『 — Year 2256. 』
『 ↺ ..·...· Istanbul, Watchtower of The Empire.』
Scrolling through a holographic tablet, a certain engineer was looking for an error.
『 Initializing project arkV2.43.89.01
...··..···.
Loading nemesis resources
Nemesis system started.
Loading daemons
Daemons fully functional
Initiating injection...
』
「 The logs give me no clue... But there seems to be no error」.
He scratches his head, as he shifts his focus to the big window in front of him.
Below the window lies a big console panel, and through the window, a mechanical sphere is clearly visible, to whom the console seems to be connected. It lies there, calmly shifting rotations on the lonely chamber.
❝Maybe... If i tweak these values❞ He talked to himself as he got closer to the console.
As soon as he got in front of it, he began operating the machine, not even looking at what he was pressing.
He scrolled through the settings until he found two specific values.
『Power input: 4000W
New value: __________ (Add)
Bending distortion: 1.5x
New value: __________ (Add)』
❝Lets try 1000W and 3x❞ As said as done. After adding those values, he restarted the experiment.
The sphere rose into air, surrounded by lightnings, space itself became distorted, bending at the pressure emanated. Soon after which, the sphere was spinning on itself, melting on the light generated by the lightnings.
He saw as the bar representing the energy reservoir of the watchtower quickly rushed from 15% to 100% in a matter of seconds.
Soon after, he turned off the machine. His hands shaking while he inserted the action codes.
The sphere dropped to the ground immediately after the energy dispersed on the air.
He stood in front of the chamber, paralized ❝Yet, I've concluded my hunt❞ Said while laughing ❝So much so was I on the path... That i forgot my end goal❞.
His vision drifted away of the chamber and posed on his trembling hands ❝Alas, i present myself baffled and in disbelief to my ultimate invention, a moving target which always slipped through my fingers❞.
❝Now I've become life, maker of worlds❞ He said as he casted a sarcastic smile.
❝I'll give myself a small delight❞ He got out of the room, locking the door, and peacefully walking towards the dining balcony.
The weight on his shoulders have now dissapeared, as such. This was the first time he noticed the beauty of the city, ever since he was transferred.
Skyscrapers that seemed to reach infinity where scattered around the city, and light was reflected by their metallic colors, the vibrant marble-like roads accentuates the uniqueness of this place.
As it's rush hour, countless people and vehicles came and went in the blink of an eye, living their own lives.
❝Really, it's difficult to admire the view when your mind isn't there❞ He said while staring from the balcony.
❝It really is❞ He heard a feminine voice approaching him from the back.
❝Can you remember how it looked when the empire conquered it?❞ She said as she leaned in the balcony, at his side.
His eyes strained as he heard her words 「... Now that i think of it, yes. I had been relocated here ever since it became part of the empire... However」.
❝I can't, not a single bit❞ He said with an expression full of doubt rather than concern.
She wiggled her head for a moment, and her mouth opened before saying ❝That's a very bad thing, you've been living here for almost a decade❞ And so, she stared at him with her eyebrows raised.
❝I know... It feels almost like a dream, I can't believe that I finally concluded my research❞.
❝If you did, why the long face?❞ Her head tilted in curiosity.
His lips curved and his eyes lubricate ❝It all feels like a dream❞ He laughed as he felt the itch on his eyes.
She got closer to him before flicking his forehead ❝Then awake, sleeper❞.
While stunned, after some moments he laughed ❝I wish❞.
❝I bet you wish this was a dream❞ She showed a smugly smile.
He looked down to the streets ❝Maybe, maybe❞.
Her eyes shifted to those same streets ❝Don't you want to go back?❞.
❝I just... Wonder what to do after this❞.
She made a half smile and said ❝Better be relocating❞ While her arm extended, pointing at a fairly far group of militia, marching through the main avenue.
His vision landed on them ❝Infantry? Why on the city?❞.
❝As i heard, the emperor has grown outraged by the antics of the Chinese, and decided to start preparing for war❞.
His left eyebrow raised without taking his eyes out of the streets ❝Isn't the mainland more close to the Chinese? They just need to cross the ocean❞.
She raised the corner of her mouth, about to burst on a laughter ❝... This is most probably a containment army, as you may know, the Chinese are not the reason he is being cautious❞.
❝The Indian strata...❞ His hand grew closer to his mouth, eventually touching his lips, and he started rubbing his chin with his thumb, as his index finger rested on the upper lip.
❝Indeed❞ She extended her arms while she let her laughter come out ❝the Chinese don't have any ground to stand on, but the Indian... That's a different story❞ Her semblance became darker after that pause.
He sighed, followed by a bitter laugh ❝It seems like I've lost track of a really enormous amount of things❞.
❝You don't have to worry that much, just go closer to the mainland. I'm sure the government will pamper you after this❞ She made the Ok hand gesture and winked.
He shook his head lightly ❝I'd wish my invention could benefit all the world❞.
❝That's but a dream... Unless the empire ever decides to continue the written destiny❞ she chuckled with a reminiscent tone.
He raised an eyebrow, weirded out by that suggestion ❝Written destiny...? It's been more than 5 years since the last time we annexed a country with that excuse❞
She sat her head on her arms, relaxing her back ❝You say that, even though you weren't born in the mainland❞
He turned to her, taking his hand to his chest ❝Well, while I was born in England, it has been a core state of the empire since more than century, plus. I've lived all my life in the empire❞
She rolled her eyes ❝As if that was a difficult task❞.
He sighed while looking at her, puzzled ❝It may certainly not be, but it also isn't easy❞
She sighed ❝Says who? You've never been outside these borders. Leaving aside that the empire is basically half of the world, outside isn't good at all... The Istanbul from ten years ago wasn't because of us, mostly❞.
The discomfort in his face grew difficult to hide ❝I... Don't know what to say❞ his words betrayed him, as he was subconsciously trying to excuse himself.
❝You don't need to❞ She took off from the railing of the balcony ❝It seems... You need some space. I'll be taking my leave❞.
❝... Bye❞ He shook his hand hesitant, but not trying to move further.
❝By-bye❞ She shook her hand as her figure grew farther from him.
He sighed as soon as he couldn't see her anymore「Perhaps... I've been overlooking my condition」.
Then he took a handle out of his pocket, soon a holographic screen manifested from it.
A message received ten minutes ago popped out, containing the following.
『Don't worry dawg, I'll see what I can do.』
His eyes widened in horror, as he realized that he didn't tell him about his success.
『NO NO NO DON'T, I ALREADY FIXED IT』he wrote and sent immediately.
Seconds went by, and the other didn't see the message. He rushed to the testing room, praying nothing had been done.
While on the way, an earthquake violently shook the earth. He lost his balance and tripped on his face.
❝Shit... I need to stop it!❞ He stood, and even though he was being thrown from one wall to the other, he steadily advanced towards the testing room.
Too distracted by his goal, he didn't notice that, outside the window, the world has completely changed.
Lightnings struck the earth, causing an unending chain of thunders.
As soon as he arrived, the figure of his friend came to his eyes ❝Stop it! Stop it!❞ shouted with all what was left of his will.
Just when his friend was about to turn to him, the chamber collapsed on itself, the energy emanating from the machine engulfed his friend.
His body compressed into a single line before disappearing into the chamber.
A bright light consumed his vision, unable to see, he could somehow feel the disruptive waves the machine emitted.
Ripples on space itself, he was able to feel his body breaking apart and reforming, shifting and phasing.
As space cracked around him and reality fell apart, he could only think about one thing.
His body moved to the console, as he was slowly consumed by the energy surrounding the collapsed chamber.
Unstable as it was, somehow the fabric of reality didn't collapse on him, with how many opportunities were given, the space where he was present always recovered before the breaking point.
A miracle, perhaps. He reached the console and rewrote a piece of the code, before fading away.