Chapter 84: The Sky Was Really Falling

“What did you say?”

For a moment, the researcher with the file in hand thought he had heard wrongly. He raised his head now and asked with a perplexed look on his face, “What do you mean by they were attacked?”

“Who asked you not to bring along your comms—— The ‘Clay Idol Project’ factory reported an attack!”

The researcher on the ladder climbed down quickly and repeated each and every word.

“Someone intruded into the Machine Loop. Factories 01, 07, and 13 have been completely destroyed. Not to mention the stockpiled resources and materials, the third batch of semi-finished artificial humans, as well as the newly refined philosopher’s stones, are all there—It’s a big problem.”

Taking a deep breath, he continued, “We must hurry and head to a safe zone. Factory 07 isn’t very far away from here. If the philosopher’s stones that haven’t been stabilized ignite, even this place would be obliterated.”

His partner instantly paled and pointed to a direction with a slightly panicked look on his face. “Maiss, let’s head in that direction. It’s quicker this way.”

Maiss had already picked up his toolbox on the ground and started walking. As they walked, he prattled on, “Sigh, what a pity. Those artificial human samples were the most completed batch yet. Although the majority of them were still in the embryo stage, their vital signs had already started to stabilize. The aetheric affinity had also achieved an unprecedented level of 150%…”

As he went on and on, he asked his partner, “Rick, who do you think attacked us? Picking such a time where a large amount of our effort and attention was on the newly appeared S-Rank dream beast is just too much of a coincidence.”

Rick picked up some of the scattered papers he had dropped in his fluster and replied, “Don’t bother too much about it. Would all your worrying help the higher-ups with their strategic planning?

“We need to hurry! We will lose our lives if it really blows!”

Just as he finished speaking, the two researchers heard a loud crash.

The two of them simultaneously turned around towards where the sound came from and witnessed a thick blast door falling from a height. From where they were, they could vaguely discern the blast door’s severely deformed shape.

They watched as the door fell in front of them, followed by the sound of metal colliding and shaking all around them.

This place was primarily an intersecting zone for factories with a hollow ring support and many attached pathways.

The two looked down for a moment when another explosion sounded from above.

This time, it was louder and more intense.

In the distance, thick smoke emitted from the ends of an elevated pathway, which covered the upper floors in an instant.

The two researchers immediately exchanged glances and saw the frightened face of the other. It has really blown up!

“Run!”

Both of them started running like hell.

Midway through their escape, Maiss’ comms suddenly beeped again.

Maiss flipped out his communications device and halted in his tracks when he saw what was displayed.

“What’s wrong?”

Rick was opening a door when he turned around to ask. A very bad feeling appeared when he saw Maiss’ pale and defeated face.

“The Aether Annihilation Cannon has been destroyed,” said Maiss through chattering teeth.

Rick froze for a second before he rushed over and grabbed the communications device to see the message on it.

“All personnel take notice. The Aether Annihilation Cannon has been destroyed. Status is raised to Category One alert. Personnel of D-Rank and higher are to remain at their posts. P-Rank and White-level personnel are to head to safe zones immediately…”

A second message arrived just as he finished reading.

“All personnel take notice…”

A third message was received.

The three messages that were sent in quick succession were entirely the same.

Even though Rick was already in shock, he couldn’t help questioning, “Why was this message sent three times? To emphasize a point?”

“Did you ever read the segment on notification formats in our factory’s manual for important matters?”

Maiss remained expressionless as he saw Rick shaking his head and muttered, “Only a single notification can be sent regarding the same matter.”

Rick stayed silent for a moment before grimacing. “That means to say that a total of three Aether Annihilation Cannon batteries were destroyed in succession.”

Glancing at the still dusky sky that had ceased raining, Maiss heard the rumble of a factory collapsing in the distance.

He felt that the sky… was really falling.

———

Boom…

Steel framework collapsed and explosions rang out. Flames leaped out from the scorched building rubble, licking away at everything and filling the air with the acrid smell of smoke.

Reagent fluids that sprayed all over the ground and flammable