OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 107: Newcomers II



With a deep breath, Emir drew Aether from within him, letting it flow through his body and towards his outstretched hand.

As the streams of Aether coming from the runes and his hand met, a sudden rush of information flooded his mind.

He could sense the energy of the Arcanists who had created the runes, and the intricate patterns that they had etched into the metal.

Images of the war of humans against monsters that had ravaged the galaxy flashed through his mind, along with a sense of sadness and loss.

A vision of an enigmatic being....

No, it was a voice, a voice that exuded godhood flashed in his mind, whispering a few words that he couldn't understand.

But amidst the chaos and confusion presented, there was also hope.

A vision of a better future that was created by Marcus Aurelius and a message came along with that future.

{Marcus Aurelius, a name that will forever be etched in the history of the universe. He was a man who dedicated his life to uncovering the secrets of the universe and exploring its vastness.}

{It was his discovery of Aether that changed the course of history forever.}

{As an Arcanist, he was able to use his knowledge and skill to imbue the runes with Aether, unlocking many possibilities that were once thought impossible.}

{His legacy will live on for generations to come, inspiring countless others to push the boundaries of what is possible.}

{His unwavering dedication to the pursuit of truth and knowledge is a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the potential that lies within us all.}

{As we look upon his statue, we are reminded of his incredible achievements and the impact he has had on the universe.}

{Marcus Aurelius will forever be remembered as a pioneer, a visionary, and a true hero of the cosmos.}

{And if you're interested, there's a secret memorial room dedicated to him located in this library.}

{It's hidden and only accessible by celestials such as yourself. It's a place where you can pay your respects to one of the greatest minds in the history of the universe and perhaps find inspiration for your own pursuits.}

{However, accessing the memorial room is not an easy feat.}

{To enter, you must first input Aether into the runes surrounding the statue in a specific order.}

{Once the correct sequence is entered, the statue will move, revealing a hidden hole.}

{Descending the ladder will lead you to the memorial room, where you can pay your respects to the great Marcus Aurelius.}

{While the process may seem daunting, it serves as a reminder of the level of dedication and intelligence required to achieve the great feats that he accomplished.}

{It is a testament to the fact that knowledge and progress must be earned through hard work and perseverance and that the reward is often worth the effort.}

Emir chuckled as he thought:

'Nothing is ever easy, huh.'

[Lyra I'll send you all the information I just got, accept it.]

[I already did, do you want to wait for them to leave before going down?]

[Of course, I ain't sharing. And we both don't want me being able to use Aether to be known.]

[Understood, now come here, you've been at the statue for too long, they might get suspicious.]

[Yep, yep, coming!]

Just as they ended their conversation, Emir approached the group and saw that they were still searching around for anything worth taking, achieving nothing noteworthy so far.

As he stepped next to Kiera, he asked:

"Any luck?"

She looked at him and sighed.

"Nothing much as expected, but at least the monsters aren't crowding the ruin, and wow... This place still looks amazing, even after this many years. Ruins are a special place, aren't

they?"

With a laugh, he replied:

"Yeah, a beautiful place to die indeed, those cleaning drones sure are a nice piece of tech, though, without their heavy lifting, this ruin would be filled with guts and blood."

"True, and by the way, you found anything?"

"Unfortunately not, I was just admiring the statue for a little, a sign of respect, you can say."

She stopped what she was about to say and stared at him, wide-eyed.

He chuckled, noticing her reaction.

"What? You thought of me as a barbarian who only knows how to kill?"

Kiera waved her hands on repeat as she said:

"No, no, well, actually, yes, not a barbarian per se, but you get what I mean! Right?!"

Emir grinned.

"I get it, I get it, don't worry, just playing around, anyways-"

Веер! Веер!

Cutting him off, his information gathering device sounded a warning.

Emir's senses heightened as he accessed the radar in his heads-up display, detecting a group

of hunters rapidly approaching their location.

The blip on the screen indicated two groups, each consisting of six individuals.

Instinctively, his hand reached for his Aetherstorm Launcher, his grip tightening around the weapon as he swiftly shouldered it.

With a focused gaze, he aimed the launcher in the direction of the entrance, ready to unleash a torrent of Aether at a moment's notice.

"Get ready, tell your people we've got company, you know what to do." He said to Kiera, his eyes never leaving the gateway.

She nodded briskly, her gaze scanning the surroundings for any signs of her gang members.

Kiera then dashed towards them, her voice carrying a sense of urgency as she alerted them of

the approaching hunters.

"Everyone, gather up!" She called out, her tone commanding.

"We have incoming hostiles. Two groups of six. Prepare yourselves!"

Her gang members immediately sprang into action, their training kicking in as most of them

hid away while others formed a circle, their weapons at the ready.

Lyra rushed next to Emir and asked:

"Do we kill them?"

"We'll see, let's just hope they don't cause too much trouble, neither we nor them want ton/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

attract monsters to this place."

[Tell the manager to cover up the Aether from those runes, we don't want to take any

chances.] He added while gesturing to his side.

Lyra's nod was resolute as she understood his signal.

[Already done.]

She said while swiftly taking cover behind a sturdy bookshelf near him, her gaze fixed on the

entrance.

In synchrony, Kiera, Jack, Evan, Hiro, and Sarah followed suit, finding their own vantage points behind scattered bookshelves.

Their weapons were steady in their hands, fingers poised on triggers, as they awaited the impending arrival of the opposing group.