Chapter 14: Nephilim

[ Progression Phase Central Command - Allied Powers]

"Director Herrisher! The signal from Squad 12 is back!"

"1st member of the 12th squad, Noah Bazarrack, is in an extremely unstable state!"

"Retrieving information from the rest of the 12th squad."

"Unknown Magic Residuals are spreading throughout the territory!"

The Operators of the Black Dogs, the "Oracle" unit, relayed the sudden burst of information. The barrier around the Cambrian mountain range had lost functionality upon Noah's lose of control. As such, the various pieces of information gather by the Black Dogs was overloading their processors.

Director Yugram Herrisher glared at the large screen with awe and excitement, concealing his feelings with a weak smile. "I don't care for the petty details, what is Noah Bazarrack's status?"

"70%...80...? No, it's 95% now! It just keeps growing!"

"We've reached 113%?! But that isn't possible! No human has ever gotten past 92% before!"

"Human and Magic Beast leylines converging; He's breaching the boundary of divinity!"

"Divinity..." The blaring red alarms and bussling Oracles had escaped his mind the moment those words were uttered. A sense of euphoria, as though a long held desire had finally come true, washed over the Director's body like a storm.

He thought to himself as he stroked his chin; 'Maybe this will be the next step for the Black Dogs. No, for humanity as a whole. Let's see if you're worth my attention...little cub.'

____________

"So you've given up being human, child? How repulsive." Daimo looked upon the disfigured Noah with contempt. The black energy oozed out of every crevice of his body as Noah struggled to maintain a stable shape. Slowly, the broken pieces had either reformed at reattached themselves to Noah instantaneously, before breaking apart yet again.

"I will finish off your sorry existence." He rushed in and battered Noah with a quick combination of punches. The technique aimed directly for the solar plexis, crotch, and philtrum, such weak points being capable of destroying a human body.

Noah's head fractured and fell apart before reforming yet again.

"Ah...Ze...Noah? Me...Noah...Zeke Zeke Noah me me ME ME ME ME." He mumbled nearly incoherently. He grabbed the Heavenly General's forearm with his right hand, a terrible fright rushed upon him.

'I...can't escape his grasp?!' The cautious Daimo backed away from the fragile human, his instinct smote him with fear. He had intentionally sliced off his hand from the emanating unease.

'He's already gone too far...he's just like those humans from 2000 years ago! He must di-'

His internal declaration was cut short within merely a fraction of a second. In Noah's hand lied the head of the former Heavenly General, Daimo. His neck was twisted off like a bottle cap as the body silently fell to the ground.

The Moulcan birds flew from their perched positions among the trees and flew away with grace, signalling the beginning of the end.

__________

[Miyo-Enko Temple]

"...?!"

"W-what's wrong, Master Mosong...?"

Mosong had noticed a strange tribulation within the games. The barrier around the territory had been torn apart by a foreign force, no...an ancient evil lurking within. It was an energy that was all too common among the old age.

"BAHAHAHAHA!" His bellows made the temple quake in fear and reverence. "This really brings me back! So you humans aren't a total bore after all!"

"Sir?!" The small servant feel at his feet.

"Watch the temple while i'm gone." He grinned a sinister grin while squatting down deeply. "Oh, and take a step back!" He leaped across the mountain range, peak to peak. Each bound devastated the landscape and destroyed his own alter.

_________

[Miyo Mountain Range - Sanctuary]

The rest of Squad 12 had regrouped with Malery and the incapacitated Pam. Cassia had also emerged from the north of the mountain range covered in wounds.

"Cassia! You're alive! I was worried you might have been done in by the enemy." Harper's blithe personality had eased the mood between the group.

"Sorry, I didn't run into any Heavenly General's on my own, but this damn forest has some pretty nasty Magic beasts. We need to call off this operation."

Malery looked at her with her typical coldness. "We can't do that just yet, we haven't eliminated the primary threat within this territory. Not only that...but something has happened to Noah...you can all feel it too, can't you?"

The ominous presence emanating from the depths of the forest could only belong to Noah. The energy signature, it's particular resonance with the air, and it's unique properties were all indicative of "Noah", but it was also slightly different. Something that one couldn't quite grasp, yet was obvious to the 12th Squad of the Black Dogs.

It was a mysterious figure beyond explanation or logic.

"Are we really sure...that thing is Noah?"

"It has to be, I know him better than anyone else!" Cassia vouched contumaciously. Her eyes exuded an aura of both fear and faith.

Malery could sense Cassia's shaken spirit and walked towards her with knife in hand.

In a single sleek movement, the blade grazed the side of her neck and drew blood.

"Cassia, do you realize what our current situation is like? If Noah has truly lost control of his contract, then there is no longer any hope in saving him. I will slit his through with this blade in my hand. Will you be able to accept that outcome?"

"Of course not! I'll never accept that decision!"

"Stand down, it's an order."

"I refuse!"

"...Do you really want to make things this difficult?"

"I will if I have to."

The air itself became thick with animosity and tension. The Magic particles sent out sparks as they clashed; a battle between the two was imminent.

Rushing in between the two was Harper Sow, his clownish expressions and movements being completely inappropriate for the scene. He out his hands to seperate the two.

"Hey now! Let's not get hasty here. We should look at this situation from both perties perspectives."

Malery's eyes sharpened. "We don't have time for your usual games Harper...move aside." She readied her blade with clear intent to harm him if need be.

'S-scary! She's so scary!!' He thought.

"I'm not saying that we should recklessly try to save Noah. It could cost us out lives if we did. However, that doesn't mean that killing Noah is the ONLY option."

"Go on..."

"Well...I noticed that after Noah had gone crazy, the barrier was completely broken! My black suit is online and ready for communication."

Malery had put away her combat knife, yet her skeptical expression remained. "Are you saying what I think you're say?"

"That's right! We'll call the Subjugation Squad!"

"We don't have the authority for such a request."

"It's an emergency! A member of the Black Dogs gone berserk is going to raise some eyebrows, especially among the higher ups. We need to take a chance!"

She sighed and walked past "...I suppose it's worth a shot. I will contact Central Command and request their assistance and have the Subjugation Squad on standby."