COI C192
Tabitha and her team are taking their rest. They didn’t take the entire day doing their quest. It is very different when adventuring in Kinteinnou region. The surface took them according to their schedule, but here it is according the timing of their enemies taking action both monsters and machines. This makes her experience shifts through day and night to when and where to go in this used to be flying vessel. Honestly, she feels in need the sense of release as she removes the protection to hide her mana. According to the Enders, there are saferooms or even safe vicinities that is big enough for them to stretch large numbers of Enders to feel like a boarding house.
This place where they are at is more comfortable and furnished. This is where Dewn recommended. His friends mentioned about this place only prior to women instead of the men. There is a large window to see the other facilities meant to supervise among the facilities from here. The only thing they could see is a large wreckage and conflicted with the monsters and machines. There were a few Enders in their underwater suit moving by once in a little while. Tabitha records the man’s adventure as he was being maw by predatory sea creatures and the alarming sentries coming his way.
The man used the weaponry in this vessel and took them out cleanly from what she saw are energy weapons. She uses her magic cards to keep a keen eye on the man and found it amazing. The runes he had able to use telekinesis or polarization at the enemy. The mana is being injected to the sea creature filling it with mana unstable explosives and force it out to the schools of fishes. It bursts through its guts and feeding it containing mana and meat. Then exploded again in their bellies leaving in a mess of little fish chunks.
The robots come after him then immediately stops as if it loses its track on him. He was still there and with some device blinking on his helmet. The man took a chunk of the reefs he found, then proceed to go elsewhere. He soon returned back inside the vessel where he resupplies his air container.
Dewn comes to the window next to Tabitha and said “Watching an old aquatic suit, are you?”
“Yeah, did the Dexter Guild have that in their arsenal”
“Who knows, they are focusing on collecting rare resources that maintaining their equipment and ammunitions. Still, you can wear those if the Enders could place it among the saferooms”
“Can I wear them?”
“Yes, you can, but not from here. I heard among my friends that they are being selfish with the equipment. Luckily, you can easily find them near the leaks and doors lead to the underwater areas. It was supposed to be used anywhere, but it is much safer to place it where there is safe. Those suits are highly protected against them even you are being slowed inside the sea. It was probably for the best when you are accidentally fall off from the ship. That suit will save you back inside before the void of the sea takes you”
“Wow, I think I will keep in mind for it”
Tabitha turns back to the window as the chunks are flying near them. The fast-moving sea creatures come by and snatch the chunks in top speed. The creatures look normal after having Alga’s light regain their bodies showing like the sea is healed. It makes her realized that she never seen a starved fish any less than she saw from the surface. The monsters there before were truly skinny in bones. What is it really looks like to a famine fish under the sea?
She smells something behind her. An aroma made her feel hungry. It was Kiege who is cooking using the safe room storage instead their supplies. The preparation are the dried fish and other sea foods she found days away since it was caught. Dewn replaced it with their own catch during their fight with the crustaceans. Replace the supplies with their own catch is a nice respect to use the safe rooms. However, Tabitha can’t seem to get her appetite to see the colors after the dried fish is being cooked given strange looks.
“What are you cooking?” Tabitha asked worriedly
“Removing the preserves from its bodies. You know bacteria in this place is rather dangerous when contaminate. So, that machine the doctor will be using is covering with the substance in order to stop the infection. Ugh, you can’t get a whiff first with the germs before smelling the bad ones covering the fish”
Kiege took out the second batch as the first batch is next getting sliced by Viste. Tabitha watches them prepare it and leaving herself alone doing nothing to help them.
“Uhm, could I help somehow?”
Viste replied “Why not talking to us? It is getting boring to prepare the meal with this silent atmosphere. We can talk longer while we eat as well”
“If you really want me to ask, I want to know about your interest with me and the Dexter Guild”
“That topic should be another time. You are not willing to be involved with my own works, you have your help preparing to leave anyway. For now, what about your interest in the archscience. I know that you are worried what if the city will lay their hands on it. What is your plan about it?”
“My plans? Well, I was hoping I could find someone who will be helping me to fight it without any help from the Dexter Guild. Still, I think R-cord and McS4 are still the people I could trust. They told me a lot of their differences. Have you met them before?”
Dewn is waiting for Viste to respond. Her silent is pretending she is thinking. Her hesitation finding the right word makes him annoyed. Kiege hears him groans as if he knows all about it. Dewn didn’t hide it, he just watching Viste trying to make a respond. His patience being crushed by the sounds of the equipment to marinate the crustaceans’ meat.
Press after press in fast sequence. It wasn’t even a minute and Dewn’s poker pace kept strong, but his mouth and body movement are groaning and tilting in quick succession. Viste sighs as she felt like Dewn is not too kind to keep secrets. A doctor who had his shares of patience faking their symptoms and extending his work because of it. She feels the mental pressure and said to Tabitha, honestly
“Yes, I have met them before. Not so young and who was involved in my work as a prosecutor. They are my witnesses in regards about their projects”
“Projects? Witness? In what case did you prosecute?”
“The strange activities when using archscience in their research. Reviving an old unit, they found in this ruin. This is not about our quest here. It was over and we should forget about it. Again, you can rely on the military corps. The rest of the departments, from what their guild called, were defending the suspect. The corps was the only group who are against them”
Tabitha never thought Dexter Guild had a criminal record. The more she gets her interest, the less Viste explains further. A case was already over, and she couldn’t say more. Tabitha is worried if she discovers darker than she had thought.
The meal is ready, and no Enders around them are present. This place should have a lot of Enders women gathered here resting and enjoying what supplies it had. Thanks to the call of the defense in Enders Bridge, the saferooms here are peaceful leaving some nice rooms for them to choose and relax. Dewn sees the rooms and said to them while they eat.
“This place will be the only facility you can taste heavenly, Tabitha. After we leave this place, I hope you’re not spoiled in this kind of luxury”
Tabitha didn’t believe what he said, as she about to take a bite on the fish. She feels the taste of luxury already.
A monster food she looks at first in their preparation, made her feel disgust. At first, it was the smell form the first batch made her feel hurling. After taken a bite, she feels like the food was made by a gourmet chef. Kiege sees her being blessed from the wonderful taste. Viste tells Tabitha
“Don’t think we can taste the same food as we have now. This vicinity is big and fit a lot of ingredients from Enders Bridge. What we have prepared are the seasoning and flavorings were left behind by the previous Enders. I took the privileged to get theirs and replace it with ours. Remember this place is where the women prefer”
Tabitha keeps eating as she listens to her. Viste just smiles at her that she is acting like a spoiled girl, but Tabitha was in disbelief as she enjoys the monsters’ meat. Viste turns to Dewn as he is already finished his share.
“You’re done already?”
“I have my own need of supplies. If we are not going to the assigned room to get the data. I’ll be gathering and making some medicine while you rest”
“That’s not what I’m saying, what about your share of the story. People resting needs a good trustful conversation”
Dewn left leaving the three to continue their meal. Kiege seems to notice Viste’s changed mood.
“For a woman who wants with Tabitha that much. You’re really a hospitable woman”
“I have different objectives, and she is providing something more than I have imagined. She has the data and that’s one of the three I needed”
“Then as of now we are going through your interest with Tabitha’s, right?”
“That is correct. Let’s go for personal detail and let’s know more about you. You seem to know a lot about this place”
“Yeah, but I never took the time beneath the isles. I was more taking challenges at the surface. You can see how I got my special items. Those baits won’t be possible to get with those ritual creatures hunting you down. It was all thanks to the person who saved me”
“. . . wha-“ Tabitha is surprised by it and begins to lean closer to her.
“Yes, you heard me, there was a time sometimes you got bad luck”
Tabitha got her interest when she hears Kiege is speaking about a love story, she got hook and continue leaning closer.
“Then what happened?”
“He was incredible, coming from the sky like a warrior diving down to my enemies. Swooping like a bird and strikes them down before I even can see his face. . .”
Viste looks at Kiege confused why she says something like that. No Enders can’t go solo at the surface unless that Enders was an elite with zero use of neutral mana. Even if the runes they are carrying are coming from the dwarven gods. Its absurd powers should destroy them than leaving something survive. Then she looks at Tabitha eyeing Kiege with passion as she listens her story. She quietly grins that she is thinking it is just for fun. Kiege just made a story up just for Tabitha. They really are friends, don’t they?
The whole prince charming story was interrupted by Dewn, already carrying Kiege’s robotic arm and his hands lay in front of Tabitha.
“Sorry for the intrusion, may I borrow your device?”
“Huh?! I mean, for what for?”
“Your main interest is the data storage, or would you like to search around finding routes where this vessel keeps locking and unlocking doors randomly”
Tabitha gives her device immediately. The boring back and forth hits her, when she was in the sphere “Go have it, there is no signal here anyway”
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“No signal? then my debt should be paid to have it”
Tabitha shakenly turns toward him. Her desperate expression as she immediately clings to his collar and hold his gas mask tightly.
“You’re lying, aren’t you?”
Dewn removes his gas mask and reveals his unphased face. Tabita is twitching her lips and her eyes start to tear up. Her device loses signal when she reaches down to the depths. The Isekai City’s signals and internet were based only the electromagnetic waves of the neutral mana. Even though the Jigeram’s light block it, there is always signal in the seismic waves (don’t ask). But here in the sea, it can’t reach the vibrations nor the frequencies.
Her excitement made her said it to him. “PLEASE! DO IT! I can give you a kiss if you actual did it”
Dewn replies with a serious disrespectful decline “I’m married, you weak seductive maiden!”
“Ugh, sorry. I can’t help myself. It just on the cheek. Don’t be harsh”
Viste tsks at her “My, you don’t know the faithful romance of a man. That would be another conversation after our meal. Dewn, be careful to this cityfolk. We don’t know how they behave”
Dewn sighs and puts back on his gas mask. He walks to the door and said to Tabitha “I’m not acting rude because of your attitude. I’m just worried after that”
He left, leaving Tabitha dumbfounded “What is he talking about?”
The awkward silence persists. Kiege says “He is married, your city’s cheating culture . . .”
Viste responds “Don’t speak of it. Yui will only be and lastly be the one who is going to describe it to us, negatively. I don’t care enough what culture they have. Tabitha didn’t even know out culture”
Tabitha looks down and feeling rude to him. She ironically agrees with them, the cheating stuff is really not welcomed. There are some in this world, she guarantees it. The fear she thought is the consequence.
Dewn went out alone. He sees the personal engineering station is blinking. The vessel here is still damaged and kept the aftermath of the fight. It wasn’t an Enders who is involved but the machines and the sea creatures. The clawing track marks are already giving him signs that the creature is using the Alga’s light. Viste was right to rest inside the vicinity. The creatures are evolving into what kind of species it will become. After a close investigation, it seems like the machine had won. Rely only with his own equipment with the help of Kiege’s robotic arm holding Tabitha’s device. The only luck he could get better weapons are the machines. He shrugged it off like it is forbidden for him.
The personal engineering station opens and it was the machines itself able to subjugated one of the sea creatures. Put together, half machine and creature together. Still fresh and abominating with its leaked blood installed in runes. The laser vision is pointing on to him as the laser changes color from blue to red. The hybrid spotted him and begin leaping through around. It is too new and its body is not coordinating its new attachments. Through walls and corners then to the ceiling hiding the vision from the light. The unnecessary movements made Dewn waits for it to act.
He looks at Tabitha’s device thinking the stupid option. The hybrid is waiting at the ceiling for him to strike. Without any range weapons on him, and the robotic arm he treated as extra limb. Dewn thought about it, then lays down behind him, shaken his head as he heads to the power lines. The lights were switch off and the steps of the hybrid immediately lands on the floor with a powerful weight denting the platforms. It rushes at him readying its arms and teeth. Dewn is waiting for it as the gas mask lights up its visor.
The laser keeps it red on his back. Continuing to move all around then turns straight. The moment it reaches at his back, he is strengthening the lights on his gas mask blinding the sea creature’s eyes. The robot resists the blind and tries to hit him. A parry coming from his rod then pushing the hybrid to the side without damaging the machine. Using his magic items to enhance his feet and kicks the hybrid against the railings. The boost forces the sea creatures hit on the railings splitting it in half.
The robot forced to cut off the sea creatures head and used it as an extension mace with its teeth. The robotic arm comes to his rescue and able to block it without hitting the camera on its hand. The machine fell to the ground leaving only the sea creature’s torso. He reaches through the components hidden inside. Its parts are ripped along with the runes connecting it. The machine fell as the runes were vandalized. The hybrid was defeated, leaving him some parts for him to use.
He wipes off the chunks and the meat, and pulled up the machine parts he needed. The sounds of the other machines are coming this way. Then he proceeds to go to the personal engineering station. While he was inside, the station closes itself and began recharging both the device and the robotic arm. There, he should be upgrading Tabitha’s device. The station mostly had guiding systems and other leftover data that would benefit to collect or to access. With the robotic parts he took, the processing chip he got was able to trace with the device.
The device uploaded the data and able to create a map system as it projects with the camera. Dewn sees the map and the blinking dots are telling him that those are the areas were rerouted and the one that Viste thought would be harder for them to venture through. Added little recordings among the machines, the surviving machine he took down had presented some interesting creatures. It is truly the signs of the species are deciding to evolved. From sea creatures to highly formed beasts, now starving to the point of searching anything to eat. Dewn pulls out more of his equipment to make use of the scraps he got.
It wasn’t that long as the claws of the sea creatures are prying in the station. A tongue lashes out into the small gap of the opening. The robotic arm was able to catch it and dropped the device. Dewn catches it and keeps it safe by holding it. Only a sound of a snap of the device, the creature pulls its tongue back. The robotic arm lets it go, but he grabs it with his other hand. Using more of his magic items, he enhances his strength able to pulls in by the door. The robotic arm grabs the device. Dewn takes his first execution as he injects a syringe into the head, piercing through its skull then quickly kills it.
Once the station opens, it seems this creature is alone. The drooling of its head is showing shine of mana decayed by his needle. The feeling of the weight and the stench it has is already fuming into the air. With his gas mask filter out the toxins as he breathes. It is clear that the creature is still evolving. He sees the machines are torn in little pieces and collecting the scraps of each other. There are a lot of fighting than he initially thought and continues to move on. As it repairs itself, they soon collecting the biomass, and rebuilding it. The cybernetics are merging together to what remains they find.
Into the next room, where it needed a key. Dewn uses the device to the door. It detects it and somehow speak out the detail of the digital key card.
“Guard unit, approved”
Dewn has access as a guard. Then his next journey to find the next level key access will be the authoritative units. In his mind as the device shows to him in the projection as he is searching for it. He moves on as he is now surrounded by noise. The fight has no sounds of Enders fighting, but creatures and machines.
The next obstacle he founds that the platforms and the passages are torn to shred by an unknown creature. The falling of parts in debris on the floor. This part of the segment seems to be destroyed by the creatures. Claw marks and strength that able to damage this pathway is concerning his view. As there are no lights and already the mechanisms are forcing the leaks into air. The poisonous transformation of the sea water made him worries for his gas mask to hold it for long.
Hidden in the dark, the lights raying around as it moves. Dewn quickly shuts lights on his visor. The dark void made a horrifying sound as he walks through memorizing the path to where to go before turning the light visor off. Only by sounds, big sounds rumbling around as it follows the thrashed debris where it attacked. The footsteps were randomly causing noise where Dewn steps are getting destroyed or disappeared. The noise keeps going in the dark as he grabs some scraps, some of them are too heavy and accidentally dropped it.
He uses magic item to move away to the walls. The creature throws a large object banging where he dropped. He quickly rushes to escape this room. Crushing sounds grudgingly are closing into to him. The darkness lurks the noise as the creature starts screaming. The Alga’s light within it glows into its body and an eye open up as it is transforming its vision to see in the dark. The loud noises move above to his ears, another one is chasing him. Random sparks where he sees a large shadows to the side, the large creature is down below. The sounds of the walls being dented close to his sides. He calmly walks like blind man, hoping he can touch what he needed to go. Dewn feels the door and uses the device to open it quickly.
The creature pushes him into the door. He was slammed against the wall. Its tendrils arms curled around him, the the door is shutting off and slowly closing in. The doors aren’t that easily stuck open. It will keep closing until shut. Dewn is being pulled back to the room as he tries to get out from the entanglement. It tries to pull it back in but the door is closed enough for his body not to get through. The tendrils were loosened and able to free his hand. He pulls out from his bag and inject a syringe into the creature.
It starts to weaken its muscles and slide back inside. Losing its grip, letting him go. The door shuts while he lies behind it. He pulls out his healing item then washed it down to the bruises he had gotten. He turns on the lights with the device. The robotic arm shows it to his face. The device is switching camera from night vision to normal vision. Dewn didn’t know Tabitha’s device has that feature. But, after a closer look to the updates it got. It was recently uploaded. It has the machine’s interactive protocols.
Dewn never knew anything about technology. Neither of its adapting programs. He keeps himself from doubting as he is now trapped without another path to get back to them. He moves on and sees energy rooms holographic projected. The path to where he needed to go is the projected pathway. He goes through and he sees the outside of the destruction. An infestation or a group of wild animals able to create a nest inside the vessel. There are other rooms are filled with water, showing signs that the machines are losing.
The silent steps walking across the light projection. He made it through and found the room he needed to go. The security room, where all the keys protected and continuously resetting to protect the inner parts of the vessel. He uses the device and the door open. Where he finds inside where only the computer remained on. The lights shut off and the runes and other archscience techs are offline. He places the device to the computer and replicate what Tabitha did with the terminal. It did respond and gives the man a sigh of relief.
Now the computer gives him access all the basic keys, there is one program he found. It is recognizable to read it, and more exclusive than he had thought after reading it.
“Dexter Guild and other Enders guilds as well. What are they doing applying their program here?”
As he tries to check every icon he presses, he was able to get on contact with the Enders through the screen. While the receiver is being connected, he sees the device able to track where they are now. Sadly, it was not the place to his team would go.
A response open on screen. “This is west wing control room. You people should be recall for Lord Lori’es’ commands”
“I am the member from the Raker Mawn Guild. We have personal activities to attend to”
“Acknowledge, your location is under infestation. While other guilds are retreating to the upper route back to the waiting room. This vessel is not fully control under which guild. Are you here for the hacking through the system?”
“I have no knowledge of such archscience terms, but we have citizens tech ready to collect the data”
“Citizens’ tech? I have confirmation that we have citizens in our vessel. Wait a minute, Raker Mawn guild? That means you are bringing an actual citizen within the uncontrolled vessel”
“Confirmed, but why are you stating other citizens are here and not actually venturing this area”
“Reports by the Dexter Guild, I have no clear understanding how the citizens are trespassing according to their records. It would be hard to understand and couldn’t able to take accusation during the time of the siege”
“Sigh* Fine, then how about us giving the rights of passage to the storage data”
Dewn receives the map guide system. “If you have the tech able to collect the large amounts of Gigabytes, then this file will be the test and the software you need to go without any blocks on your way. But you need to go to the maintenance control room to access the emergency gateways. That would be the checkpoint you’ll need if you want to resupply yourself. I repeat my warning, you are in the infestation zone. There would be another wave of the machines will be fighting back against the threat. I don’t know how long will it hold before the pathway to it. It will be impossible to go on another route”
“Ok, can you send the message at the quarter chambers?”
“You mean the vicinity? You are in the security room. You should be able to contact them easier than mine”
“I have gone through the computer by luck. I don’t know how to do it and I am their only as a healer to get here”
“Your team and their love for healing wounds, I will redirect your transmission to them. I won’t be baby sit at this hour”
“At this hour . . .?”
He looks at Tabitha’s device. The time he was in was taken hours and already night time. The supplies he gathered are swift and easy to harvest. The vessel can’t be that difficult to venture this long.
The screen opens in the vicinity and they are already fell asleep. Viste is the only one awake and sees Dewn on screen. She bends her magic on the screen and writes a message to him
“I sense your presence. You were getting yourself trapped by the time stops. You should know better, that you are supposed to gather your resources. How’s your resupplies?”
Dewn shows it to her with very impressive stash including the Alga’s light content within the creatures’ flesh.
“Good, I hope you can prepare them. Tabitha needs a lot of mental medication after witnessing her first nightmare. All three of us have face the horrors. Tabitha needs to be quite and calm while wondering the dark. The noise creeping near to us. Rune Isles is a dangerous place for the mind”
Dewn let the screen on. He writes his message back. Truly, Rune Isles is truly a dangerous region and the only region possessing damage mentally. The difference of Kinteinnou and Runes Isles are the simple harm to the mind and mana. With him carrying the notes needed for her diagnosis and requirements for her medicine. He is certain she will be sane after her learning.
After hours of his crafting his medicines, he feels bored. The robotic arm swinging Tabitha’s device and shows him the recordings. The device was able to access the security footage from without him knowing during his long walks. To his surprised, it is the surveillance of him going through the area. This is what Viste mentioned about, the time stops. He was stuck there with every room he entered. It explains why it activates and sees nothing between creatures and machines in front of him. He should’ve been trapped for this long time when their fights are quick and desperate.
The device wasn’t the only thing able to find something about the facilities. There is one ominous creature lurking around, searching for him. While he was making the medicine, he watches carefully as the entity is coming for him. The time he was caught by it was during the dark. The noise when it tries to get him was the entity with the large creature. He doesn’t know how he was able to escape, but this is something a healer shouldn’t waste his resources into the unknown.
What worse, when the time he walks to the light projected pathway to here. He sees it again, the entity standing behind the door. He carefully watches the security camera while making the medicine. The looks of his eyes double tasking between cautious and resourcefulness as he is officially being trapped in the security room. This is not for him to take action and waste his equipment on it. The powerful syringe and other strong effected medicines he had to sway against his enemies. As he starts to fill it with magic, a strong shake happened into the room.
Viste notices it. Dewn is in trouble. The most likelihood that he is facing is one of those enemies. She remembers the Enders who walks into the waiting room as she speaks to herself
“Shamanism is used in the cybernetic workshop”
She takes a deep breath as she needs her rest. Carefully to put her to sleep as she secretly worried for Dewn’s situation. She lies down with her mind cautiously to her surroundings. Her rest is needed for the worse tomorrow.