Chương 116: Chapter 115 - Alpha (Arc II - End)

September 6, 2024 - Melbourne, Australia Pablo and Jack sat awkwardly at the pristine white table, laden with dishes so fine they couldn't name half of them, let alone recognize what they were made of. The air felt heavy with unease, though the spread of food suggested otherwise. Across from them sat Étienne, noticeably more relaxed, even with a friendly smile on his face, though his position still carried a certain weight.

Next to him, however, was Madelaine, the masked woman, exuding an air of authority far beyond her youthful appearance. She hadn't said a word, and her silence only added to the tension. Despite looking like someone their age, it was clear she was in charge here. Pablo caught Jack's eye, the unspoken question passing between them— what happened?

"Well," Étienne began, his voice calm but direct, "I suppose it's best to start with the obvious. Alonso won't be returning anytime soon." Both Pablo and Jack froze. The casualness of the statement hit harder than anything, their eyes widening in shock. Wasn't Alonso supposed to come today at the latest? What changed?

"While your stay might be, let's say... extended, don't worry," Étienne said with a smirk, unfazed by their reactions.

"Your stipend will be doubled... again! Aren't you guys getting quite rich, huh?" He chuckled lightly.

"The longer the stay, the better the pay, right?" He paused just long enough to let the humor sink in.

"Oh, and you can leave the camp now, but there are conditions. Let us know ahead of time, and no solo adventures. Safety first, naturally." Pablo and Jack exchanged a glance.

"Leave the camp?" Jack finally spoke, his voice edged with uncertainty.

"Why the sudden change?" Étienne leaned back in his chair, casually twirling his fork between his fingers.

"Ah, well, things shift. Situations evolve. A little freedom might do you both some good. Unless, of course, you're not interested?"

"No. I mean, we are, and we appreciate it," Pablo cut in quickly, trying to keep the situation calm.

"But the sudden increase in benefits… and Alonso. Could you tell us what's going on with him?" Étienne's face tightened for a moment, his usual relaxed demeanor faltering slightly. He glanced at Madelaine, who gave the subtlest nod, as if even that was more effort than she was willing to give.

"You're smart lads. Why not take a guess?" Étienne grinned, his tone playful but with an underlying tension. Jack's expression darkened, his irritation bubbling over. The air of mystery and aloofness from Étienne and Madelaine grated on him. What kind of military professionalism was this? They felt like a joke compared to Goodfred, even if the man liked to crack a few jokes himself.

"What, is he a promising climber now? A VIP? Someone of interest to whatever group you belong to?" Jack's words came out sharp, a hint of anger in his voice. Alonso wasn't just some pawn—they were talking about their friend, not some "nobody." Étienne's grin widened, but there was no humor in it.

"You're not far off. Alonso's situation has… changed, shall we say. He's caught the attention of a few important people." Jack's jaw tightened, his fists clenched as he leaned forward.

"What exactly does that mean?" he asked, frustration clear in his voice.

"If you want us on board, we need to know what's going on." Étienne raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying Jack's brashness.

"Let's just say Alonso has surpassed our expectations." Jack's patience was wearing thin.

"Cut the cryptic crap. You reckon we'll just sit around, not knowing a thing?" Pablo glanced at Jack, trying to keep things calm, but Jack wasn't backing down. Étienne's smile barely wavered.

"Fair enough. But here's the thing—do you really have a choice?" Jack's words caught in his throat, the anger clear on his face. He breathed heavily, glaring at Étienne, who sat there calmly, almost smug. But eventually… Jack sat back down, fists still clenched.

"If that's all, let's enjoy the dinner, shall we?" Étienne said, as if nothing had happened. But before anyone could respond, Madelaine stood up, silently leaving the table without a word. Jack hesitated for a moment, his eyes following her. Then, with a resigned shrug, he grabbed his fork. Not gonna let these fine dishes go to waste on this smug bastard. The wind howled across the Oasis. The crowd stood in a loose circle, their expressions heavy, their bodies unmoving.

At the center, a sword thrust into the earth, an orb resting just before it. Chiara, like the others, wore her black armor. Today was a farewell, not to a man, but to a hero. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Silence. Seconds turned into minutes. No one moved. No one spoke. The wind carried its own farewell, a final whisper. Beneath the soil, blood remembered. A story untold by words.

The tale of a man who saved many, his blades sharp with righteousness, his honor unyielding. Siddharth Kubar. Today, there were no tears. Not because the pain wasn't felt, but because their respect for him rose above it. The sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows over the Oasis. Chiara stepped forward, breaking the stillness. She looked down at the sword, at the orb.

"Thank you… Siddharth." The wind stilled. 6: 59 AM Chiara gripped her buckler and sword, her sling and her backpack packed with essential provisions. Beside her stood Wang and Lukas. She wasn't taking anyone else today. Ayu… Ayu needed time alone. It tore at her to see Ayu like that—shattered and silent, a shadow of her usual self. The bright spark in her eyes was gone, replaced by a dull, heavy sadness.

And it burned even more to think of Alonso, walking into the abyss with nothing but the weight of her words, carrying the burden she had placed on him. Compared to their pain, what right did she have to wallow in her own? How could she even call herself a leader when every decision she made seemed to carve scars into the people she cared for? She had coerced him—used Ayu's safety and the unity of the Oasis as leverage to push him into the darkest corner of himself.

Chiara glanced up at the sky, the sun just breaking over the horizon. She inhaled deeply, the crisp air doing little to ease the tension coiled in her chest. The rocky path ahead revealed itself. All three began running toward the outcrop in the middle of the lake. She had felt it yesterday. Since Alonso left, the atmosphere had shifted. People used to have one goal. Now… they had two. Her heart raced with every step. But there was no turning back now. Would they find him inside? No…

he was probably already at the end. Maybe even beyond it, leaving everything and everyone far behind. They told her he left with nothing—no water containers, no backpack. After that brutal conversation, after he had left Ayu in tears, Alonso had simply walked away. Only he could endure such a long, dangerous journey like that. Only him. But the knowledge didn't ease her guilt. She had taken someone strong enough to stand alone and pushed him into isolation.

She had torn him away from the one person who could have anchored him—not for his sake, but for hers, for the Oasis, for unity. The outcrop loomed just ahead. They reached it. Staring down into the abyss, she felt as though she were staring into her own soul. It was cruel, cold, and dark. The tunnel stretched endlessly before them, a void where sight was useless. Wang broke the silence, his voice quiet but firm as he focused on Chiara.

"You mentioned you may have solved the puzzle with the tunnels. Was Siddharth's last expedition enough?" Chiara hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"So far, we've explored all the tunnels except the fourth. We started with the obvious choice—the seventh. You weren't here, but I'm sure you've heard the stories. Hughes was still in charge then. He led the way, with Siddharth, me and several others.

"That tunnel was… long. Unnervingly long. It started to contract the further we went, until eventually, we had no choice but to crawl. We were squeezing our bodies through these tiny spaces, the air growing thinner with each step. And then it started sloping downward, steeper and steeper. We felt something was wrong, but we kept going. And then…" Her voice faltered briefly, but she pressed on.

"It was tight, suffocating. And then water started dripping from ahead. At first, it was just a trickle, but along with it came leeches. The one in front—a young man Hughes had forced to go ahead—he screamed. We could only watch as the leeches drained the life out of him."

"The rest of us panicked. The claustrophobia, the fear—it was overwhelming. Going back was almost impossible, clumsy and desperate. But we forced ourselves. Yet, even then, two more died to the leeches. Somehow, the rest of us made it out alive. Barely." Wang's eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape.

"Sorry," Chiara said with a strained smile.

"Not exactly the story I should be telling right now. But that was the most dangerous of all the paths. The first tunnel ended in an enclosed spider nest. The second and fifth tunnels were dead ends. The third was a maze without an exit, crawling with spiders. And the sixth… that was the one Siddharth last explored. It's a path that, after 600 kilometers, splits into three. The only tunnel yet unexplored at the first junction is the fourth, but… if my guess is correct, we won't need to."

Lukas narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, though it went unnoticed by the others. Chiara continued, her voice steady but somber.

"The distance to the first split, where the path branches into seven, is 140 kilometers. Siddharth traveled 600 kilometers down the sixth path—essentially six times 100—bringing the total to 740 kilometers. The island's radius is 777 kilometers, leaving just 37 kilometers unaccounted for."

"Now, we know there has to be a seven in there somewhere. So what if the length of the next tunnel, the third after the sixth path, is three times 10? That would add 30 kilometers, bringing the total to 770 kilometers. And if, after that point, there's another split—a junction with seven paths—then wouldn't the seventh be the end? And at the same time, the beginning? Finishing where we started, just like in the white rooms. We end up at the edge of the island, but underneath it."

Wang's jaw dropped slightly as astonishment crossed his face.

"So, 6-3-7… it's divisible by seven, ends in seven, and adds up perfectly: 140 plus 6 times 100, plus 3 times 10, plus 7 times 1. That's… incredible, Chiara. It all fits." He laughed softly, a glimmer of hope in his voice.

"I think this is it. We… we're finally going to make it."

"Brilliant job, boss," Lukas said with a grin. Chiara shook her head, her face devoid of a smile.

"It's just a theory. But let's see. Maybe… maybe we really can leave the Oasis once and for all." Internally, though, Chiara felt more certain than she let on. She had given Alonso the clues, and he had been gone for over a day now. By this point, he should have already made it. No—he must have made it. The thought of encountering Alonso again in the dark tunnels ahead sent a shudder down her spine. The three of them staggered to a stop, battered and breathless.

Their bodies bore the marks of the endless struggle—cuts, bruises, and the grime of the tunnels clinging to their skin. Before them, the darkness parted, revealing the unmistakable divergence of seven paths. Wang straightened, wiping at his brow.

"Seven," he muttered, a hint of relief breaking through his exhaustion. Lukas nodded.

"The theory was right." Chiara's lips curved into a faint smile, her shoulders sagging as if a weight had been lifted. They exchanged weary but determined nods. Without a word, they moved forward, entering the final path. The air grew unnervingly still. The spiders they had fought endlessly up until now were nowhere to be seen in this final stretch. The tunnel was eerily quiet—a stark contrast to the chaos they had endured. No obstacles, no traps, just a simple, straight path.

Seven kilometers of silence, with only the soft echoes of their steps breaking the emptiness. And then, at the end of the tunnel, a soft glow emerged. As they approached, the glow intensified, revealing a sight that took their breath away. A pristine set of white stairs. END of ARC II - ALPHA