Awakening Of The HollowShadow

Chapter 10

"It's a shame to say, but I don't know if what I suspect, is the same to what the darkness is… And even if it is… I don't have much knowledge about that either, not in details at least, so I can't say it's a fact, but a speculation… However judging by the clip of yester night and the stated description of the scene, I think it will be safe to assume, it's a Plague of darkness…"

"I have only seen it mentioned once, in a text, which gave a vague idea of it… It was stated that such can feed on both pure and dark energy to retain its form, as it grow… And its birth is through mass sacrifice…"

"If that's the case, then this might be what all the killing in the city for the past months has been about… Which in turn could explain the issue of the eye" the chief relayed, answering his question, after he shared the content of his holographic dialog box. Displaying a clip of the sky view of the east and south region, as the darkness conformed into clouds as it spread, for all on seat to see, as he explained, while wondering if the demons had knowledge of the eye.

The chief went further, explaining his speculation of the darkness, stating it to possess similar effect to that of the miasma in the dark sector, which devours pure energy and corrupts all around it. Adding that, he suspected the darkness was the cause of the eye being faulty, since such level of darkness could corrupt the core of the eye.

Especially, if a significant level has been released to the city. Explaining that the eye purifies the city of darkness, by absorbing the darkness to its core, while purging it in the process, which in turn enhance the barrier preventing demons from the dark sector, from invading the city. And at the same time keeping active, the secret art embedded within its core, to grant them view of all things spiritual.

Although the means the eye used in purifying the city was always considered to be a double-edged sword. But since the core was made of compressed mass level of pure energy, none really considered it to be much of a threat, but seeing the status of things now it's overwhelming, making him reconsider things, he added.

He then concluded saying, it would be wise to expect the worse, because if his speculation was confirmed. Then it could only mean that the demons has been plaguing the city with darkness, with the façade of a rebellion as they m******e the city folk and utilize the negativity around to further fueled their plague, for at least three months now. Since coincidence was too convenient to be a factor.

And if that's the case, a rebellion would be an act of kindness compare to the invasion the demons of the dark sector might had planned.

"In other words, you think, or rather suspect the demons are utilizing the corpses of the victims, and the negative energy around the city… Both the ones, they created massacring the citizens for the past few months… And the ones the citizens produce in effect to their actions and otherwise…"

"All to create a darkness that feeds off, both pure and dark energy, rendering us powerless, and to corrupt the eye, with the end game of an invasion… Is that correct chief Ahmed?"

"In simpler terms, yes… Do you beg to differ?"

"Normally, I would, but seeing how you relayed your thoughts on the matter, and how you phrased it, I can't help but wonder, if it's actually a speculation… with those evidence in mind, or you're just testing our intelligence…"

"But what am more interested in, is if you actually listened to both reports of the young lads, because then, you would have heard that the pet of that bastard dealt with both source of the darkness, and purged the scenes… So, the issue of the darkness shouldn't be much of an issue…"

"I don't get why you kept emphasizing on it like it's still in play" the vice-captain said, a bit annoyed by the manner of which, the chief phrased his words, and his emphasizes on the issue of the darkness, especially how he was stating his relayed words to be a mere speculation, while backing it up with facts. And Emekah, as that of the others scouts were also curious, of if the chief actually heard the reports clearly about the darkness source being destroyed.

"Dark energy in itself is still a mystery to the soul sector as a whole, and little is documented as to the dark arts, since very little hunters' can utilize it, amongst other reasons…"

"However I am not one to boast about what I know, since I believe such is the beginning of ignorant, with that said, I make it a point not to classify something I have a hint of knowledge about to be anything other than a speculation…"

"However… As regards to the plague of darkness, it's disappointing you haven't notice it yet… Maybe this will help clear things" the chief replied, changing the content of the hologram dialog to a live feed of the sky view, of both the east and southern region, while making a duplicate of his hologram content to appear at the center of the hall, for all on seat to see. As the darkness plagued the atmosphere of most part of the east region, and all of the south region of the city. Making the warmth of the sunny day around the south and east look gloomy, like it was about to rain, as it spread to other regions.

The vice-captain was rendered speechless by what he saw. Confused, as to how and what to do, as he thought the situation had just taken a sharp turn to worse. While puzzled, not buying the reason the chief gave, as to why he would still call his thoughts a speculation. Knowing all he said, has a high chance of being in line with the effects of the darkness, making his words more of a divine revelation, or foreseen vision, than mere prediction.

While the others on seat other than the deputy of the chief were dump founded, especially Thomas and Emekah, puzzled by how the darkness could still exist without its source, when all of a sudden they recalled what the chief tagged it to be, a plague. Knowing that, the two senior ranked scouts, Emekah and his partner were agitated of what the word might actually mean.

As an additional thought troubled Thomas, but was uncertain, if it would be wise to ask. Thinking there was a high chance, the vice-captain and the chief were just avoiding the topic. Since he believed it was way too obvious of a topic for either of them not to have noticed, which made him wondered, if they were really trying to keep them out of the loop, or were just unaware of it.

"Am certain the young lads did well in dealing with the source and all... But if you could still recall they also said the darkness was being sent to the sky, or rather reaching for it, as it emanates, this is the result of it..."

"A plague, one that an ounce of it, is as dangerous as the whole of it, if underestimated… This should make things clear" the chief continued, pulling the clip the vice-captain sent, and the clip after the hunters' raid of the south and east region.

Attaching all to the same holographic dialog box, that contain the live feed of the east and southern region sky with his hand, as he motioned them to fuse the clips, while making a duplicate of the same hologram content appear in the front of the desk of all on seat. Giving all present a chance to compare the three, after sharing his thoughts on the matter.

"After previewing the clip you sent, and noticing the effect of the darkness to the atmosphere… I suspected it could be the plague of darkness, so… I checked and compare the changes… Before and after the hunters' raid, to make sure, and to grasp the state of things, but found little differ from the other…"

"But since, I have only a hint of knowledge to its effect… I couldn't call it the plague of darkness, not with certainty, at least, and even now, but it led me to believe, destroying the source, only bought us sometime, in decreasing the coverage speed… In other words…" the chief added, stating how he came to his realization, after noticing their silence and facial expressions, but was interrupted.

"So, how does one stop it? Seeing how your speculation seemed to be right on the money, I am hoping it save to presume you have a solution, right?" the vice-captain asked the chief, cutting in, in the heat of the moment, with a stain of annoyance in his voice, neglecting the fact that he couldn't sense the gathering of the darkness even as they speak, which should be weird for a dark art.

The chief was hesitant to answer his question, knowing the text he saw the plague of darkness mentioned. Stated no way of dealing with it, other than the sign of its occurrence being the gathering of dark energy, forming and spreading all through the atmosphere, like a form of cloud, as it plague the region into absolute darkness, which even that was vaguely placed in writing.

The only thing that was mentioned, in a bit of detail was the effect of the plague on both hunters and ordinary humans. It was explained in the text that the plague of darkness drains more of one's pure energy, the more they stay within it. And the use of arts and negative emotion would only speed up the drainage of one's energy, while corrupting one's heart, and soul, as it turns one into a mindless monster that craves nothing but chaos. While it grows.

However, there was nothing on how it affects the demons, which didn't sit well with him. But led him to believe, even if the plague could feast on pure energy. Its core was probably, still made of dark energy, since that was the only way demons would be unaffected by the darkness negatively, which would also mean that one could still purge it, with pure energy.

But the question was now, finding one, who could sense the core, in the midst of the dark clouds, and destroy it in a go. Leaving not even an atom of its being, since that was the only solution to the plague, he believed would work, and put a hole in the plans of the demons.

The thought of knowing there was a chance the core of the plague could be made of dark energy, which in turn means it could be purge, gave him comfort. But at the same time made him wondered who could actually possess such high senses and was available.

Since he doubts the vice-captain, and the others could sense the changes of things, and he, as that of the members of his team can't leave the tower with the issue of the eyes as it is. Contacting Mutiu right now isn't much of an option either.

Especially, if the vice-captain can't fathom the actual status of their circumstance, at least enough to set aside his grudge, when he suddenly, recalled the words of Emekah during the report.

"You… Your name is Emekah right? If memories serve… Then I will be correct in saying, you said Tobi purged the house of the darkness, then you and your partner purged the remains of the victims, is that correct?" the chief's deputy called out, to confirm his thoughts, after noticing the chief's hesitation to answer the vice-captain's question, with his voice being somewhat angelic.

Before the question was asked most were plunged in the sea of anxiety, curious to know, if they could actually save the city folks from another mass s*******r, or just stall time for another. While in confusion, and in a bit of despair, thinking their chance of doing much was flushed down the drain, since the plague was an unknown element to most, and its effects was assume horrific.

But upon hearing the chief's deputy voice. For a brief moment, their thoughts changed, not because of the question, but because of the surprising sound of his voice, which placed them in a haze. Wondering how a grown man could possess such voice, especially with his unchanging doll like expression of boredom, even the vice-captain was surprised by it.

"If am correct… Could you be so kind, as to answer by explaining?" the chief's deputy added noticing the surprise on his face, and lack of responds. While everyone else, but the chief had a surprised look on their faces, as they were still trying to snap out, from falling prey to the gentle sound of the deputy chief's voice.

"Ye-Yes, sir… After destroying the magic circle creating the darkness, we were unable to purge the remains, we couldn't even use any purifying art… Although, at the time we thought maybe we didn't have enough juice… I mean energy to execute such, or maybe because the darkness was stronger…"

"But after he seemed to somehow, cut through the air filled with darkness within the house, everything changed… The intense weight of the darkness and energy level, became light and we could proceed with the purge… But does it mean that Tobi can stop the plague?" Emekah asked curious of what his answer might meant, after confirming the content of his report as he snapped himself from the haze of the deputy chief's voice.