Chapter 57- Damage Control

The next day, Titus stood in a tent just in front of what used to be the Association building that once towered over Columbus. Behind him were thirteen monitors. In front was a long makeshift table with seats for the guildmasters of Columbus. One by one, they filed in and took a seat. Eve, Blue, and Aaron walked in together. Aaron looked as if he hadn't slept since before he left for the dungeon with Blue. His eyes had bags under them that looked almost black. His face held no expression except pure exhaustion.

The monitors behind Titus flickered on one by one. The president sat behind a desk on the middle monitor with Grayson standing just behind him.

Titus took a seat as the president began to talk.

"Yesterday, we were attacked. Every stronghold was hit in the same manner. An explosion destroyed their walls, and monsters flooded in. Anyone have any clue how they controlled the monsters?"

Aaron slowly raised his hand, pulled the red crystal from his jacket pocket, and slid it onto the table. He looked at Blue and nodded.

"No way, man," Blue whispered.

Aaron leaned to the side until he was close enough that only Blue could hear his words. "You know more about it than anyone. This isn't the time to keep it a secret. We all deserve to know what we are up against. Leave out what you need, but give them the truth."

Blue sighed. "Fuck. Fine." Blue stood, grabbed the crystal, and cleared his throat. "Mr. President, I think I may know how they controlled the monsters."

"Who is that, Titus?" The president leaned forward, squinting his eyes.

"That is Blue, sir. He recently started the Eclipse Guild here in Columbus that you signed off on, and recently took first place in the team ranker tournament."

"Ahhh, Blue. Grayson has spoken very highly of you. I am happy you and your team represented the US properly at the tournament as well. So, tell us what you know."

"Well, sir, during my time in Murim, I ran into a few unusual monsters."

"Unusual? How so?"

"Well, they spoke, had names, and didn't seem like normal bosses we would typically fight in the gates. They commanded other monsters and even corrupted humans." Blue lifted the crystal in the air so every monitor could see it. "We recently found this on one of the guys we fought from Midnight. I've seen these before in Murim as well. You all have encountered them too. They are the same thing as the anchors in the gates. The same power emanates from them, just smaller. From what they gathered in Murim, these may corrupt humans to serve the being that's behind all this. I think the anchors in gates operate the same way. They control the monsters."

"Slow down, young man. First of all, what being?"

Blue took a deep breath and looked at Aaron. "His name is Hatred, sir. He is a god, older than the cosmos itself, and he's waging a war against the cosmos using gates and monsters. I believe these monsters are actually fallen civilizations. Not actual monsters in the sense that we see them."

Blue stared at the president as Grayson leaned down and whispered in his ear.

"You think some god is the cause of this. You somehow know all of this how?"

"Coincidence, sir. A gate I entered in Murim is how I got this information."

"That still doesn't explain who was controlling the monsters to attack the strongholds in tandem with these terrorists."

"It does if someone is working with Hatred and his forces. If there's a traitor or traitors with detailed information on the strongholds."

Grayson leaned in and whispered to the president once more. The president's fists came down hard on his desk. "So you're saying whoever is running Midnight is in cahoots with this Hatred being?"

Blue shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, sir. Could be someone in our government, the Association, Midnight. Who knows."

The president put his hand in the air. "That's enough, young man. We do not need to start throwing around accusations on a whim based on the ramblings of someone who has no proof of what they are even speaking about."

Grayson put a hand on the president's shoulder and stepped forward. "Now, now, there is merit to Blue's words. We recently also found small crystals like the one he is holding." Grayson pressed a button, and a separate picture appeared in the top-right corner of his monitor. "These were taken here in D.C. not but a week ago. As you can see, these creatures were once human but were corrupted and transformed. During the autopsy, we also found these crystals embedded near their hearts." Grayson pressed a button on the president's desk again, and the picture disappeared. "So, there is something out there corrupting our citizens and obviously capable of controlling monsters. The answer may be as simple as these crystals, though, instead of blaming a cosmic entity we cannot verify."

Blue looked at Aaron as he sat down. Aaron slowly shook his head and leaned back in his chair.

"I agree with Grayson." The president leaned forward. "Your top priorities right now are to find those responsible for the attacks, on top of everything else you've been doing to keep society as normal as possible. It appears Midnight is only operating here in this country. We need to draw them out and exterminate them. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," rang out from every monitor.

"Very well. Oh, and Titus, since Columbus took the biggest hit and is the smallest stronghold, we will be sending you some aid. Grayson will be delivering it personally within the week."

Titus stood. "The aid works, sir, but Grayson isn't needed. I am sure you could use his insight during this crisis. It would go to waste here in Columbus."

Grayson brought his hand to his chest. "I am flattered, Titus. I'll see you within the week." Grayson smiled as he pressed a button on the president's desk and the screen went dark.

Titus looked between the monitors. "Gentlemen, I know you have questions." Titus turned and looked at Blue. "So do I, but for now we must return to cleaning up the mess here in Columbus. Let's meet again in a few days when everything has settled down, yeah?"

Heads on every monitor nodded before the screens shut off one by one. Titus looked at the guildmasters at the table. "For the time being, continue cleaning the streets up. We have a burn site set up on the north side of town for the corpses of the monsters. Do your best to clean the streets and repair what can be repaired. Most importantly, ensure the citizens know they are safe and that getting their lives back to some normalcy is the Association's priority."

The guildmasters stood and started to file out. Blue followed Eve until Titus cleared his throat.

"Blue, Aaron, hang back, would you?"

Eve turned and looked at Blue. Blue shrugged his shoulders. "I'll catch up with you later."

He turned and looked at Aaron, who had already taken a seat, his arms folded on the table and his head resting on them. Aaron turned his head slightly. "Just sit down and let's get this shit over with. I am beyond tired."

Blue chuckled and took a seat next to Aaron as the other guildmasters walked out.

Titus took a seat across from them and stared at Blue. For a good minute, no one spoke. Finally, Blue shook his head and spoke.

"Look, I know what I said sounds like fairy-tale babble bullshit. But I prom..."

Titus raised his hand and shook his head at Blue.

"For the life of me, I can't understand it."

"What? What are you talking about?" Blue squinted his eyes at Titus.

"That you're the one they chose."

That caught Aaron's attention. His head perked up immediately. "What the hell are you talking about, Titus?"

Titus pointed at Blue. Aaron turned his head. Blue pointed to himself, looking between Aaron and Titus, who were now both staring at him intently.

"What the fuck is happening right now?"