Inside a black limousine traversing through the fortified bridge that connected Brooklyn and Staten Island, Damien gazed through the tinted windows in a subtle daze, observing the upper bay of New York.
The urban glow of Brooklyn glimmered in the distance, representing the perseverance of humanity amidst the tragedy and catastrophe that consumed them.
However, the derelict remains of Manhattan loomed from afar. A reminder of the altered world that was desolated and silent, scarred by calamity. That day, when those gargantuan monoliths descended from the skies.
It seemed the world truly ended.
'Looks like a lot has changed.' Unlike the hazy skyline, the bay unveiled the transparent distinction between civilization and the ruins that stood beside it. It made him understand the intricacies of the present times.
Reverting his attention towards the gorgeous white-haired lady lounging before him, his sable-tinted gaze narrowed as he questioned with a muted tone. It was one word. "When?"
A chuckle escaped her supple, crimson lips as she placed her soft and pale fingers over its alluring surface. "That's a secret for the future you, Damien. How about we change the subject?"
"I haven't introduced myself yet, or the organization you now belong to. So, let's start at the beginning, shall we?" She winked as her luscious lips curved into a grin.
Understanding his ignorance and lack of information, Damien sighed to himself and decided to listen instead of inquiring more about her capabilities. In an inquisitive tone, he questioned. "Who are you?"
"Hmm... I am Alastair Glass, the heir of the Vitrum Investment Company. And the strongest human in the New World." Her smirk became wider after her arrogant declaration. "Oh, I'm also the Paragon of Block 7."
Briefly, his sable-tinted gaze squinted as though questioning the statement. Although it was difficult to deny, as the capabilities the lady unveiled seemed to border reality-warping.
'The things that occurred beforehand didn't happen inside my mind. That much is confirmed.' His basis was the simple fact that a command seal was actually consumed.
It meant that Eclipse was indeed summoned during their first interaction. Otherwise, it would have been stupid if a mere illusion of the summon could actually affect his command seals in some way.
Halting the questioning thoughts that flooded his mind, Damien decided to tackle the information unveiled to him by the supposed strongest human. After all, this was an opportunity to learn more about the world.
"Paragon of Block 7? Is that your actual job?" His words resounded within the lavish interior of the black limousine. She raised her eyebrows and fell silent, pondering with a certain intrigue.
"You could say so, I guess... But I'm not particularly informed about the complexities of SIGIL. That's something my secretary handles." Her head tilted as strands of her silver hair swayed.
"My motto in life is do what you need to do. No need to complicate the simplest of matters."
Damien furrowed his eyebrows since the response wasn't as straightforward as he wanted it to be. He wanted to know what a Paragon was or what Block 7 meant.
Obviously, he had already concluded that these subjects belonged to the organization SIGIL, which seemed to be an influential and powerful group within the New World.
'New World, huh? Perhaps, this really is something new. Most would have presumed everything that had happened to be no less than a fantasy and apocalyptic plot.'
He was adapting to the current reality, accepting the lingos and common sense as the new normal. It would have been particularly hard for others in his circumstances, but he had fewer attachments to the Old World.
Other than her, he wasn't as devastated as one should be by its fall.
"Good motto, it's not bad." He nodded to himself, earning the chuckle of Alastair. The Aberrant in front of her was truly intriguing. It has been a long time since she was interested in a particular subject.
"For someone who is supposedly an 18-year-old, you remind me of a middle-aged man." It was a quick remark from the arrogant and gorgeous white-haired lady, but it threw him into deep thought.
"Miss Alastair, how old are you?" His question was frank, but it broke apart her usual grin as though he had struck a nerve. Barely stopping herself from pinching him, she smiled with the subtlety of a peacock.
"You know... Has no one taught you that one shouldn't ask a young lady's age? Be glad that I'm fairly humble." She huffed while shaking her head in disappointment. "Ehem, I'm twenty-seven."
"Twenty-seven... Wouldn't that mean you're my junior? I would have been older than you by a few years." He had been transported 13 years into the far future. If he had survived until the present, he'd be an uncle by now.
"Well, I won't deny that. But in your state, you're no less different than a kid to me." She maintained her unbridled confidence. Usually, such arrogance would have irked him in some way, but she was different.
The power she had displayed was tangible. Even after some time had passed, the dread that had consumed both Damien's mind and heart lingered by his side.
It was a reminder that even with the Monster Gacha System, he didn't stand out in the world as the strongest. He merely had the means to reach the apex.
The black limousine reached the end of the fortified bridge, where the gates of SIGIL resided. It was a towering wall of concrete, towers protruding alongside spotlights and sentry guns.
It was no doubt a fortress.
The iron gates slid open, unveiling the interior of the headquarters. Inside was an expansive land of infrastructure and beauty. The evergreen tint of the parks contrasted with the utilitarian architecture of the broad compound.
An enthralling sight, to say the least.
As the black limousine navigated through the road shimmering in faint luster, droplets of water fell from the clouded heavens. One after another, beads glided through the tinted windows of the vehicle.
'Bad timing... Not a good sign.' What started as a calm shower sprouted into a heavy rain. Their surroundings dimmed with white fog, though the gleaming radiance of the headlights pierced through the haze.
It didn't take long for them to reach their destination, the headquarters of SIGIL. Massive was an understatement. There's only one comparison that emerged from his mind.
If the black towers that protruded from the ruins of derelict cities were high and lofty, the headquarters of SIGIL felt like an enormous block of buildings. It wasn't towering and gargantuan, simply intimidating.
"To think that Staten Island would become a fortress." He muttered under his breath, his voice hushed by the muted echoes of droplets crashing onto the surface of the black limousine's roof.
"It became the beacon of the remnants that survived the three Impacts. There was not much beauty to keep after the catastrophe." She expounded while crossing her arms together, sighing with indifference.
The black limousine halted before the grandiose concrete entrance of the headquarters. The black-suited driver finally spoke to the Paragon he was escorting. His tone was filled to the brim with respect.
"Miss Alastair, we have arrived."
She nodded in understanding and commended with a tinge of detachment. "Thank you for the escort. We will be taking our leave. Return to the estate, George."
It wasn't without orders, to which the driver acknowledged with a smile. "It shall be my honor to serve you, Miss Alastair. I'm glad I can contribute."
Alastair didn't continue to bide her time within the interior of the black limousine and opened the door. Damien was about to warn her about the heavy rain, but it appeared that his warning was all for naught.
As she stepped out of the vehicle, the droplets of water descending from the clouded heavens shattered like a mirror and vanished abruptly as though they didn't exist to begin with.
His gaze widened, somewhat astounded by the capabilities of the gorgeous white-haired lady who had become his boss. It was as if a barrier enveloped the entirety of her being, shielding her from reality.
'That's what made Eclipse's attack ineffective. Is there a limit to it? Is it automatic?' Thoughts flooded his mind, absorbing the information like a sponge. It was of great importance, as in his mind, she was strong.
What better way to become stronger than to learn from the supposed strongest? Although he couldn't confirm such a statement, she could be amongst the strongest.
On the other hand, outside of the black limousine, Alastair felt the cold breeze of the stormy night. None could touch her as she remained dry and cozy. Nonetheless, it wasn't the time to enjoy the moment, yet.
After all, insects have dared to block her way into the headquarters.
Her supple crimson lips curved into a grin as she placed her slender hands into the pockets of her trench coat. Gazing forward with an uncaring and conceited arrogance, she asserted with glee.
"My, my~ Pups of the senile old man." Before her were black-suited men belonging to Block 6 of SIGIL. Each one could probably handle Damien with ease, as none of them were normal humans.
When the black-suited men heard of their remarks. Most of them merely frowned, but did not complain. They simply couldn't. The one in front of them was a Paragon; only their Chief could handle her.
Even then, none would dare to assert themselves against her.
A bald man attired in a white suit advanced with an umbrella over his head. His gaze narrowed as he humbly asked. "Miss Alastair, has the Aberrant been contained?"
According to the higher-ups, the seventh Paragon was returning to the headquarters with the Aberrant. Naturally, everyone expected it to be already contained in some way.
But as the black limousine traversed through the interiors of Staten Island, their sensors were spiking, which meant that the Aberrant wasn't suppressed. An uncontained Aberrant was troublesome.
To think she would bring it in the middle of humanity's hope.
In any case, Alastair's grin widened as she tilted her head and confirmed their worst fears nonchalantly. "Of course, I have the Aberrant with me."
"He became my third subordinate."