Chapter 190: “Gone Like Yesterday”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
“The World’s Creation” majestically adorned the dark heavens above, while a chilling breeze swept across the vast, seemingly endless waters below. Tiny waves danced rhythmically, causing the small boat beneath Alice to gently bob, reminiscent of a dream on the verge of being interrupted by the approaching dawn.
Despite all her experiences, Alice had never truly grasped the human concept of “dreaming.” She felt as though she had been in a long, uninterrupted slumber without ever encountering the dreams humans described. For her, perhaps dreaming was akin to her current state—suspended in an immeasurable void with her thoughts drifting aimlessly.
As she lifted her gaze, she saw the boundless ocean stretch endlessly before her. In the distance, the faint glow of the Vanished appeared as tiny candle flames hovering just above the water, making her feel as though the entire world had vanished, leaving only her, the gentle rocking of the boat, and the infinite embrace of the ocean.
And, of course, the trio of fanatics bound in her presence.
Shifting her focus from the vast horizon, Alice’s curiosity was piqued by the restrained devotees before her. They were unmistakably human, but their nature was far from benevolent. Though she had limited encounters with mankind, she had learned that humans could be both commendable and malevolent. The noble ones performed admirable deeds and were often praised and aided by Captain Duncan. In contrast, the sinister ones indulged in heinous activities and faced Captain Duncan’s disdain and occasional reprimands. These three captives represented the latter, the kind the captain deeply despised.
They were devoted to a strange dimension known in this world as subspace, following a sinister doctrine that endorsed killing others in the name of false beliefs. These zealots were so ruthless that they wouldn’t hesitate to attack an innocent girl accompanied only by a creature named Dog. In cities, guards would shoot them without a second thought, sailors would hang them as a warning, and even the fiercest pirates would confine them in crates and cast them into the depths as offerings to appease the storm goddess.
However, at present, they appeared calm and restrained. Alice remembered their crazed demeanor when they had first invaded the ship, acting as if intoxicated by some drug or fervor. But as hours passed, a noticeable change came over them, making them more docile.
Breaking the silence, Alice asked, “Aren’t you terrified?” Her own unease was palpable, being amidst this immense sea. Even though she knew this was a crucial “safety assessment” for her future activities in human territories, the vastness of the ocean still left her unsettled.
Suddenly, one of the fanatics, with a gaunt and emaciated face, slowly lifted his head and met her gaze, “Naive creature, encased in that fragile form… your essence seems so insipid and devoid. Subspace wouldn’t even desire you…”
Taken aback, Alice hesitated for a moment before retorting, “What’s your problem? Why are you being so rude?”
Directly opposite her, the group known as the Enders responded with harsh, abrasive laughter that echoed like a saw scraping metal. Although the entity referred to as “Anomaly 099” invoked dread and panic in countless souls, these individuals seemed to show no fear in her presence.
Perhaps their claims held some truth: they had supposedly evolved beyond the basic understanding of existence and death, making them indifferent to the threat of death in the physical realm.
Alice tried to hold back her growing irritation but after enduring their laughter, she exhaled deeply, admitting, “I’m not upset anymore.”
Another member, whom she recognized as one of their Enders, glanced at her briefly but said nothing.
In a tone more introspective than conversational, Alice mused aloud, “I shouldn’t hold a grudge. In all fairness, you have reasons to be angry. It’s you who are bound, not me. And it’s your heads that are in jeopardy, not mine. The captain once said, ‘Refrain from hubris when fortune favors you, for a mighty surge can overturn a vessel, and those swollen with pride may meet their demise.’ Considering your current state, I’ll generously allow you some venting.”
The Enders, gathered in the boat’s enclosed space, appeared to ignore her, immersing themselves in a silent camaraderie. However, after a while, Alice noticed subtle movements among them. They were stealthily inspecting each other, adjusting their postures, and occasionally darting cautious glances towards her, reflecting confusion.
Upon reflection, Alice surmised they might be puzzled as to why their heads remained intact. These disciples were evidently familiar with her perilous nature as Anomaly 099. Even if they genuinely felt indifferent towards their own deaths, their curiosity persisted, especially after being exposed to her presence for so long.
“You know, I do harbor some fear,” Alice admitted suddenly. “I dread the notion that one of your heads might suddenly detach. The captain mentioned that I possess a latent power to decapitate. The revelation sent shivers down my spine. Unlike me, humans face a grim reality; a detached head means irreversible doom.”
Just then, the gentle beat of wings resonated from the skies. Lifting her gaze, Alice spotted Ai, who momentarily disappeared towards the direction of the Vanished, only to reappear engulfed in ethereal green flames.
As the bird circled overhead, Ai generated a majestic tornado of greenish fire, culminating in a splendid wooden box manifesting, only to descend into the waters alongside.
“That’s my box!” Alice exclaimed, startled. The phrase “cast overboard” flashed in her mind, evoking a surreal sensation of her head loosening. However, she soon noticed a message attached to the box. Swiftly reaching out, she grasped the note and skimmed its content: “The decapitation attribute might be linked to your coffin. Sending it for examination as well. P.S.: I bet you’re thinking I might want to discard you into the depths — dismiss such thoughts. Report back immediately post evaluation.”
Upon retrieving the note, Alice scrutinized it carefully, flipping it multiple times in hopes of understanding its content. Yet, it dawned on her that she lacked a basic skill: the ability to read.
However, as she turned to the note’s back side, her eyes caught a crude illustration. It depicted her diligently rowing back to the Vanished. Concluding the simplistic drawing was an emoji with a broad grin.
Though Alice, a puppet-like being, couldn’t understand the textual message, the sketch’s intent was clear. Despite the note’s ambiguous front content, the captain did not plan to abandon her.
With a wave of relief washing over her, she carefully pocketed the note and hoisted the submerged wooden chest from the waters. With a loud “thud,” she heaved the surprisingly heavy box aboard with one hand. Turning her attention to the captive cultists, she asked, “Would any of you like some food?”
The Enders gave no reply. Undeterred, she continued, “Even if the captain believes you all deserve a grim fate, he also said that if you endure these tests and come out unscathed, he’ll spare your lives. His plan is to take you back to the city to… um, how did he put it?”
Racking her brain, Alice finally remembered the captain’s words, “Ah, to demonstrate the public’s vested interest in city safety. He equated your collective value to roughly seven bicycles. I’m puzzled, though—what exactly is a bicycle?”
As if stirred by her words, one of the Enders began, “Subspace shall nourish us… it promises tranquility… it showers blessings upon those who depart, once all cataclysms have transpired…” The Ender’s voice was half responsive to Alice and half engrossed in some unholy chant. “In these final days, we renounce our cursed corporal forms. Our consciousnesses shall breach barriers, transitioning into the next realm…”
Puzzled, Alice responded, “What on earth are you droning on about?”
From that point on, the Enders maintained a haunting silence, resuming their cryptic murmurs only intermittently.
Throughout the night and into the early hours, they bowed their heads, repetitively whispering of subspace, a prolonged temporal river, and a coming doomsday. Their chants were only occasionally interrupted by the gentle lapping of waves against the boat’s hull.
To an ordinary person, the atmosphere on board could be chilling, and the content of the prayers might terrify the faint-hearted, potentially opening portals to darker realities. But for Alice, it was mere background noise.
Her anchor in this disorienting drift was the captain’s note, dispelling any lingering fear. She was merely grappling with boredom.
However, her tedious ordeal was nearing its end.
In the distance, a glimmer of dawn made its presence known. As the first beams of the sun painted the world, the night’s starry canvas faded. The sun, ensnared by mystic runes, began its ascent, steadily climbing the sky.
Daylight had broken through, and not a single head had been severed by Alice’s hand.
With a heart brimming with joy, Miss Doll, a delicate figure, beheld the beauty of the sunrise. Rising gracefully from her seated position next to the ornate wooden chest, she turned enthusiastically to the cluster of cultists and proclaimed, “Look there! The sun is bringing a new day! Rejoice, for you all remain among the living! It’s time to return!”
However, the trio, known as the doomsday Enders, seemed lost in their own world. They continued their hunched postures within the cabin, heads bowed, lips moving silently in what seemed a sacred chant. In the twilight moments before the sun’s full embrace, their whispers appeared to be reaching out, perhaps in a final plea to the mysterious “subspace” they so reverently mentioned.
Only when Alice tried to engage them again did one of the Enders acknowledge the external world. His gaze, initially lost in shadowy thoughts, was caught by the advancing golden rays of dawn. For a brief moment, he appeared confused, but then, chillingly, his expression changed, revealing a smile that was a disturbing mix of lunacy and serenity.
“Behold,” he murmured, his voice tinged with eerie calm, “another chapter closes for our kind.” He then shifted his focus to Alice, locking onto her clear, crystalline eyes. “Dear Doll, our paths shall cross again in another dance.”
Baffled, Alice replied, “What do you mean? It’s not like you can just vanish into the cosmos…”
As the sun’s rays began to dominate the horizon, a spectacle unfolded.
The defined forms of the three doomsday Enders started to blur and dissolve, gradually merging with the radiant light of dawn, much like ancient spirits being reclaimed by time.
“They didn’t just elude me, did they…” Alice murmured, more to herself than anyone, before the full weight of the situation struck her, causing her to exclaim in astonishment, “They’ve truly disappeared into thin air?!”
Yay, will be waiting for the chapter to open up!!
MC has become much braver with the exchanges in the city. To bring them here and talk that much. The best way to indirectly show your self is by expressing honest assumptions. It reeks with your baseline, clearly contorting your often hidden roots. Different people will make different assumptions. He exposed his true self so much, and I am surprised he even considered giving those people back to the city, as they would then recount this all. Well, not that it matter much given his power, but perhaps we will eventually see him hitting the edge.
Well, only something at the level of ‘gods’ that can truly threatened Capt. Duncan
I guess it doesn’t matter if the Enders die or not because losing their physical bodies might not mean anything to them