Chapter 48: Man-Made Disasters (3)

“Attention! Eisenburg is now under Level 2 alert!”

“All non-combatants, proceed to the nearest civil defense shelters immediately!”

“Repeat…”

The broadcast blared incessantly, echoing over the city.

Sirens shattered the streets’ former peace.

Crowds surged, shouts and cries rising, as families scrambled toward shelters…

Amid the chaos, a small Eisenburg escort team moved against the flow—

They guarded a frail figure in a Saintess robe, hurrying toward an unremarkable old building at the city’s edge.

“Saintess, stay close,” the lead escort urged, his voice muffled by his mask.

The girl called “Saintess” nodded meekly, her blue eyes brimming with fear.

She clutched her plain white robe, steps stumbling, looking pitiably fragile.

“What’s… happening out there?” she asked faintly.

“Just a minor skirmish,” the captain replied briefly. “Her Majesty has it handled. You’ll be fine.”

The team navigated the city’s routes expertly, ducking into alleys to avoid the crush.

The girl bit her lip, her gaze flickering toward the distant explosions.

“Really… will it really be okay?” she asked again, voice trembling with tears.

“Absolutely.”

A younger escort spoke up to comfort her:

“Even if the sky falls, we’ll keep you safe. Heaven wouldn’t let someone as kind as you get hurt.”

Tears welled in her eyes.

She wiped them with her sleeve, choking out, “Thank you… really, thank you…”

The escorts exchanged glances.

How could anyone want to harm such a delicate girl?

“Saintess, we’re here.”

The building was utterly plain, its crooked sign dangling outside…

A non descript three-story relic.

Peeling walls, broken windows.

The captain pulled a special ID card from his belt, swiping it over a hidden reader in the wall.

Beep—

“Identity verified.”

“Welcome, high-priority user.”

A heavy iron door slid open, revealing an empty interior and a dark passage descending.

“Here…” The girl’s eyes widened, voice uneasy.

“We’re taking you to Her Majesty’s safehouse,” the captain soothed, his tone softening. “It’s the safest place in Eisenburg. You’ll be fine no matter what happens outside.”

Her eyes glistened, torn between worry and gratitude.

“Her Majesty… really did all this for me…?”

“Of course!” the young escort said firmly. “You’re our Saintess. Protecting you is our duty.”

They descended the passage, the door closing behind.

Two minutes later.

Another figure appeared at the building’s corner.

A gray-braided woman in a tank top and jeans, pulling a young girl, rushed to the door, panting.

“This is it!” She slapped her ID card on the hidden reader.

Beep—

“Identity verification failed.”

“What the hell?” She froze, trying again.

Beep—

“Identity verification failed.”

“Damn it… how can a high-priority card…!”

…

Footsteps echoed in the narrow tunnel.

After what felt like ages, a faint light appeared ahead.

The captain switched off his tactical flashlight, reaching a folding door under emergency lights and pulling it open.

Inside was a small elevator, its walls plastered with faded safety signs.

With a soft beep from the reader, he pressed the lowest floor’s button, closing the door.

Rumble—

The elevator descended, tunnel walls rushing upward.

The girl clutched her robe, knuckles white.

“Saintess, we’re almost there,” the young escort soothed:

“It’s safe, with food and water for over a month. Nothing to worry about.”

She shrank, glancing around: “Is it… a war out there? Are people hurt?”

“No issue,” the captain shook his head. “Eisenburg’s defenses are solid. Her Majesty foresaw this.”

The elevator sank for minutes before stopping.

At the tunnel’s end, a wide corridor opened.

The escorts surrounded the girl, moving forward, their steps loud in the quiet passage.

“It’s so far…” she murmured timidly.

“The farther, the safer,” the captain explained. “Over a hundred meters underground, top-tier protection. Even a nuclear blast wouldn’t touch you.”

Ahead was a thicker door—half a meter of steel with complex electronic locks.

The captain swiped his card, and with a hiss of hydraulics, the door opened…

A spacious room appeared.

Fully equipped: soft bed, refined dining table, books, even an old gramophone.

Warm-toned paintings hung on the walls, striving for a homely feel…

“This… is all for me?” The girl looked around, curious.

“Of course.” The escorts smiled.

The captain gestured inside: “Her Majesty said you deserve the best.”

She covered her mouth, nose reddening:

“I… I don’t know how to repay everyone…”

“No need!” the young escort grinned warmly. “Your safety is our greatest reward.”

The captain checked the room’s facilities, circling to ensure all was in order, then faced her: “Saintess, we’ll guard outside. Need anything, press this.”

He pointed to a red button on the wall.

“We’ll handle it immediately.”

“Wait… wait…” She stopped them, hands clasped, fingers fidgeting. “Can… can you stay a bit? I’m scared…”

“Of course.” The captain nodded:

“Your call.”

She gave a grateful smile, hurrying to sit on the bed.

Head lowered, she toyed with her skirt’s folds, long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks.

“Do you… have family?” she asked softly.

“Hm…” an escort replied. “I’ve got a daughter, about your age.”

“She must be so happy,” she said, eyes full of envy. “Having such a brave father to protect her…”

He scratched his head, sheepish: “Nah, just earning a living.”

“No, you’re heroes,” she said earnestly. “Risking your lives for everyone…”

Her voice choked:

“If… if I didn’t have this ability… would everyone be spared this danger…?”

“Don’t say that!” the young escort waved his hands:

“Your ability’s a gift from heaven! It gives us hope in this hellhole!”

“Without you, we’d have no future…”

“Really?” Her teary eyes met theirs.

“Really!” they chorused.

Rumble.

A quake shook the room briefly.

“It’s still…” she asked nervously. “What do we do?”

“No worries, trust them,” the captain reassured. “Our gear’s advanced. Casualties will be minimal.”

She nodded, but worry lingered.

She stood, pacing, pausing before a painting.

A pastoral scene—lush wheat fields gleaming under sunlight.

“So beautiful…” She touched the frame. “If only the outside could be like this…”

“It will,” the young escort said sincerely. “With you, it will!”

She turned, looking at these men risking death for her, complex emotions swirling.

“You… believe I can do it?”

“Of course!”

“Even… if I might let you down?”

“How could you? Someone as kind as you could never disappoint!”

She lowered her head, dark hair hiding her face.

Time ticked by, the surface’s chaos intermittent.

The escorts took turns calming her until she stabilized.

“I… want to rest,” she said, voice weary.

“Alright, rest well,” the captain nodded. “We’re right outside.”

The room fell quiet, save for the ventilation’s hum.

She stood in the center, blue eyes scanning everything.

Moments later, her timid expression sank into a devout void.

The shyness vanished, replaced by a serene emptiness.

She touched her chest, a satisfied smile forming.

“To save this world from suffering…”

She gripped her slender arm, her eyes deepening:

“Any sacrifice is necessary.”

Beep—

She stopped by the bed, clasping her hands, praying devoutly.

“Lord, forgive these lost lambs…”

“They know not what they do. Let me lead them to the light…”

Her voice grew faint, ethereal, like a siren’s song on a reef…

Meanwhile, in the corridor outside the safehouse.

The escorts stood guard, occasionally reporting via comms.

“All clear, no anomalies at the surface entrance,” a teammate’s voice crackled through.

“Copy. Maintain vigilance.”

The young escort glanced toward the room.

“Captain, something feels… off.”

“What’s off?”

“Can’t say, just…” He frowned. “The Saintess seems… different today.”

The captain paused.

“War makes everyone anxious. It’s normal.”

“But…”

“Focus on the mission,” the captain cut him off. “Our duty is to protect her. Nothing else matters.”

The young escort nodded, but unease lingered.

Her gaze today felt different…

The usual distance was gone, replaced by…

Tenderness?

Melancholy?

He couldn’t pin it down.

Like a once-kind stranger suddenly turning overly warm…

But wasn’t that how the Saintess always was?

Then, a soft chant drifted from the door’s crack.

A hymn?

The escorts exchanged looks.

“What’s she singing?” the young escort whispered.

The captain’s face grew grim.

He edged toward the door, straining to hear.

The song clarified…

—It was unmistakably the [Purification Church]’s hymn.

Something their Saintess would never sing…

The captain’s hand slid to his sidearm.

“Contact command now…” he whispered.

The young escort fumbled with the comms.

“Command, this is Saintess escort team, we have a situation…”

Zzt—

Only static screeched back…

The signal was jammed.

The singing stopped.

The girl’s face slowly emerged from the door’s crack…

“Thank you for your efforts…”

“May the Lord’s light shine upon you…”

The captain recoiled, aiming his weapon at her.

“Who are you!”

But it was too late…

“War… hunger… disease…” She didn’t answer. “She will come to save you…”

A faint beep-beep sounded from her.

A countdown?!

“All units, fall back! Now!!”

Ten.

The escorts obeyed, rushing toward the passage, their heavy gear slowing them.

Seven.

Six…

The young escort tripped, and the captain turned to pull him up.

Four.

Three.

“Run!!” The captain yanked him up, pushing him forward, but had no time to escape.

Two.

“No more pain.”

One…

Boom—!!!!

A sea of fire consumed everything.