CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33- CONVICTION

Chapter 33- Conviction

Jack already had a hunch about what the general was going to say, but he still wanted to hear it from the man’s own mouth. There was something mildly entertaining about watching someone try to control a panicked population barely an hour after disaster had struck. Not many could pull off such a task.

People in this state wouldn’t listen to most voices, no matter how compelling the words. When their minds were locked on their families—still stuck outside—and on a future that looked bleaker by the second, no speech, no matter how inspiring, could truly calm them.

"What I have learned," the general began, "is that these creatures began appearing roughly an hour ago... all over the world. Their origin is still not fully confirmed but..." He hesitated, then said, "We suspect these creatures are from... the Other Side."

"What?!"

"The Other World?!"

"No way!!"

"Why?! Those things aren’t supposed to make it here!"

The reaction was instant and explosive. People shouted over one another, their voices rising into a panicked clamor. All it took was the general uttering those three words—The Other Side—for the crowd to unravel completely.

To them, Aevum was a mystical realm, a place where true gods walked. The tales they’d heard painted it as a higher plane beyond mortal reach, where power ruled and the weak perished. So, hearing that Aevum’s creatures had crossed into their own world sent their fear spiraling into something primal.

"Calm down, everyone! Please!" the general barked, his voice sharp and commanding, cutting through the noise. The authority in his tone wasn’t born from rank alone—it came from a lifetime of leading men.

"I understand your fear and concern. These are no ordinary monsters we face. They’re stronger, faster, and far more dangerous than anything we have on Earth. However..." His voice rose, resonating through the lounge. "I do not want anyone to lose hope! This—right here—is when we must stand together and fight back!"

His words carried conviction. His eyes were sharp, unwavering, without a trace of fear.

"We are facing what may be the greatest disaster our world has ever known. But don’t forget who we are. We are human. We have faced the impossible before, and each time, we’ve grown stronger. Chronists have crossed into the Other Side and become powerhouses even there. That is what being human is about." He clenched his fist, his voice steady but fierce. "I will not ask you to suppress your fear or to stop worrying about your loved ones who may still be out there. But I will ask you this—cooperate with us. Because doing so will increase everyone’s chances of survival."

The room fell quieter.

Jack could tell the man wasn’t posturing; his words were genuine. Having dozens of unpredictable people crammed together in such a tense environment was a nightmare for any leader, especially with greater dangers still lurking outside. The general needed their cooperation.

"We promise to do everything in our power to save your loved ones and take back control of our city," the general finished. "But to do that, we need your help."

Without waiting for applause or acknowledgment, he stepped down. His intention was clear—let them digest his words and decide for themselves.

"That was a decent speech," Lune remarked casually.

"Hm. Better than I expected," Jack replied. "His words won’t be completely wasted. Some will listen."

A quick glance confirmed it—several faces were calmer, their fear tempered by reason. But there were still plenty whose eyes darted wildly, their panic refusing to fade. Still, the crowd began dispersing in a slightly more orderly fashion.

Jack, Lune, and Evelyn remained where they were.

"Hmm... things are going to get interesting faster than I thought," Jack murmured, turning to leave.

"Hey, wait," Evelyn called after him. "What do you think will happen?"

"No one can say for certain," Jack said, his tone thoughtful. "But I expect the military will launch a full-scale assault within a few days. They can’t afford to stay passive, and normal methods won’t cut it against these monsters. Chronists around the world will be called in."

Many people forgot that detail, but Jack hadn’t. Earth had its share of Chronists—countless more lived in Aevum. It wouldn’t take long for them to arrive, whether driven by politics, profit, or both.

’At least... not in the way they’d prefer Earth to fall,’ Jack mused.

"A full-scale war..." Evelyn muttered. "That’s going to be ugly."

"All wars are ugly," Jack said evenly. "The only question is how ugly this one will be."

When they reached the main area, Jack stopped in front of a large map. "I’m leaving the bunker in two hours, once things calm down."

"Planning to hunt monsters?"

"And a few other things. But yes—that’s my main goal."

’I need to decide where to head first. Several key locations come to mind... and my parents could be at any of them.’

"For now, let the panic run its course," he told Evelyn. "Meet me here in two hours. Don’t be late."

"Got it."

"Good."

They parted ways.

"Are you sure you can trust her, Jack?" Lune asked, watching Evelyn walk away. Something about the girl tugged at her instincts. She couldn’t pinpoint it yet, but she was sure Evelyn was hiding something—and it was only a matter of time before it came to light.

’She’s definitely not normal.’

"I don’t trust her," Jack replied without hesitation.

"Hm? You don’t?"

"No. I don’t trust anyone. I’m working under the assumption that she might try something. But she’s weaker than me, and she knows her best chance of survival is sticking with me."

Lune smirked faintly. "Already learning to read people, huh? Took me longer to get that good."

"In any case, she’ll only be useful for a while. Once I find my parents, I won’t need her."

"Where do you think they are, my love?"

"I don’t know exactly," Jack admitted. "But I have a hunch they’re somewhere familiar. If they couldn’t make it here, it means they were too far to reach safety in time. They’ll have found somewhere to hide—somewhere the monsters can’t reach them."

Knowing his parents, Jack had an idea of where he needed to search. The problem was... Every single spot was far away from his current position and the entire city was infested with monsters that could kill him.

If he wanted to make it to his parents then he knew he had to simply get stronger. Way stronger.