Honor of Kings-Chapter 10: Impending chaos

A few moments later, all the students had collapsed to the ground, staring blankly with squinted eyes at the sky. This felt, unfathomably, like summer, and it couldn't hurt more for non-lovers.

This serene atmosphere was a pain to many and a gift to a few, easier said than understood.

Dunn moved around them, smiling. He allowed them some rest, and they appreciated it. This proved he wasn't as heartless as most officers, making it hard to believe he was truly one.

Sky had quit during the push-ups, his hands suddenly going numb after ten. Katie made it through thirty squats before stopping. Finnian, now considered the biggest weakling, was the first to quit a quarter of the way through.

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Dunn was suddenly called back inside, while Ms. Airi, who had been secretly watching them from the top floor window of the senior building, received a message on her phone. Her face turned grim in horror as she hurriedly ran down the hallway in her slippers.

One of the students pulled out his phone and began scrolling through a social media page. He came across a post that left him agape. Before alerting his classmates, he decided to verify the shocking information through a search engine.

...And it turned out to be true.

"Guys, come see this, right now!" he called out. The students quickly gathered around him, their gazes fixed on the screen. Others began pulling out their phones after catching a glimpse of the details.

Soon, multiple students were engrossed in their devices. Sky joined them, curious about the commotion. Everyone's faces had turned pale, their eyes trembling as they tried to focus.

It was unpleasant...

The news was... disturbing.

It indirectly marked the end of something precious to humanity.

This was a place that had been home to people thousands of years ago, and it remained unchanged until now. Not even a thousand years ago, rather, millions.

Sky mumbled the news in shock, "...Devastating. The world is in great danger. Three countries and a continent have now fallen from our grasp. The United Council has seized control of powerful nuclear weapons, fearing they might affect neighboring countries that haven't yet succumbed to these devils, the Exiles..."

Another student read the list below the summary, "Italy, Germany, and... England. All of Asia has fallen, and slowly, North America, Europe, South America, and Africa are being rattled little by little." Her hands trembled.

The student with the phone continued, "A new global landscape has begun to rise over these dominated lands—our homes. These are..."

Before he could finish, Corporal Levitt snatched the phone from his hands and tossed it into a box. The students looked up to see Levitt's slightly annoyed expression. The phones of all the other students were also confiscated.

"From now on, the use of phones and the Internet will be prohibited. All networks will be cut off, and no connections will be made outside the school premises," he announced in a deep voice, glancing at each student before his gaze settled on Sky.

'What in the hell is going on?' Sky thought, staring back at Levitt. The Corporal turned and walked back to the large tent, accompanied by another officer carrying the box of confiscated phones.

Shortly after, Donald emerged outside, with Dunn trailing behind him, holding a short list and wearing an unhappy expression.

When they reached the front of the students, fear was palpable in the air. Some students hugged one another tightly, seeking warmth and comfort. The liveliness that once filled the space had vanished, replaced by a heavy silence. Hope, hung by a fragile thread.

This thread promised something called "peace," but it felt distant and unconfirmable—nothing more than an illusion. Sky understood that this so-called "hope" was a cruel deception. From his childhood until now, clinging to its threads had broken him time and again, leaving him with no foresight to piece himself back together.

It was because of this that he had lost the...

Tears began to swell in Sky's eyes, but they refused to fall. His hatred for "hope" held them back, convincing him that showing weakness in this crumbling world was unacceptable. The strongest were now in demand, and he recalled someone who had once told him never to cry or be afraid. That person was here now, unshaken by fear.

This individual had never betrayed his soul to hope... not even now.

Why should he?

Fuck fear. Fuck the growing tension. Fuck the...

Suddenly, his mind went blank, darkness fell over his thoughts. Huh, this mental illness really does have its advantages.

"Students, listen attentively; Dunn here will be calling out five of you to follow us. Dunn, please go on."

With a shaky voice and the students still lost in confusion, he began:

"Carson Eston."

A dark-skinned boy stood up, hands clasped together, looking at Dunn with a mix of apprehension and curiosity about what would happen next. Dunn met his gaze and shook his head slightly, conveying, 'Everything is going to be okay. Don't be frightened.'

The next name was called: "Kylie Maria." Then, "Philip Egerton." Next, "Terry Blairgowrie," and finally, "Lynn Moore."

Five students now stood, stepping forward with trembling bodies.

"Follow me," Donald commanded, turning to lead the way alongside Dunn.

Suddenly, a shout rang out from behind, halting them. "Stop! What do you think you're doing?"

Ms. Airi rushed toward them, accompanied by three other teachers.

They positioned themselves in front of the five students. Ms. Airi grasped Carson's hands tightly, her eyes blazing with fury as she stared at Donald, who sighed deeply in frustration.

"Where are you taking them? Here, we are their guardians and must know every single detail about them, including where they're going and what they're doing," she said in a serious tone.

"Oh... is that so?" Corporal Levitt suddenly approached.