Darkness

– Unknown Location –

Somewhere in a nearly dark room, a man in dark clothing and a strange white mask on him entered it and kneeled down to someone in the front.

Another man was standing on the other side of the room with his back facing towards the newcomer. He was looking at a giant experimental tube containing a black ball object with several wires attached fixedly in it.

Only until one minute later the man opened his mouth.

"Speak, what happened?"

The mask man in dark clothing kneeling on the ground spoke.

"Boss, the experiment was a success."

"Oh?"

"The creature that we sent to Kalren city managed to control more than two million monsters, so it can be considered a success. Also, the Demigod we sent to the city met Samra, the Royal Guard and the Captain of the Military forces of the Church, and fought her to a standstill despite being weaker than her. Obviously, the modifications we made to his body were useful. However..."

"However?"

"...The creature showed very aggressive behavior. It plotted against our men and managed to get them killed and leave its containment box."

"Oh? Did the creature escape?"

"Yes, but according to its condition shown by the device we implant in it, something or someone outside the city somehow manages to kill it."

"That is good. It doesn't matter who killed it, what matters is that it's already dead. It would be very troublesome if that creature freely roams around. It will definitely repeat like what happened a thousand years ago. It could ruin our plans if that happens. That aside, is there anything else you want to report?"

The mask man in dark clothing hesitated slightly. Finally, he gritted his teeth and spoke nervously, "...Yes. We failed to catch the targets... or the girls you wanted."

"Oh?" The man observing the experimental tube frowned. "That is a shame... Well, don't worry, I'll send another team to the city to get them."

"Understood." The mask man in dark clothing nodded in understanding. "But..." He seems  grimaced.

"?"

"We got reports that one of our bases near Kalren was destroyed, meaning someone or a group is starting to hunt and take down our bases."

"Is it the Headmistress or the Midnight Order?"

"Not really, I don't think it's them, but the searching team did find something."

The mask man in dark clothing pulled out a document from a dimensional rift he created before giving it to the man.

Looking at the document silently which showed a picture of the logo of six crows and a few paragraphs of the report, the man lowered the documents and spoke to the guy with the mask.

"I see, it seems there is a new party hunting us down. I should plan this later, you on the other hand, continue your job."

"Understood." The mask man in dark clothing nodded and sighed in relief.

"Good. If there is nothing else, you can leave. Don't bother me if it's not important."

"Yes, Boss."

The mask man in black clothing stood up and bowed respectfully before leaving.

After he left, the man addressed as "Boss" continued looking at the experimental tube. He stared at the black mass thing floating in it as though he wanted to discover all its secrets.

He seemed like he was spellbound by whatever was in the tube. Unfortunately, his observation was interrupted by a voice that gave you Joker vibes.

"Hi, old friend! I have come to visit you. I see that your interest in the Blight has not waned."

The man wrinkled his brows, "Three, what do you want?"

"Nothing much. And please don't call me by my code name. You already know I hate being called that."

The voice called [Three] or the Enemy Demigod, the one who fought Samara back in the city chuckled slightly. 

"I just want to know if you have another creature you can lend me."

"Another? What happened to the one I gave you before?"

"Well, I released it. I wanted to get data about its behavior and see if it could find a way to reproduce itself. Unfortunately, it died before it could reach that point, somehow it actually got killed by something, which in my theory could be someone going on a frenzy, targeting our Organization, just like one of our bases near Kalren was destroyed, or should I say erased without leaving a trace. Well, back to that experiment I just did, I acquired interesting data thanks to that, so it was a good tradeoff."

"You released it?" The man asked casually. "Even if our modifications eliminated the creature's devouring ability, releasing it is not a good idea. Do you want to repeat the catastrophic event that happen a thousand years ago?" He said indifferently. Ignoring the other part about an unknown person went on a frenzy towards their organization, which he already knew from the other report.

"Why? You don't like it? I always thought that was your goal, Zero."

The man, who goes by the name of Zero, did not reply. He simply looked at the experimental tube as though he had not heard Marrow or Three's question.

In the end, Marrow clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

"How boring. Hey, will you give me another creature or not?"

"One of my men will send it to you in a few days."

"Nice. I will wait for it then, I'll tell you if I find anything interesting. And, oh wait, can you only send the creature from Site-66? The one near the City of Halledge in the Kingdom of Atira?"

"No."

"Man, you are really boring. I would love to see that beautiful woman Veltras Reisse, hehehe, thinking about her makes me wanna pull her hair and fu-"

"Three, are you seriously trying to talk like that about my niece in front of me?" Zero question coldly, a killing intent of death that could end all life of a world was then produced from his body.

"Yes- I mean no." Three answered nervously.

Feeling his Boss' killing intent when talking about his niece, Marrow couldn't help but sweated bullets, even his a Saint Demigod that could end worlds, the Boss, however was on a completely different level on strength and power, even using World-class Items or S-rank Items, Super Tier magic or anything to throw at him is still not enough.

So without saying a word, he steps towards the exit before saying his goodbye.

Zero did not reply. Instead he pulls out a metal box in his hand before a holographic screen appears. On the other side appears to be a silhouette sitting.

Even if the silhouette in the screen is not here, he emitted an aura of mystery and fear, making Zero slightly sweat or his heart pumping faster for a split second.

"Is there anything to ask me?"

The person on the other side spoke, his tone gave off a vibe of dominance and numerous things within it that nearly choked Zero.

Coughing for a few times, getting used to the terrifying pressure numerous times, Zero explains everything to the silhouette about the third party.

"I see... don't disappoint me next time, Zero. Or you will know what happened with the other Zeros in the other worlds in my domain.

"I understand, Master."

"Good, it seems like a waste of time but you did report me an important information, I will be off then. As I will give EXCEED and his group another mission towards Universe-25185100062 right now."

After saying this, the holographic screen disappeared, leaving Zero alone in the room.

After he put the device back in his pocket, he didn't sit nor do any other task.

Instead, he continued staring at the experimental tube fixedly. It was as though nothing could move his gaze away.