After all the trouble that we had gone through to reach this cave, actually getting through it was...insultingly easy. The number of creatures we had to cut down was paltry compared to what had been in the Tek Cave on The Island, to say nothing of the absolute insanity we had to endure getting into this cave. I expected half a dozen death worms to show up, but we only fought two. I wasn't exactly unhappy with this - we did have a lot of less than able people with us - but it still felt...weird having such a lull before the final confrontation.

Vivian seemed to catch on to my feelings. "Disappointed that we didn't get into a major fight?"

"...A little."

"Way I see it, that means that the actual battle with the Overseer will be a bit tougher. And maybe more enjoyable."

"...Excellent point. Think we'll be able to win this time?"

Vivian raised an eyebrow at me. "Do you really need to ask the question?"

"Nope. But I did want to see how you'd react."

Vivian threw me a blank look, but her lips slowly curled into a smile. "I see. So, are you ready to turn this thing into pulp?"

I'm fairly certain the grin I flashed was predatory. "Yeah, totally.

A few moments later, we reached the portal to the Overseer. After we restocked on supplies, we entered.

XXXXX

SOUNDTRACK START: ARK Survival Evolved OST - Overseer Boss Theme

The group arrived in an arena not unlike the one that housed the Overseer of the Isle. The one overseeing this ARK was already present, and within moments moved to fight them. Just like the one on the Isle, it transformed into another creature to face them. In this case, a Death Worm. Letting out a warcry, the beast descended into the sand.

If it were any other beast, it might have caused trouble for the gathered tribe, but their numbers not only included those who had fought great sand worms, but those who had lived with even larger sand dwelling predators. Even with the hordes of robots coming to its aid, the machine found itself unable to repel the horde of sand dwellers before it was forced to change forms.

This time it took on the form of a golem, using its nanites to create boulders to hurl at the nearby humans and other sophonts. This new form was unfamiliar only in the sense that none had seen it before arriving at the ARK, which meant that it gave them slightly more trouble to disable. Slightly. Even with its power and ranged attacks, the Overseer was soon forced to morph yet again.

For its third form, the Overseer appeared as a wyvern, taking to the skies and raining fire, lightning, and poison upon the tribe. Yet still this was not enough - fellow dragon riders, accompanied by those who rode moths and strange mechanical birds called gukko, took to the skies to bring the fight to this beast, while ground fighters unleashed a hail of steel, lead, and plasma upon the Overseer until it apparently fell down in defeat.

Surprisingly, though, the Overseer had one last trick: its apparently inert body morphed one last time, becoming that of the Manticore. And just when that seemed like it was all, several phoenixes suddenly entered the room and started raining fire upon the assembled tribe. For a moment, disarray filled the group, but it was not to last, and ranks were soon reformed.

A few minutes later, the Overseer was disabled, the surviving phoenixes had retreated, and the tribe celebrated their victory as they prepared to ascend to the next ARK.

XXXXX

(POV: Flameal15k)

Well, we did it. We'd beaten the Overseer the devs had never shown us. And now, as we hurtled around the Earth, we were headed for the Aberrant ARK.

...What was gonna show up there? Morlocks?

XXXXX

LOCATION: UNKNOWN

Far away, in a place beyond the notice of the tribe, a figure clade in shadow watched as the scene of the tribe's victory was replayed to them, eyes examining the leaders of the group with rapt interest.

"Well, that was certainly work well done."

"Do you truly doubt our organization's skills?"

The shadow clade figure turned to glance at the speaker - a being clade in white armor that obscured any details - gender, facial features, all were hidden in this outfit.

"No, I suppose not."

"I mean no offense. I am merely here to remind you that we cannot discuss direct rewarding of our agent until his task is completed - he must be present so that adequate terms can be offered."

"Fair enough. By the way, does your organization only refer to people by letters from the Human's Greek Alphabet, or are there other titles you use?"

"I'm only known as Upsilon because I consented to it."

"...I see. You may leave."

"Farewell. I will return when the business with this universe is handled."

Upsilon vanished through a portal upon completing his statement, leaving the client on there own...or so it seemed.

"So," spoke a new figure materializing from the shadows, "this kid's and his girlfriend are going to fix this mess the ARKs are in?"

"Yes, Rigel. The mess you and your friends started."

"Your friends?" spoke a third voice, this one feminine, as a strange serpentine being materialized. "Like it or not, you are our friend. And I think you have some culpability in this."

"True," admitted the first figure. "But I am trying to fix it."

"Cry me a river. You're just trying to cover for your own mistake. We told you exactly what we'd do. And we were the ones who messed with the element and the selection process."

"Arguing will get you nowhere."

"Fine, oh great and mighty Collector," spoke the female voice. "But I have to ask, how do you intend to reward this poor fool? Are you going to give him the nanobots that turn into the cool looking walkers?"

"OR do you intend to give him one of those Ring Worlds you acquired?"

"I will leave that up to him," answered the one known only as the Collector. "But I do have two things I would like to offer first."

Without allowing the other two a chance to speak, the Collector pulled up a pair of holograms before vanishing from the room. One showed the image of a strange looking piece of rubble, which appeared to have been shorn from a spherical entity. Somehow, it radiated with calmness.

The other image was of what looked like a tetrahedral pyramid. And unlike the rubble, it wreaked of malice.

XXXXX

AN: Just something to get back in the groove. Interlude chapter after this.

Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!