Resonance of the Abyss

[Kaltain]

When Vesna left, we decided that going in that slum area won't do us any good. So, to preserve both Vesna and our sanity, we should look for some different place.

We roamed around the sector, this place is barren this much was evident already but besides the slum area. There isn't much here, no signs of life whatsoever.

The terrain is filled with algae and tall grasses, they were never taken care of, you could even clearly see the spatial portals without any obstruction.

That showed the amount of desertness here, still we wandered around to look for a path.

"Kaltain, don't you think this place is strangely confusing? It's like a maze, which is intentionally made to trap people."

He looked like he was really thinking deeply about it, to be honest I was also feeling that something is different here, something eerie and interesting…

"I will be blunt, yes I do, this place has an eerily similar structure. This can't be a coincidence."

He gave me a nod of approval without looking, he crouched ruffling some leaves on the ground.

"Notice these leaves, they are placed here. There is not a single tree in this vicinity with leaves like these, if you want to argue about wind then you should know that from the time we arrived. Wind currents have been mild at best."

He was right about it, wind couldn't have transferred these leaves especially at such an exact place. But the bigger question is why would someone want to trap people.

"I know what you are thinking Kal, this isn't as simple as kidnapping for ransom. People here aren't moronic enough to do that, they are criminals and one thing about them is mostly likely always true is that, they are smart."

I nodded my head, if they are moronic enough to do that, then the rest of the sector people will stop them cause life is more important. Maybe they could get some benefits saving someone from upper levels who knows.

"What do you think then? What's the reason, any guesses."

Cause I do have a lot of those, for once it could be because of some unknown experiment they are doing here funnily enough maybe someone from upper levels would have even helped them.

Ofcourse, there could be normal reasons such as spite, hatred, and jealousy. People are just that petty, easy to manipulate and to use. Maybe some madlad will be leading them to do a rebellion for all we know.

"Kal, you have guessed it alright. Still as you don't want to speak, I will reiterate it. People here are doing some illegal things for sure, and that's the reason for the combined breach of the portals. It's happening in sector 56 and it will happen here too, maybe that's the reason Junia couldn't drop us there."

You knew? That was a bluff at best, despite that it was a good bluff. I should give him a point, I overlooked the breach part. Maybe I have gotten rusty.

"Or maybe it's a test of some kind. It could be that too, Madam Larrisa is known for unconventional ways of doing things."

He slightly tilted his head, his brows furrowed for a second. He didn't know about her reputation, now that's surprising.

"If it's a test, then we better pass it with flying colours. For the time being let's find where they are doing their experiment."

He shrugged it off as matter of fact, maybe I should try to compete with him. Let's see who gets to the core of this mystery.

...

It was past 2 pm, and we both didn't find any clues. At least not from outside.

So, we finally made the decision to enter the slums. Reasoning that Vesna should be chill by now.

Entering the slums, my nose got attacked by the various disgusting stenches around here. It was seriously a miracle how these people lived here.

I was holding my nose for dear life, whereas a certain someone was not affected by it at all. Has he been here, maybe he is.

"Don't be overly dramatic, it's not that bad. The stench here is of polluted water, rotten flesh and creature carcasses. Don't act like you haven't disposed of a fair share of those creatures."

He was right, I was being overly dramatic. The stench was bad but not that bad, even so that doesn't change the fact that he is slightly different. He has some history in the slums, not a good one at that.

I was grinning in my mind, yet maintained the disturbed face on the surface. He likes to read facial expressions, it's fun playing him in his game.

He usually picks my fake expressions but there are times he falters too. He is a fun guy to be with, much better than those simps at college.

Those bastards don't even try to compete with me, having no equals is a curse itself. Takes the fun away from being in a fight.

Ignoring that, people here are also not so different, at college they try to butter me because they know my strength here. These people are actively being hostile against us, because they think they are better.

I don't even know, should I laugh at them or humanity as whole. They have the same trait of being a moron.

...

We wandered around here too, except for the intense gazes of these native people we didn't encounter anything else.

At this point their almighty and high type gaze was irritating me, if we weren't on a mission. I would have done something worse.

"Kal, Have you noticed that Vesna is not here? Do you think she found a way to the next sector or…"

"She found the place where their experiment is being conducted. I think it's the latter."

He nodded in approval, before continuing.

"We have checked every alleyway and corner here, so the last thing which remains is…"