SCC Chapter 34 Culmination(4)

  "Reed. You have to be very careful with your actions. Impulsiveness must be curbed. Acting on mere whims should also be smothered." advised a serious looking Livia as they headed towards one of the vessels their team had been assigned to.

  "Am not a child, Livia. And why do you care for my affairs so much?" Reed could practically feel the irritation bubbling upwards.

  "...its not your affairs I care about, but my life."

  "Then you should have chosen another team! Why did you have to insist on joining mine?!"

  That earned a pout, before the woman vanished within the hatch. Reed directed his gaze towards Nikolai, who shrugged.

  "Am only here to make certain you don't die. I can't have Cecilia saddened once again. Besides, that girl Lily doesn't deserve what happened to her. I will do my utmost in aiding your endeavors in saving her."

  "Thank you, old man. I really appreciate it."

  The two entered the craft side by side, then strapped into their seats. The vessel rose and flew out of the hangar, joining another few, who were enclosed within a massive golden aura, shaped like a coin.

  "It is shocking, considering the power that those at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage can bring to bear." commented Nikolai. Though, Reed didn't detect any yearning within his tone.

  "Old man. Don't you want to reach such heights one day?" he asked despite the roiling emotions related to Lily within him.

  "I am content with my lot in life. Maybe I will reach his level in my lifetime, but that isn't my goal. I simply want to enjoy my quiet life with Cecilia." those words even managed to capture Livia's attention.

  "Really! And I had thought you would have really loved to see what's beyond the Nascent Soul stage."

  "I don't have to reach that level to see what's beyond it. Witnessing someone else reach that stage is also a joy unto itself."

  Complicated emotions swirled within Reed. Would he really have to watch as Nikolai died in the future? Could he really accept that?

  "Everyone has their own ambitions. Immortality is a far fetched goal. What I crave is genuine happiness. I don't think I can stomach watching everyone I care for biting the dust while I alone keep on living. Would I be able to keep my sanity then? Young ones like yourselves are disillusioned by the dream of immortality, but what would happen if by some chance, you achieve that goal? Would your loved ones still be by your side? And most of all, would you be happy?"

  Reed was certain that he wasn't after the illusory immortality, but what he craved required him to have a long life. Would he really be able cope with the passage of time, and loss of loved ones? Just a single Lily was already bringing this much turmoil to his mind. But what would happen if Cecilia and Nikolai died? Would he still be able to stay true to his goal? Or would he give up and crumble?

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Even as he mulled upon such things, the small shuttle started moving in synchronized movement with the others, all enveloped within the golden coin that acted as their shielding in case of an attack.

  The journey was slow and filled with tension. Everyone was expecting something to jump out at them from the alien vessel. An attack of some sort, or even the occupants themselves. Reed's tension was at all time high, coupled with the fact that he couldn't wait for their arrival such that he could start searching for the traces of Lily.

  As their formation of ships got increasingly closer to the craft, the tension mounted, with the silence deafening, to the point that Reed could hear the sound made by his spiritual energy while it cycled within his veins, preparing to be released should anything attack at any moment.

  When the formation finally reached the outer hull of the vessel, specifically the hull of the ring object, there was no collective release of breaths. Instead, the tension reached an even higher level!

  (It's time to alight.) transmitted Nikolai when the massive golden coin surrounding the vessels reached within a few meters of the hull, stopping in place in tandem with the engines of the shuttles.

  With a nod, Reed unstrapped himself from his chair, opened a door, which also served as a window above him, but not before having an entire suit of synthetic armor draping him, from head to toe. It was a silvery space suit that was clinging to his entire body like a second skin, outlining almost every contour of his form.

  The moment it opened, he floated out, navigating his body on released pulses of his emerald spiritual energy, that served to stabilize him, while also allowing maneuverability.

  Behind him followed Nikolai and Livia, clad in similar suits. His gaze could also spot others doing the same from the other vessels. He took the chance to take a good long look at the golden spiritual energy around him, which was simultaneously akin to both a gas and a liquid at the same time.

  (Let's go.) Nikolai said before taking the lead, with the two following behind.

  The moment they made it out of the golden domain of spiritual energy, Reed felt his senses become buffeted with feedback from the suit as it experienced collisions with many particles, not to mention the chaotic spiritual energy within the void. That brought him to a pause of a fraction of a second, but ultimately, he moved on. There was a promise to fulfill. He reminded himself.

  With as much caution as he could manage, Reed propelled himself towards the silvery hatch right before their eyes. He hadn't taken a proper look at the structure, yet he had been certain that it's square area was equal to that of the pyramid shaped mothership. Yet viewing it up close, he was taken aback by its sheer enormity. For a moment, he got the distinct sensation of heading towards a massive beast, a predator that could take away his life on a whim.

  The president and the Golden merchant had reassured them that nothing would happen, yet his heart still couldn't settle down. There was most certainly some information that they had withheld, pertaining to their confidence, but for him and the others who had none of that information, there was a fear that simply couldn't be banished away. But for Reed, the chance to rescue Lily was his driving force, the one that overrode his instincts to stay in the back and wait for results from those brave enough to take on the exploration.

  His gaze momentarily fell on Livia. What were her motivations for taking such a risk? He wondered. She was the epitome of a scheming shadow that loved to stay away from the light of danger. What was really pushing her current decision? Surely, she could have convinced some other sect elder to take her position, right?

  With a shake of his head, he banished those thoughts as the metallic silver of the hull got increasingly larger within his gaze. There were certain contraptions, that probably appeared to be sensor arrays dotted upon the surface, but otherwise, it was a smooth seamless surface that glinted in the light.

  Spiritual energy left his body, passing through the pores of the suit and into the outside world, casting a green glow within the void of space before attaching itself to the hull, transforming into vines that wove themselves into a platform upon which, they landed. It would have been careless of them to land without any precautions.

  (I am going to try and breach the hull. Make sure you aren't pushed into space by the escaping air. Also, be vigilant of everything!)

  Nikolai only turned away when both of them nodded to acknowledge his orders before pushing himself towards the edge of the woven vines.

  Light blue spiritual energy made it out of his body before transforming into a long sword pulsing with electric arcs.

  With a thought, it plunged into the metal, not meeting any resistance at all. Reed exchanged glances with Livia at that, entering an even more heightened state, while every single particle of the green vines was kept within his awareness such that he could deal with any situation that arose promptly. Yet, the cutting of the metallic hull didn't induce any responses, leaving the trio puzzled. Even when the metallic square was pushed outwards by the escaping air, and blasted away into space, nothing jumped out of the breach.

  (This is worrying.) commented Nikolai.

  And his fears weren't ungrounded. The lack of any retaliatory measures, or even simple defensive means was putting the trio on edge. Reed's gaze traveled to the other teams within his visual scope, yet there were no signs of panic among them, with some already taking the initiative to enter the construct through their respective breaches.