Sarin said to me that she wants to show me a way to the upper city. We walked from village to village and arrived at one place. From my view, it looks like a train station. I guess this place maybe have far more civilization than Sigma Country. But no one is here. Does the machine control all of this place? Also, there is no use for a ticket here.
"We have arrived," Sarin said with a happy face.
"So, we need to use a train to get to the upper city? Am I right?" She shook her head. "Then?"
"The train comes down once per month to send the defective or bankrupt people from the upper city. The last train for this month was yesterday. Also, people from the undercity cannot go to the upper city unless they can pay back their loans, have an identity card, and can pay for visas to stay there, or suddenly someone wants to buy them. You can say that here use human trafficking. Then, we need to use a secret passage. Maybe it take some time."
"Ah, don't say to me that we should walk to the upper city?"
"There is another way. Follow me and please avoid a CCTV. If they saw you go this way, we might get caught when arriving there. Just put some on of this disguise."
Sarin handed me a bundle of clothes and accessories, consisting of a lab coat, glasses, and a few normal clothes. Also, she gave me a lanyard with a card on it. That card has my face on it. I quickly put on the disguise, hoping it would be enough to hide my identity from any surveillance cameras along the way. Sarin, too, adjusted her appearance, making sure she blended in with the surroundings.
With our disguises in place, I just realized something, why is this cloth kinda look like a scientist or researcher? I just follow her and went to one door. The door is unlocked. As we get through here, there is one lift in front of me.
Sarin pressed the button to call the lift, and the doors slid open with a soft chime. We stepped inside, and she pressed a button for an upper city. There are only two buttons on this lift. One for the undercity and one for the upper city. The lift began its ascent, and I felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation waiting to look what kind of upper city look like.
The lift came to a stop, and the doors opened to reveal a bustling subway station. We stepped outside and we are in one store or some room like that. As we emerged from the lift, we get out of the secret room. As we get out of there I can see that was a janitor's room. Not long after, a bustling subway station engulfed us in a flurry of activity. People rushed by, their footsteps echoing on the polished floors. The air was filled with a sense of purpose and urgency, distinct from the languid atmosphere of the undercity.
I realized people here wearing something on their faces. It looks like a pair of glasses. On their glasses, it seems like there is info there. "Sarin, why did people here wear glass? Does all of them has poor sight?"
"Why are you not looking at yourself first? I gave you those glasses for another reason. On the right side of the glasses, you can touch it to turn the glasses on." I do by what she said. It seems like the glass really works. The glass works as an Augmented Reality (AR) device. Also when I look around, it detect people when seeing the card on their lanyard. I can see their information but not all. Just name, their birthday, and their work.
The realization hit me as I explored the AR functions of the glasses. They were not just for improving vision but served as a means to access a networked information system within the upper city. This system allowed individuals to share their basic information, fostering a sense of transparency and connectivity among its inhabitants.
With this newfound knowledge, I began to understand the underlying mechanisms that facilitated the upper city's efficient functioning. The glasses acted as a tool for seamless communication, access to resources, and real-time updates on various aspects of daily life.
Sarin noticed my fascination and smiled. "The glasses are a key component of the upper city's advanced infrastructure. They provide people with constant connectivity, and access to information, and even enable them to navigate the city more efficiently. It's a stark contrast to the limited resources and isolation in the undercity."
As we made our way through the bustling subway station, I observed people using the glasses to check subway schedules, read the news, and even communicate with others through a messaging system that appeared as a floating display in their field of vision.
The glasses also provided valuable insights into the lives of the upper city's inhabitants. Some individuals had job titles indicating positions of power and influence, while others were engaged in fields of research, arts, or various professional endeavors. It became clear that the upper city thrived on a vast network of knowledge, innovation, and interconnectedness.
As we ventured further into the subway station, I couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the upper city and the undercity I had known. While the undercity struggled with scarcity and oppression, the upper city boasted abundance and sophistication. The divide between these two realms became even more pronounced in my mind.
"Ehem!" Sarin's voice brought me back to the present. "We need to keep moving and stay vigilant. Despite the appearance of progress and connectivity, the upper city is not exempt from its own set of problems. The inequalities and injustices persist, albeit in a different form."
As I followed Sarin, I could see a few pieces of news on my glasses. I tried to read that news. I found that news told about the bomb at the subway station. Suddenly, one video just appeared on my glasses. There is one man with a mask of the robot on it. "All people in the subway station, I give a warning one more time. Don't move and hear my speech. If you moved the bomb will be detonated. Why did I put the bomb on the subway station? I want you all to play a game with me. The game's name is 'Who Got the Guts?' You need to know that you cannot leave the subway station area. As the entrance has closed. The objective of this game is to find a bomb and defuse it. Also, you can kill the corrupt people. If you can kill them you can exit this place safely. To kill the higher rank I have put the list on your data about who has been corrupted. That's all from me have a good game. Ciao."
The subway station fell into an eerie silence as the masked figure's message played on everyone's glasses. Fear and confusion gripped the crowd, their expressions reflecting a mix of panic and uncertainty.
"Sarin, is this normal in the upper city?" She shook her head.
"I'm not exactly a fan of this, because when I stayed in here. I just stayed in the lab 24/7 for research."
"So, what should we do right now?"
"Better not attract the attention of people here. Keep low profile."
"Actually, I want to ask you something. Do we safe already from CCTV? You said that we need a Visa. Where should we find it?"
"Don't worry about that, I have already settled that problem before we get out of my shelter."
Sarin reached into her bag and pulled out a small envelope. She handed it to me with a reassuring smile.
"Inside this envelope, you'll find the necessary documents to grant us temporary visas for the upper city. I managed to acquire them through my contacts before we embarked on this journey," she explained.
Relieved, I opened the envelope and examined the contents. The documents appeared official, complete with holographic stamps and identification numbers. It seemed that Sarin had meticulously prepared for every possible hurdle we might encounter on our way to the upper city.
"Thanks. But, do you have any idea how to get out of here?" She shook her head. As I think about a way out, I asked Mia to investigate by herself. As Mia tries to collect the information. I walked around and eavesdropped people there.
"Hey! We need to hurry to find the bomb or we will die." A lady with a formal work uniform said to a few of his colleagues.
"Yeah. Let's go." Then, those people quickly looked around and tried to find a bomb.
A few minutes has been passed, and not even a person found it. Suddenly, a video just appeared on my glasses. That bomber guy appeared again. "Okay, I am quite bored here. Change of rule. If you cannot find it in ten minutes, one bomb will be detonated. Maybe you don't want it to happen as you are all in the subway station. Who knows how many victims can this tragedy get? Bye." The video ended.
"Hahaha! It's just bluffing. You all should know that. He did not dare to detonate the bomb." One man in a suit and bald said that. I felt like I did not like what he said. I just ignore him and continued to look around. Sarin just disappeared the moment I turned my head back. Where did she go?
I looked at the watch, it seems like a few more seconds before entering ten minutes. Some people believe what the man from earlier said. Actually, I don't believe him. Ten minutes has been passed, and the bomb detonates.
As the bomb detonated, a wave of panic swept through the subway station. People screamed and ran for cover, desperately searching for an escape route. The explosion had caused significant damage, rendering the subway tracks inoperable and trapping everyone within the station.
Amidst the chaos, I frantically searched for Sarin, hoping she had found a safe spot. I called out her name, but there was no response. Fear gripped my heart as I realized she was nowhere to be found. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her after everything we had been through.
As smoke filled the air and debris scattered across the station, I resolved to find Sarin and ensure her safety. I navigated through the chaotic scene, dodging fallen rubble and helping injured passengers along the way. Time felt distorted, each passing moment carrying a weight of uncertainty.
After what seemed like an eternity, I spotted Sarin in the corner of the station, struggling to stand up amidst the wreckage. Relief washed over me as I rushed to her side, helping her regain her balance.
"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.
Sarin coughed and nodded weakly. "I'm shaken, but I'll be okay. We need to find a way out of here."
As we assessed our surroundings, it became evident that the subway station had been sealed off. The exits were blocked, and the once-bustling hub of transportation now resembled a haunting, abandoned cavern.
"Sarin, I think you should rest with Skid at Oasis right now. I think I can handle this situation with Mia here."
"Are you sure?" I nodded. "Okay if you insist." I put her in the domain with Skid.
A few moments later, Mia come to me, and I asked her. "What did you find?" She crawled on my shirt and said to me.
"I found a few corrupt people here. I share my eyes with you." The fuse feature just becomes automatic. I should get used to this feature. "The yellow is the one who is innocent and the red is the corrupted. If you want to find a bomb, I don't think you should do it because I have a better idea." Mia explained more of her idea to me.
Thankfully no one was badly injured during that time. I should act quickly before the next bomb detonated. I quickly meet every innocent people there and sent them to Oasis. I just leave a few of corruption people. Ten minutes has been passed, the bomb has been detonated again. This time, it was not far from me. Thankfully, I managed to send all of the corrupt people to Oasis. I said to Skid to brainwash them and make them turn in themselves for their mistake.
From that detonation, I managed to survive with the help of Mia. As I listened to Mia's idea, I quickly hid myself to avoid getting seen by the culprit. After ten minutes has been passed, the bomb continues to detonate.
The last bomb has been detonated, making the subway station collapse entirely. Making it hard to believe no one is safe. A few moments later, one man just come out of nowhere and he laughed as he saw the subway is destroyed. "Ahaha, now I have cleaned the corruption area. No one can beat my game. Hahaha. I am a genius."
"And cut. Now I get full footage of your. Nice show."
"Who are you? How could you survive from this collapse?"
"I am just a Changer that will change this world."
"Quit your nonsense. You have heard what I said. Now your life is not safe anymore." He clapped his hand and suddenly, he disappeared from my sight. I am quite surprised by that. "Now, for your time to die." He suddenly at behind me and pulled his pistol's trigger. Thankfully I manage to evade from hitting at major spot. The bullet just hit on my right shoulder. Then he disappeared again.
"Wait, are you using a stealth mantel or what? How could you possibly disappeared like that?"
"Hah! Of course not. This is not a magic fantasy world you dumb. I implant the AI on my brain and modified my body to become faster as sound. Now you know our difference. You may die right now." He appeared behind me and tried to pull his trigger again. This time, I let it hit me. The bullet went through my body. I fall down and my mouth vomit the blood. I passed down.
He came at me as I have passed out. "That's all what you got Changer? You waste my time. Bye." He tried to get away from me, but he cannot. "Why cannot I moved?" He see at his leg, my hand grabbed on it.
"Got you." I said.
"Hey, how could you possibly has enough energy to pull another trick."
"Argh, I don't know that you will fall into my trap easily. Talk about dumb, I see you are the one who is the dumbest."
"Hahaha... you think you have win when catch me like that. You should know that I am not a weak person. You and I are a completely difference. I am quite skill in my close quarter combat." This guy is not a normal person that I can fight casually. I think that I met a strong man here. He kicked me and make my hand released from his leg.
I stood up and he continues to attack me. With speed and power. It is impossible for me to fight him. I tried my hard to withstand those attack. It was quite brutal. This man is not a normal person. He may be a professional brawler or a great soldier. But, why he need to be a bomber? I need to think quickly.
I knew I had to find a way to gain the upper hand in this fight. Drawing upon my previous experiences, I remembered the techniques I used to counter Anubis's speed. But, at that time I use the Mia in bow type. How about I used what I learned from Laura. I focused my mind and analyzed the situation. I stood in a defend stance.
As he launched another flurry of attacks, I carefully observed his movements, looking for patterns or weaknesses. Despite his speed and power, he seemed to favor specific strikes and combinations. With this knowledge in mind, I started to anticipate his moves, evading and blocking with precise timing.
With each successful evasion and block, I could sense his frustration growing. His attacks became more desperate, allowing me to exploit his vulnerabilities. I found openings to counter-attack, landing strikes of my own. However, I knew I couldn't rely solely on physical combat to defeat him.
Recalling the AI implant in his brain, I realized that disrupting its functionality could give me an advantage. I had to find a way to neutralize or disable it. Assessing the situation, I noticed an exposed cable near the back of his neck. Without hesitation, I delivered a swift and powerful strike, severing the connection between the implant and his nervous system.
As the AI connection was severed, his movements became slower and less coordinated. It was my chance to turn the tables completely. "Now you know that even thogh you use a handicap like that, you still not achieved the true human capabilities. I turned back what you did to me. the With a combination of swift strikes and calculated maneuvers, I disabled him, rendering him incapacitated.
Gasping for breath, I stood over him, victorious but weary. The battle had taken its toll on both my mind and body. I knew I had to act quickly, as he could recover at any moment. I searched his pockets and found a small capsule container. I guess this is kind of drug that turned him mad.
Right now, I need to release the people from domain. I hope Sarin helped me after this. I went to an open space not far from that collapsed area. Then, I released all of them here. As they all released, I passed out after giving the capsule container to Sarin.