can't be helped, but It can't be stopped. I am a member of this Clan I can't say no, but it doesn't matter. I am going to be a better Tracer, so I can find the exit out of this hell hole.]

He started to read the entry but.

"Hey Han Ji!" He heard the fastest guy in the squad yelling his name.

"Huh!?" Han Ji exclaimed and closed his notebook and placed it in his backpack.

"Hey dude, you ready?"

"Um uh. Yea.. just coming…bro you can leave.."

"Hell Nah my guy, I ain't leaving without that cute face of yours." He said with a wink and a smirk.

Han Ji just let out a nervous laugh.

"Hehe.."

Yeah, another thing about his friends is they have a really bad habit of sexually harassing each other.

Han Ji picked up the backpack and followed his friend outside the house and towards the hub.

***

All of them were wearing the same tracer jacket with the clan logo and machete on their hips and guns.

"Hey, guys, what do you think it will look like?" Leo asked.

"Oh!" Bella exclaimed

"Yeah, I didn't even think about it!"DRC added.

"Me neither!" Han Ji exclaimed.

"I think it will be another building?"

Leo suggested.

"Nah stage 13 is a wasteland, it should be a forest or desert?" It was Bella

"Shut up guys it will be cavern," Leo commented.

"Nah, a building!'

"A forest!"

"Cavern!"

They all started to yell at each other.

Han Ji looked at them with an annoyed expression.

He sometimes even forgets that these are the guys who saved his life.

He looked at Chad who was looking at his side.

"Hey…dude are these guys always like this?"

Chad just smiled a little and gave him a nod.

'Ah…I forgot he doesn't talk much.'

"Hey let's make a bet!"

Bella suggested.

"Yes! That sounds good!" DRC said.

"Sure thing!" Leo replied.

"Let's bet 2000 Labkrones the winner shall get 6000!" Bella added

"Hey, we are here!" Han Ji told them as he saw several people standing at the entrance of The Hub.

Leo turned to look at them and then spotted a familiar face as a small smile crawled onto his face.

The person looked back at him and smiled too.

"Well-well-well, isn't it our Frenchy?"

A girl stood there with a teal green D letter logo on her Jacket and a pistol holster on her hip and a black backpack.

The girl had brown hair with hazel eyes.

"Haha! Hey, Reyna! I might have said you look beautiful, but…"

He paused in the middle of his sentence and then cocked a brow.

"...I stopped lying."

Whistles!

Bella whistled with wide eyes.

"Ay! you!!" Han Ji exclaimed and bit his fist.

"That one there was a violation…" DRC sang with a slight dance.

"He-hahaha!" Leo laughed and rubbed the back of his head.

Meanwhile, the girl Reyna laughed nervously and punched his shoulders.

Even though Han Ji doesn't have much experience with his social skills.

He can tell that Leo here, was probably the type of guy who was usually hated by his teachers and the office of the principal office is just like the park where he goes for an afternoon walk.

They both laughed and shared a brief hug.

"Reyna, you never learn do you?" DRC commented and hugged her slightly.

"Shut up! Curry boy." She said with a smile.

"It's been a while?" Bella said with a soft smile and hugged her softly.

"Yeah, Bella." She said, giving her a slight peck on the cheek.

Then she looked at Chad and her smile grew wider.

"Hey Macho!" She jumped slightly to hug Chad.

Chad smiled back and squeezed her shoulders lightly.

'It feels like they are pretty close friends," Han Ji thought as he stood back.

Reyna noticed that they all were similar jackets with the same logos on them.

"So you finally made your Clan too?" She commented.

"Yep!" Leo replied.

Suddenly her eyes landed on the Asian guy standing behind the squad.

Han Ji who has always been a shy person wasn't expecting her to look at him, he turned his head away trying not to make awkward eye contact.

Reyna, on the other hand, had her corner of lips perked up for a brief moment.

"Eh? your new friend?"

"Ah! yeah, that's Han Ji!" Leo replied.

"Hey Han Ji comes here, don't worry! She won't bite!" Bella commented.

They all slightly chuckled as Han Ji's face turned slightly pink.

Han Ji walked slowly towards her.

'I hope they won't embarrass me anymore.'

He thought.

"Ugh. Hey. Sung Han Ji, nice to meet you" Han Ji nervously said and offered her a handshake.

Which she accepted with a huge grin.

"Oh please, pleasure is all mine, Reyna Gracia!" She said and turned to look at Leo.

"Hey Leo, how did you fail to corrupt this sweet guy here?" She said to Leo.

Han Ji turned red.

'Sweet guy?'

"Don't worry, Reyna, he is like that because bro got no bitches." DRC commented with a mischievous smirk.

'This bastard.'

"At least I am not a virgin."

The smile disappeared from DRC's face,

"Sheesh!"

Bella exclaimed and pressed her fist to her lips.

DRC looked at Han Ji with a blunt face.

"Hehehe." Leo laughed

"Why are you laughing, you too are a virgin," DRC replied and Leo's smile disappeared.

'He got a point there..'

Leo looked away while whistling sheepishly.

"Haha!" Reyna laughed too.

"It's been a while since someone violated these too, I like you, Han Ji." She said and tapped his shoulder.

His cheeks turned red slightly.

"Ugh. Th-thanks.."

"Hey Reyna, can you please take a look at the team's guns?" Another woman with her hair tied back in a bun said.

She looked around in her late twenties, she had jet black hair, her face looked a little stoic and had grey calculative eyes.

"Oh alright, leader!" She said and waved back at her and then turned to look at Han Ji.

"See you around Han Ji." She said and ran away toward the woman he supposed was her Clan leader

"Ugh…Ya sure.." He smiled back nervously

Bella came from behind and held Han Ji's shoulder and gave him a mischievous smile.

"Heeyyy…Haaan Jiii.." She sang lightly.

Her voice sent some chills down his spine when he heard her voice.

"Ugh..?".

"Bro she's totally into you," DRC commented with a mischievous smirk and placed a hand on Han Ji's shoulder.

"She told me she always had a thing for Asian guys," She said and smiled.

"Guys… shut up.." He said with red cheeks.

'Ugh…these guys are gonna tease me to death now.' He thought and looked away.

"I think you both will look cute together!" Leo commented.

"You have my blessings!"

She said and smiled like a psychopath.

"Guys!" His face was burning bright red.

'She looked cute though.'

"Greetings Tracers!" They all heard the sound of another girl, This woman had dark skin and an auburn ponytail.

They all looked in the direction of the sound, they saw a middle-aged woman and her eyes were brown and had auburn hair.

She wore an armoured hazmat suit. There was a neon backpack on her back and a few side hip pouches and three more men behind her two of them holding assault rifles in their hands.

"I am Zoe Giorgiou! I am the L.A.B scientist who's gonna accompany you on this raid today, let's do our best!"

She yelled in an energetic tone.

'D*mn she's way too excited isn't she?'

***

They were in front of a cave entrance.

"According to the wanderer, this cave is the entrance to Stage 13.3"

Zoe said in a serious tone.

Leo and Bella gasped, cold sweats running down their face.

DRC came from behind and wrapped his arms around both of their shoulders.

"Hey guys… remember something?" he whispered and smiled sinisterly.

"Hey bro you really gonna take money from your man?" Leo said while faking a pout.

"Come on, at least forgive a cute girl?" She said with a pout and joined her hands.

"Haha…no." He said to let go of their shoulders.

"Who came up with this stupid Idea.." Leo muttered under his breath.

"Shut the f*ck up..." She replied and hit him in the stomach with her elbow

"Ow!"

Han Ji looked away trying to pretend he didn't know any of these guys.

"Hey Han Ji." He heard a familiar feminine voice.

He turned around to see Reyna, she was smiling at him.

He smiled softly too "Hey.."

She walked up to him and looked at his face for a while, it almost felt like she was having a mental conversation right now, then slightly bit her lips.

".So… how did you meet that French idiot there?" She joked and pointed at Leo who was in the middle of a cat fight with Bella.

"Hehe well at Stage 1, I was attacked by a skin stealer and almost died but Leo and others saved me."

"Oh that's sad to hear but I am happy to know you are fine." She replied with a smile.

"Hehe thanks, what about you, how do you know Leo and others?"

"Ah… well I and him just met at Base Alpha and he actually was a recruit at our clan for a while and then quit afterwards, saying he wishes to make his own clan." She said while looking at the front.

"How was your life outside the Labyrinth?" He asked as he slightly walked forward

Her smile died and she bit her lips.

"Ah…well, it was pretty ok… My father was pretty strict and I barely had any friends. It might sound weird even though he never hit me, I used to be scared of him… I had to even hide my 2 boyfriends from him."

"Oh my… that's so sad, why didn't you try to move out?"

"I was just-just too scared of him." She said and stared at her feet.

Han Ji didn't know how to react right now, he might have had bad people in his life who scared him but there was one person who never was among them, his God D*mned father, he thought the absence of a father was worst but it felt weird to know that there was a person that hated the presence of her father.

"Hey umm... Wanna hear about something funny?" He asked.

"Uh… yeah sure?"

"So…well once in a while we all eat something that is chosen by one of the team members.."

"Yeah?"

"So… it was Leo's turn and all of us stopped breathing when we realised that it was this French guy's turn," Han Ji said while smiling.

A small smile appeared on her lips when she heard him call Leo the French Guy.

"You are not going to believe how relieved we felt when he ordered sandwiches, I even said,' Happy, you didn't order frog legs.'"

"Pfft! Haha." She laughed at his joke.

"Haha"

Even though those weren't my exact words, I don't mind exaggerating, to make her smile.

"Hehe. You are savage!" She commented.

"Ha, thanks." He whispered and looked at her smiling face, and got a warm and fuzzy feeling in his guts.

A feeling that had disappeared after the heartbreak he got, from Jin Hui.

'She's cute.'

'Hey, by the way, you have a beautiful smile.'

He whispered.

Her smile disappeared and her eyes were wide but slowly corners of her lips curled up,

"Oh, my…thanks no one ever told me that before." She smiled with a slight pink tint on her cheeks.

As she combed back a few loose strands of hair behind her ears.

"Hey everyone! we have checked the entrance of the Stage, and It's safe so please be ready to enter the stage, remember to try not to make any sound at all, use hand signs to communicate, and make sure your firearms are silenced and try to avoid head-on battles!" Zoe yelled while pulling out her notebook.

"If you have any questions please ask them right away."

There were none.

"Alright let's go!" She said pointing in front of the entrance of the cave.

"Hey, Reyna I-I think we should return to our squads now."

"Oh yeah sure." She replied with a smile but Han Ji could tell that she never meant it.

"Ok bye, Talk to you later." He said and smiled.

"Bye," she said and waved at him.

Han Ji turned around with a smile that disappeared the moment he saw the person glaring at him with cold eyes.

The guy was none other than Leo.

He was glaring right at Han Ji because he heard everything and with everything he means everything that Han Ji said.

"Leo…I can ex–!"

"Don't… don't worry copain, but remember I am gonna have my payback."

He replied and walked away.

"....Hope you didn't forget the formation, lover boy."

Han Ji blushed slightly, "What no-no."

"Don't make any noise inside the Stage,.." Bella said with a smile and DRC had the same smile as her.

"SIMP!" Both of them said in unison.

Han Ji Blushed deep red,

'These guys..'

***

PHAT! PHAT! PHAT! PHAT! PHAT! PHAT!

PHIS! PHIS!

TA! TA! TA! TA!

THUK! THUK! THUK! THUK! THUK! THUK!

Silenced gunshots rang through different areas of the cavern.

A while ago.

They met the wanderer who was sending logs to them.

" I am so relieved to see that you all finally came," the bearded guy whispered with a soft smile. There were some dark circles under his eyes and his lips were parched and his hair was messy.

The officers gave him some food and almond water and asked him for the details.

"According to wanderer's The cavern has 5 dark segments mainly, one has Bendezium, and one has Almond water pools but they are pretty high in the composition of minerals. If I had drunk another sip I might have had kidney stones, there is another one with cashew water and others are just empty, except for one which has a lot of bioluminescent algae, this one is our main target, other segments have a lot of Quiddities but this one has the lowest number of Quiddities if we clear the area around those segments to use the rocks available here we might be able to form a base here."

And as the plan went they were right now clearing the area.

"Growwlll!"

"Screech!"

"Khiieeck!"

Painful groans of different Quiddities rang through the cavern.

The All-Stars were the ones dealing with the ones making way for the researchers and team to the segment where they were supposed to set their base.

The Dominators were divided into two groups, one group with the leader and some of the main fighters clearing the segment with Bendezium.

The second Group were in the centre of the cavern keeping in check the incoming attacks for their comrades.

They were all experts here,

Zoe had been working for L.A.B for almost a decade,

The Dominator Clan is one of the best Clans in the first 10 stages.

And at last, the All-Stars, a clan that just pulled off a feat such as clearing a whole nest by themselves as a group of 5 only, had made a pretty good debut themselves.

Sha-sheen!

TA! TA!

Chad was at the front line, alongside DRC.

Leo was the right wing with Han Ji, Left-wing was handled by 2 of the Ravage Corps warriors.

At the back, Bella was providing cover, in the centre, there was the researcher Zoe and an unnamed person who was from the White feathers.

The team was already skilled enough but with the support of 2 Officials who were permitted to use Assault Rifles, it all just went to a different level.

In no time the Segment was cleared.

"Another one bites the dust!" DRC commented.

"Sure thing," Leo replied.

They all sat down and took a break while the 2 soldiers guarded the researcher and cartographer.

They continued to note down everything needed.

"Hey have any of you heard that song Amish paradise? It's a parody of the song Gangster's Paradise."

Bella said with a smile.

"Say what?" Han Ji exclaimed.

"Should have been the Mafia's paradise," Leo commented.

"Pfft! hehe" DRC laughed.

"Hehe…Kinda wish the same." She replied with a smile.

Suddenly they received a radio call.

"Hello it's All-stars," Leo said.

"WAARGHH!! WE NEED HELP AT THE CENTRE!! crack." They heard the loud cries of the fellow tracer.

They all gasped, they were reported that only Quiddities here will be Hounds, Dollings, Smilers and others that they can deal with.

But if there is nothing that can make someone cry like this, then it can be considered something they can deal with.

The Officials had heard this and looked surprised, just like others but there was one person here that was especially surprised and his expressions looked even more terrible

It was Han Ji.

'Wasn't Reyna with them too? Did something happen to her? Is she alright?'

Zoe, who already heard enough, knew that there wasn't even a single second available to be wasted.

"We gotta go!" She yelled and started to run.

The other officials also followed her.

The All-Stars clan loaded their guns too.

"You guys already know," Leo said while turning into the same serious guy.

"Yeah!" Bella said.

"Yes sir!" DRC replied.

But Han Ji didn't wait for the reply and started to run in the direction of Zoe and other officials.

'Please be alright, please be alright, please be alright! Reyna, you have to stay alright.'

Han Ji ran with everything he had while painting and soon arrived where he was supposed to.

But then his eyes grew the size of saucers and his feet stopped when he looked at the 'thing'

"What the Hell is that?"