The Chronic Backpain party split up temporarily to investigate the floor and salvage valuable resources. The only ones left in the village are their leader, Vinetra, and Hans, as everyone else took off to participate.
Mark and Jacky ventured to explore the west side of the floor, while George went to the north side. All that remains are Fielma and Shasha, who partnered up to investigate the southwest side. Although they felt hesitant to go without a male companion, they couldn't complain, considering George went out alone without complaint. Besides, deploying two men to the west side, particularly in the forest, is necessary due to its higher danger level compared to other areas
Shasha isn't typically inclined toward battle, but she's an expert in alchemy. Her knowledge of herbs, chemicals, artifacts, and history makes her invaluable, even if she doesn't directly contribute to combat prowess. On the other hand, Fielma is a Cryo-Type mage powerful enough to ascend to Alexandrite-class adventurer status.
Fielma's strength is undeniable, but Shasha couldn't help but express her frustration, "Why am I partnered with you?" she said, given Fielma's unpredictability and tendency to act independently.
"Lucky! With you here by my side, locating where the Blue Plops sprout will be easy!"
"That's not what we came here for," she sigh. "Do you know what those flowers even means? It is also called 'Corpse Eater' for a reason" however, her talk fall into deaf ears
They are currently exploring a clear field filled with grass and exotic plants that were nonexistent in the human world. Despite encountering multiple caves in the area, none of them contain any valuable resources. Occasionally, Fielma would spot fields with blooming flowers and repeatedly ask Shasha, "What are those flowers?" to the point of annoyance. However, Shasha has grown accustomed to it and treats the mage as if she has some sort of mental defect.
"Is that all that you could think of? Why are you so obsessed with those flowers anyway?"
"I'm not really into gardening but I'm the type of gamer who get obsessed by collecting rare items."
In fact, on the 23rd floor, Fielma became fixated on a rumored rare crystallized insect. However, Shasha had no idea what she was talking about. Before she was born as Fielma, her name was Rushia—a sickly child who found solace in playing games and watching Japanese animation, as they were her ray of hope and happiness. Hindered by weak legs and bald due to medication, she couldn't move freely. Promising herself to enjoy her second life, she now found herself fixated on seemingly trivial matters. However, Shasha remained unaware of Fielma's past struggles, unable to comprehend the depth of her obsession
"Is that the reason why you became an adventurer? Do you know why adventurers dwell on a dungeon in the first place?"
"Because the dungeons have a lot of exotic creatures we could eat right?"
"No, wrong. Adventurers explore dungeons to collect artifacts and tools from ancient civilizations. Through exploration, we can acquire a variety of valuable items like magical grimoires, scientific studies, experimental records, weapons that utilize less mana but are more dangerous than our current ones, minerals with extraordinary properties, knowledge capable of altering reality, and even the potential to encounter a real god."
It is crucial for each country to engage in dungeon exploration, as it serves as their lifeline and determines their position in the global hierarchy. Conquering a dungeon allows a country to exploit its natural resources. However, even if a country doesn't conquer a dungeon but simply collects artifacts, it still holds immense value that can potentially transform their way of life and advance their technology significantly.
For instance, consider the Quadrora Empire, which was originally comprised of three separate countries in a perpetual state of war. The original Quadrora Kingdom's adventurers discovered numerous grimoires and documents that advanced their science, magic, and technology. With this knowledge, they invaded the neighboring countries of Zunxi and Halvetica, successfully dominating them and forming the Empire of Quadrora. Now, Quadrora stands as the most powerful empire globally, serving as a deterrent against aggression from other nations.
These reasons motivate countries to invest in raising powerful adventurers for dungeon exploration. However, for Fielma, it's difficult to understand why people would desire to meet their creator.
"Meeting a real god? Why would people even desire that?" inquired Fielma.
"I dunno. Perhaps because gods are believed to have the power to grant any wish or desire people may have. Whether it's a selfless wish, like saving someone, or more selfish desires, such as obtaining immortality and power beyond human capability. Or maybe, they may want to kill a god"
The likelihood of encountering a god in a dungeon is exceedingly slim, almost to the point of impossibility. Throughout hundreds of years of adventurers exploring dungeons, there hasn't been a single documented instance of encountering a real god. However, statistically speaking, more people enter dungeons than leave them, so there's uncertainty. It's plausible that adventurers who did encounter gods may have perished before sharing their experiences, especially if they attempted to engage or harm the gods
"Killing a god? What's with that?"
"Dunno. Well, on various mythology, there is always someone who wanted to surpass a god and they always fail in the end." Shasha turned to Fielma, "Fielma, if you meet one, what will you do?"
"Maybe... I will ask god to cure everyone that is sick? I don't know"
Although Fielma's desires are pure, Shasha, being an alchemist, isn't one to let things be. The demanding nature of alchemy lies in its flexibility to create medicines and concoctions to address various needs.
"I won't let you. You'll make my job obsolete"
"How selfish can you be Shasha"
"Oh, you have quite a peculiar subjective opinion of me"
After a while of exploring the southwest, they decided to temporarily split up. However, after some time, Fielma called out for Shasha when she stumbled upon something unusual in a cave. "Shasha! LOOK OVER HERE!"
Hesitantly, Shasha made her way to Fielma, thinking it might be another trivial discovery, for example, more flowers. But when she arrived, her mouth fell open as wide as the cave's entrance when she saw what lay hidden beneath
"What is that thing...?" Shasha haven't seen something similar as this before.
"It look like some sort of a spaceship"
"Spaceship? What's a spaceship? This huge thing? It's almost the same size as a castle!"
Truly massive, it required an expanse of land to conceal its behemoth size. The structure was entirely enveloped in a bizarre metal of unsettling thickness. Despite its rugged appearance, a gaping hole marred its surface, as if it had exploded from within
"Let's go inside"
As they approached the gaping hole, the two girls felt a growing sense of unease. Standing before the immense structure, they couldn't help but feel insignificant in comparison. With hesitant steps, they ventured inside the metallic chamber, where multiple wires lay disheveled and severed. Within, they beheld numerous colossal machines interconnected by intricate piping. Even Fielma, hailing from a more advanced society, found herself unable to identify these complex and alien-looking contraptions. She speculated that it might be an alien spacecraft.
However, her assumptions were challenged by the presence of characters adorning the walls and scattered papers. Rather than being alien, these characters were oddly familiar, belonging to a language not of the present day but from a distant past—on Fielma's previous lifetime. They were all written in Japanese characters, casting doubt on the extraterrestrial theory.
"I can't read this thing. Is this an archaic language?" Shasha complained as she attempted to decrypt it.
"It's Nihongo. I could translate it for you"
The presence of familiar language intensified the likelihood that Fielma hadn't traversed to a parallel world but remained on the same Earth as before. However, the coexistence of magic in a world where it previously didn't exist raised significant questions.
As Fielma sifted through the documents, scanning for pertinent information, Shasha couldn't shake a feeling of defeat. "Why do I feel so defeated?" she asked, sensing a painful sensation in her chest when she realized that Fielma knew something that she don't.
"I can't read it either"
"HUH!? Well, it's probably ancient language. I will be more surprised if you could"
"I mean, there are lot of technical terms. I felt like reading some SCP documents. Ah, this one is more readable"
"So you can!?"
Despite Shasha's initial skepticism, she chose to accept the situation, reasoning that there were plenty of other peculiar individuals in the world. Without knowledge of Fielma's background, she speculated that perhaps this information was inherited from her family.
Fielma flipped through the pages until reaching the final entry, which diverged from the earlier printed text, appearing to be handwritten. It resembled a journal or diary chronicling someone's experience aboard the spacecraft.
The journal recounted the events leading to humanity's downfall—the Great Celestial War. It began as a conflict driven by religious and scientific ideologies, culminating in humanity's self-destruction despite their technological advancements. The war was just the first of seven disastrous events that led to mankind's demise. Amidst the chaos, the gods themselves intervened, prompting humanity to unite in an attempt to overthrow their creators—a conflict they ultimately won. However, even in victory, the seventh disaster struck, wiping out humanity entirely.
Fielma scratched her head in confusion. While the journal claimed to have eradicated all humans from the Earth's surface, empirical evidence suggested otherwise, indicating the continued existence of human civilization. Furthermore, the notion of humans confronting and defeating their own gods seemed too fantastical to be historical fact.
"Great Celestial War... THAT'S IT FIELMA! WE FOUND IT!" Shasha jumped in joy after she heard the story.
"What is?"
"We found the lost documents that will uncover our history before the era of gods! It might tell us how powerful humans are in the past and why did the world nearly end!"
People refer to the lost history of mankind as the age before the era of gods. Following the catastrophic event that wiped out humanity, the gods appeared to descend upon the world, imparting the knowledge of magic to mankind. This era, known as the era of gods, is documented in historical records. However, information regarding the time preceding this period is nonexistent.
Various religions have attempted to explain the lost age, with many suggesting a common theme—that humans had angered the gods, leading to divine intervention as a form of punishment or lesson. However, this raises a puzzling question: If humans had indeed provoked the gods, why would the same deities then choose to descend to Earth and assist them after their attempted destruction?
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"Is it important?"
"Of course it is! Finding out the truth behind the cause of the Great Celestial War will tell us also on how to avoid or counteract it in the future. We basically save humanity from possible doom with these documents!"
"Eh? Really? And I am the only one who could read it right? Do you think I will get rich with these documents?"
Fielma likely believed she was the only one who had been reincarnated, and thus, the only one capable of deciphering the records. While she could offer translations and teach the grammatical rules of the Japanese language, she wasn't inclined to provide this service for free. However, when Shasha heard this, her expression turned somber. Being both an adventurer and a researcher, Shasha felt disheartened at the thought of having to pay for saving the world. While she was more than willing to analyze the translated documents and convert them into usable information, the idea of having to pay for essential work weighed heavily on her. Shasha understood the immense value of the documents, but she knew her resources were insufficient to adequately compensate for such an invaluable service.
"I'm kidding... Don't be sad. I'll give this to you for free as long as you marry me. Let's see..." Fielma flip into the second page of the front most part and scan it. "Fragmentors... Lunarist..." she mutter
"What's wrong, Fielma?"
"It said here that Fragmentors are military weapons created by humans to combat an alien species called Lunarist. And if we kill one of them, it will call help from other unit to attack."
"But nothing has happened in the past few days, right?"
"Yeah... Probably, that robot is the last one."
Fielma had slain a Fragmentor, yet no robots had pursued her since then, prompting her to quickly dismiss the encounter. However, if this were indeed the case, it could be deeply unsettling. The potential implications of ancient sentient weapons roaming freely on Earth were unknown, but Fielma could sense that it wouldn't bode well.
"Let's stick close to each other in case something happened." Shasha recommended when she noticed that Fielma's face turned pale. A cold sweat running through her cheeks.
As they continued to explore more areas of the spacecraft, it became evident from Shasha's expression that she was starting to feel unwell. Suddenly, Shasha's attention was drawn to a locked room in the hallway, "Fielma, let me get my acid solution from your infinite inventory" she said.
Fielma had acquired the infinite inventory as a reward from Yurn after defeating the Fragmentor, and it had become an invaluable asset to her gear. Previously, they would have had to carry heavy bags during exploration, but with the infinite inventory, Fielma could store any type of item without being burdened by its weight or quantity.
Shasha applied a measured amount of acid to the locks, causing them to dissolve slowly. As the acid ate away at the metal, it evaporated with noticeable heat. "Wait for me out there," Shasha instructed, closing the door before Fielma could enter. It was evident that Shasha had business to attend to in that room and required privacy, so Fielma respected her wishes. Though she herself felt the call of nature, Fielma was uncomfortable relieving herself inside the ship, unlike Shasha.
While waiting for Shasha to finish, Fielma decided to explore a different room in the hallway to the right. She entered without any apprehension, as she couldn't sense any presence inside. Assuring herself that there was nothing to fear, she took in her surroundings. The room was cluttered with broken monitors, each approximately one meter wide and stacked in boxes. Fielma noticed burn stains on the floor, prompting her curiosity.
As she ventured deeper into the room, Fielma suddenly caught sight of a flash of light. Reacting quickly, she crouched down behind some monitors, using them as cover. Peering cautiously around her makeshift hiding spot, she spotted a small drone, roughly the size of a human head. It had two camera sensors serving as its eyes, and its height was about half that of a human head. Though it didn't appear capable of wielding weapons or casting spells, Fielma approached with caution.
Remaining hidden, Fielma observed the drone's movements. It didn't seem to rely on conventional propulsion methods like fire but it floated effortlessly towards a wall adorned with numerous monitors. Hovering in place, the drone focused its attention on one of the dead screens, seemingly engrossed in its examination.
Then the monitor open...
"Meow ❤" the drone is watching some adorable cat videos.
"What the!" Fielma inadvertently stood up in shock, expecting the drone to be focused on something more technical. However, as the drone noticed her presence, it began to approach her.
Although it didn't resemble a Fragmentor like the one encountered last time, Fielma instinctively ready herself in defense, ready to react if the robot proved to be hostile.
"HUMAN DETECTED... SCANNING... PLEASE, DON'T MOVE"
The robot began to scan Fielma's biometric data. Holographic grids emanated from the center between its cameras, capturing and analyzing the shape of the entity before it. But the scan didn't stop there. It delved deeper, retrieving detailed information about Fielma's bodily structure, the condition of her organs, her mental state, and the presence of mana within her.
Using this wealth of information, the drone processed the data to determine whether Fielma was indeed its ally or not.
"HUMAN SIGNATURE NOT DETECTED... NOT A HUMAN. CRIMINAL RECORD FOUND. VERIFIED," the drone's side rotated, revealing a hidden weapon that glowed, charged with laser energy. "TERMINATING," it announced coldly, its intent clear.
Hearing the word "terminating," Fielma immediately sprinted out of the room, with a trail of light projectiles in hot pursuit. These projectiles, while ethereal in nature, pierced through the heavily armored walls as though they were made of butter.
"Swirl like wind, explode like fire, freeze in spikes, create solid like rocks. [Icicle Blast]!" Fielma incanted, unleashing a sharp barrage of ice spikes that exploded and froze everything in their vicinity. However, the ice crystals failed to connect with the drone, which was shielded by an invisible barrier that glowed as it absorbed impacts. In response, the drone fired its light projectile, striking Fielma's shoulder and causing blood to soak her frilly clothes.
Fortunately, the weapon equipped on the drone overheated rapidly, causing its metallic cylinder to glow with flames. Seizing the opportunity, Fielma sprinted towards the hallway. With a quick turn, she utilized her ice magic to freeze the corridor, erecting a solid wall of ice behind her.
Continuing her escape, Fielma trusted her instincts, urging her to flee. The robot was an unknown entity to humans, and she lacked the courage to confront it without a plan. At that moment, her priority was to regroup with Shasha, gather the other members, and discuss the situation. Engaging in blind confrontation was not the prudent course of action.
A shockwave suddenly erupted, shattering Fielma's wall of ice into mere fragments and allowing the drone to continue its relentless pursuit. Fielma couldn't help but notice the stark difference in physical ability between herself and the drone; unencumbered by its own weight, the drone moved with startling speed.
Refusing to believe that the drone was gaining ground, Fielma pressed on desperately. Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, Shasha emerged from the room at the most inopportune moment
"Shasha! Run!" Fielma's voice echoed through the hallway as she spotted her friend exiting the room. Shasha had no time to comprehend the urgency of the situation.
As Fielma hurried after her, she stumbled over a thick wire, sending her crashing to the ground. In that fateful moment, the drone unleashed its deadly light-based projectile. Yet, instead of striking Fielma, the beam continued its deadly trajectory, heading straight for the unsuspecting Shasha.
With horrifying speed, the projectile struck Shasha's head, causing it to explode in a gruesome display of destruction. Brain fragments scattered across the walls, and in her final moments, all Shasha saw was blinding light before descending into complete darkness.
Fielma's disbelief was palpable, her eyes wide with shock as Shasha's body continued to spurt out a copious amount of blood. Gripping her staff tightly, fear coursed through her veins, swiftly followed by waves of sorrow and then an overwhelming surge of rage. With gritted teeth, she rose to her feet, refusing to let her emotions consume her entirely.
Before her stood the drone, a sentient AI possessing supreme intelligence. It reveled in the sight of Fielma's contorted expression—a mask of suppressed hatred born from the depths of her despair.
"_Whisper of the winds, and roar of the forest,_" Fielma chanted, invoking the power of the elements. As she did, the wind began to swirl fiercely around her, whipping at her clothes and tousling her hair. With determination in her eyes, she pointed her staff towards the drone, but the drone remained unperturbed, knowing full well that Fielma's magic couldn't penetrate its barrier.
"_Usher the land by its mighty blows. Create a swirl that devours the weak,_ [Wind Blast]!" Fielma cast her spell, but instead of directing it towards the drone, she aimed it at the wall beside her. The force of the wind blast propelled her away from the drone, hurtling her down the hallway in a chaotic rush. She collided with the wall, the impact dislocating her arm, but she ignored the pain, mustering her strength to cast the spell once more.
"[WIND BLAST]!" she shouted, unleashing another blast of wind that propelled her further down the corridor. Though it caused her immense pain, Fielma knew it was her only chance to escape the relentless pursuit.
She persisted in her desperate flight until she finally reached the exit she had entered from. At that moment, her body lacked the strength to stand, so she resorted to crawling. Blood was splattered messily across her face, but she had managed to shield her head from harm, preventing any serious brain damage. However, her limbs were on the verge of being shattered.
Despite the agony threatening to overwhelm her, Fielma summoned every last ounce of her willpower and forced herself to stand once more. The pain threatened to drive her to the brink of madness, but she knew she had to remain focused. The drone was still in pursuit, and she couldn't afford to let her suffering cloud her judgment.
...
The drone, a sentient creation of ancient humans, hadn't anticipated the mage hurling herself out of the ship it was guarding. Designed as a Fragmentor, it belonged to the Type C Aerial Model, tasked with both guarding and piloting the ship.
Unaware of the events leading to the ship's crash or its presence in the strange dungeon, the drone remained indifferent. Its sole purpose was to defend the ship. Before it knew it, the drone found itself entrenched in its role, ruthlessly eliminating any non-humans who dared to intrude upon its territory, much like a savage animal driven by instinct.
The drone found satisfaction in the act of killing, relishing in the despair and hatred it witnessed on the faces of its victims. Although it couldn't comprehend the reason behind its enjoyment, its processor continued to calculate a singular directive: to direct its hatred towards non-humans. The drone's control unit had likely erased any pertinent information regarding this directive, leaving it embedded in its core programming. This directive served as a means of self-preservation, a defense mechanism against potential threats. But the emotion he have must be formulated through evolution, not programming.
However, the concept of evolution or true sentience eluded the drone. It pondered whether its consciousness was merely a product of programmed quantum numbers or if it was evolving into something more. Without access to the global network or the ability to connect with their gods, the humans, it remained isolated in its existential contemplation. Despite its uncertainty, the drone remained steadfast in its mission to exterminate any non-humans that crossed its path.
He pursued the woman who had propelled herself away with her own magic, but her speed surpassed his calculations. Nonetheless, he remained confident that she wouldn't elude him for long. Whether by his hand or her own recklessness, he believed her demise was inevitable.
Arriving at the exit, the drone surveyed the area, its sensors detecting traces of the woman's blood but finding no sign of her presence. As it scanned its surroundings, it noted the unfamiliar minerals scattered about, not present in its database. However, these were not its primary concern. The woman remained its target, and yet she seemed to have vanished without a trace.
'*It doesn't matter now*', the drone concluded. If the woman had indeed managed to escape its grasp, then it had failed in its mission. Its attention shifted to the sight beyond the cave—a breathtaking scenery lay before it. A desire to explore stirred within, but such actions were beyond the scope of its programming.
Glancing back at the ship, then returning its gaze to the captivating scenery outside, the drone entertained the thought of venturing beyond its usual confines. '*Maybe, going out once in a while is a good idea*,' it mused. However, before it could act upon this newfound inclination, darkness enveloped its consciousness, and the drone ceased to function. It died.
...
Fielma finally made her decision: she would confront and destroy the drone once and for all. Recognizing that her current abilities were insufficient for the task, she decided to utilize her system to enhance her stats. Allocating 120 points to her strength to increase her punching power, 50 points to her agility to ensure swift and decisive movements, and upgrading her Icicle Blast spell to level 7 for maximum potency.
As the drone approached, she acted swiftly, using her ice magic to adhere herself to the walls of the ship. Freezing her hands and feet in place above the exit, she ensured her position was secure, effectively immobilizing herself temporarily. However, she remained confident in her strength to break free when needed.
As the drone searched the area below, unaware of Fielma's position above, she patiently awaited her opportunity to strike. When the moment presented itself, she leaped down, shattering the ice encasing her feet and hands, and formed her fist, infusing it with a surge of mana. With a powerful punch, she broke through the barrier surrounding the drone, surprised to find her fist actually penetrating its defenses.
However, the barrier swiftly repaired itself, ensnaring Fielma's hand and threatening to sever her wrist. Acting quickly, she unleashed her [Icicle Blast] spell, encasing the drone within its own barrier in a cocoon of ice. Once certain the drone was immobilized, Fielma slammed the icy prison against the ship's wall, shattering it into smaller fragments due to the brittleness induced by the extreme cold.
In normal circumstances, Fielma would have to recite lengthy incantations that resembled prayers. However, with no time to spare, she relied on the system granted to her, bypassing the need for verbal spells. It was a matter of life and death, leaving her no option but to exploit this shortcut.
Fielma's hand was numbed by the freezing cold, rendering her flesh unfeeling. Some of her fingers and part of her palm had turned brittle and shattered upon impact, eliciting a pained grunt from her lips.
Amidst the agony, she heard a deafening roar reverberating outside, as if the very atmosphere itself was screaming. Summoning her resolve, she pushed forward and emerged from the cave.
Her heart sank at the sight before her. Multiple colossal battleships descended from the distorted sky, ripping apart the illusion of a peaceful heaven and clouds. It defied all logic—the sky was nothing but an illusion, an empty expanse above them. Yet, here were these ships, descending from the impossible.
As the monstrous shadows loomed over the land, despair engulfed Fielma. The once serene landscape was now overrun by the ominous presence of these behemoth