The Martial Unity

While everyone was distracted, Leonel had already moved, making it to Conrad and James in a few steps and grabbing a side of the latter's collar himself. Another person might have chosen to fight off Conrad first, but Leonel was well aware how foolish such a choice was.

No matter what just happened, securing James' safety came first. No matter what happened between them, James was still his best friend. And, luckily, he had the now darkened lights on his side.

As expected, Conrad wasn't able to react. Seeing that Leonel now had a firm grip on James himself, he could only let go, allowing Leonel to pull James up.

"Leo…?" James' words slurred.

It was only now that Leonel realized James had actually been unconscious. It was likely his head that had smashed the window apart, it wouldn't be surprising if he was diagnosed with a concussion. Coupling that with the fact he was drunk and it was a recipe for disaster.

"Heeey, maaan. You're late, my sister-in-law was waiting on yoouu…"

Leonel sucked in a cold breath through his teeth when James heavily leaned on him. He was really in no shape to be taking on such a burden, but he still carried him out, letting him sit on the couch.

"Chef, do you have any gas burners back there? We need some light." Leonel called out.

The Four-Star Chef who had not said a word even when James' life was on the line finally looked a bit shaken. He didn't seem to know what was going on.

"… Yes… We use a blow torch for the finishing touches of certain dishes…"

He absentmindedly fumbled through the dark, pulling out the draw of a hidden compartment to take the torch he was speaking of. But, before he could think to hand it to Leonel, it happened.

In that few minutes, it felt that the planet would collapse. A cacophony of booms so loud Leonel had no choice but to cover his ears sounded. The earth beneath their feet trembled fiercer, the building swaying wildly from left to right.

It was then that Leonel froze. He didn't need to think to know what was causing this…

The Paradise Islands!

'Dad…'

A bout of worry seized Leonel's chest. No Paradise Islands were allowed to have routes that crossed over important landmarks. The top ten Academies, government buildings, and historical landmarks all fit this description. So, they were safe, for better or worse.

However, Leonel didn't care about his own safety. He was worried about his father.

Higher class Paradise Islands like the ones him and his father lived on had several safety features in case an event just like this one happened, however they weren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. This was especially so considering the scope of this power outage.

of the high rise skyscrapers first, it could slow its descent enough to save his father's life. These skyscrapers

could

behind. However, before everything happened, their wrist watches had warned of a Class 9 Code Red. It was very obvious that there was

earth with his hands firmly clasped over his ears. It was lucky that their buildings were built with the highest earthquake technology, or there was no way it would have lasted this

didn't think often of the Paradise Islands above their heads. They would occasionally obscure

they became more and more aware that each represented

the fourth floor lobby along with

warned of had yet to even begin, yet billions had already died. What kind

Leonel with unconcealed pity. Even though he had closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, keeping his visage expressionless as he covered his ears, they

their families were affluent enough to have a home on the surface, not all of them were able to have a home in those protected zones. Their families might very well

was only now that they had become aware

work as though nothing had happened. He

glass on the bottom ledge of the windowsill had left deep gashes

a few scented candles from a resident of

was unsure if the medics they had on standby for the game were still here, or if they had left to their homes. After all, it had been over an hour, approaching two, since the game ended. He didn't have the luxury

slowly removed pieces of glass stuck in his flesh. Finally, he wrapped them after disinfecting with some cooking

"Love you, man…"

help but think he was the luckiest one of them all. Even if they tried to sleep

turning empty for a

he knew that the best answer was to stay put. Everyone else knew as well. As one of

this Code Red? Was it just a worldwide power outage? Leonel had a feeling that it was more, but he had to admit to himself that he had no real evidence for this being the case. It was just that…

that caused this outage actively. It wasn't a mistake, but rather an event even their

we have room and board. The academy also stockpiles several years worth of food in an abundance of caution thanks to previous rebellion and hostage

its usual carrying capacity due to the game and the after party. Also, without power, the

I'm being overly paranoid. The food here is enough to last a month easily before

to act frugally out of caution, but another part understood that unless people had evidence toward how

wanted to go and see if

can't

such a mess of vomit would be cleaned easily with their high-tech. But, this was obviously impossible now. It wasn't

from walking

it seemed that Conrad wasn't destined to

and that the dormitory was collapsing. But in the next instant, he saw something he would never forget in

description of one, but he had a vivid enough imagination to know that if there ever was a spatial tear, it would look exactly like this. Maybe the only thing that deviated from his fanciful image was the fact it lit

abrupt cognitive dissonance, its black, starry innards,