Chapter 118 The Encounters

Evernya rolled toward the wall despite her mind screaming for her to stop. Ignoring her instincts, Evernya gave a light twist to the throttle, shooting her toward the wall before she could change her mind.

A second later, she found herself in a long tunnel with a slight incline. Upon seeing nothing in her way within sight, Evernya tucked herself into the fairing and opened the throttle, causing the front wheel to jump off the ground for a moment before the motorcycle’s stability system kicked in, keeping her planted.

A smile spread on her face as she shifted through the gears in quick succession as her new toy rapidly accelerated. A few seconds later, Evernya glanced down at the readout, causing her eyes to widen at her current 300 kilometers per hour speed. “How is this small bike so fast!?”

“Mana engines, especially this one, are much more power-efficient than those dirty internal combustion engines of earth. Your motorcycle has an engine of similar size to a 200 cc internal combustion engine but produces around 500 hp and 450 pounds of torque with options for upgrade. Plus, your motorcycle only weighs 75 kilograms, putting your total weight at 100 kg, greatly helping your speed,” Kya explained, enjoying her host’s excitement.

Evernya jerked the motorcycle in shock, forcing the stability system to kick in, saving her from crashing at over 300 kilometers per hour. “How the hell do I have traction!? A 200 plus horsepower 250 kilograms Super Sport bike can do a burnout in second or third gear yet here I am sitting in third, quarter throttle perfectly stable.”

“Do you think your parents would let their sixteen-year-old on a 500 hp motorcycle without proper safety features? When you were adamant about getting a motorcycle instead of a car for your sixteenth birthday, your parents had this beauty custom-made. They even added the self-repair function in case their teenage daughter found a way to crash it, which alone quadrupled the price. As for why such a light and powerful bike is so stable, that’s a combination between grippy but nearly indestructible tires and a groundbreaking stability system automatically balancing out the motorcycle.” Kya revealed.

“This is the previous me’s motorcycle?” Evernya questioned.

“Yes, as I mentioned, the motorcycle was your sixteenth birthday present. I don’t have data on your seventeenth or nineteenth birthday present, but your eighteenth was Nekomata, also specially created for you according to your preferences.” Kya replied.

Damn, my parents must’ve been rich. If current enchanted weapon prices are anything to go by, I doubt Nekomata came cheap, and there is this motorcycle which probably costs a ton. That’s not even counting the specially made fabric they had invented for me. I feel like I’m profiting from another person’s loving parents, but at the same time, they are my biological parents too, even if I don’t remember them. Evernya thought as she approached the end of the tunnel.

A few minutes later, another dead-end came into view, but this time she knew what to expect. Evernya slowed her motorcycle down to 30 kilometers per hour as she coasted through the wall without hesitation.

The moment she passed the wall, bright light and scorching hot heat blasted her, forcing her to skid sideways to a stop on the sandy ground. Her eyes contracted into vertical slits as they adjusted to the outside light.

Evernya took a breath, only to cough violently upon inhaling the corrupted mana. As she swayed, overcame by lightheadedness, her motorcycle’s stability system kicked in, keeping the bike upright. “As I thought, your body is rejecting the changed mana, but it seems to be adapting at least partially,” Kya commented while monitoring her host’s body.

As Kya stated, Evernya’s coughing died down five minutes later, replaced with short strained breaths similar to someone with lung problems. “Drink some mana. It should help.” Kya suggested.

While gasping for breath, Evernya summoned a jug of mana directly out of the crate into her hand. Wasting no time, she popped the lid off and chugged it all in one go. Evernya dropped the empty jug onto the sandy ground and sighed in relief. Like someone using an inhaler during an asthma attack, Evernya’s breathing calmed to a slightly weak but manageable cadence.

With a groan, Evernya stumbled off her motorcycle and fell onto her back on the hot sand.

After basking in the sun for several minutes, Evernya asked, “How long do I have until I can’t breathe again?”

While looking down with a worried expression, Kya replied, “I don’t know none of my programming prepared me for mana corrupted almost beyond recognition. I thought the samples I took from you were bad, but it is a lot worse than I thought. It’s like someone tried to rewrite the basic code of mana, but did so in a brutish way. In the short term, I think you can survive here, but I don’t know what the long-term side effects could be. I’ll try my best to give you a warning ahead of time, but even I have limits.”

“There’s nothing we can do about it now. All I can do is move forward.” Evernya stated before forcing herself to her feet.

Evernya scanned her new surroundings for the first time, finding nothing but sand in all directions. Even the way she came appeared invisible, buried under mounds of sand. “Any idea which way we should go?”

Kya spun in a circle taking in taking in their surroundings before responding. “I would suggest traveling northwest. The corruption worsens in that direction, which I assume is probably towards the center of Sespina. From your map, the southeast section of Sespina was a desert-like climate hinting at our location, meaning if we travel northwest, we will eventually stumble upon the middle ring and a tier 2 city.”

Evernya turned in the direction Kya pointed instinctively, scrunching up her nose. “If you say so, I would rather try my luck at finding a Tier 3 city in the other direction, though if I remember the map right, this section of Sespina only has a few Tier 3 cities. If you’re wrong about our location, I can always follow my bond to Aya, which is also to the northwest, though that just proves our location even more unless she left the area near Druth.”

Reminded of her mate, Evernya contacted Aya through their bond. “Hey Aya, I’m on my way back from somewhere in southeast Sespina. I’ll know more once I find a city.”

There was a several second delay before Aya responded in a professional tone devoid of emotion, “Aya knows, Aya will wait for Evernya’s return.”

Taken aback by her mate’s response, Evernya questioned, “are you okay? You sound unhappy.”

“Aya is fine,” Aya replied before cutting their telepathic communication.

Is she mad at me? Sure, I disappeared for a month, but it was hardly my fault. Actually, scratch that. Most of it was my fault, but still, shouldn’t she be happier that I’m returning? She knew I was alive the entire time, at least I think so. I could still feel her just not communicate, so I’m assuming she could too. I guess I won’t find out until I get back since she doesn’t seem very talkative at the moment. Evernya thought as she jumped on her motorcycle, now more eager than ever to return.

Evernya shifted down to the first gear before letting off the clutch to engage the engine. Careful of the soft sand, Evernya feathered the throttle as she turned to the northwest. Her rear wheel slipped a little before finding grip as she rode forward between sand dunes.

The next hour passed with Evernya weaving her way between sand dunes, trying to avoid loose sand whenever possible. “Wouldn’t it be easier to fly? Or even run. I clocked myself over 300 kilometers per hour on foot before my evolution, and now I’m probably a lot faster.”

Leaving no room for argument, Kya thoroughly explained, “No, with the available modes of transportation, your motorcycle is the most efficient. Flying would be if it were for the fact you have zero practice with your wings, plus what if you have another breathing episode dozens of meters in the air? As for running, I would hardly consider you in the right condition for long-distance travel. Plus, I doubt you could move much faster in the sand on foot.”

“Even with perfect conditions, traveling by vehicle is much more efficient than running. Do you have any idea how many mana jugs you will go through running for several hours? With optimal efficiency of using your full mana like you were on your chase after Meira, you used hundreds of smoothies. Even though your mana capacity is high at several thousand liters, you waste most of it by converting it down to a usable mana grade. I would say you waste ninety percent of your mana with each use. For example, you would probably use a thousand or more four-liter mana jugs to cover the same distance you did chasing after Meira with your current sealed state. That’s not even considering the extra mana jugs you will need to offset your rejection to the corrupted mana.”

Surprised by her AI’s assertive explanation, Evernya said, “I understand, with my limited store of mana jugs, even if it may take longer, riding my bike is probably the best option. It’s handling much better than I thought it would almost like it’s a dirt bike instead of a street bike.”

“With enchanted tires, you could probably ride straight up one of the sand dunes, though it’s more efficient to weave around them as you’ve than doing,” Kya stated.

A few minutes later, Evernya found a narrow two-lane road leading to the northwest with a sign stating Tier 2 Desca 30 kilometers. I wonder why I haven’t run into or sensed any mana beast in the area. Is it because it’s the desert? Oh well, I won’t complain. Having to dodge mana beasts on top of sand dunes would be a royal pain. Evernya thought as she turned onto the road.

A few minutes later, just as she sensed the passage of the outer barrier, haphazardly built mud and stone huts came into sight on each side of the road. As she rode by, she spotted several seedy looking people covered in what looked like gang tattoos on their faces and necks.

Unfortunately for her, greed flashed in the eyes of the group stationed at the entrance to their slum community. Only a few seconds later, an old rusty truck rolled out, blocking the narrow two-lane road running through the slums of Desca. Evernya’s eyes widened as she slammed on the brakes, skidding sideways to a halt. Seriously? I don’t have time for this. Evernya grumbled as she climbed off her motorcycle to get the truck to move.

Before she could take one step, dozens of tattooed gang members surround her. Wonderful. Do these guys know Alpha Wittke? Or is the tactic of slowly surrounding someone supposed to be effective? The only thing they are missing is some big bad boss walking forward as the circle parts for him or her, but somehow I doubt a group of all men has a female gang leader.

As she predicted a moment later, the encirclement parted, revealing a buff bald tattoo-covered man standing in the bed of the rusty truck blocking the road. In a typical cliché fashion, the man threatened, “come along nicely girl, or we will have to take liberties with your body.”

With a bored expression, Evernya scanned the crowd, finding the strongest one only awakened stage 8, which was the leader. She turned her attention toward the supposed leader, asking, “I don’t have time for this, so could you please move out of the way for me?”

With an amused expression, the leader commented while subtly signaling something with his right hand, “how cute how you think you have a choice.”

The slums must be crappy if this cliché gang can pull this shit in broad daylight in the middle-of-the-road. Evernya commented mentally, glancing around finding the once populated area devoid of everyone but the gang members.

Taking their target’s scanning of her surroundings as a sign, she was looking for someone to help her or an escape the gang leader announced, “nobody will help you, little girl, now come with us without a fight, and we may reward you with clothes.”

A moment later, she felt someone grabbed her annoyed flicking tail, prompting an involuntary blast of force, propelling the culprit into her range limit with a grotesque splat. Evernya glanced over her shoulder with a look of annoyance to find a barely recognizable gang member flattened dead against her range limit. Whoops, I didn’t do that on purpose, but serves him right for daring to touch my beloved tail. What were they hoping to accomplish with coping a tail grab? Sure, it’s a bit distracting, but nothing incapacitating, at least not from a rough grab like that. I prefer my tail touching to be gentle. Wait, why did I just think that!? Focus more pressing issues at hand. Evernya returned her attention to her surroundings, only to find most of the gang members frozen stiff.

With a hopeful expression, Evernya asked, “Can I go now? I’m going to be late for an event if I don’t get going.”

After receiving no response, Evernya shrugged her shoulders before turning back to her motorcycle, storing it away before easily hopping over the truck, ignoring the fear-stricken gang. Jeez, one little accidental display of magic is all it takes to terrify a bunch of hardened gang members. Sure, it was a bit gruesome, but still wouldn’t they attack instead of freezing stiff? Interesting how I don’t feel any remorse for what I think is my first sentient kill. Probably because he deserved it. No one has the right to touch my tail without my permission! Evernya thought while she casually trotted down the street as if nothing happened.

After a few minutes, her breathing became strained, prompting her to drink another jug of mana before summoning her motorcycle to continue her journey.

While riding down the sandy gradually crowding street, Evernya asked Kya, “So do you know why they just let me go?”

While chuckling, Kya replied, “You killed a man a little weaker than the leader instantly. Of course, you would shock them.”

“Well, I didn’t do it on purpose, but I suppose it was worth it, seeing as though we are almost to Desca. By the way, can you pick up phone reception yet? I have a feeling we will be a bit late since it’s nearly 6:30 already.” Evernya asked as the tall sandy walls of Desca appeared in the distance.

Kya responded after a few seconds of silence, “Yes, but it’s too weak to make calls at the moment.”

Damn, I guess I’ll wait till I enter Desca. Evernya thought as she twisted the throttle, shooting forward past the slums.

Five minutes of speeding later, Evernya neared the gate to Desca. “This must not be a major entrance since it’s even smaller than Druth’s main entrance,” Evernya commented as she slowed down to the near-deserted gate. At the gate, Evernya found a scanner with a sign above it stating ‘scan Sespina ID here.’ She summoned her ID and swiped it on the scanner before storing it again.

After putting her motorcycle back into 1st gear, Evernya rolled through the gate, taking the first left following the directions to the portal station. A few minutes later, she pulled up to the curb just outside the Desca portal station. Ignoring the looks from passing people, Evernya hopped off her motorcycle and stored it away. Evernya glanced down at her current attire, leaving little to the imagination, but upon checking the time, Evernya continued on with a shrug. She strutted toward the steps, tail proudly raised, unaffected by the stares mostly directed at her natural armor, fortunately drawing attention away from her horns.

On the way up the steps, she peered at several shifters with silver collars going about their business. I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with the stupid collar anymore. At least I think so. The barrier at the gate didn’t block me, so whatever prevented me from entering Minea doesn’t anymore.

Kya Interrupted her thoughts with a worried tone, “My lady, an alert went out the moment you scanned your ID.”

Evernya froze momentarily just inside the portal station. “Alert? Why and how do you know?” Evernya questioned as she skipped the line in favor of the bloodline expedited booth just to the right.

In serious mode, Kya replied while simultaneously scouring Sespina’s network for anything pertaining to her host. “My primary purpose is to support my host in any way I can. Because of this, I have limited hacking ability. Normally I couldn’t do much more than infiltrate a personal network, but Sespina’s network security is laughable. As for the alert, I don’t know yet. I don’t see anything aside from an alert for your arrival. I’ll inform you if anything changes.”

“Thanks, I’ll leave you to it,” Evernya stated as she walked up to a sharply dressed middle-aged man stationed at the expedited counter. As she approached, she summoned both her ID and debit card in her left hand.

Evernya tilted her head up to make eye contact with the man, drawing his attention. At first, he frowned, but upon noticing a lack of collar, he immediately schooled his features. “Greetings, ma’am. What can I do for you this morning?”

“I would like to take the shortest route to Druth, please.” Evernya requested.

Without even looking at his computer, the man recited from memory, “I can route you through Tier 1 Samoon to Tier 1 Buran, then to Druth.”

Evernya winced at the number of portals prompting her to ask, “Can I buy the tickets for all portals here?”

The man flashed momentary confusion but answered anyway, “As a VIP, yes, you can.”

Evernya smiled, stating, “I’ll buy the tickets for your suggested route then.”

“Just a moment, ma’am.” Stated the man as he ringed up her order on his computer.

A minute later, the man returned his attention to his customer to direct, “Please scan your ID, Ma’am.”

Evernya pressed her ID to the provided scanner until a green light appeared. The man glanced at his computer screen despite not recognizing the name, continuing without delay, “Thank you, Evernya Draoraxia, your trip will be 3125 crystals.”

Damn, traveling by portal is expensive, but I don’t have time to travel by land. Evernya internally winced as she scanned her platinum debit card on the scanner.

After a green light flashed, the man handed her three tickets. “Will that be all, ma’am?”

“Yes, thank you,” Evernya replied before continuing around the counter to the right toward the security scanner.

Evernya stepped under the arch, finding a barrier blocking further progress until the scan completed.

Over worrying ten minutes, the arch still hadn’t finished its scan. “What wrong, Kya? The scan shouldn’t take this long.”

A moment later, the scan turned green, allowing Evernya entry into the portal floor. “Sorry, my lady, the scanner flagged you as an unknown entity, forcing me to hack in. I do not know what my interference will cause, so I suggest you hurry through the portals.

“Crap!” Evernya blurted out loud before rushing toward the portal marked Tier 1 Samoon.

Fortunately, no one blocked in her way upon arriving in Samoon, so she hastily went through the Buran portal to her right. However, when she arrived in Buran, several sharply dressed men holding mana suppressing shackles were waiting for her at the end of the incoming lane.

At first, Evernya didn’t move, but when the group of men approached her, blocking off her incoming lane, she panicked. With glowing panic-filled eyes, Evernya glanced behind her for an escape route only to find four more men exit the portal, boxing her in. “Run to the Druth portal!” Ordered Kya.

Evernya pumped as much mana as she could into her body, entering Physics aberration mode, propelling herself forward, covering the ten-meter distance between the men in front of her in a blink. Before they could respond, Evernya blurred past them, shooting her body as fast as she could toward the Druth portal.

By the time anyone reacted, she passed through the Druth portal, gasping for breath. Unfortunately, on the other side, several more men were waiting at the portal. “Where do I go!? I don’t think my body can handle another burst like that.” Evernya asked, breathing growing more ragged by the second as her already strained mana system reached its limit.

While monitoring her host’s unstable vital signs, Kya ordered, “Go to DIOM. They are legally independent, allowing you to take sanctuary as long as you are a student.”

With no other choice, Evernya pumped more mana into her abused body, shooting herself forward again, this time slower, but still too fast for the men to stop. She gritted her teeth, fighting to keep down a scream as her muscles tore, only supported by her mana.

Within ten seconds, she burst out of the portal station, flying down the stops before summoning her motorcycle. She hoisted her trembling body onto the seat before rocketing down the street, flying through the gears. Afraid to slow down for even a second, Evernya weaved through traffic, blowing through red lights at over 200 kilometers per hour.

Within a minute, she reached the gate into DIOM just as her body hit its limit. Forcing herself past her limit, Evernya shot through the gate, somehow unblocked by the barrier. Unable to hold on any longer, Evernya’s vision dimmed as she rolled to a stop on the side of the road just inside DIOM’s walls. She slumped forward over her bike’s tank as strength left her, only kept upright by the bike’s stability system.