Bzzz!
As soon as they came, Lydia received the full brunt of Eleanor's ferocity.
This Elementalists' aura battered against her like a flowing river. Despite the fact that she showed no animosity towards her, Eleanor's sheer ferocity and inner turmoil meant that her energy was far more penetrative than usual.
She was not embroiled in a battle but this female warrior still seemed like she was embroiled in an invisible battle. Eleanor's demeanor, look, ferocious eyes, they were still the same to Lydia, they radiated aggressiveness.
Lydia inclined her head to look at the Core Protector, like usual, Core Protector Shanks radiated calm but it was mixed with a hint of chaos this time.
Lydia raised her eyebrows but she still acknowledged her visitors.
"Core Protector Shanks…"
"White Flame Eleanor…"
Core Protector Shanks reciprocated. "Hunter Master".
As both pair of eyes looked down at the Hunter Master, without saying anything, they already conveyed their intentions but Lydia still asked.
"Why are you here?"
Eleanor took a step forward, her voice almost boomed already when Core Protector Shanks placed his left hand on her shoulders to stop her.
"I will take care of it".
Core Protector Shanks looked at the Hunter Master with a calm look on his face. "You heard how the royal palace became a thing of history".
"You heard how the Pugilist Academy collapsed in a day".
"You heard of Jon Stones' death".
"We already lost control over the planet, the Clown Society already took a step too far and violated our bottom line, we can't stay still".
"And?" Hunter Master Lydia remained calm.
"We need to put an end to the terrorists now, Newton's student has to be put in his place or more would die and our planet would suffer".
"We must act!" Eleanor finally spoke.
Her fiery personality even seemed to make the temperature around her increase. "We can't let them have their way, they must pay!"
Lydia ignored her and looked pointedly at Core Protector Shanks.
"You are planning to unite the Grade C Superhumans to fight him?"
"Yes".
"How many have you spoken to?"
"You are the first".
Lydia calmly nodded. "Ok, let me get this straight". She alternated her gaze between both Grade C Superhumans. "Is this plan meant to prioritize saving the citizens of our planet or to prioritize revenge?"
While stressing the last part, she pinned her gaze on Eleanor fearlessly.
"Jon Stones was a friend…" Core Protector Shanks answered before the fiery Eleanor could. "I can't ignore his death like it didn't affect me".
"The priority is stopping the Clown Society to end the chaos and the deaths but that does not stop me nor her from taking revenge".
"Newton's student must die, he crossed a line".
Hunter Master Lydia finally smiled for the first time since they came. "I have no objections against your revenge, I just want to stop the chaos".
"My organization does not benefit in this so-called order of chaos".
"And besides, I really care about the lives of the civilians".
She no longer beat around the bush. "I have contacts in the Summoner Academy to communicate with him, I can also speak with the Mercenary, as for the others, you'll both have to rope them in".
"Done".
"We'll meet in 30 minutes at the headquarters of the Core Protection Alliance". Core Protector Shanks turned to look at Eleanor.
This fiery superhuman reciprocated his gaze. "Don't worry, I will try my best to rope in the other old geezers, focus on him".
This Core Protector no longer spoke, he directly tore the fabric of space open.
Bzzz!
Core Protector Shanks left.
The other 2 Grade C superhumans also did not linger here, once the Core Protector left, they also left to meet different Grade C Superhumans.
…
Bzzz!
Core Protector Shanks arrived in the Southern Continent…
This powerhouse's powerful energy check swept through the gigantic structure that was beneath him. The headquarters of the Elementalist Academy was built close to the desert, and it was built using a special crystal.
The tower-shaped building was constructed fully using this special crystal.
It had properties that hindered the effectiveness of a superhuman's energy check, this was just one of its many dilapidation abilities.
Core Protector Shanks did not waste much time on the crystal's properties though, after observing and confirming that this was the place, he directly teleported inside, bypassing most of the defenses that were put in place.
Bzzz!
Core Protector Shanks arrived inside a pure-white and neat room, this was Newton Barnes' personal research laboratory.
Sizzle!
Core Protector Shanks turned his head to follow the sound where he saw him. This old monster was gabbed in a white lab coat, his long grey hair was tied in a bun and covered with a special field that served as a hat.
At this moment, he held a beaker and seemed to be mixing some chemicals.
Newton was so focused on his work that he didn't seem to notice the intruder, Core Protector Shanks didn't disturb him either. Amid the silence, this Elementalist finished mixing his chemicals as he got a lilac mixture in the end.
He finally removed his mask and dropped the beaker, then he spoke.
"I will not fight my student, the most I can do is offer support". Newton said without turning to face the intruder as he adjusted his glasses.
"You would rather billions of civilians die?"
"Yes".
"…"
"Did you meet him?" Newton asked again.
"No, but others have seen him".
"How is he?"
"Evil". Core Protector Shanks ruthlessly answered. "From what I heard, he's an extreme unscrupulous version of you that is obsessed with research and experiments, but mostly on himself this time".
"Part of his body is now mechanical, the other part contains implanted runes of a Giant, he can barely be called a human now".
"…" Newton sighed, he finally turned to face the Core Protector.
After years of secluded research, despite his incredible vitality as a Grade C superhuman, this Elementalist's face already seen the rigors of old age. Wrinkles were all over his face, signs of his apparent lack of taking care of himself.
"You know, Norman was my favorite".
"He was intelligent, humble, and most of all, he had my zeal for research. I saw a lot of myself when I was younger in him, that is one of the reasons why I overindulged him and exposed him to my riskier research".
"When he found out about alien technology, like me when I first discovered it, his fascination got the better of him, he wanted it fast".
"I warned him but he didn't listen".
"I tried to discipline him but it only led to resistance and rebellion".
He sighed. "For the first time, I felt like I failed as a teacher".
He smiled in a self-depreciating manner. "As if to highlight my failures, not only me now but the whole Planet is suffering for my inadequacies".
"A lot of people already suffered more than enough". Core Protector Shanks butted in. "We need you to subdue him with the least effort, you know him best".
"Like I said, I won't fight my stud…"
"He killed Diana!" Core Protector Shanks butted in. "He killed Jon Stones, one of them was also your student, the other was your old friend".
"You'll really let him go after all these?"
"…"
"Ahh…" After seconds of silence, Newton sighed loudly before sitting down on a chair. "If someone deserves to be punished, I am the one".
"My overexcitement created him, innately, Norman is not what he is portraying".
"People change".
"I know Norman".
"You don't!"
Newton sighed again and stood up. "You said Jon Stones died?"
"Yes".
He smirked. "It's hard for me to imagine that old geezer dying, unless he regressed after centuries, I can bet with my organization that he's still alive".
"…"
Noting Shanks' silence, he turned to look at him. "Do it".
"Fight Norman, do everything that it takes to stop him".
"I will support you…" His eyes constricted as he paused.
"What?"
Newton looked at this Core Protector seriously. "During my years with Norman, one dominant trait that he showed was his precognition. He was good at reading his rivals and getting ahead of them".
"He would have guessed that he already pushed you to the wall, he would have guessed your plan and also that you would come meet me".
"The fact that he didn't stop you means…"
"What are you trying to say?" Core Protector Shanks' eyes constricted.
"Did you leave your territory defenseless?"
Core Protector Shanks narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying…?"
He dared not verify, he directly tore the fabric of space again.
Bzzz!
*****
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