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Chapter 362: Le Tour De Hive
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Right now, in the game called RPG: Terroa, one complete C-Rank Mission is already treated as GOLD while anything complete above that is even more precious —like an oasis in the middle of the desert.
This… right here… at the back of Siva’s mind, is a definitive beacon, a shining, blinking, sparkling, radiant golden flag for a Quest.
Main Story Quest…!!
Who’s story?
The story of Terroa and Siva… how they are related and how Siva’s —no— Rex’s life connects to this world that only exists somewhere in the universe that is called “The Internet”.
Everyone was searching for Siva so that they can trigger what they deemed is the Main Story Quest —the Grand Quest of Terroa.
But little do they know, Siva, from the start of his career, has been taking this Main Story Quest head on… battling everything that stands in his way as much as possible.
Becoming strong with every little hurdle…
Developing and growing…
He was maturing little by little…
…until this very day.
And yet, as powerful as he had become when he is compared to his old self, in the overall picture of things, he was still an ant when compared to the real enemies he had to face.
His strength right now was nothing more than just a fragile shell when faced against overwhelming power in the level of Mefisto as a God.
The God of Death!
What connect them all are the unrecorded events that happened four years ago.
……and for some reason, Cortana had a file with a date stamp dating back four years ago on her archive with a complicated encoding that even an advanced AI like her had difficulty of cracking.
What more, that [file] seemed to match perfectly the visions on Siva’s [memories].
*****
Four years ago, Rex Kingsley wakes up in a hospital in Sweetzerland without any memory of how he had ended up crossing continents within a few days.
In fact, for the past six months —the time he had shared with Samantha, to Kris Pegasus— Rex doesn’t have any memory of her.
It’s as if everything in his life that’s connected to Samantha had been…… forcibly forgotten.
Or was it sealed?
Or he simply didn’t have any memory of it?
His parents told him that he was in an accident and that he had hit his head. And so, the entire blank memory was dismissed as something only temporary —spoken by two of the world’s leaders in brain science.
Rex went back to Philip Country along with his parents and then, he transferred university, went on to continue his course and live a normal life…
A few months later, Baron was born. His parents retired from their work and solely focused on being Rex and Baron’s parents.
…and yet Rex hadn’t even noticed the great change that had occurred to his subconscious.
Rex Kingsley was a good boy. He may have been practicing a few self-defense skills but those are all for their intended purposes, self-defense.
During the four years after that incident that he had slowly forgotten and easily got over with, his violent tendencies slowly rose.
On Baron’s second birthday, the game that his parents created, < RPG: Terroa >, was released.
It was a game that created its own history, created and generated quests and missions depending on the lores and actual historical facts of the world.
Mythologies, rumours, even historical events, all of them were integrated by the smart AI of the game and became the world’s own history and as well as its own legends.
People fell in love by the realistic feel of the game and aside from that, the developers even made it so that it removed the limitations set by levels and skill selections, a predetermined storyline, and as well as the restricted choices in regards to a player’s appearance.
In Terroa, you are free to dictate who you want to be and the story of the world is free for all to be dictated and written —you are your own legend!
To emphasize this, the UNICORN, the large body of Authority that presides over the peace of the world after the 4th World War, even allowed the players to experience the beauty and flexibility of its Military Asset; Nano Weapons Technology.
Through this, the ‘game’ evolved into a second life for some people.
Recreation, business, adventure, professionalism in gaming… Terroa offered it all.
Tourists could go sight see fantastical places and experience unique cultures —both magical and ethnic in origins.
Businesspeople and Entrepreneurs can set up their own empire and trade Zentra to Universal Credits for real-life spending.
Casual Players and Professional Gamers can also complete with each other and explore the history of Terroa; go to secret places, discover artifacts and unique items, party up with other people…
Heck, because there was no distinction between an NPC and a User, no one knew who’s who and so they could enjoy an alternate-reality offered by the beautiful world of Terroa.
It was the dawn of a new era.
But… men are fragile.
Too much freedom also has its dark sides. Many players exploited this fact and albeit the crimes in the real world dropped significantly, the unbridled activities of a few affected the lives of a number of victims in the real world.
Because the realism in the game was too real, the sensation of being raped was real as well.
Women —players and NPCs— are being abused and some even became sex slaves, turning an innocent young maiden into a traumatized and spiritually broken girl.
Because of a rare MOD, some families fought each other over its possession.
Most of all, because the UNICORN, the game’s main promoter, and Panorama Corporation, the game’s developer, had long ago, even before the release of the game, spoke of the game’s rules and its strict warnings, those activists fighting for the establishment of moral ethics and laws in the game were left on the streets, shouting, and with nothing to point their anger to except the people who made such an overly realistic game.
Eventually, the Kingsley Household became the subject of hate.
Some people resorted to violence; harassing Rex and even threatening to hurt their family if they do not do something.
These people can’t do anything to the behemoth that promotes the game as a means to prevent a 5th World War so the aggression of the crowd, most especially those who had suffered the few grievances, was pointed to the Kingsley Family.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
They began to be ostracized by the people around them; with some even violently beating a young Rex, trying to bully him, which turned on a long silent switch in him.
Since then, Rex began to change.
The months passed by.
As more and more players lost their avatars and are struck by the reality of the expensive cost of a new account and even an Insurance Policy, their frustrations were all pointed to Rex and his family.
Ultimately, there came the day when the threats had gone over the wall of restraints and became a full-blown threat to his family.
Rex began to fight back.
History was made.
Then…………
……he entered Terroa.
*****
Whether he admits it or not, he knew that Cortana wouldn’t lie to him.
Everything that had happened to him, even this [memory] that he kept on triggering….. were all connected to those forgotten memories four years ago.
The visions might have taken a very long time, but in fact, it all flashed back on his mind in but a tiny fraction of a single moment.
It was as fast as a simple act of recollection.
[This date stamp, it is registered four years ago!]
‘It’s connected to that accident…’
For some reason, Siva recalled that day when he woke up in that hospital room having no memory whatsoever of what had happened before it.
‘Mom and Dad said I had an accident. What was the accident?’
As soon as he thought of this question, Siva’s vision was prompted by a notification. It was an email… from [Rex] who was on the other side.
It only contained one word, [Chronos].
‘He’s telling me to go to Chronos.’
[There is no record of Chronos, sir.]
‘Let’s check the library later.’
[I will add that to our agenda.]
“Rex?” Scion, who’s always been beside him, had been unable to hold her worry. When she felt that Siva seemed to have staggered weakly and held his head, she knew that these were signs that he had, again, recalled a [memory].
She asked softly, “What is it this time?”
Siva held her hand and straightened himself to not make the other people around him look at him with weird faces.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry.” Siva patted her hand that supported him. “I will tell you later when we get back.”
“Mn. Okay.”
“Sir Knight, is everything okay?”
“I’m alright, Mr. President. More importantly, I am now aware of the item that The Teacher had left in your care. This is the reason why the Demons are invading this planet... and perhaps, the reason why it invaded yours as well.”
Higginson’s eyes widened and he asked with face full of incredulity, “Are you saying that this thing is also there, back on Earth?”
“Not necessarily, but there is a chance.” Siva shook his head and then looked at the panel that showed the events happening on that lab.
For some reason, there was a sense of desolate sadness on his tone, “That is a Memory Crystal, a Miracle product of a high concentration of Mana in a single area. It holds all the memories of all the living things that had lived in this universe and is a very useful source of power for certain kinds of magic only useable by specific kinds of individuals who know of its value. To you guys, it’s only a piece of rock and shouldn’t be useful, but for you to be able to use it like a tool and develop these technologies… heh… no I know your secret…”
When he spoke to this point, a few Senators and Ambassadors displayed looks of wariness, with a few even displaying unbridled hostility.
Siva ignored them and only looked at Higginson.
“Is this the thing that I was supposed to see and be told about?”
Higginson is quick in the uptake, “I swear to god, Sir Knight, I have no idea of what it is or what is its usefulness. But yes, this is the very thing that was given to us by The Teacher and all of the things that we have introduced to the world are all the things that we’ve been instructed to develop and release on a fixed set of time… and…”
Higginson hesitated and trailed off the words until he ultimately stopped.
Those next set of words weren’t supposed to be spoken about.
Siva frowned and looked at Hojer who’s been looking at him with fascination like a gallery display in some museum.
“You. You’ve developed —no— after seeing this, I have become certain… those things that you all claimed to have been developed by The Alliance are nothing more than Quest Items —those are all things you were bound to release only because it was all instructed by The Teacher. Am I right?”
Siva then looked at Higginson, “And considering that fact that you were tasked by The Teacher… you guys should have the [Instructions] of the tasks you were given… am I right?”
Higginson, the Ambassadors, the Senators, even Gaspar and Professor Hojer —these executives and personalities of the Human Society— were all shocked at him.
Forget about them being called as Quest Items or something, when he said they were items ‘preset’ to be released on a certain date and circumstance was all the reason to make them look at him with shock and awe.
Not to mention the fact that he was also aware of the specifics of the tasks… this guy is scary!
How could an outsider know about the secret that only they, the Human Society, must know about?
Even the Magus of the Magus Archive had been bound by a vow and promised that as far as he is aware, only he and the Teacher, and them, their confidants, are aware of the significance of their tasks to manufacture and mass produce these items and tell the world that it was made by the combination of the Humans’ Technology and the Terrans’ Magic.
Higginson quickly recovered and rushed towards him, “Please, Sir Knight… these are information that only executives likes us should know. Please, let’s talk about this in a more secure location.”
Siva understood his concerns.
There are so many people around them and he may have blurted out certain information that was not available for event these people that work in the Hive —the supposed most secure location in the entire planet.
He glanced at the Real@D rendering of Hojer.
“Don’t do anything with the barrier. I am coming right there.”
Hojer’s eyes glistened with ecstasy. “Of course!”
“This way please.” Higginson, sweating nervously, led the way and didn’t dally as the supposed tour around the hive shortened into the main dish in the long buffet.
*****
Siva’s tour was shortened and because of the weird reaction of the ‘Artifact’ on Siva’s presence, and including Siva’s own curiosity as well, the tour de hive went straight towards the direction of the central area of the kilometer-wide facility.
“What’s that?” Siva asked when he was led on a tube-like vehicle floating inside a sealable tunnel.
“Official name is Inter-city transport vehicle but in our small little talks, we call it the Worm.”
Siva chuckled, looking at the two large sliding metal doors that seal the tunnel.
“Let me guess, that’s the worm hole.”
Only Higginson and Gaspar reacted by dryly laughing at the small joke while the rest of the group looked at Siva like he was a criminal who was judged “Not Guilty” after killing someone in broad daylight in the middle of the streets and are witnessed by hundreds of people. They clearly is a lot that doesn’t know how to hold back.
In fear of summoning Siva’s ire, Higginson could only treat them as air and solely speak with Siva as if he was the only existence in the universe he can talk to.
Siva didn’t mind the Humans and just continued to follow Higginson.
“Mr. President, showing a stranger one of our top secret escape routes…”
Still, unable to hold it in, one of the Senators that had a fat belly and an arrogant look plastered on his face spoke with a masked concern.
(AN: This is a form of speech. I don’t want to literally write it as ‘fake concern’ so I wrote it as is… but I basically meant it as a ‘fake concern’)
Higginson barked at the Senator, “Please refrain and restrain yourself from speaking of senseless remarks or better yet, you can remain here and guard this exit for the remaining of your term.”
It was basically a slap to the face and a scolding of a literal meaning of “Shut the f*** up.”
The Senator only wanted to butter up and remind the President about the consequences of letting an outsider discover one of their top-secret exit and extraction points. Unfortunately for him, the consequences of NOT making Siva satisfied of this tour were heavier than merely knowing one of their many extraction points.
As soon as Higginson spoke, that Senator’s image stopped where he stood and he could only watch as the entourage boarded the “Worm” and closed off the seal of the tunnel.
CHUB!!!
Like a secret passageway used by the Kingsmen agents of the old era, the Worm traveled at high speeds inside the tunnel.
The magnetic lubricating technology provided an absolute friction-free travel from point A to B. And with the Black Rock material used in the body of the Worm, even at high speeds, there was not a sense of change in the feel of gravity.
It was the same Technology used in Cyclones and Warships; the Grey Rock base lifts Warships and allows it to defy gravity and as a lid to control this feat, the Black Rock layer opens and closes, and divide the Grey Rock and Lithosphere… thus the smooth VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) capability of those massive-sized Warships.
Within twenty seconds, they reached the end of their travel and based on Siva’s Absolute Domain passive Auricle Scan, they traveled almost 1km in distance in that short twenty seconds.
[At 50m/s, this is actually 75% slower than the latest Bullet Train designs.]
‘Thanks, Cortana-wagon.’
[…]
It’s either Cortana was mature enough to not reply to Siva’s sarcasm or she just didn’t care and was just doing her job to joggle his thinking ability.
Anyways, the sealing doors hissed and opened in a smooth arch above and the group unloaded in an orderly manner.
“Whoa!!!” Hojer’s sudden outburst surprised the group and they all stared at his Real@D rendering that’s been looking back at the Barrier of Mana right behind him.
Hojer excitedly reported, “The barrier had just increased in opacity! Whoaaaa…. it’s displaying a true near-tangible state right now! Strands of blue gasses-like Mana are materializing!”
Siva, having been briefed by his [memories], felt no reason to hide what he learned at this point so he spoke out, “It’s because someone qualified, or to put it in other words, recognized, to resonate with the Mana inside the Crystal is getting close to it this reaction is getting more intense. The closer we get to it the more solid the light gets and the stronger the resonance becomes.”
Hojer’s eyes glistened more violently as he stared at Siva, “H-How… fascinating!”
If it could even be compared to anything, Hojer’s face right now was not different to a 5 year old kid who’s visiting Star City for the first time.
(AN: Star City is a theme park just in case some of you guys may wonder what it was)
Generally, Siva’s words could have given the impression that he was talking about himself as the one resonating with the Mana inside the Crystal —if it was even true.
But he, on the other hand, thought otherwise.
‘I’m quite positive it’s because of Mandy.’
That is what he thought as he turned his gaze at her right beside him.
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…is it really Terra’s Inheritance?
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Next Chapter: Maki, the AI, finally appears!!
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