Upon arriving at the location, I surveyed the surroundings to get my bearings. Mia had previously briefed me on the details of this place, but Laura seemed perplexed.
"Where are we, Hulaif?"
"Didn't I say earlier that we're headed to Alpha Kingdom?"
"Oh, so this is Alpha Kingdom. Seems quite a futuristic civilization it has. So, what's your plan now?"
"First things first, we need to find Sarin." Just then, Skid's clone approached me.
"Boss, Sarin has been caught. She's in an interrogation room," the clone reported.
"Okay, show the coordinates."
"Okay, boss." The clone entered the watch and began relaying Sarin's whereabouts. As I checked the location, it appeared she was in the same room where I had been interrogated before.
"Let's go, Laura."
"But before that, could you tell me what that creature is that you just met? Is it the man-eater?"
"Yeah, but it has become my familiar."
"But I sense that creature is a fragment of the creature that I hunted at the Oasis."
"Well, actually..." Laura stared at me with a stern expression.
"You need to explain everything, Hulaif, but after you save your comrade. Let's go." With those words from Laura, we proceeded to the location cautiously. At that moment, an enormous creature flew above us and began to land, destroying a few buildings.
In the interrogation room, Sarin sat on a chair, facing the menacing presence of Kruez, who loomed over him with a threatening aura. "So, doctor. Where are they? Where is Hulaif? You should tell, or your hand will be lost, and you'll lose the ability to treat people anymore."
"Why would I tell you? I don't even know where he is," Sarin retorted defiantly.
"Then, you leave me no choice." As Kruez raised his blade, poised to strike, the door burst open, interrupting the impending torture. Both Sarin and Kruez turned their attention to the newcomer.
With an urgent tone, the newcomer exclaimed, "Sir, there's a monster upstairs."
Kruez paused, his hand still hovering over Sarin. "A monster? We haven't been attacked in years. How could a monster be here now?"
"You need to come and see for yourself, sir. It's unlike anything we've encountered before," the newcomer insisted.
"Fine. Doctor, you stay put. Don't even think about trying to escape," Kruez commanded as he hastily left the room, locking the door behind him.
Left alone in the dimly lit interrogation room, Sarin let out a frustrated sigh. "How did I not see this coming? This was a trap all along. Perhaps it's time to rethink my strategy," she muttered to herself, pondering her next move.
"Maybe I should wait for Hulaif. It might be my best bet this time. Escaping from here would require a carefully crafted strategy. Yes, I've decided to wait for him," Sarin muttered to herself.
After a few tense minutes of waiting in the room, Sarin heard commotion outside the door. She needed to gamble on whether it was Kruez or Hulaif who would arrive first. But before we delve into that, let's rewind and see how Sarin got caught.
As soon as Hulaif, Sarin, and Judy split up, Sarin made her way to the Technology department for an interview, armed with her fake ID. Successfully passing as a new staff member, she landed a position as an apprentice at one of the laboratories specializing in humanoid creation.
As Sarin delved deeper into her work, she uncovered unsettling truths about the humanoids' creation process. It became apparent that these beings, though eerily lifelike, were devoid of genuine human consciousness. Instead, they operated on programmed responses, lacking the essence of true sentience.
Despite her initial fascination with the technology, Sarin's moral compass began to stir. She grappled with the implications of her research, torn between her professional ambitions and ethical concerns. Deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamentally wrong underpinned the entire endeavor.
As days turned into weeks, Sarin found herself increasingly troubled by the work she was involved in. Yet, she felt trapped, unable to voice her reservations without risking her newfound position within the department. And so, she continued her work, all the while wrestling with the growing unease festering within her conscience.
One day, as Sarin conducted routine maintenance on one of the humanoid prototypes, she stumbled upon a hidden compartment within its mechanical frame. Inside, she discovered a series of intricate circuits and wiring that seemed to serve no apparent purpose.
Intrigued and suspicious, Sarin delved deeper, meticulously analyzing the circuitry. To her horror, she uncovered evidence of clandestine programming designed to override the humanoid's autonomous functions and render it susceptible to external commands.
Realization dawned upon Sarin: these humanoids weren't merely passive constructs but potential instruments of manipulation and control. The implications were staggering. It was as if she had uncovered a dark secret lurking beneath the facade of technological advancement.
Fueled by a newfound sense of urgency, Sarin resolved to expose the truth, regardless of the personal risks involved. But little did she know that her quest for justice would soon thrust her into a perilous game of cat and mouse, where the stakes were nothing less than the fate of humanity itself.
One month had passed, and it was time for Sarin to rendezvous with her allies. Securing a few days' leave, she met Hulaif and Judy at their new secret base. They exchanged their findings from the past month—Hulaif discussed his investigations within the army department, while Judy briefed them on the Resistance's upcoming plans. Together, they deliberated on their next steps.
As their meeting concluded, they dispersed once more. Sarin returned to her quarters in the technology department, where she rested. However, on the day she was to resume work, her residence was suddenly surrounded by the police department. Simultaneously, she managed to send a distress message to Hulaif via Skid, but before she could escape, she was apprehended by the police.
Trapped in the interrogation room, Sarin faced the relentless questioning of Kruez, who demanded information about Hulaif's whereabouts. Unyielding, Sarin refused to cooperate, prompting Kruez to resort to threats of physical harm.
As Kruez prepared to carry out his threat, an unexpected interruption occurred. A panicked subordinate burst into the room, claiming sightings of a monstrous creature within the facility. Momentarily diverted, Kruez paused his interrogation to investigate the alarming report.
Left alone in the room, Sarin weighed her options. With Kruez momentarily distracted, she contemplated her next move. Should she attempt an escape while the opportunity presented itself, or bide her time in hopes of rescue by Hulaif or his allies?
As Sarin waited for rescue, she carefully surveyed the interrogation room. Her keen eyes detected several CCTV cameras positioned around the room, making any escape attempt seem futile. With limited options, she focused on freeing herself from the cuffs and chains restraining her hands and legs.
Moments later, the sound of footsteps outside the door heightened her anticipation. As the door unlocked, her heart raced with hope. However, her excitement was met with confusion when she saw a girl standing at the threshold.
"Hulaif!" Sarin exclaimed.
"Um, no. I am not Hulaif. Since you know Hulaif, you must be Miss Sarin," the girl replied calmly.
Sarin's confusion deepened. "Who are you, then?"
"I'm a friend of Hulaif, Laura. He sent me to get you out of here," Laura explained, stepping into the room.
Sarin eyed her warily, her mind racing with questions. "How do I know I can trust you?"
Laura offered a reassuring smile. "Hulaif trusts me, and I assure you, I'm here to help."
With a cautious sense of optimism, Sarin nodded. "Alright, what's the plan?" She stood up and followed Laura outside.
"I'm sorry for not coming to your rescue," Laura apologized.
"What do you mean?" Sarin asked, puzzled.
"That's what Hulaif want to said to you. Actually, he's currently confronting a monster on the surface," Laura explained.
"Where is he?" Sarin persisted in asking.
"Right here," Laura affirmed, pointing out the area where the monster had attacked. Sarin could discern Hulaif's whereabouts.
"What's that monster? It's enormous," Sarin exclaimed, noticing the towering creature.
"I think it might be a species like a dragon. Maybe," Laura speculated.
"So, those kinds of creatures do exist, I see," Sarin remarked.
Suddenly, Hulaif was knocked down to the ground. "Hulaif, are you okay?" Sarin asked anxiously.
"Is that Sarin? It seems like you're safe. Sorry for not rescuing you," I replied.
"Don't worry about it. Focus on that thing first," Sarin urged as a building began to collapse towards them.
"Lizark, gauntlet form, destroyer hand," I commanded, launching the gauntlet hand towards the building. Upon impact, the building exploded, allowing them to escape from the blast unharmed.
As the dust settled, Sarin looked around, relieved to see that they had narrowly avoided the collapsing building.
"Thanks for the save, Hulaif," she said, offering a grateful smile.
I nodded. "We need to deal with that creature before it causes more damage."
Sarin agreed, her mind racing with ideas. "Laura, do you know anything about its weaknesses?"
Laura shook her head. "Not much. But I believe its underbelly might be vulnerable."
"Alright, let's try to lure it towards us and aim for its weak spot," I suggested, formulating a plan. "But..."
"But what?" Sarin inquired.
"The problem is Kruez. He's fighting that monster by himself. For safety, I gave you two this," I said, handing them each an orb.
"What is this?" Laura asked.
"It's the teleportation orb. It enables the user to transport themselves into the domain. I created it using Skid's ability. Also, if you sustain any fatal damage, the orb will self-activate. If anything happens, use it. It's a one-time use only," I explained, outlining the usage of the orb.
Sarin and Laura nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Thank you, Hulaif. We'll make sure to use it wisely," Sarin said, her voice filled with determination.
"Now let's kill that dragon," Laura exclaimed. The three of us made our way to the highest building, preparing for battle. As the dragon approached, demolishing buildings in its wake, it stood before us, and I heard its voice.
"Human, you dare to challenge when you do not have a chance to win," the dragon declared.
"What a loud roar," Sarin remarked, perhaps unaware of the dragon's words. Without warning, the dragon breathed fire upon us. We dodged the flames, but Laura's arrow failed to penetrate its tough underbelly.
"It's not penetrating," Laura noted. Suddenly, Kruez appeared out of nowhere, attacking me. I managed to parry his blade with Lizark's gauntlet form.
"Finally, we meet at last," Kruez said, continuing his assault.
"Why are you attacking me?" I asked, deflecting each blow.
"For the sake of justice, you need to be punished," Kruez replied.
"But can't you see the dragon? Shouldn't you focus on that threat instead of me?" I questioned.
"Don't worry about it, my men can handle it," Kruez assured, though I knew his men couldn't handle the dragon.
"Fine, if that's what you want. Sarin, Laura, I'll deal with this interruption. You two handle the dragon," I instructed.
"Okay," Laura and Sarin responded in unison.
"Hulaif, lend me Mia to me." Sarin requested.
"Ugh. Okay. Mia, follower Sarin." I send Mia to Sarin.
As I engaged in combat with Kruez, Sarin and Laura focused their attention on the towering dragon. With determination burning in their eyes, they unleashed a barrage of attacks, aiming for any weak spots they could find.
The dragon retaliated with fury, its massive wings thrashing and claws slashing at the surrounding buildings. Dodging its strikes, Sarin and Laura maintained their composure, their movements fluid and precise.
"We need to find a way to break through its defenses," Sarin shouted over the chaos, her mind racing with possible strategies.
"I have an idea," Laura replied, her bow drawn taut as she aimed at the creature's eyes. With a steady hand and unwavering focus, she released the arrow, sending it hurtling towards its target.
The arrow found its mark, striking the dragon's eye with pinpoint accuracy. Roaring in pain, the creature recoiled, momentarily stunned by the unexpected attack.
"Now's our chance, Mia!" Sarin exclaimed, shifting Mia into bow form and seizing the opportunity to strike. With a surge of adrenaline, she shot a web, managing to slow the movement of the dragon.
Together, Sarin and Laura unleashed a relentless assault. However, their firepower was not enough to weaken the dragon significantly. Despite their efforts, the dragon continued to launch fatal attacks, its swift movements making it difficult for them to evade.
As the dragon struck with ferocity, Sarin and Laura were dealt heavy blows, forcing them to activate the teleportation orb in desperation. With a flash of light, they vanished from the battleground, seeking safety from the relentless assault of the formidable beast.
With Sarin and Laura safely teleported away, the battlefield became eerily quiet. I, still engaged in combat with Kruez, glanced over my shoulder to see my allies disappear in a flash of light.
"It seems they took a heavy blow from that dragon," I muttered myself, momentarily distracted by their sudden disappearance. However, I couldn't afford to let my guard down, especially with Kruez's relentless attacks continuing to test his defenses.
Kruez, fueled by his unwavering sense of justice, pressed on with his assault, each strike calculated and precise. "Now, I will finish you. Wave manipulation: Final blade," he declared, preparing his ultimate attack. I weighed with options—should I deflect or counter?
In that critical moment, Hulaif realized the true threat. As Kruez unleashed his final attack, it missed me entirely, striking the dragon behind me instead.
"I think you missed your target," I remarked, a smirk playing on my lips.
"Impossible. You couldn't have dodged or parried it," Kruez exclaimed in disbelief.
"You attacked my mirage," I clarified.
"Mirage?" Kruez questioned, clearly perplexed.
"Let me explain it simply. It's a skill of mine to create illusions that deceive opponents. You fell for one of them. Now, you've angered the dragon, and it might come after you," Hulaif explained.
"Ugh, fine. You win this round. But mark my words, I will catch you and bring you to justice," Kruez declared, begrudgingly admitting defeat and leave from the place.
"Wait, you just leave that dragon alone after hit it pretty hard." It seems like he cannot hear my word anymore.
With Kruez defeated and retreating from the battlefield, I took a moment to catch my breath and assess the situation. The dragon, now enraged by Kruez's attack, turned its attention towards me, its fiery gaze fixated on my every move. At the same moment, Mia come towards me in her spider form.
"Looks like I've got another problem to deal with," I muttered to myself, preparing to face the enraged creature. But before I could make a move, a voice echoed in my mind.
"Hulaif, one of its eyes is injured. Be careful," Sarin's voice rang out, transmitted through the telepathic link we shared.
"Thanks, Sarin. Take a breather and let me handle things from here," I replied, steeling myself for the impending battle.
As the dragon lunged towards me with a deafening roar, I swiftly dodged its attack and retaliated with a relentless barrage of strikes from Mia's bow form.
Caught off guard by my counterattack, the dragon staggered back momentarily, providing me with a crucial opening. With determination in my eyes, I seized the opportunity and aimed for the creature's vulnerable spot—the injured eye. Scaling its massive form, I unleashed a powerful blow and shot an acid arrow directly at its eye using Mia's skill.
The dragon let out a deafening roar of pain as my attack landed, its massive form trembling from the impact. Despite the damage, however, the creature showed no signs of retreat, preparing to unleash its fiery breath once more.
Unable to evade the impending attack, I braced myself—but just in time, Judy appeared, shielding me from the dragon's onslaught. "Thankfully, I arrived in time," she said, standing firm by my side.
"Human, it's been a long time since I've met a worthy opponent," the dragon declared.
"Hey, what's your agenda for coming here?" I questioned.
"I seek strong opponents for a duel," the dragon roared.
"Hey, Hulaif. Can you communicate with that dragon?" Judy asked.
"Perhaps, but we can understand each other's language," I replied.
"Prepare for the worst because you've angered me, human," the dragon warned.
As tension filled the air, I knew that diplomacy was our best chance to avoid further conflict. "Listen, I am sorry for your eye. We mean you no harm," I began, addressing the dragon with a calm demeanor. "We only wish to understand why you've come here and find a peaceful resolution."
The dragon regarded me with a skeptical gaze, its piercing eyes betraying a hint of curiosity. "Peace? Humans seldom seek peace with creatures like me," it rumbled, its voice reverberating through the clearing.
"We are not like other humans," Judy interjected, her voice steady and resolute. "We seek harmony and cooperation, not needless violence."
"Wait, you can also understand the dragon's speech?" I asked Judy.
The dragon seemed to consider our words for a moment, its massive form tensing as it weighed its options. "Hahaha... very well, I can leave this place. But before that, I want to know what you want to achieve in this world?"
"My mission is to become a peacemaker between countries," I said.
"Are you sure you can do that? Humans are not capable of uniting with each other. Be honest with me, what do you truly wish for?" the dragon questioned.
"I want to see more civilizations flourish in this world," I answered.
"Hahaha. You are still young, human. I like you. Below here, you can find other civilizations. It might pique your interest. It is Betatlantis, the empire of the sea. Now, I will leave from here. Farewell, until we meet again for another duel," the dragon said.
"Wait, Mister Dragon, could you wait a moment?" I asked.
"Yeah, what is it?" I approached its heaFd, using Skid's healing abilities to heal its injured eye.
"You are a tamer. No, you are the guardian tamer. How could you tame such a vile guardian?" the dragon exclaimed in shock.
"It's quite a long story," I replied.
"You are interesting. I can sense other guardians and beasts inside you. My name is Ragnarox, the empire destroyer. Care to give me yours?"
"I am Hulaif, a lover of civilizations and a traveler," I introduced myself.
"We will meet again, and one day, when you can truly defeat me, I will follow you. Farewell," Ragnarox declared.
"Farewell," I assured.
With that, Ragnarox unfurled its wings and took to the skies, leaving us to ponder the implications of our encounter. As we watched it disappear into the distance, I couldn't help but feel a bit of relief.
"Phew! Finally, it's over. That dragon has left us and this place," I remarked, exhaling deeply.
"Yeah, but we should hurry and escape from here. Kruez has called for backup to capture us right now," Judy warned, her tone urgent.
"Thank you for letting me know. Now, I want to explore other countries. Do you want to join us, Judy?" I asked her.
"I would like to refuse, as I cannot leave this kingdom looking like this. Someone needs to stay and restore order here," Judy explained.
Suddenly, Hawk emerged from the watch and spoke to Judy, "Judy, it seems you are still yourself. I shall bless you with my power for a charm." With that, Hawk bestowed its blessing upon Judy.
"Thanks, Hulaif, for your help," Judy said gratefully. "You should hurry and leave from here."
"Alright, if you say so," I replied, trusting Judy's judgment. With a swift motion, she lifted me up and hurled me out of the Alpha Kingdom. As I soared through the air, I felt a surge of exhilaration mixed with a touch of apprehension. Judy had exerted all her energy to propel me, and now I was on a free fall.
Crossing the border of the Alpha Kingdom marked the beginning of a new chapter in my journey. With determination burning within me, I focused on my next destination: Betatlantis. Despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead, I remained resolute in my resolve to explore new horizons and uncover the mysteries that awaited me in this fabled empire of the sea.
The End of the Volume 2.