Chương 67: Chapter 66 - Alpha (XXVIII)

It's interesting how much a sense changes the whole way you feel the world. If you are blind, you live in a world of sounds—layers of echoes, vibrations, and subtle shifts in the environment forming your reality. Every footstep, every gust of wind, is like a brushstroke on a canvas only you can see. You dream of sounds, navigate by them, and feel their vibrations in your bones. Your world becomes a symphony of information, tuned to a frequency most people can't even comprehend.

Now, if you can see but not hear, your world is starkly different—filled with vibrant visuals, but eerily silent. Everything moves in bursts, flashes of color and light, yet there's a haunting absence, as if something vital is missing. The shift in how you perceive space, depth, and motion without sound forces you to rely on a different kind of awareness. For Alonso, his world wasn't quite like either of these, though it shared parts of both.

He lived in a world built on reflected electromagnetic waves—a constant stream of information that painted reality around him without relying on sight or sound. The electromagnetic pulses he sent out through his mind bounced back in intricate patterns, revealing the world in crisp, three-dimensional layers. Every object, every creature, was outlined by the waves they reflected back to him. It was a world defined by energy, not only light, and that was how Alonso saw everything. That… was his EM Domain.

EM Simulation: START Six worms. Coordinates: [30°, 110m], [33°, 108m, 0. 2m deviation], [35°, 107m, minor deviation], [32°, 112m], [31°, 109m, minor deviation], [34°, 111m]. Current velocity: approximately 39 m/s, with negligible variation. Worm trajectory consistent, Alonso processed, his mind racing through the data. All the worms came from a direct frontal approach, their speed nearly identical. There was no flanking movement, no erratic jumps in velocity. He had measured it all within a split second.

Best solution: Shield arc to deflect impact of four worms at an angular velocity of 13. 5 radians per second. Redirect the momentum. Next: Blade attack. Linear path—precisely 40° sweep, optimized to intersect the trajectory of the remaining two worms before they adjust. Minimal delay between movements. EM Simulation: END Alonso moved without hesitation, every muscle in his body responding like a well-tuned machine.

His left arm, carrying the makeshift shield, swung forward, meeting the incoming worms with precision. The shield's arc was tight, deflecting the first four worms in a fluid motion as their bodies slammed against the hardened panther hide. He twisted his wrist slightly, redirecting their momentum just as he had visualized. Before the remaining two could adjust their approach, Alonso had already drawn his sword.

With a sharp, efficient swing, the blade cut through the air, slicing cleanly through the worms' soft, segmented bodies as they crossed his path. The entire sequence had taken only a fraction of a second, the actions following his mental simulation flawlessly. Reality turned out to be not much different than the simulation. Everything fell into place with the same precision, the same outcome. But Alonso knew that it was only because he had enough information from his EM Domain and enough time.

The worms moved at predictable speeds, their mass was manageable, and their attacks were simple. If the worms had been faster or could change trajectory mid-air, his calculations might not have come together so smoothly. If they had been heavier, deflecting them with the shield would have been far more taxing. He understood his current capabilities were far beyond these worms, but that didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.

He was already 67 kilometers in, and if his theory was right, the true challenges would only start appearing the deeper he ventured. The worms were just the beginning, the jungle's way of testing his readiness. But beyond this, beyond these predictable creatures, lay the unknown—and there was still more than 700 km to the center of the island." Oh, look at you, Mr. Efficiency. What's next, calculating the optimal way to scratch your butt? Or the best way to drink water from a coconut… oh wait… you already did!"

"Is six worms so easy you have time to talk, Houston?" Alonso muttered, taking out another batch of six worms as he continued marching forward. Truth be told, it had been less than four hours since he left the shore, and it felt more like a casual trek than a real challenge. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it." I don't know, you tell me. Anyway, 70-kilometer mark is up ahead. Be ready."

Alonso smiled as he gained momentum, easily deflecting or slicing through all the worms that crossed his path. It had become second nature. He knew that no matter how many worms came—whether 10, 12, or even 20—as long as they approached from the front in an arc, their attacks were predictable, and Alonso's combined use of shield, sword, and vest nullified their threat. The worms were no longer a challenge. But as he crossed the 70-kilometer mark, something changed.

Seven worms surged toward him—but not just from the front. They came at him from every direction. EM Simulation: START … … … … END In the blink of an eye, Alonso accelerated forward, his shield moving into position as his body reacted like a well-oiled machine. His left arm whipped the shield into a roundhouse arc, covering nearly a full 180 degrees around his left side. The shield clanged as three worms impacted it simultaneously.

The force reverberated through his arm, but he controlled it with precision, allowing the shield to absorb and redirect the energy outward, sending their bodies tumbling to the ground. Simultaneously, Alonso's right arm moved with equal efficiency. His sword followed a perfectly calculated curved path, slicing cleanly through the other three worms as they attempted to flank him from the right.

The blade cut through their segmented bodies as though they were weightless, their sluggish movements no match for his precision and speed. The final worm, which had slipped past his defenses, was simply deflected by a reinforced section of his vest, striking it at a 50-degree angle. The impact was absorbed without causing him any harm, and the worm fell away harmlessly. Alonso continued moving forward as if nothing had happened, his pace steady and unbroken.

But this time, something felt different—there were no more worms. Not even the faintest rustle in the undergrowth. He slowed his steps, his instincts telling him to stay alert. The jungle around him, once dense with foliage and the constant hum of wildlife, was changing. The vibrant green of the leaves seemed to dull, and the tangled trees began to thin. Alonso stopped in his tracks, taking a moment to absorb his surroundings.

The oppressive humidity of the jungle felt lighter now, and the ground beneath his boots was transitioning from thick, rooted soil to something looser. He looked around, scanning the area. The thick jungle was slowly receding, and the open sky above him grew broader. The shift was gradual but unmistakable. It reminded him of when he had approached the shore on the other side of the island—but this wasn't the shore. The island was vast, with a radius of more than 770 kilometers.

He shouldn't have been anywhere near the coast yet. And he had a perfect sense of direction, thanks to the world's magnetic poles. So… was it a lake? Or could it be a desert? Whatever it was, the lush, chaotic vegetation of the jungle was giving way to something else entirely. Alonso tensed, fully alert. He stayed perfectly still, waiting and listening, his senses heightened, his EM pulses sweeping the area for any sign of life. A minute passed. Then another. Still, nothing.

No worms, no movement, no sounds—just an eerie quiet. Satisfied that no immediate threat loomed nearby, Alonso finally allowed himself to relax. He set his backpack down and leaned against a sturdy tree, taking a seat. It was time for a break. He reached into his pack, pulling out one of his coconut containers. The cool liquid inside was refreshing as he gulped down nearly half in one go, feeling his body rehydrate after the hours of trekking and fighting. Next, he grabbed a piece of pre-cooked panther meat.

It was still slightly tough but satisfying, and he chewed through it with calm, savoring the moment of peace. Alonso finished the last bite of panther meat, his jaw working slowly as he thought about what lay ahead. He wiped his hands clean and stood up, slinging his backpack over his shoulder once more. His body felt refreshed, his mind sharp and ready. It was time to move on. As he stepped forward, the ground beneath his feet changed, becoming less firm, less rooted in the rich, earthy soil of the jungle.

The underbrush gave way to dry, cracked earth. The humidity of the jungle was replaced by a dry, hot breeze that stirred faint dust clouds around him. The horizon began to stretch, the greenery fading into an endless, barren landscape. Alonso paused, narrowing his eyes. No... it can't be. He walked farther, and the truth of it became clear. The jungle had vanished behind him, and before him lay a vast, seemingly infinite desert.

The terrain was a stark contrast to the thick, overgrown jungle he had trekked through for days. Sand stretched out in all directions, rolling dunes under the hot, relentless sun. The heat shimmered in the distance, warping the horizon. It's... a desert.