Damon's Ascension-Chapter 158: Sector 45’s Rule

Henry exhaled, letting out a low whistle. "Man, this place is a real piece of work. You got enemies who are your friends and friends who are your enemies."

Nicholas smiled grimly. "Welcome to the Chaos Realm, Henry. Here, every alliance is a negotiation, every smile is a wager, and every safe zone is a potential battlefield."

He leaned back, fingers steepled again and legs crossed in a gentlemanly manner. "And if we’re the privateers in this war, then let’s make sure we’re the best ones this universe has ever seen."

Damon gave a small nod, eyes locked on the distant horizon. "Let’s move out."

The Normandy soon lifted up and out with a whirr sound, leaving the Safe Zone base under the watchful eyes of many parties. Copious greed shone in those eyes and many also set out at the same time, planning to set up their ambushes or tricks at key zones when this troupe came back.

The Fae’s immunity protocol flickered now and then on the crew’s VQD devices, an ever-present reminder of the ’chain’ that Rafia had deftly looped around their necks.

As the ship cruised low over the expanse of Sector 13, the tension on board was palpable. Every member of the Vanguard Team was at full readiness, eyes sharp and abilities primed.

They had come to expect danger at every corner now, especially after Safe Zone 13’s chaotic welcome party.

"Navigation stable. Path confirmed, atmospheric distortions are minimal for this Sector." Protizen announced from his console, his voice calm but heavy.

"Good, keep all sensors active for as long as possible. We are now playing a game of patience as well as in the midst of a battle of information." Damon replied, his tone low and thoughtful.

Felicia’s fingers danced over her wrist display, cross-checking system logs for anomalies. "No hidden Areas within the immediate route, it seems. The Oxen Raiders’ data is lining up with the official overlays. So far, so good."

Henry exhaled heavily, one hand rubbing at his forehead.

"Feels like we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop," He muttered sullenly, glancing sideways at Connor who was staring into the shifting horizon.

Connor smiled widely, though it didn’t reach his cold eyes. "Relax. At least here, we can see the shoe coming."

Levi cracked his neck and folded his arms. "We’d better. With all the Chaos Realm changes, who knows what’s lurking in the dust waiting for a reason to jump."

Yet for all their caution, Sector 13 yielded no immediate threats.

The journey to the east stretched on for a few days due to the limited speed, with an endless sea of amber dust as well as jagged rock spires being the only visuals down below.

Each kilometer ticked by with steady rhythm, the ship’s engines humming a constant and quiet lullaby that almost made one feel sleepy.

Every so often, they passed clusters of hunters looking to capitalize on the new rule or minor explorer teams just trying to eke out a living in the cracks.

Just as they were spotted by the Normandy, these groups of people were able to see the sleek and frankly attractive ship high in the sky as well.

But none dared approach.

Whether it was the cold glint of the Normandy’s visible weaponry - which still worked just fine in the Chaos Realm mind you - or the logo of the Prime Representative on the holographic screen or the lingering warning that they were now flagged under Fae immunity, no one moved to try their luck.

Some felt that now was not the time, and it was still too close to the Sector 13’s safe zone base, not understanding Rafia’s true motive. Others felt that this group must certainly be at their strongest right now, and it was best to wait for the Chaos Realm to inevitably beat them down a little before pouncing on the weakened bunch.

Protizen’s visor flickered, as he announced. "Sector 45 border approaching. Time to disengage local scan masking and get a fresh reading on the rule overlay."

Damon nodded, eyes sharp. "Prepare to release the Oxen Raiders at the perimeter."

His gaze drifted to the Minotaurs who sat in one of the rear compartments, tense and silent. Like pets being allowed on the couch after being trained, they had been allowed into more comfortable areas of the Normandy after basic competence and trust had been established.

Despite this though, they did not seem comfortable at all, for even with their relatively superior stats to the humans here, knowing the weight of each one’s ability made them feel like they could be lynched in seconds.

Gornash especially felt this, being someone who had an ability himself. Only an Ability User could understand the sheer horror of another ability users, and mere explorers could not fathom the gap.

The ship slowed to a hover near the towering white curtain that marked the border between Sectors. Its ghostly glow shifted like a living wall, its upper reaches stretching into the colorless sky.

"The Macro Rule for Sector 45 is about silence, according to the database." Felicia informed crisply.

The group activated their character panels and checked the rule to see the exact wording of this.

[Bright Realm Sector 45 Macro Rule: All sound is silenced.]

"Hmm, at least it’s not a movement cap or a kill-switch on abilities." Nicholas murmured with a bit of relief.

"It’s a severe limitation which weakens one of the five major senses, especially for us humans who have strong Mentality, but we’ll manage." Damon agreed.

The ship drifted closer to the border, and Damon gave a slight nod to Protizen.

"Release them." He instructed calmly.

In the bridge area, the force field locked around the minotaur group shimmered and receded, allowing the Oxen Raiders to stand from their seats.

Gornash, his broad shoulders tense, stepped forward first, followed by his companions. They exchanged wary glances but didn’t immediately move.

"Your contract is complete, you’ve guided us through Sector 13 without incident. Your service is acknowledged, and your lives are yours to spend however you wish." Damon said evenly, his voice carrying the weight of absolute command.

Gornash blinked, visibly relieved. "We... appreciate that, Noble Sir."

He hesitated but spoke, his voice low. "I feared you might decide we’d seen too much and... dispose of us."

Felicia crossed her arms. "We’re not in the habit of slaughtering the useful. You earned your keep."

One by one, the Oxen Raiders inclined their heads and Drogar actually managed a small grin.

"Well, I guess humans aren’t all bad." He whispered to himself under his breath, which was heard by all the humans with high Mentality stats.

Bask shifted his weight, his heavy boots scraping the deck.

"May the Chaos Realm treat you fairly." He said, though his tone suggested he didn’t believe it would.

Gornash met Damon’s eyes with something that might have been respect... or at least a grudging admiration.

"If you ever need a local’s insight again, we’ll remember this." He stated with a solid nod.

Damon inclined his head slightly. "And we’ll remember your service."

With that, the Normandy’s external airlock cycled open, and the Minotaurs - no longer prisoners nor guides - stepped out onto the border sands of Sector 13, their figures dwarfed by the colossal white curtain ahead.

As the airlock sealed, Felicia let out a slow breath.

"I almost thought they’d try something." She remarked quietly.

"They knew better, but the real trials begin now." Damon replied, his expression hardening as he turned his gaze forward.

"Especially for me." Kyle commented as he rubbed the top of his head with a wry smile.

Bane looked over with pity. "Yes, you ability has indirectly been severely weakened."

"Not... entirely." Felicia said thoughtfully, and Kyle turned his eyes to her with hope.

"Boss Lady, you have to save me! I don’t want to become useless like Henry!" Kyle begged, almost getting on his knees.

Henry threw his hands up in protest. "Hey! Rude!"

"Your ability is to control vibrations, not sound. Sound is merely the effect of vibration produced in the air, but it is not the only type of vibration." Felicia continued with an intellectual air, crossing her legs.

Felicia settled back in her chair, her fingers steepled in thought and she let the silence stretch just long enough for Kyle to begin sweating then finally spoke, her voice precise and calm.

"Vibrations are simply oscillations of energy. Let’s cover a few examples so you - and the rest of us - understand just how versatile your power can be." She lifted her chin slightly, her eyes brightening as her brain worked.

She began ticking them off with graceful fingers. "First: Mechanical Vibrations. These are the classic vibrations you’re most familiar with like sound in the air, shockwaves through a medium, or even a hammer striking a nail. In this sector, these are nullified, yes, but they’re just the beginning."

Kyle’s eyes brightened slightly.

"Second are Molecular Vibrations. Every atom and molecule is in constant vibration, even in the quietest of places. These are the vibrations that define heat. If you can tap into that, you can create or absorb heat by exciting or dampening those molecular motions." She continued expertly.

Henry’s mouth opened slightly. "Wait, so Kyle could cook my lunch with a finger snap?"

Kyle smirked at that, but Felicia ignored them both.

"Third, Seismic Vibrations. These are ground-based, basically waves traveling through rock and earth. Even in a sector where air-based sound is silenced, these could propagate through the ground and cause disruption. Imagine toppling an enemy’s footing or collapsing a structure." She said succinctly.

Bane’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Useful for controlling terrain in a fight."

"Fourth, Electromagnetic Vibrations. Light is a vibration of electromagnetic fields. With the right finesse - and if your power can reach it - you could create light-based effects, even low-energy lasers. Think illusions, beams, or blinding flashes. Though that’s advanced and may require some development on your part." Felicia went on without a pause. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Kyle’s eyes widened, but Felicia’s expression remained clinical.

"Fifth are Quantum Vibrations, definitely not something you can harness now, but theoretically, the very fabric of the quantum field itself vibrates. If your power can be refined further, you could eventually disturb probability fields or even phase states of matter. At the moment, that’s out of reach, but the potential is there."

Kyle’s jaw hung open. "Wait, so I’m not just a glorified speaker with legs?"

"No, Kyle. If your ability is perfected, you are potentially a bomb, a heat ray, a quake, and a light show, all rolled into one." Felicia said, her tone dry.

The bridge fell silent for a moment as that sank in. Even the other crew members exchanged glances, each considering the implications of Felicia’s explanation in the eerie quiet of Sector 45’s veil.