534. A Brief Lesson in History

534. A Brief Lesson in History

Frost was in Atlas for another purpose besides visiting the burial site of the Blue Dahlia. H10 was not a suitable place to keep a permanent portal into the Derma Layer due to the security risk it posed.

It seemed counterintuitive to have it transferred beneath the Nexus, but this was one of Caldera Industries’ largest pre-War In Heaven strongholds. CogitO’s presence also plagued Atlas in the form of the Silence debuff that plagued all those that had less than 50 RESIST, with the additional caveat of completely nullifying music.

“Remember those big whales, Frost? From H3?” Ber said as they were brought along the lane towards a central, grey structure resembling a sharpened spear. “They’re the reason why musicians from H5 don’t get anywhere near there. It cancels out the music.”

“But this suppresses magic?” Frost questioned and was immediately answered by the man who steadily walked slightly ahead of them to the side.

“ImpulseWorks actually designed the Silent Resonance. Picture the heart of a whale impaled onto a stem of consciousness. Like their debilitating wails deep underneath, they can create a profound effect when on the surface. It crushes all. Including our voices. It prevents people from making cantations.”

Little introduction was needed to know that he had seen things beyond their understanding. He looked ahead as if visualizing it, a hand running through the air like he wrote every experience down into an invisible book.

“I didn’t realize how powerful their sonars were.” Frost was in awe.

The man quickly wrote in the air again with a finger, whispering: “Sonar. A synonym for the sound~ Ahem. Excuse my brief bout of curiosity. We Keepers were once workers of the First Advent, so newfound knowledge is invaluable to us. I hear it is fine to divulge in closely kept secrets of the Nexus.”

“At least you know your place.” Cer was grateful that no added explanation was required. “See how easy it is when we’re the faces of the Nexus?”

“Quiet.” Res hushed.

He was here before the Archivist’s arrival, no doubt.

“There was a fifty-year period before she claimed it as her own.”

So that’s when the book burnings occurred.

Atlas once housed the Eternal Library. Its vast knowledge was passed around, the incomprehensible scabbles of the fifty-six-letter alphabet meaning nothing to the pompous masses, but everything to those that groveled in their feet.

It was not knowledge of technology – though few were lucky enough to find something similar. Magic was instead inscribed into those pages. Knowledge beyond what should have been known. Secrets of those above spilled uncontrollably when the language was deciphered by emotions, rather than an understanding.

The Unlocked Keeper shallowly went over how the knowledge of the Advent opened the door to war on an untold scale.

“In each other we trust. We bloodlet to remove the impurities to become clean.” He said bringing them towards the base of the colossal spire. “We’re here. Our time was short but pleasant. Head in. The entrance is a Spatial Distortion.”

I kind of hate the idea of a Spatial Distortion existing right below the Nexus.

“You say that as you’re about to open one into the Derma Layer. The theater of the War in Hell will be right beneath the Nexus.”

When you put it like that... Well, I can close it up at any time anyway.

“By opening it up elsewhere.”

Haaah. Alright. You win. I haven’t done it yet, but we’re about to find out what makes this Caldera Industries stronghold so special. Depending on what we find I might end up moving the portal somewhere else.

Suddenly, another Keeper passed by them.

Following him was a man from a foreign kingdom, dressed in purple garbs befitting royalty. He sat atop a horse-drawn carriage as his knights trailed behind, wearing highly reflective, plated armor that clanked with each step.

They had finished from a council between various nations held by the Exalted of the Nexus. They were, after all, the ones responsible for foreign interaction and relations often between multiple different kingdoms.

Atlas was the only neutral place in Elysia where such talks between rules could take place under the promise of total protection.

Cer scoffed at them, nudging Frost’s arm as she pointed at them with a sly grin.

“Look at what they need to mimic a fraction of our stats. Normal people require so much metal just to protect themselves. Blessed can get away with less equipment. But us? We just need the skin of our teeth.”

All thanks to P-Factor Augmentation. It’s exactly why we’re able to take swords to our necks like they’re nothing. The source of the unfairness of stats. That kind of armor on earth was top of the line in the medieval era. Here? It’s like bringing a coffin along with you.

It was the first time she had seen the official military force of another nation.

And she could hardly believe just how primitive they were in comparison. Not because of their technological difference. But rather, because of how utterly mundane their stats were – stats that were considered ‘normal’ across the board in Elysia.

It again put the might of the Moons into perspective; how the quarrels of normal people were just far too insignificant to interfere with in comparison to the Corrupted.