--


    Squad #1 continued rushing towards the nearest extraction zone as quickly as they could.


    Because they were moving fast and making a lot of noise, they were attracting demons on their way. Fortunately, they didn''t be a problem because once again, Cedric became active.


    He carved a way out for this squad, bisecting and reducing demons to ash in a single swing of his sword, nothing could slow them down. His squad members were also helping as best as they could.


    "There! I can see it!" One of the scanners eximed.


    The extraction zone finally came into view, causing the squad to breathe a sigh of relief. They only need to arrive there and the HQ will beam them back to the other side of the wall, which will get them out of this ce - which will about to get catatonic because of the iing horde.


    Seeing their goal within sight, they went even faster, eager and looking forward to getting out of this ce as soon as possible.


    Unfortunately...


    "Get down!!!" Cedric roared at his team who obeyed his orders before they could even think.


    They all dove to the ground at the exact moment a ray of pitch-ck light flew across the horizon,nding at a certain spot of the Eastern Great Wall and causing widespread destruction.


    An explosion urred which felt like the world was ending due to its intensity. A terrifying energy swept through the vicinity of the impact, containing a dreadful amount of corruption and destruction. Any human who was exposed to it would be greatly affected by this aura, especially the weaker ones.


    Thanks to Cedric rming the team early, they were mostly okay after impact. The aftershock nearly blew them away and forced them to be scattered but Cedric held on to them by creating ropes of ki and wrapping around their waists.


    He also erected a barrier at the moment of the impact to dampen the force they had to endure while also releasing a thick pulse of ki to counteract the corruption it contained.


    Everybody was fine, a little shocked and terrified, but fine. That doesn''t mean that they''re happy though.


    Especially after seeing arge brown cloud filled with purple lightning umting in front of the Great Wall. The residue of that pitch-ck ray of energy still lingered as well, trying to corrupt humans and causing demons to turn hysterical.


    "What the fuck!? What is happening now?"


    "Is that the horde?"


    "What is that?"


    "The Great Wall! Don''t tell me..."


    Cedric couldn''t even stop his team from panicking at the sight because even he was frightened.


    That was too close forfort. He couldn''t even react properly to that, he only saw that ray of ck light streaking across the air at an astonishing speed. All he could do was to warn his team and that''s it.


    Fortunately, they weren''t the target of that thing or else they would''ve died before knowing what hit them.


    Still, as the squad leader, he couldn''t afford the luxury of staying idle. Especially not when they are in immediate danger. He didn''t know what that ray of ck light was nor that brown cloud with purple lightning either. But he does know that the horde is stilling and they don''t have much time left.


    He tapped his badge rhythmically to connect to HQ, they''re right next to the wall right now so he should be able to connect.


    "Squad Leader #1 to HQ, do you copy?" Cedric asked but all he got was a static sound from the other line. "I repeat, Squad Leader #1 to HQ, do you copy?"


    ms...*buzz*...down...fixing...15 to 20 minu—...*buzz*...copy?"


    "#1 to HQ, I can''t hear you properly, the connection is awful. Am Iing to you clear?" Cedric asked.


    "...*buzz*...Yes!"


    "Good. I was able to pick up some words you said earlier. Am I safe to assume that thems and the transmission functions are down because of that attack just now?"


    "...Yes!"


    "You''re fixing it and you need us to wait anywhere between 15-20 minutes before extracting us out of here?"


    "...yes...*buzz*...yes..."


    Cedric took a deep breath after his guess was confirmed. His squad members could literally feel the pressure mounting on his shoulders turning heavier at that very moment, which made them feel awful. Yet Cedric''s face hardened with resolve as said:


    "Can you at least connect me to other squads that are in the same situation as us? I assume that they wouldn''t be able to connect with you either and that would cause them to panic greatly. I will let them know of your situation and pass on the expectations."


    The squad watched as Cedric began arming himself in preparation for what was toe. They could just feel the resolve rolling off of him in waves, affecting them as well.


    It was at this moment that they knew that this wasn''t something they could avoid. They are about to go on a fight for survival, and they will need to harden their resolve if they want to make it out of here alive.


    "...*buzz*...you are connected...*buzz*...need to fix this...*buzz*...godspeed...—ver and out..."


    "#1 to HQ, over and out."


    Cedric terminated the connection to the HQ and tapped his badge rhythmically again to connect to the other leaders who were stuck in the same position as they were.


    He took a deep breath before cing the badge near his mouth to say: "Attention to all Squad Leaders, this is #1 speaking..."


    **


    Squad #2 led by Garrick...Squad #4, Squad #6, Squad #8, Squad #10, Squad #15...


    These are the squads who chose the same option as Squad #1 - to go on a double shift, and are now stuck in this current predicament.


    They heard the explosion, and some even directly felt it. Most of them were panicking and the leaders had been trying to contact HQ since it happened.


    All of them received notice of the Demon Hordeing and were ordered to take their team to the nearest extraction zone. Some were there already while others were still on the way. All, however, remained stuck outside because of what happened a few moments ago.


    To their horror, they couldn''t contact the HQ properly. All they were receiving was static. In this, Cedric was luckier than them because, at the very least, he is call was heard and answered...albeit with great difficulty.


    Most of the Squads who were caught outside were now panicking. All semnce of order was lost in the face horde of death and decay, as well as the unknown variable lurking just outside of walls in the form of a brown cloud filled with purple lightning.


    "We''re gonna die!"


    "Over...it''s all over!"


    "Mom...Dad...I''m sorry, but it seems that your son will head over to the afterlife earlier than you. I just wish I could see your faces onest time..."


    "Mother...Father...I''ming over there, we will finally be reunited."


    "Noo! I don''t wanna die!!"


    Everybody disyed a certain stage of grief in the face of their iing demise. And as much as the leaders tried to restore order and empower their team, the fear and corruption took hold of them and refused to let go.


    That''s when the leaders'' badges emitted a crisp sound that alerted everybody. Next, a strong and vigorous voice echoed in their ears.


    "Attention to all Squad Leaders, this is #1 speaking. HQ connected me to you upon my request to ry some important details to you."


    Cedric''s unmistakable voice sounded out, and because of the impression he left on everybody, his voice broke them out of their despair-filled pity party, returning them to the present and giving them a moment of rity.


    "Pulse, you idiots!"


    They heard him roar and much to everybody''s amazement, they followed his orders before they could even think.


    "I''ll assume that you are clear-headed now. If so, good. If not, ask somebody to punch you in the face, that might help."


    "You all felt that explosion earlier. You all saw that ray of ck light as well as that brown cloud with purple lightning just outside the wall. I don''t know what caused those either but what I know is that it banged up the HQ, causing thems and the transmissions to malfunction, that''s why we can''t contact them or have them take us out of here."


    "My team''s position is closer to the gates, so we can connect and receive advice, albeit with great difficulty. They told me that they are working to fix the problems on their side and it might take them anywhere between 15-20 minutes...their words, not mine. But that''s the only thing we can hold on for."


    "The Demon Horde ising." They heard Cedric take a deep but shaky breath in.


    That is when they realized that he too was afraid, but unlike them, he isn''t allowing it to control him. He''s resolved as much as he''s afraid. And that''s incredibly admirable.


    "This isn''t something we can''t avoid now so strap in, losers. This is gonna be a wild ride."


    "Some of us will live. We will be injured, we will be tired, we might even lose a limb or two. If that happens, walk it off."


    "I won''t tell you to die gloriously. We''re a little too young for that. But if you''re gonna die anyway, take some demons out with you to do us all a favor. If you''re gonna go out, then go out swinging. Don''t just open your arms and ept death. Fight back, damn it."


    "But more importantly, I want all of you to endure," Cedric stated with a strong voice. "There is hope, we are not abandoned. We haverades on the opposite side of the walls doing their best to save us. Have faith and stand your ground...and kill some more demons."


    "Communicate with your team and cover each other''s back. Break your limits and show them what you''re made of."


    "This concludes my message. #1 over and out."


    Unbeknownst to Cedric, the HQ connected him not only to the Squads that were stuck outside but also to all of the Squad Leaders. This means that other cadets who were safe from this tragedy also heard his announcement.