Chapter 199: Ascendant Level Threat?!

Chapter 199

Everyone’s expression immediately turned serious, except Alex, Stephanie, and Drew. Alex was a bit puzzled by almost everyone’s serious demeanor and figured that Code Yellow likely meant something very important. Still, he couldn’t help asking since curiosity was killing him.

"Uhm, guys, what does Code Yellow emergency mean, by the way?"

Mia blinked before suddenly slapping a hand against her forehead.

"Oh, sorry! I forgot you guys are new to all this."

She quickly lowered her hand and looked at Alex, Stephanie, and Drew.

"Ok listen closely. Basically, there are five emergency codes used by the Bureau. They go from White to Blue, then Yellow, Red, and finally Black."

Alex’s interest became piqued.

"Five codes?"

"Yep." Mia nodded. "And each one represents the exact threat level of the situation. Now I will begin with the codes and what they stand for."

She pointed toward the holographic display that was still hovering above the drone and said.

"Code White emergencies are situations where the threat is around the Early Realm level. They’re dangerous to normal humans, obviously, but any squad should easily be able to handle them. Just think of them as very easy."

Alex nodded slowly.

"Then Blue?"

"Those are Vanguard Realm level threats."

Mia held up two fingers.

"Those are considerably more dangerous than code white. But overall it isn’t that scary with the presence of a Ascendant Realm expert and vanguard Realm experts in the squad. So for those a single squad is usually enough."

Alex’s expression became slightly more serious.

"Okay, what about Yellow then?"

Mia’s smile disappeared.

"Yeah that one is when things get serious. It’s an Ascendant Realm level threat."

Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"So this is an Ascendant-level threat."

"Yeah that’s why everyone looks serious."

Mia gave him a helpless shrug.

"Most of us are Early or Vanguard Realm Awakeneds. And before you joined we only had Squad leader Sylph. So If we’re facing an actual Ascendant-level threat, one wrong move could get one of us killed. Here is when the casualties can also get high. It’s how we lost Danny... Ella’s cousin."

Ella’s face became slightly pale at those words, and Alex noticed it but didn’t say anything. Instead, he asked, "And Red?"

"Now that’s a threat level where lower squads like us don’t interfere. That is Master Realm level Threat."

Mia’s voice became noticeably quieter.

"A Red Code emergency is the kind of situation where the Bureau starts mobilizing its strongest available forces. Ordinary squads aren’t supposed to handle something like that alone."

Alex nodded.

"And Black?"

Mia hesitated, before finally saying softly.

"Transcendent Realm level threat.... That one has only happened once. And if I remember correctly it happened way before I even dreamed of joining this organization. From what I’ve heard, five Transcendent Realms Awakened from other countries including ours had to step in to stop that kind of threat."

Allen joined the conversation from beside the equipment lockers.

"I’ve read about it. The incident lasted less than a day, but the damage was ridiculous to the point that several countries, maybe even the continent, was almost destroyed if they hadn’t managed to stop the threat in time."

Mia nodded.

"Exactly. That’s why Black is considered the highest emergency classification."

Alex looked thoughtful.

"So basically, White is Early level threat, Blue is Vanguard level threat, Yellow is Ascendant level threat, Red is Master level threat, and Black is Transcendent level threat."

"Exactly."

Alex was about to ask the obvious question; why if all of this kind of threats were happening, how come most people, especially civilians, didn’t even know about it, when the door suddenly opened.

Sylph stepped into the room and instructed in a serious voice.

"Enough talking. Everyone get ready. The more time we delay might result in more lives being lost if the threat has started." Her sharp voice immediately brought the conversation to an end. "We’ve received our deployment instructions. Go to the equipment room and put on your combat gear."

Everyone immediately began moving. Alex glanced at himself before looking toward Sylph.

"What about me, Stephanie and Drew? We just came today and haven’t yet gotten our squad gear."

Sylph shook her head.

"Since you guys are newly assigned members, and the Bureau hasn’t issued your squad combat uniforms yet. You can wear your normal clothes and join us. This mission will show you what we face most times and improve your experience."

Alex nodded.

"Understood."

Drew simply gave a grunt while Stephanie adjusted her clothing and prepared to follow the others.

Within several minutes, the entire group had left the squad quarters and entered a large preparation hall.

Alex’s eyes immediately swept across the room.

Several people were already gathered there. They were wearing identical black combat uniforms designed with reinforced material around the chest, shoulders, arms, and legs. However, there was a noticeable difference between their uniforms and his squad’s own.

Aside from the similar clothes, theirs had a blue colored stripe running along both arms, and their squad number was displayed clearly beneath the stripe. While his squad’s own was green with their squad number also positioned in the exact same spot.

"So that’s how the squads are identified."

"That’s right. Personally I feel like the bureau is being a bit cheap by only separating each group with just the colored stripes around the sleeves." Allen replied, poking at his arm."

As Alex continued staring at the other side, he immediately recognized who they were. It was Phil’s squad. Phil was standing at the front with Carl and Claire beside him, while another person stood nearby.

The moment Alex looked at the newcomer, his expression became slightly strange.

Pink hair. That arrogant face that looked like it deserved a proper beating. And that annoying smirk that looked nauseating. Who else could it be other than that damn idiot from earlier.

So this annoying guy is in Phil’s squad? He felt sorry for Phil and the rest, but more than that he couldn’t help mentally saying thank God.

More than his pity for Phil’s squad, the thought of the annoying guy not being in the same squad as him genuinely made him feel relieved.

People like that were exhausting to deal with. The guy had spent the entire physical evaluation showing off simply because he could lift forty tons, and Alex had already gotten the impression that he enjoyed looking down on weaker people.

Having him in a squad that wasn’t his, was probably for the best. Looks like the heavens still liked him. Carl, who was chatting with an annoyed looking face, suddenly noticed Alex from afar.

"Alex!" He yelled, raising a hand and waving at him.

Alex smiled and returned the gesture. Carl grinned before saying something to Phil, who briefly glanced in Alex’s direction. Claire also noticed him and surprisingly gave him a small nod before looking away.

Alex returned the greeting before looking back toward his own squad.

"Aren’t there other squads around? So why are there only two squads here?"

Chris shrugged and said casually.

"Most of the other squads are either already out on missions or currently on leave."

Alex looked around.

"So this is all they could gather immediately?"

"Pretty much."

Before Alex could respond, the large doors at the far end of the preparation hall opened. Then the Vice Bureau Chief entered.

The moment he appeared, the entire room became quiet. He walked toward the center of the hall, his dark navy uniform looking even more imposing than it had earlier and said in a deep booming voice.

"Listen carefully everyone. We have just received confirmation of a Code Yellow emergency."

A large holographic display appeared behind him, showing a map before zooming toward a specific location.

"Approximately thirty one miles from this facility, a large unidentified portal has appeared not too far from the countryside. At present, there has been no movement from the other side for now.... Which is at least good news."

The map then began shifting to show several nearby houses and the likes.

"The moment our satellite detected the portal, we contacted the military and local police to drive all civilians away. As we speak now, Civilian evacuation procedures are already underway, and the surrounding area is being cleared as quickly as possible."

The Vice Bureau Chief’s gaze swept across everyone.

"Your mission is simple. Reach the location, secure the area, confirm the nature of the portal, and eliminate any threat that arrives." His expression hardened. "Do not underestimate this situation. We know the threat is an Ascendant level threat...."

He paused before continuing.

"...But still, be careful and don’t die. Everyone of you is valuable to this country and losing even one will be a great loss. Remember what you’re fighting for."

Nobody spoke.

"You’re not fighting for glory. You’re not fighting for recognition. You’re fighting to make sure that your fellow countrymen and families are safe."

The Vice Bureau Chief stepped aside.

"God bless America. Now move out."

The two squads immediately began heading toward their respective jets. Apparently Alex managed to find out later from Tonya on the way, that each squad had their own private jets.

When Alex finally saw it, he couldn’t help noticing how nice it looked. The squad jet itself was far more advanced than anything he had expected from a government organization in 2009. Its sleek metallic body was reinforced across its exterior, while several powerful engines hummed beneath its frame.

Everyone climbed aboard. And then minutes later, the aircraft took off.

Alex sat near one of the windows, quietly watching the landscape below become smaller. It was the only way he could distract himself before facing the incoming threat. Still one thing had him baffled. What exactly were those portals?

Were they like those ones from Anime’s in the future where something like monsters, or aliens came out of. He couldn’t really be sure but the possibility was still there. If there were human beings like Awakened with extraordinary ability, then what’s stopping there from being any monsters or aliens

The journey didn’t take long, because the speed of this baby was on a whole other level. Eventually, the jet descended toward the designated area.

The moment the aircraft landed, Alex stepped out with the rest of Squad Five, and his expression immediately became serious.

Phil’s squad had already arrived. They were standing several meters away from the landing zone, clearly having reached here before them.

But Alex barely paid attention to them, because his eyes were fully focused on what stood beyond them.

It was a massive yellow portal. The thing was roughly thirty meters tall and thirty meters wide, floating above the ground like a gigantic wound carved into reality itself. The edges of the portal constantly twisted and distorted the surrounding air, creating strange ripples that made the trees and landscape behind it appear warped.