《The World Close to Entropy》 Prologue It¡¯s midnight, stores with 24/7 signs are still open but all streets are clear, no flashy hologram adverts, only quad-fanned drones with bright blue-red lights and a stun gun under its belly, the buildings are not that colorful but they are lit up with bright cyan and have pointy tops, no flying cars can be seen only levitating trains with few passengers of tired faces from dayshift, it¡¯s too damn cold but at least that old and rusty coffee vending machine still works. It is not that ¡®cyber-punky¡¯, but it is the 31st century that they have in Manhattan. A girl was coming out from a convenience store, holding a plastic bag filled with packed breads, noodles, a lot of canned beef and pork, some young shoots of sweet potato and cabbages, and a newspaper with leading headline ¡°Tons of Children missing: COINCIDENCE, CULTIST WORK OR BECAUSE OF THAT ALIEN HADRON COLLIDER NEAR JUPITER?!¡±. She went to a nearby telephone post, placed her bag down and made a phone call. She mentioned to the one she¡¯s talking to that she doesn¡¯t want to track down the article columnist and terminate him because that¡¯s not her job, after 20 minutes of refusing and excuses, she hang up with a disappointing sigh. She¡¯s going to do it after all, even though she¡¯s just a detective, of some sorts. She has seen and done worse things, like seeing some men fusing to the wall due to an accident in a weapons test, killing people who turned into ¡®demons¡¯ in an abandoned building because some kid dug up a ¡®weird book¡¯ and decided to show it to his friends, rescuing kids from an aggressive guy with an empty head (literally), and investigating and responding (plus keeping it a secret to the public) to anomalous events that many consider to be only a legend, myth, or whatsoever. It¡¯s ok for her, she said to herself, but killing some crazy article writer (plus the writer works for a tabloid, no one believes nor even read a tabloid those days) is just a waste of the Agency¡¯s time. ¡°I¡¯m not an assassin!¡± she told herself, ¡°And on my day-off?! Like, really?! Are they nuts?!¡± she added while venting her anger at the door of the telephone post upon leaving. She walked down the alleyway, while eating some packed bread she bought from the store and thinking what she will do for the task she was given to. As the detective walks the street, she heard some coughing and whimpering and saw some blood stains on the floor, she swallowed the bread whole and pulls out her 0.45 magnum. She crouched on the dark side of the alleyway only to see a naked shivering little girl. The little girl has a lot of scrapes on her body, and a piece of glass was puncturing her left eye making the blood from it freely flow like a waterfall. ¡°She must be a run-away kid¡± she said while placing back her pistol in her belt, she thought that the kid¡¯s going to die anyway and so the detective began walking away from the injured girl. But every step away from the little girl made her feel guilty as if her feet are both getting heavier and heavier. ¡°Fuck it!¡± she uttered helplessly while rushing back to the little girl and carried her carefully on her back. ¡°Talk to me kid,¡± said the detective to the nearly dying girl but she only responded with a faint groan. They reached the detective¡¯s home, not actually a home of some sort, but a one-bedroom condo unit that can be bought with tens of thousand dollars and she calls it ¡®home¡¯. She looked in her pocket for the keys while carrying the girl, they entered the room, and cautiously placed the little girl on the newly bought sofa. Good thing the Agency taught them how to do first-aid and on the spot surgery, so she scurried looking for the med-kit that the Agency provided, complete with anesthesia shots, IV fluids, and the special steroids that makes fresh wounds instantly dry no matter how deep it is (yep, convenient, but hey it¡¯s the future), then she did an eye surgery to the girl on her sofa. The girl was unconscious while the detective carefully removes the shard of glass on her left eye, ¡°Man, I¡¯m gonna tell Mike I need another med-kit¡­¡± she told herself while finishing the stitches on the girl¡¯s left eye. The detective finished off by cleaning the scrapes on the little girl¡¯s body and dressing her with her own clothes, which is way much larger than the little girl. ¡°Yeah, that will do¡­¡± she muttered. She grabbed her phone and called, ¡°Ey, boss. If you¡¯re hearing this, I¡¯m not going to do the assassination-thing. I¡¯ve got other things to do, and it¡¯s my day-off so you know the rules¡± and the detective closed her phone. She stared at the unconscious girl, stood up, took a paper, and wrote something on it and went to her bedroom. The next morning, the little girl woke up, feeling numb because of the amount of anesthesia the detective gave and barely could stand. She noticed a paper with scrappy handwriting in it near the table. She scooped herself up to see what it is since she can¡¯t find anybody else around. ¡°If you¡¯re awake, wake me up. I¡¯ll cook our breakfast¡± was written in the note. The girl stood there for a moment trying to remember what happened last night, but her head ached. She scanned the room and noticed a door that obviously looks like the room¡¯s door, the other door must be for the bathroom. Hunger drove her to knock on the door. Nothing. She silently opened the door only to find the detective snoring deeply while laying on her back. The detective looks like even a fire alarm can¡¯t wake her up and hesitated to wake her up but filling her grumbling stomach is more urgent for her right now. She doesn¡¯t really know what or how to wake her up, so she just softly said, ¡°Uhm, hey¡­¡± without any success. She stepped closer to her and her stomach grumbled even more as if there was a thunderstorm in there and said ¡°Uhm, hey¡­ Sorry, but I am starving.¡± Of course, the detective was always still asleep even past noon during her day-off so she responded ¡°IT¡¯S MY DAY-OFF! I NEED SLEEP!¡± But the little girl spoke in a scratchy voice ¡°Did you saved me only to get killed by hunger?¡± The detective instantly snapped to her senses and scratched her head remembering the night before. Of course, she picked that dying girl and now, she is her responsibility. Dragging herself to the kitchen, the detective saut¨¦ed the canned beef she bought with the cabbages and the sweet potato shoots to make a beef stew. They ate together on the table, both in silence. The detective stares at the little kid while the little kid focuses on eating the beef stew aggressively like she had never tasted any food for a century. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°So, the name¡¯s Akino, Akino Kylei, you can call me Aki,¡± the detective said to the kid. ¡°Alexa, just Alexa¡± the kid replied while chewing the cabbage leaves. ¡°You came from, where?¡± Akino asked. ¡°Nowhere¡­,¡± Alexa responded with a gloomy face. ¡°Oh, okay¡± Akino answered with a smile. Silence. ¡°You won¡¯t ask why I left that place?¡± Alexa asked with confusion. ¡°By the look of your gruesome wounds, it¡¯s probably hell of a place, and I don¡¯t want you to remember such place, think like you got a new life starting today,¡± Akino replied happily. ¡°Yeah¡­ they killed a lot of orphans, not that I hate the other kids it¡¯s just that I don¡¯t feel any remorse seeing them butchered¡­ it really is a HELL of a place¡­,¡± Alexa said, still with gloomy face while slowly placing her spoon down the table. Akino was shocked to hear such words from a child, she was about to ask what really happened, but Alexa began weeping loudly as if she was battered, ¡°Please! Just let me go! I don¡¯t want to cause you any trouble! PLEASE!¡± Alexa begs to Akino. In return, Akino hugged the crying child, comforting her, ¡°It will be fine, kid,¡± and she showed her magnum pistol on her belt, ¡°See? I can protect you,¡± Akino jokingly said to the whimpering Alexa. ¡°You¡¯re a criminal? Not even criminals can stop them¡± Alexa said while Akino wipes her tears. ¡°You¡¯ll see later on; come I¡¯ll clean your wounds again and let¡¯s go out for a date¡± Akino said. ¡°But¡­ you said¡­ it¡¯s¡­ your day-off, right?¡± Alexa asked. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s fine. Finish your food and I¡¯ll prepare you a bath, got it?¡± Akino responded while taking her bowl to the sink. ¡°You¡¯re not going to sell me out, are you?¡± Alexa asked seriously. ¡°Actually, you¡¯re going to help me out, you¡¯ll see,¡± Akino answered. ¡°Oh, I wanna ask, did they¡­ ummm, your eye? And why were you naked?¡± Akino asked. ¡°Oh, this? I got hit by a truck¡­ and they were washing us in batches when I was able to escape¡± Alexa said. Akino then took Alexa to the Agency, and she showed the kid her workplace. Alexa was amused, as usual of a child, especially seeing things other-worldly stuff you¡¯ll just go ¡°wooooaaaahhhh!¡± when you see those. ¡°Is it safe to bring her in?¡± asked by Akino¡¯s co-detective, ¡°And you sure boss won¡¯t be mad at you for declining the termination task?¡± he added. ¡°She got intel, possibly,¡± Akino said with a nervous smile. Akino started asking things to Alexa, like in what direction she came from and what was the name of the orphanage she mentioned. Apparently, the place was owned by a cult, and seeing this as an opportunity, Akino reported it to the Agency¡¯s high officials just to cancel that termination task. ¡°You¡¯re using me?!¡± Alexa asked with a grumpy face. ¡°Hey, at least we got¡¯em, nobody will experience hell like you did, right?¡± Akino said. Alexa, still with a grumpy face was disappointed to Akino. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to treat you like that¡± Akino trying to appease Alexa, but she¡¯s still throwing off the detective. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll treat you anything. Or better, I¡¯ll do anything you want, just¡­ forgive me, kid¡­,¡± Akino begs. Alexa slowly turned her face towards to Akino, ¡°Can I ask you a favor instead?¡± ¡°Sure, what is it?¡± Akino replied immediately. ¡°There¡¯s someone in that place, a nun. Her name is¡­ I don¡¯t know but she has a long white hair! She¡¯s done good things to me, so please if you find her don¡¯t arrest her, she¡¯s a good person,¡± Alexa pleaded to Akino. ¡°O-Okay, I¡¯ll do it, I promise,¡± reassured Akino. ¡°Thank you, and by the way I want a tub of ice cream, cookies and cream, then I¡¯ll forgive you!¡± Alexa said, ¡°One order of ice cream tub, coming up!¡± Akino hollered as she carries Alexa on her back. Weeks passed, and the relationship of the two became stronger. Akino filed some papers to legally adopt Alexa, and now Alexa carries the Kylei surname, making her Akino¡¯s adopted daughter. The two sometimes argue on what should be the dinner, sometimes Alexa will throw tantrums because Akino forgot to brought her out on her day-off, sometimes Akino will scold Alexa if she broke something, but most of the time the two get tired of playing games on the PCs, they even sleep in the same bed, and that time Akino brought Alexa in the autopsy room of the Agency just to teach human anatomy, and surprisingly Alexa was not disgusted but entertained (and educated). Akino knew that Alexa was a smart kid, and so she bought her a lot of books, which they read all night until they fell asleep. It was a good time, indeed. ¡°HAPPY BIRTHDAY!¡± shouted by Akino while standing on the bed with Alexa still sleeping. ¡°Aki, come on, it¡¯s fricking 6:00 AM, let¡¯s sleep more!¡± Alexa said while covering herself with bed blankets. ¡°Plus, it¡¯s hecking cold outside, so NO!¡± ¡°I bought you a new sweater, yieee she¡¯s gonna go up!¡± Akino teasing Alexa while poking her cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s pink?¡± Alexa asks as she sits on the bed side. ¡°Yeah, and it¡¯s got a hood¡± Akino flexes. ¡°I¡¯m in!¡± Alexa answered immediately. The two went to the new park down the Manhattan, not much of the attraction but the eye, and mouth magnets in the area was the food bazaar that serves fresh foods, from east to west, and it was Alexa¡¯s favorite. ¡°Happy Birthday, kid!¡± Akino greeted Alexa while handing her a bundle of money. ¡°Wow, thanks Aki!¡± Alexa then counted the money and pulled Akino¡¯s arm. ¡°Come on! We got a lot of food to eat! Let¡¯s go!¡± as Alexa pulls Akino towards the food stalls. Akino smiles with a blush on her cheeks, satisfied with everything she feels that moment, even it lasts for only a day. It will happen again next year, she thinks, or every day-off while she walks with Alexa eating burritos and drinking milkshakes. ¡°Look, there¡¯s a lot of jet trails in the sky! Is it your surprise for my birthday?¡± Alexa jokingly said to Aki while looking up the sky very amazed. Suddenly, a loud explosion, louder than a sonic boom, was heard across the park. Their hearing has turned numbed with ringing sounds while they look on other people running panicky at random. Akino crouched and covered Alexa with her body while the shattered glass from skyscrapers fell. ¡°WHAT¡¯S GOING ON?! AKI, PLEASE HELP ME!¡± Alexa cried while hugging Akino. Looking at the situation, they need to escape and find a safer place, if that still exists. ¡°We¡¯re going for a run, kid. You ready?¡± Akino said while readying herself to sprint. Alexa just nodded in fear, and Akino ran as fast as she can to escape the place while carrying the crying kid. She looked up and saw the jet trails again leading to the north, and it appears that there¡¯s a huge cube-thing floating at the northern side, with undetermined size the cube-thing was being bombarded by the jets until a white light glowed underneath it. It expanded until it reached the Manhattan area in just a matter of 3 seconds. Akino stopped by under the tree and brought down Alexa, ¡°Kid, no what happens, I¡¯ll stay with you, alright?¡± Akino reassured Alexa holding her tears. Alexa just cried and hugged Akino tightly. ¡°It will be alright. It will be over soon, I promise, just hug me, okay? I love you.¡± The whole grandiose lively Manhattan area was engulfed with the enigmatic light, and nothing was left, only dust and boulders from the ruined buildings. CHAPTER 1: Akino’s log#1 [BODY SYSTEM AUTHENTICATING] . . . [BODY SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION: 97.35%] . [ALL BODY SYSTEM ONLINE] . [SELECTING NEURAL SYSTEM] . [NEURAL SYSTEM AUTHENTICATING] . [NEURAL SYSTEM ONLINE] . [SELECTING NEURAL LOGGING SYSTEM] . [NEURAL LOGGING SYSTEM OPERATIONAL] . [BEGINNING NEURAL LOG ENTRY] . [NEURAL LOG ENTRY #1] I don''t know how this works... should I just think things to record things on this log? Like, it will be just stored in my head in .txt document format? Whatever... My name is Akino Kylei, a 26-year-old junior detective in the Anomalous Science Division of Manhattan Crime Research Institute, well, I was a junior detective, before that day... So much for introductions, I won''t tell much about my family history (I don''t have any and just an orphan anyway) or educational background, it''s just that the significant thing about me is that I was a detective, and yeah I have a kid, adopted one. Her name is Alexa. Alexa was 12 years old, and she told me she escaped from a ''shitty'' orphanage. When I found her on the streets, she was half-naked and her left eye was gouged out by a piece of glass from a truck that hit-and-run her, well, that''s what she told me. Of course, I took her in, fed her, gave her clothes, treated her, and she accepted me. She told me that she doesn''t like adults except for me. I filed papers for legally adopting her, and to my surprise the orphanage she escaped from was under surveillance by our division for being a cultist base, that''s why she told me it was HELL of a place. Skipping the long introductions, let me tell now how we got in this situation. The date was 22nd of October, year 3021 around 9:45 AM, both of us were walking in the central park, doing my duties as a guardian of her during my day-off, when suddenly a loud ''boom'' was heard like all over the place, glass shattering from near buildings can be heard and seen. Alexa held my hand very tightly, whimpering while pointing to the northern sky, a very huge cube looking thing floats there. I saw some Alpha class jet fighters heading towards the cube, but a flash of light begun enveloping the area below that cube, at a rapid rate. I knew we wouldn''t survive even if we run towards the nuke bunker which is a hundred meters away from the park, so I hugged Alexa as tight as I can while saying ''I love you'', ''It will be over soon'', and many other things that I can''t remember until that light devoured us. The next thing is that I woke up like it was a bad dream, but I am inside a pod, looks like a cryogenic pod but with weird roots and I¡¯m wearing this grey latex suit. It opened and I walked out slowly only to see myself in a big-ass room full of these pods. All the other pods aren''t lit up, except the one beside me. There is a writing beside the pod where I came out, it¡¯s in English (I thought we were abducted by aliens) to my surprise and it reads "Human Quantum Computer #32". I quickly looked on the other pod, "Human Quantum Computer #31". I peeped inside the glass, and I saw a face, it''s Alexa. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. I panicked, of-fucking-course, I panicked like hell. I was about to bust open that pod when it suddenly opened. She was unconscious, and she was naked but somethings weird on her, she doesn¡¯t have any¡­ how do I put this, private parts? Yeah, she still got her breasts but it appears she doesn¡¯t have any of THAT private parts. Also, I noticed that her skin was white, she got white fur on her hands and legs but stops at her elbows and knees, she got four claw looking fingers on hands and three on her feet, and her hair is also white which is now made of weird flesh, she also got cat like ears (like the one in anime? Neko-girls or something) instead of a real usual human ear, and she still got that wound stitch I did on her left eye. I held her tight as I lift her out of that pod, and she opened her eye, now with a bright red iris (supposedly it was brown) and she looked at me, "Aki, is that you?" Tears begun to break free from my eyes, "Yeah kid, it''s me." She caressed my face, "Why are you crying? Are you hurt?" I ignored what she said to me, "All that matters is that you''re fine." "Where are we? What happened after the explosion? Where is everyone?" "I don''t know, yet. But I promise I''ll get us out of here." "You better do, this place gives me heebie-jeebies." She said to me while smiling. "Yeah kid, I will." I let her climb on my back in a piggyback position, "Hold on tight, but don''t claw out my chest, ok?" "Haha, as if you have anything there that I can claw out." She smugly said to me. "You little shit! Making jokes on a times like this! What will you do if anyone heard that, huh? That''s not funny! It¡¯s embarrassing! Take it back!" "But no one¡¯s here except us. Like it¡¯s only the two of us." "Oh yeah? Placing bets- wait what? You''re serious?" "I don''t know, but I feel like no one else is inside this room. Weirder is that I don''t feel your heartbeat, even mine. Are we dead?" she started to tear up. "Hey, calm down. We will be alright." I don''t know how, but when she said that we were the only ones inside, I feel the vibrations of our voice while talking, our breathing and my footsteps, as if my brain turned into a sound sensor, and I can confirm with that we are really alone in that room. We searched the place for something we could have access to, and Alexa found something. "Look, it''s a... computer?" she points at a huge LED monitor on the single mezzanine of the place but a lot of plant like structures are protruding on its side. I put her down and told her to stay as I access the computer thing. When I approached the monitor, the cord-like stuff went out from my arm and attached itself to the monitor, how weird is that?! To my shock is that it didn''t even surprised me, like it was a natural thing. "Woah! Alexa look at this!" but she''s not beside me, suddenly she came rushing towards me, but her legs looks like the legs of a fricking cheetah. "What the hell happened to your-" "All of the other pod thingies are empty. There''s 100 of them, both of us placed in 31 and 32 and the remaining 98 pods are empty with writings saying ''terminated''. Terminated Aki, are we rea¡ªWHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR ARM?!" "Don''t shout. I tried accessing this thing when suddenly this, and then this thing works fine now thanks to me, I guess." The monitor thing is in good condition and I used it to search everything we could. It turns out that the 100 pods is for the 100 people (including both of us) that survived the unknown blast near the Manhattan Central Park, well not technically survived as in alive but the ones that didn''t disintegrated in the white light. We were dead, and they experimented on us like guinea pigs, and according to the files we searched we were turned into Human Quantum Computers, or to be exact an ''Organic Machine made from living metal with Quantum computer and Quantum database''. I don''t get it. Only the two of us survived (conveniently) the experiment, the rest were, I don''t know, what happened to the rest was unclear from the files of this computer. I should take some rest, Alexa fell asleep leaning on my back while I''m reading. I guess we should continue reading the files and get the hell out of here tomorrow. I made sure the blast doors of this room are secured, I don''t want anyone nor anything entering this room while we''re sleeping. I wish this were just all a dream, I wish we would wake up in that same bedroom, cuddling each other before going out of bed to face the cruel world, like any other normal day we have got... . . . [ENDING NEURAL LOG ENTRY #1] CHAPTER 2: Alexa’s log #1 [ALL BODY SYSTEM ONLINE] . . . [SELECTING NEURAL SYSTEM] . [NEURAL SYSTEM AUTHENTICATING] . [NEURAL SYSTEM ONLINE] . [SELECTING NEURAL LOGGING SYSTEM] . [NEURAL LOGGING SYSTEM OPERATIONAL] . [AUDIO NEURAL LOG SELECTED] . [BEGINNING AUDIO NEURAL LOG ENTRY] . [AUDIO NEURAL LOG ENTRY #1] Hey! What¡¯s up! Top of da mornin to ya! Yeah¡­ I don¡¯t know if its already morning, coz there are no windows in this huge room, but Aki is still asleep. Oh, yeah right, the names Alexa. I¡¯m Aki¡¯s daughter, well, adopted one. Aki, she¡¯s not much of a mother figure to me, like that one nun I have in the orphanage, before it became hell¡­ *Alexa can be heard sighing* *Whispering* What kind of introduction was that? Hold on a minute¡­ . [WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCESS OPTICAL RECORDING? Y/N} . Oh. My. God. How in the hell? It¡¯s like my body is all flesh, even my hair. Maybe it¡¯s in my eye. Let¡¯s check it out. . [Y] . *A video feed begins, it shows Alexa standing in front of a mirror from a moss-covered monitor, a tentacle like part protrudes on her ¡®flesh hair¡¯ that ends with an ¡®eyeball¡¯ looking part* HOLY SHIT! This is fucking awesome! So this eyeball is my camera? I can also see with this thing! That¡¯s disgusting, but so cool! *Video feed pans to Akino, laying on the ground* She¡¯s still sleeping. Gosh we just got out of those weird beds, and she¡¯s sleeping? Guess its time for some adventure! *Alexa crouches near Akino, and kisses her forehead* I¡¯ll be back, umm, mom? Yeah, I¡¯ll stick calling you Aki. *Tapping sounds can be heard while Alexa was walking away from where Akino is* So, I was saying, Aki was not like a mommy figure to me, well she supports me, she protects me and such but yeah its like there is no ¡®motherly touch¡¯, you know what I¡¯m sayin? The nun I have in the orphanage was caring like, you know, she keeps me reminding what to do like when should I take my medicine, or take a bath, oh oh there¡¯s this time where she scrub my back because I can¡¯t reach it properly, and etcetera-etcetera. In Aki¡¯s case, yeah, like she told me once that there¡¯s food in the fridge, I should just put it in the microwave and take it when I¡¯m hungry, or when she asked me if I want a toy BFG-10k and she was like ¡°you little girls want big guns, right???¡± even though I¡¯m clearly pointing at the one meter tall cute cacodemon stuffed toy! I¡¯m not mad nor disappointed to her, its just that I missed that ¡®motherly love¡¯ from that nun. Of course, I love Aki! Like she¡¯s a true parent to me, but¡­ I didn¡¯t even have a chance to ask the nun¡¯s name and say goodbye before that orphanage went into shit¡­ *Alexa walks into a huge blast door, with writings: Nuclear Cryogenic Containment Exit* Nuclear Cryogeni¡ªthat¡¯s long to read, but it is an exit, huh? If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. *Alexa faces towards her eyeball camera, seeing her face with a smug smile* So, an hour ago, or maybe longer, Aki¡¯s hand turned into wires, let¡¯s see what I can do¡­ *Her left arm suddenly became enlarged, covered in armadillo like armor* Woah, woah woah woah! HOLY SHIT! Like I just thought if I could be an elephant or rhino¡­ dude, this is awesome! Naaah¡­ Aki would wake up if I used this big arm. Hmmmm, there must be a switch somewhere. *As the video pans to her left, her enlarged arm begun shrinking to its normal size. She saw a keypad buttons on the wall right beside the door, but its burnt* Now what? Oh oh, a vent! There must be an air-condition vent here. *Alexa went to the right side of the door, looking up and down for the vent* Hah! Gotcha! *Video pans above Alexa, seeing a small ventilation duct. Alexa climbed the wall to enter the ventilation duct* Oh come on! This is too small! Coz this damn flesh hair I got! i just wanna go--- *Video feed shows Alexa suddenly getting tumbled, as she stands up the whole ventilation duct seems to be much larger than her, and she could stand inside like the ventilation duct is a hallway* Uhmmmmm¡­. Uuhhhhhhh¡­ it appears I have shrunk. Now I¡¯m a tiny me¡­. Wait, I could shrink my size??? This power is so awesome, I am Antman now, or Wasp? Can grow wings? Shit dude, I¡¯m freaking out! Wait, wait, wings, wings come out! *Video feed pans towards her back, bat-like wings covered in silvery bone like plates suddenly grow out of her back* THIS IS GETTING REALLY INTERESTING. Now time for a Mini-bony-white batty to continue her journey! *Video feed shows Alexa travelling the ventilation duct while flying, and can be heard singing ¡®Monster¡¯ by Chad VanGaalen, in a high-pitched voice* Are two prying hands that grew out of my shoulders, and I can''t explain why, but its hurting my eeeeeyyyyes! *Alexa saw an exit on the ventilation duct, she went that way and saw a larger hallway with dimmed ceiling lights, a floor filled with mosses and red fluid trails, and the walls that reeks with leaking brown stains* There goes my flying experience, but walking is better. Yeah, I¡¯ll just walk, thank you very much my wings. *Alexa stops flying as her wings begun shrinking smaller and retracting inwards to her back and drops on the ground on her feet while rapidly regaining her original height. She began walking down the hallway while the eyeball camera is facing her* So, apparently, we got abducted after that scary explosion? Yeah, that¡¯s a reasonable guess why we¡¯re here in this place. And those weird beds, there is a writing on them saying ¡®terminated¡¯¡­ so they were experimenting on us and those terminated were, I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m guessing they failed? Or they died, or they were killed because they failed? And now both of us wake up only to be greeted with this messy place, and it stinks¡­ there¡¯s the moss, and the red trails¡­ *Alexa can be seen and heard sniffing* This is¡­ this is blood. Yup, it IS blood. And it¡¯s fresh, FRESH blood¡­ *Alexa suddenly looked behind her, while her cat ears moved in the same direction she was facing* Somethings coming, and its heading here! *Alexa frantically looked to her surroundings, she found a broken vending machine and tried to hide on its side* Okay, okay. Calm down, Alexa. Calm down, ochitsuku. Ochitsuku, Alexa! *Alexa grabs the eyeball camera, and she faced it towards her nervous face* Okay, I guess it has four legs, and its large like a gorilla, okay thrice the size of an average gorilla¡­ So now, I activated my echo location, huh? *Alexa slowly points her eyeball camera towards the direction of the unknown creature. It is near the ventilation duct where she got out. The creature is red in color, it walks on four legs that ends with five human hands, the main body is a huge flesh ball with many jutting eyeball-less human faces, all with open mouths as if they are screaming but no sound is coming from it. As soon the creature is seen, Alexa grabbed the eyeball camera immediately* *Whispering*WHAT THE HELL IS THAT! HOLY SHIT¡­ OH MY GOD¡­ CALM DOWN CALM DOWN. Right, I need protection. Think of an armadillo plated skin that as tough as a rhino¡¯s skin, Alexa, think of it right now! *White plate-like armor crept on Alexa¡¯s whole body* Okay, now the question is, is it a friendly? Okay, woooh!!! Here goes nothing! *Alexa can be seen standing up while raising her arms while facing the creature. The creature responded by stopping, seemingly looking at her despite lacking with eyes* Hey! Big guy! You friendly? Anata wa yuko-tekidesu ka? *The creature immediately lunges itself to Alexa, making her drop on her back to the ground while the creature smashes her left arm with its fists until it rips off, then the creature took the torn arm. Her arm does not show any sign of bleeding, but the broken bones and lacerated flesh can be clearly seen. Alexa can be heard screaming in pain while the video feed shows the creature eating her left arm* AAAAAAAAAHHGHGH!!!!! THAT DAMN HURTS!!! AAAHHHHGGHG!!! *Video feed shows Alexa¡¯s torn arm regenerating instantly, the creature pounces her for the second time and attempted to rip Alexa¡¯s body in half, but it only broke her spine and twisted it. The creature immediately throws Alexa to the wall, dented upon Alexa¡¯s impact on it. The creature produced screeching sounds on its mouths as Alexa stands up with a twisted body* AHHHHHGHGHHHH!!! YOU NEVER GONNA, STOP DO YA?! *Alexa re-twists her body to its original orientation. She lets out the same screeching sound that the creature produces. The creature steps back while screeching aggressively* You think you¡¯re strong, huh?! Do you know the strongest animal on earth?! It¡¯s not you, you stinking flesh ball! It¡¯s the mantis and pistol shrimp, stinky!!! *Alexa¡¯s right arm began morphing into an elongated pincher resembling the pistol shrimp while her left arm morphed into the clubbed claw of the mantis shrimp, while her legs became thinner and more like a cheetah¡¯s legs* COME ON! BRING IT ON! *The creature immediately attacks Alexa, but Alexa dodged the creature smashing the vending machine instead. Alexa, used her pincher to cut the creature¡¯s leg, but the creature didn¡¯t mind the cut-off legs and tried to grab Alexa¡¯s head, but Alexa used her mantis shrimp claw and smashed the creature¡¯s flesh body into a pulp with a single hit* Heh, you¡¯re still alive, huh?! I¡¯ll just burn you! *An eel-like head suddenly forms on Alexa¡¯s hair, and can be seen that it produces blue statics on its mouth and popping sounds of electricity. It faces on the direction of the beaten creature and begins to open its mouth wider, making the blue statics brighter and the popping sounds louder* I¡¯ll toast you good, flesh ba--- *All the lights in the hallway suddenly lit up bright, a liquid metal is seen hanging itself on the ceiling above the creature. It forms into a cannon-like structure and rapidly shoots the creature until its nothing left but blood trails. The liquid metal then turned into a camera, pointing to Alexa* Oh shit¡­ someone¡¯s watching me? I better go to Aki fast! *Alexa rushed back to find the huge door she saw earlier, as she reached the door it opened on its own. Alexa readies her pincher and claw, and the video feed shows Akino standing on the other side of the door with her arms crossed. Akino is looking at Alexa angrily, while her hair that looks like metal wires were attached to the ceiling and the keypad of the huge door* Alexa: You¡­ you did that? Akino:*sighs* Alexa: Okay, I can explain. Akino: Oh yes, you¡¯re gonna explain a lot of things. You¡¯re in so much trouble, young lady. Alexa: *whispers to her eyeball camera* Okay, that¡¯s it for my vlog, bye-bye¡­ Akino: WHAT DID YOU SAY?! Alexa: Nothing! Nothing¡­ . . . [AUDIO-VISUAL NEURAL LOG #1 ENDED] CHAPTER 3: The Institute of Humanity and the documented events in 31st – 33rd Century Akino and Alexa went out of the pod chamber and walked the hallway of mosses and blood. Akino was tapping some weird buttons on the skin of her arm, while Alexa casually picks up pebbles or whatever her tentacle looking hair touches and throws it randomly. Alexa glances at Akino and notices that some fibrous material began covering Akino¡¯s whole body, and it turned into purple turtle-neck sweater and black slim fit slacks. Alexa: H-how did do that? Akino: I¡­ ummm, what do you call this? Crafted it? I designed it in my mind and my skin just produced synthetic silk that turned in these clothes. You want me to craft you some? Alexa: I¡¯ll pass, besides I can turn my skin like what ¡®Mystique¡¯ in the old X-Men movies can do. Well, except that it¡¯s only animal armor, and my skin is super white, like I¡¯m an albino or something. Even my eye is weirdly red, so weird. Akino: X-Men? That 21st century movie? Wow, you really love old stuff, huh? Alexa: Hah! It¡¯s the pinnacle age of human civilization, or not. I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m not some kind of a historian. Akino: You know, I remember that you swear a lot¡­ Alexa: WHAT?! No! I am not swearing! I promise! Akino: Really? Ok then. Alexa: Alright! I¡¯m sorry¡­ it¡¯s like a burst of emotions or somethi---wait, how did you know? Akino: Apparently, I saw your vlog, nice singing voice, huh? I never heard you sung before, right? Alexa: You can read my mind? And my singing voice is perfect, you don¡¯t just hear its true essence. Now tell me how you knew it! Akino: Easy girl. Can you take a look to, hmmmm, how do I tell this¡­? Alexa: Log files? Akino: Yeah! Log files! You can see yours, right? Now, can you see mine? Alexa: Yeah¡­ and I¡¯m reading it right now¡­ its in text format? Wait, hold on, so this means we have the same mind??? Akino: Not really, I quess. It¡¯s like we¡¯re connected by some sort of a ¡®server¡¯ but only for us. Like a private discord or group chat. Plus, when you got attacked, I didn¡¯t feel anything. Alexa: Guess I¡¯m really not going to call you ¡®mom¡¯¡­ Akino: Eh? What? Alexa: You already saw what happened to me, and you didn¡¯t even ask what I feel¡­ Akino pats Alexa¡¯s head. Alexa was caught off-guard and blushes, she holds Akino¡¯s hand and pushes herself near to her. Akino: Well, you said to me last time you want to be strong and be the one protecting instead of being protected? Looks like you got what you want, as well as my approvals, kid. You¡¯re such a good girl, Alexa. I¡¯ll love you no matter what. The two girls walked past the hallway and they reached an elevator. Taking safety precautions, they took the stairs instead which is full of cracks and rotten blood stains on the walls and floor, and only upwards. They are at the bottom level. They climbed up, and it took them time, like they climbed for hours, no other doors nor windows, just the long stairs that ascends. After the two to four hours of non-stop climbing, they finally reached the end of the stairs, and it¡¯s a huge fancy looking hospital-like lobby room, it has no windows or glass panes on the ceilings, only some lights that either produces dimmed lights or busted ones. Some vending machines can be found at the corners, as well as chairs and tables, even desktops at the receiving area, but mostly covered in moss and blue colored lichen. They also saw some set of doors, and a glass door that could possibly lead outside the place, but it was blocked with metal plates outside. Also, there was a hallway with nothing but elevators instead of doors, there are twelve of them each with a single button. At the center of the area, they saw a huge plaque that reads:
The Institute of Humanity The Institute of Humanity was founded by Dr. Lazarus Greenwich and the notable 100 professionals in the fields of Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, and Human Sciences in the year 2021. The initial goal of the Institution after its foundation was to answer all of the questions that humanity seeks to be urgently answered and to use these new found knowledge to further improve the human civilization, with the humblest pose that we are not recognized as an organization. Within ten years, the human race has reached a higher plane of living with the efforts of the Institution, and the Institution now protects the works of humanity no matter what cost it will be taken, even if we face a God or the Devil. Now, the Institution has a new objective: we will be the vanguard that protects the humanity and the watcher that ensures the humanity¡¯s prosperity, against anything that will hinder us to reach our dreams, be it good or evil. ¡°Time will be hard on us. Somebody out there might be laughing at us, many will contradict our doings by comparing it to morals, or even our own kin might betray us. But this is Humanity. We are humans. And we sought to protect what makes us humans.¡± -Dr. Lazarus Greenwich, Founder of The Institute of Humanity
Alexa: You know this? Akino: Yeah, just in history books, and what I knew was it got disbanded in year 2161 because the United Alliance didn¡¯t fund them properly. Others ended up becoming politicians, others just turned themselves into independent researchers and businessmen, and some became terrorists¡­ Alexa: Why? Akino: I don¡¯t know. The book doesn¡¯t specify things, it was like the story was made up, but damn they do exist, huh? Akino and Alexa begun looking around the area, there was cafeteria left to the huge plaque, and Alexa decided to go there. Akino went to the back of the plaque, which is the receiving area, and she accessed the desktops with the wires coming from her hair. Akino: Alexa! Come here! Alexa rushed towards Akino while she holds a satchel full of chocolate bars and her tentacle hair holds a drawer full of cans of corned beef and SPAM. Alexa: What? I¡¯m busy looking for supplies, hehehhehe Akino: Really? What if another of those red-ball dudes who attacked you a while ago showed up? Alexa: Then I¡¯ll smash them! Plus, it looks like there no one around here except us. Akino: Ok, point taken. And thanks for the snacks. Alexa: IT¡¯S ALL MINE! Akino: Goddammit kid, just give me some! Akino took some chocolate from Alexa, and Alexa placed the foods on counter as she sits beside her. The desktops opened, and it shows a Windows Giga loading screen that stops with something like a password input. Akino: Okaaayyyy, let¡¯s override it a little bit, aaaaand we¡¯re in. The desktop monitor shows a black background with a logo of a shield that was split in half, the right side has a drawing of a human head and on the left was a book. The logo was on the middle top, and below it was a white text of Tahoma font that reads ¡°Welcome to the Institute Database. What would like to access?¡± and it ends with a search bar. Akino, while having the chocolate bar on her mouth, proceeds to type frantically the question ¡°What the hell is this place?!¡± and the monitor showed the following in plain white texts
This place is the Institutional Facility-13 that has been founded on 15th of November, year 3044 here in the center of the Manhattan ruins, as a symbol of hope of reclaiming the Earth that we once know. This facility holds most of the known knowledge of mankind that has been documented since 1600s and stored in the Alpha Quantum Core System. This facility is powered by an underground 15 km ring of Proton-Hadron Collider that produces [REDACTED] gigawatts of electricity. This facility is a central research-hub that is designed to investigate the anomalous events that begun on April [], 3021 [SEE ADDENDUM 3000-A] and to experiment the samples [SEE EXPERIMENT LOGS 3010-B] retrieved in the areas affected by the anomaly.
Akino and Alexa was in shock after reading the words onscreen. Alexa furiously swallowed the chocolate bar she was chewing and faced towards Akino with a wide eye. Alexa: We¡¯ve been stuck here for GOD-KNOWS-FREAKING-YEARS?! Akino: Seems so¡­ and the notable thing was we¡¯re greeted by some lump of flesh that I beat. Alexa: Ehem, WE beat. Akino: Heh, whatever. Akino continued searching in the database by typing in the search bar ¡°ADDENDUM 3000-A¡±. The monitor showed this
ADDENDUM 3000-A This file contains the timeline of the events on April [], 3021 to [REDACTED], 3228. The Institutional Council decided to remove some parts of the file, which includes the exact dates to support the psychological morale of the current personnel reading this file. April [] to [], 3021 ¨C An unknown object has been observed near the Jupiter by the Giant Radio-telescope in Chile that appears to be sending out random signals at different wavelengths towards Earth. Twenty-four hours after the discovery, the International Astronomical Agency sent an unmanned robot to the Jupiter¡¯s orbit to analyze the unknown object. The Agency lost its contact with the unmanned robot after 12 hours of orbiting the Jupiter¡¯s sphere of influence due to unknown reasons. Additionally, if the object is viewed with any sort of electrical visual device, the device will experience short-circuit for unknown reasons. People who¡¯ve used traditional telescopes to view the object described it as a [REDACTED]. The Institute took action, began observing and analyzing the object via sending [INFORMATION REDACTED], and designated the object as Object - ¦« The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. June [], 3021 ¨C Object - ¦« anomalously moved towards the Mars¡¯ orbit. The International Astronomical Agency got a better view of the object, a cube like structure that is 250 km wide. The Agency has simulated the trajectory of Object ¨C ¦«, and it¡¯s on a collision course to Earth. The United Alliance, with the help of the Institute, has assembled a strategical plan to counter the collision path of Object ¨C ¦« by sending 500 space missiles containing [] kilograms of antimatter to destroy the object or change its trajectory. However, as the missiles approach Object ¨C ¦«, it disappeared, and a signal of unknown source was sent through all the radio-receiving devices on Earth. The Institution was able to stop the civilian populace from ever hearing or receiving the signal. The Institution was able to decode the signal, it was broadcasted in Coptic, Nordic, Latin, Greek, Arabic, and Mandarin language. The phrase states: Prepare, prepare [UNTRANSLATABLE] [UNTRANSLATABLE] has come! [UNTRANSLATABLE] The Judgement has come, Bless us all, for [UNTRANSLATABLE] October [], 3021 ¨C Around 06:00 UTC in Tokyo, the Japan Astrophysics Institute reported that Object ¨C ¦« reappeared near the Moon orbit, and was slowly moving towards Earth at the measured speed of 110 m/s. The United Alliance alerted the Global Military to engage Object ¨C ¦« while the Institution has started its efforts of keeping the information from the public. At 09:35 UTC, Object ¨C ¦« anomalously ¡®teleported¡¯ itself at the 50 000-kilometer altitude of Earth. A series of ¡®explosions¡¯ happened on major cities around the globe, killing over 5 billion in the process. Just after the explosions, Object ¨C ¦« disappeared once more, leaving the major cities into deserts of 20 kilometers wide gray sand. October [], 3021 to March [], 3023 ¨C Efforts have been done to rescue/retrieve the people affected by the event. Unknown radiation kills any living thing that enters the ruined cities, thus preventing the Institution and the Alliance from entering the area. Less than 5 billion survived, and most of the government of other countries fallen off due to the crisis the event has caused. The Institution, however, never stopped. The Institution continued their efforts of analyzing the event via sending droids into the ruined cities, nothing was left, and all was turned into dust and rubble except some people. At November 3022, over 100 people from different ruined cities have been uncovered, without any trace of damage, the bodies were unresponsive, and the Institution declared them dead. Despite this, the Institution took the opportunity of preserving the bodies for future research purposes. Later on, at January [], 3023 the radiation levels in the ruined cities began to spread, thus the Alliance put all of its efforts in establishing the very first habitable bases on the moon and Mars, while the Institution requested to stay on Earth to research the events that unfold to prevent such scenarios from ever happening in the near future. November 15, 3044 ¨C The Institution, alongside with the remaining humanity on Earth that wished to answer the riddles of the unfolded events, began their research on the ruins and the prolonging effects of the past events of 3021. The Institution built thirty of facilities with [REDACTED] Radiation-proofing system around the world, where some central hubs were built at the center of city ruins in hopes of lowering the radiation levels at the said areas, as well as sending countless satellites on the Earth¡¯s orbit. The Alliance assisted the Institution by letting them build 15 research bases on the moon. June [], 3150 ¨C [Upon the order of the Institutional Council, this part of the file will be removed] February [] to [], 3179 ¨C Satellite survey was able to document the status of the whole planet: February [], 3179 ¨C An expedition was held by the Institution on the Antarctic region due to the observed random radiation spikes in the area. Upon arriving, the Institution discovered 100 pieces of 0.5x0.5x0.5-meter cubes floating in the air. The Institution took the cubes and returned them to Facility-13 for inspection [SEE EXPERIMENT LOGS 3010-B]. December [], 3195 ¨C Huge floating Nautilus looking creatures, with length of 5 kilometers and width of 3 kilometers, were spotted near the Mt. Everest. The creatures were 10 in total and appears to be docile. It is unknown where these creatures came from, or how did they grow in such sizes if they were natives of the planet. The Institution left the creatures for they believed it¡¯s the new life emerged on this planet. September [], 3197 ¨C A series of system failure on the Alpha Quantum Core Servers were discovered on all the Institutional Facilities on Earth after a radiation surge was detected on the Beijing ruins. The Institution contacted the research bases on the Lunar Site and reported that all the matter present on the planet has its entropic processes halted. The Institution reported to the Alliance and they responded that all Institutional personnel on Earth must leave and seek refuge to the Lunar Site as soon as possible. But the Institution refuses and continued to do their work as well as developing the [INFORMATION EXPUNGED] Anchor to help support the integrity of the Institutional Facilities on Earth [SEE ADDENDUM 53-GAMMA]. May [], 3200 ¨C Facility-03 was able to finish the [INFORMATION EXPUNGED] Anchor, and the Institution was able to place three Anchors on each facility. The Lunar Site reported that the entropic process of the planet normalized, but the radiation from the ruins and the unknown energy field was still enveloping the planet [SEE ADDENDUM 53-GAMMA]. November [], 3200 - the time was falling apart so we placed atomic clocks outside the facility, just to be sure¡­ November [], 3200 ¨C A system error was detected on the Institutional database logging system caused by an accidental insertion of [DATA EXPUNGED] in the Alpha Quantum Core. It was immediately resolved by [DATA EXPUNGED [SEE ADDENDUM 53-GAMMA]. February [], 3205 ¨C A system breach was detected on Facility-10 and Facility-09. The Institution has lost contact on the two facilities and all designated personnel in the two sites were reclassed as NEUTRALIZED [SEE EXPERIMENT LOGS 3010-B]. January [], 3209 ¨C A massive nuclear explosion was detected by the Facility-06 on the surface of the moon. The Institution has lost contact on the Lunar Site for 60 hours. The Lunar Site regained its contact after and addressed the situation to be ¡®spicy and hot¡¯. January [], 3209 ¨C A system error was detected on the Institutional database logging system caused by [DATA EXPUNGED] and a system breach was detected on Facility-06. It was immediately resolved by [DATA EXPUNGED] with 326 casualties [SEE ADDENDUM 53-GAMMA]. July [], 3210 ¨C A distress signal was detected on Facilities 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 22, 23, 25, 26, 29, and 30. The Institution responded and immediately resolved the conflict by detonating the nuclear explosives planted inside the Proton-Hadron Colliders in each facility, resulting to [REDACTED] casualties [SEE ADDENDUM 53-GAMMA]. October [], 3210 ¨C If someone is still reading this, go to Facility-13, we have enough supplies for everyone. October [], 3210 ¨C A system error was detected on the Institutional database logging system caused by [DATA EXPUNGED] and a system breach was detected on Facility-13. It was immediately resolved by [DATA EXPUNGED] [SEE ADDENDUM 53-GAMMA]. November [], 3211 ¨C The Alliance will come for us. For anyone who¡¯s still reading these logs, please proceed to Facility-13 here in Manhattan ruins. Please go here, please¡­ December [], 3211 ¨C A system error was detected on the Institutional database logging system caused by [DATA EXPUNGED] and a system breach was detected on Facility-13. It was immediately resolved by [DATA EXPUNGED] with 138 casualties [SEE ADDENDUM 53-GAMMA]. August [], 3212 ¨C [ERROR DISPLAYING LOG] September [], 3212 ¨C Facility-13 is currently experiencing system failure. All personnel must report to their superiors and should not abandon the facility. All contacts to the outside will be suppressed. God is still with us. January [], 3213 ¨C Facility-13 is experiencing critical system failure. Please proceed to the exits of the facility, you are now free from the burden of this world. We will be one with God. March [], 3213 - A critical system error was detected on the Institutional database logging system caused by [DATA EXPUNGED] and a fatal system breach was detected on Facility-13. It was immediately resolved by [DATA EXPUNGED] with 54 casualties [SEE ADDENDUM 53-GAMMA]. April [], 3213 ¨C [Upon the order of the Institutional Council, this part of the file will be removed] May [], 3@!^ _ $$$$$$$$$$$$!@*&!@^^!&@*$$$$$$$$$$$$ !@%^$$#^ )(@#( $*&@*&#*&)( _!)@)(ERROR) ^%@&^! ¡°:>?<>,.]{*&$())_____)))(()()()() [REDACTED], 3219 ¨C hElP Us! anyone out ther? Pliz el pus? haHHHaAhAAAhAHAAHA [] [REDACTED] [], 3222 ¨C [ERROR DISPLAYING LOG] []] *&> <¡¯;[./1% 8..,.,*&* &¡®[]2-6 )8*&7 S(*@& ?>¡±:9 0(&$;029 _)(*)98 8(**(%@#__+++) . . eRor mY a@$$!!11! HahaAHWQHA! Pliez sen d hell ppp! help U$ will nO d0000 . . [REDACTED], 3227 ¨C Facility-13 is experiencing fatal system corrrrrrrrrrrrrrrtion, please prossscid to to to to to to to *****************. Thank you. [REDACTED], 3228 ¨C The Institution h@s lOsT IIiiiTT¡¯ssS c0000nt@ct on th3 LuN4R site and the MaRSs b@se. w3 @RRR:E n0wW 1ne w!th G0D. [REDACTED], 3228 ¨C All system was restored in Facility-13, resulting to #### casualties. Facility-13 will now sleep through this cruel winter. Thank You for Your Service. GOD BLESS US ALL. Signing off¡­
Akino leaned backed on the chair she was sitting on after reading the file. She was baffled, she doesn¡¯t know how to respond. She looked towards Alexa to ease up her uncertain feelings, and as she expected she found Alexa eating three chocolate bars at once and focusing herself on reading the expiration dates on the cans while sitting on the floor instead of reading along with her. Alexa caught Akino looking at her with her face disrupted by unknown emotions. As soon Akino saw Alexa¡¯s face looking at her, she smiled but not fully. Alexa raised her eyebrow as she chews the chocolate bars, she swallowed the chocolates and opens another bar while handling it to Akino. Alexa: You want some? You look like you¡¯ve read something weird from the internet¡­ You okay? Is it that worse? Are we okay being here? Akino: Me? No! No¡­ Yeah, we¡¯re fine kid, we¡¯re just fine¡­ ahahahahah¡­ Akino nervously laughs at the confused Alexa. Alexa was about to stand up to look what was Akino reading on the screen, but Akino pointed her finger to the canned goods, making Alexa stop from standing and glance her sight to the cans. Akino: So, you¡¯ve read them all right? Are all of them expired? Alexa: No, the expiration year was on 4010, most of these will be expired on 4010. It¡¯s just some corned beef and SPAM. That¡¯s crazy! What are they made of? Akino thinks of something as Alexa opens a can of SPAM and smell its contents. Alexa: Woah! It¡¯s still fresh! What the hell? Akino: Hey kid, can I ask a favor? Alexa: Sure! Akino: You said no one¡¯s here, right? So can you look for some bags, and other food supplies? We might need them as we leave this place, ok? Alexa: You got it, ma¡¯am! Alexa happily stands, gave the opened can of SPAM to Akino and does a salute in front of her before she rushed back to the cafeteria area, and Akino smiled at her as she vanishes from her sight. After Alexa was gone for looking some stuff, Akino¡¯s face turned back into a perplexing manner as she faces to the monitor. She dipped her fingers in the can of SPAM to scoop out some meat and eats it, she remembered that time she works overnight at her condo while Alexa keeps on bringing her packed foods or canned meat. She laughs a little as she swallows the canned cooked pork, and then she lets out a sigh as she continues to type something on the keyboard. CHAPTER 4: EXPERIMENT LOGS 3010-B
EXPERIMENT LOGS 3010-B This file log consists of all the experiments done to the 100 human bodies uncovered all around the world after the events unfolded on October [], 3021 [SEE ADDENDUM 3000-A]. The Institutional Council decided to remove some parts of the file, which includes the exact dates to support the psychological morale of the current personnel reading this file.
A video log, entitled LOGS 3010-B-V#01, was right after the statement, Akino proceeded to view the log.
LOGS 3010-B-V#01 *A video shows a man in a lab coat, he has a blonde hair with short blowout cut. He appears to be nervous, and constantly drinks on a mug of coffee, his ID can be seen on the table, but it is unclear on the video what was written on it. After one minute of staring randomly at different directions and occasional coffee drinking, the man speaks as he focuses his view on the camera* Man on the Video: Hi, umm this is my first time here on this lab¡­ well, actually all of us in here were having this for the first time¡­ I¡¯m nervous, hehehhehe. Ehem¡­ okay¡­ My name is Dr. Powell Brown, head research administrator of Facility-13 here in Manhattan ruins. The date today is November 18, 3044. Three days has passed after the Institution established these research facilities worldwide and on the moon. We are tasked on investigating the effects of the ¡®Enigma¡¯ event that happened on 3021, as well as restoring the planet¡¯s original state before the aforementioned event. With the help of the United Alliance and current technological advancements, we are able to stay on Earth despite the harsh environment we are currently facing. The Alliance will also guide all of the Institute personnel and other volunteers from being transferred from Earth to Moon, Earth to Mars, and vice-versa. For anyone who is taking a surf in the Institute database and happened to look here, this will be the evidence for our first step on reclaiming our beloved home. Thank you, and God speed! *Video ends*
Akino scrolled down the file log, other video logs were deleted. She thought it might be affected by the system error mentioned in the ADDENDUM 3000-A. She continued scrolling and saw another log.
E3010-B-02-[]-3179 ¨C The expedition held by the Institution on the Antarctic region has resulted in the discovery of 100 pieces of 0.5x0.5x0.5-meter cubes that remains suspended in the air despite the presence of gravity. The Institution took the cubes and returned them to Facility-13 for research, designating as Object - ¦Â. The following are the findings of the research team ALPHA on Object ¨C ¦Â: E3010-B-02-[]-3179 ¨C Research team ALPHA decided to place the Object ¨C ¦Â beside their matched bodies in the Nuclear Cryogenic Containment chamber. Each body has its own pod that can regulate temperature, radiation, EM field, etc. As the Object ¨C ¦Â are placed beside their matched bodies, it began merging with the matched bodies. But the merge showed no significant results other than Object ¨C ¦Â disappeared as it merges with its matched body. The bodies also showed no significant changes. E3010-B-02-[]-3179 ¨C 12 hours after the cubes were merged with the retrieved bodies, 58 of them began melting. The research team ALPHA tried to prevent it by decreasing the ambient temperature to -120 degrees centigrade but failed, the bodies melted and vaporized in thin air. Only 42 bodies were left unchanged. E3010-B-02-[]-3179 ¨C 12 hours after the 58 bodies melted, 26 bodies began disintegrating. The temperature in the pods were further decreased but failed, the bodies slowly turned into dusts and disappeared in thin air. Only 16 bodies remained unchanged. E3010-B-02-[]-3179 ¨C 24 hours after 84 bodies were NEUTRALIZED, additional 14 bodies began combusting. The temperature in the pods were further decreased but failed, the bodies turned into ashes and disappeared in thin air. Only 2 bodies remained unchanged. E3010-B-02-[]-3179 ¨C The 2 remaining bodies were left, Body#31 and Body#32, and it was observed that the two bodies has exhibited zero entropic processes at all. Research team ALPHA requested to perform experiments on the two bodies, and the Institutional Council approved.
It is the end of that log, right after that log was another video log. Akino was about to open the video log when she heard a clunking sound in the cafeteria. Akino shouted at Alexa, and Alexa shouts back. Akino: ALEXA! YOU ALRIGHT? Alexa: I¡¯M FINE! JUST SOME COCKROACHES! ALSO I FOUND A SINGLE BAG! Akino: OKAY! JUST MAKE IT QUICK! Alexa: OKAY! Akino then proceeds to open the video log.
LOGS 3010-B-V#33 *A video shows a woman with a long black hair in a lab coat. She wears an ID with writings ¡°Dr. Yggdris Hielmach ¨C Executive Research Head, ALPHA Research¡±. There were a lot of papers on the table where she was recording the video, and clearly the pictures of Akino and Alexa can be seen on the papers. The woman didn¡¯t have a nervous face like the first one, she has a very serious face instead. As the video starts, the woman began talking while seriously looking at the camera* Dr. Heilmach: Today is *bleep* October, year 3185, and it¡¯s nine o¡¯clock of the morning. The Institutional Council has given us approval to do experiments on the two remaining bodies that the Institution retrieved many years ago from the city ruins. Let¡¯s see¡­ *The woman took the papers on the table and reads it* Dr. Heilmach: Body#31 was a 12-year-old female, approx. 0.56 meters tall and weighs 50 kilograms, past records show that she was a cult victim that happened to escape, and she was the adopted daughter of Body#32? Wow, what a coincidence¡­ Anyway, Body#32 was a 26-year-old female, approx. 0.98 meters and weighs 66 kilograms, the records showed that she was a junior detective from an Anomalous Crime Institute, and she was the one who took the responsibility of taking care of Body#31 after she escaped. What a good citizen¡­ it was a shame that both of them got stuck in here, but they are deceased¡­ *The face of the woman was saddened as she looks away from the papers, but immediately regained her composure as she looks straight at the camera* Apologies. As for the main characteristics, Body#31 has a long vertical stitch on her left eye, with short black hair not exceeding to her shoulders while Body#32 has brown long hair not exceeding to the wing bone, both have athletic body build but Body#31 is much thinner. Both bodies are not affected by any entropic processes, thus these two will not degrade over time, unless they were subjected into extreme conditions, which will be part of the experimental procedure these two will be on. Now that the Institute has given us approval, the experiments will begin at exactly 1300 hours. Please be advised that our acts does not demoralize these two bodies, it is a way of finding justice for them. Thank you, and God speed. *Video ends*
Akino looked away from the monitor, as if an electric circuit got through her. She can¡¯t believe what she saw and heard. She can¡¯t find the words to describe how shock and angry she was. Akino: What the fuck were they doing? As an anomalous crime detective, she''ve witnessed gruesome events in her career, but this was too much, investigating herself and her daughter. She has no choice but to keep on digging deeper in the logs even this thing makes her feel uneasy to the bones. With a sigh of disgust and unbelief, she turned back to the monitor and continued checking the other logs.
TEST LOGS 3010 E3010-B-10-[]-3185 ¨C Before the experiment on Body#31 and Body#32 took place, five High-Level personnel (which does not belong the Facility-13 personnel data logs) came and examined both of the bodies privately. Dr. Heilmach talked to one of them and told her that they were ordered by the Institutional Council to install Beta-Quantum Cores in Body#31 and Body#32 for safety precautions. It is unknown to any Facility-13 personnel what is this Beta-Quantum Cores or its purpose, but the High-Level personnel redesignated Body#31 and Body#32 to Human Quantum Computer#31 (HQC-31) and Human Quantum Computer#32 (HQC-32). The five High-Level personnel left the facility after their four-hours stay via an Aero-space vehicle and went to Lunar Research Base-B. E3010-B-10-[]-3185 ¨C Following are the observations and experiments done to HQC-31 and HQC-32 for the next 4250 days. E3010-B-09-[]-3196¨C The following are the summarized findings on the experiments and observations done to HQC-31 and HQC-32: The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
After reading the log, Akino tried to cut her right arm. Just thinking of cutting her right arm like a butter turned her left arm into a blade that was scorching red hot. She cut through her right arm like butter, she groans in pain as the blade passes through, and the arm drops. It was not bleeding but the burnt flesh and the bone can be clearly seen. Immediately after cutting her arm, a series of silver wires came out on the cut wound which reconnected to the right arm. The wires pulled back inside her with the severed arm, like when sewing two pieces of cloth into one. The right arm was reconnected, good as new and the pain was gone like nothing happened. Akino: What the fuck? Akino proceeded to scroll down to read more. She found out more files were deleted until she saw a video log that she proceeded to click on.
LOGS 3010-B-V#109 *A video shows a woman with a short black hair in a lab coat. It was Dr. Yggdris Hielmach again as can be seen on the ID she was wearing. The table was clear where she was recording, and she can be seen talking happily to someone on her left but the camera was focusing on her* Dr. Heilmach: Yeah? All right, I¡¯ll bite to your senseless date. Just make sure it was a good one, will you? Voice of a man: YES! Wooohooo! I got a date with Yggdris! *Loud running noise that dissipates can be heard and as the loud running noise disappears, Dr. Heilmach faced towards the camera smiling, she inspected the camera for a second, and her face turned red* Dr. Heilmach: Oh¡­ th-this is open? *deep sigh* This is embarrassing¡­ *She faced away the camera and covers her face. She can heard whispering but unclear on what she was saying. She turned back to the camera with her usual serious face* Dr. Heilmach: Apologies. Today is *bleep* December of the year 3196. The Institutional Council has ordered us to fully seal HQC-31 and HQC-32 inside the cryogenic chamber. The¡­ the council said that those two will be used to normalize the environmental instability of the planet¡­ I don¡¯t- I don¡¯t know what the hell they were saying. The level 7 researcher that asked for our data results said that HQC-31 is the ¡°Vessel of Ultimate Biological Evolution¡± while HQC-32 is the ¡°Vessel of Ultimate Technological Evolution¡± ¡­ I think they were nuts, those two were just poor dead bodies, and I heard that they were planning to use those two to help in reform the humanity. They even told us that all human knowledge will be installed in them via their Beta Quantum Cores. I know they were telling a lot of things of just turning those into tools that will help all of humanity, but somethings not right¡­ *Video ends* LOGS 3010-B-V#110 *The video starts immediately with a short-haired woman and a man hugging each other on the far-left corner of the room. The woman was wearing a lab coat, and she tries to remove the blue polo-shirt of the man while he, probably, licks the woman¡¯s neck*
Akino intensely watch the video, and she heard another clunk behind her, this time it is near to her place. Akino looked behind and she saw Alexa standing right there with a dumbfounded face while also looking at the screen. As Alexa noticed that Akino was looking at her, she looked her into the eyes in a very suspecting manner. Akino hurriedly stopped the video and looked back to Alexa. Alexa: Really? This time? Akino: I, umm, I found this in the experimental logs? Alexa: I know I¡¯m not allowed to say this, BUT WHAT THE FUCK AKI? RIGHT NOW? Akino: Just get straight to the point! Alexa: You are blushing! BLUSHING! Your face is all red! I know what you¡¯re reading when you work on your personal laptop! The six digits! I knew it! Akino: You touched my laptop?! How the hell did you know that?! AND I AM NOT BLUSHING! Alexa: Ho~ho, I know your browsing history! ¡®Coz you never placed a password on your laptop, you¡¯re not deleting your browsing history, AND you¡¯re placing your digits in a notepad right on your desktop! What kind of detective are you if you can¡¯t clean up your own mess?! Akino: *sighs deeply* Alexa: Okaaay, I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t saw those and that. By the way, I found this leather belt-bag. Only this thing was in the locker area, no other bags, not even clothes. As if this place was abandoned¡­ Akino: Can I have the bag? Alexa: Yeah, I don¡¯t even need it. You¡¯re the one who¡¯s always carrying a ¡®utility belt¡¯ or something, hahaha! Akino: Yeah, right¡­ Alexa handed over the leather belt-bag Akino and sat beside her. Akino continued to scroll down the screen but the experiment logs seem to be redirected to another log file. A black omega symbol is now on the top of the screen, and a phrase is written below it. CHAPTER 5: 53-GAMMA
¦¸ THE SALVATION OF THE ENDS WILL SUFFICE THEY CAN NOT HARM US ANYMORE THEY ARE THE ALPHA WE ARE THE OMEGA PROTOCOL 53-GAMMA In case of any anomaly contamination or system breach, within the premises or territory of any Institutional Facility on both the Earth and Lunar sites, PROTOCOL 53-GAMMA will be initiated. The following will be the procedures on initiating the protocol: Having the protocol done will help maintain the local [Upon the order of the Institutional Council, this part of the file will be removed]. ADDENDUM 53-OMEGA The log files in this addendum has been edited by [REDACTED] and the Institutional Council decided to remove some parts. 12-53-OM-3197 ¨C The following are the recorded video from Maintenance Head Mr. Tyan Min¡¯s camcorder, the video shows the conversation of ALPHA Research Head, Dr. Heilmach and Senior Facility Administrator, Eng. Suarez while sitting on both sides of a metal table inside a white room with a coffee dispenser attached on the far left side of the wall, Tyan Min sits beside Heilmach while he holds her hand. Dr. Heilmach: You know that is not possible, right? Eng. Suarez: I know, I know. But it is, it happened already¡­ *Dr. Heilmach stands and grabs Eng. Suarez¡¯ by his white collar, Tyan Min tried to stop her but she just raised her hand to Tyan Min* Tyan Min: Yggdris! Stop it! This fight will never answer anything! Dr. Heilmach: Oh really? REALLY?! *At this point, Heilmach drops Suarez* Then who the fuck should explain stuff to us, HUH?! Eng. Suarez: Heilmach, please calm down. I don¡¯t even know what is going on¡­ all of us in this facility doesn¡¯t know a damn thing! *A ¡®bird-chirping¡¯ ringtone can be heard, Tyan Min looked on his pocket, it his phone that looks like a rectangular opaque glass. He touched his phone, and his face turned confused* Tyan Min: Guys, I think this is weird¡­ Eng. Suarez: What is it? I don¡¯t have my phone. Dr. Heilmach: Me either¡­ Tyan Min: Protocol 53-OMEGA has been initiated¡­ Eng. Suarez: Jesus Christ... Okay, have everyone ready. I¡¯ll try to contact the Council. Dr. Heilmach: Now, NOW THIS EXPLAINS A LOT! *Video ends* 14-53-OM-3197 ¨C An unknown system error has been detected within all the Institutional facilities on Earth, as well as on the Lunar Sites. We tried to contact the Institution on the Mars Base but they advised that we must comply with 53-OMEGA¡­ As for today¡¯s observation, Facility-13 anomalously moved and changed its original position. From the center of the Manhattan Ruins, the whole facility moved 45 kilometers South-West of the ruins, leading to the Philadelphia area. Beijing ruins also began showing radiation spikes, we are still trying to contact them, but the radiation might be blocking our comms or their comms might be not operational at that moment. We¡¯ve been briefed about the protocol, but we didn¡¯t expect it to happen that sudden. ¨C Eng. Emanuel Suarez, Senior Facility Administrator of Facility-13 21-53-OM-3197 ¨C Atomic Clocks and the [REDACTED] Anchors have been installed as instructed in Protocol 53-OMEGA on the vicinity of all the Institutional facilities. All the personnel were also instructed to observe the changes within the facility. Senior Facility Administrators were instructed as well to report the changes directly to the Institutional Council. ¨C Eng. Emanuel Suarez, Senior Facility Administrator of Facility-13 34-53-OM-3200 - The following are the recorded video from Maintenance Head Mr. Tyan Min¡¯s camcorder, the video shows the conversation of ALPHA Research Head, Dr. Heilmach and Senior Facility Administrator, Eng. Suarez. Eng. Suarez was standing nearby a window, while Dr. Heilmach was crying on a sofa with Tyan Min comforting her. Dr. Heilmach: *sobs* This isn¡¯t happening, this isn¡¯t happening, this isn¡¯t happening *Heilmach continues to repeat the phrases* Tyan Min: Yggdris, calm down. Please, calm down we are here for you, okay? A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Eng. Suarez: This won¡¯t end well¡­ I tried contacting them but, nothing. They are not responding to us¡­ Dr. Heilmach: There must be a way, right??? There must be, Eman. There must be something that we can do! Eng. Suarez: I don¡¯t know anymore, I don¡¯t even care anymore. *Suarez exits the room, video ends* 55-53-OM-3200 ¨C Eng. Emanuel Suarez has been missing for the past 46 hours, he went out of the facility without telling us anything. His belongings are still inside his room, which means he left the facility with his casual white polo attire and his ID¡­ we decided to designate him into DECEASED. I took the responsibility of taking his position as the new senior facility administrator of Facility-13. As for the current situation that we have, the time is somehow, I don¡¯t know. The time seemed to leapt forward, the atomic clock we have inside the Facility says its year 3200, but the one outside were saying year 5000. We thought it must be a malfunction due to the radiation outside, but we carbon dated the materials outside the facility, and we confirmed that 1800 years has passed. The atomic clocks were fine, but the time itself? I think not¡­ - Dr. Yggdris Heilmach, Senior Facility Administrator of Facility-13 68-53-OM-3205 ¨C We¡¯ve received distress signal from the facilities 09 and 10, we tried to contact them but no ones answering. We learned later that the nuclear charges were already detonated. We are still trying to find if any survivors are wandering around the facilities. - Dr. Yggdris Heilmach, Senior Facility Administrator of Facility-13 79-53-OM-3209 ¨C Facility-06 contacted us on the explosion on the Lunar surface, we told them to cooperate with us on identifying the situation but by the time the Lunar base re-established their comms, Facility-06 self-destructed. - Dr. Yggdris Heilmach, Senior Facility Administrator of Facility-13 101-53-OM-3209 ¨C The following is a recorded video inside Dr. Heilmach¡¯s room. Both Heilmach and Tyan Min can be seen sleeping together in one bed, hugging one another. *Dr. Heilmach can be heard sobbing, and Tyan Min can be heard whispering something to Heilmach but it is unclear what he was saying. The video lasts for 4 hours and 37 minutes with only both of them in the bed until it ends* 129-53-OM-3210 ¨C A lot of distress signals were issued by 16 facilities, and it was already too late. 5 hours after we contacted the facilities already got blown up by the nuclear warheads planted inside of them. We don¡¯t know how we are going to rescue all of them, that¡¯s why we just send out messages if there are still anyone who were able to leave their respective facilities. - Dr. Yggdris Heilmach, Senior Facility Administrator of Facility-13 140-53-OM-3211 ¨C We checked the atomic clocks outside the facility, it says year 10670 despite the time that we have inside the facility is year 3211. We didn¡¯t detect any anomalies inside or on the vicinity of Facility-13, so the fuck¡¯s going on? - Dr. Yggdris Heilmach, Senior Facility Administrator of Facility-13 156-53-OM-3212 ¨C The Protocol 53-OMEGA has placed Facility-13 in lockdown, we can¡¯t go out of the facility nor contact the other facilities and the Institution. God help us all. - Dr. Yggdris Heilmach, Senior Facility Administrator of Facility-13 160-53-OM-3213 ¨C [Upon the order of the Institutional Council, this part of the file will be removed] 189-53-OM-3215 ¨C *The following is a recorded audio of Dr. Heilmach* Those fucking machines! They started moving on their own. We tried to fight back, and we barely survive their continuous blitz. After 3 days of constant gunfire, they stopped and headed towards the Nuclear Cryogenic Chamber. We know what they are going to do, so we immediately went to the chamber and set-up a barricade to stop those marching cans. Hope we can still make it out here. *Recording stops* 209-53-OM-3216 ¨C *The following is a recorded audio of Dr. Heilmach* We received a message from the Alliance, they told us that the Institution has betrayed the humanity¡­ I don¡¯t know what they mean but I believe its true. They have abandoned us. In this hell. The others, I don¡¯t know¡­ they turned into monsters, its just-just horrifying¡­ *sobs* and Tyan got killed by those fucking flesh monsters! *sobs* *Recording stops* 301-53-OM-3216 ¨C We, the Institution, will not be hindered, even by our own brethren, to achieve our goal of reforming humanity and restoring the former world. We announce a total separation from the Alliance, peacefully. But the Alliance could not comprehend our acts and declared war upon us. We know it is not the time to do so, but the Institution must uphold the works we have done in progressing the mankind. Please, do understand us, our acts are only to promote the well being of the humanity. WE DID NOT BETRAYED HUMANITY, HUMANITY JUDGED THEIR OWN KIN. ¨C The Institutional Council
Akino stops scrolling, she glances at Alexa, and Alexa was staring at her with a saddened face. Alexa¡¯s eyes were about to cry, but Akino patted her head. Alexa¡¯s face brightened up, and Akino smiled upon her while she keeps on patting her head. Akino: Don¡¯t feel bad about it. If those were humans, then we just¡­ liberated them on their suffering? Alexa: *sniffs* Thanks. But I don¡¯t get it, she said that more than ten thousand years has passed while it only took a few years inside this facility?! And they¡¯ve started a war on each other? What¡¯s going on? What is this Institution thing?! Alexa, slowly touches Akino¡¯s hand on her head, and she holds it tightly while removing it on her head. Akino¡¯s face was puzzled and she look back to the screen. Akino: Yeah, something doesn¡¯t add up. Must be a political conflict or something¡­ but something happened here that involves both parties. Akino then proceeds to scroll down. There were no more logs, it is empty. She reached the end of the file log, and a single video log was there. It was entitled ¡°For Akino and Alexa¡±. Alexa: Woah! A video? For us? Akino: Let¡¯s check it out. Akino proceeds to open the video log
FOR AKINO AND ALEXA *The video starts with a woman facing the camera, her hair was short, and she wears a lab coat filled with many dark-red stains, she wears an ID covered in blood, but the name ¡®Heilmach¡± could be seen barely. There was a wire connected to the back of her head, and as she was frantically typing on the keyboard, she constantly looks on the door of her room blocked with a huge metal cabinet. The light on the ceiling keeps on flickering and dimming, but the light coming from the computer screen she was using keeps her face and her a part of her room slightly bright* Dr. Heilmach: Today is-*coughs* today is 15th of July, year 3219. *She keeps on coughing until blood comes out of her mouth and nose, she immediately wipes the flooding blood* Dr. Heilmach: Everyone is dead¡­ the others were suddenly turned into flesh monsters, but somehow the fucking MC-00 were not attacking them. *coughs* I managed to lock myself in my room and-and *sobs* I should have let myself killed, but¡­ *She cried but her tears are made of blood, and her sclera slowly turns into black* Dr. Heilmach: I¡¯m trying to upload my cerebral matrix to the system. Somehow, we managed to crack up the Alpha Quantum Core and we got access through it by our computers. *coughs* But those machines did something, and we can¡¯t access those after we cracked through. Luckily, my computer has the access algorithm of the Core. Right now, I¡¯m uploading my main consciousness to the Core. *coughs louder* I will as well- *A loud banging sound can be heard from the door, Dr. Heilmach look panicked and hurriedly types on the keyboard* Dr. Heilmach: I¡¯ve set up a timer on your pods. You were a detective, right? And your daughter, you must have taught her a lot of things. I-I don¡¯t know if both of you will wake up, I don¡¯t know anymore¡­ *sobs and coughs* if-if you managed to access this, please listen to me carefully. I¡¯ve uploaded already 65% of my consciousness, and I¡¯m trying to deactivate your connection to the mainframe of the Institution, if the Alliance was saying the truth about the Institution¡¯s betrayal, then they won¡¯t be able to control both of you. Otherwise, well, whatever, the most important thing was both of you will be free from their grasps. *coughs harder* *At this point, her sclera turned totally into black. Bones spiked outwards of her body, and she screams in pain. A loud bang was heard on the door, and bright sparks can be seen coming from the door as if it was being opened with acetylene torch* Dr. Heilmach: AAAAAAAAHHHHHHGGGG!!! *coughs and sobs* Akino, Alexa, I know both of you might not care, I know we¡¯ve done things horrible to both of you, but if ever one of you read this or got to access this, please head to the chamber, the Systems Core chamber, descend there and you will see the Alpha Quantum Core. It looks like a huge floating liquid metal sphere, and both of you must integrate yourselves to it. *coughs* I know its bullshit but please just do it, it will save you from them. Both of you will be free from us, who murdered both of you a thousand times. *The door drops open, and three 8-feet tall dark silvery humanoid machines with writings on their arm ¡®MC-00¡¯ entered Dr. Heilmach¡¯s room. It stared at her and aimed their guns towards her, she ignored the machines, and she keeps on looking the camera. One of the machines fired its gun, Dr. Heilmach got hit and flinched, but she keeps on looking at the camera* Dr. Heilmach: Please, help us. I know you won¡¯t be able to forgive us, but please just-*sobs then smiles slowly* please¡­ *coughs and sobs* forgive-me, *sobs* I¡¯m really sorry. *The machines started barraging her with bullets, she tried to pull out a pistol on her waist and aim at one of the machines. She fired a shot and hit the head on one of them, but it was too late. The machines won¡¯t stop from firing, they kept on firing until her body got shredded. She dropped down on the floor, and one of the machines kept on firing on her decapitated head. The other machine approached the camera, stared at it for 10 seconds then shoots it, ending the video log*
CHAPTER 6: Akino’s log#2 [ALL BODY SYSTEM ONLINE] . . . [SELECTING NEURAL SYSTEM] . [NEURAL SYSTEM AUTHENTICATING] . [NEURAL SYSTEM ONLINE] . [SELECTING NEURAL LOGGING SYSTEM] . [NEURAL LOGGING SYSTEM OPERATIONAL] . [AUDIO-VISUAL NEURAL LOG SELECTED] . [BEGINNING AUDIO-VISUAL NEURAL LOG ENTRY] . [AUDIO-VISUAL NEURAL LOG ENTRY #2] *A video feed starts, Alexa can be seen sitting on the floor while packing some canned goods inside a plastic bag* Akino: Woah, so this visual thing is working? Alexa: Yeah, better than the text file you¡¯ve made. Akino: Hey! Don¡¯t insult my typing! It¡¯s hard to type using my mind, you know? Alexa: HAHAHAHAHHA! Akino: HEHEHEHEHE-HAHAHAHAHA! *Both laugh for a while, and Akino faced directly to Alexa* Akino: You-you should leave those here. Alexa: Why? We can still eat stuff even we¡¯re like¡­ like something else¡­ Akino: I mean, if those machines are still there, your food would be wasted. They got guns, right? Alexa: Yeah, good point. I¡¯ll leave these here. Akino: I can cook you some carbonara right after if there¡¯s still a working stove in here. Alexa: REALLY? Thank you, Aki! *Alexa quickly approached Akino and hugged her* Akino: Awwww~ You¡¯re so sweet! *Video indicates that Akino tried to reach Alexa¡¯s forehead, but Alexa let go of her hug* Alexa: Don¡¯t kiss me, it¡¯s disgusting. Akino: Hey! Bad girl! Alexa: No, bad girl! You know I don¡¯t take kisses, I told you that. Akino: Uggghh¡­ *Alexa placed her plastic bag of goods on the counter, and dashed towards Akino to hold her hand* Akino: You ready? Alexa: Heh, what choice do I have? Akino: Hey, if this will solve anything, or at least give us even a grain of hint, we¡¯ll do it. Got it? Alexa: Yeah¡­ Thanks for the pep talk. Akino: Well, then. Let¡¯s go. *Video shows that Akino walked while holding hands with Alexa. Both headed to the hallway that has twelve elevators. The wall was full of mosses and lichen, and Akino approached the one at the middle of the hallway, used her hands to wipe the dirty wall and the writings ¡®System Core Chamber¡¯ appeared. Akino touched the single button on the right side of, a series of wires began coming out of her arm that connects to the metal pane of the button. The elevator lights up and opens on its own* Alexa: Can¡¯t you just do the same thing with the flesh monster hours ago? Like the metallic hair thingy? You turned it into a turret? Akino: I don¡¯t know, kid. Somethings blocking me off on that chamber. Alexa: Welp, that¡¯s inconvenient. REALLY inconvenient. *Both entered the elevator, which is suspiciously clean compared to the rest of the surroundings. It has the standard shiny metal wall and gray floor interior, with the white ceiling lights and a CCTV on the top right corner, and another single button on the panel side located at the right side* Alexa: Is that CCTV working? Akino: Let me check. *Akino reached the CCTV by extending her arms, the CCTV was a bit high so her arm literally extended in length, and she hold it for 3 seconds. After holding it, she faced towards Alexa and she did a thumbs down. Alexa then proceeded to press the button, the doors closed, and the elevators started to descend. Both were in silence, but it can be seen in the video feed that Alexa glances at Akino briefly* Akino: You know what I first told the very first time we met? Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. *Alexa turns her face slowly towards Akino* Alexa: What is it? Akino: Its ¡®talk to me, kid¡¯. So, if something is bothering you, tell me. Alexa: Fine, its about that thing I found in your laptop. Akino: Woah woah woah, not now, kid. NOT NOW. Alexa: Hey, I respect your tastes, okay? I mean, who am I to judge you? Akino: Okay! I¡¯ll admit it! I like girls instead of boys! You saw that ¡®yuri¡¯ tag on my browser, right?! Yeah, I admit it and I¡¯m proud about it! Alexa: Oh, I was - I was going to say about the pink bed that you ordered. The one with cute kitty design? Akino: Goddamnit! Alexa: Yeah, yeah. I already know about THE other one¡­ naisu! People love and desire things that they lack. Like having thiccness~ Akino: STOP, okay? Just, forget about it. Alexa: What should I forget? The kitty bed or the big¡ª Akino: Keep talking and I won¡¯t cook your carbonara. Alexa: Okay, okay mouth¡¯s zipped. *Alexa gesturally zipped her mouth. Akino then looked back to the doors of the elevator. Another silence enveloped the place. After three minutes, the elevator stopped, and its doors opened. The way out is a huge white corridor with full bright ceiling lights. The only odd thing was that the floor was covered in brown and red stains* Alexa: It smells like shit. Akino: Language! Alexa: It smells like feces, and blood? Wait, it¡¯s the same thing when I confronted that flesh ball, this same smell¡­ *Akino instinctively readies herself, her left arm turned into gatling gun and a mini-missile launcher appeared on her right shoulder* Akino: Get ready kid, I think those machine things are here to greet us. Alexa: I am always ready! *Alexa¡¯s skin turned scaly, and her whole body turned muscular, her claws became enlarged, and her hair was covered by kite-shaped plates* Akino: Woah! Alexa: Haha! You jelly? Akino: Shut up! I can do that as well! *Akino¡¯s whole body, except her head, was suddenly covered in rectangular plates, more like the Kevlar armor. Both readied as they walked down the hallway. It can be seen that the white walls of the hallway suddenly leaks with blood-like fluids. Both of them stopped moving as more of the blood fluids came out of the walls. A metal clunk was heard from the leaking walls, and numerous humanoid figures covered in the red liquid comes out of it* Akino: Stand back! Stay behind me! Alexa: Hey! I can handle myself! Akino: I¡¯m not kidding anymore, Alex! Stay behind me! *Alexa stays behind Akino. The figure matches the same looks as the one they saw on the last video log of Dr. Heilmach. An 8-feet tall metallic humanoid machine with the writings ¡®MC-00¡¯ on its right arm that carries an automatic rifle. But one thing is odd, the red liquid covering the machine moves as if it has its own mind, it enters the head structure of the machine and red plant-like roots started to cover its body. The same thing happened to the other eighteen figures, and all of them started producing ¡®ringing¡¯ sounds and then pointed their rifles towards Akino and Alexa, shooting both of them immediately. Alexa¡¯s hair moved quickly and turned into a large shield-like structure, covering both of them* Akino: What¡¯s the use of our armor if you¡¯re going to cover us with that weird flesh shield? Alexa: Yeah, right¡­ *Alexa¡¯s hair turned back, making the bullets the machines shoots hit them. The bullets were deflected by Akino¡¯s and Alexa¡¯s skin armor instead, and ricochets on the whole place* Alexa: I AM BULLETPROOF!!! *Alexa charges towards the machines, tearing them in half and smashing the others on the floor, breaking the flooring as she pounds them. Akino was shooting the others with her gatling arm and obliterating the smashed machines with her shoulder missile. A missile accidentally hit Alexa and exploded, but nothing happened. Instead, Alexa stopped hitting the machines and looks towards Akino with an angry face* Alexa: Hey! Akino: I didn¡¯t know friendly fire was on, sorry. Alexa: Can you just auto-aim them? Akino: I am new to this body functions of mine, okay? Alexa: Just charge them with a chainsaw hand or something. A huge wrecking-ball would be fine too. Akino: And what? Break the whole place? Alexa: Says the one who uses explosive missiles, aiming everywhere. *The place was covered with the pieces of the machines, but the roots covering their parts started to move on its own, reconnecting to the other broken parts and rebuilding itself* Alexa: Wait, they can do that? Akino: Let¡¯s get out of here, we¡¯re going to waste time breaking these things. *The two ran past the broken machines that slowly reconnects their broken parts while their bodies turned back to normal. After a minute of running, they reached a huge door that has the writings of ¡®System Core Chamber¡¯. Akino touched the button panel on the right side, and the huge door opened. The room was brightened with the white ceiling lights and it can be seen the several server machines across the huge room. However, the server machines were covered with the same red roots as the one on the machines they fought off* Alexa: What the hell is this place? Akino: It¡¯s the server room. Let me close these doors. *Akino touched the button panel inside the System core room, the huge door closed and Akino can see Alexa far away in the middle of the rows of the server machines* Akino: HEY! Come back here! Alexa: This must be it! Akino: ¡®It¡¯ what? Alexa: She said to head down here right? There¡¯s a hole here, just a hole. *Akino rans towards Alexa and saw the deep five-meter-wide hole. There is another control panel right beside the hole, and Akino accessed it* Akino: Another elevator ride, huh. Alexa: Let¡¯s just jump in, what do you say? Akino: Don¡¯t you dare. Just follow my lead and¡ª *Alexa¡¯s legs morphed into an elongated horse-like legs, and jumps immediately in the hole* Akino: Goddamnit, kid! *Akino proceeded to jump as well to follow Alexa. Her legs were covered in metallic plates and very thick spring can be seen protruding on her calves. It took three minutes of falling before she hits the bottom part of the hole, it was dark but she can she a single bright red dot, it was Alexa¡¯s right eye* Akino: You alright? Alexa: Yup! Totally fine! Akino: The hell you did? Alexa: I jumped? Akino: Can you see me? Alexa: Yeah. Apparently, I got night vision. Cool, isn¡¯t? Akino: Yeah, I¡¯ll activate mine. *The video feed then turned into grayish sight as Akino activates her night vision. The whole place seems to be circular in shape, the walls looks covered with stains, the floor was flooded with a non-opaque liquid, and a huge floating sphere was on the center of the room* Alexa: Soooo, that¡¯s the core? Akino: Yeah, it looks like this is the Alpha thing she was saying. *Both approached the sphere, as they approach it, the visual of the sphere became clearer. A shiny floating metallic liquid seven meters wide that was suspended in air, so shiny that they can see their reflections on it. Akino tried to touch it, her got suck in as if she was touching water, but nothing happened. She pulled her hand out of the sphere, still not reaction* Akino: She said we must integrate with it, right? Alexa: Yeah, but what does she mean ¡®integrate¡¯? Like combine ourselves with it? Akino: Hell if I know¡­ You know what? This is just a waste of time, let¡¯s leave this place. *Akino and Alexa turned back and walks towards the hole where they dropped off. While walking, Akino saw something moving on the floor, making the video feed focus on the flooded floor* Akino: Hey, kid. Say you don¡¯t sense something in here, right? Alexa: Uhmmm, yeah? What do you mean? Akino: Something is in this flooded floor, and I can¡¯t identify what is it. *Akino glances towards Alexa, staring at the ceiling* Alexa: Aki? I think that hole is gone¡­ Akino: WHAT?! Alexa: Seriously, it was there! I know it was there! *Alexa looks to the other direction, as well as Akino. But no holes can be found on the ceiling. Suddenly, an unknown force drags both of them towards the Core. Akino saw a tentacle coming out of the sphere, and it grabbed them both. She tried to cut it with her hand that has turned into a blade, but the blade just passes through the liquid tentacle. She glances to Alexa, and the liquid metal starts to enter her mouth* Alexa: *muffled screaming* Akino: God-fucking-damnit! Alexa! I¡¯ll save you, kid! I¡¯ll save¡ª *At that point, the liquid metal also entered Akino¡¯s mouth. Alexa got dragged inside the sphere first, then Akino as well. Her vision started to be covered with the liquid, and muffled screaming can be heard* . . . [ENDING AUDIO-VISUAL NEURAL LOG#2] CHAPTER 7: The dead girl inside the system The two woke up inside a white room, that expands endlessly. There¡¯s only a white tiled floor, the ceiling was so white, but it looks like there is no ceiling, there no walls just a very vast horizon. Akino approached Alexa and immediately hugged her. She noticed that Alexa¡¯s body was somehow turned normal, the one with her black-short hair but still she got that wound stitch on her left eye. She was wearing the pink jacket she gave her that morning during her birthday. She looked to herself and she saw she was wearing the leather jacket, blue jeans and the silver watch she worn during Alexa¡¯s birthday that turned out to be the end of their normal lives. Alexa: Wait, my claws, it¡¯s gone? Akino: Yeah¡­ it looks like we reverted back to normal? Alexa: Where are we? Akino: I don¡¯t know, kid¡­ Alexa: We got sucked in by that sphere thingy, and now we¡¯re here¡­ are we inside the sphere? Akino: Not quite sure about that¡­ Both of them stood up, and they walked inside the white infinite room. They wandered the whole place, they kept on walking and walking. Alexa: Hey, is this the end of the road? I mean, are we dead already? *sniffs and tears* Alexa started to cry, Akino kneeled in front of her and placed her hands on her shoulder. Akino: Hey, hey. This is not the end of the line, okay? No matter what, I¡¯ll stay here with you, I promise that, okay? Alexa: *sniffs* Okay, promise me. Akino raised her hand with her pinky, so did Alexa. They did a pinky promise. Alexa then hugged Akino, and after thirty seconds they continued their endless walking. Akino looked at her watch as they walk. Non-stop, they never took a rest, they felt that their feet was dragging them somewhere inside that white void. Akino looked again on her watch. Akino: Oh my God¡­ Alexa: What is it? Akino: The dates on this watch seems to be weird. Alexa: What do you mean? Akino: The last time I checked it, the date was October 21, 3021. Now, it was November 30, 3021. Alexa: Wait, wait, wait. We¡¯ve been walking for 40 days?! Your watch must be broken, we¡¯ve been in here like an hour or something¡­ Akino: I hope it¡¯s the watch, ¡®coz if it isn¡¯t the watch then¡­ then this place is something else. Alexa: So, what now. Hours or days, we¡¯ve been walking here like forever. Any plans on leaving this place? Akino: Wait a minute¡­ Akino touched the floor, and black lines started to appear on it. Their appearance changed, Alexa turned back into her previous white body physique, and Akino with her purple turtleneck and black slacks. Alexa: We turned back??? Hey! What happened? Akino: Could you calm down a bit? Relax, just relax, okay? Inhale, exhale. Akino raised her hand, and it turned into a long rail rifle, Alexa then covered her body with scales. Akino: We turned back to what we were a while ago, but still¡ª Alexa: Where the hell are we? Akino looked towards the horizon in front of them, then she fired a single shot towards the sky. The shot goes on high, and higher until she detected that the bullet she fired hit something. They looked for the bullet and saw it was behind them. Alexa: What?! How did it get here? Akino: I ¨C I don¡¯t know¡­ this place is sure twisted, huh? Alexa: I think I saw something on the horizon. Should we head there? Akino looked to where Alexa was pointing on, she saw an erected structure, but she could not visualize what it is. Akino: Sure, let¡¯s go there. The two continued their long walk. Walking for more than four hours, they finally reached the place, it as white pillars, encircled around a white floating sphere which is three meters wide. This time, they didn¡¯t go near the sphere like what they did last time. Missile launchers appeared on Akino¡¯s shoulders. She was about to shoot the sphere, thinking that destroying the white sphere will destroy the Alpha Core, making them ¡®free¡¯. But she hesitated, her missile launchers revert to her shoulders, and she touched the floor for the second time. She felt something, a heartbeat, and breathing. Akino: You felt that? Alexa: Yeah¡­ The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Alexa¡¯s flesh hair extended and reach the white sphere. Akino tried to stop her but Alexa was able to touch the surface of the sphere. Her eye suddenly teared up, her face was covered in sadness, and she began weeping. Akino: Hey! Hey, kid! Say something! Alexa: *sobs* I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know. *sobs* At that point, Alexa let go of the sphere. She was breathing very hard, and Akino comforted her immediately. Akino: What happened? Tell me, Alexa! Alexa: *breathing harder* I ¨C I can¡¯t explain! It¡¯s just, I saw some visions, or memories! And ¨C and I feel very weird¡­ Akino walks toward the sphere. She touched its surface as she reached its place. Then her vision blacks out and turned into another scenery as she reopened her eyes. She saw a corridor, full of barricaded crates and wounded bodies. She can¡¯t move her body, but she knew she moving against her own will. She noticed that her body was kneeling to the floor, and she noticed that she was resuscitating one of the wounded. A flash of light blinded Akino, and the next thing was she saw herself hugging someone, a corpse whose face was full of overgrown-bleeding tumors. There was an ID hanging on the corpse, and she noticed that it was Tyan Min, the Maintenance head guy. Another flash of light blinded her, and she saw herself typing on the computer. She looked up on the screen, and she saw a different face. It wasn¡¯t hers, but to the doctor whose name was Yggdris Heilmach. She heard her voice, and the same words she spoke on that last video log that she and Alexa saw. She could also hear the loud banging on the door as the MC-00 machines were trying to breach her room. She could feel the blood pouring out of her mouth, nose, and eyes. She responded in-sync with Yggdris as her bones started to come out of her body. She could feel the pain of it, she cried and she felt the despair of dying helplessly. The door opened, with the MC-00 barging in. She could feel Yggdris¡¯ heartbeat, as the machines took aim on her. They shoot, and she felt the bullet piercing her, and then they started shooting rapidly. She knew she wanted to protect the doctor, and so she pulled a gun to shoot at least one of them. It hit, but it was too late. She looked at her arm being torn into pieces, her belly gushing out with blood and torn intestines as the non-stop firing keeps hitting her, her head being decapitated on her body, and being shot at her face multiple times. She felt all of that, the pain of being killed like an animal. She was angry, she wanted to shout but she couldn¡¯t. Then, the scenery changed back to where was Akino, inside that white void. She was still touching the white sphere, and she could still feel that pain of being shot. She could feel the tears dripping on her face. Is it real? What is real? What in the heaven¡¯s name really happened? Where are they? What is going on? Numerous questions raised inside her head. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking as if someone has taken her mind. She let go of touching the sphere, she felt calming down but also the hardness in breathing. She looked again at the sphere and saw something inside it. Akino: You? Alexa: Who? Akino: She¡¯s inside it! Alexa: Wait, what are you talking about? Alexa looked towards the sphere. They saw a naked woman inside it, but the lower half of her body was torn and missing. Her left arm is also torn off. Akino turned her right arm into a metallic one, with a rocket booster on her elbow. She punched the sphere, breaking it. Tons of white liquid oozed out of the broken sphere, and then the body of the woman dropped. Half of her face was full of holes, but it was her, it was Yggdris Heilmach. Alexa: She¡¯s the doctor, right? Is she alright? Her body was ¨C but I could feel her heartbeat and breathing, so how? Akino: I don¡¯t know, kid. But if she¡¯s still breathing, we could still save her¡­ Can you, by any chance, produce the same liquid as the dextrose? Even its just glucose with carbohydrates, it will be fine. Alexa¡¯s hair curled, forming a small ball that detached on her. Inside that flesh ball was the mixture of sugars the same as found in the dextrose. Akino took it and placed it inside her arm, then her fingers turned into needles. She tried to inject it, but Yggdris move her remaining arm to stop Akino. Yggdris: Thank¡­ you¡­ for coming here... Akino: Hey, don¡¯t talk. Just- just save your energy, alright? Alexa: Doc, we¡¯re going to save you. Aki¡¯s a good surgeon as well, she will treat you. Yggdris: *laughs quietly* Ha-ha-ha, thank you¡­ but this body of mine is not real¡­ I told that I uploaded my cerebral matrix, right? Akino: Wait, so we¡¯re really here in¡ª Yggdris: Yes, we¡¯re inside the Alpha Core. But we¡¯re actually inside its virtual space, I preferably call it the ¡®psycho-space¡¯. Alexa: I know! We can upload your cerebral matrix to one of those weird machines, then we can fix you! Yggdris: *laughs quietly* Ha-ha-ha. Thank you, Alexa. *sighs* But I am afraid it cannot happen. Akino: Why? We have these abilities of material reconstruction, right? We can fix you in no time! With right dimensions, we can totally bring you back to life! Yggdris: Thank you, Akino. But my sole purpose is to free both of you. Alexa: What do you mean? Akino: Wait, don¡¯t tell you¡¯re the¡ª Yggdris: You really are an impressive detective, huh? Alexa: What¡¯s about it, Aki? Akino¡¯s face look saddened and she looked towards Alexa. Akino: She uploaded her cerebral matrix, right? It must be that the only way to crack up the algorithm of a quantum core was to have another complicated system, a human consciousness¡­ and she used herself to crack up the system that ties us to the Institution¡­ Yggdris: Bingo. Nice thinking, detective. Alexa: So that body of yours, it was not done by them, but YOU did it yourself? Yggdris: Yes, Alexa. Your daughter is a bright child, huh? This body is my consciousness, and it disintegrated as I tried to break the core system. Barely managed to get out of there alive, but I succeeded in taking down the core. You can now absorb it, making the Alpha core yours. Akino: How about you? If we take the core, what will happen to you? Yggdris: My consciousness stream will become part of the Core. I¡¯ll become bits of data, like what happens when a human dies. The mind will follow the flow of the nature, going to where it will be taken. Alexa: But-but you will stop existing? Right? There must be a way to remove you, right? Alexa started to tear up, but Yggdris holded her hand. Yggdris: Don¡¯t worry, child. This virtual space will always be here, no matter what. Even at the end of time, this space will still be here. It sounds weird, but the Alpha core itself is something WE didn¡¯t made. The same as the Beta cores inside of you. It seems to be infinite in here, but there is still a chance that you might see me here. Akino: You¡¯re lying. Don¡¯t fucking lie to my daughter! At this point, tears began flowing on Akino¡¯s eyes. Yggdris: Maybe I am, but sometimes I do hope it is the truth that I want. Yggdris¡¯ body slowly turns into a white marble, the sky on the horizon of the void began to crack, and the floor of the place started to shake as if there was an earthquake. Akino and Alexa could see and feel those, but strangely there is no sound except their breathing and voices. Yggdris: You look like my daughter, Akino. I wished I could still see her for the last time¡­ Please, promise me to take care of yourselves. Akino held up Yggdris¡¯ body while Alexa was holding her marbled hand. Akino: I will. I will, Yggdris. Alexa: Your daughter, what¡¯s her name? Yggdris: Sabrina, and I left her on Mars. But when the time leapt for a thousand years in this place, I felt devastated. I knew I will not see her face again, but still I¡¯m hoping that one day, I¡¯ll see her. Akino smiled to Yggdris, with tears in her eyes. The place was slowly breaking apart, the cracks on the horizon was reaching the place where they were standing. Akino: Then I hope you will see her. You will. Alexa: Yeah! And-and you will be in a good place, right Aki? Yggdris: I am an atheist, but believing in heaven makes me feel comfortable, thank you. Thank you¡­ Akino: You did say sorry to us, right? You did nothing wrong, Yggdris¡­ Yggdris: Thank you¡­ thank you for making me feel at ease¡­ thank you for saving me¡­ thank you¡­ The whole place was engulfed with ominous cracks. Yggdris¡¯ body fully turned into a white marble, then into ashes and entered the bodies of the two remaining girls. The floor of the place breaks, and Akino held Alexa tightly as the floor was torn into pieces, revealing a dark space. Both of them dropped to the pitch-black void, they didn¡¯t screamed, instead they felt that they fulfilled someone else¡¯ wish. With content in their hearts, they fell endlessly, until they reach a bright light at the very bottom of the void. CHAPTER 8: Alexa’s log#2 [ALL BODY SYSTEM ONLINE] . . . [SELECTING NEURAL SYSTEM] . [NEURAL SYSTEM AUTHENTICATING] . [NEURAL SYSTEM ONLINE] . [SELECTING NEURAL LOGGING SYSTEM] . [NEURAL LOGGING SYSTEM OPERATIONAL] . [AUDIO-VISUAL NEURAL LOG SELECTED] . [BEGINNING AUDIO-VISUAL NEURAL LOG ENTRY] . [AUDIO-VISUAL NEURAL LOG ENTRY #2] *A video feed starts with Alexa waking up Akino that was laying on the flooded floor, the whole cricular room was lit by red lights, and the fluid that was flooding the room was turned totally clear from being non-opaque. Akino opened her eyes and quickly stood up, looking at the surroundings. It can be seen as well that the liquid sphere located at the center of the room was missing. Akino faced towards Alexa* Akino: You alright, kid? Alexa: Yeah, and hey I¡¯ll be the one recording, okay? Akino: You¡¯re using THAT tentacle camera again? Alexa: It¡¯s cool, and it feels like I¡¯m holding a camcorder. Akino: Wouldn¡¯t be painful if you hold it like that? I mean, its like another extension of your eye? It¡¯s weird¡­ Alexa: Hey, my body, my rules. Akino: Okay, fine. *The two walked around the room to look for an exit, they found the previous hole they used to enter the place. Akino procured a rocket-boosters on her back and at the end of her feet* Akino: Need a lift? Alexa: I can create wings or huge spider-legs, but I think riding with you will be faster. *Akino carried Alexa, and they flew upwards the hole, returning to the server room that they entered before. Alexa noticed that the door Akino supposedly closed was widely open* Akino: Get ready, kid. Alexa: Again? They don¡¯t stop even we already have the core, huh? Akino: Let¡¯s see, if they are hostile to us then the core is not controlling them. *Akino started covering herself with body armor, and thick silica plates began appearing on Alexa¡¯s skin. They walked slowly outside the server room. The MC-00 machines can be seen outside on the white hallway. Some of the machines were walking in circles, others were sitting on the stained floor, and some were banging their heads on the wall. Akino raised her arm that has turned into a rifle, and Alexa buffed herself with muscles. All MC-00 machines just stared at the two for a second or two, and then they continued their bizarre behavior* Akino: What the hell? Alexa: So, are we safe now? I mean we have the core, right? WE are the core, right? Akino: I guess¡­ we should get out of here, our job here is done. *The two walked past the MC-00 machines, and they reached the elevator. Akino opened the elevator, and they entered. Alexa pushed the button on the panel, and the doors closed* Akino: The moment we reached the lobby area, you go and pack the goodies. We will leave this place for good, okay? Alexa: Hey, I think you¡¯re forgetting something. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Akino: Oh, the spaghetti- Alexa: Carbonara! Akino: Yeah, pasta soup. Alexa: I hate you¡­ Akino: Hahahahahaha! Just kidding! Come on, can¡¯t take any jokes? Alexa: Haha, funny, very funny. It¡¯s not even a joke, you¡¯re just annoying me! Akino: Okay, okay. I¡¯ll cook your white spaghetti. Alexa: CABONARA! C-A-B-O-N-A-R-A. Got it? Akino: Yeah, yeah. *The doors of the elevator opened after three minutes. The two went outside and the mossy hallway of elevators is seen unchanged. The place was still lit by dimmed lights. Akino and Alexa went straight to the cafeteria area after exiting the elevator. The place has 12 tables with 5 chairs each, a five-meter-wide kitchen area with three refrigerators at the left side and two sinks at the middle, a locked freezer room, two vending machines and three water dispensers at the right corner, all covered in mosses and lichen* Akino: Have checked the refs for the pasta? Alexa: The fridges only have ten frozen whole chickens, seven cartons of cow¡¯s milk, a pack of sliced bread, some leftover cheddar cheese, and a bottle of wine. All miraculously fresh like it was bought 2 days ago. Akino: Guess the zero entropic thingy was a real thing, huh? How about the freezer room? Alexa: I¡¯ll go check it. Akino: Thanks, I¡¯ll go get the stoves working. *Akino can be seen tinkering with the burners covered in moss, Alexa then went straight to the freezer room. The door was locked by some kind of a lever, Alexa slowly pulled the lever down and the door opened. The room was dark, and the video turned into greenish indicating that Alexa activated her night vision* Alexa: This night vision eyes is sure handy. *The freezer room was full of butchered pig and cow parts that were hooked on the railings attached to the ceiling, shelves of boxes with writings ¡®herbs and spices¡¯, all frozen and seemingly ¡®fresh¡¯. Alexa looked around and found a glow, she approached it and saw the control panel of the room* Alexa: So, negative three Celsius, huh? Never feeling that cold, though. *At the right side of the panel was a light button, Alexa pressed the button and lights were turned on, making the video feed blinded with the light. Alexa deactivated her night vision, clearing the video feed with the sight of the frozen meats and shelves inside the room. Alexa turned her arm into sharp crab pinchers and proceeded to chop of some meat. She took the chopped parts and her tentacle hair hold it, then she walks towards the door of the room to leave* Alexa: There must be some condiments here. Better check it out. *Alexa stops, and turns around. She looked around the shelves and found a box with salts, peppers, onion, onion leaves, five garlic cloves, and a pack of bacon. She turned around for more and found out all of the boxes have either the same contents of the one she found first or have some weird herbs inside. She went to the door and exited the place. She looked towards Akino¡¯s location, and saw a huge flame on the stove she was working on* Alexa: You-you okay there, Aki? Akino: Yeah, just some loose coils. This stove is electric, you know? Alexa: I got some meat and condiments, how about you? Akino: Oh, right. I found some linguini pasta in this cabinet. And the water seems to be working, and clean. The water treatment in this facility is still working despite of the hellish things happened here. Alexa: Don¡¯t forget the freezer, it was working so perfectly the meat inside were still fresh even who-knows how many years has passed in here. *Akino handed a rag to Alexa, and Alexa instinctively wiped the moss on the kitchen. After the cleaning, Alexa chopped into minces the meat she took in the freezer, while Akino was sauteing the onion and garlic that Alexa found, and boiling some water on a casserole for the pasta. She handed the minced meat to Akino that she mixes with milk, salt and pepper, and the sauteed ingredients. There is no conversation between them, but the focused face of Akino can be clearly seen* Akino: Can you take care of the pasta? Alexa: Sure thing. *Alexa approached the casserole with the water boiling in it. She took the pasta and snapped it in half, then she placed it inside the casserole* Akino: The sauce is ready. Alexa: The pasta is about to be cooked. *Alexa took a tong from the cabinet above her and poked the pasta inside the casserole. It was already soft, so she closes the stove and drained the water on the sink* Alexa: Wait, do we have a clean table? Akino: I¡¯ll go clean that one *points at the table near the right of the kitchen* you look for our plates and utensils. Alexa: Got it. *Akino left the kitchen area to clean the table she pointed at, while Alexa looked for some utensils at the kitchen cabinets. All of the plates, glasses, and other things were looking fine except all were covered in dust. Alexa took a pair of glasses, fork and spoon, and plates then she rinsed those in the sink. She glances towards Akino that was almost finished cleaning the table. She went to Akino while carrying the plates and utensils and arranged it on the table like how the waiters place the eating utensils in a restaurant, with the plates in front of the chair and the spoon on the right and the fork on the left. As Alexa finished placing down the utensils, she saw Akino carrying the casserole of sauce towards her* Akino: Get the pasta, kid. Alexa: Okay! *Alexa cheerfully went back to the kitchen and took the casserole of pasta. She walked carefully towards the table while carrying the casserole and place it in the middle beside the sauce* Akino: Okay! All set! Let¡¯s eat! Alexa: YES!!! *Akino took a plate full of pasta and bathed the pasta with the creamy sauce. Alexa did the same thing, and after taking a plate she vigorously ate the carbonara* Akino: Uhhmm, your camera is still on. Alexa: Oh, sorry. I¡¯m gonna turn it off. Akino: Wait, don¡¯t you want to do a food vlog? Hahahaha! Alexa: Okay. *Alexa rolled her fork on the carbonara and took a one bite of it. She chews slowly as Akino was waiting for Alexa¡¯s response. Alexa raised her hand while chewing, and then swallows the food* Akino: How is it? Alexa: Not bad. Akino: Specifics, kid. Alexa: Okay, the creaminess was good. You sauteed the bacon and minced meat enough that I can still have that crunchy texture. Not too sweet nor salty. The flavor of the sauce seeps in with the pasta, and the softness of the pasta was good. Nine out of ten. Akino: Wow, my first nine points, huh? Alexa: Yeah, but you know that our bodies don¡¯t even need to eat, right? So, is it really fine to eat? Akino: Well, we still think that we need to eat. So, I guess it¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s just focus on eating, okay? Alexa: Yeah, thanks for the meal. *The two proceeded to eat* . . . [ENDING AUDIO-VISUAL NEURAL LOG#2] CHAPTER 9: Goodbye, Facility-13 The two finished eating, Alexa took the plates and the casserole to the sink to wash it. Akino cleaned the table where they ate. After finishing their tasks, like doing a household chore, the two decided to take a little nap. They went to the lobby area where they first stayed while reading the log files. Alexa went up to the desk counter, while Akino took the seat. Alexa layed her back on the counter while looking at Akino who was yawning and stretching her arms. Alexa: Hey, hey! Akino: What, kid? Alexa: You think, were-were still human? Akino closed her eyes, thinking of something to divert answering her question. She knew that Alexa was somehow blocking her past experiences from that cult where she escaped from. She was emotionally unstable specially on situations dealing with uncertainty. Akino wants to changed the topic, maybe ask her out to flex her abilities or something. She looked towards Alexa and saw her serious face. Then, she knew that somethings must be faced on even it hurts you so much. Akino: Yeah, maybe¡­ Alexa: How? Akino: You want some ice cream? Alexa: Yeah? Sure, if you manage to find some¡­ Akino: That¡¯s it. Alexa: Wait, what? Akino stretches herself towards Alexa, and Alexa sits down on the counter. Akino: Look, we still want the things we desire before THIS happened. So, I guess were still human, in the mind¡­ Alexa: But - but we have these weird powers, right? If other people see us, they call us monsters, right? Specially me! I mean, look at me! I¡¯m all white! Akino: Hey, knock it off! Both of us still have something in common. Alexa: Really? Like what? Having no boobs? Akino: THAT is not necessary. But yeah, other than that, both of us have these weird powers. Look, I can turn my skin metal, you can turn into something awesome, COOL as what you¡¯ve said to me last time. Alexa: Okay, I get that. But still, just thinking things that we¡¯re humans still make us humans? Akino: THAT is so deep, kid. I can hear someone rolling in! Alexa: Hey! I am not joking! Akino: AND another one! Alexa: Can you just answer my question? Akino: Can you first define what does make you human? Alexa: If I tell you that having morals, or being hungry, or having intelligence that differs us from other lifeforms, then you will tell me that ¡°it doesn¡¯t really make you a human¡±, I¡¯m gonna smack you! Akino: Easy, girl. The answer is ¨C is, not really that ¨C ah, goddamnit! Alexa: See? Even you can¡¯t explain it. Akino: Wait, wait! Give me another chance! I can answer your question! Alexa: I¡¯m waiting. Akino: Okay, so we all know that every living being has its own intelligence, even at the smallest level, right? Even bacteria has its own instincts to survive on different places, making it somehow intelligent, right? Alexa: Yeah, that¡¯s why we are not that different from them ¨C Akino: Now, what if we look at the other creatures¡¯ perspective? Take an ant for example, if they saw their own kind, they might befriend it or fight it. Even they are the same specie, they still might not recognize them. Alexa: That¡¯s like ¨C about being territorial? Akino: Okay, okay. Hmmm, how do I explain this¡­ okay, got one. Well, I think¡­ Alexa: What is it? Akino paused for a while, Alexa was waiting for her, then she yawns at her. Akino looked at her, then her face brightens as if she have thought an important thing. Akino: You asked if were still human right? Alexa: Yeah? Akino: Well, we ARE still human since we still think we are. Alexa: Wait, hold up. WHAT? Akino: Think about it. You want a carbonara and ice scream, we still feel tired and wants a nap. It doesn¡¯t make sense, right? We have these abilities to self-sustain ourselves but still, we act like flesh-bags that requires food. AND remember Descartes famous line? Alexa: I think, therefore I am? Akino: Yeah! And with that, I still think we are still humans. We still think and act like what we were before. So, we are still humans. We still have the will to choose what we want to do, like a typical human. Alexa: I am not going to ask you again, but thanks for answering. Akino: You¡¯re welcome? Alexa rests her back again on the top of the counter, while staring at the ceiling dome of the lobby. Akino leans back to her chair and was about to close her eyes. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Alexa: Hey, what are we going to do next? I mean, according to the files the time in here is slower compared to outside, right? What if everyone is dead and we are the only ones living in this place? Akino stared back to Alexa. She was still staring at the ceiling. Akino moved her chair towards where Alexa was resting, and she leaned towards her. Akino: Just leave it to me, kid. Nothing will happen to us, starting this moment. Alexa reached her hand to Akino, and she raised her pinky finger. Alexa: Promise? Akino also raised her pinky finger and did a pinky promise. Akino: Yeah, kid. Just don¡¯t be a brat at serious times, okay? Alexa: Hey! I am not that bratty anymore! May I remind you that both of us were centuries old, so technically I am an adult now. Akino: Not mentally, though. Alexa jokingly punched Akino¡¯s shoulder. Alexa: Whatever! Akino: Hahahahaha! Okay, okay. Alexa, I¡¯ll call you Alexa from now on. Alexa: Sounds weird if you¡¯re calling me like that. Both laugh for a while and went into silence after, Alexa closed her eyes and Akino caressed her face slowly as both fell asleep. Four hours passed, both waked up and stared at each other. Alexa: So¡­ we leaving now? Akino: I can¡¯t sleep well in this windowless place, you too? Alexa: Yeah¡­ Akino: Okay, pack what you want to bring out, we¡¯ll leave this place. Alexa took the plastic bag full of canned goods and chocolates that she prepared a while ago, and Akino wore the belt bag Alexa gave to her. She did a little ¡®tweaking¡¯ on the bag as her hands started dripping metallic fluids on it. Alexa: What are you doing? Akino: Enhancing the bag? Alexa: How? Akino: Look, I have all the technological stuff in my head, right? And I saw this non-dimensional storage system this institute developed. Alexa: What does it do? Akino: You can, anomalously and conveniently, store things inside this storage like a pocket dimension, and you can just pull it out like how Doraemon pulls things from his magic pocket. Alexa: Really convenient, so convenient it makes me want to unhear what you said. Akino: Hey! At least we have this thing, right? Now gimme your plastic bag. Alexa: Ugh, fine. Alexa gave the plastic bag to Akino and she placed it inside the belt bag. Akino: Wow, it feels I¡¯m carrying nothing. Alexa: Stop flexing that bag! I¡¯m supposed to carry the stuff, right? And I am the one who found that bag! Akino: Hey, hey. Don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯ll carry it for you. So, ummm, you do the scouting? Alexa: Really? Okay, fine by ¨C wait, you can use your eyes as telescopes, right? So what¡¯s the use of me scouting ahead? Akino: You can smell better like a dog? And feel vibrations better like a spider compared to me? Alexa: A super technological advanced semi-cyborg versus the ultimate lifeform, huh? Akino: You mocking me? Alexa: Hahahahaha! Both went to the glass door, seeing the metal plates that was blocking the outside. Akino opened the glass doors and turned her hand into a torch cutter to pass through the metal plates. As soon the metal plates were cut, Alexa used her tentacle hair to move the plates, revealing a dark parking lot. There was a ramp leading to a huge roll up metal gate, also there were four weird grey SUVs that has tank tracks instead of normal rubber wheels parked in there. Alexa: Can we use the SUVs? Akino: Let me check. Akino touched each of the SUVs, and all of them were working. Akino decided to start one, and both of them entered the vehicle. They drove towards the exit, and the roll up gates opened on its own. They were blinded by a light, it was in the middle of the day that time. As soon they regain their vision, they saw the surface world. They saw the city ruins at the north eastern horizon, with the huge ominous black sphere floating at the region¡¯s sky. Alexa: What the hell was that? Akino: That must be the void thing they mentioned. Alexa: Its¡­ huge? The files said it was like five meters in diameter or something. We can see it from here¡­ Akino stopped and looked on the surroundings. The facility was underground, and it looks like a war bunker from the outside. The ground was covered with unusual grass like plants, made of red crystals but were soft and smooth as silk. The buildings at the horizon, except the ones at the north eastern region, were covered in the same red crystal plants but way bigger. Weird huge nautilus like creatures, five of those, can also be seen floating near the north eastern horizon. There was a small tower beside the entrance, fourteen meters high and a solid sphere six meters wide was sitting on its top. Both left the vehicle to scour the place. Akino: I¡¯ll check that tower, you go check the whole place. Alexa: Got it! Alexa sprinted across the place as Akino climbs the ladder on the tower. There was a door leading inside the sphere. There was a huge silver dodecahedron suspended in the air by some thin wires and pipes coming out of its bottom, a monitoring panel was on the right side near the floating polyhedron. Akino checked the screen. LAMBDA ATOMIC CLOCK DATE OF OPERATION: SEPTEMBER 13, 3197 STATUS: OPERATIONAL, CURRENTLY RUNNING ON SELF-SUSTAINING MAINTENANCE FACILITY STATUS: FUNCTIONAL NUMBER OF ACTIVE PERSONNEL: N/A NUMBER OF ANOMALIES DETECTED: UNDEFINED NUMBER OF ANOMALIES MITIGATED: UNDEFINED NUMBEROF DAYS PASSED SINCE ANOMALY DETECTION: 609 569 710 Days Akino: So¡­ that¡¯s over a million years, huh? Akino sat on the floor, and she breathes out a sigh. Metal clunking can be heard outside of the sphere, it was Alexa climbing up to meet her. As soon as Alexa meets her eyes towards the sitting Akino, she rushed towards her. Alexa: Hey! Aki! You alright? Akino: Yeah, yeah. I¡¯m fine. Akino stands up, Alexa saw the monitoring panel and looks to Akino. Alexa: Six hundred million days?! What in the world happened here? It must be malfunctioning, right? It can¡¯t be that accurate. Akino: No, it works fine. So does the satellites deployed by the Institution. I could access their GPS already and their atomic clocks, and it is true that over one million and six hundred thousand years has passed in this surface world. Alexa: No shit? Akino: Watch your ¨C you know what, just swear it out. This is a fucked-up situation, I understand you. Akino saw that Alexa was holding some flowers, it looks like the flower of a hyacinth but made of blue crystals. Akino: Where did you get that? Alexa: I uprooted it so we can plant it, it looks cute. The two went down the tower to go back to their SUV, but Alexa stopped walking alongside Akino. She was staring at the entrance of the facility silently, then she went near it and planted the flower she picked up. Akino followed her. Akino: Hey, what¡¯s the matter? Alexa: It¡¯s my way of saying goodbye. Akino: I ¨C I don¡¯t get it. Alexa: If they didn¡¯t take us in, we probably still laying on the wasteland, right? Sure, they did some horrible things on us, but hey we¡¯re still alive, and together¡­ Akino watches her plant the flower. She decided to look for a similar plant, and she found a rose, but the petals were made of soft glass. She uprooted it and planted it beside the hyacinth that Alexa planted. After they finished planting the flowers, both stood up and remained there silently for a minute or two, and then they left the place. CHAPTER 10: Akino & Alexa’s Reconnaissance Log – the new world, after one million years Akino: This ¨C this is a weird log name, like a cheap novel title. Alexa: Hey, it¡¯s way cooler than the one you made. Akino: It¡¯s for formalities, Alex. Alexa: Nothing is formal in this time, especially if only the remaining humans are us! Akino: Yeah, yeah. I know. The two were staying inside the SUV they took from the facility. They were 5 km out on the facility but still inside the premises of the abandoned Philadelphia city, it was in the middle of the night, the lights inside the SUV was the only illuminating the place, the skies seem to be a moonless cloudy night. Only the howls of the winds can be heard, sometimes some howling similar to wolves¡¯ can be heard mixed with the eerie environment. Akino was typing on a made-shift typing-tablet with a wire connected through her hair, and Alexa was looking at her like a child that looks up on someone else¡¯s phone, wanting to borrow it. Akino: So, what did you got out there? Alexa: So many, like the wolves were scattered although out the place. But they were different¡­ Akino: How different? Alexa: They looked like humanoids with no eyes, ears nor nose, skinny grey long bodies. Three meter tall furred humanoids, and like usual wolves they have an alpha, etcetera. They move like ordinary wolves, too. Akino: WHAT? You sure those are wolves? Alexa: I checked their blood, and yeah they are. Akino: CHECKED their blood? Alexa: Hey, we are quantum computers or cores or whatever, and I carry all the biological knowledge we attained from the 16th century until whatever happened here on earth. From the basic physical characteristics of a terran being to the molecular structure of a living creature, be it organic or not. Akino: You have knowledge on non-organic life? That¡¯s hypothetical biochemistry, right? Alexa: Yeah, but simulated ones. Akino: Wow. Alexa: Hey, don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t have simulated information in your head? Akino: Not really simulated, I can do it. Alexa: What is it? Akino: Remember the ¡®grey goo¡¯? Alexa: Oh! Like the one from that movie where Keanu was an alien? Akino: Yeah, and they heat up as they replicate, which is fine. Controllable but a little bit chaotic. I tried to make this mini tablet with those, and it works pretty good. The electronics and everything, all perfect. Alexa: Woah, so you can rebuild things in a wave of your hand, huh? Akino: Yeah. Hey, how about the non-organic thing you said? Alexa: Oh, that one time I tried to take a blood sample of those wolves, they looked aggressive so I threw a part of myself. Akino: A part of yourself? Alexa: I tore off my hand, don¡¯t worry I regrew another one, but made of hardened skin like the ones with the rhino skin. They just chew it off like bread. Akino: Then how did you get the blood? Alexa: So, I thought of something harder, then my skin turned into¡­ metal? Its shiny by still the flexibility of my body remained. Akino: Can you do it now? Alexa reached out her left arm to Akino, and that left arm turned from white to silver. Akino used her mini tablet to ¡®scan¡¯ her skin. It beeped, then both looked at the screen of the tab. Akino: Titanium?! Alexa: What?! Really? Akino: It is titanium! You can turn your skin into titanium?! Alexa: Hah! I can also do the things you can! Akino: Okay, okay. We¡¯re getting off topic now. Alexa: Oh, right. So, I approached them, and they growled at me, so I growled back and they kind off calmed down. Their aggression somehow became zero, then a inject my hair to one of them. Then, I knew that they are wolves, by their DNA. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Akino: DNA confirmation? Alexa: Yup. And apart from that, the grass made of crystal are just grasses, made of crystals, ruby to be exact. The insects are still the same, but their skin were made of silicon and they were a bit larger. Other plants are made talc and quartz, and some other very unusual things. Akino: Like what? Alexa: Can I send what I saw to your head? Wait, hold on. A minute of silence passed as Alexa was connecting to Akino¡¯s mind. There, she showed the other ¡®things¡¯ she saw. Akino: Hands coming out of the ground? And they are not corpses? Alexa: Yeah, actually, those are plants. The DNA matches with the common Venus flytrap, but made of calcium and looks exactly like a human hand. And the giant nautiluses were just ordinary nautiluses, but over five kilometers in size and floats in the sky. Akino: You flew, didn¡¯t you? Alexa: I flew, of course. They are not that aggressive, in fact they just ignored me when I took a blood from them. Akino: So, just ordinary floating cephalopods but absurdly huge? Alexa: Oh, remember the flesh dude we fought off in the facility, it seems that they are everywhere¡­ Akino: What? The four-legged meatball with a ton of faces? Alexa: Yeah, they lurked in the buildings. I saw ten of them today. The weird wolves were fighting them as well and eats them. I took a sample from its corpses, and¡­ Akino: And? Alexa: Some of their DNA matches with the those in the database of the personnel in the Institutional facilities¡­ and they are cloning themselves crazy¡­ Both fell into silence for a minute. Alexa stared on the window, then she raised her fingers, pointing something outside. Alexa: There¡¯s one outside. Akino: Don¡¯t worry, it will not notice us. Alexa: They can detect heat, vibrations, sound, and almost everything else. How are we safe then? Akino: Remember those anchor things? I tried to create those things, they induce a sphere that isolates any form of energy inside it without disturbing the entropic process. So, they can¡¯t see this SUV. Alexa: Oh, so that¡¯s it for my patrolling duty for this day. How about you? Akino: Other than I can produce gray goos, I was able to access all the Institutional satellites in the orbit. The planet orbits forty-eight hours on its axis, twenty-four on day, twenty-four on night. The waters are reddish in color and the majoritiy of the land is covered with red flora systems. Some unknown radiation field was covering the whole planet, from its core up to the altitude of fifty thousand kilometers, that¡¯s why even a million years has passed since they were launched, they are still operational. Alexa: What does the field do? Akino: The field is just there, it didn¡¯t slow the entropy process, it stopped it. Alexa: How about that weird storm clouds south of us? Akino: Oh, that one? It was one of the fifteen perpetual storms, all of which were under category five on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale. Alexa: Perpetual? Meaning it is a non-stop rotating angry wind? AND fifteen of them? Akino: Yeah, they vary in sizes though. Five of those are between five hundred to four hundred fifty kilometers in diameter, the rest are between four hundred to two hundred. The one on our south? It is four hundred sixty-three kilometers, and its heading towards north east. Alexa: They are not following the global winds? Akino: The global winds don¡¯t make any sense anymore. These hurricanes move VERY randomly, they collide sometimes but still they regain their original strength and size. They don¡¯t merge or what ever a normal storm does. Alexa: So¡­ we have to go there as fast as we can. That void might be a portal or something. Akino: Oh, right. The void thing can¡¯t be detected in the satellites¡¯ visual system, but the sensors do know that a void is in that region. Alexa: A hole? Akino: Maybe. Who knows? We just need to go the original location of the facility, that¡¯s all. Don¡¯t tell me you want to go inside that thing? Alexa: We can always use a drone, right? Come on! Maybe some of the surviving personnel got out alive from that gamma protocol, right? We can save them! Akino: Alexa, sometimes you must act like you don¡¯t know anything to save yourself. Maybe they are, maybe not. We don¡¯t know what is that, a void or a gateway of some sorts. Alexa: We can always rebuild ourselves even we got shredded into pieces, what are you afraid of? Akino: I am not afraid, I¡¯m just thinking that it might be pointless to go there. Alexa: We have all the time in this shitty world, come on! Akino: Ugh, fine. Do what you want, send a drone or whatever. But you have to listen to me, okay? Alexa just stares blankly at the window, looking at the bright flashes of thunder in the southern horizon. Akino: Are you mad? Alexa: I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m not mad! Akino: You¡¯re shouting Alexa: I am NOT! Akino sighs out, she stopped tinkering the device she made and reaches out to Alexa to hug her. Alexa: Its just ¨C just so messed up. I don¡¯t know what we should do out there. Akino: I know, but we¡¯ve got no choice. We have to move on, and on, and on. Whatever blocks us, we have to decide whether we give up, climbed up, or take another route. Alexa: Yeah, I get it. BUT we should really check out that hole. Akino: Yeah, yeah. I¡¯ll make the drone you want. Alexa: So, we head out tomorrow? Akino: Yup, tomorrow. Go get some rest, you¡¯ll need. Alexa: I don¡¯t need any, but a phone that you promised me will be a good need. Akino: What? What phone? Alexa: Last time? When we were eating at the food plaza before we got blasted? You said that you¡¯ll buy me a phone after we eat. Akino: Ooohh, alright. Akino raised her left arm and turned into a shiny metallic one. Very small critters were crawling on the top of her arm, and the critters began piling up into a mass. After the critters piled to a size of a pocket notebook, they melt away and absorbed into Akino¡¯s skin. A smartphone was already on the top of her arm. Alexa: What the hell? Akino: Told ya. Akino did the same thing in creating a set of earphones, and she handed both to Alexa. Akino: Happy ¨C birthday? Whatever, we don¡¯t even how calendar works anymore. Alexa leapt towards Akino to give her a hug. Alexa: Thank you¡­ Both held arms for seconds. After that, Akino pressed a button the driver¡¯s seat to recline it horizontally. Alexa connected the newly made smartphone to the stereo. ¡®Sanctuary¡¯ by Joji plays on the speakers, and Alexa reclined her seat to match with Akino. CHAPTER 11: A raging storm It was noon, maybe, the sun was on the top of the sky, but time is already irrelevant. Akino and Alexa finally reached the outskirts of the Manhattan ruins. They can see clearly the black sphere floating in the center of decimated city, well not really. Some buildings, most are ready to topple down, are still standing still at the perimeter of that ruins. The sphere floats on a deserted land, which is the heart of the place. Alexa saw a convenient store that was three blocks near to the deserted land. Akino parked near to that store, and they checked out what¡¯s inside. Akino: We already got food, right? Alexa: But we don¡¯t got any ice cream. My tongue wants ice cream. Akino: The ultimate lifeform that craves for ice cream¡­ Alexa: Why not? Everyone wants something, even that bacteria on your face wants something. Akino: Haha, alright. Go get what you want, so we can see that hole clearly during this daytime. Alexa: We got a lot of time, AND we can clearly see in the dark. No point in making me hurry. Akino went outside of the store to look around. She gazes at the buildings covered in huge vines made of red crystals, the ground was painted with red and blue grasses, and the sky was bright blue with the huge floating creatures in it, all on the outside perimeter of the ruins. Akino looked on the southern region, she saw some clouds, raging with lightning but it was odd, the clouds were brown, like a sandstorm. She looked at the makeshift device she created that was attached on her left arm, it beeps, and a satellite image of a huge storm near their area pops on her screen. Akino: It¡¯s approaching fast. Akino went back in the store and approached Alexa. Alexa was searching the freezers in the isle of the store, and was laughing like there¡¯s no tomorrow. Alexa: HAHAHAHAHA! You know what? These ice creams were supposed to be expired, and should be lumped with toxic chemicals. But it wasn¡¯t! They are so fresh like they were made yesterday! HAHAHA! Akino: I get it, but we got a problem. Alexa: What now? Akino: The storm south of us? Its approaching here, fast. We need to take shelter here. Alexa: Oh, how about the SUV? Should we leave it outside? Akino: Can you create strong plant roots that can penetrate deep the ground? Alexa: Yeah? Akino: Ok, come with me. Two of them went outside, Akino started producing black wires as thick as fingers, and Alexa attaches it with roots on each of the end of it. They tied up the SUV with their weird wires, and used the roots to anchor the wires deep the cement road. The sky turns darker, well, a bit browner compared to the blue sky earlier. The winds howl louder, and stronger. Alexa sniffs the air and smacks her lips, then spits on the ground. Alexa: Ugh, that¡¯s sand. But, it¡¯s a bit metallic? Akino: Iron? There¡¯s iron in the air. What¡¯s going on? They went back to the store, shut the doors and windows. They put the shelves on the side to clear the middle of the store. The lights were still working, somehow, all the appliances were working. They wait inside, the winds steadily get stronger, and the sky was getting darker. Seconds, minutes, then an hour, the storm still takes time to reach their place. Akino was tweaking the device on her arm, while Alexa was looking for a head on the stalls that will fit on her cat-like ears. Akino: You found one? Alexa: Yeah, but its not pink¡­ Akino: Better to have one than none. Alexa: Alright¡­ hey, about that storm. Is it really heading here? Akino: Its trajectory was straight towards this area. Actually, we can get a glimpse on its eye, and see what really this ¡®sand-cyclone¡¯ is. Alexa: Oh, oh! Put a drone outside! So, we can see it better! Akino: Good idea, then what? We get blown away as we put it outside? Alexa: Come on! I can put it outside! Akino: Fine, fine. No need to, I¡¯ll do it myself. Alexa: Still not trusting me, huh? Akino: Ugh¡­ Metallic liquid spilled from Akino¡¯s arm, then the liquid turned into a drone rover. Alexa took the drone and placed it near the door. Akino: Ready? Alexa: Yeah! Alexa opened the door, and the drone immediately rushed outside the store. As the drone leaves, Alexa shuts the door, and a bit of sand entered the store. Alexa reaches for the window to view the drone, which is still roving on the ground near the anchored SUV as the winds can be seen gushing violently. Alexa: That was heavy? Akino: So it won¡¯t get blown easily, what do you think? Alexa: Is that all you got? Akino: Ho-ho! You have some lifting power, huh? Alexa took a table and placed it in the middle of the store. She placed her left arm on the table, and pointed her other towards Akino. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Alexa: We haven¡¯t tried this yet, so, I challenge you in an arm wrestling! Akino: Woah there! You? Challenging me? This will be fun. Alexa: HA! It will! Alexa¡¯s arm became muscular, covered in scales like a pangolin. Akino¡¯s arm have some hydraulic pipes as tendons, and muscles were covered in black hexagonal plates. They wrestle for minutes. No one won, and miraculously the table wasn¡¯t broken. After giving up on wrestling, they looked for the appliances inside the store. They took the flat screen television, and Alexa connected her smartphone to it. Alexa: The internet is still working, isn¡¯t? Akino: Apparently, and conveniently, yes. They tried to search for some videos or articles about the ¡®Enigma event¡¯ but they didn¡¯t get any, instead they watched on the television a recorded livestream of the GenshinxHonkai Play-offs. While watching, a loud banging suddenly can be heard, and louder howls of the wind. The storm already hit their area. They checked if the doors and windows are strong enough to withstand the storm. Akino tweaked the ventilation to not let the sand get inside the store. After checking the whole place, they went back to watching the stream. Alexa: So, the drone is still outside? Akino: Yeah, it can¡¯t be blown away that easily. It has anchoring systems designed to withstand winds exceeding three hundred kilometers per hour. Alexa: Wait, that¡¯s weird? Akino: What¡¯s weird? Alexa: The metallic smell, it¡¯s getting stronger. It¡¯s like there¡¯s someone spraying blood. Akino raised her left hand, filled with sensors. She looked at the monitor on her arm as it beeps. Akino: Iron? And the carbon dioxide levels is rising! Alexa: Hemoglobin. Akino: What? Alexa: Its ¨C its hemoglobin. But why? Akino looked back at her device. It beeps louder, and faster. Akino: The storm¡¯s eyewall will hit us soon, we better check the drone. Akino connected her arm to the television, and the video feed of the drone outside was streamed on the screen. The feed shows the sands being blown by the wind. Cracking lightnings can also be seen in the darkened sky. And then some red droplets were appearing on the feed, until it full covers the screen with red. Akino: What the fuck? Alexa: Aki! Look! Alexa pulled Akino to look on the window. As she faces towards the window, the red droplets are visible to her, it keeps on increasing as if someone was spilling buckets of blood on the windows. The wind gushes harder as well as the red liquid for minutes, then it stops. Akino looked back to her arm device, the beeping sound slows down. Akino: The storm is slowing down, why? Akino gazed to Alexa, and saw her ears twitching randomly. Akino: What was that? Alexa: Can you hear it? Akino stopped tinkering her arm device, and she turned her arm into a sonar sensor. Akino: Yeah, I¡¯m hearing it. Distant voices: Help us¡­ Alexa: Someone needs help! Distant voices: HELP us¡­ Akino: Alexa! Stop! Alexa rushes towards the door but Akino grabs her arm. Alexa: Aki! They need help! Akino: Think straight! We are in the middle of the storm¡¯s eye! And some people were just walking in it?! That¡¯s bullshit! Alexa: But we have to check them! There is still a possibility that someone is still alive in this fucked up world! Akino sighs, she can¡¯t agree to Alexa, but the possibility of some survivors walking inside the eye of the storm was still a plausible in that fucked up world. Maybe, just maybe, some people are stuck in that eye of the storm. So, she turned her arms into assault rifles and covered her body in hexagonal armor. Akino: If you want to save someone, then get ready. The one you¡¯re going to save might be an enemy. Alexa: You ¨C you got it! Alexa covered herself in scales and turned her claws much larger. Both went outside, they saw the ground covered in red, the eyewall above them that extends kilometers high the sky was all red compared to the brownish clouds they saw earlier, and the lightning was still showing up in the eyewall. Alexa: This is ¨C this is blood! Akino: Alex! Calm down! As Akino comforts the confused Alexa, they slowly face towards the center of the eye. They saw a monstrosity. They don¡¯t know how many, hundreds or even thousands, but it was too damn many. A lump of elongated people, crumpled like a ball of spaghetti, was floating in the center of the eye. They all looked in pain, and all of them were screaming ¡°Help us¡±. Then they looked towards the two girls on the ground. They began saying different phrases as their noodle hands reaches the two. Voice of a girl: God¡­ Voice of a man: Help us! High pitched voice: Nos abandonaste¡­ Screeching voice: Onegai! Tasukete! Deep voice: Oh Dio perche. Voice of a man: Ascend with us, oh God! Akino started firing her rifles towards the lumping humans, but they just ignored her continued on extending their hands towards them. One of the hands was able to grab Alexa, they lifted her towards the center. Alexa: Aaahhh!!! Akino: ALEXA! Alexa used her claws and teeth to maul the hands grabbing her, she was able to tear the hands and she dropped on the ground. As Alexa drops, Akino grabbed her and rushed towards the store. They made it inside of the store and used all the shelves to block the windows and doors. Akino: You alright? Alexa: Yeah, yeah. I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m fine¡­ Akino: You sure? Alexa: No, really. I am. I screamed because I freaked out, not because I¡¯m hurt. It was just¡­ they just lifted me¡­ Akino and Alexa looked on the window. Hands were wiping on the outside, as well as faces while they keep on repeating their pleads of help, questions on abandonment, and the word ¡®Ascension¡¯ and ¡®God¡¯. They don¡¯t force themselves in the store, they just wipe their hands and faces on the surface of window, with the sounds of wet caressing skin on the surfaces. Akino: What. The. Fuck?! Voice of a man: Help us¡­ Scratchy voice: Oh God¡­ Voice of a girl: Be one with us, God¡­ Low pitched voice: Why did you leave us? Why? Screeching voice: Please, come with us¡­ Voice of a girl: You will not suffer anymore¡­ Akino: This is creeping me out. Alexa: What should we do? Akino: We¡¯ll wait. Seconds passing in the store seems like hours for them, the creatures insist on staying there, continuously wiping themselves on the outside. Akino readies her rifle, while Alexa was staying beside her preparing her claws to maul the moment the monster breaches in. Akino¡¯s arm beeped, and she looked on it. Akino: The storm is moving now, but slowly. The wiping hands stopped, and then the creature headed to north, floating ominously at the center of the storm. As the creature reaches the far end of the horizon, the other side of the eyewall hits the area bringing back the raining blood and thundering roars. Alexa: So, they are causing this storm? Akino: Satellite feeds shows the center as a hollow area, no visuals of that monster. so, I don¡¯t know. Sensors can¡¯t even pick up its thermal signature. They waited for three hours until the whole sky was a clear blue once again. At the outside, the scenery didn¡¯t change that much except for the reddish more surroundings, and the addition of the stinking metallic smell of blood that both lasted for five minutes. Akino: The blood didn¡¯t evaporated? It just ¨C disappeared? Alexa: The microbes, and these plants. They ¨C they consumed it already¡­ Akino: That fast? Alexa: Yeah. Unfortunately, both the SUV and the drone were missing. Must have been blown away, so they¡¯ve got no choice but to walk straight towards the ruins. Akino looked at her arm device, and noticed that the storm that passed them regain its speed. The ruins were all sand, a circular desert at the center of an abandoned city. As they walk, they saw a huge lump of metal covered in blood and full of dents and scratches, some scratches end with some white hard pigment. They went near to it to investigate. Akino: Wait, wait. Don¡¯t tell me this is ¨C Alexa: What? Oh shit, these are fingernails! Akino: This is the SUV, and the drone in it¡­ They took a closer look, and the dents were shaped as faces that were pressed on hard metal. Smiling, smiling like the ones on the creepy clown masks, the total opposite of the faces they saw earlier on the creature. CHAPTER 12: A world beyond the void The two reached the center of the ruins, and at its center is the void of blackness that extends hundreds of meters in diameter. They stopped for a while, staring at the sphere of nothingness. Alexa: Now what? Akino: This was your idea. Alexa: You¡¯re the one who can create drones, not me. Akino: Wow, always on me, huh? Alexa: It¡¯s disgusting¡­ Akino: What do you mean? Alexa turns her back on Akino. Alexa: Look at it. Akino: Look at what? Your back? Alexa stretches her back, as Akino stares intensely some wings started growing on her back. Akino: Wings? Then a head of a six-eyed crow popped out of her back, it keeps on emerging until a full white crow-like creature split-off on Alexa¡¯s back. Akino steps back in horror as the flying creature flew around and landed on Alexa¡¯s shoulder. Akino: What the fuck is that?! Alexa: Binary fission. Not on a microorganism, but on a macroorganism. And it was so fast, like I can create other creatures for five seconds. It is disgusting, but sure I¡¯ll get used to it in the future. Akino: You ¨C you can control it? Alexa: Yeah. Alexa made the crow-like creature fly towards the void, both watched the bird as it disappears towards the pitch-black hole in the air. Akino: See anything? Alexa: Umm, it¡¯s dark? Cold, and feels like its crushing the body. Akino: I¡¯ll send in my drone. Alexa: Wait! Akino: What is it? Alexa: I lost it? I can¡¯t see nor fell anything, weird¡­ A quadcopter drone flies in the void, Akino commands the thing to slowly enter the hole, she flinches as it enters it. Alexa: Yo! You alright? Akino: You told its dark, but it was fucking bright like facing directly at the sun! Alexa: What?! I swear it was dark! Akino: You sure the one you did wasn¡¯t blind? Alexa: Nope. Akino: Do it again. Alexa created another crow, and made it flew in the void. She exclaimed that she sees a beach, but a huge unknown creature swallowed the crow. Akino paused for a minute, she told Alexa to create another bird, and she made another drone. They let both enter the void at the same time. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Akino: It¡¯s cold. Alexa: Yep. Akino: Wait, is that a mountain? Alexa: Looks ¨C looks like it? Akino: Woah, woah. The place changes everytime? Alexa: Should we check it now? We should enter at the same time then. Akino: Can we just wait a damn minute? Let me analyze it. Akino tweaks the buttons on her arm while Alexa waits exasperatedly. After two minutes, Akino stops doing her stuff, and faces towards Alexa. Akino: Uhmmm, uhh¡­ Alexa: What is it? Akino: The place beyond that void resembles to ours, ¡®Earth-like¡¯ to be exact, with plants, water, and stuff. The thing is, the other side changes every five seconds. Alexa: Which means? Akino: We could end up in the bottom of the ocean or at some magma chamber of a volcano. Alexa: That is pretty risky. Akino: So the chance of any survivors entering this hole may never make it out there. Alexa: OH COME ON! We already made it here! We should at least go there and check out things there! Akino: And never made it back here? Alexa stops venting, she sat at the floor looking devastated. Akino sighs and approaches the sitting kid. Alexa: At least - at least it will be good on that place, right? Akino: It¡¯s a gamble entering that place. I know you understand that. We should just check out the other facilities in this place, okay? Alexa: ¡­fine. Akino assists Alexa to stand up. They started walking away on the void, and Akino stopped. Alexa: What¡¯s wrong? Akino: Do you have, I don¡¯t know, HUD on your vision? I mean like in the first-person games or something? Alexa: Yeah, but I always deactivate them. It¡¯s a distraction. Akino: I checked mine, and I received a message. Akino turns around and points at the void. Akino: The signal came from there¡­ Alexa: WHAT?! Akino: Hey, don¡¯t shout at me. Alexa: We should head there! Like, now! Akino: I told you, its risky to go there! Alexa pulls Akino as she runs toward the void. Akino turned her legs into giant hydraulic anchors to stop Alexa from pulling her. Alexa used huge-thick tentacles and insect-legs to drag Akino. Both struggled, and then Alexa unknowingly stepped into the void. They got sucked in an instant, like getting caught on a surging river, but all dark. After ten seconds, the two see themselves drifting on a river, but it was different. The environment seems fresh. There is life and decay, unlike the previous one only with eternal suffering. It seems that they got teleported to a fresh forest of greenish trees, located on an unfamiliar place. Akino scolded Alexa immediately after they reach the riverside. Akino: What the hell is wrong with you?! Alexa: I¡¯m sorry! Sorry! Akino exhales and helps Alexa to stand up. She looked around but didn¡¯t see any void where they came from. She stared for a moment at the surroundings that is mesmerizing, for a million years they were able to breath in unirradiated air from normal trees and plants, resting under the nearly-orange dusking sky. Akino: Good place, huh? Alexa: Yeah¡­ wait, can we still ¨C Akino: The drones? I lost its connection, how about yours? Alexa: Mine was ¨C was eaten by something¡­ Akino: A bird with six eyes and doesn¡¯t know what ate it. Alexa: I was focusing on the surroundings! How about the message you got? Akino looked for the message, it was only a single word: Welcome. Alexa: That¡¯s it? Akino: And the signal ¨C the signal is, I can¡¯t explain it. Alexa: What is it? Akino: The signal is all over the place¡­ Alexa: What do you mean all over the place? Akino: I can¡¯t pinpoint the exact source location. Akino sat down on the grasses, she closed her eyes as she concentrates. Metallic liquid spheres of sixty centimeters in diameter started to come out on Akino¡¯s back and flew upwards to the atmosphere. She sat there for an hour, releasing exactly a thousand of these floating spheres in the atmosphere. As Akino does her stuff, Alexa curiously examined the plants and trees in the area. She saw similar animals, a normal squirrel, birds, etc. After exploring the new surroundings, Alexa went back to Akino. Alexa: So, what are those? Akino: I send self-constructing drones to create satellites in the orbit. Ten out of fifteen were done constructing and now running planetary scan on this place. Alexa: The place ¨C its just the normal Earth. Did we travel to past or something? Akino: I think not, the continents are different from my initial scans, and the signal we received is being interfered by some unknown energy field covering this planet. Alexa: How different? The squirrel and hummingbird I saw was no different than the ones we have. Akino: A parallel dimension?... Alexa: What? Akino: Oh, nothing. Nothing. We should find camp soon. This planet rotates for 26 hours, and nighttime will be soon. Another day will be ahead of us. The two went to walk into the dense forest as the day sets into nighttime in that different world. Institutional Archives I: Foundation of the Institution The Institute of Humanity was founded by Dr. Lazarus Greenwich and the notable 100 professionals in the fields of Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, and Human Sciences in the year 2021. At the year 2021, many advancements in human technology and knowledge has been documented since the establishment of the Institution. The founder, Dr. Lazarus Greenwich, was the son of late Director of UA Exo-Nuclear Research Institute Gerald Greenwich and Lead Researcher of Scientific Anomaly Research Dr. Lazara Venia. He graduated at the MIT with the bachelor¡¯s degree on astrobiology in 2012, and took his masters and doctoral degree in Extraterrestrial Biology and Anomalous Material Science, respectively in the following years. Dr. Lazarus¡¯ legacy started when he first discovered an anomaly, a ¡®Zero-Entropy¡¯ region at the Arctic region and exactly aligned to the North Star Polaris on January 27, 2020 during his first Arctic expedition for the United Climate Protection Program. His surveyor team examined the region, and the region appears to be leading to another ¡®spatial¡¯ system of varying environments. The team ended their investigation after 3 days due to the sudden disappearance of the anomaly. Dr. Lazarus was able to recreate the anomaly in a simulated environment, with the help of numerous professionals they established a special laboratory powered by a Hadron-Collider generator under the Manhattan City in [REDACTED] 2020. He and his team was able to successfully recreate the ¡®Zero-Entropy¡¯ region in a laboratory, extending their research on ¡®extraterrestrial spatial¡¯ systems. At [REDACTED] 2021, Dr. Lazarus and his team created the Quantum Core System, a complicated computer system able to store extensive amount of data that is comparable to the Ultra-Matrioska System project of the United Alliance Intelligence Division based from the limitless [REDACTED] of the Zero-Entropy environment. At this point, Dr. Lazarus pledge to share the discoveries they made along with his hundred colleagues to the whole humanity, founding the Institution of Humanity (or simply, the Institution). If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The Institution created several laboratories around the globe that is being run by the Proton-Hadron Collider, each with systems connected to the main Quantum Core. The laboratories are able to power up cities where they are established, but due to security reasons the laboratories were kept in secret. The laboratories are also able to exhibit Zero-Entropy environments where in the Institution was able to investigate non-entropic energy sources and to create the zero-entropic technology that the Institution was able to use for lowering the human mortality rate, create space travel easy and less fuel consuming, establishing ocean colonies in the Pacific, and many more. With these mountainous achievements, the Institution was able to create bonds with national governments of different countries, and ultimately the United Alliances, etching its name in the history without even mentioning a single word from the global archives. Institutional Archives II: ## 4n ## !nf!ltr4t0r’$ ## 3xp3ri3nc3 ##
The Institution faced many achievements, as well as people who¡¯ve sought to endanger the embodiment of knowledge. To further protect the humanity, the Institution hid their existence in the public eye and worked in the shadows. There is no other purpose the Institution has, other than to protect the mankind.
¡°Heh, that¡¯s bullshit¡± whispered by a janitor that was cleaning in the Sector-3B of the underground laboratory in Britain. He was looking on a monitor installed on the wall, displaying the weather of being rainy, and the date of January 01, 2034. Despite of the freebies he received from his work, he thinks that this Institution is an evil organization, as what the Circle said to him. A flashback of memories, he remembered the time he entered the Circle, an occult group established by a deserter from the Institution. Their founder said things that the Institution done to humanity, its secrets, and its overwhelming desire to ascend greater to anyone else, to become ¡®gods¡¯ so to speak. He confirmed it himself and to prove his loyalty to the Circle, he entered as a volunteer in the alias of Jack de Vera. They give him the job of a janitor, not that much but he will be able to know the secrets the Institution does. They are considerable, yet strict. They granted him access to all the sectors in the laboratory, in exchange of staying inside the laboratory during his contract, never leaving the place and to never contact his relatives. Jack begun doing his job diligently, cleaning every corners of the laboratory. He peeks every room, everything, he sees nothing but people in white lab-coats doing nothing but papers, microscopes, rocks, or whatever a scientist does. For days, nothing that special. He was about to quit when a scientist asked him to go to Sector-E100. He said, ¡°There¡¯s an E100?¡±, the scientist replied ¡°Yes, you¡¯re one of the great workers here so the admin granted you some other access.¡± The thought that the laboratory was only from Sector-A1 to B12, 101 sectors in a 13-story underground facility. There¡¯s more than that. He went there and saw the ¡®Zero-Entropy¡¯ Section. He cleans now more often in that place, and he saw the way how the Institution works. He noticed a black sphere the size of a small house in the center of the sector, being hold by three pillars that emit electricity. The sector was huge too, like a huge warehouse for trucks. He saw some people, unfamiliar faces carrying exploration equipment, entering the sphere. He thought it was solid, but not. He saw the files, with pictures of the people who¡¯ve entered the sphere, and he was shocked. ¡°These people¡­¡± he said, are inmates sentenced to death. But here they are, entering the sphere. He waited, for weeks he observed that sector and knew to himself that those who¡¯ve entered never came back, and never will be. After ten weeks, he noticed some military tanks, vehicles, personnel in special environmental protection suit some carrying exploration gears, and others carrying weapons of high grade. All of them, entered the sphere. Jack begun questioning himself, he reasoned to himself that these are the secrets of the Institution, spending so much funds that was supposed to be given to the poorest people, like throwing money on the fountain believing there is luck to come. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Days passed after that heavy expedition team entered the sphere. He kept on observing it, until he noticed that the scientist was preparing for something. He was ordered to clean the outside vicinity and to come back after 5 minutes. Of course, he never did it. He hid on the stock equipment in that sector and wait. He saw that the scientists welcomed someone, a single personnel in the protective suit emerged from the sphere whilst carrying a suitcase. They blast the personnel with disinfectants, and carried the suitcase out of the place. Jack followed the scientist carrying the suitcase, secretly. They went to the upper levels, in Sector-E15. The scientist entered a sealed lab, so Jack entered the vents and took a closer look. The suitcase houses a shining silver shield, probably from Medieval times, basing on the design, but the engravings was a sword that has six wings. ¡°Time travel? But from when?¡± Jack whispered to himself. The scientist pulled another object in the suitcase, a small statue that looks like a goat, made of gold. The scientist left carrying the statue, and Jack followed the scientist to a room filled with five men wearing straitjackets. ¡°What the fuck?¡± as Jack stares in horror. A small pedestal in in the center of that room, and the scientist placed the statue on it. The scientist left the place immediately, and the voice announcer said in the speakers of that room: ¡°Test#12, commencing¡±. The people in straitjackets started having seizures, then they break out of their jackets and started growing horns on their heads, tails at their backs, as if they turned into demons. After five minutes, a scientist entered the room, he took a blood pressure on the five men, like nothing happened. The five were acting normal as if it was nothing, then they left the room. Jack followed them to another place, they entered a tightly sealed room, walls made of thick metals, and at the end of the chamber was a huge cage. The horned people wore heavy Kevlar suits and armed themselves with high caliber rifles. The cage was lifted, it was difficult to see what¡¯s inside, and then the speaker announced: ¡°Termination test#200, start¡±. A monstrosity, a red flesh full of arms and faces, something from failed experiments, came out of the cage. The horned humans started firing on the flesh monster, it cries for help as it receives the bullets, but then it extended its arms fast, like a frog¡¯s tongue when it catches a fly. The horned humans got swallowed, one by one. The monster was pushed by a mechanical arm, placing it again inside the cage. He left the vents, confused and stunned. He can¡¯t think anything except three words: What are those? As he left the Sector-E15, he overheard the three scientists. ¡°The executives will not gonna like this¡± said the first, ¡°Yep, we were not able to kill those¡± said the ones who wear a glasses, ¡°What happened?¡±, asked the third one. ¡°You must be new¡± said again by the one who wears glasses, ¡°Those were ¨C humans¡­¡± ¡°What?!¡± shockingly said by the newbie, ¡°Just look the files, its inside the Chamber-77.¡± Jack heard it and tried to sneak in the elevator to the said place. He went to Sector-E200, he feels he must see what¡¯s inside the Chamber-77, the truth perhaps? The secrets of the malicious acts of the Institution? He pressed on, he went to the maintenance area of the sector and took some power tools. It seems no ones in the sector, so he took the liberty of cracking the chamber since he doesn¡¯t have any access through it. He got inside, saw a huge archive of papers, a row computer server, and a control hub. But the one that has piqued his interest was the old vault at the far left of the chamber, he cracked it open, and saw a very old notebook, a thick one. He looked inside and saw a writing: ¡®Lazarus¡¯. It was his diary. Institutional Archives III: THE PRIMORDIALS
It was before, before existence, before nothingness. We reside there, we now we are there despite missing something ¡®physical¡¯ to ourselves, missing something that makes us ¡®think¡¯, or even call ourselves ¡®us¡¯. Then, there was this ¡®time¡¯ that blackness enveloped us. They managed to create something, one of us admired the blackness, something that puts us in ¡®place¡¯. Another one of us proposed to create something more ambitious, and then proceeded to create it, light flashed, and dots of smaller lights spread out the place. It expanded, out of a small world. The others tried to do the same, creating more of this light. You could say, in human terms, the multiverse is created. Each one of us created observers in each world they created, these observers what the humans knew as ¡®god¡¯ or ¡®eldritch gods¡¯ or ¡®titans¡¯ or whatever they have written in their minds or papers. I only created one, and didn¡¯t create an observer, since I will handle my own universe. It was a peaceful time, all of us oversees each of our creations. Until it came. Born of the blackness of the void, neither an individual or a collective, everything it touches turns ¨C something we couldn¡¯t understand. It turns things into nothingness or making it permanent. Chaos occurred all throughout of creations. Endless suffering life or immediate death. We surmised that it was before us, an entity existed before us, protesting to return things from the very beginning, before the very existence. At first, it attacked most of the creations, of course the observers were able to fend it off. Until one universe disappeared, one of us dreaded the destruction of the creation, but the other became teeming with life until no one is capable of ending it, creating disorder in that world. It is too much, we tried to directly attack the entity, in the realm where time and space is rattled, we faced it and question its motives. It didn¡¯t answer us, it was there in front of us, it is enough. We subjugated the entity, but to no avail we can¡¯t interact with it. It was already gone. My brethren chased the entity, but I decided to go on my universe. To prepare, to inform my creation of the uncertainty of the events. It was sudden, I was being carried by someone humans called a doctor, hearing myself weeping. They are calling me ¡®my son¡¯, ¡®baby boy¡¯, etc. I can feel, and see properly unlike the time I have my first form of ethereal nothingness. I grew, being loved, hated, appreciated, acknowledge, and many more. I feel contented, seeing my whole world despite only living in single body of a human and living on a single planet that I wasn¡¯t able to leave. But, at that time that I tried to go back to my original form and ¡®true¡¯ home, my brethren decreased in numbers, others took asylum to their creations, others were driven into madness of conquering other universes to prolong their existence. The entity took a toll on us. I brought myself back to my human body, and did all I can to advance the civilization we have. I took advantage of the entity¡¯s ability to disturb the cycle of life, to cut the life from death and to bring death to the undying. I started to help others of my brethren by connecting my world to theirs. Placing the links on different cities, we created a unity with the entity¡¯s effects on every creation. I know it will come someday, it will end us all, I know. It has reached my world already. I fell its presence in the ¡®unprimed¡¯, that¡¯s what I call to humans or creatures that has been affected by the entity. They are not alive nor dead, more like a macro virus, and their former consciousness is trapped in an unforgiving flesh. They destroy every living being, and spread a disease that never dies, an eternal blood that gives life anew and kills the old. Maybe linking to the other worlds wasn¡¯t a good idea, but it will help my creations to live longer and help the others, to stop this madness. To end it, despite not knowing it will.
Jack is confused, ¡°Is he calling himself a god?¡± He folded the pages, and saw a satellite image from space. It was unclear to him at first, but managed to see it properly: a cube near the Andromeda galaxy. It is a series of images, the first was this cube-thing near the spiral galaxy, and the following images shows that the cube passes through the galaxy, obliterating it. The images were taken a week ago, and all of it were captured in the span of two days. A note is written on the side: This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
It is coming, it is near. But why? Why? Why it targeted my world?! It is unfair! Who could know such thing have existed in the first place!
Jack proceeded to read the next pages. He saw copies of log files in the notebook, indicating ¡®resource expeditions and collection¡¯ on the Zero-Entropy region, ¡®It is a portal! To another world!¡¯ Jack exclaimed. He continued and saw another note:
They gave up, my brethren. They abandoned their worlds. I decided to oversee their worlds linked to mine but it might cause a problem. The gods or the observers my brethren created had no idea the entity exists, and making them know could put them into madness. I¡¯ll just use all of this ¡®resources¡¯, as humans called, to advance further my world. It will be alright. Everything will be fine. I will not abandon my world. I will continue to protect it.
Jack, knowing this will blow-up, destroying the Institution with the information he saw, immediately took the thick notebook and left the chamber. As he leaves the door, six men, heavily armored with platinum plates from head to toe, and ¡®MC-00¡¯ written on each of their left arm, confronts Jack. They were standing in front of him, and with Jack¡¯s instincts kicking in tried to run back into the chamber. However, one the armored grabbed his arm fast and pins him down to the floor. Four of them restrained Jack¡¯s limbs, the fifth hold his head steady, and the sixth pulled a wire out of his right arm and punctures it to Jack¡¯s left ear. ¡°Fucking let go of me!¡± Jack screamed, but they were silent as hell. He could hear whirring sounds and saw blood rushing in the wire. He feels dizzy, he can¡¯t feel his legs, his whole body. He can¡¯t see anymore, he can¡¯t. . . . . .
Incident Report no. 224 -Jack de Vera, Maintenance Personnel with Category-C1 Authorization (Access to standard facilities to Class-C Sectors), was found violently screaming and running around the Sector-E200 on March 18, 2035. He was apprehended immediately by security personnel, but his apprehension resulted in 2 security casualties and 1 science team casualty due to [The Institutional Council decided to remove this part of the document]. Mr. de Vera was placed into containment until further notice. Incident Report no. 235 -Mr. de Vera was placed in the containment infirmary to resolve his unusual behavior on July 20, 2035. It was observed thru the body scanning that the ¡®brain¡¯ of Mr. de Vera is missing, literally. Anomalously, the brain of Mr. de Vera was removed without any surgical procedures and somehow still lives and moves like a normal human despite of his missing brain. However, Mr. de Vera is incapable of any simple human communication, and only acts in an angered manner. Incident Report no. 338 -The cultist group called ¡®Circle¡¯ breached in the Institutional Laboratory here in Britain. They were not able to cause any casualties (aside from destroying a lot of laboratory properties) due to the immediate response of the Institution. However, they abducted Mr. de Vera. The Institution already contacted Alliance Military forces to apprehend the perpretrators.
CHAPTER 13: First Contact Akino: Okay! Now we are stuck in this world, without any idea where the hell is that portal¡­ But hey, the place looks good. This planet seems to be in the Goldilocks zone, the oxygen levels is good enough for creatures like ours live, water is water, blah blah blah¡­ Akino lets out a big sigh, her disappointment and boredom reached the highest peak. They¡¯ve been walking inside the forest for 12 hours, and they can¡¯t find any interesting thing except some rainforest fauna and flora. She stares at Alexa who was examining the mushrooms on the ground. It was a hot and humid day for any human to have walk inside that weird forest, having the feeling of warm perspiration then getting dirt on all over the body that gets dry and then gets wet with your sweat. Even she doesn¡¯t feel such things she is annoyed by the fact that she thinks it¡¯s happening to her. Akino: Hey, have you checked your HUD? Alexa: For what? Akino: Well, the ¡®welcome¡¯ message we got earlier has a linguistic data encryption. It was automatically imprinted to our system the moment we got that mysterious message. I guess those are the natives¡¯ language. Alexa: So, we could meet someone in here? Akino: Yeah, unless we got out of this dense forest. Alexa: Ugh, why don¡¯t you check the satellite? It was like you deployed it ten hours ago, you should have the ¡®eagle¡¯s eye¡¯ now. Akino: Well, my signal is jammed, so my bad not knowing where we are. Alexa: Heh, incompetent machines¡­ Akino: WHAT DID YOU SAY?! Alexa: Nothing! Nothing, sorry. Alexa created another crow, and let it flew away from them. After a few seconds, it fell down the ground full of burns. Alexa: What the fuck?! Akino: That doesn¡¯t make any sense. Akino flew with her rocket boots, after reaching 20 meters high, going beyond the tops of the trees. The sky is normal, no clouds, only the bright sun. She kept on flying until she got hit with some invisible barrier. It was weird, and hot. She scanned the whole area, the field spans kilometers across, a wide dome. After examining the field, she went back to the ground to meet Alexa. Alexa: What was that? Akino: We¡¯re inside of some kind of a field. Unknown radiation field, but not the same as the one we have in our world. I can also pinpoint the origin point. Alexa: Then what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go find it! The two moved, they briskly walked the forest. Their target keeps on moving at random, but thanks to Akino¡¯s quantum system they were able to predict the next position of their target. They hid under the bushes. Alexa mimics their surroundings like an octopus, decreasing her body temperature and minimizing her heartbeat. Akino turns her electromagnetic cloaking system on, decreasing her thermal energy output and rendering her body projection same as the surroundings. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done that! The humans are exploiting you! Please!¡± ¡°HAH! You, on the other hand protect these useless creatures! The humans can think I¡¯ve been their pet, but their nothing but my fodder!¡± A lady¡¯s voice can be heard pleading to a deep accent of a male. Alexa: You heard that? Someone''s here, but they are talking weird things. Akino: The field source and where that sound comes from are the same¡­ Alexa: Should we check it out? Akino: We¡¯ve got no choice. Gear up and follow my lead. Alexa: Roger, detective! After Akino armed herself with rifles and Alexa hardened her skin, the two moved slowly towards the sound source. At the distance of about 16 meters, loud growls and pounding can be heard, as if someone was punching the floor hardly or throwing something so heavy. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Undo it! Undo the seal! Free those innocent beings! They are not part of this!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what¡¯s innocent! That tribe harbors the child of the Great Destroyer! You know I despise him! And the humans despise those pity tailed creatures you call innocent! I am just cooperating for their great cause!¡± Louder poundings can be heard. The lady screams, not in pain, but in anger. The other one laughs maniacally. Akino and Alexa hurried, they want to see what¡¯s going on. Akino¡¯s arm beeped, they¡¯ve reached the target area. A small portion of the forest, about 10 meters wide, with trees teared down or burnt. And at the center were two creatures. They couldn¡¯t understand at first, besides it is their first time seeing those. The two girls stared at the two creatures, something like from the fictions. Alexa: Dragons?! Akino: Ssshhh! The two creatures looked like humanoid-reptiles, both were about 6 meters tall, and have the head of a fictional dragon on light novels. The one on the floor being tackled has blue scales and feathers with violet crystal looking pigments, it has a single feathery wing, the other one is torn. The one tackling has black scales with red stripes running across its body, it has wings, sort of, that looks like black crystals growing out of its back. Blue Dragon: I shouldn¡¯t have come with you! YOU WILL REGRET YOUR DOINGS! Black Dragon: I didn¡¯t ask you to come with me! You think your companionship will return them from worshipping us! OUR GODS ABANDONED US! THE ONLY REGRET I KNOW IS THAT THEY REGRET CREATING US! Blue Dragon: You ¨C you¡¯re just venting the flames in your heart. The tribe isn¡¯t something you should be tearing down! They have children there! Innocent souls who know nothing of how our world works! Despite the pleas of the blue creature, the black continues to pound it. Alexa: Wow¡­ I can totally understand them. Akino: Not only you, kid. Akino instinctively deactivates her cloak and steps up towards the ravaging creatures. She is nervous, facing two creatures only seen or heard from fiction is really something. She wants to reason out the two of them, she wants to know the location of the said tribe to save them, she wants to know what¡¯s going on. As soon as she steps up, the black creature gazed at her with killing intent, and blue one stares with surprise. Alexa: *Whispers* Pssst! What are you doing! Black Dragon: You! A human? What are you doing here? Blue Dragon: Mortal, please walk away. Akino: Look, I just want to ¨C Black Dragon: SILENCE! You, a human, never understand the higher beings! If you want to live the last of your pitiful life, you better be running now away from us! Akino: I just want to ask where is that tribe. The blue creature gazed at Akino, with hope in its eyes, with out any questions as to why she wants to know where is tribe located, it immediately answered. Blue Dragon: West, a thousand steps from here. Please, save them. Black Dragon: I won¡¯t let you interfere! The black creature pounces on Akino, it tried to crush her, but she withstood its strength. Both are tackling, but the black creature is struggling. Black Dragon: Im-impossible! A human, can overwhelm I, Dr¡¯an of Great Plague! Akino: Oh! Hi Dr¡¯an! The name¡¯s Akino. And that¡¯s my daughter, Alexa. Black Dragon: Daughter??? A thick-plated, larger Alexa jumps at the back of the black creature. It stops tackling Akino to defend itself from Alexa, but Alexa swiftly grappled the creature¡¯s arms and chomped its neck, decapitating the creature. Akino: WHAT THE FUCK?! Alexa: It¡¯s killing the other one! What do you think I should do? Just restrain it? Akino: ARRRGH! Whatever! Akino approached the gravely wounded blue creature. She assists it to sat on the ground, and she tried to tend its wounds, but it refuses. It pointed instead to the decapitated body of the black creature. Blue Dragon: Take¡­ his heart¡­ Akino: Alexa¡­ Alexa: O-okay. Alexa pierced the corpse¡¯ chest. Alexa: Are you sure its his heart? It feels like a ¨C Blue Dragon: Let me see it. Alexa pulled out something, a purple crystal. Blue Dragon: Destroy it. To break the seal. Alexa drops the crystal and Akino shoots it with her arm-rifle, shattering it and then it dissipates in the air, the same thing happened to the corpse of the black creature. Something beeps on Akino¡¯s arm, and as she looks at it she confirmed that the energy field enveloping the whole forest is gone. The blue creature was amazed with how Akino and Alexa¡¯s body work, it just gazed at both of them. Blue Dragon: Both, have human souls, but nothing near to any being that our gods created. Perhaps, both of you came from another world? Akino: Yeah, we came from some kind of a portal. I should thank you for guiding us how to remove that pesky energy field. Blue Dragon: Energy field??? Alexa: Psst, Aki. They don¡¯t understand ¡®technical¡¯ terms¡­ Akino: I mean, the seal? Right, the seal is gone, yeah¡­ Blue Dragon: You¡¯re welcome. The blue creature stands, but it struggles. Akino assists the creature. Akino: You said that a thousand steps, on west. Can I ask why the tribe is being attacked? And by whom? Blue Dragon: Humans, they are on their crusade of eliminating demi-humans. I don¡¯t know why but, Dr¡¯an forced the humans to go through this forest that I, Dr¡¯akan of Great Fear, protects. The blue creature, using its left arm, pierced its own chest. Both Akino and Alexa was alarmed on the sudden action of the creature. They tried to stop the creature, but the creature already pulled its heart, a red crystal. Blue Dragon: Move with haste. Don¡¯t hold back. I know the humans are the same race as you but saving her is my topmost priority that I will irresponsibly pass on to both of you¡­ I am very sorry¡­ The child of the Great Destroyer must survive¡­ at all costs¡­ The blue creature disperses into thin air, dropping the red crystal. Akino picked up the crystal, placed it in her pocket dimensional bag, then she inspects her HUD. Akino: My satellite feed shows dark smoke on our west, 304.8 meters away. These damn trees are too tall¡­ Alexa: Should we go there? Akino: You¡¯ll just insist me to go there if I refuse. Let¡¯s gear up. Both started running westward. CHAPTER 14: Unethical Acts As the two girls ran westward, it is noticeable that a nearly see-through field dissipates in the sky and a black smoke emanating from the direction they were heading became more visible. They hurried. Akino glances at Alexa and saw her scowled expression. Akino: What is it? Alexa: Can¡¯t you hear it? I can hear screams and smell blood! Akino turns off her heightened sense to not bother her, however Alexa didn¡¯t. She keeps her senses up, maybe because she wants to fill her lack of another ¡®vision¡¯. That seemed to backfire, Alexa has a wide array of senses due to her abilities, and hearing screams and smelling blood from a burning place might have triggered something inside her. They reached the outskirts of that tribe, but it seems they were too late. They went to the bushes and observed the area. There are about forty men standing at different locations, some were wearing plated armor armed with swords and shields or spears, similar to those in fantasy-fiction, others were wearing white robes and holding an elegant crystal staff. Every house, seemingly made of wooden materials and looks an ordinary forest inn, were burned by them. A lot of corpses were on the ground. It is visible that the dead people have fluffy tails, or what you call demi-humans in fiction. At the middle of them all were three men wearing glamorous armors and wielding glowing swords, and a single woman sitting on the floor, holding a single sword on her right arm. She was drenched in blood, and her left arm was amputated. The two continued observing the situation, and saw that the armored men started to bring out dead children from one of the houses, and then the women, all naked and have blood all over their middle groin, and the men were obviously re-wearing their trousers. Akino doesn¡¯t realize yet, but her blood is boiling. Rage. And it shares a same fate with Alexa. Without any word, Akino turns her left arms into a silenced sniper rifle and Alexa crawls on all four while making herself ¡®invisible¡¯, blending into the surroundings. Akino pointed to one group of four men, laughing while kicking and spitting on the corpses. She took a shot. It hit the knee of one of them and screamed in pain. The small group were confused and became more terrified as the invisible Alexa dragged the wounded guy towards the bushes. After Alexa drags the poor guy, she took the kill by twisting the head of the wounded man. Akino and Alexa looked at each other and nodded in sync. Alexa went again towards the group, while Akino took some non-lethal shots on people wearing robes and clear headshots on the armored ones. The whole company of these men were bewildered, as they witness every single one of them dies. Seeing the other heads of their companions were exploding, and others getting pierced to their knees then getting dragged by some unknown force towards the bushes. Little did they know, the two girls were hunting them down. The three men at the center of the tribe abandoned their sights on the wounded woman. Armored Man#1: What is this sorcery?! Armored Man#3: This is weird¡­ the attacks are not¡­ mana infused. This is not a magic attack! Armored Man#2: What?! That¡¯s impossible! The second man faces towards the wounded woman, lifted her by strangling her neck. Armored Man#2: What did you do?! The woman just groaned, then the man drops her. He looked back, seeing his fellows shielding themselves. Nobody was left alive but the four of them, the rest were missing along with the ground pull of ¡®dragged¡¯ blood stains or dropped on the ground with exploded heads, having brain matter splattered everywhere. And then Alexa appeared in front of them, but she has a muscular body built and three meters tall. Her hands were morphed like the clubbed claws of a mantis shrimp, her face is covered with a mask made of white carbon fiber, with single eyehole on the right side and a zigzag mouth. The three men were terrified, but stood still in front of her, with their weapons readying to attack her. They were about to jump towards her, but Alexa was faster. She plunges towards the three, and swiftly swings her clubbed claws. It hit, but not on them, some sort of barrier was in between them, but the cracks were visible on it. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Armored Man#1: What kind of monster is this? It was able to crack may Lotus shield?! Alexa: I AM NOT A MONSTER!!! Alexa roared in an eerily manner and proceeds to hit the barrier for the second time. Her hit was so strong that not only it shattered the barrier, but also the one who putted up the barrier got thrown to the ground. The other two struggled standing still because of the sheer force Alexa made hitting the barrier. They pointed their swords towards Alexa. Akino jumps in immediately, completely covered in black colored titanium plates and scaled carbon fiber suit. She wears a gas mask, with circled glass on its eye part glowing green. Akino tackled the second guy, but immediately evades her attack. He moves swiftly and swings his thin long sword like some sort of a martial artist. Armored Man#2: You can¡¯t defeat me, abomination! I am a knight of the Great- Akino: Shut the fuck up, will ya? Armored Man#2: What?! Akino shotguns the man in the face, completely shattering his face and piercing holes on his head. The third guy, terrified tried to run away, but Alexa got him by using her tentacle hair. She grips the guy until he explodes like a watermelon wrapped with rubber bands. The guy who got thrown on the ground was about to get squashed by Alexa when Akino stopped her. Akino: Hey, calm down now. Alexa: But! Akino: No buts, go tend that girl. I¡¯ll handle him. Armored Man#1: Handle me?! You magic-less monstrosities will never handle- Akino shot the man¡¯s leg, interrupting his speech and began screaming in pain. Akino: Do you want to get blasted, huh?! You answer my questions, or I¡¯ll put more holes on your leg. Armored Man#1: Wh-what do you want?! Akino: What the fuck happened here? The guy remained silent. He trembles. He clearly sees a girl, same of his kind, a human. But, he was confused, there¡¯s nothing on their world the kind of armor Akino wears exist. He just stares at her, terrified and dazed. Akino loses her patience, she cocks her arm releasing a used slug, dropping it to the guy. The slug was hot, so it made the guy move like he¡¯s not injured. Akino: Ho? I shot you on the leg and you can move- Akino notices that the wound on the guy¡¯s leg already ¡®healed¡¯. Akino: Already? Armored Man#1: Who are you? I can see past through your souls with magic¡­ but- but YOU! And that monster over there! BOTH OF YOU HAVE HUMAN SOULS?! WHAT ARE YOU?! Akino: You¡¯ve just said what we are, and one more thing, DON¡¯T EVER CALL MY DAUGHTER A MONSTER. Akino punches the guy on his gut. She punched him so hard he¡¯s armor got pierced, and her arm passing through his stomach. She immediately pulls out her arm, drenched in guts and blood. Akino: Goddammit! I went hard! Akino pulls some sort of a cable with three claws and a needle in the center on her head. She extends it and stabs it to the back of the guy¡¯s head. Akino: Let¡¯s see¡­ hmm¡­ Great Kingdom of Altruis? Demi-humans? Dark Lord? What the fuck? She drops guys as she retracts the cable on her head and went to Alexa that was checking up the wounded woman, who happens to be a demi-human as well. White short-haired, has a white fluffy tail about a meter and a half in length, white fur on arms and legs, her hands were also covered in fur and has five human fingers but with long claw-like nails, her feet only has four fingers, additionally she has a voluptuous body build. She wears a black skimpy leotard with a turtleneck and has a small loin cloth, both made of material similar to the softness of cotton, but durable as hard leather. She also wears knee-high socks made of soft leather, and has holes on the foot part, revealing her clawed toes. It is noticeable that she has a single straight-line vertical scar on her left eye, and has young face doused in blood. Akino: How is she? Alexa: She¡¯s unconscious due to blood loss, but still breathing. She¡¯s half wolf, half human. I tried to reprogram her cells to regenerate quickly and repair her wounds but it¡¯s not working. I am currently transfusing my blood to her. Don¡¯t worry, its safe giving my blood to her. Akino: Uhm.. good, good job. Akino looks around, she activates her scanner and searches the whole place for a suitable shelter, other than the burned houses. She saw a cave, decorated with flowers and two pillars at the entrance. Must be a shrine for this wolf people. Akino assists Alexa, as she lifts the unconscious woman while Alexa continues transfusing blood. CHAPTER 15: Fixing a Broken Deity They reached the cave shrine, it has an altar at the far end, enlightened with torches of blue fire. Akino looks for a flat surface to lay down the wounded woman as Alexa resumes on instilling her blood via a chord coming out of her wrist to the right arm of the woman. Akino stares at the woman, she fabricated a towel, and reaches on water stoup near the altar and soaks the towel. She carefully removed the woman¡¯s clothes, and then cleans the face of the woman and the other body parts drenched in blood. Alexa: Something¡¯s weird. Akino: What is it? Alexa: She should be regrowing her left arm, I mean I did reprogram her cells, safely, her wounds healed already but its like she was born without a left arm. The woman starts to hyperventilate and having mild seizures. Alexa: Her vitals are dropping! She¡¯s going to die! Akino: We¡¯ve got no choice then. Akino pulls another cable out of her hair, and tries to stick it in to the back of the woman¡¯s head. Alexa, confused on what was Akino going to do, tried to stop her. Alexa: What are you going to do? Akino: I¡¯m taking her cerebral matrix and place it inside ours, then repair her there. Alexa: Is that safe? Akino: I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯ll be careful. I promise, we¡¯ll save someone this time. Alexa let Akino to plug the cable on the woman, the woman stops having seizures. Akino then sits, and closes her eyes, Alexa did the same thing. Akino: Keep transferring blood and her heart beating. Alexa: Yea-yeah.
. . . . . . . . .
Akino and Alexa reopened their eyes, they found themselves inside the never-ending place of white floor and sky, where they previously found Dr. Heilmach. They saw a medic pod in front of them, the wounded woman was inside. Similarly, on how they saw Heilmach in that virtual world, the woman was naked. Her body is full of small cracks, like an old vase that was dropped, shattered, and put back to pieces with a super glue. Her left arm was missing, the same way how it was cut in the real world. Akino touched the pod, a hologram of analytics appeared, she observed it for a while. Alexa, on the other hand was intensely looking at the woman. Alexa: Is it just me or her body was starting to evaporate? Akino: What?! But the sensors say she¡¯s just alright?! What¡¯s going on?! Alexa: It¡¯s the same, isn¡¯t it? The same with Yggdris? We can¡¯t save her, can we? Alexa looked disappointed, accepting the situation. Akino refuses however, she thought every possible way on saving the dying woman. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Akino: Turning her like us¡­ Alexa: Uh ¨C um ¨C what? Akino rips off her own left arm, without any exclamation. She opened the pod and re-attaches her left arm to the woman. The woman¡¯s body disintegration rate decreases, but the cracks are still visible. Alexa: What did you do? Akino: Integration¡­ I¡¯m integrating her cerebral matrix to us. And in that way ¨C Alexa: She becomes a quantum core, just like us?! Akino: Exactly! Alexa: Wait, wait, wait. Can you explain to me, HOW? Akino: Remember what Heilmach did on the core in the Facility-13? She uploaded her cerebral matrix inside the core. Even her body was already dead, her ¡®self¡¯ is still alive. Like a hermit crab leaving her shell to look for another, and that other shell was the core. And since we have some procedures on creating the quantum core, we can recreate the same to her. In this case, we just have to give her a new ¡®shell¡¯ to live in, along with changing her into a quantum core like us, so that her new body will accept our modifications, saving her. Alexa: Wha ¨C what should I do? Her body is still turning into dust. Akino: Try transfusing your blood to her. Alexa: But this is just a virtual - Akino: Trust me, Alexa. Trust me. Alexa did what Akino said. She connected a tube-like tentacle from her wrist to the woman. Alexa: What else? Akino: I don¡¯t know, you¡¯re the biology-stuff, change her DNA or something. Alexa: You just told me to trust then you do this? Akino: Hey, I¡¯m still integrating her to our cores, that will make your modifications compatible to her. The cracks on the woman¡¯s body began to disappear, the sensors Akino set-up shows positive signs that they saved her. And then, weird hieroglyphics started appearing on the woman¡¯s body in a glowing manner. Then, it disappeared. After that, Akino detected a life pulse. The woman is alive. Alexa: What the hell was that?! Akino: Don¡¯t know, but the thing is she¡¯s fine now. Both of them peeked on the pod, Alexa was smiling because they¡¯ve saved someone at last. Akino then went to the panel board on the pod.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Akino re-opened her eyes, they were awake except for the woman, still unconscious and laying on the ground inside the cave. Alexa checked on her and was glad that the vitals of the woman was normal, but something is bothering her. Alexa: Her left arm should have grown back, right? It still not there. Her regeneration is already the same rate as our regeneration, but still, she doesn¡¯t have it. Akino: It¡¯s because I used my parts to recreate her arm in the virtual space. Thus, it should be my parts to recreate her left arm. Seems illogical, because we can, you know, create matter out of nothing, and she was already like us. But something is really off about her. The quantum core did integrate her, but still, why the hell she has to comply? I mean, we didn¡¯t do that when we wake up inside the facility, right? Alexa: Yeah, that doesn¡¯t make sense¡­ Akino: And on top of that, her body was covered with GLOWING tattoos for a while. That¡¯s fishy. And heard those dudes outside? They said shit like magic and mana, I mean WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY TALKIN? Alexa: Yeeaah¡­ so how do we, umm, replace her left arm? Akino then started to rip off her left arm. CHAPTER 16: Convalescing Measures The woman woke up. It felt like a nightmare, but she thinks it¡¯s done. ¡°What happened? Why am I inside the shrine?¡± She looked around, there was a set of a wooden table and chairs near her, a tub of water beside the make-shift bed she is laying on. She noticed that a part of the mattress was burnt, then she remembered. The humans of the so-called ¡®Kingdom of Altruis¡¯ burning their home, raping their women, castrating their men, then killing them like diseased animals, even the children. Have they no place in this world? Why does the demi-wolves deserve this horrific treatment? She tears, and she tried to wipe it, unconsciously lifting her left arm. She touched her face to wipe her tears, but it seems different. Her hand was hard, it was like caressing her face with an ingot of steel. She looks at her left arm, it was now made of some sort of metal. She jumps out of the bed, surprised. She looked at her whole body, she¡¯s not wearing her previously worn leather garments but instead she wears loosed clothes, made of cotton. She focused her sight on her ¡®metallic arm¡¯, it has line segments like the body of an insect. She is fascinated with it, something so hard yet she could still move it freely, and no restrictions. Then she remembered that her left arm was cut-off with the knights she fought against with. She stands up and went to the exit of the shrine, but she feels her body became ¡®heavier¡¯. She struggled at first, but managed to walk out of that cave, only to witness the painful truth. She gazed at the burned houses, and she kneels on the ground. She felt grief, and extreme disgust on herself. ¡°I ¨C I was supposed to protect them¡­¡± Then she noticed that the corpses of her brethren were gone, the corpses that the humans littered like dirt. She also noticed mounds near the burned houses. Each varies in the size, then she realized someone buried their corpses. She stood up, and further looked. She almost missed the stack of armors the humans wore on the entrance of the shrine, but she felt an eerily feeling looking at it. The armors were covered in blood, the helmets were deformed as if the head wearing ¡®exploded¡¯, the armor of one of the knights she fought was crumpled like paper, the other has a hole on its stomach, and the other was full of splattered bloodstains. Their weapons were organized on the side, as well as twenty bags of the gold coins issued by the Altruis, and the mana gems they stole from the shrine. If someone were there, why would they do such thing? She pressed on, as she hears someone in the woods arguing. She followed the voices and saw the corpses of the humans who attacked them. Some bodies were twisted abnormally, others have heads that got holes where the brains splattered out. She freaked out the moment she saw those. ¡°Wh ¨C who did this?¡± Of course, she still got the hatred against these people, but seeing them like that was more terrifying. There must be some sort of monster. ¡°Dr¡¯akan must have fought them, but not like this. Did she go mad like D¡¯ran???¡± She further looked on the area and saw a huge pile of earth. Some must have been digging up. She immediately hid in the bushes as she heard the arguing voices. Akino: Look, I know it¡¯s useless, but we have to be organized in things. Alexa: Yeah, like what? Removing the armor of these bastards? We¡¯ve wasted an hour removing those. Akino: I know, I know. But I also know that there were supposed to be twenty-one bags of gold. Alexa: What? Akino: Cough it out, Alex. I¡¯m not gonna repeat myself again. Alexa: Fine¡­ She sees a woman, wearing clothes that she never seen before in her life. And the other was a kid, a white kid with cat-ears and clawed hands and feet. Strangely, the language they¡¯ve speaking to was unfamiliar, yet she understands it. She used her magic to look onto the pair and was surprised. Two human souls, but how come the other looks like a demi-human? The kid regurgitates a bag of gold and both continued digging up with shovels. Without thinking properly, she immediately thought the kid was a slave to the woman. She jumped out of the bushes while her left arm was raised, pointing to the woman. ¡°LET HER GO!¡± The two looked shocked and were stunned in place. They were saying something, but she doesn¡¯t care, all she hears was the chant of magic she was preparing to fire against the woman. Her hatred seems to empower her. ¡°Afore darkness, bane will empower! Be sundered, thy foe!¡± Glyphs started to appear on her left hand, and magic circles floats in front of it. They started to glow, but for a while. The glowing characters began to disintegrate. She feels her head aching. She sees weird symbols on her vision, then statics. She collapses on the ground, making the two ran towards her. Alexa: What happened to her? Akino: Let¡¯s put her back to the cave. She still hears the unusual words that she understands. Before she closed her eyes, the same thing was her vision. Unfamiliar letters that she recognizes, but couldn¡¯t fully comprehend:
SYSTEM INTEGRATION ¨C STILL AT 95% COMPLETION SYSTEM REPORT: HQC-101 ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE ENERGY EXPLOITATION ¨C FAILED SUGGESTED RESOLUTION: COMPLETE UNEVALUATED FACTORS TO ACHIEVE FULL FUNCTION . . .
The woman woke up, again inside the shrine while laying on the bed. She smells something, a cooked meat of a wild boar, and it is getting closer. She stood up and took the wooden fork on the table. The woman she saw earlier enters while holding a wooden plate with a huge amount of grilled boar meat. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Akino: Uhm¡­ hey, how are you feeling? She pointed the fork to Akino. Akino then slowly placed the food on the table and raises her hands. Alexa enters, holding a bowl and a vase full of fruit juices. Alexa: You forgot the ¨C woah! Akino: Place it at the table. Alexa: Is she alright? Why is she pointing that wooden fork to you? Akino: If you¡¯ve got questions to us, we will answer it in the best way we can. The name¡¯s Akino, Akino Kylei. Akino being my name and Kylei as my family name, you can call me Aki though. The kid here is my daughter, adopted daughter. Alexa: Umm, hey! My name¡¯s Alexa Kylei, and yeah, I¡¯m her adopted daughter. Calling me Alex would be fine too. The woman puts back the fork on the table and sits on the bed. Lyka: My name is Lyka von Roza, the daughter of Allysa Roza. Alexa: You ¨C you don¡¯t have a dad? Akino: Alexa, don¡¯t pry her. Alexa: I¡¯m just curious. Sorry about that, Miss Lyka. If you don¡¯t like answering it, it¡¯s fine. Lyka: No, no, it¡¯s alright. My father ¨C you wouldn¡¯t believe if I tell you¡­ Alexa: That¡¯s a bummer! Akino: Alexa! Alexa: Sorry. Akino: Soooo, were done with the introductions¡­ you¡¯ve got any questions for us? Lyka: What happened to me? What did you do to my left arm? Where are the corpses? Are you - Lyka scratches her head. Her face started to look upset and slowly tears began flowing out of her eyes. Lyka: It¡¯s just ¨C so many things that I don¡¯t understand why this is happening to me. Why? Why?... Akino hands her a piece of cloth. Lyka took it and wipes her face. Akino: After that fight we saw, we simply couldn¡¯t help but feel like to shove off those bastards. I ¨C I¡¯m very sorry for your loss. We didn¡¯t make it in time to rescue everyone. You¡¯re the only one we managed to save¡­ Alexa: We treated you here, inside this shrine. As for the treatment, we¡¯ll get to that a bit later but after we¡¯ve tended your wounds, you¡¯ve been asleep for two days, straight. Akino: After we¡¯ve treated you, we buried your fellow demi-humans near the burned houses. I¡¯m sorry if we didn¡¯t ask your permission about but if we let them outside for long, they¡¯ll start to decompose and ¨C Alexa: Psst! Aki! Technical terms! Akino: Oh, I mean they¡¯ll start to rot if we didn¡¯t bury them as soon as possible. Is it ¨C not discriminating if I called them ¡®demi-humans¡¯? Lyka: I ¨C we''re used to it. But my people, they are the proud wolf-people of Perdius, our god, but humans refer to him as the god of destruction and sees us as their ultimate enemy... Akino: Oh, sorry¡­ Alexa: Ehem, so for the one you saw this morning, we removed the armor of these dudes who attacked you and buried them deep in the woods. Can¡¯t have them stink in the forest as well, hehehe¡­ Lyka: The way you¡¯ve killed these knights, how did you do it? Akino: We, ummm, it¡¯s a bit of hard to explain¡­ Lyka: Are you guys even truly humans? I mean, everything here in Elyn were infused with mana. Even the undead have mana in them. The rocks, the rivers, the air we breathe, even insects have mana in them, so why the both of you doesn¡¯t have even a tiny bit of it? Alexa: Mana? You mean like in the magic thing? Lyka: Yes! Akino: Yeah¡­ about that¡­ Alexa: Should we tell her? Lyka: Tell me what? Akino: It¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s a long story, a very long one. Akino reaches out her hands towards Lyka, she held her hands gentle. Lyka blushes a bit but Akino doesn¡¯t seem to notice it. Alexa: Is physical contact necessary? Akino: Hey! I¡¯m trying to be dramatic here! Lyka: Dramatic? Akino: Just ¨C just listen to me. I want you to relax, but try to concentrate on entering, umm something¡­ ah, screw it! You should see something on your vision. Lyka sees some texts on her upper-left vision, it says:
Message received. Message Encryption: HELLO!
Lyka: Wh ¨C what is this? Akino: About the question you¡¯ve asked on what we did to you¡­ well, you might not like my answer, but you have to trust me. Close your eyes and relax. Lyka did what Akino said. She closed her eyes while holding on to Akino¡¯s hands. About three seconds of silence, then she hears Akino¡¯s voice. Akino: Okay, you can look now. Lyka opened her eyes, she found herself inside a place of white floor and sky, with a never-ending horizon. She saw Akino and Alexa beside her, and Lyka: We ¨C we teleported? Where are we? Akino: This will be a hard one¡­ Alexa: Come on, do the explaining stuff. Akino: Okay, okay. This ¨C this is not technically a place. This place is the physical manifestation of the connection of our minds. Lyka: Umm, what? Particles started to appear on the ground, it moves and reforms into another Akino, Alexa, and Lyka. The scene where the two girls saved Lyka from her death was recreated. Lyka: Is ¨C is that me? Akino: Yes, that¡¯s your consciousness, or let¡¯s say your ¡®soul¡¯. You were about to turn into dust, meaning you¡¯re going to die that time. We did all we could to save, by ¡®repairing¡¯ your soul with ours. In turn, your soul became a part of us, and ours became a part of yours. Alexa: We should teach her our technical terms. Akino: I think that will do, I guess. Lyka: Wait, wait! What do you mean all of three of us have connected souls? Akino: I have to teach first some things in our world, for you to better understand your situation. Lyka: Your world??? The place changes, bit by bit. Towering pillar made of steel and covered in glass emerged, metal carriage that moves without horses, lots of people walking on the side of the road, an ordinary day in Akino¡¯s and Alexa¡¯s previous world. Akino began to explain things, as they walk on the streets of the virtual manifestation of Manhattan. They walked down the streets beside the paved roads, where the metallic vehicles pass and shelters under the shadows of the trainrails above.They went to libraries and explained to her the basic of knowledge that they have. To the power plants, showing how their city works. The manufacturing sectors that feed the people. To the malls and central hubs, where most people interact and do commerce. To the information network, laying out how people connect to one another. To the topmost level of the One World Trade Center, to gaze upon the skyscrapers standing strong below and the sea of clouds above. And to the central park, relishing the fresh air of the trees and grasses that the city has nearly vanished away, even though its just only a memory, a recorded thought. Lyka was mesmerized, the feeling of journeying others¡¯ world for a full day was just only seconds that passed by in her sight. They went to a local convenience store after. Alexa, excitingly enters the store and bought three hotdog sandwiches with drinks. The three sat outside on the plastic monoblocks chairs. Lyka: If this is just some sort of illusion, then why bothering buying these foods? Even trying to eat it? Alexa: Well, I miss hotdogs. Akino: You see, our minds perceive things in here to be true even though it¡¯s not really real. And we just told you that some parts of our memories like taste and hearing could be recorded in our minds. Alexa likes to eat food, and her memories of eating this food will be manifested in here. The taste, aroma, and texture will be the same for her, even though¡­ it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve eaten convenience store foods. Lyka took a bite and was amazed by the flavor. The three continued eating, as they watched the sun, setting in that virtual space. Lyka turns to Akino, seemingly confused. Lyka: Can I ask something? Akino: Sure! What is it? Lyka: Are the demi-humans in this world purged? Alexa: Oh boi¡­ Akino: Lyka, the demi-humans in this ¨C in the world where we supposed to live doesn¡¯t exist. Lyka: Maybe the books lie for not talking about them, right? Alexa: Are you bothered by it? Lyka: Ye ¨C yes¡­ I mean, sure this world seems to be SO perfect without US. The one who¡¯s always oppressed by humans¡­ does that really mean we have no true purpose in our world??? Akino: I see¡­ Akino stands. She went to a phonebooth nearby, where a dark alleyway can be seen from about two to three blocks. Akino: Alexa, remember this place? Alexa: ¡­yeah¡­ Lyka looks at the two, aimlessly looking at that dark place. She looks up in the sky and feels a tingling sensation of freezing air. Seeing the nightlights of the establishments for the first time seems to be something for her, until she saw a girl came out of the store. The girl strikes a very familiar appearance¡­ a brown hair with a ponytail, wearing thick brown jacket and holds a bag of plastic with packed breads, noodles, a lot of canned beef and pork, some young shoots of sweet potato and cabbages, and a role of papers. She looks intensely at the girl. Lyka: Aki? CHAPTER 17: Recorded and Remembered Alexa: Shouldn¡¯t we start from the very beginning? Akino: Yeah. I just reminded you, but this was before. Lyka: Excuse me, but what¡¯s going on? Akino: Sharing a memory of mine. Alexa: Wait, so before you met me? Akino: This is the store I always went to after work. And that path towards my apartment. The three followed the younger Akino. The way towards Akino¡¯s apartment was a bit far from the city center, near the boundary of the city. On their way, they passed on the city slums, people wearing ragged clothes and standing around barrels with fire. The beggars rushed towards the younger Akino and begged for food, Akino handed them five packs of bread that the beggars furiously took from her and ate. Alexa: I don¡¯t remember this place. Akino: It¡¯s five years before I met you down that alley, I was new to the job that time. The slums were removed in the mid-year of 3019 because of an incident¡­ Lyka: What job did you have? Akino: Ummm... do you know a job called ¡®detective¡¯? Lyka: Sorry, I¡¯m not familiar with that¡­ Akino: Oh, you¡¯ll see. They kept on following the younger Akino, they reached her apartment and entered. It was the same, the same one-bedroom condo that Alexa saw when she first entered, except the only furniture there was a wooden table. There¡¯s a pink bed on the bedroom, the standard kitchen, and anything else that can be found inside a newly bought unit. They observed her, cooking the sweet potatoes and cabbages with canned beef, sits on a plastic chair and eats the stew she cooked, all alone in that place. Alexa: So, this is your daily life, huh? Before me? Akino: Yeah¡­ pretty boring, right? Alexa: You haven¡¯t bought yet that crappy sofa. Akino: Hey! If its cozy, its fine! Lyka ignored the two arguing, and instead followed the young girl to her bedroom. The young Akino throws herself to the bed while holding a bag, she pulled her laptop out of her bag and opens it. She took also a pen, and the roll of newspapers she bought earlier in the store. While looking at the newspaper, the younger Aki types something on the laptop, crosses something in the newspaper, and so on, at a random manner. Lyka: Must have been a great life, huh? Living in a world, with no demi-humans¡­ Akino: Not really. Lyka: EEEKK! Lyka jumped, frightened as Akino abruptly appeared behind her. She lands on the bed, near the younger Aki. She clearly saw the face of the younger Aki, and she gazed at it¡­ then she gets a better view on the laptop. She saw texts, articles, then images of mutilated bodies, burned corpses, and then videos of people dying because a wall sucked them, others turning into stone, and some who still stands up even with decapitated head. Lyka: Wha ¨C what are you doing? Akino: As a detective, I am tasked to investigate crimes, anomalous crimes to be specific. Alexa: Ehem, JUNIOR detective. Akino: Shut it. Lyka: Like an inquisitor? Akino: Not really, but somehow¡­ ummm, yeah but not on religious stuff. Lyka: Then, what are these ¡®anomalous¡¯ crimes you speak off? Akino: In this world, some things happen even the smartest men can¡¯t explain. Magic in your world does exist, but here it doesn¡¯t, making us blinded with anomalies we are dazed on. Aaaand that¡¯s where I enter. Lyka: I¡¯m confused¡­ Akino: Hahaha, don¡¯t worry. My assignment tomorrow will be my big day I got promoted to Junior Detective. Alexa: Wait, then what are you this time? Akino: I ¨C I¡¯m just an intern¡­ A dim light shines on the window, the sun was about to shine, it¡¯s already morning. The younger Aki jumps out of the bed immediately, changed her clothes, ate some bread, and left the condo unit, in 15 minutes. Alexa: Did you fast forward the time? Akino: Nope. Lyka: Then, you didn¡¯t get to sleep? Is this normal for you? Akino: Yes. Alexa: That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t grow¡­ Akino: SHUT UP! Lyka: You¡¯re already heading to work? You¡¯ve barely got enough rest¡­ Lyka¡¯s face looks very concerned. Akino looks at her and smiled. Akino: Thanks for the concern, but it¡¯s how my life works. Lyka: Don¡¯t you have any family? Akino: I was raised in an orphanage, a military orphanage where abandoned children are raised, and ¨C and trained at an early age of 16 to become a soldier. I got my training, but I want to be a detective, good ol¡¯ classic detective. So instead of becoming a soldier, I left the orphanage after my training in the condition of carrying the family name of ¡®Kylei¡¯. Alexa: Hey, I remember that story! Except why they must give that family name. Lyka: Why? Only that condition? Akino: The owner of the orphanage was a former military officer that carries the same name, not family name though. She¡¯s barren, and afraid that her name will be forgotten. She died without anyone remembering her except her close friends. Her friends then managed the orphanage, and in honor of that officer, the children raised in there will carry her name as their surname. Alexa: Thanks for the sad story. Lyka: Yeah, that¡¯s pretty sad¡­ Akino: Hey, hey! This day in my memory will be my first shot on being a detective, so remove that gloomy faces and follow me! Or her¡­ Aahh! Just follow me! Stolen novel; please report. They went out of the condo unit, they followed the younger Aki then they heard gunshots. They saw the younger Aki swiftly crouching to the side of a garbage container. It seems she¡¯s hiding, then a bald guy, about forty years in age. The guy¡¯s holding a long rifle, aimlessly shooting at every direction. Lyka and Alexa seems to be nervous, until they saw the other side of the road. A lot of people, bathing in their own blood, collapsed on the ground. Lyka: What happened here? Akino: That guy. I don¡¯t know why but he shoots everyone. I remembered that there are 20 casualties, 9 of which were children. Alexa: That¡¯s fucked ¨C I mean messed up. Akino: Yeah¡­ and you know what¡¯s more messed up? Lyka & Alexa: What? Akino points back to scene, the younger Aki shoots the guy on his forehead with her magnum side-arm. The guy was staggered, blood pour out of his head, and clearly there is a hole that passed through his whole skull. But, the guys stood still, and shoots back at Aki. Alexa: WHAT THE?! THAT¡¯S A CLEAR HEADSHOT?! Akino: Told ya. Lyka: What¡¯s going on?! The younger Aki tackles down the bald guy. The guy struggles, punching the young girl on her stomach side. Clearly, she was hurt but the young Aki stays still, pinning the guy to the ground. The guys then headbutted her, so strong the young Aki flew off with blood gushing from her nose. Alexa: Oooh! That hurts! Akino: Sure did. Lyka looks in horror, as the fight goes on. The two fought on, strangling each other, tackling their bodies like forever. The young Aki is tired, very tired, until she saw a steel rod protruding from a broken post. With all her strength she grabbed the guy¡¯s head, pushing him towards the steel rod, then she bashes the head towards it, puncturing the guy¡¯s head. Of course, the guy is weirdly alive, but the young Aki bent the steel rod so that the guy gets stuck on it. With that taken care of, she sat on the floor catching her breath. She stood up, saw the police reinforcements, and went there to assist them. Akino: Yep, that¡¯s the end. Alexa: Still working up, huh? Lyka: That¡¯s ¨C that¡¯s terrifying! Akino: Yeah, that dude¡¯s still alive after a clear headshot, and getting his head stabbed with a steel rod. Look at him, he¡¯s still in heat. The police and other authorities swarmed the place, the slum area was ravaged by the mysterious guy. 30 people were killed, 15 were injured. Lyka: These poor people¡­ Akino: This is the reason they removed the slums. I don¡¯t know what happened to the others, whether they got transported to another place that¡¯s better or a slum as well¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ They stumbled upon an ID from the bald guy, it indicates that the guy was a maintenance personal from a laboratory. Minutes passed, and a black Sedan came to the scene with men in black. They showed badges and documents to the chief investigator in the scene, and then they took the bald guy. Alexa: Those dudes look fishy. Akino: Those men fly-by and vanished like ¨C poof! Gone. Like nothing. Chief said they are special ops. But, yeah, they¡¯re fishy. Akino then showed how she works, as the younger Aki goes to the central part of the city, going inside the crime research institute. Paper works, calls, interrogating, extreme interrogating, autopsies of ¡®weird¡¯ corpses, going out to ¡®missions¡¯, and other odd jobs. For nearly two years, that¡¯s the life she¡¯d shown to them. Akino: Everyday, well except on Sundays, or holidays, or when I don¡¯t feel like working. This is how a run my life. Alexa: You¡¯re like an agent. You know? Multipurpose, doing this, doing that. I mean, you¡¯re supposed to investigate, not do autopsies. And yeah, the first time you brought me to your place was to witness an autopsy. Damn great for a field trip. Akino: You didn¡¯t complain. Alexa: Wait, where¡¯s Lyka? The two looked behind them, Lyka was vomiting. Lyka: Uuugh¡­ what were you doing with the corpses?! Akino: Investigating? Lyka: That. Is. Messed up. You should respect the bodies of dead people! Akino: Hey, easy there. We still bury them after this stuff. And yeah, these guys weren¡¯t normal, so we open up their bodies to know more. Lyka: But still¡­ Lyka stops, she looks a bit of disgusted, and worried. Akino: So, that¡¯s it. The next part was when I met you. Alexa: I¡¯ll tell mine¡­ Akino: You don¡¯t have to push yourself. Alexa: It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ve moved on about that¡­ just, watch it¡­ The whole place changes into an orphanage. Green grasses, old-brick houses two to three stories tall, there¡¯s a little greenhouse on the southern part of the place, and a playground near the center. A ton of kids were playing outside. Then a car stops by in front, a small child steps out of it accompanied by a nun, it was Alexa when she¡¯s eight years old. ¡°Her mother was a drug addict while the father was a drunkard¡­¡± ¡°So, they just gave up on her?¡± ¡°No, the mother snapped and killed the father, then she killed herself¡­¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°The police doesn¡¯t know what to do with the child, they said they saw the child sitting near the corpses of her parents¡­¡± Akino and Lyka remained silent, shocked of what they¡¯ve heard from the nuns and priests gossiping the young Alexa. Days passed by in that orphanage, the other children teases and bullies her for no reason. ¡°Her mother was a drug addict! Run!¡± ¡°Hey! You¡¯re scum! You must be taking drugs as well.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t do that! She¡¯ll take alcohol instead, like her dad!¡± They laughed at her, avoid her, sometimes tripped over when she¡¯s silently walking or throw things at her. The older people just ignore her, never comforting her. Until a particular nun was reassigned to that place. That nun entered the orphanage, seeing that nun makes the present Alexa smile. Akino: Is she ¨C Alexa: Yeah¡­ Lyka: Who is she? Alexa: I ¨C don¡¯t know her¡­ she didn¡¯t mention her name to me. But she¡¯s the only one who truly cared for me that time. The nun saw the young Alexa, and immediately went to her. Of course, the young Alexa showed coldness towards the nun due to her experiences, but the nun insists. The nun took care of her, fed her, clothed her properly, tells her stories before bed, plays with her, and makes sure that the other kids never bother her. It was only for a while, the nun left after a week without any notice. Then, the whole orphanage went upside down. Men and women wearing black robes and gold necklaces that has a simple circular pendant entered the place, talked to the priests and nuns present in that place, and allowed them to take care of the children. Alexa: And nightmare begins¡­ Akino: I know those get-up. Lyka: Get-up? Akino: I mean outfit, but seriously. That¡¯s the cultist called ¡®Circle¡¯. That makes sense¡­ Alexa: What makes sense? Akino: Remember that time when you told me where exactly you came from? Alexa: Yeah, and the place is not that big. Akino: And I told you that the cultists were never apprehended? But instead, they were found dead, while laying their corpses in a circular manner? Alexa: Oh! I remember that you showed the picture of it! Akino: Yeah. Lyka: Excuse me, but what¡¯s odd with that? Akino: Welp, it¡¯s like they knew we were coming so they took their lives, or they¡¯re doing something ¡®else¡¯. Alexa: Weird rituals¡­ The place changes, into a hallway with children and the people in black robes were¡­ opening the chests of each children that became ¡®naughty¡¯. As for the case of young Alexa, they considered and called her the ¡®broken¡¯ and left her alone. Lyka was stunned on what she¡¯d witness and heard, Akino wasn¡¯t since she knew that already considering the background of the group. Night came, and the remaining children, the young Alexa included, were place in bathroom and put off their clothes for batch washing. The young Alexa sprinted past the robed people while they¡¯re washing the other kids and escaped over the fence. Akino: Woah! You¡¯re fast! Alexa: Hehehe¡­ well, it¡¯s also the reason I got this wound. Lyka: That wound? The young Alexa suddenly got hit by a truck, it was a hit and run. She got thrown on a pile of garbage, where broken glasses are. She landed headfirst, and then after landing a ton of blood gushes out of her left eye¡­ she stood and walked, and walked, until she collapses in an alleyway. She wants to conceal what she¡¯s feeling so that the cultists will not find her, but the pain makes her whimper. Lyka looks very concerned, then tears came out of her eye. Akino: Hey, you alright? Alexa: Don¡¯t be bothered about it, it happened already. Lyka: But ¨C but! This world is so unfair! Akino: Maybe, maybe not. They saw someone crouching on the other end of that hallway, it was the young Aki. She saw the wounded Alexa, and walked away for a bit, but then she immediately returns to carry the wounded girl. Alexa: What the fuck?! Akino: I ¨C I can explain. Alexa: You¡¯re about to abandon me?! Akino: Hey, Lyka! Ask something to change the topic! Lyka: You¡¯re horrible... Akino: Goddamit¡­ Sorry about that kid, I¡¯m sorry. The scene changes into the apartment of Aki, where she treated the young Alexa. The rest of the time the three stayed there was to look upon the past versions of themselves, until the place changes into a park. Alexa: So, this is where it ends huh? Akino: Yeah¡­ you cried like hell that time, though. Alexa: Don¡¯t make me remember that! Lyka: What do you mean it¡¯s going to end? Akino pointed towards the north. An ominous cube floats, nearly covering that portion of the sky. Combat jets fired at it, explosions, then a flash of light. Lyka saw the two past versions of Akino and Alexa clinging to each other, and then they got engulfed in that light, now the scene was turned into ruins of the buildings standing in a deserted area. CHAPTER 18: Reassessment The whole place turned back to its usual white place of ever-expanding nothingness. Akino: The rest that happened was not in our memories. You could say we died during that explosion, but somehow, we got back but already different. Alexa: Yeah¡­ mutants? Super-humans? I don¡¯t know. They refer us as ¡®Quantum Computers¡¯. Akino: And, sorry for turning you into one. We ¨C we couldn¡¯t think any other way to save you, so we just jump to turning you into one. Lyka: My soul was ravaged by his weapon¡­ Akino & Alexa: What? Lyka: An arch knight leaded the attack on our tribe¡­ his sword was imbued with magic similar to my father, and strong enough to tear down a soul. Akino: That¡¯s why you¡¯re missing an arm¡­ Alexa: That¡¯s an obvious thing to say. Akino: I mean in here, in the system matrix. So, I suppose you could heal wounds? Lyka: Yes, even fatal ones. But ones you got hit by that sword, any healing won¡¯t do. Anyway... what happens next? Akino: Oh, right! You saw your system evaluation? Lyka: I ¨C I don¡¯t even know where to ¨C Dialogue texts suddenly appear in front of Lyka. Akino goes to her side and points out what should be done. A minute passed, and both were done. Akino: That should do it. Lyka: It¡¯s a bit of complicated, thanks for assisting me. Alexa: Welcome to the club? Guess we have a new family member, huh? It would be weird if I call you my mother? Lyka: Wh ¨C What?! F ¨C Family member? Mother?! Lyka blushes and covers her face. Akino blushed as well but become irritated right after. Akino: Alexa! Alexa: What? Our minds were already connected into one, no point in not making her a family member, right? Akino: ¡­ Alexa: Come on, I know you like her as ¨C Akino: OKAY! Lyka, what else do you want to know? Lyka: What happened after that explosion? Both Akino and Alexa went silent. Akino: It¡¯s a long story. Alexa: Should we show to her? Akino: Guess it¡¯s okay to show to her. Akino pulled something from the ground, a drawer full of papers and recording drives. Akino: You can see it for yourself, we¡¯ll be here to explain things the best way we can. One by one, Lyka reads and watches every bit of information inside that drawer. She didn¡¯t ask any questions to the two. Seven hours of just reading and watching, and she didn¡¯t question anything. Akino: Sooo¡­ how is it? Did you somehow, ummm, got enlightened? Alexa: Humanity nearly getting wiped out, life on our world becoming more alien, we don¡¯t even know where the hell the rest of humans are! Akino: Kid, calm down. Lyka: Can I ask a favor? Akino: Sure. Lyka: Can you leave me alone in here? For a while¡­ Alexa: Is everything alright? Lyka: Yes, its just ¨C Akino: Take the time you need to absorb everything. We will be waiting in real time. Lyka: In real time? Alexa: Our brain processes things faster, thus time in here flies slower compared to the real world. Akino: Yeah, I estimated that a year in this place is like a minute in the real world. It can be modified much further, like a year will be only seconds or whatever you desire. Lyka: One last thing, how do I get out of here? Alexa: Wake up then. Akino: Yeah, just like think that you want to wake up. It will be hard in first try, but you¡¯ll get used to it. Lyka: Thank you. Lyka watches the two, suddenly dissipating in air, startled on what she witnessed. Lyka: Aki?! Alexa?! Akino: (Don¡¯t worry about it, that¡¯s how we leave.) Lyka: You¡¯re talking in my mind now? Alexa: (We have connected minds, remember?) Lyka: Yeah¡­ Alexa: You think she will be fine in there? Akino: She will be fine. The place is still the same, the cooked boar still emits heat, the torches inside the cave left untouched, the sounds of the crickets and insects outside still hymns with that silent night. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Akino: Wow, five minutes passed after we entered the virtual plane. Alexa: Hey, she won¡¯t get stuck in there, right? Akino: Nah¡­ Hey! Alexa: What? Akino approaches Alexa with spiteful intent. She pinches her cat ears as soon as she was within her reach. Akino: WHAT IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK YOU¡¯RE SAYING A WHILE AGO, HUH?! Alexa: WHAT? Alexa removes Akino¡¯s pinching hand. Akino: You! Saying that I like her! Alexa: I can smell shit-ton of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin from you! Every time you look at her or you talk to her, especially if she¡¯s smiling, I smell you excreting shit-ton of it! Akino: Languag ¨C wait, really? Alexa: Gotcha! Akino: Arrgh! Alexa: Proof one, check! Proof two, check! And the third one, check! Akino: What the hell is the second and third one?! Alexa: I just told to Lyka if a can call her my mom but you reacted as well, you blushed and stuff. Aaanndd you just admitted it, like right now. HAH! Akino: You little shit! Don¡¯t you dare tell her! Alexa: Just admit it! A wise man once said: ¡°better get her than stare at her¡±. Plus, it¡¯s a win for you! A wise man also said: ¡°people tend to like things or other people that has something they don¡¯t have¡±. Akino: What? Her tail? Fur? Claws? Alexa: First, that¡¯s offensive for her! Akino: Sorry¡­ Alexa: And second, what you lack is THICCNESS. Akino: Ex-fucking-cuse me?! Alexa: Look at yourself! Yes, nice body, athletic build, but you don¡¯t have what she has. NOW look at her! Both looked at Lyka, sitting on the bed but unconscious. Alexa: She has a beautiful face that can made everyone¡¯s heart race, very soft white skin and fur, very nice short white hair, her scar on her left eye looks badass, her badoonkas are bigger than my head, her waist looks narrowed but a bit of chubby yet her hips looks very nice, her thighs are way thicker than your muscular torso, and her assets are as huge as her knockers! Talk about a voluptuous bombshell! Akino: You fucking pervert! If she hears that, we¡¯re dead to her! Alexa: Hey! I¡¯m just connecting the dots, that secret folder on your desktop and the way you look at her? It all makes sense to me. And it¡¯s all your fault I know these things. Guess I¡¯m a detective now, huh? Beat that, sherlock! HAHAHAHA! Akino sat beside Alexa, she let¡¯s out a sigh as she stares at Lyka. Akino: Yeah... I mean, yeah, I do like her. Her hair reminds me of someone¡­ Alexa: Rachel? Akino: HOW THE HELL DID YOU KNOW ABOUT HER? Alexa: Your diary was just laying around the kitchen, you messy bastard. Both went silent, then they laughed. Their laugh could be heard all throughout the forest. Akino: Haaah¡­ good old times. Alexa: Yeah¡­ you being messy and me picking up the mess. Akino: You said you wanted to be useful? Then pick up that can! Hahahahaha! Alexa: Haha, funny old woman. Akino: Annoying old kid. Akino & Alexa: HAHAHAHAHA! The two kept on laughing, unnoticing that Lyka was already awake. Lyka: Did ¨C did I miss something? Alexa: Oh shit. Akino: Hey! You¡¯re finally awake? Alexa: Stop making jokes! Akino: I¡¯m not joking! Lyka: You guys seems going well, despite of what happened. Akino: As long as your alive, you should go on as well. Alexa: You should eat my cooking! Akino: Yeah! She¡¯s the cook, go try it! It¡¯s delicious. Lyka: Thanks. The three ate, both Akino and Alexa were still reminiscing their past lives. As soon as Lyka finishes her meal, Akino gave her water to drink and cleaned up the place. Alexa: We just changed your body, so resting a bit will help to adapt to it. Lyka: You guys will not take a sleep? Akino: We¡¯re used to not sleeping. We¡¯ll just be on the entrance if you need something. Lyka: Thanks. Lyka lays down the bed, and the two left, standing guard at the cave entrance. The morning came after that very long night for her. Lyka woke up, she left the cave and found Alexa staring at the mounds where her tribe people rest. Lyka approaches Alexa. Alexa: Lyka! You can stand up properly now. Feeling better? Lyka: Yeah. Thanks for healing my body back. Alexa: You should be thanking Aki instead. She¡¯s the one who figured out how to save you and replace your left arm. Lyka: This arm by the way, what is it made of? Its hard like steel, but acts like a normal muscle¡­ Alexa: Oh, its carbon fibre alloyed with synthesized adamantine tungsten and titanium. You can¡¯t feel the weight since Aki turned your whole skeletal system the same as that arm. Surprisingly, your skeletons are already as hard as a high-grade steel! Your muscles are super durable and highly flexible, and a huge portion of your body is made of muscles! What I mean is, that was amazing! You¡¯re amazing! Lyka: Thanks. You¡¯re the first human to appreciate us, our body. Others just calls us freak, they can¡¯t comprehend what we are¡­ Alexa: Aki does appreciate you as well. Lyka: Really? Then that makes two of you. Alexa: Glad we can help, that''s all! Lyka: Can you help me? Pick up flowers, for them? Lyka stares at the mounds with smile, but still the sadness reeks off on her expression. Alexa: Sure! You lead the way! The two took a walk into the forest. Lyka leaded Alexa to a small pond near the tribe, where calla lilies could be found. Lyka started picking up the lilies as Alexa assists her. Lyka: Must be hard, to kept in a secluded place for millions of years? Alexa: You knew about that? Lyka: You said to me we have a connected mind, right? Alexa: Hahaha! Yeah, yeah, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s a bit shocking at first, but we have to move on. Getting upset or sad about what happened is fine but making yourself down because of that won¡¯t change what happened. Lyka: I¡¯ll take that in mind, thank you. Alexa: Eh? Lyka: Nothing! Nothing¡­ A moment of silence passed, the two already picked up a handful of calla lilies. They stood up and went back to the tribe area. Lyka: Come to think of it, I should address you as my elder. Alexa: Hey! No! I don¡¯t want to! Lyka: But you¡¯re over a million years old. Would that make sense, right? Alexa: Our body is, but our mind isn¡¯t. How old are you, by the way? Lyka: I¡¯m 1256 years old¡­ Alexa: Woah¡­ wait, really? Lyka: I¡¯m surprised that you didn¡¯t know about that. Alexa: Yeah, well Aki taught me to no pry into someone else¡¯s mind without their permission. Lyka: Then why you didn¡¯t ask things about me? I could be an enemy, listening to your stories. Alexa: Aki also taught me to help people understand things, I guess. Telling our background to you was a way for you to understand us. And with understanding, a chance of trust is formed. If you¡¯re an enemy, then Aki would blast you off immediately. Lyka: Re ¨C Really? Alexa: But she got instincts, you know? I could have been a disease carrying patient, or a vulgar just doing some acts for someone to take me in, but still Aki helped me, without any hesitation. She didn¡¯t question me either when we had our very first conversation. So, I guess that¡¯s her way? Lyka: I ¨C I see¡­ The two reached the burned tribe. Lyka carefully placed one calla lily on each of the mounds, after that she kneeled, crossed her arms on her chest, and murmured some words unfamiliar to Alexa. Must be a ritual, or prayer. Alexa watches her silently, and as soon as Lyka ends her prayer she stood up and hold Alexa¡¯s shoulder. Lyka: Thank you. Alexa: You¡¯re welcome. Akino: You shouldn¡¯t be thanking so much, that¡¯s some kind of a disease. Lyka and Alexa were startled as Akino popped out behind them. Alexa: Come on! Don¡¯t just do that! Akino: You have a signal transmitter in your brain but can¡¯t detect me, sucks to be you. Lyka: Can I ask, where have you been? Akino: I flew up high and took a topographical ¨C I mean, ummm¡­ Lyka: Don¡¯t worry, I can understand. Alexa: Wait, you can understand our ¡°technical terms¡±? Lyka: I took the time learning many things in that virtual world. Akino: Oohhh¡­ anyway, I took a topographical reconnaissance. The satellites I deployed can still transmit data back and forth, normally. But I can¡¯t track down the signal origin of the message we got because of that damn field. Unknown radiation level, weird wavelength, the whole planet is enveloped with it but not exactly same as the in ours. Lyka: It¡¯s mana. All life on this planet exhibits mana, including the planet itself. Alexa: Wow¡­ Lyka: I ¨C I should start talking, I guess¡­ Akino: Go on, we¡¯re listening. Lyka: It will be a long one¡­ Alexa: Use the virtual plane then. Lyka: I ¨C I prefer talking it out. Akino: That¡¯s fine. Alexa: Then we should have some snacks! And drinks! Akino: What? Alexa: I put it inside your dimensional belt bag. Akino: It¡¯s no time for your shenanigans. The two kept on arguing for an hour, then they looked at Lyka to ask what she wants. She was smiling, but something sinister is hiding in that smile. Lyka: Can we just enter first the shrine, and settle there before I talk? Akino & Alexa: Yes, ma¡¯am! CHAPTER 19: Lyka’s log – Her story Lyka: Is that what you call a camera? Akino: Yeah. Don¡¯t worry about it, just talk and we¡¯ll listen. Alexa: It¡¯s like a ritual. Having your first log in the system was like, hmm, baptizing you? Akino: Yeah, like that. Lyka: Speaking of logs, why Aki¡¯s very first log was only in text? Using your mind to write? Akino: I didn¡¯t know there¡¯s a camera feature. Akino sets up the camera tripod, angled that the three of them can be seen. Alexa munches on some chocolate bars, and Akino focuses on Lyka that took a deep breath before telling her story. Lyka: There¡¯s an old story that my mother told when I was younger. There are many gods that woke up in this world, and they are the creators of this world. They created this world, the mountains, forests, seas, and lastly the life that inhabits each. Most gods have their own creation of life. The gods of wisdom and knowledge created the race of elves. The gods of courage and strength created the humans and demons. The gods of vitality and dexterity created the other beasts. The gods of power created the demi-humans and demi-beasts, Perdius is one of them, our chief god. These gods never named our world, but they gave us a single and simple language for us to understand each other, for us to live in harmony. We named this world Elyn, meaning ¡®united¡¯ in our language. It was a very peaceful time, but after a long run the gods got divided due to their ambitions and so their creations¡­ Akino: Ambitions? Lyka: World domination, being the strongest being, or building their dream utopia for their creations. Lyka raised her right arm, a bluish fiery line appeared and formed a circle, then symbols. Like a gear, the crypted symbols moves, and a butterfly made of blue fire flew out of her hand then it disappeared. Alexa: Woah! Lyka: They conjured their unlimited lifeforce and spread it all to their creations. We called it mana, and we¡¯ve been using it to cast magic. Akino: So, everything has its own mana? Both biotic and abiotic? Lyka: Biotic and abiotic? Oh, on living and non-living, right? Yes, it is present on all living as well as on the non-living. But the other non-living has exceptional mana in it. Alexa: Exceptional? Lyka: Some gods infused their lifeforce to ores, even some created weapons or artifacts infused with power that could rival their own. This blessing of the gods given to us served as tools for making our lives easier: for doing daily tasks, giving protection and provides strength against others who wants to do mischievous deeds. Because of this magic, others have their intentions became more concerning, full of greed for conquest and power. Akino: Why? Lyka: Because of the very creators who granted us this blessing. A war between the gods occurred because of their ever-growing ambitions. They promised to their creations that they have the same fate as them if they joined the war. Elves, humans, other demi-humans and demi-beasts, humanoids and pure beasts, dragons, fairies and demons. Other gods were able to subdue the other gods, others died out like Perdius who fought just only to protect the demi-humans and demi-beasts. Mother told it happened hundreds of thousands of years ago. The war stopped for unknown reasons, and these gods left Elyn. Akino: Where are they now? Lyka: In the Underworld, at the Centennial Abode, and others wandered off on their own¡­ like my father. Akino: Your father - is a god? Lyka: Yes. Mother told me that my father is the god of destruction, others called him the Great Destroyer, but we never knew his true name¡­ he never told us. Mother told me he wandered off because he can¡¯t be like the other gods. He ¨C he¡¯s considered lesser, because all he can do is destroy things, hence his title. Akino: But he did have you and your mother, right? Alexa: Ooohh, that¡¯s smooth. Akino: Shut it. Lyka: Thanks. He¡¯s a good father, but he left when I was 5 years old. I still remember the time where he lifts me up in the air, the time we had been laughing non-stop¡­ Alexa: He left, didn¡¯t he? Lyka: Yeah... as far as I remember, he left because of a turmoil between the gods of the Abode and the Underworld. He said he¡¯s going to secure a good future for us¡­ but up to this moment he never returned yet. Alexa: What does he look like? Lyka: He looks like nothing but a human male. At first, the tribe didn¡¯t accept him, but mother showed how trustworthy father is. We succeeded. But, still, he left us and assured that we will be protected under his name¡­ This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Akino: Can I ask, your mother, is she still alive? Lyka: She¡¯s been resting for a long time, she died a thousand years ago. Akino: That means, you¡¯re over 1200 years old? Alexa: Yeah, she¡¯s 1256 years old to be exact. Akino: I told you to not carbon date her! Alexa: Hey! She told me about it. Akino: Oh¡­ wait, that means, your father was immortal and you inherited his immortality? Lyka: Yes. Because I¡¯m a demigod and my father is an immortal being, my life has been robbed its mortality. Even the demi-wolves could live for 200 years, but still outlived my mother¡­ Akino: I ¨C I shouldn¡¯t ask. I¡¯m sorry. Lyka: It¡¯s okay. Akino: Oh, I almost forgot. Akino pulls out a red crystal from her belt bag. Lyka: Its ¨C Akino: Umm, yeah¡­ sorry about the blue dragon. Lyka: Her name¡¯s Dr¡¯akan, the Harbinger of Fear. She¡¯s ¨C she¡¯s been guiding me along with my mother. She¡¯s my father¡¯s trustworthy herald. Alexa: Is she also a god? Lyka: A herald of gods, but nearly in terms of power, both the heralds and the gods have the same strength. Each god has their own choice of their own herald, I don¡¯t know how Dr¡¯akan met father but I knew that she has been serving my father for many years. Alexa: We saw another dragon fighting against her. And we overheard that he also knew about your father. Lyka: That¡¯s D¡¯ran, he¡¯s also father¡¯s herald but the humans convinced him to side with them in exchange of being worshipped as a god. Akino: But he is your father¡¯s herald, he¡¯s supposed to be protecting you, right? Lyka: The war never ended between the creations of the gods. You¡¯ve seen the attack earlier¡­ the humans want to conquer all of the races, the elves want to take all of the power of all creation, the beasts want to exterminate all humans and elves, and the humanoids and demi-beasts wants to dominate all beings. Us never sought of anything, we just wanted peace. D¡¯rakan swore to protect us, but D¡¯ran didn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t think that we should be living in peace, but instead he believed that we should have taken part in that war. The humans were able to reason with him, making him side against us¡­ Akino: The kingdom of Altruis¡­ Lyka: One of the eight human kingdoms, and most hateful against the demi-humans and demi-beasts¡­ Alexa: We can just¡­ blast them off! Yeah! Death to them! Akino: Hey! Alexa, that¡¯s not a very appropriate way to disclose a war fueled by hate. Alexa: And greed, remember that one! Lyka: Even if you guys are strong, they have an army. These kingdoms are in some sort of alliance, it won¡¯t be just facing some knights of a single kingdom. The three went silent. Alexa finishes munching her chocolate bar. Akino stares at the gloomed face of Lyka. Lyka: For a thousand years, we¡¯ve been living in peace. D¡¯rakan taught me things in magic, making myself useful for protecting the tribe¡­ but I guess that didn¡¯t work out¡­ I ¨C I wasn¡¯t able to protect them¡­ the only family that I have, even not a by blood but by the race we belonged to¡­ Akino: But you did all of your best, at that time. One thing I learned our past world, nothing is fair. You have to climb up, jump over walls, if the wall is too high ¨C Alexa: Smash through it. No obstacle will ever stop you from living. Lyka smiled, she grabbed the two and hugged them. Akino: Umm¡­ wow. Alexa: Ho~ho¡­ Akino is enjoying this. Akino: Shut up. Lyka slowly lifted their right arms. Lyka: Mother told me that one day, when I¡¯ll have my own family¡­ I should do this. When ¨C when mother bonded with father, she bit his right arm¡­ a pact has been made between the two of them. Akino: Okay¡­ Alexa: Do it with Akino first. Akino: Alexa! Alexa: What? Lyka: It¡¯s alright. Lyka opens her mouth. With her four canine teeth, she bit Akino, then Alexa. Lyka: Your blood tastes funny. Alexa: Her blood is made of jet fuel. Akino: She¡¯s joking. Alexa: She can turn her blood into jet fuel. Akino: Anyways, how¡¯s your experience in fighting? I saw you wielding a sword last time. Lyka: I¡¯m an inept in swordsmanship, but I¡¯m adept in casting spells. Akino: Really? How about a spar with me? Lyka: Spar with you? Akino: Don¡¯t worry, I can¡¯t control your left bionic arm. Lyka: So, a test in strength? Akino: And training as well. Lyka: I¡¯m on it. Alexa: Count me in! Lyka: Can I have my leather armor first? Akino: You mean your skimpy outfit? Lyka: SKIMPY?! Akino: I mean, look at it, it shows so much skin. I can modify it. Alexa: Heh, you¡¯re dying to see what she looks like on that outfit. Akino: Another tease, and I¡¯ll pinch your tongue! Alexa took Lyka¡¯s leather garments from Akino. Alexa: Don¡¯t listen to her, she¡¯s just jealous. Lyka: The lightness is for my mobility and it¡¯s a traditional armor of the wolf-people. This has been passed down to us. Akino & Alexa: Mobility?! Both stared at Lyka, from toes to her head. Akino: Mobility? With that breasts?! Lyka covered her breasts. She blushed, screamed, and kicked Akino on her face, sending Akino flying outside the cave. Alexa: That¡¯s a strong kick. Lyka looked at Alexa. She smiled and patted her head. Lyka: You asked me to be your mother, right? Alexa: Really?! Lyka: These thousand years made me dream of having my own child¡­ so, yes. You can be my daughter. Alexa: YEY! Akino: What¡¯s all the fuss here? Alexa: Hey, I got a new mom! Akino: Ugh¡­ wait, what? Lyka: You heard her. Akino fell silent, she stares at the two as Alexa hugs Lyka. She smiled, seeing the ones she saved, who has dark pasts are already moving on, living the best of their lives. CHAPTER 20: Training Program The three went to an open area near the tribe. Alexa sits near the bushes, and both Akino and Lyka were standing at the center of the field. Lyka: Alexa said you like my outfit, do you really like it? Akino: Really? Alexa? Alexa: Hehehehe Akino: It suits on you. Lyka: Thank yo ¨C Akino: If it truly served its purpose. You said the lightness exhibits mobility. I want to know what mobility you¡¯re referring to. Lyka: Wha¡­ Alexa: Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s always strict when it comes to this, but you already knew she¡¯s a cinnamon bun. Akino: Well then. Hit me¡­ Lyka: In anyway? Akino: Give everything you¡¯ve got. Lyka: Are you sure about that? Akino: Yeah. Lyka prepares herself. She stretches her legs, puts up her fists, and with a focused grinned face, she disappeared. Akino: Ho~? Lyka didn¡¯t just disappeared. She dashed, so fast it created a small sonic boom. After a brief moment, she reappears in front of Akino, with her left leg on its way flying towards Akino¡¯s face. But Akino is faster. Lyka didn¡¯t notice that Akino¡¯s right arm already in position, blocking her kick. Lyka couldn¡¯t stop because of her momentum, the kick hits, so strong it made the air between her leg and Aki¡¯s arm move so fast, creating a small shockwave. The ground where Akino stands where shattered, making her dash away from Lyka after her kick. Lyka: H ¨C How? Akino: Simple, not strong enough. But didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d move so fast, huh? Alexa: I just notice, her body is mainly composed of muscles instead of fat. That¡¯s why it doesn¡¯t jiggle that much¡­ Lyka: EH?! Akino: Can we please focus? Lyka: Oh, sorry. Akino: I¡¯m surprised you¡¯ve already utilized the modification in your body. With pre-calculations, you¡¯d only show 50,000 newtons of punching force, but with your already modified body, it can deal more than that. Limitless power, and you must show that to me. So, don¡¯t hold back. Lyka: Alright, I won¡¯t hold back this time. Akino: Wait, you were really holding back? Lyka raised her right arm, bluish fiery magic circles appeared on it. Akino started taking a defensive stance, she knew Lyka won¡¯t hold back anymore. Lyka: Thine Darkness, come thee prowess. Reaping Shadow! A black aura appeared around Lyka, then she dashed again. This time, Akino isn¡¯t going to block. She immediately grabs the dashing Lyka, and she succeeds but that Lyka turned into a black smoke. Akino: What the! A copy?! Lyka appeared behind Akino. With her left arm raised, she shouts: Lyka: Reaping Arrow! An explosion occurred, throwing Lyka away. Akino withstood the blast, and as soon as she sees Lyka laying on the ground, she ran towards her. Alexa did also run toward her. Lyka sat on the ground, shaking off the dusts on her clothes. Akino: Lyka! Alexa: Ma! Are you alright?! Lyka: I¡¯m fine¡­ but this bionic arm prevented me from casting a spell. Alexa stares at Akino with a spiteful expression. Akino: My fault, I know¡­ Alexa: So, carbon fibre and tungsten-titanium aren¡¯t conductive to mana? It just reacts badly, like an explosion¡­ Akino: But her arm seems to be undamaged¡­ are you hurt? Lyka: No. Nothing¡¯s hurt. Akino assists Lyka to stand. Akino: I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m sorry¡­ Lyka: It¡¯s alright, better have an arm than nothing¡­ but only my right arm can cast spells. Alexa: If you think about it, that explosion could be useful. But you must withstand its force. Akino: We¡¯ll get to that, but first, time for round two. This time just use your left to punch me. Lyka: Got it. The two went back to their positions. Lyka did the same thing. Lyka: Reaping Shadow! Akino: Won¡¯t fall for that in a second time! Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Another black aura appeared around Lyka. Akino readies herself, but she was surprised. Five Lykas went out of the black smoke, running towards her. She clenches her fists, and swiftly punches each of the Lyka, only ending up punching a copy of her. Akino did a roundhouse kick behind her, and her kick stops midair. Lyka was able to turn herself invisible, used her bionic arm to block Akino¡¯s kick. Akino: Wow. Now we¡¯re in a reversed position. But still, it¡¯s not strong enough. I thought you¡¯re not going to hold back. Lyka: I am! Akino: Then why is it still weak?! Is that all you¡¯ve got?! Lyka snaps. She jumps away from Akino, she raised her right arm, and a magic circle appeared on her palm and on the ground where she stands. Alexa: Oh boy, you made her mad. Akino: Good. We¡¯ll get to see her full extent. Lyka: You really want me to go all out?! Akino: That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been waiting for the past 5 minutes. Lyka: Tsk! Lyka closed her eyes. Akino could feel that a huge amount of energy is concentrating around Lyka¡¯s body. The mana energy is condensing on her right palm, pointing towards Akino. Lyka: Dark Roar! A huge dark bluish energy ball emerges from Lyka¡¯s magic circle on her palm. Alexa jumped into the bushes to hide, while Akino prepares herself by raising her arms, putting it together to defend herself. Lyka shoots out the energy towards Akino. A huge shockwave, a deafening blast, and a bright flash terrorized the whole forest. The aftermath has burned the ground, the trees where the blast is directed were torn down and burned. In the middle is Akino, still standing but with missing arms, burned body from her head down to her toes, tattered face and was reduced like purely burnt char. Lyka gasps on what she saw, she didn¡¯t expect to burn Akino alive with her attack. Lyka: AKI?! Lyka runs toward Akino, but Alexa jumps in to stop her. Lyka was about to cry, regretting the actions she did. Alexa: Don¡¯t! Lyka: It was an accident! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m very sorry! Alexa: Ma! Step back! Lyka: Please, don¡¯t be mad. I swear, I didn¡¯t expect to ¨C Alexa: Ma, relax. Just look. Alexa assists Lyka to step back as they stare at the burnt body. After a few seconds, electrical currents began appearing on the body, and as this electricity runs over Akino¡¯s body, the body began regenerating in an instantaneous pace. As the body repairs itself, the surrounding began heating up, the grasses three meters away from the body began burning and the already burned ground started to become red hot, turning into molten rock in seconds. Akino¡¯s body was fully healed, or ¡®repaired¡¯ in a just fifteen seconds. She bends her neck, stretches her arms, and then yawns. Lyka: H ¨C how? Akino: Matter manipulation. I told last time, in our world magic doesn¡¯t exist, but smart people were able to harness the power of recombining and rearranging matter. Alexa: You did read the file about the experiments on us, didn¡¯t you? Lyka: Yes, I was able to read it¡­ but some parts were a bit complicated for me. I had to use your ¡®dictionary¡¯ every time I see a very unfamiliar word. Alexa: Still having problems with some of our terms, huh? Akino: Well, to sum it up: we can be regenerate super -fast, able to adapt in extreme environments, manipulate the compositions of the objects to our will, and due to our connection to this ¡®spatial anomaly¡¯ we have unlimited supply of energy and atoms to rebuild ourselves. Lyka scratches her head upon hearing what Akino said. Akino scoops out a hot, molten soil with her hand. Lyka was shocked on she¡¯d seen, as Akino turns the molten material into a steel knife. Lyka: Wow! You didn¡¯t even use a tiny bit of mana! Akino: Matter manipulation, though we still don¡¯t know what¡¯s the full extent of it. Akino holds the knife firmly and takes an offensive stance. Akino: Ready for round two? Lyka: Wait, aren¡¯t you exhausted? Akino: Nope. Throw that same attack again. Alexa: What?! Lyka: Don¡¯t be ridiculous! Akino: Do it, or I¡¯ll attack you. Lyka repeats her attack, another energy ball forms on the palm of her right hand. Lyka: Dark Roar! Akino stands still, facing head on the attack Lyka was about to release. Lyka hesitates, but she builds the courage to release the attack. As Lyka releases the condensed magic energy, Akino¡¯s skin turned into plated armor, covering her whole body in less than a second. The attack hits her. As the dust settles, Akino can still be seen standing upright, no damages on her body this time, however her body is glowing like a very hot metal. Lyka: You¡¯re glowing, are you alright? Akino: You should prepare another attack. Lyka: What?! Akino takes an attacking stance, a trapezoidal opening where in vent fan looking structure appears on her chest armor and huge electrical currents are coming out of her. Lyka, which is confused, immediately casted another spell, making new sets of magic circles around her. Lyka: Multiple Cast! Dark Shadow, Reaping Roar! Shadow images, 5 in total, splits off from Lyka, all carrying condensed magic energy on their right hands. They surround Akino, and immediately releases the concentrated power. Akino sweeps her clenched fist in circular manner, hitting all the magic energy beams, cancelling their damaging impact, and causing to create a shockwave. Lyka sure is surprised with that, so she jumped 4 meters high, and casted a magic circle above Akino. Lyka: Greater Dark Roar! The magic circle shoots out an energy beam, directly above Akino. A direct hit. The ground shakes, and the winds move aggressively due to the sheer amount of force the magic circle is releasing. The beam violently dissipates, revealing Akino jumping with her right fist raised. While in mid-air, Lyka throws a left punch the instant seeing Akino jumped towards her. Akino grabs Lyka¡¯s Bionic left arm and throws her to the ground. Lyka: Ugh! Alexa: Aki! Be easy on her! Akino: I am. Akino reaches her hand to Lyka, assisting her on standing up. Alexa: Ma, are you alright? Lyka: I¡¯m fine, thanks. Akino: And with that, now I could see your problem. Lyka: My ¨C problem? Akino: Repetitive attacks makes you predictable, shouting the name of your spells count in being predictable as well, you¡¯re taking time in casting spells, and lastly¡­ well not really that it concerns you, so I¡¯ll let that slide out. Overall, great strength and speed, but you¡¯re not using properly. Lyka: Hey! What¡¯s with the last one? Alexa: Yeah, I mean she needs to know that so she can improve. Akino sighs, she creates a tactical knife from the palm of her hand and hands it to Lyka. Akino: Strike that knife onto my chest. Lyka: WHAT?! Alexa: Oh boy¡­ she¡¯s doing it. Lyka: Doing what? Akino: You heard me. Alexa: Just do it, ma. She did that to me as well during our time in our old world. Lyka: What ¨C what happens next? Alexa: See it for yourself. Lyka readies herself, she rushes towards Akino and aims the knife towards her chest. Akino stands still, but she could see that Lyka closed her eyes while she¡¯s rushing towards her. The moment the knife nearly hits Akino, she sidesteps it and immediately grabs Lyka on her shoulders to stop her. Akino: You haven¡¯t killed anyone, have you? Lyka: I¡­yes¡­ Akino: You slowed down when you got nearer to me¡­ you¡¯re hesitant in hurting someone, yet you have so much strength in you. Your guardian taught you a thing or two in fighting, right? Lyka: Dr¡¯akan only taught me some useful spells, she also taught me to fight and defend myself as well as the others. But she never taught me to kill anyone. Akino: Yeah, but you burnt me into crisps earlier. Lyka: I¡¯m not intending to hurt you badly! I just... lose control of myself¡­ Alexa: Well, if you can¡¯t handle killing someone, incapacitating should do, right Aki? Akino: I guess¡­ but finishing off the enemy is more efficient. Still, it depends on the situation you¡¯re in. Lyka: You¡¯ve trained Alexa to kill? Alexa: Yeah! Strangling the neck, lethal stabs on the sternum with pencil, neck breaking, spine splitting, and many other ways. Akino: You¡¯ve seen how cruel our world was, so I was forced to train what I knew. And she¡¯s making up that, I only taught her how to climb up on someone fast since she¡¯s small, and how to stab them or break their neck while clinging to their backs. Lyka: You guys are weird. Akino: You should build up the courage in killing someone, it will help you survive in a cruel world. Lyka: What if the enemy surrenders? Alexa: Disable the guy, so that he can¡¯t counter against you. Akino: This will be a tough one¡­ Akino sat on the ground, and gestures to the two to take a seat as well. Akino: I have a plan, we¡¯ll use overriding techniques to make you learn things faster. Lyka: If it makes me stronger than before, I¡¯ll do take it. CHAPTER 21: Fast Learning The three went back to the cerebral matrix. Akino walked in front of the two. Akino: So, first is we¡¯re going to force in some martial art techniques in you, then we¡¯ll test it out. Sounds good? Lyka: Yes, that¡¯s fine. Akino touches Lyka¡¯s forehead with her index finger. Light came out of her finger, then it went inside Lyka¡¯s head. After that, Lyka backs off a little bit, seemingly having a headache. Akino: You alright? Lyka: I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m fine¡­ Akino: How is it? Lyka: Wow¡­ is this, how you fight in close combat? Jiujitsu, taekwondo, Muay Thai, krav maga, they all look deadly despite relying only to the body! Akino: You want something else? Lyka: I¡¯m not sure¡­ anything you have on swordsmanship? Akino: Depends on your sword, you have to think first of the kind of sword you want to use. Lyka raised her right arm, and a silver broadsword started to materialize. But not any ordinary broadsword, it¡¯s over a meter long, a sixth of a meter wide, and a handle for two hands. Lyka effortlessly swings that sword with a gentle smile. Lyka: Good old memories¡­ Akino: That¡¯s ¨C nice! Alexa: Is that your sword? But we didn¡¯t find any sword like that in the tribe settlement. Lyka: My mother¡¯s bound sword. I usually see it wielded by mother when she¡¯s sparring with father. When father left us, she gave it to him. Akino: Hmmm¡­ broadsword fighting from medieval? Alexa: Kendo sounds awesome! Akino: Scottish longsword techniques might work as well. Akino repeated placing the information inside Lyka, after that Alexa activated ten moving test dummies, all equipped with riot shields and stunning batons. Lyka: Is this the test I¡¯ll be taking? Akino: Go on, we¡¯ll be watching. Alexa: Yeah, I¡¯ll be cheering for you! Lyka: Thanks! Lyka rushes towards the test dummies. She begins tearing the riot shields, dodging the batons, kicking and parrying the test dummies¡¯ attacks as the two watches in awe. Akino: She¡¯s awesome, isn¡¯t she? Alexa: Heh~? Akino: Cut off that smug face of yours. Wait a minute, you should have set the test dummies into fantasy monsters, right? Going easy on her? Alexa: Hey, stunning batons can hurt badly, and riot shields are harder than the standard medieval shield. Akino: Come to think of it, the knight she mentioned¡­ must be something hard to beat¡­ Alexa: So, you want me to make her prepare on her second round with that guy? Akino: Make it harder. Alexa: Gotcha! The test dummies suddenly vaporize. Lyka looks at them with a very confident smile. Lyka: Is that all? Akino: No darling, we¡¯re just getting started. Lyka: D ¨C Darling?! Alexa: YIEEE!!! Akino: Goddammit¡­ Bipedal mechanoids, five meters tall, all armed with missiles and guns. Armed androids appeared as well, heavily armored and wields high caliber firearms. Lyka: Are these ¨C Akino: The mechanical military that we have. Lyka: I think this is not fair! Alexa: You can beat them! Use your magic or something! Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Lyka started attacking the machines. Swinging her sword to split them in half, crushing their legs with her kicks and punches, deflecting the missiles and bullets with her bionic arm and sword. She manages to finish off the forty machines in five minutes. Alexa: Wow, she¡¯s indeed very fast. Akino: Yeah. Lyka approaches them, sweating and catching her breath. Lyka: This ¨C is ¨C supposed to be ¨C a virtual world¡­ why am I feeling tired? Akino: I set the settings wherein your body could still feel all the stress happening inside here. When we go back to the real world, your body should be already familiar with this scenario. Lyka points her sword towards Akino and grins, full of confidence. Lyka: How about a round two? Akino: Hahaha! Sorry about that, you¡¯ll have to defeat more of those guys. Behind Lyka, another set of machines spawned. They all have humanoid appearances, and wields plasma-type weapons, fifteen humanoids in total. Additionally, a huge spider-like machine spawns, sixteen meters tall and has six legs, equipped with heavy cannons and machine guns. Akino: Alexa, you spawned that? Alexa: Yeah! From that old game in your laptop? With the main character as a samurai looking machine dude? Lyka: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Akino: Defeat those, and you¡¯ll have your round two. Irritated, Lyka dashes to the machines and begins swinging and casting spells to destroy them. A very rough twenty-five minutes passed, and still the giant robot-spider is still standing strong. Alexa: Go for the legs! Akino: It¡¯s opposing her sword strikes, like ¡®parrying¡¯ it. Lyka: Ugh! This damn thing won¡¯t die! Akino: Look for its weak point! Lyka sprints and encircles the machine. While holding the sword on her left, she casts a spell on her right hand. She closes her eyes and reopens, but it¡¯s glowing now. Her teleports on the ¡®thorax¡¯ of the machine, and swings her sword multiple times, creating a slashed hole on the center of the giant machine, bringing it down. Lyka: How¡¯s that, you metal monster! Alexa: Yup, she¡¯s fast. Akino: How did you know about it¡¯s core location? Lyka: Clairvoyance, I just learned it. Nice isn¡¯t? Alexa: You just learned it? Akino: Ho~? You¡¯ve got your own version of targeting system, huh? Lyka: This ¡®targeting system¡¯ of machines are a bit of complicated. I enhanced my senses looked for the most heated part of that machine and the most protected. The legs are fully armored, but lesser compared to it¡¯s thorax and a sensed heat coming from it, so I assumed it¡¯s the location of its heart. Alexa: Damn, ma¡¯s learning very fast. Lyka: Thanks! Akino: Then, your fighting methods did improve. Astonishingly, in a short amount of time¡­ Alexa: Heh, you jelly? Akino: I¡¯m not! Oh ¨C anyways, I¡¯ll just check if you can use your interface without our help then we¡¯re done here. Alexa: You mean, her utility display? Lyka: ¡®Utility display¡¯? Akino: You can see it, but only on your peripheral vision. Lyka: I¡¯m seeing ¡®Current Location: Cerebral Matrix¡¯. It¡¯s working, isn¡¯t? Akino: Yup, but before we leave, I¡¯ll connect the two of you to my satellites. In case we got separated, we can track each other very easily. And I¡¯ll reconfigure other things, then we¡¯re outta here. . . . Alexa: Show off. Akino: What? That¡¯s necessary. While the two were arguing, Lyka concentrates on doing magic. A magic circle appears, and instantly the broadsword she used materialized. She grabs the sword by her left hand and points it at Akino. Akino looks at her, smiling and full of certainty that she will win this time. Akino: Using magic without saying anything, huh? You sure adapting very fast. Lyka: It¡¯s actually pretty hard not chanting the spell¡­ but sure, it does save time. Akino raises her fists, covering it in grey metallic material. Lyka swings her sword, elegantly. The two dashed toward each other. Clash of fists and blade, speed and strength, determination and strategy. The fight goes on. Lyka, without saying anything, releases her shadow copies. On the other hand, Akino fends and pins the copies as she notices that Lyka was readying a magic attack from her left arm. Akino: Ho? you forgot about your left bionic arm? Lyka: I certainly remember it. Akino: You ¨C what? A magic circle appeared on her left hand, but shatters in an instant. As the magic circle shatters, Akino could see in a fraction of a second that a huge energy condensing on her left hand, an impending explosion. However, Lyka prepares to use her left hand to punch Akino. Even at a three-meter distance, Lyka punches her left, faced towards Akino. The condensed magic energy was directed towards Akino, as if Lyka punched so hard it created a force. An explosion occurred, and Akino being directly hit by it, throwing her tens of meters away from Lyka. Lyka and Alexa rans towards where Akino landed. Akino: That was strong¡­ Lyka: Heh! I won this time. Akino: It¡¯s a fair trade then. How did you figure that out? Lyka: I¡¯m thanking Alexa for that. Alexa: Since it will only result in a violent explosion if she casts a magic on her left arm, I ask her if she could punch so hard that the direction of the explosion could change and be directed on the given target. Akino: And that target is me¡­ wait, I didn¡¯t hear you two talk about that. Lyka: Your communication method of talking with just your mind is surprisingly useful, especially when you¡¯re talking to someone in a middle of a fight. Akino: Wow, learning pretty fast, aren¡¯t we? Lyka: Thanks to both of you, I¡¯ve learned this much. Lyka assists Akino to stand up. Akino: So that means you didn¡¯t win against me. Lyka: What?! Akino: I mean, you cheated. You asked Alexa¡¯s help. Alexa: I voluntarily said it to her. Akino: Still ¨C Alexa: Sore loser! Akino: What the - ! Say that again, I dare ya! Alexa: Loser jellybean! The two started arguing, and Lyka watches them both. She smiled gently, and whispers to herself. Lyka: Thank you¡­ CHAPTER 22: A New Adventure, and Another Encounter Akino cleans up the cave, removing the makeshift bed she did, the wooden table and chairs, leaving nothing inside but only the altar of their shrine. Lyka asked a favor about it, before they leave the place. Outside the cave, Alexa is helping Lyka cleaning up the mounds of her deceased tribespeople. They placed a new set of calla lilies on each of the mound, and every after placing a flower Lyka prays and hymns in an unfamiliar word. After that, the two met up with Akino inside the cave who was about to finish up cleaning. Lyka: May I ask, where did you placed the armors and garments of the humans? Akino: Oh, we buried it along with their bodies. Would be dangerous if somebody else finds it out. And don¡¯t worry, even if their bodies rot, they won¡¯t smell. We¡¯ve dug very deep to make sure no one¡¯s gonna find those. Alexa: Speaking of them, why no one came here after that raid? They should¡¯ve sent in reinforcements, right? Akino: The nearest city construct was 543 kilometers, north-east. The terrain between this place and to that area was a dense forest-mountain system. If they hate monsters so much, they wouldn¡¯t have to go and traverse that. They will avoid it as much as possible since monsters could be in there. If they take a detour instead, they¡¯ll have to cover an approximate distance of 1705 kilometers¡­ that¡¯s roughly 284 hours or 11 days, if they walked non-stop. If they use carriage and horses, then it could be more than that since it could take time due to their preps every time they take a rest. 15 days is the least days for them to come over here. It¡¯s also a plus if they¡¯re not from that city. Lyka: That¡¯s very amazing! Akino: What? Their travel time? Lyka: I mean the way you concluded on how many days they¡¯ll take to come here. Akino: That¡¯s just a rough estimate, no need to praise it. Lyka: Still, I don¡¯t know if that city was occupied by the Altruis kingdom or not. Akino: We¡¯ll have to find it out then. Alexa: Heh~? Still showing off, are we? Akino: Shut up. Oh, by the way the magic crystals¡­ I placed it back at the altar. Lyka: Thanks. Akino: And these bags of gold. Akino pulls out of her belt bag three big bags of gold. Akino: There are a thousand gold coins in total, and I split it to three. Alexa: Hey! That won¡¯t be even! Akino: I know, that¡¯s why I¡¯m handing it to Lyka. Lyka: Ummm ¨C I¡¯m not familiar with human commerce, so you should keep it instead. Alexa: You guys don¡¯t buy things? Lyka: This forest provides most of our needs, so we¡¯re not dependent with the gold currency. Akino: I see¡­ After finishing the clean-up, they left the cave. Lyka got a small bag from her burned home and place the cotton clothes Akino made for her, she also packed a fully filled water container made of animal skin. After that, they walked their way out of the tribe-village, and as they left Lyka pauses, glancing at the place she was born for the last time. Akino: We ¨C we can just stay here if you want to, its not that we¡¯re dragging you off, and we¡¯re not your responsibility. Lyka: I¡¯ve already done a pact with both of you¡­ and besides, there¡¯s nothing left for me here. All I have is you two¡­ my new life has begun already when you saved me. Alexa: Then, we should make this trip more entertaining and happier! Right, Aki? Akino: Yeah, I guess¡­ Lyka smiles at the two. Before continuing their walk, Lyka pulls out the crystal heart of Dr¡¯akan, she crushes it with het left hand and releases the dust in the blowing wind. The three gazes at the glowing dusts, as it dances in the air Lyka clasps her palms and chants. Lyka: May you rest now, my old guardian. They continued walking, leaving the burned tribe village and going deep into the forest. Akino decided they should go to the north-east settlement. Lyka: Can I ask, why are we going to that city? Alexa: Aki, I think she should tell her about it. Lyka: What do you mean? Akino: We haven¡¯t told you yet, but you knew that we came from another world, right? Lyka: Yes, I know. Akino: The moment we stepped here, we received a message and we assumed its from this world. But because of the ¡®mana interference¡¯ that I couldn¡¯t pinpoint the signal source of the message, we have to find for some other information as well, and the information pool could be in the cities, especially the one on our north-east. Lyka: I heard stories from travelers that passed by our village, that we could use the guild there if we want commissions, but we never did. I guess we could use that guild to find what we¡¯re looking for. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Alexa: A guild? It is really a fantasy world, huh? Lyka: And I heard rumors that the elves and humans were summoning people from the other worlds and calls them ¡®heroes¡¯. These heroes were rumored to have special aptitude to magic, has unnatural strength, and they serve them because the humans and elves promised them with fortune. Akino: Don¡¯t be mistaken, we¡¯re not summoned. We got here through a spatial anomaly, that¡¯s all. Alexa: And we don¡¯t have any magic. So, you could say that you¡¯ve got your own special other-worldly buddies, HIHIHIHI! Alexa kept on laughing, Lyka smiles at her then she giggles. The two were having a good time chatting while walking in that forest, and all the sudden the three seems to be alerted. Lyka: You smell that? It smells like blood. Alexa: Yeah, I¡¯m smelling it too¡­ but not anything I knew, or even in my data records. Must be a new creature encounter. Akino: I detected movement, 10 meters away on west. They silently rushed towards the detected movement. Akino preps her right arm as a pump shotgun and Alexa¡¯s hair turned into spear claws. Lyka casts a protection spell around them as they slowly approach the trees. ¡°Help!¡± Lyka peeks behind the tree and saw an injured young male orc. About 1.85 to 2 meters tall, has a slim-muscular build, and wears a leather strip armor. The orc has a broken left arm with the ulna bone broken and protruding out of his skin, where the dark green blood oozes out of the laceration. The orc collapses on the floor the moment he saw the three girls. They rushed towards the young orc, and as soon as they get in touch with him, they started applying first-aid. Akino fabricates a clean cloth from her skin and covers the wound, Alexa injects him with sedatives to make him calm down and anesthetics to soothe his pain, and Lyka casts a healing spell to slowly treat the injury. Lyka: Are you alright? What happened to you? Young Orc: Something¡­ attacked us¡­ Akino: Us? Akino and Lyka assists the orc to sit down, leaning on the tree. They let the orc relax a bit and gave him water to drink. Akino: Hey, I¡¯m Akino. She¡¯s Lyka, and that is Alexa. How about yours? Young Orc: My name¡¯s Olguk¡­ The orc gulps every water they gave to him, he hands the container back and sits up straight. Olguk: Thank you, demi-wolf. You¡¯ve healed my wounds fast, I owe you. Lyka: You¡¯re welcome. Akino: So¡­ what happened? Olguk: I¡¯m with the commissioned adventurers¡­ we were going to collect some magic ores when we saw a smoke coming in this forest days ago and we followed it. But a strange magic barrier has sent us to a different part of the forest, making us lost in path. Lyka: Dr¡¯an¡­ Alexa: What happens next? Olguk: We saw a cave, and we decided to take camp near it since we are going to collect ores¡­ we didn¡¯t expect that the cave was inhabited by goblins¡­ and¡­ and! The orc breaks down, covering his head and cowers in fear. Olguk: T-T-T-That¡¯s madness!!! That monster! Akino: Hey! Calm down! Alexa, I thought you injected him with sedatives? Alexa: Do you want me to kill him? I already given him the right amount, but it seems his immune to its effects. However, if I pump him more, he might pass out or get convulsions. The orc grabs Akino¡¯s shoulders. Olguk: Please! Help me! We have to save my friends! I¡¯m begging you! Akino: Sure, sure¡­ but is it fine that you¡¯re leading the way? You can just stay here and give the directions to that cave. The orc stands up and he calms himself down. Olguk: An orc ¨C an orc must face his enemy! With ¨C without fear! Alexa: You look you are about to piss on your pants. Lyka: Orcs have the pride of not facing down any enemy they met. But you said goblins, right? They should not posses any threat against you? Akino: He said the cave WAS inhabited by goblins¡­ any guesses, Lyka? Lyka: I don¡¯t know. The goblins are very mischievous and tends to choose only female humanoids as victims to breed, but they could fight male humanoids too and deems to be very dangerous in huge numbers¡­ they are sometimes accompanied by an ogre, or trolls. That¡¯s all I know. Alexa: Breed with female humanoids?! That¡¯s disgusting. Akino: So, the dude attacked you, is it an ogre or a troll? Olguk: I ¨C I don¡¯t know¡­ but it¡¯s a true monster! Lyka: The possibility of facing a demon or lich in that cave is likely as well¡­ Akino: Okay, Olguk. Please lead the way. They walked westward. After twenty minutes of walking, they reached the cave opening. The equipment of the other adventurers was organized, placed in the makeshift shelters. The orc leads the three inside the cave. Akino creates LED sticks to light up the cave and handed one each to the other three. Olguk: Wow¡­ Akino: I¡¯ll take the lead, just say the directions. Akino takes the front, and the other three are on the rear. The orc observes Akino as she turns her left arm into a rifle, and Alexa as she covers her skin with hardened carbon and silicate scales. Olguk: Demi-wol ¨C I mean Miss Lyka, these humans, what are they? Lyka: My family. The orc looks at the smiling Lyka, with his expression full of confusion. Olguk: Your ¨C family? Lyka: They saved me from the Altruis knights that attacked and burned my village¡­ sadly i¡¯m only the sole survivor of the attack¡­ but I¡¯m glad they saved me and took me as their own. They are humans who never fear humanoids. Olguk: I¡¯m sorry about that¡­ That Akino ¨C she never hesitated to help me, an orc¡­ but normally humans couldn¡¯t do doing that. And these two doesn¡¯t have any mana in them, very strange¡­ Alexa: Because we are aliens! Olguk: Aliens? Akino stops, and so the others. They could see some bones and small skulls on the ground, covered in blood. Lyka: Goblin bones¡­ Akino: This cave WAS really inhabited by them. Olguk: Oliva! Thoral! Where are you?! Akino: Hey! Don¡¯t shout! Do you want to attract the one who attacked you?! Alexa: Aki, I think this smell is very familiar. Alexa leans toward the bloodied bones. She sniffs them, and she suddenly grits her teeth. Akino approaches to her. Akino: What is it? Alexa: This stink! I know this stink! It¡¯s the same stink when we left that cryogenic chamber! Akino: Hey! Don¡¯t jump to conclusions! Are you sure about that? Alexa: Yeah! This blood and fecal smell, and I could smell a faint stink of it on the deeper part of this cave. Akino: Then it hasn¡¯t come out of this cave yet. We have to finish it off before it multiplies and leave this cave. Akino turns back to the other two. Lyka: What did Alexa found out? Olguk: Is it the monster? Akino: Yeah¡­ and on top of that, the one from our world¡­ a mutated human¡­ Lyka: A mutated what? Olguk: From your world? Akino: Like Alexa said, we¡¯re aliens. Both of us came from another world through a passage. Olguk: I ¨C I see¡­ Akino: Lyka, you have spells that can burn, right? Lyka: Yes, I have. Why did you ask? Akino: If we faced that creature, don¡¯t stop burning it, even if it pleads for you to stop. Lyka: What? CHAPTER 23: FACILITY B-18 The group presses on, deeper into that cave. As they go deeper, the stink becomes stronger. Akino turned her left arm into a Geiger counter, that ticks slowly. More bones covered in blood and fecal matter could be seen as they go deeper, and Akino¡¯s Geiger starts ticking louder and faster. Akino: First, the meatball monster and now this! This is getting out of hand. Lyka: Should we continue? Akino: Yeah, we should. If that thing gets out of here, the whole forest will be consumed by these creatures. Alexa: How about Olguk? He¡¯s not immune to radiation like us. Akino: We should tell him to stay he ¨C Before Akino finishes her words, they heard a distant roar. The monster that Akino and Alexa met when they left their pods, a four-legged flesh full of hollowed faces and protruding arms. Lyka was stunned on the sight, and Olguk collapses on the floor, trembling in fear. Akino turned her left arm into a minigun, and an extended mechanical arm appears on her back with cryo-missiles. Alexa turned herself muscular, her hair became spear-claws of a spear mantis shrimp and charges at the creature. As the two fought the monster, Lyka drags the orc away from the conflict and casts a protective spell on him. Lyka: Stay here! Olguk: G ¨C got it! Lyka runs back to the two to join in engaging the creature. Akino was able to freeze the legs of the creature, Alexa follows up by smashing the frozen legs, the creature falls, but it is noticeable that its injured parts are starting to heal. Alexa pounds the main body of the creature, but she could sense that with every hit she does, the whole cave shakes. She stops smashing the creature. Alexa: Blast it with the gatling canon or something! Akino: Do you want me to make this cave collapse? Lyka: What are we going to do? Its healing already. As the creature slowly regenerates, it releases a faint smoke from its body. Both Alexa and Lyka sniffed in the air, but Lyka sneezes and gags. Lyka: What is that foul smell?! Alexa: Is that methane? Lyka: Methane? Akino: Flammable gas¡­ shit! I can¡¯t shoot nor toast this dude! Lyka: Why is that so? Akino: If I light it up with this concentration of methane in the air, it may cause combustion that could lead to a damaging explosion. Alexa: We can survive that explosion, but Olguk won¡¯t. Lyka: I placed a protective spell on him, he will be fine. Akino: This cave will collapse if the explosion occurs, let¡¯s say he¡¯s well protected by that spell of yours, but the falling rocks may also collapse the floor, making him fall and trapping him. Alexa: Methane asphyxiation may also kill him. But I¡¯m not underestimating you, okay? Akino: Are you pertaining something, kid? Lyka: I ¨C I can cast dark flames on it, burning it to ashes? Akino: I just told you, we can¡¯t light it ¨C Alexa: Hey, Aki! She has magic, remember? Akino: I ¨C I¡¯m sorry¡­ Lyka: Mother taught me how to use the dark flame. When we hunt and didn¡¯t place a lethal strike on the prey, we cast the dark flame on, soothing the pain that the animal feels, and killing the prey in an instant but painlessly. Like a mercy kill. The casted flame will instead burn the soul of the animal, making it dead. Akino: Wow. That¡¯s ¨C that¡¯s pretty useful. Lyka raises her right hand, pointed towards the nearly healed creature. The creature slowly drags itself towards the three. Lyka nervously casts her spell, bluish flame started to appear on the creature. It stills releases gases, and shockingly speaks. ¡°HELP ME!¡± ¡°DON¡¯T EAT ME!¡± ¡°PLEASE, I¡¯M BEGGING YOU!¡± ¡°OH GOD!¡± The creature has many voices, it kept on pleading until it stops moving and the releasing of smoke ceases. Lyka successfully killed the creature, and she collapses on her knees due to the shock of hearing the monster plead. Akino goes to her side and comforts her. Lyka: Its ¨C its¡­ Akino: It¡¯s done now, don¡¯t worry. Alexa: Wow! The flesh isn¡¯t even hot. Lyka: The creature ¨C it has ten souls¡­ TEN HUMAN SOULS! ALL OF THEM BEGGING FOR HELP! WHAT DID YOUR WORLD HAS CREATED?! Akino: I ¨C I don¡¯t know¡­ every time we see them, we either let them be or we kill it fast. But most of the time we avoid them¡­ Lyka calms herself. She kneels near the dead creature, chanted a prayer, and stands. Alexa: Ma, are you alright? Lyka: I¡¯m fine now. I¡¯m sorry I snapped out of you, Aki¡­ it¡¯s just ¨C undermining¡­ Akino: I know. We had the same reaction when we first encounter it. Akino and Lyka went to the young orc and told that he must stay outside and prepare any first aid once they¡¯ve rescued his companions. Olguk: I want to save them myself! Akino: Do you want to face that thing again? Olguk: I ¨C I think I can¡­ Lyka: We promise we¡¯ll save them. Olguk: O ¨C okay, I¡¯ll stay outside¡­ Akino: With that settled, shall we go on? Lyka: Lead the way. The two met up with Alexa, who¡¯s been busy looking around that area. The whole place seems to be a dead end. Alexa: What do you think? Akino: That couldn¡¯t fit itself in very small gaps. Alexa: That is obvious¡­ but take a look at this! Alexa points to the ground. The ground seems to be normal, but when she touches it, that portion moves like a living animal, like a contracting flesh. It revealed a wide hole, with a dark area with a smell of rotting blood. Akino: That stinks, and very disgusting! Lyka: What happened to that ground? Alexa: It¡¯s weird, but this portion of ground was turned into a ¡®flesh door¡¯¡­ Lyka: I¡¯ll just assume that monster did this. Akino: We should head in now. Alexa enters first, then Akino, and then Lyka. They lighted the whole area, the walls covered in flesh and stinking with blood. Corpses of goblins are scattered inside, all rotting and unpleasing. They circled that chamber, and saw a little gap, they lit it up with their LED lights and saw an opened metallic door. Lyka: That writing is similar to your alphabet thing. Akino: Facility B18¡­ looks like we found what we¡¯re looking for in the first place. Alexa: Olguk¡¯s friends must have entered inside. Alexa hands some piece of cloth she found clinging on the opening of the door. It¡¯s covered in green blood, an orc blood. Akino opens the door widely and went to the wall side, finding a control panel. She tweaks it, and all the lights inside that abandoned place opens, but dimly. The dimmed lighting reveals a hallway, with brown and red stains on the walls and floors. Lyka: So, this is what a human structure in your world looks like in person¡­ Alexa: Yeah, but without this dirty stuff. Akino: If Olguk¡¯s friends are still inside, we should hurry. The radiation will kill them¡­ but let¡¯s hope that creatures with magic can be tolerant to radiation. They went inside, walking briskly in that dirtied hallway. After a few meters, the hallway was cut into an intersection of three different directions. Akino releases some drones, one on each direction. Akino: We go here! Akino ran in the middle, the other two followed. The hallway ends into a large, warped lobby area. The usual plaque with the speech of the founder of the institution was hanging from the ceiling, the information desk area was conjoined with some electric stoves and metal benches, the concrete pillars were twisted like licorice candies, and some walls have rocks protruding out of it, but the walls weren¡¯t damaged, as if the place was built like that. At the left corner near an elevator, two people, a human girl and a male elf, were sitting on the ground, wounded and covered in blood. They rushed hurriedly to the wounded and applied first aid. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Akino: Hey! Hey! Talk to me! The girl groans as blood and saliva pours out of her closed lips, the elf was wheezing while holding on to his stomach with almost all his guts coming out. Akino: Lyka, heal that guy. I¡¯ll take this girl. She doesn¡¯t have any major injury, but she¡¯s experiencing internal hemorrhage. Lyka: She¡¯s bleeding inside? But I can see she protected herself with a magic barrier. Alexa: Then the magic barrier didn¡¯t do that much to stop the radiation from killing her. Akino: She¡¯s still holding on, the barrier did a trick but still staying in a highly radioactive place will slowly kill them. Akino turned her mechanical arm towards the neck of the girl, she injects something on her. She did the same on the guy. Lyka: Should I cast healing on her as well? Akino: Yeah, and double their barrier. The potassium iodide will treat the internal contamination, but we should still be careful. Alexa: I¡¯ll carry them, ma. Give him to me. Lyka: Thanks. Alexa lifts the two injured, all the while Lyka continues to heal them, and Akino on the rearguard of them, they left the place went outside the cave where Olguk waits. Olguk: Thank you! Thank you for saving them! Akino: Dude, can you stay away for a while? We will decontaminate them. Olguk: Decom ¨C what? Lyka: Ummm, she means they¡¯re¡­ diseased? Right! They¡¯re diseased, so we¡¯re going to clean them! Alexa: Yeah! It will be bad if the disease spreads out, you know. Olguk: Al ¨C alright¡­ but are they okay? Akino: They are safe, don¡¯t worry. The orc leaves and goes to one of their makeshift tents to prepare some sustenance. Akino sprays a lot of decontamination chemicals on themselves. Akino: Thanks for the save. Lyka: I ¨C I did nothing. Alexa: Cleaning them because they¡¯re diseased¡­ that¡¯s a new way of saying ¡®decontaminating irradiated people¡¯. Lyka: Well, it¡¯s because Aki¡¯s always forgetting the ¡®technical¡¯ stuff. Akino: Wha ¨C Alexa! You told her?! Alexa: What? He wouldn¡¯t understand it if ma didn¡¯t say anything. Akino blushes off. Akino: This ¨C this is embarrassing¡­ Lyka: There¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about, we all make mistakes. Alexa whispers to Akino. Alexa: I already did you a favor, hehehe! Akino: Shut up! Akino finishes spraying them, they took the injured in one of the tents. Both Lyka and Alexa were assisting Olguk on looking the two, then Akino went outside to go back to the cave, Lyka follows her. Lyka: Hey, you¡¯re going back there? Akino: Yeah¡­ I need to know what happened there, so that we could know something what happened in our world¡­ and possibly we could go back and solve anything we could. Lyka¡¯s expression glooms, Akino glimpses at her and holds her hand with a smile. Akino: I said, WE. And you said that you¡¯re coming with us, so no ones going to be alone. Lyka blushes, and gently swats Akino¡¯s hand. Lyka: I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m not pertaining to anything¡­ so, we¡¯re going in? How about the adventurers? Akino: Nah¡­ Alexa will take care of them. She¡¯s a good cook, remember? Akino went to Alexa and told her to stay guard and help the adventurers. Alexa: Really? Leaving the hard work, ON ME? Akino: Mine¡¯s much harder than cooking. Alexa: Okay, fine. Goodluck with the date. Lyka: D-Date?! Akino: Just¡­ don¡¯t mind her. The two went back to the cave, going straight to the facility. They went again to the middle path, entering the warped lobby area, and taking the elevator they saw earlier. Lyka: Where are we going? Akino: To the core chamber, it might store some raw information on what happened here. And get yourself ready, we might face something dangerous on our way there. Lyka: I will. The elevator stops, the doors open. Unlike on what Akino and Alexa saw when they entered the core chamber on the previous Facility-13, the lights were off. The whole path was covered with liquid as they step onwards, Akino lights up the place by having an LED light on her right shoulder. The path was flooded with blood, a bit higher than the foot ankle. Akino thoroughly inspected their path, saw some machine heads floating, broken rifle, and some other still intact MC-00 machines, sitting on the flood ground or splashing the blood on their machine ¡®faces¡¯. Lyka immediately holds Akino¡¯s hand after seeing those, terrified and shocked. Lyka: Th ¨C these machines¡­ they¡¯re the same ones we used on my training in your mind, right? Akino: Yeah. But the ones we used in the virtual matrix were a bit different compared to these things. When we first encountered them, they were covered in flesh and blood¡­ Lyka: Speaking of blood, this pool smells like human blood¡­ what happened here? Akino: I don¡¯t know¡­ but they should be attacking us. Lyka: Attack us? Akino: We¡¯re not registered in this facility, and they will treat outsiders entering this chamber as hostiles. But it looks like they¡¯re not functioning properly. Lyka: What¡¯s that huge door? Lyka points at the blast door ahead. They went straight to it, Akino tweaks the control panel on the right side to open the door while Lyka waits. The door opens a little bit, so they both help each other forcing the blast doors to open it widely. They saw server machines covered with red shiny moss, the floor still flooded with bloody fluids, and the singular hole at the center leading to the core of the facility. Mysteriously, the flood doesn¡¯t fall down the hole, as if there¡¯s an invisible wall blocking it. Akino touches one of the server machines to check if they¡¯re working. Akino: These are already wrecked. Lyka: Can you repair it? Akino: I¡¯ll try. Akino tried to repair the server, but she can¡¯t. The zero entropic radiation doesn¡¯t let her manipulate the machines¡¯ parts. Instead, they just walked towards the hole. Lyka shivers as she saw the deep hole. Akino: Is there something wrong? Lyka: H ¨C how deep is that? Lyka backs off while cautiously looking at the hole. Akino stares at her and thought ¡°what¡¯s wrong with her? It¡¯s just a hole¡±, then she realizes something. Akino: Scared of heights? Lyka: NO! I ¨C I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m feeling uncomfortable seeing deep places, like cliffs or when I¡¯m on a very high tree¡­ it¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s embarrassing¡­ Akino: Oh¡­ then, I suppose you¡¯ll stay here? Lyka: Can¡¯t you do it in here and not down there? Akino: Sorry, but I must directly connect to the core. The servers in here are non-functional. Lyka sighs in disappointment. Lyka: O ¨C okay¡­ but how are we going to go down there? Akino: The elevating platform is non-functional as well, so I can carry you down if you want¡­ Lyka: Okay¡­ better than staying here. Akino carries Lyka on her arms. Her back turns into a jetpack, they flew down the hole slowly. Lyka gazes at Akino¡¯s face, she blushes but Akino doesn¡¯t seem to notice her. After a minute, they reached the bottom part of the chamber. The usual flooded floor, the dome like chamber and at the center was a huge liquid sphere, the core of the facility. However, the core is tainted, covered in in rust like matter that has grown like salt crystals. Lyka was mesmerized at the sight of it. Lyka: Is this where you store all the knowledge in your world? Akino: Yeah. Well, not technically all, but let¡¯s say it¡¯s the brain of this place. Lyka: And its soul¡­ Akino: Yeah, you could say that too. Akino approaches one of the panels near the core. Akino: Okay... let¡¯s see¡­ hmm¡­ this should do it. The panels lit up, and the rusted liquid sphere wobbles. Computer Voice: Welcome to Facility B-18. Lyka: Is that the core??? Akino: Yeah. Strange, the core where we woke up doesn¡¯t have an artificial intelligence. Computer Voice: Identification required. Akino: HQC dash thirty-two. Lyka: What should I say? Akino: You¡¯re the 101st, so¡­ Lyka: Oh. Umm¡­ HQC dash one hundred one? Computer Voice: Identity confirmed. Welcome to Facility B-18, what would you like inquire? Lyka: Wait, it knew us just like that? Akino: It only recognized us as equipment of this organization¡­ but don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t be able to control us. Akino thought of something to ask. She looks at Lyka, staring at the sphere. Akino: Why don¡¯t you try asking? Lyka: Me? Akino: Yeah. Ask anything. Lyka: Okay, I¡¯ll try¡­ Lyka steps forward to the sphere. Lyka: Can I ask, what is this place? Computer Voice: This is the Facility B-18 of the Institute of Humanity. The institute discovered the zero-entropic region and simulated it during the early 21st century. The zero-entropic space led to different dimensions such as this place, designated as Dimension B, the second dimension discovered out of 153 others. The Institute established facilities on the discovered dimensions to investigate its dimensional properties and perform experiments that the Institute believes to benefit the mankind of Earth. Facility B-18 is the 18th facility established in this dimension as part of the extradimensional expansion of the Institution. Lyka: Wow¡­ Akino: Could you elaborate what kind of properties discovered and experiments performed in here? Computer Voice: HQC 32 and HQC 101 are not authorized to access these files. Akino: Really? How about this? Akino raises her left arm. A hologram appears on it, with encrypted codes showing on it. Akino: Can you identify this? Computer Voice: That encryption is a system algorithm of the universal language the natives of this dimension uses. Akino: Did it come in here? Computer Voice: No, the encryption code came from the very first facility established in this dimension, Facility B-1. Additionally, the Institution employed some natives of this dimension in making the encryption a success. Akino: Lyka, you know about some weird people recruiting in this forest? Lyka: That¡¯s weird. There¡¯s nothing, I mean I never saw weird humans wandering in this forest. Akino becomes irritated. Akino: At least you can show us where is this Facility B-1, right? Computer Voice: HQC 32 and HQC 101 are not authorized to access these files. Akino: Bullshit! Is the Institution still in touch with you?! Are they still trying to suppress me and Alexa?! Lyka: Aki, calm down! Computer Voice: I¡¯m not at liberty to answer that questions. Akino: Fuck it! I¡¯ll just override you! Wires extend from Akino¡¯s head. She tries to connect to the core, but some sort of force field stops the her wires from touching it. Akino: Oh, come on! Computer Voice: Only the council can override the core. An authentication procedure is required to override the core. Akino: And? Just say it! Computer Voice: At the end of time, we will strive. At the end of the hands, we will wait. Akino: Wait, what? Lyka: A riddle? Computer Voice: Authentication failed. System core under compromission. Facility self-destruct initiated. Both girls looked at each other. Lyka: Ummm¡­ Akino: Okay¡­ I guess we should get out of here¡­ Computer Voice: System compromised. Eliminating security threats. Self-destruct beginning in 1 minute. Akino & Lyka: 1 minute?! Akino immediately carries Lyka and flew to the hole where they entered. She contacted Alexa via her telepathic communication while hurryingly flying outside the core chamber. Akino: (Alexa! Get out there!) Alexa: (What?! We just got ourselves comfortable here.) Akino: (The facility¡¯s core has gone nuclear! We only got less than a minute. Get out of there or protect them!) Alexa: (Really?! Shit! Alright! Get out of there too! Protect ma, okay!) Lyka: (We¡¯ll be fine, Alexa. Just go and protect them.) Alexa: (Okay, Aki, ma. Be safe! I¡¯ll see both of you up here!) Akino blasts the elevator, flew up the elevator duct, went to the lobby area, and reaching the exit. The time ticks. Only 10 seconds left. They were able to reach the exit of the facility. 6 seconds. Realizing that it will be impossible to outrun the blast, Akino uses herself as cover to protect Lyka. Akino: Brace yourself! Lyka holds Akino. They hold each other. 3 seconds left. And then 1second, the timer ends. The two holds still for seconds. No explosion, no ground shaking, no blast of light nor deafening sound. Nothing. Lyka: Wh ¨C what happened? It¡¯s supposed to blow, right? Alexa: (Hey! You guys alright? I heard nothing down there. You guys still there?) Akino: (Yeah¡­ we¡¯re still here.) Alexa: (Then hurry up and get here!) Lyka: (We¡¯re on our way.) Akino stands and went back to the entrance of the facility. Lyka holds her shoulder as she walks back to that place. Lyka: Hey! Where are you going?! Akino: I¡¯m taking a look back. You go ahead and meet up with them. Lyka: No! I¡¯ll stay here with you! Akino: O ¨C okay. No need to shout, jeez¡­ The two went towards the entrance. They were surprised at the sight. Lyka: Wh ¨C what happened here? Akino: I ¨C I don¡¯t know¡­ The door leading to the facility is gone, but there¡¯s a space on the place where the door was supposed to be. They peeked inside only to see the pitch-black void. Akino uses her LED lights to further see what¡¯s inside that black space. Nothing. There¡¯s nothing, like someone or something mined that wide area into nothingness. The facility is missing, as if it was totally removed from that place without tearing the cave. CHAPTER 24: A wild night Alexa: Where the hell are they?! Alexa nervously walks left and right, biting her fingers. The girl they saved, Oliva, approaches her from behind and taps her shoulders. Oliva: If they said they¡¯ll be back, they¡¯ll come back. Alexa: I know¡­ but it¡¯s been an hour since they talked to me. They went back to the tents, tending to some equipment and bedrolls. A few mor e minutes, they saw Akino and Lyka emerging from the cave. Alexa rans toward the two and hugged them tightly. Alexa: Where you guys have been? Lyka: Akino tried to look back in the facility, so a accompanied her for a while. Akino: Sorry to worry you, kid. I¡¯ll explain things later. And we¡¯ve decontaminated ourselves already inside, so don¡¯t worry about the radiation. They went inside to the tents and saw the three adventurers. Olguk spoon-feeds the elf, Thoral, having himself bedridden due to the massive hole he had a while ago, already covered in ¡®magic¡¯ bandages. Oliva, who¡¯s a human girl, casts some healing magic on Thoral to ease up his pain. Akino: You guys ¨C were already awake¡­ Thoral: Thanks to you, we¡¯ve made it to this tent again. I thought I¡¯ll never leave that place¡­ Oliva: Thank you for risking your lives to save us¡­ we don¡¯t have that much gold, but we¡¯ll do anything we can to pay you! Lyka: You don¡¯t have to, right Aki? Akino: Yeah, you don¡¯t have to. The two sits beside the adventurers. Olguk went outside to set-up a tent for the three girls, and Alexa takes some food outside. Thoral: Even though may stomach is already healed, I could still feel that pain when my guts were spilling out¡­ thanks for healing me. Lyka: Don¡¯t mention it. It''s what everyone will do, helping the ones in need. Oliva: Something¡¯s strange in that place¡­ it feels like we¡¯re breathing in poison, but our magic should be protecting us very well¡­ and that monster¡­ that horrendous monster¡­ I can¡¯t forget seeing that thing, it will haunt me every night and then¡­ Thoral: You say! That thing isn¡¯t something we always encounter! Has four limbs, a body full of hollowed faces, screams like a troll but it can speak, only I can¡¯t understand what it is¡­ Lyka whispers to Akino. Lyka: Should we? Akino: Yeah, I¡¯ll handle it. Akino then began explaining things to them. What Akino and Alexa are and where they come from, what happened on Lyka¡¯s tribe, and about the meatball monsters that were former humans. The two looked dumbfounded, taking in so much information. Lyka: You¡¯re using too much technical terms¡­ Akino: Sorry for explaining the other stuff for me. Thoral: That¡¯s a lot to handle¡­ Oliva: Yeah¡­ it¡¯s too much¡­ Akino: I know, but we killed that monster already and that place is already gone. You guys don¡¯t need to worry anymore. Alexa peeps in the tent. Alexa: What am I missing? Akino: Exposition, kid. Alexa: Oh¡­ anyways the foods ready for us, we should eat now before it gets cold. Akino and Lyka followed Alexa out of the tent, they wait for Oliva who finishes her healing on Thoral and covers him with a blanket so he could sleep. Outside, Olguk prepared a bonfire with grilled fishes and bird meat around it. They encircled the fire and started eating. They chatted for a while. Alexa telling the animals she saw in that world and differentiating it to their world. Oliva telling the things they encountered while adventuring, and saying it was their first time seeing the things from Akino and Alexa¡¯s world. Olguk proudly bragging the feats of their small team, like killing hundred trolls and ogres in one night, and Oliva says he¡¯s making it up. Lyka telling again the stories of gods, and about her prosthetic arm that Akino made for her. It was a little peaceful time. The night already falls, with a bright red full moon rising from the western horizon. Lyka looks up in sky, she stood up. Lyka: Sorry guys, but I feel a little tired. I should go rest now, sorry. Akino: Nah, don¡¯t bother it. Go ahead and take a rest, we¡¯ll come inside in a bit. Lyka enters the tent that Olguk made for the three of them. They continued to do their stuff while gazing at the starry night sky. Akino was about to stand up when Oliva approaches her. Oliva: Can I ask something? Akino: Oh, go ahead. Oliva: What kind of magic you guys used inside that place? Alexa: Umm, can¡¯t you see that we don¡¯t have any magic? Oliva looks at the two, with her right eye glowing. She closes her eyes, then looks at them again with a surprised face. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Oliva: But ¨C how? That place seems to be cursed! It¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s weird¡­ I didn¡¯t even get any injury, Thoral took all the damage from that monster, but still I started puking blood for no reason! Akino & Alexa: Oh¡­ Akino: Olguk, remember why we insisted you to stay outside? Olguk: Yeah¡­ Alexa: Oh boy! It¡¯s the radiation, isn¡¯t it! Olguk: Radi-a-sion? Oliva: What kind of word is that? Akino: Yup. Oliva, why don¡¯t you try to touch that bonfire? Oliva: I can¡¯t! It will burn my hand! But if I use a protective spell ¨C Akino: I¡¯ll stop you right there. You will be able to protect yourself from burning by having that spell. Let me ask you this, you feel the hotness when you¡¯re near a fire or something that emits heat, right? Olguk & Oliva: Yeah. Akino: That¡¯s a form of radiation. Heat is a form of energy that can be transferred from one object to another. We burned that wood, resulting to fire. The energy stored in that wood is turned into heat, which is it is hot, transferring to its surroundings. Both Oliva and Olguk scrath their head in confusion. Alexa: Don¡¯t bother understanding it, knowledge like that came from OUR world, so don¡¯t burden yourselves. Oliva: Is that something the people from a world without magic learns? But what about the ¡®thing¡¯ in that place? Akino started using her holographic visuals from her arm to explain stuff, showing a 3-D image of a human body that shows section from organ systems to atomic level. Akino: That¡¯s on another side of energy transfer. That radiation kills, high forms of energy, but not in the form of heat, will slowly destroy your body. Alexa: That¡¯s why you started spitting blood. Every living being is made up of very small structures called cells. These cells perform certain functions in your body so that you could live. Your body is comprised of organ systems, these organ systems consist of organs, organs made up of tissues and tissues made up of cells. Akino: But cells are made up of much smaller parts, molecules. Then these molecules are made up of also much smaller stuff called atoms. A high energy radiation can dismantle the atom, and once the atom dismantles the molecule starts disintegrating. Akino then shows how a molecule crumbles on her hologram. Alexa: And if that molecule starts to breakdown, well, the cell might break as well, and it will cause a chain reaction, leading to organ failure or even death, to put it simply. Akino: And if you ask if why magic can¡¯t block it¡¯s effect. Well, I think because radiation is a natural phenomena? You can¡¯t just block it off, I guess¡­ not really sure about that. Oliva: Tha ¨C thanks, even almost half of what you¡¯ve guys said were a bit, you know? Overwhelming¡­ Olguk: I didn¡¯t even understand anything you¡¯ve said! Akino sighs and Alexa laughs. Akino: I guess, we¡¯re from another world, after all¡­ Oliva: You guys aren¡¯t summoned, right? Alexa: We took a portal when we got here, so no summoning rituals and stuff. Olguk: So you¡¯re not like the heroes that the major kingdoms summon, huh? Akino: Yeah, you¡¯re right¡­ Akino stands up. Akino: I guess I should accompany Lyka now, have a rest everyone. Alexa: Don¡¯t do any dirty stuff on mama, got it? Oliva: Wait, mama? So Aki is your sis? Alexa: No, Akino adopted me, then we met Lyka. Then I call Lyka my new mom, but I don¡¯t know what to call Akino, she¡¯s not motherly enough for me. But you know what? Aki likes mama a lot, like seriously. If she¡¯s a boy I could call her dad, but nah. Olguk: So, the two of them are couples? Alexa: YEAH! THEY ARE! Akino: NO! I mean ¨C Argh! Don¡¯t mind her! Akino went to their tent, looking exhausted. She doesn¡¯t need sleep, but she misses the feeling of laying down on a soft mattress and taking a nap. She enters and saw that Lyka was still awake, sitting on the bedsheet. Akino: Lyka! Yo ¨C you¡¯re still awake? I thought you''re already asleep? Lyka immediately grabs Akino and pins her down the bedsheet. Akino was shocked on Lyka¡¯s very sudden actions. She¡¯s starting to get nervous. Akino: Umm, Lyka? What are you doing? Lyka¡¯s face is all red, she¡¯s sweating, and drooling. Lyka: I ¨C I don¡¯t know why¡­ but every time I see you my heart races~ Akino: P ¨C p ¨C pardon? At that point, Lyka slowly removes her leather clothes while on top of Akino. Akino is blushing, but she tried to move herself and get away from Lyka. However, Lyka completely lays on top of Akino, pressing her huge breasts on her chest. Akino is totally nervous, no, she¡¯s about to freak out. Lyka: This is what you want, right? Akino: Lyka! What the hell are you doing?! Lyka: I ¨C I don¡¯t know what to do! That time when I get to know more about you, I can¡¯t stop thinking about you¡­ I ¨C I¡¯ve fallen for you~ Akino: Holy shit¡­ Lyka starts kissing Akino¡¯s neck, gently. Of course, Akino wouldn¡¯t feel any tension since her sexual organs has been ''removed'' when they were experimented, but she feels very uncomfortable. Akino: I think this is NOT a good idea¡­ Lyka¡¯s not listening to her, she keeps on kissing and caressing Akino¡¯s neck and face. Her moaning kept on getting louder, making Akino to raise her voice. Akino: LYKA! Could stop for a sec?! She didn¡¯t listen. Lyka was about to remove Akino¡¯s top clothes when Alexa entered the tent, seeing Lyka naked and on top of Akino. Akino: I ¨C I can explain¡­ Alexa: WHAT THE FUCK?! Despite Alexa seeing the scene, Lyka doesn''t seem to notice her and proceeds on removing the clothes of the struggling Akino. Akino: Alexa! Help! Alexa: HOLY FUCK! This tent reeks with oxytocin and dopamine! Akino: STOP TALKING AND TRANQUILIZE HER! Alexa: You sure you want to stop now? Looks like you¡¯re enjoying it. Akino: AGH! I¡¯ll do it myself! Akino tried to reach Lyka¡¯s neck, but she accidentally gropes her breasts making her moan very loud. Akino immediately grabs Lyka and kissed her lips. Alexa was so stunned at the sight she¡¯s not moving even an inch, seeing Akino French kissing Lyka. After five seconds, Lyka falls asleep and Akino gently places her on the bedsheet, re-wearing her clothes and covering her with a blanket. Alexa: WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK. Akino: Don¡¯t tell anyone, got it? Alexa: Pretty sure they overheard it. AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?! Akino: I tranquilized her. Alexa: Tranquilize? BY FRENCH KISSING?! Akino opens her mouth and shows her tongue, which is like a mechanical tail of a scorpion. It shows three thin needles before retracting into its normal flesh tongue. Alexa: First, disgusting. Second, you¡¯re into that kinky shit? Akino: Can you just shut your mouth for a minute?! I¡¯m trying to absorb what just happened! Akino angrily went out of the tent and saw both Oliva and Olguk eavesdropping. She blushed, knowing that they might have heard what happened inside. She laughs at herself, then sits near the fireplace. Olguk: We ¨C we¡¯re sorry to overhear thi ¨C Oliva hits Olguk¡¯s head. Oliva: We didn¡¯t hear anything! Alexa: Nah, pretty sure the whole forest heard what happened inside¡­ They went silent. Alexa sits beside Akino and stares at her intensely, intimidating her but Akino seems to be thinking something else, ignoring Alexa. Alexa: I think you should start explaining. Akino: She confessed to me¡­ Alexa: Umm ¨C WHAT? Akino: I SAID, she confessed to me. She said she likes me, then she started pinning me down and stripping her clothes on top of me. Alexa: Woah! Woah there! Really?! Akino: Yeah¡­ I can handle her confession, of course. But her suddenly trying to, you know? Damn it! Oliva: Come to think of it, she¡¯s a demi-wolf, and today¡¯s a full moon¡­ They all looked up on the sky, with the round red full moon shining in the cloudless night sky. Akino: And what of it? Oliva: I¡¯ve heard some stories that demi-wolves become very active at full moon. Well, active as in sexually aroused... and maybe Miss Lyka is one of those that gets turned on during full moon... Akino: Oh¡­ Institutional Archives IV: Extradimensional Logs . . . -CHECKING INPUTTED CREDENTIALS -LOGGING IN . . . -WELCOME TO THE INSTITUTION OF HUMANITY SYSTEM ¨C INFORMATION CORE, HOW MAY I SERVE YOU? [Access File 334-ED] -ACCESSING FILES -WARNING: FILE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE INSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL. [Continue accessing File 334-ED] -AT THE END OF TIME, WE WILL STRIVE. AT THE END OF THE HANDS, WE WILL WAIT. [We will stab through our hearts and offer it to God. The death is the beginning, and life will sprung forth.] -AUTHENTICATION GRANTED. WELCOME, DIRECTOR. ACCESSING FILE 334-ED. . . .
File 334 E-D: Extradimensional Logs This file is the summary of some of the most notable extra-dimensions discovered from the zero-point entropy space. The zero-point entropy space is a spatial anomaly first discovered in the Arctic region by the Great Founder Dr. Lazarus Greenwich in year 2020. This zero-point entropy space exhibits a total of zero entropic processes which is not affected by any external influence, and further analysis shows that the spatial anomaly leads to another spatial system, acting like a ¡®gate¡¯. After its discovery, the Institution was able to replicate the zero-entropic space in laboratories and the Institution started investigating the spatial systems on the other side of the zero-entropic space, designating as the extra-dimensions. These extra-dimensions are first believed to be connections to parallel-universes and/or other universes. Currently, there are 153 extra-dimensions discovered and the Institution were able to send in expedition teams to gather data, observe its environment, and possibly make contact with any sapient beings native to the said extra-dimension. Additionally, some of the extra-dimensions were deemed to be useful for the betterment of our mankind, thus the Institution initiated expansion projects on these extra-dimensions. LOCATION OF DISCOVERY: Zero Point Entropy Lab in Edinburgh, Great Britain. DATE DISCOVERED: 02-30-2038 SUMMARIZED DESCRIPTION: The dimension is a planet, resembling to Earth and located in the Goldilocks zone in its planetary system (fourth out of ten). About 1.5 times larger than Earth (Diameter of 19 113 km), has an anomalous gravitational pull of about 9.901 m2/s, and an axial tilt of 25.2 degrees. The planet revolves around its parent star for 580 earth-days and rotates on its axis for 26 earth-hours. The planet surface is covered with 68% body of water and 32% land, most of the flora and fauna resembles to Earth, and the atmosphere is surprisingly having the same 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.1% other gases composition. The planet is being revolved by two natural satellites: the first is as twice as large as the Lunar moon (Diameter of 6 948.4 km) and reddish in coloration, and the second satellite is an anomalous object resembling to a floating rock in a shape of a ¡®Beyblade¡¯ toy that spans for over 2 000 kilometers, all revolving at distances of 212 005 km to 384 400 km at different axes. Another questionable thing is that the planet is covered in some unknown energy field other than its magnetic field. The dimension is inhabited by creatures known to ¡®fantasy stories¡¯. The presence of creatures such as elves, orcs, dragons and such are found, some of which exhibit sapient abilities. Humans are also inhabiting in that dimension but having the technological advancement comparable only to Early Medieval period. Astonishingly, all creatures inhabiting in that planet resonates with the unknown planetary energy field, be it an insect or a human. The Institution were able to establish facilities in this dimension. Additionally, the Institution were able to employ sapient beings, studying their culture and raising the possibility of co-existence. It comes to attention of the Institution that: STATUS: As of today, only tribal beings who were living on forests, deserts, or sea, isolated from urban places, are employed by the Institution. The Institution promised to these employed inhabitants a better life in exchange of turning their land into facilities, and not showing their presence as newly recruited personnel of the Institution to other unaware inhabitants of that dimension, while implementing humanistic morals on them as fellow citizens of the great universe. The Institution is avoiding any contact with the already established governments in Dimension B to prevent the possibility of panic/conflict. Contact with small cities of the natives, as well as exchanging our basic knowledge and technology with their thaumaturgical knowledge was proposed. Proposal for contact with smaller cities was denied. Proposal for the knowledge exchange is still under evaluation. LOCATION OF DISCOVERY: [Part of the file removed by the Institutional Council] DATE DISCOVERED: [Part of the file removed by the Institutional Council] SUMMARIZED DESCRIPTION: The dimension is a vast open space, with nothing but dust clouds composed of hydrogen and nitrogen. The dimension exhibits no gravitational forces exactly like in a vacuum of space, making manned expeditions in that dimension pointless. However, via drone exploration [Part of the file removed by the Institutional Council]. The universe of Dimension 0Z is about 4.5 billion years old, and it is [Part of the file removed by the Institutional Council]. With further studies and experiments, the Institution might be able to harness unlimited energy to support the future of the mankind of Earth. STATUS: Further analysis and experiments are being conducted by the Institution thru the usage of drones. Sending in an Artificial Intelligent machine with all the equipment necessary to perform safe experiments inside Dimension 0Z is proposed. Proposal under evaluation. LOCATION OF DISCOVERY: Institutional Exo-Physics Laboratory in Tokyo, Japan Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. DATE DISCOVERED: 11-01-2046 SUMMARIZED DESCRIPTION: The dimension leads to another planet very similar to Earth: has the same gravitational acceleration, magnetic field, diameter, revolution around the exactly same sun, it¡¯s angle of rotation, arrangement of the continents (Asia, Africa, Antarctica, N&S America, Europe, Oceania), and natural satellite. The entrance to that dimension is located to a deserted yet strikingly similar Tokyo, Japan (Institution designated the area as Point-TJ-EV to avoid confusion, the same was done to other places). Surprisingly, there are traces of the exact likeness of human civilization with level of technology similar to year 2020s but all in ruins and there are no traces of any human or any sapient beings alive in that dimension. The planet is covered with 71% water and 29% land, but all bodies of water is red in coloration, like human blood. Drones were first sent into Dimension EV. Samples taken by the drones from Dimension EV revealed that the red fluid covering 71% of the planet is human blood, and further analysis shows that the blood only belongs to a 14-year-old female. Additionally, the atmospheric composition of the planet was 70% nitrogen, 10.5% oxygen, 4.5% methane, 3% carbon, and 2% for other gases. An expedition with the Extreme Environment Team, or EET, was dispatched to investigate the Dimension EV on 06-07-2050. The following were discovered and observed during the first expedition: STATUS: Due to the previous incident, future manned expeditions were halted. The retrieved red sphere was taken to [REDACTED] for further analysis and evaluation. As of now, no manned or unmanned expeditions were being held. Requests for the continuation of expeditions are proposed, as well as sending in the United Alliance Military to support with establishing facilities in Dimension EV. Proposals denied. LOCATION OF DISCOVERY: Zero Point Entropy Lab in Nairobi, Kenya DATE DISCOVERED: 10-17-2047 SUMMARIZED DESCRIPTION: The dimension leads to well lighted cubic chamber of 10x10x10 meters with nothing except grey walls, a floor, and a ceiling. The source of light was a single glowing orb at the center of the ceiling of that chamber. Attempts to remove the glowing orb were impossible. The atmospheric composition and pressure in that chamber is similar to Earth¡¯s, although it is questionable that the air molecules are not running out. Analysis on the surfaces of the said chamber shows that it is made of unknown molecular arrangement of silicon. Ultrasonic analysis also shows that the walls, floor, and ceiling of the Dimension ES extends to an unmeasurable length, suggesting that there are no external environments outside the chamber. A manned expedition was sent into Dimension ES, equipped with highly advanced mining and drilling equipment. Digging a hole with a length of 100 kilometers through the chamber walls, floor and ceiling shows that there is no outer environment, concluding that the inner surface of the chamber is infinitely expanded outside. STATUS: The Institution was able to establish a mining facility in Dimension ES. The mined unknown silicon is currently used in improving electronics and further innovations all around the globe. Due to the anomalous nature of Dimension ES, the Institution was able to exploit the infinite silicon source by mining the surfaces of the chamber. As of this moment, the mining facility in Dimension ES is covering an area of 500 kilometers and is further expanding while mining unlimited amounts of silicon material. LOCATION OF DISCOVERY: Anomalous Materials Laboratory in New Mexico, USA DATE DISCOVERED: 08-27-2067 SUMMARIZED DESCRIPTION: The dimension is located inside an infinitely expanding pillars, arranged like being inside a tesseract object. Additionally, the place is in a space-vacuum. No other matter could be detected in Dimension 2X except for the pillars made of carbon-based crystals, and white light anomalously emitting from the pillars. An expedition was performed by a team trained in the space exploration, all equipped with sensitive radiation and energy sensors. The borderline between our dimension and Dimension 2X is designated as Region Alpha. The following are observed by the exploration team during their first 24 hours in Dimension 2X: STATUS: [Part of the file removed by the Institutional Council]. Further evaluation is needed. All proposals regarding sending in a manned or unmanned expedition are currently not accepted.
LOCATION OF DISCOVERY: Spatial Anomalies Laboratory in Moscow, Russia DATE DISCOVERED: 12-30-2097 SUMMARIZED DESCRIPTION: The dimension resembles greatly to ours: atmospheric composition, gravity, planet size, location, lunar satellite, etc. However, the atmospheric temperature is at 8 degrees celsius and the whole planet is covered in perpetual storms. Additionally, the planet surface is 90% covered with energy pipeline network and ''mechanical cities'', controlled by machines having artificial intelligence (designated as 9H-AI). The Institution sent in a drone for area surveillance, unknowingly making the 9H-AIs be aware of the existence of the spatial anomaly and the Institution. Fortunately, the 9H-AIs didn''t took hostile reaction, instead encourage the Institution to send in human expedition teams to create a mutual-cooperative advantages. The Institution cautiously send in an expedition team armed with EMPs, in case the 9H-AIs sabotage the team. The expedition team was welcomed by the machine natives of Dimension 9H. The Institution explained the purpose of expeditions, as well as the history of the spatial anomalies of the zero-entropic spaces, and in return the 9H-AIs of Dimension 9H told to the Institution the following: STATUS: The Institution builded powerful platforms that extends beyond the Dimension 9H''s troposphere, enabling the machines to received solar energy. The 9H-AIs wants to be respected, and treated like humans, the Institution replied that whoever or whatever sapient that lives in any dimension must be morally respected. In order for the Institution and the 9H-AIs of the Dimension 9H to have a productive and healthy relationship, both parties proposed a treaty. The following is the summarized parts of the treaty: Up to this date, the Institution was able to establish 30 facilities inside the Dimension 9H. The 9H-AIs cooperates to the Insitution, and so does the Institution upholding its promises to the concerning party. The Institution is aware of the possible risks of having a relationship with the 9H-AIs, but as long as the conditions will be followed, no conflict will arise.
. . . -I APOLOGIZE FOR CUTTING OFF YOUR READING. AN EMERGENCY MEETING BY THE COUNCIL WAS ANNOUNCED 30 SECONDS AGO. [Proceed reading] -I APOLOGIZE FOR CUTTING OFF YOUR READING. THE COUNCIL URGENTLY DEMANDS ALL THE PRESENCE OF THE DIRECTORS IN THIS MEETING. [Log out] -THANK YOU FOR USING THE SYSTEM ¨C INFORMATION CORE. LOGGING OUT. . . . Stories of Elyn 1: A god that roams the realm of mortals One day, a man wearing ragged brown robes and tailored leather clothes and boots leaves a small tribe in the middle of a forest. As he leaves, he looks back to the tribe. He sees the tribes¡¯ people, all are demi-wolves: humans having a fluffy tail of a wolf, and white fur covering their arms and legs. They look at him as he walks away and waving their hands goodbye. Then a female demi-wolf with a silvery hair, piggybacking a little girl demi-wolf runs in front. She excitedly jumps, and the girl she¡¯s carrying cheers in the same manner. ¡°Take good care of yourself! We will wait for you!¡± He smiles and waves back, then he continued walking away, far away. He looked back again, but only sees the trees of the forest. He is already far away from that tribe. He continued walking, when suddenly he felt something is following him. He readied himself, raising his fists and standing guard. He doesn¡¯t have any weapons of sort, then he heard a laugh. A muscular man jumps out of nowhere, trying to ambush him. He immediately dodges the sudden attack. The muscular man doesn¡¯t wear anything, but white fur covers his lower half, has a tail, ears and claws resembling to a wolf, and a very long grey hair. The man raises his fist towards the mysterious wolf-man. The wolf-man was about to claw the man in robes, but when he sees that the arms and fists of the robed man turn into scorching charcoal, he stops. Man in robes: You stopped¡­ The wolf-man laughs. He backs off and bows to him. Wolf-man: Didn¡¯t expect to see face-to-face the god of destruction! It¡¯s been a while, Marcus! Man in robes: Didn¡¯t expect to see you come back to life, Perdius. The wolf-man is one of the gods of power, and the chief god of all demi-wolves, Perdius. He retracts his claws and raises his hands to make a shake with the man in robes. The man in robes is Marcus, a lesser god, belonging to the gods of courage and strength, and also known as the god of destruction, coldly responded to him by ignoring his hands. Marcus: You attacked me for a reason¡­ Perdius: Well, well. Getting straight to point, are we? Marcus: Just tell me, and I¡¯ll make amends to it. Perdius: You came from that small tribe. Did you, perhaps, killed them? Marcus: You¡¯re joking. You could sense blood from very far away, especially for those you¡¯ve created. If I killed your creations, you would be rushing to me like crazy in moments. Perdius: HAHA! Yeah, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m just kidding! Marcus: You¡¯re supposed to be dead. Stories told; you were killed in the last war. Perdius: Well, not really. Killed? No. Gravely injured? Yes! So painful, but we are gods, and we don¡¯t die that easy HAHAHAHA! Marcus: So¡­ what¡¯s with the attack? Perdius: Kind of hard to explain¡­ you know that we can sense our creations? Marcus: Mocking me, Perdius? Perdius: NO! Sorry for offending you. Marcus: So? Perdius: Well, the gods of the Underworld, including me, discovered that some of the beings we have began missing. Aaannd, here I am! Looking for clues. Marcus: Missing? Perdius: From small time adventurers to whole tribes. They suddenly gone missing. All races, humans, elves, demi-beasts, orcs, demons, and more. Marcus: Even humans? Perdius: Yeah, we taught at first that the gods of Abode did this missing stuff, but it turns out some of their creations are missing too. Marcus: That¡¯s why they want me there, in the Abode¡­ Perduis: The gods of Abode wants you? Marcus: Those bastards said they want me, to resolve a conflict between the Underworld and them. Perdius: Really? Damn! They might have been planning something¡­ This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. They continued walking, heading north. Perdius: So, what were you doing in that tribe? Marcus: None of your business. Perdius: Hmm, really? They are my creations you know. I could smell something amiss with them. Marcus stares at Perdius with murderous intent. Perdius: Woah! Woah! Easy! I¡¯m not going to do bad things on them! I¡¯m their protector! I¡¯m their All father! Marcus calms down, looking back to the direction where he left. Marcus: I ¨C I made a family, with them¡­ Perdius: I see¡­ so, that¡¯s why I smell a demi-god among them! I never thought you can make a child! Marcus: I know¡­ Perdius: You could bring them to the Underworld, I will do everything I can to protect them, they¡¯re my children after all. Marcus: I¡¯ll think that through. Perduis: Hesitating? Marcus: I already told them that I¡¯ll return to them once the conflict is over. I want to settle this once and for all, ensuring their future. Perdius: Hmm¡­ yeah, the last war will be the first and the only war that will happen in our time. Sounds like a good future, right? Marcus: A future that everyone deserves. Perdius: A bit ambitious for me. Marcus: I know¡­ but I¡¯ll do everything I can to have it, even at least my wife and daughter will be the only ones that will have it. Even if I had to destroy everything, I¡¯ll get that future, for us. Perdius: A god that destroys everything, and yet was able to create a small family with a bold dream. You didn¡¯t tell your name to them, did you? Marcus: ¡­ Perdius: Even when father took you in, you never told your name the first time we met¡­ classic old days¡­ Marcus: It¡¯s for the best, destruction is the only thing I can leave behind. I don¡¯t want them to carry my name, a name of a useless god¡­ Perdius taps on Marcus¡¯ shoulder, comforting him. Marcus: I don¡¯t need your pity, Perdius. Perdius: Come on, lil¡¯ brother! We haven¡¯t seen each other for like, centuries! A small hug from your big brother won¡¯t hurt, come on! Marcus: Shut up or I¡¯ll turn you into ashes. Perdius: HAHAHAHAHA! They continued on walking, until they saw something odd. They¡¯ve come across a cliff with a small cave, with strange long sticks were struck on the ground near the cave entrance that is lit up with red light and has symbols they¡¯ve never seen in their entire life. They investigate that mysterious cave at a distance, then they saw an elf boy and a succubus, wearing weird white long coats, and carrying rectangular metal boxes coming out of the cave. Marcus: That ¨C is weird¡­ Perdius: Elves and demons never get along, and that one is a succubus! They wear super thin clothes, and like nearly naked! But she¡¯s fully covered! Wow! Marcus: We¡¯ll ask them. The two went to the two strange people. As soon as the two people in white clothing saw the two approaching them, they abandoned their stuff and ran back inside the cave. Perdius: What the? I¡¯m not TOTALLY naked! Marcus: Hmm. We¡¯ll follow them, might be a clue for the missing people. They quickly followed the two, running deep inside the cave that was apparently mined. They end up in a dead end of the cave, a metallic door. Not a door of some dungeon, of some ruins, a plane looking silvery metal door, and has that same symbol they saw on the lighting sticks outside the cave. Then, the door opens, horizontally, creating sounds, an alarm. Red lights cover the darkness of the cave, and then they could see the white light flashes, coming from the other side of the door. The two gods, knowing something might attack them, readied themselves. Perdius: Well, this is the first time we fought together for millennia. Marcus: Hmmp. You better be good than what we were last time. Perdius: You bet! The door fully opens, the two gods raised their arms, readying for an attack, but hey are shocked for what they¡¯ve seen. They are not sure. A human? Orc? Elf? Demon? Folk-beast? Dragon? Demi-beast? Or perhaps a demi-human? No. None of that. Nothing they¡¯ve seen in their entire life. If they could describe it, they could say those are golems, but its far too complex for them. It seems to be made of some sort of metal, all silvery and shiny. A head that is not round, unusual for a typical golem, and has a long vertical line on the middle of its ''face'', glowing like a blue firefly. Fully covered like a knight in a powerful armor, yet the armor doesn¡¯t resemble to any human design or culture they know, and have that same symbols that they couldn¡¯t understand on their arms. These ¡®golems¡¯ wield a weapon that they hold like a crossbow. The two were stunned at the sight but regained their composure. They both dashed towards these ¡®golems¡¯. Perdius clawed, and Marcus punched. They were able to take down a single one, but when they look back to the door there are tens of them. Marcus tried to blast them, he chants and his arms began burning, releasing a huge fire directing towards the golems. He fires a huge ball of bluish magic energy, but as his magic travels to the ''golems'' it dissipates. Perdius: A barrier?! Marcus: Impossible! These beings¡­ Perdius: They don¡¯t have any magic! How?! Then they heard a voice of a man, coming from behind the ¡®golems¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s technology.¡± The ¡®golems¡¯ shoot the ground where the two stands. Strange looking things sticks on the ground and began producing lightning. Both Perdius and Marcus suddenly felt heavy, they couldn¡¯t move nor lift a single finger. They collapsed on the floor, struggling to move. And then another ¡®golem¡¯ sticks a very long rod to the ground. This rod opens its other end, like a blooming flower, then the two felt very weak, as if they could fall asleep any moment. The two went unconscious, and the ¡®golems¡¯ brought them inside the door. Institutional Archives V: Before the Incident
INCIDENT REPORT B ¨C 1456
Native personnel Randas, a succubus and a newly graduated doctor, finishes her incident report. She closes her desktop and stands to stretch, then she lets out a big sigh. She¡¯s been a researcher for about 8 years and belongs to the Biological Studies Division, where she studies about the effects of thaumaturgical energy or Mana on the creatures of Earth and other dimensions. She looks at her desk and grabs a portrait. Her mother is a succubus, and her father is a human from Earth. She recalls that the Institution she¡¯s been employed has been over 250 years on Elyn. And 37 years ago, her mother, Yssa, who¡¯s a succubus, met her father which is a soldier of the Institution. Her mother told her that her father saved some lesser demons from being enslaved, her mother included. She was born and grew up inside a place built by humans from another world, Facility B-18. She learned the ways of the humans of Earth and became fond in studying biology. She was taught of things and got the very first scholarly degree given to a demon, given by humans from another world. It all happened inside the hidden community of different races, under the ground, unnoticed by any other beings on the surface. The door in her room opens, it was her mother. Yssa: Umm, Randas? Eldrin is outside, he¡¯s waiting for you. Randas: Oh, tell him to wait. Randas left her room, she goes to the kitchen area to get eat her meal her mother prepared. As she eats, she glances at her mother, who looks so worried. Randas: Ma? You alright? Yssa: I should be the one asking that! I mean - you¡¯ve faced them! The gods of our world! And the Institution was able to cage them?! Randas: Ma, not caged. We contained them in a safe place, safe for us and for them. Yssa: O ¨C okay sweetie¡­ just ¨C just be careful out there. Randas: I will, and father will surely protect us. Alyssa: Oh, before I forgot¡­ Her mother gives her two lunchboxes. Yssa: If ever you see your father, give it to him, okay? Randas: I will. Randas kisses her mother¡¯s cheeks, took her white coat and ID, then she left their apartment unit. Outside, she saw Eldrin, an elf who¡¯s also her junior. The place outside was like a huge apartment residence, encircled on a very wide field, with the skies made of domed glass that illuminates the whole place, all under the ground. The two took an elevator to go the field and walk to the other elevator upwards to the main facility. Eldrin: Umm, Miss Randas? Randas: Can you cut off the formalities? Randas is fine. Eldrin: Oh, umm¡­ Randas¡­ say, about last time? Randas: Yeah? Eldrin: About the two gods we met¡­ it¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s just overwhelming¡­ what if they got out of that containment and suddenly attacks us, ¡®coz you know¡­ we are their creations and we betrayed them by caging them¡­ Randas: The Institution was able to hold them, right? Eldrin: Yeah¡­ Randas: Then don¡¯t bother about it. The elevator dings. Its doors opened to another place, the main labs of Facility B-18. The two walked briskly towards their main office. Inside the office was a man wearing a black coat, and the shield insignia of the Institution on his left arm could be seen. He is the security chief of Facility B-18, Captain Stephen Falcore, a human from Earth. Capt. Stephen: You¡¯re late. Randas: It¡¯s only a minute. Capt. Stephen: He¡¯s your intern, right? Eldrin: Umm, junior. Junior researcher, sir. Capt. Stephen: Could you leave us for a moment? Eldrin: Oh¡­ umm¡­ Randas: Just go and take me some coffee, usual black. Capt. Stephen: Oh, can you get me some as well? Cappuccino, no sugar. Eldrin: O ¨C okay, sir! Eldrin leaves the office. Randas stares at the captain. Capt. Stephen: What? Randas: Really, dad? Really? Capt. Stephen: I¡¯m just asserting my authority to that kid, nothing bad with that. Randas: He¡¯s 50 years older than you¡­ Randas hands over the lunchbox her mother gave to the captain. Capt. Stephen: How¡¯s your mother? Randas: Fine, as usual¡­ still wants to see you 4 times a week instead of once, though. Capt. Stephen: Oh¡­ tell her I¡¯m sorry about that¡­ Randas: You go and tell her that once you got home. Both sat on the sofa, sitting side by side. Capt. Stephen: So, those god-people that saw both of you¡­ did they hurt you? Randas: No, not really¡­ but I got that feeling, like I¡¯m going to collapse on floor. Eldrin experienced the same, that¡¯s why we ran when we saw them. Capt. Stephen: As long as your safe, everything will be alright¡­ The captain stands and goes to his desk, where he took a flash drive and a holographic folder. He gave both to Randas. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Capt. Stephen: And due to that incident, the Institution will be removing you from the Botanical Research team. Randas: WHAT?! Capt. Stephen: WOAH! Calm down. Randas: I¡¯ve been working on that research for like 3 years! And what?! On whose authority?! Capt. Stephen: Hers. The captain points at the office door as it opens, and an Arachne, wearing a white lab coat enters. The Arachne¡¯s human body resembles to a 30-year-old woman, has a black-short hair, her spider body is shining violet, but the other half of her legs are mechanically built and some parts of her second abdomen has some sort of high-end life-support machinery. She is one of the chief doctors of the facility as well as one of the oldest native personnel, Doctor Tenera. Doctor Tenera: My authority, Randas. Randas: But ¨C you know it chief! This research is my whole life! I can¡¯t just abandon it! Doctor Tenera: Don¡¯t worry about it. You might be able to use it on your next assignment. Capt. Stephen: Go take a look on that folder, you¡¯ll know the details. Randas reads what¡¯s inside the holographic folder. Randas: A quantum core? In humans??? Doc. Tenera: The council hurriedly decided to send one in our dimension, from theirs of course. Randas: They could just do their research on the other side, right? And why me? Capt. Stephen: There are some complications¡­ we still don¡¯t know the specifics why, but they sent already the poor guy¡­ Doc. Tenera: And as for WHY I chose you, well, the council wants someone knowledgeable with thaumaturgy, specially in environmental effects, and in hypnosis or mind control. Randas: What? I¡¯m a succubus. What do they want me to do? Seduce the subject? Doc. Tenera: I¡¯ve read your previous works, Randas. Don¡¯t deny the one you¡¯ve work on how the combination of a certain frequency of UV waves and fire magic can increase someone¡¯s IQ. Randas: Is that still a thing? Doc. Tenera: Umm, yeah. The humans of Earth are wishing to know more about it. And besides, you¡¯ll get your own team. Randas: My own team? Capt. Stephen: Congratulations on your promotion, kid. Doc. Tenera: Yes. From now on, we¡¯ll be calling you a Research Lead. Randas smiles. Being something more than just an average researcher was her goal after all. A phone rings, the captain stands and took his phone. He talks to someone on it for a minute, and he went to the door to leave. Capt. Stephen: I gotta go now. Doc? Doc. Tenera: Yes, captain? Capt. Stephen: Take care of my daughter, and Yssa as well. Doc. Tenera: Count me on it. Capt. Stephen: Randas, take care, okay? I love you, kid. Randas: Bye dad, love you too. The captain leaves. Doctor Tenera sits beside Randas that was reading the contents of the folder. Tenera notices that Randas was a bit nervous. Doc. Tenera: Anything wrong, Randas? Randas: I don¡¯t know¡­ I¡¯m a bit anxious¡­ this is a big one for me. Doc. Tenera: Just think of it as a steppingstone. Well, when the very first time the Institution saw me, I was attacked by some humans of this world. Randas: I thought those injuries were from an experimental accident¡­ Doc. Tenera: HAHAHA! No, they¡¯re not from an accident¡­ and during that time they saw me, their medical equipment is still outdated since they just got here, so they took me to the other side to be treated. Randas: THE OTHER SIDE?! ON EARTH?! Wait, how old are you? Doc. Tenera: Yeah. Hey! My age is a secret. Randas: Oh¡­ Doc. Tenera: I saw everything on the other side. Their labs were also underground, but due to my injuries they had to put me in a special hospital above. They treated me, and in return I provided knowledge for them. I stayed there for like a month before having full recovery. Even now, I have privileges of going back there. For check-ups, of course. But their world is very nice, even some kids, who are humans, are not afraid of seeing me¡­ Randas: Wow. Doc. Tenera: So, work hard. The council might be able to see your talents on this assignment. You and Yssa might be able to go to Earth someday. Randas: I will, chief. Doc. Tenera: Your team, and the subject waits on Sector-L13. Goodluck gathering info! Randas: Thank you, chief. Randas left the office, on her way out she bumped into Eldrin you brought the coffees. Randas: Oh, Eldrin! What took you so long? Eldrin: There¡¯s a lot of people at the cafeteria, and an unusual traffic of security personnel. Here¡¯s your black coffee. Randas: Thanks. Eldrin: Where¡¯s the captain? Randas: He left already. Treat yourself with that cappuccino instead. The two went to the Sector-L13, a few levels below the main laboratory. The sector is protected by huge blast walls and doors. They entered the sector, and greeted by a human of Earth, Doctor Samuel Richards. Samuel: You must be Doctor Randas? And your fellow junior? Eldrin: I am Eldrin, her junior researcher. Randas: I am Randas. Chief Doctor Tenera sent me here, for the thaumaturgical experiments on the subject just sent here. Samuel: Oh, yes, yes! By the way, I¡¯m Doctor Samuel Richards, a fellow researcher from the Anomalous Events Division. Randas: Anomalous Events? I¡¯m sorry for my lack of information, but I¡¯ve never heard of that kind of division¡­ Samuel: Oh, I should be the one apologizing. Our division only exists in Earth, and only on Earth. On the other dimension like yours, there¡¯s none. With that given, shall we proceed, team leader? Randas: Thank you, doctor. Please, lead the way. The inside of the sector was like a huge 2-floored warehouse, with monitoring balconies on the 2nd floors. At the center of the ground level, a see-through cubicle as large as a king-size bedroom, attached with numerous apparatuses. A single bed could be seen inside, with a strapped man of about 40s in age, Caucasian, bald and skinny. A lot of magic seals were placed on that man, but the man keeps on struggling on getting out of the restraints, screaming not in despair, but in anger. The three watches it at a distance, while other personnel were recording or tuning with the devices around the cubicle. Randas: Is that our subject? Samuel: Yes. And from our world. Randas: The files say he has a quantum core inside him? Samuel: And other 99 humans of our world has as well. Eldrin: There are others? Samuel: Yes, yes¡­ it is still unknown to the Institution how these corpses got those cores. We were able to detect energy anomalies in cemeteries, and when we found them, they¡¯ve got the cores inside their bodies. Eldrin: Corpses? Samuel: Material analysis says it is made of unknown material. We tried to connect the retrieved cores to a supercomputer for further analysis, and it functions like a computer but at 100% efficacy: no energy loss, all work, nothing more. Randas: So, we¡¯re going to extract a core from that man? Samuel: Yeah. If you question ¡°why here¡±?... well, we¡¯ve been able to extract 30 in total. The remaining 70 were in containment on Earth. An incident occurred when the 31st core was to be extracted. The subject went rogue and killed the surgical team whose about to extract the core, like it was protecting it. Then it killed the other personnel, all in all a hundred casualties that only happened for 30 minutes. Randas: Oh my¡­ Eldrin: So, the magic seals are for restraining him? Samuel: Yeah, and to keep him sedated as well. Scientific methods doesn¡¯t apply on this guy, that¡¯s why our resident mages put up thaumaturgical devices, or ¡®runes¡¯ in your terms, to sedate him. Randas: Strange¡­ even the undead have Mana in them, that¡¯s why a soul less body moves. But that corpse, he doesn¡¯t have any. Samuel: And that¡¯s why Doc Tenera chose you. Someone with expertise in Biology and Environmental Thaumaturgy, we wanted you to calm it down or something, like incapacitate it. Randas: I don¡¯t know if it will work¡­ I guess this will be a trial-and-error. Eldrin: Well. We better get started since that guy is about to break free. The man inside the cubicle becomes more aggressive, as the magic seal on his skin starts to fade. Randas: Subject the cubicle in 500 hertz of UV and call at least two mages or anyone with lightning magic affinity. Samuel: Yes, team leader. I¡¯ll go make the preparations. Randas: Thank you, and please hurry. The whole place gets busy. The cubicle was surrounded by people tweaking the apparatuses and people encircling themselves to cast magic on it. They chanted until a magic circle appears beneath the cubicle. The man inside looses his anger, his about to rip off the straps on his bed but he fell unconscious. Samuel: We should send in the surgical team. Randas: But the controlling spell is still up, will the surgical team be fine? Samuel: Don¡¯t worry, team leader. The team will be equipped with hazmat suits made to repel mana energy. It will be safe for them. Randas: Okay, send them in. A group of 3 men and 3 women entered the cubicle, all equipped with their protective suits and surgical instruments. They began performing incisions on the unconscious man¡¯s chest. After a rough 15 minutes, they were able to pull out a small ball the size of a fist. They placed the ball inside a protective container and brought it outside. One of the surgical team gave the container to Samuel, and Samuel hands it to Randas. Samuel: This will be in your care, doctor. Randas: Hmm, I guess we should start doing the analytics on this object since the Institution will take this after a week. Could you make preparations for it? Samuel: Yes, doctor. Eldrin: Umm ¨C what about me? What should I do? Randas: Go and assist Samuel. Eldrin: Will do! All the sudden, Doctor Tenera enters the place, escorted by two MC-00 soldiers fully covered in cybernetic armor. She immediately approaches Randas who¡¯s still holding the container of the core. Tenera stops Eldrin and Samuel from leaving as well. Doc. Tenera: Eldrin, go and take Randas¡¯ mother. NOW! Randas: Chief! What¡¯s going on? Doc. Tenera: Your father told me to get you out of here as fast as possible. I don¡¯t know why, but he contacted me and he¡¯s in a hurry. Samuel, go with them and bring that core. Randas, meet up with your mother at the ¨C Before Tenera finishes her sentence, an alarm wails all around the place. Alarm Voice: Warning. Anomalous Entity detected, threat level - Epsilon. All non-combatant personnel, evacuate through Passage-77 and proceed to Facility B-1. All combatant personnel, report to your superiors and prepare for containment or extermination procedures. This is NOT a drill. Samuel: Jesus Christ! Doc. Tenera: What are you guys waiting for?! GO! Randas: What about you, chief? Doc. Tenera: I¡¯ll catch up, JUST GO! NOW! Stories of Elyn 2: Fate against the Natural Law The two gods woke up and found themselves inside a white room, three chairs made of metal and a table at the center. Both of them have weird looking collars. Perdius tried to forcibly remove the collar, but he can¡¯t. Perdius: Hey, Marcus! Can you rot this damn thing? Marcus: Let me try. Marcus held his collar, his hands turned charred black. The collar begins to rust but overtime his hands returned to normal, so is the state of that collar. Marcus: Something¡¯s blocking my mana. Can¡¯t you just go wild and tear everything in here? That¡¯s what you¡¯re good at, right? Perdius: Nah, I can¡¯t turn berserk with this ¡®magic¡¯ they¡¯ve laid upon us. And hey! I don¡¯t just trash things around! The door in that room opens, a man wearing an unusual clothing, all black. He is being followed by the same metallic golems they¡¯ve faced a while ago. Both stood away on the man, and stares at him, readying themselves to fight. The metallic golems raised their weapons, unusual crossbows, towards the two. Man in black: Now, now. We don¡¯t want to get ugly inside this room, I¡¯m just here to talk. Perdius: Says the one who caged us! If we wished to, we could tear this place apart! Marcus: Explain yourself, human. Man in black: I am Captain Stephen. You can say I run the security of this place. These are my trustworthy soldiers. Perdius: Soldiers? They¡¯re not ¨C The two golems lowered their weapons, their heads started moving weird, disintegrating and makes an opening that reveals the face man and a woman. The two thought these are golems, but in fact they are humans wearing very odd armor. Marcus: That¡¯s an armor¡­ Perdius: And a big one, on top of that. Capt. Stephen: We couldn¡¯t fight the likes of you, bare handed. Humans are weak and fragile compared to the beings of this world, thus we devise the right equipment and strategies to ensure safety and survival, technological advantages against the unforgiving world of yours. Marcus: Our world? Capt. Stephen: I will speak more if you cooperate with us, and along that cooperation no harm will come on both parties concerned. Perdius: HAH! You dare bargain even you¡¯re at the right distance of head smashing! Capt. Stephen: I know even with that collar on your neck, you could perceive things far beyond than humans. Try and look around. Both Marcus and Perdius looked at every direction. For a whole minute, the room went very quiet. Perdius: Strange¡­ it¡¯s like there¡¯s nothing outside¡­ and there¡¯s holes on the corners! Marcus: What of it? Capt. Stephen: Let¡¯s say someone outside watches us, right now. If something were to happen on us, the holes will spray neurotoxin. Perdius: We are gods! Trivial things like a toxin won¡¯t affect us! Capt. Stephen: Even it is not from this world? Perdius: Wha ¨C you dare mock us! We are superior! We can ¨C Marcus: Perdius, let¡¯s hear him out¡­ Perdius: But! Marcus: You¡¯ve said to me already, our people missing, the Abode is planning something. There must be a menace lurking somewhere, and we need leads. Capt. Stephen: Hmmm, menace? I could tell you more if you¡¯re willing to ¨C Perdius: Fine! Keep up with your promises, and we keep ours. But the moment you betray us, or do something against us, this place will be turned into dust! Marcus: I¡¯ll assure what my brethren said. Answer our questions, and we¡¯ll consider what you want. Cross the line, you¡¯re dead. Capt. Stephen: Good. We will answer your questions with utmost honesty. Perdius: We? The collars beeps, it unlocks and fell on the floor. Capt. Stephen: We have a deal? The human captain reaches his hands. Marcus hesitates, but he clasps his hands on the captain¡¯s and they shook in agreement. Marcus: You said ¡®we¡¯¡­ Capt. Stephen: I only said I run the security of this place, not the whole place. They left the room, walked down to on a hallway with white tiles and walls, lit by lamps on the ceiling. They entered a gateway at the end of the hall that has a small chamber enough for five people. The captain presses a button on the wall of that chamber, and suddenly both Marcus and Perdius felt like they are being moved. Marcus: Wh ¨C what¡¯s going on? Capt. Stephen: This is a lift, and it¡¯s moving us to another place. Perdius: Now that I noticed it, the three of you doesn¡¯t have any mana. You guys wear something like that collar thing we had? Capt. Stephen: No. We are not from this world. Perdius: So, you¡¯re taking the beings of this world, our creation, as slaves?! The captain sighs deeply. A ding was heard inside that chamber, and the door opens, leading to a very wide field. The field has plants, crops, and even farm animals. There are humans, and elves, and other beings of different races, others harvest the crops and fruits, some are children playing around that field. The two further looked around, the place is surrounded by walls with houses in them, and the sky was a huge dome ceiling that lights up the whole place as if its sunny day. The two gods walked around the field with the human captain and soldiers, the people of Elyn inside that place glances at the two and lowered their heads then they carried on at their doings. Capt. Stephen: Quite famous, aren¡¯t we? Perdius: Are we outside? Capt. Stephen: Nope. Marcus: Then, that means we¡¯re still ¨C Capt. Stephen: Underground, yes. Does this people look like slaves to you? Perdius: They are not under in any kind of spell¡­ they are¡­ free? Capt. Stephen: With that already cleared out, allow me to introduce who we are. We are the Institute of Humanity, or if that¡¯s long you can call us the Institution. This place is the Facility B-18 one of the 30 others that we already built in this world. The main purpose of the Institution is to seek knowledge and use that obtained knowledge for the greater good. Marcus: What is your goal on taking our people? Capt. Stephen: We didn¡¯t take them. in fact, we asked them, to join and become part of the Institution. Of course, we will provide them anything they need, as long as we will have a healthy relationship that make us prosper. Perdius: And if they refuse? Capt. Stephen: Well, we¡¯ll just erase their memories of meeting us. No harm for both sides, we will remain in secret, and they will not be bothered by us. Marcus: By any chance¡­ are you connected to the kingdom of Altruis? Capt. Stephen: Hmmm, I believe my superior will have to answer that. Behind them was a man in black suit, has horns like a goat, and has a blue skin. The two gods leapt in shock, then both readied themselves and postures to attack the horned guy. Of course, the guards reacted by pointing their weapons on the two, but the captain jumps in to stop them. Capt. Stephen: WOAH! WOAH! Marcus: YOU¡¯VE BEEN WORKING WITH AN ARCHDEMON?! Capt. Stephen: Archdemon? Him? The horned man laughs. He extends his hands towards the two gods to greet them. Capt. Stephen: The man you¡¯re trying to assault was the Assistant Director of this place, Mr. Hal¡¯yo. He runs the whole place, and he¡¯s my superior. Hal¡¯yo: I know that we, the archdemons, have been known as murderers, true monsters. Even the gods who created us despise us¡­ *ahem* we should talk inside my office. The captain and the two gods went with the demon to his office. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Perdius: I¡¯ll tell you, human! This demon here will tear you apart! Capt. Stephen: Then, why are we still here? He¡¯s been here for years, and we trust him, and everyone else we recruited in this place. Perdius and Marcus fell silent. The archdemon hands the two cups of coffee, and then the captain. Hal¡¯yo: We were saved. Years ago, before we got here, my people were already dying of starvation. Marcus: We know about that, that¡¯s why you started attacking everyone else. The magic of archdemons is not to be toyed with, making everyone fear you. Hal¡¯yo: I know, on the behalf of all archdemons, I apologize¡­ we¡¯ve been back to a corner¡­ our gods abandoned us because of our power and left us to die in a barren land. And then, the Institution came. They were not afraid, they gave us food, clothing, helped us fix our home. Some questioned their motives, we even accused them as spies sent by the humans of Altruis. But they told the truth. They offered us prosperous life, showed their world and technology, in exchange of helping them. We hesitated, of course, fearing that we might be used as weapons or slaves, but no. And then, here we are, standing with the humans from another world, living side by side and helping one another. The same goes for the other beings, and thus a mutual relationship was formed. Silence once again envelops the room. Perdius sips the coffee and places the empty cup on the table. Perdius: Assistant whatever, right? So that means someone is much higher than you? Are all the assistant stuff archdemons? Hal¡¯yo: Yes, there¡¯s a person higher than us, the director, and the director follows another higher position, but I¡¯m not at liberty to say that. For all the assistant directors, not all are archdemons. The 30 facilities are managed by 1 director and 29 assistant directors. 14 of which are us, Elynians, all of which are assistant directors. Elves, nymphs, and such. The rest are humans of the Earth, like Captain Stephen here. Marcus: Not at liberty to say, huh¡­ and I thought you will tell us more. Hal¡¯yo: Well, if you want to know more, you have to be part of the Institution, but I¡¯ll do that for you in one condition. Capt. Stephen: Mr. Hal¡¯yo, you don¡¯t mean ¨C Hal¡¯yo: We ¨C we could have an advantage if they joined us. Perdius: Hey, hey! What ¡®advantage¡¯ you¡¯re talking about?! HUH?! Marcus: Perdius, calm down. Hal¡¯yo: I will only tell you if you join with us. Marcus: Putting us on a tight spot, are we? We refuse, archdemon. We will leave this place immediately and tell the Underworld and the Abode about this. Marcus and Perdius stands. They are going to leave the room, determined to leave the place. Hal¡¯yo: This offer will make understand! Understand how the world works! How little we are! And how to save ours from threats we don¡¯t know! Capt. Stephen: Assistant director! You can¡¯t just say those! It¡¯s classified! Hal¡¯yo: These two are the only chance we have if that ¡®thing¡¯ ever moves! The gods of this world might not care, but at least let them know about that ¡®thing¡¯! Marcus stops. He faces back to the archdemon, with curiosity and caution. Marcus: That ¡®thing¡¯? Hal¡¯yo: If I tell you, you¡¯re going to join us? Marcus: Perdius, what do you think? Perdius: It depends. Hal¡¯yo: Then, follow me. Capt. Stephen: Are you sure about this? You know I report directly to the director as well, and he might not like this. Hal¡¯yo: I know, but I want to protect my world, captain. At least, I want those who can protect my world know the truth. They left the office, went to another lift, and goes deep, to a heavily sealed chamber. Perdius: What is this place? Marcus: Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve caught an ancient dragon and sealed it here. Hal¡¯yo: No¡­ it¡¯s ¨C more than that, even than both of you who are gods¡­ Perdius: Ridiculous! That is non-sense! Nothing is beyond us! Capt. Stephen: You¡¯ll realize you¡¯re just a speck of dust once you¡¯ve seen it. Perdius: WHAT?! Marcus: Perdius, calm down. Upon entering the chamber, they saw metallic pillars surrounding a something. A silhouette of a person, or perhaps literal person, it is unclear, the person is all black. Like a shadow, even the light covers the whole place, that person doesn¡¯t seem to shine the light back. It is at the center of the pillars. The pillars emanate lightning around that person, standing still without any reactions. Both Marcus and Perdius were petrified, they don¡¯t know why, but looking at that ¡®thing¡¯ makes them feel uneasy. Marcus: Wh ¨C what is that? Hal¡¯yo: We ¨C we are not sure yet. But we¡¯ve named it already, we call it the ¡®Chaos Engine¡¯. Perdius: I know what chaos means, but what is an engine? Capt. Stephen: In our world, an engine is a device that uses energy to move, like a locomotive. Also, you can say that an engine is something that causes a particular process. Marcus: Something that ¨C causes chaos? Why? That thing looks like a person, a human in most striking way. Hal¡¯yo: The Institution sent this one here, but it is still a secret where they found it. We¡¯ve done tests on that thing, and the results were pretty random¡­ Perdius: Random? What do you mean? Capt. Stephen: Some tests include placing a live animal, a pig beside it. The pig suffered from radia ¨C I mean the pig was burned from the inside. Another test was with a dying orc, don¡¯t worry he volunteered himself. When we placed him beside that thing, his sickness went away. We did the same on a dying elf, but the elf died and turned into a puddle of slime¡­ on non-living things, well, it can turn rocks into plants, bend wood in an unimaginable way, and many more things we can¡¯t explain. Hal¡¯yo: The Institution also discovered others like this thing on their world, and the same results were found. Capt. Stephen: And they don¡¯t move, they are just standing still. The Institution fears that if they started moving, the results might happen on it¡¯s surroundings. It is already making things weird even at its dormant state. Marcus: And if that thing moves, chaos will ensue¡­ Perdius: You want us to destroy it? We got it ¨C Hal¡¯yo: We¡¯ve done everything we can, if something touches that thing, it ceases. Perdius: Ceases? Like it stops? Going to die? Hal¡¯yo: We ¨C we still can¡¯t explain it very properly¡­ but we can show you. Hal¡¯yo commands one of the men near the so-called Chaos Engine. He controls a metallic doll, and makes it approach the Engine. The doll touches the Engine, and it disappears. No trace, no sound, no warning of any sorts. The doll vanishes into thin air. Perdius: What in the world¡­? Marcus: So, its untouchable? Hal¡¯yo: Yes, and the only thing that keeps it from touching us are the containment rods ¨C those pillars. Marcus went near the Engine. He walks around it while staring it. Marcus: Is it just me, or its face is following me? Hal¡¯yo: Wait ¨C wait¡­ you said it¡¯s following you? Perdius: Marcus, he¡¯s looking at me, not at you. Maybe its first time seeing a god HAHAHAHA! The two gods noticed that both the archdemon and the captain went nervous. The archdemon started commanding the other people, rushing on the pillars and pressing things. The captain pulls a small object on his pocket and talks to it. They look back at the Engine, and it¡¯s pointing its fingers towards the two. Perdius: And now, its pointing at us. The archdemon looked back at the object with absolute terror. He presses something on the wall and the pillars expanded, covering the Engine until it can¡¯t be seen. Hal¡¯yo: Everyone! Go and take your relatives! Protocol Omega has begun! GO! GO! Everyone ran outside the chamber. The two gods, the archdemon, and the captain were left behind. Hal¡¯yo: Captain, did you contact your family? Capt. Stephen: Yes, boss. I already contacted my wife and Doctor Tenera. The core will be secured, and the non-combatants are already heading to Facility B1. Marcus: What should we do? Perdius: What can we do? We turn it into a useless pulp! Hal¡¯yo: Captain, go get your team. We will hold it off. Capt. Stephen: Don¡¯t get yourselves killed. The captain rans off, and the three remains. The pillars started to crumble, turning into dust that flies all over the place. Then, the Engine slowly walks out of its cage. Perdius has magic affinity to earth. He stomps on the ground, raise his fist against the Engine, and glowing rocks appear out of thin air and on the ground, directing towards the face of the Engine. Hal¡¯yo is an archdemon, purposively created by the gods to cause havoc ¨C the affinity to dark magic. Orbs of concentrated mana formed around him, ready to be launched against the Engine. Marcus has also an affinity to dark magic, and the ability to turn things into ashes in an instant. His arms became blackened, like burnt coal, and blue flames covers it. They threw everything they had at the Engine. The dust settles, and they still saw the Engine standing in front of them. It raised its hand and pointed towards the two gods. The Engine: Overseers, your Primal has abandoned you. Why fight the inevitable? Marcus: Overseers? Primal? Perdius: He¡¯s talking nonsense! We are the gods of this world! WE ARE THE INEVITABLE! Hal¡¯yo: Overseers¡­ so the rumors are true¡­ The Engine: It is, and it will be. Perdius: Wha ¨C what rumor?! Marcus: So, there are things you haven¡¯t told to us? The Engine walks slowly towards the three. Hal¡¯yo grabbed the two gods and threw them away as far as he could. He rushed on a small pedestal and pressed something. The whole place was enclosed with black walls, leaving the archdemon with the Engine enclosed. The two gods could hear the archdemon scream: RUN. The screaming stops, the walls begun turning into liquid, and then the Engine comes out, slowly walking towards the two. Sweat runs through on Marcus¡¯ face. It¡¯s the very first time he felt it. He could see Perdius¡¯ fur standing, not because he¡¯s angered, but because of fear. Perdius: Who are you?! Who are you to defy us?! We are gods! Marcus: Perdius, compose yourself! The Engine: We are just a mere device that will bring anything back to normal. Marcus: Normal? Normal?! All I sense in you IS destruction! The Engine: The same as you? Marcus: We are not the same! The Engine: Indeed. Why bother thinking about it? You were created, and you created. You don¡¯t destroy, you change the form into another, unrecognizable, making it ¡®destroyed¡¯. You have emotions, can have conflict, can have peace, can take or make things that recognize the universe, LIFE. Perdius: Then what are you, monster?! The Engine: Monster? No. We are a device capable of turning things back to normal. No conflict, no peace. No death, no life. No causes, no effects. No things, no nothing. AS ALL THINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING. A world full of conflict will be ended with conflict, canceling and removing it from the equation. A world living in peace will reach a maxima of it, causing the integration of disruption and ending it. To end it, everything must be brought back to the beginning. Perdius: That¡¯s it! I¡¯m done with your nonsense!!! Perdius jumps straight to the Engine. He is aiming the neck of the Engine. With his claws covered in glowing crystals, he slashes the neck of the Engine. The Engine didn¡¯t move. Then, blood gushes out on Perdius¡¯ neck. He kneels on the ground while the Engine ¡®stares¡¯ him down. Marcus: Perdius! Perdius: Go, Marcus. I¡¯ll handle him. Marcus: Brother! We can defeat him we combined our magic ¨C Perdius: GO! The Engine reaches for Perdius¡¯ neck. It chokes him. Perdius struggles, then he stops moving. The Engine drops the wolf-god, as a corpse. The corpse then slowly fades away, not like it was turning into dust or ashes. Perdius¡¯ body is just vanishing. The Engine: Why fight? All of us follow the law of nature. No one can bend it, no one can deny, no one can. Marcus shouts, unclear of emotions. Is he sad? Angered? Then he remembered his family. His wife, and their daughter. He blasts the Engine with his magic for the second time. He turns his back away, and dashes out of the place. As he run away, his vision became¡­ confusing. The place is twirling, spiraling unnaturally. He stops for a moment and looks back. He could see the whole place twist, bend and distort, from the ceiling to the ground. All of the place, except himself and the Engine. Institutional Archives VI: Facility B-18 Incident . . . -CHECKING INPUTTED CREDENTIALS -LOGGING IN . . . -WELCOME TO THE INSTITUTION OF HUMANITY SYSTEM ¨C INFORMATION CORE, HOW MAY I SERVE YOU? [Access File I-FB18] -ACCESSING FILES -WARNING: FILE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE INSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL. [Continue accessing File I-FB18] -AT THE END OF TIME, WE WILL STRIVE. AT THE END OF THE HANDS, WE WILL WAIT. [The Engine goes on and on. We cut our heads and stab it through god, so we could see through lies and truth] -WELCOME, COUNCILOR. ACCESSING FILE I-FB18. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. . . . File I-FB18: Facility B-18 Incident On 12th day of February - year 2289, Facility B-18 has been attacked by the Object K-011, or the Chaos Engine, that went active for unknown reasons while being contained in Chamber 77 of the facility, causing temporal and physical disruptions all throughout the facility. The facility went 100 meters deeper, some areas (sectors, chambers, wings) went missing, the layout of the whole facility were warped and became unrecognizable making rescue efforts difficult, and ultimately impossible. There is an estimate of 126 MIAs personnel, including the Assistant Director Hal¡¯yo Arch, and Captain Stephen Falcore and his Maximum Caution team, and other personnel who aren¡¯t able to exit the facility when it began ¡®warping¡¯ during the duration of the Chaos Engine¡¯s active time. The whereabouts of the two undocumented natives who calls themselves ¡®gods¡¯ are still unknown. All MIAs, including the two undocumented natives, were designated as DECEASED. Doctor Tenera Arachne Chief Doctor, Research Division Acting Assistant Director for Facility B-18 -END OF FILE- -WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ MORE? [No.] -THANK YOU FOR USING THE INSTITUTION OF HUMANITY SYSTEM ¨C INFORMATION CORE, HAVE A VERY SAFE AND PROGRESSIVE DAY, COUNCIL MEMBER! -LOGGING OUT. . . . . . . . . . . . . Recording File 119: To Randas and Yssa I know. I should have told him to come with you¡­ to escort you with the core¡­ but didn¡¯t¡­ You and your mother were able to leave the facility, but he couldn¡¯t. His duty couldn¡¯t. It drags him always near to danger. For years I¡¯ve known him, he always gets injured. Your mother always patches him, with magic and herbs, even we got access to high-end tech that can remove mortality¡­ he knew some time in his life, the end will come. He told me that if something were to happen to him, I should send both of you to the Lunar Base. There¡¯s a residence there, for Elynians like us. He told me that if you two refused, I should drag both of your stubborn asses to that moon. He told its way safer than living here in Elyn. I could¡­ I could arrange proper work for you ¨C Biological Research, right? Right? *sniffs* With the incident¡­ I feel being guilty¡­ the directors want me to elect as a Council Member, even after that incident. You must have heard about it¡­ you must be angry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ I really am¡­ he¡¯s like a great brother to me, the one I should be protecting¡­ but still he¡­ *sighs* I know, Randas. You might be throwing these record messages away, still mad at me. But I will do what your father has been doing in the beginning ¨C protecting both of you¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ *Recording Ended.* Recording Source: Tenera Arachne CHAPTER 25: Confessions deep inside the walls Akino wraps a long piece of cloth on Lyka¡¯s bionic arm. Their group took a little rest after reaching the end of the forest. They could see far away, between the gaps of the trees, a road leading to walls on the far-end of the horizon. Lyka: Why am I having this bandage again? Akino: So, people won¡¯t notice your metallic arm. It will be a problem if they got their eyes on you. Alexa: That¡¯s sweet. Akino finishes wrapping the cloth. She helps Lyka to stand up. Alexa noticed that Akino¡¯s deliberately avoiding Lyka. Lyka: Are you¡­ still mad? About last night? I¡¯m sorry ¨C Akino: No, I should be the one saying sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t know about it¡­ Akino creates grey-hooded robe, coming from the skin of her forearm, bit by bit, like a sand that moves on its own. She wears the robe on Lyka. Akino: I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m not mad¡­ it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m a bit embarrassed¡­ we¡¯ll talk it out once we got a shelter in the city, okay? Lyka: Th-thank you¡­ Alexa: Can¡¯t you just confess to each other, make out or kiss or something? Have a closure already! Akino & Lyka: Shut it. Alexa: Oh, wow! Both of you are in unison now, nice! Akino: Anyway, you might need a robe as well. Alexa: I can cover myself, thank you very much. Alexa starts creating a similar clothing, but out of silk formed by her flesh hair. The three approaches their accompanied adventurers, who were tidying up their wooden bowls and other stuff. They left. A few steps, and the forest is already behind them. Infront, a road made of rocks and soil. They followed the road that leads to the city, the city of Dasman. Upon nearing the city gates, they saw a line of horse carriages, and guards in medieval armor check every cargo. The group stops by a tree near the road, a bit far from the gates and out of the sights of the guards. Akino: We should split up. And in case of something¡­ Akino hands over a small rectangular metal to each of the three adventurers. Each metal has a small button on its center. Olguk: What is this? Akino: A transponder. Before I tell you how to use it, and why I gave it to you, you have to promise me ¨C promise us one thing. Thoral: Okay. We owe our lives; we¡¯ll pay back in return. And my friends will live up to it. Both Olguk and Oliva nods in agreement with Thoral. Akino: Thank you. Whatever happens, you don¡¯t speak any of the things you saw in that cave. And we never met, forget we encountered your group. Oliva: What? Why? Afterall you and your friends done to us, why should we forget your kindness? Lyka: Its not kindness we want you to forget. The men of Altruis might be looking for their knights and mages, and I¡¯m the only one who got out there¡­ bringing you in this mess will never turn out good. Oliva: I ¨C I see¡­ I totally forgot about that one¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Akino: Now, about the transponder, you¡¯ll only press it - ONLY press it when you encounter the same things you¡¯ve faced in that cave. Thoral: So, you want us to find places similar to that? Akino: No. You are adventurers. In your expeditions, who know what you might encounter. And if it happens that you encounter again the same place. Alexa: Or that same fleshy monster with many faces! Akino: It''s time you press that. And one last thing, only the three of you knows about this, no one else. Got it? Olguk: If keeping secrets is you want, you can count on it. Oliva: Once again, thank you. Thank you for saving us back there. Akino: You¡¯re welcome. The three adventurers went ahead first in the walled city. The guards checked them, and let them in. They waited for 5 minutes, sitting under the shades of a tree. Then, Akino stands up. Akino: We should go now. Alexa: After you. They walked and went to the gate. The guards stopped them as they enter the city. Guard 1: New faces, huh? Guard 2: Merchants? Adventurers? Akino: Just passing through. Guard 1: To pass through, you have to pay a toll, young lad. Alexa: Actually, we want to stay in. Guard 2: What¡¯s with this little demi-beast? Lyka glares at that guard, and so did Akino while she¡¯s pulling out the bag of coins they got from the dead knights. Lyka: She¡¯s my daughter, and do you have a problem with demi-beasts?! Guard 2: What are you gonna do? Smack me? Ha! Guard 1: Hey! Cut it out! Akino grabbed the guard¡¯s fingers and broke them in one go. That guard screamed, so the others were alerted, pulling their swords out and pointing it to the three. Guard 2: YOU - ! You¡¯re going to pay for this! Akino: Then, is this enough? Akino throws the bag of coins on the guard¡¯s face. The coins were scattered all around the ground, making the other guards scramble to get some. Akino: A friendly orc said to us you guys were tough on newbies, but weak to money. I could just hand that bag to you, but you crossed the line, bud. You don¡¯t get to insult my family. Akino leans towards the injured guard. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Akino: The next time I heard you insult them, I¡¯ll break your limbs, then your neck. Sounds good? The guard grits his teeth. Then, he commands the other guards to let the three in. Alexa: Oh, you¡¯re going to let us in after all. Quite the performance you did. Akino: Kid, stop provoking them. The three girls enter the city. A small city resembling to neo-medieval architecture. Post less streets with a circular plaza and a fountain on the center of the city. Structures with at least 2 to 3 stories high and very close to each other. A small hill from afar, but still inside the walled city, with castle like buildings on it. Small stalls of fruits, meat, and other stuff. Taverns of some sort, for drunkards or for the starving, or both. Dark alleyways with suspicious eyes. And a lot of people, both human and humanoid, wandering the whole place minding their own businesses. Alexa cheerfully dashes to every stall while Lyka accompanies her, its their first time seeing such place after all. Alexa: Just like in fantasy-RPGs! So cool! Lyka: RPGs? As the two happily converses, Akino went to a stall right next to where they are. Akino: Excuse me, can I ask something? Bread vendor: If you buy some of my goods, I¡¯ll consider it. Akino: Bargaining, are we? Bread vendor: Yeah. It¡¯s business, after all. Akino: Could use some food. I¡¯ll have these, and that. And that one. Bread vendor: That will be 50 silver and 30 copper. Akino hands the vendor a piece of gold coin. Bread vendor: Don¡¯t you have spare coins? Akino: Keep the change. Consider it as the payment for my questions and my investment. Bread vendor: Thank you very much! You¡¯ve made a very wise decision. Well, go ask your questions, young girl. Akino: First, you know any places where we can take a night? Bread vendor: Oh, travelers? There¡¯s a ton of places you can stay, but because you¡¯re my very first customer for this day, I¡¯ll give you good choices. The vendor points at a large establishment near the plaza, a four-story structure. The establishment has a bulletin board outside and has a flag of a lion on its second-floor balcony. Bread vendor: That¡¯s the Dasman adventurers'' guild. Every city has that and usually, they can accommodate some travelers from far away for a price. Free if you¡¯re a professional adventurer. Akino: Sounds neat. The vendor points right next to the guild establishment, a three-story tavern. Bread vendor: That¡¯s the Lion¡¯s Tavern. Travelers who can¡¯t pay the price of the guild¡¯s rooms can stay there for a night. Pretty low class, but at least the elves there cleans the place good. Akino: Hmmm, at least its clean. Then, the vendor points at the castle-like structures on top of the hill. Bread vendor: The Dasman inn. Nobles live there, but they have spaces to spare so they used it to house travelling rich merchants or nobles. I¡¯ve been there as a caterer, and I¡¯m gonna tell you: there are a lot of expensive stuff! If you have enough money, you can stay there for weeks! Akino: I¡¯m not looking for a grandiose resting place, but thanks for suggesting. Bread vendor: You got it! Any more questions? Akino: Any knights from, I don¡¯t know, Altruis? Yeah, Altruis, that has been roaming in here? Bread vendor: Oh, now what are you? A fugitive? Trying to hide from them? Akino: Avoiding them. Bread vendor: That¡¯s the same. Akino hands another piece of gold to the vendor. Akino: You keep that piece and you shut your mouth. Bread vendor: Okay, okay. But mind if I ask, what did you do to them that made you avoid them? Akino: You want me to take that gold from you? Bread vendor: Okay, okay. Trade secret, got it. Hmmm, I think there were here about a week ago. And since you¡¯re avoiding them, the Dasman inn won¡¯t be a good choice for you. Some knights are still taking vacation in that place, I guess. Akino: I think that¡¯s all, thanks. Akino left, she went back with Alexa and Lyka. Akino: Found a place for us, let¡¯s go. Alexa: You got some food? What is it? What is it? Akino: This looks like a sweet roll, and this one looks like a baguette that has a fish filling¡­ weird. Akino hands both pieces of bread she bought, and they walk towards the tavern to book a room. As they entered the tavern, many eyes looked at them, especially on Lyka and Alexa. They couldn¡¯t hide Lyka¡¯s fluffy tail and Alexa¡¯s flesh hair after all. Alexa: The fuck are they staring at? Akino: Alexa, language. Just act normal, and we¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll go to the counter to book us a room. Lyka: Okay, we¡¯ll wait here. Akino went to the counter and asked the server for rooms. Akino: I¡¯d like a room for 3, please. Tavern server: Hmm, we only serve rooms for 2 or 4. Akino: Okay, I¡¯ll take the room for 4. For this night only. Tavern server: That would be 50 silver, and please allow us to guide you to your room. Akino hands the server a gold coin and told him to keep the change. The server smiles at her and joyfully hands Akino the key for their room. They went upstairs with another tavern servant, guiding them to their room. Tavern servant: Would like anything else? Lyka: We¡¯re fine, thanks. Tavern servant: Enjoy your stay in Lion¡¯s Tavern! A room, similar to an ordinary room in beach resorts: wooden drawers, 2 beds good for 2 people each, a wardrobe, a window with a wooden frame, and a small table with two chairs. Alexa immediately jumps on the bed, Lyka sits beside the bed near the window, and Akino takes the chair, placing down her bag and the food she just bought. Lyka looks outside the window, seeing the sky slowly turning into yellowish orange: the sun is setting already. Akino looks at Lyka, she gulps and speaks. Akino: So, about last night¡­ is there anyway to, you know, stop it? Lyka: I ¨C I should just sleep early, before the full moon rises¡­ Akino: Oh¡­ The two went silent, avoiding eye contact at all. Alexa notices this and went in between them. Alexa: COME ON! Just fricking talk already! The awkwardness is cringing me! Akino: Alright! Chill, chill¡­ so, how do we start? Lyka: I don¡¯t know¡­ Lyka twiddles with her fingers, she changes her legs¡¯ positioning moment to moment, acting very uncomfortable. Lyka: Do you ¨C hate me? Akino: Hate you? No, NO. I mean, you¡¯ve done nothing wrong, so¡­ Lyka: But last night, I ¨C I did something without your permission¡­ I kissed you, I - Akino: Wait, wait, WAIT¡­ you remembered all that stuff? Lyka: Y ¨C yes¡­ Akino: Oh my god¡­ Alexa: Yes, Aki. OMG. Lyka: I guess you¡¯re mad after all¡­ Akino: Wait, I told you already I am not mad¡­ it¡¯s just¡­ you know¡­ I like you too¡­ but we¡¯ve just met, like we¡¯ve only met in a week. Alexa: Aki is afraid of rejections? Akino: Shut it. Lyka: Really? Akino: I mean, it¡¯s just¡­ Lyka: Is it because I¡¯m a demi-human? Akino: No, there¡¯s nothing wrong with being a demi-human. Lyka: Is it because we¡¯re both girls? Akino: No. It¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s just¡­ Akino sighs. Alexa: About Rachel, isn¡¯t? Lyka: Who¡¯s Rachel? Akino: My ¨C my first love¡­ I met her when I was buying at the convenience store I showed you last time. That was when I was in my early days as a junior detective¡­ Alexa: In the diary¡­ you stopped writing about her after the year 3019¡­ why? Akino: She died¡­ brain cancer¡­ It all went silent. The sound of the wind and chatter of the other people could only be heard. Alexa: I get it. You¡¯re still thinking about losing someone you love. We¡¯re different now, remember? We can like outlive this planet, aaannd ma¡¯s the same as us. Nothing could go wrong with that. Akino: I know¡­ but what if that thing?! That cube thing wiped us out shows again?! Our bodies might not get destroyed but we got into something, like coma and never wake up?! Alexa: Woah! Calm down, what¡¯s happening to you? Lyka reaches and holds Akino¡¯s hands, she looks at her straight in the eye. Lyka: I know what it feels like. To lose someone you love is truly painful, and it¡¯s not wrong to be afraid of it¡­ but you¡¯ve said to me when we first met days ago, that we should just move on and climb on to any obstacles we meet. We¡¯ll see each other, protect each other¡­ like a family¡­ Lyka blushes at that moment. She closes her eyes and immediately hugs Akino. Both Akino and Alexa were shocked, they couldn¡¯t say a thing or two. Lyka: The moment you¡¯ve shown me your world, your memories, I don¡¯t know why¡­ but I¡¯ve fallen for you¡­ I ¨C I love you, Aki¡­ whatever happens, I¡¯ll love you¡­ Alexa: What about me? Lyka: Well¡­ I¡¯ll love you both! Alexa joins in, and Akino slowly smiles. Akino: Thanks¡­ Lyka: I should be thanking you. You¡¯ve given me another purpose, and another life. A life I¡¯ve been carrying. Lyka takes Akino¡¯s hand and places it on her abdomen. Akino is surprised, and so is Alexa. Akino & Alexa: WHAT?! Akino: Wait, wait, wait¡­ you¡¯re pregnant?! With whom?! Lyka: With you, why are you surprised? We did the thing last night, right? Alexa: Hold on, you know that Aki is a girl¡­ Lyka: But you¡¯ve told me that you¡¯re way beyond that, right? So, we kissed, and I¡¯ll be the one that gets pregnant, that¡¯s how¡­ Akino: What do you know about becoming pregnant, huh? Lyka twiddles with her fingers and blushes. Lyka: That if two people kissed with their lips, the girl gets pregnant¡­ Akino and Alexa stared at each other. Akino: Go and tell her. Alexa: Why me? You¡¯re the adult here! Akino: You¡¯re the one who has an information archive of biology stuff! Lyka: Umm, tell me what? Alexa: This will be a culture-shocking revelation¡­ Akino: Babies aren¡¯t made by two people kissing with their lips¡­ Lyka: Eh? Akino: Yeah¡­ so, you¡¯re not carrying any kid¡­ Lyka: Re ¨C really? Lyka blushes. Her face is fully red. Flustered, she jumps in the bed, covering herself with pillows. She seems to be mumbling things under the pillows, but Akino and Alexa chose to ignore it. CHAPTER 26: Unexpected Guests It¡¯s already nighttime. The full red moon can be seen illuminating the streets of Dasman. Alexa is sitting on the window frame while eating a piece of bread and playing with the phone Akino gave to her last time. Lyka is already asleep on the bed, gently breathing while clinging to a soft pillow. Akino is sitting beside her and gazing at her face. She stands and covers her with a blanket. Then, she took her belt bag and went near the door. Akino: Kid, stay here, okay? And look after her, I¡¯ll be gone for a while. Alexa: Where are going? Akino: Intel gathering. Alexa: Oh¡­ then be careful. Akino: Yeah, I will. Akino left the room. She went downstairs and to the lobby. She sat on one of the chairs for drinking guests of the tavern and an elf who¡¯s a waitress approached her. Waitress: What would like, ma¡¯am? Akino: Ummm¡­ do you have any coffee? Waitress: I¡¯m sorry but we only serve coffee at breakfast hours. Akino: That¡¯s¡­ a shame¡­ Waitress: I¡¯m really sorry about that. Akino: Do you have fruit juices? Waitress: We have oranges, apples, melons, stormfruit, lizard¡¯s brain, and our signature lion¡¯s punch. Akino: Oh¡­ lizard¡¯s brain sounds ¨C exotic¡­ I¡¯ll take that. Waitress: Right away, ma¡¯am. While Akino waits, she grabbed out a bag of gold from her belt-bag. She took three pieces of gold and placed it on the table. She scans the whole place: 10 tables with four chairs each. On one table there are 3 orcs drinking, on the other table a group of 4 people with cat ears eating some grilled fish, and the elves walking around to serve them. She also saw 6 humans: 4 of which are sitting, and the rest were standing, they wore armors of different assortments or made of bones, must be adventurers. She activated her SONAR, and detected heavy footsteps nearing the tavern. Suddenly, the wooden doors of the tavern slams open. Five heavily armored knights and a man in white robes carrying a staff with a white crystal entered the tavern. The orcs and the cat people looked at them with disgust and anger. Lead knight: What are you looking at, filth?! The orcs and the cat people silently left their tables and exited the tavern. The elves are looking nervous, and the adventurers are observing the knights but avoids full eye contact on them. Akino¡¯s order finally came. The elf waitress handed her a glass of bluish liquid, with a pinch of lemon on the side. Akino: How much? Waitress: 10 silver. Akino gave a gold coin to the waitress. Akino: Keep the change, it¡¯s your tip. Waitress: Th ¨C thank you! The waitress dashes towards the counter to give the payment and get her tip, but she accidentally trips over near the mage in white robes. The man didn¡¯t help out the waitress, instead he hovers his staff. The staff glows, making him agitated and grabs the waitress¡¯ arm. The knights draw out their swords and points it at the waitress. Mage in white robes: Where did you get that, huh?! The mage holds on a piece of gold coin. This caught Akino¡¯s attention. Waitress: I ¨C I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying! Please! Don¡¯t ¨C The mage slaps the waitress. At that moment, Akino stands from her seat and approaches the group. The knights saw this, and they pointed their swords at her. Akino: I gave the coin to her, got a problem with that? Mage in white robes: A commoner? What kind of clothing is that? Akino: If you want to interrogate further, we should do it outside. The mage drops the waitress down. Mage in white robes: Oh? Who are you to command me, commoner? Akino smirks. Mage in white robes: What are you smiling at?! Akino: You guys must be respectable people, right? Well, it might be unappealing if you start questioning a woman taking a break inside a tavern while other eyes look at us, right? Mage in white robes: You harlot¡­ alright, we¡¯ll take this outside! Akino: Sure! Lead the way, sir. She stands and comes with the knights. They left the tavern and went to a dark alley nearby. A dead end. The mage waves the staff, casting some sort of a field around them. Akino combined her ultrasonic sensors and energy scanners to identify the field. A magic barrier in the shape of a rectangle fitted to the alleyway of 5 meters wide and 10 meters high. Akino took the bag of gold out and showed it to the knights. Akino: Is this what you¡¯re looking for? Mage in white robes: Wha! Where did you get that?! Akino: From some jerks in a forest? Mage in white robes: SO it was you?! You¡¯re the one who interfered with our crusade! Akino: Wait, wait, wait. How did you know I killed your men? Mage in white robes: Each gold they have has a magic seal in them. I could sense their holy blood staining that gold! Akino: Oh! I, too, can sense someone else peeking with us. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Mage in white robes: What? The knights alerted themselves, frantically looking at the surroundings to find the one ¡®peeking¡¯. Mage in white robes: How?! Impossible! Go find that ¨C Before the mage finishes his words, Akino dashed forward and axe kicked the mage¡¯s head, knocking him out instantly. The knights faced her, but all got knocked out by her. She gutted each one of them with her arm turned into a heavy piston punching machine. She crouched down, pulled a wire out of her hair, and sticks it to the nape of the mage. Akino: The barrier¡¯s down, you can show yourself, peek-boy. A man in blue-fancy tunic, with a metal pad on his left shoulder that holds a black fur, appears out of the shadows. The man walks near to Akino, but she points her finger towards him, making him stop. Akino: That¡¯s far enough. Man in blue clothing: Ho? Seems like you¡¯re very carefully. I already did you a favor though. Akino: Didn¡¯t asked it. Man in blue clothing: Well, if you don¡¯t need my help, might as well tell someone that there¡¯s a woman running around that attacked the knights of Altruis. Akino: Blackmailing? Really? Man in blue clothing: If you let me in the hook, I might shut my mouth. If not, I might shut yours. Akino: We¡¯ll see. Something comes out of Akino¡¯s pointing finger. She fired something, and the man caught it. Man in blue clothing: Not bad. You got some nice skills for a no-magic human, I¡¯m impressed. Akino: Yeah, but you should throw that away instead of holding. Man in blue clothing: What? Akino: Too late, bud. The man looks at the thing he caught, a small ball. The ball retracts, showing small spikes, piercing through the leather gloves of the man. The man stopped moving, and he collapses on the floor. He can breathe, he can speak and blink, but he can¡¯t move the entirety of his body. Man in blue clothing: Wh ¨C what did you do to me?! Akino: Synthesized beta-aminobutyric acid can cause paralysis in large dosage. I¡¯ve place some inside that bullet. Nice catch, though. Man in blue clothing: WHAT? Akino: Knew it will come to this¡­ Akino injected ¡®something¡¯ to the knocked-out knights and mage, she carried the paralyzed man by her shoulders and left the area. They returned to the tavern. The tables are already empty, and the elves who run the place cleans the clutter left by the customers. She asked a waitress to prep a table for two, and she assists the paralyzed man to sit on their chair. Akino: Uhmm¡­ waiter! Waitress: Yes? Akino: Two lizard¡¯s brain, please? Waitress: Oh, right away! The waitress left. Only the cluttering can be heard inside the tavern. It¡¯s too damn quiet. Akino: The name¡¯s Akino, Akino Kylei¡­ and you? Man in blue clothes: Escobar, and why am I still paralyzed? Can you undo it? Akino: The chemical lasts for 2 hours, but don¡¯t worry. We answer each other¡¯s questions, and I might give you the antidote, deal? Escobar: Is it because of what I heard and saw in that alleyway? Akino: Yeah, and I¡¯m taking in precautions. Escobar: Precautions? Akino points something on her nape. Escobar felt something crawling on his back and reaching his neck area pretty fast. He could feel tiny legs crawling up, but it¡¯s cold like metal. Escobar: Wh ¨C what is that?! Akino: That¡¯s my little spider. I promised to my loved one that I won¡¯t manipulate minds ¨C Escobar: WHAT?! Akino: Can you let me finish? Jeez¡­ that spider is connected to my mind. If you refuse, I¡¯ll take all the information inside your head, and make you forget what happened in that alley and what happens here. All I have to do is make that spider bite your nape, and I¡¯ll be gone in your memories, waking up inside this tavern like nothing happened. Escobar: Is that even possible? You¡¯re bluffing. Akino: You¡¯re gonna gamble really big if want to know, but if you agree to cooperate with me¡­ Escobar pauses. He thinks for a minute, and then he smirks disappointedly. Escobar: Like I got no choice¡­ years of my spying antics getting ruined by this inhuman¡­ Akino: Good. Escobar suddenly felt a spiking pain on his neck. Escobar: OW! What did you do?! Akino: Don¡¯t worry. That¡¯s the paralysis antidote getting injected in you. You should be able to move around in a minute. Escobar: That¡¯s fast for an antidote¡­ why did you gave it to me? We haven¡¯t started your interviewing. Akino: You trusted me by agreeing with my terms, then I should return the favor. Trust comes in both sides. Escobar: I see¡­ and if I tried to ditch you? Akino: You still have my spider on your back, remember that. Escobar: Okay¡­ Akino: So, I assume you weren¡¯t following me in the first place. Escobar: How did you know? Akino: You¡¯ve just said it, spying. I heard the knights of Altruis are famous for their¡­ flawed ideology, and discriminatory actions against non-human races, correct? Escobar: Yeah¡­ Akino: And you heard our commotion, got into that alleyway and now here. You take an interest in what I¡¯ve said to them, about what happened in that forest where they went days ago, correct? Escobar: I¡¯ll be damned¡­ your assumptions are ¨C on point¡­ Akino: Just wild guesses. So, your turn? Escobar: You¡¯re done asking? Akino: Nah. I can¡¯t think of anything as of this moment, so you should ask for now¡­ but not here. Can you move now? Escobar: A little numb, but I guess I can stand now. Akino: Okay, follow me. Akino guided Escobar to the room they rented earlier. They reached the door, and Escobar stops, frightened to move. Escobar: Please tell me what¡¯s inside that room. Akino: My companions? What are you seeing? Escobar: I see a very condensed magic inside that room¡­ dark type, and of high-level. Whatever the thing holding it, that thing does it good on keeping it hidden but still the magic reeks out. Akino: Not a thing, a she¡­ Akino opens the door, revealing the sleeping Lyka. Alexa was alerted with the sudden entrance, so she jumped off and hissed like a cat on Escobar. Akino: YO CALM DOWN! He¡¯s with me. Alexa: With you? Alexa casually grabs Akino away from Escobar. Alexa: Who is that? Akino: Someone I¡¯ve met outside, his Escobar. Escobar, Alexa. My ¨C I mean our daughter¡­ and the one sleeping is Lyka, she¡¯s my girlfriend and Alexa¡¯s mother? Alexa: Ugh, nice intro¡­ I¡¯m Alexa, their daughter, adopted one. So, don¡¯t bother asking how ¡®two girls¡¯ got a kid, okay? It¡¯s grinding my gears¡­ Escobar: Oh¡­ pleasure to meet you¡­ and I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Akino began explaining about Lyka¡¯s situation. The attack of the knights of Altruis, the massacre in her tribe, and her surviving, ONLY the surviving, because Akino and Alexa were already too late. Escobar: Good thing is you saved her¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ Akino: Yeah¡­ Escobar: And about you and your daughter having no magic? What¡¯s the deal with that? Alexa: What¡¯s with everyone and questioning our ¡°zero-magic-ness¡±? Akino: Lyka did tell us that everyone has mana, right? Escobar: Yes, but others have magic next to none. They can¡¯t use their mana very properly, so they can¡¯t cast magic, but still, they have mana, only in very small amounts. But both of you¡­ nothing at all¡­ Alexa: Oh, here we go again¡­ Akino: Both of us are not from this world, that¡¯s it. Escobar: Outworlders? Impossible, the outworlders being summoned here have enormous magic capabilities. Alexa: Welp, we didn¡¯t come here by being summoned. Akino: A portal opened in our world, and we got here accidentally¡­ Escobar: I see¡­ but still, there¡¯s no magic in your world? Akino: Not a single drop. Escobar: Oh¡­ Akino pulls out the bag of coins from her belt-bag and shows it to Escobar. Akino: The knights said they have placed a magic in these coins, can you remove it? Escobar: I don¡¯t know. The gold coins of Altruis are imbued of holy magic, my affinity is with water¡­ so, I can¡¯t. Akino: Maybe I¡¯ll ask Lyka if she can¡­ anything else? Escobar: Can I ask if the three of you will join the Dasman adventurers¡¯ guild? Your skills could be of use with us, you know? Akino: Hmmm, no. Alexa: What?! Sir, we¡¯re going to join in! Akino: Hey! I make the decisions here! Alexa: What are you? Dictator? Okay, we¡¯ll wait till morning and the three of us votes if we¡¯ll join or not. Akino sighs. She stares at Escobar, with a face of disappointment. Akino: Alright, I¡¯ll erase this dude¡¯s memories! Escobar: Wait, wait, wait! You can also benefit in enlisting with the adventurers¡¯ guild! Akino: Really? How? Escobar: Well, the royal governments can¡¯t really touch adventurers since we do made places safe of monsters, we also increase our resources through expeditions and such, and we can provide security to well-known nobles. The Altruis can¡¯t touch you if you join us, they don¡¯t have the right reason to take her so it will be a safer choice rather than running around. Akino: I doubt that, but I get your point¡­ Alexa: SO? Are we going to join? Please, please, please! Akino: What¡¯s with you and your sudden enthusiasm with becoming an adventurer? Alexa: I mean, in light novels and games, this is the main protagonist¡¯s stepping point! Escobar: Light novel? Games? Akino: Don¡¯t mind her. We¡¯ll decide it this morning. See you at the guild. Escobar: Thank you. Escobar leaves the room. When he¡¯s gone, Akino gave Alexa an earful. Then, they saw Lyka waking from her sleep, she shouts ¡°SHUT UP!¡± and goes back like nothing happened, sleeping again in an instant. The two remained silent after that. CHAPTER 27: Guild Registration Morning. Alexa was taking a nap after a long night of playing on her phone, its already on low battery. Akino slept beside Lyka, who¡¯s hugging her like a very soft pillow. The sun shines inside through the window. It hits Akino¡¯s face, she opens her eyes and holds Lyka¡¯s hugging arms. She could feel Lyka¡¯s breath on her nape, and her breasts pressing against her back. Akino is flustered, but she lets it. Lyka: Good morning~ Akino: Oh! Oh¡­ good morning, too. Alexa suddenly jumps out of her bed, and she yawns very loud. Alexa: GOOOOOD MORNING, WORLD! Akino: Can you keep it down! Jeez¡­ Alexa jumps towards the two, cheerfully making them to stand up. Alexa: Come on! We¡¯ve got to go to the guild! Lyka: Guild? Akino: Oh, about last night¡­ Akino explains everything that transpired last night. From her taking a drink, getting in a fight with the knights, knowing an adventurer spy named Escobar, his offer to join the adventurer¡¯s guild of Dasman, and Alexa¡¯s pleas for joining the guild that will be decided by their votes. Akino: And that¡¯s it. Lyka: You¡¯re against it¡­ why? Akino: We¡¯ve been avoiding public interference. If we drag others with our mess¡­ it might get ugly¡­ Alexa: Come on! We¡¯ll be able to take care of it! Akino: How exactly is that? Only Lyka has the ability to safely terminate the mutated humans without blowing stuff! And our abilities came from a world millennium ahead of this one! We can¡¯t just go out there and do a showcase, right? Plus, our zero-mana energy bodies are sure to attract big problems! Lyka: Oh! About that¡­ Lyka pulls out a red crystal, the heart of Dr¡¯akan. She casts a spell on it, and the crystal turns into two separate bracelets. Lyka: This should do it. These bracelets emit the still lingering mana from Dr¡¯akan, and I imbued it some protection spell. If you wear this, they might overlook your lacking in mana, and will thought that the mana from this bracelet comes from your body. Alexa: That is very useful! Thanks! Akino: Wow¡­ They wore the bracelets Lyka made. Lyka noticed that the bracelet she gave to Akino suddenly merged into her wrists. Lyka: You¡­ absorbed it? Akino: They might focus on the bracelet instead, so it will be much better of its inside me. Lyka: Oh¡­ Alexa: I think you turned her down. Akino: What do you mean? Alexa: The hell, Aki? You¡¯re so dense, what the fuck? Lyka: It¡¯s fine, Alexa. As long as she accepts it, it¡¯s fine¡­ Akino: Fuck me¡­ Alexa: Now you get it! The bracelet reappears again on Akino¡¯s wrist. Akino: Would be a waste if didn¡¯t show it off, right? Lyka: Really? Akino: Yeah! Ehehehe¡­ Lyka giggles with joy, Akino kept on laughing awkwardly, and Alexa stares at the two, cringing at them. Alexa: AHEM! The gold coins, Aki? Akino: Oh, yeah yeah, thanks for reminding. Lyka: The coins? Akino: Escobar told me that the coins of knights were infused with some kind of magic. They must be using it to track their thieves. Akino placed the bag of coins on the table, and Lyka inspects it. Lyka: Magic of light affinity¡­ I should be able to remove those. She casts a magic on the coins. The coins shone brightly with goldish in color, then a black smoke covers it. The shine disappears, and so the black smoke. Alexa: That¡¯s it? Lyka: Yeah, that¡¯s it. Akino: Okay! On to the next topic, who votes for joining the guild? Please, raise your hand. Both Lyka and Alexa raised their hand. Akino facepalmed herself in disappointment. Akino: You bribed her, didn¡¯t you? Alexa: Ummm, no? Akino: Come on, Lyka! You should be saying that it¡¯s dangerous and we should be doing things in our own! Lyka: Well, she wanted it. And when I was a child, I wonder what an adventurer does¡­ so, I want to be in a guild as well! Akino: Oh my god¡­ Alexa: So? 2 versus 1! Alright, folks! We¡¯re going on an adventure! Akino: Hold up! I told you, we can¡¯t just show everyone our abilities! Lyka: Then, we can come up an alibi, or substitution, or something¡­ They stop talking. While Lyka stands up to fix the bed, Akino seems to be focusing on thinking. Alexa: You can have super strength, right? Akino: Yeah? Alexa: And you¡¯re knowledgeable in martial arts? Akino: I guess, why? Alexa: Welp, you can be monk! Like a kung fu master, but armored! That will be awesome! Akino: And you? Lyka: I think Alexa could be similar to a morpho. Alexa: Morphos? Lyka: An ever-changing creature, it can copy one¡¯s appearances. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Alexa: Then, I¡¯m a tamed morpho! Akino: But you¡¯ve said that you can¡¯t remove your cat ears, right? Lyka: Really? Alexa: Then what am I? Akino: Then¡­ stick being you, our daughter who can shapeshift into whatever she wants. Alexa: Not technically shapeshifting, but thanks. Lyka: So¡­ we¡¯re joining now? Akino: Like I have a choice¡­ anyways, we should get ready. I told Escobar to meet us in case we join in. Alexa: Can we have some breakfast first? And they left the room heading towards the guild. A small walk from the tavern. Upon entering, they were greeted by Escobar, hanging out with his fellow adventurers: a human girl wearing white and blue robes, holding a wooden staff with a white crystal on its end; a male half-cat known as ¡®feral¡¯, wearing leather clothes, and has an arrow and bow; and someone wearing a silver medieval-like armor, carrying a huge sword of silver and gold. Akino: Escobar! Escobar: Oh! Miss Akino! Glad you¡¯ve come here¡­ so, you¡¯re joining in with your companions? Akino: Not companions, my family. And yes, we¡¯re joining in. Escobar: Before that, let me introduce you to my team. She¡¯s Sarah, our healer and magic support. Next one is Gurg, our archer and spotter. Lastly, umm, he doesn¡¯t speak much but does the work perfectly. He justs entered here and joined us. He¡¯s our front-liner and takes most of the damage, that¡¯s why we¡¯re calling him ¡®Tank¡¯. Akino: Wow¡­ very RPG-ish¡­ Escobar: Ummm, what? Akino: Nothing! Nothing¡­ and what about you? The team leader? Escobar: Yeah! And the strategist as well. Sarah cuts in, clinging to Escobar¡¯s arms. Sarah: Excuse me! I am the one that strategizes! Escobar: Sarah! Come on! Don¡¯t do that in front of my new friends! Akino: We¡¯re not on that level yet¡­ Sarah: And hey! Don¡¯t try and flirt with my boy! Akino: I¡¯m taken, thank you very much¡­ Escobar: EHEM! Okay! Shall we proceed to your registration? Escobar guides the three towards the reception room of the adventurers. They are greeted by a man, wearing red-long sleeves and silver pants. Escobar: Ladies, this is our guild leader, Lord Adrian. He lowers his head in front of the three and offered them a seat. They made themselves comfortable with their seats, and Adrian took out his monocle and took some papers to write on. The moment Adrian glances his sights to Lyka, he became a bit anxious. Lord Adrian: Your mana, milady¡­ its ominous and overwhelming¡­ but impressively kept. If I hadn¡¯t focus on you, then I wouldn¡¯t notice it. Lyka: I have affinity to dark magic, so¡­ is it really ominous, huh? Lord Adrian: Wow! Only few people get to have affinity to darkness! Most are¡­ monsters, in nature¡­ Lyka: I should try to conceal it more¡­ Alexa: You¡¯re calling my mother a monster?! Lord Adrian: NO! No, I¡¯m sorry young girl. I¡¯ll never speak of it again - Akino: Good. If you try to compare her to a monster, I¡¯m gonna bash your head in. And by the way, what do you mean IF you hadn¡¯t focus on her?! Are ya staring at something else, HUH?! Lyka: Calm down! Both of you! Lord Adrian: Umm¡­ Escobar, can we have a moment, please? Escobar: Sure. Both Escobar and Adrian left the three. They went to a far corner and started whispering to each other. Lord Adrian: Are you sure about this? Escobar: Yeah? Lord Adrian: A potentially dangerous demi-wolf whose magic levels compares to a grand magus, and her affinity is with darkness! Then a human girl and a cat-girl that have little magic in them! Where did they came from, by the way? Escobar: They came from a forest, south-west of the city¡­ where the Altruisians did their ¡®crusade¡¯ thing they mentioned to us weeks ago¡­ Lord Adrian: Then that demi-wolf is the - Escobar: Yes. She¡¯s the sole survivor of their attack. And these two were the ones who saved her. Lord Adrian: You did mention that this Akino handled 6 Altruisians by herself. And we found their unconscious bodies on an alleyway near the tavern this morning¡­ is she really that capable? Escobar: Yeah, and she¡­ she ¡®outsmarted¡¯ me, like she¡¯s many steps ahead of me, you know? Kind of embarrassing when I remember what happened to me last night¡­ so, you still want them in? Lord Adrian: We have to test them out first¡­ but I¡¯ll some questions then we can get them to take the test. Escobar: You won¡¯t regret taking them in, I swear. Lord Adrian: I hope so¡­ The two went back, and the three girls were staring at them. Escobar: Umm, do we have a problem? Lyka: You knew all along? The attack on our tribe?! Lord Adrian: You heard us? Akino: It¡¯s part of our skillset¡­ and we might start using it against you unless you started talking about that attack a week ago. The two gentlemen went silent. Lyka¡¯s holding her tears, she bits her lips in anger and frustration. Alexa kept on comforting her mother, and Akino stares at the two with fumed eyes. Lord Aldrin: The Altruis Kingdom sent some of their diplomats and knights, over 2 weeks ago. They halted our expeditions and commissions, in order to appeal to the governor of Dasman that the adventurer¡¯s guild wasn¡¯t necessary for protecting the city¡­ then they started their crusade, bantering about killing of all monsters. We knew there are villages or tribes in the forest, but we couldn¡¯t move because were ordered to. Escobar: Then a week ago, only 10 knights returned, and they let us continue our work after that¡­ Lord Aldrin: We¡¯re very sorry¡­ we didn¡¯t do anything to stop them¡­ Akino stands furiously. Akino: That is bullshit! You¡¯ve said to me that you guys can¡¯t be bothered by those jerks! Escobar: Yes¡­ but even they can¡¯t order us around, the governor of this city can¡­ and most of us fear the power of that kingdom¡­ we¡¯re sorry¡­ Lyka: Aki, it¡¯s alright¡­ I understand¡­ Akino sighs. Akino: Gentlemen, can you leave us for a moment? Lord Adrian: Yes. Please, take your time¡­ The two went outside the room. All that is left are the three girls. Akino: So¡­ we¡¯re gonna back out, right? Are we backing out? Lyka: No¡­ I¡¯d still want to join. Alexa: Are you sure, ma? Lyka: If they weren¡¯t able to prevent it, perhaps we could. The massacre, the pillaging, and many more atrocities that evil minds could make¡­ we can prevent it. Akino starts thinking up of something. She sighs and smirks. Akino: Welp, I guess I¡¯m going back to do police work again, huh? Alexa: What? Akino: Don¡¯t mind me¡­ I mean, if it¡¯s still okay to Lyka and to you¡­ then we should still join in, right? I just thought of the advantages we can get when we join in this guild¡­ Lyka: Advantages? Akino: First is what you¡¯ve said, we can prevent events like that from happening. Second, it will be very easy for us to track infos about adventurers seeing unusual places, which could be the facilities we¡¯re looking for. Third, if it¡¯s true, then if we became adventurers the government of different cities won¡¯t totally bother us and maybe let us pass peacefully, since we¡¯re some sort of ¡®security workers¡¯. That¡¯s it¡­ so, are we joining in? This is my last call¡­ The other two nods in unison. Akino stands to call back in the two men. Lord Adrian brought some papers and a pen, and Escobar took three necklaces with quartz crystals on it. Lord Adrian: So, all of you will be joining in. May I ask your full names? Akino: The name¡¯s Akino Kylei. Alexa: Alexa Kylei. Lyka: Lyka von Roza - Kylei? Right, Aki? Akino: Yup. Alexa stares at Lyka and Akino. Alexa: OH! How could I forget, you two made a ¡®vows¡¯ last night! Akino & Lyka: Alexa! Lord Adrian: O ¨C okay, Lyka von Roza ¨C Kylei it is¡­ While Lord Adrian writes their names on the registration papers, Escobar hands the three necklaces. Escobar: These necklaces will be the proof of you being an adventurer. Since all of you just joined in, you will be in the Quartz rank, the lowest one. Akino: There¡¯s a ranking system??? Escobar: Yes. Quartz, Glass, Bronze, Steel, Iron, Silver, Gold, Alchemist¡¯s stone, Fortress gem, Silk diamond, and the highest, Soul Jade. Akino: I ¨C I see¡­ Alexa: So, when do we start hunting monsters? Escobar: Oh, we need first to assess your skills and record it for future joint operations. Akino: So that we plan ahead and fully utilize our skills? Escobar: Exactly. Alexa: Skill showcase, here we go! Lyka: Where are we going to do it? Lord Adrian: This way, please. They left the room and went to a door leading underground. There¡¯s an underground arena right under the guild¡¯s building. Akino: A colosseum? Lord Adrian: Was. Before, the city of Dasman employs slaves, but due to a change in governance, and the eradication of the arrogant nobles, all slave business were removed. Everything in here is only a part of the city¡¯s forgotten history. Escobar: A forgotten one, and yet it lingers in the shadows¡­ Lyka: Lingers? Lord Adrian: We¡¯ll¡­ discuss about that after your assessment. On the other door of the arena, three people were standing by. One seems to be mage, wearing a black robe and holding a metallic staff. The other wears a light leather armor, holds a bow, a quiver of arrows, and two long daggers on his belt. The last wears a silver knightly armor, wielding a huge mace and a shield as large as a man. Lord Adrian approaches them and the three stepped forward. Lord Adrian: Ladies, these people right here belong to the Gold rank. They are here to test your capabilities. The human mage here is Finn, he¡¯s a sorcerer from the prestigious Magus Academy. Finn: My lord, you don¡¯t have to tell that. It was a long time ago, I am no longer a sorcerer of the Academy. Lord Adrian: Hahaha! Humble as always! Here is our elf archer, Diana. Diana: Hi! Pleased to meet you! Alexa: Hello! Lyka: Likewise! Lord Adrian: And lastly, our knight in shining armor, Kal. Kal: Hmmm, another set of punching sacks, huh? Lord Adrian: Don¡¯t mind him, he¡¯s always joking. Akino: I don¡¯t like his attitude. Kal: And I don¡¯t like your flat chest, girl. Akino: WHAT DID YOU SAY? Alexa: He called you flat. Akino: I FUCKING HEARD IT! Alright, this pretty boy is mine! Lord Adrian: O ¨C okay¡­ Miss Lyka, who will you pick to test your skills? Lyka: I¡¯ll take Mr. Finn. I want to test the things Aki taught me in casting magic. Finn: A magic user as well? It will be an honor then. Alexa: Then I¡¯m left with Diana, right? Diana: I got you, kid. We¡¯ll have a lot of fun, okay? Escobar: With that settled, I guess we can start with Lyka and Finn first. As Lyka and the mage went to the center of the arena, the others went to the seats to observe the bout. Lyka: Are there any rules? Finn: Hmm. Most of the newly recruits attack already when we stand at this arena. Lyka: I¡¯ve been taught with manners, of course. Finn: Go all out if you want, cast any magic as long as you can cast it. Lyka: For how long? Finn: As long as someone is already incapable of fighting, or one of us yields. So, I warn you, I¡¯ll be going hard on you to see your full potential. Lyka: So am I. CHAPTER 28: Strength Tests Lyka and Finn takes a stance. Escobar shouts: GO! Finn points his staff towards the ground, two golems made of dried soil were formed and immediately attacks Lyka. Lyka backs off, casting a magic seal on the ground where the golems stepped on. The seals lit up and tentacles made of shadows appear, tearing the golems into pieces. Finn: I trapping seal? Let¡¯s see how you can keep up. Finn raises his staff once more. Magic circles appear on the ground, releasing gushes of fire and water taking a form of a man: elemental spirits. Finn raises his staff again, pointing to Lyka. On the ground where Lyka stands, vines began growing, tying her legs up and making her stop. Lyka clawed the vines and was able to release herself, but the elemental spirits were already surrounding her. Finn: Yield, demi-wolf. Lyka smirks. A bluish ball of condensed mana forms on her right palm. She aims her palm on the ground and releases the mana energy, blasting it upon impact. The shockwave covered the whole arena, and all of the elemental spirits vanished. Finn: A ¨C a magic cancelation?! Without casting it?! That¡¯s on high level of spell activation! Casting a high-level spell without chanting?! That¡¯s indeed impressive! Lyka: Well, someone taught me that chanting takes time¡­ and a bit useless in a fight. Finn: Then, I should get serious now¡­ Finn raises both of his arms while holding his staff. Finn: Oh, great spirits! Help thy servant, from the depths of abyss to the heights of the skies! The whole ground where he stands was enveloped with a huge magic circle, enlightening the whole floor. Lyka backs off from the circle, and witnesses two silhouettes of fully armored knights coming out of the circle. The light went out, revealing the two armored knights Finn summoned. Lyka: Lesser divine spirits? Finn: You have keen eyes¡­ and this summons are highly resistant to your darkness affinity, Miss Lyka. I suggest you surrender, or perhaps you want to fight more? Lyka: This will continue as long as I¡¯m standing. Finn: Even I have the advantage? Lyka extends her right arm. An aura of darkness surrounds her, then a grey claymore materializes on her right palm. Finn: A weapon bound? Lesser divines, go and subdue her! Lyka holds her claymore firmly, then she disappears. A small sonic boom, caused by Lyka¡¯s sudden movement, startled Finn. He commanded his summons to protect him, but to his surprise Lyka already targeted one of it. She swings her claymore on the head part of the spirit. A single swoop, and the ethereal helm of the spirit shatters. After that, Lyka disappears once more. He looks up and he saw Lyka from high up, aiming her claymore towards him. He casts a spell using his staff, a magic circle appears, and a ball of fire was formed. Finn: Saint¡¯s Fire! The fireball hits Lyka, but all he saw was a smoke dissipating. He then felt something sharp pointing at his nape. It was Lyka. Finn: A copy?! Lyka: Yield, mage. Finn: I digress. Finn¡¯s staff glows and so his body. Lyka saw that the remaining lesser divine spirit charges at her direction, it stops and smashes the ground near the two. Lyka was moved from place due to the shock made by the spirit, making her to back off. She protected herself from the flying rocks with her claymore. She glances towards Finn and notices that he wasn¡¯t affected by the attack of the spirit, realizing Finn encased himself in a magic barrier. Finn: You¡¯ve already had the chance, but still, I have the advantage. Lyka smiles at Finn. Then a crashing sound, a loud bang, the lesser spirit falls down. Finn saw a shadow from the dusts of the fallen armor, it was Lyka who stricken a claymore on the helm of the spirit. He looks confused. Two Lykas? How? Then someone trips him over, the sudden act made him drop his staff. He levitated himself to stop from dropping, but another someone kicked him down. He fell, face first. And when he tried to get up, he saw a third Lyka, holding his staff, and a fourth one, who¡¯s readying to blast him with a condensed mana spell. The Lyka who smiled at him walked up and pointed her claymore on his face. Lyka: Yield. Realizing the situation he¡¯s in, Finn sighs. Finn: Fine¡­ I yield¡­ Lyka offers her hand to Finn and assists him on getting back up. Finn: So, who¡¯s the real one? The other Lykas turned into shadows, and all went back to the shadow of the original Lyka, the one who assisted Finn on standing up. Finn: Shadow copies? Lyka: Familiars, but I guess you could call them the copies of myself. Finn: Very impressive, Miss Lyka. I never met someone capable of casting different spells! From traps, to destruction, then to illusions! Even magic-based bound weapons! And you¡¯re knowledgeable in close-quarters combat! You¡¯re wielding that claymore like an experienced swordswoman! Lyka: Akino taught me how to fight hand-to-hand and also in sword combat. Finn: I see¡­ The two shook their hands and went to the seats where the others are residing. All were in shocked at the display of Lyka¡¯s power. The skills she showed made Lord Adrian and his guild members stunned. A jaw-dropping display of power. All were in awe, except for Akino who¡¯s slowly clapping her hands and Alexa who kept on shouting and cheering. Akino: Well done. Alexa: Yeah! That¡¯s so awesome! Lyka: Thanks! Diana stands up and went near to Alexa. Diana: Guess it¡¯s our turn now, kid. Don¡¯t let me down. Alexa: Heh. You won¡¯t stand a chance! Lyka: Alexa! Akino: Manners, kid. Diana: I don¡¯t mind it, I mean, she¡¯s got a fighting spirit! Alexa: Sorry¡­ umm, okay! Let¡¯s start! Diana: Sure! Both Diana and Alexa went together to the center of the arena. Diana closely looks at Alexa. As they walk towards the arena, she notices that Alexa¡¯s child-like body build slowly turns muscular, her height seems to be much higher than the time she saw a while ago, and scale like patterns appear on her skin. Is she hallucinating? Diana slaps herself, making Alexa startled with the sudden act. Alexa: WOAH! Diana: Don¡¯t worry¡­ I think I¡¯ve inhaled some kind of illusory potion a while ago¡­ or, by chance, you¡¯ve made inhaled one? Alexa: Ummm, no? Diana: But your body ¨C Alexa: Oh! Yeah, it¡¯s my skill. I can morph my body to my very liking¡­ Diana: Like a morphos? Alexa: I don¡¯t know what a morphos is or what it looks like, but yeah, I guess¡­ Diana pulls her bow and arrow, slowly aiming it to Alexa. Alexa noticed that the arrowhead Diana holds began emitting fire. Alexa: Same rules as the last one? Diana: Yield, or if you can¡¯t fight anymore. Alexa: Got it! Diana fires her arrow. The arrow has a magic circle at its end. The arrow hits the ground where Alexa stands, and it explodes. Smoke rises, fully covering Alexa. Alexa dashes out of the smoke, but to her surprise she couldn¡¯t see Diana anymore. Diana casted an invisibility magic on herself, but Alexa could still sense her. Alexa: Camo, huh? Alexa then drops on all fours. Her legs started to look like legs of a quadruped creature. She slowly walks, and slowly disappears, out of thin air. Diana was shocked. She used another spell to detect Alexa but couldn¡¯t. She starts to panic, then something trips her, then she¡¯s being dragged around the ground. The dirt of the ground sticked on her, making her visible, and to her surprise, nothing¡¯s dragging her. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Diana pulled her dagger and tried to cut off whatever¡¯s dragging her. She swoops her dagger, and she stops moving across the arena. She removed her invisibility spell and she stood. Still, she couldn¡¯t see Alexa. Diana: Playing games, huh? I didn¡¯t know you could be this rough on your enemies. Alexa: Sorry, nothing personal. Diana pulled 10 arrows from her quiver. She aims and points at the ceiling of the arena. Diana: Magma Ricochet! A magic circle appears at the top. Diana shoots it, and the arrows went back hitting the ground. The arrows exploded as they hit the ground, and it turned it into a molten one, making the dragging stops. Diana immediately stands to ready herself. Diana: I have a strong affinity to fire magic. Even this hot wouldn¡¯t hurt me. So, I suggest you show up! Out of nowhere, a large monster of white skin appears. She is oddly muscular, not totally huge and still slim. You could see some bulks on her muscle areas and these bulks seems to be a form of bone carapace. Her body is covered in scales. Then, Diana noticed it has the same left eye scar as Alexa and the same fleshy like hair with cat ears. Ultimately, the face is the same as Alexa¡¯s. Diana is confused. She asked herself: Is that Alexa? That kid? Is she a monster? The same questions struck with the other adventurers and the guild leader, watching the fight. Alexa: Here I am. The voice of the beast is like a child¡¯s voice. Diana thought that the real Alexa must have been hiding, and she¡¯s using an illusory spell like what Lyka did. Alexa steps forward, with open arms, provoking Diana to take a shot of her arrow towards her monstrous form. Diana pulls another arrow. She aims it, she chanted, and the arrow glows brightly. Diana: Volcanic Harpoon! Diana shoots a fiery arrow. As the arrow progresses, its fiery trail quickly grows. Alexa stands still and receives the shot with open arms. Then, BANG! A huge explosion occurred, covering the whole arena in smokes and dusts. Diana: Hmmp, I know you¡¯re using an illusion. That attack can remove any illusory spells that a low to mid-tier mage can cast. Now, show yourself! The dust settles, and still Alexa stands with her arms widely spread. Her chest seems to char a little bit due to the explosion, but nothing happened to her. She didn¡¯t cry nor scream in pain. It¡¯s just Alexa, standing menacingly. Alexa: What do you mean an illusion? This is real. Unlike you folks, I can¡¯t cast magic or spells and stuff¡­ Diana: You took that attack like nothing?! Alexa immediately dashes towards Diana. Diana quickly draws arrows on her quiver, casting it with explosive magic, and fires all of it instantaneously at Alexa. Alexa didn¡¯t care. She tanks the exploding shots, making the whole arena covered in smoke and dusts again. This didn¡¯t bother Diana as she could see very well beyond these obstructions. A part of her gift. She prepares another arrow casted with her most powerful spell, but Alexa suddenly appears very closely, in front of her. Diana prepares herself. She expects a sudden punch from Alexa, from there she will dodge making Alexa hit the ground. She will quickly jump on her gigantic arm, run towards the torso, and aim her arrow or point her dagger on Alexa¡¯s eye, and then make her yield. If Alexa struggles, then she repeats the same thing until Alexa exhausts herself. Diana stands still as Alexa raises her right arm. Diana thought she¡¯s ready to counter. Then, a sudden swoosh. In an instant, Diana could see Alexa¡¯s right arm next to the side of her face. Alexa already struck. The sudden attack made a loud bang, and a terrifying shockwave echoing throughout the underground arena. Diana was deafened, hearing only ringing sounds. She could feel something warm dripping on her cheeks, her blood, but she¡¯s not feeling any pain. Alexa punched fast and precise, intentionally grazing Diana¡¯s cheeks that it only caused a deep paper cut. Alexa remained on that position to intimidate Diana, and Diana hasn¡¯t moved since that abrupt attack. Two seconds passed, and Diana kneels on the floor. Alexa: So, you surrender? Diana: I ¨C I yield¡­ Alexa reformed her body back to normal and assisted Diana from standing up. They both walk back to the seat area of the arena. Alexa: You alright? Diana: Yeah¡­ yeah, I¡¯m fine¡­ Alexa: Sorry¡­ Diana: No, no. It¡¯s okay. You¡¯ve performed very well. I just¡­ got frightened, that¡¯s all¡­ Alexa: That¡¯s why I¡¯m saying sorry. Diana: People seeing that kind of power¡­ it¡¯s just overwhelming¡­ but it will be very useful for us. Alexa: So, from 1 to 10, how is it? Diana: A solid 20. They reached the seats. Both Akino and Lyka approached Alexa. The other adventurers immediately rushed to Diana. Escobar: You alright? Diana: Yeah. Thanks for the concern. Kal: Looks like your asses are getting kicked by some newbies, huh? Lord Adrian: And you¡¯re saying that yours won¡¯t be kicked as well? Kal: Of course! Unlike these two suckers, I¡¯m the best. Actually, I am the greatest in the fighter class of the Gold rank in this guild! Diana: I hate you, Kal. Finn: This is why nobody likes you¡­ Someone touches Kal¡¯s shoulder, it was Akino. Kal immediately shrugs off Akino¡¯s hand. Akino: A fighter, huh? Kal: We¡¯re gonna win this round, anvil. Akino: Anvil? Alexa: He means that ¨C Akino: I KNOW! Kal left the seats and went to the arena. As Akino follows him, Escobar stopped her. Escobar: Hey, he¡¯s pretty strong. You should be careful. Akino: Heh, we¡¯ll see. Akino went to the arena. She sees Kal with his shining armor, shield taller than Alexa, and his mace. His face is full of confidence, smirking and glaring at Akino. Kal: Your pet wolf seems to be a caster, and that cat is like a monster¡­ what are you then? Akino: WHAT DID YOU SAY? Kal: You heard me, girl. Now, enough talk! This will be an easy one. Akino is trying to calm herself. She¡¯s clearly gritting her teeth under those closed lips and clenching her fists so hard that she wants it to turn into a plasma rifle. But then, Alexa and Lyka talked to her via telepathy. Alexa: (You mad?) Akino: (I AM!) Lyka: (Aki, please calm down.) Akino: (I¡¯m trying! But every time I he says an insult, it urges me to use a firearm and shoot him!) Lyka: (This is only a test, remember?) Akino: (Alright, alright¡­) Akino sighs. She raises her fists and stretches her legs. A complete muay thai stance. The watching adventurers were surprised with Akino¡¯s posture. They¡¯ve never seen anything like it. Kal is confused, but he raised his mace towards Akino. A provocation. Kal: You¡¯re not gonna fight with your fists, are you? Akino: What? Scared of fighting an unarmed woman? Kal: Tsk! Kal also takes a stance. He guards up with his shield and positions himself, readying to charge at Akino. Kal: Oh, wind spirits! Guide thine body! Gate of Howling! Kal dashes at an incredible speed. Not as fast as Lyka, but still remarkably fast for someone wearing a heavy armor with his shield facing towards Akino. Akino readies herself. The moment she was about to be hit, she punches forward with her right. The punch hits the shield, abruptly stopping Kal from charging. Kal tried to push off Akino, but Akino remained in position with her extended arm and closed fist on the shield, stopping him from moving further. Kal raised his mace and tries to hit Akino¡¯s right arm. He swung and hit her, but it did nothing. The mace bounces back, Kal could feel his mace vibrating, like he has hit something very hard. He dashes away from Akino, still in her same position. Kal: Mountain Tower! He tried to hit Akino for the second time. Akino tried to counter his strike by doing an axel kick. Kal hits Akino¡¯s leg, breaking her tibia. Kal follows up by bashing his shield on Akino¡¯s unbalanced body, throwing her off the other side of the arena. She hits the ground hard, smattering dusts around. Kal: HA! One hit and you¡¯re done? You¡¯re just all talk. Lyka stands up and shouts at Kal, so is Alexa. Lyka: HOW DARE YOU! Kal: Hey! If I beat her, you¡¯ll go out with me, busty wolf. Alexa: Alright. I¡¯m gonna beat him up! Wait me there, you jerk! Lyka: Alexa! Hold on! Lord Adrian and Escobar tried to stop Alexa from walking down the arena. Kal laughs out loud, until he sees a shadow from the clouds of dust where Akino landed. All were stunned at the sight, well, except for Alexa who knew Akino to pull-up some weird-ass stunts. Akino is standing. With a single leg. Her other leg is bent like a broken twig, and her upper body is partially twisted. Her body violently jolts, her broken leg was put in one piece and her body rearranges in proper orientation, like nothing happened. She bends her neck and stretches, and casually walks towards Kal. Akino: That damned hurt, huh? Kal: H ¨C how? Akino: What do you mean? Kal: Y ¨C you didn¡¯t even casted a magic barrier¡­ let alone that my Mountain Tower can break through any medium tier barriers¡­ and the magic you¡¯re emitting¡­ Kal looks at Lyka, then back at Akino. Kal: I see¡­ you two don¡¯t have any magic, do you? Both Lyka and Alexa looked nervous as Lord Adrian and the other adventurers, except for Escobar, stares at them. Escobar: Uhmmm, I think he¡¯s misinterpreting¡­ Lord Adrian: Kal, explain yourself! You can¡¯t just accuse people of not having magic! That¡¯s impossible! Kal: You haven¡¯t look properly, boss. The magic they¡¯re showing was the demi-wolf¡¯s magic. And you heard it clearly from the cat-girl, she can¡¯t cast magic! All went silent as Kal points his mace towards Akino. Kal: Well, a demi-wolf with powerful magic, and a tamed monster cat-girl who calls that demi-wolf mother would be USEFUL. But, how about you? You seemed to be relying on the demi-wolf¡¯s magic to survive, huh? How can you enter this guild with nothing with that?! HUH?! Akino smiles as she glances over Lyka. Akino: Lyka, our little magic cloaking failed, huh? Lyka: I know¡­ I¡¯m sorr ¨C Akino: No need to say sorry. It¡¯s still useful for me. Akino takes another fighting stance. Kal senses that the dark affinity magic from Akino is beginning to fade out, revealing a magic less human. Kal: So, you¡¯re going to fight me even I¡¯m more powerful than you? Futile. Very, futile. You removed the demi-wolf¡¯s magic for what? You¡¯ve just casted out the only thing that protects you! But Lyka sees something else. She felt that the magic she imbued in the bracelet she gave already faded, but she could see something condensing on it. It comes from Akino¡¯s body. But she feels like she¡¯s the only one seeing it. Lyka: Alexa, are you ¨C seeing that? Alexa: Yeah¡­ Lyka: Really? What is it? Alexa: I¡¯m not sure¡­ but it feels like it¡¯s a magnetic field¡­ Lyka: A magnetic field??? Alexa: Wait¡­ if she¡¯s using that¡­ oh shit! Aki! Are going to kill him?! Lyka & the adventurers: WHAT?! They see Kal charging towards Akino with his glowing armor and shield, ready to swing his mace for the second time. Kal: Mountain Tower! Kal is a few meters away from Akino. Two meters. Then one. His already raised mace is directed towards Akino¡¯s head. Then, he slows down. His body suddenly stops. Everyone saw that. He can¡¯t move, not even his fingers. Kal: YOU - ! What did you do?! Akino raised her arm, showing off the bracelet Lyka gave to her. Akino: I just tried it out. You ever heard about magnets? Kal: Magnets? Akino: Never mind¡­ you wouldn¡¯t know that even if I explain it to you. But either way, your armor is made of metal. And assuming your armor is mostly made of iron and other earthly metals, the possibility of it being magnetized is likely. This bracelet, is surprisingly, can amplify magnetic fields. And you¡¯ve entered that field, magnetizing your armor from each piece and locking it up. Kal: YOU BITCH! LET ME GO! Akino: Alright. Akino turns back. Then she turns around towards Kal at intense speed, with her fists directed to Kal¡¯s chest. She hits him, and that punch send him off flying across the arena until he crashes on the wall. Kal fells on the ground, spitting blood. He stands, lets go of his shield and holds his mace with two hands. Kal: Guardian Wall! His body, or rather his armor, began glowing. The dents on his chest armor that Akino made from her punch ¡®healed¡¯. Akino: A memory alloy? Kal: Bring it on, anvil-chested bitch! Akino partially squats, with her fists raised on her sides, like concentrating. Lightning arcs appeared around her and the ground where she stands begins to glow-molten hot. Kal looks surprised, his instincts tell him to stop, but he proceeds to attack Akino. Akino: It¡¯s a wrong decision to let go of that shield, pretty boy. All the sudden, Akino disappears. Kal stops from moving to guards himself. He thought that she¡¯s using the same technique as what Lyka did too Finn, but it¡¯s too impossible. She doesn¡¯t have any magic on her, and she can¡¯t possibly cast complex spells like Lyka, right? Then he gets hit on his face, on his chest, his stomach, the sides of his arms, his back, legs, and the whole body. All getting hit, like ten men were punching him continuously. He closed his eyes to protect his vision, he¡¯s forced to raise his arms to further guard his upper body. His body can receive much damage, a great pain tolerance, an innate skill he had other than his paladin magic. But he can¡¯t move. One step, and his guarded body will be further damaged by the non-stop hits. The only thing in his mind is to guard himself until it stops, and he knew he wouldn¡¯t last long if this keeps on. On the view of the others, they could see Akino moving so fast that she¡¯s creating afterimages. Not an illusion or shadow copies like Lyka did. No magic, no spells. It¡¯s just her, only her, attacking Kal on all sides at the same time with her strength and speed alone. She punches and kicks around, all instantaneously on Kal¡¯s body. Then Akino moves in front of Kal, and immediately barrages him with punches. They couldn¡¯t see her arms, like it¡¯s already transparent due to the speed of her rushes. She kept on punching very fast, not even letting Kal to make an opening. Her rushes started generating winds, each punch increases in intensity, and sonic booms forming each hit. She steps forward from time to time until Kal is cornered on a wall. She stops, then kicks Kal¡¯s head towards the ground, piercing half of his body under the floor in an instant. Everybody else is speechless, even Lyka and Alexa. Kal slowly dugs himself up, with bruises and wounds that is regenerating very slowly due to his magic, but he seems to be very exhausted. Kal: H ¨C how?... Then he fells unconscious on the floor. Akino, without breaking a sweat, turns around and slowly walks away towards the others. Akino: Are we done? CHAPTER 29: First Assignment At the reception room of the guild. The three girls were sitting. They were waiting for Escobar and Lord Adrian to give their assessment and their first mission. Alexa: Show off¡­ Akino: What? Lyka: She said you¡¯re showing off. Akino: Oh, wow. Like what both of you did also isn¡¯t showing off, is it? Lyka: I¡¯m not! It¡¯s just my abilities, that¡¯s all¡­ Alexa: You¡¯re just pissed because he called you an anvil chested. Akino: Can you stop making me remember that?! Escobar and Lord Adrian enters the room. The guild leader carries a rolled long paper, and he unrolls it on the table center. The three went near them to take a look. Lord Adrian: Before I discuss your first task¡­ I would like to say that all of you passed the test, at a record-breaking manner¡­ Akino: Why is that? Escobar: Well, we haven¡¯t seen newly recruits defeated them, until you three came. Lord Adrian: Especially on Kal¡¯s case. It¡¯s the very first time I saw him down on the ground, defeated only your unbelievable sheer strength. Monsters can sometimes overwhelm Finn and Diana, but not Kal. Alexa: Is that really surprising? Lyka: Well, magic is a top-tier combat capability. It is more formidable especially on casters like me, and paladins or guardians like Kal. Strength won¡¯t be of any use if your enemy has an arsenal of spells. But I knew it already that Aki would win. Lord Adrian: Kal is a paladin class warrior. He takes the front, receives all the attacks for his teammates and ensures his the only one taking all the damage. He realized it will be better not only to defend others, so he trained to strike while protecting others. I remember when he engaged a giant troll in a fist fight to make sure the other adventurers escape and call for help. The help came in 8 hours, and still he¡¯s fist fighting that troll, with him already in advantage because of his magic. Escobar: That¡¯s why he¡¯s on the gold rank. That¡¯s the time he was promoted¡­ and yet you took him down in a matter of minutes. Impressive! Akino: He just pissed me off, it¡¯s a bit of unprofessional of me¡­ is he alright? Lord Adrian: He¡¯s fine. Finn and Diana took him to our infirmary and our healers will deal with him. Oh, may I take your quartz necklaces? Alexa: Wait! So, that means we¡¯re done? But you told us we passed? Escobar: Yeah, and we¡¯re handing you this instead. Escobar shows three necklaces, each with a cubic piece of silver and he hands it to the three. Lord Adrian: The test showed to us more of your capabilities, and we decided to rank up your statuses. Escobar: Congrats, girls! Alexa: WOOHOO!!! Akino: So¡­ what about the ¡®lurking¡¯ thing you¡¯ve said before? Lord Escobar puts all his hands on the table. He points at the map of the whole Dasman City. Lord Escobar: This is the guild place. And about two hundred blocks on our west, there¡¯s an entrance leading to another underground area, like the one under this guild. Akino: And this ¡®lurking¡¯ stuff was something like¡­ illegal stuff? Escobar: Slave trade. Alexa: Heh, clich¨¦. Lyka: I thought we will be, you know? Wiping out small dungeons? Like in the light novels? Alexa: Light novels? Akino: You¡¯ve been reading stuff? Lyka: Umm, yes? Inside the virtual space, every time I sleep. Lord Adrian: Virtual space??? Akino: Ahem¡­ Lyka: Oh ¨C sorry! Akino: It¡¯s fine. So, you want us to send in a risky place for our first assignment? Escobar: I saw how you handled yourself last time. Akino: Don¡¯t tell me ¨C Lord Adrian: Yes. They¡¯re involved. Escobar: We sent in some eyes and ears in that underground square, and they saw some Altruisian nobles buying dozens of slaves¡­ we don¡¯t know why, but it is sure pretty bad. Akino: And if these Altruisian bastards, by chance, got us and knew we came from your guild? Lord Adrian: They won¡¯t know. We¡¯re not giving out our member lists on untrusted parties. Alexa: Is this an espionage mission or something? Lyka: What exactly you want us to do? Lord Adrian: Our eyes and ears there couldn¡¯t be able to take any information about the slave trade situation. So, we want you take some, that¡¯s it. Akino stares at Escobar. Akino: Escobar, you piece of shit¡­ Escobar: WHAT? Lord Adrian: Forgive Escobar, he¡¯s a bit talkative. Escobar: We¡¯re even now. You disgraced my skills last night, I put you on a tight spot. Akino: Intel gathering, huh? And we do it on our own¡­ you better pay us good. Lord Adrian: Well compensated, my friends. Lyka: Can we¡­ never mind¡­ Akino: What? Speak up. Lyka: The slaves¡­ can we¡­ save them? Akino: We could¡­ and we can place them under the guild¡¯s protection, right? Lord Adrian: That is ¨C risky. Alexa: You could say they are refugees¡­ the others won¡¯t bother. Akino: And the Altruisians doesn¡¯t bother with guilds, I remember. Your guild could earn respect and support from others who hate these guys. Lyka: And with that, the slavery in this city could end! Escobar: A bit ambitious, for me¡­ but it won¡¯t hurt if we try. Akino: Okay. We do the job, and you take in the peeps. You can pay whatever the way you want, but you must keep and protect these people. Lyka: You could also train them as your members, right? Alexa: More people, more fun! Lord Adrian thinks. Lord Adrian: You¡¯re putting me in a VERY tight situation¡­ Akino: So? Yes, or no? The guild leader sighs. Lord Adrian: Okay¡­ deal! Akino: Deal! The two shook their hands. Lord Adrian: Good luck on your first task. And be careful. Akino: We will. The three girls and Escobar left the room. Outside, at the lobby area of the guild place, Escobar¡¯s friends we¡¯re waiting. Sarah: How is it? Did they pass? Escobar: Yep, and they got their first task as adventurers. Akino: Thanks for the help, Escobar. Escobar: Don¡¯t thank me yet, my team will be joining with your first task. Alexa: Oh, the more the merrier! Akino: H ¨C hold on¡­ if we are¡­ one, two¡­ seven of us enter that underground square, it will be a bit suspicious, you know? We should split and took timings in entering. Escobar: Good. Coming up with a plan already, very impressive. Escobar gave Akino a map of the underground area of Dasman city. Escobar: We will head in, we¡¯ve got another task besides joining with you guys. There¡¯s a single tavern in that area, near the entrance. We¡¯ll meet up there. Akino: Got it. Escobar¡¯s team left. Alexa: What now? Akino: Assuming black markets work the same in our world¡­ it would be a good idea to investigate during this morning. Lyka: How are we going to enter in the markets? Let alone the slave trade market, we can¡¯t just barge in¡­ Akino: I have a plan for that. Alexa: What? Drones? Akino: And you. Alexa: Me? Akino: I saw your¡­ camouflage? And it¡¯s freaking amazing! No heat, no heartbeat, like there¡¯s nothing. Well, I could still detect you via brain waves and minimal neural electricity, but still the people of this world could not see through that, not easily. Lyka: Are you serious? You¡¯re putting Alexa in danger! Alexa: Ma, it¡¯s fine. Akino: We¡¯re going in as well, so don¡¯t worry. Lyka: And how is that? Akino: We¡¯ll pretend to be nobles buying slaves. Lyka: Ummm, what? Akino: You¡¯re going to be my milady, and I¡¯m your bodyguard¡­ of some sorts¡­ but we need to buy you a dress¡­ Lyka: A ¨C a dress?! Alexa: Won¡¯t they kick you out since you guys are... I don¡¯t know, outsiders that just entered the place? This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Akino pushes the two outside the guild tavern. They went to an alley where no one could see them. Akino looked around, and after confirming no one¡¯s near to see them she showed the gold coins they got from the Altruisian knights. Akino: These are the keycards we need to enter that place. Lyka: But I¡¯m a demi-wolf! They can¡¯t just let a demi beast enter a slave trade market, right? Akino: Hmmm, you¡¯re right¡­ but if we present you as a servant of an Altruisian knight, it is likely we can enter. Plus, I¡¯ll choose an ¡®attractive¡¯ dress for you so that they will overlook you being a demi-wolf, is that alright? Lyka: A ¨C an attractive dress?! Alexa: Aki, you¡¯re gonna freak the hell out of her. Lyka: I ¨C I¡¯m fine¡­ but if they ask who¡¯s my master ¨C what will I answer to them? Akino stops for a moment and thinks through. Akino: There¡¯s a high-ranking magus named Rosial, a knight captain named Wels, a cavalry captain named Cail¡­ hmmm¡­ they are the good candidates, I guess¡­ Lyka: How do you know about them? Akino: Those are the names of the Altruisians that attacked me last night. Lyka: The magus sounds a good pick, I could demonstrate a spell for them to prove something¡­ Akino: Okay, this is the plan: we enter the store as the Altruisian servants while Alexa foloows us with her ¡®camo¡¯ mode on, and sneak through. Lyka, I¡¯ll keep on talking to you telepathically, and you too Alexa. If things didn¡¯t turn out to be expected¡­ Alexa: I¡¯ll lock the doors and neutralize the hostiles! Lyka: Can¡¯t you just incapacitate them? And how about Escobar¡¯s team? Akino: They can¡­ wait outside as lookouts? I¡¯ll ask what they can do¡­ They left the alley and went to a nearby clothes store. They asked for a glamorous, seductive dress that could fit on Lyka. The shop keep gave them a long, red waist-high even split dress, that shows too much of the thigh skin and chest area, and a glove for the left hand that extends up to her left shoulder. Lyka and Akino were flustered upon seeing the dress. Lyka: I¡¯m supposed to wear this?! Akino: Y ¨C your choice¡­ if you don¡¯t want it, we can ¨C Lyka quickly grabbed the dress. Lyka: I¡¯LL TAKE IT. Akino: Okay¡­ Alexa: Heh, nice pick. Akino: Shut it. After packing the bought dress, they immediately went to the underground area of the city. There¡¯s a secluded area west of the city. The majority of that area is slums, with some decent houses and establishments, to wooden shacks and abandoned place. At the farthest corner, there¡¯s a tunnel with five men guarding the entrance. They looked first for an abandoned building, Akino changed her usual purple turtle-neck crop top into a black and white casual suit, of course with her ability to fabricate material out of her skin. Then, Lyka changes to her dress and she hands out the leather clothes to Akino. Akino looks away as Lyka dresses up, and Alexa keeps on teasing on Akino non-stop. Alexa: What¡¯s the matter? Being shy? Akino: Shut up. I¡¯m not a perv, you know? Alexa: Oh, by the way, you could just fabricate the dress, right? Why bother in buying one when you can create it? Akino: I¡­ never thought of that¡­ Lyka went out, all dressed up. The glimmering redness of the dress stunned the two girls, especially Akino. Lyka: H ¨C how is it? Akino: You look ¨C great! Lyka: R ¨C really? Alexa: Ummm¡­ can we go now? The three went to the tunnel entrance. The guards looked at the three and ignored them as they enter the place. There are stairs leading down, and about a hundred steps they could already see the lamp lights and establishments of the underground area. Unlike outside, the underground area seems to less populated, like a ghost town. However, they could hear people inside the establishments, the place must lively only at night hours. They saw the tavern Escobar was talking about and they went in. Escobar¡¯s team gazed on Lyka, mesmerized with her wearing that red dress. Akino: Stop staring at her, will ya?! Escobar: So, what¡¯s the plan exactly? Akino: We can¡¯t talk in here ¨C Escobar: Don¡¯t worry, this tavern is secretly owned by Adrian. It¡¯s safe in here, probably the safest place in this underground area. Akino: Okay, so here¡¯s the plan¡­ Akino talks about them entering the slave trade as servants of an Altruisian mage, and Alexa stealthing herself to enter and scout the area. She said that Escobar¡¯s team can wait up outside and act as lookouts. Escobar: Are you sure about this? Akino: I am? Of course, I am. And so are they. Lyka: I¡¯m fine with it. Alexa: Let¡¯s just do it! I¡¯m getting excited! Escobar: We¡¯ll take our leave then. Good luck. Akino: Take care. The three went out of the tavern. As they left, Alexa already turned herself invisible. Akino watches Lyka¡¯s every step until they reached the place where the slave trading happens. Akino: You know your line? Lyka: I know¡­ but please, help me out when it comes sideways¡­ Akino: Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve got telepathy. I got your back. Lyka: Thanks. A guard in black armor confronts them as they enter the place. He gazes at Lyka but Akino cuts off. Akino: AHEM. Guard: This is the slave trade market of Dasman. Sure, you¡¯re not going to turn yourself into a slave, demi-wolf. You¡¯re pretty well dressed, huh? Lyka: Hmmmp! And I thought this place is very welcoming to Altruisian people. How disappointing! Guard: You do know that Altruisians hate demi-beasts, right? Or perhaps you guys are con-people¡­ Lyka: I am a servant of Master Rosial, sure if you don¡¯t let me in¡­ I¡¯ll just talk to him instead and let him settle this. Let¡¯s leave! This is very upsetting! Akino: Yes, ma¡¯am! Guard: Wait ¨C wait! I¡¯ll check the records¡­ please wait, ma¡¯am. Lyka: Make it hurry, lowly guard! The guard rushes inside the establishment. Lyka: (Am I doing it right?) Akino: (Yeah, yeah, just keep it up.) The guard returns, with a scroll on his hand. This time, he is accompanied by a man wearing black robes, a slave market¡¯s servant. Servant: The list shows that Master Rosial, is a mage of the Altruis Knights and has entered the city walls days ago¡­ but we never knew he had a¡­ demi-beast servant. Lyka: If you have a problem with that, I¡¯ll tell him. Servant: No, no, no! Please, ma¡¯am. We just want a proof that you¡¯re his servant. Lyka waves her right arm, a magic circle appears out of her palm and another on the ground beside her. An armor of a knight ascends from the magic circle of the ground. Lyka: Rosial personally taught me this spell. Is that enough? Lyka elegantly waves her hand as the summoned knight disappears. The guard and servant whispered to each other, then they faced the two girls. Guard: We¡¯re sorry for the intrusion, ma¡¯am! Servant: The spell you¡¯ve casted is unique only to Mage Rosial¡­ it confirms that you are an acquaintance of him, we are truly sorry for the trouble we¡¯ve caused you! Lyka: It¡¯s ok ¨C I mean, you better be! Let¡¯s go, my servant. Akino: Right away, ma¡¯am! Lyka: (Good thing you saw his spell when you searched his mind...) Akino: (Yeah...) The guard and the servant let the two enter the building. The establishment is like an extravagant hotel: red carpets, fancy chandeliers, paintings and sculptures, and an elegant counter at the lobby area. Akino counts the number of people inside the area. Other than the guard and the servant who follows them behind, there¡¯s a total of 7 people, 5 guards including the one following them, a servant, and the one that is approaching them wearing a suit and tie. The man reaches out for Lyka¡¯s hand, but Akino stopped him. Akino: Hands off, sir. Man in suit: Ah, apologies. It¡¯s a bit of my mannerism¡­ Lyka: Hmm, you are? Man in suit: I¡¯m the manager of this place. Welcome, to the renowned and only slave trade market here in Dasman! Lyka: I see¡­ my master wants to see the available slaves for his¡­ sensual activities. Man in suit: HAHAHA! Rosial is really a good guy! Even employing this demi-wolf as his servant, that¡¯s a first for me! Lyka: So? Can we get this done? I¡¯m in a hurry. Man in suit: Oh, please. Right this way. The manager assisted the two towards a room, like a small theatre. He left the two sitting on the theatre-like seats and went to the back of a small stage. There, a group of small girls: one elf, two humans, a kobold, and two nymphs appear, falling in line along with the manager. They wore only ragged clothes, and wears nothing underneath it, all of their hands are tied on their backs. Seeing this, Lyka¡¯s expression turned very upset, gritting her teeth. Something made Lyka remember what happened in her tribe, the horrible fate they faced during that day her tribe was massacred and pillaged of morality. Akino saw this sudden change in Lyka¡¯s mood. Akino: (Calm down, we¡¯ll get them after we¡¯re done here.) Lyka: (I ¨C I know¡­ I¡¯ll be more careful¡­) The manager walks towards the two, holding a paper and a fountain pen. Man in suit: Feel free to take a look. Lyka: I¡¯ll take all of them. Akino hands over the bag of gold to the manager. The manager checks the bag and becomes confused. Man in suit: There¡¯s no¡­ magic in them? Lyka: (Oh my¡­ I forgot about that¡­) Akino: (Tell him that Rosial gave it to you when it was freshly smelted.) Lyka: My master gave it right after it was smelted. He loves giving me fresh stuff. Man in suit: Hmmm, the gold is authentic¡­ but not sealed with magic¡­ still, it is gold. Sorry for the doubt I gave. Lyka: Just get over with it. Man in suit: Please, sign in this paper and stamp it with your Altruisian ring. The two girls looked at each other. The manager starts to get suspicious of the two. Akino: The Altruisian ring¡­ oh, oh that ring, right? Lyka: Where is it, my servant? Akino frisks her pockets while Lyka nervously looks at her. Lyka: (Aki, where is it?!) Akino: (I didn¡¯t know they have a ring thing!) Man in suit: Umm, ladies? Lyka: Can you wait for a moment? Akino: I remember I placed it in my pocket¡­ must be in here¡­ The manager steps back and pulls out a dagger. Man in suit: You guys are not Altruisians, are you? Lyka: Where did you get that preposterous assumption?! Man in suit: An Altruisian gold that has no holy magic on it, and an Altruisian servant that doesn¡¯t have any stamp rings? That gives me the assumption. Now, how do you want to play this out? You surrender and we turn you into slaves, OR I¡¯ll kill you instead? Lyka immediately kicks the manager on his face, throwing him off and crashing to the theatre seats. The slaves at the stage were startled and began screaming in fear. Lyka immediately rushes to the slaves to calm them down while Akino makes sure the manager is knocked out. Lyka: Calm down, we¡¯re here to rescue you. The slaves stop on screaming but they kept on whimpering while Lyka cuts off the ropes tied on their hands. Akino confirmed that Lyka knocked out the manager, then Lyka assisted the slaves to stay hidden under the theatre seats. Akino: Now, this is getting ugly. Lyka: I¡¯m sorry¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have kicked the guy. Akino: Don¡¯t worry. I ran out of alibis, so it¡¯s fine that you knocked him out instantly. Lyka: The guards outside must have heard the slaves screaming. Akino: You protect the girls, I¡¯ll sneak outside. Lyka: Got it. Akino sneaks up on the door, checking the hallway for the guards. To her surprise, no one is there, not even a single shadow. She activates her stealth cloak and walks up towards the lobby area. She saw the guards and the servant down on the floor. The other guard was curled up, crying. Then she hears a monstrous voice, it was Alexa, who¡¯s still in her camouflage mode, harassing the poor guard. Alexa: WHERE ARE THEY?! Guard: Please! I already told that you head there, and you will see them! PLEASE! Akino: Stop that, kid. He¡¯s about to piss himself, have some sympathy¡­ jeez¡­ Alexa shows herself, with her 6-tentacle hair ending up with needles. She pricks the guard, and he immediately falls asleep. Akino: You did all of this? Alexa: When I heard about the guy complaining on the ¡®unmagical¡¯ coins, I started blasting them, with a neurotoxin, of course¡­ Akino: We¡¯ll find the other slaves. Go out and tell Escobar they can clearly get inside. Once you¡¯re inside, tie these guys up. Alexa: ROGER THAT! Alexa went out of the building. Akino went back to Lyka and assisted her on taking out the slaves. They checked out the backstage of the theatre where they went first and the other rooms, seeing only more slaves. 15 in total, 8 of which are females. They guided them out where Alexa and Escobar¡¯s team is waiting. Escobar scratched his head as he sees the slaves coming out in line. Akino: What? Escobar: I¡¯ve expected this, since you¡¯ve told it to us a while ago¡­ but I never knew you¡¯d do it¡­ Lyka: Let¡¯s just be grateful they are not harmed. We have to take them out of this underground place. Escobar: Our tavern here has morning deliveries of carriages of supplies from the main guild building. We can use that to transport them out of here. Akino: Then we should leave now. Lyka, Alexa, go with them. I¡¯ll stay here for a while. Alexa: Don¡¯t go puncturing their skulls, okay? The neurotoxin lasts for 12 hours, but don¡¯t abuse them. They could still feel stuff, but little, but still they could feel. Akino: That¡¯s¡­ alright, I¡¯ll be gentle. Lyka: Are you sure you want to stay in here? Akino: You know what? You can stay with me. Alexa: Then don¡¯t do something dirty, got it? Akino & Lyka: WE WON¡¯T. Escobar: Then, good luck finding something in here and in them. Alexa and Escobar¡¯s team left with the slaves. Akino and Lyka placed the tied guards and servants of the trade house on a corner near the lobby counter. One by one, Akino plugged her hair cable to the napes of the men. Lyka: You got anything? Akino: Not that much of importance¡­ slave trading stuff, illegal transactions, and drug injection to the poor kids¡­ that¡¯s all. I¡¯ll write it down later and submit it to Adrian¡­ but I can see the manager heading somewhere¡­ Lyka: Somewhere? Inside here? Akino: Yeah. I can see, in these guards¡¯ perspective, that this manager is heading towards there. Akino points on the hallway where they went, near the small theatre room. Akino: But when I look at the manager¡¯s perspective, it¡¯s gone¡­ or it seems that he entered there in the past 3 hours. Lyka: You can¡¯t look in deeper? Akino: If I look deeper, or further than the past 3 hours this guy has seen or experienced, his mind might collapse due to intense mind data transfer¡­ I tried it on the other knight that confronted me last night, and let¡¯s say I can¡¯t look past the memories of other people¡­ 5 hours of experience is the most I can get¡­ Lyka: And if you go beyond than 5 hours? Akino: I might kill them¡­ I¡¯m sorry about that¡­ I can¡¯t just kill someone who¡¯s defenseless, let alone killing him just because I looked only on his memories¡­ Lyka: I know how you feel¡­ and if that¡¯s the case, we should check it out ourselves¡­ Akino and Lyka stood and went back to the hallway. They reached the dead end of the hallway after a minute of walk. Akino: Weird¡­ Lyka: What is it? Akino: My Geiger sensors¡­ they are ticking, detecting a small amount of radiation¡­ or a large one but it is hidden¡­ Lyka: Where are you seeing it? Akino: Beyond that wall¡­ Akino looks up at the dead-end wall. Akino: X-ray¡¯s not working either, I can¡¯t see something beyond there. Wait, it must be a lead like material¡­ Lyka: I can¡¯t see through as well, but I can sense a faint of magic on the other side¡­ Akino: Let me check it¡­ Akino pushes the wall. Then, a portion of the wall slides like a sliding door, revealing a dark passage. Akino: Hah! A secret room! Lyka: Wow¡­ Akino carefully observes the inner walls of the secret passage. Lyka did the same as well. Akino: A wall made of lead¡­ interesting¡­ Lyka: The walls also have some sort of¡­ what do you call that? The thing where your lightning passes through to be used for TVs? Akino: Electrical circuit? Lyka: Yes, but with magic¡­ a magic circuit??? Lyka touches something on the wall and small lamps of blue light lit up on the inner walls of that secret passage. Lyka: Should we head in? Akino: Yeah, let¡¯s go. CHAPTER 30: Under the city, dormant and waiting Before going in, Akino tried to draw a radioactive sign on the entrance of the secret passage and written: ¡°Alexa, there¡¯s radiation in here.¡± The two proceeded to go down the passage, lit up by blue crystal lamps powered by magic. As they go deeper, Akino could sense the radiation is getting higher. Not lethal, but her Geiger sensors are ticking more compared when they are at the entrance of the passage. Akino: How did they know that lead could block radiation? Lyka: And they made a very sophisticated contraption for the magic circuit¡­ Akino: First time seeing it? Lyka: Yeah¡­ They moved on, seeing a wooden door at the end. It is locked, but Akino managed to lockpicked it. They found themselves inside a room of concrete walls and floor, saw another door made of metal, and 5 medieval like armor each in an armor rack. The armors are color gray, covers most of the body and only has small openings on the joint areas and at the eye area. Akino and Lyka inspected the armors. Akino: It¡¯s made of¡­ lead?! Lyka: And it¡¯s covered in a special healing and protective magic¡­ Akino: A hazmat suit? But it¡¯s impossible... the technological era in this world is not accurate for this kind of material¡­ the concept of lead material blocking of radiation is like millennia away! Lyka: Is that¡­ alarming? Akino: Kind of. Three things I know for sure: one is that the institution was able to make contact with these people, and made an information exchange or something; two is some institution employee gone AWOL, these people found him or her and employed that AWOL employee; and three, these people managed to find an institutional facility and comprehend its tech¡­ Alexa: Fourth is that all of the above? The two were startled with Alexa¡¯s sudden appearance. Lyka: Alexa! Don¡¯t scare us like that! Alexa: I did nothing, ma. Akino: The last time you scared the shit out of me, my apartment was almost burnt to crisp! Lyka: Wait, what? Alexa: Ummm, can we forget about that one? Akino: And I burnt my hand¡­ Lyka: Really? Just because she scared you? Alexa: AHEM ¨C you two must be busy on something since you didn¡¯t sensed or detected me when I entered here. What¡¯s with the greyish-wall passage and these greyish-armors? Akino: You can¡¯t identify stuff by touching or smelling or something, can you? Alexa: Only on biological stuff, and I don¡¯t sniff nor lick walls! Akino: It¡¯s lead and used as a radiation shielding. Alexa: WHAT?! Lyka: Alexa, where are the others? Alexa: Oh, the poor kids got already on the tavern. They are prepping for their departure towards the guild. I told Escobar and his team to stay on the lobby area to investigate, and under here we do the same. The three looked at the metal door. Alexa: So, the source came from there? Akino: Not sure, the sensors are ticking, and it detects small amounts of radiation everywhere¡­ Lyka: If they are protecting something or keeping it out of reach, then going beyond that door is the only answer. Akino goes near to the door, she tries to pry it open by lockpicking but to no avail it won¡¯t open. Alexa: Kick it down. Akino: And trigger something? Alexa: This is not like Indiana stuff where there¡¯s a ton of traps, you know? Lyka: It must be locked by a magic sealed. Akino: After you then. Lyka touched the door and some sort of glyphs appeared on it. A clicking sound, like twisting gears, then the door opens. The entered the room, and slowly the room is being lit up by crystal lamps on the ceiling. The three were stunned on the sight. A room full of stuff from the Institution: a laboratory coat, folded properly; broken and old issue firearms, placed on bow racks; a jar of a human spine attached to a mechanical brain; pieces of the MC-00 units on the armor racks, but unlike the ones they saw on the previous facilities, they are not covered with flesh; and lastly, a metal sphere with valves, wires, and plugs, at the center of the room. Akino inspects the sphere, and her Geiger sensors confirmed that it is the source of the radiation. A core for nuclear power plants. Akino: This ¨C this is the source¡­ Alexa: Is that what I think it is??? Lyka: What is it? Akino: A nuclear power core¡­ but this tech is like, about a hundred of years old during the time me and Alexa were still around in our world¡­ this is a decommissioned one, a useless piece emitting enough radiation. If tweaked properly ¨C Alexa: It could become a nuclear bomb?! Akino: Not really, but still a bomb¡­ not enough to level a whole city due to its current mass that has been eaten away by half-life decay, but capable of killing a thousand or more in one blow. Lyka: Then, we should destroy it! Lyka casts her greatsword from her magic circle. Akino and Alexa stopped as she tries to hit the nuclear power core. Akino: Hold on! We can¡¯t just cause a radiation leak in here! Lyka: Then what should we do? Akino: I ¨C I¡¯ll keep it in the meantime. Alexa: Radiation can leak out of that pocket dimensional bag of yours, right? Akino: No, radiation can¡¯t leak out of this bag. Lyka: How exactly is that going to fit in? Akino: It just works¡­ While Akino and Alexa argues on what they should do on the nuclear power core, Lyka noticed a gap on a wall. She tried to approach it and she touches it, but that part of the wall slides, revealing a male elf wearing brown robes, about 2.1 meters tall with an average body built. The elf immediately draws a dagger, but Lyka acted quicker by kicking the elf¡¯s hand, dropping his dagger. Akino: STEP ASIDE! As Lyka steps away, Akino fires a small projectile with wires connecting to her fingertips. The elf was hit and got paralyzed. They dragged him towards the room and Lyka slides the wall shut, closing it. Akino grabbed the elf by his clothes and lifted him up. Akino: I didn¡¯t paralyze your mouth and vocal cords, so you better answer my questions, or I¡¯ll do something nastier than what I did to you right now! Elf in robes: Alright! Alright! Akino: What is this place? Elf in robes: A ¨C a slave trade house¡­ Akino drops the elf. Her arms opened like layered metals of a contracting solar panel, and surges of electricity comes out of it. The elf was very shocked and bathes in sweat at that moment. Akino: No shit. Elf in robes: It really is! I swear! Alexa: She¡¯s talking about THIS place. This secret room? Catching any hints? Elf in robes: That¡¯s all I know! The things in this room are only like trophies! Priced but useless stuff¡­ Lyka: Who found these things? And how? Elf in robes: We found those, in a cave far from here¡­ the Altruisian knights said they were purging trolls and goblins then they found a huge greyish cube at the heart of that cave¡­ Akino: And? Elf in robes: The cube was like a vault! A weird one! They couldn¡¯t pry it open at first, but our great knight busted it open with his divine sword¡­ then we found these things inside the cube¡­ that¡¯s all I know! Akino: How the hell did you know that lead can block radiation? And those armors there, who made them? Elf in robes: There¡¯s a small diary inside the cube¡­ written in Elynian¡­ it¡¯s explaining how the things work but we can¡¯t comprehend it¡­ all we knew and understand was the metal the cube was made of blocks something from that sphere¡­ so we made this room and the set of armors¡­ NOW PLEASE CAN YOU LET ME GO?! Lyka: Have you done anything with these things? Elf in robes: I already told you! We don¡¯t understand how these things work! But¡­ when we get too much time near the sphere without wearing the armor, we tend to get dizzy and nauseous ¡­ and I believed they¡¯ve used that sphere to interrogate some people¡­ The room went silent. Elf in robes: The diary¡­ it¡¯s inside the wall cabinet where you found me hiding¡­ NOW PLEASE LET ME GO! Akino: Alright. Akino nods at Alexa. Alexa nods back and she pricks the elf on his neck, knocking him unconscious. Akino: WHAT THE ¨C Alexa: What? Alexa: You should have tied him and brought up to Escobar¡­ Alexa: You didn¡¯t instruct me properly. Akino: Ugh¡­ As Akino and Alexa ties up the knocked-out elf, Lyka looks at the place where they found the elf. She saw a piece of ragged notebook lying on the floor and picks it up. Lyka: Aki, this must the diary he talked about. Akino: Hmmm, we¡¯ll check it out later. Akino took all the paraphernalia of the Institution and Alexa carries the elf. They were about to leave when Akino stops them. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Akino: Alexa, Escobar and his team were on the lobby area, right? Alexa: Yeah, why? Akino: Drop that guy here, we¡¯re going up there quickly. Lyka: What is it? Akino: I placed a camera right outside this building. A group of armored men is going in this direction. Alexa: S ¨C sure! They went up ahead. Escobar and his team are still looking around some paper documents. Akino: Escobar! Knights are heading this way! Escobar: What?! Lyka: Come here, quick! Lyka casts a huge magic circle on the corner of the area. All of them went in, also dragging in the tied-up guards and servants. The magic circle created a dome, concealing them from the incoming knights. The knights enter, a group of 6 men in heavy silver armor. They are confused. No one welcomed them, so they split and looked for the establishment¡¯s guards and servants. Apparently, Lyka casted an illusion spell making them invisible to the knights. Akino: OH SHIT ¨C Lyka: What is it now? Akino: We forgot to close the secret room! Lyka: Oh my¡­ The knights that headed to the hallway where they found the secret passage were heard shouting. A few minutes, they saw the knights carrying the elf Alexa tranquilized, still unconscious. They are trying to heal the elf but he¡¯s not waking up. Guess tranquilizers aren¡¯t considered to be lethal by a body with magic. They heard the knights talking about the stuff inside the secret room missing, and discovering the slaves were also missing, making them to conclude someone ¡®robbed¡¯ them. The knights carried the poor elf and hurriedly exit the building. Sarah: Umm¡­ are they gone? Akino: Wait¡­ Grug: What in the world are they talking about? Escobar: Miss Akino, I suggest you should tell us what were you three doing in the so-called ¡®secret room¡¯. Akino: Lyka, can we move while being covered in your spell? Lyka: Yes, I can manage to move the magic circle as we move. Akino: Escobar, we¡¯ll leave this place first for safety. I ¨C we will explain things once we¡¯re back at the guild. Escobar: Alright¡­ bold move by the way. Akino: Thanks? They left, carrying the tied-up guards and servants, all covered in Lyka¡¯s spell. Fortunately, they reached the guild without causing any commotion on their way. They stashed the tied slavers on their dungeon, and the two groups went to a private lounge of the guild where the guild leader is waiting. On the table, Akino drops the firearms they found, carefully places down the broken MC-00 unit, the laboratory coat, and the spine inside the jar. The other adventurers and the guild master were stunned on the objects that Akino brought out. Lord Adrian: What ¨C are these things? Escobar: Are these the stuff the knights were talking about??? Akino: Yeah, these are some stuffs from our world. Lord Adrian: Yo ¨C your world?! Outworlders?! Escobar: I tried to tell you, but you kept ignoring me¡­ Sarah: So ¨C you guys are outworlders?! Heroes summoned by powerful mages from another world?! Alexa: No, we are not summoned, we got sucked on a portal thing and went here. Lyka: And they landed on the forest where my people reside¡­ The adventurers of the guild observe the things on the table with awe in their faces. Akino: We ¨C joined this adventuring guild to gather info¡­ we¡¯ve been looking stuff like this since we came here. Akino points at the markings of the broken machine unit, the code name ¡°MC-00¡± which seems to be an alien symbol for the adventurers. Akino: Have you guys seen things like this? In your expeditions or something? Escobar: No? Grug: I think I haven¡¯t seen such thing¡­ Sarah: Is that a magic glyph? Akino: Magic doesn¡¯t exist in our world. The door of the room shuts open, seeing Kal that has just violently kicked it. He¡¯s with Diana and Finn. Kal: Hmmm, what do we have here? Diana: Sorry, we couldn¡¯t resist eavesdropping~ Finn: A world without any magic? But how the summoned heroes got superior magical aptitudes? Alexa: Are we going to tell our WHOLE story every time someone asks where we came from or what the hell are we??? Akino: We are not summoned, we accidentally travelled through here¡­ Kal: Heroes have magic in them, Diana¡­ they don¡¯t have an inch of it. But the question is why your souls are of human? Finn: Yes¡­ a very intriguing fact that I have confirmed by my appraisal, twice. Akino: We were once human¡­ one day, our world got stricken by something, and then we woke up just like this¡­ we woke up in a dead world, and found a ¡®portal¡¯ towards yours¡­ The room went silent. Alexa: AAAGGH!!! Can we stop the exposition thing? Lord Adrian: What are these things supposed to be? They don¡¯t have a bit of mana as well¡­ like the two of you¡­ Akino went near to the table. She points at the folded lab coat. Akino: This is a coat, one used for protecting your body when doing experiments on chemicals. We call this a lab coat. Escobar: That looks familiar¡­ I saw alchemists wearing that. Akino: Yeah, like that¡­ Sarah: What about that thing?! Sarah points at the jar with the spine in it. Akino: I¡¯m not that sure¡­ we sometimes preserve human parts for studying stuff¡­ in that case, a study of connecting a human spine on a mechanical brain¡­ Lyka: To put it simply: connecting an inanimate object to a living part, right? Akino: Yeah, your right. Kal: Your world¡­ is very weird¡­ Alexa: Yeah¡­ Grug: And these¡­ they look like crossbows¡­ weird crossbows¡­ Akino: Firearms, but they are old, like super old. About a half-thousand years old when we were still on our world. Works like a crossbow, but more powerful and deadlier. It can kill some from very far distances, and even pierce your armor. But it doesn¡¯t have any munitions¡­ Finn: That thing is half- thousand years old? It¡¯s already complex for us! Diana: Munitions? Alexa: Crossbow uses arrows, but firearms use bullets. Akino fabricates a bullet from her palm, a .50 caliber bullet. She dislodges the bullet head from its cartridge and spills the gunpowder on her other palm. She took a lit candle and heats up the gunpowder, causing a loud explosion. The adventurers and Lyka were startled. Escobar: What in the world is that?! Finn: A fiery concoction? Akino: Explosive one. Akino shows the primer of the dislodged cartridge, and then hold the bullet back to the opening of the cartridge. Akino: If this heats up, it will cause an explosion. But that will not destroy this small piece, instead the force of the explosion will exit at this opening. Now, the bullet that was originally placed here will propel due to the force, acting as the ¡®arrow¡¯ of the firearm. Kal: And that ¡®force¡¯ is strong enough to make it pierce armors at distances¡­ Akino: Yeah. Diana: That is, indeed, a deadly weapon. Sarah: And that piece¡­ what is that? They looked at the broken MC-00 unit. Akino: That¡¯s¡­ how do I put this¡­ Lyka: A golem? Wait, wait, wait¡­ it¡¯s too complex for a golem¡­ Alexa: Can both of you knock it off? Just say it¡¯s a machine! And a machine is a stuff having several parts, each with its own function and together they perform a single task! Escobar: And what task is it? Akino: It acts like a soldier¡­ or a guard. Designed as a killing machine. Lord Adrian: A killing machine? Akino: Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s dead ¨C Grug: Hey, do smell that? Akino: Smell what? Grug sniffs in the air, then Alexa and Lyka sniffs as well. Lyka: Is that ¨C blood??? Alexa: The smell¡­ is familiar¡­ oh shit! Alexa points at the broken MC-00, already oozing with red liquid. The orifice of the broken machine violently exudes more blood. Akino immediately grabs the machine. Akino: Adrian! Is the arena empty?! Lord Adrian: Y ¨C yeah! Akino went running towards the direction of the arena. Lyka and Alexa immediately follows her, and soon the Escobar¡¯s team and the three gold ranking adventurers. As Akino, she connected her hair-wire to the head-piece of the unit. -ACCESS DENIED -MC-00 MEMORY CORE: CORRUPTED -BETA CORE INTEGRATION: FAILED Akino: FUCK! Metallic bones, slimy wires, and gut innards began coming out of the cavities of the unit. -MC-00 SYSTEM CORE: CRITICAL FAILURE -MC-00 WEAPONS MODE: CRITICAL FAILURE -SYSTEM PROPOSAL: EXTERMINTATION Akino: This. Is. Not going well! Akino reached the entrance of the underground arena. She unplugs her wire and throws the unit towards the center of the arena, where it started growing a pair of limbs made of gushing flesh and frenzying wires. The MC-00 stands, with its body dripping with blood. Its head faces towards Akino, and then towards Lyka and Alexa who just got caught up with her. Lyka: Aki, are you alright? Akino: Yeah. Broken MC-00: IDENTIFYING. Alexa: Woah! It started talking! Lyka: It¡¯s looking at us. Broken MC-00: INSTITUTION SYSTEM CORES, DETECTED. Akino: I think it¡¯s safe to let it be for a while ¨C Behind them, Escobar¡¯s team and Kal¡¯s companions just came. The MC-00 unit raises its left arm, still dripping with blood and tangling wires. Its raised arm turned into a cylindrical shape, like a gun barrel but made of flesh, then it fires at the direction of the adventurers. Lyka immediately casts a shielding spell, blocking the projectile made of blood and torn bits of flesh. Broken MC-00: HOSTILES, DETECTED. Akino: Lyka! Lyka: Got it! Lyka casts another spell, sealing off the arena in a dome shaped magic barrier but left the single door untouched. Akino: Escobar, warn Adrian. It this gets worse, you have to evacuate the building. Kal: Heh! No need for that! We¡¯ll finish it right here! Kal rushes with his shield raised and dashes towards the monstrous MC-00. Finn and Diana took their positions in taking down the rogue machine, from a distance. Escobar: Sarah, support them! Grug, go and join Diana! Tank, guard them up! Sarah: Got it! Grug: Aye! Tank: Hmm! They ran towards the arena, and at the center is the machine, drooling with flesh and blood. The back of the machine started rupturing, and ten arms protrudes out of it. All of it began hitting Kal but he managed to block all of it with his shield. Tank tried to hit it with his hammer, but the machine holds it, Tank is forcing himself to strike the machine¡¯s head, but its arms are holding him off. Grug and Diana were shooting arrows at it, but it deflects and catches the arrows with its arms. Finn and Sarah were casting a sealing magic beneath the machine from a distance, but they don¡¯t know if it is working. The machine kept on hitting Kal and holding off Tank while repelling the arrow shot of the two archers. Alexa: Everyone, BACK OFF! Alexa jumps in, with her left arm morphed into a giant club claw of a mantis shrimp. Kal and Tank, terrifyingly backs off as Alexa swiftly smashes her massive arm onto the machine. Blood splatters, flesh and innards were scattered, metal bits fly everywhere. Alexa: Heh! Is that it ¨C Underneath the fleshy mush of that machine, vine like wires made of flesh comes out, then turning into branches and grows rapidly into a huge tree carrying Alexa upwards. Alexa: Woah!!! Akino & Lyka: Alexa! Akino: Lyka, can¡¯t you burn it down like the last one? Lyka: I ¨C I¡¯m not sure¡­ that thing has no soul unlike the one we encountered last time¡­ Finn: And magic seems to be ineffective to it! Sarah: What do you mean it has no soul?! Akino jumps off and punches through the branches. Alexa made herself larger and muscular, with arms equipped with the scythes of a praying mantis. Akino kept on punching, Alexa kept on slashing, but branches of the machine kept on growing, now with arms that were trying to hold the swift movements of the two. The others were stuck in awe as they see the two fighting the monster. Escobar: What are you guys watching for? GO AND SUPPORT THEM! As Kal and Tank hit the fleshy trunk, Grug and Diana firing magic arrows at the fleshy tree, Lyka accompanied the two mages to support them on sealing the thing. The two were struggling, as if they were pushing themselves. Lyka: What¡¯s wrong? Finn: Magic seal, rune traps, rune circles¡­ Sarah: Turn undead, holy vindication, nothing works on that thing! Finn: It¡¯s not immune to magic though, only affecting it at small margins¡­ I tried casting an explosion seal underneath it, but I only saw small flames coming out of the seal¡­ Lyka: (Aki, you heard that?) Akino: (Yeah, I¡¯m not sure but the institution has instruments that can block off or diminish energy - ) Lyka: (Please, speak normally¡­) Akino: (What I mean is, that thing might be decreasing the magical effects or something , I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m not a wizard.) Lyka: (You¡¯ve said to me that our special bodies can produce energy, right? I mean, huge amounts of it?) Akino: (Yeah.) Lyka: (Does that include mana?) Akino: (I¡¯m not sure, but there¡¯s only one way to find that out, right?) Lyka raises her right arm with an open palm. A huge magic circle appeared beneath the MC-00 which now looks like a tree made of flesh and wires, and having branches shaped like arms. The ground is lit with vibrant purple glyphs. The two armored adventurers stopped on attacking and immediately backs off, knowing that the magic circle under them is a signal for an enormous attack. However, Akino and Alexa kept on clashing with the creature. Lyka: Aki! Alexa! Get out of there! Alexa: Just take the shot! We¡¯re distracting it! Akino: DO IT! Lyka hesitantly clenches her right fist and the magic circle shone brighter. Lyka: ABYSSAL BIND! Giant chains with spikes appeared from the ground, tangling, and suppressing the monster machine. As soon as the monster is nearly halted in its havoc, Akino and Alexa dashes out of the scene. The chains attached to the creature is rapidly burning it, turning it into a charred solid charcoal of purplish fire. The creature has finally halted in moving. Lyka stands still, while the others are at awe in her display of power. Alexa: THAT''S FRICKING AWESOME! Finn: Abyssal magic?! Where did you learn that?! Sarah: That¡¯s like, a magic bestowed upon by the gods, right?! Lyka: I, ummm, uhhh¡­ While the others are pondering at Lyka¡¯s power, Akino looks at the charred creature. She senses something. A beat, like a heart. At the middle of the creature¡¯s trunk, cracks are appearing. Blood gushes out of it, then wires that moves like a tentacle, making itself free out of the charred shell of the burned body, dragging out a sphere made of flesh. The fleshy sphere moves out, and metallic wires started coming out of its surface. Akino rushed towards it, making the others notice that it is not done yet. She grabbed the heart of the machine and smashes it into the ground. Her arm enacts metallic plates and the surroundings around her began to heat up. The metallic plates on her arm widely open, bright like molten red. Akino: Lyka! Cover me with your dome magic! Your strongest barrier! Lyka: What?! Akino: Just do it! Lyka: G -got it! Akino: And everyone! Get away! NOW! As the others were retreating, Lyka waves her hand, a magic circle appears on her palm and underneath Akino, then Akino was encased inside a dome of magic barrier. Akino smiles at Lyka, then looks back at the ground. It was all of a sudden. A loud bang, and a flash of light brighter than the sunshine in the middle of the day. 10 seconds passed. The light dissipates, but the surrounding ground is molten hot, even outside the Lyka¡¯s barrier. The whole ground of the arena is now a pool of molten rock, the charred body of the machine is sinking and getting burned, and at the middle of it is Akino. Lyka removes the barrier. Akino walks out, still with her arm having metallic plates, unscathed. The heart of the machine is gone, not turned to dust or ashes, but into nothing. Kal: You didn¡¯t know she could do that, right? Escobar: Apart from her ability to erase memories¡­ yeah, there¡¯s still so much more to know about her¡­ CHAPTER 31: Day-off Three days after that fight under the guild. Lord Adrian addressed to the other adventurers present at that time that there was an extreme training between Kal - the mighty knight of Dasman Guild and Finn - the great adventurer mage, making it the reason why there¡¯s a loud explosions and quaking underneath the guild. They also questioned who are the three girls that were sighted running towards the arena that time, seemingly carrying something that drops liters of blood. Escobar told them they were Kal¡¯s die-hard fans, and that the girls were nose bleeding because they could see the mighty Kal in action, and were excited¡­ a puny alibi, but effectively making the others consider that the events three days ago is nothing but a normal day in the adventurers¡¯ guild of Dasman¡­ The things from the Institution were locked safe by Lord Adrian¡¯s special mages. He asked Akino on how to create such things, but she obviously refuses the request due to ¡®security¡¯ reasons; and just to be sure they wouldn¡¯t be able to recreate the firearms through some sort of reverse engineering, she tweaked it in secret making it totally unusable¡­ as for the nuclear power core, Akino created a 0.5 by 0.5 by 0.5 cube of lead and placed it inside, completely sealed. She told Adrian to burry it down, where no one can see it ever again. Outside the walls of Dasman, the three girls are taking their day-off near a huge tree not that far away on the road leading to the entrance of the city. Alexa was laying on the grass, straight up looking at the sky. Lyka is sitting under the tree, reading some spell books she managed to borrow from Sarah. Akino was beside her, sitting with her legs crossed in front of her. Lyka thought Akino was resting since her eyes were closed. She remembered the past three days after the incident was a very stressful time for them, especially for Akino. Because of the fight against the rogue machine, the underground arena of the guild was severely damaged, plus the charred body of the machine when Lyka casted her ¡®Abyssal¡¯ magic on it got stuck there. They dragged it out of the place. They helped on fixing and cleaning the place. Akino checked every corner of the underground arena for any weakened portions that may collapse and make the guild tavern above ground sink down. They also explained the full extent of their powers and signed ¡®magic¡¯ contracts of making it a secrecy only on the witnesses during that incident. Of course, the magic contract didn¡¯t work on Akino and Alexa, so they just signed using their fingerprints soaked in their own blood. The rest was Akino and Lyka helping one another in understanding the diary notes they got from the slave trade, the only explanation why they have the stuff from the Institution. The diary just explains how the stuff works, how it is made, and how it will be useful. It seems that the one who wrote the diary was purposively studying the instruments from the Institution and is planning to make good use of it. Still, they weren¡¯t able to find any info on where the hell these things came from, or any hints on where the facilities are located¡­ Lyka closes the books she¡¯s reading and gets near to Akino. She looked on her calm face. She tried to touch her lips a little bit, but Akino suddenly wakes up. Lyka immediately pulls away her fingers. Akino yawns and pretends to not notice it¡­ but little did Lyka know, Akino was totally aware of her surroundings. Akino: Is something wrong with my lips? Lyka: EH?! Akino noticed Lyka blushing, so she stops prying her. Akino: N ¨C nevermind¡­ Lyka: Y ¨C you were awake all this time? Akino: Not really¡­ it¡¯s a bit hard to explain it¡­ Akino grabs Lyka¡¯s hand. Akino: I¡¯ll just show it to you. Lyka: In the virtual¡­ what is it again? Akino: Virtual space. Lyka: Oh, yeah, right¡­ virtual space. Both closed their eyes. They soon found themselves again in the virtual white space of unending vastness. Near them is a small pedestal with control buttons. Akino touches it and the place switches into the view of the Elyn, from space. Lyka was terrified, she immediately clings to Akino after seeing the majestic scenery of her home planet. Lyka: Wh ¨C where are we?! Is this the ¡®space¡¯ thing Alexa¡¯s talking about?! Akino: Yeah. But we¡¯re still in the virtual space¡­ so, can you let go now? Lyka stops on clinging Akino. She gazes at the sight of the blue planet. Mesmerized, she takes a step forward, looking upon the swirling white clouds and deep blue oceans, the continents of brown and green, the ranges of high mountains with white snow, and the sphere-ness of the planet that they call ¡®home¡¯. Lyka: I never knew our world is this round¡­ I ask my mother what¡¯s at the end of the world when I was young, and she said I¡¯ll find the gateway to the abyss and heavens¡­ Akino: A gateway, huh? Well, we had that same concept when we still don¡¯t know the world is a huge ball of rock. But instead of a gateway, you¡¯ll actually find the end, and you¡¯ll fall down to the abyss if you continue further¡­ but that¡¯s like, tons of millennia ago when we were still walking in our planet. Lyka: Was your world like this? Akino: Yeah¡­ but a little less of green, more like greyish because of the city structures we had that you saw on our memories. Lyka: It spans that wide? As wide as a forest? Akino: Yeah, and others call the cities as ¡®forest of metal and concrete¡¯. We deforest to create ¡®forests¡¯. Ironic, isn¡¯t? They gaze back to the virtual image of the Elyn. Lyka: By the way, what are you going to show me? Akino: Oh, right¡­ remember that I installed drone satellites? Lyka: Yes. Akino: Well, what we¡¯re seeing here is the same exact thing those drones see. Lyka: That¡¯s impressive¡­ like eagle eyes that soars the ¨C space? Akino: I guess you can put it that way. So, while you¡¯re reading books and Alexa is lying on the ground, I¡¯m in here looking your world for something. Lyka: Something? Akino pressed another button. Their view on the planet suddenly zooms in, like they move really fast. This made Lyka cling back to Akino, but Akino didn¡¯t mind it. It zoomed for about 10 seconds, and then it stops. All they see now is a city area, surrounded by walls of irregular octahedron shape, and has a hill inside it. It is the top view of the city of Dasman. Akino swipes her arm, and the were moved southwest, back to the forest before. Akino: The drone satellites have recorded everything it saw when I first launched it, so basically, I have a record of things happening on this planet for almost two weeks. Nearly five days ago, when we found Olguk¡¯s team in that cave, and our discovery of the facility B-18. The image of the forest is now covered in grid lines, patches of different colors, curve lines, and many more. Akino explains each one of them to Lyka: ambient temperature, atmospheric temperature, material composition, wind direction and speed, and many more things the indicators show on the image they¡¯re looking at. Lyka, is confused with everything that Akino said. Lyka: WHAT. Akino: Just¡­ uhmm, just forget it. The thing is when the facilityB18 vanishes out ¨C Akino points at the holographic image. Akino: Nothing happened¡­ like, no changes, no ups and downs, nothing! Even when we fought that machine 3 days ago¡­ Akino swaps back to the city of Dasman. A blue patch appears, then it turns into red that intensifies the portion where the guild is located. Lyka: What¡¯s going on? Akino: I think the blue patch was you. You casted that¡­ what was it? Lyka: Abyss magic? Akino: Yeah, and red one is me¡­ when I boil to nothing the MC-00 we fought. Lyka: The blue thing is my mana concentration?! Akino: I guess¡­ it¡¯s labeled as ¡®unknown¡¯ energy, so it must be it. And its highly concentrated, amazing. Lyka reopens her eyes back to the grasslands outside of Dasman. They were still under that tree, and she sees Akino yawns as she stretches her arms. Akino drops herself on Lyka¡¯s shoulders, making Lyka froze and turning her face red. Akino: Its very tiring¡­ even we¡¯re not supposed to get tired, somehow my mind thinks it is¡­ even with advanced eyes on the sky, we can¡¯t track down a single facility¡­ Lyka pulls in Akino, making lean on to her chest. She strokes her hair and smiles as she looks up to the sky. Lyka: I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find it. Remember? We joined the guild to gather info, right? Akino: Yeah¡­ Lyka: Say, Aki¡­ Akino: Yeah? Lyka: What will happen after we found these facilities? Akino: I don¡¯t know¡­ I haven¡¯t thought that far yet¡­ Lyka: Will you be going back to your world after this? Akino: I don¡¯t know¡­ well, it¡¯s much better in here than ours¡­ I mean, we don¡¯t even know if people still exist in that world, it¡¯s been a million years since¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ I guess, it would be better if we just stay here. There¡¯s nothing else on our world, anyways¡­ Lyka: I see¡­ A moment of silence passed. Akino: We could go back to your place, start fresh, live in peace¡­ if that¡¯s fine with you. Lyka: I¡¯ll be more than glad just to be with you, that¡¯s all. Akino: Heh¡­ we¡¯ve been only together for nearly two weeks¡­ when we very first met, you tried to shoot out some magic ball from your arm¡­ Lyka: That¡¯s ¨C still fresh in my mind, hehe¡­ Akino: Very bizarre, right? Lyka: Yeah¡­ but fortunate, I guess¡­ Akino: It is¡­ it is fortunate¡­ Akino backs up. The two stared at each other intensely. Their faces blush a bit. Locked on to each other¡¯s eyes, they made their distance closer. And closer. Closing their eyes and are about to kiss each other¡¯s lips. And then, a contact. Their lips kissed, and they stayed in that position. Their tongues rolled, and they are making moans under that tree, with only the wind to listen. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Then they heard rustling leaves. They opened their eyes and saw Alexa standing near them, with a very distasteful expression. Alexa: Really? Right in the middle of the day? Get a room, goddamnit! The two stopped what they were doing. Alexa could still see the drool the two made from their kissing, making her face filled with disgust. Alexa: EW! WHAT THE FUCK?! Akino: YOW! Language! Alexa: It is not full moon yet, right?! What the hell were you two doing? We¡¯re just nearby a road, couldn¡¯t you see that?! Lyka: Alexa, calm down. Alexa: I AM CALM! Akino: Could you not?! We¡¯re having a moment here! You¡¯re a party crasher, damnit! The two distances themselves, then Alexa sits in between them. Alexa: So¡­ what now? Akino: What now? You were just lying there and went here for nothing! Alexa: Come on! I¡¯ll let both of you have the bedroom for tonight, so be patient. Lyka: ALEXA?! Akino: Stop or I¡¯ll pinch ya! Alexa: Okay, okay! I¡¯ll stop teasing. The three went silent. Lyka began picking the books she has read and Akino stands to stretch. Alexa: Wait, wait, wait¡­ we¡¯re leaving already? Akino: We¡¯ve been here for like 3 hours. What else are we going to do? Lyka: Ummm¡­ I¡¯m going to return these books to the guild, you can come with me if you want to. Alexa: Speaking of the guild, why we¡¯re not taking any commissions? Like daily quests or something? Akino: We just got promoted to gold after that latest fight¡­ and the gold rankers are deployed on certain missions, weeklies if you compare it to a game¡­ so, we¡¯re not obligated to do the commissions. Lyka: Plus, the commissions are for the lower ranking adventurers. It would be greedy if we take the commission that were meant to be for them. Alexa: Alright, alright¡­ wait, you¡¯re taking turns in nagging me! Akino & Lyka: We¡¯re not nagging! Alexa: No shit. Akino & Lyka: ALEXA! Alexa: Alright, alright¡­ They left and entered the city, heading towards the adventurers¡¯ guild. Lyka returned the books she borrowed, Akino waits for her when she noticed that Alexa was missing. She looked around, and saw that Alexa was chitchatting with Kal¡¯s group. The moment Alexa saw the two, she quickly ran towards them with a cheerful face. Alexa: Hey! Aki! Ma! Can I come with them? Please, please, please! Akino: Ummm, where are you going? Kal: We¡¯re going to the Dasman Inns, the governor wants to talk to us. Lyka: Why is that? Diana: We¡¯re not yet sure. Something about a new dungeon exploration, right Finn? Finn: Yes. The governor wants us to discuss with us the dungeon ruins discovered by some merchants who went here from east. Alexa: Aaaannd, I¡¯ll coming with them to spy! Sounds awesome, right? Kal: The kid¡¯s persistent, so, yeah¡­ she¡¯s persistent in coming with us¡­ Alexa: Please, Aki! Ma, can you convince Aki to come with them? Please, please! Akino: NO. Alexa: Come on! Lyka: If she says no, then my answer is a no as well. Alexa: Ma! Akino stares at the two, then she thought of something. Akino: [If Alexa left with them¡­ then me and Lyka would be all alone¡­ right, she won¡¯t be bothering us for a while.] She then turns to Alexa, who¡¯s still pleading with Lyka. Alexa: Ma, come on! Just convince her, I swear I won¡¯t do something stupid! Lyka: NO. Alexa: I won¡¯t bother you on your sexy times, okay? Is that a good deal to convince Aki? Lyka: Wha - ! NO! Akino: On second thought¡­ yeah, sure. You can go, as long as you keep yourself in invisibility mode, okay? Alexa: AW YIS! Lyka: Wait, what? Akino: Let her be, today¡¯s our day-off. Look, she likes it. Alexa: I¡¯ll be enjoying it! Akino: Yo, Kal. Take care of her, or else¡­ Kal: Take care? Look, she almost beat up Diana last time, and the two of you were able to match up the weird monster we fought days ago¡­ and you¡¯re telling me to take care of her? Diana: Yeah. She should be the one protecting us this time. Finn: She will be spying in the shadows, not fighting. Akino: Oh, right. Then, good luck? Alexa: OH RIGHT, LET¡¯S GO! Alexa waves goodbye as she leaves with the three gold rank adventurers. Lyka: Now what? Akino: Well, we take our day-off. What do you want to do for today? Lyka: I don¡¯t know¡­ look for some libraries? I feel like reading¡­ Akino: Aren¡¯t libraries for the rich only? I mean, in this world, they only allow rich people to read a collection of books, so¡­ Lyka: I¡¯ll ask Sarah if she knows one where we can enter. Akino and Lyka went to the cafeteria of the guild, seeing Sarah and Grug taking a meal. Sarah saw the two and waves at them. Sarah: Lyka! Did you like the books I lent to you? Lyka: Yes. Thank you. Akino: Where¡¯s Escobar and Tank? Grug: Escobar went with Kal to the Dasman Inns, I don¡¯t know about Tank, she¡¯s always quiet. Akino: Wait, she - ? Lyka: Sarah, where can I borrow more books? Sarah: Oh, we have our own library in here, free for all adventurers. Lyka: Really?! Akino: Wow. Sarah guides them to the library of the guild. A huge room, almost as big a whole luxurious apartment suite. The bookshelves with ladders are on the walls almost two-story high, and at the middle part are tables with lamps powered by magic crystals. Lyka¡¯s face was brightened upon seeing tons of books. No one else is inside except for them. Sarah: So¡­ I guess I should leave, I¡¯ll be meeting up with Escobar. Lyka: Thank you. Sarah: Happy reading! Sarah left. Only the two of them remained in that room. Lyka immediately went to the books with magic spells, happily taking every book and turning every page. Akino walks around the room, and saw some books, concerning alchemy and magic ¡®sciences¡¯. She picks one, turns the pages very fast, closes it, and places it back. She did the same on the other books of that section. Almost 2 hours already has passed. Lyka finishes up her reading. She yawns and looks for Akino who¡¯s twiddling with the magic crystal lamp on the table. She approaches her, but Akino doesn¡¯t seem to notice. She playfully poked her cheeks, but nothing. Akino didn¡¯t react to that. Lyka: Are you ¨C alright? Akino suddenly comes to her senses. She was surprised when she heard Lyka¡¯s voice. Akino: I ¨C I¡¯m fine. Lyka: You¡¯re not. Akino: No, I¡¯m fine. Lyka: Maybe reading books isn¡¯t what you wanted to do today¡­ I¡¯m sorry if I dragged you out, selfishly¡­ Akino: Wait, wait! I¡­ no, yeah you¡¯re right I don¡¯t like reading books but hey, I learned some new things¡­ I¡¯m just processing it. Lyka: Learned, huh? I saw you just skimming the books over there, like you¡¯re not reading at all. Akino: I read all of them¡­ Lyka: You¡¯ve read them that fast?! Akino: Yeah¡­ Akino took the crystal from the lamp. Akino: I tried cross referencing the knowledge this world has in ours¡­ it¡¯s a bit contradicting and confusing¡­ hence, you saw me spacing out¡­ I can¡¯t even explain how this crystal emits light in our terms! Like, it is shining due to mana, but how? Is mana made of photons? A form of energy? Does it produce heat? I don¡¯t know¡­ Akino places back the crystal to the lamp. Lyka looks a bit worried at her. Akino: How about you? Lyka: M ¨C me? Akino: You¡¯ve read some books, right? Maybe I¡¯ll learn much better if I listen to you¡­ Lyka: Ummm¡­ you know that I have affinity to dark magic, right? Akino: Yeah? Lyka: Well, my abilities are also bound to such affinity. But I read that any other elemental affinities like fire, lightning, water, earth, and other can be fused with it! Same as the divine affinity! It is amazing! Akino: Wow¡­ I guess¡­ Lyka: The thing is¡­ it requires high level of understanding of magic, and it is considered taboo, so¡­ Akino: You can¡¯t do it? Lyka: Kind of¡­ having it as a taboo means it could be very dangerous¡­ but I also read about conjuration, and it could be pretty useful! Akino: Conjuration? Like how you manifest your greatsword? Lyka: Yes! But it¡¯s not that special¡­ I mean I could conjure things with right spells, mana is no problem for me but¡­ Akino: You don¡¯t know what to conjure. Lyka: Yeah¡­ how do you do it anyway? Akino: Me? Lyka: Yes! Last time when you created a knife out of thin air? What was it again? Akino: Matter manipulation, I can control the nearest molecules around me and reform it into whatever I want. Still, I¡¯m limiting it since we don¡¯t know it¡¯s full extent. Lyka: And the only limit is your imagination, on how you perceive it will be conjured. Akino: I guess. Lyka: Then how¡­ Akino: How what? Lyka: On that file¡­ where you two just got erased into nothing, and a portal opened where you came back, unconsciously¡­ like nothing happened¡­ Akino: You¡¯ve read that part? Lyka: Yes¡­ Akino: Yeah¡­ it still confuses me how that happened. Sometimes, I use the matter around to fabricate something, but when I fabricated the satellites I launched, I didn¡¯t use the surrounding matter. I used mine, but my mass didn¡¯t change at all¡­ same as when you turned me into a crispy human. Both sighed. Lyka picks up the books and placed them back. Lyka: So, where did you want to go? Akino: Me? Lyka: I¡¯m done reading, so, I guess it¡¯s your turn now? Akino: I don¡¯t know why, but I¡¯m starving¡­ The two left the library and went out of the guild building. They went to the Lion¡¯s tavern, where they are currently staying. The took a seat and asked an elf server for food. Lyka ordered three stakes, while Akino ordered a grilled fish, both with some refreshments of magically cooled apple drinks. Lyka: You know that our bodies doesn¡¯t require to eat nor rest, right? Akino: Then why do we still keep eating and taking naps even we unlimited energy source that comes from god-knows-what dimension it is. Lyka: Yeah? Akino: Alexa asked the same thing when we were still on our world, after we woke up. I simply answered: because we still thought of it. Sure, were not human or demi-wolves anymore, our bodies are way beyond than what we knew but still our mind is the same. Lyka: I see¡­ They finished eating. They stood up, and Lyka was about to head directly towards their rented room when Akino grabbed her by her hand. Akino: Woah, woah! Where are you going? Lyka: Going back? Akino: So, ummm, you¡¯re not doing anything? Lyka: The full moon is about to come¡­ I don¡¯t want to cause, you know, like last time¡­ Akino: Don¡¯t worry about it. We¡¯ve still got 3 hours and 45 minutes before the full moon rises, so¡­ can you come with me for a while? Lyka: O ¨C okay¡­ They left the tavern and went out again of the walled city. Akino: You know, high up, the sunset would be beautiful. Lyka: Eh? Akino: Care for a lift? Lyka: Lift? You mean, up there? Akino: Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you go. Lyka: Wait ¨C Before Lyka finishes her sentence, Akino lifted her. With some powerful plasma thrusters formed on her calves, Akino flew up, and up. They flew high up beyond the clouds, seeing the orange color of sky reflected from the rays of the setting sun. Akino gazes at the sun about to disappear into the horizon, and so is Lyka, being awestruck by its beauty. Lyka stares at Akino, still focusing her sights on the setting sun. She closed her eyes and then she pushes off Akino, making Akino drop Lyka. Akino was shocked, she panicked and tried to reach her, but she was more surprised on what she saw. Lyka was not dropping. As if she is standing on air. She looked very closely, and at the bottom of her feet she saw a magic circle. Lyka walked around Akino who¡¯s still hovering with her plasma thrusters, every step she makes creates a magic circle where she steps on and the one she leaves behind were dissipating. Then Lyka went in front of her, making a ¡®cute¡¯ pose by bending over. Lyka: How was it? Akino: I ¨C I didn¡¯t know that¡­ how? Lyka: Imagination is the limit, right? Akino: Heh, show off. Lyka teased of Akino by showing her tongue. Lyka: BLEH! Akino: Oh, you¡¯re gonna regret that! She runs away and Akino tried to chase her. They played around, chasing each other. That place, or rather a part of the sky, filled with their child-like laughter. They keep on chasing until the sky was about to get dark. They stopped and glanced over at the sun, already covered by the horizon. They go back down the city, carefully entering the window of their rented room, like how rebellious teens were returning home after going somewhere. They looked at each other, giggled a little, and sighed while turning their faces away. Lyka jumped into her bed and Akino sits on the chair. Lyka intensely looked at Akino as she slowly removes her clothes, but she stops on fully removing it to maintain her sight on Akino. Akino looks at the window looking for the full red moon, but she couldn¡¯t see it. It¡¯s about 1 hour and 14 minutes before the moon fully rises at the night sky, yet Lyka seems to be acting ¡®energetic¡¯ like the last time. Akino gulps and walks straight towards her. Akino: You alright? Lyka: Yeah¡­ j - just feeling hot¡­ They both looked at each other. It is true that Lyka¡¯s body temp is rising, Akino just confirmed it. She sits down beside her and holds her cheeks, while keeping their eye contact unbreakable. Akino: Where did we stop last time? Akino gently removes Lyka¡¯s clothes. Lyka did the same to her and noticed under her clothes was a different body. Her chest has a small lump of breast, yet it has no teats. She tried to touch it, but it is hard like steel, yet it feels smooth. Lyka then remove the rest of her clothes and drops it to the floor. Lyka closes in, their lips hit, and they started kissing. Lyka lies down on the bed as Akino prowls on top of her. They grabbed each other tightly while kissing, moaning, and doing erotic things. Lyka knew that Akino already lost her reproductive organs, but she keeps on caressing her crotch. Akino responded to her in a same manner, knowing it¡¯s the only ¡®proper¡¯ way of pleasuring her, despite knowing she doesn¡¯t feel that much sexual tensions anymore. Lyka climaxes, gasping and groaning with delight. But she notices that Akino isn¡¯t feeling that much, so she licks her neck, making her blush. Akino stops and then started massaging Lyka¡¯s massive breasts, her luscious waist, and her opulent glutes. Groping, more moaning, stroking, licking and kissing. They did it like there¡¯s no tomorrow. The bed sheets were already wet with their sweat and other ¡®fluids¡¯. They looked again at each other, both exhausted but with blushed faces of ecstatic happiness. Akino: The moon isn¡¯t up yet ¨C and you¡¯re this riled up, huh? Lyka: Says the one who claims that she can¡¯t feel ¡®active¡¯ anymore. Akino: Ho? You know, I can do this all night. Lyka: Heh, wait till the full moon comes out. Lyka quickly grabbed Akino¡¯s head for another round of jubilant kissing, when suddenly the door opens. They saw a floating bag that creates clinking sounds of metal, a bag of gold coins. The bag wasn¡¯t floating, it is being held by someone invisible. The invisible figure shows itself, with a shocked face. It was Alexa, who just dropped the bag she was holding with her mouth. She saw the two on bed, Akino being on top and Lyka below, completely naked. The three stared for seconds. Alexa: HOLY SHIT... I ¨C I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt! Umm¡­ uhhh¡­ goodbye? YEAH! Goodbye! Alexa picks up the bag and slowly closes the door while the two were still staring at her. As Alexa left, Akino removes herself on top of Lyka then she lies beside her. It¡¯s taking time to process. Lyka covers her face expressing embarrassment, and Akino is pissed, not because they were interrupted (but kind of) but because how awkward it is. Being seen by their only daughter doing some ¡®action¡¯ (even Alexa already knew about it) was still kind of shameful for both of them. Lyka: We ¨C we should have slept¡­ oh my gosh¡­ Akino: Yeah¡­ CHAPTER 32: Troubling night Alexa: Oh¡­ I remember¡­ I said them that they¡¯ll have the room for tonight! Damnit! How could I forget! She walks out of the tavern where they are staying. Looking embarrassed, she walks back to the guild just to wait till morning. Upon entering, she was greeted by Escobar and his team. All of them wear casual clothing, but she notices another girl with a very long blonde hair who¡¯s got a muscular-athletic body build. Escobar: Hey! Alexa! Why are you here? I thought you were supposed to go back to the Lion¡¯s Inn with Akino and Lyka? Alexa: Yeah¡­ I went there, and¡­ you know? The thing when two lovers were on top of each oth ¨C Escobar: OKAY, I¡¯LL STOP YOU THERE. Alexa: Yeah¡­ right¡­ so, who is she? Sarah: She? Grug: You mean, Tank? Alexa: Wait, wait, wait¡­ Tank is a girl??? The blonde-haired woman, who¡¯s actually Tank, nods at Alexa. Alexa: Damn¡­ nice bod you got there¡­ Tank: Hmm. Sarah: Sorry, she¡¯s mute¡­ Tank: Hmm! Grug: What? Escobar: You can¡¯t be serious¡­ Alexa: What is it? Escobar: She wants to take out the guy we lost on spider¡¯s game. And she wants you to see it. Alexa: Spider¡¯s game? Grug: It¡¯s a gambling game. It has a huge board with squares of different colors with written numbers. Then, we have spiders enchanted with magic that makes them go on colors they¡¯re attracted to. We bet on the number color where the spider goes. That¡¯s the game. Alexa: Like a roulette game¡­ Sarah: A what? Alexa: Sorry, don¡¯t mind me¡­ Tank: Hmm? Sarah: So, you coming with us? Alexa: Yeah, just to kill some time¡­ They left the guild. They are headed towards the foot of the hill where the Dasman Inns is located. Near the hill was an establishment, full of lights and glamour. A gambling house, for the everyone, as long as they¡¯ve got money. They entered, and Alexa is more amazed at the scenery. Like casino in Vegas: a wide beautiful red carpet, classical paintings and sculptures, tables of glamourous designs, servants in black and white, chandeliers of pretty lights. Alexa: Wow! Escobar: Nice, isn¡¯t it? Alexa: Wait, are there no restrictions here? Sarah: Nope, anyone can enter as long as you have the gold. Tank: Hmm! Grug: Let¡¯s get started! The group went to the area with the spider¡¯s game. Every one of them, except for Alexa, bets but manages only to win small amounts of gold due to numerous losses. Alexa observes the game, then she tries to join in. She pulls out the bag of gold she was carrying earlier and bets it all. Alexa: All in! Escobar: Hey! Are sure about that?! Tank: HMM! Sarah: She says, ¡®that¡¯s fricking bold!¡¯ Alexa: Hehe. Trust me! She bets on the tenth square. The game starts with the spider going to eleventh square, but as it approaches the eleventh square it turns to the tenth. The game master, who¡¯s a magic user, is confused. Alexa won that game and bets another. It keeps on happening. The game master, the other players, Escobar and his friends are confused. Other player: You cheating cat! Alexa: Woah! I am not cheating! Game master: May I see your hands? Alexa: Umm, sure? The game master inspects Alexa hands. He founds nothing. He detects very small amounts of mana on her, which is the bracelet Lyka gave to her. They concluded that she¡¯s not cheating. After 10 games, Alexa stops with her 7 bags of gold she got. It¡¯s not that bad. She won 8 times, and purposedly lost twice for immersion. Tank clings to her, with a very cheerful face as they leave the game section and went to the lounge area. Tank: Hmm! Alexa: Umm¡­ Sarah: She said congrats. Grug: How? Escobar: Yeah, those spiders are enchanted, probably rigged by the game master to go against the players¡¯ choice. Alexa: Heh. I knew it¡¯s rigged, so I cheated. A little bit though. Sarah: You really cheated? Tank: Hmm? Escobar: You don¡¯t have any magic, right? Alexa pulls out something from her back. A white, but very small spider. Grug: A spider? Alexa: A female spider. The ones being used in the game are males. All I had to do is ¨C The spider on her palm turns invisible. Tank: Hmm! Sarah: Woah! Alexa: Then, I control it to my desired position, where it will attract the spider. That¡¯s it! Escobar: That¡¯s¡­ cool, I guess¡­ Alexa: Hehe! Alexa then gave the 4 bags to the adventurers. Grug: You¡¯re giving it to us? Sarah: How generous of you. Alexa: Come one, just take. Besides, I came in here with only one bag, now I got three. Escobar: I know this is not for free, right? Alexa: Hehe¡­ anything exciting in here other than this gambling stuff? Grug: I know one. But it¡¯s illegal. Escobar: No. NO. We are not going in there! Sarah: What¡¯s the matter, honey? We¡¯re just going to watch in there. Escobar: No bets? Alexa: What is it? What is it? Escobar led them all to part inside the establishment. Another area that leads down. A gate about 3 meters high made of metal was in front of them with 4 guards. Alexa could hear shouts and cheers inside the gate. Escobar shows something to the guards, and they were allowed to enter. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Alexa saw another underground arena, but not the same as the one in the guild. It is more glamourous, and a lot of audience were cheering up on the two people in the middle, fighting to death. A werewolf and a centaur, fighting with claws and maces, both bleeding and exhausted. They headed to some seats near to a balcony like areas for VIPs. Alexa: Fist fight? Escobar: Yeah. Alexa: What was that earlier? Escobar: Oh, Adrian handed me this badge. It might be useful for gathering info in here, so he gave me one. Alexa: Wow¡­ They watched. The match between the werewolf and centaur ends, the centaur remaining standing with its body full of claw wounds made by the now unconscious werewolf. Sarah: You seemed¡­ unsurprised¡­ Tank: Hmm¡­ Grug: Same thing in your old world? Alexa: Yeah¡­ Escobar: Now you¡¯ve seen it, we should leave now. If Akino and Lyka knows about this, I¡¯m screwed. Alexa: Nah, they won¡¯t be. Alexa suddenly turns herself taller, as tall as Tank and gave herself a semi-muscular body build. The four adventurers were confused as Alexa walks down near the gates of the arena. They realized that Alexa would do something very terrible, so they rushed to her as she talks on the guards near the arena gate. Escobar: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Alexa: Umm, joining in? Sarah: Are you out of your mind?! Alexa: Come on! Let me enjoy my day-off! Bet on me, and we¡¯ll be rich as fuck! Grug: Rich as what? Alexa: Just¡­ trust me. I won¡¯t die, you know. Tank: Hmm-mm! Sarah: This is not a good idea. Escobar: Alexa, we should go. Alexa: Huh?! No way! While they were arguing, a middle-aged man wearing a black tux and gold jewelry cuts in between them. The game master of the fighting arena, Lord Gauser, approaches them. Lord Gauser: Do we have any problems in here? Escobar: Lord Gauser! We¡¯re sorry for the intrusions, we¡¯ll leave right away. Alexa: I¡¯M JOINING IN THE ARENA, OLD MAN! The four adventurers were shocked. The middle-aged noble bursts out of laughter, as Alexa is jokingly doing a boxing stance, jabbing in the air to ¡®convince¡¯ the noble game master. Lord Gauser: Alright, kid. What¡¯s your name? Alexa: Alexa. Lord Gauser: Anything to put up as a payment? Alexa handed the 3 gold bags she got from the spider¡¯s game. A servant accompanying the noble takes the bags. Lord Gauser: The fight has a simple rule, yield or get killed. Win as many fights as you can to receive more gold than what you¡¯ve paid to me. You can fight as long as you want! Alexa: Got it, old man! Lord Gauser: I¡¯m not old! Alexa enters the arena while the four adventurers went back to their seats. The announcer of the arena acknowledges Alexa¡¯s presence, but the audience were booing her. Then, at the other side of the arena, a huge ogre come out, fully equipped with armor and axes. The announcer called the ogre ¡®the axe¡¯. The axe: Hey! You sure you ain¡¯t lost, little girl? Alexa: Shut up, fat boy! The axe: What did you say?! Alexa turns around and face towards Escobar and his friends. Alexa: I¡¯M GONNA BEAT THIS DUDE IN A SINGLE BLOW! Escobar facepalmed, Sarah tries to cover her face, Grug is having a very embarrassing day, and Tank confusedly cheers for her. The rest of the audience and the ogre is laughing at Alexa. Alexa giggles as well while facing back to her opponent. The ogre strikes his axe to her, but to everyone¡¯s awe she dodges it easily. The ogre kept on swinging but not even Alexa¡¯s shadow is getting hit. Then, Alexa swiftly climbs on the ogre¡¯s arms and quickly jabs a punch on his chin. Small punch from a girl, what could go wrong? But that single punch that seems to be just a brush on his chin knocked him out. The ogre falls and Alexa remains standing. All went silent as Alexa walks out of the arena. The noble game master stands furiously and shouts. Lord Gauser: WHAT¡¯S WITH THE SILENCE?! APPLAUSE!!! Everyone clapped and cheered on her as she exits the arena. The four adventurers rushed towards her. Grug: That¡¯s so cool! Sarah: No wonder you guys beat the gold ranking adventurers. Tank: Hmm-hm! Escobar: Alright, alright. That¡¯s enough, we should leave now. Alexa: No. The game master appears near them, slowly clapping his hands. Lord Gauser: Hear the kid, adventurer. She got some fighting spirit. Alexa: Thanks, old man. So, how many am I going to fight for this night? Lord Gauser: Ho? I¡¯m starting to like you more, kiddo. Alexa: Can I discuss something with my pals? Lord Gauser: Sure! Take your time! Alexa gathers the other four away from the noble, and she whispers at them. Alexa: He¡¯s a big shot for the Altruis nobles. Escobar: What the ¨C Alexa: Finn told me that he carries some magic key-thing, and we need it. Sarah: Wait, so this is a mission??? Grug: This is not the night I want to experience in a gambling house¡­ Tank: Hmm. Alexa hands each adventurer 4 white lizards. Alexa: Since I¡¯ll be entertaining this old man, there will be only security in his lounging room. Take these little fellas near the room, they¡¯ll paralyze each person they¡¯ll see, and you can enter no problemo. Escobar: Now this is getting¡­ pretty thrilling. Alexa: Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve seen the inside of the room. The package you¡¯re going to take is in a black box placed on the table in the middle of the room. Grug: That¡¯s ¨C pretty convenient¡­ Sarah: How did you know about that? Alexa: I have eyes and ears everywhere. A white moth flies towards Alexa¡¯s shoulder, and it merges with her like it was sinking through her skin. Escobar: You¡¯re the same as Akino, so creepy¡­ Tank: Hmm¡­ Sarah: You used that moth to ¨C Alexa: Eavesdrop and peek some things. Yeah, yeah, weird stuff, I know¡­ Grug: Damn¡­ Escobar: Hold on, are you commanding us? Alexa: I¡¯ll give half of my wins to you if you got it. Sarah: SURE! Grug: Count me in. Tank: Hmm! Escobar: Ugh¡­ alright¡­ just this night only. The four adventurers went on their way. Alexa does some stretching in front of the noble, jugs in place and jabs in air. Lord Gauser: So, they agreed? Alexa: Yep! Lord Gauser: Good! You¡¯ll be fighting 10 more! Alexa: What?! Lord Gauser: You want to earn more gold, right? Then fight for this whole night! Alexa: Yeah, yeah. Don¡¯t shout at me, old man. Lord Gauser: I¡¯m not! Whatever¡­ Alexa once again enters the arena. She fought off 4 regular humans in a row, all resulting in knockouts. Then, another ogre, another knockout. 3 goblins, all knocked out. And finally, 2 elf mages, knocked out as well. The crowd kept on cheering and shouting for Alexa. The noble game master comes in front of her with a bowed head. Lord Gauser: Ten fights in a row? And all are won by you? Very impressive! Alexa: About the reward ¨C Lord Gauser: Oh, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give it to you. Follow me. They went to Gauser¡¯s lounge room. Upon entering, Alexa saw the other adventurers tied up on chairs. 4 ogres were standing guard inside the room, fully armed. Alexa: What the¡­ Escobar: They entered the room as we¡¯re about to leave¡­ Lord Guaser: Now¡­ you¡¯ll be in my arena as much as I want, or these pesky adventurers will have to die! Sarah: If we get our hands out of here -! Grug: We¡¯ll arrest you! You know that! Tank: Hmm! Lord Gauser: Oh, really? The other guards enter the room. Lord Gauser: Numbers matter, am I right, kid? The noble Gauser laughs, the guards laugh as well. The four tied up fellas were very intimidated and pissed that they want to get out of the ropes, but they couldn¡¯t. And if they were able to release themselves, the ogres behind them will smash them to mush. After the men stop laughing, Alexa laughs loudly. She walks near the door and the guards tried to stop her. Lord Gauser: Now, now, you just don¡¯t leave your friends here! Or, you¡¯ll just accept my offer and go back to the arena? HAHAHAHAHA! Alexa giggles, as she forces her way through the guards. Gauser let¡¯s her reach the door, but to their surprise she locked the door instead of leaving the room. She even pushed a heavy cabinet to block it. She turns her face towards Gauser with a menacing look. The everyone else started feeling ¡®heavy¡¯. Alexa: You don¡¯t understand¡­ all of you, are locked in here with me¡­ Gauser snaps and orders the other guards to attack her. The two near her tried to thrust their swords, but their jaws got ripped already by her single swipe kick. The ones rushing towards her were stabbed by her hairs that turned into hardened chitin. Gauser tried to order the ogres to kill the tied-up adventurers, but they started fell on the ground and feeling extreme pain in their heads. Alexa manifested gills on her neck, creating sounds that is inaudible to humans but very loud to ogres. All the guards are down, bleeding to death. The ogres are on the ground, begging to stop the extreme pain they are experiencing. And Lord Gauser rans to a corner of the room, holding a knife and trembling in fear as Alexa walks towards him. Alexa: You don¡¯t threaten me by threatening my friends, cabron! She swiftly jabs her fingers on the noble¡¯s face, and then she peels off the man¡¯s skin like a plastic cover on a newly bought TV screen. Gauser falls, and blood splatters all over the floor. The tied-up adventurers were in shock after seeing the sudden carnage that Alexa did. One by one, Alexa frees them. They took the box that they needed, the gold bags that Gauser was supposed to give to Alexa, and then they immediately fled the gambling house before getting noticed by the other guards and patrons of the place. Back at the guild house, they returned fully exhausted, except for Alexa. Alexa takes the box of a ¡®magic-key¡¯ and hands it over to the guild receptionist, marking it as Lord Adrian¡¯s package. Escobar: Hey, kid¡­ about the ¨C Alexa: What? You gonna arrest me for killing those thugs? I didn¡¯t kill them, I just hurt them really bad that they wouldn¡¯t be able to stand in a week or two. And you guys can¡¯t be bothered by them, or their illegal fighting arena will be busted. Escobar: I know¡­ it¡¯s just¡­ Sarah: We didn¡¯t know that you were that kind of brutal¡­ Tank: Hmm¡­ Alexa looks at her hands. Alexa: I¡¯m not sure¡­ but when something like that happens¡­ like when the old guy threatened to kill you, something snapped in me¡­ but I¡¯m sure I can control it! Grug: You better be. Either way, that¡¯s way awesome! Escobar: Grug, you can¡¯t just compliment someone whose done that¡­ Alexa: I¡¯ll take it, thanks. Sarah: So, what now? Alexa: I¡¯ll be going back now to the Lion¡¯s tavern. You guys? Escobar: Well, we won more gold than what we expected¡­ we¡¯ll just take a rest in our rooms. Tank: Hmm! Alexa: Well, goodnight, I guess? Grug: Yeah, let¡¯s take a rest¡­ Sarah: Okay, goodbye and goodnight! We¡¯ll see each other next time. Escobar: Goodnight, kid. The four adventurers and Alexa parts their ways. Alexa walks back to the tavern, then to the room they rented. She saw Akino and Lyka sleeping peacefully in a single bed, both were hugging each other and fully naked. She takes a blanket and covers the two. She placed the 5 bags of gold she got from the fighting arena on the table, takes a seat and plays with the phone that Akino gave to her. Alexa: Damn it¡­ I forgot this phone is low in battery. I should have asked Aki to charge it¡­ CHAPTER 33: First Expedition Outside the Dasman City. About a hundred of kilometers further north of the walled city. There¡¯s a forest, and somewhere in that forest was a small pond with a waterfall about 3 meters high, surrounded by rocks and lilies like in indoor hot springs, being covered by the shades of tree branches. Akino and Lyka were taking a bath in that pond, accompanying Diana and Oliva whose bodies are tired from a long travel. They were dispatched by the guild on an expedition after some nobles sighted ruins north of the city during their journey. 7 groups of a total 24 adventurers: first is Akino, Lyka, and Alexa¡¯s; second is the returning adventurers Olguk and his friends; third is Kal¡¯s team of gold rank; and the other 4 which Akino¡¯s group not yet acquainted with. Akino scrubs Lyka¡¯s back with a sponge, and Lyka carefully combs her wet tail. Diana and Oliva were on the side of the pond washing their hair from dusts and dirt they acquired from traversing a dusty road on their way to that forest. Akino: Hey, Lyka. Lyka: Yes? Akino: Do you want me to shampoo your tail? Lyka: Umm, I¡¯ll just do it myself¡­ Akino: Okay. Lyka suddenly jolts, making Akino and the other girls surprised. Lyka: EEEKK! Akino: Y-you alright?! Lyka: I¡¯m¡­ a bit sensitive there¡­ Akino looks at her hands, already touching the side of her breast. She blushed and immediately removes her hand. Akino: I didn¡¯t know¡­ sorry¡­ Lyka: It¡¯s fine¡­ Alexa: Eh? But days ago, you guys were touching all over. They saw Alexa hanging over a vine like a bat, startling the two upon seeing her. Akino & Lyka: ALEXA! Alexa: What? Alexa jumps down the pond very hard, creating a huge splash of water and hitting everyone. This pisses off Akino, and they started chasing in circles. Lyka sighs, she went to the side of the pond where Diana and Oliva rinse their hair. Oliva: They looked¡­ happy. Lyka: I guess¡­ Diana: You and Akino have a thing? Lyka: Yes. Diana: Oh¡­ I thought she was just teasing you, but it¡¯s real. What did you like about her? Lyka: Everything, I guess. She¡¯s good, knowledgeable, and many other things. Oliva: What does Alexa mean? Diana: Oh¡­ OH! So, she¡¯s also good in bed?! Lyka blushes. The two girls were giggling as they tease the flustered demi-wolf. Meanwhile, the two were still chasing off while in the pond, splashing water everywhere and making the others more soaked. Lyka giggles and smiles as she watches the two non-stop chasing. The sun starts to set. Good thing is that the full moon has turned into a waning gibbous, and this puts Lyka at relief. Tents were set up in that forest, bonfires were lit, a batch of supplies being prepared at an assembled wooden table, and many other things that the adventurers were busy with. In that small part of the forest the adventurers were to take a rest to continue their travel for tomorrow. They finished up eating, fixed their mess, and a man in white shining armor stand in front of them, the expedition leader named Matias. He wears a necklace with a ruby like stone, an Alchemist¡¯s stone ranking adventurer. He said an encouraging speech to boost the morale of the adventurers. After that, each one of them enters their respective tents to take a rest. Kal and Olguk¡¯s group greets goodnight, and they entered their tents. The only group who¡¯s still awake that night is Akino¡¯s and they decided to stay awake for that night. Earlier that day, Akino requested to Matias that she and the other two will take the night to patrol the surroundings. Matias insist them to take rest for tomorrow¡¯s continuation of journey, but Akino told him it will be fine. They stayed near on the still lit bonfire. Alexa played with her phone, Lyka reads another spell book she borrowed, and Akino reviews the map provided for them. She tried to look up their destination with her satellites, only to see ruins spanning 2 kilometers, no unusual stuff other than the abnormal mana energy readings in that area. Alexa: Hey, Aki. Akino: What is it? Alexa: You¡¯ve been looking up using satellites, right? Akino: Yeah. Alexa: What¡¯s our destination? Akino: Some kind of ruins, I guess. Lyka: I heard there¡¯s a dungeon underneath that. Akino: Oh¡­ I tried to look up the geographical structure underneath the ruins, nothing unusual or abnormal so far¡­ Alexa: That¡¯s kind of lame¡­ Lyka: Well, we¡¯re going to investigate that place. Don¡¯t lose motivation, Alexa. Alexa: Aye-aye, mom. Lyka yawns, she closes her books and leans on Akino. Lyka: I feel sleepy¡­ Akino: Can¡¯t you go to our tent? This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Lyka: I feel like staying with you¡­ Alexa: Ooookay¡­ you guys not gonna do it, right? I mean, you already did it during the full moon, and today¡¯s no longer full moon, so¡­ Akino: NO! For Christ¡¯s sake, Alexa! Alexa: Good, coz that scene is stuck in my brain, FOREVER. Alexa tried to tease the two. Akino hushed her instead and sees that Lyka has already fallen asleep while leaning on her. Alexa: Welp, what now? Akino: I¡¯ve made some drones earlier, they¡¯re scouting the whole place, 150 meters in radius. Alexa: That¡¯s¡­ convenient¡­ Akino: Go and take some rest, kid. Alexa: Nah, I¡¯ll stay with you. Akino: Okay. Alexa: Hey¡­ Akino: Yeah? Alexa: Say, we find another facility in that area¡­ and somehow, we got some answers on what happened on our world¡­ are we¡­ going back? Akino rolls the map she¡¯s looking at and faces at Alexa who¡¯s staring at her, waiting for an answer. Akino: You know, Lyka asked about what will happen if we found what we want¡­ and I said to her that I haven¡¯t thought that far yet¡­ but if you asked me if we¡¯re going to stay here, I¡¯ll say yes. Alexa: Really? Akino: Well, it still depends. If you insist on going back to our world¡­ we can make a discussion on that. Lyka seems to be fine as long as we accompany her. She might be willing to come with us if we decided to go back¡­ Alexa: Okay. Akino: What¡¯s with the long face? Alexa: Just missing out our old world, that¡¯s all¡­ Akino sighs, and stares at Alexa now looking at the stars. Alexa: Sometimes, I wished I was an astronaut in a space station¡­ Akino: You want me to build one? Alexa: Your satellites are already breaking the fantasy-world-immersion, why add a space station? It¡¯s like we¡¯re on creative mode or something. Akino: We¡¯ve been in creative mode ever since we¡¯ve been turned into quantum machines¡­ even Lyka¡­ Alexa: I guess¡­ Akino: Kid, as long as we¡¯re together, nothing bad happens. Got it? Alexa: Yeah, yeah¡­ I know¡­ Akino: Come on, cheer up! Alexa: I told you already¡­ I¡¯m just missing out the old times¡­ but ¨C Alexa stares at Lyka, sleeping soundly on Akino¡¯s shoulders. Alexa: I guess things right now is much better. Akino: Yeah¡­ That silent night passes and sun shines in that forest, waking up the other adventurers. Lyka wakes up, finding herself being leaned on by Akino who¡¯s also asleep that time. She looks around and saw Alexa helping the other adventurers cook some morning food. She moves a little and kisses Akino¡¯s forehead, waking her up. Lyka: Good morning~ Akino: Oh¡­ Akino stretches and yawns. Akino: Good morning too. Alexa: Hey, lovebirds! Want some? Alexa approaches them with two bowls of soup, a beef stew similar to the one that Akino cooked for Alexa when they first met. Akino: W-wow¡­ you know my recipe? Alexa: Yeah. Like, every damn time you brought home some beef and vegetables you always cook the same stew, so how could I not memorize it? Akino: Yeah, yeah, whatever. Lyka: It smells good. Alexa: Really? Akino: The meat is also soft. You boiled it for 45 minutes in seasoned broth? Alexa: Yup! Akino: Thanks for the food. They sipped the bowl and chew on the meat and veggies until it¡¯s empty. Alexa: How was it? Lyka: It¡¯s delicious! Akino: A bit salty, but it¡¯s good. Alexa: Yeah¡­ I accidentally placed a bit much when I was boiling the meat¡­ Akino: Bruh. They stood up and helped the other adventurers tidy up the tents back to their carriage and prepare for carrying on their expedition. After a few hours of travelling in that forest, they reached the end of the trees and saw a grassland with toppled ruins. At last, they¡¯ve found themselves in their destination. The adventuring team composed of mages began setting runes in the area, the one whose made of mercenaries stand guard, and the scouts roamed the area. Akino tried to detect any abnormalities with her sensors, but she couldn¡¯t find any except for the mana fluctuations in the area. Lyka: This place¡­ it feels odd¡­ Oliva: Yeah. Finn: The amount of flowing mana in this area is constantly changing. We¡¯re here to investigate that and locate the cause if possible. Kal: Sounds like a mages¡¯ job, eh? After the other adventurers finished their set-ups, Matias called everyone. Matias: The scouts were able to find an entrance leading to an underground dungeon. We will take shifts in entering the dungeon, and each team will leave marks on the trail. Trying to map the whole underground dungeon will be risky since it¡¯s the very first time we set foot in here, but we have to do it for the safety of other adventurers coming across this place in future expeditions. I hope everyone will be safe once we¡¯re done here, that¡¯s all. Everyone agreed with Matias. The first team made up of only heavily armored people enters the dungeon entrance carrying torches and other supplies. While waiting and guarding the entrance, Akino called in Lyka and Alexa for a stroll. She asked Matias if they could do some patrolling and he agreed. Alexa: Say, when is our turn to enter? Lyka: Third shift, I guess? Akino: Yeah, we¡¯re on the third shift, late night. Alexa: Woah, late night? Akino: I personally asked Matias about it. Since somehow, we can¡¯t get tired, only we getting stuck in sightseeing every night, what about we do the investigation at night? It¡¯s a bit more exciting, for me at least. Lyka: And I can see fine at dark too, so no objections here. Alexa: You just want a secluded place to do your private thing, like an abandoned dungeon or something. Lyka: EH?! Akino: You little - ! Argh! The two began teasing each other. Lyka only looks at the two with a smile. The two stops and looks a bit worried. Lyka: Umm¡­ is there something wrong? Alexa: You hear that? Lyka: Yeah¡­ must be some horses galloping¡­ wait, galloping horses¡­ Akino: A battalion of men riding on horses¡­ they are headed towards here! Lyka & Alexa: What? Akino: Yeah, I just confirmed it with my satellite. Alexa: Convenient, very convenient. Lyka: We should warn the others. Akino: Yeah, let¡¯s go back. The three girls hurriedly went back to their campsite on the ruins. They alerted the others on the arrival of an unknown group of men. Olguk: Must be reinforcements, right? Kal: I doubt that, only the nobles who gave the location of this ruins know this place and we¡¯re the only people they¡¯ve entrusted for this expedition. Matias: Hmm¡­ Diana: So, who are those people? Alexa: Bandits of some kind? Lyka: You mean, someone trailed us on our way here? Akino: But we¡¯ve checked it, no one is following us. Matias: She¡¯s right. No one is following us. Must be another group of adventurers who got the same intel of this place, but we can¡¯t also deny the idea of them trailing us here. Be alert and stay sharp once they¡¯ve reached this place. Everyone: Got it! They prepared themselves for the arrival of the unknown cavalry. They saw many men riding on horses, about 40 of them. They¡¯re wearing silver armors, and some are carrying poles with a flag on it. An emblem of a white rose with a stalk designed like a spine or bone. Matias: What in the world are the Church of Ravine doing here? Akino: The church of what? Kal: A nation governed by a religious sect calling themselves the Ravine¡­ an ally to the Altruis. The cavalry stops, being led by a beautiful woman wearing robes made of chains of precious metals. She wields a lance and rides a robust white horse. An elf attendant of the woman comes with her, holding a staff of silver and crystal. Both comes down on their horses and walked towards the group of adventurers. Alexa slightly gnarls and Lyka seems to be somewhat agitated. Akino: Hey, what¡¯s with the both of you? Lyka: I don¡¯t know¡­ I sense a very spiteful aura from them¡­ Alexa: It¡¯s like they¡¯re going to attack us at any moment! Matias: Are they¡­ sure about that, Miss Akino? Akino: The only thing I know for sure is that their senses are accurate. Matias: Then¡­ Matias faces towards the other adventurers. Matias: Everyone, be ready¡­ CHAPTER 34: Confrontation Elf attendant: Everyone! Bow down on the great priestess Camilla! The other knights riding the horses stomp their poles to the ground and pounds their left fist to their right chest, synced salute as the woman in armored robes approaches Matias.It became more clear, the woman has a blonde hair, a hourglass like body but a bit muscular, green eyes, and an aristocratic aura. Camilla: This place is under the rule of the Church of Ravine. You can now leave this place, in peace. Matias: This ruin is outside of any territory. This is a place without any governing body, and we adventurers have every right to stay in here. If you want to explore with us ¨C Before Matias finishes his words, the priestess slaps him hard on the face making him tumble down. The other adventurers take an offensive stance, and the other knights of the Church responded the same. Camilla: Now, now. As much as we want to avoid it, we only enforce extreme means when asserting our authority. This mundane matter shouldn¡¯t end up as a bloodshed, so leave this place now before we resort to our extreme ways. Kal assisted Matias on standing up. Akino tried to approach the priestess to negotiate, but she distances herself, about a meter and a half, just in case she slaps her unreasonably. Akino: Umm, great priestess? Can we have at least some room for discussions? Camilla: There will be no discussions or negotiations. This place belongs to the Church ¨C The priestess notices the crystal bracelet Akino was wearing. She points at it with a disgusted face. Camilla: You ¨C you have a dark affinity?! Akino: Dark what? The priestess points her lance towards Akino. This only intensified the situation; a reeking stench of battle is becoming more and more significant. Lyka jumps in between, but Akino tried to take over the situation. The priestess stares intensely at Lyka, and her expression becomes more disgusted. Camilla: Men! Raise your weapons! Akino: Woah, woah, WOAH!!! Camilla: You! Creatures of darkness must be vanished from this world! Lyka: Is it because we have affinity to dark magic?! Camilla: Yes, filthy darkness-bearers! Akino snaps after hearing what the priestess said, unconsciously covering her arms in metallic Kevlar. Everyone saw this, signaling a fighting stance to the adventurers and the knights of the Church. Camilla: So, bloodshed it is. Akino: You¡¯re the one who started it! Alexa: Yeah! Everyone unsheathes their swords, raises their spears and lances, aims their bows, and prepares offensive spells. The priestess strikes her lance as she dashes towards Akino, but Lyka intercepts and catches the priestess¡¯ lance with her left cybernetic arm. Akino: Wait, wait, wait! Lyka successfully holds on to the lance, but she gets dragged away. As the two engages, the rest charges to each other and begins a fight. Akino and Alexa were left in the middle, dumbfounded of the current situation. Akino tried to stop Lyka, but her fight with the priestess was intense she couldn¡¯t manage to make a gap in between them. Akino: Great. FUCKING GREAT. Alexa: What are we gonna do? Akino: You know what? Just tranquilize as much as you can, target the hostiles of course. Alexa: Aye! Alexa reforms her flesh hair into tentacles equipped with stingers and her legs like a cheetah. She dashes to the knights of the Church and pricks one of them very fast, piercing even through their armors. Akino takes a stance and quickly dashes to the other knights. She one-by-one hits the knights on their side necks, partially cutting off their Vagus nerves and knocking them out. The other adventurers were able to take down and incapacitate the other knights. However, the elf attendant of the priestess, who¡¯s also a mage casts a wide area magic spell. The whole ruins were covered with a magic circle. The other adventurers became weak and fells unconscious. Matias: A faltering barrier! Mages! Gather the fallen and guard them with protection! Akino: (Alexa, go for it!) Alexa: (Got it!) The adventuring mages and the other adventurers who were not affected by the spell gathers the fallen comrades in one place and retreats. Alexa manages to get behind the elf attendant and successfully pricks him with her stingers. The spell slowly dissipates but its effects still stand on the affected. All of the knights were put down and tied. Only the priestess and Lyka were remaining on the field, fighting nonstop. Lyka is moving fast, casting spells and copies of herself. Despite that, the priestess was able to figure out the shadow clones, dodge the spell attacks, and keep up on Lyka¡¯s moving speed. Akino: (Lyka, need some help?) Lyka: (I can handle it, thanks!) Not really. Lyka seems to be struggling as she can¡¯t connect her attacks on the priestess. The priestess strikes with her lance and almost hits her. As time passes by, the priestess is moving much faster, making Lyka stuck on defensive maneuvers. Camilla: Hmm. Not bad demi-wolf, but this will be your end! Lyka: I don¡¯t think so! Lyka casts her greatsword. The two clashes their weapons. The other watches in awe. Lyka seems to be in par with the priestess, but the priestess moves more faster than before. The priestess was able to hit Lyka on her waist. Lyka quickly reacted by hitting her lance and jumping backwards. She looks at her waist and notices a scrape on her clothes. Camilla: Impressive. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Lyka: Tsk! The priestess casts an illuminating flash, making everyone look away and close their eyes. She then dashes forward to attack Lyka. Lyka barely dodges the attack, so she uses her left arm to block it. But the priestess used an excessive force, throwing off Lyka on her ground. Lyka holds on the lance with her cybernetic arm as the priestess runs and keeps on thrusting. This made Akino react, kicking the lance and catching Lyka. Akino: That¡¯s enough! Look around you! You¡¯ve got no one but yourself! Camilla: Hmmp! Don¡¯t you underestimate me, dark magic wielder! Lyka: Aki, can you leave this annoying girl on me? Camilla: How dare you address me like that?! Akino: Just ¨C just don¡¯t kill her. Lyka: Got it! Lyka dashes away from the priestess. She created ten shadow copies to hold of the priestess, even a little. Of course, the priestess didn¡¯t struggle to defeat the copies with ease. In three or four swoops, she cleared the field, but Lyka is already in position. Lyka: Abyssal bind! Black chains came up from the ground, surrounding the priestess. The priestess smiled and spun her lance, causing the chains to shatter and crumble. Lyka: W-WHAT?! Akino: But ¨C that¡¯s your strongest magic, right? Camilla: Hmmp. Abyssal magic is a great feat but using it in a form of a binding spell is a child¡¯s play. Lyka: Grr! The priestess once again positions her lance toward Lyka, and Lyka stances in defensive with her left arm. Akino: You up for another round? Lyka: I¡¯ll come up a better tactic. Akino: How about I join in? Lyka: Your choice. Matias: Can we stop this?! This will only drag us ¨C Akino & Lyka: NO! Matias: O ¨C okay¡­ The priestess laughs as she takes a step, then she collapses on the ground. The others were baffled, and then they saw Alexa, decloaking herself and standing near the body of the unconscious priestess. Akino: What the ¨C Alexa: Sorry, ma. Lyka: Eh? Alexa: Not that I¡¯m underestimating you or something, but this is getting out of hand. Like, you two are the only ones fighting in here! The others are lying on the ground, sleeping! Like, come on, can we just stop this? Lyka: I ¨C I¡¯ll stop¡­ thank you for that. They tied up the priestess and placed her near the other knights who¡¯ve fallen unconscious. The night falls, the adventurers were done putting up tents and prepping hay for the knights of the Church of Ravine to rest on. Alexa¡¯s neurotoxin has made the knights to fell asleep for a full day, but they made sure that none of them were gravely injured during the previous conflict. They did their usual stuff during that night, but they were worried on what happened to the first group that entered the dungeon. The night already fell, and the first group is still nowhere to be seen. Akino: Hey, Kal. Kal: What? Akino: Know why the first guys haven¡¯t come back yet? Kal: I don¡¯t know¡­ Finn, haven¡¯t the mages made communicating orbs for this expedition? Finn: We¡­ we don¡¯t have such equipment¡­ Diana: Then, should we go in and check them out? They approached Matias who¡¯s talking to Olguk¡¯s group and the other adventurers that were eating. Matias: Check them out? Kal: Yeah, it¡¯s been hours since they entered that place. Matias: Don¡¯t you guys trust them? I mean, they¡¯re the HEAVY guards of the Dasman guild. Maybe nothing¡¯s going on there and they just wanted to stay for longer for mapping the underground¡­ but I¡¯m a little worried as well¡­ Finn: Your orders, leader. Matias: Alright, your group and the mage group of Hanna, prepare in one hour to enter the dungeon. If they¡¯re alright, take the shift and tell them to go back. If the worse scenario comes, which we want to avoid, have them treated immediately and bring them here. Don¡¯t hesitate to have two of your members go back here to call in reinforcements. Kal: Got it. I¡¯ll tell it the mage group and have our preparations. Diana: How about you, Akino? Not coming with us? Akino: I¡¯ll interrogate the priestess. Akino hands Diana a piece of a metal with a single button. She comes closer to Diana¡¯s ear and whispers at her. Akino: If you saw some weird things, like the one we brought in the guild or the one we fought in the underground arena, press that and we¡¯ll come as fast as we can. Diana: G ¨C got it¡­ Akino: Good luck in there! And don¡¯t get cocky, pretty boy! Kal: You - ! Whatever¡­ The group left and went to their tents to gather their materials. Matias: So¡­ how are you going to interrogate the priestess? Akino: I have my ways, team leader. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not inhumane methods but I might resort to that. Matias: WHAT?! Akino: Just kidding! Come on, what¡¯s with the serious face? Matias: I¡¯m serious because the Church of Ravine doesn¡¯t seek territory. I don¡¯t know for sure, but I heard rumors that their affiliation with the Altruis is becoming weaker due to political issues¡­ so please make sure you can obtain any information on her, and to not hurt her. Akino: Because it might end in a diplomatic dispute? Matias: Not only that¡­ the Church of Ravine is one of the many kingdoms that has advanced mage army. Soldier capable of doing magic. Just imagine them invading or attacking a city, fire will rain down for sure¡­ it gives me shivers when I¡¯m just thinking about it¡­ Akino: Alright, alright¡­ you got it, team leader. I¡¯ll do my best. Matias: Please do. Akino left Matias and went to their tent. Lyka and Alexa were waiting inside, along with the still unconscious priestess tied up on the chair. Alexa: SOOO, detective Akino? How are we going to extract things? Nail peeling? Teeth pulling? Electric shocks? Hitting an arrow to the shin? Lyka: Alexa! That¡¯s brutal! Alexa: Sorry¡­ Akino: I¡¯ve already dampened her mana energy output to nearly zero percent. That will be enough for torture, I guess. Alexa: Shall I remove the toxin, detective? Akino: Yeah¡­ and cut that crappy roleplaying! Alexa: Yes ma¡¯am! Alexa stings the priestess on her neck. She jolts and wakes up immediately, seeing herself inside the tent surrounded by the three. She aggressively reaches Akino with a gnarling face, but she couldn¡¯t since she¡¯s tied to a chair. She chanted something from her mouth, a magic spell, but nothing happened. Akino pointed at her neck, seeing a metallic collar. Not any ordinary collar, it has a little red light from its side. The priestess struggled but it¡¯s no use. Akino: Calm down, lady. No use in getting out of here. Camilla: You - ! Once I get out of here, I¡¯ll start with you! Lyka: You can¡¯t even get out of those ropes¡­ Camilla: Says the one who uses Abyss magic for useless things. Lyka summons her greatsword and points it at the priestess. Lyka: Say one more word, and I¡¯ll split you in two! Camilla: I want to see you try it, wolfie! Lyka: W ¨C what?! Akino: Ahem¡­ Lyka: Sorry¡­ Alexa: Want me to pull her nails? Akino: That won¡¯t be necessary. Camilla: I won¡¯t tell anything. Akino: Can you guys leave for a moment? I¡¯ll handle this. Camilla: HANDLE ME?! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! HUH?! Lyka: Are you sure? Akino: Kal¡¯s team will leave for checking out the first group that entered the dungeon. Go check them out. And oh, bring us something to eat. Alexa: Doing bad stuff? Akino: NO! You know what? Go with your mother and get some food. Alexa: Yeah, yeah. Lyka: Be careful, Aki. The two left the tent. The priestess gnarled and tried to untie herself even she started to hurt herself. Akino: Calm down, struggling won¡¯t do anything. Camilla: You bastard! If I ever get out of here, I¡¯LL SLAUGHTER YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS! Akino sighs as she extends her arm towards the tied priestess. Her arm opens-up with retracting metals where surges of electricity arcs on the arm¡¯s metal plates. This startled the priestess, shocked and speechless as she stares at Akino¡¯s weird arm. Camilla: W ¨C what are you? Akino: A human. Was, human¡­ wait, I¡¯m supposed to be the one asking the question! Camilla: Let me go! You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing with me! A powerful hero of Ravine! If word comes out that I¡¯ve been treated like this, a war will spark on great nations! Akino: I like those odds. Camilla: WHAT DO YOU WANT?! Akino: Why the Church of Ravine went here, that¡¯s all. Camilla: This place is under our jurisdiction! Akino: Who¡¯s jurisdiction? I believe that no one has ever claimed this area, not even the punks of Altruis. Camilla: The Church decides what¡¯s good for our people! Akino slowly approaches the priestess. The priestess acts brave, but as Akino closes in with her arm cackling with electricity, her expression suddenly changed: from the angered and brave fighter to a trembling and frightened woman. In desperation, she screams. Camilla: HELP! SOMEBODY! HELP ME! Akino: People outside won¡¯t hear you. Your knights are all asleep, and if you don¡¯t cooperate with me, you¡¯ll be sleeping with them, forever. The terrified priestess tried to chant a spell, but it didn¡¯t work. Camilla: WHY I CAN¡¯T USE MY POWERS?! Akino: I placed a power dampening collar on your neck. Well, I can explain to you that at certain electromagnetic waves, mana energy is disrupted making you unable to cast spells, but you wouldn¡¯t understand. The priestess stares at Akino. Confused, Akino saw astonishment on the priestess¡¯ face. Camilla: Electromagnetic waves?... Maxwell¡¯s electromagnetic waves, right? RIGHT? Akino: You¡­ how did you ¨C The priestess tears up a bit as she smiles at Akino. Camilla: You¡¯re from Earth, right?... CHAPTER 35: Interrogation Akino: Wait a damn minute¡­ I¡¯m not being mindread, am I? Akino turned her arm into a shotgun and directly points it at Camilla¡¯s forehead. Camilla: Is ¨C IS THAT A GUN?! WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! Akino: You better talk, or I¡¯ll blast off your head, NOW! Camilla: I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯LL TALK! Akino sighs, she returns her arm back to normal, drags a wooden chair and sits in front Camilla. Akino: You¡¯re an outworlder, like us? Camilla: Yeah¡­ but reincarnated¡­ Akino: Reincarnated? Camilla: I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m just a college student¡­ a nerdy one, that¡¯s why I knew about Maxwell¡¯s¡­. Akino: Where did you came from? Camilla: I¡¯m from Japan¡­ Akino: That¡¯s a bit isekai-ish¡­ Camilla: What? Akino: Nothing¡­ so, how did you get here? Camilla: That usual day, I went home by train¡­ and the train I¡¯m riding derailed, making the train tumble over¡­ that¡¯s what I remembered¡­ I could still remember, I can¡¯t see nor feel but I can hear things¡­ the people inside that train screaming for help, then the sirens of ambulances, and then the paramedics saying I¡¯m beyond saving¡­ Akino: ¡­ Camilla: I thought of it as a nightmare¡­ then I woke up, lying on the ground inside a church of western design, being surrounded by many priests fully covered with robes. For some reason, I could understand them even I¡¯m not familiar with their language. They said I¡¯m their savior, their mighty priestess¡­ then, all is history¡­ they thought me how to fight, cast spell, and their culture¡­ most of their people resembles European people, what was it again? That¡¯s it! Caucasians! Yeah, most or all of them looks like Caucasians. I asked them what¡¯s special about me and they said summoned people from the other world has a higher power blessed by the gods¡­ that¡¯s why they chose me¡­ still, my 19 years of my past world lingers me, even though some of it I usually knew starts to fade, like how to derive the wave equation¡­ funny, isn¡¯t? Akino: I think that¡¯s normal¡­ don¡¯t you have, how do I tell this¡­ parents? Camilla: I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m living alone¡­ and I don¡¯t want to talk about it¡­ Akino: I¡¯m sorry¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have asked¡­ That tent went silent for a bit. Akino: So¡­ you¡¯ve said you died at 19 years old? Camilla: Yeah¡­ Akino: And how many years you¡¯ve been here? Camilla: I lost count¡­ my guess is about 20 years? Akino: I see¡­ wait ¨C you said you¡¯ve been in here 20 years?! I mean, you never saw any shady people from Earth who calls themselves the Institution? Camilla: Institution??? Akino: You know? People in laboratory coats, with a shady tech and own army? Getting any hints? Camilla: I ¨C I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about¡­ let alone seeing others from our old world¡­ I know that there are other outworlders out there, but I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying¡­ Akino: You¡¯re not an Institution personnel or something? Camilla: No? Akino looks intensely at Camilla, making her a bit nervous. Camilla: Is ¨C is something wrong? Akino: Nothing¡­ seems like you¡¯re not lying to me¡­ what in the actual hell¡­ Camilla: What do you mean? Akino: You sure don¡¯t have any grudges? About that time the whole Earth got wiped out? Or wait, did you come from the Lunar base or the Martian base? Yeah, that should be my first question¡­ Camilla: What do you the mean the Earth was wiped out? Akino: Wait, you ¨C you know about that, didn¡¯t you? Camilla looks down. Camilla: Earth was wiped out¡­? Akino: You said you¡¯ve been in here for twenty years, yes? I mean, you should have known that! Do you have any idea how many years we¡¯ve been there after our world was wiped out, huh? We¡¯ve been asleep inside an underground laboratory for nearly a million of years after the Earth was wiped clean of life! Of everything! Camilla: M ¨C million years?! Akino: You should have known it, right? I mean, I saw in the records left in the system that billions of populations died, and the remaining went to the Moon and Mars for refuge, right? Leaving the planet to rot and grow into another alien world, right?! Camilla is stunned on hearing the things Akino said. Akino: Alright¡­ alright¡­ deep breaths, deep breaths. Wooohh¡­ I just vented up, I¡¯m not mad at you¡­ sorry¡­ Camilla: How ¨C how it happened? Akino went near Camilla and unties her, also she removes the power dampening collar on Camilla¡¯s neck and absorbs it with her arm, surprising Camilla. She then raises her left arm, making a small rectangular opening on top of it, like a projector. Akino proceeds to show some footages of the ¡®Enigma event¡¯ that happened back on Earth, year 3021. The unknown humongous floating objects in the sky, the efforts of the human military in bombarding them to defend the cities, and then the light that swallows the cities and billions of lives, turning the planet uninhabitable. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Camilla is shocked, but not because of the suffering she saw. She was shocked on the year date watermarked on the footages: 3021. Camilla: Year 3021¡­ wait, is that the Manhattan Park? You lived in United States? Akino: It should be in the history books by now. Camilla: No, that can¡¯t be¡­ I died in year 2018! Akino: WHAT? Akino closes the projection and faces directly at Camilla. Akino: You ¨C you died at year 2018?! Camilla: Yeah? Why are you going intense all of a sudden?! Akino: You said you lived in Japan, right? Who¡¯s the president that time? Camilla: That¡¯s Shinzo Abe? Akino pauses and closes her eyes. Seconds pass, with Camilla wondering what¡¯s going on with Akino. Akino snaps out and faces at Camilla with a worried expression. Camilla: Is ¨C something wrong? Akino: A Japanese president of the name Shinzo Abe¡­ doesn¡¯t exist in my data files¡­ Camilla: WHAT?! Akino: The president of Japan at year 2018 was Akihiro Tyanzu and renamed Japan as the ¡®Rising Sun¡¯ during his term. Camilla: Wait, wait, wait¡­ what the hell was that supposed to mean?! Akino: Then why do we know both that the man behind the EM waves is Jonas Maxwell?! Camilla: Jonas Maxwell?! Who the fuck is that?! It''s James Maxwell! Akino stops and stares at Camilla. Akino: I haven¡¯t told you yet, but we weren¡¯t summoned nor reincarnated here, we travelled through here. Camilla: Travelled? Akino: Well, not actually travelled¡­ after we woke up from that laboratory, we went outside of it and saw a huge void. We thought people might have entered that void to escape the hazardous environment of the planet, so decided to go near the void, I argue with Alexa that it might be useless to enter and so, we argued and argued until we¡­ accidentally went into it. Camilla: And you ended up here? Akino: Yeah. Mostly likely, you came from another time or universe or whatever, and that¡¯s the same for us. A total coincidence, I guess¡­ Camilla: Multiverse theory??? Akino: In our time, it¡¯s not yet proven but many experts are trying to establish portal stuff leading to other dimensions. Camilla: That¡¯s¡­ stunning¡­ and fucking confusing¡­ Akino: Yeah... it is fucking shit... Camilla stares at Akino¡¯s crystal bracelet. Camilla: The dark magic¡­ it¡¯s coming from the bracelet ¨C that means¡­ Akino: I don¡¯t have any magic or mana or spell or whatever you¡¯re gonna call it¡­ by the way, what¡¯s with the hate on people having dark magic? Camilla: The Church taught us that dark magic wielders bring bad omen¡­ you said ¡®we¡¯, who are the others? Akino: I came here with Alexa, the one with white skin and fleshy hair. Camilla: So, she¡¯s also magic-less? Akino: Yeah. Camilla: How about the demi-wolf? Akino: She¡¯s Lyka¡­ we saved her from an attack done by the Altruis knights on her tribe¡­ actually, she¡¯s the one who gave us this bracelet to make the others think that we have magic. Apparently, it¡¯s fucking abnormal if you don¡¯t have any magic in you. Camilla: Yes¡­ magic is like the life force in this world, like chi or something¡­ It went silent again, but a few seconds later Lyka and Alexa enters the tent carrying plates of cooked fowl and cups of grape wine. They saw that Camilla was already untied. They put first the plates and cups on the table, then the two went to offensive stances. Akino: That¡¯s a less dramatic, and a ridiculous way to confront someone¡­ Lyka: The food is more important than the enemy! Alexa: Yeah! Akino facepalmed herself while Camilla giggles non-stop. Alexa: What¡¯s funny, huh?! Akino: Kid, calm down¡­ it¡¯s fucking embarrassing¡­ Lyka: Aki, why did you untie her? Akino explained everything, from Camilla being an outworlder to her anomalous statement that she came way back in the past but only living the Elyn for two decades, and the hypothesis that she came from a ¡®different¡¯ Earth. While explaining, Lyka handed each one of them with food and cups of wine, well, she didn¡¯t give Alexa some wine. Alexa: That¡¯s¡­ nuts¡­ Camilla: I know, right! You two came from the same Earth but different! Lyka: That doesn¡¯t make sense¡­ Akino: Yeah, it¡¯s a bit head cracking when I verified it¡­ Lyka: Head ¨C cracking? Does it hurt? ARE YOU ALRIGHT?! Akino: Y ¨C you don¡¯t have to take literally, jeez¡­ Alexa: It¡¯s just confusing, ma¡­ Camilla: Ma? Akino: Oh¡­ I haven¡¯t told you yet, Lyka is my fianc¨¦ and she agreed to be Alexa¡¯s mother. Camilla: I see¡­ I¡¯m sorry about last time, Miss Lyka. Lyka: It¡¯s alright¡­ so, why you want to take this place? Camilla drinks her wine and places down the cup on the table. Camilla: The Church is currently having a civil war¡­ Akino: That¡¯s bad¡­ Camilla: The elder priests were trying to create a treaty with the Altruis and the Elven Kingdom¡­ and I heard that they want to start a conquest campaign against other nations and kingdoms. Lyka: And anyone who opposes them¡­ will be massacred like what happened before¡­ Akino: And what¡¯s the reason you guys went here? Camilla: I¡¯m leading a coup, with my men that has sworn loyalty to me and the people of Ravine. We were just desperate¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ we want to make this land a refuge ground for the innocent people that will be caught off in the upcoming conflict. Akino: We¡¯re just taking a survey of this place. We can ask out our leader about this matter. Lyka: The Dasman adventurers¡¯ guild could be of help, right? Alexa: But the nobles of the Dasman government might, you know, decline, or not accept them since this is like a matter outside their responsibility? The tent went silent again. Akino: Well, if you allow us to lend a hand, we can help. Alexa: As long as there is a compensa ¨C Akino: Stop being greedy. Camilla: No, it¡¯s fine. We can pay you a good sum of gold. Lyka: I learned that adventurers could take commissions from other nations, and a small group of adventurers won¡¯t really represent a side of their respective guild, let alone the government that handles the guild. Akino: So, if we help them and say it¡¯s a commission from the Church of Ravine, the issue of having our guild involve in a civil war will be overlooked? Lyka: I guess¡­ Alexa: What are we waiting for? Akino: The goddamn morning, kid. I¡¯ll go and tell Matias everything you¡¯ve said, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll understand. Camilla: Is it alright? I mean, a while ago we were trying to kill you¡­ Lyka: No one¡¯s harmed, so I guess it¡¯s alright. Akino: We got your back, don¡¯t worry. Camilla: Th ¨C thank you¡­ Lyka: You can stay in here for tonight. Camilla: What about my men? Are they alright? Alexa: We just lay them down on haybales, and they¡¯ll be sleeping until morning. I¡¯ll tell you when they¡¯ll exactly wake up so that they won¡¯t be screaming help or something. Camilla: Th ¨C thanks¡­ Akino: So, umm, we good? Camilla: Yeah, thank you very much. Lyka arranged a bedsheet for Camilla while Alexa took their clutter and went outside with Akino. On their way out, they were greeted by Matias good night. Akino took this opportunity and told Matias about Camilla, but she didn¡¯t elaborate the thing of Camilla being an Earthling, she only told him she¡¯s a summoned priestess by the Ravine and she was leading a resistance against their government. She also told him the current situation of the Church of Ravine and their upcoming treaty with the Altruis. Matias was shocked on the information he heard. Matias: Can I talk to her? Akino: Don¡¯t know, she¡¯s a bit shy due to the confrontation a while ago, but I told her if you came to talk to her, she should be ready. Alexa: But mama¡¯s already preparing her a bed, so¡­ Akino: Oh, that too. She might be already taking a rest. Why don¡¯t you come with us? We¡¯ll check it if she¡¯s still awake. Alexa: Aki! That¡¯s an all-girls tent! Matias: Ye ¨C yeah! I mean, NO! I - I¡¯ll just wait for tomorrow¡­ Akino: You can stay here, and I¡¯ll go back when it¡¯s clear. Matias: No, no¡­ I can wait till tomorrow. Akino: You sure? Matias: Yes. Take this night to rest. Matias was about the leave, and Akino and Alexa was about to go back to their tent when they heard someone screaming for help. A female¡¯s voice and seems to be in a hurry. Matias: What was that? Alexa: Is that Diana?! Akino: SHIT. I told her to press the transponder when they¡¯re in trouble! CHAPTER 36: The Vault (Part 1) The three rans toward the dungeon entrance. The screams for help awakened the other adventurers, making them peek out of their tents. Lyka and Camilla also ran outside their tent to look what¡¯s going on. As Akino and Alexa reaches the dungeon entrance, they saw some adventurers were already assisting the screaming woman, who¡¯s actually Diana, carrying a nearly dying adventurer who first entered the dungeon that morning. The leather armor of the adventurer was drenched in blood and pull of holes. The mages healed the wounded adventurer, and carefully took him from Diana. Akino noticed that Diana¡¯s left hand was burnt so she tends to her by spraying a cooling disinfectant coming out of her hand. Diana: AHG! Akino: Sorry, I should¡¯ve warned that will hurt. Diana: It¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s fine¡­ After Akino disinfects Diana¡¯s wound, Alexa covers it with a clean cloth. Akino: What happened? I told you to press that thing when something is amiss! Diana: I¡¯m about to press it when those things shot my hand, as if they were really aiming at the thing you gave me! Alexa: What? IT shot you? Diana: Yeah! But we aren¡¯t sure what really it was! All I remember is that it creates that sound similar to that thing! Akino: What thing?! Diana: The ¨C the¡­ I don¡¯t know! That thing you brought in the guild days ago! Akino paused. That same moment, Lyka and Camilla enters the scene and wonders what is happening. Alexa assisted Diana to the other adventurers so that she could be further treated of any injury. Lyka: Is everything alright? AKino looks far at the injured adventurer Diana brought. Akino: Gunshot wounds, huh? Camilla: Gunshot?! H ¨C how? You¡¯re the only one I know that has gun thingy! Alexa: Hey! Keep it down! Camilla: There are no nations in this world that has produced any type of firearms! Akino: I kinda guessed that already. Camilla: So, who could that be? Lyka: The Institution¡­ The placed cleared on, the awaken adventurers went back to sleep, the healing mages tended to the injured guy, and Diana has given her testimony on what happened in the dungeon. After that, they let Diana take a rest. Matias left and saw Akino and her team along with Camilla right outside his tent. Akino: Hey, leader. We¡¯re going in. Matias: Don¡¯t be ridiculous, we don¡¯t know what we¡¯re dealing with! We can¡¯t just enter the place without planning! Alexa: We know about it, boss. Lyka: We should head in, or else the rest inside might already be in grave danger. Matias stares at Camilla. Matias: Can she be trusted? Camilla: I¡¯m¡­ sorry about last time¡­ Akino: She is. Matias: Well, if my comrades trust you, I shall do the same then. Just - tell it to your knights or they might wake up and start another... you get what I mean right? Camilla: I¡¯ll tell them immediately as soon as they wake up. Matias: Thank you. So, are you sure about entering in? Akino: We don¡¯t have any choice, do we? Matias sighs. Matias: Be careful then. Akino: We will. Let¡¯s go guys, Kal and the others must be waiting. Alexa: Aye! They left and entered the dungeon. Like the same cave they¡¯ve entered before, the dungeon entrance is a downward inclined cave but with stairs. The walls are only made of solid earth, and the place is being lit by the torches the first team has set. Upon reaching a few stories below, they could faint sounds of banging. Camilla: Those are gunshots, right?! Lyka: You were brave when we¡¯re still fighting¡­ and now you are afraid of gunshots? Camilla: Guns are freaking scary! And destructive! Lyka: I¡­ agree with that¡­ Akino: Stop with the chit chat and let¡¯s go! They hurriedly ran. The floor seems to change from a downward incline to a stable flat. They¡¯ve reached a chamber where the clutter of the first team were found on the ground. They could far up that a group of people gathers in a single area. Akino looked past with her enhanced vision and saw familiar figures ¨C the MC-00 units. There are 5 individual units, carrying rifles but those firearms look new to her. The machines shoot one at the time, they¡¯re not barraging the stuck group with their bullets. They took this opportunity and rans towards the group. Akino erected a metallic shield and Lyka summoned a magic barrier between the group and the machines, while Camilla and Alexa tended for the injured. Kal: Hey, little sprout¡­ Took the damn time going in here¡­ Akino looks down on Kal, with his armor and shield filled with holes and blood. The other adventurers are also injured, and Finn is the only one that¡¯s keeping alive but he¡¯s already exhausted. Finn: I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t heal them that much¡­ I¡¯m running out of strength, and the potions we have are already depleted¡­ Lyka: Hang on! We¡¯re here to help! Aki, what should we do? Akino: You go with Camilla and heal them. Camilla: Aren¡¯t there any bullets inside them?! Look at those wounds! They look like gunshot wounds! Hell, they are gunshot wounds! They might die due to lead poisoning if we didn¡¯t remove those! Akino: Just ¨C wait, there are no bullets¡­ Camilla: O ¨C okay! I¡¯ll heal him! Wait, no bullets? You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Akino peeks out of the constructed barrier, seeing the machines aim again at them. They fired their rifles, hitting the barriers, creating small explosions, but no leads could be heard clinking the ground. Akino: Plasma rifles?! Camilla: Plasma what now?! Lyka: Wait, the thing that you can also use? The one without bullets? Alexa: Umm, can we just smash them off and stop the attack? Alexa dashes out of the barrier and one-by-one smashes the machines to the ground. Akino comes out and tried to look at the napes of the machines. She injects a wire from her hair at one of the napes, the machine jolts and some sparks came out of its ¡°face¡±. Akino: That¡¯s weird¡­ Alexa: Weird? Akino: Accessing the data file of this machine made it haywire¡­ a security protocol? Alexa: You should be able to hack through it, right? Like, you¡¯re a freaking supercomputer or something and you can¡¯t hack through it? Akino stares at Alexa with disagreement. Alexa: Sorry¡­ Akino: The moment I connected to it, it started to break itself down. Additionally, the model is¡­ the model seems to be new, in line with the years when both of us were still ¡®dead¡¯. Alexa: So¡­? Akino: So, some facility must be nearby with inhabitants? I¡¯m not quite sure¡­ Alexa: What¡¯s bugging out your detective skillz? Akino: Look, we¡¯ve been locked inside an underground laboratory for hundreds of years and when we went outside a million years already passed, forgot about that one? Alexa: Oh¡­ yeah, right¡­ Akino: Time is messed up, or THEY fucked it up¡­ but my point is if these machines were up to date, that means the facilities here are also up to date. They might have some form of connection, a portal or something. Alexa: And we could find ourselves some proper explanation. Neat¡­ Akino: Yeah¡­ Akino tried to check the other smashed machines, but all ended up sparking and destroying themselves. Alexa: Got any luck? Akino: Nope. Every one of them has the same system¡­ I should try to make a programming that enable a system override on contact. Alexa: You haven¡¯t thought of that earlier? Akino: I haven¡¯t¡­ yet¡­ The two went back to the group. The other adventurers were already healed, but Kal is still lying on the ground. Camilla: His wounds are already closed¡­ he must be very tired¡­ Lyka: I learned that when we magically heal the injuries, the body of the injured uses its stored energy to heal efficiently. The magic does add energy to the body but if its severely injured ¨C Camilla: Then the body will need to use its stored fat and muscles and energy to act on its own to regenerate the cells, making the body exhausted! Wow! I didn¡¯t know you¡¯re knowledgeable in molecular biology! Lyka: Umm ¨C uhhh not r - really¡­ but I ¨C I was taught with some stuff by Aki¡­ hehehe¡­ Camilla: Lucky to have her, huh? Lyka: Yeah¡­ Akino cuts through the two. Akino: You guys done? Lyka: Kal is stil unconscious, but he¡¯s safe now thanks to Camilla. Camilla: No problem! Alexa: We should bring them back to the camp. Akino: Okay, those who can stand should walk and assist those who can barely stand. We can slow things in walking out of here, but we should rush a bit. There might be more that may attack us. The able-to-walk adventurers helped the others who can barely stand. The others carried the ones who can¡¯t stand at all. They left the dungeon and brought back the injured on the surface. Matias: Our mages will take of them. Good thing you guys made it in time. Akino: We¡¯re going back. Matias: Oh, oka ¨C wait, what?! Akino: It¡¯s our shift right now, and those things might come out of the dungeon. Better keep those things dead than letting them out in the future. Matias: I ¨C I see¡­ Akino: I¡¯m going to bring Camilla as well. Camilla: ME?! Akino: You should come with us. Camilla: O ¨C okay¡­ Matias: Just come back before your knights wake up. Akino: We won¡¯t stay there for long, we¡¯ll come back before sunrise. Matias: Be careful. The group went back to the dungeon. They¡¯ve passed on the place where the adventurers first settled, and the place where they encountered the machines. They could see the pieces of those machines. Akino looked farther into the dark, the direction where the machines supposed to be came from. Akino: Lyka, Camilla, you can detect the magic in here? Lyka: The atmosphere¡¯s¡­ a bit weird¡­ Camilla: Yeah¡­ like it¡¯s dead¡­ Alexa: Dead? Like there¡¯s a presence of the undead or liches or necro-something? Lyka: Not like that¡­ it feels like there¡¯s no magic in here¡­ Camilla: I could say the same¡­ every moment we take a step deeper, the magic keeps losing¡­ Akino: Then it¡¯s near¡­ somewhere deep in this dungeon¡­ Camilla: Wait, wait, wait! What¡¯s near?! Alexa: Something related to us. They kept on walking down and they ended up in a dead end. Alexa: A rock solid cave wall¡­ no sounds coming from the other side, just a dead end¡­ Akino: And I can¡¯t see past through that wall¡­ Camilla: We can¡¯t see through the wall, come on! It¡¯s just a dead end! But wait¡­ where did the machines came from? Akino: I can¡¯t even see through with my x-ray on¡­ that explains a lot¡­ Camilla: That explains a lot? I told you, you can¡¯t just see through ¨C did you just said x-ray? Like, x-ray vision?! Lyka: Oh my god¡­ she¡¯s so talkative¡­ Camilla: Sorry¡­ but I mean, x-ray?! Like, supes¡¯ x-ray vision?! Alexa: Supes? Camilla: Oh¡­ that comic character must not be existing in your world¡­ forget what I¡¯ve said¡­ Alexa: So¡­ if you can¡¯t see through it, there¡¯s lead on the other side?! Lyka: Like the one on the trade house! Akino: I¡¯ll drill out this wall. Everyone, stand ba ¨C Before Akino finishes her word, the wall oozes out with black liquids. A stain of black appeared on the wall, and an MC-00 machine slowly crawls out of it. Camilla comically shrieks in terror as she sees the machine aim a rifle at them. Lyka quickly acted by going in between them and casting a barrier spell, Alexa extended her flesh hair and guarded the trembling Camilla, and Akino immediately blasted the machine with her arm turned into a ballistic cannon. The blast created a huge impact, obliterating the machine and the wall where it crept out. The dust settled, leaving a hole on the wall. They could see a metal plate uncovered from the stone and earthly substance of the cave wall. Akino approached the metal layer and touches it. Akino: Yup¡­ it¡¯s lead¡­ Camilla: How the hell that thing managed to phase through a wall?! Alexa: Gee, calm down! We are clueless as well! Akino: The phasing tech we had uses light and electromagnetism, but I haven¡¯t detected any photonic and EM fluxes when that thing came out of the wall¡­ Lyka: Ugh, my head is hurting¡­ Akino: Okay¡­ that machine isn¡¯t supposed to go through a solid wall by just spitting that black juice, got it? Camilla: Still confusing¡­ Akino sighs and touches the metal wall again, but this time her arm turned metallic and plate-like structures retract outwards. The temperature in that place rises, Lyka and Camilla starts to feel it, so they stepped back away from Akino. After a minute, Akino was able to melt the wall and create a hole large enough for people to pass through. Camilla: That¡¯s¡­ fucking lit! Alexa: HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA! Camilla: No, seriously! Look at that! Akino and Lyka sighed. They entered the through the wall, seeing only a very dark place ¨C a pitch black chamber. Camilla summons a small sphere of light and Lyka raises her right arm covered in blue flame. The place is illuminated, and they are seeing a scenery similar to a library but not with wood. Metallic stalls, all of which have weird containers made of greyish material. There are light bulbs on the ceiling part, but they can¡¯t see the switch for it. The floor is tiled, and astonishingly clean that you can see your own reflection. Lyka and Camilla looked around the other stalls, only seeing the many grey containers. Alexa tried to pry open some of the containers, and only saw dust and ashes inside of it. Alexa: Tenth box, still dusts¡­ nothing is in here, is it? Akino: Yeah, nothing but those machines surely came from here. How about you two? See something that might give us a clue? Lyka: This place is like a dead forest¡­ like, no magic at all, like that time we went in that facility thing¡­ Camilla: Yeah, and its hecking creepy in here. Can we just seal this up and go back? Akino takes the container from Alexa and examined the dusts inside of it. She holds at it for seconds. Akino shouts repulsively, throwing the container away. The others were shocked, especially Lyka and Alexa. They didn¡¯t know that Akino could express such kind of emotion. Lyka: Aki! Are you alright?! Alexa: Hey, hey! What¡¯s wrong? Akino: I ¨C I¡¯m fine¡­ that¡¯s some fucked up shit¡­ fuck! Akino tried to examine the other containers as well. Her expression went full on disgust. Camilla: Hey! Can you at least tell us what you¡¯re seeing? Akino: Alexa, remember that case I had where the victims are burned? Alexa: Wait, don¡¯t tell me¡­ it must be cremated right? Akino: No¡­ they burned them¡­ and placed in these containers... they fucking burned people! Lyka & Camilla: Burned?! Alexa took a pinch of the dust. Alexa: Burnt cells¡­ of a 6-year-old¡­ WHAT THE FUCK?! Lyka: What is this place?! Camilla: Ca ¨C can we go now? Leave this place?! They agreed to leave the place. They head back to where they came from, but the hole is no covered with black gooey substance. Two MC-00 units came out of the stained wall and immediately open fires at the girls. Akino manages to block all the fire and swoops the machines¡¯ head by a swipe kick. Akino: We need to seal-off this dungeon. Akino tried to blast off the gooey substance on the wall. They entered the renewed hole, but instead finding themselves outside, they found themselves inside the same place: a dark hall with metallic stalls carrying weird grey boxes. Then, Akino, Alexa and Lyka saw something in their peripheral vision: -WARNING: SPACE-MATTER ANOMALY DETECTED -ANOMALY LEVEL: 3 -REALITY SUSPENSION FIELD IMPLEMENTED -TERMINATION OF ANOMALY SOURCE IS HIGLY RECOMMENDED Lyka started to freak out. Lyka: Wh ¨C what is this?! Akino: Hey, hey! Calm down! Alexa: Aki, what¡¯s going on? Akino: I ¨C I don¡¯t know¡­ I¡¯ve got no clue¡­ but we have to destroy this place¡­ CHAPTER 37: The Vault (Part 2) They tried to run back to the direction where they came from, but it keeps looping. They kept running in a straight line, encountering 3 similar chambers. The ran straight for 15 minutes on the hole, but nothing. Like someone or something is toying with them. Lyka: This is going nowhere¡­ Camilla: We¡¯ve been running for how long? And in the same direction! What in the world is going on! There¡¯s no illusion magic or spell and yet we¡¯ve been experiencing this! Akino: Calm down, geez¡­ Alexa: Can we try the other direction? They tried to go on the opposite direction, and they saw an elevator. They wondered if that elevator was there before. Lyka: Does this lead to that core-thingy again? Camilla: Core-thingy? Alexa: Something like a supercomputer stuff the Institution guys keep in their buildings. Akino: There¡¯s one before, but we accidentally activated its self-destruct mechanism¡­ Alexa: Wait, what?! Camilla: So, we¡¯re not going in there, right? RIGHT? Akino: I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯ve got no choice¡­ They entered the elevator. Akino hacked through the control panel, and it went down. She tried to look again with her x-ray but failed to see how deep the place is. The elevator stops, the door opens, and they were shocked on what they saw. A well-lit area, pull of green plants, like a greenhouse. They could see peas, mustard, spinach, oranges, watermelons, and more. They could see also small octopi drones tending to the plants. The drones seem to ignore them even when they just carelessly touch it. Akino: This place¡­ is livelier compared to the first one¡­ Lyka: They¡­ look cute¡­ Camilla: Never saw this kind of advanced drone tech before¡­ Alexa: Hey Aki, can you hack these drones? Akino: Wait, let me try it¡­ The drones flew away from her. She tried to move faster, but they kept on managing to escape, and they hid on a vent. Akino tried to hack through by having her hair-wires connect to the vent wall. Akino: There¡¯s¡­ nothing... how is that possible? Lyka: Nothing? Alexa: What do you mean? Akino: No logs, no timetables, not even the slightest info when these things were made or when they went operational. Camilla: There should be a ¡®backdoor¡¯ to access them, right? Akino: I tried it, still nothing. They instead investigated the whole place. Lyka and Alexa went together to look at the plants, while Akino and Camilla tried to find any control panels, or anything connected to a computer. Akino and Camilla found a small trap door on the ground, but as they were about to open it when Alexa shouts their names. The two hurriedly went to Lyka and Alexa¡¯s location, finding a decapitated head of a child lying on the soil of the greenhouse. It is unclear, but the head seems to belong on a male child, Caucasian, about 6 to 8 years old. It is fresh, like it¡¯s just been cut minutes ago, but there¡¯s no blood. Both Lyka and Camilla were stunned on the sight of the head, speechless, confused, and trembling. Alexa was about to touch the head when an octopi drone took it, sliced the forehead vertically, revealing an undamaged brain. The drone then spliced off a piece of the brain and placed it on the soil, then it fired some sort of a ¡®laser¡¯ on where it ¡®planted¡¯ that piece of brain. A plant suddenly grows, but it¡¯s all red in coloration. Confused, fazed, and mostly filled with an eerie feeling, the four girls watch the drone chop more flesh from the exposed brain of a decapitated head. They stared at it, for seconds, and noticed that the face of the child is grinning, with his eyes wide open. Lyka was about to puke on the sight but manages to stop it, however Camilla didn¡¯t. Akino was upset and she just shotted the head and the drone with her arm shotgun. Akino: Let¡¯s go¡­ They left and entered the trapdoor that Akino and Camilla saw earlier. A ladder, leading downward. Akino went in first, a block door at the bottom was on the way so she kicks it down, revealing another well-lit room. Akino: It¡¯s not that deep, huh? Akino let go on the ladder bars and drops straight down. Lyka: Aki, everything fine in there? Akino: Yeah! You jump down in here! The other three jumps down, and when they looked around, they found themselves in a small cubical room of white floor and walls. A huge door is in front of them, only a door. No buttons, nor control panels. Just a huge white door. Akino: Get ready. They took an offensive stance. Lyka conjured her greatsword and Camilla summoned her lance. Akino and Alexa went to the door, and they slowly opened it. Another room with a long metallic walking platform in the middle, they saw hanging small glass pods and at the bottom was some machinery where they saw drones carrying headless bodies being thrown and crushed. The pods have decapitated heads in it, different genders of ages 6 to 13 years. They walked down the walking platform and noticed that the heads inside the pods have opened eyes that follows them. This made them more cautious, and terrified. Camilla: Ca ¨C can we go back now?! The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Akino: And get again in a loop? Better get the answers in here than waste our time there. They walk cautiously, close together, and ready once things go sideways. They walked, straight to another door at the end of the walking platform while the heads in the glass pods were grinning at them. Lyka: This is freaking-freaky-creepy... Akino: Are ¨C are you trying to cuss? Lyka: Uhm¡­ uhh¡­ Alexa: Come on, Aki! She¡¯s trying her best! Akino: It¡¯s¡­ kind of cute¡­ Lyka: Re ¨C really? Camilla: Really? Now? Alexa: The atmosphere is kinda tense, you know? Camilla: Fair point¡­ While they were talking, Alexa noticed that something wet dropped on her nape. She looks up and the ceiling was now covered in black fluids. Alexa: Aki! They¡¯re on the ceiling! The machines dropped down. Three of them: two of which are the same they¡¯ve encountered earlier carrying a plasma rifle, and a huge one that is covered in heavy metal plates. Alexa turned herself a bit bigger and muscular to match up the bigger machine. Camilla was surprised upon seeing that, but she gets herself composed, swung her lance, and readied to attack the other two. Alexa: I¡¯ll block their attacks, you do the piercing thing! Camilla: Got it! Alexa: Aki! Go and get the door open! We¡¯ll follow you once we¡¯ve fended them off nicely! Lyka: Be careful! Akino: You better take care of my kid, Camilla. Camilla: She¡¯s the one bulletproof here! Alexa began engaging the huge machine, while Camilla stands behind her trying to reach the other two by reaching out her lance. The two exchanged blows, Camilla warded off the other two using her magic and managed to damage their rifles first, but they plunged themselves towards her. Alexa reacted quickly by grabbing the huge MC-00¡¯s body and swung it to make fall off the platform. They two light MC-00 fell and gets crushed by the machineries at the bottom, but the huge one was able to hold itself on the handrail, and it jumps back to the platform again. Alexa: Hey, go with Akino and mama. Camilla: What about you? Alexa: I got this. Camilla: Trying to act cool, huh? Alexa engaged the huge MC-00 for the second time. They¡¯ve been exchanging blows, so strong it¡¯s creating wind currents and shattering the nearby glass pods. Camilla didn¡¯t run away, but instead rushed her lance towards the machine¡¯s torso. It didn¡¯t pierce the metallic chest of the unit. Alexa looked at Camilla, and they nod in unison before the rushed towards the MC-00 to take it down. On the other part, Akino was hacking through the door while Lyka was watching over her. The walls near the door began oozing with the same black liquid. Lyka raised her right hand and casts magic flames on the stained wall. It works, decreasing the amount of the black fluids on the wall, but MC-00 units persisted even their hands are the only thing passing through that black stain. The black fluid oozes back, enabling the whole bodies of the machines to manifest, but Lyka allowed it. She conjures her greatsword and postures to strike them. Lyka: How long are you going to open that?! Akino: A bit more seconds! Lyka swings her sword, destroying the machines. Other came out of the floor, but she punches through their chest with her left bionic arm. She didn¡¯t notice another two coming out of the ceiling, but Akino was able to shoot a super-hot laser through their heads, obliterating them. Lyka: Thanks! Akino: Welcome! Tell them I¡¯m about to open the door! Lyka shouted at the two who were still engaging the huge unit. Alexa just punched the machine hard, making it dropped down on its knees and Camilla thrusting her lance to its cervical area which somehow immobilized the machine. The two rans towards them as the metallic platform began covering itself in black goo and more MC-00 units popping out of it. Akino opens the door, all of them ran inside, they shut it closed, and Akino welded it. They could hear the machines banging the door. Akino created a huge shield on her arm and blocked herself, making them safe if the machines decided to shoot them with their plasma rifles. But they didn¡¯t. After 5 seconds of the banging sounds, the machines stopped. It went silent. They¡¯ve been focusing on blocking the door that they didn¡¯t realize where they are. A dome like room, similar to where the quantum-core is located in the previous facility they¡¯ve found. Nothing is at the middle, only dim lights coming from the ground lights was making the room a lit. Akino: A core should be at the middle, but whatever¡­ Camilla: A core? Lyka: The brain thingy of this place, I guess? Alexa: But if it¡¯s not here, then how are we supposed to shut this place down? They tried to look around. From top to bottom, left to right, all around that dome room. The only thing they could see clearly was the door where they came from before, and the dim light bulbs on the floor. Akino went to the middle pedestal where a core was supposed to be placed. There¡¯s a hole, filled with black liquid. It ripples, and when she looks up there¡¯s another stain of black stuff right on top. Arms went out of that gooey pool on the ceiling, pulling itself out and revealing a monstrous being: lots of human bodies being conjoined into a huge lump that has tens of arms and feet protruding out of it. The being is similar to the fleshy-human meatballs (as Alexa calls it) but it has human skin, doesn¡¯t have any hollow faces, and some copper wires are also connected to its main body which extends beyond the black liquid pool on the ceiling where the being is still cling on. Camilla: Wha ¨C WHAT IS THAT?! Lyka: Aki! Should I burn its soul like last time? Akino: Yeah! You two go and distract it! I¡¯ll go with Lyka. Lyka: Got it! Alexa: Be careful! The four splits, Akino went with Lyka who¡¯s preparing a spell to attack the being. Alexa and Camilla tried to engage the monster, but it manages to grab Camilla¡¯s lance as she¡¯s thrusting towards it. Alexa: Camilla! Let go of it! Camilla lets the lance to be taken away, but the being can stretch its arms and was able to grab Camilla¡¯s leg. Camilla screamed loudly for help. Alexa dashes through and tried to cut the arms, but the being remanifests more arms, enabling it to grab the two. Akino: Lyka! Hurry! Lyka: I can¡¯t! If I blast it with my spell, Alexa and Camilla will get caught in it! Akino: We¡¯ve got no choice¡­ we¡¯ll handle this with our bare hands! Lyka: Got it! The two immediately dashed towards the being. With Akino¡¯s enhanced plasma arms and Lyka¡¯s greatsword, they were able to cut the arms of the monster and free the other two. But as soon as the arms were cut off, it morphed into a metallic material, and each turned into an unarmed MC-00 unit. Alexa: Now we know where the machines came from! Camilla: Tha ¨C that doesn¡¯t make any sense! That¡¯s fucking flesh! A human flesh! Lyka: I¡¯ll cast my spell now! Everyone, take cover! Akino went in front with her arms turned into wide metallic shield that blocks the charging MC-00 units and the extending arms of the fleshy being. Lyka poses, raises her right hand and a magic circle appears underneath them. Lyka: Abyssal Flame! Blue flame engulfs the whole area. The MC-00 units started to melt due to the sheer heat, and the fleshy being stops moving as its whole-body char. Camilla: Is it dead? It¡¯s dead, isn¡¯t? Alexa: Don¡¯t jinx it! Akino: Can you two shut up for a moment?! Lyka, how is it? Lyka: I¡¯m not sure¡­ the machines melted away, which is I intended¡­ but that one just got burnt. Alexa: Aki, poke it. Akino: Why don¡¯t you do it? Lyka: If it has a soul, then it should be done by now¡­ but I didn¡¯t feel anything in it. Camilla: Wait a minute, is this some kind of an exorcism? Lyka: Exorcism? What is that? The burnt being suddenly moves, startling the four girls. The fleshy being suddenly scratches itself, grotesquely and violently itching the skin until the flesh is being removed. Torn muscles, intestines, and other guts were being removed intensely just by scratching itself. Lyka and Camilla gags at the sight of the horrendous being seemingly hurting itself. The being exposes its true innards: a metallic framework and a core with a huge red circular light. The other fleshy parts started to fell like dried leaves, and another form of the being was an abstractive-many-legged spider with a circular head and a single red eye. Akino: Now wonder it doesn¡¯t have a soul, it¡¯s the core that we¡¯re looking for! Camilla: Th ¨C that¡¯s the core?! COMPUTER VOICE: Institutional assets detected: HQC-31, HQC-32, HQC-101. Protocol 53-OMEGA still under effect, subjugating rouge assets. Alexa: Wait, subjugate?! The metallic arms of the newly formed being extends like rubber and tries to grab Akino, Lyka, and Alexa. AKino managed to block all of its arms. Akino: AIM FOR THE CORE! Everyone else tried to attack from a distance. Lyka and Camilla used their magic, Alexa used huge porcupine like spikes and threw it, and Akino turned her arms into rifles and manifested some mini-missile launcher on her shoulder. Before their attack hits, the being covered itself in black liquid which expanded all across the room, swallowing all of them. It happened so fast, they couldn¡¯t able to react on time. Akino: (Lyka! Alexa!) Akino tried to contact them through their telepathic connection, but she couldn¡¯t. She feels like she¡¯s drowning, or endlessly falling while losing her breath. She closes her eyes, composing herself, and believing that she might see a way once she reopens it. CHAPTER 38: The Vault (Part 3) Akino found herself again inside that previous room with the same metallic stalls, lying on the ground, but now instead of grey boxes the stalls have baskets of fruits, vegetables, condiments, and packed bread. Akino looked around and noticed something on her peripheral vision. Akino: I¡¯m¡­ we¡¯re in the virtual matrix? Akino stood up and tried to look for the others. Akino: LYKA! ALEXA! CAMILLA! WHERE ARE YOU?! She heard something from a far corner, another shout. She ran toward that place and found the three. She saw Camilla unconsciously lying on the ground, with her body already covered in cracks. Lyka was nervously and agitatedly casting a healing spell, but as the magic circle appears, it disintegrates. The only thing keeping Camilla ¡®alive¡¯ was the IV tube that Alexa provided using her blood. Lyka: Aki! Help her out! I can¡¯t cast a magic in here! Akino: Try to calm dow- Lyka: I CAN¡¯T! Every time I cast a magic, something appears on my vision! It says something like ¡®program is not compatible¡¯?! What is that?! Alexa: I tried doing the same thing we did with ma last time, but it isn¡¯t working! Akino: That¡¯s because we were dragged inside this virtual space¡­ this place isn¡¯t even our virtual space, it¡¯s someone¡¯s or something¡¯s¡­ the three of us won¡¯t feel anything since we¡¯re already part of the quantum core system, but Camilla¡¯s mind isn¡¯t¡­ dragging her in put her mind in a strained state. We have to get out of here to save her, that¡¯s the only choice¡­ Lyka: But? Akino: But only the three of us can get out of here¡­ since we didn¡¯t know how exactly we were dragged in here, we can¡¯t figure out in what way we can place Camilla back¡­ Alexa: Then do the same thing to her! Akino: You want me to turn her into a quantum computer? Like us? Lyka: If that¡¯s an option to save her, we should! Akino pulls out a wire from her hair and connects it with Camilla¡¯s forearm. A holographic screen appears, and text shows:
Alexa: WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?! Akino: I ¨C I DON¡¯T KNOW! Lyka: We¡­ we are the ones occupying the cores, right? All of them looked down on Camilla, sadden on her uncertain fate. Camilla opens her eyes and tries to stand up. Lyka: Camilla! You shouldn¡¯t be¡­ moving? Camilla: What? What¡¯s going on? Alexa: Umm¡­ what do you feel? Camilla: I feel fine, thanks ¨C WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SKIN?! Akino: You ¨C you feel fine? Camilla: WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO MY SKIN?! WHY IS IT FULL OF CRACKS?! ARE WE DEAD?! Alexa: Calm down! As they were arguing, Lyka noticed something moving. She stood up and looked around, seeing a metal sliding door. The door rattles, as if someone is trying to open it. Lyka immediately tell them what she saw, and they prepared. Akino tried to fabricate some rifles and handed each one of them. Camilla nervously holds the rifle, so is Lyka who don¡¯t know how to use it. They aimed at the door, waiting for it to open. It slides, and a man in a white lab coat appears. Akino: MAKE ANOTHER STEP, AND YOU¡¯LL BE FILLED WITH HOLES! The man raises his arms and stops where he stands. Akino and Alexa slowly approaches the man in white lab coat and saw his ID: Eng. Emmanuel Suarez. They looked at each other. The two girls seemed confused while the man is totally calm. Emmanuel: Long time no see¡­ Akino snaps. She used the rifle¡¯s heel to hit the engineer on his face, knocking him down. Alexa and Lyka tried to hold off Akino who¡¯s about to bludgeon the face of the poor engineer with her fists. Alexa: Aki! Calm the fuck down! Lyka: Aki! What are you doing?! Akino: This man¡­ THIS MAN! YOU¡¯VE GOT A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO! Emmanuel: I know¡­ I know¡­ Emmanuel stands. He shook off his coat and opens wide the sliding door. The light outside that room enlightens Emmanuel¡¯s skin, same as Camilla¡¯s of having cracks. Akino: What is this place? Emmanuel: A virtual matrix, but from a pseudo-core. Lyka: Pseudo-core? Emmanuel: Kind of like in other facilities, only a bit ¡®smaller¡¯ but not that inferior. Akino: What about the ¡®real¡¯ place? Emmanuel: Oh¡­ it¡¯s ¨C a bit complicated¡­ Akino steps towards Emmanuel, attempting to grab his collar but Lyka stops her. Lyka: Aki, please¡­ calm down¡­ you¡¯ve been telling me the same thing when I¡¯m going overboard, right? Akino: Sorry¡­ its just¡­ ARGH! YOU BETTER BE TELLING US THE TRUTH! Emmanuel: I am¡­ please, follow me. The four girls went outside that room with the engineer. They saw small houses outside, made of cement and wood, like a small village. The residents are all¡­ human with skins covered in cracks, same as the one with Emmanuel and Camilla. Akino: Are they part of the system matrix? A memory of yours? Emmanuel: No¡­ they are real. Alexa: Real? As in, true people? But where are the bodies? I mean¡­ Emmanuel: There was¡­ but now¡­ Camilla: If these are the minds of ¡®real¡¯ people¡­ then the heads we saw¡­ Emmanuel: That¡¯s not them¡­ but it was supposed to be them. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Akino: STOP WITH THE RIDDLES AND GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT! Emmanuel sighs. He gestures them to follow him further. On their way, the other people seemed to notice them, greeting them with a smile. The four girls were feeling some eerie aura coming from the people, but as soon some children (also having the same cracked skins) approach them¡­ they felt a bit ¡®relieved¡¯. At least the place is not totally an illusion made by some machine. The children happily tease Alexa, making her annoyed. Lyka watches them and giggles a bit. Camilla focuses herself on looking on a plant field, seeing the other people peacefully plant some crops. Akino ignores them and chose to focus on Emmanuel, who took some wooden chairs from a small storage hut. Akino looked back to where they came from before after waking up, only seeing a small warehouse. She thought to herself: ¡°a peaceful village, huh?¡± Emmanuel sat down and offered Akino a chair, but she was reluctant and decided to stand in front of him. Akino: You knew about the protocol shit, didn¡¯t you? Emmanuel: Yes, and¡­ I am ashamed¡­ Akino: You should be, fucking coward¡­ Emmanuel: I wandered like a beggar outside the facility, seeing how the world changed¡­ the time inside the facility-13 seemed to be slowed down by an anomaly, and all of us¡­ seemed to be aging slower and slower¡­ Akino: Then the machines¡­ Emmanuel: The MC-00 took the personnel inside the facility as anomalies and terminated them. Akino: And you left them to die? Emmanuel: I¡­ I had no other choice¡­ fear already driven me to get out of the facility and find the others that might have the same mind as I am¡­ but I failed¡­ at least, in our world¡­ Akino: What do you mean? Emmanuel looked at the horizon. During this time, Akino unconsciously takes a seat. Emmanuel: As I wandered outside the facility, I saw another facility near the Alaskan territory, but it is specialized in portal technology¡­ and to my surprise, it was recently used when I found it. It took me a long time to make it work, and when it starts working I tried to go back and tell everyone back in the facility-13 that we could make it out alive¡­ but facility-13 warped, turned into huge sphere of void above the Manhattan area¡­ Akino: I¡­ remembered it¡­ the facility was on another place¡­ a grass land of red glass of some sorts¡­ kind of overwhelming when we first saw it¡­ Emmanuel: I know¡­ Akino: So¡­? Emmanuel: Oh, right¡­ well, as soon as I saw what happened, I moved on, and went to the portal, finding myself here¡­ I tried to look for the presence of the Institution¡­ and found this place¡­ As Emmanuel talks, the other three went near them and took their seats. Emmanuel: This place¡­ is a special bunker that incase something happens in our world, the Institution is ready to help our race to survive. They were calling this the ¡®vault¡¯, but I¡¯m not sure its true schematics¡­ when I got here, the corrupted MC-00 units dragged me and when I opened my eyes, I found myself in here¡­ Lyka: So, the heads we saw in the glass containers¡­ what are those? Emmanuel: This place reserves human life, it can procreate life in any way¡­ but since the ¡®protocol gamma¡¯ has started¡­ the systems of the vault slowly turned rogue¡­ like the one you¡¯ve seen in before you enter this virtual matrix. Akino: Protocol gamma¡­ what in the world is that? We¡¯ve read the files, but it doesn¡¯t make any sense¡­ Emmanuel: I¡¯m not sure¡­ it¡¯s a way to maintain the stability of the place, that¡¯s what I¡¯m sure about it¡­ but the way it suddenly activated after that radiation surge in Beijing¡­ Alexa: Aki, you¡¯ve said the drones seemed to have no log information, right? Emmanuel: About that, the protocol purposively corrupted the logs to ensure some sort of security. Lyka: Security through secrecy¡­ that doesn¡¯t make sense¡­ Emmanuel: I know¡­ Camilla: Umm¡­ can I ask something? Who are these people? I mean¡­ if you¡¯re from Earth, these folks are? Emmanuel: Oh¡­ after the ¡®Enigma¡¯ event, the facilities on the extra dimensions kept being operational, prepping for the possibility of transferring the remaining populace to habitable dimensions, ensuring our survival¡­ Akino: But the protocol gamma went up, and things got fucked up for no solid-fucking-reason¡­ Emmanuel: Yeah¡­ these people were former personnel of the facilities here in Elyn¡­ many of them came from the facility B-18¡­ not survivor though¡­ an event occurred in that facility, and most of them were supposed to be dead but here they are, living as part of this virtual space¡­ Camilla: D ¨C dead?! Alexa: Then, the heads¡­ I mean the drones trying to plant stuff by using pieces of brain¡­ I know it doesn¡¯t make sense, but human brain cells naturally have neural stem cells¡­ the drones are trying to ¡®plant¡¯ a brain? Emmanuel: Yes. And once the brain is done, a part of the protocol to pull out the stranded consciousness in this virtual space back and kill them off will be initiated. Akino: How come you know about this? Emmanuel: They¡¯ve tried to do it before¡­ Lyka: They¡¯ve tried¡­? The four looked confused. Emmanuel stands on his seat and went back to take something from the hut. A rifle, and the light of the sky in that virtual world made Akino to see more of the firearms inside the hut. Emmanuel took a small bell and clanged it. The children and other women outside their houses went in, the men lined up near that hut, and one-by-one Emmanuel handed them each with rifles and guns. As soon the giveaway of weapons finished, Emmanuel approached the four. Emmanuel: If you don¡¯t want to die¡­ leave this place¡­ I¡¯m not sure how exactly you got in here, but I know a way out of this virtual matrix. Akino: How? And what the hell is going on? Emmanuel: You¡¯ll see. They heard a noise, apparently coming from afar and becomes louder and louder. They looked up at the sky and saw a hovership, carrying a group of fully armed men. The Emmanuel¡¯s companions aim their weapons at the armed men. The hovership lands, and the armed men took their positions. Emmanuel: Captain Halyo, this fight is endless¡­ it won¡¯t take us anywhere other than this place¡­ A man covered in high-class Kevlar armor steps out from the crowd of the armed men. Halyo: Bypassing the system of the core¡­ is a serious offense against the Institution. Akino: The Institution is dead! A million years already passed and not even a single human soul is alive on Earth! Alexa: So, we should put down our weapons and talk this through, please? Halyo: Negotiation is out of the question. This core must be stabilized. The enemy captain gestures his hands, signaling his men to ready. A loud boom was suddenly heard. The girls looked up to the sky, cracking like a glass. Emmanuel: Wh ¨C what are you doing?! Halyo: If we can¡¯t terminate all of you one by one, then terminating this whole virtual matrix will do. A firefight started. Bullets hitting everywhere. They saw Emmanuel¡¯s companions got torn from gunfire, as well as the opposing side. However, they reformed themselves, like dust assembling to make form. That¡¯s why Emmanuel told to the enemy captain it is an ¡®endless¡¯ fight, all of the opposing forces gets killed and brought back to life to get killed again, but that will the last one as the whole virtual space starts to fall apart. The Lyka and Camilla panics, and Alexa tried to calm them down. Akino leaves the two to Alexa, and dashes towards the fight to help Emmanuel, but he stops her. Emmanuel: You should leave, now! Akino: How are we going to leave like this?! We don¡¯t even know how to get out of here! At least allow us to help! Emmanuel quickly grabs one of the enemy soldiers by its head and he twists it until it decapitates. Akino: YOU CAN FUCKING DO THAT?! Emmanuel: You can access his memories, right? Akino: Yeah, but why this thug? Emmanuel: These thugs¡­ are the machines you¡¯ve fought outside. Akino: How¡­ you mean the MC-00 units?! Akino connects her hair turned into wire onto the nape of the decapitated soldier. After a few seconds, she grabs the compass of the dead soldier. Akino: You still owe us, mister engineer! You better get out of here alive! Emmanuel: That is¡­ an impossible request¡­ but I¡¯ll make sure to pay my debt to you. Akino: Pay me by protecting the people of this place. Emmanuel: Heh¡­ protecting the already dead, huh? Emmanuel saw Akino running away with her companions, heading back to the warehouse where he found them. Emmanuel: Godspeed, young lady¡­ The four girls entered the warehouse, and Akino hurriedly closed the door. She pressed the compass against the wall beside the door, and black liquid oozes out of it. The whole place was covered, except themselves, and in a flash, they were transported to a never-ending white room, similar to the virtual space that manifests in their minds. Alexa: We came back, didn¡¯t we? Lyka: Aki, what¡¯s next? Akino: I¡¯ll ¡®hook¡¯ Camilla onto us as we leave this virtual space. Camilla: Hook me? What do you mean? A small control panel emerges from the ground. Akino asked Camilla to place her hand on the panel, and so Camilla did. The cracks on her skin started to fade during that process, and eventually her skin has returned to normal. Camilla: MY SKIN WENT BACKTO NORMAL! I¡¯M BACK TO NORMAL! I¡¯M BACK, BITCHES! Lyka: Language! Camilla: Sorry. Alexa: What did you do? Akino: We just left the virtual matrix where Emmanuel was. Alexa: So¡­ this is your virtual space? Akino: Not technically. The soldiers have some kind of a backdoor server, and this is their own matrix connected through the real world. Alexa: Okay¡­ that¡¯s confusing, shouldn¡¯t have asked¡­ Camilla: So¡­ how do get back? Or wake up? Akino: We¡¯ll just have to wak ¨C Before Akino finishes her words, the ground where they stand cracks and opens. A sludge of black matter forming into tentacles emerges from the opening and tries to grab them. Akino manages to open a ¡®portal¡¯, where they immediately ran towards. Their senses turned numb, but eventually they¡¯ve regained it, seeing themselves being strangled by gelatinous wires of black material coming from the robotic one-eyed spider they¡¯ve faced before going into the virtual matrix. Akino blasts it out with her arm cannon, making the others free on entanglement, and observed that the machine didn¡¯t effort to resist nor to re-strangle them. Akino approaches the lifeless machine, and when she was about to connect to it, she noticed a ticking sound coming from it. Akino: Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s another bomb¡­ Akino connects to the core of the machine. Realizing back that the captain they saw in the virtual space said to destroy them all, they will destroy the whole matrix, which is the whole core. Akino: Guys, we¡¯ve got to go, now! Alexa: Wait, that thing is another bomb?! Lyka: But the machines are still outside this room, right? Akino looked back at the ticking core, noticing that it starts to glow hot. She immediately rushes towards the three, turned her arms into metallic shields and expanded it into a spherical structure, covering all of them. A deafening boom was heard, and a violent quake was felt, and it continued to occur many times in very short intervals. Lyka, Alexa and Camilla were frightened by the intense sound and ground shaking, but they couldn¡¯t see what¡¯s going on beyond the metallic plates Akino used to protect them, and they couldn¡¯t see each other due to the darkness inside that metal sphere they reside in. The noises and quakes stopped. All of them were silent, except for Akino who¡¯s seemingly breathing hardly. Lyka used a magic spell to cast light, seeing everyone uninjured except Akino. Her eyes were wide open but ¡®silent¡¯ and stares only at the ground, she drools and coughs blood, and apparently unconscious. The metallic plates of the sphere retract back to her arm, she drops down face first revealing her back portion being ¡®cut¡¯ and ¡®burnt¡¯, making her cut-off brain, lungs and innards seen like a cross-section of an anatomy doll, but only from head to waist. Unknown to the other three, Akino could hear them. She could hear Lyka¡¯s sudden scream and loud crying. She could hear Camilla trying to cast a healing spell on her. She could hear Alexa nervously cussing and comforting Lyka by saying that they should get out of there and bring her up to the surface. She could hear all of that, but she couldn¡¯t feel nor see, and she feels like she¡¯s going to black out for the first time as a ¡®human¡¯ that never gets tired. Before she totally loses her consciousness, there¡¯s one thing in her mind in that moment: what is going on? AUTHORS NOTE (28/09/2021) Hi Guys! The chapter uploads will be delayed (dunno if short delays or long delays) but I''m working on it. Our undergraduate thesis has begun and I have to tend to it, so my time in writing in here will be much lesser. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.Well, I was considering dropping this hobby, but I didn''t expect that I will be able to gain this number of views and followers, so I am thanking everyone for reading this ''experimental'' writing of mine. So, yeah... that''s it... Once again, thank you very much and please bear with me for the late uploads. Stay safe everyone and God Bless! CHAPTER 39: Aftermath . . . [BODY SYSTEM AUTHENTICATING] . . . [SYSTEM STATUS: SEVERELY DAMAGED] [DAMAGE CAUSE: STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY FAILURE DUE TO INTENSIVE ENERGY ABSORPTION RESULTED FROM ANTIMATTER AND MATTER ANNIHILATION] Akino: (Anti¡­ matter¡­?) For some reason, all that Akino sees were texts. She couldn¡¯t move her body, not even her fingers. She can¡¯t feel as well, nor breath and talk. She feels like she¡¯s stuck in a place she couldn¡¯t see nor touch, wherein only her mind works, trapped in a jar. . . . [RECOMMENDATION: ALLOW SYSTEM OVERRIDE TO RECORD DATA OBTAINED DURING THE INTENSIVE ENERGY ABSORPTION, AND RECREATE SIMULATIONS TO APPLY TO THE BODY SYSTEM] Akino: (A ¨C allow¡­?) [SIMULATIONS IN PROGRESS] . . . [SIMULATIONS COMPLETE] [BODY SYSTEM CAN NOW RECEIVED HIGHER ENERGY INPUTS] . . . [STURCTURAL INTEGRITY UPDATED] [MAXIMUM DAMAGE THRESHOLD INCREASED: BODY SYSTEM CAN NOW WITHSTAND A SCENARIO OF ANTIMATTER AND MATTER ANNIHILATION] Akino: (That¡¯s¡­ cool¡­ I guess¡­) [WOULD YOU LIKE TO UPDATE THE BODY SYSTEMS OF HQC-31 AND HQC-101?] Akino: (That¡¯s Lyka and Alexa¡­ it will be better if they have those as well¡­) [BODY SYSTEMS OF HQC-31 AND HQC-101 UPDATED] Akino: (Can I¡­ wake up now¡­?) [BODY SYSTEM RE-AUTHENTICATING] . . . [ALL SENSORY FUNCTIONS DAMAGED] [DAMAGE CAUSE: ENERGY OVERLOAD RESULTED FROM ANTIMATTER AND MATTER ANNIHILATION] [BODY REPAIR IN PROGRESS] [BODY SYSTEM MAXIMUM OPERATIONAL STATUS WILL BE ACHIEVED AFTER 1 HOUR AND 34 MINUTES] Akino: (Guess I should take time to rest¡­) Akino rests her mind. All the texts she saw started to fade out, but she couldn¡¯t see nor feel. It¡¯s like that weird dream, where all you see is total darkness: all black, no sound, nothing to touch, just your thought floating in the void. She waited. She tried to count. Seconds, then minutes, into an hour, then she lost count. Frustrated, she tried to think of something. She thought back of the three. Before the explosion, she remembered covering them with high density titanium-platinum alloy. Then, she losses body control, until she went unconscious. Akino: (I hope they¡¯re safe¡­ wait, they are! Well¡­ I heard Lyka crying¡­) She feels down. She thinks she might have the others worried like hell. Akino: (How long am I supposed to stay in here¡­?) . . . [ALL SYSTEMS RECOVERED] [OVERALL BODY FUNCTIONS: 94% RESTORED] [APPLYING SIMULATION UPDATES] [OVERALL BODY FUNCTIONS: 100% RESTORED] [OPTIMIZATION AT 100% ACHIEVED] [HQC-32 NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL] Akino: (Fucking finally¡­) . . . Akino slowly opens her eyes. She could feel her hands and feet. A bit numb at first, but it was returning. A few seconds, she could feel her entire body, and she could feel something soft enveloping her right arm. She looks at her right and saw Lyka lying by the bedside and clinging to her arm. She noticed that Lyka¡¯s eyes were dry of tears, which in turn made her ¡®ache¡¯. Lyka suddenly woke up, seeing the already conscious Akino that was staring at her. She jumps out and immediately hugs her. Akino could hear Lyka¡¯s low whimpering, and in return she hugs back and caresses her hair. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Akino: I¡¯m sorry I made you worried¡­ Lyka: Of course, I¡¯m worried! We can¡¯t wake you up! You were healing but very slow, we thought you were dying! Akino went silent. She stares Lyka for seconds, making Lyka blush but still was in the brink of crying. Lyka: But¡­ thanks¡­ for saving us¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to shout at you¡­ it¡¯s just¡­ Akino: I know¡­ I¡¯ll be more careful next time¡­ I ¨C I love you¡­ Lyka¡¯s face brightens. She immediately hugs Akino again, for a long time, not letting each other let go of their arms. They stared again at each other¡¯s faces. Lyka: You know¡­ that¡¯s the first time you said ¡®I love you¡¯ to me¡­ Akino: R ¨C really? Wait, this is not the first time, right? Right? Lyka lets go of Akino, and pouts at her, feeling a bit frustrated. Akino tried to console her, but Lyka intentionally avoids her. Akino: Alright! Alright! I¡¯m sorry! And I love you! I¡¯ll say it more than once starting this day if that¡¯s what you want! Lyka: O ¨C okay¡­ I ¨C I love you too. Alexa: You guys were just saying ¡®I love you¡¯ this time? How about that time both of you were having some ¡®bed stuff¡¯? The two looked on the tent entrance, seeing Alexa. Lyka: B ¨C bed stuff?! Akino: You know¡­ that night? Get it? Lyka: Oh¡­ Alexa slowly walks up to Akino, still on the bed. She plunges herself down on Akino¡¯s thighs face first and starts to hit her with her fist for three times. Akino: Hey! What¡¯s with the ¨C Alexa: You ¨C you should have come back sooner¡­ y ¨C you made us wait¡­ goddamnit¡­ Akino: Sorry, kid¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ Alexa jumps towards her and hugs her. Lyka smiles at the two, and Akino gestures Lyka to join in, which in turn she did. They stayed there for minutes until someone enters their tent. It¡¯s Matias. Matias: I see you¡¯re somehow fine now. Akino: Yeah. How bad am I when I was knocked out? Lyka: Super bad¡­ Matias: Indeed¡­ Alexa: Yeah, the innards of your body was¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ spilled like beans and noodles in tomato sauce? Akino: Thanks for the description¡­ Matias: So¡­ about what happened¡­ Akino: Hold on a minute! How long am I passed out? Lyka: 10 hours, at least? Alexa: Yeah, don¡¯t worry we didn¡¯t time skip. Matias: Um, time skip? Akino: 10 hours is hella long! Matias: Don¡¯t worry about it. The things outside are the ones you should be concerned. Akino: Outside? Matias: Yeah¡­ about the ruins¡­ it¡¯s a crater now¡­ care to, you know - explain some stuff to us adventurers? Akino: You guys didn¡¯t tell them? Alexa: Well, it¡¯s much better if it came from you. You¡¯re the one who knew there¡¯s a fucking bomb, so you knew stuff. Lyka: Alexa! Language! Alexa: Oop¡­ sorry¡­ Akino stood out of the bed and of the tent. She sees the sunlight and the surroundings. The dungeon entrance is now gone, only a very wide and deep crater. Miraculously, no one were harmed or fatally injured when the explosion happened, startling the resting adventurers instead and only causing minor damages. The army of Church of the Ravine were still asleep that time and nothing goes amiss, until the ground where some tents started to sink down slowly, revealing a half-kilometer-wide and a hundred-meter-deep crater. Dumbfounded on what she saw, Matias approaches her and explained their experiences that night, the sudden earth shaking and loud explosions underneath. Akino then tried to explain things in the most, simplest way she could: ¡°There¡¯s a ruin underneath filled with unknown level of wizardry and when they tried to leave the place a booty trap sets that caused the explosion¡±. Matias was a bit confused at first but accepts what Akino said as facts, since there¡¯s no other plausible explanation on the events that night (even Akino wasn¡¯t sure what the hell happened down there). Alexa: Did you just¡­ made up those? Akino: Hey! Those are still true! I didn¡¯t lie! Lyka: Still, it will be much better if they know about it¡­ what if it happens again? Akino: Fine, fine¡­ I¡¯ll write a detailed report after this¡­ by the way, where¡¯s Camilla? Lyka and Alexa guided Akino to where Camilla was, near the crater and preaching with the already awakened knights and the elf mage they fought the other day. Camilla: Oh, Aki! Camilla rushes towards the three while being followed by her elf attendant. Camilla: Aki! Are you alright? Akino: Yeah, I¡¯m fine. The elf attendant cuts in. Camilla: Oh, this is Torion, my assistant and the captain of my mage unit. Torion: It¡¯s an honor to be an acquaintance, and I am truly grateful for saving our great priestess. Akino: Everybody would have done that, don¡¯t sweat it. Torion: Don¡¯t ¨C sweat it? But I¡¯m not sweating. Alexa: This guy¡¯s funny! HAHAHHAHA! Lyka: I think he¡¯s confused? Camilla: EHEM! Torion, would you give us a moment? I would like to discuss to them our plans on retaking the Ravine. Torion: Yes, milady! Please, take your time. As the elf leaves, Camilla drags the three away. Camilla: My men are not used to it! Akino: Not used to it?! You¡¯ve been talking like a fucking nerd for hours when we were down there! Alexa: YEAH! What is this?! Showing off?! Come on! You talk like you¡¯re an old fart or something! Camilla: An old?! Listen! I have to keep my image! Why don¡¯t you get that?! I¡¯m a respectable priestess from a magical religious nation! Akino: That talks like a nerd and freaks out on small things! Alexa: And cusses non-stop as well! Lyka: Ugh¡­ can we go back on the plans? Akino: Oh¡­ OH! Right! The coup, right? Camilla: Yeah¡­ Camilla explained to her comrades that Akino and her team will be hired as adventurers and will do some espionage antics and other supporting tasks while the rebellion team assembles and prepares against the current government of the Ravine. Akino: When are we going to start? Camilla: Tomorrow. Lyka: That¡¯s way too early! Camilla: I know¡­ I¡¯m sorry if I didn¡¯t tell it sooner¡­ we¡¯ve got no time to waste¡­ Akino: Okay, that¡¯s understandable. But how are we going to start? Camilla: Well, tomorrow some of the rebellion troops were going at this location. We will start setting camp here and the others will go back to try and rescue some civilians and secure some crucial supplies as well. Alexa: That¡¯s way too many tasks in a day! Akino: So, you want us to come with the troops coming back to Ravine? Camilla: If that¡¯s okay with you¡­ I mean, you guys could stay and help us out in setting camp. Akino pauses for a while, thinking through what choice she will made. Akino: Lyka, Alexa, what do you think? Lyka: If the team going back to Ravine will rescue some civilians, I think it¡¯s much better to come with them. Alexa: Yeah! And the other pips of the Ravine doesn¡¯t know this place, right? Camilla: Of course! We made sure that the elders of the Church doesn¡¯t have any information of this place. Alexa: So, this place is surely secured! We can also ask out Matias to help them! A commission for them! Akino: I see, then we¡¯ll have an intensive discussion with Matias and the other adventurers about this matter¡­ Camilla: It¡¯s okay if they refuse, I only need volunteers, really¡­ Lyka: Don¡¯t worry, Aki can convince them! Alexa: Yeah! Akino: Geez¡­ Camilla: Thank you, guys. Thank you¡­ Alexa: Aw, the mighty priestess is getting emotional. Gonna cry? Camilla: I¡¯m not! Alexa kept on teasing Camilla, but eventually she managed to get her composure back when her elf attendant came back to report something to her. Camilla left the three to attend some things in her army, and they went back to their tents and prepare to help arrange the damage stuff caused by the explosion last night. It was a peaceful day. The day ends, and the night begins once more. Akino gathered the high-ranking adventurers who oversees that expedition, including Kal and Matias, she also brought Camilla and her officials as well. That night they discussed the situation the Ravine was in, and Camilla requested a commission for the adventurers to help them set-up a camp in those ruins. The other adventurers were doubting to help due to diplomatic concerns, but Camilla assured that their guild¡¯s involvement will be put in secret, and they will be compensated well. The adventurers put up a vote, and it is 5 out of 7, in favor of helping Camilla¡¯s rebellion. The other two reasoned that the expedition ends exactly tomorrow, and the others were already tired, so they voted no and told them that they¡¯ll go home instead. The leader, Matias, agrees with them to go home tomorrow and report everything happened. The meeting ended. Some of the staying adventurers took their rest, others helped the going-home adventurers pack their stuff, others help the soldiers of Ravine set-up their tents. Akino sighs while sitting outside their tent. A lot of things happened, and her body that should be not feeling any tiredness feels tired, and even her body that should not be accustomed to falling asleep her mind feels the total opposite. Lyka comes out of the tent and upon seeing her, she approaches Akino and sits beside her. Lyka: Are you alright? Akino: Yeah. How¡¯s Alexa? Lyka: She¡¯s playing with the cellphone-thingy, I¡¯m not sure what that thing is¡­ Akino: It is a cellphone, so you got it right¡­ say, when I was asleep, did the two of you felt or see something like a text notification about body updates? Lyka: Yes, Alexa got it first then I got one as well. Something about structural integrity? Alexa said you¡¯re the one who did it since we saw the ¡®HQC-32¡¯ term after the notification. Akino: Oh¡­ okay. Lyka: That explosion¡­ what was it? Akino: Something very dangerous¡­ Lyka: Is that why we must focus on looking for this Institution stuff? To prevent such things from happening? Akino: Well, yes, other than to know the truth I guess one of the priorities we should do is to stop things like that from happening in a populated place¡­ since, you know ¨C other people tried to take the stuff the Institution has. Lyka: The engineer guy in the virtual matrix¡­ the things he said seemed to be ¨C Akino: Nonsensical? Lyka: Disconnected, but I guess that¡¯s also the case. Akino: If we can go back, or we have the time to ask things then we should be knowing more¡­ but instead we¡¯ve got a shit-load of questions¡­ like, the hell is the Protocol Gamma? And why we¡¯re classified as rouges? And if millions of years already passed on Earth, then the last part of the protocol, which the Institution kills itself should have been initiated, right? Then how come it¡¯s like they¡¯re still operational? Lyka grabs Akino on to her chest. Lyka: Then we should look for the answers. And if we get stuck, we still move on and look for it. Remember? You¡¯ve told me that life goes on, and we should as well¡­ Akino: I know¡­ I know¡­ it¡¯s just tiring and all, I just want to make home and start fresh. Lyka: But the past still lingers you¡­ Akino: The problems in the past must be resolved to have a better present life and prosperous future¡­ Lyka: That¡¯s¡­ enlightening. Akino: Nah¡­ I remembered that when I was cracking up a fortune cookie¡­ They both stared at the night sky for an hour. Both were silent, but they hold each other¡¯s hands like there¡¯s no tomorrow. CHAPTER 40: Onwards to Ravine! The morning came. The leaving adventurers left and the others that chose to remain were either taking a rest or helping still the rebel soldiers of the Ravine. Akino just woke up, seeing herself being hugged by Lyka who¡¯s also being hugged by Alexa, both were still sleeping peacefully. She carefully removes Lyka¡¯s arms on her and left their bed. She went outside and sees that the tents for the coming refugees from Ravine were already finished. She takes a stroll on these tents settled around the crater and finds Camilla discussing with her elf attendant, Torion, and Kal. Camilla: Aki! You¡¯re just in time! Akino: So¡­ we¡¯re going to do it now, huh? Camilla: Yes. Umm¡­ do want to do the rescuing or the resupplying? Akino: An employer asking out an employee what to do¡­ Camilla: Come on! Just pick! Akino: Alright, alright¡­ well, if Lyka picks her choice then the rescuing part? Camilla: Oh, okay! Then, Torion and Kal will be with the resupplying team. Kal: Sounds easy. Torion: Not actually¡­ the supplies we¡¯re getting comes from a garrison of the Ravine, guarded by mage soldiers loyal to the elders. Kal: Too easy. Akino: Don¡¯t cry if you got beat up. Kal: WHA - ! Camilla: So, that settles it? My comrades will tell the details on your way to Ravine. Akino: What about you? Camilla: Well, I¡¯ll stay here and look after the others. I have another team of mage soldiers going here, escorting some civilians from the city who were paranoid on getting out. Akino: Even in this world, people tend to panic that much, huh? Camilla: Yeah¡­ I¡¯ll look after them once they reach here. Please, be careful on your way to Ravine. Akino: We will. They parted ways, Akino returns to their tent to wake up the two and saw that they were still sleeping soundly. Akino: Oi! Wake up, sunshines! We¡¯re leaving. Alexa: 5 more minutes¡­ Lyka: Can we¡­ postpone it a bit¡­? Akino: We¡¯re not supposed to get drowsy, you know? What¡¯s with the lazy attitude? Alexa: Ugh, what a bummer¡­ Lyka: Alright, alright¡­ we¡¯ll stand, we¡¯ll stand¡­ come on, Alexa¡­ The two stood up on their bed and readied themselves to leave. Lyka took her leather armor, Alexa brought some bag of supplies (it¡¯s food, only food), and took all their belongings which only a few wooden clutters. Once their done preparing, they left and told Matias that they will lend their tent for the refugees. After that, Matias bids them goodbye, and the met up with Kal and Finn and some of Camilla¡¯s mage soldiers. They took some horses and carriages and started their journey to the nation of Ravine. Akino drove a carriage carrying 6 people, which includes Lyka and Alexa. She could see outside the other soldiers riding horses, as well as Kal who¡¯s also driving a carriage and Torion was on front leading the whole group. Lyka peeks out of the carriage and decides to sit beside Akino while holding out a map. Lyka: Say¡­ how long before we reach the city? And what exactly are we going to do? Akino: We go to the Ravine, snuff out some refugees and cause a ruckus, making the military fortresses around it send some reinforcements back and steal their goods. Lyka: ¡­ Akino: I know, not a good explanation, but at least it¡¯s feasible, I guess¡­ Lyka: What if the fortresses just heightened their defenses instead of sending some troops? Would it be like a suicide mission? Akino: Suicide mission? That¡¯s an exaggeration, but you¡¯re right¡­ it¡¯s a gamble¡­ Lyka: You planned this? Akino: Some of it, coz if I didn¡¯t Kal will be straight storming one of the fortresses and probably get in trouble again. Kal: YOU SURE PICKING UP ON ME, HUH?! Kal dashes in front of them riding a horse. Akino: Yeah, it¡¯s fun. Kal: I¡¯ll show you what I¡¯m made of once we cleared that fortress! Lyka: Oh¡­ good luck? Kal: HAH! Then Kal speeds off, leaving them behind. After a few more hours, the team stops. Their lead ordered some soldiers to do some scouting. They¡¯ve reached the outside border of the Ravine, and there¡¯s a military fortress ahead of them. Akino tried to look it up on her satellites and it¡¯s about a kilometer away, but thanks to the inclined terrain their visibility to the Ravine soldiers is zero. Alexa: Now what? Akino: Camilla¡¯s soldiers know their stuff, let them handle it. Lyka: I thought we¡¯re going to do the rescuing first? Akino: Yeah¡­ well, the nearest road was about 5 kilometers away and heavily guarded¡­ we can¡¯t just barge in there. Alexa: Then how are we going to rescue the civilians? The scouting soldiers went back. They told everyone that the nearest fortress has (conveniently) a tunnel system leading to the sewage network of the Ravine. They planned to attack the fortress at night and have themselves disguise and hold the place while the others will go in the city and rescue the civilians. Torion: Any questions? Lyka: I can cast a widespread sleeping spell on the whole fortress so we can take it silently. Torion: I am not sure about that. The fortress has a spell detection mechanism that can alert its soldiers¡­ Alexa: Oh! Oh! I have an idea! Akino: Please don¡¯t tell it¡¯s not the ant swarm¡­ Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Alexa: Wow, you guessed it right! Torion: Ant swarm??? Kal: What in the world is that?! Akino: Yeah¡­ it works fine, she can do it. Torion: Then, the next problem is entering the fortress¡­ the mages there can erect barriers that only allows certain people to enter¡­ Lyka: I guess I¡¯ll handle that one, that will be easy. Torion: It¡¯s all yours then. Any more questions? Kal: We¡¯re not smashing or killing or destroying stuff? Torion: This is a retrieval and rescue mission, not a raid¡­ They waited till the night comes. Akino told to Torion and his soldiers to get ready once Alexa ¡®disables¡¯ (yes, that¡¯s what she said) the fortress soldiers and Lyka removes the magic barrier around it. The three went near the fortress to do their stuff. Lyka: Alexa, how are you going to do the ¡®swarm¡¯ thing? Akino: Oh my god¡­ Alexa: Hehehe¡­ Alexa sits on the grass with her arms and legs crossed. Lyka curiously gets closer to her to see what she¡¯s been up to, but Akino stays behind, knowingly what¡¯s coming next. Akino: L ¨C Lyka¡­ Lyka: Yes? Akino: If you don¡¯t want to be grossed out, you better not look at it¡­ Lyka: Eh? Alexa: Hey! It¡¯s not gross? RUDE! From Lyka¡¯s point of view, she saw something drips on Alexa¡¯s skin. She takes a closer look, Alexa was sweating, but instead of beads of liquid she saw ants coming out of her skin. Lyka freaks out as she steps back. Alexa: Cool, isn¡¯t? Lyka: Y ¨C yeah¡­ it is cool¡­ Akino: No, it is not. Alexa: Really? You did the same thing but with small spider like robots! Lyka: Wait, how are you going to make the soldiers sleep using¡­ oh, oh! Alexa: Haha! Akino: Move like a butterfly, sting like¡­ an ant? That¡¯s not the saying, right? The ants Alexa created swarmed, formed a line, and went straight to the fortress until they¡¯re gone from sight. After a few more minutes, the ants crawled back towards their position, and merges back to Alexa¡¯s body. Akino: Let me guess, every single ant tried to sting every single soldier in there, and the sting has some kind of neurotoxin or tranquilizing agent, right? Alexa: Nah, the ant swarm consumed them¡­ slowly¡­ Lyka: EH?! Alexa: Just kidding, Aki¡¯s right¡­ Lyka: So¡­ it¡¯s my turn now. Lyka stands and poses to cast a magic circle. The whole ground of the fortress was covered in a huge magic circle, and silhouette of cracking glass in a form of a dome appeared around it. That dome completely shatters, and the magic circle dissipates. Lyka: It¡¯s done, that was too easy... Akino: Too easy? You mean, there might be some traps or something? Lyka: No, I mean¡­ it¡¯s weak¡­ Akino: Oh, right¡­ Alexa: Well, what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go back! The three hurriedly walked back to their group. Once they reported that all the fortress soldiers went unconscious and the magic barrier was gone, they sorted out and carefully trekked their way into the fortress. Once inside the fortress, they tied up the unconscious soldiers and dumped them in the dungeon area. Some of them took their armors for disguise, the others started packing up the supplies to their carriages, and lastly Akino¡¯s group went to the tunnel network leading to their target location: the nation of Ravine. At first, the tunnel was clean and smooth, but as soon they approached the entrance through the sewage area the soldiers covered their faces with cloth doused in special filtering potion. Lyka also wore one, but Akino and Alexa didn¡¯t want to since they can tolerate the awful smell they¡¯ll experience there. Akino: This place sure is dirty¡­ Alexa: Fabricate roombas and made them sweep the place. Akino: I just remembered¡­ Lyka, you might get you¡¯re tail and foot dirty. Want me to ¨C carry you? Lyka: C ¨C carry?! Me?! Alexa: Can¡¯t you guys wait till this is over? Akino: Look at the floor, now look at Lyka¡¯s fur. You get it now? Lyka: I ¨C I¡¯m fine, really¡­ Akino crouches a bit and gestures Lyka to take a piggy-back ride on her. Alexa bursts out laughing after seeing that. Alexa: HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Akino: What? What¡¯s funny? Alexa: Nothing, nothing! Lyka: A ¨C are you sure? Akino: I insist. Lyka timidly approaches Akino and rides on her back, even Lyka was a bit larger compared to Akino. It was like a small teenager girl carries her not-so-old mother on her back. Alexa: You¡¯re just enjoying ma¡¯s breasts getting pressed on your back! Akino & Lyka: ALEXA! Alexa: Ugh¡­ alright, mouth is zipped! Alexa then dashes onwards to the other group of soldiers. The two walks at a slow pace, and they were left behind the group. Lyka: You sure you¡¯re alright carrying me? Akino: Yeah, it¡¯s fine. Lyka: You¡¯re enjoying it, aren¡¯t you? Akino: Umm¡­ uhh¡­ that¡¯s a tricky question¡­ Lyka then proceeds to tightly hug Akino from her back. Lyka: W ¨C well¡­ it¡¯s fine by me, I guess¡­ thanks¡­ Akino: You¡¯re wel ¨C Akino abruptly stops. Lyka: What¡¯s wrong? Akino: I feel... weird¡­ Akino felt a tingling sensation. Like having goosebumps. She checked on her sensors but only she detects the small fluctuations of mana in that place. Lyka: Well, the mana in this place seems to be¡­ messed up¡­ I¡¯m not sure, but a lot of waste is dumped in here, and knowing that Ravine is a nation full of mages¡­ some magical things or stuff could be dumped here¡­ Akino: You know that I can¡¯t feel mana unless I use a sensor, right? Lyka: Yes¡­ wait, so what is it? Akino: Just¡­ never mind¡­ it must be my head still having recovery progressions after that explosion. Lyka: I ¨C I can heal you, that¡¯s the only thing I can do¡­ Akino: S ¨C sure¡­ While Akino carries Lyka on her back, Lyka casts a healing spell on her head. Even though it does nothing to her, Akino just let Lyka do that to make her at ease, but Akino still feels the tingling on her spine and chose to not tell it to Lyka. After an hour or two, their group reached a ladder leading upwards. One by one, they climbed and opened a manhole, seeing themselves inside a small room with sword racks and spear holders. They carefully peeked outside the door and found some guards drinking and playing cards. Alexa proposed that she will get out and knocked them. The rebel soldiers asked how, and Alexa turned herself invisible, then she proceeds to slowly go out of that room. While waiting inside the room, they could hear the guards¡¯ muffled screaming, probably confused on why one by one they were dropping on the floor unconscious. The noises outside stops, and Alexa peeks back into the room and told them that all the guards were knocked down. They left the room, remove the guards¡¯ armor and clothing, tied them, and dropped them down the sewerage canal where they came from. The other soldiers stayed at that outpost as lookouts, and Akino¡¯s team left to escort the soldiers as they go for the temporary shelter of civilians wanting to get out of Ravine. The place looks the same as in Dasman, but the lamp posts were floating magic crystal lamps, the buildings and housings were stonier, and the streets were silent like a ghost town. However, there were many groups of guards and soldiers patrolling the streets ¨C a curfew, and also, they saw a lot of people getting dragged on. The rebel soldiers told Akino that those must be their comrades, insisting they should go and rescue them. Akino disagrees and told them that the rescue mission for the civilians is their top priority. They traversed the streets carefully, being guided by Akino that observes the path pattern of the guards and soldiers. After few blocks of stealth walking, avoiding the patrolling guards, and hiding in dark alleyways they¡¯ve reached a warehouse being guarded by a lone guard. The mage soldiers approached the guard and did some talking. The guard let them enter and told them to hurry. Once they¡¯ve entered the warehouse, they saw a lot of people carrying some stuff and packing them. Akino: That¡¯s a lot of them¡­ Lyka: We can¡¯t just have them go out in one go, right? Alexa: Yeah, that will be very messy¡­ Rebel Soldier: Ma¡¯am, what should we do? Akino: Have them gather in groups, we guide the children and elderly first. Then, the adults will assist the disabled people, if there¡¯s any. Rebel Soldier: Got it! Akino: Lyka, Alexa, you go out and scout our pathway back to that outpost. If any roaming non-friendly guards intercept the track, knock them out. Lyka: Got it! Alexa: And hide the bodies, don¡¯t forget that! Akino: Why you sound like you¡¯re going to kill them? Alexa: Really? Lyka: Alexa, we should go. Alexa: Alright, ma. Aki, be careful! The two left, and Akino started to take command by dividing the group of people to batches: one for the children and elderly, another for the adults assisting the sick and disabled, and lastly a group carrying their stuff. Alexa was on the rooftops, accompanied by Lyka who summoned some of her shadow clones to secure their path. The first group goes out and reaches the outpost safely. The second goes out and safely makes it to the outpost. The third group was next. Akino: (Lyka, anything up there?) Lyka: (Nothing, so far¡­) Alexa: (There¡¯s a group of soldiers¡­ dragging another soldier¡­ but don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll not intercept with your path, I guess¡­) Akino: (Leave it to me.) Akino halted that third group, and they hid on a nearby alleyway to prevent being seen. The patrolling guards who were dragging someone was crossing the street that was supposed to be their path back to the outpost. One of the rebel soldiers saw the face of the dragged soldier, and suddenly he took his sword and dashes towards the group of patrolling guards. Akino: (WHAT THE FUCK?!) The other rebel soldiers couldn¡¯t stay put and decided also to aide their other comrade. Akino: (This is nuts¡­) CHAPTER 41: Breakout Lyka: (Aki, what¡¯s wrong?) Akino: (These dudes went straight to the group of patrolling guards¡­) Alexa: (Want some help?) Akino: (I got this.) Akino sighs. She extends her arm and turns it into a long plasma sniping rifle. She aims at the patrolling guards who were still oblivious on the fact that 5 rebel soldiers charges at them from a distance. Akino whispers to herself: Akino: Five armored guards, two mages? And a cuffed dude¡­ She looks back at the civilians carrying their belongings, waiting for the next direction that Akino will command them. Akino told them to stay put and remain hidden. Akino: (Lyka, get down here and guard these civilians. Alexa, keep roaming at the rooftops and put down any guards going here.) Lyka & Alexa: (Got it!) Akino jumps up and lands on the rooftop of a building. She takes aim, fires 7 shots of superhot plasma beams, and now looks at the dead bodies of the guards with burnt holes on their foreheads. The rebel soldiers then quickly dashed to the cuffed guy, frees him and goes back to the group. Akino told Alexa to clean up the corpses. She jumps down, and disappointedly sighs at the rebel soldiers. Akino: Has anyone told you not to abandon your cargo? Specially if they¡¯re civilian people! The man they rescued stood and apologizes by lowering his head. It turns out he¡¯s their ex-captain, named Thomas, and a very important informant of the rebel group. Thomas: I apologize for the unacceptable actions of my former comrades. Akino: Yeah, whatever¡­ get over it. A rebel soldier, named Arth, glares at Akino. Lyka notices this and does the same to that soldier, frightening the soldier and making Akino look at them. Akino: Lyka, stop it. Lyka: But he glares at you! He¡¯s like going to stab you or something! Arth: You don¡¯t get to boss us around, woman! Lyka: Most of the stuff we¡¯ve been doing was her idea! And it keeps us alive! Thomas: Arthur, don¡¯t speak rude to your superior. Akino: Alright, alright, my mistake¡­ can we take the civilians now and leave? Akino angrily walks out with Lyka. After they¡¯ve walked back to the outpost, they once again traversed the sewerage canals back to the fortress they¡¯ve invaded. The soldiers and their ex-captain lead the front, the civilians in the middle, and behind were Akino, Lyka, and Alexa. Alexa: Say, the dude¡¯s an informant¡­ should we, you know ¨C ask him stuff? Akino: And what? Have an exposition? That¡¯s BS. Lyka: BS? Alexa: BS? Oh, it means bullshit. Akino: Goddammit, Alexa! All of a sudden, the civilians upfront started screaming. The tied-up soldiers earlier were mages after all, and they were able to cast a magic portal just to call in and teleport 10 guards. The rebel soldiers fought back, but greatly outnumbered and defeated through death, except for Thomas and Arth who were barely standing. The other guards didn¡¯t stop, they killed some of the civilians, even children. The three girls saw this and immediately acted. Akino and Alexa dashes forward while Lyka casts a spell to protect the others. One by one, Akino shot the enemy guards on their foreheads while Alexa punches them into a pulp. The other enemies tried to flee but the two were fast that they couldn¡¯t shake them off their cowering tails, so in desperate attempt they cast an explosion magic, destroying that part of the sewerage, and collapsing its foundation. Well, fortunately (for Akino and Alexa), the fleeing enemies trapped themselves with them and the explosion didn¡¯t act according to their hopeless plan. They dropped and cowered in fear, covering themselves as they whimper for mercy. Alexa: Now what? They surrendered, we can¡¯t just, you know ¨C kill them, right? Akino: I know¡­ Akino knocks the remaining enemy guards with her fist, then she stabs her wire-thingy on their napes. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Alexa: What are you doing? Akino: Memory wiping. Alexa: Yeah¡­ I¡¯ll go back to them, try to find a way out. Akino: Alright, I got it. Alexa went back to the group, Akino finished wiping the guards clean and inspects the rubble blocking their way back to the fortress. She tried to look up to her satellites, and the place where they are right now was under a grassland but still inside the walls of Ravine. Akino: Damn it¡­ Akino went back to their group and saw Lyka was tending to the wounded civilians. The 4 rebel soldiers they¡¯re with didn¡¯t make, and so the other civilians. She could see the others weeping, as they look down on the corpse of their loved one getting killed just because they want to leave the place for safety. Akino snaps and vents out at the remaining rebel soldier by choking him against the wall. Alexa and the captain rushes in to resolve the conflict. Alexa: Aki! Thomas: Ma¡¯am, please put him down! Akino: Put him down?! You know what this fucker did?! And you too! If we didn¡¯t save your ass out there, then this wouldn¡¯t be happening! Arth: Saving ¨C our former captain is not related to this event! Akino: Shut up! We took time doing that, and we came back any sooner, then we could still know that the guards we tied up were awake and prevent all this shit! Akino drops the soldier. Lyka and the others glances at them with confusion. Akino: You tied up the guards, right? Arth: Y ¨C yes? Akino: Then how in the hell they got out¡­? Thomas: Ma¡¯am, we should leave. The guards and mage soldiers could get here any moment. Akino: And the other routes of this sewer system were to the other fortresses outside or deep inside this city¡­ and the only way out we had was conveniently blocked¡­ Alexa: What are you getting at? Akino: You sold us out, didn¡¯t you? The captain quickly grabs his knife and tries to stab Akino on her back. Alexa trips the captain making him fall on the ground, and she pins him down. Akino looks back to where Alexa pins the captain, enabling the soldier to make his move and tried to run away, but Akino knew this, so she shot him on his kneecaps to make him stop. The soldier drops on the ground and screams in pain. She then proceeds to electrocute the soldier, knocking him out. Akino plugs her wire-hair onto the forehead of the poor soldier, jabbing it fast making his body jolt for a moment. Alexa: WOAH! Thomas: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! Alexa: Are we the bad cops now?! Akino: Shut up, okay? After a few seconds with the confusing silence from everyone, Akino drops the soldier on the ground, still breathing but unconscious. Akino: Looks like these soldiers sold us out for a fine position in the Church of Ravine¡­ fucking sycophantic fuckers. Alexa: Woah, language my guy! Akino: Sorry. Alexa: Is ¨C is Camilla involved? Akino: Fortunately, she doesn¡¯t have any clues about this¡­ Alexa: So, how we should address the sneaky dude we have here? Akino and Alexa looks at the captain, who¡¯s tied up with some of Alexa¡¯s worm-like tendrils. Thomas: I¡¯ll never talk. Akino: I know, and I know you will. Akino electrocutes the captain, knocking him out. Alexa: Now we drag him back or what? Akino: I¡¯ll read his memories and leave him here. Alexa: Well, do it fast ¡®coz I could hear footsteps above. Tons of it. Akino: No shit? Alexa: You have satellites in space, designed for aerial surveillance, and you¡¯re not using it?! Akino: I KNOW! I saw the footmen coming towards the rubble on the surface¡­ what do we do, what do we do¡­ Akino became irritated. They can¡¯t go back to the outpost inside the city, and the only way was to follow the sewers outside and find themselves inside a heavily guarded fortress. They¡¯ve got no choice. Akino: Alexa, go with your mom and lead. I¡¯ll stay at the rear. Alexa: And where we should go? Akino: Hold on, I¡¯m looking at my satellite¡­ The sewers have six more passage, other than the one blocked due to the previous explosion. Akino looked at her satellite and tried to look for a fortress near the one they raided that has also a smaller number of guards, but the magic barrier on each of the fortresses blocks her thermal imaging. Akino: Fuck this shit! Alexa: What now? Akino: Alright, alright¡­ we go this way. The two went back. Lyka finished tending to the injured, but the others are still weeping with the deaths of their loved ones. Lyka: We ¨C we can¡¯t just leave their loved ones here¡­ Akino: I know, but we have to go - Man 1: Please, at least let us carry them! Man 2: We can¡¯t just leave them like dirt in this sewer! Girl: My son ¨C my son died! Please! Just only a moment! Akino sighs deeply. She stands walks on to the rubble of the block sewer, then she blasts it with a huge sonic cannon. The rubble blocking the way was gone, but there¡¯s a huge hole above that reveals the night sky. Alexa: What the hell did you ¨C Akino: Alexa, help these guys out. Alexa: Uh¡­ okay¡­? Akino: You, people, hurry and carry everything you can! After that, you follow this path and run like there¡¯s no tomorrow. The fortress at the end of this sewer path is guarded by the rebel soldiers led by your Priestess Camilla. The civilians were motivated after hearing Camilla¡¯s name. They hurriedly carried their stuff, the injured, the bodies of their deceased loved ones, and they moved as fast as they can, following the path outside of Ravine. Akino: Alexa, stay at their rear. Don¡¯t let any enemies get close. Alexa: Only me? Akino: Hey, you said you can handle things on your own? Time to show it, kid. Alexa: Well, I¡¯m not complaining but what about you and ma? Lyka: It seems like we will hold the marching guards¡­ Alexa: I should go, be careful! Lyka: We will. Akino: Shall we? Lyka: After you. Alexa left, and Akino and Lyka jumped out of the hole. From afar, they could see the tens of soldiers heading to their location. Akino: You ready? Lyka: I am. Akino: Let¡¯s do this. Both of them conjures their weapons: Lyka with her greatsword and conjured shadow clones, and Akino with her plasma rifles as her arms and mini-missile launchers on her shoulders. The mage soldiers charges in different directions. Lyka and her shadow clones fought them off, one by one slashing and crushing the overwhelming numbers of the enemies. Akino uses her firearms, shooting the knees and heads of the charging enemies. While they were fighting, the two talks telepathically. Lyka: (Is this the ruckus you¡¯ve been planning?) Akino: (Kind of. Hey, Alexa, you there?) Alexa: (What is it?) Akino: (How¡¯s the civilians?) Alexa: (Safe and sound.) Akino: (Tell Kal and Torion we¡¯re starting the next phase. Get them ready.) Alexa: (Got it!) Lyka: (Next phase?) Akino: (We¡¯re going to take down the government, a real coup.) Lyka: (What about the civilians left in here?) Akino: (I¡¯ve scanned the place using my satellites, and I can¡¯t see through because of the mana field around the city. Once Kal and Torion¡¯s team got here, we¡¯ll look for them.) Lyka: (Hope they make it in time¡­) The two kept on fighting the army of mage soldiers. Fifty, then thirty, then ten. The numbers remaining soldiers who were still standing could be counted on hands. One of them pulls out a small cylinder that they broke, and a flare-like light launches to the sky. Lyka then casts a wide-area spell, making them fell unconscious. Lyka: That¡¯s for reinforcements, right? Akino: We should leave and look for the civilians we¡¯re going to rescue. Lyka: How about this hole? If we leave this place, it will be unguarded, and the enemies will find out the others¡¯ location! Akino: Relax, I got an idea. Akino creates three little pods from her palm and drops it on the ground. The pods hover to the hole and it created an illusion, a hologram, covering the ground as if nothing happened. Lyka: Hologram, huh? How about the bodies? Akino: Let them be. Alexa: (Hey, we¡¯re at the sewer path already, what¡¯s next?) Akino: (Have the others guard that place and meet us at the outpost earlier.) Alexa: (Roger that!) Akino: Lyka, let¡¯s go. Lyka: Got it. CHAPTER 42: Meet up Akino and Lyka went back and meets with Alexa who¡¯s standing right outside the outpost. She¡¯s with Kal and some adventurers, guarding the outpost entrance. Kal: The boys who came with you were traitors, huh? Akino: Oh, Alexa, you brought that soldier and the captain to Torion, right? Kal: Hey! You¡¯re ignoring me! Akino: Shut up, you¡¯re annoying! Alexa: Ehem! Well, yeah, he¡¯s shocked that some of their dudes were spies. He made me wake up the two and he interrogates them back there¡­ and thru that he knew that they¡¯re the only snitches in Camilla¡¯s team, so hooray? Akino: That¡¯s good, I guess¡­ Lyka: What next? Kal: Torion will be at the sewer with the other soldiers to guard it up. My team will go look for the next location where another group of civilians. Akino: You - you¡¯ll handle the rescue operation? Kal: What do take me for? Only a brute?! Alexa: You said that, not us. Akino: Alright, we¡¯ll be your cover. Kal: Just ¨C don¡¯t shoot us with your¡­ what was it again? A waffle? Akino: Rifle! Kal: Yeah, whatever. The group breaks up and went on separate ways. The three girls hurriedly sneak on shadows, looking on buildings and houses, checking the streets and alleys, climbing up to the rooftops. They secured the path Kal¡¯s group taken, and they were able to reach the location of the civilians. The civilians lined up, hurriedly walked the path back to the outpost. Meanwhile, on a rooftop near the outpost the three girls were overseeing the civilians line up as they get out of Ravine. Alexa: After this, we¡¯re done, right? Akino: Yeah, Camilla will take the lead after this. Akino looks at the far corner of that rooftop, seeing Lyka alone, peering at the streets below them. She slowly approaches her from behind. Akino: Hey, you¡¯ve been awfully quiet. What¡¯s wrong? Lyka: Um, huh? Me? Uhh, nothing. Nothing, really¡­ Akino: You sure? You really look troubled¡­ Lyka: I ¨C I smell a familiar scent¡­ the scent of my people¡­ Akino: Demi-wolves? Lyka: Yeah¡­ Akino: Can you¡­ pinpoint the location? Lyka: I can, and it will only take a minute¡­ but our mission was to rescue these people, right? We might compromise it¡­ Akino: Don¡¯t worry, Torion said they¡¯re the last civilians who wants out of the city. Once they left, we¡¯ll stay here go look for them. Lyka¡¯s face brightens, and upon seeing that face Akino blushes. Lyka: Thank you very much! Akino: Ye ¨C yeah, no problem¡­ They stayed on that rooftop until the last civilians entered the exit point, then they dropped off and tried to tail them to secure the rescue mission. Alexa: Aki! Mama! I can hear them! They¡¯re coming! Akino went out and saw the marching mage soldiers towards their location. The three stands guard at the entrance while the civilians and Kal¡¯s team leave the city safely. The mage soldiers stop marching once they saw the three girls standing in front of them. There¡¯s no conversation, no dead silence. The soldiers charged and so the three, commencing their clash. Lyka casts her spells, Alexa charges brutely, Akino shots her arsenal. Other soldiers tried to fight back but ultimately failed, others cowardly ran away but the three manages to pin them down. Alexa: Is that all? Akino: I think so. Lyka: Wait, someone¡¯s coming! Alexa: It¡¯s only one dude ¨C wait, wait, wait¡­ he smells like¡­ Akino: HE?! Alexa: I could smell¡­ mixed human and wolf¡­ like ma¡¯s scent¡­ but it¡¯s a male¡­ Akino: Lyka¡­ that¡¯s the one you¡¯re referring earlier? Lyka: He ¨C he is¡­ A tall man, about 2 meters high, walks up to them, carelessly steps on the bodies of the downed soldiers. He¡¯s wearing less armor made of thick black metal. The man steps further towards them, making Alexa gnarl at him aggressively. They could clearly see a tail, a fluffy one and black in color. Akino: Alexa? Alexa: He¡¯s ¨C he wants us dead! You fucker! What do you want?! Lyka: Alexa¡­? Stolen story; please report. The two looked at Alexa. Her hair raised like and angered cat, all on fours like a lion preparing to attack. They looked back at the tailed man, readying his sword as large as his body. Lyka: I get it¡­ his murderous intent¡­ is extreme¡­ the same as ours¡­ Akino: So that guy is a demi-wolf?! Lyka: He is¡­ he¡¯s the one giving off that scent. Akino: So¡­ you¡¯ll handle him, or I¡¯ll tranquilize him? Lyka: His body is covered with a strong mana barrier. Projectiles will not work. Akino: Okay, you¡¯re going to handle him. Lyka lowers her weapon and slowly walks towards the tailed man. Lyka: You¡¯re a demi-wolf, right? Tailed man: I am... Lyka: My name is Lyka - Lyka von Roza, wolf tribe of Rozz. And you are? Tailed man: Rozz¡­ I¡¯m from tribe Ingzt. My name is Herol Ingot¡­ The man raises his giant sword against Lyka. Herol: You¡­ Lyka von Roza, daughter of tribe Rozz, and of the nameless god¡­ in the stead of all wolf-kind, I hereby declare a duel against you, an abomination! Akino: Nameless god? Alexa: Abomination?! You take that back!!! Lyka: Duel?! Wh ¨C what do you mean?! Herol charges towards Lyka with his sword. Lyka barely blocks the sudden attack with her left arm, placing her out of her footing. Akino: Lyka! Lyka: I can handle this! Lyka raises her greatsword, parrying Herol¡¯s relentless assaults. Akino and Alexa remained in their positions as they watched Lyka defend herself, but Alexa insists to Akino that they should help. Akino: You heard her. Alexa: But -! Akino: No buts! Let your mother handle it, but things go sideways, we¡¯ll step in. Alexa: Alright¡­ fine¡­ While the two stands by, Lyka was struggling against Herol. Not because he¡¯s strong, but because she wants to know why he¡¯s attacking her. Lyka: Can you please stop for a moment?! I haven¡¯t done anything! Herol: Your father is! And his heralds! Lyka: My father?! The two stops clashing. Lyka: And his heralds?! Dr¡¯an and Dr¡¯akan?! Herol: Whoever it is, it destroyed our village! Herol yells as he charges once more towards Lyka. Lyka didn¡¯t move but instead catches his sword with her left hand. Herol yells louder, with power and magic surging through his body then through his blade. The sword he holds brightens and flames, but the look on his face went grim and confused as he sees nothing is happening to Lyka¡¯s left hand. Herol: How ¨C your hand should be burning into ashes by now! Lyka: Carbon fibre and tungsten-titanium aren¡¯t conductive to mana. Herol: What? Lyka squeezed his blade, snapping it into two. The mana surge from the inside the blade caused them both to get thrown off. Lyka manages to withstand it, but Herol topples on his feet drops on his back. She approaches him to lend her a hand, but he refuses. Herol: The Altruisians¡­ they promised us to restore our glory¡­ and they told us about the Great Destroyer, but it¡¯s too late¡­ a herald of your father went to our village and nearly wiped us out! Lyka: I ¨C I¡¯m sorry¡­ he¡­ Dr¡¯an was deceived¡­ I don¡¯t know how but he went mad and led the Altruisians to our place¡­ Lyka remembered everything that happened back in her tribe. Feeling saddened, she drops her sword and, on her knees, looking down on the dirt. Herol was stunned upon seeing Lyka collapse on the ground, but he takes this opportunity to strike her. To his surprise, Akino was already in front of him, blocking his attack and punches him into his gut, pushing him out to the far side. Akino: Lyka¡­ Lyka: I ¨C I ¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­! I should¡¯ve... Lyka started to cry. Akino went beside her and pats her back, which in turn Lyka immediately hugs her for comfort. Alexa stands beside them, looking gloomed at her mother. Herol stands up and tried to approach them with his injured body, but Alexa stands in his way between them. Alexa: I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, and I don¡¯t want to hurt my mother¡¯s people, but you have to stand-the-fuck-down or I¡¯ll flatten your face! Herol: She¡¯s¡­ crying¡­ Alexa: You made her cry! Akino: Alexa, stop it. Alexa: Stop it? He thinks he¡¯s the only one who lost everything! Mama also lost everything! And he¡¯s siding with the Alt-people who sliced of her arm, killed her people and trashed her place! Herol: Killed¡­? The Altruisians killed her people? Akino: There must be some kind of misunderstanding. Herol: I ¨C I... Alexa: What?! Say sorry?! Akino: Alexa! Alexa: He pissed mom! He¡¯s pissing me off! Akino: I know! I am too! But goddammit, you have to stay calm! Herol: The knight in the azul armor said they¡¯ll just capture your people¡­ how¡­? They lied¡­ to me¡­ to us! Herol throws a tantrum upon his realization. His action made Alexa react, turning her body muscular and armored, startling the male demi-wolf. Herol: What the -! Akino: Alexa! Calm down! Alexa: He¡¯s acting funny! Herol: What ¨C are you¡­? They stared for seconds. Alexa stops her urge from punching the male demi-wolf and so is Akino who¡¯s comforting Lyka, but Lyka stood with a serious look on her face. She¡¯s already composed and calm. Lyka approaches Herol, still shocked upon seeing Alexa changed her appearance. Lyka: You said you trusted them¡­ the Altruisians? Herol: Ye ¨C yes. Lyka: The man in azul armor¡­ he¡¯s the one who did this scar on my face, cut off my arm, and murdered my people¡­ Herol went dead silent. Lyka grabs the collar of his armor and lifts him up. The other two observes a slight anger in Lyka¡¯s face. Lyka: What did he offer you? This armor? That sword? Some kind of magic power? Herol: They ¨C they promised me¡­ that they¡¯ll help my people recover¡­ that they¡¯ll help my sister¡­ Lyka drops Herol on the ground. Lyka: How did you know I am the daughter of the nameless god? Of the Great Destroyer? Herol: They told me¡­ and we, demi-wolves, could look beyond someone¡¯s soul, that yours is entirely different¡­ a deity¡­ a god born on our race¡­ Lyka: ¡­ I am no god¡­ Herol: They said that too¡­ and they asked me to kill you¡­ in exchange of doing my demands¡­ of helping us¡­ Lyka crouches in front of the injured demi-wolf. She extends her hand towards him. Lyka: I ¨C no¡­ we¡¯ll help you instead, I know there are others like us in this city¡­ I could sense them, and you know where they are. A civil war is about to erupt in this place. Are you going to side to these people and entrust your loved ones to them? Or we can help you find a place for them, away from conflicts like this¡­ Herol: A better place to stay, huh? I¡¯ve got doubts when they offered me this job, but when they gave me this armor and sword, I sworn an oath to the damn humans¡­ Lyka: Will you serve the humans, despite it might endanger your true people? Herol takes Lyka¡¯s hand. Akino felt a little jealousy in that moment. Herol: I guess this is a wakeup call¡­ what do want help with? Akino: First of all, hands off of her. And second, that¡¯s fucking fast to change someone¡¯s mind from being like savage into a very clearheaded dude, in¡¯nit? Lyka: Aki, please¡­ Akino: What? Alexa: She¡¯s jelly, and you¡¯re bri¡¯ish now? Akino: I AM NOT! Herol: Follow me, I¡¯ll show you where my people are¡­ all that¡¯s left. Akino: How about your ¡°knightly service¡± with these Ravine bastards? Herol: They¡¯ll¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ they have doubts when the Altruisians trusted us to the Ravine, but I guess their doubts will come true tonight. Lyka: But are they in safe hands? You said that you were handed over. Herol: I¡¯m sure they are¡­ but we have to hurry. The ruckus you¡¯ve caused alerted the whole infantry of Ravine, if you want to fulfil your promise, we should leave this place as soon as possible. Akino: And how can we trust you? You¡¯ve set your mind to kill Lyka moments ago. Herol: Once she said that she¡¯ll save our people¡­ I felt like taking another path¡­ Lyka and Alexa looked towards Akinom waiting for her response Akino: Fine, but if you did something shitty, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯ll never see the sun rise again. CHAPTER 43: Collateral They ran, hiding in alleyways, climbing to rooftops, avoiding the mage soldiers that were looking for them. They stop by a building, four stories high, seeing the whole landscape of the city, and a huge castle located at the middle of it. Alexa: Are we there yet? Herol: We¡¯re near. Akino: And how can we tell you¡¯re not lying? Alexa: Umm, check your satellites? Akino: The city¡¯s magic barrier blocks off my thermal imaging, can¡¯t see through the buildings and stuff. Lyka: He¡¯s telling the truth. I could sense them¡­ demi-wolves, like us. Herol points at the castle. Herol: Inside of that thing. Akino: Nice¡­ another castle dungeon-mumbo-jumbo-adventure¡­ Alexa: Want me to create the ant-thingy again? Lyka: Yes¡­ that will be safer. Herol: Ant-thingy? Alexa once again produced a lot of ants on her forearms and released them towards the castle, shocking Herol upon seeing it. After a few minutes of waiting, the others noticed that Alexa seems to be irritated at something. Alexa: How the hell did they know?! Lyka: What¡¯s going on? Alexa: They are burning the ants! Akino: Yeah, right, if you swarm them in large number, they¡¯ll notice it. Alexa: No, dumbass! Of course, I scattered them, and one-by-one bit the soldiers inside! But one guy wasn¡¯t affected by my neurotoxin, and the next thing was they were burning every ant they see inside! Lyka: I ¨C I noticed they strengthen the magic barrier around the city¡­ Akino: How strong? Lyka: Not sure¡­ nothing can enter or leave the barrier unless it was opened by someone or something. Herol: Then we have to enter it by the gate. Akino: We¡¯ve got no choice¡­ Lyka: Wait, wait, wait ¨C I can¡¯t use invisibility magic! Akino hands something to Lyka ¨C a small circular piece of metal. Akino: We¡¯ll cloak ourselves with the surroundings, Alexa can turn herself invisible already so use that cloaking device. Once we¡¯re ready, Herol will go to the gate and ask to enter the place, then we enter with him without being noticed. Sounds good? Herol: Cloak yourselves? Alexa: Another espionage tactic¡­ Akino: Get used to it. The four went down and headed at the front gate of the castle. It is heavily guarded by mages and magic knights. Herol went first while being followed by the three, cloaked and invisible. Some guards salute at him, others mock him for being a demi-wolf. He warns the insulting soldiers that they will be punished if they taunt their superior once more. It turns out that Herol is a legionnaire captain, promoted by the Altruis knights. The soldiers stop being funny, gets serious, and assists Herol as he enters a small passage being opened by the mages. Herol briefly passes, and the three girls hurriedly entered before the mages close the barrier again. Once inside, Herol went to a weapon storage room filled with five soldiers standing-by, playing with cards and stuff. The soldiers saw him and salutes at him. Herol commands the soldiers to leave and take a patrol, leaving him and the still invisible girls alone in that room. Herol: You guys still here? Herol whispers. The three deactivates their cloaking and looks around. Akino: Yup, still here. So, where are they? Lyka: They¡¯re¡­ under the ground? You didn¡¯t know they put them in dungeons? Herol: I ¨C I don¡¯t know¡­ my senses are strong but only works on a small range¡­ I wasn¡¯t able to confirm where they were treated after that fight we had with your father¡¯s herald. Lyka: I¡¯m sorry¡­ Herol: It¡¯s fine¡­ I just ¨C emotions took over me a while ago¡­ I should be the one apologizing¡­ Akino: You seem calm now, huh? I thought you¡¯ll lash out again. Lyka: Aki?! Herol: ¡­ I am not that savage¡­ Alexa: Ehem! Now what? We secure the demi-wolves, then how do we get out of here? Akino: Does the barrier extend all the way through the ground? Lyka: I haven¡¯t checked it, let me see¡­ Lyka kneels and places her right hand on the ground. After a few seconds, she stands up. Lyka: The barrier extends deep for a meter, but deeper than that there¡¯s no barrier left. Akino: I see¡­ alright, so here¡¯s the plan¡­ we take Herol¡¯s people to the deepest part of this castle, then I¡¯ll start digging up a hole towards the sewers leading to the fortress we occupied earlier. While I¡¯m digging the hole, you three will protect the others since I¡¯m not sure they¡¯ll like my digging. Are we clear? Herol: The fortress you occupied? Lyka: Ummm¡­ well, Camilla sent us to rescue some civilians wanting to leave Ravine, and we occupied a less guarded fortress so that we could enter the city through the sewers it was connected to¡­ This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Akino: So, we good? Herol: The deepest part of the castle is the dungeon area. If Lyka¡¯s correct, we might find my people as well there¡­ Alexa: I know where this is going¡­ and I don¡¯t like it¡­ Akino: Don¡¯t jinx it! The three decloaks themselves again and follows Herol towards to the deepest chamber of the castle. They went in and was shocked, seeing Herol¡¯s people locked up in cells. This makes him angry, and it intensifies when he saw some guards trying to ¡®harass¡¯ the female demi-wolves. He plunges himself, with his giant sword, cleaving the guards in half. The three follows him, and helps in freeing the others, being locked up and chained liked animals. After freeing the demi-wolves, Herol went and talked to them one-by-one. Herol: Where are the others? Have you seen Hilda? Herol kept asking the others. Lyka notices this and was about to ask him when Akino stopped her. Akino: Lyka, get ready. Lyka: Aki, what is it? Akino: We¡¯ve got company. About 3 minutes before they reach this place, but not that alarming. Alexa: Should we knock them out? Akino: And bring them in the cells. I¡¯ll start drilling a way out. Ask out Herol to guard these civilians, okay? Lyka: Got it. Akino starts drilling with her hands, while the other three protects the demi-wolves. Alexa went ahead and tried to scout the place outside the dungeon. Alexa found some guards heading their position, so she tranqs them. More and more, tens of guards pile up in the cells of the dungeon. Akino is nearly halfway through the sewer network, but she needs to take haste or there will be a bloodbath, so she blasts through making the whole place quake. The alarmed soldiers marched in, and in front of them were Lyka and Herol, holding swords to protect the demi-wolves behind them. The guards charged at them, starting a fight. Fifteen on two, yet the two manages to keep up. Alexa, on the other hand, stops the other guards from sending in reinforcements, but as she sees a battalion of mage soldiers rushing to their location, she hurriedly went back. Alexa: Aki! How long is it?! Akino: A few more minutes! Why?! Alexa: A shit-ton of mage dudes are coming this way! You better be quick doing that digging! Akino: I am hurrying! The soldiers and guards kept on coming. Lyka and Herol defends the line with all their strength. Alexa stands behind the two, readying the demi-wolves once Akino finishes the digging. Akino: I¡¯M THROUGH! LET¡¯S GO! Alexa assists the demi-wolves to go through the dug hole, and Akino joins with Herol and Lyka in holding off the soldiers. Akino: Alexa, go with them! Make sure you reach the other side! Alexa: Gotcha! Alexa quickly morphs herself with cheetah like legs and a body covered in smooth chitin. She leads the group of the demi-wolves out, while the three stays to fend off the enemies. Minutes passed. No other soldiers were heading and trying to attack them. All that¡¯s left were the three and the bodies of the soldiers. Akino: (Alexa, where are you?) Alexa: (We¡¯ve made it! Kal and Torion were going to transport them back to Camilla¡¯s base. How about you guys?) Lyka: (I think were done¡­ but Herol looks like he¡¯s missing something.) Herol walks forward, then looks back at the two. Herol: You take your leave. I¡¯ve got something to do. Akino: What is it? Lyka: We can come with you, if want¡­ Herol: My little sister¡­ Hilda¡­ she¡¯s not here¡­ I need to find her. Lyka: We¡¯ll help. While the two converses, Akino sensed something moving fast towards their location. She immediately drags Lyka away, thinking she was the target but the fast-moving object hits Herol instead. The fast thing was a being, a knight, wearing golden armor that has prominent wing designs. The knight in golden armor looks at the two, but Herol smashes the ground, summoning a wall of fire between them. The fire wall turns into a solid ashen wall. Lyka tried to blast it with her magic but managed only to crack it. Then, she used her left arm, punched it really hard, and the wall breaks only to see that Herol and the knight were gone. Lyka: Aki! Can you detect them? Akino: Give me a sec¡­ they went up¡­ I tracked that knight¡¯s speed burns on the ground¡­ speed burns also work on magic, huh? Lyka: O ¨C okay! Let¡¯s go follow them! The rushes up to the main chamber of the castle. On their way, they encountered many soldiers which they knocked down in an instant. They reached the main chamber. Inside, soldiers of high caliber of armors are seen standing around the table of the elder priests. The man in golden armor was also there, and Herol who¡¯s beaten up severely. The other demi-wolves are chained to the table, being pointed by the knives of the priests. Herol: Please¡­ save them¡­ take my life instead! Lyka: Herol! The golden knight slaps Herol¡¯s face. Golden Knight: Silence! You are a stinking traitor! I knew it we shouldn¡¯t have taken you! Elder Priest: Stand back! Or we¡¯ll cut off this animals¡¯ necks! Lyka enrages, but Akino calms her down. Akino: (On my signal, Lyka. On my signal.) Lyka: (On your signal?!) Small multiple rocket launchers emerged on Akino¡¯s both shoulders. Everyone else in that chamber were not aware on what that thing is, except for Lyka. Akino fired it, aimed at the elder priests¡¯ arms that points knives, sticking to it and explodes, making them let go on the captured demi-wolves. Everyone else in that chamber were surprised, but bLyka and Herol takes this opportunity. Herol, with all of his might, breaks free from being chained and immediately brawls through the enemies and smashing his way to the captured demi-wolves. Lyka casts immediately her multiple shadow clones and attacking the soldiers. The golden knight quickly moves and tried to slash her in half, but Lyka manages to block it with her shadow clone, sacrificing it in the process. Golden Knight: Not bad! Lyka: Tsk! The two clashes as Akino and Herol takes on the charging soldiers to protect the remaining demi-wolves in that place. Surges of magic blasts as Lyka blocks the knight¡¯s mace with her bionic arm. Swings here and there, smashing this and that, the knight moves so fast that Lyka was in defensive. The knight manages to hit her on her back, throwing her off to the ground. Akino: LYKA! Akino tried to go to rescue Lyka but she has to protect the demi-wolves from the waves of the enemies. Golden Knight: I remember you! You¡¯re that bitch in the village forest! I thought Jean killed you off¡­ whatever! Lyka, once again, remembered the event in her home. The screaming, the cries, the spilling blood and spreading fire. All at once, she remembered it. ¡°It¡¯s happening again¡­ I don¡¯t want to happen it again!¡± THEN REMEMBER THE THINGS THEY¡¯VE DONE TO YOU! TO YOUR PEOPLE! ¡°I don¡¯t want to remember it¡­ I DON¡¯T WANT TO!¡± THEN UNLEASH IT! ¡°Unleash¡­?¡± IT¡¯S YOUR CHANCE! ¡°My¡­ chance?¡± Akino looks at Lyka, about to be attacked by the knight. Akino was shouting at her to move, but Lyka was only staring at the ground. Akino tried to shoot the knight, but he dodges it and aims to hit Lyka¡¯s head. He was about to hit her when his mace bounces back, hitting an invisible wall. Blue flames emerge from the ground and encircles Lyka, covering her in a dome. The knight looks at his mace, and it¡¯s already melted like butter. Golden Knight: A demigod in action?! Looking forward to ¨C The knight was immediately blasted by a ball of flame coming from Lyka, melting and burning a huge portion of his body. Akino was now relieved that Lyka stood back up, but it was only for a moment. As she stares at Lyka battling the knight, a notification pops up on her vision ¨C
[ZERO-ENTROPIC SYSTEM ACTIVATED: HQC-101 IS HARNESSING ENERGY FROM ZERO-ETROPIC SPACE]
Akino: Lyka! Use only the ¨C the mana thingy! I ¨C we still don¡¯t how that zero-shit works! Lyka, despite of Akino¡¯s words, kept on battling the injured knight. She¡¯s on the offensive now and takes the upper hand against him. His mace and her left arm, her greatsword and his armor. They tackled and battled, but Akino noticed Lyka¡¯s face. Unlike before, it¡¯s the very first time she saw her full of rage, like she wants the knight more than to be dead. Lyka finally lands a hit on the knight by slashing her greatsword on his armored legs. The knight drops on the ground and looks at her, terrified. The next scene made Akino stunned, as she looks at Lyka mercilessly punches the knight with her bionic arm. The punches were so hard, it didn¡¯t only dent his armor but turned the knight¡¯s face flat. Her final blow was strong enough to splatter his brain all over the place, like a tomato being stomped on. Lyka then proceeds to go after the other enemies, cleaving them in half and flattening their bodies. Brutal actions Akino didn''t expect to see on her, only fueled with anger. CHAPTER 44: Meltdown (Part 1) Herol: She¡¯s ¨C she¡¯s a VERY good fighter! Akino: She¡¯s not supposed to be this brutal¡­ Herol: What? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ They looked at her, rampaging at the enemies like a wild animal. Herol: She¡¯s gone berserk! Akino: Berserk?! What is this?! A fucking video game?! Herol didn¡¯t paid attention to what Akino said and quickly throws himself towards Lyka. Herol: Lyka! Stop this! If you continue this, your bloodlust will grow stronger! Lyka just gnarls at him and continues to ravage the terrified enemies, tearing their arms, sweeping them with her greatsword like cutting grass, punching their chests into a hole, and burning them alive with her magic. Herol hated humans, but somehow, what Lyka was doing made him go and snap at her. Herol: I said enough with this! Herol tried to swing his sword at her and catch her attention, but Lyka manages to grabbed him and thrown him to the wall, injuring him in the process. Akino slowly approaches her while she violently gnaws, like a rabid wolf. Her eyes were glowing bright purple, but her sclera was dark violet. Akino: LYKA! Lyka: Grrr! Akino: Lyka, please, calm down¡­ they¡¯re done, okay? This isn¡¯t like you¡­ Lyka: GRRR!!! Lyka holds her head, screaming wildly, in pain and full of aggression. The other demi-wolves were frightened at the sight. ¡°The Destroyer!¡± ¡°She¡¯ll kill us all!¡± ¡°Oh god, please save us!¡± Lyka looked at the remaining enemy soldiers, cowering on the corner, pleading for mercy and salvation. She raises her right arm, casting a powerful magic. BOOM! The magic shoots out towards the enemies, but Akino quickly used her body to cover them. Akino: (LYKA! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!) Lyka stopped. Talking to her telepathically with the help of their quantum neural link somehow worked on making her stop. Lyka looks at Akino calmly, but then she violently screams in pain. Lyka¡¯s chest seems to glow, from the inside. Akino: (LYKA!)
[WARNING: UNKNOWN ENERGY SOURCE DETECTED AT HQC-101 CHEST CAVITY.] [MATERIAL ANALYSIS SUGGESTS A FOREIGN MATERIAL INSIDE HQC-101 CHEST CAVITY TO BE THE SOURCE] [UNKNOWN ENERGY SOURCE ANOMALOUSLY DISRUPTS THE ZERO-ENTROPIC ENERGY EXPLOITATION] [UNKNOWN ENERGY SOURCE IS AFFECTING HQC-101 COGNITIVE SYSTEM]
Akino quickly goes to Lyka and holds her. Now that she¡¯s closer, Akino sees a crystal-like thing inside her chest glowing purple. She could see Lyka¡¯s pain, her yelping and her tears. Akino immediately pinned her down to the ground with her ¡®extra¡¯ robot arms coming out of her back, then she holds her cheeks, closes her eyes, and waited.
-ACCESSING THE VIRTUAL MATRIX -WARNING: AN ANOMALY DETECTED INSIDE HQC-101 COGNITIVE SYSTEM -WOULD YOU LIKE TO OVERRIDE THE HQC-101 SYSTEM? [Y/N]
Akino: (I want to solve it myself!)
-[N] -ENTERING THE VIRTUAL MATRIX
Akino entered the virtual space inside Lyka¡¯s mind. The place is full of cracks, like the one she and Alexa saw before leaving the core in facility-13, but there¡¯s a purple glow underneath those. She looked around and saw two figures, two identical people, two Lykas. The other one is chained on the ground, and the other was standing in front of her, looking down on the chained one. Akino: Lyka? A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The two gazes at Akino. The one standing glares, having a murderous intent. The chained one looks depressed, her eyes dried of tears. Akino: Lyka¡­ wh ¨C what¡¯s going on? Chained Lyka: Nothing¡­ nothing¡­ it¡¯s all the same¡­ nothing¡­ Aggressive Lyka: You shouldn¡¯t have come here. Everything is already fine! Akino walks slowly towards the two, but the aggressive one summons a sword and points it at her. Aggressive Lyka: Don¡¯t you dare. DON¡¯T YOU DARE! Chained Lyka: Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing! It¡¯s all the same, it¡¯s all the same, it¡¯s all the same ¨C Akino: Please, I¡¯ll hear it out¡­ I¡¯ll help you, just tell me what¡¯s wrong¡­ Aggressive Lyka: You - ! I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY! The glyphs on the skin of the angry Lyka started to appear. Black tattoos, all glowing, and she was like covered in black flames. It tried to swing its sword on the chained Lyka but Akino catches it. Akino: What the fuck are you doing?! Aggressive Lyka: GETTING RID OF MY WEAK SELF!!! The two struggles ¨C Akino keeps the angered Lyka from reaching the other. Chained Lyka: I¡­ I have no use¡­ every time something happens¡­ I ¨C I can¡¯t do anything useful¡­ and if so, I just ruin it¡­ Akino: The fuck is this coming from?! You¡¯re doing great! Everything you do is great! Aggressive Lyka: You¡¯re not helping! Akino hesitantly stops the violent Lyka. The chained one suddenly stands and tries to stop Akino, now with gritted teeth and in angered manner. Akino: The fuck¡¯s going on¡­? Chained Lyka: Nothing¡­ nothing is happening¡­ you should¡¯ve left me back there¡­ you should¡¯ve let me die! Aggressive Lyka: That¡¯s right! You should¡¯ve known it better! Akino: I told you, remember? You even made me remind of it! That we should move on from our pasts! If this is about last time, that time you blame yourself for not saving your people, it¡¯s not your fault! Aggressive Lyka: It is her fault! OUR fault! We hesitated ¨C no, it¡¯s because we can¡¯t! And where did that lead you? HUH?! Chained Lyka: No¡­ no! The chained one stops and brashly hits her own head, confused and crying. Akino stops her by holding her hands and directly looking at her eyes. Akino: It wasn¡¯t! It was¡­ I should¡¯ve talked this¡­ I¡¯ve been selfish that I forgot you had your people¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ It must be building inside you¡­ I¡¯m sorry I hadn¡¯t noticed it¡­ I should¡¯ve talked about it to make you at ease¡­ The chained Lyka looks at her and weeps hard. The one standing sighs in disgust at the sight of the two. Aggressive Lyka: Heh, don¡¯t worry though. Once you become like your father, a god of destruction, you¡¯ll leave nothing but dust and ashes on your wake! You¡¯ll take your powers and use it against them! You¡¯ll kill every human who did this! Akino: Hey! Stop it! That¡¯s not how the Lyka I knew thinks! Chained Lyka: Not ¨C how I think? Aggressive Lyka: Then you must change! You should change! We should change! Akino: Don¡¯t force it! Aggressive Lyka: Oh really? How about the times that you said to use your own power to the extent of hurting and killing others? Being not hesitant because it¡¯s a cruel world?! Saying killing won¡¯t do good?! You¡¯re a hypocrite! Akino: I know¡­ and I don¡¯t deny that. There are times we had to take extreme measures and create decisions we might regret. Akino stands and faces at the unchained Lyka. Akino: And I haven¡¯t told her anything about ¡®killing won¡¯t do good¡¯. Aggressive Lyka: WHAT? Akino then takes over the place, making the two ¡®personas¡¯ of Lyka stop moving, static like a statue. Akino looks around, inspecting the two Lyka¡¯s. The chained one fell unconscious and remains still, but the other one seems to be struggling. Akino didn¡¯t notice it, instead she focused herself on the chained Lyka, tinkering something on her cheeks and hair. Agressive Lyka: Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t touch her! Akino: Why not? Aggressive Lyka: Because I¡¯m the real one! Akino: Then you want me to check on you instead? Aggressive Lyka: People are dying out there! Don¡¯t play fool right now! Akino: You forgot how time works in here, did you? Aggressive Lyka: What? Akino stands. The chained Lyka was released from her chains and softly lies on the ground. The unconscious Lyka dissipates in air. The whole virtual place returns to its normal state: a white plain of emptiness and cracks with purple glow began to disappear. Akino turns around to the other Lyka who¡¯s confused at what¡¯s happening. Aggressive Lyka: Wh ¨C what did you do?! Akino: I get it now. Another persona of hers manifested in here, creating a split personality, and I just manually removed it. Aggressive Lyka: Wh ¨C what? Akino: Try to act better next time? You kinda give it away when you¡¯re talking to me about ¡®killing¡¯. Lyka reopens her eyes, back in the castle main chamber. Akino was on top of her, with several wires coming out of her head connected to a single point on her glowing chest and unconscious. Lyka tried to move but she can¡¯t, and she hears voices in her head. YOU WILL NEED ME! UNLEASH ME!!! THIS HUMANS NEED TO DIE! Lyka: (Aki? AKI?! Wake up!!!) Akino suddenly jolts and wakes up. The glowing ¡®crystal¡¯ inside Lyka¡¯s chest seems to glow much brighter. Akino: Whatever this crystal thing is, I need to pull it out, and it will be painful¡­ Lyka: Wha ¨C the gemstone? Inside me? Akino: It¡¯s controlling your emotions! I need to remove it! Lyka: O ¨C okay! I¡¯m ready! The wires on Akino¡¯s hair slowly pulls out of Lyka¡¯s chest. Lyka grits her teeth but then proceeds to shriek due to the pain. One, two, three. Akino pulled out the crystal in an instant, with blood surging out of her Lyka¡¯s chest, like fountain. She throws the crystal away and tries to cover Lyka¡¯s chest wound which has already healed the instant she looks back at her. Akino: You alright? Lyka: Y ¨C yeah¡­ thank you¡­ Akino: What the hell is that?! Lyka looks at the discarded crystal, glowing ¡®violently¡¯. Lyka: It¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s¡­ a corrupted manastone¡­ I think it was formed when ¨C when I was getting emotional¡­ Akino: Wh ¨C what? Lyka: It intensified when I saw Herol¡¯s people¡­ I wasn¡¯t able to control it¡­ my emotions¡­ I wasn¡¯t¡­ The crystal shakes and cracks open, a smog of pure mana bursts out of it and swirls to a single point. The smog turns into a figure in front of them, another Lyka but its body was filled with weird glowing tattoos has a real left arm instead of the bionic one. The figure roars and immediately targets Lyka. CHAPTER 45: Meltdown (Part 2) Lyka engages her doppelganger. The doppelganger casts magic and conjures a greatsword the same as Lyka¡¯s. While the two engages, Akino told Herol to take the demi-wolves to the tunnel they made back. Herol nods and immediately leaves with his people, leaving the three inside the castle¡¯s main chamber. Doppel Lyka: You! You could have your own salvation! Your people will be avenged! And yet, you refused me! Lyka: I will never be corrupted! Even if it means to save anyone, I¡¯ll find another way other than being corrupted! Lyka tried to cast a blasting spell, but as she raises her right hand and tried to cast it no magic circle appears. She tried to verbally cast but to no avail no magic circle appears. Lyka: What is going on?! What did you do to me?! Doppel Lyka: Hah! NOW YOU¡¯RE TOTALLY ¨C useless? The fake steps back as Lyka realizes that her right arm was burning with black flames. It wasn¡¯t hot for her, nor it wasn¡¯t hurting. Akino: Lyka, look at your HUD. Lyka: Eh? HUD? Lyka: What is this¡­? Lyka looks at her hand. She could still see magic, but the mysterious flames were not made of magic and devoid of mana, like Akino and Alexa. She tried to use the mysterious flame to conjure her weapon, but to no avail she couldn¡¯t do so. The fake one took this moment to attack, Akino blasted it with her rifle but manages to block the attacks with its magic barrier. Lyka: I ¨C I can¡¯t! my greatsword is ¨C Akino: Concentrate, goddammit! Remember what I told you last time! Lyka concentrates, recalling the things Akino taught her on casting magic without chanting but only with the use of her mind and creativity. Her second attempt of conjuration turns successful, and in succession a set of text pops up on her vision. Lyka looks at her conjured sword, mesmerized by the luster and detail of her new weapon. The fake one attacks her with magic and Lyka was able to block it with her sword. The magic blasts, throwing the two away from each other. Doppel Lyka: Hng! I¡¯ll end this! The fake Lyka raises both her hands in the air. A huge magic circle appears, the ground shakes and rubble floats around the fake one. Doppel Lyka: Abyssal Gate!! The ground below Akino and Lyka glows with a magic circle. It splits open and dark flames engulfs the area. Akino protects herself by enforcing her skin with hexagonal armor, but Lyka stands still in the flames. Akino: Lyka! Are you alright?! Lyka: I could feel it¡­ the magic¡­ it¡¯s turning into nothing! It¡¯s being cancelled! The mana is being cancelled! Lyka swings her sword, the flames casted by the doppelganger disappears in a flash, so is the magic circle. Doppel Lyka: WH ¨C THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! Abyss magic cannot be countered ¨C nothing can destroy the magic that destroys! Lyka: I don¡¯t know¡­ but this zero-entropy seems more powerful than our magic. The doppelganger rages and assaults Lyka, leading to a sword-to-sword combat. They clash their weapons, at high speeds, dashing here and there, creating small sonic booms. Akino only watches in awe, seeing a battle like in anime she¡¯d watch with Alexa before. Lyka then catches the fake¡¯s sword with her bionic arm and crushes it with sheer force. The fake dashes backwards and summons its own shadow copies but Lyka swiftly sprints with her sword aimed at each of the copies¡¯ necks, defeating them in an instant. Doppel Lyka: IMPOSSIBLE! HOW COULD THIS BE?! Lyka: I¡¯ve learned things, you should¡¯ve taken some when we were still in the virtual matrix. Lyka then stabs the ground with her sword. Glyphs appear and forms into a circle, a magic circle but the fake and real Lyka notices it wasn¡¯t made with mana. Despite this, Lyka continues to cast her anomalous ¡®mana-less¡¯ spell. Lyka: Abyss Zero ¨C Mech Guardian. A huge shadow-like figure, about 15 meters tall, appears behind Lyka ¨C a female that has similar face with Lyka but with long hair and wears a very ¡®modernistic armor¡¯, perhaps a metallic Kevlar of some sorts. The doppelganger stops moving, shocked while looking at Lyka¡¯s conjuration, Akino was also stunned at the seeing the summoned entity. The huge figure pulls out a sword and slashes the doppelganger in half in an instant, like a wind whistled in an open space. The doppelganger didn¡¯t scream nor react, after getting slashed it immediately turned into smoke and quickly dissipates in air, leaving only the corrupted manastone on the floor. The summoned entity then retreats to the ground as the glyph circle Lyka casted slowly disappears. Akino: That¡¯s ¨C that¡¯s amazing! Akino notices that Lyka¡¯s still gloomed. Akino: I ¨C I don¡¯t know what to say¡­ in this kind of situation ¨C Lyka then quickly went over to Akino and hugs her. Lyka: You talking to me is enough for comfort¡­ Akino: I¡¯m the one to blame¡­ well, in the past few days all we did was flirt and flirt¡­ and you know ¨C bed stuff? Lyka teasingly slaps Akino¡¯s face. Lyka: You¡¯re a perv¡­ Akino: Wh ¨C wait, wait! Sorry! Lyka: But I¡¯m also the one to blame¡­ I mean, I couldn¡¯t control my emotions and it took a toll on me¡­ Akino: We should¡­ talk after this. Lyka: I think it won¡¯t be necessary. Akino: You sure? Lyka: I¡¯m fine¡­ I¡¯ll be able to control myself from now on. Stolen story; please report. Akino: By the way¡­ Mech Guardian? Really? Lyka: What? It¡¯s not that silly! I ¨C I feel like saying it even I can cast it without uttering a word¡­ Akino: It¡¯s a nice name, honestly¡­ and Abyss Zero? That¡¯s cool. Lyka: Re ¨C really? The two looked at each other, not knowing that a remaining elder priest was hiding on one pf the pillars of that chamber. The elder priest sprints and takes the corrupted crystal on the ground. Akino noticed this and aims to shoot the priest to stop him, but the priest casts a dense magic barrier to protect himself. Lyka quickly grabs her sword to attack the priest but by the time she hits the barrier, the priest casted a spell onto the manastone. The two wasn¡¯t able to hear what spell the priest casted, as the ambient sound around them turns into deafening ring, the ground shakes and a magic portal opens behind the priest. Elder Priest: Rise! Oh, Holy Herald!!! An ethereal bright knight fully covered in glowing white marble armor emerges from the summoning circle of the priest, holding a mace and a shield. Lyka: Th ¨C the mana! It¡¯s a powerful summoning spell! Akino: Is it that bad? Elder Priest: Fool! He¡¯s not a summoned entity! He¡¯s the holy knight of the Ravine! An incarnate of divine power! Lyka: You heard the priest¡­ it thinks it¡¯s bad¡­ The two dashes out of the way as the giant knight swings its weapon while the priest was riding on its back. Akino tried to attack the knight with powerful rifles, but it only deflects the bullets she fired. Lyka tried to summon her guardian again, but she keeps getting interrupted by the enemy attacks. The priest then fires a barrage of powerful magic blasts, forcing the two to hide on the rock rubbles and broken foundation of the chamber. Akino: Summon that big-ass version of yourself! Lyka: Wha ¨C can¡¯t you see?! Akino switches to railguns while Lyka casts her shadow copies but covered with special Kevlar armor. Akino: Your copies were ¨C wearing armor¡­ not like your skimpy ¨C Lyka: Are you insinuating something? Akino: Do you want me to make you a Kevlar? Lyka: I¡¯m fine with my leather, thanks. They were about to go out of their cover when an earthquake breaks. They stay in their position and try to peek if the priest caused the sudden shaking, but to their surprise the priest was also startled with it. Akino and Lyka took this opportunity to attack the priest, shooting the railgun and sending the shadow towards him and his knight. Akino¡¯s railgun manages to blow a hole on the ethereal knight, and when Lyka¡¯s shadow copy was about to hit the priest, a bright flash blinded them. The shadow copy drops on the ground, cut in half. The two girls went closer to each other, protecting themselves from the unknown attacker. The attacker revealed itself, landing on its two feet being covered by a brown robe. The attacker was a man, about in his twenties, and wears a regular outfit of an adventurer. Lyka¡¯s fur spiked up the moment she saw the man, and Akino notices that he holds a very familiar sword ¨C a katana. The man looks at Akino and Lyka, then proceeds to assist the priest. Elder Priest: What are you waiting for?! Kill them! Aren¡¯t you supposed to be the Shadow Blade?! Altruis¡¯ greatest assassin?! The man glares at the priest, making him shut up. Assassin: Let¡¯s go¡­ Elder Priest: You can¡¯t beat them?! Assassin: I can, but I didn¡¯t expect to face a very powerful¡­ and intriguing opponents. The assassin walked towards the two, while the two steps back. He raised his sheathed katana, and valiantly waves it to the direction of the two girls. Assassin: My name is Mitsuhiro¡­ an assassin of the Altruis. Mitsuhiro tried to reach out his hands, but Lyka instinctively protects Akino. Lyka: Don¡¯t come near us¡­ Mitsuhiro: Hmmm. Akino: Lyka, what¡¯s wrong? Lyka: He¡¯s ¨C super dangerous¡­ Mitsuhiro: Dangerous? It seems you are more dangerous than I am, demi-god¡­ The two girls looked at each other. Akino: A katana, huh¡­? Lyka: An outworlder? Mitsuhiro: I am, and you? Lyka: I¡¯m not. Mitsuhiro: So, it confirms you¡¯re a genuine demi-wolf and a demi-god¡­ but the other one¡­ Akino: What? That I don¡¯t have any mana or magic shit? Mitsuhiro: Yes, and it''s intriguing. He unsheathes his katana and points it at the two. Mitsuhiro: It is unfortunate that I¡¯ll be killing you off for good. It¡¯s nothing personal, just a job. Akino: Same with here. Akino steps forward, revealing her arm that has turned into a mini-gun. The assassin was stunned seeing how Akino¡¯s arm turn into a mini-gun, but immediately composes himself as he tries to swing his katana against her. Akino fired a barrage of bullets, all of which were deflected or being dodged by the assassin. Lyka takes her turn by going behind the assassin and trying to cleave him with her sword, but he was able to block it with his katana. Lyka sensed he was about to slice him off in an instant so she retreats to safety before he could swing his sword. The two girls and the assassin where distanced pretty far from each other, and they were staring like there¡¯s an intense duel about to begin. They took their positions, stances, and readies to launch themselves to one another, until another earthquake happens, interrupting their stances. Lyka: Aki, what was that? That¡¯s the second one! Akino: There¡¯s¡­ nothing¡­ it¡¯s something else that I can¡¯t detect nor sense¡­ Lyka: What about the tunnel you made under? Akino: It¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s not the tunnel¡­ the tunnel¡¯s still there¡­ The two looks confused, making the assassin take this time to move. The air chills around them, it feels like their hearing went away but they could hear a ringing sound. The assassin stops moving as if he felt something ¡®terrifying¡¯ and couldn¡¯t turn, the priest exclaims but they couldn¡¯t hear it, Lyka bemusedly shouts at Akino, and Akino saw something on her vision¡­
WARNING: SPATIAL ANOMALY DETECTED ANOMALOUS ZERO-ENTROPIC SPATIAL SYSTEM IS DETECTED PERCOLATING WITHIN THE LOCAL SPACE-TIME SYSTEM RECOMMENDATION: EVACUATE THE AREA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ¨C FEASIBLE DISTANCE OF 5 KILOMETERS AWAY FROM THE ANOMALY EPICENTER WILL ENSURE A MAXIMUM 87% SURVIVABILITY RATE
Lyka: WHAT¡¯S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?! Mitsuhiro: What¡­? Looks behind the assassin and the priest. A small crack, not on the wall nor on the ground, but in mid-air, a space-time ¡®crack¡¯. It began to grow, and grow, until it shatters loudly, deafening the people inside the chamber. A gap, large enough for a man to pass through, was formed from the cracks. Beyond that gap was nothing, a void, a space, something very eerie. It howls, as the air suddenly gets sucked in it, forcing the four people to hold on to something. The howling stops. The nearest people ¨C the priest and the assassin ¨C slowly walks backward from the mysterious gap. Lyka takes an offensive stance and looks at Akino, stunned at the sight of the void ¨C a familiar view, she recalls. A figure emerges from the, a familiar one, as Akino recalls. A mechanical being of human stature, but the only human on it was it being bipedal, having two arms, a torso, an abdomen, and a head which is faceless and only a plain metal. Everything else was mechanical with a mix of reddish fiber: a muscle tissue exposed like in anatomy figures. There¡¯s a writing on its right arm: MC-01. The figure surveys the place, seeing the two confused girls, the shocked assassin, and the priest that kept on shouting to the assassin to kill them all. The figure fixates its view to the priest, and its faceless head opens.
WARNING: HIGH ENERGY SIGNATURE DETECTED
Akino drags Lyka away, the assassin dashes backwards, and the figure blasts a very powerful laser beam from its head. The whole place was covered with blinding light and beaming sound. After that, they saw the upper half of the priest, gone and melted into nothing. The laser beam was so powerful that it penetrated throughout the place, creating a melted hole where they could see the outside of the castle. The figure once again surveys the place, now with scanning lasers from its head. MC-01: SURVEY COMPLETE. RETURNING TO LOCAL-SPACE POINT. The figure walks back to the direction of the void. Mitsuhiro: You ¨C you summoned that thing??? That... man in an armor? Akino: I don¡¯t have magic, can¡¯t you see that? Lyka: I ¨C I didn¡¯t either¡­ Mitsuhiro: Looks like I got another target. Akino: Target? Wait, don¡¯t engage it! Mitsuhiro: It killed my master¡¯s servant, I must kill it just to make sure it will not do the same to you. Akino: WAIT, WHAT? The assassin didn¡¯t listen to Akino and went near to the mechanical figure. He positions his sword on his waist, and quickly sheathes and unsheathes his katana, then walks back to the two girls. A line, like a clean cut, appeared on the waist of the MC-01 and it bleeds. The assassin smugly smiles at the two as he poses and points the katana towards them. Mitsuhiro: Shall we continue? But Akino felt discomfort on looking at the MC-01. The blood gushing out of the machine¡¯s waist moves weirdly, and on top of that it hasn¡¯t reacted to the assassin¡¯s fast slice ¨C it only stood still. That blood moved quickly and gushed out violently, slicing off the assassin¡¯s waist. The assassin couldn¡¯t notice that until his upper half slides like a sliced watermelon. He screams in pain as blood gushes out of his sliced body and gags as blood flows out of his mouth. Lyka instinctively went to the assassin to heal and patch him up as Akino guards her, pointing both her arms that has turned into railguns at the machine. The MC-01 moves once again and walks back to the void. Akino: OI! You forgot something!!! The MC-01 turns back, scans the place once more with its face, and leaves like it was nothing. This pissed off Akino but she composes herself. Akino: I¡¯m HQC-32! A human from Earth! I need to access a communication with the Institution of Humanity, now! The MC-01 stops and faces at Akino. MC-01: HQC-31, HQC-32, AND HQC-101 ARE OBSELETE ASSETS OF THE INSTUTION. THE INSTITUTION DOESN¡¯T SUPPORT ANYMORE THESE ASSETS DUE TO THEIR INCOMPATIBILITY WITH THE INSTITUTION. Akino: Wha ¨C WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN?! Then it leaves. Akino snaps but Lyka stops her. Lyka: Aki! We need to save this guy! Let it be! Akino: Ugh, fuck¡­ you¡¯re right¡­ I got ahead of myself, sorry¡­ Akino went to Lyka and checked the assassin¡¯s vitals. The assassin just wails due as Lyka casts a healing spell on him. Akino: Don¡¯t try to close the wound but keep him alive with your spell. I¡¯ll try to meld the other half. Lyka: Got it. Akino grabs the assassin¡¯s lower half and looks at the machine which is already gone however the gap was still there, eerily howling at them. Then she noticed that some cracks started to appear on the edges of the gap, and it increases at an alarming rate.
WARNING: IMMINENT ENERGY BURST DETECTED, T-35 SECONDS AREA EVACUATION OR PROTECTION SEEK IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The cracks on the void gap began to spread all throughout the place. A whirring sound deafens them. Akino quickly grabs Lyka and the assassin but left his lower half, her forearms open with retracting metallic plates and a bluish force field envelops the three. A bright flash came out of the void gap, and a very loud explosion follows. Stories of Elyn 3: A tale from a nation that disappeared Inside a bar somewhere in a walled city, three adventurers entered to eat dinner and rent a room. The place seems livelier than before ¨C new faces dine in, and new servants takes the orders. One of the three, an orc adventurer named Olguk, choses their seat near the window ¨C a single round table with four wooden chairs. They sat on the chairs, and synchronously sighed, with faces of tired workers. Oliva: What a day¡­ I want to rest already! Olguk: This place¡­ does it have many people before? Thoral: Don¡¯t ask me that, all I care about is the food! Aaaaaand ¨C we¡¯ve got some fine ladies here. An elf adventurer, Thoral, whistles at a female demi-wolf with fluffy brown hair. That demi-wolf went near to their table and hands them some glass of water then stands by, but she¡¯s noticeably nervous. She then pulls out a little notebook from her apron¡¯s pocket. Servant demi-wolf: Can ¨C can I get your order? Thoral: Can I know your name, cutesy? Servant demi-wolf: I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m Hilda¡­ Hilda Ingot of tribe Ingzt. Oliva, a human adventurer, smacks Thoral¡¯s head. Thoral: OW! Oliva: Sorry about that, he¡¯s a bit of naughty. Hehe¡­ Thoral: Wait, wait, wait! Ingot of Ingzt?! Like, Herol Ingot?! The demi-wolf from Ravine?! Hilda: He¡¯s ¨C he¡¯s my brother¡­ you ¨C you knew him? Olguk: We¡­ we just heard stories¡­ Hilda immediately bows at them. Hilda: I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m sorry for my brother¡¯s crimes!!! Oliva: Wha ¨C no! We didn¡¯t mean that! Thoral: What do you mean? Your brother is a hero! Saving the humans from a nation that most of its inhabitants hate ¨C okay, I¡¯ll shut up now¡­ Oliva: Better be, you might say something stupid again! Olguk: Umm¡­ can we order now? Oliva: Olguk! What in the world, don¡¯t be rude! Olguk: But I¡¯m hungry¡­ Hilda: Sorry! It¡¯s my fault¡­ what can I get you? Hilda writes the orders of the three adventurers, sprints back to the counter and waited. About thirty minutes she came back, holding up the plates of grilled meat chops and cream soups from their kitchen, serving it hot to the three. Hilda: Enjoy your food! Oliva: Wait, don¡¯t leave yet. Take a seat here. Hilda: Eh? But I have to ¨C Oliva: I know the owner, he¡¯ll understand. Olguk: It¡¯s alright, kid. We got your back, don¡¯t worry. Hilda takes the seat Oliva offered, making her side to her very close. Oliva: So¡­ how am I going to start this¡­ Thoral: Tell us what happened back there! Olguk: Yeah! I would love to hear that story! Oliva punches the two for being compulsive. She grabs the two and pinches their ears. Oliva: Don¡¯t you have any decency? This kid was¡­ you know it! Olguk: Oh¡­ sorry¡­ Thoral: Alright, alright¡­ geez¡­ Hilda: It¡¯s fine¡­ it¡¯s been done, all I can do is tell it and learn from it. The three stared at the demi-wolf, she grabs a glass of water she gave to them and clears her throat. Hilda: Before we got to Ravine¡­ we were living normally in a forest¡­ but then a herald attacked us and conveniently the Altruis knights saved what¡¯s left of us¡­ Oliva: Altruis? That¡¯s ¨C that¡¯s something¡­ Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Hilda: Yeah¡­ they were known for hating demi-humans but they helped us, however we got conscripted because of that debt and that¡¯s why we were at the Ravine. Thoral: So, Altruis went for an alliance with the Church of Ravine, huh? Hilda: I guess, but I don¡¯t know the details¡­ my brother was promoted to knighthood with the Altruis¡¯ recommendation and that¡¯s how we started in Ravine. Olguk: Intriguing¡­ a demi-human being turned into a knight by the nation who hated them¡­ Thoral: I¡¯d say it¡¯s bull! Oliva: Thoral! Hilda: I guess it is bull¡­ Oliva: So¡­ ummm, about two days ago when you managed to ¨C how do I say this¡­ escaped, right? Olguk: Escaped sounds a good way to say it¡­ Thoral: Wait, they saved the others that time, right?! They didn¡¯t just escape that ¨C that thing! What was it? Hilda took the meat from Thoral¡¯s plate and chews it down. Thoral: What in the ¨C Hilda: Sorry, I¡¯m hungry¡­ Oliva: Okay, okay¡­ what about that ¡®thing¡¯? Hilda: You mean the explosion? Olguk: Explosion? More like something was summoned and it leveled the whole damn city! Oliva: Are there any dragons? Demons? Any legendary beasts wreaking havoc?! Thoral: Oh! OH! How about sea monsters?! Oliva: Sea monsters? Really? Hilda: Like I told you, it was just an explosion. Olguk: Really? Something like that wiping out the whole city of Ravine?! Hilda: Look, if it was a monster or something, it will take time. But THAT didn¡¯t, like ¡®poof¡¯ then gone. Not even reaching five seconds¡­ Thoral: Man, this is ridiculous. Hilda: If you don¡¯t want my story, I¡¯ll just go back serving food. Oliva, Thoral, & Olguk: WAIT! Oliva: Can you shut up! Like, shut up! Olguk & Thoral: Sorry¡­ Oliva: Uhm¡­ so, what¡¯s next? Hilda angrily grits her canine teeth at the three. Hilda: So, being conscripted by those bastards were the worst thing happened. We¡¯ve been put to work like¡­ like slaves! Oliva: Mining mana ores? Olguk: Underpaid servants? Thoral: Prostitutes? Oliva: Thoral! Hilda: I think being underpaid servants fits more. Oliva: Alright, alright, back to the story. Hilda: Oh¡­ so, somehow, they knew that brother betrayed the Church and Altruis so they put us in cages in the Ravine castle¡­ and¡­ violated¡­ Oliva: Sorry¡­ we shouldn¡¯t have asked¡­ Hilda: But here comes the next part! Thoral: Wow, she recovered that fast. Hilda: Brother Herol was not working for the knights! And he, how do I say this¡­ oh, he said he¡¯s waiting for the right time! And that night comes in! We hear the mages of the Ravine panicking, saying the castle was infiltrated! Hilda exhales and takes a sip of water. Hilda: Some of us, me included, we were dragged to the main chamber of the castle! And then, the priests threatened us and stuff! Then brother was dragged in, beaten up by an Altruis knight! And we thought we will be executed that night¡­ until they came! Olguk: Who? Hilda excitedly stands on the table, making the others notice her. Still, Hilda kept her attention to the three adventurers, not minding the others who were curiously looking and now listening to her. Hilda: Two girls! One human and one grey demi-wolf! The human was¡­ underwhelming but the demi-wolf was so huge! Like THIS huge! Oliva: Hilda! You¡¯re making a scene! Get down there! Hilda: Oh¡­ sorry¡­ The other adventurers stood and went near that table, insisting Hilda to continue telling her story loudly, some even insisted on paying her. ¡°LET HER CONTINUE!¡± ¡°COME ON!¡± ¡°GO, GIRL! WE GOT YOUR BACK!¡± Hilda, seemed to be encouraged, took a chair and stood on it. Hilda: And the busty demi-wolf casted magic! This and that! Knocking off the mages of Ravine like nothing! She¡¯s so freaking awesome! She casts magic like a mage, but also she can conjure an awesome sword! And fight with that sword like a skilled swordsman! Olguk: A mage and a swordsman at the same time?! Oliva: That¡¯s ¨C interesting¡­ Thoral: What about the human girl? Hilda: The human girl? She¡¯s ¨C weird? I don¡¯t know, her arms turn into metal that shoots small fireballs¡­ or firebolts¡­ but hey, those firebolts were strong enough to shatter the armor of a Ravine mage soldier! Like, BAM! BOOM! It creates sounds like thunder! It¡¯s freaking weird but amazing! All of the adventurers were gossiping, or struck in awe, or just listens from Hilda¡¯s story quitely. Olguk: A human girl, that turns her arms metal¡­? Hilda: But suddenly the demi-wolf girl went berserk! Brother tried to stop her but couldn¡¯t! An Altruis knight in golden armor couldn¡¯t too! And then the human girl signaled brother to get us out, and we went out, escaped through a tunnel on the castle dungeon where we met a ¨C a weird humanoid? Oliva: Weird humanoid? Hilda: She¡¯s white, has cat ears like demi-felines, but she smells human! Like, totally human! Her hair was made of flesh! And she could change shape like a morpho, but much weirder! Thoral: Okay, stop with the weirdness, how about the next one? Hilda: Next one? Oliva: The way how Ravine was wiped out in one night¡­ The bar went silent upon hearing what Oliva said. ¡°YEAH¡­ HOW DID IT HAPPENED¡­¡± ¡°BY THE GODS¡­¡± ¡°GOOD THING I WASN¡¯T THERE¡­¡± Hilda gulps another glass of water. Hilda: I ¨C I¡¯m not sure¡­ it just ¨C it went shaking, then we were deafened by something. An explosion? Brother and the weird humanoid did protect us from falling debris¡­ it was just a short time¡­ after the shaking, we felt it was very hot topside, so the humanoid spitted at us with some kind of a gel that can make sure we will not get burnt ¨C Thoral: Ew! Oliva: Get burnt? What do you mean? Hilda: Well, when we rose to the surface, the whole¡­ the whole Ravine was gone¡­ it was replaced by molten ground, like hot molten rock¡­ no buildings, no walls, no houses, no castle¡­ just a huge crater of molten rock¡­ nothing left¡­ Stories of Elyn 4: Gods and demons, seeing M?????A??????D??????N??????E???S??????S????? Two gods descended to a forest, like lightning striking a ground ¨C majestic, yet destructive. One of the gods was wearing a white robe, her white hair matches with her long robe. She glows like a shining star, and the elegance of her dress and poise rhythms with the solemness of the forest. The other was wearing armor, covered fully from head to toe. Stature resembles a great warrior ¨C a brave and strong being of power. Mina: Is this the place? Taino: Yes, I think¡­ Mina the goddess of knowledge and Taino the god of lightning, both of which came from the Centennial Abode, came down to Elyn to look for Marcus ¨C the god of destruction. Taino: The god of destruction, who only knows about nothing but destroying, was stuck in this peaceful forest for what ¨C a thousand and a half years?! Mina: We sensed that he was able to produce a demigod¡­ but no one¡¯s here¡­ Taino: Yeah, after our humans raided some demi-wolf tribes, no one¡¯s here except animals and insects¡­ and plants¡­ you like plants? Mina: Shut up. Taino: The raid was ¨C well, a part of your idea. Mina: Shut up, or I¡¯ll explain to you for another millennia how beneficial to us this event was. Taino: Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ll shut up now. The two walks through the forest. On and on, until they reached a burned tribe with mounds on the sides of the burnt huts. Taino: Look at your success. Liking it? Mina: I wouldn¡¯t call it a success if the humans killed that demigod. Taino: Really? This is part of your plan, right? Mina summons a lance and points it at Taino. Taino: Woah, woah! Mina: You want me to splice a bit of your ¨C Mina was distracted as she looks at the shrine cave of the tribe, seeing the stacks of metals on the side with grown moss on it. Mina: These ¨C these armor sets. It belongs to Altruis soldiers¡­ Taino: Yeah, what of it? Mina inspects the armor sets one-by-one. She wipes the moss covering it, revealing the damages it has. Mina: Look at it, all of it were torn, punctured¡­ Taino: The damage¡­ was it done by Marcus¡¯ heralds? Mina: I think not. Mina points out the abnormal holes on the armor chests, and the dents that looked like it was crumpled like a leaf. Mina: Something else did this. Taino: What do you think it is? Mina casts a spell, creating a magic circle as wide as the whole tribe area. Ethereal figures of knights and demi-wolves appear, reenacting the events that transpired in that place: knights and mages of the Altruis killing the demi-wolves, at the center was a female demi-wolf engaging with an Altruis summoned hero, and later the hero manages to cut off the demi-wolf¡¯s arm. After that, the hero leaves, and the higher knights takes the place, but then things get weird. One-by-one, the knights and mages were taken down abnormally ¨C their heads and knees bust open like it exploded, and the live ones were getting dragged to bushes by something. The two tried to look past the bushes but they see nothing. Then the three high knights seem to engage on something they can¡¯t see ¨C something that doesn¡¯t have mana in it. The three were utterly defeated ¨C their armors being torn and bodies getting damaged by an invisible force. The only remaining demi-wolf floats into the shrine cave of the place. They followed it and saw that the injured demi-wolf was slowly descending on a flat surface, like something was carefully placing her down. Mina knew that the sword used by the hero was a corrupted divine relic, capable of slicing the souls of its prey, making the soul of the demi-wolf have a missing arm and dark veins appear on its skin ¨C indicating corruption leading to death. But the spread of the corruption stops, making her think who and how she was healed. The effects done by a corrupted divine relic cannot be undone but somehow the demi-wolf was healed from its corruption. They observed further the demi-wolf, Mina fasten the process since they only see that the demi-wolf was sleeping until they saw it stood up. Taino: How long was that?! Mina: Two days¡­ she¡¯s been out here, asleep, for two days and miraculously no monster went in here to check the bloodshed and found her¡­ They followed the demi-wolf¡¯s ethereal figure outside, and thru observing her body poses she¡¯s confused, and so is the two gods. The bodies were gone, buried already to the ground. The demi-wolf presses further to the forest and hides to the bushes, then she stands up and shout at nothing while casting a spell. Taino: She¡¯s seeing something we can¡¯t see!You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Mina: This doesn¡¯t make sense¡­ even if that thing who attacked our knights and taken care of her was a monster or something, or a god, we should be able to see their souls and mana¡­ even if it¡¯s a golem or an undead we should be able to see those! Taino: This is ridiculous! We should be back at the abode drinking wine! Mina: Then go back, I don¡¯t even need you here. Taino: Jeez, can¡¯t take a joke? Mina: This ¨C this isn¡¯t a joking matter¡­ They kept on observing the ethereal demi-wolf ¨C from the way it talks to its ¡®conversations¡¯ with the invisible something, and then finally when she steps outside the tribe area. They followed her into the woods, then they saw an injured orc wherein the demi-wolf assists it. At this time, Taino senses that someone was following them. Mina deactivates her spell and readies themselves. The two sensed powerful presence, similar to them. They confronted the stalking figures and saw two of the demon lords of the Underworld ¨C Zenus of the Blood clan and Temis the Spear God. Zenus: Well, well, well. Look who it is, the gods of the shitty abode. Mina: What did you say? Temis: Zenus, cut it out! Taino: Can we please not start something here? Mina, you should be the most reasonable one and getting provoked by a lowly demon lord was a thing to you? Zenus & Mina: WHAT?! Temis: Oh, in the name of the whole Elyn, stop this ruckus! The demon lord of the Blood clan and the goddess of knowledge stopped arguing. Taino: SO¡­ umm¡­ hi? Temis: We¡¯ve been looking for the wolf god, Perdius¡­ and you? Zenus: Hey, we¡¯re not supposed to tell them! Temis: Oops¡­ sorry¡­ Mina: Leave, whatever we¡¯re doing is none of your business. Zenus: HUH?! You really want some spanking, huh pretty girl?! Mina: What did you say? Taino: Well, umm¡­ we we¡¯re looking for the god of destruction, Marcus. Mina here casted a spell which we¡¯re using to track down Marcus and ended up here. Temis: Well, we we¡¯re tracking Perdius¡¯ mana scent that also leads here. Mina: Taino, don¡¯t say it. Zenus: Say what, huh?! Afraid of getting outperformed by a demon lord? Taino: Can we stop! I just wanted to go back to the abode, so we let the demon lords do their thing and we do ours, is that alright? Temis: Alright, I¡¯m sorry about this ruckus. Let¡¯s go Zenus. Zenus: Tsk! The two groups went to their separate ways. Mina and Taino kept on following the ethereal figure, leading them to a cave entrance. However, once the two gods of the abode reached the cave entrance, the two demon lords happen to be leaded by their senses towards the cave entrance. Mina: By the heavens¡­ Taino: Ooookay¡­ what¡¯s going on? Temis: We ¨C we followed Perdius¡¯ mana scent? Mina: This is a waste of time¡­ no harm in going with us, right? Taino: Well ¨C we¡¯ve got different objectives... Temis: What are you looking for, exactly? Taino drags Mina away and whispers to her. Taino: Should we? Mina: They might help us¡­ The two faces went back. Mina: We¡¯re looking for a demigod, of the race of demi-wolf. Apparently that demigod was the God of Destruction¡¯s child, and we¡¯re tracking her leading us here. Temis: I see¡­ no harm in coming with us, right? Zenus: Really?! With them?! Come on!!! Taino: Hey! We might help each other on the way through, so shut up! Zenus: Ugh¡­ They entered the cave, went deep until they saw corpses of mutilated goblins and ashes of an unknown burned being. Temis: What happened here¡­? Zenus: Purging, duh! Mina: So uncivilized¡­ Taino: Something is off¡­ Mina: I agree¡­ I sense abyss magic in here, but it¡¯s so faint¡­ Temis: Abyss magic, huh? So, are we in the right direction? Mina: You agreed to come with us, it¡¯s not our problem if you two didn¡¯t get your objectives. Temis: Well, our senses also guide us towards here¡­ but the scent was also getting faint. Mina: I see¡­ The group kept on walking, they walked and walked, until they reached the dead end. Zenus checked the place and found a hole, covered in overgrown white molds. Zenus: What in the world is down there?! It smells like shit! They went down the hole and saw a weird chamber with walls made of rotten flesh, covered in molds and maggots. Mina: This is¡­ human flesh? Zenus: What? Temis: This isn¡¯t something a simple monster can do¡­ Taino: Probably done with magic? Mina: No¡­ it¡¯s natural¡­ like, this place was made of human flesh¡­ Mina took another step, finding the strange hole on the flesh wall. She tried to look inside of it, but the other side was pitch black. She casted a light magic, only to see a huge empty place. Mina: What happened here¡­? The other three went to Mina and saw the unnatural empty area on the other side of the hole. Temis: Oh my¡­ Zenus: God¡­ Taino: I think we should ¨C you know ¨C leave? The air in this place¡­ is getting cold for some reasons I don¡¯t know¡­ Mina: You¡¯re right¡­ let¡¯s get out of here, the mana in this area is weirdly less and thin¡­ Temis: Wait, wait, wait, we¡¯re just gonna leave? With empty hands?! Mina: You want to go inside this hole? Are you mad? Temis brushes off Mina, going inside the pitch-black area with Zenus. Taino immediately rushes to Mina and whispers at her. Taino: Hey! We¡¯re just going to leave them? If they found evidence of the slaughter we planned on that village, we¡¯re toast! Mina: What are you suggesting? Tag with them? Inside that weird place? Taino: Duh! What else could it be? Mina sighs, then she enters the other side of the cave with Taino. They could see the casted light magic from Zenus and Temis inside that dark chamber, but as they approach the two demon lords they suddenly fell through the ground. Both demon lords screamed briefly before disappearing from the sight of the two gods. Mina and Taino ran to reach them out but got only confused ¨C there¡¯s no hole where the two demon lords fell through. Taino: What¡¯s going on?! Where did they go?! Mina: Calm down! The two felt something underneath them, as if they were sinking in a quicksand but something is weird. The floor is still intact, which means the two were passing through the ground. They tried to use all of their strength but they can¡¯t escape. Stories of Elyn 5: Gods and Demons, witnessing m???a????d?????n?????e????s?????s??????? The two gods woke up inside a dark room. Mina casted a lighting spell, revealing that the room was covered in red vines. Strange mechanisms surround them, making them baffle more on where they went after they got sucked in. Mina: What¡­ is this place¡­? Taino: AH! This is annoying! Taino angrily stretches his arms, casted a spear made of lightning. He charges at one of the walls of that room, and releases a powerful strike, shattering the wall and creating a loud thundering boom. The destruction of that wall led to a breach of blinding light. Mina covered her eyes and Taino lost his footing. Seeing himself about to fall from a very high place, he immediately grabs on the bent metal ¡®sticks¡¯ protruding from the broken wall, stopping himself from falling. Taino: WHAT IN ELYN IS THIS PLACE?! Mina looks to Taino and quickly casted a conjuring spell ¨C a mana barrier underneath Taino. Taino slowly stands on the barrier while Mina ran towards him to help him back up inside. Mina: OI! What¡¯s taking you so long?! Taino just points out ¨C face covered in awe that soon spreads to Mina. They found themselves in an unfamiliar world. Tall structures, seemingly covered in broken glass with overgrown red plant-like patches. Others have huge red trees inside of them but doesn¡¯t have any leaves. They look at the bottom part, seeing the ground covered with grass like plants but colored in red and white. They look at the horizon, seeing ¡®deformed¡¯ mountains and a setting sun. They look left and right, finding themselves also inside of these strange structures. Taino: Where are we? Mina: I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ we were inside that weird cave and then¡­ Taino: The ground suck us up and boom! We¡¯re here. Mina and Taino, both still dazed, went back inside the room. Mina casted a special magic that will detect any form of mana belonging to a sapient being, but she didn¡¯t find any. With her godly power, she extended her detection magic throughout that world, but to her surprise only two of them were the ones having mana. Mina: This¡­ this is impossible! This place doesn¡¯t have any people in it! Let alone mana! This world¡­ this world shouldn¡¯t be existing! Taino: No mana? In this world? Mina: That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been saying ¨C The two were interrupted when they heard strange noises coming from outside. They looked at the broken wall and saw the setting sun, the grasses below begin to stick itself the to the ground like snails, and the protruding trees on the tall structures emitted small dotted ¡®lights¡¯. The strange noise they¡¯ve been hearing became louder and louder, like a creeping beast behind them. The two gods turn around, fully prepared with their magic and strength, only to be greeted by a beast with many faces. It has four legs; each grotesquely have fingers of humans protruding on it. The many human faces on it have hollow eyes, tearing with blood, but all have different expressions. It tried to pounce on Mina, but Taino pierced the disturbing beast with his lightning swords. The beast cries, with many voices, making the two fell more uncomfortable. Mina then casts a spell: Mina: Hellfire! The beast burns, with fire brighter than the sunshine. The cries never stop, as if it is asking for help, which the two gods never understood because they don¡¯t know what the beast speak. Mina, still troubled with the sight of the unknown beast, continues to burn it until nothing was left but ashes. Taino: Do you ¨C know what that thing is? Mina: It¡¯s like conjoined human corpses? Perhaps an abnormal undead beast??? I ¨C I don¡¯t know¡­ but it¡¯s feels alive¡­ Taino: That?! Alive?! Really?! Mina casts the same spell she casted when they were at the demi-wolf village. They saw several mirages of human souls wandering that room: carrying things, talking to each other in a language they couldn¡¯t understand, doing stuff they don¡¯t seem to comprehend. And then, all of these ¡®people¡¯ collapses on the floor, grotesquely ripping their own limbs and merging into single area, forming the strange beast they fought. Taino: WHAT IS THIS PLACE?! THIS IS NONSENSE!!! Mina: Let¡¯s just get out of here¡­ The two gods look around and found a broken door. They decided to go there and found a staircase, a broken and ¡®warped¡¯ staircase. They could hear more growling, becoming closer and closer to them. Mina and Taino were about to cast magic bound weapons when they were dragged. Their mouths were covered, and they heard a whispering voice, a VERY familiar one: ¡°Ssshhhh. They¡¯ll find us.¡± The two gods, dazed, remained silent as they watch another strange creature walk through them ¨C growling and in search of something to devour.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. They turned around, and when Mina was about to cast a light magic the shadowed figure lowers her hand gently, but she could feel its coldness. ¡°Don¡¯t. they¡¯ll spot us faster with that. Grab him and stick with me.¡± Mina: Who are you? This is a different world, how did you ¨C ¡°Questions later, let¡¯s move first¡± Mina grabbed Taino¡¯s arm and she held tightly at the figure. They went down, exiting the tall structure, avoiding all the strange and horrid beings. The grasses that looked like glasses yet soft like silk, reflecting the shine of the moon sky, filled with humongous tentacled beings floating gently in the night. The two were shocked at the strangeness of that world that they haven¡¯t noticed that they¡¯ve arrived on a manhole. The shadow pushes the two down and grabs their arms as they ran. ¡°Keep up with my pace!¡± They tried to not look back, but they could feel something was chasing them. They ran as fast as they could, until they found themselves on a dead-end where a circular metal door was located. The shadow knocks on rhythmic manner and the door opens. They immediately went inside, shutting the door close. The two were still confused, as they hear the being chasing them shouting like a human. The room was still dark, until the shadowed figure casts light. Brightening the room, the two gods were shocked ¨C it was Temis, the spear god. But something was off on her ¨C her left arm was entirely made of metal, almost half of her body was scarred, her side of her face was replaced with metallic plates, and as for her right eye ¨C it was red glowing ¡®gem¡¯. Mina: Temis? Taino: Wha ¨C what happened? Why are like ¨C Temis: A lot of things happened¡­ it¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s been 50 years since we met in that forest¡­ Mina: How¡­ how did this happen? ¡°Dimensional convergence ¨C causing instability in spacetime locality.¡± The two turns around, seeing a humanoid, of some sorts ¨C a face of a mantis, skin of scaled jade-green, and a muscular body of a male. Mina and Taino stands and prepares to attack the being, but Temis stops them. Temis: Stop! He¡¯s a friend! Taino: Wh ¨C what is he?! A demi¡­ a demi-insect?! Mina: The gods of the underworld didn¡¯t create any¡­ ¡®insectoids¡¯ as I remember¡­ Temis: That¡¯s rude! He has a name! The insect-looking human reaches out his hand to the two belwildered gods. Shul: The name¡¯s At-khan Shul, as spoken in your tongue, but you can call me Shul. Temis: He helped me, about forty years ago¡­ Taino: Hold on, hold on¡­ you said you¡¯ve been here for fifty years, right? RIGHT?! Mina: Explain, in every detail you can, everything after you and Zenus went through that floor. Temis takes a seat, looking at her ¡®metallic¡¯ arm with a saddened expression. Temis: After that time, me and Zenus got here¡­ we¡­ we found ourselves in an open field, full of grasses made white glass¡­ there were mountains, plains, and these strange monsters that ignores us¡­ then we saw this city ¨C Taino: City? This place? Shul: It was. Temis: We thought that people might be living here, but it¡¯s only ruins¡­ Zenus became mad¡­ and ¨C and - ! Mina: Are you alright - Temis: He casted a spell, then he trashes things around him¡­ then the ground was ¨C was flooded by some sort of gooey flesh! Of course ¨C he effortlessly fend those off like little critters, but the flesh grew more and more! And he ¨C and he! Temis¡¯ tears burst out. Her face was fully engulfed with sorrow and fear. The two gods watches her, speechless and not knowing how to react. Temis: I tried ¨C to help him¡­ but he shouted that I should get to the high ground and throw my magus hasta, which I did but before I got up¡­ he¡¯s already ¨C been killed¡­! Mina: A demon lord? Killed by this, flesh??? Temis: I saw it! With my eyes! That flesh seeps into his skin! His limbs were torn apart like bread! He shouted in pain, even his head was torn off from his torso! The flesh was ¨C absorbing him¡­ and I just watched him¡­ Temis sobs loudly, forcing Mina to get close to her and comfort her. Mina: It¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s alright¡­ let it all out¡­ Temis: It didn¡¯t stop ¨C the flesh went up and caught up to¡­ it absorbed nearly half my body¡­ then it stops¡­ I was stuck there¡­ for five days¡­ I tried to heal myself but nothing¡­ until Shul came¡­ Temis looks at Shul, slightly removing the sorrow in her heart. Temis: He took me, and ¡®treated¡¯ me¡­ and learned things, many things on this planet¡­ the things happened here¡­ a fate we should stop from happening in ours¡­ Taino: Planet? What¡¯s a planet? Mina: Things, that happened here? Wait, wait, wait¡­ how ¨C what happened to your body? I could still sense your mana pool strong since we met back then, and it should be enough to regrow your arm¡­ this flesh-thing has magic similar to soulcalibur? Taino: Soulcaliburi? Can monsters have a magic that can kill an immortal? I doubt it. Temis: I guess Shul should explain this¡­ The three Elynians lookat Shul, who¡¯s eating a roasted sewer rat with his mandibles. Shul: Ahem¡­ apologies¡­ Taino: How can you speak with that mouth? Shul: Well, it¡¯s something about our biology that you people couldn¡¯t understand. Taino: Ho? Are you mocking me? Shul: You take that as an intimidation? I mean, it¡¯s totally different! You have a more humane body while I have an arthropodal structure. Mina and Taino looks confused. Mina: Planet, biology, arthropo ¨C whatever it is¡­ you speak our language, you¡¯re speaking to gods who created the language you speak and yet we don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying¡­ Taino: Are those made-up words? Temis: I ¨C I helped him understand our language by casting a spell on him. And in turn, he helped me understand this world, since he got here before us. Shul: To be exact, I¡¯ve been stranded in this planet for one hundred and thirty-four years¡­ and whatever happened to all of you, on how you got here, happened to me as well. Mina: What do you mean? Shul: Going through a wall? Sinking through a floor? Getting a hint? Temis: Inside that cave¡­ Taino: If THAT specific place was a gateway to this world¡­ how come there¡¯s no mana emanating from it?! Shul: And there¡¯s more than that¡­ Mina: What¡­ exactly happened in this world? Shul: A lot of terrible things¡­ Stories of Elyn 6: Gods and Demons, escaping C???????????????H?????????????????????A??????OS That night, Shul prepared foods for the two gods ¨C roasted rat from the sewers, and a salad made of red moss and lichen. While eating, Shul and Temis told the other two that this world was attacked by an ¡®unknown¡¯ force, forcing the inhabitants which are humans to take drastic measures on reviving their world, but ultimately failed¡­ as what Shul understand on the things he learned after he was stuck there. They finished their food and Shul went to take the clutter clean, while the remaining three sits silently in that room. Taino: This world¡­ don¡¯t they have gods to protect them? Like us? Mina: Maybe they¡¯ve abandoned them¡­ Temis: Shul, you have any gods or demons or whatever it you consider your creators, right? What was it again? Shul: If you refer to our creators, we have the Alk-hin, translated to your tongue as ¡®elders¡¯. Created by their own minds, we were said to be the most intelligent lifeforms they¡¯ve made¡­ in our world, of course. Mina, being the goddess of knowledge, took Shul¡¯s words seriously. Mina: How¡­ intelligent? Shul, which seems to be happy, asked Temis to give her the book he lent to her. Temis: This book? Temis hands over the book, with strange alphabet written on its cover ¨C World encyclopedia: Fifth Edition Temis: Are you sure they¡¯ll understand this? It took me two years to understand this¡­ Mina: Tw ¨C two years??? Shul: In my stay here, I was able to decipher every word in that book, despite of it being unfamiliar to my own language and writing¡­ which, let¡¯s say took me about a month to fully comprehend it. Mina: And you want me to learn from it in a short amount of time? Heh, competing against a god, are we? Temis: Mina! Umm ¨C uh, sorry Shul¡­ the gods of the abode are really cocky¡­ Taino: Well, because we¡¯re the best! Shul: I don¡¯t mind it¡­ if she learns it that fast¡­ well, things will be much easier to explain. Mina & Taino: Explain what? Temis: Things like how you found out I still have a mana but when you cast your clairvoyance, globally, the only people you¡¯ve sensed to have mana was Taino and yourself. Mina: You knew about that? Temis: That¡¯s how I found you¡­ Mina: Really? Temis: Someone releasing mana bursts to attract those beasts¡­ that¡¯s very oblivious of you¡­ Taino: So, we should conceal ours as well, right? Shul: That would be good for us. After some time, Shul decided to go out of the room to scout the sewers, while Temis attends to the other two being fascinated with the book she has given to them. Mina: This is ¨C THIS IS AMAZING! Taino: Yeah¡­ even I can¡¯t understand it¡­ Temis: You¡¯ve comprehended it already?! Wow¡­ Mina: Not totally¡­ so, planet is their term for their world??? And their world is termed as universe??? I can¡¯t catch up with that, but THIS planet isn¡¯t the center of this world, unlike ours¡­ Taino: Wait, so their SUN isn¡¯t the one revolving?! Temis: Yeah ¨C I guess¡­ and this PLANET isn¡¯t the center of this world, unlike ours¡­ Mina: And- and this¡­ this ¡®biology¡¯ thing, study of life¡­ also relates to anything that is alive or¡­ wait, this is too much complex even for me¡­ Temis: Because you¡¯re skimming through the book! Mina: What is this ¡®mathematics¡¯??? These weird symbols¡­ are they magic glyphs??? As the three continue talking about the book, Shul enters back at the room. Temis notices that he¡¯s seemingly nervous, so she calls him out. Temis: Shul, you alright? Shul: Yeah¡­ I¡¯m fine but this place isn¡¯t¡­ Mina: What do you mean? Shul: A black goop expands slowly as time passes by, east of these sewers. Every night, Temis and I take turns in patrolling the area to look out for that goop. Temis: Please don¡¯t tell it¡¯s already near this place¡­ Shul: It is¡­ pack everything we can, we have to leave. Mina: Leave? How about the beasts outside? Shul: We can¡¯t wait any longer. If we stayed here, that goop will block our only entrance and exit. Taino: How about attacking that goop? Is it that harmful? Temis: It is¡­ magic also doesn¡¯t work on it, I tried it many times¡­ Mina: And using huge amounts of mana will attract the beasts¡­ Shul: For years we¡¯ve been stuck here, running is the only viable option for survival¡­ unless¡­ Taino: Unless what? Shul stops and faces them. Shul: We should hurry¡­ Mina and Taino were intrigued on what Shul¡¯s about to say, but Temis assured them it¡¯s fine. Temis: Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll find another spot to rest, let¡¯s get moving! They packed things that they could carry ¨C Temis gave Mina a bag while Shul ordered Taino to put out the lights, and they carefully left the chamber room to traverse the sewers. While on their way, Mina and Taino saw the black goo, slowly reaching the chamber room they left and already covering it. They couldn¡¯t help but feel unease on the sight of it. They left the sewers, and walked the surface filled with glowing grasses and blinking small critters. Shul pulls out something of his bag and shows a map in a form of a light. Mina: What ¨C what is that??? Shul: Oh, this? It¡¯s a Satellite System Navigator, or Sat Nav for short. It¡¯s a special human device I found on this world. Mina: Satellite? The things in the heavens? What was it¡­ orbiting the planet, right? Temis: Yeah, humans in this world uses those sat-things to map their lands. Taino: Sat-things? Mina: The things or objects orbiting this world ¨C I mean planet, right? Temis: Yeah¡­ Shul, what are you looking for? Shul: Looking for a safe place. The satellites also provide directional info for these ¡®special¡¯ facilities that we can use. Temis: Those places? I thought it¡¯s like kilometers away? Mina: Ummm¡­ what place? Temis: A place where we can have ourselves back to our original world. Mina: Back to our world¡­ Taino: Uhhh, guys? Is it just me, or the sun is already rising? Did it just set a few hours ago, right??? The group looked at the southern horizon, seeing bright light engulfing the dark sides of surface ¨C at an alarming fast rate. Temis: SHIT! Shul, where¡¯s the next safe sewers?!Stolen novel; please report. Shul: I¡¯m looking for it! This way! They ran quickly away from the shine of sun. Mina: WHAT¡¯S GOING ON?! Shul: Huge energy surges happens on this planet, and when that happens the planet anomalously rotates faster! Taino: Speak normally! Temis: The day and night gets shorter! Mina: The magic I casted a while ago¡­ Shul: And not only that ¨C the sunshine of the this shortened time makes all the creatures active! Taino tried to look behind and saw numerous grotesque beings following them in a slow pace. However, the sunshine is already ¡®outrunning¡¯ the creatures, covering the whole surface with its fastened rise. Taino: Dammit! Lightning Spe ¨C As Taino waves his hands back to cast a magic but Temis stops him. Temis: Aren¡¯t you paying attention back there?! Magic attracts them! Taino: Then what?! Let them gnarl us?! Shul: The facility has a nearby weapons warehouse, we can use those to fend them off! The four ran as fast as they could. The sun has stopped moving but it¡¯s already high at the sky ¨C like a day with no clouds at noon. The sunshine covered the whole land surface, as well as the escaping group. Mina: Wh ¨C what happens when the sun touches us?! Temis: The creatures will target us! The sun shone on the group, all the creatures aggressively looked at their direction and savagely rans towards them. Temis pointed her metallic arm towards the horde of creatures. It opens and fires a barrage of small fireballs that create tiny explosions upon hitting the creatures. The creatures stop as Temis keeps on firing at them while they ran away. They kept on running, and running, until they reached a deserted area full of rubble and ruins. Shul: THIS WAY! Shul leads the group towards an open manhole that slides down. Upon reaching the end, they found themselves in a chamber full of wastes and feces. Mina vomits as the stench of the place crosses her nose, while Taino gags as he stops himself from vomiting. Taino: UGH! Mina: Wh ¨C what is this place?! Temis: A waste disposal¡­ place where humans throw trash ¨C and their shit¡­ Shul, is this the place??? Shul: This is the waste tank of the facility I¡¯m talking about. This way, please. They walked out of that place, to the stairs downwards, then to a dark hallway covered in red moss and foul waste. While walking down the hallway of dirt and emptiness, Mina and Taino the same feeling when they went in the strange cave back in Elyn. Temis: Shul, any guesses? Shul: The place is heavily guarded¡­ reinforced walls, and ¨C strange fields¡­ Mina: Strange? Shul: With the current state of this planet, facilities like this should be not running¡­ Taino: There must be some people, right? Even ghosts or spirits? Temis: Humans have been long gone in this world, and great spirits don¡¯t exist here¡­ Mina: My magic¡­ our magic¡­ it¡¯s beginning to fade¡­ Temis: Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll get back to our world as soon as possible. Right, Shul? As they talk, the walls of the hallway begun to leak with black liquid, and weird bony hands appear beneath it. Mechanical humanoids, made with metal plates and bones of steel, covered in black-muscle-like flesh. Mina couldn¡¯t see it properly, but she somehow understands what¡¯s written on their arms: ¡®MC¡¯. The humanoids suddenly pulled out crossbow-like weapons from their backs, while Temis points her mechanical arm towards the humanoids to fire at them. Temis: RUN! Temis fires at the humanoids, and in return the humanoids fired their weapons at them. They ran away, and the humanoids chased them after. Shul navigates the whole maze-like hallways until he locates an open large door. Shul: This way! QUICK! They followed him, and Shul commanded them to shut the doors close. Taino and Temis used their strength to close the large doors and they successfully did, locking the humanoids outside. Inside that room, a series of strange cabinets holding dozens of similar crossbow-like weapons carried by the humanoid beings outside were displayed openly. Tons of papers and books with no titles are placed on tables, despite covered in red lichen Mina inspected them and seems to be in good condition. The humanoids bang on the door for a few moments, and then the banging stops, presumably they left them alone. Shul: We can rest here¡­ Mina: Can I¡­ can I take these notes? Temis: Yeah, I guess¡­ Taino: How about these weapons? Shul: Oh, let me show you how it works. Shul teaches Taino how to handle the weapons of this world. Mina watches them while she chucks the papers and books to the bag Temis given to her. After that, Shul and Temis slowly slides the door of that room and they quietly left. Shul led the group deeper into the facility ¨C taking stairs down, then descending from chamber to chamber while avoiding the metallic beings they encountered earlier, until they reached a large room with large metallic doors. Shul: I guess this is it¡­ Mina: What is it? Temis: A way back home¡­ Shul tinkered something on the wall near the doors. Red light covers the large room, blaring sounds of otherworldly sirens, then the gigantic doors open slowly. Temis: Umm, Shul? It shouldn¡¯t create sounds like that, should it? Shul: Dammit! The system is protected, making the alarm active while we¡¯re opening this door! Taino: Speak Elynian! Shul: The mechanoids will come here, get ready! Mina: What are you going to do? Shul: I¡¯ll try to modify the system to stop the alarm¡­ but I guess that¡¯s too late¡­ They heard the marching sounds of metals, nearing their location. Shul finally finished tinkering and the door opens wide enough to make a single person to enter. Mina entered first to the other side as the humanoid metals already reached the area, firing their weapons immediately as soon as they saw them entering the room. Taino and Temis tried to fire back with their weapons while Shul attempted to tweak more on the panel near the door. A cannon-like object descends from the ceiling of the large room and fires at the humanoids, halting the assault. Shul: GO! INSIDE, NOW! Taino entered, then followed by Temis, and finally Shul who tinkered again at the wall inside to close the doors and seal it for good. Inside, were numerous ¡®apparatuses¡¯ and at the center was a huge circular platform with four curved pillars directing to the center of the platform. Shul slowly went to the apparatuses, inspecting it one by one, connecting ropes and such. He tumbles every time he moves to another apparatus, Temis tried to guide her but he refused. Then the lights turned on, the apparatuses lit up, and the platform with pillars started to produce lightning, then a void ¨C a gateway. Shul: I need your blood¡­ Mina: My blood? Shul: Anyone of you¡­ to course the portal to a proper direction, but that¡¯s still not reassuring¡­ Taino: What do you mean?! We¡¯ve come all the way here for doubts? Temis: Taino! Shul collapses on the floor. Temis rans to him and discovers that his stomach was punctured, but there was no bleeding, only a black charred area like a very hot object pierced his body, and burned it into a coal. Temis holds him on her arms as he seems to lose all his strength. Shul: I didn¡¯t notice I was shot¡­ Temis: No, NO! Mina! Heal him! Mina: I ¨C I will ¨C Shul: Don¡¯t¡­ no¡­ the humanoids will try harder to breach in if you do so. And you won¡¯t be able to ¨C Shul coughs out green blood. Shul: Even you¡¯re a god, you¡¯re not one of my creators¡­ and this place won¡¯t allow you to make it happen¡­ Mina: Shut it! I¡¯ll heal you right now! Mina casts a spell to heal Shul, but it didn¡¯t work. Temis: Heal him harder! Mina: I¡¯m trying! Shul: You remember that your mana decreased once we entered this place, correct?... it¡¯s to prevent interruptions on the creation of that gateway¡­ Shul points at the pedestal near the portal. Shul: Make a drop of blood on that pedestal, and the system will guide you to your world¡­ be wary though, as it may lead you to high places, under an ocean, or at the top of a cave¡­ but rest assured, it won¡¯t teleport you in between walls¡­ Taino: I¡¯ll ¨C I¡¯ll do it¡­ Temis: We¡¯ll bring you first to our world and we¡¯ll find a way to bring you back to your home, alright? Shul: There¡¯s no need¡­ my home was gone already¡­ turned to ashes¡­ by that object¡­ Mina: What? Temis: No, what ever you say we¡¯ll bring you back! They were interrupted when a voice was heard across the room.
-Blood Sample ¨C Analyzing -Blood Sample ¨C Identified -Specie ¨C Unknown -Dimensional Race ¨C Elynian -Dimension Destination ¨C D-B
Taino: What? Well, that really worked. Let¡¯s go! Mina: Temis, come on! Temis: Wait! Shul, how do we shut this ¨C Temis looked back at Shul ¨C already a cold body. She didn¡¯t notice but a tear dropped down on her cheeks to Shul¡¯s lifeless face. Mina: Temis¡­ Then, banging sounds were heard outside the doors, dents then punctures appear where arms of the chasing humanoids protrude. Temis looks at the door while slowly laying Shul¡¯s body on the ground and grabbing the weapons they had. Mina: What are you doing?! Let¡¯s go! Temis: Someone must be left behind¡­ Mina: WHAT?! Temis: We don¡¯t know how to close the gate¡­ and these things were chasing us¡­ if they managed to get to Elyn, then who ever made us gods knows what¡¯s gonna happen¡­ Taino: We¡¯ll fend them off! We can ¨C Temis: WE CAN¡¯T! We can¡¯t¡­ a world too advanced for us already fell because of this¡­ whatever this thing is, and what do we know about it? What can we do about protecting ours from it, huh?! We can¡¯t let it happen to our world as well! Temis looks at her metal arm. Temis: Besides¡­ I¡¯m already an outcast to our world¡­ an alien, as Shul said to himself¡­ Mina: No¡­ Temis¡­ Temis grabs Mina¡¯s robes and hurled her to Taino, making them both enter the portal. The last thing Mina saw was Temis pointing her weapon at one of the pillars, and the humanoids finally breaking in that room. They went to a tunnel of different glowing colors, like falling in water but you kept going, then they found themselves back again inside the strange cave. Taino: We¡¯re back¡­ Taino looked for Mina, clinging to the bag full of papers and notes ¨C the bag Temis gave to her. Taino: Let¡¯s go¡­ Taino assists her, carrying her like a child that has fallen asleep while carrying her bag like a pillow. CHAPTER 46: Another day to continue on At the edge of a huge crater that was supposed to be what¡¯s left of Ravine was Akino sitting idly at the ground ¨C observing the place through her eyes and the satellites she positioned directly above the wiped-out city. Akino: The radiation¡¯s already gone¡­ the only thing left was the survivors¡­ She sighs and stands, then she walked towards a large camp site that could be seen a kilometer away from the crater. There, Lyka was attending to the injured refugees, helping the other mages heal the wounded. On the other hand, Alexa was helping the adventurers and soldiers, cooking food for the starving stomachs. Akino made it at the camp, and she was greeted by Camilla and Kal outside the tents. Kal: So¡­ how¡¯s the ¨C what we¡¯re you doing again? Akino: I¡¯m¡­ scouting, yeah, I¡¯m scouting. Camilla: Is it safe to send a team for recovery tasks? Akino: Send in only experts, since we didn¡¯t know how the explosion came to be it¡¯s probable it may occur again¡­ let¡¯s just hope it won¡¯t happen randomly on the city center again¡­ Kal: I¡¯ll send in the Gold ranked adventurers and scour the crater for survivors as fast as possible. Camilla: Please¡­ if you see someone on the crater, or your team felt something odd on yourselves, don¡¯t hesitate to come back¡­ we can¡¯t lose anymore souls in this tragedy¡­ Kal: We will. Thank you, grand priestess. Kal left the two alone. As soon as he left, Camilla went near to Akino and whispers to her. Camilla: Is it really¡­ a nuclear explosion? Akino: Yeah¡­ but the explosion only left weak radioactive elements. The radiation decayed for the past 12 hours so it¡¯s safe, but I¡¯m not so sure how the explosion occurred so it was not that kind of safe¡­. Camilla: Like the one in the vault¡­? Akino: No¡­ a portal opened, and¡­ a cyborg? I don¡¯t know¡­ it just appeared, killed the head priest and his lackey, called us obsoletes then left¡­ the portal destabilized and boom, the explosion occurred¡­ Camilla: That¡¯s too much to take in¡­ Camilla sat down on a nearby chair, bemused and unsure of what future steps they should take. Camilla: The safety¡­ in the city was still question because the portal might open again, right? Akino: Yeah¡­ I¡¯m sorry, you and your people got dragged in this¡­ Camilla: No¡­ I think it¡¯s better than we know nothing¡­ but still, that something might explode in a middle of a city without a warning, and on top of that an explosion like an atomic bomb¡­ that¡¯s nuts¡­ Akino: How about take over the land you guys trying to take over? Camilla: With the destroyed facility-stuff underneath? That¡¯s ¨C under reconsideration¡­ Akino: I see. I should see Lyka and Alexa, I think they are waiting for me. Camilla: Oh, right¡­ see ¡®ya later, then Akino: Yeah, later. Akino walks away from Camilla as both waves their hands. She was then greeted by Lyka who¡¯s doing some stretches after healing dozens of injured survivors and refugees. Lyka: Aki! Akino: Hey, how is it going? Lyka: We just finished healing them¡­ your Potassium iodide really helped, plus stimulating them with mana to make their body absorb this iodide much better¡­ Ah ~ it¡¯s already over and thank goodness no one died from my treatment¡­ Akino: Well, you did a good job handling this ¡®zero-entropic energy¡¯ for the first time¡­ Lyka: It¡¯s just like mana! But kind of weird¡­ alien, in your terms¡­ mana was made by our gods, a life force¡­ but this zero-entropy energy was¡­ Akino: Something related to death? Lyka: No¡­ mana governs both life and death, in fact, the life force of gods dictates the cycle of our lives ¨C whether we live long or die¡­ but this energy is neither of those¡­ Akino: From the files ¨C we¡¯re connected to a special dimension that releases this energy, along the matter we use to regenerate our body and create materials¡­ fricking weird¡­ Lyka: So¡­ I¡¯m not using the mana or anything around me when using this form of energy to cast magic??? Akino: I guess, that¡¯s what written in the files we saw. Lyka: But with no proper explanation¡­ it¡¯s just ¨C there¡­ Akino: Yeah¡­ Lyka: Oh ¨C have you seen Alexa? Akino: She told me she¡¯s cooking food for these people. Let¡¯s check her out. Lyka: Okay! They walked together towards the ¡®mess¡¯ tent of the camp, seeing Alexa arguing with a citizen of Ravine Alexa: HUH?! The hell are you gonna do?! Make them spit the food?! Ravine Citizen: YES! If it was cooked by a demi-beast, it¡¯s tainted! Alexa: THAT¡¯S WHERE YOU ARE WRONG, FUCKHEAD! I¡¯M NOT A DEMI-BEAST! Ravine: W ¨C what? Akino and Lyka tried to pull down Alexa as they notice she starts getting muscular. Camilla heard the commotion and cuts in. Camilla: Citizen, I know it may sound disrespectful¡­ but for the love of all holy, demi-beasts are not our enemy¡­ Ravine Citizen: Great Priestess? I ¨C I don¡¯t understand¡­ Camilla: The elder priests made that up, to take advantage to them ¨C but demi-beasts are people too, they feel and laugh like us¡­ but I will understand if you don¡¯t understand that in fully in your heart¡­ all I want is consideration with them¡­ Ravine Citizen: Forgive me, oh Great Priestess! Forgive me! Camilla: Thank you, but I think I¡¯m not the one that needs forgiving. Camilla at looks at Alexa who¡¯s already calmed down. Alexa: Yeah, yeah, I accept it. Ravine Citizen: But I haven¡¯t said anything ye ¨C Alexa: I said ¨C it¡¯s okay! Got it? Ravine Citizen: O ¨C okay¡­ The citizen left the tent. Camilla: I am truly sorry about that¡­ Alexa: Well, you better think how you¡¯ll indoctrinate all of them that demi-beasts are not baddies. Camilla: Yeah¡­ Akino: You want gadgets designed to brainwash people? Lyka: Aki?! That¡¯s bad! Alexa: Oh, oh! How about putting a parasite inside a brain! Lyka: That¡¯s ¨C wait, a parasite in the brain? Still, that¡¯s also bad! Camilla: AHAHAHAHHAHA! Thanks for the concern. I think I¡¯ll handle it myself. Akino: So¡­ is there anything we can do to help? Alexa: Please let me stay in the kitchen, please let me stay in the kitchen, please let me stay in the kitchen ¨C Lyka: Everyone¡¯s healed up, but we can still help. Camilla: Oh, what you¡¯ve done is already too much. Akino: Speaking of healed¡­ how about the other dude? Camilla: The assassin who¡¯s also an outworlder? Well... he didn¡¯t make it¡­Stolen novel; please report. Lyka: He¡¯s still breathing when we brought him here, what happened? Camilla: Missing the lower part of the body was the first reason, and blood loss was second. Lyka: Really? I thought you¡¯re a good healer¡­ Camilla: Well, something¡¯s off to him, I should be able to regrow his parts, any parts of his body¡­ but it didn¡¯t¡­ it¡¯s like his mana doesn¡¯t want to form his lower body parts. Akino: The laser from that machine¡­ must have been the reason why you can¡¯t heal him back to normal. Camilla: The one who called both of you¡­ obsolete? Akino and Lyka went silent. Camilla: Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it! Lyka: No, it¡¯s fine! Akino: I¡¯m still thinking what the machine meant to us that we¡¯re outdated¡­ Lyka and Camilla stares at Akino who¡¯s deep in thinking. Camilla: SOOO¡­ what¡¯s next for you guys? Lyka: I don¡¯t know yet¡­ even we¡¯re done here we still want to help these people. What do you think, Aki? Akino was still spaced out. Lyka closes in and pinches Akino¡¯s cheeks. Akino: Ow! Ow! Ow! Lyka: You look so cute when getting pinched, hehe. Akino: S ¨C stop it! Camilla: Aaaaaaallllllrrrrriiight¡­ I guess I¡¯ll leave you two for a while. Camilla left with an awkward expression. Akino finally stops Lyka from snugging her and they went to their tent to prepare their stuff before they leave the place. Lyka: Hey¡­ are you alright? This is the first time you¡¯re not blushing when I snuggle you. Akino: I¡¯m still thinking about what that machine told us¡­ Lyka: Us being obsoletes? What does that even mean? Akino: No¡­ just, don¡¯t mind it¡­ Lyka: I¡¯m curious. Come on, tell me. Akino: It¡¯s not worth mentioning, really. Lyka: Really? Akino: Yeah. Lyka: Come on, please? Please? Akino: Alright, alright¡­ Akino sighs, then her face expresses agitation. Akino: That machine told us were obsoletes, like outdated or something¡­ implying that they¡¯ve been creating HQCs - Lyka: Wait, wait, wait¡­ you mean they¡¯ve been creating people like us? Beings of immortal bodies with abilities far beyond imaginable?! Akino: Okay, first ¨C that¡¯s a bit of exaggeration, and second ¨C ¡®updated¡¯ versions of us¡­ but for what purpose? What¡¯s their goal? Why that machine went here, killed that priest and his outworlder assassin and just left? AGH! So many things keep on adding up but doesn¡¯t make any sense! Lyka: Hey, remember what I told you last time? I¡¯ll stay. We¡¯ll stay together whatever happens¡­ Akino: I know¡­ it¡¯s just¡­ if that machine was correct, then humans of our world still exist ¨C but what¡¯s really going on our world¡­? Where the hell they¡¯ve been for who-knows-how-long years? Lyka holds Akino firmly on her shoulders, somehow making Akino calm down. Lyka: Listen, let¡¯s just prepare for whatever¡¯s bothering you, okay? Besides, we¡¯ve got¡­ time? Yes, we¡¯ve got time for ourselves ¨C to prepare and make ourselves stronger! Akino: Prepare? Sure¡­ making ourselves stronger? I don¡¯t think so¡­ Lyka: Why not? Akino: We¡¯ve already broken our body limits by becoming Quantum Cores, and the only thing that holds us down was having to worry what havoc we can make¡­ Lyka: And imagination? Aki, you¡¯ve been SUPER negative for this day. Akino: Oh, yeah, imagination is the limit¡­ Lyka pouts her lips as she still sees Akino kind of feeling down. She held Akino¡¯s face and looked at her, face to face and smiled menacingly. Then she grabbed Akino¡¯s hands and placed it on her breasts, making Akino jolt away from her. Lyka: You like BIG breasts, right~? Come on, you can fondle it¡­ like the ¡®stress balls¡¯ in your world¡­ wait, is that right? Yes, stress balls ¨C come on, don¡¯t be shy~ Akino: They are not being fondled! They were being squeezed! Lyka: Oh¡­ still my point stands! Akino: Alright, alright, I¡¯ll brighten up the mood! Jeez¡­ you don¡¯t have to resort to such measures¡­ I¡¯m not a pervert, you know¡­ Lyka: But I knew you¡¯d like it to do it to me ~ Akino: NOT TOTALLY a pervert, and I¡¯ll only admit that if you say you¡¯re also one! Lyka: Wha ¨C how dare you! Akino: Oh really?! How dare me? Says the one who offers her breasts to be fondled! Lyka blushes full red, so is Akino. Lyka immediately looked around and found a bucket of water lying on the ground. She grabbed it and threw the water inside to Akino. Lyka: HAH! That¡¯s what you get ¨C Akino splits her arms, making two pairs of arms in the process ¨C having hands with tentacle like fingers. Lyka: Umm, Aki, what¡¯s that? Akino: I knew you¡¯ve been reading some doujins Alexa saved in our heads, and you knew what these things will do if it touches you! Lyka screamed and rans away from Akino who¡¯s chasing her. The two have been chasing for minutes until Alexa interrupts them. Alexa: You two were being heard throughout the whole encampment¡­ even you two purposively spoke in English so that these people won¡¯t understand, I still heard what you¡¯ve been talking about! Akino: Sorry, kid¡­ Lyka: We¡¯ll never do it again¡­ Alexa: Yeah, you can do it all you want, but please always look for a bed¡­ I don¡¯t want my parents to become exhibitionists¡­ sheesh¡­ Akino & Lyka: ALEXA! Alexa: Fuckin¡¯ lewd-heads¡­ Lyka: Lewd-heads? Akino: Language, kid! Alexa: AAAAAHH!!! Just ¨C ARG! We¡¯re supposed to pack stuff, let¡¯s go. Alexa walked away while the other two followed her back to their tent, still teasing to each other. They helped each other on packing supplies, readying themselves to leave the place. Lyka: Should we stay for tonight? The sun is already setting. Akino: You sure? it¡¯s fine by me. How about you, Alex? Alexa: So, you two could ¨C Akino & Lyka: NO! Alexa: Haven¡¯t finished my sentence yet. Lyka: We¡¯re not going to ¨C do that ¡®thing¡¯! Akino: Y ¨C yeah! Wait, really? Alexa: Yeah, yeah, sure¡­ but I think it will be more interesting if we explore the crater. You know, to know more stuff, specially there¡¯s no one left there? Besides rubble? Akino and Lyka looked at each other. Akino: I think ¨C that¡¯s a good idea. Lyka: But what we¡¯ll we find out there? Alexa: That¡¯s what we¡¯re looking for, ma. Akino: Well, I was planning to go there on my own to check something. Want to come? Lyka: We¡¯ll be right behind you. The three left their tent. They looked first if there¡¯s anyone to disturb, and luckily no one saw them go to the crater to investigate. As they arrive at the city turned into a crater, Akino and Lyka recalls the moments they were in epicenter of the blast created by the unstable portal. The remembered protecting the outworlder assassin, drenching the two with his guts. Lyka: What are we looking for? Alexa: There¡¯s nothing left here¡­ I think we should head back. Akino: It was your idea to come here and look for stuff. Alexa: Yeah, yeah¡­ any details? You said there¡¯s a cyborg or robot or whatever it is that killed the priest, then leaves. Lyka: The priest must have known something. Akino: Or he has something that triggered that robot to kill him¡­ an Institution device or paraphernalia. Lyka and Alexa started looking for things underneath the rubble while Akino scans the place where the portal opened. Lyka: Any luck, Alexa? Alexa: No, ma. If there¡¯s something Institution related, I could smell it miles away. Akino: Do you smell it? Alexa: No. Lyka: I think if there was any, it would¡¯ve been blasted to pieces since ¨C you know, after that explosion? Akino stands up and sighs. Akino: I¡¯ll just scan the whole place for radiation abnormalities, you two can ¨C do whatever you want? Alexa: Oh, oh! Ma, let¡¯s look for some gold stuff! Lyka: Gold? Alexa: Maybe underneath this rubble, let¡¯s just try and check it out! Lyka: Alright, alright, I¡¯ll come with you. Akino: Take care! The two went away from Akino and started searching on the ground, which Lyka started scratching the ground like a dog and Alexa was trying to stop herself from laughing. Akino smiles looking at the two, then she proceeds to go to the center of the crater. She morphed her arms, protruding antenna like instruments and she sat down on the ground. Akino: Nothing¡­ it¡¯s nothing¡­ yup, this place is just as empty as my wallet when I¡¯m with Alexa. She looked around her and found nothing except a huge boulder on her far left. Akino: What the fuck? I don¡¯t remember this rock laying in here¡­ Akino stands and walks casually to the rock, while her arms contract metal plates from its skin. As she closes in, the rock slowly dissipates like a closing hologram, revealing a shocked and frightened woman. The woman wears a white robe with her matching white hair. The woman composes herself elegantly, as elegant as her dress and robe but Akino took that as a threat. Akino morphs her arm into shotgun and points it at the woman in white. Akino: Do something funny and I¡¯ll blast your head off! The woman lost her elegant poise and reverted to her previous terrified expression. Akino noticed a book that the woman carries on her arm while the woman focused her sights on Akino¡¯s morphed arm. Akino: Are you lost? The camp was up there, and no one¡¯s allowed to go inside this place. Woman in white: No one? W-what about you? Akino: Well, no one¡¯s allowed except for us. What¡¯s that book? Woman in white: What¡¯s with that arm? Akino: Something dangerous. Woman in white: Oh¡­ s-so it¡¯s the same then¡­ Akino: With you? Woman in white: W-with this book¡­ Akino: Oi, you¡¯re not making any sense! Woman in white: Can I ask what happened here? Akino: An explosion. A strong one, strong enough to turn this city into a crater. Woman in white: E-explosion¡­ that destroyed a city¡­ The woman opens her book, nervously skimming through pages until she stops. During that time, Akino scanned her book, making her alarmed. The title of the book was written on English alphabet: The World Encyclopedia. Akino: W-where did you get that? Woman in white: I-I found it! A nu-kle-yar explosion? Akino: Answer my damn question! The woman closes her book and keeps it away from Akino. Akino, with her arm shotgun still pointing at the woman, approaches her slowly. Akino: I am asking where the hell did you get that?! Are an outworlder too? Or an Institution personnel?! Answer me! The woman drops on her feet due to fear, covering her head with the book she holds. Woman in white: NO! No, please, don¡¯t take her book, don¡¯t take her book, don¡¯t take her book ¨C The woman kept on repeating her words. Akino morphed her arm back to normal and carefully tried to comfort the woman instead. Akino: Oi, sorry I burst out. Sorry¡­ the hell did I just did¡­? Alright, take it easy, alright? Akino then heard Lyka and Alexa looking for her. She turns her back and found the two running to her. Lyka: Aki! Are you alright? We heard you raising your voice, so we rushed in. What happened? Alexa: Are you talking to someone? Or doing another voice-generated text file as a log? Akino: For God¡¯s sake, please don¡¯t bring that up! Ahem ¨C I was talking to someone, she¡¯s right here ¨C Akino turns around and no one¡¯s there, only the three of them. Alexa: You¡¯re talking to a recorder or something? Lyka: Our minds can¡¯t be affected by this radiation thing, right? Akino: I swear, someone was here¡­ Alexa: Yeah, yeah, you just deactivated the camcorder you¡¯ve been talking to. Can we go back now? Lyka: We found a small chest with some gems in it. Unfortunately, the gems were not and cannot be infused with magic. Alexa: Fortunately, we can sell it! Akino: Alright, let¡¯s go back¡­ The three left the area. Akino looks back again, wanting to see the woman once more, but the only thing she saw was a white moth on the ground that immediately flew away. CHAPTER 47: Getting in and Searching stuff Morning came, and outside the camp were the three girls, Camilla, and Kal with the other adventurers and citizens of Ravine. The three were carrying bags full of supplies, ready to leave the area and continue their journey. Akin Camilla: We thank you for all the efforts you¡¯ve given. Saving my people, healing them, and giving them another chance to live. Akino: It¡¯s our job as guild adventurers after all. Kal: You better report the things transpired in here. Akino: Yeah, yeah, we will. Camilla: Thank you. Lyka: Take care! Alexa: Bye-bye! The three girls rode horses they borrowed from the guild, as they leave the citizens and adventurers cheered them on, until they were already gone from their sight. They looked back again to look at the camp, which is already too far away to look at. Alexa: Where to, capt? Akino: Back to Dasman, duh. Lyka: And after Dasman? Akino: I guess we start roaming this planet. I¡¯m done mapping the whole planet, but for some reason the mana field doesn¡¯t allow me to see through the ground. Lyka: It will be difficult to find caves with the Institutional facilities, correct? Akino: Yeah. Catching up quickly, huh? Lyka: I¡¯ve been reading some files that to hide from other, this Institution only built their facilities under the ground, or¡­ Alexa: Underwater? I mean, no one touches the sea or ocean with the current tech of this world. Lyka: Yes. They¡¯ve got some files about water nymphs and mermaids, so they must have built underwater facilities. Akino: I haven¡¯t checked the oceans. Gimme a sec. Akino pauses for a bit then her face expresses disappointment. Akino: Nothing as well¡­ Lyka: That¡¯s unfortunate. Alexa: Welp, we¡¯re gonna have a loooong road trip. And we chose having horses instead of CREATING A GODDAMN CAR OR VAN! Akino: Carbon footprints, never heard of it??? Lyka: Make it electric? Or mana-fueled? Akino: Mana-fueled? Alexa: Make a car! Make a car! Make a car! Make a car! Make a car! Lyka: Yeah! I want to see how to drive a car! Lyka & Alexa: Make a car! Make a car! Make a car! Make a car! Lyka and Alexa kept on pestering Akino until she grits her teeth and angrily jumps out of her horse. Akino: Alright, alright! I¡¯ll fabricate a goddamn Humvee! For Christ¡¯s sake! Alexa: Don¡¯t complain making cars if you can launch fricking satellites in space with your grey-goops! Akino: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. Lyka: Make it electric so you won¡¯t worry on this carbon thingy. Akino: I know, I know. Lyka: How are you going to make it? Akino: First, I¡¯ll have the metal framework of super alloys produced by my nanomachines, then the engine and control parts, then wheels and inner parts, and lastly the aerodynamic and other stuff. Alexa: Can you put a refrigerator inside? Akino pauses as she started producing her grey goo from her skin. Akino: We¡¯re supposed to be taking a low profile, correct? Lyka: Y-yes? Alexa: COME ON! At least we should come with a ¡®grand¡¯ entrance! A Humvee in a fantasy world! Akino: No. Lyka: A motorcycle would be nice, at least¡­ Akino: I¡¯m sorry, but still no. Alexa: You can put a cloaking feature on it if you want a low profile! Akino: Still no. Lyka: Please? Alexa: Pretty please? The two tried to persuade Akino by making cute faces. Akino: Ugh, alright. Alright! Lyka & Alexa: YES! Akino: But no show-offs, got it? Lyka & Alexa: Aww¡­ Akino: What? My car, my rules, understand?Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Alexa: Aye, captain killjoy Lyka: Okay¡­ Akino sighs and proceeds to continue creating their vehicle. While she¡¯s at it, the two proceeds to wander around. Akino focused herself too much on designing her first nanomachine made Humvee that has ¡®batmobile-like¡¯ features. Akino: Finally. What should we do with the horses? Hey guys, I¡¯m ¨C Akino looks back and found no one but the horses and their stuff. Akino: - done? Where¡¯d they go??? Akino tried to contact the two through telepathy, and they answered. Lyka: (Aki!) Alexa: (Aki, you done with the Humvee?) Akino: (Yes, and where the hell you two have been? Come back here.) Alexa: (You better start the engines and that invisibility cloak I¡¯ve asked to you.) Akino: (Wait, what¡¯s going on?) Lyka: (We¡¯ll be on our way!) Akino did what they told her, starting the Humvee. The two went back running, taking their stuff hurriedly and hurled it inside the Humvee. Akino: Oi, what¡¯s going on? Alexa: Get in! Akino: I¡¯ll get in if you tell me what¡¯s going! Lyka: Just get inside and ¨C drive, is it? Alexa: Yeah! Just drive! Akino: How about the horses?! Alexa: They¡¯ll run off! Haven¡¯t you look on your satellite?! Akino: I am not omniscient! Lyka just drags in Akino and Alexa inside the Humvee while they are arguing. Akino takes the driving wheel and Lyka sits next to her while Alexa stays at the backseat, looking out at the rear windscreen. Alexa: Gas it! Akino: Alright, alright! Geez! Akino presses something on the front dashboard and the Humvee was cloaked. They drove back on the road heading to Dasman. While she¡¯s driving, Akino checked her satellite imaging and saw thousands of horses heading towards the same direction they are in. Akino: A stampede?! Lyka: Look closer! Akino magnifies her sights, and saw the horses being ridden by elves. Pale-white skin, long ears, long blonde hair, slim to athletic bodies, and wearing glittering silver with green armors, just like in fantasy games and novels. Due to their speed, distance, and the invisibility cloak, the elves don¡¯t notice that in front of them was a 2-ton Humvee. Akino: Good thing the road wasn¡¯t dusty. Lyka: Why are they here¡­? Alexa: Basing on their direction, they didn¡¯t come from Ravine¡­ oh, wait! Akino: What? Alexa: Do elves hate humans??? Lyka: Maybe¡­? I know both their gods were living in the Abode, but I¡¯m not sure if they are in good terms. Akino: The explosion that wiped out Ravine must be the reason they started moving. Lyka: Why? Akino: Assuming that those group of elves hated the humans, they must have scouts observing Ravine and Dasman, two nearest human cities to them basing on their direction¡­ the news on the explosion destroying the whole Ravine must have made their move and now on their way to Dasman. It¡¯s just a speculation, though. Alexa: And we can¡¯t rule it as an expedition team only. I mean, look at them! They¡¯re like going on a crusade! Akino: Invading countries 101: if one leg topples down, hit the other hard and fast. Lyka: Are you sure? Akino: We¡¯ve been trained in military tactics ¨C just in the worst case ¨C we have to invade a country to stop an anomaly. Alexa: That¡¯s nuts¡­ They kept on moving in front of the elven army until their horses slowed and suddenly stopped. Alexa: Umm, guys? They stopped¡­ Dasman¡¯s how far away right now? Akino stepped on the breaks, stopping the Humvee for about half a kilometer from the army of elves. Akino: About 4 to 7 kilometers. The hills were blocking our view, but we should be able to see the walls already. Lyka: They¡¯re probably making a camp here¡­ oh, I think they¡¯re starting to make camp. Alexa: Should we head back and report to the guild? Lyka: Or should we stay, infiltrate, and get info? Akino: You sound like a spy now, huh? Lyka: I mean ¨C it¡¯s much better if we knew what we¡¯re dealing with. Alexa: I think ma¡¯s right. After we get the right info, we can report it back to the guild and we can prepare counter measures. Akino: Alright. Have you two been playing strategical games in your minds? The three sets themselves. Akino gave Lyka a cloaking device, while Alexa preps herself by constantly changing her skin color. Alexa: I¡¯ll go in first. Akino: We¡¯ll follow through. Lyka, ready to conceal your magic? Lyka: I am. Alexa: Should we head in at night? Lyka: It might be too late then. They stepped out of the Humvee, and quickly and quietly went to the elves who were still setting their camp. They tried to locate someone that is in-charged of these army of elves. They saw a small of group, seemingly the elites of the army with their glorious designs on their armors. The group we¡¯re talking on a round table filled with cups of wine, bowls of cooked fowl, and a map. Lyka and Alexa tried to take a closer look, finding out that they have the map of the whole Dasman territory. Alexa: (Why are they quiet?) Lyka: (Like us, elves can talk telepathically with magic) Akino: (So no one can eavesdrop, huh?) Lyka: (How are we going to get info?) Alexa: (Aki! Jack in your wire thingy!) Akino: (Are you serious? They might notice somethings off!) Lyka: (I can cast an illusion spell to make it unnoticed?) Akino: (And they won¡¯t detect us?) Lyka: (If it¡¯s on a single person, it might be.) Akino: (Let¡¯s give it a shot¡­ and Alexa?) Alexa: (Yeah?) Akino: (Prep your paralyzing stingers in case this goes bad.) Akino positions herself on one of the elven officers. Lyka casts her spell on that officer, then Akno quickly jabs him with her hair turned into a needle-wire on his nape. The others briefly noticed that officer tumbling a bit, but he regains his posture. Elf officer 1: (You alright?) Elf officer 2: (Yes, it¡¯s just something stinged my neck.) Elf officer 3: (Probably an insect or something.) Elf officer 2: (I guess.) Akino: (I can hear them already.) Lyka: (Good!) Elf officer 1: (Good?) Akino forgot that the elves were talking telepathically and having her hijacked one of them made the three living-alien-computers ¡®connected¡¯ to the telepathic network of the elves. Elf officer 1: (What do you mean good?) Elf officer 2: (I didn¡¯t say anything!) Elf officer 4: (This is impossible! Our soul link should be only exclusive to us!) One of the elf officers called a footman and ordered her to scour the area for any non-elf mages. The three girls kept quiet but still, they couldn¡¯t stop their thoughts. Alexa: (Just say the word Aki! Say the word!) Akino: (Hold it!) Lyka: (I¡¯ll cast a sleeping spell if they noticed us!) Akino: (Hold your thoughts!) The elf officer who Akino attached to her wire-hair tried to scratch his nape. This prompts Akino to pull the needle, making that officer fall unconscious. The sudden events made the elf officers use their mouths instead of their minds to call for help. The poor elf officer was down, bleeding on his nape, but the one of the officers was a healer and was able to treat him immediately. Alexa: (What the fuck, Aki!) Akino: (He was about to touch the plug! What am I supposed to do?!) Alexa: (Stop shouting!) Akino: (You¡¯re the one shouting!) Lyka: CAN BOTH OF YOU STOP?! Lyka used her voice instead of her mind, alerting the elves that someone has infiltrated their camp. The officers went in battle positions immediately, and so is their soldiers that began searching the place for invisible enemies with their magic. Lyka: (S ¨C Sorry!) Akino: (It¡¯s alright¡­ let¡¯s get out of here!) Alexa: (Uh, guys?) Alexa points at the sky, being covered by glass like field. The elves have built a barrier, preventing the infiltrators from getting out. Akino: (Shit.) Lyka: (What should we do?) Alexa: (W-we need a gameplan, right? RIGHT???) Akino: (We will get out of here, just stay hidden and avoid these elves. 2 meters away from them, that¡¯s it.) Chapter 48: Knowing stuff and going out! Lyka: (How can we warn Dasman ahead of time?) Akino: (We still haven¡¯t got enough intel¡­ I¡¯ll try to pry the unconscious officer.) Alexa: (What about us? How can we get out of here?) Akino: (Lyka, can you blast through the barrier?) Lyka: (I think¡­) Akino: (Once we¡¯re done, put a hole on that barrier then we ran away.) Lyka: (Got it!) The three quietly went to the tent where the previous elf officer went unconscious, sneaking in and making sure they won¡¯t leave any tracks. Akino pulls out from her hair the needle wire that she stabs through the nape. Alexa: (Got anything?) Akino: (Give me a sec. I¡¯m trying to connect to this dude, but I don¡¯t know why it¡¯s taking a bit long.) Lyka: (Elves have strong magic prowess and mana affinity, that¡¯s probably the cause like the one interfering with your communication satellites.) Akino: (I see. Can you lower the magic output so we can enter?) Lyka: (You mean as lowering his mana? The elves might sense it and go here¡­) Alexa: (How about phasing through? Using ma¡¯s magic as energy to penetrate through potential barrier and Aki¡¯s computing skills to make both of your minds like a wave?) Akino: (Did you just talk about quantum tunneling???) Lyka: (I don¡¯t get it¡­) Alexa: (If ma used magic to lower that dude¡¯s mana then elves might storm this area, which will make all of our effort to sneak in fail. It¡¯s just a suggestion though.) Akino: (Alexa, can you stay on look out?) Alexa: (Sure thing, my stingers are ready. I¡¯ll just slap both of you when they are coming.) Lyka: (Slap? Can you just call out on us?) Alexa: (Hehehe¡­ I¡¯m just kidding.) Akino: (Shall we?) Lyka: (Yes.) Akino and Lyka sat down beside the elf, with Akino¡¯s hair connecting through napes of Lyka and the other at the elf. Lyka tried to concentrate her mana, and Akino tried to focus the mana, using it as a ¡®navigating beacon¡¯ to the mind of the elf. Alas, they¡¯ve entered his mind, visualized as a flat grassland and a bed where the elf officer lies still. Next to the bed was a small cupboard, and a table with maps and scrolls. Akino approached the elf, making sure he¡¯s still unconscious by feeding him random events from his memories, acting in a way that he is dreaming. Lyka looked on the table, reading the maps and scrolls. Lyka: Maps, supply orders, orders of invading Dasman¡­ hold on, somethings weird¡­ Akino: The infos we need were materialized as these stuffs, huh? Wait, let me handle it. Akino projects a holographic keyboard and taps on it, turning the maps and scrolls into folders of papers full weird symbols. Akino: Ah, good ¡®ol evidence hunting. Lyka: You just made my search more confusing¡­ Akino: Alright, I¡¯ll relay it to you. Lyka: What does it say? Akino: I can¡¯t read these text¡­ Lyka: I told you something¡¯s weird! Akino: Okay, okay. You know about this? Lyka gets closer to Akino and reads the papers. Lyka: These are runic symbols, only present at the halls of powerful beings! Akino: Powerful beings? Lyka: High elves, demon lords, dragons, high and divine spirits, and lastly gods! Akino: Wait, wait, wait, so these data came from the abode thingy you¡¯ve told us? Lyka: Data? Akino: I mean ¨C this stuff? Lyka: Maybe, or even from the underworld, from high-level dungeons that the guilds were looking for, or ruins under the sea, or even forests inhabited by spirits! Akino: I don¡¯t have a translation algorithm for these runic symbols¡­ I thought the Institution had a collab with Elynians? Lyka: Don¡¯t worry, I can read it. Akino: Really? Lyka: Being a daughter of a god has some perks, you know? Not only power and immortality, but also the proper knowledge on reading runes. Akino: So not all the Elynians can read this? Lyka: Beings of high power can only read it, at least that¡¯s what father used to tell me. Akino: That¡¯s convenient¡­ alright, pass it to me, I¡¯ll make the translation algorithm. The two remained quiet for 5 seconds, then the symbols on the virtual papers were changed into English texts.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Lyka: English? Really? Akino: You can read it, right? Lyka: Alright¡­ let me see¡­ Lyka reads through the papers. Lyka: The papers said that the god of thunder and the goddess of knowledge went to investigate¡­ the tribe of Roza, my birthplace¡­ they went there and looked what happened after that the goddess of knowledge went insane¡­ the elves, who worship her, blame the god of thunder that was being worshipped by humans¡­ Akino: And they want to exact revenged by invading human cities¡­? Wait, they went to that forest home of yours? Lyka: Yeah, that is indeed dubious¡­ wait, let me read more¡­ Lyka further read the papers. As the time goes on, expressions change: a mix up of being confused, saddened, as Akino notices, agitation as she barely grits her canine teeth. Akino: Lyka? Lyka: It¡¯s about when the Altruis attacked us¡­ the elves were also behind it¡­ Lyka tightens her hold on the paper, crumpling it. Akino: How? When I and Alex came here, we only saw your father¡¯s heralds and the knights. Lyka: The magic barrier¡­ Dr¡¯akan did lead the knights into our home, but the elves are the one who put up the barrier outside the forest¡­ Lyka finally crumples the paper she was reading and placed it back at the table. Lyka: And the gods of the abode must have motives¡­ they left me alive for a reason¡­ they must have known there¡¯s a demigod in our tribe and they know it was me¡­ Akino: Lyka¡­ Lyka: I-I¡¯m fine¡­ Akino: Is there a way to contact these ¡®gods¡¯? Lyka: I¡¯m not sure¡­ but the elves were always accompanied by their goddess of knowledge ¨C Mina. Akino: We should wake up then ¨C The two turn around and saw a woman in white elegant dress. Lyka: Aki? We should be the only ones supposed to be in here, right? Akino: That woman¡­ she¡¯s the one I saw at Ravine! Lyka: You saw her before? Oh! The one where Alexa teases ¨C Lyka gets a closer look on the woman, seeing the runic designs on her dress. Lyka: She¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s Mina, the goddess of the elves¡­ the goddess of knowledge. Akino: Say what?! How the hell did she get here?! Lyka: She¡¯s a god that has knowledge transcending the minds of any Elynian beings¡­ Mina: That¡­ that is correct but not quite¡­ Akino: What do you want? Lyka steps forward, conjuring her sword and points it at Mina. Lyka: Are you the one who ordered killing my tribe? Mina: Th-the tribe Roza? Lyka: ARE YOU THE ONE?! Mina: ¡­ Lyka: ANSWER ME! Akino: Lyka¡­ Mina: I-I did order the elves to create that barrier¡­ but I didn¡¯t know the humans will attack- Lyka leapt and attacked Mina. Mina conjures a shield and block Lyka off. Akino ran in between them and stopped their fight from escalating, holding Lyka still as Mina backs off on a safer distance. Akino: Lyka! Calm down! Lyka: Why¡­? WHY?! WHY DID YOU DO IT?! Mina: Because we¡¯ve got no choice! Lyka: Choice? What choice? You could just let us be! Mina: We knew that the god of destruction had a child, and so the gods scrambled down on who will be able to get the child first¡­ Akino: And killing her tribe was a way to get her? Mina: The humans were notified, and knew that the demi-god was a demi-beast¡­ they tried to contact my elves and asked to eradicate you¡­ At that moment, Lyka loses her composure and drags Mina by her dress. Lyka: What did we do?! We did nothing to deserve this! Mina: I tried to stop them, but the abode disagreed with me. Instead, is devised a plan by trapping the humans inside the forest, let Marcus¡¯ heralds fight, and let YOU fight off the knights of Altrius¡­ but I didn¡¯t take into account that for over a thousand of years you were still an inept with your abilities¡­ Lyka throws down Mina to the ground. Lyka: IT¡¯S BECAUSE WE¡¯RE NOT WARMONGERING BEINGS LIKE YOU! Akino: Shame for a god of knowledge, huh? Mina: I-I also didn¡¯t account the mysterious beings who helped you¡­ which I presume to be you¡­ Mina glances at Akino. Akino: Me? Mina: A human soul, without mana¡­ but has abilities far beyond to our comprehension¡­ Lyka: They helped me¡­ in the nick of a time¡­. Mina: I¡¯m sorry¡­ I am truly sorry¡­ Lyka coldly stares down Mina, but she calms down and regains her composure. Lyka: You¡¯ve said Marcus¡¯ heralds¡­ is that my ¨C Mina: Yes. That¡¯s your father¡¯s name¡­ Marcus, the god of destruction¡­ Lyka: Wh-where is he? Did the abode took him just because he made family? Just because he had me?! Mina: No. NO. We didn¡¯t¡­ years ago, probably when you¡¯re still young, Marcus and Perdius disappeared¡­. Lyka: Perdius? He¡¯s already dead when I was born! Mina: It¡¯s a faked death¡­ they disappeared, without a trace¡­ until a found a clue, that your friend here might know¡­ Akino and Lyka looked at each other, wondering what Mina wants to say. Akino: Please tell me it¡¯s not that cave¡­. Mina: It is¡­ Lyka: It¡¯s pretty much empty, like literally empty. Mina: It is, but when we went inside that large, emptied chamber¡­ we passed through the ground like it was a quicksand and the next thing we knew we found ourselves in a ruined city¡­ Akino: Earth¡­ y-you got teleported to Earth? Mina: Yes¡­ and it was a terrifying experience¡­ and might be the same case with your father¡­ Lyka: ¡­ Mina: I know¡­ I¡¯m not even sure on what am I saying¡­ it maybe a hunch but still it is a possibility¡­ Lyka: How could we trust, and believe you? Mina: It doesn¡¯t matter to me anymore if you trust me or not¡­ but after learning the truths of this other world connected to us, my title as the goddess of knowledge seems to be in question¡­ but I do know that I can help you, to find your father and end the conflict between the gods¡­ Akino: How about sending back your elves to your turf, will you help on that? Mina: I can¡¯t¡­ they don¡¯t believe on an insane goddess¡­ but I¡¯ll give you my word¡­ Lyka: What? Mina: I¡¯ll never interfere, even if you slaughter my people¡­ Akino: What the fuck? Lyka: You really are insane, aren¡¯t you? Mina: Maybe I am¡­ but it¡¯s most plausible solutions ¨C to escape this camp and stop their attack on Dasman. Akino: Is the god of whatever-it-is that the humans¡¯ worship will show up to protect Dasman? Mina: Taino is¡­ he¡¯s locked up in the abode¡­ and no other gods were trying to go down here and protect the city¡­ Lyka: Useless bunch¡­ Mina: I¡¯m sorry¡­ I really am¡­ Lyka: Aki, let¡¯s get out of here. Akino: R-right¡­ Mina: Oh, one last thing! Akino: What is it? Mina: Find me, at the elven kingdom of Sohdomhir, at the northern most part of the world¡­ I¡¯ll be waiting¡­ Mina banishes without a trace, leaving the two. Lyka: Sohdomhir? Near the gateway to the Abode?! Akino: Let¡¯s discuss that later. We should leave first, right? Lyka: Y-yeah. Akino and Lyka woke up back to reality. Alexa was still guarding the tent, but she seems to be nervous. Akino: (Psst, what¡¯s going on?) Alexa: (They suddenly moved around scoured the place! I heard they were talking about a ¡®Mina¡¯? I don¡¯t know and I don¡¯t get it!) Lyka: (Should I blast the barrier now?) Akino: (Yeah, but we need a place with less ears.) The three left the tent and went to the edge of the encampment barrier near the forest. Lyka casts her spell, which alerts the elves from the distance. The guards and soldiers immediately jump on their horses, others ran, hover, preparing their swords and magic as the horde of these elves rans toward the three girls¡¯ location. Akino: Hurry! Lyka activates her spell, causing a shockwave of mana that made the magic sensitive elves tumble and get distracted. A breach on the magic barrier was created, and the three quickly went outside before the barrier heals itself.