THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA

UPHEAVAL

7TH DECEMBER 1099

The continuous blaring of an alarm jolted Mandla awake, causing him to shift restlessly in his bed before sitting up with a sigh of annoyance. Glancing at the ATD on his wrist, he noted the time was 9 PM, and a frown creased his brow.

Earlier that evening, Mandla had assisted Gwen with some of the tasks assigned to her by her training Center until 7 PM. Afterwards, he had retired to his room for the night, requesting Pelin to wake him up at 7 AM the next morning to begin his experiment anew.

Therefore, the untimely awakening frustrated him. Directing his gaze toward Pelin, who stood beside his bed, he inquired, "Why is the alarm ringing? I don't recall asking you to wake me up at this hour."

In response, the robot replied, "This is an emergency alert for the house, young master. It is strongly advised that you evacuate the building, sir."

The impact of Pelin's words wiped away any remnants of sleep from Mandla's eyes, and the urgency of the situation sank in. "Evacuate? What is happening, Pelin?" he questioned, his voice filled with concern.

"You are advised to evacuate the building immediately, young master," the robot repeated persistently.

"Very well," Mandla responded despite the questions in his heart as he rose from his bed.

Suddenly, a powerful tremor shook the area outside his house. "Could this be an Empreyean attack?" he wondered aloud, swiftly donning his Serat and a simple wine-coloured robe before hurrying out of his room.

Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Mandla encountered Gwen emerging from her room in the opposite direction. She wore a blue gown that reached below her knees, with a visible white Serat. A combination of exhaustion and panic was evident on her face as she ran toward Mandla, questioning, "Brother, what on Earth is happening? Pelin woke me up and urged me to evacuate the house."

"I don't know, Gwen, but we must leave immediately," Mandla replied, and together, they descended the stairs with urgency.

As they stepped outside, the sight that greeted Mandla and Gwen was one of utter chaos. Their guards, dressed in knee-length black robes with Serats and black belts, fought against masked individuals clad in long black robes. Despite their guards' valiant efforts, the masked assailants outnumbered them, putting them at a disadvantage.

Mandla and Gwen stood in shock, observing the scene unfolding before them, when suddenly Gerard, accompanied by additional guards and robots, approached them. The guards wielded an assortment of peculiar-looking weapons, reminiscent of firearms and swords from the pre-corrosion era, effectively defending against the attackers as they surrounded Mandla and Gwen.

"Follow me," Gerard commanded sternly, his middle-aged countenance devoid of warmth and brimming with anger. Mandla and Gwen wordlessly acknowledged his directive and obediently trailed behind him.

Amidst the ongoing chaos and the guards fending off the masked men, they made their way through the c*****e. The guards' weapons emitted purple rays of light, striking down anyone who dared to approach, while those with sword-like weapons emitted a distinctive purple glow. It was evident that all the guards were Cosmic warriors, though Mandla couldn't discern their respective levels.

In the midst of the surrounding turmoil, Mandla's attention was drawn to the familiar figure of Chum. Instantly, his heart pounded loudly, almost leaping out of his chest as he exclaimed, "Chum!" He attempted to manoeuvre through the guards encircling him, desperately hoping to reach his dear friend, but his efforts were in vain.

Observing Mandla's actions, Gerard sharply admonished him, saying, "Stay quiet."

Ignoring Gerard's command, Mandla persisted in his attempt to reach Chum, but Gerard shook his head disapprovingly. From the pockets of his robes, Gerard produced DS 3 weapons, similar to double-barreled shotguns from the pre-corrosion era but shorter in length and silver in colour. If Mandla had been in a more composed state of mind, he would have recognized the weapon as a Terra, exclusively used by high-level warriors.

With both hands firmly gripping the DS 3, Gerard aimed at two of the figures surrounding Chum. A resounding boom reverberated through the air as a purple ray of light burst from the weapon's muzzle, striking the two figures who fell to the ground with gaping holes in their chests. Witnessing this scene, the third figure promptly fled without hesitation.

As soon as the threat subsided, Chum rushed toward Mandla, and they embraced, relief washing over Mandla like a tidal wave.

"Are you satisfied now?" Gerard retorted coldly, his expression conveying his displeasure. "Let's proceed."

Mandla, Gwen, and Chum silently followed the guards, their hearts pounding within their chests. They surveyed the grim tableau of bloodshed with wide-eyed disbelief as they were led to the rear of the house, where a dome housing their household vehicles awaited them.

Following a body scan by a beam of light, the semi-arc door of the dome opened, revealing a brightly illuminated space adorned with various models of cars. The assortment of vehicles showcased a dazzling array of colours, shapes, and opulence.

The guards split into two groups, separating Mandla and Gwen, while Chum remained by Mandla's side. Each group hastened toward different Moduler Sequence 3 vehicles, both in shades of grey. Renowned for their speed, the Moduler Sequence 3 vehicles bore a striking resemblance to SUVs of the pre-corrosion era. Mandla and Gwen exchanged surprised glances as they were gently ushered into separate Moduler Sequence 3 vehicles by the guards.

"Where are you taking us?" Gwen protested, struggling to extricate herself from the car despite the guards' efforts to ensure her compliance. Her face portrayed anguish at being separated from Mandla while grappling with the uncertainty of the unfolding events.

"Do not worry, Gwen. Just listen to their instructions, and we will be fine," Mandla assured her, his voice projecting above the clamour. Reluctantly, Gwen acquiesced, entering the MS 3 without further resistance.

Seated in the driver's seat of Mandla's MS 3, Gerard prepared to depart, accompanied by a robot that accompanied him wherever he went. Though Mandla suspected it to be a CS robot, he lacked confirmation. With Mandla, Chum, and the remaining guards settling into the rear seats of the MS 3, Gerard initiated the vehicle's ignition.

The MS 3 carrying Gwen led the way, exiting the room as the semi-arc door of the dome slid open. Gerard followed closely behind, both vehicles ploughing through numerous masked men with unwavering determination.

As they navigated the driveway, Mandla peered outside through the vehicle's glass, observing the devastation unfolding before his eyes. Guards and servants fell victim to the assailants, their lives extinguished in a tragic tableau. Mandla pondered how many would survive the night and what remnants of the Adekunle household would endure.

Some masked men attempted to impede their progress by firing upon the vehicle, but the guards inside retaliated with their own weapons, exchanging gunfire as they drove away. Before long, they reached the gates, which opened automatically, allowing the two cars to escape onto the streets.

Mandla's sense of relief was quickly replaced by apprehension as he glanced behind and observed a vehicle tailing them. Through the car's windshield, he discerned the presence of several masked individuals, sending a chill down his spine. Gerard and the guards accompanying them also noticed the pursuers simultaneously.

Reacting swiftly, Gerard's urgent voice cut through the tense atmosphere, "Inform Slive that we are implementing plan B." The nearby robot promptly acknowledged, "Certainly, Gerard."

The guards' countenances turned grave upon hearing Gerard's command, casting a sombre mood inside the car. Confused, Mandla inquired, "What does plan B entail?" Unfortunately, no response was provided.

Though unaware of the specifics of plan B, Mandla could gauge from the guards' expressions that it held ominous implications. Exclaiming in frustration, he demanded, "What is plan B?" Gerard's chilling retort followed, "Remain silent, Mandla," accompanied by an icy stare that sent shivers down his spine.

The change in how the guards addressed him, using his name rather than the customary title of "young master," revealed a shift in their perception of him. Mandla realized he was no longer regarded with the same respect but instead viewed as an ordinary individual.

Consequently, he chose to remain silent, seeking solace by petting Chums' head, biding his time until plan B was put into action. It was then that he would discover its nature. However, he couldn't help but think, "Whatever it is, it can't bode well."