《Excuse Me, I Was Trying to Rest in Peace!》


 Ch 0: prologue

    Lying on my deathbed, my breathing slowed, and the beating of my heart weakened. Looking back at the life I¡¯d had, I felt¡­well, relieved. Mostly.


    There were some regrets, of course, but what¡¯s life without a little regret? It¡¯s like a turkey without gravy¡ªperfectly edible, but missing a lot of taste.


    You could say it was an experience of a lifetime. Or, you know, my lifetime.


    My philosophy was to live and experience life every moment I had. Which, given the circumstances, was about to be significantly fewer moments. After saying my goodbyes and looking at my loved ones one final time, although unwilling, I knew it was time.


    As I slowly closed my eyes, my life flashed before me.


    It was a highlight reel, but without the cheesy music.


    I was born near the turn of the century on a planet called Earth.


    Pretty standard stuff.


    I was lucky to have loving parents and a happy childhood, which allowed me to grow up running under the sun, making new friends and new connections. It was the most carefree time of my life.


    Back then, my biggest worry was whether I¡¯d get to stay up late to watch TV at night.


    Ah, simpler times.


    School was tough, but with wonderful friends, we helped each other through all the ups and downs of being a teenager, eagerly anticipating the freedom and responsibilities of adult life. Turns out, ¡°responsibilities¡± was the keyword there.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Adult life was¡­different from expectations. There was much less freedom. I was burdened with the crushing responsibilities of living¡ªbills, work, social life, and lack of sleep.


    Adapting, but not losing myself to the norms of society, took a lot of courage and determination. Through all the craziness, I squeezed in time for my own hobbies to enjoy. You gotta have a little ¡°me time,¡± even if it¡¯s just playing a game of DnD with friends.


    The love of my life appeared early in my adulthood. After experiencing parts of life with each other, we realized we would like to spend the rest of our lives together. With much anxiety and excitement, we ended up marrying and having a child together.


    I will never forget the day I became a parent¡ªthe day when all the joy and dread of being a parent started. Every moment with my family was precious: the crying, the feeding, the homework, the chores, the lessons, the events, the concerts, and the vacations¡ªthey were everything to me.


    I would do anything for them, even throwing away my morals and reasoning sometimes to defend and fight for them whenever anyone wronged my loved ones.


    Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.


    There were tough times, with all the crazy geopolitics, wars, and different cycles of the economy on this planet. Many moments, I wished I could do something, but I wasn¡¯t ready to give up what I had.


    Focusing on living my life, surrounding myself in the comfort cocoon of my family and friends, somehow everything worked out for me.


    I¡¯ve always lived with compassion, as it felt wonderful to have helped someone in their time of need.


    Having lived on Earth for more than 80 years, my life was starting to lose steam and slow down. Even if there wasn''t as much excitement to experience for the first time anymore, there was still much I could do.


    In retirement, I kept busy learning and working. It gave me a sense of purpose, and my loved ones all supported me as much as they could.


    At this age, many would say I was very wise and smart. I saw myself as a very reasonable and practical person.


    Being able to control my emotions and impulses very well kept me healthy. I¡¯ve always loved to laugh and enjoy life¡¯s better moments. They say laughter is the best medicine.


    All this for a happy ending. This is it, the story ends here, right?


    Well¡­yeah. Unless there''s a sequel. But I rather doubt it.

 Ch 1 (1/4): Isekai?!

    I am always curious about what happens next. What happens after death? Well, looks like I¡¯m about to find out. As my body relaxes and my thoughts begin to drift, a sudden burst of golden light floods my vision.


    Where am I? The light at the end of the tunnel?


    Being the staunchly non-religious type, I always figured the end was just that¡ªthe end. Period. I try to close my eyes again, only to discover a slight problem¡­


    No eyelids¡­ no body?!


    Before I can fully process this rather significant development, I¡¯m yanked upwards, drawn into the golden light.


    It¡¯s like a slightly bumpy elevator ride to¡­ who knows where.


    And as if that wasn''t enough, my memories start to fade, like they¡¯re being siphoned away. Experiences, emotions, all of it disappearing! The sensation of losing myself washes over me.


    My consciousness is being evicted!


    But then, as if by magic, the shape of a body starts to form around me, and my vision sharpens.


    I¡¯m getting my body back! A noticeably younger one, at that!


    Landing on something solid, a familiar warmth spreading through me. The scent of my parents¡¯ cooking wafts into my nose. It smells like¡­ home. Familiar surroundings, familiar faces, slowly come into focus. The comforting sound of laughter fills the air.


    My home, my family, my friends¡ªthey¡¯re all here. It¡¯s like a family reunion.


    Minus the forced small talk with that weird uncle no one actually likes.


    Before I can soak in the warmth of a family hug, though, a dark void rips everything apart. The scene dissolves, the temperature plummeting.


    Strands of shimmering, iridescent light pierce my newly reformed body, yanking my consciousness away! They drag me downwards into the inky blackness.


    Oh, come on! I was just getting comfortable!


    Slowly, my senses return. I¡¯m lying flat on a smooth, temperature-less surface. Gradually, I manage to pry my eyes open.


    Am I in hell?


    My vision is entirely monochrome, a world of blacks and whites, yet strangely clear.


    I¡¯m on a raised table. The place looks like a bomb went off. Debris is scattered everywhere, wrecked machinery lies in heaps, some still smoldering.


    Is this a lab? Well¡­ at least it¡¯s not hell.


    My tightly clenched fist slowly unfurls. Lying in this unfamiliar room, every sensation feels¡­ off. My heart isn¡¯t hammering, my stomach isn¡¯t doing somersaults. Well, no heartbeat or stomach to speak of, actually.


    I¡¯m feeling surprisingly¡­ empty. Like a hollowed-out gourd.


    My mouth feels like the desert, but I don¡¯t feel thirsty. I consciously take a deep breath; the pungent, acrid smell of burnt machinery and metal stings my nostrils. I quickly exhale. To my surprise, I don¡¯t even need to breathe. Huh.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    I wiggle my fingers and toes, then try moving my arms and legs. My limbs move¡­ differently. Smoother, somehow. No pain, though. Slowly, I push myself into a sitting position on what appears to be a metal table and look around.


    ¡°Hello? Anyone?¡± I call out softly, my voice sounding strangely pleasant. Almost¡­ melodic. A rapid, quiet scraping sound reaches my ears, and something shifts in the corner of my eye.


    Someone¡¯s here.


    An awfully injured old man lies crumpled in the corner of the room.


    He looks like he¡¯ll lose a fight with a rusty spork.


    Cautiously, I slide off the table and move toward him, one careful step at a time.


    The old man reaches a trembling hand toward me. When I get close, his wrinkled hand grabs my arm with surprising strength. Instinctively, I try to pull back. ¡°Val¡­ Sa¡­ v¡­ e me,¡± he rasps, his voice like dry leaves skittering across pavement.


    His hand drops, and his entire body¡­ turns to dust. Just like that. Poof. I stumble back, blinking.


    Definitely not standard-issue death.


    Suddenly, the hair on my head erupts in a white, iridescent glow, as if it¡¯s suddenly come to life. It surges toward the pile of dust, like a miniature, glowing tidal wave. With a bright flash, my vision is once again filled with golden light.


    I¡¯m back?!


    But instead of being back home, with my family and friends, all I see are thin iridescent strings tugging a speck of orange light toward me. It seems to be entangled with golden strings as well.


    It¡¯s a full-on cosmic tug-of-war.


    After a moment, the speck of light shatters into pieces, like a dropped lightbulb. A tiny shard is pulled toward me. As it does, memories and visions flood my mind.


    ******


    My old, wrinkled hands scribble furiously in my notebook, symbols and words blurring together.


    ¡°I¡¯m on the precipice!¡± I declare. ¡°The very secrets of the universe, a new dimension of existence, are within my grasp. Everything I¡¯ve ever desired¡ªimmortality itself¡ªis almost tangible. So close. So tantalizingly close.¡±


    I stride over to a massive machine filled with swirling blue liquid, a figure suspended within. With a hiss, the liquid drains away, and the doors swing open. I carefully lift the body and lay it on the central table.


    The hairless form is perfectly proportioned, slim and fit. Every curve adheres to the golden ratio, devoid of any visible reproductive organs or distinguishing sex characteristics. The eyes are closed, the facial features equally flawless.


    It¡¯s¡­ remarkably attractive.


    ¡°This form¡­ this vessel¡­¡± I murmur, running a hand along the fair, soft, silky-smooth skin. ¡°It¡¯s the culmination of my life¡¯s work. Perfection, finally achieved.¡± I lean in, whispering into its ear, ¡°Val, my finest creation, you are a testament to my genius.¡±


    Sweat trickling down my face, I gingerly press the button before me. The surrounding machines hum to life, emitting rings of light that ripple toward the body. My hands clench into fists as I watch, my whole body starting to shake uncontrollably.


    The empty space above the body¡­ tears open.


    ¡°Ahaha!¡± I roar. ¡°The dimensional barrier has shattered! That hidden plane, hovering just beyond our perception, is now open to me! I, Dr. Keyser, have rewritten the rules of reality! My name will echo through the ages!!!¡± I jump and cheer, laughter and ecstatic screams filling the lab.


    Suddenly, iridescent strings shoot out from the tear. They attach to and envelop the body on the table, a speck of light traveling down them from the void and into the form.


    Wait a second¡­ Was that¡­? Is that how I got here? He was the culprit?!


    ¡°But¡­ this wasn¡¯t calculated! This wasn¡¯t part of the design!¡± I yell, ripping a sparking contraption from a nearby machine. I sprint towards the table.


    The strings vanish into the body as abruptly as they appeared, and the tear snaps shut. The rings of light pulse outwards, followed by a blinding flash.


    ¡°NO! Ahhhh¡­¡± A jolt of intense pain shoots through me, like every single nerve ending is getting severed.


    I find myself lying lifeless on the floor. Then, a voice. ¡°Hello? Anyone?¡±


    Gasping, I force my head up, following the sound. In the dim light, the body¡­ is moving¡­ off the table¡­ towards me. It stumbles a little, but there¡¯s no mistaking it.


    It¡¯s me. Or, at least, I think it''s me, it¡¯s wearing a face I can¡¯t recognize.


    Where did my calculations fail? This¡­ this wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. I can¡¯t die¡­ I can¡¯t die¡­ not yet¡­ not yet¡­ The thought echoes in my head like a broken record as I grab its arm. ¡°Val¡­ Sa¡­ v¡­ e me.¡± I manage to croak out, my voice barely a whisper.


    ******

 Ch 1 (2/4): Isekai?!

    Darkness. Then, the lab snaps back into focus. Dr. Keyser is gone¡ªreduced to a pile of dust on the floor. Not even a bone remains. It¡¯s like he spontaneously combusted.


    What in the world was that?!


    I slowly push myself up. Next to the dust pile, I see the contraption the old man had pulled from the machine in my vision. I pick it up and press the button, but nothing happens.


    I turn, scanning the room with all my senses. Nothing¡¯s alive, nothing¡¯s burning, and it¡¯s eerily quiet.


    I slump to the floor, relief washing over me. Then it hits me: That memory¡­ It was Dr. Keyser¡¯s. It was what actually happened here.


    Why did I just see that? It was like a first-person movie, but way more disturbing.


    I sit there, blankly staring, trying to calm down. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± I clutch my head and shake it.


    Don¡¯t panic. Definitely not time to panic. Why am I panicking?! This is totally normal, right? Waking up in a destroyed lab in a body with no organs after dying. Totally normal! Things can¡¯t possibly get any worse. Right?


    My mind races, trying to piece together everything I remember. It¡¯s like trying to complete a puzzle with half the pieces missing.


    One thing¡¯s for sure: this isn¡¯t the afterlife I signed up for! I didn¡¯t need or want a second chance. My life was good.


    I was satisfied. No regrets. I was this close to a heartwarming reunion with my family and friends! If this was an isekai, WHY did it have to be a dying old man who dragged me here? Shouldn¡¯t it have been a beautiful, clumsy goddess who tripped and accidentally reincarnated me with overpowered abilities? Or at the very least, a handsome, apologetic god with a sincere apology and maybe a cheat sheet? Where¡¯s the tutorial?! Did I miss the memo?


    Some memories of my life on Earth are still intact, but most of my later memories are gone. Just images and fragments remain. Thankfully, most memories from before my thirties are still there.


    I¡¯m a thirty-year-old consciousness, seeing fragments of my ¡°future.¡± However, that ¡°future¡± is already in the past.


    At least I¡¯m not old anymore¡­ Silver linings, I suppose.


    My knowledge, experience, and everything is currently stuck around the time I was thirty. Somehow, my consciousness was transferred¡ªor reincarnated¡ªinto this stupid body, in god knows where, after passing away on Earth.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Val, the name given to this body by the Doctor. Not bad for a name. That¡¯ll be my name in this world, in this crazy isekai! I guess I have a name now. Progress!


    The visions of my family and friends were probably the afterlife planned for me. I was in that hidden plane, but most of my family and friends were well and healthy when I died.


    Why were they in the afterlife with me?


    Dr. Keyser¡¯s crazy experiment took me away from my family and friends. It also caused the explosion that destroyed this place and killed him.


    Why me? Why did it have to be me?! I was resting in peace! I was perfectly happy being dead.


    Furiously, I stare at the pile of dust again.


    Humph! He got what he deserved!


    Trapped in this body, not even knowing what I am. I take a deep breath and slowly exhale. Looking down, I feel my new body.


    For some reason, I don¡¯t look exactly the same as the body in the vision. I run my hands over my face, touching my hair. It¡¯s soft, thin, smooth, but incredibly strong. I try pulling it, but not a strand breaks off.


    Hooray! I am not bald!


    Aside from not having a heartbeat and not needing to breathe, there¡¯s no digestive tract, no sensation of hunger or thirst. There¡¯s nowhere to excrete waste.


    No bathroom breaks! That¡¯s¡­ actually kind of nice.


    Smooth scales cover my body from the neck down, regulating my body temperature. I don¡¯t feel hot or cold, and I don¡¯t sweat.


    This wasn¡¯t in the vision either. Where did the scales come from?


    This new body is definitely not human. I don¡¯t know what I am, and I can¡¯t even tell if I¡¯m alive!


    Fury surges through me as my fist punches into the ground, creating a crater and shaking the floor. Whoops. I jump back, startled.


    Well, that¡¯s new. Superpowers? Hmm¡­


    I check my fist. Not even a smudge on the scales.


    This body definitely needs some road testing.


    Flopping back down, I¡¯m suddenly swamped with memories of my family and friends. Hawaii vacations, those perfect cool waves on a blazing summer day, crazy parties, sunset dinners on the beach with lobster that practically melts in your mouth, the heart-melting smiles of my love and child¡­


    We said our goodbyes, but I really want to see them again. I did see them again, in the afterlife, bathed in golden light.


    I could go back to that warmth. All I need to do is, you know, pop back over to the afterlife. I must return to the afterlife!


    A wave of calm washes over me. If death is nothing to be scared of, then what¡¯s the big deal?


    ¡°Ahahahaha¡­¡± I could just end it myself! Jumping up and promptly bash my head into, well, everything.


    Bang! Clank! Clash!


    Nothing. No pain, no blood, not even a tiny scratch.


    This ridiculous body is way tougher than a human¡¯s. I flop back to the floor, rubbing my head and suddenly remembering all those anime and movies I¡¯ve binged. Trapped in this body, I gotta get out of here.


    If I¡¯m stuck here and can¡¯t even starve to death, this is going to be one hell of an eternity.


    Dragging myself up, I spot that contraption I found earlier.


    Is this thing even good for anything?


    Walking toward the machine where the contraption had been placed in the visions, I find everything completely destroyed by the explosion.


    Well, that¡¯s just great.

 Ch 1 (3/4): Isekai?!

    A deformed gate shimmers into existence at the far end of the lab. I sprint over and yank it open. It reveals a staircase. I bolt up the steps and reach a wall with a handle. I pull it; the wall pops open, and I shove it the rest of the way.


    I find myself in a living room. A small, dome-shaped apartment living room, and thankfully, nobody¡¯s home. A table and chair huddle on one side, a couch sits squarely in the middle. Four more doors line the room. I check them out one by one.


    First, a bedroom, complete with a bed and a closet. Next, a kitchen-looking place. The next door reveals a bathroom. The last door sports a series of locks. I unlock them all and push the door open. It leads to an enclosed cave with a big lake.


    Maybe there¡¯s a way out.


    I walk around the lake, and little creatures swim and crawl in the water and around the cave. They scatter and hide when I walk by. I¡¯ve never seen anything like them. They don¡¯t seem aggressive, though, just¡­ skittish.


    At the edge of the lake, a small, half-submerged vessel catches my eye. I rush over and see it¡¯s a mini-submarine. But the latch is locked. I don¡¯t want to break in¡ªit might be my only ticket out of this underwater grotto¡ªso I leave it alone. For now.


    Nothing else interesting around the lake, so I head back to the dome-room and close the cave door.


    Sinking into the couch, I sigh. It seems there¡¯s nothing else large or intelligent around here. I look around the room again and notice a hole in the wall, shaped exactly like the contraption I found amidst the explosion debris.


    I go over and pop the contraption into the hole¡ªperfect fit! It clicks into place with a satisfying thunk.


    Getting a little excited, I press the button. The room lights up with a bright, cool white light! And¡­ and¡­ nothing else.


    I press the button again, and the lights go off.


    ¡°Ha¡­ ha¡­¡± I facepalm. ¡°Seriously? Of all the things it could be¡­¡± It¡¯s just a freaking power switch¡­


    When the light pops on, my vision does a quick change from black and white to full HD color. Checking myself out again, my hair¡¯s gone silver, and the scales on my skin are white and iridescent, similar to opals.


    The same color as the strings from my visions.


    The scales are kite-shaped and overlap. I try to pick one off; it won¡¯t budge.


    Guess I¡¯m stuck with them.


    The door I came through is now covered by a large painting I hadn¡¯t noticed before. It depicts a massive golden sphere floating in the dark, made of tangled strings. Millions of tiny golden lights glimmer within the mesh that makes up the sphere, and more strings reach down into the vast darkness below, while others come in from all directions, wrapping and tangling themselves into it. It¡¯s a mesmerizing sight, both beautiful and unsettling.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Something is definitely not right here¡­


    Wandering back through the rooms, I end up in the bedroom and check out the closet. There are a couple of sets of clothes in there, which I quickly throw on to cover myself, even though they¡¯re way too small. It just feels weird to be naked, even when nobody¡¯s around.


    There¡¯s also a gun-like device and a small dagger.


    I immediately put the gun to my head and pull the trigger. A flash of light shoots out, but my head¡¯s fine. Not even a headache. I try slicing my neck with the dagger¡ªagain, not even a scratch.


    Seriously?


    I need to find a better weapon. There¡¯s gotta be something in this world that can wreck this body. This is getting ridiculous.


    I rummage through the bed and find a box underneath, containing a key, a metal card, and two gold-colored bars. I wonder if it¡¯s real gold¡ªit sure feels real. The weight, the way it catches the light¡­


    Yep, definitely feels like gold. You know what they say: Finders keepers, losers¡­ well, he¡¯s dead¡­ So, finders keepers.


    Next, I head into the kitchen. A storage area has what looks like food and cooking stuff, but I don¡¯t recognize anything. The food, especially, looks super weird. This food isn¡¯t anything from Earth. I wouldn''t even know where to begin.


    So, I¡¯m probably not on Earth anymore, at least not the one I know. The old guy seemed totally human, and in that memory, he spoke and wrote in English. There¡¯s some cooked food and half-eaten stuff on the counter.


    Is this even edible?


    eyeing a particularly lumpy, greenish blob with suspicion. Deciding to take the plunge, I pinch off a tiny piece and pop it into my mouth. I chew cautiously.


    Huh. I can still taste! It doesn¡¯t taste good, mind you. Or smell great, for that matter. But taste is there. That¡¯s a win. I loved cooking and eating back on Earth. Good times.


    I swallow the questionable morsel, silently praying it isn¡¯t going to give me food poisoning.


    It definitely wasn¡¯t fresh.


    Right after I swallow, I feel a little brust of energy in my stomach. Then¡­the food just¡­vanishes. I let out a long breath. My abdomen feels completely empty.


    How does this body even work? Does it need water and food? This body doesn¡¯t seem to have any way to get rid of waste. Do I just turn everything into energy? Would I even get fat? Eating and not getting fat is a dream come true!


    This body, which clearly has a serious disregard for basic biology and physics, raises so many questions it¡¯s giving me a headache. If I wasn¡¯t so focused on getting back to the afterlife, this body would be seriously amazing. It seems to function perfectly fine without needing water or, apparently, generating any waste.


    Could I be stuck in this thing forever?


    The thought of being stuck in this body forever is seriously freaking me out. I have to find a way to destroy this body or at least get my consciousness out of it.


    I glance back at the remaining food and take a deep breath.


    Okay, panicking won¡¯t help. At least I¡¯m still me, with free will, able to move around and check out this world.


    With a tiny spark of renewed optimism, I eye another weird-looking food item. It resembles a shriveled purple fruit. Tentatively, I take a bite.


    ¡°Blegh!¡± I immediately spit it out, utterly disappointed.


    This world would be miserable if all the food tasted like that!

 Ch 1 (4/4): Isekai?!

    Entering the bathroom now, and there is a sink and mirror, as in all bathrooms. I head inside. Standard sink and mirror setup. Getting a closer look at my face in the mirror, I confirm it¡¯s the same one I saw in the vision.


    My eyes are open now¡ªshiny golden eyes. And thankfully, it¡¯s still a pretty human face. Actually, it¡¯s very attractive by Earth standards.


    ¡°Not bad, not bad at all,¡± I mutter to my reflection. I run my hands over my face.


    So this is Val. If I¡¯d had this face back on Earth, I could have totally been a pop star. I even look young again.


    There¡¯s a shower! I turn on the water and stick my hand in it. Still can¡¯t feel any temperature difference on my skin.


    Guess my body¡¯s a perfect temperature suit. There goes freezing and burning to death as options¡­


    Finding nothing useful in the bathroom, I head back to the lab behind the painting. This time, all the lights are on, and everything is much clearer than the black-and-white version I saw before. The table I was on is in the middle of the room, surrounded by machines wrecked in the explosion.


    There¡¯s a pile of dust in the corner, where the old guy used to be. I poke through it again, but there¡¯s nothing else. He¡¯s totally turned to dust.


    I¡¯ve never seen anyone die like that. It¡¯s straight out of an anime.


    After some careful searching, a notebook pops out from under the rubble. The one with all the writing from Dr. Keyser that I saw in my visions. Luckily, it¡¯s not damaged. The scribbles inside are really hard, if not impossible, to read, but it¡¯s definitely in English.


    Talk about messy handwriting¡­


    I spend a long time trying to decipher the notebook. It¡¯s crammed with experimental data and results.


    Apparently, Dr. Keyser was obsessed with this idea of a hidden plane, a higher dimension. He theorized it''s folded up in a way we can¡¯t physically perceive or interact with, which, honestly, sounds like someone¡¯s been reading too much sci-fi. He tried a bunch of ways to unfold this dimension, though.


    That¡¯s where I was after I died¡ªthe afterlife, the higher dimension. So, he wasn''t entirely wrong, I guess.


    Dr. Keyser found a way to unfold it. With a ton of energy and some seriously complicated machines¡ªmost of which are now scrap metal, courtesy of the explosion. This body¡¯s a big part of it, too.


    Did he know what was in that dimension? It¡¯s a pretty big question.


    This body, designated Vitruvian Artificial Life, or Val for short, is a homunculus he made. But frustratingly, there aren¡¯t any details on how he made it. He just wrote that this was the only body he made that could handle the energy needed for the process.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    My consciousness transferring into this body from the dimension above wasn¡¯t part of the plan.


    Oops. That little mistake cost him his life. Talk about unintended consequences.


    I spend more time digging through the rubble, but I don¡¯t find anything else useful. Most of the lab books are burnt to a crisp. The few that are left are written in some language I don¡¯t understand. It looks vaguely like chicken scratch mixed with hieroglyphics.


    I spend the next few days, or what feels like days, testing and getting used to this body.


    It¡¯s like getting used to the controls of a new video game, except instead of playing games, I¡¯m¡­ existing. The tutorial level is definitely over, though.


    I can easily lift way bigger and heavier things than I should be able to. My movements and reaction time are crazy fast. I can run super fast and jump crazy distances.


    So, super strength and agility. Score.


    I also try out some punches and kicks, careful not to accidentally wreck the already half-wrecked lab and bury myself alive.


    Wow, this totally makes me an isekai protagonist after all! I wonder if I¡¯ll run into a cute elf girl or a demon lord soon?


    Jumping into the lake, I test out more of my body¡¯s perks. Swimming¡¯s a breeze since I don¡¯t need to breathe. My vision underwater is still crystal clear.


    It¡¯s like having built-in goggles.


    The lake water tastes super salty¡ªI¡¯m guessing it¡¯s seawater. My tongue can feel the coolness of the water, but my body doesn¡¯t register the temperature or pressure. It¡¯s a strange sensation. There¡¯s an opening at the bottom of the lake.


    That¡¯s gotta be my way out.


    Besides not needing to eat, drink, or breathe, I also don¡¯t need sleep. But I do rest sometimes to get my thoughts organized.


    It¡¯s kind of like defragging a hard drive, I suppose.


    I try making some better food, but the ingredients taste awful. They must have mostly gone bad. There has to be better food in this world¡­


    I¡¯m craving a burger.


    The more I get used to this body, the more trapped I feel. It¡¯s like a shell, a shackle for my consciousness. Extremely powerful, yet cursed armor I can¡¯t take off. I¡¯m starting to think this ¡°isekai adventure¡± might be a bit more complicated than I initially thought.


    The key I found in the bedroom fits the submarine. After checking it out, I practiced driving it a bit. The gas tank seems full, which is a definite plus. I could¡¯ve just swum out, but I want to take some stuff with me, and the sub makes things way easier.


    Efficiency is key, after all.


    I pack up everything useful¡ªmetal card, gold bars, the gun, some cloth, and a little food, just in case. I also fashion a small waterproof metal box from some machine scraps for the notebook. After a quick leak test, I pack everything inside. The gun stays right next to me in the sub, and the dagger¡¯s tied securely to my leg. Safety first!


    Standing at the edge of the lake, I glance back at the place that was my¡­ temporary housing, shall we say? It¡¯s time to leave.


    Finding a way to break free from this shell is now my top priority. Thoughts buzz through my head as I hop into the sub and sink to the bottom. I spot the cave opening and follow it, driving for what feels like ages. There are even more weird sea creatures down here, but I don¡¯t recognize any of them.


    It''s like an underwater alien zoo.


    Finally, I emerge from the cave, probably smack-dab in the middle of a huge ocean. Slowly, I float to the surface. ¡°Finally!¡± I yell as the submarine breaks the surface. Taking a deep breath, I look up at the sky and am stunned by what I see.


    One thing is certain: I¡¯m definitely not on Earth anymore. This is going to be¡­ interesting.

 Ch 2 (1/4): Disturbance

    Two crescent moons hang in the cloudless night, one larger than the other. The big one glows with a blue hue, its smaller companion with a red one.


    Stars blanket the sky. I¡¯ve never seen so many back on Earth; it¡¯s almost magical. Almost.


    Too bad I don¡¯t recognize a single constellation. They''re probably not even constellations.


    The submarine rocks gently in the dark waves. I climb out for a better view. The waves lap softly against the sub¡¯s hull. A light breeze brushes my face. It doesn¡¯t feel like an open ocean. I inhale deeply, the familiar scent of salty seawater a comforting reminder of Earth.


    Scanning the horizon, I gradually make out the shapes of mountains and land in every direction, some closer than others. This is an inland sea.


    Well, that¡¯s a new one.


    The gentle lapping is abruptly shattered by a series of loud bubbling noises. Before I can scramble back inside the submarine is launched skyward, then crashes back into the sea with a resounding splash.


    I¡¯m pretty sure I swallowed some of that.


    Struggling to stay afloat, I¡¯m confronted with a massive mouth filled with dagger-like teeth. Well, I thought to myself, this might be my chance to finally break this cursed body. Sharp teeth clamp down on me. A thick blue liquid blooms into the surrounding water. The water now has a rather unpleasant metallic and acidic tang.


    It tastes like¡­battery acid?


    Looking down at my perfectly intact body, I curse inwardly, realizing the liquid isn¡¯t mine.


    The creature recoils, twisting and coiling. It¡¯s a giant alien looking sea serpent, covered in scales, sporting a couple of pairs of flippers and a long tail. Its triangular head has two pairs of tiny eyes and an absurdly large mouth. The mouth, once full of sharp teeth, now sports several broken stumps. A thick stream of blue liquid gushes from its jaws.


    Guess this creature can¡¯t break this body either. Bummer for both of us, really.


    During my time in the lab, I try to find weaknesses in this body.


    It¡¯s not exactly a hobby, more of a¡­ preemptive measure. Honestly, if something could break this body, it¡¯d be a dream come true. Real peace, finally!


    My biggest fear isn¡¯t death. Honestly, if something could break this body, it would be a dream come true. Real peace, finally!This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    My biggest fear isn¡¯t death; it¡¯s being stuck like this forever. Some sort of sealing ritual, maybe¡ªsome way to trap or isolate this body.


    An eternity in solitary confinement? Now that¡¯s my worst-case scenario. So, I absolutely must prevent any possibility of that. Or worse¡­ being eaten! That would be the ultimate indignity.


    The submarine is still intact and bobs cheerfully on the surface. I eagerly start swimming toward it, but another long, massive body blocks my path. This creature makes the last one look like a guppy.


    It whips its tail, and a crushing force slams me into the seafloor. I frantically stir up the water, trying to hide among the rocks.


    Seriously, why are they attacking me? Do I look that delicious?! Am I radiating some kind of irresistible seafood aroma I¡¯m not aware of?


    The larger sea serpent swims near the surface, while the smaller one races to the bottom. The blue liquid has stopped flowing from its mouth. It furiously thrashes, smashing its body against everything on the seafloor in a watery tantrum.


    Taking advantage of its little meltdown, I carefully sneak around it and swim back to the surface, pulling the dagger from my leg as I go.


    When I¡¯m close enough to the larger serpent, I stab and slice into it with all my might. Another wave of that blue fluid erupts, showering my face.


    Honestly, does this stuff ever stop flowing? It¡¯s like they¡¯re filled with it.


    The large sea serpent twists and turns violently, clearly not enjoying my impromptu acupuncture session. I seize the opportunity and rush toward the submarine. Freedom is so close!


    I grab onto the hull and start climbing, but before I can haul myself back inside, the sea starts swirling around me. Losing my grip, I tumble back into the water with a splash.


    Below me, the large sea serpent is swimming in a circle at an unimaginable speed. The water around me twists and turns into a small, rapidly growing whirlpool, dragging everything down.


    Seriously? Just my luck, the creature has a special move. Of course it does. Why wouldn¡¯t it?


    While the larger sea serpent creates the whirlpool, the smaller one launches itself at me from my blind spot.


    Oh, look, they have a combo attack too. How¡­ original. I¡¯m starting to think these guys took lessons from anime.


    It attacks again and again, snapping its jaws, trying to take a chunk out of me. It can¡¯t even pierce my skin, thankfully, but I¡¯m being tossed around in the water like a sock in a washing machine.


    I jab my dagger into its head and body whenever I get a chance. Slowly, the water around us begins to darken, turning a murky shade of blue.


    As I scan for the smaller serpent, bracing for its inevitable return, I¡¯m suddenly plunged into absolute darkness.


    Great. Just great.


    The water around me thickens, turning into something like thick, sticky glue. My body is squeezed from all directions. I push, stab, and slice blindly, my dagger meeting resistance at every turn.


    My mind races as a wave of claustrophobia washes over me. I keep stabbing with the dagger in every direction, a frantic mantra echoing in my head.


    Oh no oh no oh no no no no no¡­ This is definitely not ideal.


    The viscous fluid continues to thicken, enveloping my entire body. I feel myself being dragged down, down, down through the endless darkness.


    I really hope this isn''t how it ends. Ending up trapped in giant monster¡¯s goo, at the bottom of the sea. That would be a truly undignified demise.

 Ch 2 (2/4): Disturbance

    Gathering every ounce of willpower I possess, I clear my mind and, with a mighty heave, stab once more with all my strength. This time, instead of pulling the dagger out¡ªwhich, let¡¯s be honest, hasn¡¯t been working out great so far¡ªI keep pushing and slicing, tearing at the inner gut lining with both hands. I tunnel my hand, then my arm, head, shoulders, and the rest of my body into the rip I create.


    The fluid around me slowly begins to thin.


    Thank goodness.


    The dagger strikes a solid mass in front of me, like hitting an iron wall. I wriggle closer and stomp onto the solid mass. It cracks under my weight, and I dig myself in further.


    Finally, my dagger slices through, creating an opening. Salty water rushes in, covering my hand, then my arm, my face, and finally, the rest of my body.


    Freedom! Sweet, glorious freedom!


    I widen the opening and kick back, freeing myself from the sea serpent¡¯s intestine. That definitely would have been an undignified demise.


    Back in the embrace of the seawater, I glance back at the dark blue cloud of viscous fluid. Within it, the large sea serpent is coiled into a tight ball, twisting and writhing.


    It looks like someone just realized I am no longer on the menu.


    A deafening, high-pitched scream pierces through the water. Covering my ears, I turn and swim back towards the surface. Thankfully, I can still see the submarine floating above.


    I rush towards it, swimming as fast as I can.


    But halfway there, I¡¯m yanked downwards again by my leg.


    Seriously?! I taste horrible! You can¡¯t even chew me; you¡¯ll get a blockage swallowing me! Why?!


    I repeat this in my head, hoping the serpent can somehow understand my very valid arguments.


    The smaller serpent refuses to let go, even as I kick furiously at its head. Frustration boiling¡ªseriously, how many times do I have to fight this thing?¡ªI raise my dagger with both hands.


    Aiming for the center of its skull, I thrust downwards with lightning speed, hoping to end this once and for all. But before the blade can connect, a massive tail swipes my arm aside, and my dagger plunges into the serpent¡¯s eye instead.


    It twists its head, and the dagger slips from my grasp.


    The tail swipe, of course, came from the larger serpent. It wraps itself around the smaller one and carefully extracts the dagger from its eye with its mouth. Then, staring right at me, it swallows the dagger whole.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Seriously? Did it just¡­ eat my dagger? It¡¯s definitely intelligent. Is the smaller one its offspring?


    A pang of guilt strikes me, quickly followed by annoyance.


    Why are they attacking me?! There are, like, a million other things they could be eating! Like¡­ those small alien creatures. Or slightly larger alien creatures. Or even those weird glowing squid-looking things. Anything but me!


    Weaponless, I tread water, keeping my eyes locked on the two serpents. My other weapon is inside the submarine, but these two aren¡¯t giving me a chance to retreat.


    As I weigh my rapidly dwindling options, the two creatures lunge. The larger serpent clamps its jaws onto one of my legs, while the smaller one latches onto my opposite arm. They twist their heads, trying to tear me apart.


    Nice try, unimpressed. It¡¯s no use; my body remains stubbornly intact, without so much as a scratch. Thank you for the effort, I really appreciate it.


    With my free arm, I pull back and punch the already damaged eye of the smaller serpent. I push my hand deeper into its eye socket, firmly gripping the inner structure to prevent it from pulling away.


    It¡¯s a bit gross, I¡¯ll admit, but desperate times call for desperate measures.


    I swing and kick at the larger serpent, but it maintains its grip on my leg.


    Fine. Little one first! I¡¯m going to make this very clear: messing with the current me is a bad idea.


    I dig deeper into the smaller serpent¡¯s eye socket with both hands. Finding a firm grip I hold on tight as it thrashes and twists. With my other hand, I make a fist and punch repeatedly at the same spot on its skull.


    As I punch, the larger serpent pulls harder, dragging us all towards the seafloor. It twists its body around mine, wrapping tighter and tighter, trapping my punching arm and squeezing with increasing force.


    But I refuse to let go of the squirming smaller serpent. No way. Not after all that effort.


    Managing to wiggle my arm free, I gather all my strength for one final punch.


    When my fist lands, I hear a sickening crack, and the serpent¡¯s skull caves inward. Blue liquid oozes from the wound. With one final push, my fist sinks deep into the skull.


    It¡¯s¡­well, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s not a pleasant sensation.


    The smaller serpent gives a final twitch, its strength utterly spent.


    A deafening, anguished screech fills my ears as the serpent¡¯s body floats sideways, lifeless.


    Suddenly, my hair, as if sensing the victory, flares to life again, each strand regaining its iridescent sheen. As if with a mind of its own it twists into a spear and effortlessly pierces the smaller serpent¡¯s head. Talk about overkill. Another flash of light erupts.


    When my vision clears, instead of the expected golden light, a massive golden sphere hangs above me.


    It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s just like the painting in Dr. Keyser¡¯s living room, only, you know, a tad bigger. Okay, way bigger. It practically fills my entire field of vision. It looks like an endless number of specks of light nested within the sphere. It¡¯s like looking at the sun, from only a couple kilometers away.


    Is this the true form of the bright light? Dr. Keyser definitely knew more about this dimension than he let on.


    Just like in the painting, trillions upon trillions of tiny lights, connected by shimmering golden strings, swirl within the sphere. They flicker like miniature golden stars, but they dim the closer they get to the center. It¡¯s mesmerizing, if not slightly overwhelming.


    From the darkness below, a dark red speck of light drifts upwards toward the sphere. But before the golden strings can reach it, iridescent strings shoot out from behind me.


    Talk about a dramatic entrance.

 Ch 2 (3/4): Disturbance

    The iridescent strings ensnare and entangle the red speck, preventing the golden strings from touching it. They then pull the speck towards me, and as they do, memories flood my mind in a torrent of vivid visions.


    ******


    My eyes snap open in the freezing depths, a shiver wracking my tiny body, punctuated by a silent, underwater scream of hunger. Two enormous, serpent-like figures glide into view. Mom and Dad. They¡¯re our providers, our protectors.


    One of them looks strikingly familiar¡­


    I¡¯m not alone. Five other little versions of myself wiggle around in this deep-sea nest. Six siblings in total.


    Time passes, and we grow, slowly but surely, inch by painstaking inch. One day, Dad, the larger of the two, departs the nest. Probably off to grab some takeout.


    Our peaceful existence is abruptly shattered by two piercing beams of light.


    A small submarine materializes from the murky water.


    Dr. Keyser¡¯s sub? What¡¯s he doing down here?


    The submarine¡¯s lights focus on us, and two metallic claws extend, reaching for us.


    But before they can snatch us up, a massive tail slams into the submarine, sending it reeling.


    Mom unleashes a flurry of tail strikes, thrashing the sub repeatedly. It zips and dodges, weaving erratically up and down, side to side, narrowly avoiding each blow.


    Through the sub¡¯s clear viewport, I spot him¡ªa much younger-looking Dr. Keyser.


    As the submarine continues its frantic evasive maneuvers, a hatch on its underside pops open, and something drops out. A blinding flash of light erupts.


    I¡¯m temporarily blinded. Everything¡¯s a blurry mess for what feels like an eternity.


    When my vision finally clears, our nest is in ruins, a jumbled mess of debris. Only two of us hatchlings remain amidst the wreckage. The water around us is now tinged with a strange blue liquid.


    Before we can even process what¡¯s happened, a metal claw clamps down on us.


    It almost yanks us into a glass container when a piercing, high-pitched shriek cuts through the water. A grievously wounded serpent wraps herself around the submarine.


    It¡¯s Mom! She¡¯s not giving up on us.


    Suddenly, a wave of agonizing, numbing pain surges through my body, and everything goes black.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    When I come to, all I see is one of the larger serpents, severed in two, lying lifeless on the seabed.


    It¡¯s Mom.


    Dad returned, encircling Mom with a low, mournful moan.


    The submarine was gone, leaving me alone in our ruined nest.


    That bastard had killed the serpent and taken their children!


    I nudged close to Dad, resting against him. He gently wrapped his tail around me.


    After laying Mom to rest on the seafloor, we left our old home. We relocated to a new spot, much deeper than before. Every so often, we returned to Mom¡¯s resting place, lingering for a while before leaving again.


    A long, long time passed. I grew much larger¡ª Dad got bigger too..


    This time, as we left Mom¡¯s resting place, I saw it again. That submarine, floating mockingly on the surface¡ªthe thing that had shattered our family. The cause of all of Dad¡¯s grief.


    My blood boiled. With a roar, I charged, sending the submarine flying into the air. As it crashed back down, a small creature tumbled into the water. Blinded by fury, I clamped my jaws down on it. It felt like biting a jagged rock¡ªa sharp pain shot through my mouth.


    The little pest scrambled towards the surface. I couldn¡¯t let it escape back inside. Thankfully, Dad was there. He slammed the creature back down to the seafloor. I gave chase, smashing and crushing everything in my path, but it still managed to wriggle away.


    When I looked up, I saw Dad swirling in a furious circle, faster and faster, creating a whirlpool that dragged the submarine and the creature back into the depths. I lunged again and again, trying to tear something off¡ªa limb, a hand, a foot, anything! But nothing budged, and the creature stabbed me repeatedly.


    Before I could retaliate, Dad opened his massive maw and swallowed it whole.


    Just when I thought it was over, as I prepared to finish off the submarine, the unthinkable happened. A hole burst open in Dad¡¯s side. He roared in pain, twisting and thrashing as that small, deceptively fragile creature emerged from his body.


    Impossible!


    As it tried to flee, I bit its leg again, determined to drag it back down. Not again. Not after everything. As it raised its blade, I braced for the worst, but Dad intervened once more, swatting the blade aside. It went off to the side, and embedded itself in one of my eyes.


    Dad helped me yank the blade out, then promptly swallowed it.


    In a final, desperate attempt, we each grabbed one of its limbs, hoping to tear it apart. But the little monster was incredibly tough. Nothing we did seemed to hurt it.


    Suddenly, I felt a hand reach into my empty eye socket and grip my skull. I thrashed and twisted, but it was no use. Punches rained down on my skull, one after another.


    In one excruciatingly painful moment, it all ended. I could no longer feel my body. Everything went cold again.


    ******


    When the memory stream ends, the dark red speck of light becomes translucent. It¡¯s as if it¡¯s purged all its color, returning to its most innocent form. Then, it drops silently back into the darkness.


    My vision snaps back to the middle of the sea.


    As if time has been rewound and replayed¡ªminus the dramatic light show¡ªmy hair returns to its normal silver color. The smaller serpent remains motionless, still clutched by its empty eye socket in my hand.


    The larger serpent releases me, its massive coils loosening as it hurriedly wraps itself around the smaller one. Protecting its head from any further fisticuffs, it cradles the body gently, but it¡¯s too late. The damage is done.


    I loosen my grip, letting the smaller serpent¡¯s lifeless form drift away. The larger serpent guides the body softly to the sea floor, laying it down with utmost care.


    It looks at the still form in agony, wrapping itself around it and emitting soft, mournful sounds¡ªa lullaby, comforting its child into an eternal sleep.


    It¡¯s¡­ heartbreaking¡­

 Ch 2 (4/4): Disturbance

    The larger serpent then turns its gaze toward me. Its eyes meet mine, filled with unfathomable grief, the stare piercing my chest like a thousand icy daggers. I can feel its sorrow, raw and all-encompassing. It¡¯s like being hit by a wave of pure, unadulterated sadness.


    I had a family once. I can¡¯t even begin to fathom the despair this creature must be feeling now.


    They still think I¡¯m Dr. Keyser because of that blasted submarine! Talk about mistaken identity.


    Regret and dread wash over me, leaving me rooted to the spot. My mind spirals, consumed by thoughts of all the ways this could have played out differently. If only I hadn''t¡­ If only¡­


    If only I knew¡­ If only I hadn¡¯t used that darned submarine. If only I¡¯d tried running. If only¡­ I had been the one to bite the dust. It attacked first, though. It wouldn¡¯t let go. It¡¯s not my fault!


    The agonizing thoughts swirl in my mind, and even darker ones surface. Should I¡­kill it? Killing it would reunite it with its family in the afterlife. A slightly morbid family reunion, but a reunion nonetheless. The serpent lies beside its child, utterly still.


    I should just end its misery. They¡¯re just animals, after all. Right?


    I clench my fist. Just one swift, powerful kick, directly into its skull, would do it. A mercy kick. Yeah, that¡¯s it. A mercy kick. I sink down onto its head. As if accepting its fate¡ªor maybe just too depressed to care¡ªit doesn¡¯t move. It looks at me with those lifeless eyes and then closes them.


    Deep down, I¡¯m practically begging for a different outcome. As if the universe heard my silent plea, just as I raise my foot above my head, poised to deliver a swift, merciful end, my hair flares up again.


    Strands of it twist and solidify, reforming into the smaller serpent. It¡¯s like its consciousness has returned for an encore. A ghostly encore. It whispers softly beside the larger serpent¡¯s ear. The larger serpent¡¯s eyes snap open, a flicker of life returning to its gaze. It murmurs a soft reply before closing them again, this time with a hint of¡­peace?


    Is that peace I see?


    Strands of my hair pierce the larger serpent¡¯s head, and a dark aura envelops it. Memories surge into my mind. I see visions of the two serpents meeting¡ªserpent courtship rituals, who knew?¡ªtheir love, their care for their children, her death, his sorrow, this fight, and finally, his child¡¯s death. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    It¡¯s like watching a really depressing nature documentary, except I was participating in it.


    All memories of his love and family flood into me. The serpent¡¯s aura brightens, fading to pure white. His eyes clear, the despair vanishing like morning mist. All his wounds knit themselves closed.


    The smaller serpent gently nudges the larger one¡¯s head before dissolving back into strands of hair, returning to their normal silver color.


    It¡¯s done. I¡¯ve absorbed all his memories of his family. It¡¯s as if they never existed for him. I¡¯m not sure if it was the right thing to do, but it feels like the smaller serpent¡¯s last wish for its father¡ªfor him to continue living without the burden of hate and despair.


    The larger serpent glances at the smaller serpent¡¯s body, a flicker of confusion in its eyes, before swimming off into the dark sea.


    Not exactly the happy ending I was hoping for. Guess reviving the dead isn¡¯t one of my hair¡¯s special talents. Though, robbing memories and emotions? That¡¯s apparently on the menu.


    I slowly ascend to the surface. As I break through and clamber back onto the submarine, a ray of light pierces the darkness.


    A sun, remarkably like Earth¡¯s, rises over the horizon.


    The seawater glitters in the sunlight, the wind picks up. The distant land and mountains sharpen into view.


    It¡¯s almost¡­picturesque. If I wasn¡¯t practically naked.


    Every scrap of fabric on my body is shredded, yet my skin is without a single scratch.


    Seriously? Destroying this body is going to be a real pain¡­


    I run my hand through my already dry hair. Not a drop of water stays anywhere on my body when I return to the surface. Examining my hair, I once again try to control it or light it up, but nothing works.


    It¡¯s only lit up three times: twice when something died right in front of me¡ªthat seems to be the trigger. The last time, I had no clue what set it off, and the effect was completely different. I didn¡¯t even see the golden sphere then.


    In all cases, though, it seems I¡¯m absorbing memories through my hair, memories from whatever it was attached to. I wonder what other nifty skills or abilities are hiding in my character tab¡­


    After a couple of minutes of flailing around and looking like a complete idiot, I give up. No skill tab, no character sheet, no system¡­nothing.


    ¡°This is a trash isekai,¡± I mutter. ¡°Let me go back to my afterlife!¡± I yell at the sky, half-hoping some bored deity might actually hear me.


    I yank off the shredded cloth and scramble back into the submarine to change. Once I¡¯m back in the driver¡¯s seat, I scan the horizon for the nearest large landmass and point the sub in that direction.


    Half-submerged, I speed toward the land, keeping a sharp lookout for any more aquatic attackers. Thankfully, the trip is uneventful, and I reach a red sandy beach by the time the sun is only halfway up the sky.


    The sun definitely seems to be moving slower than back on Earth.

 Ch 3 (1/4): Suspicion

    As I approach the beach, I throttle back and find a secluded spot to beach the sub. I climb out and heave the vessel further onto the sand. The submarine is surprisingly sturdy. After everything it¡¯s been through, it only has a few minor dents. I head back inside and gather all my belongings.


    I cautiously make my way inland from the beach. The plants and animals I encounter aren¡¯t aggressive, but absolutely nothing looks familiar. Most of the plants have enormous leaves, and some are laden with huge, dangling fruits.


    They look like they could feed a small army¡­ if they''re edible. I eye them warily. One wrong bite and I could end up with a face full of exploding alien fruit. No thanks.


    The vegetation is lush and tropical, and the air is thick with humidity. I hear bird-like calls mixing with low roars echoing around me¡ªsome close by, others far off in the distance.


    I half expect a dinosaur to stroll by and offer me a cup of tea.


    Every so often, I take a deep breath, just to get a sense of my surroundings. Some areas smell foul, like animal droppings, while others have a pleasant, sweet scent. As I venture deeper into the jungle, a particularly interesting aroma catches my attention. It smells like a blend of spices¡ªvery familiar spices, the kind you¡¯d find back on Earth. Cinnamon, cloves¡­is that cardamom?


    Someone¡¯s cooking¡­ actual, real food? The first sign of truly delectable food in this world! Maybe this isn¡¯t such a trash isekai after all. My non-existent stomach rumbles in anticipation. I follow the tantalizing aroma, practically bursting through the jungle undergrowth.


    A small, unassuming hut nestled amongst the trees comes into view, a peculiar metallic contraption parked beside it. Wisps of white smoke curled lazily from its chimney. This could be interesting. Maybe I¡¯ll finally get some decent food.


    I bounded up to the door and rapped sharply.


    ¡°Hello?¡± I called out.


    A sudden cacophony of clattering ladles and clanging knives erupted from within.


    ¡°Er...hello? Is anyone¡­about?¡± A rather stout man cautiously opened the door a crack, peering up at me with wide, slightly panicked eyes.


    ¡°Now, hold on. Who are you, then? And¡­ how¡¯d you manage that?¡± The man¡¯s voice trembled slightly as he clutched a knife tightly, his gaze fixed on the obvious trail I¡¯d blazed through the jungle.


    ¡°I¡¯m Val. I walked¡­¡± I glanced back at my route, a hilariously mangled path of traps marking my passage.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Oh, wow¡­ I was so focused on the smell I didn¡¯t even register those¡­traps? Snares?


    ¡°Sorry¡­ about those¡­¡± I mumbled awkwardly.


    ¡°Right. What¡¯s the purpose of this, then?¡± The man asked, still visibly shaken.


    ¡°I got a little lost in this jungle, and I caught the scent of your amazing cooking¡­¡± I inhaled deeply. ¡°Though¡­ it¡¯s starting to smell a tad¡­burnt now.¡±


    ¡°Ahh!¡± The stout man slammed the door shut and scurried back inside.


    After a flurry of frantic noises from within¡ªincluding what sounded suspiciously like a pot hitting the floor¡ªthe man reappeared, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.


    ¡°Lost, are we?¡± He studied me with a mixture of confusion and suspicion, his eyes widening as he took in my appearance.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ hopelessly lost¡­ perhaps you could spare a bite?¡± I peered past him into the hut. The aroma was still divine, even with the slightly burnt undertones. I had to taste it.


    The stout man lowered his knife slightly. ¡°Just¡­ stay put for a moment,¡± he said softly, before promptly slamming the door in my face again.


    I waited outside, gazing up at the sky. The sun hung high overhead. It was probably around noon. A rather ominous thundercloud seemed to be brewing closer to the beach where I¡¯d started. Hopefully, it won''t rain before I get some of this amazing smelling¡­ whatever it was.


    The salty-sweet air from the hut now carries the enticing aroma of perfectly balanced spices.


    My non-existent stomach does a phantom rumble. If I had a stomach, it¡¯d be begging for mercy.


    The door creaks open again. ¡°Come in¡­ Looks like the heavens are about to open,¡± the stout man says, glancing nervously at the darkening sky outside.


    I step into the tiny, sparsely furnished hut. It¡¯s incredibly simple, practically bare. The door closes behind me with a soft thud.


    The stout man bustles past. ¡°Here, sit. Make yourself¡­ as comfortable as you can,¡± he says, gesturing to a small table with two chairs.


    And there it is. On the table, the pot. The magnificent pot. A tantalizing blend of spices, meat, and vegetables, laced with a hint of something utterly unique, wafts from within. Some scents are familiar¡ªcinnamon, cloves, cardamom¡ªothers decidedly not. It resembles a curry or beef bourguignon, but with ingredients that look nothing like Earth¡¯s. Giant purple tubers and bright green, segmented vegetables bob in the rich, dark sauce.


    I carefully lower myself into a chair. The man, still looking a tad nervous, sets out plates and utensils. We sit facing each other. He scoops a generous portion of the stew onto my plate.


    This body doesn¡¯t need food, but my non-existent stomach is practically begging for this.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± I blurt, unable to contain myself, and eagerly plunge my fork into the plate, spearing a chunk of meat coated in the rich sauce.


    The moment the first bite hits my tongue, a wave of nostalgia washes over me. It tastes remarkably like home, like Earth. The taste, the smell, the texture¡ªit¡¯s an explosion of familiar sensations, all harmonizing beautifully as I chew and swallow. It¡¯s even hot! I can actually feel the warmth in my mouth. Apparently, that¡¯s the one part of me that retains some sense of temperature.


    After I¡¯ve devoured the first few bites, the chubby man finally relaxes, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°Goodness me, you look like you¡¯ve missed a few meals!¡±

 Ch 3 (2/4): Suspicion

    ¡°Ah¡­ sorry¡­¡± I sheepishly stop shoveling food into my mouth and glance up at him. He looks quite young, really. Human, mostly, but there¡¯s something subtly¡­ off about him. Like maybe he¡¯s part gnome or something.


    ¡°There¡¯s plenty more where that came from. Don¡¯t be shy,¡± the man says, generously ladling another portion of the stew onto my already overflowing plate. ¡°I¡¯m Bailey. And where might your travels have taken you from?¡±


    ¡°A faraway place,¡± I say, popping another spoonful into my mouth. ¡°Somewhere you¡¯ve probably never heard of.¡± Probably.


    Bailey pours himself a glass of something greenish and suspiciously viscous. It looks like pond scum mixed with limeade. ¡°Care for a sip? It¡¯s¡­an acquired taste.¡± He eyes the glass with a mixture of fondness and apprehension. ¡°And tell me, how did you manage to get all the way out here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good, thanks.¡± I eye the slimy liquid with extreme suspicion. ¡°I just walked. Wandered the world, you know?¡±


    Bailey takes a hesitant sip of his concoction, wincing slightly. ¡°Folks don¡¯t usually just¡­stroll into the wilds. Especially not this part.¡±


    ¡°I got lost and kept walking,¡± I say, gazing out the window at the now rapidly darkening sky. That thundercloud from earlier looks like it¡¯s decided to park itself right over us.


    Bailey follows my gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t get many visitors, let alone ones who wander right to my doorstep.¡±


    ¡°I am¡­¡± I swallow a large, delicious mouthful of food. ¡°Sorry about the traps, by the way.¡±


    Bailey eyes me closely. ¡°You¡­seem alright. Considering¡­¡± He trails off, taking another gulp of his drink.


    ¡°Good¡­ good you¡¯re well. Those¡­ things outside¡­ they¡¯re meant to¡­ well.¡± Bailey takes a larger swig of his drink, his face turning a slightly greener shade than usual. ¡°Ha.¡± He lets out a nervous chuckle.


    Crack¡­BOOM! A sudden clap of thunder punctuates the awkward silence, making the hut shake slightly.


    I should try getting struck by lightning next¡­ that might do the trick¡­ assuming I can even feel it.


    Bailey gestures toward the torrential downpour outside. ¡°This¡­this is the Elemental Wilds. You can get all sorts out here. Rain, sun, thunder, fire¡­even earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes. All within¡­well, a day, easy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­intense,¡± I say, following Bailey¡¯s finger to the window. ¡°Sounds like a fun place for a picnic. Are there others living around here?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Only the Mesoselenian usually settle in the Wilds. But¡­even they tend to steer clear of this part. Too unpredictable, even for them.¡± Bailey glances over me. ¡°You¡­you¡¯re sure you¡¯re alright? Nothing¡­nothing feels¡­off?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t be better. This food is amazing.¡± I realize I¡¯ve already devoured the entire pot. Bailey keeps refilling my plate as I eat, and a warm energy spreads through me.


    Did I just eat everything and not leave any for him? Where are my manners¡­


    Suddenly, a realization strikes me. I stare Bailey straight in the eye before dramatically collapsing onto the floor, going completely limp. I keep my eyes closed and my body still.


    Bailey lets out a shaky breath. ¡°Now¡­really. Who are you?¡± He approaches cautiously and attempts to roll me over, struggling slightly with the dead weight.


    He checks my pulse and breathing. He stumbles back, eyes wide. ¡°That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s not right. Ionacoca doesn¡¯t kill. It just¡­knocks you out. There¡¯s no way¡­¡± He quickly drips a couple of droplets of extremely bitter liquid into my mouth.


    Ugh. That stuff tastes like swamp water mixed with orange juice and despair.


    I keep my eyes stubbornly shut.


    After a few brisk slaps to my face, he recoils. I hear him rummaging through my bag, then the distinct clink of him trying to open the locked box containing the notebook.


    Then, a thud. He¡¯s dropped to his knees. ¡°Those¡­those are his clothes. And¡­his card. How¡­? Why¡­?¡±


    I crack open an eye. He¡¯s buried his face in his hands.


    He begins pleading, even attempting some rather pathetic CPR. ¡°Please¡­no. Please wake up. I¡­I have to know. Where¡¯s Master Keyser? Where is he?¡±


    ¡°Who is Dr. Keyser to you?¡± I ask, opening my eyes fully.


    ¡°Ahhhhhhh!¡± He screams, executing a clumsy roll, and scrambling to his feet all at once. He snatches the gun he¡¯d taken from my bag and points it at my head, hand shaking. ¡°What¡­what in the name of all that¡¯s holy¡­ are you?!¡±


    That¡¯ll teach him a lesson not to try and poison someone with such delicious food. Honestly, my imaginary stomach still feels fantastic.


    ¡°Calm down,¡± I say, pushing myself up from the floor and plopping back into my seat. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you, and you certainly can¡¯t hurt me. Whatever you put in that food clearly doesn¡¯t work on me. So, let¡¯s all take a breath and chat.¡±


    Bailey takes a shuddering breath before slowly rising and sinking back into his own seat, the gun still wavering in my general direction.


    I begin explaining what happened, carefully omitting the details of the afterlife and the visions I saw. I tell him how I woke up in Dr. Keyser¡¯s lab and watched him turn to dust right before my eyes.


    Bailey¡¯s eyes widen, and tears begin to stream down his cheeks. He lowers the gun, slumping in his seat like a punctured balloon. ¡°So¡­that¡¯s it then. Master Keyser¡¯s¡­gone.¡±


    He explains that he¡¯s here to find Dr. Keyser. He¡¯d learned the doctor was living in this area and had been searching high and low for what felt like an eternity.


    All he ever wanted was to work for Dr. Keyser. He¡¯d looked up to him since he was a child. Dr. Keyser was the one who saved his mother when no one else could.


    I offer him Dr. Keyser¡¯s notebook, practically shoving it into his hands.


    It¡¯s like giving a kid a mountain of candy.


    He pores over the pages, his brow furrowed in concentration. By the time he finishes, the rain has stopped, and the setting sun paints the sky in vibrant hues.

 Ch 3 (3/4): Suspicion

    ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re Val! Well, I¡¯ll be!¡± His eyes snap back to me, beaming with an almost unsettling mix of excitement and hope. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re his last work, then!¡±


    ¡°You can read his notes! What else does it say?!¡± I grab his arms with both hands, my excitement mirroring his own.


    ¡°Oof!¡± he yelps, his smile faltering slightly.


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡± I quickly let go, wincing.


    Whoops. Maybe a little too enthusiastic.


    Bailey rubs his arm gingerly, giving me a slightly wary look. ¡°Right. Well¡­ that last bit¡­ about you¡­ that made sense. The rest¡­ went right over my head.¡±


    I bury my face in my palms, groaning. ¡°Ugh. Why did you have such awful handwriting, Doctor? Are you even a real doctor? These letters are like a chicken scratching on parchment.¡±


    Bailey¡¯s brow furrows with worry. ¡°But¡­ you need to be careful. Keep yourself covered up. What Master Keyser did¡­ well, it isn¡¯t exactly¡­ allowed.¡±


    He explains that everything to do with creating artificial life and artificially prolonging life is forbidden by the Anunnaki, god-like beings worshipped by humans.


    Apparently, they have some pretty strict rules about playing God, which, considering they¡¯re actual gods, is probably fair enough.


    He adds that I don¡¯t look like anything else on this planet. Nothing has scales like mine, and nothing has golden eyes staring back at his own blue ones¡ªwhich, he admits, was one of the reasons he was so suspicious. Also, nothing should have made it to his door alive; all the traps were laced with poison.


    Which, you know, explained the whole screaming and gun-pointing incident.


    He was especially surprised that the poisoned food hadn¡¯t affected me. "I put enough Ionacoca in that stew to knock a Terraphanotos flat for a week with just one bite!" Bailey shakes his head in disbelief. "But it all makes sense now...knowin'' you''re one of Dr. Keyser''s...creations. That explains why the poison didn''t faze ya."


    Well, you know, he was hiding in a cave¡­ I suspected he was probably doing extremely illegal things. Especially after seeing what he did to those sea serpents.


    He makes more food, and this time he joins me at the rickety table. I tell him that, being newly created, I have absolutely no knowledge of this world. It¡¯s all brand new to me. So, as evening falls, Bailey pulls out a map. It has continents and oceans, much like Earth, but with a lot more scribbles and what look suspiciously like drawings of monster creatures scattered around the world.


    Bailey points to a large, swirling mass of blue in the middle of a continent. ¡°This is the Elemental Wilds. Like I said, no one in their right mind lives here. Too much¡­ weather. I was actually just packing up to leave myself,¡± he explains, shuddering slightly.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    I point at the many large and small yellow circles scattered across the map. ¡°Are these all cities?¡±


    ¡°Aye, cities and mines.¡± He pauses, his voice dropping to a near whisper. ¡°Now, about those two gold-looking things in your bag¡­ they aren¡¯t gold. Not exactly.¡±


    I pull out the two heavy bars and place them on the table with a satisfying thunk.


    ¡°Those are Adamantine. Dug straight from the ground of Mesoselenia, then covered in gold. They used to give ¡®em to the Anunnaki. In exchange, the Anunnaki would give folks¡­ well, knowledge. Truth. The Mesoselenians use ¡®em for other things now, but they can¡¯t dig up much of it anymore.¡± Bailey looks grimly at the bars. ¡°That¡¯s about what a big mine pulls up in two years.¡±


    I¡¯m rich! I¡¯m loaded! I can practically see the piles of gold coins shimmering in my future.


    Bailey¡¯s expression turns serious as he sees my grin. ¡°You shouldn''t go showing those to just anyone,¡± he warns, his eyes darting nervously around the hut. ¡°They''re worth¡­ more than you can possibly imagine.¡±


    Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­


    Before Bailey can elaborate, a massive earthquake interrupts us. The whole hut shudders like a leaf in a hurricane.


    We drop to the floor. Bailey dives under the table with surprising speed. Luckily, the hut is well-built, but even so, cracks spiderweb across the walls, making me wince.


    "Right then! Uh¡­ maybe¡­ maybe we should¡­ call it a night," Bailey says, crawling out from under the table, dusting himself off. He looks a little pale. I wholeheartedly agree. This whole shaking thing is getting a bit disruptive.


    Bailey quickly fashions a makeshift bed of vegetation on the floor and gestures for me to relax on it. He heads back to his bed in the vehicle outside.


    Handyman.


    I lie on the makeshift bed late into the night, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. Just as I¡¯m starting to drift off into my thoughts, another earthquake hits.


    An aftershock? More like an after-shocker.


    I head outside. Bailey is already there, looking down at the ground with a worried expression.


    "Goodness! Look at that! All that shakin¡¯ today¡­ this isn¡¯t safe. Not anymore,¡± Bailey says, gesturing towards the widening cracks spreading across the ground. They look big enough to swallow a small dog. ¡°Say¡­ would you direct me to where Master Keyser kept his¡­ cavern?¡±


    ¡°I can show you where it is. But where will you be going after?¡± Looking into the dark jungle, I notice some small creatures flitting past. They look like large fireflies, but with too many legs.


    "Well now, I can''t rightly say about that just yet. But there''s always a new pot to stir, a new road to wander, eh?" Bailey returns to the hut and starts packing with renewed urgency.


    ¡°Can I come with you?¡± I follow him inside. ¡°It¡¯s always good to have a companion, right?¡±


    Especially when the companion has nowhere to go.


    Bailey chuckles, shaking his head good-naturedly. "Just here for the grub, are we? Well, can''t say I blame ya! As long as you leave a bit for me, you''re welcome to tag along."


    I help Bailey pack until dawn. As the moons fade and the sun rises, we load everything into his vehicle¡ªa flying contraption that looks like a cross between a carriage and a dragonfly. "This little beauty set me back a pretty penny, I tell ya!" Bailey says, patting the side of the vehicle affectionately.


    We lift off and head towards the beach.

 Ch 3 (4/4): Suspicion

    After a smooth touchdown on a dry patch near the shore, Bailey gathers some leafy plants and drapes them over his dragonfly-carriage. He then proceeds to carefully set up a series of¡­ well, I¡¯m not entirely sure what they are, but they involve string, arrows, and several shiny objects. ¡°Best to be on the safe side, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± he says, giving one particularly elaborate trap a final tug. ¡°Can¡¯t be too careful out here. Besides,¡± he adds with a wink, ¡°it¡¯s the only way we¡¯re gettin¡¯ outta here!¡±


    We return to where I¡¯d hidden my submarine. Luckily, it¡¯s still nestled amongst the seaweed. I heave and ho it back into the sea, and we clamber inside, diving once more into the inky depths.


    Bailey takes the controls this time, and I quickly realize he¡¯s a much better pilot than I am. The submarine has a surprising number of functions I hadn¡¯t even discovered, including a detailed map of the seabed and an autopilot feature. With Bailey at the helm, we return to Dr. Keyser¡¯s cavern without a hitch.


    I thought I¡¯d never come back¡­ and here we are, barely a day later¡­


    Returning inside, I hold up a hand, stopping Bailey. Everything looks even more chaotic than I left it.


    Had someone been here?


    A closer look reveals the culprit: the earthquakes. They¡¯d thoroughly rattled the place. There are even more spider-webbing cracks across the floor. I flick on the lights.


    ¡°So¡­ this is where he made his home. Master Keyser¡­ he suffered a good deal here,¡± Bailey says, a slight tremor in his voice, though I wouldn''t quite call them tears.


    ¡°There isn¡¯t much up here. All his work, or what¡¯s left of it, is in the lab downstairs,¡± I say, gesturing towards the painting that conceals the hidden passage.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s¡­ by the stars¡­¡± Bailey¡¯s eyes widen, and he takes a shaky breath. ¡°That¡¯s it. The Annunaki treasure¡­¡± He stares at the painting, practically vibrating with excitement. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s the one they¡¯ve been searchin¡¯ for¡­¡±


    ¡°What now?¡± I ask, thoroughly confused. ¡°This thing is a treasure? Of the gods?!¡±


    ¡°Aye¡­ it is,¡± Bailey says. He freezes for a moment, then nods slowly. ¡°There was talk of a painting. Stolen from the Annunaki. They¡¯ve been huntin¡¯ for it for ages. Still are, I reckon.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so special about it?¡± I carefully touch the painting, taking a closer look. It just looks like a normal painting. The gold looks a little¡­ off, but that¡¯s it.


    ¡°I never knew¡­ not a thing,¡± Bailey says, moving closer and peering at the painting, even sniffing it curiously. ¡°The materials¡­ goodness. The finest you could find, I¡¯d wager. All that gold¡­ It''s mixed with Adamantine. The whole frame, the canvas itself¡­ Adamantine covered in gold. And there are other things in there too¡­ rare stones, even plants, by the looks of it.¡±


    So¡­ this Dr. Keyser is a master thief?!Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°So¡­ should we take it? We could use some coin for our travels, you know,¡± I say, smirking and rubbing my hands together.


    ¡°No¡­ no way,¡± Bailey says, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t fit in any submarine, that¡¯s for certain. And nobody¡¯s got the coin for somethin¡¯ like this. Even if they did¡­ they wouldn¡¯t dare. Not with the Annunaki still looking.¡±


    ¡°We could just, you know, take the frame and melt it down or something.¡± I try to pry a piece of the frame off with my bare hands.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ no. That isn¡¯t right. Any way to work Adamantine, to shape it or anything¡­ Those are secrets kept tighter than a drum. Once it¡¯s set in gold, it¡¯s practically indestructible¡­¡± Before Bailey can finish, my hand slips.


    The scale on the back of my hand scrapes along the frame. Sparks erupt, flying everywhere. My hair flares up, iridescent light dancing around my head like a bizarre halo.


    Hundreds of thousands of hair strands, each one apparently deciding to become a tiny explorer, poke into the painting and frame. The entire artwork shimmers, bathed in a golden glow.


    My consciousness is yanked upward, pulled into that familiar upper dimension beneath the golden sphere.


    The visions sharpen with each visit. Iridescent strings extend from beneath me into the inky blackness below, like glowing roots. Countless golden strings from the sphere intertwine with these roots, creating a dazzling web of light.


    Specks of light, a vibrant rainbow of colors, rise along the roots. A few flicker and fade, turning translucent before falling back into the darkness.


    Most of the specks, however, transform into golden motes, drawn upward by the golden strings into the sphere¡¯s warm embrace.


    As I watch, the light from the iridescent strings intensifies. The roots multiply, growing thicker and stronger. Branch-like structures sprout around me, forming a small, glowing tree that envelops me.


    Then, just as suddenly, I snap back to reality.


    Bailey stands behind me, his face ashen, still staring at the painting as if he¡¯d just seen a ghost. His jaw hangs open, easily wide enough to accommodate a grapefruit, maybe even a small melon if he really stretched.


    The painting looks¡­ decidedly less shiny. In fact, it looks rather dull.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ gone. All of it. Every last bit,¡± Bailey whispers, a shiver running down his spine.


    ¡°You mean¡­ the Adamantine in this painting¡­ is all gone?!¡± I clutch a handful of my hair, which, thankfully, promptly reverts to its usual silver. I was getting tired of the light show.


    ¡°That¡­ that was probably more Adamantine than anyone¡¯s seen in¡­ well, years. Maybe even a decade,¡± Bailey says, slowly sinking to the floor behind me, as if the weight of this revelation was too much to bear. His voice is heavy with despair.


    I join him on the floor. Misery loves company, after all.


    My disappointment¡­ is profound. I¡¯d been hoping for at least a tiny souvenir.


    A quick check of my bag, however, offers a small consolation. The two gold-plated adamantine bars are still safely tucked away.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what Master Keyser made¡­ but you¡­ you¡¯re something else entirely,¡± Bailey mutters, staring at me with wide, unfocused eyes.


    I can¡¯t exactly tell Bailey about the higher dimension and the afterlife. Some things are better kept to oneself¡­ at least for now. Explaining that would probably require a whiteboard, diagrams, and several hours, none of which I currently possess.


    We rest for a while. Bailey whips up a quick snack in the kitchen. Turns out, the ingredients aren¡¯t half bad. I¡¯m still a culinary disaster in this world, though. My attempts at cooking usually result in something resembling charcoal or a science experiment gone wrong.


    Back in the lab, it¡¯s still the chaotic mess I¡¯d left it in.

 Ch 4 (1/4): Subterranean

    We approach the corner where Dr. Keyser¡¯s dust lies.


    Bailey crumples to his knees, a choked sob escaping him. ¡°Master Keyser¡­ I finally found you¡­ after all this time¡­¡± His voice cracks, tears streaming down his face. ¡°But¡­ you¡¯re¡­ gone¡­¡± He buries his face in his hands. He looks utterly heartbroken.


    I stay with Bailey for a long while. Eventually, the worst of his grief subsides, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.


    You will see him again¡­ eventually¡­ I think, though I keep the thought to myself. Death is a tricky subject, especially when you¡¯ve glimpsed what might lie beyond.


    Bailey carefully gathers all the dust into a prepared vase. He carries the vase to a secluded corner, digs a small hole, and gently places it inside. ¡°Rest easy, Master¡­ Thank you¡­ for everything,¡± he whispers, his voice thick with emotion.


    After everything, Bailey and I survey the wreckage of broken machinery. ¡°Blimey,¡± Bailey says, shaking his head in astonishment. ¡°This is something else entirely. This technology¡­ it¡¯s far beyond anything I¡¯ve ever encountered.¡± He looks around, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and bewilderment.


    I show him a couple of books that had been indecipherable before. The strange symbols now seem to shimmer slightly, as if eager to be read.


    ¡°These look like Mesoselenian. If I¡¯m not mistaken¡­ they might be about magic,¡± Bailey says, running his fingers lightly across the texts. He peers at the pages, his brow furrowed in concentration. ¡°Definitely not your run-of-the-mill instruction manuals.


    ¡°What is magic in this world?¡± I ask, the question finally bubbling to the surface. Bailey had mentioned it before, and the thought keeps nagging at me: maybe magic is the key to getting my consciousness unstuck from this body.


    Bailey explains that humans are magically inept. Stone cold zero. Zilch. The Mesoselenians, on the other hand, can wiggle their fingers and produce some minor magical effects using adamantine. Which, he adds, is precisely why they¡¯re kept far, far away from any adamantine mines.


    Apparently, their magic is fairly basic¡ªphysical enhancements, a bit of elemental fiddling¡ªnothing that even comes close to what human technology can do these days.


    With adamantine being rarer than gold and more valuable than, well, pretty much everything, even the Mesoselenians mostly stick to human tech. They¡¯re even starting to branch out and make their own technological advancements, which they generously share with humans. Magic is only trotted out for special occasions¡ªtraditional ceremonies, dire emergencies, and the like.


    The Annunaki, though¡­ Apparently, they¡¯re the real deal. They¡¯re the only ones who can truly wield magic. Although Bailey¡¯s never seen it firsthand, legends paint a picture of feats that bend, break, and outright ignore the laws of physics and reality.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°What you can do¡­¡± Bailey says, his brow furrowing with concern. ¡°It isn¡¯t something you see every day. It goes against¡­ well, everything. The Annunaki¡­ they wouldn¡¯t take kindly to something like that. They might¡­ want to take a very close look,¡± he adds, his voice laced with worry.


    Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­ Rumble¡­


    Another earthquake hits, and this one¡¯s a doozy. The cracks in the ground widen into gaping chasms.


    ¡°RUN!¡± I yell, grabbing Bailey by the arm and hauling him towards the gate. We¡¯re almost there when the ground beneath us decides to stage a disappearing act.


    This stupid isekai! Seriously? Talk about a clich¨¦ plot line!


    ¡°Ahhhh!!!!!!¡± We¡¯re suddenly weightless, plummeting into the abyss.


    Normally in novels, there¡¯d be a conveniently placed lake or something to cushion our fall.


    I glance down. Nope. Just solid rock rushing up to meet us. I yank the screaming Bailey closer, pulling him on top of me. I¡¯m not sure how much fall damage I¡¯d take, but I¡¯m fairly certain Bailey won¡¯t survive this without some¡­ emergency cushioning.


    I hug him close. The instant before impact, I push Bailey upwards with every ounce of strength in my hands and feet. My body slams into the unforgiving rock below.


    Crash!


    I land squarely on my back, creating a small crater. Yet, still no pain. And I¡¯m still conscious.


    Huh. That was a weird experience.


    Bailey flies up a short distance before landing on his stomach with a soft oof. He¡¯s not badly injured, just fainted from the sheer terror of it all. I grab him by the torso and scramble to the side, dodging the rocks raining down around us. The earthquake finally stops.


    I lean against a wall, cursing internally. All that, and not a single scratch. Even the rocks crumble to dust when they land.


    What gives? Seriously, this is getting ridiculous.


    After a moment, Bailey¡¯s eyelids flutter open.


    ¡°That was¡­ close,¡± I say, helping him sit up a little.


    ¡°Thank¡­ thank you¡­ I¡­ I truly thought¡­ that was it¡­¡± Bailey gasps, clutching his chest. His hands tremble. ¡°How¡­ how did you¡­? My life¡­ I¡­ I owe you¡­ I don¡¯t know how I can ever repay you¡­ thank you¡­¡±


    It takes him a while to recover. He¡¯s understandably shaken by the near-death experience.


    I pat him on the shoulder. ¡°I could really go for a good meal when we¡¯re out of here.¡±


    Pushing myself to my feet, I glance back up the way we fell. ¡°Yeah, that was a pretty rough landing. Glad that¡¯s over.¡±


    Once Bailey¡¯s finally over the worst of the shock, he pulls out a handheld device. A bright light illuminates the area.


    ¡°We¡¯re¡­ a good few hundred meters down, at least. The air¡¯s breathable, thankfully,¡± Bailey says, his hand steady as he points the small device around the chamber.


    ¡°There¡¯s gotta be a way out. Just¡­ hoping we don¡¯t get another one of those shakes.¡± He nods towards a faint draft. ¡°Seems like the air¡¯s movin¡¯ this way. Let¡¯s head that direction.¡±


    Is he Doraemon? Come to think of it, he kinda looks like him too.


    I trail closely behind Bailey. ¡°Cool gadgets. You wouldn¡¯t happen to have a flying drone to scope this place out?¡±


    ¡°I ain¡¯t got the coin for somethin¡¯ that fancy, that¡¯s for sure. But I wasn¡¯t intendin¡¯ to end up as critter feed out here, so I took a few precautions. Glad nothin¡¯ got smashed in that tumble.¡± Bailey leads us forward, and a blue glow suddenly spills out from ahead.


    Up close, the glow emanates from a substance coating a large patch of the cave floor.


    It looks like someone spilled a bucket of luminescent goo.

 Ch 4 (2/4): Subterranean

    ¡°What¡¯s that stuff?¡± I ask Bailey.


    ¡°Never seen nothin¡¯ like this before. Never been this far underground neither.¡± Bailey kneels to examine the glowing substance.


    ¡°I guess there¡¯s a first for everything.¡± I poke it with my boot. The substance feels like clay and doesn¡¯t smell of anything. ¡°Well, let¡¯s keep going then.¡±


    Bailey nods, and we skirt around the glowing patch. We continue until we reach a large opening in the wall. Bailey points. ¡°There¡¯s a draft comin¡¯ from here. And it¡¯s fresh air, too.¡±


    The opening leads into a tunnel, quite different from the cave we were just in. Bailey stops at the entrance. ¡°Looks like someone dug this out.¡±


    I drag my fingers across some unusual, shallow markings on the walls. ¡°Probably a long time ago. We should keep moving, before another earthquake hits.¡±


    ¡°Aye, if we get another shake like that, we could be stuck down here for a good while,¡± Bailey says, hurrying into the opening. I follow close behind.


    Those markings definitely look like they¡¯re made by pickaxes and chisels. Someone dug this a long, long time ago. The markings are almost completely weathered away.


    Something else feels off. It¡¯s too quiet. Besides the occasional drip of water and Bailey¡¯s heavy breathing, there¡¯s nothing. No small creatures, not even bugs. It¡¯s like a subterranean library, except instead of books, we have rocks. Quiet, dusty rocks.


    ¡°Are we going deeper?¡± I ask. I feel like we¡¯re constantly moving downwards.


    Bailey glances at his device. ¡°Aye, goin¡¯ deeper underground, it seems.¡±


    I stop. ¡°Why would the exit be deeper underground?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t rightly know, but it¡¯s where that fresh air¡¯s comin¡¯ from.¡± Bailey points at his device.


    Suddenly, a loud alarm blares from Bailey¡¯s device. ¡°Oh no¡­¡± Bailey quickly drops his bag, pulls out a mask, and tries to shove it onto my face.


    ¡°What are you doing? What¡¯s happening?!¡± I try to fend him off.


    ¡°Get it on! Quick! The air¡¯s goin¡¯ bad! We ain¡¯t got much time!¡± Bailey yells as the alarm blares.


    I yank the mask off. ¡°Where¡¯s yours?!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m fine. Just¡­¡± Bailey stammers.


    ¡°No time to explain! I¡¯m immune,¡± I interrupt, swiftly forcing the mask onto his face and adjusting the straps.


    A thick blue smog instantly fills the cave. The alarm screams. ¡°Which way?!¡± I shout at Bailey.


    He¡¯s frozen, eyes wide, clearly struggling to process the sudden toxic atmosphere. ¡°Which way?!¡± I repeat, louder.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Bailey flinches, snaps back to reality, frantically waves his device around, before finally pointing down a tunnel. I grab Bailey¡¯s bag in one hand and his arm in the other, and we bolt. After a frantic couple of minutes, the tunnel opens into a larger cavern. The alarm on Bailey¡¯s device mercifully cuts out.


    ¡°By the stars¡­I¡­I almost¡­that was it¡­¡± Bailey stares at me, eyes still wide with shock. ¡°Just¡­how¡­? You¡¯re¡­You¡¯re fine?¡±


    ¡°I am Val, a perfect homunculus created by your dear Master Keyser,¡± I announce with a grin.


    I place my hands on Bailey¡¯s shoulders, lean in close, and fix him with a serious look. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare risk your life for mine ever again! I don¡¯t want your death on my conscience.¡±


    Bailey freezes, stammering. ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m so sorry. I was just¡­¡±


    ¡°I know you were trying to save me. I know you feel indebted from before. But you don¡¯t owe me anything. I saved you because I need you, and I need you alive!¡± I say firmly.


    Bailey¡¯s eyes well up with tears. ¡°I didn¡¯t think¡­I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d care, not after¡­well, after I tried to¡­you know. Especially considering we only just met.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mind you trying to poison me. I totally understand. I was a complete stranger who showed up at your door, after all,¡± I say with a shrug.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t explain everything right now, just remember I am Val. I am Dr. Keyser¡¯s perfect creation. I am not going to die easily,¡± I tell Bailey, giving his shoulders a reassuring pat. He manages a relieved smile.


    Geez¡­ If we¡¯re going to be traveling together for a bit, he can¡¯t keep interrupting my plans to return to the afterlife.


    Bailey shuffles forward a bit, finding a decent spot to rest. ¡°So, what was that smog?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell ya what it was, but this little gadget said it was nasty stuff,¡± Bailey replies, holding up his device.


    After fiddling with it myself, I ask, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it tell you what it detected?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t build the thing myself, mind you, but it seems to do the trick. That blue fog nearly got the better of us. I got a snout full of it, and I tell ya, it felt like my lungs were on fire!¡± Bailey says, snatching the device back.


    ¡°Okay, I guess your money was well spent. Saved your life.¡±


    ¡°Aye, worth every coin!¡± Bailey says, chuckling. He rummages through his bag and tosses me some food.


    At this point, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he pulled out a time machine.


    As we rested, small critters scurried past, some familiar. ¡°These little fellas are bottom feeders,¡± Bailey explained. ¡°They¡¯ll eat just about anything that¡¯s gone to the great beyond around here. Harmless, they are. Unless you¡¯re already six feet under, that is!¡±


    We hadn¡¯t seen any of these in the previous tunnel or cave. This place should be safer. ¡°What else have you got in that bag of yours?¡± I asked, my curiosity piqued. ¡°Any other cool gadgets?¡±


    Bailey opened his bag, revealing its contents: a bewildering assortment of spices, herbs, and other paraphernalia. I stared, speechless. ¡°Why do you carry so much of this stuff?!¡±


    ¡°These are my most prized possessions,¡± Bailey explained. ¡°Traveled the world to find ¡®em all. All so I could cook up a good meal for Master Keyser. Shame he¡¯s¡­¡± He trailed off, gesturing to the items. Most were spices and dried herbs, some clearly poisonous, others rare and exquisite. A few bottles of medicine were tucked in amongst them.


    Well, I guess there¡¯s no time machine after all.


    After our short break, we got up and kept moving. And there it was¡ªlight! We had to be close! Bailey and I rushed forward, blissfully unaware. It wasn¡¯t sunlight. Nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to see.

 Ch 4 (3/4): Subterranean

    We emerged into a massive cavern. The light came from enormous, glowing crystals sprouting from the ceiling hundreds of meters above, illuminating the entire space. Below them lay a vast, abandoned city, completely overgrown with vegetation.


    ¡°How deep are we?¡± I ask, staring at the sight.


    ¡°Near about four hundred meters down¡­¡± Bailey reads from his device.


    Maybe it¡¯s just an isekai thing, I think. ¡°Who lives this far underground?¡±


    ¡°Not that I¡¯ve ever heard of¡­¡± Bailey racks his memory.


    ¡°Do you feel hot or anything?¡± I ask. Usually, it¡¯d be sweltering this deep down.


    Bailey wipes his sweaty palms. ¡°I¡¯m sweating like a hog, but it ain¡¯t the heat. Should we take a gander? That fresh air¡¯s gotta be coming from somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded, and we headed down into the city.


    Everything looks frozen in time. The plants haven¡¯t damaged the structures at all; it¡¯s like someone¡¯s been meticulously pruning them.


    It¡¯s almost¡­too perfect.


    Bailey looked intensely interested in the vegetation. ¡°Do you recognize these plants?¡± I asked.


    He plucked a bit, examined it closely, and then took a cautious nibble. ¡°They look familiar, alright, but¡­not quite the same as any I¡¯ve seen before.¡± He chewed thoughtfully. ¡°Tastes familiar, too.¡±


    ¡°These are edible?¡± I picked a few and tasted them. I promptly spat them out. They were horrendous.


    ¡°Well, they¡¯re not exactly a five-star meal on their own,¡± Bailey says with a grin. ¡°Though with the right seasonings¡­¡± He trails off, eyes gleaming as he imagines the possibilities.


    He explains that the plants resemble surface crops¡ªthe stuff Mesoselenians grow for food. However, they all look and taste slightly different.


    At least Bailey won¡¯t starve anytime soon. He¡¯ll probably just spend the next few hours trying to figure out how to make a gourmet meal out of this weird, subterranean salad.


    We entered a few homes. They were empty, but it looked like the occupants had left in a hurry. Broken pots and pans littered the floors.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Bailey tripped on something, somehow managing to keep his balance. The object that tripped him turned out to be the city¡¯s first resident¡ªor at least, part of one. A couple of long bones lay bare on the ground.


    ¡°Whose bones are these?¡± I ask.


    ¡°These look like Mesoselenian bones, but¡­they¡¯re not quite the same.¡± Bailey points to the bone¡¯s width, considerably thicker than any Mesoselenian he¡¯s seen.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°Okay, I have a theory.¡± I declare. ¡°This is a city belonging to ancient Mesoselenians¡ªa large group that lived here underground, isolated from the rest of the world. They abandoned it for some reason, and this is what¡¯s left.¡± Bailey¡¯s still examining the bones and plants, completely absorbed.


    ¡°Aye, fascinating indeed¡­This is something else entirely. Never seen or heard of anything like it,¡± he mutters, his gaze sweeping over the scene.


    The ground suddenly lurches¡ªanother quake? Before I can grab Bailey, hundreds of small heads erupt from the earth. Heads that resemble cicadas, only these are colossal. Time to bolt!


    I snatch Bailey by the torso again and leap onto a nearby building. More and more heads emerge¡ªthousands, millions¡­ They begin munching on the vegetation, devouring the plants in a wave of clicking mandibles.


    ¡°These are¡­Kavriades!¡± Bailey exclaims, utterly fascinated. ¡°But¡­so many of ¡®em? And look at the size of ¡®em! They¡¯re plant-eaters, though, so no need to fret.¡±


    Trypophobia much!


    After devouring almost all the vegetation they¡¯d gathered on the ground for what appeared to be some strange ritual¡ªa mating ritual, it turned out¡ªit became clear they were the ones responsible for ¡°pruning¡± this place.


    ¡°We should keep moving,¡± I said to Bailey, but he was already halfway down the building.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± I hissed, scrambling to reach him.


    ¡°Give me a hand!¡± he whispered back.


    Did he have some weird fetish?


    ¡°Kavriades only mate once every ten years, you know. Their eggs are rarer than gold¡­and delicious! They call ¡®em green caviar. I had just a wee taste once¡­never forgot it,¡± Bailey explained, seeing my bewildered and slightly disgusted expression.


    ¡°Say no more, let¡¯s get some¡­¡± I muttered, following him down.


    Admittingly, I¡¯m a sucker for good food, I couldn¡¯t resist the allure of a delicacy so rare and supposedly delicious.


    ¡°Why are we sneaking around? Shouldn¡¯t we let them finish and come back later?¡± I whispered, tiptoeing closer.


    ¡°Once the egg¡¯s is laid, we have very little time before it gets fertilized. Once fertilized, they are no good anymore,¡± Bailey said, pulling a massive jar out of his bag.


    Where did he even get that?!


    We crept closer. Just as I was about to grab one, Bailey stopped me.  "We can''t touch ''em! If we spook ''em, they''ll spray somethin'' awful. That''ll warn the whole lot of ''em. Then we''re in real trouble!"


    Bailey got down on all fours, crawling slowly across the ground¡ªor as slowly as his rather round frame allowed. He positioned the jar near a Kavriades¡¯ backside, and out it came. Bailey swiftly pulled the jar away before the creature finished, collecting only a small portion. He moved on to the next one, and the next. In no time, he¡¯d quietly filled the entire jar with the green, caviar-like eggs.


    He then produced a smaller jar, refilled it with practiced ease, and quietly returned. He handed me the jar, pointed towards a nearby building, and whispered, ¡°Best be movin¡¯ along.¡±


    We reached the rooftop without incident. ¡°Phew,¡± Bailey breathed, visibly relieved. I grinned and popped open the jar for a sniff. It smelled faintly of the sea. Bailey then produced a rather ornate-looking spoon ¨C where did he keep pulling these things from? ¨C and scooped up a small portion for each of us.


    We placed the spoonfuls on our tongues, and a wave of salty, savory, and subtly sweet flavors washed over us. As I gently bit down on the tiny, glistening pearls, they burst with a sweet tang of wine and a delicate hint of seafood.


    It was¡­ incredible.


    Lost in the delightful taste of this ¡°green caviar,¡± we were oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere. An eerie silence descended. I glanced down and saw that the tens of millions of Kavriades had all turned their gaze directly towards us. Every single one of them.

 Ch 4 (4/4): Subterranean

    I nudged Bailey, who was still happily licking his spoon. ¡°You think they know we¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Who¡­? What¡¯s that?¡± Bailey blinked, finally pulling his attention away from the spoon. He followed my gaze and looked down the side of the building. The Kavriades¡¯ eyes burned with an unsettling intensity.


    It is like being stared at by a living, breathing, multi-eyed ocean.


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just looking at something else. We should probably go,¡± I suggested, already moving towards the other side of the roof. ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t think they know we just ate their unfertilized¡­ you know¡­¡± I trailed off, not wanting to say it out loud.


    ¡°They shouldn¡¯t¡­ we¡¯re a good distance off. They didn¡¯t even react when I took them,¡± Bailey says, glancing nervously around. ¡°Unless¡­¡± He trails off, hurrying to catch up. He peers over the edge.


    We¡¯re surrounded. Millions of eyes stare back at us. Suddenly, a low rumble echoes through the air as the Kavriades unfurl their wings. The entire swarm begins to rise, a living wave surging up the side of the building.


    ¡°You never mentioned they could fly!¡± I exclaim, my voice rising in pitch.


    I grab Bailey by his bag and the scruff of his neck, leaping from one rooftop to the next. We sprint towards the largest building in the city, the Kavriades pursuing us like a relentless, buzzing tide, rapidly closing the distance.


    ¡°What do we do?!¡± I yell, Bailey dangling precariously in my grasp.


    ¡°Hold on tight! Don¡¯t let go!¡± Bailey yells back. ¡°Aaaagh!¡±


    We reached the largest building, and I dropped Bailey unceremoniously onto the ground. ¡°This way!¡± I shouted, pointing towards a nearby door. We burst inside and slammed the door shut behind us, bracing against it with all our might. We could feel the Kavriades slamming against the door in relentless waves. It''s like they''re trying to turn the door into pulp.


    ¡°I thought they only ate plants!¡± I exclaimed.


    ¡°Just because they eat plants doesn¡¯t mean they can¡¯t squash us flat!¡± Bailey retorts, his eyes wide.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s gonna get squashed! Are they afraid of anything?!¡± I ask, panicking.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve no idea!¡± Bailey replies, his voice laced with despair.


    ¡°Give me that small jar!¡± I demand. Bailey shoves the container of tiny green pearls into my hand. ¡°You go first! Get deeper inside, find a hiding spot. I¡¯ll lure them away. I¡¯ll be fine!¡± I toss my bag aside and yell, ¡°GO!¡±


    Bailey glanced back one last time before scrambling inside and slamming the doors behind him.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Alright, let¡¯s see if these overgrown grasshoppers can catch me.


    I popped the jar of caviar-like pearls into my mouth. Heavenly¡­ I timed it perfectly, waiting for the lull after a particularly enthusiastic wave of slams against the door. Then, I burst back outside.


    ¡°Come and get it, you overgrown salad munchers!¡± I shouted, a bit of green ooze still clinging to my lips. ¡°Seconds are served!¡±


    I leaped to a neighboring rooftop. The massive swarm followed, a buzzing, rumbling, biting, ripping mass of green fury. They swarmed around me as I stood perfectly still, like some sort of statue.


    Nothing. Still nothing¡­ no feeling, no pain¡­ absolutely nothing. Huh. Well, that¡¯s¡­ anticlimactic.


    Disappointed, I decided this was the perfect opportunity to test this body¡¯s limits. If I couldn¡¯t feel them, might as well see what I could do.


    I closed my eyes, focusing my mind. Images of every anime and kung fu movie I¡¯d ever seen flashed through my head. From explosive energy blasts to gravity-defying leaps, my brain was a whirlwind of awesome fight scenes.


    I couldn¡¯t use magic, unfortunately, but plenty of my favorite anime didn¡¯t rely on it. A certain bushy-browed sensei and his insane taijutsu sprang to mind. If he could do it, surely I could give it a try.


    With epic background music playing in my head ¨C something suitably dramatic with lots of chanting ¨C I prepared for a limit test. This time, my focus was solely on speed and accuracy. Killing these bugs wasn¡¯t exactly difficult; a solid hit to the head did the trick. The problem was doing it while being swarmed.


    I focused my vision on one creature at a time. My enhanced reaction time and reflexes made everything seem to slow to a crawl. The Kavriades¡¯ movements became sluggish, almost dreamlike. With pinpoint precision, I began systematically punching through their heads.


    I threw punches as fast as I could, my fists extending and retracting like pistons, ripping through the air with whip-like cracks. The heads of the bugs I hit, and even a few unfortunate souls behind them, exploded in little bursts of green goo before my fist even connected.


    My fists blur, becoming little more than afterimages, and I¡¯m pretty sure the air around them is shimmering from the friction. I must be breaking the sound barrier, which is¡­ undeniably awesome.


    ¡°Asakujaku!¡± I roar, my middle school syndrome making a triumphant, if slightly embarrassing, return.


    I¡¯m so glad Bailey isn¡¯t around to see this. Although¡­ strangely enough, despite the sheer number of bugs I¡¯ve pulped, my hair hasn¡¯t even flickered.


    Then, I smell burning smoke, followed by a sudden burst of bright light that blasts through the swarm.


    Whoa¡­ definitely not me¡­


    "Run!" Bailey¡¯s voice cuts through the air. A couple of flaming Molotov cocktails arc through the air and explode amongst the bugs, sending them scattering.


    The flames roar, temporarily clearing the area around me. Through the thick smoke, I scramble back to Bailey, and we bolt back indoors. The creatures don¡¯t seem keen on pursuing us into the building anymore.


    I turn to Bailey, a worried frown creasing my brow. ¡°I told you to run! What if they came back for you?!¡±


    "I...I think...I seem to recall they weren''t too fond of fire," Bailey mumbles softly, looking a little downcast.


    Seeing his crestfallen expression, I instantly regret my harsh tone. ¡°Hey, no, it¡¯s¡­ thanks,¡± I say, softening my voice. I walk past Bailey, grabbing my bag and changing into some fresh clothes.


    ¡°Come on, buddy. This place looks like some kind of important building. Let¡¯s check it out,¡± I say, turning back to Bailey with a reassuring smile.


    Bailey¡¯s face lights up. "I''m comin''! I''m comin''!" he chirps, hurrying forward with a wide grin. We enter the building.

 Ch 5 (1/5): Elements

    This place reeks of ritual¡­ The walls are covered in carvings. It¡¯s incredibly dark inside. Bailey uses his device and a flashlight to examine the walls. ¡°Do you know who carved these?¡± I ask.


    "Likely carved by the old Mesoselenians, I reckon," Bailey replies after a closer look.


    "What do you think these carvings depict?" I asked Bailey, curious about the strange symbols and figures etched into the walls.


    "Haven''t the foggiest about that bit," Bailey says with a shake of his head.


    We make our way down the building. Thankfully, the stairs are still intact. The rooms are remarkably well preserved, but completely empty and coated in dust. Each room is tiny. There must be hundreds of them.


    They emptied everything before leaving. These living conditions¡­ It¡¯s like they were living in jail cells.


    On the ground floor looms a massive door. We carefully push it open, a cloud of dust billowing out to greet us. Thankfully, Bailey¡¯s gadget doesn¡¯t trigger any alarms. A colossal statue stands solemnly in the center of the room.


    "Right then, I''m certain now. This city''s ancient Mesoselenian, through and through," Bailey declares, pointing at the statue.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­?¡± I murmur, awestruck by the sheer size of the statue and its intricate details.


    Bailey explains that the Mesoselenians believed in reincarnation after death, and this is a statue of their deity. Legend says this deity purifies the soul after death and returns it to this world. They call it Nyotha, which translates to Purity.


    ¡°Their deity is a tree?¡± I mutter, staring at the massive tree-shaped statue.


    We circle the statue. An altar stands in each of the four corners of the room.


    Sssss¡­Sss¡­Ssssss


    ¡°Listen¡­ something¡¯s here,¡± I whisper, nudging Bailey.


    Bailey sidles up beside me, his gun already drawn. "Where? I don''t see a bloomin'' thing." He scans the room, his eyes darting around.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s underground.¡± I drop to the floor and press my ear against the cold stone.


    Sssss¡­Sss¡­Ssssss


    ¡°It¡¯s below us, quite a ways down.¡± I pull back my fist, ready to give the floor a good whack.


    "Whoa there! Steady on! This place is worth more than all the gold in the world!" Bailey yelps, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. "We''re not knockin'' down some old historical place, are we?"


    We stand up, dusting ourselves off. ¡°Right, then,¡± I say. ¡°Let¡¯s look for a switch, or a hidden door. You know, the usual.¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    All the isekai novels I¡¯ve devoured practically scream that a place like this has to have a secret passage or room hidden somewhere. It¡¯s practically a rule.


    We start searching. I try to budge one of the altars, but it''s like trying to move a mountain. They¡¯re absolutely immovable. I examine them more closely. The ground around them looks a bit¡­ off. I wipe away the thick layer of dust. There¡¯s a distinct tile directly beneath each altar.


    I press down hard on one altar. It sinks slightly. ¡°Bailey! I think I found something!¡± I call out. We try pressing on all the altars individually. They all depress a little under the pressure.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try all four at once,¡± I suggest. We improvise, using Bailey¡¯s hefty backpack on one altar, a large, conveniently placed stone on another, and we each press down on the remaining two.


    Click¡­ whoosh¡­ whoosh¡­ whoosh¡­ whoosh


    Arrows shoot out from all four directions¡­


    ¡°BAILEY!!!¡±


    I charged towards Bailey, momentarily forgetting a cardinal rule of adventuring¡ªtraps! How could I be so dense? It¡¯s practically a trope in every novel!


    Bailey scrambled to his feet. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?!¡± I checked him over for injuries, my hands fluttering across his limbs.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright, I¡¯m alright!" Bailey said, trying to sound calm but his voice still trembling slightly. ¡°Remember, I build traps for a living. These little things are nothing!¡± Bailey puffed out his chest, a wide grin spreading across his face.


    The arrows, embedded deep in the stone walls, were a testament to their force. Yet, miraculously, neither Bailey nor his bag had suffered a scratch. These arrows could pierce stone, but bounced right off them.


    ¡°What is your bag and cloth made of? Dragon scales?¡± I asked, genuinely curious. They looked like ordinary leather.


    ¡°Now this is something special!¡± He patted his bag proudly. ¡°They say this stuff¡¯s tougher than nails, stronger than any iron you¡¯ve ever seen. Woven from some kind of critter¡¯s silk, they say. And I¡¯ll be, they weren¡¯t exaggerating!¡±


    ¡°I reckon there¡¯s a certain way things are meant to go on each table. Certain items, certain weights, I¡¯d wager,¡± Bailey mused, beginning his search.


    I dusted off a nearby table. Each one, I noticed, had a subtle but distinct indentation.


    We circled the hall, scanning for ritualistic items or anything of use. We came up empty. Had everything been removed when the place was abandoned?


    ¡°Maybe we should just leave,¡± I suggested, disheartened. ¡°Whatever¡¯s underneath probably isn¡¯t that important. It might even be empty.¡±


    ¡°Might be nothing inside, might be something interesting. We won¡¯t know until we have a peek. I¡¯m dying to see what¡¯s underneath. A bit of adventure never hurt nobody, right?¡± Bailey chuckled.


    Turning my thoughts to the mechanism, I asked Bailey, ¡°Do you know anything special about the Mesoselenians? Anything symbolic or ritualistic?¡±


    ¡°Nothing too specific, really. They used Adamantine for their rituals, and they were big on¡­ well, Nyotha,¡± Bailey replied.


    A spark ignited in my mind. I rummaged in my bag, pulling out one of the adamantine bars and placing it on the altar. It slotted perfectly into the indentation. The altar slowly sank a fraction.


    Did Dr. Keyser know about this place? Maybe he came here before and robbed it clean.


    I marked the altar¡¯s descent and placed stones on it until it reached the same depth. Then, I moved to the next altar and repeated the process. One by one, they sank. Finally, we reached the last one. I told Bailey to wait outside, just in case there were any more nasty surprises lurking.


    As the last altar clicked into place, the hall rumbled, and dust rained down from the walls. The massive statue began to descend, revealing a spiral staircase in the newly formed hole.


    These people really had a thing for digging¡­

 Ch 5 (2/5): Elements

    I called Bailey back in. ¡°Anything amiss down there?¡±


    Bailey pointed his device near the entrance. The alarm remained silent. ¡°Should be alright¡­ for me, at least,¡± he replied.


    We descended the stairs. The place was so clean, it was almost eerie. It was as if someone had just finished cleaning it, but who would clean a place like this? And why? I took a deep breath. The air was still and stale, as if it hadn''t been breathed in for centuries. It was like stepping into a time capsule, a moment frozen in time.


    I stopped Bailey. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this seem a little¡­ suspicious? This place is way too pristine for somewhere abandoned for possibly thousands of years.¡±


    "Aye, we''re all good here. I''m tougher than I look! Let''s not waste any time, shall we?" Bailey said enthusiastically.


    ¡°There might be traps,¡± I said, a little worried.


    "Don''t you fret, I''ll look after myself. Regular traps ain''t no bother to me. Poison gas, though...that''s a different kettle of fish. I''ll keep this little beauty handy." Bailey said, holding up the device.


    Sssss¡­ Sssssss


    A flash of gold zipped across our feet. I instantly stepped on it.


    We both knelt down. A small, gold, slug-like creature wiggled and screeched under my boot.


    ¡°Any idea what this is?¡± I asked, gingerly holding the squirming creature out to Bailey.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be! Never seen anything quite like it. This place is crawling with all sorts of oddities¡­¡± Bailey crouched down for a closer look, his brow furrowed. ¡°Now, there¡¯s something familiar about this one. Reminds me of a Geodyte, the kind you find in the mines. But these are far too small. Even the young¡¯uns are about an arm¡¯s length. And the color¡­ they¡¯re usually a greenish-blue, like copper left out in the rain.¡±


    ¡°Ewww,¡± the image of an arm-sized, slimy slug flashed through my mind, making me shudder.


    ¡°Are they dangerous? I have a feeling there are a lot more of these,¡± I asked Bailey, glancing around nervously.


    ¡°Geodytes are dangerous because of how big they get¡ªsome of ¡®em can grow as big as a small house. They ain¡¯t venomous, though, so this little fella¡¯s nothing to worry about,¡± Bailey reassured me, continuing his examination.


    ¡°Size of a small house?¡± A shiver ran down my spine. I really hoped we didn¡¯t run into any of those.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Suddenly, the small creature glowed, and a ball of blue lightning erupted from its body. I instinctively cupped it in my hands. Lightning sparked out between my fingers, followed by a puff of smoke, then¡­ nothing.


    For the first time, I felt a tingling sensation in my palms, like pins and needles. Carefully, I opened my hands. The lifeless creature lay there, its vibrant gold now a dull, dark brown, as if it had been overcooked.


    ¡°And that?¡± I looked at Bailey, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°That¡­ that¡¯s magic!¡± Bailey stared, eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°Creatures don¡¯t¡­ they don¡¯t use magic. Ever.¡±


    ¡°You mean that was magic? As in, real magic?¡± I was thoroughly confused. ¡°I thought you said the Annunaki were the only ones who could use real magic.¡±


    ¡°This¡­ this is like Mesoselenian magic. That was¡­ lightning magic. There are other kinds, but¡­ that¡­ that shouldn¡¯t be¡­¡± Bailey shook his head, bewildered.


    This is getting weirder and weirder.


    ¡°We should really be extra careful here then¡­ if these things can use magic¡­¡± I warned him.


    We continued down, encountering even more of the little critters. When we finally reached the bottom, a tunneling passage yawned open before us.


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s the way we¡¯re going then,¡± I muttered.


    We trudged deeper into the secret passage until we reached the end. A massive door, easily ten feet tall, blocked our path. Bailey and I pushed with all our might, but it wouldn¡¯t budge an inch.


    I braced myself for some kind of trap.


    This was the point in every adventure novel where life-threatening danger usually popped out to say hello.


    ¡°Bailey, back up as far as you can without losing sight of me,¡± I instructed.


    I examined the door. There was a slot-like space on its surface. And wouldn¡¯t you know it, it was the exact same shape as one of my adamantine bars.


    Talk about convenience.


    I inserted the bar into the slot, and the entire door lit up with a soft blue glow before swinging smoothly inward. I quickly retrieved the bar and tucked it back into my bag.


    My precious¡­


    Sssss¡­ssss¡­Sssss


    As the door creaked open, a swarm of tiny gold slugs, looking like miniature, slimy ingots, scurried across the floor, disappearing into every nook and cranny in the walls. They were fast.


    I held up Bailey¡¯s device. The alarm remained quiet. Peering inside, I saw nothing out of the ordinary¡ªso far. I waved Bailey over.


    ¡°Ready?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Bailey replied, hefting the gun.


    We cautiously stepped through the doorway. Another grand hall stretched before us, easily twice the size of the last one. Torches lined the walls, unlit. Bailey snatched one and lit it from a nearby sconce.


    In the flickering light, the hall¡¯s walls came to life with beautiful paintings. Bailey and I began lighting all the torches, one by painstaking one.


    When we finished, the magnificent artwork stood revealed in all its former glory. The paintings depicted an ancient tale from eons past, a story that seemed to unfold across the walls. We began to carefully examine them.

 Ch 5 (3/5): Elements

    The land in the paintings teems with life¡ªfertile fields overflow with crops under a bright sun. The tiefling-like people live in harmony, farming, hunting, fishing, and mining. A peaceful, idyllic existence.


    Until one fateful night, a celestial event unlike any other unfolds. A giant red moon, a celestial anomaly, emerges from the darkness, casting an ominous glow upon the land. The people, accustomed to the familiar moon, are filled with awe and trepidation as they witness this extraordinary sight.


    ¡°Wait a sec¡­ this planet didn¡¯t always have two moons?!¡± I exclaim, turning to Bailey.


    ¡°Not that I know of¡­ never heard tell of such a thing,¡± Bailey replies, scratching his head. "And these folks don''t look much like Mesoselenians, neither."


    The massive new red moon casts an eerie glow, and then¡­ the floods. Massive waves of water wash over the land, depicted in vivid detail on the walls. Everything is swept away¡ªhouses, fields, even trees. The daily flooding comes and goes, again and again, the paintings showing the relentless cycle.


    The ancient tribes, desperate, flee to the mountaintops, the paintings showing tiny figures scrambling up steep slopes. One group finds a large cavern high on a mountain, extending deep inside. With nowhere else to go, they venture into the darkness.


    The paintings depict their struggles in stark imagery¡ªfigures huddled together in the dark, some fading away, symbolizing those who perished. There are scenes of what look like¡­ sacrifices. Grim stuff. But then, fortune smiles upon them¡ªa massive deposit of adamantine is revealed in the cavern walls, depicted as shimmering veins of metallic ore.


    Using their knowledge of magic and the adamantine, they not only survive underground but thrive. The paintings shift to show the construction of a magnificent underground city, glowing with magical light. This temple, the very one we stand in, is depicted being built in honor of their deity, Nyotha, whom they believed had granted them this chance of survival.


    ¡°So¡­¡± I say, glancing from the wall painting to Bailey. ¡°How long ago do you think this was?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Bailey rubs his chin, looking thoughtful. ¡°There¡¯s absolutely nothin¡¯ about this in any of our histories. Not a word.¡± He elaborates, explaining that humans have over ten thousand years of recorded history.


    The Mesoselenians, on the other hand, hadn¡¯t developed writing until relatively recently. All their knowledge and history was passed down through stories. ¡°But,¡± he concludes, spreading his hands, ¡°nothing resembling these paintings exists in any of them.¡±


    ¡°Do you have anything to record all this? Like a camera?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Cam¡­era? Hmm¡­ never heard of such a thing. Though this contraption does take pictures, and¡­ well, it records what it sees,¡± Bailey replies, holding out his device.


    ¡°¡­That works¡­¡± I mutter. It¡¯s basically a smartphone¡­ just¡­ not.


    We continue exploring the hall. It seems to have once been used for rituals, but there isn¡¯t much left.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°That¡¯s odd. Did they really clear everything out?¡± I ask Bailey.


    He glances at his device again, then points at a wall at the end of the hall. ¡°There¡¯s fresh air comin¡¯ from that wall¡­ I wonder where it¡¯s leadin¡¯?¡±


    We walk over. I tap my knuckles on it; it sounds hollow. Bailey reflexively grabs my arms.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t break the place,¡± I reassure him. He gives an awkward chuckle and releases me.


    My gaze snaps back to a painting on the wall. ¡°Bailey, stand back,¡± I instructed, reaching out to touch the artwork. The painted red moon feels¡­ loose. As if it could be rotated.


    I turn it slowly, a distinct click echoing through the vast hall.


    Suddenly, the ground beneath me transforms into quicksand, trying its best to swallow me whole. I leaped out of the way just in time. The ground returns to normal after a couple of minutes.


    Okay, so there are traps for doing this¡­


    Bailey rejoined me, shaking his head. ¡°Aye, that¡¯s a bust.¡±


    ¡°Any clue what I did wrong?¡± I asked.


    Bailey starts examining the painting with me. He runs his fingers over the red moon, tracing its grooves. ¡°That moon looks a bit peculiar. The markings are all wrong. If you turned it¡­ about like that¡­¡± He rotates the moon¡¯s image roughly thirty degrees. I quickly yank him back, bracing for traps. No clicks, no quicksand. Good.


    Next, my attention lands on the depiction of an Adamantine bar. This one seems designed to be pressed. I oblige, a couple of times, another click confirming the action.


    The air above me shimmers, then erupts in a torrent of flames. These weren¡¯t ordinary flames, though. A genuine warmth spreads through me¡ªa sensation I hadn¡¯t felt in¡­ well, since I got this body. Then, as quickly as it begins, the inferno vanishes, leaving behind the distinct absence of my clothing.


    Indestructible body, yes. Indestructible wardrobe, not so much¡­


    Bailey joins me again, holding out some new clothes. I explain to Bailey that I¡¯d pressed it seven times last time.


    ¡°Try four this time,¡± Bailey suggests. ¡°There are four altars upstairs, so maybe four¡¯s the magic number.¡±


    Knowing the flame trap was particularly nasty, I tell Bailey to stand well back. I slowly press the image: one¡­ two¡­ three¡­ four¡­ Nothing. No searing jet of fire.


    Okay, my new clothes are safe for now¡­


    The last thing that catches my attention is the depiction of Nyotha. It looks like it can be pulled down. So I do, pulling until a click echoes, and instantly sharp icicle spears shoot out from the walls. They still can¡¯t pierce my body, of course.


    ¡°That¡¯s new,¡± I mutter. ¡°How could there be ice here, especially after all this time? Well, it¡¯s still no match for my resilience, I suppose.¡±


    Bailey rushes over to join me, his eyes wide with concern. ¡°That looks like some kind of elemental magic trap,¡± he observes. ¡°I¡¯ll be¡­ I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. Come to think of it, those last two traps weren''t exactly ordinary, either.¡±


    ¡°I pulled it down last time, trying to make it look¡­rooted,¡± I explain to Bailey. ¡°That didn¡¯t work.¡±


    Bailey squints at the wall painting, then places his hands on the tree. Before I can stop him, he grips the edges of the image and pulls it straight out. The trap doesn¡¯t trigger!


    ¡°Just didn¡¯t seem right, somehow,¡± Bailey says. ¡°The image¡­it looks out of place. Like it doesn¡¯t belong in this painting¡­or even in this world.¡±


    A quick glance upward reveals the keyhole we¡¯re missing: an empty slot high on the wall, directly above the mural.


    "Bailey, you''re a natural puzzle solver," I tell him, "You should consider a career in it. Or maybe just stick to being a fabulous chef."


    I step back and gesture towards the wall. "I''ll handle this one," I say, a confident grin spreading across my face. With a nimble leap, I ascend the wall, my body effortlessly navigating the vertical surface. I carefully place the tree image into the slot


    Click. The wall at the end of the hall develops a thin slit.

 Ch 5 (4/5): Elements

    I snatched Bailey¡¯s device and approached the opening. No alarms blared, and Bailey hurried over. Together, we shoved the section of wall inward and slipped through.


    Another long hallway stretched before us, also decorated with wall paintings. These depicted what looked like Tiefling-like ancient Mesoselenians.


    ¡°These are supposed to be Mesoselenians?¡± I asked Bailey.


    "No, nothing I recognize¡­ these folks¡­ I¡¯ve never seen their like," Bailey stammered, clearly perplexed.


    ¡°So, the current Mesoselenians don¡¯t look like these?¡± I asked, thoroughly confused.


    "No¡­ they¡¯re much like us, really, ''cept they''ve got the same dark skin as these folks. But no horns, and their faces are¡­ well, different," Bailey clarified.


    As I cautiously stepped into the hallway, the floor tiles remained solid. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m being too paranoid,¡± I muttered. I took another step, and a volley of bullets whizzed past.


    Of course. Because why wouldn''t there be a trap in a hallway full of ancient paintings?


    I marched ahead of Bailey, acting as a human trap detector. Bailey trailed behind, his device and mask clutched in his hands, carefully following my footsteps.


    As we proceeded, I triggered a veritable symphony of traps. They came in all elemental varieties: water, thunder, wind, and fire. I narrowly dodged the jet of flames this time.


    I really should have packed more spare clothes¡­


    The painted eyes on the walls watched our every move, their gaze heavy with ancient malice. A chill ran down my spine, and I couldn''t shake the feeling that we were being watched, judged, and perhaps even hunted.


    The end of the hallway quickly approached, revealing another doorway. Thankfully, this one wasn¡¯t locked.


    I went through first, with Bailey close behind. We found ourselves in a cavern containing a massive, bizarre machine. And it was still running¡­ cranking and turning with a slow, rhythmic motion.


    ¡°It¡¯s been runnin¡¯ the whole time¡­¡± Bailey breathed, his voice filled with awe.


    "What do you think it''s doing?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Bailey and I examined the machine closely. It pressed directly against the wall, scraping and pushing. Wires snaked into it from underground, and a thick tube led off somewhere into the depths of the cavern.


    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s diggin¡¯ somethin¡¯ off the wall¡­¡± Bailey replied.


    We followed the tube deeper into the cavern.


    Ssss¡­ssss¡­SssssSsss


    The hissing from before intensified tenfold. Bailey and I slowed, and I motioned for him to dim our lights. We peered around the next bend. The tube opened into a larger chamber containing what was once a conveyor belt system, now a rusted, skeletal mess. From the tube¡¯s opening, however, flowed a steady stream of fine, glittering particles that had accumulated into a sizable mound.


    A large, golden, slug-like creature was coiled atop the dust pile, surrounded by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of smaller versions, all nestled within and around the glittering heap. Bailey stared, blinked, and rubbed his eyes, as if trying to clear his vision.


    "That''s more like a Geodyte, a young''un. But that pile of dust over there..." Bailey whispered, his gaze fixed on the mound.


    ¡°Why are they all clustered on it?¡± I asked, squinting. The dust had a distinct orangey-gold, almost copper-like sheen.


    ¡°That dust has Adamantine in it. Not much, from what I can see, but there¡¯s a bit there,¡± Bailey murmured, pointing towards the pile.


    So a massive pile of treasure and they are the dragons¡­


    We carefully retreated from the chamber, retracing our steps back to the great hall.


    ¡°So, what now? That¡¯s the adamantine source back there, and that machine¡­it¡¯s been running for who knows how long¡­¡± I say to Bailey as we settle down to chew on some more dry meat.


    ¡°Aye, that machine¡¯s been runnin¡¯ for ages, by the looks of it. Must be made of some powerful stuff. Nothin¡¯ should last this long, ¡®specially without any upkeep. Makes you wonder what¡¯s keepin¡¯ it goin¡¯,¡± Bailey muses, working his way through a particularly tough piece of meat garnished with a few green caviars.


    We consider our options. First, we could backtrack to the city and search for another way out¡ªthe safest bet. Unless, of course, the Kavriades are still out there hunting us, and considering the green caviar Bailey has on his meat, that would be a problem.


    Second, we could attempt to sneak past the Geodytes and their adamantine dust pile, continuing our search for an exit within the cavern. This is significantly riskier, given that Geodytes are apparently capable of using magic.


    Our third option is for Bailey to stay put while I deal with the Geodytes, then return for him. This, however, means I¡¯d be forced to slay a bunch of creatures for no real reason.


    After careful consideration, Bailey and I agree on the second option. If we don¡¯t disturb the nesting area, the Geodytes probably won¡¯t attack. Probably.


    After a good rest, we gear up and head back to the dust pile nesting area. We crouch low, carefully circling the mound. We¡¯re almost around it when¡­ ¡°Achoo!¡± Bailey sneezes.


    Of course. Just our luck.


    The massive slug noticed us, but instead of attacking, it just stared, guarding the pile like a dragon its hoard. We slowly backed away, keeping our distance until we¡¯d almost made it all the way around. That¡¯s when I slipped, stumbling a couple of steps closer to the slug. I thought I was in the clear, but then my hair flared up again!


    Oh¡­ this isn¡¯t going to end well¡­

 Ch 5 (5/5): Elements

    The iridescent strands plunged into the adamantine dust pile. Within seconds, the pile¡¯s sheen vanished.


    I expected the familiar tug of dimensional travel, a quick trip to the upper levels. Instead, I felt an odd aura forming around me, and time seemed to¡­ slow. A deafening screech, like nails on a chalkboard amplified a thousand times, pierced our eardrums.


    ¡°Run!¡± I yelled, grabbing Bailey¡¯s arm. But it was too late. The massive slug, now looking less like a slug and more like a very angry, very large, very slimy snake, was joined by a horde of smaller versions. We were officially surrounded.


    Many of the surrounding slugs began to glow with an eerie, internal light, then abruptly turned a rather unappetizing shade of brown and dropped lifelessly to the cavern floor, followed by a sudden, powerful gust of wind. The gust intensified into a swirling whirlwind that whipped around us.


    "What do we do now...?" Bailey¡¯s voice trembled slightly as he nervously waved his gun around, looking for a target amidst the chaos. "Are we supposed to...shoot the wind? ''Cause I don''t reckon this gun can do that." Another batch of slugs glowed, then met the same fate as their brethren.


    The aura around me started to warm. I instantly grabbed Bailey and shoved him out of the wind¡¯s circle. The moment he was clear, flames erupted from thin air, engulfing me in a fiery tornado.


    The aura around me seemed to concentrate around my still-glowing, iridescent hair. My hair felt¡­ strange. Like it had become a part of me, a new, very sensitive, very numerous limb. Senses traveled along the strands, as if they had sprouted their own nervous system.


    That¡¯s new¡­ I gotta do something fast! Or Bailey¡¯s toast! Literally! And I¡¯d rather not explain to anyone that my friend was turned into croutons by magical fire.


    I thought back to the time my hair transformed into the sea serpent. As I did, as if receiving a direct command from my brain, the iridescent strands twisted and wrapped around my entire body for a split second before the familiar, scaled texture of the serpentine form took over.


    My vision snaps into the sea serpent¡¯s body, the cavern floor suddenly a long way down. Fragments of the serpent¡¯s reawakened memories swirl within me. Wrestling control of this colossal form, I prepare to¡­ well, I haven¡¯t quite figured that part out yet. But it definitely involves getting out of this fiery inferno.


    This body isn¡¯t exactly designed for land travel, but I manage a swift tail swipe, shattering the fire tornado¡¯s hold. Bailey stares at my iridescent form, jaw hanging open¡ªagain.


    He¡¯ll get used to it¡­ eventually.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    With another deafening screech, thousands of the small slugs light up like a mobile Christmas display. I scoop up Bailey in my mouth¡ª"swallowed" him, technically¡ªand hold him gently inside, before lumbering deeper into the cavern as fast as this oversized snake can manage.


    A massive lightning bolt instantly chases after us, but I press on, unfazed. The gargantuan slug, however, moves with shocking speed, once more blocking our path.


    I ram my head into it, slamming it against the cavern wall. The impact shakes the entire cavern. The slug squishes, then rebounds, sending me staggering. It shrieks again, its voice echoing through the tunnels.


    I swing my tail, smashing it against the rocks above the slug. Jagged shards rain down, piercing the creature. Many of the smaller slugs are crushed in the rockfall.


    Swarms of the remaining slugs swarm over the larger one, glowing and pulsing, channeling various elemental attacks into the broken rocks, shattering them further. They then begin sealing the large slug¡¯s wounds, rapidly healing it.


    Talk about a dedicated medical team.


    I turn and bolt deeper into the cavern before it can fully recover. A large underground river appears before us, flowing into a partially submerged tunnel.


    Looks like Lady Luck¡¯s finally decided to join the party!


    Without hesitation, I plunge into the water. The slug pursues us to the riverbank, screeching in frustration, before halting at the water¡¯s edge. In a final, desperate attempt, another massive bolt of lightning streaks after us. It fries many of the smaller creatures in the water. Fortunately, we emerge unscathed.


    I swim with surprising ease, keeping my head¡ªand Bailey within¡ªabove the surface as much as possible. I don¡¯t stop until we reach solid ground on the other side.


    With the echoes of the slug''s screech still ringing in our ears, I scramble onto the shore. The moment we¡¯re both on dry land, my sea serpent form dissolves, and my hair returns to its usual long, silver strands.


    Bailey and I collapse onto the ground, side by side, Bailey catching his breath. We exchange a look, and a moment later, laughter erupts from both of us, echoing through the cavern.


    "By the stars, that was incredible! I didn''t think we''d make it through!" Bailey whooped, his face alight. "Never had such a wild day in all my life! That was fantastic!"


    ¡°Yeah, for a second there, I thought you were a goner,¡± I reply, grinning. ¡°Thankfully, everything worked out!¡±


    Bailey immediately peppers me with questions. "What in the world was that?! Did you always know you could do that?! What was that thing?!..."


    ¡°All I can tell you is that it was a massive stroke of luck. I have no idea how this¡­ hair of mine works. Trust me, if I knew, I¡¯d tell you,¡± I assure him.


    "You''re tellin'' me you don''t know?!" Bailey sits up, incredulous. ¡°After all that carryin'' on, you don''t even know how to control it?!"


    "Nope!" I said, laughing.


    "Well, I''ll be¡­" Bailey chuckles, then flops back down, still grinning.

 Ch 6 (1/6): Source

    I put on new clothes as Bailey and I kept talking about the strange creatures we¡¯d just tangled with. We figured they were probably chowing down on the adamantine, which would explain their weird gold coloring. It looked like they¡¯d even figured out how to use the stuff, just like the Mesoselenians.


    ¡°Well, as long as that machine keeps pumping it out, they¡¯ve got an all-you-can-eat buffet. ¡°It¡¯ll just take them a while to build up another stockpile,¡± I said with a grin.


    ¡°So, which way¡¯s up now?¡± I asked, turning to Bailey.


    ¡°Seems that way, alright,¡± Bailey replies, pointing towards a tunnel branching off to the side.


    We got to our feet and headed towards it. I stopped Bailey again. ¡°This place is awfully quiet¡­ again,¡± I reminded him, a little uneasy. I told him to keep his mask handy and to keep an eye on his device. We proceeded cautiously into the tunnel, thankfully free of the blue fog this time.


    But a familiar, eerie blue glow emanates from the tunnel¡¯s end. What isn¡¯t familiar is the cacophony of heavy breathing, gnawing, and a disturbingly wet, nipping sound.


    Did we stumble into an underground monster park? Why are there so many creatures down here?


    Another nest¡­ this time packed with at least half a dozen rodent-like creatures. These creatures are even larger than the slugs we had encountered before. They have no eyes, but possess a large snout and massive ears.


    "What in the world is goin'' on with the size of everything here?" Bailey exclaimed, eyes wide.


    ¡°So, what are these now?¡± I asked with a sigh.


    When could we just get back to safety? This adventure was seriously overstaying its welcome.


    "Looks like a nest of Umbrynus. They must''ve dug these tunnels. And looks like they''re havin'' a snack. That blue goo...well, that''s what''s left over after they''re done eatin''." Bailey said after a closer look.


    Ewww¡­. I remember touching and smelling it when we came across it before¡­ Double ewww.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    A closer inspection revealed a network of tunnels branching off from the main nest. It looked like a subterranean highway system built by oversized, blind moles with questionable interior design skills.


    ¡°Any idea which way we should go?¡± I asked Bailey as he swept his device around, hoping for a technological miracle.


    "Sorry, can''t tell ya this time. Too many tunnels, and I can''t figure out which one''s got the fresh air. Too much air movin'' around." Bailey said, shaking his head.


    As we considered our decidedly limited options, the glowing blue goo scattered around the nest abruptly began to evaporate, like a scene from a low-budget horror movie. Simultaneously, a deafening alarm blared from Bailey¡¯s device. He frantically fumbled for his mask.


    ¡°Turn it off!¡± I yelled, already bracing myself for the inevitable. But it was too late. By the time Bailey finally silenced the alarm with a frustrated grunt, we were completely enveloped by the blue fog, and the Umbrynus, alerted by the sonic boom emanating from Bailey¡¯s device, had surrounded us.


    I yanked the laser gun from my bag and fired at the largest rodent, hoping for a disabling shot, or at least a good scare. The oversized rat twitched to the side, and while its armor-like fur scorched, emitting a rather unpleasant burnt-hair smell, the blast didn¡¯t penetrate.


    I tossed the gun to Bailey. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, just shoot anything that gets too close!¡±


    I punted a smaller rat away like a furry football as Bailey scrambled to escape the encircling horde. It squeaked indignantly and bounced off a tunnel wall.


    The massive rat I¡¯d shot earlier¡ªnow sporting a stylishly singed patch of fur¡ªswiped at me with its claws. I didn¡¯t bother moving, taking the hit full-on. Sparks flew, and the rat¡¯s claws shattered against me like cheap plastic toys.


    Of course they did. What was I expecting? A scratch?


    The other rats tried to body-slam and pile on, but I dodged nimbly, narrowly avoiding each clumsy attack. I retaliated with a flurry of punches and kicks, connecting squarely with several rodent snouts. It was less a terrifying monster attack and more like a chaotic, furry mosh pit.


    However, Bailey was having a rough time of it. The laser gun was keeping the rats at bay, but the fog was still messing with his breathing and vision.


    Suddenly, the rats changed direction, charging Bailey en masse. He panicked and held down the trigger, a searing red beam lancing out. The rats scattered in every direction, several sporting fresh burns on their faces. Bailey watched in horror as the continuous blast overheated the weapon, causing it to sputter and die.


    Seizing the opportunity, I slid under a larger rat, bracing myself with my arms and one leg before launching a powerful upward kick with the other. My foot connected with the rodent¡¯s abdomen, and it shrieked in pain. A geyser of crimson liquid erupted, thoroughly drenching me.


    Lovely. Just lovely. Now I¡¯m covered in¡­ rat juice.

 Ch 6 (2/6): Source

    My hair flared with that familiar iridescent light, piercing the rodent¡¯s skull as my consciousness shifted to the upper dimension.


    Familiar territory. It¡¯s starting to feel like coming home.


    I was fully encased within the small, tree-like structure. Its branches seemed even thicker than before, though it was still dwarfed by the golden sphere illuminating everything.


    Nyotha?


    A distinct green speck of light rose from the roots this time, and a fresh wave of memories flooded my mind.


    ******


    Darkness. Utter darkness. Not a single glimmer of light. But right next to my ears, I hear the distinct snuffles of a much larger creature. I instinctively crawl closer, seeking its warmth. The comforting scent of¡­ well, something vaguely earthy and slightly musky fills my nostrils. Ah, bliss.


    Day after day, I eat, crawl, and dig. Not a care in the world. We happily rummage through the earth like furry little excavators, creating intricate tunnels that would make even the most experienced diggers blush with envy.


    One perfectly ordinary day, as we¡¯re enjoying a peaceful nap ¨C a truly epic nap, the kind where you dream of giant, juicy grubs ¨C a completely new scent drifts in. It¡¯s quickly followed by the pungent stench of¡­ well, let¡¯s just say it smells like something¡¯s having a very bad day. The earth rumbles ominously, and the ground beneath us splits open. Many of my companions scream beside me, before abruptly falling silent.


    Yikes.


    I scramble, digging and moving as fast as my little claws can carry me. Digging and moving. I don¡¯t stop until the awful scent finally fades.


    This cycle continues for what feels like forever: eating, crawling, sleeping, digging, escaping. The familiar sounds and scents around me constantly shift and change. Some return, some vanish forever, never to be heard or smelled again.It''s like a bizarre, subterranean kaleidoscope of sensory input, with sights, sounds, and smells constantly shifting and changing.


    The rumbles seem to be following me. They keep happening every so often. I manage to escape each time, thank goodness. But many others¡­ well, they aren''t so lucky. Let¡¯s just say they¡¯re probably fertilizing something somewhere.


    Resting once more, a sharp, piercing sound assaults my ears. We all instinctively surround the source. Heat! I whirl around, but it¡¯s too late. The intense heat still singes my fur. Everyone else manages to stay safe¡­The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Furious, I lash out with my claw toward where the heat came from, But all I get for my trouble is more pain as my claws shatter into pieces.


    I sense more heat from the side, so I change direction and charge. The burning heat hits me again. I try to hide, but suddenly, something gets under me. Pain explodes through my insides. And then¡­ nothing. All my senses vanish.


    ******


    My vision snapped back to this dimension. Time, which had paused for my interdimensional detour, resumed its relentless march.


    Bailey¡¯s eyes were wide, frozen in shock. Again. A low rumble vibrated beneath my feet, sending the remaining rodents into a frenzy. Some bolted, others frantically dug deeper into the earth.


    I yanked Bailey''s sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Quick!¡± I closed my eyes, extending my senses. Using the memory of that unfortunate rodent, I relied on hearing and smell to navigate the maze-like tunnels.


    We reached another open area, finally stopping so Bailey could catch his breath. We were well clear of the fog now. Bailey checked his device before pulling off his mask.


    "I''m not even gonna bother askin¡¯," Bailey said, gasping for air, a strained smile on his face. "I''ll just assume it''s one of your¡­ magical somethin''s."


    ¡°We have to get out of here quickly. There¡¯s something else in these tunnels,¡± I explained. ¡°Something that eats those rodents for lunch. It¡¯s also the source of the rumbling.¡±


    "The cause of the quakes? Eatin'' those giant Umbrynus for lunch?!" Bailey exclaimed.


    ¡°Probably not all the quakes, but it definitely eats more than one for a meal,¡± I clarified. ¡°Remember those large caverns and tunnels? Some are natural, some dug by the rodents, some by the ancient Mesoselenians, but most of the bigger ones we were in? Those are the creature¡¯s work.¡±


    "What...what''s it like?" Bailey asked, his voice trembling slightly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. All I know is the slithering sound it makes and the awful smell¡ªlike something died and then¡­ died again,¡± I say, giving Bailey¡¯s shoulder a reassuring pat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, though. I doubt we¡¯d even make an appetizer for that thing. But we still need to scram.I know the way, but I can¡¯t tell which direction is out. Any idea?¡±


    Bailey consults his device again, his brow furrowed in concentration, before pointing. "It''s¡­ vaguely that way." We rest for a few more minutes, catching our breath before venturing back into the labyrinth.


    Those rodents are truly dedicated to their craft, creating a dizzying network of decoy nests¡ªpresumably to confuse hungry mega-predators. Clearly, though, their efforts aren''t always successful.


    Bailey and I continue through the tunnels, giving any with that eerie blue glow a wide berth.


    We encounter the blue fog a couple more times, but now that we know what to expect, avoiding it is like dodging puddles¡ªmostly a matter of paying attention.


    After what feels like a geological epoch of walking, crawling, and occasionally scrambling up short inclines, we finally emerge at the bottom of a massive sinkhole. The two crescent moons casts a dim, almost apologetic glow through the dissipating fog.

 Ch 6 (3/6): Source

    "We actually made it!" Bailey cries, relief evident in his voice.


    ¡°We¡¯re still technically underground, but at least we can see the sky. We were down there for almost a day,¡± I say, glancing around at the steep walls surrounding us.


    We cautiously approach the edge of the sinkhole. "That¡¯s quite a drop,¡± Bailey observes, peering upwards, his eyes widening.


    ¡°Yeah, not exactly a gentle stroll back to the surface¡­¡± I reply. ¡°Any idea how far we are from where we started?¡±


    "Whoa¡­ that''s a good stretch. We must be under a mountain. We''ve come a long way today," Bailey says, studying the readings on his device, shaking his head slightly.


    ¡°Okay, you should get some rest. We¡¯re not climbing out of this thing tonight,¡± I tell Bailey.


    We set up a makeshift tent for him¡ªbasically a large sheet of waterproof material propped up with some conveniently placed rocks. He promptly collapses inside, snoring softly within minutes. I settle in for watch. A few¡­ let¡¯s just call them ¡°uninvited guests¡± decide to pay us a visit throughout the night, but I manage to dissuade them from sticking around.


    As dawn broke, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the sinkhole, the once-still air began to stir with life. A gentle breeze, carrying the sweet scent of morning dew, swept through the cavern, rustling the leaves of the strange, bioluminescent plants that clung to the walls.


    Bailey slowly emerged from the tent, blinking in the sudden light. "Slept like a log last night. Thanks for keepin'' an eye out."


    ¡°Alright, now for the real fun,¡± I said, tilting my head back to survey the daunting cliff face. It looked even steeper in the daylight.


    "There''s a funny smell about..." Bailey commented, wrinkling his nose and sniffing delicately.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± I took a cautious sniff myself. An absolutely atrocious stench assaulted my nostrils, like something that died weeks ago. ¡°Okay, new plan. We need to move. Immediately.¡±


    Before we could even contemplate which toehold to grab first, the ground beneath us shuddered violently. A massive, pale white head, vaguely resembling a dinosaur crossed with a Komodo dragon, erupted from the earth like a grotesque jack-in-the-box. Then, with a series of earth-shaking shudders, the rest of the colossal lizard-dinosaur hauled itself fully out of the ground, showering us with dirt and pebbles.


    "That''s what''s been eatin'' the Umbrynus?!" Bailey whispered, his eyes wide.


    ¡°Yes, I believe so,¡± I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Recognize it?¡±


    "No idea. Doesn''t look like anythin'' I''ve ever come across." Bailey shivered slightly.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The dinosaur-lizard slowly moved toward us, its surprisingly intelligent eyes fixed on me.


    How and why was it coming for us?! Do I smell or look like those rodents?!


    I instinctively pushed Bailey behind me, backing us against the sinkhole wall. I braced myself for a fight, mentally preparing a list of evasive maneuvers. The creature continued its slow advance, but instead of charging or roaring, it simply¡­ inched closer.


    Then, it slowly opened its massive jaws. A long, pink tongue unfurled, gently wrapping around me, as if¡­ taking a sample. It quickly retracted its tongue, then tilted its head back, let out a bizarre gargling sound, and proceeded to spit two gleaming golden nuggets onto the ground in front of us.


    ¡°Concentrated Adamantine ore?!¡± Bailey exclaimed, his jaw dropping. ¡°Is it¡­ is it giving it to us?!¡±


    ¡°Stay back,¡± I whispered to Bailey, cautiously approaching the¡­ gift. As I got closer, my hair flared with that familiar iridescent light, turning my head into a miniature disco ball. The sudden light show startled the creature, causing it to stumble back a couple of steps, its dinosaur eyes blinking in confusion.


    Strands of glowing hair snaked out and enveloped the ores. As they did, I felt a denser aura of energy thrumming around me. Time slowed again, as if someone had hit the universe¡¯s slow-mo button, and that familiar tingling sensation returned to my scalp. Once again, I felt that strange sense of control over the millions of iridescent strands.


    Driven by an irresistible curiosity¡ªand maybe a touch of madness¡ªI slowly reached out to touch its head.


    It tilted its head down toward me in response, as if anticipating my touch, or maybe just trying to get a better look at my rapidly brightening hair. The moment my fingers brushed its rough hide, I wondered what the creature wanted. More strands of my glowing hair joined the fray as my hair made contact with the creature.


    I can sense that any memories I see are taken, robbed from the owner¡¯s mind, and they will no longer have them. Since I can¡¯t extract memories without causing harm, I decide to get only snapshots¡ªfleeting images of its past. Fragmented memories flash through my mind like a bizarre slideshow.


    *******


    Looking through a glass window, a younger, less stressed-looking Dr. Keyser worked tirelessly in his lab.


    A glass container in the lab held a swirling blue liquid¡ªand something that resembled an embryo.


    Dr. Keyser and I traveled underground, searching for orangey-gold ores.


    Digging and carrying machine parts to a magma chamber.


    The glass contrivance of blue liquid now contained a fully formed body.


    A body that looks exactly like mine. This is getting weird.


    Carefully opening the cage and fleeing the lab.


    Everything suddenly became tiny.


    Seeing the machine within the magma chamber again, deep underground. It looks¡­ different.


    The machine looks like it¡¯s gotten bigger.No, bigger isn¡¯t the right word.


    The machine looks like it¡¯s bloating up. Like a¡­ like a giant metal balloon about to pop. And that thought brings with it a wave of¡­


    Fear¡­ a bone-deep, primal fear¡­ fills me.


    ********


    I drew my hand back. ¡°Have we¡­ met before?¡± I murmured to the creature. Piecing together the fragmented memories felt strangely like reconnecting with a very strange old friend. The creature nudged its head against my hand.

 Ch 6 (4/6): Source

    ¡°So¡­ we¡¯re not on the menu?¡± Bailey whispered from behind me, his voice barely audible above the low rumble emanating from the creature.


    ¡°Probably not,¡± I whispered back. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be very appetizing anyway. Besides, I think this creature escaped from Dr. Keyser¡¯s lab.¡±


    "It got out of Master Keyser''s lab...?!" Bailey murmured, a puzzled frown creasing his brow. "If it ain''t lookin'' for a meal, then what''s it want with us?"


    ¡°I think it needs my help,¡± I mumbled, gesturing vaguely at myself. ¡°This place isn¡¯t just a sinkhole. It¡¯s the mouth of a dormant volcano! There¡¯s still magma deep down. Dr. Keyser¡¯s been using a machine to siphon power from it.¡±


    The massive, dinosaur-like creature bumped my shoulder with its head, nearly sending me tumbling. ¡°Garaaaha,¡± it rumbled, the sound almost like a grumbling ¡°uh-huh.¡±


    After processing the fragmented images I¡¯d glimpsed, I explained to Bailey, ¡°That machine¡¯s malfunctioning. It¡¯s going to blow if we don¡¯t do something. And that could reawaken this entire volcano.¡±


    "What?! Well, come on then, let''s move it!" Bailey exclaimed, already taking a step forward before pausing and looking back at the colossal creature.


    ¡°We can¡¯t just ¡®go,¡¯¡± I said, patting the creature¡¯s rough hide. ¡°If that machine goes boom¡­ everything here, this entire underground city¡­ everything goes up in smoke.¡± I looked at the creature, a sudden thought striking me. ¡°Let¡¯s call you Rexy.¡±


    It was the first name that popped into my head, since it did resemble a certain other large reptile from a movie from my past life. Hopefully, this one wouldn¡¯t try to eat any lawyers.


    ¡°Garaaaha,¡± the creature rumbled, nodding in what I assume is agreement. It nudges my hand with its snout, as if saying, ¡°Yeah, Rexy. I dig it.¡±


    ¡°How are you with machines?¡± I ask Bailey, turning to him.


    "Not ideal...I''ve got a few ideas, but I''m no Master Keyser." Bailey shook his head and replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s okay, still better than me,¡± I say, then proceed to sketch the machine I¡¯d glimpsed, explaining its workings to Bailey as I draw. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    It¡¯s basically a giant metal balloon with a bunch of glowing wires sticking out, which, I admit, isn¡¯t the most technical description.


    Bailey slowly nods, then explains his understanding of the device. Apparently, it¡¯s a converter, but it¡¯s been converting and collecting energy without anything to expend it on. Ever since the¡­ incident that claimed Dr. Keyser, the machine¡¯s been on the fritz. It might be possible to reverse the process and slowly release the energy back into the magma, preventing a catastrophic volcanic burp.


    By the time we¡¯ve hashed out the basics, the sun is high overhead. Bailey suddenly snaps his fingers, as if struck by a sudden realization. "Oh, no you don''t! You''re not gettin'' rid of me now, not after all we''ve been through! I''m stickin'' with you!"


    I smile at Bailey before explaining, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯ll be much safer up here. You won¡¯t last in that high pressure and heat. Remember, I am Val, Dr. Keyser¡¯s best creation. I am not going to become a human-shaped pile of ash down there.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Bailey starts.


    I pat Rexy. ¡°Please help my buddy get to safety. I¡¯ll go with you to that machine and see what we can do.¡±


    Rexy rumbles again, then scoops Bailey onto its back before he can object further. I hop on behind him. Rexy charges up the wall with surprising speed, Bailey clinging on for dear life, and we make it all the way to the top of the cliff face in record time.


    Bailey gives me a worried look. ¡°Thank you¡­ for everything.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic! I¡¯ll be back!¡± I say with a laugh, giving Bailey a playful shove. ¡°You should get as far away from here as you can.¡± I turn back to the hole, ready to descend with Rexy, then pause, a thought striking me. I grab my bag and toss it up to Bailey. ¡°Just in case! Don¡¯t want it getting all¡­ extra crispy! Keep it safe for me, will ya?¡± I yelled.


    ¡°You¡¯d best come back in one piece!¡± Bailey¡¯s anxious shout echoes off the cliff walls.


    ¡°Okay, Rexy, lead the way!¡± I say, giving Rexy a reassuring head rub. ¡°Time for a fiery elevator ride!¡± Rexy rumbles in response, then charges back into the hole it came out of, heading straight down like a furry, scaly missile. It¡¯s a wild ride, a bumpy, jostling descent into the earth¡¯s fiery belly, but thankfully, this body is indestructible.


    We plunge deeper and deeper, through a maze of existing tunnels, a chaotic network of natural pathways carved by ancient lava flows, until we reach the massive, hellish cavern where the machine is located. The air crackles with heat, and the cavern glows with the orange light of molten rock.


    Rexy carefully navigates around pools of bubbling, spitting magma. Good thing I don¡¯t feel temperature, or I¡¯d be a human-shaped shish kebab down here. Suddenly, I¡¯m extra grateful for this indestructible body. I shudder at the thought of what I¡¯d look like otherwise.


    Once I deal with this machine¡­ maybe I¡¯ll try jumping into the magma.


    We get close enough to the hot air balloon sized machine for me to hop off Rexy. ¡°Good girl,¡± I whisper, patting its massive head. ¡°You stay here. I¡¯ll let you know if I need backup. If things look bad, you run!¡±


    Rexy gives me a slightly confused look, tilting its head, before settling down to wait, its tail thumping gently against the cavern floor.

 Ch 6 (5/6): Source

    I reach the machine. It¡¯s completely bloated now, bulging and warped, covered in a network of spider web-like cracks that glow with an eerie red light. It looks like it¡¯s about to pop like an overfilled balloon. I examine the controls¡ªthey¡¯re all melted into a useless, fused blob of metal. Okay, reversing this is officially off the table. Plan B it is, then.


    How is this thing even still running? It looks like it should have turned off ages ago.


    I glanced around the machine. Several thick straws plunged deep into the magma, and a massive, and a massive, frayed cable¡ªclearly meant to lead somewhere¡ªdangles uselessly. Probably to Dr. Keyser¡¯s Lab.


    Right. Plan B: sever the power source. I grip one of the tubes, which glows a furious red, practically vibrating with heat. A quick tug proved fruitless. I tried hauling on it, then resorted to punching and kicking it with all my might. It didn''t budge an inch.


    I feel so pathetically weak. If only I had more adamantine¡­ I could transform into something stronger. The sea serpent from before would work. A pang of regret shoots through me. I really shouldn''t have given all those adamantine bars to Bailey.


    ¡°Do you have any more ores?¡± I yell back at Rexy, hoping for a miracle.


    Rexy shakes its head vigorously, giving me a look that clearly says, ¡°You¡¯re on your own with this one.¡±


    After another futile attempt to yank the tube free from the magma, I stared into the molten pool and plunged my hand in. Nothing¡­ I felt absolutely nothing, not even the warmth from the earlier trap. I feel as if I am sticking my hand into wet dough.


    I scoop up a handful of magma. It¡¯s surprisingly viscous, almost like thick honey. On another whim, I step onto the pool and stomp my foot. The moment I do, the liquid lava solidifies under my weight. A non-Newtonian fluid! How fascinating.


    A daring, if slightly insane, idea begins to form. ¡°I¡¯m going down,¡± I announce to Rexy, a wide grin spreading across my face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Rexy shoots me a look of pure shock¡ªmixed with a healthy dose of concern¡ªas I jump into the magma.


    So much for these clothes. They probably just disintegrated right about now.


    Eyes closed, I keep my hands firmly on the tube as I slowly sink, deeper and deeper. It feels no different from sinking into a pool of water ¡ªwell, more like a pool of honey. Not that I¡¯m complaining. It¡¯s surprisingly¡­ pleasant.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    I reach the end of the tube, which is shaped like a massive anchor. No wonder I couldn¡¯t pull it up! It¡¯s practically designed to stay put. I sink below it, hoist the anchor above my head, and then, using my legs and feet, begin rapidly treading the viscous liquid below. It¡¯s like trying to run in quicksand, but instead of sand, it¡¯s¡­ well, magma.


    Just as I¡¯d imagined, I start rising. Like climbing an invisible staircase, I push myself upward through the magma, stomping harder and faster with each ¡°step.¡± This is a really intense stair-climber workout. I lose track of time until I finally burst back through the surface, sending a spray of molten rock everywhere and tossing the anchor onto a nearby solid rock with a satisfying thump.


    Rexy bounded over, jumping excitedly and letting out a delighted ¡°Arghhh!¡± as if giving me a standing ovation.


    I glance at the remaining tubes and quickly get to work. One by one, I push the anchors up through the magma. With each successful retrieval, Rexy would jump and make more complimentary noises, like a hyperactive, prehistoric cheerleader. ¡°Argh! Argh-argh! Arghhh!¡± It''s quite the performance.


    I almost expect her to start doing backflips.


    It felt like eons before all the anchors were up.


    Good thing I didn¡¯t get tired in this body. My initial plan of a dramatic magma dive for a happy ending, however, was clearly not going to work out. Back to the drawing board.


    Okay, the machine¡¯s energy gathering seems to be slowing down. Progress! Now, I just need to relocate this potential meltdown machine to a safe disposal zone. Leaving it here is a bad idea. This whole area could become a lava lake, and if it decides to go critical again later¡­ Well, who knows how long it would take for all that energy to dissipate? This thing is basically a molten time bomb.


    But how am I supposed to move it? Rexy touching it is out of the question; she¡¯d be a prehistoric chicken nugget before she could even say ¡°Argh.¡± One step at a time, I guess¡­ or rather, one centimeter at a time.


    With all the anchors finally on solid ground, the machine¡¯s base actually budges. I can move it! By pushing it along the ground, I manage to shift it¡­ a couple of centimeters at a time.


    Hey, progress is progress, even if it¡¯s measured in millimeters.


    ¡°Rexy, which way to the bottom of the sea?¡± I ask her. She¡¯s staring at the slowly inching machine with wide, awestruck eyes. ¡°Just point me in the right direction and lead the way.¡±


    It¡¯s a good thing there¡¯s solid ground to push this thing on. Too bad I couldn¡¯t detach the anchors. The joints are practically fused to the machine, and the tubes? Forget about it. They¡¯re way too strong for me to even think about snapping.


    Slowly, painstakingly, I push the machine, centimeter by agonizing centimeter. Rexy, bless her massive heart, helps by digging a gently sloping path for me. She¡¯s building a tiny ramp for a giant, molten snail. And so, we begin our epic, millimeter-by-millimeter journey toward the bottom of the sea.

 Ch 6 (6/6): Source

    ¡°Make sure to collapse the path behind us, Rexy,¡± I tell her. By the time we reach the seabed, I don''t want the ocean flooding that magma-filled hellhole. That would almost certainly trigger a rather unpleasant volcanic explosion.


    I push, little by little. This body feels no pain or fatigue, which, ironically, has become a special kind of mental torture. I am stuck in an endless workout montage with no music and only one exercise: pushing. So, I take breaks to practice some fighting techniques.


    Gotta keep the mind occupied, right?


    Rexy makes a surprisingly great training partner. Between pushing that infernal machine, I practice dodging and sparring with him. With each session, I get a little better at controlling this impressive body.


    Time crawls by. Or maybe it¡¯s sprinting. I honestly can¡¯t tell. I don¡¯t have a watch, a calendar, or even a sundial. All I know is I have to keep pushing. And that red-hot machine shows no sign of cooling down.


    Rexy leaves and returns countless times. Once, she proudly trots back with the carcass of an Umbrynus, which I promptly reject with a grimace. ¡°Seriously, Rexy? That¡¯s just¡­gross. Do you know where that¡¯s been?¡± He looks genuinely confused, tilting his massive head.


    Another time, Rexy brings back some live Umbrynus, which I use for¡­ let¡¯s call it ¡°interactive combat training.¡± They always end up as Rexy¡¯s lunch, of course. She¡¯d look at me with those big, puppy-dog eyes, as if to say, ¡°Did I do good, master?¡± I¡¯d just sigh. ¡°You did good, Rexy. Now, try not to get any bits stuck in your teeth.¡±


    I continue the routine: push, fight Rexy, push, fight Umbrynus, push. Slowly spiraling upwards¡ªthat¡¯s my only purpose right now.


    Why did I agree to this mess? Why do I even care if this thing explodes? What if it explodes anyway and destroys everything? What if¡­ Hundreds of thoughts race through my head as I continue to push. ¡°Maybe I should have left with Bailey,¡± I mutter to myself.


    An unknown amount of time passes. Days? Weeks? Maybe even months, though I doubt it stretched into years.


    Immortality. So this is it? I take another small step, driven by a purpose that, in the grand scheme of things, won¡¯t even affect me. A darker thought flickers through my mind: What if I just let it explode? Would that set me free? I quickly shove the thought away. Nope. Not today, existential dread.


    I continue pushing, the dry walls steadily becoming damp. The cave has basically turned into a sauna. ¡°Did we finally make it?¡± I mutter. We stand in a large open space Rexy dug out. Water pours down on us from above, even though we¡¯re underground, instantly turning to steam.


    ¡°You know how to swim?¡± I ask Rexy, who shakes his massive head, sending droplets of condensed steam flying.


    ¡°I guess you¡¯re not a fan of water. No wonder you smell like that,¡± I say with a chuckle.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Arrrher!¡± Rexy protests, giving me a playful nudge with his snout.


    ¡°Okay, okay. Just kidding,¡± I say, patting Rexy on the head. ¡°Seriously though, I guess this is it.¡± I give him another pat. ¡°Thanks for sticking with me this whole time. You kept me from going completely bonkers. You should get out of here now, and go far, far away. I¡¯ll finish the rest.¡±


    ¡°Arr,¡± Rexy says, looking reluctant, his big eyes fixed on me.


    ¡°You have to go. I don¡¯t know what¡¯ll happen when the seawater comes crashing in,¡± I tell Rexy, gesturing towards the now-visible cracks in the ceiling where the water is pouring through. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t really know you. I might have Val¡¯s body, but¡­ well, I only arrived in this world recently. It¡¯s complicated.¡±


    ¡°Arrga?¡± Rexy looks even more confused, tilting his head.


    ¡°Dr. Keyser is dead. I¡¯ll take care of this. You¡¯re completely free,¡± I assure Rexy. He seems to finally understand, giving my face a quick, wet lick with his long tongue before turning and lumbering towards the tunnel he¡¯d dug. ¡°And remember to collapse the tunnels behind you.¡± I call after him.


    Rexy turned and lumbered back into the tunnels, which promptly sealed themselves shut behind him with a low rumble. Now, it was just me and the damp, echoing silence of this cramped, soon-to-be-flooded space.


    This really did feel like solitary confinement. Good thing my sentence was about to be commuted¡ªby seawater, no less.


    I waited in the darkness, letting time tick by so Rexy could get a good head start before I began my own ascent¡ªor rather, my impromptu seabed excavation.


    Alright, time to get this show on the road!


    I stood up and glanced at the steady stream of seawater dripping from the cavern¡¯s ceiling. If I just stayed put, this whole place was going to blow its top. Way too much steam was building up, like a pressure cooker about to go off.


    After a quick mental risk assessment, I decided this was probably the best course of action. The seawater would cool the machine, and the immense pressure at the bottom of the sea would hopefully contain any potential explosions.


    Fingers crossed, toes crossed, everything crossed.


    I located the main source of the dripping water, which was now more like a small waterfall. Gathering my strength, I launched myself upward in a powerful uppercut. My fist connected with the cave¡¯s roof, the impact sending shockwaves through the rock and a fresh deluge of water gushing down, instantly soaking me.


    Landing back on the cavern floor with a splash, I launched myself upward again¡ªa second, third, fourth time¡­ With each leap, I hammered at the ceiling, a relentless, circular pattern of punches chipping away at the rock¡¯s stubborn resistance.


    Then¡ªwhoosh. The roof finally gave way with a deafening roar. A monstrous wave of seawater crashed down, slamming into me and the machine with the force of a runaway train. The flood engulfed us, dragging us into its chaotic, churning depths.


    Around the machine, the water sizzled and hissed, instantly transforming into clouds of steam. The steam tried to expand, but the crushing weight of the sea above held it back, creating a noisy, turbulent mess.


    The process repeated, each cycle of pressure and heat roaring like a battle between fire and water. Steam hissed, and bubbles popped in rapid succession.


    Finally, as the violent process reached its end, the machine¡¯s fiery red glow dimmed, fading to a cold, ominous black. A small sea creature that had been beside me now floated lifeless and thoroughly cooked as I slowly bobbed to the surface.


    Woohoo! Crisis averted. I hope Rexy has a fantastic adventure. And man, I could really go for some of Bailey¡¯s cooking right now.

 Ch 7 (1/5): Civilization

    My face breaches the water¡¯s surface. The two moons shine just as brightly as when I first saw them. The Blue Moon, round and radiant, bathes the sea in a cool, ethereal glow, while above it, the Red Crescent Moon arches delicately.


    I¡¯ve spent most of the night floating, pondering my next destination. I rack my brain, trying to recall the map Bailey showed me. Honestly, I¡¯m drawing a blank. No clue where I am. But if my memory serves, there¡¯s supposed to be a town or city east of here, beyond those mountains.


    I wonder where Bailey is. He¡¯s probably already out of the elemental wilds, whipping up some culinary masterpiece. I have no idea how long it¡¯s been since we parted ways. ¡°Hopefully,¡± I mutter to the sea, ¡°we¡¯ll cross paths again soon. Maybe he¡¯ll even have some leftovers.¡±


    The sun¡¯s light peeks over the eastern mountains. Confirming my bearings¡ªor at least, a vague approximation of them¡ªI start swimming briskly toward the sunrise. I need to cover some ground before I inevitably lose my sense of direction again. Luckily, the shore isn¡¯t too far off.


    By the time the sun is high in the sky, I¡¯ve made it to land. It isn¡¯t the same beach I¡¯d been on before. A dense forest looms just beyond the shore. The vegetation has changed, too. Gone are the tropical plants; now, thick, backcountry woods surround me.


    In the distance, the snow-capped peaks of a mountain range pierce the sky. I head into the forest, making my way towards them. Just like before, the sounds of nature envelop me. Tiny creatures chirp and buzz, the wind rustles through the leaves.


    It¡¯s almost¡­ peaceful. And the best part? No more mosquitoes! Take that, tiny bloodsuckers!


    Keeping a low profile, I stealthily move through the forest, hoping to find some larger game. A prey to skin¡ªI can¡¯t stand being naked¡­ It¡¯s just too weird.


    Plenty of creatures roam the forest, but nothing big enough to fashion into a decent tunic, let alone trousers. I slowly tread forward, scanning the undergrowth. Suddenly, I spot tracks on the forest floor. Fresh and large, they look almost like a bear¡¯s¡­ a really big bear¡¯s.


    Intrigued, I follow the footprints. Soon, two roars rip through the trees, shaking the very air. Following the tracks and the sound, I cautiously peer between the thick trunks of alien trees. There, in a small clearing, stand two massive, bear-like creatures with long, thick tails, bawling at each other.


    They don¡¯t notice me, thankfully. I keep my distance, crouching behind a particularly wide trunk, and wait for the fight to end. They¡¯re really going at it. Surprisingly, the smaller of the two is winning. It¡¯s more agile, dodging several swipes from the larger creature¡¯s enormous claws with surprising speed.Stolen story; please report.


    The battle ends quickly. The smaller creature lands a decisive swipe across the larger one¡¯s eyes, followed by a swift bite to its throat. The larger creature lets out a final, pained roar before collapsing lifelessly to the ground in a cloud of dust.


    Nature is as brutal as ever. Though, I have to admit, it was a pretty impressive display.


    I remain hidden, my flashy hair already a beacon for trouble. No need to draw more attention to myself.


    The smaller creature leisurely digs into the larger one¡¯s chest, eventually ripping out what looks suspiciously like a still-beating heart. The victor then limps off, its gruesome trophy dangling from its jaws. It looks rather pleased with itself.


    I wait a few more moments to ensure the coast is clear. By the time I cautiously approach the massive carcass, small scavengers¡ªmostly insect looking ones and some rather large¡ªhave already begun their cleanup. I shoo them away with a wave of my hand, reaching the creature¡¯s side. Well, this is definitely big enough. Now, to figure out how to skin this beast.


    Then I realized a rather awkward truth. I had no tools¡­ Nothing at all. My trusty dagger was probably still enjoying a scenic tour of the sea serpent¡¯s digestive system, or perhaps enjoying a nice vacation on the ocean floor. Either way, it wasn¡¯t here.


    After spying a promisingly large rock, I give it a good whack against another. My hopes of creating some sharp fragments were quickly dashed as it crumbled into a pile of rubble. Clearly, rock-smashing wasn''t my forte. I scanned the area, half-expecting to find a conveniently placed obsidian deposit. After all, there had been a volcano in the area¡­ a long, long time ago.


    After smashing a few more boulders¡ªmost of which stubbornly remained just rocks¡ªI unearthed one containing what looked like fossilized sea creatures. Talk about a blast from the past. And then, finally, there it was: the glassy, black stone. Jackpot!


    Hurrying back to the carcass, now practically crawling with small scavengers again, I shooed them away with a weary sigh. I then hauled the carcass to a different part of the forest. I really didn¡¯t want to be around when the other one came back looking for seconds.


    I found a nice clearing next to a small lake and got to work on the obsidian. Using another, less interesting rock as a hammerstone, I flaked and chipped away, desperately trying to replicate the techniques from those survival videos I¡¯d binged in my past life.


    The ones where they make perfect tools in five minutes with nothing but a rock and some calming music?


    It¡¯s way harder than it looks on video. After countless failures and shattered obsidian shards that vaguely resemble pointy rocks, I finally managed to create something that almost, almost looked like a knife. It was more like a jagged, black saw, but I wasn¡¯t complaining. I carried my masterpiece back to the carcass.

 Ch 7 (2/5): Civilization

    Starting at the chest cavity¡ªwhere the previous owner had so helpfully opened things up a bit¡ªI began peeling back the thick hide, carefully slicing, or more accurately, sawing, through the connecting tissues and widening the opening.


    Unfortunately, one jagged, black saw¡ªI mean, knife¡ªwasn¡¯t enough. I broke and remade several more from my obsidian stash before I could fully separate the hide from the underlying muscle. Good thing I¡¯d stumbled upon such a large chunk of the stuff.


    Once I¡¯d wrestled the hide free, I dragged it to the lake for a good soaking, rinsing away the worst of the blood and¡­ other things. I also collected a few of the larger bones, all the teeth¡ªwhich looked surprisingly sharp¡ªand anything else that looked remotely useful, leaving the rest of the carcass to the now-ecstatic scavengers.


    They definitely wouldn¡¯t go hungry tonight. They¡¯d probably be having feasts for weeks.


    I hurried through the forest, gathering some broad leaves and fibrous vines along the way, until I reached the foot of the mountain. There, nestled amongst the rocks, I found another cave. I didn¡¯t venture too far in, still a little traumatized by my previous underground adventure. Just as I stepped inside, the heavens opened up again, as if on cue.


    The weather here had a flair for the dramatic.


    Inside, I focused on the fur and leather. I¡¯m no master tailor¡ªor even a novice one, really¡ªbut with makeshift bone needles and plant thread, I managed to cobble together some rudimentary clothing. It was more like a patchwork quilt than anything you¡¯d see on a runway, but it was something.


    When I was done, I wrapped the remaining materials into a makeshift bag. I might need it later. This makeshift outfit wasn¡¯t exactly built to last. I had a feeling I¡¯d be doing a lot of mending, and I wanted to be prepared.


    As I finished, the rain began to ease, then stopped altogether. I was about to head out, when a low rumbling sound stopped me dead in my tracks. A quick sniff confirmed my suspicions: that familiar, truly foul odor wafted from the depths of the cave. A moment later, the familiar dinosaur-headed lizard crawled into view.


    A wave of affection washed over me, a mix of fondness and exasperation. ¡°Of course you found me again,¡± I said, grinning despite myself. ¡°You did find me the first time, after all.¡± It wasn¡¯t exactly a shock. Rexy had clearly been in this area far longer than I had. ¡°You still reek!¡± I added with a laugh, giving its head a hearty pat.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    In response, its long tongue wrapped around me in a sloppy, enthusiastic hug, its gargantuan body wiggling with excitement, tail thumping rhythmically against the cave wall. The cave shuddered.


    ¡°Seriously, how do you keep finding me?¡± I asked Rexy, who promptly poked me with its snout, as if offering the most obvious answer in the world. I supposed it could smell or sense me somehow.


    ¡°So, what do you want to do now? Travel with me?¡± I asked Rexy.


    ¡°Arrerrgh,¡± Rexy trumpeted in what I took as enthusiastic agreement.


    ¡°But I¡¯ve got nothing to feed that appetite of yours,¡± I said worriedly. ¡°According to Bailey, the rodents away from here aren¡¯t nearly big enough. And, well, your size? It¡¯s going to draw so much attention.¡±


    ¡°Aheehehe,¡± she tilted her head back, gargled, and then spat out a neck leash-like item. It landed with a surprisingly gentle plop at my feet.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I asked, picking up the surprisingly well-preserved leash. It looked almost¡­new. Rexy then nudged its neck against me. ¡°It¡¯s¡­for you?¡±


    ¡°Arrerrgeeg,¡± Rexy rumbled, nodding its massive head.


    I carefully clambered around Rexy¡¯s neck, fastening the leash. It fit surprisingly well, like it had been custom-made. A dense aura suddenly enveloped Rexy, and before my eyes, it began to shrink. In a matter of moments, it was no bigger than a small gecko.


    Dr. Keyser is definitely a comic book supervillain.


    I let Rexy crawl onto my arm. ¡°That¡¯s from Dr. Keyser?¡± I asked. Rexy nodded in my hand, its tiny head bobbing.


    Carefully placing Rexy back on the ground, I removed the leash. She promptly swelled back to her original, bus-sized proportions with a satisfying whoosh.


    I examined the leash closely, then, on a whim, looped it around my own waist as a belt. Nothing happened. I guess this item is Rexy-exclusive.


    ¡°Guess that solves the size problem, at least,¡± I remarked. Rexy responded with a massive, toothy grin that could rival a megalodon¡¯s.


    ¡°Arrgegr,¡± Rexy rumbled, dipping her head in a surprisingly graceful bow for a creature of its size.


    I clambered onto Rexy¡¯s back, and it promptly stood. ¡°By the way,¡± I remarked, wrinkling my nose, ¡°you should really take a bath.¡± Rexy instantly bucked me off, sending me tumbling to the ground, and bolted.


    ¡°Wait! You need to clean up a bit! That smell is a bit too¡­ noticeable!¡± I yelled, scrambling to my feet and chasing after it. ¡°There¡¯s a delicious snack by the lake!¡± I added as an incentive. It was always good to have a bargaining chip.


    Rexy finally skidded to a halt, kicking up a small cloud of dust. ¡°Follow me,¡± I said, leading it back to the lake where I¡¯d left the carcass.


    When we arrived, only about two-thirds of it remained. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the snack,¡± I pointed out, gesturing to the remaining remains. Rexy immediately went to sniff it, then jumped excitedly, letting out a joyful squeal, and took a massive bite.


    Rexy devoured the rest in a few quick chomps, bones and all. ¡°Now jump in for your bath!¡± I called out, pointing towards the water.

 Ch 7 (3/5): Civilization

    ¡°Arrger?¡± Rexy whined, giving me its best puppy-dog eyes¡ªwhich were still the size of dinner plates¡ªbefore trying to make another getaway. I grabbed its tail, holding on tight. It was like trying to hold onto a runaway fire hose, but I managed to keep my grip.


    Rexy reluctantly waded into the lake. The water instantly began to bubble and churn, turning a vibrant, almost radioactive purple. Small fish and other critters floated to the surface, belly up.


    How many years has it been since you last bathed¡­? I wondered, staring at the bubbling, purple water.


    After a while, the purple hue faded, the lake returning to its usual crystalline clarity. I took a cautious sniff¡ªthankfully, Rexy¡¯s¡­ unique aroma had dissipated. It smelled almost¡­ normal now. Almost.


    ¡°Alright, all clean!¡± I declared, giving Rexy a once-over. ¡°Now, can you sniff out Bailey?¡±


    Rexy gave a slight shake of her massive head. No such luck. We retraced our steps to where we¡¯d last seen him. He was long gone, undoubtedly safe and sound, and probably already whipping up another culinary catastrophe involving questionable ingredients and questionable cooking methods.


    I plopped down by the edge of the forest, considering our next move. Rexy promptly lay down beside me, creating a small earthquake in the process. I really should find other people, or a town¡ªthat had been the original plan when I¡¯d escaped Dr. Keyser¡¯s lab.


    ¡°Hey, Rexy,¡± I asked, gesturing towards the imposing mountain range looming in the distance. ¡°Think you could, you know, carry me over that?¡±


    ¡°Arrgr?¡± Rexy looked puzzled, then abruptly began digging a hole in the ground. Again.


    ¡°No¡­ no¡­ not again,¡± I groaned, shaking my head. ¡°I can¡¯t do the underground thing again. I need sunlight. Fresh air. Things that aren¡¯t dark moist rocks.¡± Rexy, to her credit, immediately stopped digging, kicking up a small cloud of dust.


    I clambered back onto Rexy¡¯s broad back, settling into a somewhat precarious position between her spines. ¡°So, over the mountain it is,¡± I reiterated, pointing towards the peaks. ¡°Bailey¡¯s map showed a town on the other side. Do you happen to know where that is?¡±


    ¡°Arrgr,¡± Rexy rumbled, giving a decisive nod. Then, without further ado, she took off towards the mountain, her powerful legs eating up the ground.


    Rexy ascended the mountain with surprising ease, barely breaking a sweat. We were about halfway up when she abruptly stopped, sniffing the air. Oh, right. Food. Just like old times underground. She vanished into a nearby copse of trees, presumably in search of a mid-climb snack.


    After a short wait, Rexy returned, looking quite satisfied. We continued our ascent, finally reaching the summit. Rexy then led us down a long, verdant valley nestled between the twin peaks, eventually emerging on the other side.


    From this vantage point, I got my first proper glimpse of the city, and the sheer alien nature of it hit me with full force. There was absolutely no doubt about it now. I was definitely not on Earth anymore.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    The city sprawled across the rugged mountain basin like a collection of iridescent soap bubbles, a dazzling display of glass and polished metal. Towering, translucent domes encapsulated vibrant green spaces, tiered skyscrapers that seemed to defy gravity, and bustling streets filled with¡­ something. I couldn''t quite make out the details from this distance.


    Lush gardens cascaded down terraced levels, weaving through clusters of futuristic architecture that looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. Streams of water tumbled down artificial cliffs, creating the illusion of miniature waterfalls and rivers, adding to the surreal beauty of the scene. It was¡­ breathtaking. And utterly bizarre.


    The domes were interconnected by a network of crystal-clear tubes, resembling veins in some colossal, living organism, sleek vehicles zipping through them like blood cells. At the heart of each dome, colossal machines descended deep into the ground, their gargantuan structures resembling metallic roots burrowing into the basin¡¯s core.


    ¡°Guess those are the mines Bailey was talking about,¡± I mutter, more to myself than Rexy.


    Despite the sun dipping below the horizon, the city¡¯s domes glow like giant pearls, their interiors bathed in a soft, ethereal light that seems to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once. High above, flying vehicles zip and zoom, weaving intricate patterns between the domes and the darkening sky.


    I considered my immediate needs. Namely, cash. In a human society, cash is king. I glance at Rexy, who¡¯s busy sniffing a particularly interesting rock. ¡°You got any more adamantine?¡± I ask.


    Rexy shakes her head, a slight puff of dust erupting from her nostrils.


    ¡°Any other ores? Gold? Silver? Anything shiny and valuable?¡±


    Rexy looks thoughtful for a moment, then nods, a low rumble emanating from her chest. She sets me down and dashes back into the forest, promptly vanishing underground with a familiar thump.


    It¡¯s always a little unnerving how quickly she can disappear. After the sun fully disappears, painting the sky in shades of deep purple and orange, Rexy returns, dropping two egg-sized ores at my feet.


    I pick one up for a closer look. Under the moonlight, it gleams with a rich golden hue, shot through with veins of pure gold. ¡°Perfect!¡± I give Rexy a grateful rub between the ears. ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver, Rexy.¡±


    Pointing Rexy towards one of the roadways that winds down the mountain, we begin our slow descent. We follow the road, drawing closer to the city¡¯s outskirts, the sheer scale of it becoming even more apparent.


    Once we¡¯re close enough, I clip the leash on Rexy. With a soft poof, she shrinks back down to gecko size, promptly scrambling up my back and nestling into my hair.


    I pull my furs and leathers tighter around myself, trying to blend in. I remember Bailey¡¯s warning¡ªkeeping a low profile is crucial. Given my¡­ distinctive appearance ¨C I¡¯m not exactly your average local ¨C I need a way to enter the city without attracting unwanted attention.


    Now, how do I get into the city¡­ I stroke my chin thoughtfully, scanning the surroundings. There has to be some kind of inconspicuous entrance.


    If it¡¯s anything like human society back on Earth, this is prime sneaking-in time. Night owls and all that. I sidle towards one of the main entrances. It¡¯s practically deserted, save for a few figures tapping what look like metal cards against a panel to enter.


    Definitely not blending in with the ¡°authorized personnel¡± crowd. Guess this isn¡¯t a good way to get in.


    My attention is drawn to the other side of the entrance, where massive, levitating vehicles ¨C like oversized, futuristic trucks ¨C are gliding in and out of what appear to be docking bays beneath the domes. Probably hauling merchandise and supplies for the city¡¯s inhabitants.

 Ch 7 (4/5): Civilization

    I decide to tail one of these behemoths, observing the inspection process.


    The security seems surprisingly lax. I keep an eye out for any watchful eyes, but there¡¯s not a single guard in sight ¨C human or otherwise. The vehicles dock, their cargo holds open, and some kind of scanning device sweeps over the contents before they close and the vehicle moves on. It¡¯s all very efficient and¡­ unattended. Perfect.


    Seizing the opportunity, I dart behind a stack of crates on a truck that¡¯s just finished inspection. This one¡¯s loaded with what look like giant, alien looking fruits and vegetables. I huddle behind a particularly large, pulsating melon looking fruit, and the cargo hold smoothly seals shut. Moments later, the truck hums to life and we¡¯re off.


    The ride is surprisingly smooth. Not a single piece of produce shifts, even with the occasional start, stop, and gentle turn. When we finally come to a halt, tiny lights blink on at the base of the crates. The cargo hold opens again, and small, industrious robots emerge, efficiently unloading the cargo. I take my chance and hop off, blending into the shadows as the robots begin their work.


    I¡¯m inside! Even though it¡¯s still late, the area under the dome is brilliantly lit. The air is crisp and clean, and the architecture is stunning. I can¡¯t help but gawk a little. The streets are empty of people, but small cleaning and maintenance robots are everywhere, silently going about their business.


    ¡°This is a mining city?¡± I whisper to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. It looks more like some kind of utopian paradise.


    It definitely puts the old dirty polluting coal mines back on Earth to shame.


    Wandering around these empty streets isn¡¯t a good idea. I¡¯m going to draw too much attention to myself. I promptly duck into a narrow alleyway. I¡¯ll need to find a pawn shop or something similar to exchange these gold ores for some local currency.


    Suddenly, a thought strikes me. This isekai, despite its alien sheen, feels¡­ oddly familiar. It¡¯s like someone took Earth, gave it a futuristic, sci-fi makeover, then liberally sprinkled it with ancient mythology.


    I mean, shouldn¡¯t everything be completely alien? Yet, there are humans, chatting away in English. The creatures are definitely¡­ different, but you can still spot familiar biological blueprints. And then there¡¯s the tech. These guys are eons ahead of us, sure, but the underlying principles feel¡­ similar.


    Annunaki¡­ those are Mesopotamian gods, right? Are they actually a thing here? And the locals are called Mesoselenians? Seriously? It¡¯s like they¡¯re not even trying to be subtle.


    The map, as I vaguely recall it from my brief glimpse, looks completely different from Earth at first glance, but¡­ the oceans, the continents¡­ they¡¯re all still there, just rearranged a bit.


    Okay, so I know there¡¯s an afterlife. I¡¯ve, uh, experienced that firsthand. But a creator? Is there some cosmic puppeteer pulling all the strings? Or am I stuck in some ridiculously elaborate simulation? Maybe I should start looking for glitches in the matrix. Or maybe I¡¯m the glitch.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Lost in these existential ponderings, the night breezes by. When the morning sun peeks over the horizon, the dome slowly awakens. The cleaning bots vanish, and actual people start appearing on the streets.


    Interestingly, no one seemed to be in any particular hurry. Unlike the world I¡¯m from, where everyone seems to be perpetually rushing to some unseen appointment, here, everyone moves at a more¡­ civilized pace. It¡¯s almost unsettling.


    I wandered the pristine streets cautiously, trying my best not to attract any unwanted attention, before stumbling upon what looked like a business district. I spotted a massive, imposing building. A gavel and a sign that read ¡°Petralis Auction House¡± hung prominently above the entrance. Not exactly the pawn shop I was looking for. A little disappointed, I was about to move on.


    ¡°Good morning, honored guest,¡± a voice stopped me. A tall, slim man quickly came in front of me and bowed. I quickly shut my eyes before he looked up.


    ¡°Esteemed¡­ guests¡­ My apologies. You have arrived at the Petralis Auction House. The commencement of the auction is not until noon; your arrival precedes it by some hours. Might I arrange for a conveyance to return you to your lodgings? Or, should you have accommodations reserved in conjunction with the auction, I would be pleased to escort you there to await the proper time,¡± the man asked in a very sophisticated and polite voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for an auction,¡± I mumbled, still blinded, trying to figure out if this guy was a threat or just ridiculously polite.


    Do I look like a galactic trillionaire? Maybe if I still had that adamantine¡­ never mind.


    ¡°My deepest apologies. I confess, observing your¡­ exceptional attire, I presumed you were here in anticipation of the auction. A regrettable misjudgment on my part,¡± the man continued, his tone laced with just a hint of bewilderment.


    These furs and leathers are extraordinary?!


    ¡°Well, I see you¡¯re a man of great fashion sense!¡± I replied, puffing out my chest a little. Fake it ¡®til you make it, right? ¡°Actually, I¡¯m looking to sell some stuff. Do you mind telling me where a pawn shop is?¡±


    ¡°A¡­ pawn shop?¡± The man sounded utterly shocked. ¡°I must implore you. Should you possess items of value you wish to divest yourself of, I urge you to consider our establishment. Our appraisers are without peer, and we assure you the most advantageous valuations for your treasures. Our commission rates are, I venture to say, the most reasonable within the city,¡± the man said with a gentle, guiding touch to my arm.


    ¡°Alright, alright¡­ I¡¯ll show you what I have to offer,¡± I conceded. I couldn¡¯t exactly refuse someone this eager. ¡°Arrarrha!¡± a faint giggle echoed from Rexy, nestled in my hair.


    ¡°Oh, and one more thing,¡± I added, gesturing vaguely at my face. ¡°Could you also get me a pair of dark shades? As you can see, my eyes aren¡¯t exactly¡­¡±


    ¡°Indeed. It would be my honor,¡± the man replied in a satisfied voice. He then escorted me inside, guiding me carefully to a private room. I kept my eyes tightly shut the entire time. If anyone saw these eyes, god knows what would happen.


    A few moments later, he returned, presenting me with a pair of sleek, dark shades.¡°If you would prefer some privacy¡­¡± he offered.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± I mumbled, taking the glasses. ¡°Be right back.¡± I ducked into the bathroom, carefully checked for any lingering presence before finally opening my eyes. The shades the man had provided were unexpectedly stylish, crafted from some dark, polished material that seemed to absorb the light around them.


    The moment I slipped them on, they shimmered, then subtly reshaped themselves to perfectly contour to my face. The change almost gave me a heart attack¡ªif I had one.


    Wonder how many arms and legs these things cost, I mused, adjusting the now-perfectly-fitted frames.

 Ch 7 (5/5): Civilization

    I emerged from the restroom to find the man waiting patiently, his posture impeccable. ¡°Thank you for the shades,¡± I said, giving him a small nod.


    ¡°It is my pleasure. Now, if you would allow me¡­¡± He gestured with a flourish. ¡°Let me give you a brief tour.¡±


    The tall, slender man proceeded to show me around the establishment, which turned out to be far grander than I¡¯d initially imagined. We toured the impressive auction room, with its tiered seating and elaborate stage, and even got a glimpse of the ridiculously opulent VIP guest lounge. Finally, we arrived at a large, extravagantly furnished meeting room.


    ¡°If you would be so kind as to wait here for just a moment,¡± the man said with a polite bow, ¡°I shall summon our master appraiser.¡± He then gracefully retreated, leaving me alone in the room.


    Rexy popped her head out of my hair, her tiny eyes wide with curiosity. ¡°Arrarrha?¡± she chirped. ¡°What do you think he wants from us?¡±


    I gently stroked Rexy¡¯s tiny chin, considering the question. ¡°Honestly? I have absolutely no idea,¡± I admitted with a shrug. ¡°But I have a feeling we are about to get some money.¡±


    Soon, I hear footsteps approaching. "Important? Important?! The gavel falls in two hours! Two! No additions. Absolutely not. Unless¡­ well, let''s just see." A booming voice echoes from beyond the door.


    "Master Appraiser! Your presence is urgently requested! You simply must examine this," a familiar voice follows, sounding distinctly strained.


    The doors burst open, and a truly enormous man fills the doorway. ¡°Well, well, what have we here then?¡± T¡°Well, well, what have we here then?¡± the man booms. The instant his gaze lands on my fur clothing, his eyes widen, practically glowing. His jaw drops, hanging open wide enough to swallow a dragon¡¯s egg whole. He stares intently.


    He lunges forward, but I instinctively scramble back, bumping into the wall. He blinked, recovering his composure with a visible effort. ¡°Good heavens, where are my manners? My deepest apologies.¡± The large man executes a surprisingly graceful bow, considering his size. ¡°Theodore Vogue at your service. Theo will do nicely.¡± He extends a hand for a shake.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Val.¡± I take his hand; his grip is firm but not crushing, thankfully.


    ¡°And this, of course, is Wilfred. You¡¯ve met Wilfred, yes?¡± Theo says, gesturing to the tall, slim man from before. His eyes, however, remain glued to my clothing and bag, practically vibrating with curiosity. ¡°Do have a seat. Comfortable? Excellent. Now then, what wonders have you brought before me today?¡±


    Rexy pokes her head out from my hair, sniffing the air. ¡°Arr?¡± she chirps, eyeing Theo with cautious curiosity.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I carefully retrieve the two egg-sized gold vein ores Rexy had provided and place them on the table before Theo. ¡°I was hoping you could tell me how much these might be worth.¡±


    Theo snatches up the ores and begins a close inspection. He holds them up to the light, turns them over in his massive hands, and even sniffs them a couple of times. The more he examines them, however, the more his expression sours. He exchanges a pointed look with Wilfred, a silent conversation passing between them.


    ¡°If you¡¯ll permit me,¡± Theo says, gesturing towards the window with the ores, ¡°I¡¯d like to take a closer look at these¡­ under the natural light. Just a moment.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± I reply. Rexy, still perched in my hair.


    He pulls Wilfred aside, and as he scrutinizes the ores, he speaks to Wilfred in a hushed tone¡ªa tone, thankfully, not hushed enough to escape my great hearing.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? Just¡­ gold? Yes, high purity, I grant you, but¡­ merely gold. Hmm.¡± Theo muttered to Wilfred.


    ¡°I am uncertain, sir.¡± Wilfred cast a discreet glance back at me, lowering his voice to a near whisper. ¡°It is possible this is a¡­ test. A measure of our integrity in valuation.¡±


    Theo¡¯s eyes widened in realization. ¡°Wilfred! Ten thousand. Special order. And a note for the Boss. Immediately.¡±


    Wilfred nodded quickly and hurried from the room.


    Theo returned, beaming at me. ¡°I¡¯ll be frank. You nearly had me there. Almost. But no. These¡­ they¡¯re just gold. Rare for the common folk, perhaps, but for us? Trifles. One, perhaps two thousand each. At most.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Before I could get a word in, Theo cut me off.


    ¡°Come now, we both know you didn¡¯t come here for these. Let¡¯s see the real reason you¡¯re here. Show me what you intend to auction.¡± Theo said, his eyes still glued to my bag.


    Just then, Wilfred returns, placing a sleek, black metallic card on the table in front of me. It has a subtle shimmer to it, like polished obsidian.


    ¡°Ten thousand. A small token. A gesture of¡­ goodwill. From the Petralis Auction House. For a¡­ prospective associate.¡± Theo says, smoothly pushing the card towards me. His smile hasn''t faltered for a second.


    I pick up the card, turning it over in my fingers. It feels surprisingly light. So, this is like a gift card? A very fancy, very expensive gift card. ¡°Thank you for your generosity,¡± I say with a polite smile, deciding to play along with this bizarre charade.


    Rexy gives a little chirp from my hair, as if agreeing with my assessment.


    I grabbed my bag and tossed it onto the table. ¡°Take a look.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure what kind of reaction to expect, but Theo¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head as a cascade of folded hides, teeth, and bones spilled out.


    ¡°If I may¡­?¡± Theo said, almost drooling onto the table.


    I gestured for him to proceed. He eagerly unfolding each piece and laying it out with meticulous care. ¡°Marvelous¡­ Simply marvelous¡­ How¡­ Never mind. Forgive my¡­ enthusiasm.¡± Theo quickly regained his composure, though a slight tremor remained in his hands.


    He pulled out a sleek, tablet-like device and began scanning and recording everything on the table.


    ¡°Yes¡­ Three hundred years, undoubtedly. Extraordinary¡­ A tad damp, hasn¡¯t been properly cared for, I see. But¡­ remarkably fresh. Not even a week old. Remarkable¡­ Yes¡­¡± Theo muttered, his voice trailing off as he continued his inspection, measuring, and recording with feverish intensity.

 Ch 8 (1/5): Barter

    The door swung open once more, and a stunning young woman with long, flowing black hair entered, radiating an aura of effortless elegance.


    She wore a futuristic dress that hugged her curves, showcasing her impressive figure. She glided into the room, holding a long, thin pipe from which wisps of fragrant smoke curled.


    Wow¡­ talk about making an entrance.


    "Ooh, my, my¡­ what treasures have the winds blown in? Such¡­ interesting wares." The woman¡¯s perfectly manicured finger traced a line across one of the furs, pausing just before me.


    "So, you''re the one who brought these little beauties to my attention? How¡­ fortunate." Her gaze met mine, a look that felt both mesmerizing and, well, a little dangerous.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Theo scurried to her side and began whispering urgently into her ear. ¡°Genuine. Absolutely genuine. Hide and fur from a live Oroskaros. At least three centuries old. Teeth, some bone fragments as well. All from the same beast. Without a doubt. We¡­¡± The young lady abruptly pushed Theo away with a delicate hand.


    ¡°I must say, I''m simply thrilled you''ve chosen to grace my humble establishment with such¡­ exquisite rarities," the young lady said, a flirtatious smile playing on her lips.


    ¡°Allow me to present our proprietor, the esteemed Miss Raven Jin,¡± Wilfred announced. She casually sat down across the table and crossed her legs, resting her feet on the tabletop.


    ¡°Great to meet you,¡±  I said, leaning back in my chair, trying to project an air of nonchalant confidence.


    These hides and bones are seriously rare and valuable, I see. Too bad I couldn¡¯t lug back more of the carcass. That thing was huge!


    ¡°Can you spit that creature back out?¡± I whispered to Rexy, nestled in my hair. I could feel it furiously shaking its tiny head. Too bad¡­


    Raven exhaled a few more puffs of fragrant smoke, her eyes continuing their thorough assessment. It felt like being examined under a microscope, a very stylish, expensive microscope.


    I sat across from her, putting on the performance of a lifetime, pretending to be utterly at ease in this bizarre, high-stakes situation.


    Hopefully, she doesn¡¯t notice I¡¯m winging this. Smooth moves, Val. Real smooth.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Raven gave Wilfred a subtle nod. "Allow me to present the contract and the particulars of the auction proceedings." Wilfred announced, as if on cue. He dutifully pulled out a stack of paperwork.


    I casually tossed the stack back at Wilfred. ¡°Look, if I trust you, these won¡¯t matter. If you try to scam me, these won¡¯t help either. So, they¡¯re basically just useless trash. Just tell me how you¡¯re going to collect your fees.¡±


    Raven¡¯s lips curved into a sly smile. "Val, you say? A name that suits you¡­ it has a certain¡­ ring to it. I have a feeling we''re going to be very good for each other." She puffed a perfect ring of smoke, aiming it rather precisely at my face.


    "Now, honey bun," she drawled, leaning forward, "let''s talk business, shall we? I offer two delightful options. The first: I make you a¡­ generous offer for these lovelies," she gestured towards the table laden with my finds, "and they become¡­ mine to do with as I please. The second, and perhaps more¡­ exciting option: we auction them off, and I simply take a small¡­ token of appreciation for my¡­ invaluable services." She winked, the smoke from her pipe curling around her face like a playful phantom.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with the auction then,¡± I said. I needed to get a sense of the market value of¡­ well, whatever these were. Besides, an auction sounded way more entertaining than a simple sale.


    "But¡­ for you, Val¡­" Raven leaned closer, her eyes glittering with an almost predatory gleam. ¡°I might be persuaded to make an¡­ exception. Let''s just say¡­ if you promise to bring me more of these¡­ rare and exotic wares, I might just¡­ forget about my usual¡­ fees. Wouldn''t that be¡­ intriguing?" She trailed off, her voice a silken whisper that seemed to slither into my ears.


    ¡°I can¡¯t promise I can get more. If I do, I¡¯ll auction them with you guys,¡± I said, crossing my arms. ¡°But I don¡¯t like owing favors. Since you offered such goodwill, I¡¯ll offer something for you as well.¡±


    Glancing down at my decidedly unfashionable attire. ¡°These rugs aren¡¯t exactly haute couture. If you can get me some decent quality clothes. I¡¯ll trade these¡­ outfits, to you guys for them.¡± I gestured at my current attire. ¡°These rugs aren¡¯t exactly haute couture. If you can get me some decent quality fashion, I¡¯ll trade these¡­ outfits, to you guys for them.¡±


    Theo practically launched himself across the table, grabbing my arms with an almost desperate fervor. "Are you certain?!" His eyes were wide with a mix of excitement and disbelief.


    "Oh, Theo¡­ you''re such a¡­ delight. Now, run along and¡­ charm someone else," Raven purred, smoothly detaching Theo¡¯s hands from my person with a practiced flick of her wrist. "Wilfred, my dear, do see to it that our¡­ fascinating guest receives the full¡­ royal treatment."


    Raven stood, executing a little catwalk as she sauntered towards the exit. It was a performance, every step calculated to draw attention. As she reached the door, she paused, glancing back over her shoulder, a sly smile playing on her lips.


    She whispered just loud enough for me to hear over the general hubbub of the room, "Val¡­ ''Vitruvian Artificial Life''¡­ such an intriguing being. I have a feeling our paths are destined to¡­ cross again.¡± She punctuated the statement with another puff of perfumed smoke, which lingered in the air like a ghostly echo of her presence.


    I stood abruptly, nearly toppling my chair in my haste. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end, if they could. As Raven vanished through the doorway, I turned to Rexy, my voice a low hiss. "Do you recognize her?" I felt Rexy¡¯s familiar head shake against my shoulders, the movement a clear negative.

 Ch 8 (2/5): Barter

    ¡°This way, please,¡± Wilfred says, leading me out of the auction house. We board a sleek vehicle¡ªmore like a futuristic, self-driving pod, really¡ªthat zips through a glass connector to another dome.


    Wilfred then ushers me into a skyscraper and up to the top floor. The doors open to reveal a vast workshop with a stunning panoramic view. Robots whir and click at various workstations, diligently performing tasks I can¡¯t even begin to fathom.


    Why do these robots need such a luxurious workspace? Do they even see the view?


    Suddenly, I was surrounded by robots, their scanning lights briefly sweeping over me before they returned to their tasks. Wilfred then led me into a private room and presented me with a menu.


    "If I may inquire as to your preferences for the morning''s repast?" Wilfred explained. "It will require some time to prepare a suitable offering."


    I looked at the menu, which listed many things, none of which I recognized. ¡°Give me a small portion of everything,¡± I said to Wilfred calmly. ¡°I want to try them all.¡±


    It¡¯s hard pretending to be a billionaire. It¡¯s even harder pretending to be a billionaire with sophisticated tastes.


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Wilfred replied. He left and returned with three robots pushing carts laden with dishes. The robots served each course one by one, waiting for me to finish before presenting the next.


    Each dish looked like a work of art, and each portion was indeed very small. The food tasted amazing¡ªan elaborate yet elegant combination of textures and tastes. Talk about fine dining.


    To be honest, I still like Bailey¡¯s cooking best. I wonder where he is.


    After I¡¯d sampled everything, the robots cleared the room, and Wilfred returned carrying a button-like device. ¡°This garment button incorporates a most remarkable advancement. Its core contains countless nanoscopic robots.¡±


    ¡°Nanobots?!¡±  I blurted out, then quickly schooled my expression into something resembling nonchalant acceptance. ¡°Acceptable trade.¡±


    This world really feels like a comic book now.


    ¡°Indeed. These nanoscopic robots will conform seamlessly to your form, assuming any appearance you desire. I have pre-loaded ten thousand distinct styles for your perusal,¡± Wilfred continued, his tone as even and professional as ever.


    ¡°So¡­ how do I choose?¡± I felt like a caveman walking into a mall, completely lost!A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°The interface will manifest before you upon donning the button. These nanoscopic robots possess exceptional resilience. Any that may be damaged will self-replicate for immediate repair. Naturally, a master override is incorporated, as with all such devices, should any unforeseen circumstance arise,¡± Wilfred finished, handing me the button.


    Wilfred left the room for me to change. I stripped off the fur and leather, placing the button device at the nape of my neck¡ªa secure, secretive spot hidden by my long hair. A beam of light projected outwards, and an interface materialized before me.


    I¡¯m incredibly uncertain about the fashion sense in this world. Everyone I¡¯ve seen sports wildly different and unique outfits. I suppose it¡¯s just a cultural thing.


    Navigating through the options, selecting each individual piece of clothing, assembling a set that felt both familiar and comfortable while also blending in with the local style. There¡¯s even a preset function, so I quickly whipped up a couple of outfits for various potential scenarios.


    Emerging from the room, I was draped in a flowing white hooded cloak, the fabric catching the light with subtle grace. Beneath it, I wore a sleek, grey long-sleeved top paired with matching bottoms, with minimal design and patterns.


    A few carefully chosen accessories adorned my look¡ªnot just for practicality but also for a touch of mystery. My face was partially obscured by a dark, intricately crafted mask, adding a touch of elegance and intrigue.


    Mostly, it hides my glowing golden pupils. It¡¯s all carefully curated to ensure I don¡¯t appear too conspicuous, and definitely not like some kind of assassin.


    I¡¯m aiming for ¡°background character,¡± not ¡°protagonist of a gritty revenge story.¡±


    I feel like I¡¯m dressing up a character in a game. Nanobots¡ªno need to worry about washing clothes or them falling apart on me again.


    I walked out of the room and gave Wilfred back the shades he¡¯d lent me, along with the hide clothes I¡¯d removed.


    Wilfred carefully stored the hides, remarking, ¡°You possess impeccable taste.¡± He then added, ¡°The auction is about to commence. If you would be so kind as to follow me.¡±


    We promptly returned to the auction house, now packed with people and robots. The air crackled with anticipation, a low hum of hushed conversations.


    Wilfred led me to one of the VIP rooms. ¡°Our Mistress has authorized a minimum reserve of five million for these pieces. Should they not achieve this valuation, she has assured me she will cover the discrepancy.¡±


    Fi¡­Fi¡­ FIVE MILLION! That¡¯s almost the same as my entire life savings from my past life.


    This is normal, this is normal, I am an isekai MC, being around exorbitant sums of money is normal!


    A hush fell over the room. A spotlight snapped on, illuminating the center stage! And there she was, our auctioneer, beaming a smile that could melt glaciers.


    ¡°Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to today¡¯s extraordinary auction!¡± she announced, her voice ringing out clear and strong, easily cutting through the previous murmur. ¡°For those unfamiliar, the rules are simple: highest bidder wins! Now, without further ado¡­¡± She gestured dramatically as a platform rose smoothly from the floor, bathed in soft, ethereal light. On it rested¡­ a scroll. Just a scroll.


    After all that buildup, it was just a rolled-up piece of parchment. I almost fell off my chair.

 Ch 8 (3/5): Barter

    "Behold!" the auctioneer proclaims, her voice filled with reverence. "Lot number one! The Words of the Harbinger! Yes, you heard right! The very knowledge bestowed upon Lord Cartier himself! This isn''t some copy, folks! This is the real deal! Authenticated by the finest experts, sourced from a most reputable collector ¨C I assure you! This scroll, ladies and gentlemen, held the secrets to mass production! Industrialization! A fine addition to any collection. A true treasure! Now¡­ let''s talk bidding. We''re starting this magnificent artifact at a mere 500,000 Ads! Do I hear 500,000?"


    Harbinger?


    "500,000 I have! Do I hear 550? Yes! 550,000 from the lady in the front! The bidding is heating up! 600,000! 650,000! The numbers are climbing! 700,000! The excitement is palpable! 800,000! We''re flying now, ladies and gentlemen! 900,000! The bids are coming in fast and furious! One million Ads! We''ve hit the million mark! Do I hear 1.1 million? Yes! 1.1 million from the gentleman in the back! A fierce competition! 1.2 million! The bidding war rages on! 1.2 million I have! Do I hear 1.3? No? Going once! Going twice! Sold! For 1.2 million Ads! What a fantastic price for such an extraordinary piece! Congratulations to the winning bidder!"


    The auctioneer beams, clearly pleased with the opening sale. I watch as the scroll is whisked away, replaced by another item.


    This process repeats for the next couple of items. People here are interested in handcrafted, natural items, and antiques.


    Very much like Earth, rich people are only looking for rare and exotic items. It seems the fundamentals of wealth and collecting transcend worlds.


    Finally, it¡¯s my turn. A nervous flutter stirs in my stomach. This is it. The moment of truth.


    "And now," the auctioneer''s voice drops to a near whisper, a dramatic pause hanging in the air. The lights dim slightly, focusing on the newly risen platform. "Something truly¡­ extraordinary." She gestures with a gloved hand. "A set of teeth from a 300-year-old Oroskaros."


    A hush falls over the crowd. Utter silence. You could hear a pin drop. Even I hold my breath, waiting to see how this goes.


    "Authentic," she emphasizes, her voice regaining its strength, "Wild Oroskaros. This magnificent creature, sadly, passed just as these teeth were retrieved. Ensuring their¡­ pristine condition. A truly rare opportunity, ladies and gentlemen. A glimpse into a dangerous treasure few have ever seen." She lets the silence linger for a moment, then, with a sharp intake of breath: "We''ll start the bidding on this exceptional lot at¡­ 100 thousand Ads."The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The silence is shattered by a booming voice from the crowd. "100 thousand!"


    The auctioneer''s eyes widen slightly, a flicker of excitement in her gaze. "One hundred thousand! We have 100 thousand! Do I hear 120? 120 thousand! Yes! From the lady in the blue! The bidding is off to a roaring start! 150 thousand!"


    Another voice cuts through the air. "300 thousand!"


    "Three hundred thousand! The numbers are climbing rapidly! Do I hear 350? 400 thousand! We have 400 thousand! The tension is palpable! This is a truly remarkable piece! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"


    The bids continue to escalate, the room buzzing with anticipation. "700 thousand! 900 thousand! The million mark is broken! 1.1 million! 1.2 million! The bids are flying in! 1.3 million! Do I hear 1.4? No? 1.3 million! Going once¡­" She raises her gavel. "Going twice¡­" The gavel falls with a sharp crack. "SOLD! For 1.3 million Ads! To the collector bot in the front row! Congratulations! A magnificent acquisition!"


    ¡°The bidding is¡­ restrained today,¡± Wilfred commented, a dry note in his voice.


    ¡°And now¡­ behold!¡± The auctioneer gestures towards the next platform rising from the floor. This one is significantly larger, bearing a massive rack upon which is stretched¡­ an entire hide. The fur gleams, impossibly clean and vibrant, looking almost as if it had been taken from the animal just moments ago. ¡°The complete back hide of a wild Oroskaros!¡± she announces, her voice filled with awe.


    ¡°Observe the quality! No tears, completely intact! Peeling this magnificent specimen was done mere moments after its natural passing, preserving its pristine condition. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a truly unparalleled piece.¡± She pauses, allowing the crowd to take in the sheer size and splendor of the hide. ¡°The texture¡­ the sheen¡­ it¡¯s simply breathtaking.¡±


    But before she can even delve into the specifics, a voice booms from the crowd. ¡°2 million!¡±


    The auctioneer¡¯s eyes widen in surprise, but she quickly recovers. ¡°Two million! We have an opening bid of two million! Do I hear two and a half?¡±


    ¡°3 million!¡± another voice shouts, cutting through the air.


    ¡°Three million! The bidding is heating up already! Do I hear three and a half?¡±


    ¡°3.5 million!¡± comes the immediate response.


    ¡°Three and a half million! The bidding war has begun in earnest! The energy in the room is electric! Four million! Five million! Six million! The numbers are climbing at an astonishing pace! Seven million! The tension is palpable!¡±


    Suddenly, a calm, measured voice echoes from one of the VIP viewing boxes overlooking the auction floor. ¡°10 million.¡±


    The room falls silent. All eyes turn towards the VIP box. The auctioneer¡¯s expression is a mixture of surprise and delight. ¡°Ten million! We have ten million! A commanding bid! Ten million! Do I hear eleven? No? Ten million¡­ going once¡­¡± She raises her gavel, her eyes scanning the crowd one last time. ¡°Going twice¡­¡± The gavel falls with a resounding crack. ¡°SOLD! For ten million Ads! To the esteemed patron in the VIP box! A truly magnificent acquisition! Congratulations!¡±

 Ch 8 (4/5): Barter

    I¡¯m completely dumbfounded by the price. I just sit there in silence.


    How much is a million Ads, anyway? I seriously need to get a handle on the local economy.


    ¡°That was a most advantageous acquisition,¡± Wilfred comments. ¡°Such complete hides of this exceptional quality are exceedingly rare, particularly from a creature believed extinct for nearly a millennium.¡±


    Extinct?! Well, well, well¡­ talk about hitting the jackpot. Maybe some benevolent deity is smiling down on me after all.


    The last of my lot is a couple of bones. If I¡¯d known they were worth that much, I would have kept the entire carcass. The bones end up auctioning for a million Ads each, netting me a cool couple of million.


    Not bad. Not bad at all. I might even be able to afford a decent place to stay after this.


    The woman continues with the auction, but nothing catches my attention. I¡¯m just here for the laughs now. Until¡­


    ¡°And now, ladies and gentlemen,¡± the auctioneer announces, her voice dropping to a dramatic whisper once again, ¡°the moment you¡¯ve all been waiting for. The grand finale. The last item of tonight¡¯s extraordinary auction.¡± The lights dim, focusing solely on the rising platform. Upon it rests a single, unassuming book.


    An item that I am all too familiar with¡ªDr. Keyser¡¯s notebook from his lab! I have no doubt it¡¯s the same one. I recognize the burn mark on the cover!


    "Behold," she proclaims, her voice ringing with excitement, "a book of forbidden secrets! But there''s a catch¡­ it must be deciphered." She pauses for effect, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Authentically written by¡­ Dr. Kurtis Keyser!"


    A collective gasp ripples through the crowd. Murmurs erupt.


    "Yes!" the auctioneer confirms, her voice rising above the din. "Dr. Kurtis Keyser himself! The infamous fugitive! The brilliant mind who dared to challenge the Harbingers! The man who was hunted relentlessly¡­ and escaped! Two hundred years ago!" She lets the name hang in the air, savoring the moment. "This book, ladies and gentlemen, is not just an artifact; it''s a piece of history. A testament to defiance. A key, perhaps, to unlocking secrets the Harbingers desperately wanted to keep buried." She gestures towards the book. "Imagine the knowledge contained within these pages! But remember¡­ it must be deciphered. Are you up to the challenge?"


    Two hundred years?! How old is that old man?! And he actually went up against the Harbingers?!


    I sit there, stunned. My brain scrambles to catch up. They haven¡¯t cracked the code yet, huh? But they¡¯re betting whatever¡¯s inside is worth as much as a shiny new Harbinger scroll¡ªuntapped knowledge that could push humanity forward again.


    Did Bailey put this up for auction? That doesn''t sound like him. He idolized Keyser. Either he''s been lying to me all along, or something terrible must have happened to him.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Who is selling this?!¡± I asked Wilfred, my voice a low rumble.


    Wilfred bowed slightly. ¡°With respect to client confidentiality, I am unable to divulge information regarding the seller, just as we shall maintain discretion regarding your own involvement. Auction House regulations stipulate no inquiry into an item¡¯s provenance, provided it is presented legally and in good order.¡±


    The auctioneer''s voice echoed through the hall, a mix of excitement and anticipation. "The bidding is open, ladies and gentlemen! What am I bid for this extraordinary piece of history? This key to forbidden knowledge?" The price began to climb, but at a more measured pace than previous items. A sense of caution hung in the air.


    ¡°Three million¡­ four million¡­ five million¡­¡± The numbers ticked upward, but the pauses between bids stretched longer, each tick a drawn-out breath in the tense atmosphere.


    ¡°If I win,¡± I murmured to Wilfred, breaking the strained silence, ¡°any chance of a post-auction meet-and-greet with the seller?¡±


    ¡°If the seller consents,¡± Wilfred replied, his face a mask of professional neutrality, ¡°then such an arrangement may be possible.¡± He sounded like he was reciting auction house policy straight from a dusty manual.


    The auctioneer''s voice continued, "Six million! Going once¡­ going twice¡­"


    ¡°Seven million!¡± I yelled out, injecting a sudden burst of energy into the bidding.


    A cool, familiar voice drifted from the VIP room. ¡°Eight million.¡±


    ¡°Nine million!¡± I countered without hesitation.


    ¡°Ten million.¡± The voice from the VIP room remained calm, but there was an edge to it now.


    The bidding war intensified. ¡°Eleven million!¡± ¡°Twelve million!¡± The numbers climbed rapidly, the tension in the room growing thicker with each bid.


    ¡°Say, Wilfred,¡± I asked, lowering my voice conspiratorially, ¡°hypothetically speaking, is it possible to, you know, get a little¡­ loan from the auction house? Don¡¯t have quite so much cash on me at the moment,¡± I added with a casual shrug, as if forgetting a few million was an everyday occurrence.


    Wilfred''s lips curved into a subtle grin. ¡°Our Mistress has graciously offered a line of credit up to ten million, with the most favorable terms available.¡±


    ¡°Excellent!¡± I exclaimed, my confidence surging. ¡°15 million!¡±


    ¡°16 million,¡± the voice from the VIP room responded, now laced with a distinct note of annoyance.


    ¡°18 million!¡± I countered, my voice ringing through the hall. Let¡¯s see how deep their pockets really are.


    Suddenly, a loud CRACK echoes through the room¡ªthe distinct sound of a table being overturned.


    ¡°N-Nineteen million!¡± The voice from the VIP room sounds strained, almost panicked.


    ¡°Twenty million,¡± I announce calmly, my voice steady and unwavering.


    The sound of a door slamming open echoes from the VIP area, followed by a torrent of furious, albeit muffled, curses. Wilfred excuses himself briefly, disappearing towards the commotion. The room falls into an uneasy silence until he returns a moment later, his expression carefully neutral.


    The silence hung heavy in the air after the outburst from the VIP room. All eyes were fixed on the VIP room, a palpable tension gripping the auction hall. The auctioneer, however, remained professional.


    ¡°Twenty million! We have twenty million! A truly remarkable bid for such a unique and¡­ intriguing item. Twenty million¡­ going once¡­¡± She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room, lingering for a moment on the VIP room. ¡°Going twice¡­¡± The tension in the room reached its peak. Every breath seemed to hold.


    Then, with a sharp rap of her gavel, she declared, ¡°SOLD! For twenty million Ads! To the¡­ esteemed bidder!¡± She didn¡¯t specify who, perhaps out of tact given the earlier outburst. A ripple of murmurs went through the crowd, a mix of awe, disbelief, and a lingering sense of unease.

 Ch 8 (5/5): Barter

    ¡°Congratulations on your purchase,¡± Wilfred said, returning to my side, his face still unreadable. He simply nodded curtly.


    ¡°I want to meet the seller,¡± I insist. I need answers. I need to know what happened to Bailey. Or if he¡¯s behind this whole mess.


    ¡°I will attend to it with the utmost diligence,¡± Wilfred replied.


    The auction ended, and the crowd dispersed. If Bailey tried to sell that notebook¡­ well, let¡¯s just say Rexy¡¯s been craving a good¡­ dinner.


    Wilfred returned to the room. ¡°The seller has consented to a meeting. To ensure discretion, you will each occupy separate chambers, communicating through electronic projections.¡±


    ¡°Can you sneak around and find the person and track him after?¡± I whisper to Rexy, placing all my hopes on her now tiny shoulders. I felt a slight shift in my hair¡ªRexy¡¯s version of a nod.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± I tell Wilfred, trying to sound nonchalant.


    ¡°I shall prepare the necessary documentation. Please, this way.¡± Wilfred gestured.


    He leads me to a completely different wing of the building, a maze of polished hallways and hushed whispers. Rexy takes advantage of the relative privacy to slip out of my hair, disappearing into the shadows.


    Smart girl.


    Wilfred ushers me into a stark, minimalist room. The door clicks shut behind me, and a moment later, the projector on the far wall flickers to life. A shadowy, indistinct figure materializes as a 3D projection. This guy¡¯s tall and looks like he hits the gym. Hard. Unless Bailey¡¯s been secretly pumping iron, this isn¡¯t him. Not even close.


    ¡°So, how did you get the notebook?¡± I asked directly.


    ¡°None of your business,¡± the shadowy figure snaps, sounding impatient. ¡°The auction house verified its authenticity, didn¡¯t they? If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m done here.¡±


    ¡°Do you have anything else?¡± I counter. ¡°Anything else from Dr. Keyser?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the shadowy figure replies. The projection abruptly cuts off.


    I hurry out of the room to find Wilfred blocking my path. ¡°If I may,¡± he says, his voice as smooth as ever, ¡°our Mistress wishes to retain the notebook for safekeeping until the borrowed sum is repaid. Should the repayment be completed within one week, the loan will be considered interest-free.¡±


    I feel Rexy scrambling back up my leg and settling in my hair. ¡°Right, that¡¯s fine,¡± I said, gently nudging Wilfred aside.


    ¡°Which way?¡± I whisper to Rexy. She clambers onto my shoulder and points with her tiny tongue, a miniature compass.


    I navigate the city streets at a brisk pace, my mind helpfully replaying every spy movie clich¨¦ I¡¯ve ever seen. Just before turning into a narrow alleyway, I activate my nanobots. My outfit shifts to something a little less conspicuous¡ªdarker, more practical. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Finally, I reach a nondescript door. A bottle-shaped sign hangs crookedly beside it. I push the door open and step inside.


    Of course, it was a bar.


    A few patrons are scattered along the counter, nursing their drinks, but none of them resemble the shadowy figure from the projection. Rexy, now nestled discreetly in my hair, points with her tiny tongue towards the back of the counter.


    Is there something hidden back there? I approach the bartender. ¡°Give me your best drink,¡± I say, meeting his gaze. He pulls out a sleek, futuristic-looking machine and sets it on the counter in front of me. I take out the card I received at the auction house and tap it against the machine. Ding!


    Works like a credit card, neat!


    The bartender quickly got to work, concocting a vibrant red drink with a core of blue, setting it ablaze before sliding it across the counter. I downed it in one go¡ªa surprisingly delightful blend of red wine with the aroma of berries and a nutty aftertaste. ¡°Not bad,¡± I comment.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for a man back there,¡± I say, gesturing behind the counter. The bartender gives me a peculiar look before placing the futuristic machine in front of me again. I tap the card. Ding!


    With a shrug, the bartender unlatches a small door behind the counter, revealing a long hallway that leads to a drastically different scene. It opens into a large space pulsating with music¡ªa full-blown rave. The place is packed.


    Rexy, perched atop my head, twitched his nose, pointing a tiny paw towards a corner table. A large guy with long, black, curly hair was grooving with a couple of women, completely oblivious to his impending doom ¨C or, well, questioning.


    As I approached, the guy spotted me and instantly tried to bolt. But my reflexes were faster.I snagged him by the collar and hauled him back, planting him firmly on the dance floor.


    The nearby ravers shrieked, momentarily breaking their trance. Almost instantly, we were surrounded by ten burly bouncers.


    ¡°He¡¯s the one I¡¯m looking for,¡± I announced, gesturing to the squirming guy in my grasp. ¡°I don¡¯t want any trouble.¡± The guy beneath me tried to protest, but I preemptively clapped a hand over his mouth.


    Efficiency is key.


    Pulling out the familiar card. ¡°I need a quiet room. Name your price,¡± I said to the apparent leader, a mountain of a man with a shaved head.


    He glanced around at the increasingly agitated crowd, then pulled a small, rectangular device from his pocket. Ding! It was becoming a familiar sound. The other bouncers dispersed, the one with the device ¨C our new concierge ¨C leading us towards a door on the side.


    I hoisted the struggling guy to his feet and shoved him through the doorway.


    Forcing him into a corner of the small, surprisingly soundproof room. ¡°Who are you working for?! Where did you get the notebook?!¡± I demanded.


    ¡°What are you¡­ talking about?¡± the man stammered, avoiding my gaze.


    ¡°Right guy?¡± I whispered to Rexy, just to be sure. Rexy gave a firm nod.


    I throw a swift punch at the wall beside the man¡¯s head. The impact sends a satisfying tremor through the surprisingly solid room. Leaning close, I lower my voice. ¡°The next one won¡¯t be hitting drywall.¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know¡­ please,¡± he whimpers, voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I was just¡­ supposed to meet someone at the auction. Take the card from the auction house. Please¡­ I swear I don¡¯t know anything else¡­¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the card?! Hand it over!¡± I command, holding out my hand.


    Gotta get my money back. No way I¡¯m paying twenty million for something that¡¯s already mine.


    He reaches into his pocket. A split second before I realize he isn¡¯t pulling out a card, but a small, metallic pistol, he fires.

 Ch 9 (1/5): Seized

    A tiny stream of red laser fire sizzled the air between my brows, instantly melting a neat hole through my mask. I flinched, even though the laser did nothing more than that. The hole quickly seals itself.


    Nanobots. Always handy.


    The man uses my momentary surprise to try and bolt. Of course, he doesn¡¯t get far. I snag him by the collar and fling him against the opposite wall.


    ¡°What are you?!¡± he yelled, his voice cracking, his breath coming in ragged gasps.


    I aim a punch at his head, and he instinctively tries to block it with both arms. CRACK. The crisp sound of his arms breaking from the force of impact rings in my ears. He crumples to the floor, unconscious.


    Oops. Maybe I overdid it a little. Well, that solves that problem. For now.


    Rexy and I start searching him. Rexy, ever the resourceful one, cleverly finds a hidden pocket inside his jacket, which contains a black metal card and a small, familiar device¡ªBailey¡¯s device.


    I wait in the room. It isn¡¯t long before the man slowly blinks his eyes open, groaning. He clutches his obviously broken arms. I hoist him up by the scruff of his neck.


    ¡°WHERE¡­ DID¡­ YOU¡­ GET¡­ THIS?!¡± I punctuate each word with a little shake. ¡°I know you¡¯re the real seller. Stop playing games!¡±


    ¡°Those asses at the auction house sold me out, didn¡¯t they?¡± the man muttered, a sour look twisting his face. ¡°Knew they couldn¡¯t be trusted.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± A sudden, desperate plea escaped his lips as I wound up to throw him against the wall again.


    ¡°These¡­¡± He stammered, his voice trembling. ¡°They¡¯re from a¡­ a stout fellow I¡¯ve been tracking. You see, someone¡¯s looking for him. Someone¡­ very powerful. And rich.¡± He swallowed hard. ¡°Big bounty on his head in the black market. Don¡¯t know why, though.¡±


    ¡°He rushed on, eager to please. ¡°I followed him for a couple of days. Real cautious type. But I¡¯m good at this. He went to the vault one day, and all his stuff was gone. Figured he was about to bolt. So, I tailed him, jumped him in an alley. This¡­¡± He gestured weakly to the items. ¡°¡­and a notebook¡­ were all he had left. So, I, uh, relieved him of them, tied him up, and sent a message to the people who want him. Waited a bit before hitting up the auction house with the notebook. Didn¡¯t realize it¡¯d fetch so much¡­¡±


    Bailey¡­


    ¡°How long ago was this?¡± I asked, my voice dangerously soft.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Two¡­ two weeks ago¡­¡± he whispered.


    I give his wrist a little nudge. It makes a satisfying snap.


    ¡°AHHHHH!¡± he shrieks. ¡°That¡¯s all I know! Please! I¡¯m just a bounty hunter!¡±


    I release his broken wrist. ¡°How did you contact these people?¡±


    He rattles off a string of numbers, then promptly faints. Again.


    Shrugging, I decide I¡¯m done with him. I turn to leave. But when I open the door, the large, bald man stands there, blocking my exit. He glances into the room, then fixes his gaze on me. Not a flicker of emotion on that face.


    ¡°He¡¯s alive, don¡¯t worry. Just a bit shaken up, with a couple of minor fractures,¡± I say calmly. ¡°Could you possibly tidy up this mess? Maybe drop him off at a hospital, and perhaps¡­strongly suggest he never show his face in this city again.¡±


    The man wordlessly takes out his little machine again. I tap the black card once more. Ding!


    Guess everything has a price in this town. Even discretion.


    On my way back to the auction house, I get that familiar feeling. Like I¡¯m being watched. Someone¡¯s tailing me. Could it be the people who grabbed Bailey? I wonder.


    Ducking into a narrow alley, I use a nearby wall to scramble up to a high balcony. Peeking down, I spot two guys I don¡¯t recognize entering the alley, glancing around. Definitely not professionals. They check the ground, look up once, then give up.


    Amateur hour. Even Rexy could do better than that.


    Deciding to return the favor, I tail them. They return to a ridiculously luxurious vehicle. The window rolls down, and they lean in to speak to the man inside. He responds by smacking both of them on the head. Hard.


    The vehicle speeds off, and I give chase. It pulls up to a tube leading to a massive, shimmering dome. Inside, a sprawling mansion dominates the landscape.


    I watch from a distance. The man emerges from the vehicle, practically dripping with gemstones. Servants swarm from the mansion to greet him. From the vehicle, they unload¡­the hide I sold at the auction.


    ¡°That¡¯s the loudmouth who tried to outbid me for the notebook,¡± I mutter to Rexy, perched on my shoulder. ¡°Looks like he was looking for me after all. Should we pay him a little visit?¡± Rexy wiggles excitedly and nods.


    I wait in the shadows, scoping out the shimmering dome. No obvious second entrances. Figures. Before I can even formulate a plan, the gem-studded guy reappears, hops back into his luxurious ride, and zooms off again.


    Naturally I tail the vehicle again. The vehicle screeches to a halt outside a building that screams ¡°expensive restaurant.¡±


    I thought people like him would be a private chef type.


    He struts inside. I follow, only to be immediately intercepted by a snooty host. ¡°Good evening. Do you have a reservation?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ no¡­¡± I stammer.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid this establishment is members-only, reservations essential,¡± the host replies with a dismissive tone.


    A melodic chuckle ripples through the air. A delicate hand rests lightly on my shoulder. "My, my, Val¡­ it seems fate has a rather¡­ persistent sense of humor. Or perhaps¡­" a familiar voice came from behind me with amusement. "Perhaps our destinies are simply¡­ drawn to one another."


    It¡¯s Raven. Of course it is.

 Ch 9 (2/5): Seized

    ¡°Miss Jin! I am so sorry, I didn¡¯t realize this was your¡­ acquaintance. Please forgive me!¡± the host stammers, all his previous haughtiness evaporated.


    ¡°Hello, thank you for the¡­ loan,¡± I say to Raven, who¡¯s casually strolling past the now-apologetic host, still trailing a wisp of smoke. ¡°I have some questions I want to ask you.¡±


    "Oh, honey¡­ answers? Such¡­ precious commodities. They do come at a price, you know." she pulled closer and whispered into my ears. "But for you, Val¡­ I might be persuaded to offer a¡­ special discount. Come to the auction house tomorrow night¡­ and if you can¡­ intrigue me¡­ well, let''s just say I''m feeling rather¡­ generous."


    Sounds like trouble.


    ¡°Raven. Who¡¯s that with you?¡± That familiar, obnoxious voice echoes through the hall.


    ¡°Master Lawrence, please!¡± His servants scramble to keep up.


    "Oh, dear¡­ such a¡­ distraction. My appetite has¡­ vanished." Raven murmurs, turning with a sigh.


    The young man, Lawrence, promptly blocks her path. ¡°Please. That¡¯s who you¡¯re spending your time with, Raven?¡± He points a manicured finger at me. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ wait, twenty million?!¡±


    ¡°How do you even know about that?¡± I mutter, genuinely confused by his sudden appearance and knowledge.


    ¡°Money can buy anything. Including discretion. Or perhaps¡­ Raven¡¯s attention. Which, frankly, is far more valuable,¡± Lawrence says with a self-satisfied smirk, his eyes fixed on Raven.


    Raven gracefully slips to the side, Wilfred smoothly stepping in to intercept Lawrence. With a flick of her wrist, Raven turns and saunters back towards her waiting vehicle, her heels clicking on the polished floor. Just before the door closes, she pauses, blowing me a kiss. ¡°Honey, do be a dear and¡­ take care of that¡­ eyesore for me, would you?¡± The car door slams shut, and the vehicle speeds off.


    Lawrence whirls around, glaring at me with undisguised fury. Well, I guess this is a surprise for both of us. I meet his gaze evenly. ¡°So, what did you want with me? I know you followed me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re new. I can tell,¡± he sneers, stepping close, invading my personal space. ¡°Let me give you some free advice. Raven is¡­ under my protection, shall we say. It would be¡­¡±Stolen story; please report.


    Before he can launch into his predictable tirade, I smoothly draw the obsidian knife from my waist, the dark blade glinting in the light. I press the edge lightly against his throat.


    I really can¡¯t stand these clich¨¦ idiot millionaire brat speeches. Blah, blah, my woman. Blah, blah, you¡¯ll regret it. It¡¯s always the same.


    ¡°Master Lawrence!¡± His servants instantly swarm around us, a flurry of panicked movement.


    So much for keeping a low profile. I need to find Bailey, and fast. Raven¡¯s clearly a whole other level of complicated. This millionaire idiot will have to do for now.


    ¡°You imbeciles! Do something!¡± Lawrence screeches at his servants. ¡°I am the grandson of Duke Lucretier! If¡­¡±


    ¡°Blah, blah, your grandpa won¡¯t save you now,¡± I interrupt, rolling my eyes. ¡°Shut it, or I¡¯ll shut it for you.¡± I press the knife a little closer, just enough to draw a bead of blood.


    I have to admit, this is kind of fun. I feel like I¡¯m in an action movie.


    Lawrence is now completely silent, trembling like a leaf. The servants, even the restaurant host, are frozen in place. You could hear a pin drop.


    ¡°Listen up,¡± I announce to the room. ¡°I have nothing to do with Raven Jin. We only met today. It¡¯s a purely business arrangement.¡± I pause for dramatic effect. ¡°Now, get us a private room. Lawrence and I need a little¡­ chat. Anyone who¡¯s seen anything is coming with us.¡±


    ¡°This way¡­¡± The host, pale and sweating, practically sprints towards a private hallway, leading us to a large, luxurious room.


    I spot a servant with a strange, gun-like device strapped to his waist. ¡°You,¡± I point at him. ¡°Hand over the weapon.¡±


    He hesitates, but one glare from Lawrence sends him scrambling to obey. I take the weapon, a sleek, metallic thing, and point it directly at my own head. I pull the trigger.


    Pew!


    ¡°Ahhh!?!?¡± Lawrence¡¯s scream echoes through the room. But I¡¯m perfectly fine, not a hair out of place. Everyone stares in stunned silence.


    ¡°Just a little demonstration,¡± I say, lowering the weapon. ¡°Consider it a warning. Don¡¯t try anything funny. Nothing will stop me. Any funny business, any strange noises, any extra people showing up, and his life ends. Instantly.¡± I fix them all with a steely gaze. ¡°Nothing that happens in this room leaves this room. Understood?¡±


    I¡¯ll probably erase all their memories after this anyway. Just to be safe.


    ¡°I just need two things, and then I¡¯ll let him go,¡± I say calmly. ¡°Adamantine¡ªas much as you can get your hands on¡ªand I need you to figure out who this number connects to.¡± I show them the number the bounty hunter at the bar gave me.


    Nobody moves after my command. ¡°Go!¡± I repeat, nudging the obsidian knife a little closer to Lawrence¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Go! You idiots! Move!¡± Lawrence yells, his voice cracking and tears welling in his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s some adamantine in my private vault! Grab it!¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t get away with¡­¡± Lawrence begins, glaring at me.


    He really needs to work on his villainous monologues. They¡¯re a bit clich¨¦.


    ¡°Oh, I think I will,¡± I interrupt, giving him a cheerful smile. ¡°And you really, really want me to. Because if I don¡¯t, well¡­ I¡¯m taking you and everyone else in this room down to hell with me. Raven was right about one thing: you¡¯re an idiot. If you keep threatening me, I¡¯ll just kill you and everyone here before I leave.¡±


    The room falls into a heavy silence once more. I wait patiently.

 Ch 9 (3/5): Seized

    Soon, a couple of servants return, carrying several small gold bars. They¡¯re similar to the ones from Dr. Keyser, but much smaller¡ªabout one-hundredth of the size. There are about thirty of them, though.


    ¡°Great. Any info on the number I gave you?¡± I ask, casually stuffing the gold bars into my pockets like they¡¯re chocolates.


    ¡°We¡­ we still need more time,¡± one of the servants stammers. ¡°The number¡­ it was disconnected two weeks ago.¡±


    I lower the obsidian knife from Lawrence¡¯s throat. He immediately seizes the opportunity and bolts. I sigh, and fire a beam into the floor behind his heels.


    ¡°Ahhh!¡± He yelps, freezing mid-stride.


    ¡°Just sit tight,¡± I say calmly, casually aiming the gun in his general direction. He nods vigorously and scurries back to his seat.


    We settle in for a long wait. Lawrence eventually drifts off, as do many of his servants. Then, just as the first rays of blue moonlight threaten to peek through the windows, a servant bursts into the room, jolting everyone awake.


    ¡°M-Master Lawr¡­ Lawrence¡­ we found where the number connects¡­¡± the servant stammers, eyes wide with terror.


    ¡°Well, where?!¡± Lawrence demands, his voice cracking with anxiety.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s¡­¡± the servant continues to struggle, his eyes darting between Lawrence and me.


    ¡°Spit it out already! I¡¯m going to get killed here!¡± Lawrence nearly sobs, glancing at me as I raise the gun again.


    ¡°It¡¯s Master¡­ Master Caesar¡¯s mansion¡­¡± the servant finally manages, his voice barely above a whisper.


    ¡°Uncle Caesar?!¡± Lawrence blurts out, then clamps a hand over his mouth, his eyes widening in horror.


    ¡°Oh¡­ it¡¯s your uncle. How about that?¡± I say to Lawrence with a cheerful grin. ¡°Small world, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°D-distant uncle¡­¡± Lawrence corrects, forcing a weak, awkward smile.


    ¡°So, where is this mansion?¡± I ask politely.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ in the other¡­ part of town¡­we just came from there¡­¡± Lawrence stammers, looking thoroughly miserable.


    ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯ll have to pay your uncle a visit. Let¡¯s go then.¡± I grab Lawrence by the scruff of his neck and start ushering him towards the door. ¡°You¡¯re coming too,¡± I add, gesturing to the host of the restaurant. He¡¯d been about to breathe a sigh of relief, but now his face crumples. ¡°You¡¯ve seen too much.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°B-but¡­¡±


    ¡°Or would you prefer I end your life right here?¡± I interrupt, casually pointing the gun at him. He quickly falls into step behind us.


    We got into Lawrence¡¯s vehicle and I direct the driver to return to Caesar¡¯s mansion. The ride is short and tense. ¡°This is your uncle¡¯s place?¡± I ask. After a closer look at the building, it¡¯s less ¡®mansion¡¯ and more ¡®heavily fortified compound¡¯.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ but whatever business you have with him has absolutely nothing to do with me,¡± Lawrence mumbles. ¡°I¡¯m only here because of¡­ because of Raven.¡±


    The moment we step out of the vehicle, we¡¯re surrounded. Again. This time it¡¯s a small army, with dozens of laser guns and other futuristic looking weapons all pointed at me. Of course, they¡¯re hesitant to fire with Lawrence still glued to my side.


    Hostage shield strategy 101.


    ¡°Master Lawrence, please remain calm!¡± an older servant calls out, his voice strained. ¡°Master Caesar will be with us shortly. He¡¯s returning as soon as he heard of your¡­ situation.¡±


    I casually raise my gun and point it at the older servant. The instant I do, four beams of light shoot out from the surrounding guards. I don¡¯t feel a thing, but I see faint scorch marks appear on my arm, and probably other places I can¡¯t see.


    Everyone stares in stunned silence.


    Yes, newsflash: those things don¡¯t work on me. It¡¯s getting a little repetitive, honestly.


    ¡°Was there a chubby man who entered the mansion two weeks ago?¡± I ask the older servant.


    His eyes widen for a fraction of a second before returning to their previous neutral expression. He remains stubbornly silent.


    Bailey was definitely here. That reaction says it all.


    I pull the trigger, the shot grazing his cheek. He doesn¡¯t even flinch.


    Ignoring the assembled guards and servants, I gently nudge Lawrence forward, guiding him towards the mansion. ¡°Rexy, can you search for Bailey? There has to be a secret room or holding cell somewhere in this place,¡± I whisper. She gives me a quick nod.


    We reach the doorstep, only to be met by a human wall of servants. I holster my gun and draw my obsidian knife. ¡°Alright, listen up,¡± I announce to the human wall. ¡°Every time I count to ten, Master Lawrence here loses a finger. One, two, three¡­¡±


    ¡°Get out of the way, you imbeciles!¡± Lawrence yells, cutting me off before I even reach five. The servants exchange uneasy glances, then reluctantly part, clearing our path.


    ¡°Smart choice,¡± I tell Lawrence. He gives me another one of his awkward smiles.


    I kick the door open, revealing an interior that could rival any palace. Glistening artwork adorns the walls, plush carpets stretch across the floor, and not a single speck of dust.


    Rich people really are the same in every world¡­ maybe it¡¯s just a human rich people thing.


    As we step inside, Rexy seizes her chance, melting into the carpet and disappearing once more. I begin to explore the mansion.


    ¡°Is there a basement? A cellar?¡± I ask Lawrence, who promptly leads me to a staircase descending below. We reach the bottom, finding a few rooms. One appears to house a small army of robots. Otherwise, nothing seems out of the ordinary.


    I tap and feel along a few walls and floor tiles. Nothing. Nothing sounds hollow. It¡¯s all solid. We head back upstairs.


    When we return to the entrance, we¡¯re once again surrounded. This time, a well-dressed, extremely fit-looking middle-aged man stands at the center, himself surrounded by bodyguards.


    His eagle-like eyes lock onto me as he twists his mustache.


    Classic comic book villain look.

 Ch 9 (4/5): Seized

    ¡°Caesar, I presume,¡± I say, staring him down.


    He doesn¡¯t reply, simply smirks. Then, a beam of laser light slices through the air where my arm holding Lawrence was. They thought it sliced through. A barrage of lasers follows, aimed at me.


    My new clothes are instantly riddled with holes, but luckily, they slowly begin to repair themselves.


    Technology is great!


    I continue to stand there, unfazed, but Lawrence, whom I¡¯m still holding, has unfortunately lost control of his bladder.


    Caesar looks a bit stunned. "Who dares send you?"


    ¡°Where are you keeping Bailey?¡± I ask, my voice flat.


    ¡°Bailey?!¡± Caesar flinches slightly. ¡°So you are one of them.¡±


    ¡°Them? Who are ¡®them¡¯¡­ Bailey isn¡¯t as innocent as he looks,¡± I mutter to myself.


    I chuck Lawrence at Caesar, who catches him with a grunt. It¡¯s a distraction, of course. I yank out my obsidian knife, aiming it squarely at Caesar. If I can grab him like I did Lawrence, I¡¯ll finally get some answers.


    But no such luck. Before I can even blink, the knife explodes into dust, courtesy of another laser blast. Seriously? I draw my gun next, only for it to suffer the same sparkly fate. Fine. Plan C. I just need to get close. A good throat-grab should do the trick.


    Caesar, however, isn¡¯t as stupid as Lawrence. He saw through my intentions and quickly backed away. He sees my intentions and scrambles back, his bodyguards instantly forming a wall of muscle and metal between us. I rear back a fist and punch one of them square in the chest. It feels like hitting a brick wall, to my surprise it wasn¡¯t effective at all.


    The lasers keep coming, peppering my rapidly regenerating clothes. My mask is starting to feel a bit loose too.


    I really hope these nanobots hold.


    The bodyguards have now completely surrounded me, trapping me in a metal-clad cage.


    I take a flying leap, aiming for Caesar, but he¡¯s practically buried under a mountain of his goons.


    Retreat it is. I spring off the wall, launching myself backwards.


    Just as the bodyguards surge forward, I feel something tickling my legs, crawling up my back, onto my shoulders. ¡°Did you find anything?¡± I whisper. A tiny nod against my neck is my reply. ¡°Which way?¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Without hesitation, I spin and bolt. A couple of groups of bodyguards try to intercept me, but I weave past them, leaping over their outstretched arms.


    Good thing this place is massive.


    Rexy leads me as I frantically run. "Contain it! Now!" Caesar¡¯s voice booms from behind. We sprint up flights of stairs, my lungs starting to burn.


    As I near a window, I hear the distinct whir of a flying vehicle outside. A searchlight beams through the glass, locking onto me. The glass melts like butter in a microwave, and a red beam whizzes past my shoulders.


    An army of guards bursts through the windows, firing a ridiculous assortment of weapons. Lasers, bullets, explosives¡ªall proving spectacularly pointless against my invincible body. I disable a couple of guards with a series of quick punches and kicks, sending them tumbling, then continue my frantic search, following Rexy¡¯s directions.


    It¡¯s not going to be easy returning to my peaceful afterlife, is it¡­?


    After dodging a couple more laser blasts that streak in through the gaping window holes¡ªone grazing my thigh¡ªI decide it¡¯s probably a good idea to stay away from the windows.


    The guards¡¯ armor and weapons keep getting upgraded. They¡¯re now decked out in full-body armor, complete with mini-guided missiles that explode on impact, sending me sprawling. I promptly dust myself off and keep moving.


    Luckily, my hair is as tough as the rest of me. Rexy is completely shielded from all the laser blasts and explosions, tucked safely within my voluminous hair, as she guides me up yet another flight of stairs.


    Caesar¡¯s voice booms from outside, echoing through the crumbling structure. "Restrain it. I will not tolerate failure." Another consecrated laser beam tears through the wall, this time targeting the ceiling directly above me.


    He wants to collapse the building?! Seriously, talk about overkill.


    With a powerful leap, I burst through the collapsing ceiling debris, scrambling onto the next floor.


    Rounding one last corner, I find Caesar standing before me, that infuriatingly smug smile plastered on his face. ¡°The game is over,¡± he declares. "You''re quite the specimen. Such... resilience. You''ll be a fascinating addition to my collection."


    His bodyguards once again surround me, their massive shields forming a mobile wall. They wield a hose, which immediately begins spraying a rapidly steaming liquid.


    Liquid nitrogen, huh? He¡¯s trying to freeze me solid. Good luck with that.


    I feel absolutely nothing, as usual. Rexy, however, gives a little shiver in my hair.


    ¡°You have no idea who you¡¯re dealing with,¡± I retort, a grin spreading across my face. I wind up and slam my shoulder into the nearest wall, sending bricks and dust exploding outwards. ¡°Which way now?!¡± I ask Rexy, and she points towards yet another wall.


    Wrapping my arms around myself for extra momentum. One by one, I punch human-shaped holes through the walls, leaving a trail of destruction in my wake. I can still hear Caesar¡¯s furious shouts echoing behind me, growing fainter with each wall I breach.


    Finally, I burst into what appears to be a study or library. The walls are lined with towering bookcases, filled with ancient-looking tomes. Rexy points towards one particular bookcase. I do my usual thing¡ªwind up and ram my body into it. But this time, instead of crumbling, I¡¯m met with solid resistance. A hard metal wall blocks my path.

 Ch 9 (5/5): Seized

    The wall holds firm. Metal reinforcement. No dice. I try again, just to be sure. Still nothing. Caesar¡¯s shouts grow louder. They¡¯re closing in.


    No time for this. I scan the room. My gaze lands on a peculiar statue. Golden, humanoid, and utterly out of place amidst the tomes. I give it a twist. Click. The metal wall split and opened slowly.


    That statue practically screams ¡°secret passage.¡±


    Caesar bursts into the room, panting. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere left to run!¡± he wheezes.


    I ignore him. I¡¯m too busy staring, jaw dropped, at what lies beyond the hidden door.


    It¡¯s¡­ empty. Utterly, chillingly empty. No hidden treasure. No secret escape route. Just a room. A horrifying room.


    In the center sits a large metal bed. Straps and chains, stained a disturbing shade of crimson, bind it. Splatters and drops of blood mar the floor.


    Along one wall, neatly arranged, stand monstrous contraptions. Devices clearly designed for inflicting unimaginable pain. On the opposite side, refrigerated display cases hold jars. Jars filled with preserved human organs and¡­ remains. One jar contains the severed head of a young boy, frozen in time.


    Interspersed among the gruesome displays are intricate scientific instruments, surrounded by blood-stained notebooks and recordings.


    A low, chilling chuckle echoes through the room. ¡°You truly believed I would simply hold him?¡± Caesar¡¯s voice drips with amusement. ¡°Such¡­ predictable thinking. You Syners are so easily manipulated.¡±


    Syner? What¡¯s a Syner?


    My gaze snags on a few scraps of fabric on the floor. Familiar fabric. It¡¯s from Bailey¡¯s clothes. Ripped to shreds. My fist clenches. This isn¡¯t good. Not good at all.


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s quite alive. A remarkably resilient specimen. He provided an¡­ excellent opportunity to evaluate some recent advancements. Keeping him conscious throughout proved particularly enlightening.¡± Caesar paused, a hint of disappointment in his voice. ¡°Regrettably, he¡¯s been reallocated. My benefactor has¡­ other uses for him. A pity. I had envisioned him as a key piece in my collection. However¡­¡± He turned his gaze to me. ¡°¡­you¡¯ll suffice.¡±


    ¡°What did he do?¡± I ask, forcing my voice to remain even. Inside, though, a storm is brewing.


    ¡°What?¡± Caesar drawls.


    ¡°What did he do to deserve this?¡± I demand answers. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°Hahahaha, oh, no, no, no,¡± Caesar chuckles, a chilling sound that echoes through the gruesome room. ¡°My dear¡­ he, and all of you Syners, exist solely for our purposes. He deluded himself into believing he could protect you. Protect all of you from us.¡±The chuckle deepened, laced with disdain. ¡°He even clung to the naive notion that finding Kurtis Keyser would alter your¡­ destiny. How¡­foolish.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ he was just trying to survive,¡± I mutter, the pieces clicking into place. ¡°Trying to protect his people.¡± I struggle to contain the rage bubbling inside me as I started grabbing a couple of small bars of adamantine I got earlier from my pocket.


    A wave of conflicting emotions washes over me. In my past life, I was always the defensive one, quick to forgive. I¡¯d had my share of angry thoughts, moments where I¡¯d imagined unleashing my fury. But the thought of those I cared about suffering because of my impulsiveness always held me back. I rarely acted in anger, unless it was to protect my friends and family. I always did my best to avoid conflict.


    Bailey. My first, and so far, only friend in this crazy new world. He took me in when I was completely lost, a total stranger. Offered me food¡ªdelicious, although poisoned, food that still managed to be comforting, a taste of home in this bizarre isekai. We¡¯d even had a proper adventure together.


    I thought leaving would keep him safe. I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have taken so long. I should have¡­ No! Now¡¯s not the time for self-blame. The one responsible for Bailey¡¯s suffering is standing right in front of me.


    If it weren¡¯t for guys like Caesar, Bailey would be safe. Seems like this isekai is just the same old story: kind, powerless people getting stomped on by the rich and powerful. The haves do whatever they want, kindness or cruelty depending on their mood. The have-nots walk on thin ice, one wrong step and they¡¯re done for.


    In my past life, I played it safe, kept my head down. It worked; I never fell through the ice. My whole strategy was keeping my loved ones out of sight, invisible to the whales of the world. Because that¡¯s what we were, krill. All we could do was hide, hope we didn¡¯t accidentally swim into a whale¡¯s mouth at the wrong time.


    Even with all this fancy tech, humans never change. Underneath the shiny surface, this society is just as brutal as the natural world.


    However, just as size doesn¡¯t always guarantee victory in nature, wealth and power don¡¯t guarantee freedom from consequences either.


    This life, I¡¯m not powerless. Quite the opposite. It seems I wield unimaginable power, and now wealth too. And at this moment, I can no longer contain the rage bubbling inside me.


    I guess power can corrupt, even the best of us, especially at our most vulnerable moments. I feel that corruption is nipping at my consciousness. The rage is a physical thing, clawing to get out.


    A thought strikes me: I¡¯m never going to be the same after this.


    It feels like a demon has manifested within me, and I doubt I¡¯ll be able to shove it back into its box.


    A thought strikes me: I¡¯m never going to be the same after this.


    It feels like a demon has manifested within me, and I doubt I¡¯ll be able to shove it back into its box.


    I''ve never been one for deities, but at this moment, I find myself swearing a promise. Not to some higher power, but to myself. I¡¯m trying to grab onto the last vestiges of control before I completely lose it.


    I promise to control this power.


    I promise to resist the corruption that¡¯s trying to take root inside me.


    I promise to never use this power to harm others for my own selfish gain.


    Basically, I¡¯m promising to myself not to turn into a supervillain.

 Ch 10 (1/4): Reckoning

    Lost in thought, I almost miss Caesar¡¯s wave. His bodyguards swarm me again, their shields glowing softly. A forcefield snaps into existence around me. Then, as if that wasn¡¯t enough, a viscous liquid oozes into the enclosure, quickly hardening around my feet like cement.


    ¡°Your¡­ durability¡­¡± Caesar¡¯s voice echoes from behind the safety of his guards. ¡°Is of little consequence. I will break you eventually. It simply means I get more time to enjoy the process.¡±


    My focus snaps back to the present. Trapped in this forcefield cage, I casually flick the adamantine bars of the scales off my arm like matchsticks. My hair flares with iridescent light, brushing the gold bars in my hand as it loses its orangey sheen.


    The dense aura I felt before surges back, and time slows to a crawl around me. With my iridescent hair now fully under my control, I calmly formulated a plan. Sea serpent form is out; I need something bigger, more destructive, and, crucially, mobile on land. Rexy¡¯s form might work, but since I didn¡¯t get much of her memories, controlling a four-legged body naturally is¡­ challenging, to put it mildly.


    But then, inspiration strikes. A flashback to the anime of my past life.


    Of course! Why didn¡¯t I think of this before?


    I hold out my palm, and Rexy clambers onto it. ¡°We are going to level this mansion,¡± I murmur to her under my breath, undoing her leash. ¡°But keep Caesar alive.¡±


    She begins to grow, the process noticeably slower within my aura. As she expands, I visualize a suit of armor engulfing her entire body. This isn¡¯t about just protecting her; it¡¯s about maximizing the ensuing chaos.


    Controlling my hair like extra limbs, my thoughts now carry real weight. A simple decision sets off a chain reaction. Unseen energy flows along each strand, animating them.


    My hair twists and twirls, wrapping around Rexy as she grows, expanding, pushing against the glowing shields. Forcing them apart.


    Boom!


    An explosive force levels the top floor of the mansion. Under the dark, cloudy sky, a cloud of dust and debris billows out, briefly obscuring a gigantic shadowy figure.


    If this were an anime, epic BGM would definitely be playing right now¡­


    The massive dinosaur-lizard now stands fully encased in iridescent scale armor. Razor-sharp claws protrude from her front limbs. Rexy is armed to the teeth¡ªor rather, to the tongue!


    I sit comfortably on Rexy¡¯s back, looking down at Caesar, whose eyes are wide with terror. His bodyguards are scattered across what¡¯s left of the mansion¡¯s upper floor, which has now become its roof.


    ¡°No¡­ no, this can¡¯t be! You¡­ you¡¯re not real! An illusion!¡± Caesar repeats, his voice cracking, while pressing a button on his arm.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Instantly, Caesar is covered by a swarm of nanobots, which morph into a thick mech suit, arming him from head to toe. ¡°Enough! All the likes of you shou¡­¡±


    ¡°Wreck him,¡± I interrupt Caesar¡¯s clich¨¦ remarks.


    Rexy instantly shoots out her long tongue, wraps it around Caesar¡¯s ankles, and smashes him on the floor, then on another part of the floor, then back to this floor part, then back to the other part¡­


    Caesar lies wasted in the rubble of the smashed floors, eyes completely blank.


    Rexy stares down at Caesar with a dismissive glance, as if saying, ¡°Puny creature¡­¡±


    ¡°Bring him to me, please,¡± I said, pointing at Caesar.


    Rexy hoists him up to me by the ankle. Hanging upside down, he¡¯s already lost consciousness from all the smashing, but he¡¯s alive. Caesar¡¯s nanobot mech suit is slowly regenerating. I rip the nanobot device from his arm and grab him by the collar.


    ¡°Fire! Fire!¡± Screams erupt from below, and dozens of beams of red light converge on us.


    ¡°Arrgr?¡± Rexy gives me a confused look, tilting her massive head. The energy beams dissipate harmlessly against her iridescent armor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, these scales will protect you from anything,¡± I say, patting Rexy on the head. ¡°Now, lay waste to this place.¡±


    If anything does manage to get through, though I highly doubt it. I¡¯ll perish with you¡­ we can still be besties in the afterlife.


    Rexy bounces with excitement, ready for some destruction. The bodyguards below watch in abject terror.


    ¡°Fire the rail guns!¡± someone yells. A blinding flash of electrical force slams into Rexy, forcing us to stumble sideways. A dozen more shots follow, each one creating a small explosion against her armor.


    I glance down at the group still clutching Caesar like a discarded doll. ¡°If you don¡¯t care about what happens to him, feel free to do whatever you want!¡± I shout.


    ¡°WAIT! Hold the fire!¡± one of the bodyguards cries out. ¡°Release Master Caesar! We can discuss any demands you have!¡±


    I ignore him, focusing on the rampage. It¡¯s a great way to let off some steam. Rexy seems to agree, demolishing everything in sight. During the chaos, she even snags a couple more adamantine bars and tosses them up to me.


    Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Lawrence scrambling into a sleek black vehicle, attempting a hasty getaway. A wall of guards provides cover for his retreat. Can¡¯t have that. If word gets out too fast, I won¡¯t have the chance to save Bailey.


    ¡°Rexy, go get him!¡± I direct. She barrels through the remaining guards¡¯ shields as if they were made of tissue paper. One swift swipe of her claw transforms Lawrence¡¯s sleek getaway car into a mangled mess of scrap metal, sending him tumbling out onto the lawn.


    "N-no! Wait! I¡­ I didn''t mean it! I''ll¡­ I''ll give you anything!¡± he whimpers, scrambling backward on his hands and feet. I ignore his pleas, my attention shifting back to the bodyguards, who are now frantically trying to raise more shields.


    Rexy¡¯s tail cracks through the air, shattering the newly erected shields like cheap ceramics. The bodyguards are sent tumbling across the lawn in a disorganized heap.


    We charge the mansion wall once more, bursting through one side and out the other. The building groans, shudders, and then implodes in a cloud of dust and debris.


    Standing atop the rubble, I survey the scene of utter devastation. Then, I stare at Caesar. His face is completely drained of color, his eyes wide and vacant.


    So this is what raw power feels like. Acting without a single consequence to consider. It¡¯s¡­ exhilarating.


    A wave of euphoria washes over me, but a quick reminder of my own promise, specifically the ones about not becoming a power-mad maniac, snaps me back to a more reasonable state. It¡¯s a trick I picked up in my past life, mostly for keeping my temper in check. Though, admittedly, this is a slightly more extreme application.

 Ch 10 (2/4): Reckoning

    I glanced at my dwindling audience. ¡°No hard feelings to any of you doing your jobs. Drop your weapons¡ªthey¡¯re not doing anything anyway¡ªand I promise you¡¯ll walk away from this with just a fuzzy memory. Resist, though, and¡­ well, I can¡¯t make any promises.¡±


    Clink. Clatter. Thud.


    One by one, the bodyguards¡¯ weapons hit the ground. The sound echoes in the sudden silence. Once the last gun hit the dust, I crunched a few more adamantine bars in my hand and swiped them on my scales again. My hair shimmered with renewed iridescence.


    Alright, fingers crossed this works¡­


    Focusing my power, I willed strands of my hair to extend. They shot out, iridescent whips of light, reaching every servant and bodyguard within the dome. Before they could even blink, the strands gently poked their heads, freezing them in place.


    Then, by picturing a browser history in my mind. Then, I mentally select ¡°clear browsing data.¡± Specifically, the last twenty-four hours. This simple mental command triggers a cascade of unseen processes through each hair-strand, commanding the absorption of their memories from the past day.


    Tiny, faint specks of light, like miniature fireflies, zip from each person¡¯s forehead, racing along the strands of my hair towards me.


    A whirlwind of images flooded my mind: rushed breakfasts, tedious auction preparations, the mundane tasks of following Caesar around, the sudden panic, the escalating chaos¡­ It was like watching a hundred different movies at once, each playing at double speed.


    Delete! I commanded internally, and the chaotic montage vanished from my mind.


    As the last speck of light zipped along the iridescent strands and into me, each person slumped into a deep, peaceful sleep. It was as if the entire day had been erased from their minds. Every wound they¡¯d sustained, like those of the Sea Serpent, closed and healed, leaving no trace.


    I turn my attention to Lawrence, who¡¯s collapsed on the ground, having dumped Caesar beside him. He stared at me with a mixture of fear and utter hopelessness. It was clear they¡¯d never experienced anything remotely close to this reality-bending event. They¡¯d always lived such sheltered lives, cocooned by the Lucretier family¡¯s protection.


    ¡°Wh-what in the hells are you?¡± Caesar stammered, his voice trembling. ¡°No¡­ no machine, no weapon could¡­ It¡¯s impossible. Are you¡­ a Harbinger? But¡­ we gave them everything they asked for!¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Lawrence looked at his uncle in complete disbelief, a flicker of disgust crossing his face. ¡°I had absolutely no involvement with¡­ with any of this,¡± he insisted, kicking his uncle to the side for emphasis. ¡°That¡­ that imbecile is solely responsible!¡± He turned back to me, his voice now a desperate plea. ¡°I¡¯ll give you anything you want! Name your price! Anything! Wealth, access, favors¡­ Please¡­ Please¡­ Please¡­¡± He continued to beg, a pathetic, whimpering mess.


    I shook my head. ¡°I won¡¯t fault you for what you¡¯ve become,¡± I said, my voice even. ¡°That¡¯s on your parents, your family¡ªthey¡¯re the ones responsible for your upbringing. But since you¡¯re still young, I¡¯ll give you a second chance¡­ if you deserve it.¡±


    Multiple strands of my hair shot out, gently piercing Lawrence¡¯s head. Once again, I pictured a browser history tab in my mind. This time, I refined my search, inputting specific keywords: murder, rape, bullying, abuse, harassment¡­


    Thankfully, not a single speck of light zipped back for murder or rape. Bullying, abuse, and harassment, however, drew out a few images from his childhood and teenage years. Nothing too extreme, nothing unforgivable¡ªjust the usual rich kid shenanigans.


    Nodding slowly, I look down at Lawrence. ¡°I¡¯m happy to announce you passed the test,¡± I said. ¡°You¡¯re not as bad as you look. Consider this your promised second chance.¡±


    I absorb and remove all the memories and injuries he sustained over the past day, just like I did with everyone else. Before retracting my hair, I whisper to him as he faints, ¡°If you fail at being a good person, next time you won¡¯t be so lucky.¡±


    Last but not least, Caesar. I walk up to him, and he backs away, scrabbling at the ground. In a last, pathetic act of defiance, he scoops up a handful of dirt and throws it at me. ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± Caesar¡¯s scream echoes under the dome.


    I stare down at him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll live,¡± I said. I think back to the warm, comforting afterlife I almost experienced. He definitely doesn''t deserve to be there after everything he¡¯s done.


    ¡°From the little time I¡¯ve known you,¡± I continue, my voice even, ¡°I¡¯m already certain you¡¯ve racked up a truly impressive list of terrible acts. And yet,¡± I tilt my head slightly, ¡°not a single flicker of regret. Not a single twinge of remorse.¡± I pause, taking in his disbelieving stare in the moon¡¯s blue light. ¡°The afterlife is a mercy you so clearly haven¡¯t earned.¡±


    ¡°If this society¡¯s going to give you a free pass, then I¡¯ll have to step in.¡± I shrug. ¡°You¡¯ll remain in this world, yes, but I¡¯m taking away every happy and joyful memory you¡¯ve ever had. I¡¯m also confiscating your pride, your self-esteem, your courage, and of course, everything that happened today.¡± I pause, just to let the full weight of that sink in.


    ¡°You will live,¡± I explain, ¡°but you won¡¯t remember why you¡¯re here, and you¡¯ll never again experience joy, pride, or courage. It¡¯ll be like they were never even a part of your life. From now on, your life will be a constant uphill struggle, with no relief, and no understanding of what it even means to feel happiness or fulfillment.¡±


    ¡°NO! YOU CAN¡¯T! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT! NO! You won¡¯t take me alive!¡± Caesar screams, his voice cracking with a manic edge. He actually tries to bite his own tongue. Before he can manage anything more dramatic, a strand of my hair pierces his skull, freezing him in place. His eyes bulge, bloodshot and frantic, as he tries to fight against the inevitable.

 Ch 10 (3/4): Reckoning

    I search Caesar¡¯s past, looking for evidence of murder, rape, the usual villain fare. Just like with Lawrence, I want to confirm my suspicions. Dozens of little specks of memory detach from him, and after a quick glance, I promptly wipe them from my mind.


    ¡°Walking the earth like an empty vessel, too cowardly to end it yourself. That¡¯s the justice you¡¯ve earned.¡± I finish, and as my judgment takes hold, a large, glowing speck of light leaves Caesar¡¯s head.


    Caesar¡¯s memories flooded into my mind.


    Images of his family pop up: Lucretius beaming and clapping for him, his childhood achievements, his old friends, the standing ovation he received after a school speech. There¡¯s his first dance, his first love, his first awkward kiss.


    Then, predictably, the memories take a sharp, unpleasant turn as he enters adulthood. The world becomes a tapestry of plots, schemes, and betrayals. The only joy he finds is in the unspeakable crimes he commits, reveling in the feeling of control and domination¡­


    How did such a sweet kid turn into this? I almost feel a twinge of sympathy. Almost.


    Digging through Caesar¡¯s memories proves¡­ illuminating. Turns out, our dear Caesar was mixed up with the Syners, or as they were originally known, the Synthars.


    Back in his college days, Caesar was obsessed with the tech behind artificial life. Apparently, centuries ago, humans got so advanced they whipped up the first multicellular artificial lifeform. This tech evolved fast, birthing a humanoid species: the Synthars.


    These Synthars were almost perfect human copies, except for one tiny detail: they were mirror images. Like, everything, down to their DNA and physiology, was flipped.


    This mirrored physiology gave them some neat perks. They were immune to every disease and toxin that could take down a human. Plus, they had crazy long lifespans, potentially living for hundreds of years. So naturally, they got all the fun jobs: working in super dangerous industries, being test subjects for human immortality research, the usual.


    However, then the Harbingers found out. Guess what? They¡¯re the Anunnaki from Sumerian myths! Giant, godlike beings with universe-level knowledge. They were, shall we say, less than thrilled at humanity¡¯s sudden technological leaps. They were absolutely furious when they found out about these artificial creations.


    They promptly wiped out the entire Synthar creation technology. They also took out any human who had anything to do with it. The Harbingers laid down the law: humans were forbidden from creating any lifeforms and from researching life extension. Warning humanity if these rules were to be broken. They would wipe humans off this planet. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    They ordered the genocide of all Synthars. Humans took those words as more than a suggestion. And so began the slaughter. In the months after the order was passed, ten thousand Synthars, who are now commonly called Syners, were hunted and slaughtered in cold blood.


    Although this happened centuries before Caesar¡¯s time, he is convinced some survived. He searches in secret, obsessively. Then, he finds him. An orphan child, barely more than eight years old, with a chest wound that should have pierced his heart. Except¡­ it¡¯s on the wrong side.


    Caesar takes him in, treating him in secret. Tests confirm his suspicions. The child is a Syner. And then¡­ the tests become something far worse. Brutal experiments. The child doesn¡¯t survive. His body is dissected, every piece preserved in jars.


    His severed head was in the jar I saw in that room. Poor kid.


    Caesar reports his findings to Duke Lucretier, who practically pats him on the head with praise. The Duke tasks him with continuing the search, the research. The hunt for the Syners, for the secrets of their unnatural lives, their near-immortality.


    Suddenly, Caesar has resources pouring in, both from the main family and the Duke himself, who¡¯s growing old.


    Using what he learned from the Syner child, Caesar develops medicines. Not cures, mind you. Just¡­ treatments. He dilutes them, sells them at exorbitant prices. Enough to ease the symptoms, never enough to truly heal.


    With the wealth rolling in, Caesar¡¯s influence explodes. He¡¯s got more power than he ever dreamed of. He does¡­ Well, let¡¯s just say he does some really bad things. Murder, rape, assassinations, kidnappings, human trafficking¡­ the list goes on. And he loves every minute of it. He¡¯s practically swimming in self-satisfaction.


    Then, for years, nothing. An empty void. Until Bailey. Finding him was like striking gold. But he slipped through his fingers. Now, he¡¯s hunting her with everything he has. Every resource, every contact, every dirty trick he knows. He¡¯s desperate. And then¡­ the bounty hunter calls.


    Bailey endured unspeakable tortures, countless tests, all for Caesar¡¯s twisted amusement. He remained stubbornly unbroken, even as they practically disassembled and reassembled him with high-tech medicine.


    Then, a message arrived from the Duke. An order. Caesar had to hand Bailey over. No arguments. No delays. He had no choice but to obey.


    These memories¡­ they''re only five days old.


    I shift to tonight¡¯s memories, carefully editing them, leaving only the raw fear and anguish he felt when I delivered his sentence.


    As my hair retracts from his head, his wounds close. His eyes darken, lifeless. He slumps to the floor.


    The strange aura around me fades, my hair returning to its usual silver. I snap Rexy¡¯s leash back on, shrinking her down to pocket-size, and promptly exit the dome.


    Seriously, I¡¯m starting to think I¡¯m addicted to these all-nighters.


    A quick change of clothes later, I¡¯m back at the bar where I met the bounty hunter. I find a quiet corner and slump into a seat. I need a moment to process everything that¡¯s happened. My brain feels like scrambled eggs.


    Some years feel like days, some days feel like years¡­ and today definitely felt like one of those days.

 Ch 10 (4/4): Reckoning

    After ordering a drink and some bar food. Rexy wriggles out of my hair, stretching on the table. I let her have the meal while my mind replays the events of the last few hours.


    So, my theory about my¡­ let¡¯s call them ¡°hair-transformation¡± powers seems to hold up. My hair flares up into an iridescent, in two distinct scenarios.


    First, someone or something kicks the bucket within a certain distance from me. In this case, there''s a high chance my consciousness gets yanked into the higher dimension. When I¡¯m there, I get to see the memories of the deceased, if the iridescent strings wins the tug-of-war with that glowing golden sphere.


    It¡¯s like being forced to watch a memory documentary.


    Time in this reality freezes when I¡¯m over there. But aside from the memory reel, I don¡¯t really get anything else. There are also certain requirements, apparently. Since when those bugs and small slug-like creatures died in front of me, nothing happened.


    The second trigger is exposed Adamantine, Adamantine that isn¡¯t completely encased in gold. The only time I was pulled to the higher dimension with Adamantine involved that art piece being absorbed, and a tree forming around my consciousness in that dimension.


    Why does my consciousness even get pulled there? And why am I encased in a tree?!


    The rest of the time, I remain in this reality, but time around me slows down. It¡¯s like watching the world in slow-mo, which multiplies my movement speed and reaction time. And it feels as if every time my hair absorbs more Adamantine, I gain more control over what I can do with it.


    So, Adamantine is like my MP and EXP. Next time, I probably shouldn¡¯t test these things at such dire moments. But I can¡¯t really waste these Adamantines.


    Rexy licks my hands, so I tickle her chin. ¡°You were the one who dug up the Adamantine for Dr. Keyser, weren¡¯t you?¡± Rexy proudly nods in response.


    ¡°Can you find more for me?¡± I ask politely. She instantly turns her head away.


    Guess she really doesn¡¯t like that job.


    I peek at the number of Adamantine bars I have. I should have enough to handle a number of bad situations.


    It appears all the futuristic lasers and railgun bullets have no effect on me. However, I am still vulnerable to being trapped. I¡¯m not strong enough to just brute-force my way through these high-tech defenses. The mech-suit-like armor the guards were wearing, and their shields, are a big problem.


    Rexy dunks herself in my drink. Can she even drink that? I shake my head at her. I can¡¯t rely too much on Rexy¡¯s transformation. Her large form draws way too much attention. I need to find more discreet ways to protect myself and rescue Bailey.


    Of course, if all else fails, Rexy¡¯s transformation will be one of the aces up my sleeve.


    After two rounds of drinks, I get up and pay my bill with another ding! before leaving the bar.


    The entire city feels tenser today. Announcements blare across the city and on every street corner, explaining why.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Citizen Broadcast: Lucretier Mansion Incident.¡± The amplified voice booms. ¡°This is a city-wide alert. Security Services have confirmed a catastrophic event at the Lucretier Mansion. Upon arrival, security units discovered extensive structural damage and, tragically, 249 fatalities.¡±


    The broadcast continues, listing the casualties: mansion staff, security, an Astralis Table associate, and even Lawrence Lucretier. Caesar Lucretier remains missing. Citizens are advised to be vigilant and report anything suspicious. The broadcast repeats.


    ¡°Citizen Broadcast: Lucretier Mansion Incident¡­¡±


    They¡­ they¡¯re all dead?!


    No way. Their wounds¡­ they all closed when their memories were taken. There¡¯s no way¡­ how? How did they all die?!


    My hair doesn¡¯t even flare. It didn¡¯t pull me into the higher dimension. They can¡¯t all be dead.


    A wave of dread and regret washes over me. I hurry back towards the mansion, keeping my distance as I stare at the dome.


    The entire dome is completely surrounded. Some bodies have already been moved, but most are still there. Hundreds of people scream and cry on the lawns of the mansion. Their wailing rings in my ears.


    They look like they¡¯re just asleep. No blood, no wounds, nothing. How¡­? I¡¯m utterly confused. ¡°Do you know what happened?¡± I ask Rexy, perched on my shoulder. She shakes her head.


    ¡°They were alive when we left, right?¡± I ask, needing confirmation. Rexy nods reassuringly. I sigh in relief.


    However, I¡¯m immediately dragged back into the vortex of emotions. A woman cries and screams, clutching her husband. Elderly parents sob beside the body of their son. Children stare blankly at the body of their mother, not understanding.


    Glimpses of the memories from the past day still linger in my consciousness. I know they were all someone¡¯s parents, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers. For some, their entire family¡¯s livelihood rested on their shoulders. The abyss of emotions¡­ if it were my loved ones who had died so suddenly¡­ I¡¯d probably go insane.


    Why¡­ Why did this happen¡­? Who is responsible¡­? Is this blood on my hands?


    ¡°What do I do now?¡± I mutter to myself, slapping my hands on my face, hoping to wake up from this nightmare.


    For a moment, I even considered swiping another bar of adamantine to see if I could glimpse what happened before they died. But I know it¡¯s too late.


    If only I¡¯d stayed a little longer. Maybe things would be different. If only¡­ These two words are popping into my mind way too often in this isekai.


    The dark, cloudy sky casts a long shadow over the entire dome city.


    After changing my appearance again, I wander the streets, feeling soulless, desperately trying to piece together what went wrong. I¡¯m positive they were alive when I left. What in the world could kill so many people so quickly? Why?! Why kill all these innocent people?! Is Caesar responsible?!


    A hundred possibilities race through my mind, but none of them explain what happened. Unless there¡¯s unintentional damage from memory extraction¡­


    But there¡¯s no way I could have killed them, right?


    And two things still don¡¯t add up. First, if there¡¯s damage from memory extraction, Rexy¡¯s perfectly fine. Second, where did Caesar go? He was the one who had the most memories extracted.


    Unable to find or think of any logical explanation, I lean against a wall, sighing. ¡°Whoever¡¯s responsible for this¡­¡± I mutter, clenching my fist. ¡°I¡¯ll give them a fate worse than the one I gave Caesar!¡± I curse silently in my head.


    As rain begins to fall outside the dome, I find myself in front of an unfamiliar building. I notice a massive sign that reads ¡°Vault¡± above the reinforced-looking entrance.


    What is this¡­? It reminds me of a certain post-apocalyptic game I played back in my teens.


    Wait a minute¡­ This is where the bounty hunter said Bailey left all his stuff!


    Bailey! Now is not the time to be sad, if I don¡¯t hurry there will be another innocent life that¡¯s lost!