Chương 21: 11B. Safety Not Guaranteed

Not all projects ended in failure. Apparently, quadrant three on Level Two had a rapidly growing, thriving fort town led by a tyrannical triumvirate of five-star awakened. There was also a cultish commune somewhere in the depths of Level Three with a six-star 'green father' and his harem of warrior wives. It seemed that the crazy or domineering prevailed in the long run. There were also the Ranger Legion bases, but Sam didn't count them.

They were essentially all forts, full of elite awakened warriors determined to keep beast populations in check and prevent Inhumans from running rampant. His former colleagues used to say the Rangers were failing in that endeavor. However, they had secret means to repel the miasma, allowing mortals or newly awakened individuals to reside in spaces that should've been hazardous for their delicate constitutions.

"Hurry." Oros hissed.

"Sunset is close, and your body is untempered. Protecting yourself and another will be beyond you." The whispers grew louder as Sam approached the buildings. The ugly cuboids sat in a neat square with walkways between them. He imagined the architecture had been intended for a green space between them to brighten the dull surroundings. Instead, the owners had filled the space with ugly modern art sculptures, now covered in moss and bird droppings. The first building's entrance was destroyed.

The door lay in pieces, surrounded by chunks of the frame. Dark trails led out of the entrance to the middle of the parking lot, where there were now the charred remains of a giant pyre. The third building, the one farthest from the broken sections of the fence, seemed comparatively intact. Spiky barricades sat around the door, and the windows were boarded up. Oros had chosen it as their resting place.

"You wanted safe," Oros said.

"I gave you safe. We can leave the blood fiend here and head out."

"I need to rest—""Freshly awakened don't need to rest. They need to test their mettle. Find a beast and gather essence."

"I'd also like to investigate my soul space," Sam stated.

"What's the point without materials or a blueprint for your base Vessel?"

"I might've already found something to get us started on that," Sam stated. He knew the blueprints for Internal Ether Flow and Feather Step by heart. Pulsing Palm was also fresh in his mind. Its scroll sat in his jacket's inner pocket in case he needed a refresher. The base form was fairly simple. He had read that the actual shape of the Vessel didn't matter. It was the intent and understanding that impacted the technique's potency. The building in question had a tightly sealed entrance.

It appeared the former residents had secured it so they could return for whatever they had left behind. Unfortunately for them, tight spaces didn't deter Oros. She slithered along the door's edges, looking for a break in the seal. When the serpent failed, she checked all edges before exploring the wall around the frame. Once she found a crack in the structure, Oros flattened herself, looking like a deflated fire horse before squeezing through.

It took her a moment to work her way through, and Sam didn't have to wait long afterward.

"Couldn't you have used the keyhole?" Sam asked when the door opened.

"Arcane seal," Oros commented.

"I could've tried and managed, but not without damaging this form. You can't spare the energy to fuel my regeneration." The building had been turned into a warehouse, as Sam expected. Labeled crates lined the walls. The shelves were also laden with preserved food. It appeared the residents had invested significant time in canning, pickling, and all other forms of preserving. Most were in liquid, making them ill-suited for sudden, long journeys but perfect for Sam.

He would've preferred hot food, but didn't need to bother with preparing anything. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. First, Sam found a comfortable spot for Iris, placing her on sacks of what Lukas assumed was grain. At least four hours had passed since they left Wembley Central Station, and she was already looking better. Iris was still paler than usual, but her breathing had improved, and it seemed her body was slowly pushing the spike out.

Once sure she was comfortable, Sam cracked open several jars and cans and made himself a taster plate. It felt wasteful to break the seal on so many different foods, but he didn't know how long he'd be stuck in the wilds with Iris in her current state. He had little hope of making it back to civilization without her or suddenly growing significantly stronger. The warehouse also had a space for metal utensils.

Sam claimed a mixing bowl, wiped it clean, and also washed it in pickling liquid before preparing himself a plate. The meal primarily consisted of preserved vegetables and fruits, but he also found meats and fish kept in oil.

"Holy shit, this is good!" Sam exclaimed, wolfing down everything and helping himself to more. His appetite and need for sustenance seemed to have increased.

"How does everything taste so good? More importantly, where did they get plums, artichokes, and tomatoes? They shouldn't grow well around here."

"I sense traces of magic in all the produce you've consumed," Oros said.

"They're likely the product of an arboreal talent and a powerful nature spirit."

"One awakened alone could probably feed an entire city with a pairing like that." Some of the most influential individuals in Harrow had powerful nature spirits and used them to accelerate plant growth around the city. The flavor and textures didn't compare. Sam didn't know whether more affluent people got access to better-quality produce, but he hadn't tasted anything like it since before the cataclysm. Even then, he struggled to remember ever eating anything so fresh.

He was sure the talent and the spirit's power played a significant role.

"Would you like some, Oros?" Sam asked.

"I don't require food," his familiar answered.

"All necessary sustenance comes through our symbiotic relation."

"Can you taste, though? Food doesn't have to be just about sustenance. I know you could return to the soul space and share my senses, but it's not the same." Oros slithered over. Her slit eyes studied his bowl for a moment. When her tail moved toward the bowl, Sam pulled it away, drawing an annoyed hiss from the serpent.

"Point at what you want. You've slithered through dirt and blood." Oros hesitated, lingering for a few seconds longer before pointing at half a plum. He broke off a chunk and let her take it off his finger. She held it in her mouth for a moment, then swallowed.

"More." Sam complied. He ate another plateful, breaking off pieces for his familiar whenever she asked. Once they had both had their fill, he showed her the clod of dirt. Oros hissed. He could feel the excitement radiating from her. Sam smashed it on the concrete floor a couple of times, cracking the outer layer. The pieces fell away, revealing the prize within. The essence was teardrop-shaped and looked like burnt glass. Bright green and sapphire flames burned within.

"I found this outside," Sam said.

"The survivors must've missed it. Is it corrupted?"

"More damage than corruption, but corruption is good. It is food." Everyone needed to provide their spirit companions with something. It was why many believed that more wasn't necessarily better. Sam had heard of Earth spirits that demanded pretty rocks, a fire spirit who adored flammable natural materials, and a healing spirit who feasted on pain. Then, there was Iris. Her spirit demanded that their foes be impaled and fed their bodily fluids.

But a spirit that feasted on Corruption was something he had never encountered before. In fact, most spirits detested corruption and strived to stay far from it. Some even repelled corruption. Sam believed it was why Inhumans couldn't enter anomalies. They were corruption manifested, after all. He theorized that Inhumans could reach spirits only by overwhelming them with Corruption. Sam didn't understand it all, but he hoped to figure it out.

One thing was for sure: Ouroboros requesting Corruption as sustenance was far from the norm. Oros unhinged her jaw, swallowing the essence. Unlike the chunks of plum, it seemed to dissolve as it traveled down her throat. Sam felt something shift within him almost instantly. First, there was a tingle. Then a rush of power. It wasn't as potent a change as his awakening, but still significant enough to pay attention.

"Secure the entrance," Oros instructed.

"It's time you see your soul space. It might take a while."