When the group of adventurers appeared on the esplanade of the temple of the city of Jenne, they immediately perceived the agitated air and the atmosphere of anger among the crowd crowded in front of the imposing gothic building.
The line originating at the baptismal font of healing went out through the huge main portico and around the square several times. There should be three or four hundred adventurers waiting to have their wounds healed there.
—Deculture! —Rita exclaimed, looking around. —I think this is bigger than we thought.
Everywhere, but especially in and around the plaza, groups of players were chattering in the general chat room and clamoring for an explanation for what was happening in Calypso. None of the members of The Order knew it yet, but that scene was being repeated in almost every major city on the planet.
—We'd better leave the healing for later and go straight to the Clan Hall. —Alex said to the group. —It's not worth trying to find out anything in this Pandemonium... there's likely to be more made—up rumors than any useful clues," he reasoned.
The others nodded and prepared to leave the square. The foot traffic was unusually high so no one bothered them. If indeed that group of adventurers from the Empire had already reported what had happened in the ruins, the rumor had not yet spread among the city guards. No one spoke to them or bothered them at the checkpoints full of guards nervous about dealing with so many people, and they were able to reach the neighborhood where their base of operations was located without any problems.
The assassin named Dirk suddenly joined them stepping out of the shadows of an alley. Dante was surprised to see him walking with them as if he had always been like that.
—Did you find out anything? —Alex asked.
—The Council has called an emergency meeting at Mir. —said the mysterious player. —The administrators haven't made any comment yet.
Matilda shook her head. —All the elements of a good crisis at the door... Any immediate effects other than rumors and general ignorance?
—Prices have skyrocketed as traders have started hoarding compulsively. The most popular opinion is that crystals have been "nerfed" to balance the offensive capabilities of the magic classes.
—That's ridiculous. —Alex opined. Crystals are used by all classes, not just the magic—focused ones, it would be an unpopular and useless measure.
—Something else. —Dirk said suddenly. —I'm not sure if it's true or not, but I heard that the same effect occurred in classes that use the Siphon ability.
—Siphon? —Dante asked.
—It's the passive ability I use to channel plant magic so I can use it in my spells. —Silvana explained.
Alex stopped when he heard that. —Are you sure?
—For now it's just a rumor.
The others turned to the Druid, not believing what they were hearing. —Did you notice a decrease in your abilities? —Matilda asked, but Alex stepped forward and answered for her. —With the small amount of plants down there I don't think Silvana could have noticed any difference... we should go to the forest to check if there was any kind of change.
The others nodded silently, although they knew that trying to do so in the current situation would be completely inadvisable, not to mention the danger that the Swarm, and now the Empire as well, posed to a small clan like the Order.
Dante saw that on the side of his user interface, a new icon had appeared and blinked constantly calling his immediate attention; it was a new incoming message and by the small exclamation mark that appeared overprinted on it it could definitely be something important.
—Is something wrong? —Silvana asked, watching Dante move his hands to operate the interface.
—A message. —answered the young man. —Give me a second.
When Dante saw the sender, he knew there was going to be trouble;
From: Karina O'Higgins.
Subject: Urgent.
I have orders to escort you out of town. Go to the south exit and try not to attract too much attention; I won't be here for more than fifteen minutes so hurry.
Could that hasty extraction be related to what was happening in the city? Definitely yes, or so his instinct for trouble was telling him.
The other little snag was Lieutenant O'Higgins... How on earth was she going to approach the city with the VF—1? That orange plane was impossible to hide, at least in broad daylight. Dante checked Calypso's watch and saw that it was still a few hours before dark.
—I have to go. —He said, closing the message window. The members of his group looked at him in confusion. —Are you leaving? —Rita asked. —We're supposed to have a celebration banquet. —she exclaimed.
—Something... something came up. —He shrugged his shoulders. —I'm so sorry, I promise I'll be back soon... I hope.
Alex nodded silently but exchanged a quick glance with Matilda. The young woman nodded in return. —Don't worry, he said, turning to the young man. —Do what you have to do.
—I'll be back soon, Silvana. —He said to the young Druid. —I look forward to tasting your dishes. —He added with a small bow, after which he ran off in the direction of the south of the city to the disconsolate gaze of the cat—girl.
Alex opened a private chat and sent a quick message. "Follow him," he wrote. Dirk nodded and ran off into one of the alleys where he disappeared in the blink of an eye. —Dirk too? —Rita asked as she watched the assassin disappear.
—We'd better get going. —said Matilda. —We have a lot of things to do, loot to catalog and equipment to repair. Rita sighed despondently. —That Troll blood is awfully hard to clean up, I'd better get started right away or you know what will happen.
—Nya? —Mirna exclaimed, wiggling her ears.
Silvana stroked her head as she looked in the direction where Dante had disappeared. —Don't worry Mirna... we'll do the feast next time.
—Nyan
Meanwhile Dante had taken the main street and was heading south following the map on his game interface. He had given up on using the side streets and instead reasoned that with so many people around him he would draw more attention trying to sneak around than if he moved with the flow of people. It took him almost ten minutes to reach the south wall and he saw that there were very few people there, most of them were at that moment trying to find out the latest news in the main square of the city.
He saw the entrance and also saw the Empire guards guarding the checkpoint. The barrier was low.
—Shit. —He said in a low voice.
He stopped by a store and began to look at the swords on display as he slyly spied the entrance to the city. No one was leaving Jenne, the only traffic there was from groups of adventurers arriving from outside to seek healing, but mostly answers in the troubled city.
If Dante tried to leave he would immediately attract attention, but he had no choice. Karina was waiting for him there and time was already running out.
What to do? The young man clenched his fists and started walking in the direction of the barrier letting fate take over.
As he expected, being the only one going in that direction, he immediately caught the attention of one of the guards, who, leaning against the barrier, immediately got up when he saw the young warrior approaching.
—Are you going to leave the city? —he asked when Dante was a few steps away.
—Of course. —He answered naturally.
—Alone?
—Do you want to come with me?
The guard looked at him not knowing if he was in front of an idiot or a Troll. —Are you kidding me or what?
Before Dante could answer anything else another of the guards came up to see the strange exchange of words.
—He wants to get out of town alone. —said the first guard.
The one who seemed to be the person in charge of that checkpoint looked at him for a while in silence. Dante noticed that the man's eyes had suddenly become brighter. Was he using some kind of ability or spell to examine him?
After a few moments the man lifted the barrier. —Let him get out, if he wants to die it is not our problem.
—But ...
—I don't see his name on any of our lists and he appears to be a novice player. Let him learn that it's not a good idea to wander outside the city alone.
Dante nodded his head in thanks and passed under the barrier. He walked as fast as he could without turning around, even though he knew all the guards were watching him at that moment...excellent way to leave the city without attracting attention.
He crossed the last fortifications and suddenly he had the actual gates of the city in front of him. Two huge towers stood on either side of the massive half—raised grilled gate and behind it a drawbridge spanned a deep well.
Next to the gates stood a stable and several animals were tied to posts along the wall. Dante saw a figure wrapped in a dark cloak holding the reins of a white mare.
He passed by the stable and was about to walk through the gates when he felt someone speak behind him.
—Don't bother to look for the fighter in front of the city gates. —Said a female voice. Dante turned and saw the unfamiliar figure approaching alongside the mare. —Karina?
—Put yourself in private chat. —whispered the young woman.
Dante did so and soon their conversation was completely muted for the rest of the planet.
—You're late.—I know, the city is in chaos and I was the only one who wanted to leave. The guards called me crazy for wanting to come by this route... Do you know what's going on?
The young woman shook her head. —I am not aware of the events of the game, but Duval told me that something very bad had happened and they needed you back immediately... you'd better go upstairs.
The young woman jumped nimbly onto the animal's back and took the reins as if she were an expert rider. —What are you waiting for?
Dante looked at both sides of the street and sighing, he climbed on the horse and sat down behind the Lieutenant. —Hold on to me. —The young woman ordered him. —We have to gallop or we won't make it.
Dante swallowed saliva and slipped his arms under the young woman's cloak, holding tightly to her waist.
—Ready?
—Ready? —The young man answered nervously, feeling the Lieutenant's warmth next to his body.
Karina shook the reins and the mare galloped off. They quickly crossed the drawbridge and rode out of the city, their hooves echoing on the cobblestones of the road.
It was Dante's first time on a horse and the feeling was incredible. Not only did the wild smell of the mare hit his face, the feel of the animal's powerful muscles under his legs and the wind in his hair made the sensation almost intoxicating. —I find it hard to believe this is a simulation. —He cried out.
—And this is nothing. —The young woman replied enthusiastically. —Wait till you see how Valkyria runs cross—country.
—Valkyria...? Is that your mare's name?
—Do you have a better name?
—It's perfect. —replied the young man.
They rode for several kilometers along the main road without seeing anyone. The sun had been descending and soon began to set over the mountains to the west, casting the fertile valleys around Jenne into the long shadows of twilight. As soon as the light descended a little further they left the road and galloped into the grasslands that were almost level with their legs.
—Where exactly are we going? —asked Dante, who had not spoken since they left the city.
—I left my game in the middle of a closed forest about fifteen kilometers from where we left the road. —The young woman explained. —We should be there in about half an hour more of riding... there's only one problem.
The young woman's gesture as she turned around only confirmed what Dante already feared. —They're following us, aren't they?
—Two riders with horses and dark cloaks.
—The Swarm. —Dante said confidently. —It's so cliché it's even laughable.
—It's no laughing matter. —The young woman answered in a tense voice. —I don't want to get involved in this shitty game, I'd rather avoid any kind of interaction with those guys.
Now the gallop of their pursuers was perfectly audible. Karina rounded a low hill and soon they found themselves following the course of a small stream as they entered a gully A path followed the stream bed (Though to call that barely distinguishable track from the surrounding brush a path was being very generous) and the mare galloped at full speed making dirt and stones skip in her wake.
—We can't lead them to where VF—1 is. —We have to lose them first.
—It looks like we are leaving them behind. —Dante judging the distances. —We're hearing less of the pounding of the hulls.
—Valkyria is one of the best horses in all of Calypso. —Karina affirmed. —I don't think they have horses that can rival her... the problem is that those two aren't the only ones following us.
A silvery glint caused Dante to look up. A hundred yards above their heads he saw another horse following in the same direction as them. The horse was gray furred and barely distinguishable among the rocks in the background.
—There is one more rider on the other side. —The young woman reported. —They'll try to trap us up ahead.
Dante opened the map and examined the topography of the terrain. He had studied hundreds of battlefields in his military history classes and was familiar with the symbology that showed the terrain features. —The stream joins a river a mile from here at what appears to be the beginning of a deeper gorge, I see a road on either side of the edges and a bridge crossing what appears to be a rock arch... Karina! —said the young man suddenly looking at the map from a more distant view. —There's no way out at the end of the river!
—Damn it.
The young woman swerved the Mare's gallop and they began to ascend the slope away from the creek bed. The pursuer on her right began to approach dangerously close. When he was within eighty yards Dante saw a reddish glow.
—Watch out!
The fireball passed within a few yards of the mare and crashed into some old bushes that immediately burned amidst a thousand sparks.
—Battle mages. —Said the young woman, causing Valkyria to return to the riverbed. —Shit.
—Wait a moment. —Dante turned to look at the pursuer as he took the reins of his horse again after making that attack. —Aren't you supposed to be immortal? Why don't you just let him hit you with one of those fireballs?
—Valkyria and I are. —she said. —But you're not.
—Don't you at least have a regulation pistol? —he asked. —A grenade?
—If I engage in combat or let them touch me with any of those magics, they'll know right away that I'm not a normal player. Director Duval already warned me about the consequences of interfering further in the game and if those players report something like that again?
—I understand. —said Dante. —That idiot Malkovich will have another argument to annoy us. —reasoned the young man.
Dante unsheathed his sword but froze when he saw the blade. —What the fuck?
The iron blade was completely eaten away by a black substance and the metal was crumbling into small granules in the wind blowing over it. —The Troll's blood. —He understood...
—That stuff won't do you any good against a Mage anyway. —Karina replied, shaking her head. —We have to lose them some other way.
Dante sighed and re—sheathed the pommel and a bit of gnawed metal that was all that was left of his first sword. —This is bad, really bad. —Would those mounts ever get tired? If the simulation was so realistic that should be a given, but it wasn't something he could count on at the moment. In the dim light he could make out how the rider raised his right hand as the fireball slowly began to form in his hand.
—The chaser on the right is right—handed," said Dante. —He has to cross his hand over his horse in order to attack while holding the reins with his left hand, which reduces his effectiveness somewhat. The rider on the left can aim at us without any problem.
Karina heard that and immediately made Valkyria gallop close to the left bank of the stream, making her silhouette a little more hidden by the steep angle of the ravine and offering a more evasive target to the rider with a better shooting position.
—It's a minuscule advantage, but it's something. —Said the young man as a new projectile of fire passed over their heads.
—Having a RIO has its advantages. —acknowledged the Lieutenant whipping the Mare.
Dante smiled when he heard that; at that moment the two of them were performing the same functions on that mare as on a state—of—the—art aircraft.
He opened the map again and focused on the confluence of the tributary stream they were galloping at full speed. The river into which the stream flowed should be almost in sight, but there was not enough light and little to see, at least Karina seemed to be able to see perfectly in the dark as well as her mare, who was galloping at full speed between rocks and roots without ever stumbling.
She brought the map as close as she could and looked at the elevations indicating the different heights of the terrain in search of a passage out of that death trap. —Here. —He said, marking the map to share the point of interest with Karina. —Look at this, it's a fracture mark, there's a crack between these two massifs at the point where the two rivers meet... it could be a path between the mountains.
Valkyria left the road and entered the stream at full gallop. The mare's powerful legs kicked up high spurts of water as the deep gorge closed above them. Dante could hear the echoes of their pursuers on both sides of the deep canyon as well as the thousand of stones falling from the heights pushed by those beasts in pursuit —Attention! Fifty meters! To the right!
Two fireballs fell on them almost simultaneously. The white mare suddenly jumped and the impact of those flaming projectiles created an explosion of steam in the waters of the river.
—Shit!
Now they could hear the sound of rapids right in front of them. Two black rocks suddenly appeared and Karina diverted Valkyria to get around the obstacle. —There. —said Dante pointing to a darker area on the rock wall in front of them. —That's the fracture, we're right at the confluence!
The projectiles heading their way illuminated the crack as it appeared right in front of their mount. Karino pulled on the reins with all his might and Valkyria sped into the narrow opening as the fireballs exploded against the rocks shattering them into a thousand pieces.
It looks like there was a cave—in back there. —Dante exclaimed as he heard the rumbling behind him, but when he turned around, the steam and dust completely obstructed his vision. —They won't be able to follow us easily that crevasse became very narrow and Karina had to make her mare move forward at a pace. The terrain was very rough, with rocks and roots covering the bottom of that deep gorge which forced Valkyria to tread carefully as they went along.
—We need some light. —We need some light," said Karina, looking up, where the starry sky barely provided a bit of clarity. —Does the map say anything?
—Little or nothing. —reported the young man. —We are in the eastern massif of a mountain formation called Igneous Caverns... Do you know anything about that place?
—No," answered the young woman. —Remember that I don't play in Calypso, my job is different.
Dante looked at the map with concern. —The gorge turns north and ends about three hundred meters ahead... I'm afraid there's nothing else on the map.
They walked on in silence for a few more minutes and the darkness became complete. Dante then remembered the torch that The Order had provided him with during his adventure in the ancient ruins and checked that it was still in his inventory. —I have some light. —He said as he selected the corresponding item. —But only for about twenty minutes... almost all the combustible matter was consumed during the course of the afternoon.
—It will do.
The torch flared as soon as he put it in his hand and in the trembling light of the orange flames they saw the huge mouth of a cavern that greeted them menacingly.
—End of the road. —said Karina pulling on the reins. Valkyria stopped just before the dark entrance of the cave. A warm wind from the depths blew in their faces and all was silence around them.
Dante cast a look of resignation. —And of course you want to go in there. —He sighed.
—Do you have a better idea?
—No unfortunately... I'm just a mortal character. —replied the young man with a shrug. —But we're not sure if there's a way out of the other side, are we?
—We'll take our chances. —decided the young woman, making the mare start to enter the cavern. —We can't waste any more time.
The path descended almost straight down into the bowels of that mountain isolated from the main mountain range that stretched some forty kilometers further north. All the way down they had the warm wind blowing in their faces and saw and heard nothing out of the ordinary.
—I thought this place would be full of monsters and nasty things. —The young man commented, looking at the dark shadows cast by the rocks and stalactites in the trembling torchlight.
—My character doesn't generate random encounters with monsters or NPC's —explained the young woman. —Neither does Valkyria.
—What about me? —Dante asked. —Shouldn't my character attract monsters like a magnet?
—Apparently not as long as you're on my mare's back. —replied the young woman. —Maybe it also protects the rider at the same time, you should ask Duval in any case.
The road finished descending and soon they found themselves walking along a path opened in the rock with traces of having been a road traveled before. The ground was made of cobblestones skillfully set into each other and despite the years that had passed since they were abandoned, they were still in a good state of repair and allowed Valkyria to return to a faster pace. The sound of their hooves bounced off the walls, but they saw no sign of any living creature.
No one came out to meet them and there were no sounds of pursuers in their footsteps. They were completely alone in those huge caverns.
The torch went out a few minutes later, plunging them into complete darkness. Karina pulled the reins and got off the mare so she could walk beside her as she guided her through the dark corridors —Stay on Valkyria. —she ordered Dante. —You'll be safer up there.
—Okay.
Lieutenant O'Higgins seemed to have better night vision than Dante, or maybe it was another advantage of her specially created avatar for her job on Calypso. They proceeded slowly along the same path until they suddenly came to a deep chasm opened in the rock.
—I see a bridge. —Karina reported, turning to the left. —It's quite narrow, but I think we can cross it in a row.
The stone arch that spanned the chasm was barely three feet thick at the narrowest part, right in the middle of the chasm. Karina walked ahead holding Valkyria's reins while Dante held on to the poor mare's mane as she did her best not to look down. —Adventurer my ass. —He said to himself as he felt the warm wind blowing up from the depths.
—From the state of your clothes and... your let's say "sword", I see you've been testing the game all day. —commented the young pilot as she safely reached the other side of the abyss.
—I was taken on an expedition to one of the dungeons below the city of Jenne.
The young woman turned in surprise. —What do you mean, "they took you?"—Remember the girl we saved from that giant? —Dante asked. —I ran into her in the square when I showed up after we split up this morning. She introduced me to her group of friends and while I was at it... well... we went on adventures together.
The young woman frowned. —It's not good for you to make friends in the game. —She said in a strained voice. —Especially considering your position as an employee of Alpha Corporation. It wouldn't be...
—Ethical? —Dante replied, staring into the darkness that opened up in front of his horse. —I don't know Karina... The Director asked me to experience the game as just another player and that's what I tried to do all day long... but I can't shake this feeling of hiding who I really am from people either.
Karina continued to look straight ahead but Dante saw that she was nodding her head. —What about you? —asked the young strategist.
—About me?
—You say you don't like the game and I understand; after all you are part of the force as I once was. How did you end up in this place? You are an excellent pilot and your place should be in space, not in this video game no matter how realistic it is.
Karina shook her head. —I'd rather not talk about it. —she said.
—I'm sorry. —Dante apologized sincerely. —I shouldn't have asked something so personal... it's just...
—Is that...?
—Your flying. —acknowledged the boy.
—My flying?
—I felt that... you enjoyed it. —He said a little embarrassed. —There between those floating islands... the way the VF—4 flew between the obstacles and all that... there was something about the way you flew your plane that... I don't know how to express it.
Lieutenant O'Higgins paused and turned her head toward Dante. —Then don't.
—Huh?
—If you don't know the right words to express them...just don't say them. —He said. —It's better understood that way.
Dante smiled. —I understand," he said.
—We're here... I think. —The young woman turned to the front. —Look.
They were in front of two huge gates. Dante quickly calculated that those big leaves were about twenty—five meters high. —Ok no... we're not going in there. —The young man crossed his arms. —Whatever is behind those doors is twice the size of a Zentradi.
Karina approached the intimidating entrance and reached out a hand to touch the wood. Immediately the massive leaves began to open slowly as if of their own volition.
Dante sighed and unsheathed his sword. There was still something like ten centimeters of brittle metal protruding from the pommel. Maybe he could give someone a painful infection with a scratch from that thing.
—If there's a way out, it's this way. —Karina said sharply. —We can't waste any more time.
—Can't we just send a message to Duval? —asked Dante.
—Try. —replied the young woman,
Dante opened the interface and saw that all communication options, both messaging and notifications were disabled. —But what...?
—Apparently in this place all communication with the outside is cut off. —He explained. —It happened after we entered the cavern from that gorge we came through escaping from those guys.
—Not even you...?
—Not even me. —said the lieutenant.
The huge doors had stopped moving leaving an opening about two meters wide, enough for Valkyria to pass through comfortably. Nothing could be seen inside and gray mists began to drift out the door, as if the entire interior was covered by a layer of mist at floor level.
—Let's go. —ordered the young woman, taking the mare's reins. —Let's not waste any more time.
The two young men entered the dark room and suddenly the torches placed all around the walls of that huge cavern began to light up as if by magic.
—It seems that we have triggered an event of some kind. —Dante said as the light began to increase. —Get ready.
—Don't be so alarmist. —The young woman tried to calm him down. —Nothing is going to happen to us.
The mist grew thicker as they went deeper into the middle of the cavern and now it almost reached Valkyria's belly. The mare was the first to notice the presence in the center of the room and stopped immediately. Karina saw the silhouette a few seconds later —Dante.
—What?
—Don't get off Valkyria for anything in the world. —He said. —I didn't plan to do that even if you told me to.
—I wasn't going to do it even if you told me otherwise. —replied the young man. —What's the matter?
—Dragon.
—Dragon? —Dante raised his head and then the mists dissipated in a whirlwind.
The black Dragon's head was right in front of them, as if a dog was lying with its snout stuck to the ground and staring disinterestedly at its human masters. The two huge serpentine eyes were nearly two meters in diameter. Dante estimated that only one of those huge yellowish fangs protruding from the gigantic jaw was the size of body of that titanic creature was made of huge scaly plates of a material that looked like obsidian because of the dark glow it emitted.
—De—Deculture. —He exclaimed as his hand that held the sword began to tremble. That thing is not Zentradi—sized. —He said. —It's the same size as the Gol Boddole Zer of the combined Zentradi fleet. —he exclaimed.
—Not as big," said Karina. —But just as impressive.
The nostrils of the gigantic monster were shooting out jets of hot air that quickly dispersed all the fog in the place. Now part of the massive body could be seen, but the true dimensions were still hidden behind the darkness of the ceiling.
—He's not... going to attack us, is he?" asked Dante, pointing at him with the discarded sword.
—If he could definitely attack us, he would have already done it. —Karina answered. Apparently we have only activated a part of the pre—battle event, but the AI doesn't seem ready to start the fight, that means we are protected.
They both stood silently in front of the colossal head not knowing exactly what to do. The atmosphere was really strange.
—It's... beautiful in a way, don't you think? —asked the young woman suddenly.
Dante nodded. —I guess so. —He scratched his head. —Although I would use the word "majestic". Are there really players capable of beating this beast?
Karina looked at the huge dragon again and shook her head categorically. —I doubt it very much. —she affirmed. —Look at those scales.
—Compound armor. —The young man slowly brought the mare closer to him. —Besides, the arrangement of the scales is angled to increase the effective thickness of the armor against penetration of fragmenting ammunition... This thing is a damn war tank!
—A GU—11 could hardly penetrate armor like that. —The young woman observed, judging the appearance and thickness of the serrated plates. The 58mm GU—17s might have a better chance of penetration, but I wouldn't get that close to a beast like this to fire a Gunpod round. —he said.
—How would you defeat it? —Dante asked intrigued.
—A shot from a dimensional cannon from low orbit just to be on the safe side. —He replied with a smile. —Be careful Dante. —Karina warned. —You're getting too close.
The young man stopped the horse a few steps away from the huge mouth. He raised his head and saw his image reflected in the huge eye that seemed to look beyond where he was standing, as if there was nothing to see.
He saw a white horse and mounted on it he saw a pathetic warrior dressed in simple peasant clothes in whose hand the remains of the sword looked more like a charred stick than an edged weapon.
—That's not me. —Dante glared at the reflection in the dragon's eyes. —It is a false image, false as this place, false as this dragon.
He reached out his sword hand and touched the huge tooth with the remains of the charred blade. What was left of the blade cracked and fell like a small shower of ash at Valkyria's feet.
The dragon did not move.
—What the hell are you doing? —the young woman scolded him. —Stop playing with that thing and let's get out of here.
Dante put away the pommel of his useless sword and pulling the reins made the mare turn around. —I'm sorry. —He said. —I think I'm starting to hate this game too.
Karina sighed and taking the reins from Dante's hand led Valkyria to the side of the huge jaw. —Let's look for a way out through the back of the cave. —He shook his head. —There must be one.
The young man nodded silently but then a nearby glow caught his attention. —Look at that! —he exclaimed.
Beneath the dragon's body was a mountain of coins and gold pieces. Jewelry, weapons and armor, works of art of all kinds, from exquisite sculptures of all kinds of precious metals to the most incredible and delicate magical objects, many of which possessed that spectral aura around them that denoted their incalculable value.
—With a treasure like that, I wouldn't be surprised if sooner or later someone would try to defeat this dragon. —Dante commented. —But... It can't be! Those are...!
—FOLD quartz. —said Karina, stopping. —But I've never seen crystals of that size.
Underneath the monster's huge armored plates large FOLD crystals glowed, emitting a scarlet light that turned the surrounding gold blood red. —Look at the optical effect around the larger crystals. —The young man pointed out. —There's a whole dimensional interference phenomenon going on right there under the damn dragon... no wonder there's no way to communicate with the outside from here. Do you know anything about these kinds of crystals? —he asked, turning to the Lieutenant.—They are a material of incalculable strategic value for defense. —replied the young woman. —It's some kind of stable form of superheavy quantum if I remember correctly.
—The new energy cannons are based on the architecture of these crystals. —Dante added. —And here they use them as energy sticks for magicians.
—I don't know anything about that. —I don't know anything about that," said Karina, pulling on Valkyria's reins again. —Let's keep exploring this place.
They continued to move along with the huge dragon towards the bottom of the cavern. The huge rock wall curved upward and was lost in the darkness. If there was an exit to the outside at the top of the cavern, not even the moon or the stars were visible from there.
—There is no way out. —There is no way out," said Dante, looking up at the huge granite boulders that towered dozens of feet above them. The only way out of this place is the way we came in.
The young woman stopped and looked around. —Maybe we can go back to that stone bridge that crossed the abyss... if we follow that crevice in some direction, maybe we'll find a way out.
—Or maybe we'll be lost forever under this mountain. —said Dante. —What if we just disconnect and call Duval with our Pads? It's not like we're trapped inside the game, right?
—The Director's orders were to take your avatar back to the Macross. —said Karina. —No change of plans.
Dante scratched his head. —I guess it's going to be a long night... Hey... Feel that?
The young woman automatically went on guard and to Dante's surprise he watched as she pulled an automatic pistol from under her tunic. —Something is happening.
Now the vibration was felt throughout the cave. It was like the beginning of an earthquake, but the rumbling was not coming from under his feet, it was as if the air itself was shaking violently.
—Dante, look out! Behind you!
The young man crouched down and buried his face in Valkyria's mane. The mare for her part immediately recognized the danger and jumped aside just in time.
Something massive moved next to where they stood, as if the darkness took shape and became solid as rock itself, or rather, obsidian.
The dragon's massive tail swung like a whip and struck the rock wall with titanic force. The stones exploded with a thunderous roar and the huge wall cracked into a thousand fragments that leapt in all directions.
—Are you all right? —exclaimed the young woman as she shielded herself from the falling stones. —Are you hurt?
—I'm fine. —said Dante, luckily still on the back of the agile mare. —Valkyria protected me just in time... Was that the Dragon? Did it try to crush us?
—I don't think so. —Karina put away her weapon again. —Look.
The dust was dispersing at that moment and they could see a huge dark hole where the solid rock wall was before.
—That's...
—An exit. —said Karina turning to Dante.