Alexia
The guards stationed at the entrance to the spaceship simply step aside while staring at me and quite literally shivering from fear. They don’t even say anything. Just shakingly point inside.
So I just shrug and walk on in, ignoring the fearful looks sent at my back. And without hesitation, I teleport to a corner in the place before mixing with another crowd. Because the stares are getting annoying.
Now that I’m obscured again, I walk around, checking out the spaceship. And the first area of the spaceship really does just look like a very high tech spaceship hangar. One that soon turns into some sort of space-station common marketplace area that I’d see on TV.
Although, more parts of the area are damaged and in pieces than are in working order.
Even with that though, I can clearly tell just how much further ahead in reestablishing technology this Block is compared to our own.
They did have a shortcut after all. Prebuilt albeit damaged technology that they could repair and rework.
The – I pause to identify one of them just to recheck their species name once more – xotclotls all are wearing much more advanced clothing with some even holding guns. Laser guns, not just regular guns.
Although most of the stuff is all Tier 1 and 2. I think I see a single Tier 3 item in this entire area. And it’s a single disintegration gun at the waist of a Tier 3 level capped person at the same level as me.
Also, the wielder of said weapon is currently looking around as I searching for someone or something.
Probably searching for me.
But since xotclotls can’t use mana or sense it at all, it’s a lot harder for them.
Actually, I’m not sure how they sense things. They don’t seem to have any nose or ears, and they don’t have mana senses. So the only senses I can see them obviously having are sight, touch, and taste.
Out of curiosity, I keep watch on the guy while still moving around the ship with my cloak’s hood pulled on over my head. And to my surprise, he seems to be able to track a very broad range of where I am. Somewhere around a hundred or so meters in radius.
He doesn’t seem to be able to find me though. Not through the effects of my cloak dampening my perceptibility. And not without him being able to sense my aura while I’m surrounded by a large crowd.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
So I just kind of let him continue trying, leading him on a wild goose chase for a little while.
Eventually I learn all I care to know about the guy’s senses and go ahead and teleport right in front of him with my arms crossed, startling him into staggering backwards. But he quickly recovers as he identifies me and grits his razor sharp teeth.
Please don’t be terrified. Please don’t be terrified. Please don’t be terrified.
Oh, maybe I should smile?
I try to smile at him, only for him to flinch.
Right. Don’t smile unless it’s a natural smile.
Got it.
The squid man takes a deep breath before relaxing again and stating in a stern tone, briefly surprising me, “Lady Reaper, is there something we can do for you?”
I blink once. Then twice.
Then I genuinely smile this time as I answer, “I came to ask about any Class S species. And about whether there are still any Cataclysm Class monsters in the Block.”
He doesn’t look surprised as he answers my question with complete seriousness. Not showing a hint of his fear that I can still tell he’s feeling.
Interesting.
This guy makes for a good leader. Although some of it might have something to do with him being the same level as me.
In the end, the man answers every question I have without any complaints. Meanwhile all of the other xotclotls just ignore us. Almost as if we weren’t even here in the first place.
Which makes me wonder if these creatures have mental powers.
It would make some sense, seeing as they don’t have mana.
Anyways, according to what the leader of this spaceship – which I quickly learn is who he is – says, the Dimensional Block actually does not have a Class S species in it. Not a single one.
There is a Cataclysm Class monster here though. Two of them even. And no one who can take them on.
Which explains why this guy is so accommodating to me. He even offers a place to stay the night after our discussion.
After turning him down, I leave the spaceship and begin moving in the direction of one of the two Cataclysm Class monsters. The stronger of the two.
The Cataclysm Class monsters in the Block are at different levels and are completely different species. They’re even different types of creatures entirely. One being a sapient spaceship, and the other a massive creature that’s the size of a spaceship and has been known to feed on them.
Of the two, the stronger one is actually the spaceship creature. And it’s at the level cap of Tier 3.
Although the other one is just level 321 according to the xotclotl.
Which should be pretty easy to kill.
I do find teleporting through space annoying though. Even if it’s a rather fast process.
Along the way I occasionally stop at spaceships to ask for directions, and just like the first spaceship, the leaders of each ship come to greet me. Each of them even calmer and more put together than the last.
At least on the surface.
I can tell most of them are terrified under the surface just by the scent they’re putting off.
But it’s rather nice not talking to people who are shaking in their boots just from speaking with me.
I hope I can deal with my aura soon.
Actually, Architect, is there a way to hide an identify result?
“No,” he answers to my surprise. But he doesn’t say anything else.
Well, it’s better than nothing.
After nearly a day of travel, I make it to the edge of the Block, where I find what looks like a regular spaceship at first.
If you ignore the fact that the bridge separates into a mouth that is parted open just a little.
I stare at the thing for several seconds before realizing that it’s a sleep.
Who knew spaceships could sleep…