The Birth of The Calamity

The door of the Crystal Palace opened with a bang, seemingly capable of sensing that participants to challenge its master had arrived. White mists then rose from within, giving chills to everyone present. 

"G-Guild Leader..." 

With their knees weakening, the members huddled together. At least, what was commendable was that they did not break their formation. 

Kamille looked intently at the inviting door as he exhaled. "Let's go." 

The direct command stays firm even at this moment. He took a step back and slowly started walking, leading the group to the terrifying den of a monster. 

Rise's mind lingered at Kamille's back, following closely behind him. His hand never left the inside of his coat, fiddling with it. 

The members also trailed behind them, not as confident as the two. 

The more that they got closer and stepped inside the Crystal Palace, the aura it exuded only increased with each passing moment. Most guides had put their most focus on walking. 

Each step was heavier, consuming their energy. 

And above all... It was cold—too cold, even. 

Even with specialized hot packs, enough to last a few hours in the most extreme cold in the Arctic, could barely handle the cold. Soon, most members were already shivering, wrapping themselves in their hands. 

Rise glanced at them for a second; the word 'Pathetic' was written in his eyes. However, no one actually noticed it this time; everyone was just busy fighting the cold and fearing the terrifying aura that was lingering in the air. 

He decided not to pay attention to them and to observe the inside of the Crystal Palace. 

Compared to the beauty and pristine image of its outward appearance, the interior seemed empty and underwhelming. Under the novelty of the glass walls, floors, and ceiling, nothing was seen. 

There were not even any decorations at all. 

If Rise would label it, the Crystal Palace was just that... a block of beautiful ice sculpture of a palace. 

"There's no enemy," Rise muttered to the group, or more like just to Kamille. The guild members were too useless at this stage in time, and Rise couldn't care less about their opinions. 

Kamille's brows had long been furrowed, bewildered by this development. The Crystal Palace should be the core of this gate, and yet... No one was here. 

There weren't any monsters guarding this place. 

"And it's the problem," Kamille answered Rise as he roamed his eyes around, looking for any clues that the naked eye would not be able to see. 

He stopped, and so did the others. 

"Be vigilant." He didn't raise his voice, but it still echoed in the empty crystal palace, creating an eerie atmosphere. 

Kamille had no clue what was going on, but this was not a good sign. He started walking again, at a slower pace this time. 

It was so quiet, aside from their shoes and sandals hitting the floor as they walked further inside. 

The place not having any enemies did not ease the tension that arose in the group; it even intensified it. 

They were not the best, but they were still elites at the end of the day. They knew just how abnormal the situation they were in. 

Rise's eyes wandered around, his pupils a shade of blue. 

"Strange..." Rise whispered to himself. This place seemed too peaceful. 

If not for the powerful aura, which undoubtedly belongs to a terrifying entity surrounding the whole palace, Rise would think this place was abandoned and harmless. 

Wait... abandoned?

Rise's eyes squinted, and as he happened to look at Kamille, the other also coincidentally turned to his side, their eyes meeting. 

The two seemed to have the same guess; their eyes were speaking with each other. 

"Was it?" Rise whispered, now standing beside Kamille. 

Kamille touched his chin, contemplating this angle. "It's possible," he answered. 

Rise felt slightly deflated. 

Was this place really abandoned? Then, the lingering aura was really like the remnant aura of a Viscount. So... That means Kamille really did not fight a Viscount, and that was the reason they managed to clear the gate within two days. 

He was a bit disappointed at that thought. Sigh, I'm really terrible at being disappointed over this. 

Yet, soon... The situation finally changed. 

It was still empty, with no enemy in sight, and yet there at the center of the palace lay a crystal coffin. Surrounding it was faint white smoke, showing just how cold it would be in that area. 

The group shivers; Kamille's expression hardens, and Rise bites his lips, his eyes glowing. 

He was only barely at the start of his plan. Something was very important and crucial to his plan. Without it, even if he joined the Guild and became Kamille's party member, their relationship would not progress in the direction he desires. 

And this terrifying entity would help him immensely. Gaining him a year's worth of time.

Ahh, I'm such an opportunistic and terrible motherfucker, huh? Even though he said that, his eyes were smiling. 

Give it to me. 

"Stay." Kamille raised his right hand, his other hand firmly grasping his sword, ready for combat at any given time. 

Rise, while anticipating something, also stood straight, not slacking for any unexpected event. He was still an Esper with a considerable work ethic while on a mission, even with his ulterior motives. 

The group behind also took the stance; the shield was ready to be put up, but their hands were trembling. Hayes, in front, could barely handle it. 

This aura... It was something they had never encountered before. The Guides gritted their teeth, trying to hold on, but it seemed they would collapse soon. 

"Guild Leader... th-this..." 

Rise did not bother to look who it was; his eyes glowed as tears trickled at the corners of his eyes. He did not mind the pain, though; he continued looking at the Crystal Coffin and the changes that were happening. 

"It's here..." Rise mumbled, too excited and insane to turn off Detect. 

One was the opportunity, and the other was the fighting spirit etched in his bones as an Esper. 

The white smoke began to rise and even boil; the floor around the coffin showed cracks. The wind also picked up, but as someone on their side was the master of winds, it barely had an effect on them. 

The aura surged, the light dimmed, and in the back of their minds, an echo of a heartbeat began to pound, almost hammering their heads. 

The group groans, the guides, and those with weaker constitutions, like the C-rank Espers, vomited blood and collapsed without any warning. Just like that, the formation was ruined. 

"I-I ca..."

"Guild..." 

Groans and panic calls to Kamille resounded, but Kamille did not turn around; his attention was only fixed on the changes in the coffin and the entity that was about to wake up. 

Hayes, with tears streaming in his eyes, still trying to hang on. The others were not much better.

Rise blinked, finally averting his eyes from the coffin, and then looked at Kamille before shifting at the members. 

His eyes did not have much empathy or pity. In fact, Rise also barely handled this kind of aura, but his ability made him stand steadily. 

Rise only swept his eyes around once to check on the members before returning to Kamille. 

People often say Kamille Han of the Dark Crimson Guild was emotionless and cold, the type to choose the completion of the mission over the lives of his members. 

In fact, that was true. At least, to the Kamille of this time. Perhaps only changing slightly in the future.

He had read something on the forum before, but it was not popular. Rise to see that proved just how obsessed he was with everything Kamille-related stuff. 

When Kamille Han was born... The greatest calamity was also born. 

Rise thought, it was such a beautiful quote. He really did.