Chapter 131: Code Black
"Gangnam Abyss... right below us?"
I looked up at the ceiling in disbelief. Sure enough, far above in the distance, I could feel the Abyss writhing.
This world's too harsh to live in while staying sane...
Nam Tae-hong spoke as if it were no big deal.
"Thanks to that, we boasted perfect information security."
Woooong—
"Looks like this won't end well."
The moment Nam Tae-hong finished preparing to leave, men in black suits flooded into the room.
"Two 1st Army mages are withdrawing from the surface Abyss."
"It'll take about an hour and a half."
"We've lost contact with the interior of the Gangnam Abyss. The situation's bad."
Nam Tae-hong hurriedly pieced together the report.
"Any SEED personnel left?"
"Alliance Chairman Lee Joo-hyuk entered the Abyss today, so the only one remaining is... Yoo Yeon."
"We just got word—she'll arrive within 10 minutes."
"...Damn."
Nam Tae-hong furrowed his brow.
"Yoo Eun-ha."
He bowed his head and extended his hand.
"Right now, you're the only mage in the area."
"Hah..."
"Just until Yoo Yeon arrives. Please."
I gripped my staff and nodded.
"Got it. No choice but to hold out."
As we hurried down the corridor lined with shadow threads toward the exit, the Gangnam Abyss filled my entire field of vision. It was so close that even I, a mage, felt startled.
"It's really right underneath, huh."
"Yes. With all the eavesdropping from neighboring countries..."
Niwa and Nam Tae-hong gazed up at the sky with grim expressions. A thick ether fog mingled with a reddening heaven.
"......"
I frowned at the crimson sky. It resembled the heavens from 30 years ago, during the "Black Night" when abyssal entities poured from the Abyss.
Recalling that time, I raised my staff.
"We need to gather the mages... right now. It wouldn't be strange if something like the Black Night disaster happened again."
My words sent the agents around me into a panic.
"Isn't it just a surge?"
"Code Black?"
"We can't guarantee VIP safety with this manpower!"
"Contact everyone now!"
"I'll send the emergency code through the network!"
As Nam Tae-hong and I rushed toward the barricade blocking the Gangnam Abyss, someone shouted.
"Nonsense!"
"......"
Magic Control Department's Minister Park Bong-sik, whom I hadn't seen in a while, approached from the barricade side.
"Hahaha! Mr. President! It's not that serious yet."
He walked toward us with a relaxed expression.
"Abysses naturally resonate with massive ether waves periodically. No need to panic like a kid scared of an 8-year-old's tale."
Nam Tae-hong looked troubled at Park Bong-sik's words.
"Oh, Minister Park, you're here?"
"Yes, I rushed over the moment I sensed the ether waves. This is a rare but recurring resonance phenomenon—not a threat..."
Thwuck—
Park Bong-sik's words cut off midway. A massive bone spike embedded in his forehead, he dumbly looked up at it.
"Huh?"
The agents encircled me and Nam Tae-hong the instant Park Bong-sik toppled backward in confusion.
"Protective formation!"
"Code Black confirmed!"
Abyssal Overflow
From the cracked hemispherical Abyss, familiar silhouettes slowly emerged.
I pulled out the cartridge from my pocket and gripped Jang-gil.
"Jang-gil!"
Aether Scan: COMPLETE
Aether Synchronization: STABLE
After the mechanical voice, with his computational aid, Ether Dynamics surged forth.
Ether Dynamics - Reaching Light
The black beam of light shot out, slicing the pouring abyssal entities in half as they collapsed.
As the acrid ether scent spread into reality, a shattering sound echoed from above.
Crash—
"Ah."
The red sky fractured, and black night descended through the cracks.
"Code Black..."
The worst night in South Korea's history—the Black Night—was on the verge of replaying that nightmarish moment.
While everyone stared at the sky, aides approached Nam Tae-hong.
"All assemblymen are gathered at the Crisis Management Center."
"The Chief of Staff is en route!"
Nam Tae-hong nodded at the aides' words.
"Set up a temporary control tower in the safehouse and head to the Blue House."
His few words handled multiple developments with seasoned efficiency.
"Faster than expected."
[Yeah, they've been preparing, huh?]
I shrugged at Jang-gil's words.
"After all those warnings, I'd be pissed if they hadn't."
[Indeed.]
As I watched Nam Tae-hong, I sensed an ether ripple. At least hundreds—no, the chill made my skin crawl.
"Mage Yoo Eun-ha?"
I shouted at the panicked agent.
"Get the President out—everyone, run!"
"Huh?"
"Wave's starting—get out!"
Far stronger abyssal entities than before emerged from the Abyss rifts.
"Damn."
Escaping now would mean certain death for everyone.
"I'll hold here—everyone, pull back!"
*
Nam Tae-hong headed straight to the small safehouse behind the barricade. There, the Prime Minister and cabinet members appeared via video feed.
[Mr. President!]
A man in military uniform standing by the screen bowed to Nam Tae-hong.
"Ah, Commander Park Sang-chul."
In Nam Tae-hong's view, Army Chief of Staff Park Sang-chul and Yoo Yeon were in the safehouse.
"Oh, Mage Yoo Yeon arrived too. The other 1st Army mages are delayed exiting the Busan Abyss."
Nam Tae-hong checked his watch and bit his lip.
"Probably another 40 minutes."
"What about inside the Abyss? Commander Lee Joo-hyuk entered today..."
Nam Tae-hong shook his head at Yoo Yeon's question.
"Contact lost. In a Code Black, the interior's likely dire too."
"......"
Yoo Yeon's face darkened severely. She knew it well. Abyssal entities pouring out meant the inside was barely at a safe zone... or wiped out.
As Yoo Yeon paled and bit her lip, Army Chief Park Sang-chul clicked his tongue.
"Situation's grim. Once the abyssal attacks start, our triple barricade from one to three won't hold more than an hour."
"......"
Nam Tae-hong clenched his fist and nodded.
"Issue air raid alerts and emergency disaster texts immediately. Call in up to the 2nd Army—we hold for 40 minutes."
Then Nam Tae-hong looked at Yoo Yeon. He knew it too. Asking one 1st Army mage to hold a Code Black—and for 40 long minutes—was essentially a death sentence.
"1st Army Mage Yoo Yeon. I leave it to you. You're our only hope now."
Her ashen face nodded.
"1st Army's Yoo Yeon..."
She continued in a choked voice.
"I'll hold for 40 minutes."
"Please."
The moment she stepped out, a massive vibration shook the entire building. Soon, the safehouse's Archive monitor glowed red with a warning.
[Level 1 Incident]
Abyssal entities leaking from Abyss interior.
Immediate evacuation recommended.
A blaring siren filled the safehouse with intense red light. The final warning from the observing Archive meant the catastrophe had begun.
"......"
The National Intelligence Agency director broke the silence.
"Confirmed: Japan, China, Taiwan, and most Asian nations seem to be experiencing Abyss surges."
"...Continental scale, then?"
"North Korea likely can't hold Pyongyang's Abyss either."
As the ministers' grave words continued, the Prime Minister spoke heavily.
"Mr. President, move to the Sejong City secondary office immediately. Seoul, including this safehouse, is too dangerous."
"......"
Nam Tae-hong gripped his numb hands tightly. The President leaving Seoul might be safe, but he knew what it implied.
"A vacant presidency now would worsen national chaos."
Nam Tae-hong smiled bitterly.
"One of my predecessors fled Seoul disgracefully. I can't afford to look bad too."
Silence fell over the safehouse.
Kwaaaang—
A massive explosion rocked the ground. Power out—generators hummed, reviving only the monitors.
Commander Park Sang-chul grabbed Nam Tae-hong's shoulders as he nearly collapsed, squeezing firmly.
"Mr. President, at least move to Jongno. This place is too dangerous."
"Understood. Then Mage Yoo Eun-ha and..."
Suddenly, he noticed someone missing.
"Wait—Yoo Eun-ha? Where is she?"
Checking the monitor showing outside in panic, there she was—Yoo Eun-ha, standing alone in the battlefield's center.
He glanced at the aide beside him; the aide shook his head.
"She stayed to hold the line earlier. If not for her, you wouldn't be safe, sir."
"My god. She's only 8! A child with a bright future ahead!"
Nam Tae-hong, face ashen, stared at the outer monitor. A single mage stood against hundreds of abyssal entities.