Tension filled the air as they tried to figure out where Barpirio might have ended up, as circumstances pointed to his death. Thankfully, Recivela broke the tension.
She thanked Yvalra for her contributions to their country as she recounted her time working with the noble Sunvale family, particularly her mother, Athilea. During her early days of hunting in the icy regions of Kaheliv.
Yvalra shared stories from her mother and expressed her joy at meeting Recivela in person, celebrating their unsung heroism in bringing down a rogue Erbecea that tormented the land. Recivela chuckled briefly and humbly rejected the idea of being a hero.
Recivela then proceeded to ask each of them for their reward, which immediately sparked interest in everyone, their eyes gleamed like stars.
Recivela: I wish to repay my debt to you all. I hope you didn't think this buffet would suffice.
One by one, they stood up and stated their desired rewards. The first was Mirelan, who wished for a bridge connecting Sabin to her village at the top of the mountain, so her people could reach the city quickly and have the opportunity to study there. Recivela nodded and whispered to her assistant, who bowed and left the room. This brought tears to Mirelan's eyes. Hyuwin teased her, saying she was wearing fake tears, but he was immediately punished when a bone was thrown at him, hitting his forehead, knocking him from his seat.
Next was Yvalra, who wished to have an audience with Recivela to hear stories about their not-so-distant past with her mother. Recivela nodded and invited her to her private quarters after the feast to share more stories. Yvalra was delighted to hear this and could hardly contain her excitement.
Clause wished for a craftsman to fix and reinforce his warehouse, which had only been temporarily patched with wood after the recent incident. Recivela promised to send someone to repair the warehouse and provide the necessary materials for its fortification. Although Clause didn't show it, he fought the urge to celebrate by doing something silly. Selah glared at her father, sensing that he was thinking of doing something weird again.
Hax asked to meet Azhgeil and train under him to enhance his conjuration abilities, as in normal circumstances only those who possess noble blood are allowed to do so. Recivela nodded and expressed her dismay at this exclusivity but promised to abolish it so that everyone could be taught, which she believed would benefit the country as well. Hax was genuinely happy about this news. Hyuwin smiled and tapped his shoulder.
Recivela's gaze shifted to Soren, who looked a little hesitant. She asked what someone like him, with such a vast amount of knowledge, would do, however before he could answer, she wished to ask him one question.
Recivela: How did you learn all about this forgotten wisdom, and where did you come from?
Everyone except Clause looked at Neros with curiosity in their expressions. Clause felt nervous again at this unexpected turn of events. Neros stood up and looked at Recivela. He gently opens his mouth and was about to speak, and everyone paid attention, suspense hung in the air.
Neros: Where's the nearest comfort room?
Everyone fell from their seats as one of the assistants led Neros to a nearby restroom to relieve himself. When he returned, he told a story about his origins, how he ended up in Sabin, and his connection to Clause.
Neros: I was born in a small village overseas, where I spent most of my childhood. That village is next to a quarry that mines for minerals and some artifacts. From a young age, I was already obsessed with these devices, and after years of grueling study and experimentation, I believe I finally understand the concepts from the extinct civilization that crafted them.
Paying attention to his storytelling, some were even captivated.
Neros: That village is no more, destroyed by a monster attack that claimed both my parents. I journeyed alone through treacherous terrains, faced hungry beasts, and endured harsh weather conditions until my research finally led me to this place, where I met Clause who shared the same ideals and interests.
Recivela nodded, seemingly satisfied with what she had heard, and then she asked.
Recivela: Can you tell me the name of that village? I may not look like it, but I traveled far and wide when I was younger, perhaps I know a thing or two about it.
Sweat trickled down Neros's forehead as he felt nervous about how to answer that question. Clause, looked at him equally nervous.
Neros: It was uh, a village with, the small, there's quarry, trees, more trees and rocks…
Clause: Yes, he told me, it was uh village, I forgot what it was, I think, you see…
Both tried their best but could not come up with a viable answer to support his claims.
Recivela: Very well, that's fine. Forget I asked. I know losing parents and your people is tragic, a small village like that won't appear on maps anyway, as most of it is comprised of peddlers.
Feeling relieved, Clause and Neros sighed.
Clause and Neros: We're saved…
Recivela: So, Neros, forgive me if I hindered you. Let me ask you again. What do you wish for your reward?
Everyone felt a hint of curiosity about what he would wish for. Mirelan imagined a snack as big as a person, thinking he would jump for joy upon receiving it. However, what Neros would say next would surprise them.
Neros: I wish to claim rights to a piece of land in this country.
Recivela couldn't hide her curiosity, even her assistants exchanged concerned glances at each other.
Recivela: If it's a piece of land you wish to claim, I think I can arrange that. However, this is sacred land, and parting with a piece under someone's name might go against the customs. Could you please elaborate?
Neros: No sorry, I don't mean occupying land. Based on our findings, there's a 'laboratory site' still buried northeast of this country. The materials I could collect from there could help me study, craft new devices and learn more about the forgotten civilization.
Recivela: What's a laboratory?
Neros: From what I've gathered, the laboratory was primarily used for experimenting eons ago. The remnants of this laboratory contain invaluable artifacts, advanced technology, and ancient texts that have long been lost to history deep underground.
Recivela: How did you find it?
Clause stood up and presented his detection device, a small orb that emitted sonic pulses, pointing to a detailed map of Sabin that marked the laboratory's location. He then began explaining how the device pinpoints the laboratory's exact location using sonic pulses. Recivela nodded and granted permission for the mission, but on the condition that Sabin's skilled artificers inspect the site before they claim its contents.
Neros handed a parchment to the assistant, who brought it to their ruler. The parchment revealed a topographic map of Zyrencia with marked locations. She immediately understood the gravity of his mission and, without saying a word, closed the parchment and handed it back.
Recivela: I will have an escort prepared in a few days, along with carriages to carry your belongings for this mission.
Everyone thanked Recivela for her benevolence, to which she responded with a faint smile She then fell into deep thought, trying to piece together the circumstances in her mind.
Over the past few days, all the citizen of Sabin seemed to have been feeling better, everything looks back to normal, more Well of Dreams were erected in various locations. Clause was busy training additional medical staff to assist when needed. The bridge connecting Mirelan's village had begun construction, and Hax had started his studies at a prestigious school. Yvalra bid farewell to Selah and everyone else after receiving summons back to the capital.
One fine morning, carriages were lined up in an open field. Recivela was seen speaking with the mission's escorts, which included beast tamers, warriors, artificers, and a few laborers for heavy lifting. She then approached Neros and Clause, who were loading their apparatus into a carriage, equipment they would later use to drill into the ground to create their entrance.
Hyuwin recalled the moment when Recivela asked Selah what her desired reward would be, but she had declined to answer at the time, choosing to decide later. The ruler respected her decision. He wondered what had caused her hesitation and spotted her carrying a crate full of supplies and loading it into the carriage. Deciding to help, he grabbed a crate for himself.
Hyuwin: Hey, Selah! It's a fine morning. So, what's on your mind? You're not planning of keeping it a secret from me, are you?
Selah giggled and whimsically ran toward the carriage, trying to hide her intentions.
Selah: Yes, it's a secret~
Hyuwin felt a little left out but decided that if it made her happy, he would play along with her games. He smiled and chased after her.
Recivela signaled the start of the journey, waving goodbye as the carriages rolled away into the distance. Neros sat beside the burly beast tamer with brown beard, A'orsh, who wore a light green and khaki garb with vertical stripes and leather boots.
He controlled a beast with bulging chameleon-like eyes, armored head, a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. The creature had strong, feathered front legs, smaller hind legs, and a muscular body and protruding spines along its back connected to a tail with a spiky tip.
Neros: Eek, isn't this beast gonna lash out at us any time?
Jiatu: No need to worry m'lord, her name is Nulop. She's harmless, her favorite, Tyrathis eggs!
Neros led the navigation for the group, checking his detection device every now and then while sharing fun moments together to make the journey less strenuous.
Along the way, he sensed something pursuing them, but after observing the sparse creatures along the forested terrain, he dismissed the idea.
The team spotted a hill surrounded by trees as the detection device began beeping more intensely. Neros halted the caravan, and they unloaded their cargo to set up camp.
Neros was still troubled by the presence he sensed earlier, though it now felt faint. As he looked away, lost in thought, Clause called out to him to start the drill machine.
Escorts gaze upon the unveiling of the drill machine. With a sleek metallic frame and multiple rotating laser emitters arranged in a circular formation at its front. As it powered up, the lasers pulsed in sync, cutting effortlessly through solid rock with precise, steady beams. Curious, Selah approached her father, her eyes fixed on the intricate workings of the drill machine.
Selah: Father, how did you make this machine? It looks as powerful as it is dangerous.
Clause: Well, let's just say this machine is a marvel, convenient and makes the work a whole lot easier!
While at work, one of the warriors complained, accusing Neros and Clause of being evil sorcerers, before running away from the site. This stirred fear among everyone else.
Thankfully, Hyuwin climbed onto the stump of a tree they had cut and assured everyone that the machine was designed solely for one task. He then signaled to Neros to explain further.
Hyuwin: This machine err, Diru-li-li… it is instructed to do nothing else, it works like…
Neros: Uh, yes, sorry if I caused everyone a bit of a scare, but there's no need to worry. As you can see, it only operates on the ground and performs its one task. Allow me to show you its safety measures.
Neros placed his hands near the laser pulse, and the machine immediately activated its safety brake system, halting the drill automatically. The onlookers applauded, feeling a wave of relief wash over them as they resumed their work. Thanks for their collaboration it had prevented unnecessary issues. Neros approached Hyuwin and thanked him for his support. Hyuwin insisted it was just part of his job.
A few minutes passed as the drill delved deeper into the ground, uncovering metallic edges at the surface of the hole. This revealed a dark crevice, from which a mysterious air surrounding it.
As the machine reached its ideal depth, it stopped operating, and Clause dropped a buoyant lamp that slowly descended a few feet down to light up a trail. One laborer dropped a rope ladder for an easier descent. Upon reaching the underground chamber, Neros threw a luminescent orb above, revealing a long-forgotten laboratory with walls covered in dust and vines.
Ancient apparatuses lay scattered about. Rusted gears, old computers, cracked glass vials, and faded blueprints, evidence of a once-thriving center of knowledge now buried for thousands of years. As the light began to fade, Selah caught a glimpse of Neros, who wore a bitter expression of sadness.
Clause then set up a network of bioluminescent lamps while everyone dismantled the laboratory to load it into the caravan. As they went deeper, more and more intriguing yet mysterious artifacts from the forgotten age were recovered, including a small device that makes a buzzing sound when squeezed, startling one laborer and leading others to burst into laughter.
Selah approached Neros to ask what was wrong. Hyuwin spotted them together and perched his arm on Neros's shoulder, which Selah found a bit rude, prompting her to voice her protests.
Hyuwin: Something happened, what's up?
Selah: Hey, I was talking to Neros! Stop butting in all of a sudden!
Neros: I'm fine, thanks for your concern. I'm just probably feeling a bit under the weather.
Neros was then called out by one of the laborers who needed help detaching an apparatus from the wall, causing him to leave the group. Clause sneaked up behind them and held a light under his chin to make himself look scary, startling the two as he laughed enjoying the moment. However, Selah hit him, knocking him to the ground, where he twitched in pain.
Clause, while lying down, contemplated the weight that Neros was carrying, revisiting the echoes of a past ravaged by time.
An hour had passed since they descended into the old laboratory when they stumbled upon a huge chamber. As the lights were turned on, they revealed a white circular design overlooking the area, filled with broken glass, hanging wires, and a dark monolith at the center, surrounded by shattered computers.
Outside, as darkness crept in with the fading light of the sun, one laborer, while packing up the artifacts into his carriage, spotted the warrior who had run away earlier returning from a distance. However, as the warrior approached, the laborer noticed something was wrong. He walked unsteadily, swaying back and forth, with white eyes and pale skin, while purple veins throbbed ominously in his throat.
A piercing wail attracted the attention of the others on the surface. As they traced the source of the sound behind the carriage, they saw parts of the laborer's body shaking violently, his hands and legs trembling uncontrollably. Upon closer inspection, they realized the warrior who ran away earlier, now was biting into the neck of his poor victim, sharp teeth puncturing the flesh, blood gushing from his mouth as he seemed to drink.
Thinking he was simply upset by what he had witnessed earlier, they urged him to let go, promising to explain what the drill does and even offering a portion of their share. However, their words only made the situation more gruesome, as he shifted his attention to them, causing an uproar.
As they prepared to descend, they heard a cry from a laborer hastily running into the chamber, alerting everyone about the commotion outside. While he recounted what he had witnessed, Neros stepped onto a fragile part of the platform and fell to the ground. They immediately rushed to check on him, but he waved them off, assuring them he was okay. Clause urged everyone to go outside and investigate the disturbance at once.
Neros: Go on ahead, I will wait here.
When everyone ran outside, Neros brushed the dust off his garb and took an object from his pocket a small, intricate device featuring three parallel lines in a thin, bluish strip of metal resembling a key. He walked toward the secret passage behind the monolith, where smoke billowed to reveal a functional elevator with the C.O.R.E. logo on the doorway. Faint blue lines of light ascended along the elevator's surface, suggesting the presence of an active agent, a form of nanotech that maintained the facility. He stepped inside as the elevator door closed, descending further underground.
As Selah and the others approached the entrance of the tunnel, they were met with a faint, metallic scent of blood. Stepping outside, they saw a few escorts lying on the ground, convulsing. Suddenly, Selah felt something grip her leg, a laborer who had been bitten earlier, now shares similar characteristics, with sharp teeth, bloodshot eyes undergoing and transformation like the monster before them.
While the warrior now resembled a monstrous creature, with sharp claws, purple skin, white eyes, and a mouth dripping with blood. Hyuwin kicked the creature clinging to Selah, ready to attack, but the sound of crunching bones filled the air as the escorts began to contort, struggling to stand and exhibiting the same erratic behavior.
Selah: Father, hide!
As Selah prepared to assist in the ongoing battle, she attempted to draw power from her pendant, but despite her intense focus, it remained unresponsive. Hyuwin glanced at her while fending off the monsters, noticing that she stood frozen, clutching her pendant tightly. Suddenly, a monster lunged at Selah, but Hyuwin was quick to react, landing a punch squarely in its face, causing it to stumble to the ground and pulling Selah away from danger.
Hyuwin: What's the matter?
Selah: My manifestation doesn't seem to work like it used to.
Pulling away from the chaos of the battle, Selah realized how reliable Hyuwin could be in moments like these when she truly needed him. Hiding behind the stacks of artifacts hoarded from the laboratory, Clause scooted over to provide space for Selah while he safely observed the fray. The beasts felt uncomfortable and struggled to bite off their leashes, except for Nulop, who fought against them, thanks to its tough hide, she was protected even from powerful bites.
As the battle raged on, Hyuwin and warriors noticed that the monsters recovered with alarming speed, as if their wounds healed almost instantly with every strike they sustained.
Warrior: What's going on, they just keep coming back, this would never end!
While he was preoccupied, the transformed warrior leaped from behind, launching an attack at his blind spot.
Selah: Behind you!
After hearing Selah's warning, he strike blindly behind him, landing a solid blow on the monster's chest, a testament to his trust in her. Yet, despite the grievous wound, the creature continued to remain hostile, seemingly unfazed by the pain. Just then, something emerged from the shadows. An artificer threw an object that transformed into entangling roots to intercept the advancing enemy, but the figure effortlessly ripped through them and lunged at its caster.
Hyuwin, just a few feet away, watched in shock as the monster swiftly brought the artificer down with a vicious bite to the throat. This creature boasted protruding bones along its spine and elbows, its head resembling that of a bat, complete with sharp fangs and a muscular body cloaked in purple skin. What shocked Hyuwin the most was when the monster turned to face him. Half of its visage bore a striking resemblance to Barpirio.
Selah: Is that?!
Hyuwin: Ngh!
A sinister figure emerged from the shadows, dressed in a flowing black dress with long, billowing sleeves adorned with peaking intricate markings on her arms. She had short olive-green hair, sharp claws and teeth, and glowing violet pupils that hinted at her partial transformation, enabling her to maintain her composure and speak with chilling clarity.
Herliza: I hope you have a liking to my pets, please die already.
Selah: She's with Barpirio at the festival.
Monster Barpirio lunged at Hyuwin with predatory ferocity, but a beam of light suddenly struck its head, creating a gaping hole. Selah looked up to see her father standing tall, wielding a weapon resembling a handgun that fired concentrated beams of light.
Clause: My turn to shine…
Clause immediately began firing at the undead army, taking them down one by one with precise shots. The weapon's auto-tracking system guided his aim, making each hit feel effortless. Inside his head, he relished the moment, imagining Selah watching him with admiration as he fought to protect her.
But soon after they were knocked down, the monsters kept returning, growing stronger in number. As more and more individuals succumbed to their injuries, they transformed into monsters themselves, adding to the relentless onslaught.
Meanwhile, inside, Neros walked down a dimly lit hallway toward a dome-like chamber. The secret laboratory was filled with captivating technology, featuring a Link Matrix Cube resting atop a device that perpetually generated energy for the facility on each corner. In the center, a glass chamber held a figure encased in an oxygen mask that resembled Soren.
Surrounding the chamber, monitors flickered to life, displaying a torrent of data and diagnostics, hinting at the laboratory's advanced capabilities and its long-forgotten purpose.
Neros checked one of the monitors and inserted his key into its port. As he scanned the displayed data, he noticed a small pop-up on the side: "11 Unread Files - Day: 7924150." He initially dismissed it, focusing on his task. Once he finished, he pocketed the key and, driven by curiosity, opened the file. A dialog box appeared on the screen, revealing a video clip of Soren standing with seven lab-coated individuals. They seemed to be posing for a picture, but soon realized it was recording, causing Soren to push the camera away as he stumbled backward.
As Neros opened another file, the screen revealed a scene of Soren seated at a lunch table with a beautiful girl who had long silky hair. They were laughing and enjoying their meals together when suddenly, an old man in a suit and glasses appeared, snatching the camera away. In the ensuing struggle, the camera slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, capturing his voice as he scolded Soren for slacking off.
Tears streamed down Neros's cheeks as memories flooded back, overwhelming him with emotion. His arms weakened, and in his daze, he inadvertently pressed a button, accidentally opening another file.
As he read its contents, his face shifted to surprise, captivated by the valuable data laid before him. Unbeknownst to him, something sinister lurked behind, emerging silently from the vent.
Hyuwin catching his breath, while the energy bars on Clause's weapon had shifted from green to red, signaling that it was running low on power. While Clause tried to maintain a calm facade, a rising panic churned beneath the surface of his mind.
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently as the hill housing the laboratory began to crumble, sending clouds of smoke billowing from the tunnel entrance. Realizing that the laboratory was gradually collapsing from within, Selah called out for Neros, her voice filled with concern for his safety.
In a state of panic, the undead army attacked relentlessly, overwhelming their dwindling numbers. Herliza laughed, reveling in the chaos, knowing that one of her friends was trapped inside.
With a wicked grin, she urged the monsters to finish them off quickly, feeding off the fear etched on their faces in anticipation.
Herliza: Ha ha ha! That's it! Kill them, kill them all!
That night, the moon appeared tainted with blood as the battle turned into a desperate race for survival. The ground was soaked in blood, and terror was unleashed upon the new world.