...
?? "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!"
Like a titan roused, General Karnat stomps towards the spectral glow of a holographic map, eyes ablaze with molten fury. His soldiers that are huddled nearby, shrink back, their hearts echoing with worry.
?? "Um... er... Sir. It appears they figured out.. how... umm... we keep finding them. Hence, they somehow did this... please don't kill us."
Karnat inhales, a tempest brewing within him.
KARNAT "Fine, for once. I'll this go. ORDER EVERY SOLDIER WE GOT TO SEARCH EVERY INCH OF THAT PLANET!"
His soldiers spring to attention, darting from the room, their every move a testament to the command.
A hush descends, the room now a vacant stage. Karnat flexes his metallic claws with a resounding snap.
From the shadows above, eight cloaked figures plunge, landing softly to kneel in hallowed deference.
?? "Yes, my liege."
The group voiced their pledge.
KARNAT "This may be a bit embarrassing of me. But, I think I overdose on Mindredol, and... there are now holes in my memories. I sorta forgot what we planned."
?? "Perhaps, I can ease your concerns. My lord."
KARNAT "Ah, thanks. You're M121 if I remember correctly."
M121 "I'm deeply honored that Sire remembers my number. Or remember me at all for that matter. I'm forever grateful!"
KARNAT "Of course, I couldn't forget you. You are the leader of this group after all. But enough with formalities. I first want to know the info we got from your previous skirmish."
M121 "Very well. Let's start with their weapons. For some odd reason, they bypass the hardness of any object as well as being completely indestructible. As if there is an invisible aura that allows this feat to be plausible. The best example is by that Dave guy who went up against M119. During the match, M119 was wielding a shield made of Tinodium, a material three times stronger than tungsten and has absolute immunity to blunt objects. However, that bastard's bat cracked through the shield with little effort. This spooked M119 so much that he decided to quit this job."
KARNAT "WHAT?! That's cowardice! When you find him, kill him!"
M121 "Yes, Sire. That would be appropriate."
KARNAT "Now back to the weapons. They are troublesome meaning getting too close to them isn't going to help. From now on, only use range weapons against the wielders if possible!"
M121 "Yes, Sire. You also said this before your memories got wiped."
KARNAT "Oh, right! Oops. Forget that. Let's move on! What about their bodies? Is there anything special about them besides being strong and fast?"
M121 "Looking back at the details of previous battles. We can conclude that venom does not affect the wielders meaning they have some kind of immunity. However, we don't know the extent of this immunity like whether or not poison or gas can work on them."
KARNAT ".... interesting. But that doesn't matter. That way of doing things is cowardly anyway! Now! On to the important part! Their powers. I have only a simple understanding of them and would like to know more."
M121 begins to reel off a list, each point describing the prowess of their wielders. Hearing this, a grin of predatory satisfaction spreads across Karnat's face, his pride noticeable.
KARNAT "Excellent! Very useful! But, it is unfortunate that we couldn't get any info from those other four wielders. Especially, that blue-headed guy. He's the most annoying one."
M121 "I agree Sir. So, what will be the plan, my lord?"
KARNAT "We will need to isolate and stall those four wielders. While that is happening, you guys will face off against the wielders best suited to your abilities. Understood!"
ALL "YES SIR!"
KARNAT "Alright. Now I guess, we have to wait. Say. Do any of you guys know how to play UNO?"
________________________________________________________________________________________
SPLASH!
Eight humans snap their heads toward the sound.
Sarah "Speaking of the devil, looks like Kanji is here."
Kanji swiftly swims to Azan and Mina, clutching something. Their anxiety rises as Kanji's speed escalates. Sensing their unease, Kanji eases off, adopting a leisurely pace.
Azan "Umm, Kanji what are you doing? What's with the syringe?"
KARNAT "Put out your hand. Trust me, this is going to help you more than it hurts."
Mina "Ok, I'll trust you. It won't be that bad."
Azan gazes at Mina, who boldly extends her hand. He grins and follows suit. Kanji administers the chips...
Az/Mina "OUCH!"
They wince, shutting their left eye from the pain. The pair of wielders shift their gaze to Kanji.
Azan "So, what does this-
A monochrome window materializes, startling him as he takes a step back.
Azan "So this is a portable inventory. Huh. How interesting, this technology would have been very useful for my father. Perhaps, we can have some sort of trade deal. After the journey ends, of course."
Kanji "Yeah, I have no problem with that."
Azan stows his suitcase and mechanical soap in the inventory. He glances at Mina, who stares at her inventory in utter bafflement.
Mina "This... is... AWESOME!"
She promptly follows suit, placing her belongings inside. In the midst of doing so, a question arises in her mind...
Mina "Hey, Kanji! How many things can you put in here?!"
KARNAT "Well, you can store 50 different objects in total. However, the quantity of each item may vary since the dimension is limited."
Two additional splashes resonate through the air.
Claire and Gwen join the group, swimming towards them, taking their place beside Kanji.
Dave "Yo! Where were you three doing, man? Did you guys have a thre-
Sarah and Diana swiftly strike him on the back of his head, interrupting his sentence. Dave chuckles in response.
Dave "Hahaha. Sorry, forget the last part! For real though bro, what did you do?"
Kanji "Errr, ok? I was just clearing my thoughts, Dave. Though, I should be asking that question. I'm curious about that headwear of yours."
Laughter erupts from everyone. Dave removes the dunce hat, tossing it away.
Dave "What dunce hat, dude?! You guys must be drunk lol."
Diana "Yeah, suuuure. Icarus. By the way, what is our next plan of action, boss?"
Kanji "It would probably be to upgrade our powers. You know as in searching for the anomaly crystals. However, we need to contact AN for that information. Speaking of this subject, everyone I have a question. Does your skill window show the words "!ERROR!" ?"
They all nod, affirming his suspicion.
Kanji "Damn it all. I guess we can only wait and hope that AN resolves the issue on their side. Luckily, we have plenty of time before the enemy could find us."
Diana "What do you mean, boss? How is that possible to have any time at all?!"
Kanji "Let's just say that Gwen did a great job in countering their searching devices."
Amelia "That's jolly good news! More days to relax, the better!"
Sarah "I second that."
Noah "I third that." "LOL."
All eyes turn towards Kanji, their expressions brimming with frustration as if they're expecting something from him.
Kanji "Hah! Fine! No training, I guess a few days wouldn't hurt."
Dave "Heck yeah, brother!"
Adrian "That's awesome! What does everyone want to do now?"
Kanji "I think we should just discuss different topics. I won't mind."
Mina "Oh! Maybe we can talk about our parents. We never discussed that before!"
Dave "Yo, but we already a lot about yours lol."
Mina "You guys only know them as celebrities. But do you have any idea what they are like as parents?"
Sarah "Let me take a wild guess. They take you to learn and travel to many places around the world during your childhood which exposed you to things a child your age shouldn't have."
Mina "Yes, but it's even worse than that! Especially when they brought me to dangerous places."
Kanji "Interesting, what kind of places?"
Mina "They took me to climb MOUNT EVEREST at the age of six. Despite the fact that it earned me the Guinness world record. It was the worst experience of my entire life! I still remember how my tiny little fingers were so cold that if I were to hit them against a rock with any pressure, they would snap off."
Amelia "Oh dear! That sounds horrible! No one knew of this! This is straight-up child abuse!"
Mina "I wouldn't go that far. They did nurse me back to health afterward. To this day, my feelings towards my parent are somewhat neutral."
Her gaze fixes upon Azan.
Mina "What are your parents like Azzy?"
Azan "Oh, Ummm... it's actually just a parent. My mother died after giving birth to me."
Mina "Oh, I... I have no idea. I'm sorry."
Azan "It's ok. Now I have time to tell everyone how great of a person she was. She was someone who truly admired my father and everything he fought for, even to the bitter end. The best part is that she wasn't even African but of British royalty."
Amelia "Wait, British royalty! No.... she can't possibly be her. Right? Right?!"
Azan "Yes, her original name was hard to remember but I think it started with "Rose" and ends with "Windsor". Anyway, upon hearing my father's speech on the internet, she was charmed by his undying will, courage, and determination. She abandoned her name and all she had, just to go to meet him. Their relationship at first was quite rough, as my father saw it as nothing more than a crazy fangirl. Luckily, they both love each other after a while and got married years later. During that time, she changed her name to Andra Abara. My father once said to me that she was like a moral pillar that further holds up his ambitions."
Amelia "I also heard, there wasn't much controversy surrounding the whole ordeal since she couldn't inherit the throne. There was a rumor floating about that the sovereign cheated and made an illegitimate child who everyone at that time assumed to be Rose. Nonetheless, I feel happy for that lass. Good for her!"
Dave "Yo, that sounds like a story I heard before, bro. But I can't really remember! Man, I miss Chat. I bet they would know!"
Gwen "Don't worry, Dave. I ordered a new recording drone. It will be here in around 12 hours. At least, I hope it will be."
Dave "Aw, Sweet!"
Gwen and Dave exchange a high five. Azan clears his throat and resumes speaking...
Azan "Ok about my father. Is there anything you're curious about him?"
Sarah raises her hand.
Sarah "Did he build that entire city by himself? Also, how did he keep the city's existence a secret?"
Azan "He actually did create the city by himself in secret through terraforming technology and AI. Furthermore, no one knew about it because he got help from a very sketchy organization. But don't worry he said that he betrayed them and they no longer exist."
Kanji "What is this organization called?"
Azan "Crypto-Grimalogy Coin Industries. Or CCI for shor-
Claire "WHAT?!"
Claire rises, her eyes burning with anger.
Gwen "Are you ok?"
She takes a seat, her mood swiftly shifting to sadness. Claire shields her eyes, tears streaming down her face. Kanji and Gwen rush to her side, hugging her in an attempt to provide comfort.
Kanji "Woah! Woah! It's ok, what's wrong?"
Claire "They... they... they killed my parents."
Kanji "They what! When did this happen?!"
Claire "When I was... When I was 5. I... I... I didn't know better. I remember Mom and Dad pleading with a strange man in a business suit. The man without reason shot my parents! Fortunately for me, my aunt was there. She grabbed me and ran away."
Gwen "Oh... it must have been traumatizing. You seek revenge, don't you?"
Claire "No, not anymore. It turns out that they all got killed or arrested and the group stopped existing. I was sad, really sad. Thinking about it still haunts me to this day. But I was a lucky girl, you see. Thanks to my aunty's affection and love, I was able to grow up a normal happy kid and I learned to cope with my sadness over the years."
Kanji "Claire... I have no idea."
Kanji and Gwen hold her tight, and a smile graces her face. The tears start to subside.
Sarah "Sorry to interrupt the moment. I have some information regarding that organization you were talking about. I know plenty since cult activities are like my specialty. On to the main point, those people were apparently a group who was overly obsessed with the progression of Cryptocurrency and NFTs. At one point, they were on top of the world. Until someone exposed them for what they are, a corrupt and evil company. After that, everything unfolded for them and they lost all their influence."
Azan "I guess my father was the one who exposed them. Ha! Serve them right!"
Kanji "That's good to know. So, who like to go next?"
Sarah "I'll go since my parents are pretty normal. Well, I shouldn't say "normal". They did flee their country because of something illegal."
Kanji "What exactly did they do?"
Sarah "My parents never specifically told me the actual reason but sometimes when I was little, I always heard them argue. It was something about money or something called "The Golden Head". Another group I thought. However, after years of research, "The Golden Head" was impossible to find. As if like it was wiped or never existed, to begin with. Yeah, that is all I can tell you about them"
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Dave "Yo, that's two for whose parents got fucked over by some weird-ass organization. Let's brighten things up and talk about my parents, dude. They are hyper-talented DJs and owned about 10 nightclubs."
Azan "Do you go to those nightclubs? If so, tell me what it's like. I'm quite curious since I never went to one before."
Dave "Aw, dude. It's like fucking sick, man! Maybe after the journey, I'll show you a couple of hot spots. My treat!"
Diana "Pfft! DJs are nothing! My parents are detectives and I bet if they were to investigate those nightclubs. They would be down by the weekend."
Dave "Yeah, right! I bet as soon as they enter the place, the sound will be so loud that they'll walk out lol."
Diana and Dave initiate a sudden punching match.
Kanji "ENOUGH!"
Dave/Diana "Ok, boss."
Kanji "Good, you guys are on time-out. Go over there next to the waterfall. Mina. Azan. Please watch these two to make sure they don't maul each other."
Azan/Mina "Yes, sir."
They swim off, leaving the remaining seven behind. The rest fix their gaze upon Noah with curiosity.
Noah "What... oh... my turn... huh."
Adrian "Yes and then me. Wait, have Gwen or Kanji gone yet?"
Gwen "No need to talk about my parents. They were just rich bank owners who rarely came home to spend time with their only daughter. But I didn't mind it that much. Now that I'm done, Noah may you tell us your parents. Or maybe Kanji you can go."
Kanji "I don't really know my father. My parents got divorced when I was an infant. I only lived with my mother."
Gwen "Is she an ordinary mother?"
Kanji nods in response to her question.
Gwen "That's quite neat. Lucky you... Ok, Noah. Your turn!"
Noah "Alright... I'll be quick. My dad is a lumberjack... a hunter... and a maple farmer." "He is also super cool, loving, down-to-earth, and a wonderful father. But I can't say that sadly."
Claire "How about your mom?"
Claire notices his head tilting slightly downward.
Noah "My.... mom. She's... I don't want... to talk about it." "Mom..."
Sarah places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Sarah "Hey, it's ok. You can show your emotions. It's alright in this case."
Streams of blue liquid drip from his chin.
Noah "She... she's dead. My dad told me she died when I was a baby. And every time... I... asked him about it. He always looked at me... and said "Don't make deals with a magician"."
Adrian "Ok, that is dark. But at least everyone had parents. I however was raised my whole life by a robot. My parents left no clues or traces of them at all. This basically means I'm an orphan, but a happy one. Even though he was not my parent, I still see him as one. He taught me everything I know and was more like another human being than a machine. Oh, how I missed his numerous pranks. May he rest in peace."
Sarah "Well, that's everyone. What should we talk about next?"
Kanji "Right, let's call those four back. HEY! YOU GUYS CAN COME BACK NOW!"
They swim away from the waterfall, reuniting with Kanji and the rest.
Diana "What's up, boss?"
Kanji "I'm curious about something. I want to test to see if we can still create skills despite the error shown on the skill window. Perhaps it's just a visual glitch. I will go first."
Kanji attempts to envision a new skill, but...
|Attempt skill generation failed... Unused skill points detected... Alternative auto-generation.|
Kanji "What is this?!"
|Progress complete. The user now has (10. Umbral Cape)|
Kanji "A new skill? I didn't create this. The skill window truly is broken! Also, what is this skill's purpose?"
|Umbral Cape: Allow the user to summon a cape that auto absorbs all forms of energy that come into contact with it and convert that energy into the user's own.|
Kanji "Wow, that's actually very useful. Can I create another skill?"
He makes another attempt, only to encounter more !ERROR! messages.
Kanji "I see perhaps the system remembers the unspent skill points from before and was able to convert them into a random skill. Well for my case at least, for Mina it is like an adaptive type deal."
Dave "Yo, it is like opening a chest in a roguelike, bro. I wonder what I get. Here I go!"
|Attempt skill generation failed... Unused skill points detected... Alternative auto-generation. Progress complete. The user now has (10. Uno)|
Dave "Uno? Da fuc?! What the hell does that even mean dude?"
|UNO: Allow the user to collapse two objects of similar forms. It requires the user to hold both objects in each hand, the objects will gravitate toward each other and crush each other out of existence. Anything that comes in the way will also be destroyed.|
Dave "No... fucking... way!"
He gets out of the lake and picks up two nearby rocks with a similar shape. Dave activates |10. Uno|, the two rocks fly toward each other and crumble away.
Diana "That is so unfair!"
Dave "You gonna cry about it."
Kanji "Now. Now. This is good for the team. Also, Dave. Get back in here!"
Dave complies and returns to the waters near Amelia.
Dave "Your turn, Amby."
Amelia "Wha?! Oh. Yeah. Sorry, I spaced out."
|Attempt skill generation failed... Unused skill points detected... Alternative auto-generation. Progress complete. The user now has (10. Mentaltomisis)|
Amelia "Huh?! Is this even a bloody word?"
|Mentaltomisis: Complete and utter control over the user's mind and perspective, granting immunity against outside influences. Can be used with (4. Connect) to grant other users the effect.|
Amelia "So immunity to mind control or illusions. Huh, neat!"
Gwen "Ummm, guys? I don't want to alarm you... but this is..."
All heads swivel towards Gwen, their expressions filled with shock.
Dark purple sparks now form her shoulders.
Kanji "Ok, remain calm! We don't know what the Aspect of Destruction does. Dammit. What is happening on AN's side?!"
________________________________________________________________________________________
?? "Dang it! WHY WON'T IT WORK?!"
?? "Woah! Calm down! What's wrong, AN?!"
AN "I tried everything! Shaking and hitting the panels and the pedestal didn't do anything! I even tried to pull out the relic, but it keeps levitating back to the pedestal. The panels keep showing that stupid "!ERROR!"."
?? "Why are you in such a rush? It has only been 4 hours."
AN "Because my friends might be in danger!"
?? "Oh, right! We don't want our only hope of victory to die."
AN "That tone of voice. Wait... are you jealous?"
?? "Huh! No! Of course not, you idiot!"
AN "Yep, definitely jealous. But now is not the time for this! Do you have any suggestions?"
?? "Maybe try activating the last aspect. Seeing that the structure changes every time a new wielder awakens, we can assume that the system may also be repaired.
AN "Oh my god! You're a genius!"
AN approaches the pedestal and gives the relic a spin.
A symbol of a twisted, broken hand starts glowing with an ominous purple hue.
To AN's dismay, the panel to the right of Kanji's panel lights up, but it only displays the skill tab. The same goes for all the other panels.
AN "What the hell?! Only the skills tabs are shown!... wait, what's this?"
Curiosity piqued, they click on the "!" symbol in the upper right corner of the panel—an alert symbol. Instantly, a new tab appears, revealing a comprehensive list of tasks that require attention and fixing.
AN "Damn. It says here that all communication, viewing, and other functions except for skill generation suffered minimal damage. But... The skill generation requires the machine to be level 2. Which is if I have a wild guess, it has to do something with the anomaly crystals."
?? "What about the other functions? What do they need?"
AN "They require 10 electromagnetic lithium conversion cores."
?? "Whew! We have plenty of those! However, the main problem is how do we get them to you?"
AN "Right, how are the current surroundings? Are there any guards or surveillance around the crater?"
?? "Guards, yes. There are a lot of them patrolling the outskirts of the crater. Fortunately, they are busy managing all riots that are happening around the area. They probably won't spot you if you walk 50 meters from the grotto since the crater is so large. As for surveillance, they were a lot of them earlier but they are all gone now."
AN "Why? Did something happen?"
?? "Something huge! Very huge! An Ascender has returned from the first Sun."
AN "Holy moly! That is super good for us rebels! Have you guys started trying to convince him or her to join us?"
?? "Yep! I think we are making good progress. Only time will tell if he is willing to join us."
AN "I see. Thinking about my current situation, I do have a plan."
?? "Oh. What is it?"
AN "I'll go underground and dig. Where are you dropping those cores?"
?? "We will be putting them to the closest outpost which will be the one north of where you are."
AN "Ok, I got it. Thank you so much!"
?? "No problem, AN."
Releasing their antennae, AN's attention is suddenly caught by a realization.
AN "Shit! How do I get there underground? Wait a minute!"
Curiosity rose once again, AN scans the panels to check for any new features. Their eyes lock onto the alert symbol, where they notice the addition of a small "B" icon.
AN "What's this?"
Without hesitation, they click on the "B" icon, triggering a brief description that pops up on the screen.
|Congrats on awakening 11 aspects. You now unlocked the ability to inherit one skill and one item from the wielders along with having the same passive as the wielders. Choose carefully as you can only change them once every day.|
AN "This is perfect. I remember Sarah has a shovel in her inventory so that's a no-brainer. But what about the ability? Which one will be the best in this scenario?"
After a few minutes of contemplation, an idea sparks in AN's mind.
AN "I got it! I'll choose this one!"
With a determined decision made, AN turns towards the room's exit. Despite feeling nervous, they know it's a task that must be done.
Carefully, AN slips out of the room and firmly shuts the door behind them. The air is heavy with the scent of scorched earth and ash, while the lingering warmth of the explosion lingers.
Placing their hands on their antennae, AN gently moves them forward and back until they align at the center. Suddenly, the antennae start moving on their own, pointing in a specific direction.
AN "Ok. So that's north."
Seizing a pair of vibrant green berries from their sachet, AN swiftly consumes them without bothering to chew.
AN "Nice, everything is so much brighter now. Thank you light berries!"
Light berries, a staple of Caverrin soil, are highly sought after by Castastrians for their incredible nocturnal utility. These berries possess the remarkable power to enhance light receptors, granting creatures the ability to see in complete darkness.
Equipped with this newfound power, AN starts digging and soon discovers something quite amusing.
AN "Wait, this is so easy! It's like I'm scooping through jelly!"
AN effortlessly burrows several meters into the ground, swiftly concealing the entrance to prevent its discovery.
AN "Ok, I'm going north! Just hope I won't run into any dangerous critters."
After 20 minutes of excavation.
Out of the dirt emerge three worm-like creatures, one after another.
These peculiar beings are small, blue larvae resembling blobs. Each side of their bodies is adorned with ten tiny legs, and they are covered in a slimy, sulfuric substance. Roughly the size of a croissant, they represent the initial stage of the Bromt fly's life cycle. Harmless in nature, their slime possesses a calming effect, albeit with hallucinogenic properties when consumed by Castastrians.
AN feels relieved that these are merely the larvae and not the aggressive adult Bromt flies. Handling the fully grown flies requires expertise and only the most experienced Bromt fly wranglers can tame them. Once tamed, they serve as valuable livestock, and their feces are prized as potent fertilizers.
Approaching the larvae, AN gently flips them over and proceeds to tickle their undersides, causing them to shake and shed their slime. AN carefully collects the substance in a jar, securing it within their sachet.
Having restored the larvae to an upright position, they swiftly burrow back into the ground. An continues digging...
After 40 minutes of digging...
AN encounters a highly perilous threat. Their eyes widen with caution, and they carefully retreat.
This creature is entirely unfamiliar to AN, except for its appearance documented in the rebels' creature database. Surprisingly, the existence of this creature is believed to be extinct among many Castastrians.
Referred to as the "Clock worm" by everyone, it bears resemblance to Earth's mealworm but in a larger size. Its wriggling yellow body is adorned with black rings along the sides. Notably, the creature features a pair of small brown compound eyes near the front and rear. Along its back, segments of spikes resembling clock arms are present. What's intriguing is the red vein-like mass that encircles these spikes, believed to be nerves that render them ultra-sensitive to touch. AN notices the creature's mouth, which takes the form of a long tube, seemingly engrossed in slurping something.
AN cautiously approaches, eager for a closer look. To their surprise, the creature is feeding on sap! It happens to be the sap of an Acar tree notorious for producing highly poisonous globs on its roots. Astonishingly, the sap does not seem to affect the Clock worm in the slightest.
AN "Interesting. That's something to add to the encyclopedia. This is a discovery of a lifetime! Though, if this creature is immune to poison that would also mean..."
AN's presence catches the creature's attention and a startling transformation occurs—the creature's head expands rapidly, resembling a ballooning shape.
AN "... Shit!"
With a swift motion, a stream of vibrant purple liquid shoots forth from the Clock worm's tube, aimed at AN. Fortunately, it narrowly misses its target, hitting a nearby rock instead. The impact causes the rock to dissolve almost instantly.
AN "That creature is acidic too! I need a way to get through!"
Sensing the danger, AN promptly retreats, moving out of the creature's line of sight.
Several seconds elapse before AN cautiously peeks at the Clock worm again. To their relief, the creature resumes its sap-sucking activity until the source is entirely depleted.
AN "The thing likes its food more than attacking potential predators. Maybe... this can work!"
AN uses (Amelia) 4. Double— A counterfeit sap emerges beyond the wall, enticing the clock worm.
AN "Now!"
AN swiftly dashes past the creature. Triumph! Casting a glance over her shoulder, she observes the sap-consuming beast occupied by the bait.
AN "So, it doesn't have a sense of smell and has minor intelligence. I have to note this down."
AN snatches a paper from her sachet and swiftly jots down the info.
AN "... there! All done! Now, let's keep digging."
After 60 minutes in...
AN delves into a vast expanse filled with numerous burrows adorning the walls. The entrances are marked by a sticky yellow paste emitting a peculiar aroma, reminiscent of roses and tar.
AN's heart plummets. This place is...
AN "A Bowlosis beetle's nest."
The ground quakes as three colossal beetles charge in, their size comparable to small cars.
Remarkably nimble, their glossy brown carapace and dung beetle-like faces catch AN's attention. Protruding from their backs are four miniature volcano-like structures, known as "Pulgols," formed by their own exoskeleton and nerves.
Identifying AN as an intruder, the beetles' Pulgols generate crimson fleshy balls. Swiftly, the beetles seize these orbs, rolling them with the surrounding terrain. AN readies their shovel for combat.
AN "ARGH!"
A ball composed of rocks and twigs hurtled with surprising velocity, striking AN directly in the stomach.
The impact propels them forcefully into the wall, causing excruciating pain. AN can sense the presence of broken bones within their body. Gazing upward, their vision blurred, they discern that their antennae have incurred a slight bend.
AN "I need to run! Think AN think!"
Instinctively, AN conjures an illusory tunnel on the ground, enticing the three beetles with curiosity. Oblivious to the deceit, the beetles converge upon the fabricated entrance, inadvertently colliding with one another. Infuriated by the mishap, a tumultuous bout of ball-throwing ensues.
AN, determined to evade the scary projectiles, exerts every ounce of strength to burrow deep into the wall.
AN tirelessly dig, pushing their limits until they can no longer continue. Exhausted, they succumb to a blackout.
After 90 mins in...
AN awakens, benefiting from the regenerative capabilities of Castastrian biology. Grasping the shovel tightly, they dig in a leftward direction, skillfully navigating their path north.
After some time, AN encounters an obstacle—a formidable steel wall stands in its way.
AN "This is it!"
AN ascends diagonally, breaking through the surface. They tread upon lush bluegrass. It's the plains, an invigorating contrast to the previous cratered abyss.
Gazing to the right, they behold the colossal gates of the camp. Oddly, the gates stand wide open. Caution seeps in as AN cautiously ventures forth, only to discover an eerily deserted place.
Tents devoid of life. Small buildings are devoid of presence. Not a single soul in sight.
Attempting optimism, AN gravitates towards the central edifice. Similar to others, it resembles an anthill but is fashioned from concrete with a wooden door. AN enters the ground level, where circular floors and ceilings, meticulously crafted from fine Acar wood, greet them.
A desolate chamber awaits, save for faint blinking lights tucked away in a corner. Captivated, AN approaches, discovering the lights to be the very cores they sought.
AN "Yes, got them!"
AN collects the cores, securing them within their sachet. Adjusting their antennae, they promptly contacts their comrade.
AN "Hey, I got the cores. Thank you!"
?? "AN, RUN!!! GET AWAY FROM THERE!"
AN "Wha-
AN's eye shifts, drawn by the presence of an imposing shadow. Gradually, they spin, only to be confronted by a malevolent grin. This individual bears an uncanny resemblance to someone ready to devour AN whole.
?? "Well. Well. Would you look at that? That smart ass was fucking dang right!"
AN swiftly regains composure and delivers a forceful stomp upon the intruder's foot before hastily fleeing the building.
?? "OUCH! WHY YOU LITTLE?!"
AN "Shit! Why is the second general here?!"
AN locates the crevice and swiftly leaps into it. Without delay, the Second General follows in pursuit.
General2 "Where are you going little rat?! COME HERE!"
With a leaping motion, the general lunges towards AN, wielding a menacing scythe. Its handle, crafted entirely from bone, supports a blade hewn from volcanic rock. Curiously, the connecting heel takes on a fleshy composition, fashioned into the intricate form of flowers. Four eye-like formations, arranged in a diamond pattern, adorn the scythe's heel. At the center of this diamond formation resides a yellow, translucent orb pulsating with irregular intervals, radiating waves of intense heat.
AN "Fuck!" "That thing's dangerous! I can't let it hit me."
As the swing hurtles forth, it inexplicably passes through the rebel. AN's clever ploy becomes apparent—an illusory clone had been created, allowing them to escape.
General2 "Shit! What is this trickery?!" "Shit! Shit! Ya dangling shit! I need to stop this scythe before it hits the ground!"
Exerting immense strength through both powerful legs, the general forcefully presses against the ground, successfully halting the scythe's descent. Thankfully, his efforts pay off, preventing the blade from reaching the floor as it comes to a halt midway.
General2 "Whew! Man, I'm an idiot! Using this darn weapon in here is stupid. Well, I guess I'll go with number two."
AN successfully arrives at the slumbering Bowlosis beetle nest, their exhaustion evident from the preceding conflict. Seizing the opportunity, AN proceeds with the utmost caution, silently tip-toeing past the creatures, retracing their steps through the initial tunnel they had dug.
The General ventures into the nest.
General2 "Where are you?! YOU LITTLE-
Casting a gaze upon the beetles, they seem pissed that their peaceful slumber was interrupted.
General2 "What are YOU LOOKING AT?!"
With a mighty bellow, the general unleashes a tremendous roar that reverberates through the air.
The sound freezes the creatures in a state of fear, rendering them motionless.
SPLAT.
AN's ears detect the echoing noise approaching, accompanied by the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps.
AN "Shit! How did he defeat those beetles so fast?!"
AN spots the clock worm up ahead, still engrossed in its futile attempt to extract sap from the decoy. A chance! AN swiftly removes the counterfeit sap and promptly turns, reversing their direction.
AN "Hey! Take this!"
General2 "What are you thinking- Huh?! What is this?!"
To the general's shock, Acar tree sap suddenly adorns their chest. AN seizes this moment to continue their retreat, putting more distance between them. However, the general's pursuit is impeded as the clock worm intervenes, obstructing his path.
General2 "Wait... what the hell are you?! After years of hunting, I have seen a darn creature like you before."
The General's excitement mounts as he hastily disengages their secondary weapon.
General2 "Come on! COME AT ME! This once-in-a-lifetime deal! I can't let this go to waste."
In a sudden burst of action, the clock worm lunges forward, unleashing a torrential stream of acidic fluid.
General2 "Acid. Huh. No big deal."
With remarkable agility, the General effortlessly evades the incoming acid stream and swiftly counterattacks with a claw strike. But— the clock worm swiftly maneuvers around the general's right arm with astonishing speed, evading the strike.
General2 "WHAT?! IT DODGED IT! THIS FUCKING SPEED!"
In an attempt to free himself, the general attempts to tear the creature away using his left claw, but the clock worm proves to be faster than anticipated. Reacting swiftly, it wraps several lengths of its body around the general's left arm, effectively binding them together in a tangled embrace.
General2 "WHAT KIND OF FUCKING BULL FUCKITY REFLEX SHIT DOES THIS THING HAVE?!"
Consumed by a maelstrom of rage, the general's internal screams go unheard as the clock worm ruthlessly impales its tube into his chest, devouring his insides.
Meanwhile, after several minutes have passed, AN draws near to their destination.
Spotting the location where the entrance was buried, they prepare the shovel.
AN "Great! Then this nightmare will finally be over!"
Ascending higher and higher, AN finally reaches the surface.
AN "Finally!"
As AN reaches out to grasp the doorknob— something seizes hold of their foot.
General2 "Where... do... you... think... you're going?"
AN's gaze falls upon the general, who clings to their foot with evident exhaustion, muscles spasming uncontrollably. A lifeless clock worm carcass coils around the general's neck, while AN notices blood staining the general's feet.
AN "You monster."
General2 "Damn... fucking... right." "Dammit! I can barely hold on to this weakling! What kind of venom is this?!"
AN defiantly extends a middle finger toward the general. Simultaneously, they delve into their sachet, retrieving...
General2 "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST-
Something enters the general's mouth, and a sweet taste fills his senses.
His anger begins to subside, and his vision takes on a surreal and distorted quality.
General2 "Woah!... I.... wha... this darn.... shiiit..."
With a sudden collapse, the general tumbles backward and descends back into the hole. AN smiles, satisfied with the turn of events, and proceeds to open the rusty door. Closing it firmly, AN breathes a sigh of relief.
AN hope to never leave this place again.
(To be continued)