“Ber. Snap’s relayed the situation about your sisters. Keep the children conscious for now until the Beholders arrive!”

The news about her sisters immediately caused her right hand to transform into a giant, blackened claw. She was two steps ahead of the curve having been warned by her sisters’ attacks.

During this time, she was able to gather a large mixed Atelier force, with willing Adventurers to fill in the gaps between. Her presence was insurmountable compared to Cer and Res, who only had major influence on people that knew who they were.

But everyone could tell just what Ber was at a single glance, and they took her words an order from the highest authority.

“Keep your children close and shake them up if you don’t want to lose them! Hit them if necessary! Keep spreading the word!” Her roar was like an eruption, heard as far as a kilometer away as her emotional state rapidly grew.

She was internally shaken by the disappearance of her sisters, but she had a duty to uphold until Frost arrived. Ber took center stage, organizing groups and delegating tasks as she kept the chaotic streets impressible ordered.

One of these tasks was to separate loved ones with children from people without them as they were not in any danger. They were not needed here and were frankly in the way. The more efficient method would be to kick all adults out, but Ber understood that the warmth of a mother was not something easily replaceable under any circumstances.

I’ll kill it. I’ll destroy that White Rabbit… Cer. Res. Just wait for Frost… Acting rashly last time was what got me into my mess. This time, it’ll be different. So Res… You of all people just need to close your eyes and keep holding out! If it’s Cer, then she’ll be just fine! I trust her!

“For the next six hours everyone will remain on guard until the Head arrives!” Ber announced with a raised claw.

“Cut the time down by five. The Express Train from H10 to H5 is going to use an experimental Isolation Sphere from Time Reverberation.”

An hour and twelve minutes!? That quick!?

“I’m more impressed that you were able to do the maths so quickly.”

What can I say. Maybe I really am I genius! Why can’t it be ten?

“Because it’s experimental.”

Ber’s face went from anger, to surprise, confidence then smug all in the span of a second. There were no enemies in sight, but the abducting of the children had already begun. From what she knew Cer was locked in an unbreakable daze according to Snap’s intel. Cer wasn’t taken yet, but it wouldn’t be long until it happened.

Still, she believed that Cer could get out of this alone.

More than that, it also confirmed in her mind that this was probably also the doing of the Fractured Nilhim. Between the screams of panic there were some amongst those that didn’t have children who exhibited symptoms of terror.

Their bodies moved wildly, attacking Protectorates, and refusing the healing Serums from the Liquidators. It was nothing major, but they were clear signs of an approaching adversity.

“Claw of the Head.” A Justicer approached, the ground cracking with each heavy step they took.

They did not lumber or walk awkwardly. They walked as though they carried no weight at all.

“There will be some resistance. Two Justicers have intercepted Specters of the Fractured Nilhim. By Galia’s Will, we are unyielding sentinels that will ward off terrors that shatter lesser Wills.”

“Liquidators! Serum B!” Surprisingly, red-haired healers could be seen amongst the crowd, pouting at the lack of injuries.

Ber was admittedly not versed in the dynamics of the Scarlet Healers. She knew they were Oboros Infinitas’ property, so why did they know the Liquidators too? Because they were healers?

Whatever the case was –

“Ahaha… Haha~! Stab me! Draw it out! How I’ve missed the Epiderma!”

– Several Liquidators flocked to the woman, their jagged claws deeply embedding themselves into a lumbar of her spine. They drew out a cloudy-white liquid.

It ran through transparent tubes and dumped itself into a large vial found on the belts of some, and in the chest cavity of others. It was a horrifying display of cruelty, but to the Liquidators it was just another day, and another protocol to follow.

Justica Arms were filled with contempt, and the laughter of the Scarlet Healer haunted the streets as they were forced to keep themselves from interfering.

“Serum B – Bliss drawn… 200mls. All according to Section 16.4. 16.2.1c in order. Minimal blood contamination.” The captain of the group, who possessed the most augmentations departed immediately as Ber ordered to have those displaying the symptoms to be brought to them.

“CogitO has made their move too then.” Another Liquidator sharpened their bladed fingers like a pair of kitchen knives. “Scarlet Healers on the surface foretell their presence.”

“Blue Moons have been deployed!” The Scarlet Healer said giddily, cracking her back as blood gushed from her open wounds. “Red complements blue, after all. Ahahaha. Finally… wounds. Open wounds~!”

Her permanent injury was two cuts along her cheeks, starting from her lips. It reached her ears, giving the girl an unnerving smile. A blue, bloodstained cloth hid this from the world. But if one looked closely, then they could see the carvings running down her exposed cheeks.

“Disgusting…” Sana’s gut wrenched. She stuck close by Ber. As a healer wearing the same-colored apparel as Ber, she was able to evoke further legitimacy to Ber’s authority.

As if it wasn’t already obvious enough.

She kept her hands ominously close to her chest as she followed the watchful eyes of Justica Arms. They saw things that others could not, tapping their ears every third second to relay the movement of something amongst them.

“Specters are here!” The Peace Flock Captain exclaimed and without warning, magical gunfire left their bullets to rain hell at something above them.

There were three rules when it came to fighting the Fractured Nilhim.

The first was that they appeared on an individual basis, often taking the appearance of a person’s nightmares. They were also able to infiltrate the minds of the weak willed. This meant that it was impossible for outsiders to intervene.

However, CogitO’s technology and individuals of higher wills could see fragments of them, usually in the forms of shadows or abnormalities in the scenery.

These were the only people that were able to intercept them.

The second rule was that if an outsider did intercept them…

… then they would manifest into reality for everyone present.

And the third rule?

The nightmares that spawned were only as strong as the fear of the owner. The higher the Trepidation Stacks, the more dangerous they became. The Specters were brainless entities that sought after victims to feed off their fears.

They did not require Biomass unlike other Impuritas Groups. Their weakness was one thing.

Their numbers.

Like CogitO, they relied heavily on external help and just as a flying blanket materialized above them –

“DUNGEON ACTIVITY BELOW US! SOMETHING IS COMING!” A Protectorate alerted as the coffin-like machine warned with a violent rumble.

– Their backup had come to aid them.

The flying entity was eradicated in an instant as crystal bullets shredded it apart. Once they manifested into reality, then they could affect the physical world. Although, this also depended on one’s fear and willpower.

As a result, multiple creatures that formed around the rims of the streets were easily slaughtered by Justica Arms personnel.

Fear was not an emotion they knew.

“… The Impuritas…” Ber emotional state rose spectacularly as the ground shook. People called for others to evacuate immediately.

But Ber had other plans.

“An Aberration of Elysia… of Elysia…” Her other arm transformed into a beautiful, bladed wing. Black jolts of electricity surrounded her as Sana was quickly snatched by a Justicer to safety.

However, somewhere along the chaos, Sana saw a beautiful white-haired entity touch her hand with its tail.

“… Is that… Jury…?”