“No, We will not set up camp or split up. We’ll move together as a group.” Gu Jun announced. Thinking back to his own history, splitting up never led to anything good. However, there was another reason that compelled him to make this decision. Gu Jun did not explain it to Bell Grant immediately but gathered all the leaders from the various countries for an emergency meeting. He and Xue Ba represented Phecda while Bell Grant, and a middle-aged man, Bill Harrison represented FBM, there were also Alexandra Puloscov from Russia, Paulina Grisman from Europe and Ram Frederickson from Germany as well as some others. Due to the recent deaths, the leadership hierarchy had shifted for some, in any case, all the shot callers were gathered by Gu Jun.
“I believe everyone is ready for a battle.” Gu Jun looked around. “There has to be something strange over at the hill and battle is inevitable. We might face cultists or something even worse. I hope that it is the former but we have to consider that our adversary might be Dagon. I do not wish for such a large group to engage this mission but it is what it is and we might as well make use of our number’s advantage. If we are to set up camp here, we need to clear away the dead bodies but that itself is risky.” Gu Jun considered this rationally. “For now, the living members are more important. Regretfully, we must abandon the dead. If we split up, that means that we will have to leave behind our best doctors to take care of the weakened, and that will greatly diminish our fighting capability.”
The others listened as they glanced at the dead agents in the swamp. The faces of the former agents hooked at their hearts… They were more than mere bodies. They applied great pressure on the still living as if blaming them for the lives that were prematurely taken away. The agents were not unfamiliar with this kind of anomalous activity but they had not encountered something of this scale before.
“But leaving the dead behind will pose its own risk, no?” Ram Frederickson asked. His hooked nose twitched with apprehension. “Will it help us weaken the dark forces if we scorch the swamp with all the bodies in it?” This idea did cross Gu Jun’s mind before. After all, he had done the same thing to the House of Nightmare. But this time, things were different.
“Mr. Frederickson, certain places have existed far longer than human civilization. In truth, we are too weak to destroy these places and they might not even show particular interest in us, they are just forces without consciousness. Even the dark forces abide by their own rules too. Our careless action might bring us into greater danger. Jack Wales did not disturb the swamp and so I trust that we should not either.” Gu Jun locked his gaze down the distance. “What we need to do now is to eliminate the party who uses these forces to create tragedy. If anything, I believe the fighting among us humans barely interests the greater forces or presences at these places.”
The group was silent. They knew Gu Jun was right. Sometimes darkness fell because humanity had snuffed out its own light.
“Therefore, I believe we should gather our light—literally and figuratively and push our way forward. We shall kill anything that attempts to stop our way. We will fight until we can’t, but to do that, we have to be open to each other and attempt for actual unity.” Gu Jun glanced at the faces around him before continuing, “To be honest, I have no idea whether any of us can return alive. It’s pointless to consider anything beyond immediate survival. Why bother with competition outside this island when we can’t even be sure we’ll live to leave this place?” At the end, Gu Jun said with sincerity, “To initiate this proposal, we Phecda will teach all of you how to sign the Ancient Seal.”
“Oh?” Bell Grant was quite surprised. The rest was shocked too. GOA introduced the Ancient Seal and its related technology to the various countries before.
“Yes, we are willing to do so. Unity is most desired now.” Xue Ba concurred. Before the departure, the headquarters had given them the permission to do this during emergencies. This was because GOA eventually planned to share this technology with the world. Earth was too small. If a country fell into darkness, the other countries would be dragged down with it as well.
The Ancient Seal would not harm any individuals uncorrupted by dark forces, if anything, it would have a cleansing effect on them. It would only injure those born or corrupted by darkness. Therefore, the technology should be made more common in the future. However, Phecda decided to keep its other technological products and the Seven Cryptical Book of Hsan to themselves for the foreseeable future. After all, international politics was a complicated one.
But for now, Gu Jun, representing Phecda, offered this olive branch.
“However, as a condition, we will be given unequivocal leadership of the group.” Gu Jun negotiated. The rest hesitated. After all, why would suddenly Phecda be so generous? What was the agenda behind it?
Gu Jun ignored their suspicion and called Peacock over to sign an Ancient Seal. Instantly the air around them cleared up.
“I really do not get you people.” Peacock reproached. “Everyone from my hometown is very united but I do not wish for it to return. I hope you’d appreciate what you have.” What she said had no logic. Only Gu Jun and Kathlyn really understood what she meant. Yes, they too did not wish for her hometown to emerge.
“Her hometown is a place born out of the apocalypse.” Gu Jun explained, “She’s very imaginative.”
“Yes,” Kathlyn nodded. “That I am.”
Puloscov was the first to agree, then he was followed by Grisman and Frederickson. Lastly, the FBM consented. The team would be reassigned with Phecda in the leading role but every big decision would be discussed.
First, they taught the Ancient Seal to the living members. With psychological training, it was not hard to learn the Ancient Seal. After all, everyone there was an elite so the learning posed no issue. The Ancient Seal proved ineffective on the 17 sedated agents. They needed to be monitored through medicine. The 109 team formed a new tactical order and hurried towards the hill with their supply. They tried to reach the foot of the hill in 3 days. But they only moved for half a day when the scouting team noticed something through the telescope.
“We’re at the right place!” Lou Xiaoning’s voice crackled through the walkie-talkie. “There’s a bunch of people ahead in Afterlife Cult’s apparel. I suspect they are the cultists we’re looking for.”
Gu Jun immediately rushed to meet up with the scouts. Looking through the scope, he saw several figures standing sparsely among the trees and bushes. They wore the black robe from the Afterlife Cult and their heads were all hooded. They stood motionlessly with their faces turned to the team.
The chill wind picked up, caressing the grass and leaves, and fluttering the edges of the black robes.
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