Chapter 292 Chapter 69.1 - Aftermath
"Urghk-!"
"Just what happened?"
Countless different sounds like this were echoing all the way around the Phantom's Land.
"My head….It hurts…."
Many students were saying that their heads were hurting while others were trying to remember what had just happened.
Most of their memories were bleak as if they were covered under the shadows. They felt like they had experienced something, yet at the same time, they all felt like the things they had experienced were no longer connected to them.
It was a very surreal feeling.
And that was no different with Ethan, as he also gradually woke up from his state.
Amidst the disoriented voices, Ethan gradually regained consciousness.
As he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a different part of the Phantom's Land. His surroundings felt unfamiliar, and a dull ache in his head made it hard to focus.
"My head..."
Ethan touched his forehead, trying to calm the pain and make sense of his disoriented state. The memories of recent events eluded him, leaving only a vague sense of insects crawling on his skin and a subsequent blur.
"Just what happened?"
He attempted to recall what had happened, but the details remained elusive. It was as if he had lost something. A part of something that belonged to him, but at the same time not.
"Ah, I remember…."
Then, slowly, things started crashing down. He and his friends had just separated so that they could observe the Phantom's Land in a better and more efficient way. After all, recording their findings wouldn't be that hard.
"I lost my consciousness, didn't I?"
Then, he remembered how his vision blurred as if something external had entered his body. Considering this body as a Hartley and his lineage, it would be rather abnormal if he wasn't able to sense something was wrong.
"But, after that?"
As he collected the recent times, he realized that after he lost consciousness, something very dangerous happened. Even though he wasn't sure what it was, his instincts could feel it.
Something around him was missing.
'Something around?'
At that moment, he remembered where he was.
Looking around, Ethan noticed the confusion among other students who were also awakening. The aftermath of whatever had transpired left them disoriented, with fragmented memories and a collective sense of bewilderment hanging in the air.
'Wait? I can see the students?'
Maybe a tad bit slow, Ethan realized a very important thing.
He was able to see the students!
This revelation could mean only one thing.
'The fog disappeared.'
He instantly realized. There was no other explanation for that, as Ethan had been living in this place for a while and had adapted to it to a certain extent.
'Now that I am paying attention to it, I can no longer feel the oppressive atmosphere of Phantom's Land.'
He instantly realized. The fact that the mana around him was no longer oppressing him as before directly means that the mana phenomenon of Phantom's Land has now disappeared.
"Urghk-!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain assaulted Ethan from his chest, jolting him into awareness. He instinctively looked down, discovering claw marks on his chest, blood dripping from the wounds.
"What... what happened to me?"
Ethan's eyes widened as he assessed the extent of his injuries. More pain surged through his body, and as he examined himself further, he realized that almost every part of his body was covered in wounds.
"These wounds... were they caused by Phantoms?"
His mind raced to connect the pieces of the puzzle. The fog had dissipated, but it seemed that when he lost consciousness, the Phantoms, the spectral entities he had encountered before, took advantage of the opportunity to attack him.
'That would make sense.'
After all, Phantoms were the main reason why this place was considered dangerous and wasn't advised to be visited by non-awakened people.
"Did they retaliate when the fog disappeared?"
He thought soundly. In the absence of the mystical fog that concealed the Phantoms, they might have become more aggressive.
But then, as he looked around, he could no longer see or sense any phantoms around.
"No, that doesn't make sense. Ethan, are you stupid?"
He reprimanded himself. If the Phantoms weren't related to the fog, that would mean they could appear anywhere in the world regardless of this phenomenon, yet that wasn't the case.
"Rather, maybe because the fog had dissipated that we had been awakened."
Then he realized. If, somehow, the Phantom's Land was the reason for their loss of consciousness, that would also explain why he was awake when the fog no longer appeared. Probably, when he lost his consciousness, the Phantoms attacked him.
'The other students seemed to share the same conditions as me.'
As Ethan looked around, he noticed that many other students were in a similar condition, if not worse. Some were covered in more severe injuries, and the air was thick with a sense of urgency and desperation.
"This is bad... They're in real danger."
Ethan couldn't stand idly by. Despite his own injuries, he knew he had to act quickly to help those in need. Even though he was also not in good shape, compared to his counterparts, he was in a much better condition. Whether this was because he was a Hartley or for some other reason….
Nobody knew about it.
He reached into his Spatial Bracelet and retrieved a healing potion.
"Hey, hang in there!"
Rushing to the aid of a fellow student whose injuries seemed particularly severe, Ethan knelt beside them and carefully administered the healing potion into their mouth.
"Argh! My leg!"
At the start, the young student had a hard time just even drinking it, yet Ethan somehow managed to make him drink.
Following that, the potion began to take effect, closing wounds and alleviating pain.
"I hope this helps."
Though Ethan knew that the potion could only do so much, he did what he could to provide immediate relief. The Phantom's Land had become a perilous place, and he felt a responsibility to ensure the safety of those around him.
'What happened to others? Hope they are safe.'
He couldn't help but worry about her friends. Especially Caleb, as he was rather low-ranked in terms of combat. He sincerely hoped that Caleb would be able to hold his own ground.
–DING!
Just at that moment, he heard his smartwatch ringing.
–DING!
–DING!
–DING!
And it wasn't only his. He could hear the same notification from other students as well.
The sound echoed across the now-clear landscape, and to his surprise, Ethan realized that his own smartwatch was indeed functioning. With a sense of relief, he opened the watch and found a notification from their homeroom teacher, Eleanor White.
The message, though brief, conveyed a sense of urgency. Eleanor instructed the students to return to the town immediately. The town's location was shared in the message for those who were far away.
"Finally, some guidance. We need to get back to town."
Ethan, aware of the gravity of the situation, made a quick decision. With a last glance at the injured student, he gathered his belongings and prepared to lead the way back to the town. The disappearance of the Phantom's Land phenomenon now made everything unpredictable, and he was dying to know what had happened.
********
The moment the instructors and others had regained their consciousness, different from young students, they instantly composed themselves. They all had their fair share of experiences; thus, they were rather fast to adapt.
"This…."
From the injuries themselves, they realized they all had been attacked, even in their homes, safe from the phantoms.
That meant the other students could even be in a more severe condition!
"I am going to leave the Town to you, instructor Eleanor."
"Yes, you can leave it to me."
As some of the instructors immediately went to search for dangerously injured students outside of the town, Eleanor was present in the town square, coordinating with other instructors to set up a makeshift medical center.
Students with healing abilities were summoned to assist, creating an efficient and organized space for triage. The injured were quickly attended to, and the healing potions provided some relief.
Once the initial chaos settled, all the students gathered in the town square, their faces marked with a mixture of confusion and anxiety. Eleanor stepped forward, her expression serious yet composed.
"Students, I know this has been a harrowing experience, and I appreciate your resilience in the face of adversity. As you might have noticed, the Phantom's Land phenomena have disappeared unexpectedly. This means that the exam we were conducting is nullified."
A murmur of concern spread through the group. Eleanor continued, "We have already communicated with the academy and the government. Additional help is on the way, including specialized teams equipped to deal with the unique conditions of Phantom's Land."
She glanced at her smartwatch and continued, "Our immediate concern is ensuring everyone's safety. The healing process will continue here, and we will be providing further updates as soon as we receive more information from the authorities."
Eleanor's tone remained steady, attempting to reassure the students. "I understand that many of you have questions, and we will address them as soon as possible. Right now, focus on recovering from your injuries, and rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to ensure your well-being."
As Eleanor concluded her brief statement, other instructors circulated among the students, offering words of comfort and assistance.
The town, once a quaint and mysterious backdrop, now became a center for support and recovery.
Most students, though relieved to be back in a familiar and relatively safe place, couldn't shake the sense of unease. After all, just with this explanation, such future Hunters would never be satisfied.
They wondered about the abrupt disappearance of the Phantom's Land phenomena and the implications it held.
The mystery deepened, and they eagerly awaited more information from Eleanor and the incoming assistance.
Eleanor observed the unease among the students and decided to address their concerns further. She raised her hand, gesturing for their attention.
"Students, I understand that this turn of events has left many questions unanswered. I want to assure you that we are actively seeking more information, and we will keep you updated. For now, those of you who have received treatment or don't require immediate attention should proceed to your bungalows. This will allow our medical teams to operate more efficiently in the town center."
She paused, allowing the students to absorb her instructions. "If you have team members who are not present here, I encourage you to try and contact them. If you are unable to reach them, please report it to the instructors. We need to ensure that everyone is accounted for and safe."
Eleanor's gaze swept across the gathering, her tone firm yet empathetic. "Your cooperation is crucial in maintaining order and ensuring the well-being of all. The instructors will be available to assist you in any way possible. Trust that we are doing everything in our power to manage this situation."
As Eleanor finished speaking, the students, now with clearer instructions, began to disperse. Some headed towards the bungalows, while others grouped together to discuss the recent events. Instructors moved among them, offering guidance and support.
Ethan, still processing the sudden changes, made his way to the bungalows with a group of students. The town, once a place of mystery and excitement, now felt different. The fog had lifted, but a different kind of uncertainty hung in the air.
CREAK!
"Lucas!" Ethan exclaimed as he entered his bungalow, spotting his best friend sitting on the couch. The town, once a mysterious place, now felt filled with an odd tension.
"Hey, Ethan," Lucas replied, looking up from where he sat. His normally vibrant white hair seemed a bit disheveled, and there was a weariness in his eyes that Ethan hadn't noticed before.
Ethan approached him; concern etched across his face. "Where's Caleb? Is he okay?"
Lucas nodded, "Yeah, he's getting treatment. Some of us got pretty banged up out there. They said he'll be fine, though."
A sense of relief washed over Ethan at the news about Caleb, but as Lucas continued talking, a subtle feeling of unease crept in.
'What is this feeling?'
Something about Lucas seemed different, and Ethan couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Lucas, you seem... different. Are you alright?" Ethan asked, studying his friend more closely.
Lucas looked away for a moment before meeting Ethan's gaze again. There was an intensity in his eyes that Ethan hadn't seen before, and it sent a shiver down his spine.
"I'm fine, just a bit shaken from everything that happened," Lucas replied, but his gaze seemed to linger on Ethan in an unsettling way.
Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed, something beyond just the physical toll of the recent events. It was as if a subtle shift had occurred in Lucas, and it left Ethan with a sense of discomfort.
"Lucas, are you sure you're okay?" Ethan pressed, trying to decipher the strange energy emanating from his friend.
As Ethan pressed further, trying to decipher the strange energy emanating from Lucas, for a split second, Lucas's eyes widened. He seemed almost startled, and an involuntary shiver ran through him. But just as quickly as it happened, he composed himself, smiling as if nothing had occurred.
"Puhahahahahahha….." And then he broke into a hearty laugh. "Maan….Were you scared?" Lucas replied, his tone light, just as usual.
But the unsettling feeling lingered.
Ethan couldn't shake off the unease, sensing that there was something more to Lucas's reaction. The subtle change in demeanor didn't go unnoticed, but before Ethan could delve deeper, Lucas chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Hey, Ethan, it seems I was able to trick you again, huh?" Lucas said, a playful glint in his eyes. "Do you think something like this would be able to shake me, huh? Who do you take me as?"
Ethan, though still concerned, couldn't help but smile in response to Lucas's attempt at humor. Perhaps it was just the stress of the situation playing tricks on his mind. The mysteries of Phantom's Land had already proven to be more profound than anyone had anticipated, and the recent events had taken a toll on everyone.
"Yeah, yeah, you got me again," Ethan said, trying to shake off the lingering unease. "Just take it easy, alright? We all need some time to process everything that happened."
"Yeah….Process…."
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