Chapter 301: Decontamination

Words : 1301 Updated : Oct 3rd, 2025

Chapter 301: Decontamination Luca’s concern was growing as he monitored the state of their butler’s mecha. At this point, it was evident that the nanite ore used on the biomechas was paying off, as Sid and D-29 were barely affected by the spores. Meanwhile, Ollie’s weird addition to Kyle’s mecha had proven helpful in frying the clinging germs as the mecha continued pulsing with electricity. But Butler Gary’s mecha was different. They had only fixed the torso while experimenting on the mecha’s legs. They weren’t even done! Maybe it wouldn’t be this bad if they’d been able to finish everything. Luca could only swear to change up all the mechas he could get his hands on, provided they survive this ordeal. If that was possible. They broke through the last of the shifting ridge just in time to see the hoverbike dip, slipping beneath a glowing arch of tangled root-bridge. Bioluminescent fungal blooms flickered as the woman vanished into a narrow crevice between two jagged cliffs. Ollie was stunned because that dream about bungee jumpings seemed more like a premonition now. Only now, thankfully, he was inside a mecha. The mop watched as Xavier followed first, clearing the passage with a tight roll that made D-29 shriek internally, especially since it was going next. But Luca was hell bent on D-29’s untapped potential and continued peeling behind Sid while dodging snapping branches and thick spore clouds. And then, suddenly—silence. Not total silence, no. But the absence of pursuit. "???" The moment they breached the mouth of the hollow, the clamor behind them vanished like it had hit an invisible wall. D-29 stammered inside Luca’s cockpit. "Host! The entities closing in had stopped their pursuit." This should’ve been a good thing. But Luca followed Xavier into thinking that something that could stop all that must be one hell of a thing. Sure enough. They emerged into a cavernous dome of bioluminescent stone and shimmering, glass-like growths. The walls curved upward like the inside of a massive pearl, casting soft blue and green light that reflected off their mechas. And at the heart of it all lay a lake. One that seemed so untouched not even the shaking terrain outside managed to affect it. Strange crystalline flora bloomed around the edges, their translucent stalks gently humming with a low, ethereal resonance. It was like standing inside a music box someone had left open in a dream. The team hovered in a group, thrusters low and cautious, still keeping airborne to avoid further damage to the mechas. Luca’s breath caught. He was initially stunned by the look of this place, which made him feel like he was seeing far too many new things. But then he had learned to be more cautious now. "D-29, are you able to analyze if it’s safe?" "Not entirely host, as many of the things here are not registering with what I have on my current database," answered the little system, who got a taste of frustration that it had long seen on its favorite research materials. "Brother, I’m not sure about safe...but it was definitely clear of spores, save for what we already have on the mechas," Ollie muttered as he kept rechecking the values. Come to think of it, that was true. However, his curiosity peaked when the woman repositioned herself. Her hoverbike came to a smooth halt on a narrow shelf of tapered stone near the lake’s edge. She didn’t dismount. Instead, she checked something on her control console, adjusted the stabilizers, and revved the engine with a sharp inhale before driving straight into the lake. Yes, into the lake. The entire team gawked. "???" The water barely rippled as the hoverbike slipped beneath its surface with her still astride. "...Did she just—" Kyle began. "???" "She just dove in with the bike," Ollie confirmed, stunned. Even Sid was not expecting that kind of step, as he had been thinking about the possibility of an ambush the entire time. Seconds passed. Then, a shimmer rippled across the lake, and the woman emerged once more—her hoverbike still beneath her, glistening with droplets that seemed to neutralize every trace of glowing spore and corrosion. She eased the bike back onto the ridge, water gliding off the frame in rivulets. No moss. No spores. Then she pointed at them and then at the calm lake. "If you want to keep your mechas intact," she said, voice firm and no-nonsense, "in you go." For a moment, no one moved. Then Butler Gary came forward. "Young Lord, I’ll go and try it. After all, my mecha would end up corroded in a while anyway." "Butler Gary, please make sure your cockpit is airtight, and wear your protective gear!" Luca worriedly fussed over the butler. But he knew better than to stop him because the spores would likely do more irreversible damage if this continued. The party hovered, engines humming low. Two mechas were partly coated in spores that hissed faintly as they reacted to the ambient air. Then the mecha with odd legs decided to descend. A quick scan of the water showed no immediate contaminants or trap-like triggers. His descent was cautious and slow. The surface barely rippling. A subtle glow followed the mecha’s entry—like bioluminescent threads awakening. The water hissed and steamed around its corroded parts. But slowly, layer by layer, the corrosion peeled away—dissolving into harmless threads that curled upward like smoke. Ollie reacted, shocked at the results he was seeing. "Brother, the spores, it’s like they’re melting off!" While it didn’t fix the current damage on Butler Gary’s mecha, the fact that it wasn’t being overtaken by the spores alone was definitely better than nothing! "Captain, we’ll go next. I think my mecha would need the same treatment." Kyle stated as he surprised the blonde by putting back the helmet he had taken off earlier. "Make sure to wear this properly. And watch for anything seeping in, okay?" Ollie shifted in his seat, taking Kyle’s words seriously. But there was apparently no need to worry too much, as the same thing happened to the adjutant’s mecha. Soon, Xavier volunteered to go next, despite not needing to, telling Luca only to come once the biomecha showed acceptable results. "Luca," he called over the comms, "Stay here for now. I’ll go in first." "Okay...come back soon," Luca mumbled, but the worry was only half-masked. However, the nanite ore did not react violently to the water, and Xavier could finally call his wife over. Meanwhile, the woman stood nearby, arms crossed, waiting. She was far closer now. And had been clutching at her arms trying to stay upright as he watched that odd-legged mecha get submerged earlier. On the surface, it had been a simple sight—an older, moderately armored frame sliding into water, the hiss of spores retreating, the slow cleansing effect at work. But what she saw wasn’t just corrosion melting off. It was memory bleeding back in. That strange thing was absurd in design. But that leg...the lower paneling...the partial crest half-hidden by mineral scarring... It should be difficult to recognize it. Not unless they’d traced it a thousand times with their eyes closed. Not unless they’d knelt in that same bay, hands pressing metal warm from calibrations, anchoring a memory to a prayer. The woman’s breath caught in her throat. Her helmet stayed on. Her face unreadable. She didn’t speak. But she took a step back from the water’s edge. Her voice had been steady earlier when she told them to submerge. But now? Now, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to speak without shaking. Not because of fear. But because she wasn’t sure what she’d say if she asked his name and heard it said back. Not yet. This might just be her undoing.

Chapter 301: Decontamination

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