Volume 5 - Chapter 4-6ish
Added 2023-11-23 04:18:23 +0000 UTCVolume 5 - Chapter 4-6ish
(THIS CHAPTER IS NOW UNOFFICIAL AND LIKELY TO BE CHANGED)
(I wanted to show a vision of a "cog in the wheel" of Dark Void - however, I've recently decided to rework this chapter, and instead of showing one of the cogs, I'll focus on the leader of Dark Void instead) - edit as of 1/31/2025
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“There is nothing more valuable than knowledge.”
The Third Layer was vast. Countless islands floated above the Void, creating a nigh endless mix of land and empty space, spreading thousands of miles in every direction. Some islands were massive, teeming with life, while others were barren and shattered into dozens of smaller islets.
“There is no blade more sharp, no treasure more precious, no power more keen.”
On the surface of a rather nondescript island in the middle of nowhere… nothing of note could be seen. Just rock, rock, and more plain, gray rock.
“For too long, the 7 Layers have crippled Humanity’s pursuit of knowledge and truth.”
There was nothing interesting about this particular, 230-meters wide island… until you looked upon the side less travelled.
“The Human Race, as she now stands, is hopelessly outmatched and unprepared.”
On the underside of this floating island, hidden from plain view near the island’s center, lay a rather strange looking upside down hut.
“If there should be any hope for our kind to survive the future, we must ensure the free flow of information to all mankind.”
The hut was made from hardened gray wood, its hue blending in with the natural gray stone that made up the floating island.
“Creativity. Analyzation. Adaptability. Experimentation. Comprehension.”
The inside of this hut were about what one might expect to find in a wooden hut. A simple room, bereft of decoration, containing a set of chairs, a table, a luminescent rock that served as a light source, and a dark skinned woman reading aloud from a glowing piece of parchment.
“In the pursuit of these goals, our single greatest tool is that which has always been with us…”
Despite the hut being upside down, on the underside of a floating island, gravity within the hut appeared reversed, allowing the speaker to read without worry of falling into the Void.
“The collective minds of all mankind.”
Dr. Amahle Nkosi fought back tears as she continued to read aloud the fateful message, her eyes red with emotion.
“Decentralization shall be our greatest shield. Multi-level mass encryption shall be our sharpest sword.”
The woman’s voice shook as she briefly closed her eyes and let out a long, ragged sigh.
“If you are reading this message, then rejoice, for it means that Humanity has taken her first great step forward in the battle to overcome savagery.”
A small smile found its way onto Amahle’s face. Marco always did have a way with words.
“There is no cause without effect, nor is there effect without cause.”
She read, her voice catching.
“Before we can overcome, we must first understand.”
Amahle nodded, fists clenched as she looked down.
Change was coming, whether she liked it or not. Personally, she blamed the unknown Ability user that had infected several researchers with mind-altering ‘Seeds.’
The discovery that such a power existed at all had sent the entire Research Branch into a frenzy, focused on developing networks that were impossible to compromise.
One thing led to another, and this was the end result.
Amahle’s amber eyes narrowed as she looked down, only now realizing that she had reached the final section of the glowing missive.
The tears she had held back for so long finally began to fall, unbidden, as she came to an abrupt, unwelcome realization.
It was time to say goodbye.
“Signing off on my final missive, this is Nobel Prize winner Marco Barone, former Director of the Dark Void Research Branch.”
“Signing off, this is Doctor Antwon Comtois, former Vice-Director of the Dark Void Research Branch — (Of course Marco found a way to bring up his Nobel Prize)”
“Signing off, this is Doctor Mei Won, former Chief Archivist of the Dark Void Research Branch — (There are 2 certainties in life on the 7 Layers - Death and Marco reminding everyone he won a Nobel Prize)
“Signing off…
Line after line, Amahle read them all, smiling at the personal notes each scientist left, until she found one name in particular.
“Signing off, this is Physicist Blake Winters, former Chief Quantum Engineer of the Dark Void Research Branch — (Amahle, now that we’ve all parted ways, I can finally speak my truth… Theoretical Physicists are just Mathematicians in disguise)
Amahle giggled despite herself, though her smile soon faded.
The comrades she had dedicated multiple years of her life to, countless true friends of like mind, one and all incredible scientists and researchers that represented the very best Earth had to offer…
‘I might never see them again.’
The Dark Void Research Branch, established by the Purgatory Church during the Second Wave, had officially broken apart and scattered to the winds.
Amahle held the glowing missive in her hand and began to speak out loud, imbuing the magic parchment with Mana to activate its power.
“Signing off, this is Doctor Amahle Nkosi.” Amahle smiled as she saw her words begin to appear at the bottom of the missive.
“Former Lead Biologist and Chief Theoretical Physicist of the Dark Void Research Branch. (Eish, Blake! At least my branch of Physics isn’t famous for tossing dead cats into boxes)”
Amahle smirked as she saw her message fully appear.
She could already picture Blake angrily going off on a spiel about quantum superposition.
A few seconds passed in silence.
Slowly, the smile vanished from Dr. Nkosi’s face as she set the missive down and stood up.
On the gray wooden table, the magic parchment she had just placed down began to glow as the Mana she had imbued into it began to escape. Slowly, that lack of Mana caused the parchment to self-destruct, erasing any and all traces that remained.
She could have kept the parchment and waited to see if there were any other latecomers leaving their goodbyes, but ultimately decided against it. Now was a time for action, not delay.
Amahle’s eyes grew calm as she tapped on a small, white ring she wore on her left ring finger. A circular black sigil was imprinted on the bottom half of the ring, one that glowed faintly as her fingers touched it.
It was a Returning Ring, a special Limited Artifact that cost around 200,000 Points. Coincidentally, this was an Artifact Micheal had seen before, in the hands of Prime.
A flash of light overtook the hut.
Moments later…
Amahle vanished, teleporting away from the safe house as she began the greatest mission she would ever undertake.
On this fateful day, unbeknownst to the rest of the world, one of the Human Race’s single greatest achievements finally began its journey anew for the second time in Micheal’s life.
Slowly, bit by bit… the massive, universally known, decentralized information sharing group, Dark Void, officially began to take shape.
.
Comments
Please fix; 1) more valuable then(than) knowledge.” 2) expect to fine(find) in a wooden hut 3) the smile vanish(ed) from Dr. Nkosi’s
Timothy E O'Neal
2024-05-31 00:21:50 +0000 UTCThat is just to much change, Micheal would standout to much on the fate-radar. By giving out small notebooks to people that stands out, in this case Nirvana and Prime, enables him to hide his fate behind thiers. That is why Jay only can see Aaron, Bastien and Shin as threath and not Michael.
Fury777
2023-12-01 11:55:09 +0000 UTCExcerpt from Volume 2, Chapter 83 -------- It was a Returning Ring. A special Limited Artifact that cost around 200,000 Points, another thing Prime must’ve gained from an Irregular. This Artifact was reusable, but very rare. It allowed one to set a ‘Home’ that they could teleport to, as long as they were within a certain distance of it. With Prime’s Soul stat, he needed to be within 60 miles of his ‘Home.’ The Artifact could only be used roughly every 30 to 40 days, requiring at least that long to repair itself from the damage it took for forcefully ripping a person through space. If used again before it could fully recover, it would work, but would also shatter, and make obtaining another one extremely difficult.
Wiz
2023-11-30 17:40:08 +0000 UTCDiversity, in itself, is a relevant point in so far as all of Humanity coming together to face the greater threats at hand. Especially here, in the case of Dark Void, where we see researchers of all kinds and creeds working together for a greater cause. Dr. Amahle Nkosi, the character I chose to show Dark Void's perspective in this chapter, is a world-leading physicist from South Africa. She was Chosen, just like any other human dragged from Earth to the 7 Layers, and climbed up to the 3rd Layer with a small team of like-minded souls. As for the other part of your comment, I don't pay attention to either side of people that argue about "woke" or "not woke" things, nor does it effect my writing in any way.
Wiz
2023-11-30 17:28:32 +0000 UTCCan anyone remind me what the returning ring does again? Does it bring someone back to a predetermined spot (like a previous layer or something)?
EJ Borja
2023-11-30 06:57:33 +0000 UTCNot sure if he knows where any of the Dark Void members are. But it would be nice if he can pick up the spells and touch a few concepts thanks to meeting with them.
Corwin
2023-11-27 17:34:35 +0000 UTCLayer 3 shouldn't be safe. Layer 1 and 2 are. Since Cony isn't there anymore and isn't influencing them. Which leaves 3 and 5 as being unsafe. 4th Layer will depend on who comes in during the 37 days
Corwin
2023-11-27 17:11:06 +0000 UTCMichael does know about them right?! Meaning he can contact or meet them also, layer 2 & 3 are safe! cause crony has moved up or dhow to layer 4/5
Faust
2023-11-27 15:23:12 +0000 UTCI have read the chapter a couple of times since you wrote it. And my only thought is how do you want to tie in the researchers with the overall plot. It would be interesting to see them tie in with Michael in taking out Jay. Or Michael meeting up with them and getting all of the low to mid tier spells
Corwin
2023-11-27 05:19:52 +0000 UTCLess diversity would be nicer. Dont sell your soul to the woke mob.
Faust
2023-11-25 08:20:58 +0000 UTCAt least until the Nirvana Saint shows up
Potens Aquila
2023-11-23 05:55:50 +0000 UTCCool! I was just thinking that it'd be awesome if Micheal showed up and handed her a copy of Dark Void's research that he had transcribed from memory while in the First Gate...
Bob Hiler
2023-11-23 04:33:41 +0000 UTC
