Chapter 530 - Among Us

“How do you obtain food on your planet?”

“Usually from the shop for money.”

“Ah, by paying with dollars you mentioned before?” Kyralon asks.

“Yes. Some people are more self-sufficient and raise animals or farm to have varieties of foods.”

There are questions after questions. When I think he might slow down, he just asks for more. Some of the questions are likely things he’s heard many times before if he put up a request for an attendee previously—which seems likely. Yet Kyralon still asks, instead of suspecting the answer.

“What is the primary source of energy for your civilization?”

“What is the dominant species on your planet?”

“Are there multiple intelligent species on your planet?”

“What are the primary languages spoken on your planet?”

“How do you travel long distances on Earth?”

And many more.

Then it’s my time again to ask. “What was that pouch you took that tasty drink and glasses from before?” I ask.

Already suspecting my question, he reaches into his pocket and pulls it out.

“This is my Spatial Cache. This one is the smaller type, with a storage area similar in size to a big room, and was personally made by the Ruler of Diligence. The ones with bigger storage are made by… someone else,” he teases.

In one way, I’m sure he’s just like me—curious. And this fossil of the Absolute likes to use that against me, likely because he knows how he would feel.

“Currently, I know of only three or four beings capable of creating a Spatial Cache—assuming he is still alive—and it’s likely there are only a few hundred Spatial Caches within the system.”

“What? Isn’t that too few? There are a shitton of planets, and the system is likely tens of thousands of years old.”

“That should help you imagine the value of that item.”

“I have a vial that allows me to store water and other liquids, and in much larger amounts than just a room size.”

“Let me guess, Aqua Arcanum Vial from the old capital of the 4th floor?”

“Yes.”

“There are vials and other items that can store large amounts of liquids or gases, but unlike Spatial Caches, they cannot hold other types of materials. While Caches generally cannot store living things, they can hold almost anything else. Additionally, Caches offer several advantages over items like the Aqua Arcanum Vial, such as being nearly indestructible and more.”

“Understood.”

“Then, I will be asking more. What is the average lifespan of your people? Are there major differences between groups of people on your planet? How do you resolve conflicts between individuals or groups? What is your planet’s most common natural disaster? How do you prepare for or deal with natural disasters?”

Right away, he attacks with more questions, and I take a deep breath before answering.

***

This round takes longer than the previous ones because some questions are tricky, but I finally finish up.

“... but some prefer doing cardio before working out instead of afterward. Those people are maniacs, and you should avoid them at all costs.”

“Understood. That was the hundredth question, so ask yours.”

“Tell me more about Ruby, Lissandra’s disciple.”

“I apologize, but I cannot.”

Even that non-answer mostly confirms what I thought for a while, but just in case, I ask more.

“Tell me about the Ruler of Greed.”

Right away, the mood shifts and the air feels still. Each breath and heartbeat slow, akin to a mountain resting on my chest, weighing me down. Everything else fades away except for those black eyes full of sparks of light.

“Attendee Nathanie, please do not mistake me for the shadow of someone’s true self existing within the tutorial. I’m not a tool to be tricked into giving answers, even without explicitly responding.”

Each of these sentences reverberates through the air. Softly spoken, but akin to a declaration.

“So allow me to ask you. Do you insist on that question?” He asks me.

“No,” that word sounds like it’s not even said by me, and I have trouble recognizing my own voice.

“Thank you for understanding. I do value curiosity, so I forgive you that misstep, but be aware that there will be no more warnings.”

“I understand and I apologize.”

“Noted. Now then, I consider your question wasted, and it’s now my turn again. What are the dominant beliefs or philosophies among your people? How do your people govern themselves? Are there multiple governments on your planet? What kind of animals are most common on Earth?”

***

My turn comes once again, and I can finally ask my question. It’s something I’ve had the time to think about, and there are so many things I could ask—about skills, the system, the tutorial, my abilities, and other knowledge.

But there are also questions I’m sure I would regret getting answers to—an answer that might send me down a different path than my own way of exploring. I’m sure Lissandra is stronger than this man, a fossil older than Kyralon. Hell, that crazy cockroach killed some goddamn Rulers. Since I can try to pull information from her, I likely won’t be asking Kyralon about any of that.

“There are a few questions I have, but I’m not sure if you can answer them or even want to.”

“If your questions are about the tutorial or what comes immediately after, I’d prefer you not ask them. The tutorial exists for a reason, and most of these questions will either be answered in time or their answers will be earned by you. Others out on Beyond quests might provide answers, but I believe it’s better not to seek them that way.”

“Got it. In that case. What are your eyes? My handler called you Warden of the Parallax Eyes. That title seems important or prestigious even.”

“My eyes are a trait hereditary in my bloodline. They went through three strengthenings and then further... improvements. At any one time, only a single person within the system can possess Parallax Eyes. I won’t tell you what they do or go into more detail. In exchange for not fully answering your question, I can tell you that yes, there are more of these similar, special traits—unique traits that can turn your bloodline into something truly remarkable.”

I sigh. “Why is it always that when I get some answers, I want to keep asking more?”

He laughs briefly. “It’s always like that.”

As he stands up, he gestures for me to do the same. “I’m sure you’re curious about this place, so you can go around and explore it a bit while I spend time doing my own tasks. You can go anywhere you want, but you’re not allowed to enter rooms with closed doors or areas that are similarly blocked. We will continue in one hour.”

I do as I’m told and leave the loggia and then the room, heading back into the hallway. Then I stop for a moment. The only way out of the tower seems to be the stairway coiling around its outside. I hesitate just for a moment before shrugging and heading outside, where I start climbing down the stairs.

As before, all my mana, primordial energies, and abilities become out of reach, and right there I plop down to sit on one of the steps.

With a growing feeling of discomfort, I punish myself by sitting with my legs hanging over the edge of the stairs and my back against the wall.

That’s what cowards get.

Feeling the wind tug at me, I stare into the distance. Those huge, continent-sized pieces of rock slowly floating around. The shimmering barrier and the never-ending darkness beyond it.

I know it’s the sight of a destroyed moon that once had life and cities on it—a sight that either killed an unknown number of beings or left them homeless—yet a part of me still finds it weirdly beautiful.

Slowly recharging my social batteries after answering so many questions, I begin trying to look within myself, observing my mana heart and... well... where my mana and primordial energies went.

It’s all either caused by some sort of field the Absolute decided to put around this area, or it could be an effect of the tower, or maybe there’s something beyond the wall my back rests against.

Something that requires this kind of powerful field.

There is no chance in hell for me to break through it. I’m still far, far from the level of a Champion and even further from being able to face the Absolute, but that won’t stop me from trying.

And I do just that.

At first, it feels silly, like if pre-tutorial I tried to use force or telekinesis. Something I’m sure a lot of kids tried. Maybe even most kids, no matter how silly it looked. No, I’m sure nearly all the little boys tried to awaken such powers when they were young. Surely it is to the point of being considered normal.

All but me! I would never do something silly like that. Never.

Anyway, Victoria better keep her mouth shut.

***

POV Tess Hansen

Ten humans and lumorans die after being identified by the Signature Isolation Framework as mimics. Only then do they stop using it, as do the other units. The information isn’t shared freely, but it’s safe to say that at least two or three of those people were not mimics. The same as Nat wasn’t.

Part of me wonders if he was simply that unlucky, or if it was timed on purpose to get rid of him. Maybe because of his eyes? His abilities that could help fix it? Or maybe it was because he was on the list as one of the names for the replacement of the pilot for Ardenyx—as Sophie learned from Leth not long ago.

I feel a presence behind me, and soon after, Sophie puts her hand on my shoulder. “Tess, I thought of something. I tried it with Noodle and my bond, and they couldn’t do it. But shouldn’t Biscuit be able to sniff out a mimic, maybe?”

Min-Jae, who is nearby, answers in my stead. “Unfortunately, no. A day ago, I saw Biscuit without any worry getting food from one mercenary, and not long after, it turned out he was a mimic—an actual one, tentacles, dozens of mouths and eyes, and all.”

Sophie groans in frustration. “Well, that hope is gone then. I have learned they nearly abandoned Ardenyx and are focusing all technicians on Exoria and Praxion, so I was able to leave my bond—”

“Blackie!” Izzy shouts.

“...Blackie nearby. We did some interesting modifications with the twins.”

"Should I be worried?"

"I'm not even sure if it will work." Sophie shrugs.

“How much time remains before they send us away, Tess?” Maya asks me.

“It should be two hours, but they’ve shortened it. We’ll be leaving the camp in thirty minutes. Until then, we’ll all stay inside the tent.”

“I don’t think we will have to wait that long,” Sophie’s voice turns serious and her mana starts filling the tent to activate her web.

Then I feel it as well—an eruption of immense mana near the middle of the camp and a dozen or so powerful signatures rising at the same time. Hit by the attack, our tent starts collapsing, and as we grab our prepared items, we rush out. I keep watching everyone, but they stick to our plan. Another attack hits the ground near us, throwing us to the side.

One of the tents in the center disappears, and a war armor steps out. It’s entirely silver in color, with parts of blue paint. Unlike Ardenyx, it doesn’t have wings; instead, it’s very bulky and extremely armored.

Praxion takes a step and attacks the main tent where Exoria is.

(Stop looking! Run the way we planned!) I send through our link, and I move first.

There is a mimic in our path, in its state without a host. It’s as big as a room, with dozens of swirling tentacles. Before it can even rush us, it implodes onto itself, and another one attacking a different group to our left splats into a pile of flesh under immense gravity. Serabeth hovers over her tent, mana and gravitational forces radiating from her.

Briefly, my eyes meet hers, and I’m sure she can see me, so I nod in gratitude. She is then forced to put her attention elsewhere and disappears from my sight.

Another explosion reverberates through the air. Five or so lumorans start attacking the camp, joined by Praxion and outside forces. I can see it even through the widely falling debris as we run away.

Lily and Maya clash against a mimic, and Izzy rushes to support them. The twins and Min-Jae deal with another one while Sophie keeps defending us from the attacks. I keep observing it all, jumping in to help whenever someone is pushed back.

Another powerful mimic erupts from the ground, a swirling mass of tentacles, acid-coated mouths, and countless eyes.

[Greater Mimic - lvl ???]

I channel my primordial energy, narrowing it into a concentrated stream that cracks one of my javelins. The weapon shoots forward, shattering the air as it pierces through the mimic's grotesque body, only to return and strike again.

Across the camp, the mimic's toxic saliva drips like rain, its tentacles swatting a lumoran guard aside as it rushes toward us with unstoppable force. I fly into the air, drawing more power from my crown, just as one of the main tents collapses. From the wreckage emerges the barely functional Ardenyx, its frame battered and missing limbs, its appendages on the back barely holding together.

There is no pilot. Instead, black smoke swirls ominously around it.

Sophie groans in pain, collapsing to her knees as blood flows from her ears and eyes. Izzy screams, and Noodle reacts instantly, expanding his form to shield her. Blue flames flicker along his scales as he fends off the onslaught of lesser mimics.

Ardenyx takes to the air briefly before slamming into the Greater Mimic. The two massive figures crash together, rolling through the camp in a chaotic explosion of violence, shredded armor, and severed body parts.

And when I glance back for a moment, the main tent finally disappears. Exoria stands there—a war armor not much taller than Ardenyx or Praxion, but I can’t take my eyes off it.

Out of all the war armors we’ve seen, it’s the least humanoid-looking. Its head is nonexistent, the chest and head molded into one. It has long, thick legs and slim arms with huge forearms.

While Praxion and Ardenyx look advanced, Exoria looks more like a prototype than anything else. Its black surface is so scarred, dozens of damaged areas showing silver metal beneath the black color. Some parts don’t fit at all, being different in color or length.

Yet, every mimic freezes the moment Exoria moves, and at once, they all start running away like they didn’t expect Exoria to be activated at all.

A domain deploys around the camp and then stretches further—much, much further. Even with my eyes, I can’t see where its shimmering edges end. Attacks from beyond my sight start hitting against that domain, attempting to reach our camp—each of them with a power I’d compare only to city-destroying force.

But the Champion Feroy in his armor holds them all back. He doesn’t allow them to reach us, his domain protecting what remains of his people and those who are fleeing.

I take note of where the attacks are coming from and adjust our course to avoid their sources—especially two lumps of mana, similar to this lumoran Champion.

The battle between the lumoran Champion and two mimic Champions is about to begin, and we need to get as far away as possible.

***

Next Chapter