Chapter 308: It’s Spreading
Breaking News.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
We apologize for the interruption to your regular program. We have updates on the ongoing situation in Jade Lantern District, one of the busiest districts in Solarys, the capital city of Concordia.
According to reports received less than five minutes ago, a massive and highly abnormal thunderstorm is currently affecting the Jade Lantern District. There are several reasons why this situation is considered unusual.
First, Solarys is currently in late autumn, approaching early winter, which is not typical thunderstorm season.
Second, the intensity of the storm. Wind speeds have been reported at no less than eighty kilometers per hour and continue to rise. As for the rainfall... I apologize, ladies and gentlemen, I have just received an update."
The news anchor pauses, listening intently to new information through his earpiece, his eyes briefly shifting to the teleprompter.
"Yes, we have the latest update. As of a few seconds ago, precipitation intensity has increased from 30 millimeters per hour to well over 80 millimeters per hour, with wind speeds now reaching 100 kilometers per hour. A thunderstorm of this magnitude has never been recorded in Solarys.
Third, and perhaps most concerning, is the localized nature of this phenomenon. The storm is confined within a fifteen-kilometer radius, with Jade Lantern District at its center. Outside this radius, conditions remain completely dry, with no rain, no wind, and no storm activity.
Casualties resulting from the mutated Level Six dungeon that appeared earlier today have now exceeded one hundred, with many more still unaccounted for.
Solarys DEU, under interim Chief Arthur Montrose, has been actively engaged in clearing operations as well as search and rescue efforts on site.
Monfort Industries has deployed two Sentinel units, multiple ambulances, several teams of doctors and nurses, as well as food supply vehicles. Within minutes, they have established a fully equipped medical facility capable of performing minor surgical procedures.
The number of casualties continues to rise... Oh... I am receiving new information... This is remarkable.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have just received confirmation that DEU has successfully cleared the dungeon and is now evacuating victims and survivors.
As you can see on your screen... I must apologize, the footage is heavily affected by the severe weather conditions, resulting in limited visibility.
However, we have received confirmation that Rhaenas was responsible for clearing the dungeon.
And they are now exiting the... No... we are receiving a correction. They have not fully exited yet. One of them has been injured.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are now joined by our field reporter, who is currently on site and taking shelter near the police perimeter.
Katie, can you hear me?"
[Yes, David. I can hear you.]
"Katie, can you tell us what you are seeing? Visibility on our end is extremely limited due to the weather."
[Yes, David. Conditions here are extremely severe. The wind and rain are so intense that I can barely hear you. I have to raise my voice just to communicate.
Regarding Rhaenas, only three of its members, along with Chief Lutherford, entered the dungeon. The four of them cleared it just minutes ago.
Out of those four, one individual is currently unconscious and appears to be injured. Their identity is not yet confirmed.
They are now being escorted out. I can see one of them being carried by another individual, but due to the weather conditions, I cannot clearly identify who they are.
We expect to have more details once visibility improves. That is all I have to report for now.]
"Thank you, Katie.
Ladies and gentlemen, we will continue to monitor this developing situation and bring you further updates as they become available.
I am David Locke, reporting for World News."
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Victor presses mute on the TV remote as his phone rings.
"Yeah, hello?" he answers, his eyes still fixed on the screen displaying the World News logo.
"Victor, the dungeon’s been cleared," Thomas says over the phone.
"Yeah, I know. I watched it on TV too," Victor replies, his gaze not leaving the screen.
"No," Thomas says, his tone strange.
Victor frowns.
"What? What do you mean ’no’?"
Thomas does not answer.
Instead, a soft beeping sound follows.
Victor glances at his phone.
Incoming video call request.
Thomas.
Victor presses accept.
"I didn’t watch the news," Thomas says. "I know it’s cleared because of this."
The screen shifts.
The Sphere appears.
Jade Lantern District is clearly visible on its surface. Unlike the muted colors across the rest of the Sphere, that area now looks almost like a live satellite feed.
But it is covered.
Covered in dark, shifting masses, like thick clusters of cotton.
Flashes of light flicker within them.
"What are those... dark cotton balls?" Victor asks, frowning.
Thomas exhales.
"I believe those are storm clouds. Representing the thunderstorm currently raging there."
"Thunderstorm? On the Sphere?" Victor’s disbelief is obvious. "Thomas, the Sphere is not a weather monitor."
"You think I don’t know that?" Thomas snaps. "Then tell me what the Sphere actually is. Other than showing us where the dungeons are."
Victor opens his mouth.
"I..."
Nothing comes out.
"And why is it showing weather now?" Thomas presses.
Victor sighs. "I don’t know. I really don’t. This is not in any of our records."
"I didn’t call you because of the storm," Thomas says, his tone heavy.
Victor’s chest tightens.
"Then what is it?"
"Look closely, Victor. Tell me what you see."
Victor swallows and focuses, forcing himself to look past the obvious.
Something more.
Something wrong.
"The... I don’t know. The cloud is spreading?" he says, uncertain.
"Exactly," Thomas replies immediately. "The cloud, or the storm, is spreading beyond Jade Lantern District. And if the Sphere is not malfunctioning, then the intensity of the storm is spreading with it."
Victor’s eyes widen.
"It’s not contained anymore," Thomas continues. "It’s expanding. The same intensity. Just... wider."
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Inside the medical tent in Jade Lantern District, the wind howls loudly. The tent flaps violently, as if it might be torn away at any moment.
Rhaenas and Alicia stand around Theo’s bed while a doctor checks on him.
Arthur does not pay attention to the storm. His focus is entirely on the doctor, and the others are the same.
"Well, doctor?" he asks immediately when the doctor finishes.
The doctor offers a tired smile. He has been attending to patients without rest.
"Ms. Montrose is fine. Her vitals are stable. I believe she is simply exhausted."
Five relieved sighs follow.
The doctor lets out a weak chuckle.
"It is quite something, seeing how much she is cared for."
They all smile faintly.
"Chief!"
Arthur and Alicia both turn at the call.
Lieutenant Cole stands at the entrance of the tent, completely soaked. Her eyes are sunken, her lips pale, almost blue from the cold. She does not step further inside.
Both chiefs move toward her.
"What is it?" Alicia asks.
"Chief," she addresses them both, her voice trembling.
"The storm is expanding. And getting stronger. Wind speeds have reached 110 kilometers per hour. Chief, we should evacuate."
Her lips chatter as she speaks.
Alicia blinks, really taking in her condition this time.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. You need to take care of yourself as well. I’ll go with you to organize the evacuation."
Relief flickers across Lt. Cole’s face.
"Lieutenant," Arthur calls.
She turns to him, lowering her gaze slightly.
Arthur extends his hand.
She takes it.
The moment their hands meet, warmth spreads through her body. A faint mist rises as the cold leaves her soaked clothes.
Alicia watches, blinking, as Lt. Cole’s clothes and hair slowly dry.
"Thank you," Arthur says, keeping her attention. "For your hard work. I’m sorry we left you to handle things alone. You were right. If the storm is getting worse, we need to evacuate."
He continues speaking, steady and calm.
"Chief Lutherford will assist you with the evacuation. I’ll coordinate with TC Oscar and his Sentinels."
Arthur keeps talking for a few moments longer, making sure the warmth fully takes effect, drying Lt. Cole completely.
Lt. Cole nods slowly. Tears well in her eyes. It feels good to be acknowledged.
She nods once more, then steps out of the tent, followed by Alicia, who gives Arthur a small nod before leaving.
"She’s going to get wet again," Julian says in a low voice. He noticed Arthur’s gesture.
"I know. But at least she’s not cold anymore," Arthur replies, still watching Lt. Cole’s back as she disappears into the storm.
Then he turns to Julian. "We need to evacuate immediately. The storm is getting worse."
Julian nods. "Agreed. I don’t think this tent will hold much longer." He glances up at the ceiling as it shakes violently under the wind.
"You coordinate with the doctors here. I’ll find TC Oscar and arrange transportation for everyone."
Without waiting for a response, Arthur turns and disappears as he steps out into the storm.
Julian nods to himself, then turns to look for the doctor in charge.