Extra's Descent

"Brandon?"

"Good afternoon, Amelia."

Scanning Amelia, she seemed to be brewing tea at the moment. Her gaze met his, and she flashed him a smile.

"What do you need?"

Before he could give her a response, Brandon made his way and sat down on the couch.

Looking at her, he pursed his lips.

"It's about the upcoming incursion."

"Hm?"

"Have you been in contact with your Father lately?"

At his words, Amelia shook her head.

"Unfortunately, no."

"Ah."

Well, that was it.

He didn't need anything else.

"That's really all I came here for. Thank you for responding. I've got to go somewhere."

"Alright, take care."

The two nodded at each other. But just as Brandon was about to make his way towards the door...

"Huh?"

He turned around as a strange sound escaped Amelia's lips.

"What is it?"

With a perplexed expression, Amelia was looking down at her phone. Slowly, she raised her head to meet his gaze.

"My Father just texted me."

"Oh."

Then did that mean the incursion hasn't started yet? Could he somehow get through Omar now?

But shortly after...

"The incursion has started..."

His eyes shot wide open.

"What?!"

How could that be?

The incursion wasn't set until next month.

Why was it pushed ahead of schedule...?

Several questions, and yet he could not find an answer for any of them.

"Amelia, quick!"

He abruptly rushed towards Amelia with a horrified expression.

"Give me your phone!"

"Uh--Ah?"

Flustered, she immediately gave it to him.

Clicking on the message, the profile of [Daddy] came up. Immediately, Brandon clicked on the call button.

Ring... Ring... Ring... Click.

Thankfully, the call got through as a deep baritone voice reached his ears.

However, Brandon found himself horrified by the sound that came.

He could hear the sound of rumbling, as well as several screams echoing in the background.

--Amelia? What is it? Make it quick.

"Sir Constantine."

--Who is thi--

"My name is Brandon Locke, son of Field Marshal Locke."

--....

There was no response. But Brandon took it as an opportunity to continue.

"Sir Constantine, please listen to my request. I highly advise you to stop the incursion at this second."

"Brandon, what are you--"

Confused, Amelia spoke with a raised tone. However, she was halted by Brandon's hand.

--What are you talking about, boy?

"I've received a tip that something humanity can't handle resides beyond the rift."

It was half the truth.

He didn't exactly know what was beyond the rift. Just that, whatever was in there, would spell the end of humanity.

--Do you even know what you're saying?! The tip aside, how does this informant of yours even know?

His anger was understandable.

This meant that if he really did receive a tip, which he did, then this informant was nothing but a traitor to humanity.

After all, he kept it strictly confidential.

"I'll explain everything later. Please, Sir. Listen to me, we have no time."

His tone was grave as all he could do was plead.

--No. Without any concrete evidence to back up your statement, I can't blindly trust a single word from this informant of yours. You don't even know how critical the situation is. Just trust that the Imperial Army can handle this matter.

"Sir, please!"

All of a sudden, Amelia grabbed the phone and placed it near her ear. Meeting her gaze, she looked at him with a merciful expression.

"Dad, I trust him. Please listen to him."

Thankfully, the phone was on speaker. Brandon could hear Albert Constantine's response.

--Haa... Even if I could listen to him...

There was a brief silence as Albert paused.

Brandon and Amelia could definitely hear the screams echoing from the background.

And those screams could only mean one thing.

A battle charge.

That meant...

--Half of the army had already gone through the rift. Just a few more, and it'll be my turn.

At those words, Brandon's eyes shot wide open. A chill ran down his spine as his lips began to twitch.

With a trembling voice, Brandon spoke.

"...Sir Constantine, what about my Father?"

--Field Marshal Locke has already gone in. He led the charge along with Sir Lucian Frost.

"Is there a way to recall them back?"

--I'll give it a try.

From the phone, Brandon could hear the Grand Marshal calling out to one of his men, and said along the lines of, "As soon as you enter, tell Field Marshal Locke to recall the army."

--Now, we wait.

And he did wait.

They waited for a long while.

The longest ten minutes that he had ever waited.

The only thing he could hear was the continuous screaming of the soldiers.

However...

--Nothing. All the men who had entered had never come out.

"Does that mean there's no way to leave the rift once you enter?"

--I'm not too sure. We've got practically zero information about what's beyond the rift, nor what the rift really is. Just that, it connects to somewhere.

"How do you know that?"

--Kuhum...

Albert seemed to clear his throat.

Shortly after, he continued.

--This is classified information at the moment. But I'm only saying this because the two of you are connected to the Imperial Army.

Brandon listened attentively to each and every detail that Albert spoke.

However,

--It's been happening for a week. But from the rift, Wraith Beasts started sprawling out. Not just any regular Wraith Beasts, they were of a variety. Some had humanoid shapes, but with dark green skin. While some were huge with what seems to be a pig's snout. Those are only the brief descriptions I could make out.

There were several others as well.

Listening to Albert's words, Brandon's hand began to tremble.

Those descriptions...

They were the exact same from the monsters that Raven tackled inside the system dungeon from the novel.

'No way. Aren't those Goblins and Ogres?'

There was no doubting it.

And to think there were more.

This...

This had taken a turn for the worse.

It meant that there was no way to leave the rift once they entered.

There was nothing he could do now.

But,

He was practical.

He knew how cold his next words were. However, there was no helping it.

Anything.

...Just anything to salvage the situation.

"Sir Constantine. Don't go."

Those were the only words he spoke as he gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.

--Are you mad, boy? My men are out there fighting for their lives, and you're telling me to stay behind?"

"Dad, please!"

--Amelia! Not you too...!

"Dad..."

--I can't Amelia. This is for the sake of humanity. If I stay behind and leave my men to die, then I'm no better off than those Wraith Beasts.

"Dad, please!"

--I must go now, Amelia. The Imperial Army will emerge victorious, I assure you.

Despite speaking to his Daughter, his tone remained strict and dignified. Evident of his lofty position as the Grand Marshal.

Brandon began to question just what kind of relationship the father and daughter had.

However, for just a brief second, there was a change in his tone. One akin of a father giving his daughter his farewells.

--Daddy will return soon, Amelia.

"Dad...!"

Shortly after, the call was cut off.

Brandon forcefully bit his teeth to the point where blood began to seep.

Clenching his fist, he muttered under his breath.

"How foolish."

The entire situation could only be described as foolish.

That battle charge was nothing less but a suicide march.

And the only thing that kept Albert back from not going through with his plans was none other than his pride as a military man.

'What's the use of your pride when you're going to die?'

Sure, the timing was off. He wasn't able to warn them in time.

But that was out of his control.

Truly, the entire ordeal was...

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