Chapter 31: Rescue team
Back at the base's central hub, the head instructors were all shocked to suddenly see Maze's life sign fizzle out.
Dutch shook his head slowly, releasing a heavy sigh. "A casualty this early. Such an unfortunate boy. He must have split off from the group momentarily and gotten picked off by a puppy."
Kate nodded grimly as she studied the hologram.
"That seems to be the case. The others aren't moving anymore. Maybe they finally noticed and are now being more careful."
Ty remained silent, his expression darkening as he watched the display.
Dutch turned to Kate. "What was his name again?"
"Maze Art," Kate replied with a grimace. "one of the many children of Commander Terra Art. I really don't look forward to informing her about what happened to her son."
Dutch simply shrugged.
"It's unfortunate, but it shouldn't come as a surprise to her. Knights die all the time. She should have prepared herself for this possibility when she sent him to us."
Before Kate could respond, another signal flashed red, then disappeared. Then another, then another. At the same time, they were receiving signals from the devices of multiple trainees who had given up.
Dutch stood up abruptly, knocking his chair backward
"What in the emperor's name is happening? why are so many of them dying so fast!? And why are the rest of them giving up so easily?"
They noticed the other dots moving again, far faster this time, as they began spreading out.
Kate's face drained of color as she came to a terrifying realisation. "Oh no.... They must have run into a pack of puppies immediately they got to the second area. She clutched the edge of her arm-rest. "We have to get out there immediately and save whoever we still can."
"I can't believe the puppies numbers have increased this much, so soon. There are even puppies brave enough to get this close to our base" she added, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ty finally rose from his seat, his jaw clenched in frustration as he strode towards the door. "Don't worry about it, I'll go. I'll take a few of the combat instructors with me just in case."
Kate shivered as she watched more trainees life signals blink out one by one. "This... this is all my fault. I... I should have called for an extermination squad like the commander instructed. Now... most of them are going to die, because of me."
Dutch sighed as he knelt beside Kate, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Now's not the time to pass blame. There's still hope for them. Ty is going to do his best to save them, so let's just pray he gets to them in time."
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The hangar doors slid open as Ty stepped out into Tomber's relentless storm, gripping a Heart blade in his right hand. Unlike standard-issue weapons, the blade was semi-translucent, reflecting and refracting the dim light of it's surroundings. Behind him stood several combat instructors, armed with an assortment of guns, swords, and spears, awaiting his orders.
Ty exhaled slowly, trying his best to focus.
He drew in a deep breath, filling his lungs completely, then began to exhale again. As he did this time, a shimmering bubble began to form from his mouth, expanding steadily until it was just as big as him. It changed colours several times until it finally settled on Red.
With a final push, Ty released the bubble as it hovered just above the snow-covered ground. Without hesitation, he stepped through it, emerging on the other side with a faint crimson aura enveloping his body.
"There's no time to waste. Go through it one by one," he ordered.
Several instructors exchanged glances, before sighing in resignation as they stepped through the bubble one at a time. Each emerged with the same crimson aura surrounding them.
This was Instructor Ty's Heart shard ability: Status Bubbles. It granted him the power to create bubbles capable of applying different status effects to himself or anyone he permitted to pass through them. Currently, Ty and the other instructors were imbued with Red, which enhanced their speed tenfolds of what it was originally.
Ty addressed all the instructors with a serious expression.
"You all have monitors showing you the positions of each trainee. Saving them is your main priority. killing the puppies is mine."
His expression hardened as he continued.
"Remember the protocol. If a trainee hasn't surrendered yet, you are not authorized to intervene directly. Inform them that they will only receive help once they officially surrender. If they refuse, move on to the next signal."
He looked each instructor in the eye, one by one. "Is that understood?"
"YES SIR!" the instructors responded in perfect unison.
Ty nodded.
""Good, now let's move."
They moved with supernatural speed. Their forms blurring as they raced towards the mountain path.