Hello, How are you guys today? I am going tubing here in a bit and I thought i would knock out this chapter first. I'd like to thank the following people for their powerstones: rex_of_dreams, sbbd, Denise_Meister, ASURA69s, Meet_Dutta, Ben_Olds, Jandher, and Alconperez_15. Enjoy the following chapter!
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Preparation was key for an expedition into the unknown, especially one as treacherous as Subterranea. Before setting out, I meticulously gathered the right team. Exodus was my heavy hitter, an omega-level mutant with sheer brute force and psionic might that could flatten cities if left unchecked. Then there was Violet, my personal sword-wielding super soldier with all the deadly grace of a trained assassin, and Alice Prime, the original Alice from Resident Evil, who had been enhanced beyond human limits and was the leader of her legion of clones.
Knowing that Subterranea was a dangerous place with extreme environments, we needed specialized equipment. I used my fabrication ability to craft advanced headsets that provided night vision, low-light enhancement, and most importantly, adaptive lenses to protect our eyes from the blinding radiance of the fabled Valley of Diamonds. The last thing I wanted was my team getting flash-blinded by millions of sparkling gemstones reflecting light like miniature suns.
For supplies, we filled our flat-space pocket dimensions with everything we'd need: firearms, ammunition, explosives, medical supplies, and—because somehow my entire team had collectively decided they were cool—katanas. Apparently, sleek, razor-sharp blades were the weapon of choice for badass warriors across universes. Who was I to argue?
Rations were packed, and as an afterthought, I decided to bring along several cases of chocolate bars. They weren't just for morale. The native Moloids were known to trade information for small luxuries, and if there was anything I had in abundance, it was resources.
A detachment of Alices and a unit of my super soldiers joined us, rounding out the expedition force. They were enhanced with the Super Soldier Serum and the 24th Chromosome, making them peak human in every conceivable way. They wouldn't just survive down there; they'd dominate.
And so, with everything set, we descended into the depths of Subterranea.
The Long Trek
The journey began with us entering one of the many subterranean caverns leading into the underworld beneath the Earth's crust. The deeper we went, the more light became a luxury, the air turning thick and stale with the scent of earth, rock, and things unseen. Our night-vision headsets clicked on, illuminating the winding tunnels in eerie shades of green and blue.
The further we traveled, the more apparent it became that this was a world untouched by time. Giant fungal growths replaced traditional vegetation, their bioluminescent glow providing the only natural light. Strange, chittering sounds echoed through the tunnels, unseen creatures watching us from the darkness. Occasionally, we heard the distant roar of something massive—something hunting.
After several days of travel, we reached the Valley of Diamonds.
It was a sight to behold—an entire cavern where the walls, ceiling, and ground were lined with enormous gemstones, reflecting and refracting light into a dazzling spectacle. Without our adaptive lenses, we would have been blinded instantly. Even with them, it was overwhelming.
"This place is beautiful," Violet murmured, running a gloved hand along the crystalline wall.
Alice Prime, ever the pragmatist, looked unimpressed. "And completely impractical. You can't even mine these without causing a cave-in."
She had a point. While the diamonds were undoubtedly valuable, they were fused into the rock in a way that made extraction difficult. Still, the sheer scale of it was mesmerizing.
Moving past the valley, we finally encountered the first signs of civilization—Moloids.
They emerged cautiously from the shadows, their large, beady eyes reflecting our light. Small, hunched creatures with pale, leathery skin, they regarded us with curiosity rather than hostility. I could hear them whispering to each other in their guttural, clicking language.
Thanks to my mutant ability to understand all languages, their words were as clear to me as English.
"Outsiders… surface-dwellers… why do they come? Do they bring food? They do, we can smell it!"
I smirked and reached into my pack, pulling out a chocolate bar. Holding it up for them to see, I broke off a piece and tossed it to the nearest Moloid. The little creature sniffed it suspiciously, then took a cautious bite. Its eyes went wide with delight, and in an instant, the others surged forward, excited chattering filling the air.
"Looks like we made some friends," Exodus mused.
I handed out more chocolate, using the opportunity to ask for directions. "We seek Lachuguilla, the great underground city. Can you lead us there?"
The Moloids hesitated, then exchanged glances before nodding.
"Yes, yes! We know the way. But dangers lurk between here and there—great beasts, tunnels that collapse, rivers of fire!"
I grinned. "That's why we brought the big guns."
Arrival at Lachuguilla
With our newfound guides, the journey became significantly easier. The Moloids knew every hidden passage, every safe route, and most importantly, what dangers to avoid.
We fought off a few subterranean creatures—mutated lizards the size of trucks, bioluminescent centipedes with venomous fangs, and an ambush by Gortokians wielding weapons. None of them posed a serious threat. My team was too strong, too well-trained. Exodus alone could have handled half of them with a thought.
Days later, we finally arrived at the gates of Lachuguilla.
The subterranean city was awe-inspiring, carved into the walls of an immense cavern. Stone spires jutted upward, each one adorned with glowing crystals that bathed the city in an ethereal light. Bridges spanned across great chasms, leading to towering structures that seemed impossible for such a primitive race to construct. The streets bustled with Moloids, Gortokians, Netherians and other subterranean dwellers, all going about their lives.
And at the center of it all sat the ruler of this domain—the Mole Man.
Harvey Rupert Elder, better known as the Mole Man, sat upon a throne of carved obsidian, his beady eyes narrowing as he watched us approach. Short, hunched, and clad in a tattered green cloak, he exuded an aura of intelligence masked by eccentricity.
"So," he rasped, "the surface world has come crawling into my domain. Speak quickly, boy, before I decide to feed you to my pets."
I stepped forward, unfazed. "I come with an offer, not a threat. You and your people are builders, craftsmen, architects of the underground. I need your expertise to construct something great—a new civilization, one that will rival any on the surface."
Mole Man scoffed. "And why should I help you?"
I grinned, tossing him a chocolate bar. "Because I pay well. And because I think you'll want to hear what I have to say."
His fingers curled around the chocolate, eyes narrowing in intrigue.
This was going to be interesting.