Chapter 4.4: The Codex Way
Simplistic Complex Relations
Tyra shut off the engine and began walking through the vast parking lot, her boots echoing against the cold asphalt. Her mind wandered to the so-called "benefits" of being a soldier in the Magma Corporation. Public sex as a daily norm might sound like a dream to outsiders, but here, it was nothing more than another cog in the corporate machine. There were incentives for good behavior—promotions, Magma Coins, better living conditions—but being like everyone else yielded no rewards. Only those who stood out with unique skills or innovations climbed the corporate ladder.
Omega Memory
Omega Man came to mind. He had been smart, using micro-Astros to bulk up, perform impressive feats, and earn widespread approval. Then, just a day ago, he vanished without a trace.
Tyra frowned as she recalled his last known actions. She had seen him fly over the city on his morning patrol, performing the usual transport of goods. But by the time he arrived at Arcana City, it lay in ruins. She had been stationed on guard duty as Magna guards worked tirelessly to repair the destruction. No one spoke openly about what had happened, though whispers of a premeditated attack circulated. The murmurs suggested it was a ploy to stir unrest and distract from the ineffectiveness of Astros as a performance enhancer.
The tactic made sense. In a society driven by innovation, relying on outdated methods meant professional stagnation. But something still gnawed at Tyra. Who had stopped Omega Man before he could carry out his plan? Civilians muttered about a mysterious figure: "Savior," "Beauty," "Divine gaze," "Beautiful smile," "Beautiful eyes," "He's back," "He protects us," and "Our sins are white now." The descriptions were strange, ambiguous. Surely, they couldn’t have been talking about a woman. It was absurd to think a woman could take down a superhero corrupted by astral drugs.
Hot Recovers
Shaking her head, Tyra scratched her chin and sighed. Questions without answers. She wondered if the Codex—the Magma Corporation’s archive of rules and secrets—held any insights.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
After a while, she reached the control booth, or as she liked to call it, the "main gate." she likes to call it That because of the amount of times they ask for your identification.
Tyra shows her identification and Then The guards scanned her identification. "You’re clear to enter," one of them said. "By the way, we recovered most of the transport patrol’s shipment."
Tyra raised an eyebrow. "Most?"
"Two boxes are missing," the guard replied.
Her mind immediately went to the skeleton and the snowman, Skully and Frosty. Those two must have snagged the missing cargo while she had been distracted by bloodkillers and her frozen tactical equipment.
"Thanks for the update," she said, moving past the gates. As she passed through more doors and security checks, she felt relieved not to be in her soldier armor. Dressed as a bureaucrat, she blended in with the office workers and avoided unnecessary attention.
Calm Cold Monotony
Inside, the sight of office workers toiling away at their holographic screens caught her attention. They worked endlessly, with only brief, joyless breaks that seemed more like delays in their suffering than genuine relief. The monotony of it all left a sour taste in her mouth.
She watches as all the office workers work without much rest on their holographic screens for long periods of time with only breaks for rests that seemed more like a slow torment before the next round of continuing to work with the machines.
Elevator of Doubts
Finally, she reached the elevator, pressed the button for the underground floor, and began her descent. The hum of the elevator accompanied her as she watched the floors tick by.
The first levels were dedicated to administrative work, military logistics, and official materials. Deeper down, the industrial floors buzzed with machinery, manufacturing everything from Magma Corporation’s branded toothpaste and brushes to their infamous toys. As she descended further, she passed the weapons assembly plant, where the so-called "magma rifles" were made. The company claimed these were the best weapons available, but Tyra knew better. Against magic, those rifles were borderline useless.
The company’s excuse for their inefficacy was always the same: "Magic is still not fully understood." But Tyra doubted that was the real reason. Twenty years of research, countless updates to their weapons, and yet incidents like the one with Skully and Frosty proved their limitations. Her doubts about the effectiveness of these updates lingered.
After what felt like an eternity, the elevator finally stopped. The doors slid open to reveal the dimly lit library. Rows of ancient books and digital archives stretched as far as the eye could see. At the center of the floor stood the Codex—a massive, glowing monolith containing the corporation’s most guarded knowledge.
Tyra stepped out, her heart racing slightly. Whatever answers she sought, this was the place to find them.