12:34 am
Cheers could be heard everywhere. The street was filled with people. It was the official start of the festival.
It was currently lunch. I'm going through the festival with my usual group. Jester also joined us today and we're going sightseeing. Countless different items are being displayed from the shops. From foods to books to weapons.
Though the items themselves are very... unique.
"Is that a gun shop?" [Harold]
"Guns are popular after all. There are many of those shops." [Lucien]
"Is that... a b-brain?" [Shina]
"Ah that's a specialty from far away. People either hate it or love it." [Lucien]
"...isn't that an adult shop?"
"Ahahaha. Just ignore it." [Lucien]
"Is that allowed?"
"If they don't do anything like forcing then yes." [Lucien]
I'm starting to think I'm the weird one here.
"Ah that's an artifact shop, want to check it out?" [Lucien]
The rest of us took a look at our pocket and look back at Lucien. He laughed again.
"No need to buy them. Just check them out to see what's an artifact is like." [Lucien]
Since none of us know what to do we decided to follow his words. Surprisingly inside the shop there's a testing site. Several people are trying out the displayed artifacts inside.
Letting Lucien do the talking we went to check out the artifacts. Some of them look mechanical while some look primitive. Giving them a glance isn't enough to figure out it's uses.
"Alright you guys can check one out. Remember to wear this bracelet." [Lucien]
The bracelet he handed out was a normal looking bracelet. Perhaps not everything need to look fantastical.
After putting it on I walk to my item of interest. A sphere shape item decorated with numerous shape, the middle hallow connected by a ball of energy. There wasn't a reason why I picked it, it just reminded me of a certain item from a monster capturing game. A shame it isn't red though.
Testing an artifact is simple as the information of the artifact is displayed from the bracelet using a hologram screen. I take back everything I said about the bracelet, it's the basic sci-fi item you always see in films.
The sphere is slightly bigger than the size of my palm. The hologram screen change in order to reflect it's information.
[Item name: Reality stabilizer discharger.
Classification: Semi-artifact.
Use: Stabilize the reality in a 10 km radius to 100%. Click the button on top to activate. Effects significantly decreases when reality level is lower than 80%. Will need to recharge after each use.
Have a 5 second delay before activating. Last for maximum 5 hours.
Cost: 99.9 Lor]
Seeing what I'm holding the shop owner walks up to me with a slightly awkward voice.
"I'm sorry sir it'll be difficult to test that here." [Owner]
"How so?"
"We can't safety replicate the dropping of reality level so there's no way to test it." [Owner]
"Then how am I supposed to know if it truly works as intended?"
"Don't worry sir it's guaranteed by Galen's trading company." [Owner]
He said as he pointed to a shiny mark in the symbol of overlapping squares, the word GTC written in the middle.
"Couldn't this be replicated?"
My question was answered by a hearty laugh by the owner.
"No one would dare to do that." [Lucien]
Since when did Lucien get here?
"Why?"
"The GTC is one of the six main organizations and also the one who controls the market. Their mark has a distinct feature where if you let Karma in it you can connect to one of their automatic customer service. It's impossible to copy since it's the work of all 6 organizations." [Lucien]
"They have the monopoly over the market?"
"I think so. I don't know much about this, not really an economic guy." [Lucien]
I look at the ball in disappointingly before looking for something else to use. I picked up a rather old looking shield, eyeing through it's information from the bracelet.
[Item name: Tuder's empire shield.
Classification: Semi-artifact.
Use: Significant reduce damage from rank 7 and below.
Cost: 1,15k Lor.]
It's something that could be very helpful to me right now. However it's cost is... not that affordable.
Since Lucien is still nearby I went towards him to ask some questions.
"Hey Lucien, is semi-artifact common? I thought this is an artifact shop."
"Ah well small artifact shop like this usually only have 1-2 actually artifact. They are rare after all." [Lucien]
Satisfied I went back to check some more.
* * * * * * * *
6:37 pm
The festival has fully started. There were performers here and there and the street was crowded with people. We were sitting in a restaurant and enjoying a music performance from outside. I could see some people busily running outside. I wonder why.
* * * * * * * *
7:47 pm
It was almost time to lit the bonfire. I wonder if I could get to it faster than everyone else.
More people have been urgently running around now. From their looks they seem to be... guards? Although the festive atmosphere is still there an uneasy feeling was spreading in my heart.
* * * * * * * *
7:52 pm
Lucien has decided to go check on the situation.
* * * * * * * *
7:58 pm
Lucien returned to us. He said no one here knows what's going on. It seems like he's trying to contact the school staffs.
* * * * * * * *
7:59... 8:00... 8:01
No bonfire were lit. Some people, locals more specifically, were confused. Then a siren went off.
When I look at Lucien, his face was grim.
"One... two... Orange warning?" [Lucien]
"Lucien, you know what's going on?"
"For now lets go back t-" [Lucien]
His voice was cut off by a deafening explosion. Bright pillars of light could be seen in the distance. The ground was shaking violently.
More explosions was set off here and there and the shockwaves knocked me to the ground. My ears was ringing and intense dizziness stuck me. In my blurry vision I could see Lucien still standing there. I soon passed out.
I woke up in the same spot as before feeling the grainy surface of the road under my hand. Looking around I could see many people still passed out on the ground. A rainbow translucent barrier could be seen in the faraway.
Next thing I noticed was the loud yelling voice nearby.
"What do you mean we can't contact the headquarters?! Look at the situation, what the hell are they doing!"
"I told you I don't know! Everything is cut out right now."
"Aren't you the goddamn overseer of this place! Why are you so useless!"
"What about the portal? Are they still useable."
"They are broken."
"DAMMIT! Why didn't you notice the FUCKING higher beings targeting this place!?"
"THAT'S THE GODDAMN CAPITAL'S JOB!"
The argument was harsh and loud. I could see Lucien with several other strangers talking in the distance. They seem to noticed me too as Lucien told something to them before walking towards me.
"What's happening?"
Releasing a grand sigh Lucien shook his head in defeat.
"I don't know either." [Lucien]
Now that I have calmed down I turned my focus back to my surroundings. Broken buildings were everywhere and there were also... bodies. Bodies in different conditions were everywhere giving the scene a bloody filter. I could feel my dinner rushing up my stomach as I hold the urge to throw them all out.
Lucien pat my back slowly to help me get rid of the sick feeling. He was always great at comforting people.
"I-I'm alright... now."
Perhaps he intended to say some comforting words but a noise took away our attention.
"CONTACT, CONTACT IS BACK."
One of the person I saw before screamed of joy. Lucien and I quickly went near them hoping to learn more about our situation. A projection appeared and started to talk.
[Warning: The following worlds are being attacked: Elinni, Tuka and Dwrino. If you are in any of the worlds please go to the nearest shelter.]
"Fuck, just that?"
"Where's the nearest shelter?"
"About 6km away. It should still be inside the barrier."
"Go check on survivors and bring them to the shelter!"
Different abilities were used to carry many people at once and start to carry them to the shelter. I was also helping, although I can only carry one person. Luckily most of our group is still fine although Jester was nowhere to be found.
On the way to the shelter an ominous premonition keep repeating in my head. Somehow I know that we won't be safe for long. Passing through a street I could see another artifact shop. At that moment, greed passed through my eyes.
Making sure no one is around me, I walk inside the shop. It was relatively intact and so was it's artifacts. What I wanted wasn't the artifact themselves though as their use is rather limited and I couldn't carry many. It would also easily raises suspicion from the people around me.
No, what I want is different. I want points! Holding the artifact in my hand I could only hope that this counted as owning the item. And luckily it does.
I quickly sold all the items and repeated the process in the nearby shops. After about 7 minutes of looting I retreated back to the shelter.
"What took you so long?" [Lucien]
"I was looking for Jester." I lied easily. Lucien seem to accept the answer and shake his head worriedly.
"You don have to. Stay here first until the situation is safer. I'll go look for more with the others." [Lucien]
After waving goodbye to Lucien I look back seriously at my pocket. Bringing out the phone I check on my notifications and points.
[New basic mission!
Mission: Survive until reinforcements arrived.
Difficulty: Basic
Tasks:
1) Survive.
Rewards: Advance to rank 9. (Only after the user finishes rank 10.)
Failure: Death.]
[26.2k points]
While I feel bad about stealing, my life was worth much more than my guilty consciences.
My mouth unconsciously revealed a bright smile. But the joy only lasted for a feel second as I look at the next notification gravely.
[You feel your fate approaching.]
Even though I don't understand it I could guess whatever it means isn't good. I choose to believe in my intuition.
After browsing through the phone for a good 5 minutes I decided on my course of action.
First I purchased the reset cool down for all functions on the phone. Next I use the [Advice] function. A small plushie appears neatly on top of my head.
"Tell me, what can I do in this situation."
"What do you mean? You can stay safe here." The plushie said with an innocent voice.
I mull over it's words. It might be true, I might not need to do anything and stay here all the time. However the ominous premonition I got from the notification keeps me on my toe. Something's going to happen.
"Don't joke with me. That fate message, I know it's not good."
"That. You do have that authority. Well I guess it's ok then. The cost is 20k points, deal?" [Plush]
"What!?"
I couldn't believe my ears. What information could be worth this much?
Despite all my emotions my face was still expressionless, something I learned from ignoring Plush before.
It was a gamble. I could buy this information, one that I wasn't even sure I could make use of, or buy 2 rank 5 abilities.
In the end, I decided to trust the more powerful.
"Fine, give me that information."
Instantly another notification appeared on my phone. There was only one sentence written there.
[Search for the clockwork at the northern forest.]