Chapter 50 — "Mana-Carbonate"
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**Outside Observation Tower – Night.**
The group stepped into pale gray light.
Hasegawa raised a closed fist—sharp, silent.
"Formation. Eyes around. Slow."
The team snapped into place.
Kim Ji and Park Hyung moved left—rifles low, steps synchronized.
Jin-young and Min-young took right—flanks tight.
Point Man—young soldier with steady hands—led forward.
Flanks walked beside her—muzzles down, fingers off triggers.
Rear Guard—two soldiers—covered the back.
Hasegawa positioned herself one step behind Point Man—command position.
Kaito and Mio climbed into the mech.
Hatch sealed.
The mech stood tall—silent guardian behind the formation.
They moved.
Boots on cracked concrete—soft crunch.
Breath fogged in the cold air.
Every step measured.
Every shadow watched.
Point Man raised a fist.
Stopped.
Hasegawa froze.
She leaned toward a crumbled wall—took a small tactical mirror from her vest.
Held it around the corner.
Reflection showed—
Dozens of mana monsters.
Small. Fast. Insect-like. Purple veins pulsing.
She signaled—hand flat, then two fingers down.
**"Contact."**
Hasegawa nodded.
Point Man stepped left—leg out.
Opened fire—controlled burst.
BRRRT—BRRRT!
Monsters dropped—purple blood spraying.
Hasegawa joined—rifle barking.
The rest advanced—formation tight.
Controlled bursts—three rounds each.
Save ammo. Save lives.
Kim Ji and Min-young drew pistols—fired at glowing eyes.
Blinding shots.
Monsters staggered.
Hyung and Jin-young rushed—blades flashing.
SLASH—SLASH!
Monsters bisected—bodies collapsing.
Kaito watched from the cockpit—helpless.
The mech's weapons were too big for close quarters.
He gripped the controls—useless.
Mio whispered.
"We'll get our chance…"
The team pushed forward—blood on boots, smoke in air.
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**Approaching the cave entrance.**
Hasegawa raised a fist again.
Stopped.
Checked her watch.
"Stop."
She reached into her pack.
Pulled out masks—black, sleek, filters glowing faintly blue.
Passed them out.
Soldiers took them—quick, practiced.
She waved at the mech.
Cockpit opened.
Kaito and Mio climbed down.
Hasegawa handed them masks.
Kaito took one—turned it over.
"What is this?"
Hasegawa's voice was low.
"Mask."
She tapped the filter.
"The cave is filled with Ionized Mana-Carbonate—MnCO₃*. Mana gas reacts with high CO₂ underground. Creates a heavy, invisible toxin. It has higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen—binds to red blood cells, locks them. You breathe—but your body starves. Like carbon monoxide… but worse."
Kaito stared at the mask.
"So… it filters the gas?"
Hasegawa nodded.
"The filter has a neutralizing agent. Chelate compound. When Mana-Carbonate passes through—"
She pointed to the filter layers.
"—precipitation reaction. Turns the gas into harmless solid dust. Trapped in the fibers. Releases O₂."
She tapped the side.
"Formula: MnCO₃* (gas) + Chelate → Mana-Sediment (solid) + O₂."
She looks at Mask.
"It is developed by Nishima and her assistant."
She looked at everyone.
"But it only works for ten minutes."
She grinned—wicked.
"After that… game over."
The team laughed—nervous, real.
"Game over!"
"Ten minutes to live!"
"Better than nothing!"
Hasegawa's smile faded.
"Put them on. Tight. No leaks."
Everyone secured masks—clicks, straps tightening.
Kaito looked at Mio.
She nodded—determined.
They were ready.
The cave mouth loomed ahead—black, glowing faintly blue.
Silence pressed in.
Only breathing—filtered, mechanical.
They stepped forward.
Into the dark.
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*End*