Tuesday - October 30th, 2121:

With the raven accompanying me, we made great progress as we passed through lustrous forests and remnant towns that dotted the horizon on the path out to the ocean. Seeing the raven's back and its dazzling ruby-tipped wings flapping before my eyes gave me the power to push through and take every additional step toward the destination.

The journey was eerily silent, without a single critter appearing on our path. It made it easy to move ahead without distractions. Any time my mind wandered elsewhere, the raven would croak and snap me back to reality, propelling me further ahead.

After traveling for ages, I could hear the rustling tides moving across the sandy coast within arm's reach. The cloudy sky reflected onto the water, giving it a pale, lifeless hue.

I trudged through the sandy shore, looking for an access point to the base. But no matter how I searched, I couldn't see anything different. They said it was an oceanic base but never told me how to get there.

The raven circled overhead and descended away from me. I followed it curiously, expecting it to lead me to answers yet again. After several dozen steps, my foot sunk into the sand down to my knee, and soon after, a series of clicks echoed from beneath the shore. The grains of sand quivered and swirled as a series of crescent-shaped panels unwound and revealed a tunnel system burrowing into the depths of the shore.

The tunnel had a metallic sheen coating its surface. As I spiraled downward, following the path, it lit up dimly by small spherical bulbs that dotted the corridor. Further down, the path shifted into a transparent enclosure reflecting the ocean depths. Minuscule creatures swam beside the tunnel, shifting mysteriously as their jelly-like bodies skimmed through the ocean. I kept heading straight, pushing toward the end that was quickly approaching.

From the dark reaches of the ocean, a thud sounded from behind me, colliding with the transparent tunnel's surface. I turned to an overbearingly colossal eye that clung to the side of the tunnel, unblinking and all-seeing in its might. It stared at me, and I jolted back, but it remained unfazed by my actions. The water pushed and pulled, and the eye sank slowly back, moving into the shadowy depths beyond my vision's reach.

You should turn back now before it's too late. You've seen enough and done enough. Face reality, the world is better off this way.

I stared out in silence momentarily before rushing onward. I had to see it for myself. The last remnant of humanity's struggles.

The structure appeared before me, shielded and sheltered from the water's pressure. It stood proud and unbothered under the ocean's depths. The long transparent tunnel latched onto one simple sealed door and an access panel to the side. I fiddled with the panel, and a beam scanned me.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

'Area: Null Access Scan Engaged'

#Verifying Identity#

'Lifeform Detected' - Anomaly#

'Balance Assessment# 1% - 17% - 50% - 100%'

#Welcome to Area: Null#

The door swung open, and the lights crackled, guiding toward a single console that awaited in the center of the room. Despite the base's grand display on the outside, the interior was tiny and barren, leaving nothing to the imagination. As I walked forward, the console illuminated, and a voice spoke.

'If you're hearing this. Thank you for coming back. You are the key to humanity's salvation or destruction.

We are the final frontier. We separated from Z3-R0 not because of manipulation but because we had to. We always believed the Buried brought forth the Colossi as their soldiers, but we were wrong. Colossi and humans were the same, meager people who struggled to survive, for the Buried had attacked time and time again in years gone by.

The Buried are a threat to humanity. They've destroyed us more times than we can discover, yet they always find a way to survive.

After countless hours studying, researching, and experimenting with them and ourselves, we've discovered the only way to claim victory in this war between species.

Later, we discovered that Z3-R0 had come to similar conclusions when their end neared. Did that mean we made a mistake by splitting humanity's resources? No! Either way, we were the damned ones, for humanity's survival lies in the future and not in the present. Earth is dead, and survival can only come once you awaken the horizon.

We've programmed the security protocol to only allow access to the 'Core Zero' unit. If you're hearing this, you must be confused and shocked. Lost in your fragmented thoughts and memories, but do not worry, child. You are strong. All this time, you've kept a balance with the parasite inside you.

Welcome home, Zero.

We know you're scared and confused. But humanity is depending on you. Access the reactor. Awaken the horizon. Free the new generation from the Buried's blight.

We need you, Zero. Fight on, child. Restore the world and bring life to Earth.'

Electricity surged through my mind, and I collapsed onto the floor, curled up and howling. My body thrashed against the barren floor, fists slamming against the metallic plating. Fragmented shards pierced into my thoughts, splicing them into dozens and hundreds. Roger, Vlad, Catherine, everyone—

I could see Catherine shivering, pale, and terrified. No! Why are you so horrified, Catherine? There's nothing to worry about. I didn't mean to, I didn't! God, what have you done? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

My insides gurgled and bubbled, and I felt the surging hatred spiral out of control as my mind blanked and I sprawled out, flattened, and defeated.