Ethereal Paradigm: Arcadia of Darkness 49 Finalized Preparations

"Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting."

-Haruki Murakami

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I sat down, drowning myself in what I approved and still with the nostalgic nightmare boggling my head, when suddenly, through the city's public address system, a siren's emergency sound echoed through the whole city very loudly, as if a nuclear missile is fast approaching, with us as the primal target.

Well, that has zero possibilities of happening. Only earth would have such an asinine invention designed to inflict catastrophe on the land we so personally walked.

"What's happening?" I looked at my clock and it's now 2:27 AM. Hmmm. It's comprehensible...That Alarm is sounded on purpose. To remind everyone of the journey that awaits, just thirty minutes more.

The alarm js very loud that it likely woke everyone up, it goes on for almost like 5 minutes and then a new unfamiliar voice followed.

"Bim pom pam pom!" here's another weird emcee.

"Hello everyone! Rise and Shine! Time check! It's now 2:32 AM. Time check! 2: 32 AM Thirty minutes less before we begin our pilgrimage outside this city! Aren't you excited! Awww, but, It is rather sad that not everyone is able to make it on the first night as they foolishly took their life thinking that all of this was a part of a dream! They disregarded how Mr. Hermes implicitly said that Death plays a constant role here. Well, for now, we sent their bodies to Hades. You won't have to worry of any uncanny smell anytime soon."

"Now then, I recommend everyone to settle up and recon at the city gates. Remember this okay? Those that chose 'Chaos Armada' would have to take the Southern gate and for the 'Mirage Armada', please do take the northern gate! Are we all clear? Oh, and I forgot to introduce myself, I am Goddess Athena and with me is Ms. Alexandra Ludenburgh, we will be the announcer throughout the entirety of the game, to its fruition, providing you fast undelayed statistical and rule updates! Don't think weirdly of my name now. I know, it sounds horrible, but it has a nice meaning to it!"

Wait, my homeroom teacher? Ms. Ludenburgh? Announcer? She was a great actress though, playing the role of a homeroom teacher in front of us...if she knew that this was to happen all along.

"Then everyone! As of now, there are 345 thousand and 457 hundred active delegates left in the warfare. I can't simply forget to inform all this statistical news. Outside of the gates that you chose, is an Anima, awaiting your arrival, one for each Armada. They will explain to you what to do next, as your primal steps on the land you all are undoubtedly foreign! See you there!" the rather early announcement ended.

Yet, is to just me or these deities are really conservative on using their power, except for that Hermes who blew a whole terrain off just for demonstration. Yet, in all of their authority over the natural laws, why the hell are they making use of the public address system? It's just weird for them to utilize such a tech. Whatever...

300 thousand huh? That's a lot lesser than I expected. But still, as of this time, it's still implausible to think, that in that remaining 300k+, one is only assured to get out with the wish in hand...and alive.

Surely though, that Athena wouldn't have to worry about bullying all because of her 'Godly' name soon. So it finally starts...

I then grabbed all of my stuff as I know that I can't waste another second. First thing, I need to stop by a convenient store as planned and buy a larger suitcase, buy some basic necessities, like rope, flashlights, canned foods, clothes, and several others. and I think my money would be enough.

Wait, do I really need them? It's a land ruled by magic right? Well, it won't hurt to give me a head start, so I guess its okay. I should just keep the numbers to a bare minimum. I would not want to stand out because of the stuff I'm carrying.

"Shiro...time to wake up." I then soundly approached the girl in her sleep and started to wake her up gently.

"Hee? It's still early oni-chama." the girl waking up replied, as though shuttering her synapses, fighting the inevitable and undeniable lure to sleepiness and the unending call of the comfortable bed and pillows.

The night still rolls and it would be a while before the sun shows again. It's normal for a little girl to act like this. What's not normal is how she is able to have a decent sleep in spite of everything she saw, even having her parents dead in front of her. In my case, it was a week of unable to wake up, another week of sleep deprivation, a month of complete isolation and years of memories haunting me to no end. Even here. Maybe some are just born strong-willed? Whatever the reason may be, this kid is quite something else.

"Yes, but we need to prepare now ok?", I added.

"*Yaawwn*. Ok, Oni-chama", with a little yawn and back stretches the girl got into her feet and prepared... It took a little while, she persisted to take a bath first... I then checked out on the digital terminal the hotel has had at the front desk and left the room key as instructed.

And then out we go..

The moment we got out, those dead bodies that were everywhere are nowhere to be seen and there's no trace of the mess that the mass suicide inflicted on the city streets. It is like, nothing has ever happened. It's just the mundane International Clark City that everyone used to know.

And on the side streets, lit by the auxiliary street lights were these vigilant-looking people going their ways, either to the northern gate or to the southern gate. Some of them looked rather excited, some looked doubtful, some were confident while the majority still has this look of the unbelief of what they are going through.

Moreover, those that are left, can't be simply underestimated. We all have had our fair share of troubles just on that past hours. But, as to what I am wondering the most, is why they are not that prepared to look at, with bags that are rather small to fit their needs. It's like they're going for a stroll in a park, or is it perchance that they thought it's useless at this point? We are going to a land where supernatural occurrences are daily visage though...

Shiro and I then quickly scanned the neighborhood for a convenient store. Good thing there's this one still operating. I hastily opened the door and started picking things that are important for me and Shiro.

Clothes? Check! Canned goods? Check! Flashlight and Batteries? Check! Portable tent? Check! Ok, this is it for now. Wouldn't want to make it heavy either.

Wait, I can't go on looking like this? I now look like a mountain climber in a school uniform of a very exemplary university! Let me redo it again.

First, a rather medium-sized bag. Two pairs of cloth changes for me and Shiro. Little water for the road. And of course, I can't forget the portable tent. Alright. This is it. Now looking normal than ever.

Assuming that there are no one other than us in the store, I quickly left my wallet containing all of my money and started to go back my way, towards the semi-automated door...

"Young man, what is this..?"

Moreover, someone is in fact in the store watching me picking all of this stuff up and returning some of them away, and it is rather weird. I did not sense his presence despite the tightening of my environmental perception. Perhaps, I got too busy. It is an old man, in his sixties in the cashier.

"Uhmm. It's cash, for all of this" I answered his question pinpointing how I benefited from this nearby store.

"No need for this. You can take whatever you want" with a very innocent and undaunted smile, he replied, while throwing my wallet back at me.

"You sure sir?"

"Yes. There won't be any needs for this place to continue anyway."

"Thank you. You're not going, sir? It's only 30 minutes before lockdown you know"

"Oh, I'm just gonna say my last goodbye to this place. I'll follow up later. You go there, kid. Let us meet again, in this land, they frickin transported us."

"Sure."

"You both live ok?" the old man said, delineating the 'both' part, to me and Shiro

"You too. Thanks again, sir!"

I then got Shiro who is also picking some snacks by the grocery ally and got out of the convenience store with everything that we need. For starters, it was very refreshing to know that someone that calm and normal still exists. Meeting someone like that would want me to take back every bad thing that I have said, generalizing the entire humankind, when in fact there are still a few who can pass through my criterion of 'notable personalities'.

Well, I do look forward to a reunion outside the gates, old man. just don't make it awkward.

Chapter end