CHAPTER X
Dianne discovered another set of archives, this time concerning the extraordinary capabilities of the Symbiotes. It was stated that when Symbiotes are cornered and require more power, there is a one-in-a-hundred chance they will merge into a single, complete entity. The most terrifying and plausible scenario was the birth of a Symbiote Destructor. If all Symbiotes managed to unite, a colossal creature would emerge, with a height potentially exceeding Mount Everest. Kyle read through the documents as well, sensing the connection between this threat and the end-of-the-world scenario; the Destructor could very well be the force that wipes out all of humanity. Alisa pointed out that these archives were created when researchers had first discovered the Symbiotes, meaning no one back then knew that Alpha Symbiotes could even be created. Kyle understood and returned the files to their place. Based on their findings in the archives, they gathered vital information: Symbiotes are immune to—and even thrive on—uranium radiation, are amphibious, do not strictly require prey as their primary targets are all living things, are wild and untamable, and are highly adaptive.
After processing this information, they prepared to head out and continue their journey. However, looking at the digital clock on the wall, they realized the sun was nearly setting, meaning they needed to rest first. Consequently, they explored the basement further until they found something to eat. In the kitchen area, they found several bottles of honey. While there were some canned goods, they were clearly spoiled, having been left for over twenty years.
After eating together, they found the dormitory area where the laboratory security guards were once stationed. Utilizing the facilities, they chose to sleep in the largest room together. Kaizo moved a bed from the adjacent room into theirs. This wasn't just for convenience; in case of an attack, it would be easier to handle the situation together, and their combined presence would help ward off the cold night temperatures.
The next morning, they gathered at the surface, feeling the warmth of the sun and the morning air. Kyle scanned the surroundings, observing the wind direction and the sky, leading him to one conclusion: it would rain that afternoon. Knowing this, Kaizo set about creating a new vehicle. This time, it was larger and featured a proper living space—a massive camper van modified with heavy-duty wheels and components capable of traversing any terrain. The vehicle stood about 2 meters tall, equipped with a bulldozer-like steel plate below the windshield, bulletproof glass, and the highest-performance engine ever built. Alisa was thrilled to see it. Kyle took the wheel again with Dianne beside him, while Kaizo and Alisa relaxed in the back, as the vehicle was designed for long-distance travel for four people.
The van traveled at a constant speed, moving through sandstorms calmly and without hindrance. Whenever Symbiotes appeared in the distance, Dianne, Kaizo, or Alisa used their rifles to engage them. Their journey continued in a relaxed and pleasant manner, as if their monumental task was merely a light mission.
As the wheels turned, Kaizo and Alisa attempted to make coffee inside. Kaizo organized the necessary chemicals to create an ample amount of coffee powder and sugar to balance the taste. He manifested a heating container and created water to be boiled. Once the water was hot, Kaizo held the cup steady while Alisa added the coffee powder and sugar. Then came the true challenge: pouring the hot water while the vehicle was moving, as the bumps could cause a spill. Alisa's hands shook with the fear that the hot water would miss the cup and burn Kaizo. Kaizo repeatedly reassured her that he could deflect the water before it hit his hands, but Alisa remained fearful. She eventually gave up, and they swapped positions; Kaizo poured the hot water while Alisa held the cup.
Dianne and Kyle accidentally overheard their conversation without realizing they were simply making a warm cup of coffee.
"Alright, Kaizo, I'm ready!"
"Okay, watch me pour it... slowly... and gently..."
"Aaaaah, that's warm~"
"Pleasant, isn't it?"
"Yes, can I try drinking it?"
"Yes, here, enjoy..."
"Mmmmmmmh, it's so delicious!!"
Kyle went silent. A panicked Dianne immediately opened the small partition door between them.
"Hey, can you two— oh, coffee?" The atmosphere turned awkward.
"Of course, what did you think we were doing?" Kaizo asked, confused.
Meanwhile, Alisa immediately made several more cups of coffee, making Kaizo realize she had only been pretending to be unable to do it. With an embarrassed laugh, Dianne accepted the coffee and took it back to the front seat. After closing the door, she shared the coffee with Kyle as he slowed the vehicle down.
A hill stood blocking their path, but that wasn't why they stopped. At the foot of the hill was a small, gaping cave. Kyle and Dianne wanted to investigate it. After relaying their situation, Charles asked them to focus on preventing the emergence of the Destructor. One method was to drastically reduce the Symbiote population. The cave they found was marked as a source of spore dispersal. Inside was a small tree with roots that could stretch across the entire American continent. Unlike other dispersal centers, this one was usually quiet because Symbiotes found no nutrients in such a cramped space. Since it didn't seem too dangerous, they asked Kaizo to provide extra plasma weapons and requested that Kaizo and Alisa wait outside to ensure no Symbiotes attacked from the exterior.
Kyle and Dianne stood at the cave entrance, feeling the dense chill from within. "There is nothing to fear," Kyle thought. Dianne swallowed hard and gripped Kyle's hand. They looked at each other and nodded. Finally, they stepped into the darkness, leaving Kaizo and Alisa behind.
To ensure Kyle and Dianne wouldn't be flooded out, Kaizo took the initiative to dig out the ground in front of the cave mouth, creating a long drainage channel. Alisa helped by setting up some dry wooden stakes and placing her wide red cloth over them as a roof, ensuring rainwater wouldn't enter the cave directly. After setting everything up, Kaizo practiced moving the vehicle closer to the cave mouth under Alisa's guidance. After some effort and being scolded a few times by Alisa, he succeeded. They then returned to the back of the van to rest, as the rain was indeed beginning to fall.
"Is it really okay to leave your favorite red cloth out there?" Kaizo asked.
"It's fine, not a problem. Besides, it dries quickly," Alisa answered. "We're alone again. To keep you from making the same mistakes as in your past, I should change the subject, right?"
"Please, don't make me remember that. Right now, I want to satisfy my curiosity about you. I want to get to know you deeper," Kaizo replied.
"De... Deeper?"
"Yes... But hey, why are you panicking? I just want to understand how your body works!"
"O... Oh, I see, hehe. In that case, go ahead." Alisa moved closer to Kaizo.
Kaizo lifted Alisa's leg, his hands feeling along the surface, trying to understand the texture. "Your skin became like this because you were directly caught in a massive explosion, right?"
"Yes, I told you. It's sad. Ever since then, I haven't worn anything except that red cloth. I found it in the vehicle my team and I used. Besides, I don't look vulgar in it, do I?" Alisa asked.
"Skin is skin. Even if from a distance you look like a broken gynoid, this scorched skin that looks like mechanical tissue still feels like real skin. And because you're infected, your blood feels warm like a real human's," Kaizo replied.
"Yeah, whatever," Alisa muttered.
"Can I see what's behind those visual aids?" Kaizo asked.
Alisa went silent, fearing Kaizo wouldn't like what he saw. However, out of her complete devotion, she asked Kaizo to remove them himself. Kaizo leaned in and pressed the button near Alisa's left ear. A whirring sound occurred as the device loosened. Alisa panicked and hugged Kaizo because she could no longer see once the device was removed. Kaizo was shocked to see the reality: the device was connected directly to her brain via cables passing through the cavities where her eyes should have been. Her face also appeared slightly concave, as if intentionally altered so the large device wouldn't interfere with her balance while moving.
Kaizo put it back on, but even though she could see again, Alisa continued to hug him.
"Did they do that with your permission?" Kaizo asked.
"If I had known my body would be destroyed like that, I would never have joined the Olympus military," Alisa explained, still refusing to let go.
"It's okay... I've seen many bad things. I don't scare easily. You're still beautiful, believe me." Kaizo returned the hug.
"Kaizo, I'm getting more afraid that you'll leave," Alisa said.
"If we fail, the goddess will fetch me and take me back up there to be sent home. But if we succeed, I'm allowed to stay as long as I want. No one wants to fail, right?" Kaizo replied.
"Will you give up on your love in your original world?" Alisa asked.
"I don't want to lose," Kaizo answered.
"Then, take me there! I don't mind even being your concubine!" Alisa pleaded.
"Here we go again. You're the third person to ask for that. Won't you be jealous?" Kaizo asked, though he already suspected the answer. Alisa confirmed she wouldn't.
"If that's what you want, maybe we can think about it later. For now, help me save your world, and we can figure out the rest together." Kaizo's answer wasn't exactly what Alisa hoped for, but she felt he was serious—a sign that he was considering it, even if he needed time.
Meanwhile, inside the cave, Dianne and Kyle were navigating a rocky passage far from the reach of light. Darkness enveloped everything, hiding the true appearance of the cave walls. There was the sound of dripping water and a heavy wind that created a deep sense of dread. Using the faint glow from his plasma rifle, Kyle led the way. Unbeknownst to him, as Dianne tried to follow, she bumped into something. Both were startled. Instinctively, Dianne grabbed Kyle's hand and ran forward as fast as she could. Without knowing what was happening, Kyle followed, his mind racing with theories.
"BOOOOM!"
A massive explosion occurred, creating fire and a powerful blast. Pebbles flew, and dust surged everywhere, knocking both of them unconscious. Alisa opened her eyes, startled by the strange sound coming from the cave. Kaizo and Alisa woke up at the same time and looked through the window. They were shocked to see thick smoke billowing from the cave mouth, which was spitting out dozens of rocks.
"He... Hey, are they okay?" Kaizo stammered.
"We have to go after them!" Alisa replied.
They both ran in a panic, trying to reach Dianne and Kyle.
It didn't take long for Kyle to regain consciousness and wake Dianne. Fortunately, their weapons were intact. They used the faint lights of their gear to communicate. As the dim light illuminated their faces in the pitch-black environment, they found themselves staring at one another, frozen in the moment. Meanwhile, Charles—panicked because he had lost contact and Kyle's location signal—shouted for Kaizo. Kaizo was horrified to find that the path Kyle had taken was now blocked by solid, collapsed rock. Communication was impossible, and even creating an air hole seemed hopeless. The only solution Kaizo could think of was to blow up the entire hill, but Alisa flatly rejected the idea, as it could kill Kyle and Dianne.
"Kaizo! What's wrong with Kyle? He can't be tracked!!" Charles screamed over the comms.
"Calm down, hehe. The device is broken, we're fixing it, don't worry!" Alisa answered and immediately cut the call. Kaizo continued to strike his sword against the rocks blocking the path, even though he couldn't tell which way to go through the wall of stone.
Inside, Kyle and Dianne walked side-by-side. To conserve their breath, they tried to stay calm and focus on finding their target: the tree with roots stretching across the US. Kyle held Dianne tightly, fearing he would lose her. They focused on the search, foregoing communication to breathe properly. They looked at each other and smiled; in this condition, only calmness and warmth provided hope. They let the dim light guide their way and their love act as a shield.
Finally, at the end of the path, a red light appeared, illuminating the entire chamber. They saw a small sprout with a large seed on top. That seed was emitting the faint red glow. Dianne aimed her rifle at the seed, and Kyle held her hand to steady her. Kyle aimed, and Dianne prepared to pull the trigger. After exchanging a sweet smile, Dianne finally fired.
"ZEPP!"
A white beam shot from the rifle, and the seed shattered. The fluid that leaked out looked like fresh blood. The red light vanished, returning them to absolute darkness.
They realized there was no way out. They had nothing to break through the massive rocks blocking them. Even if Kaizo could, they weren't sure he would find them in time. Kyle and Dianne sat together, allowing themselves to rest. Kyle calmed himself and began to speak, ignoring the risk of wasting oxygen.
"So, this is how the story ends?"
"It's okay, Captain. I'm happy."
"Is there anything we can do?"
"Maybe nothing."
"We can do anything now."
"I was thinking the same, Captain—no, Kyle."
"You called me by my name, Dianne."
"Hold my hand, don't look away, Kyle."
Dianne slowly moved her face closer and closed her eyes. Kyle followed suit, their noses touching until they felt each other's lips.
"BOOOOM!"
Another explosion occurred from the side of the cave, but instead of adding darkness, it brought a brilliant light. The glare blinded them both, blurring the figure standing there. Hair and a cloak fluttered in the wind as the figure held onto the side of the opening to avoid falling.
"Thank goodness!!! You're safe!!" Alisa had arrived, collapsing in relief. Kaizo arrived and immediately checked on Kyle and Dianne, but seeing Alisa crying, he tried to comfort her. The sight made Kyle and Dianne laugh; the hope they had been waiting for was their own friends.
The four of them laughed at the moment that had nearly separated them, until their laughter faded into the sound of thunder and the heavy rain of that night.