The Degree
Theatre II

“Let's eliminate them!” Chelsea said something wild and unsuitable for a woman like her.

Ray just silently watched the situation and said nothing. The reason he was not worried because from the beginning Indri was not his partner. Besides this woman is not stupid to drop herself into the lion's den without any preparation.

“You terrible female. Really, can't you be feminine even for the size of a female ape?” indri said with his usual sarcasm.

“Hah? People who are going to die don't need to say much, ” Chelsea said with stifled emotions.

Indri only snorted, his face seemed to say that his death was uncertain.

“Do you know? Man lives by knowing the danger. And, I'm a human with intelligence. Surely I will not enter the sea of sharks without preparing a cage.”

His words are hard to understand but Ray knows that this woman has a plan. At that time also Ray smell bad coming from a place far enough away.

It wasn't the smell of something burning, but rather of a gas that Ray didn't know how to explain.

Suddenly something sounded as if it was rolling, a second later gas infiltrated in the middle of the crowd. It was a thick smoke grenade that made Ray and the others cough.

“From where it came .. uhuk—” Terumi could not finish her sentence because of the smoke that pierced her nose.

Ray immediately closes his nose and conveys, “This is a danger, everything away from the smoke!”

The possibility of an attack when their senses were crippled was enormous. The safe path they could take was to leave here.

Ray comes out of the smoke followed by Terumi, Leo Eric and Arthur and his entourage.

“Nobody but us,” said Ray looking around in confusion.

Arthur also did the same with him, “Then who did it? I don't see any other figure besides us.”

Ray himself does not know who the culprit but if you have to guess it is likely this is part of Indri's plan. The fact is that the woman is no longer anywhere. Chelsea tried to find him but found nothing.

“They have disappeared. I'm sure they're still around here, we better find!” chelsea says.

“No, you cannot do it, Chelsea!” Eric pulled his sister's hand.

“Why do you always stop me, brother?!” Chelsea snapped and shook Eric's hand in annoyance.

“No. He's right, Chelsea. You don't have to go after him because that guy is very dangerous,” Arthur said, supporting Eric not to let Chelsea go.

Ray simply watched the small exchange in silence, he then looked around before staring at his watch. The appointed time has arrived.

‘This is it,’ thought Ray.

THE BOMB!

Loud explosions rang out from the western block, black smoke billowing and making the blocks they were in vibrate.

“What is this? Some sort of attack?!” leo panicked.

The explosion was not only once, but came many times. As time goes by the explosion gets closer. It took a lot of time for everyone to realize that where they are right now might be the site of the explosion as well.

“Sial! Is this the woman or maybe Secret?!” Even the usually calm Eric could not maintain his attitude.

“Entaih! For now our priority is to evacuate!” arthur exclaimed while leading the escape route. “Park is the safest place to be right now!”

In the vast park they do not have to worry about buildings collapsing so that the place is worth a visit.

“Sial blast was also up here!” leo said in a hurry.

They could see every road that had been passed exploded and shattered. The blast was loud enough to wake everyone up and they were quickly displaced.

There were too many people in one place, Ray could barely see Arthur anymore.

“Ray!” Terumi went against the direction and grabbed Ray's hand, “We can't separate.”

“Ya.”

On one hand Ray was quite relieved because Terumi noticed him but on the other hand his existence was only disturbing.

As people flock to follow Arthur to the park, Ray feels he has no choice but to take another path. He knows the places that are going to explode.

‘If this area also exploded, then it means Degree Ben can be used for this.’

Ray had previously worked with Ben on this. When Ben learns Ray has a plan of his own, Ray reveals his plan to destroy several blocks and eliminate half the participants.

Let's retreat to a few weeks before the plan is implemented.

...****************...

“What's your plan, Ray? Miss told me that you already have plans to run.”

“I plan to eliminate half the people in this place.”

Ben made a surprised face, “How to do?”

“This is not a decent place to talk about it. Let's move.”

The place is quiet and not much visited by people in this mall hannyalah the backward part where the landfill is located. No one would want to visit a disgusting place like this.

“So, what's your plan?” ben asked hurriedly and impatiently.

“Yeah, in short I want to destroy this place. If I put some bombs and destroy a few blocks, it is not impossible to kill those who are inside.”

It was a simple but obviously deadly plan. There are many loopholes from the plan but Ray does not care because he knows Indri will try to involve himself.

With Ben coming to convey he intends to extend his hand is enough for Ray to be sure of his plan.

“That's a big plan with a small chance of success,” Ben said, stroking his chin.

Ray knew why his plan arguably had little success. One of them was the iron wall that made this place stand.

“I'm sure Secret is already considering things like this. It could be that they added a very strong steel iron so as not to be destroyed by the explosion,” Ben said. “Doing a trial is also impossible because it will attract attention.”

Ray nodded in agreement, from the beginning he did not intend to do so because he knew there was a possibility of his plan being revealed. Maybe only a few people can predict it but from a few people there is a figure who should not know it.

“Of course it's true. But even if the explosion is not enough to eliminate half the people in this place, at least I will eliminate the annoying group.”

Ray's words provoke suspicion from Ben. Ben furrowed his brows and was a little angry.

“What do you mean it's our group?” he asked coldly and in disbelief.

Ray leaned back and looked at the ceiling, “If I had to be honest I didn't trust you all that much. But for now you are not on the list of people who must be eliminated. At least, you guys have never hindered me.”

Indri and his group are included in variables that can be dangerous. Not to mention they have no clear vision. Ray couldn't believe their words just to help him.

But Ray can exclude them for now because so far there is no sign that they will commit treason.

“So, huh. Well, none of us are stupid enough to seek enmity from you. The Chairman also does not want to be your enemy.”

Ben said flatly but Ray knew he wasn't lying. At least for now.

“About your plan, I thought I could give you some meaningful help.”

“What is it?’ asked Ray with interest.

“With my Degree it is not impossible to make a bomb or anything like that. Of course there are some conditions that I have to comply with but my strength is very useful for a plan like this.”

“Only a fatal weakness about my strength. I can't make a lot of things to leave in a long time.”

Ray is curious about how long Ben can have to maintain his powers. Of course, this person would probably be a troublesome enemy after all.

“I plan to do so at the end of the closing of this place. Can you use your power one week before the closing day?” ask Ray.

Ben looks hard to answer, “That's of course .. impossible. I can't keep it that long.”

Ben sighed long and tired, “The plan will be run when the closing time arrives? Then it will be a few hours before the set time.”

He started stroking his chin as if he was thinking about something. After a few minutes of silence Ben finally looked at Ray and conveyed the contents of his thoughts.

“I will prepare a bomb of my power at a certain time. You don't have to worry because when the time comes it will all be over. How?”

Ray thought it would be very dubious. Not to mention Ben is not stupid enough to reveal the time when he will put a bomb out of his power. Ray regretted this a little, but what can I do.

‘I have to show that I don't have big suspicions about them at the moment,’ thought Ray.

“It was pretty good. I don't mind it but on one condition.”

Ben slightly furrowed his brows because Ray asked for a condition, “What is that? Depending on the conditions I might refuse to participate.”

Ray is unsure if Ben can speak on Indri's behalf. The leader is Indri. Ben has nowhere to declare whether he and his partner will help Ray or not.

“I just want to have a meeting with you, Indri and all your colleagues when the preparation is done. This is a guarantee for me whether this cooperation is delivered to everyone or only you are a.”

Ray is lying. He wants the meeting to be for another purpose, which is to dismantle how long Ben's power limit is to maintain the objects he makes.

Ben seemed to be thinking hard. Ray doesn't know if Ben guessed his intention or not but at least that person doesn't have many options right now.

“Huh,” Ben took a long breath and smiled wryly. “Good. When the preparations arrive we will invite you to a meeting. Of course if you do not want to flash you must routinely go to the mall or other places that are easy to visit.”

“Impossible for you to pick you up to the room,” Ben added.

Being caught making contact at Ray's place of residence is more suspicious than outside contact. A wise choice is to meet in a place where many people are.

There will be no one suspicious whether the leaves scattered on the ground come from nearby trees or places further away. The best place to hide secrets is the crowd.

“Sure. Then we'll finish this. I have to coordinate a few things. It will be a busy day,” said Ray slowly leaving his place.

Ben looked at his back sharply. Before Ray completely disappears from his line of sight, Ben relays;

“Remember that we do not want to be your enemy. Quite the contrary, we want to be your partner.”

That's a sentence that continues to be affirmed by both Ben and Indri. Ray certainly did not care and ignored this. The best friend he has is himself.