It took around ten minutes for Alicar and Iris to find the strategy room building, which was a massive dome-like structure situated in the very center of the human base.
Iris and Alicar pushed the heavy door open, and there they saw a massive room with a big long table, chairs, and some screens that displayed various information.
’I guess you can even have a bit of technology in here,’ Alicar thought to himself, surprised by the modern touches in this otherwise primitive setting.
Though more than anything, he noticed that many of the screens displayed the temple that he and Iris had seen before, its ancient structure looming ominously on the monitors.
The two looked at each other, nodding faintly as understanding washed over them, realizing that this was no coincidence.
And the most terrifying part was that the temple, previously "dormant" when Iris and Alicar found it, was now shaking and emitting more and more aura, as if something inside was awakening.
Beside the two of them, Alicar noticed fifteen other awakeners, all of them just as confused as they were, their faces a mixture of fear and uncertainty.
’I guess we need to wait,’ Alicar thought, his instincts telling him that something was terribly wrong about this situation.
After a few more minutes, three more people entered the building, making the total number of awakeners inside exactly twenty.
And as soon as this happened, Rick appeared before the group, standing on top of the table with a grim expression on his face that sent chills down everyone’s spines.
Rick was a fairly tall man, around 1.85 meters, with massive muscles on both his arms and legs, scars across his face, and short red hair that matched his fierce personality.
He wore an imposing uniform that told anyone close to him that he wasn’t someone you could mess with, and his presence alone commanded absolute respect and fear.
No one in human base #3, even the recruiters, could hope to come close to his strength, as he had been here for years and had accumulated immense power.
He never completed his advancement task, because otherwise he would have been forced to head to the First Layer, but many believed he could defeat even some Tier-1 awakeners in a fight.
And so, as one might expect, that meant that if he truly wanted you gone, you were at his complete mercy with no hope of escape.
"You will all be extremely useful," Rick said simply, his voice carrying an unsettling calmness, "You will help humanity to persist."
Many stood there, confused at his words, their minds struggling to process what he meant.
But before anyone could react, Rick disappeared from his spot with blinding speed that none of them could follow.
Alicar immediately channeled his mana around him in case anything happened, his instincts screaming at him to prepare for the worst.
But as he looked around, he noticed he was the only one who had reacted, even Iris simply looked forward, confused, he had been the only one untrustworthy enough to activate his skills.
And then it happened: Rick moved with terrifying precision, punching many of the people before him, not killing them, but rendering them unconscious instantly with surgical accuracy.
Only then did the others act, but it was far too late, as Rick attacked them one after the other before they could even react.
After less than three seconds, only Iris and Alicar remained standing, the rest of the twenty awakeners lying unconscious on the floor.
Alicar launched a fireball at Rick’s figure, but the man dodged effortlessly, moving as if he had predicted the attack before it was even thrown.
Slam!
He slammed into Iris, knocking her out as well, and leaving only Alicar standing in the room, his heart pounding with shock and rage.
"You..." Alicar gritted his teeth, his fists clenching with helpless anger.
"Feeling anger at me is useless," Rick said neutrally as he approached Alicar, his footsteps echoing in the silent room, "As I said, it is for the sake of humanity. We need sacrifices, and you guys are the weakest."
"Haha, you attacked the Crowford family though," Alicar took a few steps back, trying to buy himself some time, "You think—"
"I don’t think many will be surprised to know that a farmer died in the Initial Stage," Rick replied, cutting him off with a cold smile.
"Plus... I saw information that you didn’t even awaken any class either back on Earth, Alicar Soulveil, and though I don’t know how you’re here or how you can use those magic powers, you will not be missed."
"FUCK YOU!"
Alicar summoned the power of elements, attempting to do anything to save himself from this impossible situation.
But alas, before he could even complete his attack, Rick moved behind him with supernatural speed and slammed his palm into Alicar’s neck, knocking him out instantly.
Alicar’s vision went blurry at that moment, though all he could feel inside was an unshakable anger that burned through his consciousness.
Because he knew that whatever would happen next, it would be absolute hell.
’Too weak, once again,’ Alicar thought as he lost consciousness, his last coherent thought a bitter realization, ’Far too weak.’
"Alright," Rick spoke, and many people came out from some of the doors in the building, clearly his subordinates, "Grab all of them. We’ll need to bring them to the temple."
"Y-Yes, sir," they replied, moving quickly to follow his orders.
They loaded the twenty awakeners on a carriage and Rick carried them through the forest using his own immense strength, not even breaking a sweat.
The journey didn’t last long since Rick was extremely fast, and no monster even tried to get close to him, as if they could sense his overwhelming power.
Just like that, he arrived in front of the ancient temple, from which an aura even Rick knew he couldn’t defeat emanated, a power that made even him look small in comparison.
"We have brought the food," Rick shouted as he pushed the carriage toward the temple, his voice echoing through the clearing.
There was a primal roar erupting from the temple at that moment, and right where the carriage was, a small circle of energy appeared in space, circular and spinning with an otherworldly light.
It appeared right in front of the carriage with the twenty awakeners, and within seconds, it grew larger and larger, until it snatched all of them, the carriage and its occupants disappearing into nothingness.
Rick watched as the carriage and its occupants disappeared completely, and finally, the ancient temple’s aura calmed down, as if it had been satisfied.
"That should do for this year," Rick sighed in relief, a cold expression on his face as he turned away from the temple.
He smiled darkly to himself, a cruel satisfaction in his eyes.
"And with that, the Crowford family just lost one of its members. I’m sure the Arceus family will be pleased."
Just like that, Rick disappeared from his position, rushing back to human base #3 with incredible speed.
No one would ever know what happened here, no one would ever question the disappearances.
Because after all, after years of doing this, no one had ever returned from this temple, and that was exactly how Rick wanted it.
...
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