Chapter 65: The Sacrifice VI
I fairly remember the layout of Cube, not including the map in my System Interface, and it appears that the two remaining Djinns are on their way to the storage area where we Cube Cadets first pick out our weapons.
According to Cube, that area has a tunnel to the underground where the True Face of Cube is. Since the first level of security has been breached already, I trust that the enemies are scarily competent.
True Cube after all is the product of the Great Sage's hard work. I feel bad for the Great Sage as even with his genius, the three decades gap is enough to bridge the technology that the True Cube possesses. I don't fully believe this conjecture though.
Of course, there is another possibility. It is most likely that the enemies are using technology that comes from outside of this planet. I am banking on this wild guess more as it just makes perfect sense considering what we are fighting against.
I make a run for it, heading to the cafeteria where I can make haste from the stairwell, and from there, enter a vent as the map suggests me to do, and then cut the interloper's path who is making scary progress.
I switch gears and lean forward while stretching both my arms sideways to give myself up to gravity and reduce air resistance while I run. I know how to properly run, and doing it Naruto-style will not make me any faster. However, I find another trick in using the [Always Here] function of my Gift.
As I can attach [Always Here] to objects, I can do it the same way to air. The effect of [Always Here] is to blend the target with the environment and the surroundings. With the help of the computational power of Cube AI, I can make it so that the wind will blend with me, and part voluntarily in my presence.
In fact, I am actually running on zero air resistance.
My figure zooms from the cafeteria. The speed I am showing does not reflect my stats anymore. Quickly, I run to the stairwells just behind the cafeteria to the underground parking lot where the instructors park their vehicles.
I drop down the spiraling stairs, not even paying any interest to the elevator. I freefall straight to the ground. I cock my right arm wielding [Wolf Fang] and unleash a superhuman swing to negate the impact of my fall.
I feel my right arm creak with pain.
[Turn Left.]
I look left where I see a relatively big vent that according to Cube leads to the incinerator where they burn the garbage from the cafeteria. I look around the underground parking lot and see an eye-catching motorbike that will fit just perfectly fine on the vent.
"I am sorry whoever owns this, but I will need it…"
I don't know about brands, but there is no way an instructor from Cube cannot afford something badass and high-tech. "Oho~ I see there is a fingerprint looking-thingy here… Does it not use a key? Cube, is this hackable?"
[Already hacked it.]
I am finally experiencing Cube's usefulness in the technological aspect of things. I know that I can rely on you, Cube.
[>.<]
Yeah, yeah… I hear you.
[Second Level of Security has been breached.]
"…"
Fuck it. Just step on it, I guess?
~Vroom! ~Vroom!
I have a confession to make. I don't know how to drive anything. I almost implant my face to the wall if not for Cube forcefully putting the brakes on. I really am thankful to have Cube on my side. I grab the handles tightly without doing anything more.
"Full speed ahead! Go, Cube!"
I have Cube drive the motorbike. I never did imagine my first chase scene to turn into something like this. But it sure is fast. Using my [Always Here] to reduce air resistance is becoming burdensome so I stop doing it.
I feel my cheeks stretching to the side. I think Cube is doing something like overclocking the motorbike to increase its speed. It only takes me a few short minutes to reach the second underground level. I see Mantis and Joe fighting a giant golem.
"It will be a great help to send that thing on the surface when we are fighting so hard…" I complain to Cube.
Cube reasons. "The True Cube has to remain hidden, and it has been my highest priority to protect this secrecy. You can override this decision as long as you reach 80% Nerve Synchronization."
Yeah. I hear your nagging loud and clear. It makes sense though to keep this place a secret. I can imagine a lot of bad guys wanting a piece of this place.
I enter battle mode immediately and engage the two Djinns furiously. Mantis is able to dodge the hurling motorbike with ease, but not Joe.
The average Korean Joe is sent flying towards the golem which responds in kind by punching at Joe. I hear Joe's bones crack audibly from where I sit on the motorbike. It is scary how audible that sound is when the motorbike I am riding is already so noisy.
I make quick work of the remaining Djinn by having the motorbike ram on him with a brilliant fiery explosion. It is so easy I feel bad for myself for working so hard to kill three Djinns by running around Cube.
"I thought you have free will, Cube? Why are you not suggesting something like baiting them here?" I argue with Cube. I feel bad for her though as while she has free will like she claims to be, she has no avenue to express this.
I mean, she lacks creativity and imagination!
That is just sad.
[…]
Anyway, I rather look around here than tussle on the surface and deal with the Devil's Seed with Hajin and Suho. The Dark Nayun is scaring me. "I should have access inside, right?"
[Affirmative.]
There should be no harm in looking around then. Maybe I will find something useful to help Suho or Yeonha with. Speaking of Yeonha, I should visit her. Then there is also Rachel.
"Is Rachel awake now?"
[Negative. However, Yoo Yeonha is.]
I see. I guess there will be no harm in seeing her then. I head towards Yeonha's containment area with Cube's guidance. Shortly after, I see her from the one-sided glass pane as if she is some criminal.
The glass and walls are made of the Mirror Realm's grafted dimension which turns Yeonha's containment area into an unbreachable prison. No level of technology can break through it unless I allow it, or a power at the level of an Authority interfere with it. This is the simplified explanation of Cube to me.
It appears Authorities existed on Earth long ago for the Great Sage to know about it.
"Yeonha, do you hear me?" I speak to the microphone to let her know of my presence.
Yoo Yeonha is pacing back and forth anxiously. When she hears my voice, she turns to the glass mirror. She has long fixed her clothes as the buttons from her blouse are now fixed together. I dread another of her lust episodes thus I have to resort to talking to her like this.
"Who are you??" She asks me from the glass mirror, her eyes a little bit red from the stress and strain.
***
Yeonha's memories are in a blur. She recalls hurting Rachel, and then there are also Nayun, Suho, and Hajin who are fiercely arguing over whether to get rid of her or not. The Devil's Seed being mentioned several times piques her curiosity, though she wants to know more about it, and is trying to deduce what it means, she still has nothing even after deliberating about it for some time already.
Her mind is in chaos, and her anxiety is eating away at her. "What does it mean to become the Devil's Seed's host?"
"What is happening to me?" She cries to the glass, begging for an answer from the voice behind it.
"Perhaps, has I become a Djinn?" She grits her teeth in self-hate at the unwanted development.
She is aware for her to become a Djinn, she must sign some form of contract, but nothing like that has happened to her. She only has told Yun Hyuk that she wants to become a Djinn... so that she can set up a trap against him. But it is more likely that she is mind-controlled. If she really has become a Djinn this way then this can only lead to her family's downfall. She cannot have that.
"Have I become a Djinn?" She asks the voice behind the glass but only receives silence.
The Secret Society fighting against the Djinns appears to be a more powerful organization than what she initially estimates. The prison she is put into possesses technology she has never seen before.
Yeonha realizes that this is the end for her. To help her parents or the guild, the best she can do is to die now peacefully. But then she recalls Rachel who might get implicated. "Rachel? What about Rachel? What happened to her? She has nothing to do with me! If you plan to deal with me, then fine! But Rachel has nothing to do with this! Please help her! Your organization can do as it likes on dealing with me, but Rachel is innocent!" She desperately cries. She rarely shows kindness, but when she does, it is always genuine, and heartfelt kindness.
There is only silence as if the voice behind the glass mirror doesn't care about her.
"Nayun! Suho! Hajin! Are you their?"
"She is safe. Rachel is safe." The voice answers.
Yeonha sighs in relief. She is thankful at least about this that there is one less death from her own foolishness and arrogance. "Is that so? Thank you…"
***
It appears Yeonha doesn't recognize my voice, or has she entirely forgotten about me? Then there is that possibility that the Yeonha in front of me is just acting, and is actually the Devil's Seed in the works. This is also highly possible as this is one of the Devil's Seed's few tricks.
I should do something.
I feel that the Yeonha in front of me is not acting, as the Devil's Seed has not taken her mind completely yet. The proof of this is her misunderstanding tics that I detect from the way she is talking to me.
"Yoo Yeonha… You have not become a Djinn…" I honestly begin, telling her what has occurred. There should be something in this conversation that can break the deadlock as to what to do with her. "You have become something much much worse…"
She needs to hear this. "You have become the Devil's Seed's host."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone