140 Black Miasma

Yes. With the IDLE Database confirming the death of the Abyssal Wolf. The danger should've ended right there.

However, along with that question that someone raised, Aldrin suddenly felt a chill running through his spine.

"Wait. Could it be?" His mind sharply went into an odd turn as a grim possibility suddenly cropped up in his mind.

As quickly as he could, his eyes focused on the minimap that was being updated in real-time by the mysterious system.

From where he's standing, the red dot that marked the existence of the Abyssal Wolf had all but disappeared.

However, a few pixels from it, another red dot had started emerging.

Quickly estimating the direction, Aldrin hurriedly tried to confirm it. The IDLE Database wouldn't suddenly make an error in its judgement. It could even bend rules in a small dimension. That's why there's no reason for it to suddenly err in one of its features.

"Irina! Hurry up and retreat!"

He had no idea if his voice was guttural or he shouted it at the top of his lungs, but the sudden quickening of his heartbeat as adrenaline rushed to his head unconsciously moved his body before he could even think of it.

In front of his screen, Irina's new Concept that trapped the black miasma still hadn't dissipated. And the girl was standing in front of it, mesmerized at what it accomplished.

Unfortunately, that's the exact spot the red dot appeared.

Squeezing out his remaining refined Energy, Aldrin sped past everyone to push the girl away.

Alas…

Even at his quickest, he judged that he wouldn't be able to reach the girl before whatever's inside the Lockdisc broke free.

"Eh?" The girl, who had just been smiling brilliantly from their victory, tilted her head. She's confused why Aldrin suddenly shouted to retreat.

But as soon as she saw the terror and worry on his face along with the sudden swift movements that he made, the girl also turned serious.

However, it happened in a blink of an eye.

CRACK!

Along with another blinding light, the Lockdisc broke open and the threatening black miasma oozed out of it.

Being the nearest Metadome, Irina automatically became its target.

"N-no…"

From the communication channel, Irina's reluctant and terrorized voice traveled to his ears.

And following it… the red [DISCONNECTED] in a black background replaced her terror-stricken face.

There's no time for her to shout.

The black miasma instantly expanded and… swallowed the whole Metadome.

The others could react to what happened, the black miasma along with Irina's five-meter-tall Metadome disappeared from their sight.

"IRINA!"

Clark was the first one among the others who recognized the situation. The girl he's infatuated with and chasing after for all these years vanishes along with the sudden emergence of a new unidentified dimensional creature. He shouted at the top of his lungs as he joined Aldrin in running toward the girl

Too bad… They're both late.

A few seconds later, Aldrin finally reached the spot where Irina and the black miasma disappeared. The hand of his Metadome was raised, reaching out to the flying black miasma that's leaving the place to who knows where.

Clark, who was a few seconds late, tried to jump as high as he could but he failed and just dropped back to the ground.

"I wasn't wrong when I identified it as an ability born from the utilization of Dimensional Energy. But… it's not an ability of the Abyssal Wolf." Aldrin muttered under his breath. His eyes were still focused on the sky. He felt himself shaking, powerless even.

It happened too quickly that even if he reacted to the situation, he was still late.

The private communication to Irina's Metadome remained disconnected. However, there's no indication that she's dead.

There's still a chance that Irina would survive… Or so, he optimistically thought. There's no guarantee that he's right or wrong. But there's also no confirmation that being swallowed by that miasma was instant death.

Who knows? The miasma was probably trying to deliver her to the real invoker of that ability.

One by one, the remaining members of their group gathered around them.

"What happened? What was that, it swallowed Irina?!" The leader of Group C, Faye, blurted out. Her voice was clearly shaken. And even if the others didn't say anything, they also had the same question.

"Aldrin," Frederic called out to him. Perhaps noticing that he was in deep contemplation.

"Aldrin!" And likewise, Clark shouted angrily at him.

Lifting his head to face them, Aldrin put on a calm yet serious expression, "First, let's calm down."

"What the f*ck are you talking about?! Irina was taken! And you want us to calm down! If you're not going to do anything then sit down and stay here. I'll go and save her!"

"And how will you do that?" Aldrin faced his angry ramblings with a simple question. Even though their relationship was fake, the girl treated him well. Well enough that he's probably not wrong to say that the girl was already infatuated with him, regardless of the payment she made for the 'fake relationship' contract they had.

Even if he's not showing it, he's also extremely worried for the girl.

But… He's the leader of his group. If he just suddenly ordered them to follow the direction where the black miasma flew, not everyone would abide by his orders. There's no plan in place and everyone was clearly shaken at the turn of events.

And if he let Clark go on his own, there's no telling if he could even catch up to it. He might run into a dimensional creature and be stomped down by it.

"That's for me to decide! If you're done talking, I'll stop wasting my time here! I still have to save Irina. Frederic, are you with me?" Clark angrily declared before turning towards his other friend. They're like an inseparable trio so it's only natural that Frederic was also worried.

However, Frederic's answer disappointed Clark, "Like Aldrin said, calm down. We won't get anywhere if we suddenly rush in. Who knows what's waiting for us there?"

"You? You of all people will refuse to save Irina?! Fine, I'll go by myself, cowards!" With rage filling his mind, Clark rebuked before disconnecting himself from their communication channel.

Following that, his Metadome turned around and was about to stomp its way towards finding Irina.

He failed, of course.

Because as soon as he disconnected, Aldrin made a move as well as ordered Frederic.

"Let's stop him."

"I understand."

In less than a few seconds, Clark's Metadome deactivated without so much as a scratch. However, the operator inside was unconscious.

Aldrin and Frederic only held him down. It was Clark's rage and agitation for being stopped that led it to reach the critical levels that NQL had no choice but to deactivate while also making him unconscious, albeit temporarily. Another three seconds later, his eyes snapped open, restarting the engine of his Metadome.

However, this time, he was once again connected to the channel. And in front of him, Aldrin and Frederic's eyes focused on him.

"There are only two choices for you, Clark. You know that we're running out of time every second we spend here. Now choose. Either you calm down and I'll let you join us in our plan to rescue Irina or rage again and be knocked down and left here to not ruin our chances. Choose."

Aldrin presented a choice. And he's not going to take a sweet time waiting for Clark's answer. As seconds ticked by, he's already prepared to put him out of commission.

Of course, that's not necessary anymore as Clark soon came to a decision. "A-alright. Please, rescue Irina."

"Of course, that's my woman they abducted. Let's move out!"