Second Time Reversal.
The dome rises high, soft light streaming down from the top like a blazing sun in the sky.
Few within the Order Bureau can come here, but everyone who does, upon seeing this structure, experiences an illusion, mistaking it for a grand cathedral.
On the dome, countless sculptures stand, gathered like descending angels, surrounding and cascading down the walls on all sides to the ground.
But a closer look reveals these sculptures are not angels; they appear to be ordinary humans, each with different faces and poses, varying ages and genders, more akin to a commemorative group of sculptures.
What is even stranger is that these sculptures are inverted on the dome, heads pointing to the earth, numerous as a sea of sand, occupying the entire dome, seemingly extending until they spread across the sky.
Beneath the dome is a bottomless deep well, on the ground outside of it are pneumatic tubes, like steel veins running parallel, finally descending along the well’s wall into the darkness below.
This place is not silent; instead, monotonous mechanical sounds constantly echo, countless figures bound to the walls under the dome’s shadow.
They are not humans, merely humanoid in appearance, with their heads entirely missing from the mouth up, replaced by an elliptical metal shell, extending wires connecting to the darkness above.
These peculiar entities faithfully execute their duties, working mechanically without rest.
Some act as operators, setting down red receivers, tapping typewriters with mechanical fingers as replacements for their broken human fingers, quickly producing a freshly inked paper.
Rolling up the paper, inserting it into a capsule, placing the capsule into a pneumatic tube, it speeds away under pressure, transported into the well’s darkness.
In the dimly lit perimeter, countless tubes intertwine, with huge gears turning slowly, meshing together, the complex machinery in constant motion, seemingly enveloping the building’s exterior.
After a brief wait, a neutral, cold voice echoes from below the well.
"Identity confirmed, Belli Yiyeta."
"Application approved."
"Unshakable activated."
The voice continues, but it has no effect on the surroundings, as the strange entities keep working, connecting calls, printing documents, integrating them, sending them down the pneumatic tubes as if nothing happened. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs ɴovᴇl(F)ɪre.ɴet
But at a certain moment, the sound of chimes halts the busy labors for a second, as if they are waiting for something.
"Time axis disorder event detected."
The voice emanates from the depths of the well.
"Prepare for impact."
Outside, in Oubos, a brilliant white light bursts from the Great Rift, sweeping through streets and buildings, engulfing everyone.
In an instant, it reaches the Lina District, then engulfs the towering Cultivation Room, the pure light seemingly liquefies, roaring into the Cultivation Room.
The power resetting the time axis covers the Curved Path Courtyard, permeates the Deep Nest Courtyard, then the Pillar Courtyard, echoing through various departments.
But as it attempts to reach this place, like rapids meeting a rock, the surging tide is easily split in two.
The external influence continues, until it completely envelops Oubos; at its expansion limit, the light suddenly collapses, reversing to its detonation point.
As it collapses, time flows backward, things twisting rapidly until returning to their origin.
The second time reversal ends.
The third time reversal begins.
Silence lasts for a few seconds, then the neutral voice speaks again.
"Inverted Hall self-check begins."
They remain silent, lifting their heads slightly, as if listening for further announcements.
"Self-check complete, independent time axis normal."
Hearing the confirmation, they resume their work as if the recent incident was merely the aftershock of an earthquake, unworthy of note, mechanical fingers tapping incessantly, the only sound in the quiet hall is the repetitive and monotonous noise.
In the absolute darkness beneath the well, several voices converse.
"Search the Unshakable list."
The dust-covered list is unearthed, ancient eyes scanning line after line of names.
"Setting search interval... within time axis disorder event range..."
Another voice murmurs.
"Estimate event threat level... estimation complete, begin searching for suitable candidates."
"Search mission concluded, instructions issued."
The man stood in front of the coffee machine, making himself a steaming cup of coffee. Such tasks were usually done by his assistant, but he always woke up too early. At the time of his first cup in the morning, his assistant would often still be asleep.
This was something unavoidable. One can’t simply expect an assistant to get up early because of one’s own habits, the man understood this well.
Blowing on the hot coffee, the man was preparing to enjoy a sip and start the busy day ahead, but just then, the light behind him started flashing.
Suspiciously, the man turned his head, and then the flashing lights began to accelerate. With each flash, the environment around him started to change rapidly.
Initially, he was by the corner with the coffee machine, a single flash landed him in a hallway, followed by an office, a hall, a Sublimation Furnace Core, Crow’s Nest...
It wasn’t the surroundings that were changing, but his position was shifting with each flash, until the final flash left him in absolute darkness, without the slightest trace of light.
The man showed no sign of panic; his expression remained calm, and he even smoothly took a sip of coffee.
The voice reached his ears, causing no surprise to the man. He was well aware of the Order Bureau’s operational mechanisms, knowing those mysterious entities hidden within the Decision Room rarely contact employees directly, but their occasional contacts always signify crucial matters.
They either say nothing or declare disaster.
For this, the man always harbored some peculiar feelings about the Decision Room.
The man quickly recalled the event it corresponded to — the time axis disorder incident.
The Order Bureau stands as the largest Extraordinary Organization of the Rhine Alliance, having faced countless dangers since its inception. Many of these dangerous incidents are too unique for conventional solutions.
For example, the Eternal Rotting Land incited by the Crimson Rot Sect, or the Decline Plague sparked by the Order of Truth.
The Order Bureau categorizes and assigns numbers to these unique events, preparing appropriate countermeasures to deploy when necessary.
Just like the time reversal event encountered now.
The man considered himself energetic, capable of working from dawn till dusk and not feeling fatigued the next day. Yet, as a sort of psychological comfort, he couldn’t help but drink a few more sips of coffee, striving to maintain his best state.
These urgent matters are the official terms within the Order Bureau; field staff like the man prefer to name them by another term.
Extraordinary Disasters.
Recalling his last time handling such an Extraordinary Disaster, the usually composed man felt his arms subtly trembling, as if yesterday’s disaster was still vividly before him.
"Why am I the only one here?"
He looked around and realized he was the only one reporting in. Was he expected to handle it alone?
With no response, the man felt no complaints; the Decision Room was — even face-to-face, they seldom address your queries, resembling machines that incessantly issue commands, unquestionable.
Similarly, the man understood that directives from the Decision Room were always absolutely correct; if they activated only him, it indicated he alone was enough for this Extraordinary Disaster.
The man didn’t feel relaxed; pressure still lingered in his mind, as dealing with an Extraordinary Disaster, carelessness could lead everything toward a disastrous outcome.
Suddenly, his hand felt as if it was burning, intense pain arose, yet he stably held onto the cup, seeing a brand appear on the back of his hand, depicting the Staff Sword symbolizing authority and power.
"Temporary Permission Granted."
Before the words were finished, another prickling pain emerged, flames encircled the Staff Sword brand as a barrier, blocking everything, refusing any interference.
"Unshakable Permission Granted."
The man gazed at the familiar branded mark on his hand, feeling numerous emotions. He didn’t expect to face the time axis disorder incident again; indeed, unlike other Extraordinary Disasters, this one was exceedingly rare, only such unique incidents required an Unshakable.
"Immovable Armor Transport in Progress."
The neutral, cold voice suddenly twisted, akin to a monster slaying the voice’s owner, severing his speaking throat.
After the sticky, peculiar noise, a familiar raspy voice echoed.
Lebius felt a chill in his heart, knowing who was speaking to him. His spirit tensed involuntarily.
The voice whispered beside his ear.
"I saw shadows of the Devil and King’s Shield Guard..."
Lebius remained silent for a long time, then turned over his hand, the Staff Sword brand came into view.
"I understand," he replied.
Before the words faded, the darkness collapsed. After numerous flashes, when the surroundings became clear, Lebius found himself back at the coffee corner.
Everything just seemed an illusion, yet the brand on his hand was unmistakably clear.