Secret Society: Raising Calamity Class Disciples

Silence. Utter silence. Even the ticks of the clocks and watches seemed to have died down out of fear while the lamps wavered.

Even Eulene was surprised. She had studied Geography under Miss Maisel. And she knew how vast each of the countries of the continent were. And among the countries, super cities like Aramon were placed here and there.

She was well aware of how powerful she was, but even she did not have the powers to wipe off a country from the world map in a short time.

She turned to Xavier awaiting an answer.

The red glowing smile on his face completely disappeared. All he had now on his mask was pure blackness. "You know that only the strongest of 'ancient' artefacts are capable of pulling off such a feat."

The clicking sound continued. There were no paper on the typewriter now. The duo had to decipher its messages from the sequence of its pressed keys.

**Yes. But Sir Fritz Daimler was not any less of a genius than Sir Hans Zeitmann. In the field of linear mechanics, my creator has accomplished more than anyone. And just like the creator of that treasure of yours—a watch that defies gravity—my creator also invented a machine that defies common sense**

"But it doesn't mean it will be able to destroy a whole country, does it?"

**Remember the Great Sumerian Earthquake?**

Eulene started to have history lesson flashbacks. The Earthquake, which happened a century or so ago, might have not been the most intense, but it affected half the continent.

**That was the naught but that after effects of the prototype's initial test.**

Badump.

Eulene subconsciously gave Xavier a look. It was the first time she sensed something abnormal from the bastard's life.

"Does the device still exist?" Xavier asked, his mask still blank.

Eulene could feel the room temperature lower.

**No. After the test, Sir Daimler was horrified of his own creation. He destroyed every trace of its existence.**

Xavier took in a deep breath. It was time for the real question. "Is there anyone out there with access to the blueprints?"

Silence prevailed. Even the clocks stopped ticking.

**I am afraid- yes**

A chill ran down Eulene's spine. The temperature dropped to a freezing point.

"Who?" Xavier's tone was nonchalant. But one could easily perceive the endless sense of threat hidden behind that indifference.

**Sir creator was a member of a Secret Society. As for what Society it was, I have no idea.**

Xavier did not doubt it. "You better keep your end of the promise."

A page manifested out of thin air and placed itself upon the typewriter. *Of course!* The typewriter wrote on the paper and slides the paper all the way to the right, getting to a new line.

*It will take a minute to prepare the 'arena'. After it is done, the test will start on my mark. Are you ready?*

Xavier gave Eulene a glance and nodded. She returned the nod.

"We are ready," the duo said in chorus.

The whole room suddenly began to oscillate. All the gigantic machines placed on the floor began to operate—their gears and barrels rolling, pistons moving to and fro, steams escaping from the steam powered devices and so on. Even the clock hands began to rotate faster, their visible escapements moving at breakneck speed.

The steam powered machines howled, shooting out steam. The room turned Misty from all those released vapour. Nevertheless, it could not hide the strange movements happening throughout the room.

Many compartments opened on the walls and revealed bronze gears—big and small. New walls began to mechanically move out from the walls. The gigantic machines on the floor moved as well, giving way to the bronze walls rising up from the floor.

In a minute, the whole hall transformed. Xavier and Eulene were now standing in a narrow path instead of a large hall.

Evidently, the whole place turned into a maze. The new walls were attached to the ceiling. And the criteria to pass the test was obvious.

Escape.

A meter ahead of them, there was a clock fixed on the wall.

11:59

It was the time it showed, and the second hand was 10 seconds away from the XII mark. It ticked, and with every tick, the second hand moved closer to its target.

And on the clock dial, there was a red sign that said 'Do not move.'

Clearly, it was a timer.

[This bet is important for me] Xavier transmitted.

[I know] She had known Xavier for a month. And this was the first time she sensed a tinge of 'pleading' from his voice. [Leave it to me]

She took a martial stance, anchoring her feet to the ground.

In a sense, this test was considerably harder than the last one. The new formed bronze walls were part of the environment—which means they were still under the protection of 'authority'. And according to all the novels she had read, there were clearly traps placed across the entire maze.

Theoretically, an above average Kinetic would need hours to complete the test.

But Eulene was beyond above average. And she just made a promise to her rival. More importantly, if she does Xavier this favour, he will be in her debt.

Just the thought of it filled her heart with excitement. The black eyes surrounded by the silver mask twinkled.

Qi rose up from her Dantian and began to coil around her body at unimaginable speeds. All of her focus was on the timer, as the second hand inched closer to its destination.

8 seconds left.

7 seconds left.

6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…

All the hands of the clock met. The red 'Do not move' sign on the clock turned into a green 'Test begins' sign. A loud bell echoed throughout the maze.

Eulene smirked behind her mask. A lot of Qi accumulated on her right palm.

With a shout, she launched a palm strike at the direction of the typewriter.

The test was to escape the maze. There was no rules against destroying it.