Picnic?

"My Lord, the puppeteer has been captured." A voice spoke from the shadows.

"At this moment? How did he get captured?" A creepy voice bellowed out in a half hiss, half rage.

"The information hasn't yet leaked out, my Lord." The voice of the servant replied.

"That fool's ability was crucial to our plan." The hiss reverberated through the room. "What about the half transformation?"

"The half transformation template has been achieved. We are just lacking sufficient gene expressions to sustain a complete state." The servant replied. "Though, we've located a potentate who could be a perfect match."

"A perfect match? Is it ⁰the kid with the Diamond body who fought with the template?" The Lord asked.

"It is indeed him. Our original plan was to bait him out to use him as a template, but we've lost more than half of our force." The servant replied.

"Have you found out the reason Shadowness was captured?" The hissing voice trilled, as a terrifying aura filled with rage shook the room. All the current issues had cropped up because of that one unexpected factor.

"It appears to be the work of a rogue ability user." The servant humbly replied as he played footage of the incident where Shadowness was hit by the van.

"A very peculiar ability. Shadowness couldn't escape despite transforming. Is it a type of curse? Flush him out!" The hissing voice trilled.

---

Emily Miles walked out of the meeting in the conference room with a calm face coupled with cold eyes.

Everything, had just been a trap for Miles-Teller to swallow the Briggs corporation. Her eyes flickered as she saw the jovial look on her dad's face, satisfied at accomplishing a tactical maneuver at the expense of his own son.

She remembered when Adrian had come to her, explaining the terrifying whirlpool he was being pulled into and how she had promised him to clear everything out, yet she had ended up completely helpless and watching everything take place from the sidelines. Yet, she felt paralyzed by responsibility. She knew that if she acted in a rogue manner, she would put the corporation at odds with the hidden powers.

---

"The school has decided to organize a team building excursion for the final year students." The teacher calmly announced in class.

"Excursion? Where to?" Someone absently mumbled out. "Are we going out on a picnic?"

The teacher didn't seem to show any reaction. Her eyes were sleepy and dreamy, and she seemed completely disinterested in life. "You need to sign a risk waiver form. The trip will take students to the Memphis Zone."

"Memphis Zone? What the....?"

"Wait, could it really be... that ... Memphis Zone?"

"So, you've heard of any other place named Memphis Zone?"

"Uhh, no. I was just surprised."

Adrian raised his hand, asking for permission to speak. Other students quietened down and the teacher gestured at him to speak.

"Is this trip only for those who have awakened?" Adrian asked gently.

The teacher shook her head. "There are no restrictions on participation. Everyone should realize that entering the Memphis Zone is tantamount to putting yourself in danger. Keep that in mind when you submit your risk waiver forms."

Adrian sat back down, deep in thought. The Memphis Zone was something every student learned about growing up. He was shocked that the school was willing to take students to the Memphis Zone.

There was once a time in history when humans didn't have any abilities. All humans were more or less equal status and the world was run on principles of egalitarianism.

The political dominion of the world was separated into several hundred nation states, competing against each other for economic power in an era of unstable peace. This unstable peaceful era, however, was wrecked by an incident, about which little is known today.

However, many of the most populous cities of that era, turned into the disaster zones of today. This transformation also correlated with the rise of ability users. Memphis Zone is one of these disaster zones, that once used to be a city called Singapore City.

The Memphis Zone used to be a large metropolis whose population made up much of that of its country, a relatively tiny but rich nation of the same name.

Now, the entire island nation was known as the Memphis Zone. An island that was abandoned by human society. Today, the government's various departments, private conglomerates who seek permits and other organizations have bases on the coast of the island, as a focal point to explore the Memphis Zone. The Memphis Zone was an incredibly profitable exploration zone.

Why was exploring Memphis profitable? This was because the disaster zone was filled with countless treasures, resources, mysteries and dangers that were desired by ability users. There were no lack of stories about awakeners who had sub grade 5 powers return from the Memphis Zone with a transformed super ability, which was an ability whose grade had surpassed 10.

Adrian thought about the pros and cons of heading to the Memphis Zone as part of the school's group. He guessed that the group might probably be led by teachers and the student council. Still, the Memphis Zone would be extremely dangerous to visit. Adrian felt like he needed to think more over the matter.

---

In the student council room, Cran stood up from the couch. "Memphis Zone? Why is the school being so adventurous? That's a Grade 3 Danger Zone!"

Lear and Janice didn't look particularly surprised. "This year's high school graduation exam will be unlike any we've seen before." Lear calmly explained to Cran and Trix, who looked at each other in surprise.

"Our school isn't the only one planning to send students to a Danger Zone, though Memphis seems too adventurous." Janice added.

"What do you two mean?" Trix asked. "How and why are they changing the grad exam?"

Lear shrugged. "That, I am not sure about." He said with a thoughtful look. "However, there have been rumors that the government is intending on turning the graduation exam into a battle ground."