Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 221: Book 3: Chapter 72: Contact

Read chapter 221 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Book 3: Chapter 72: Contact Chapter 72: Contact [Time Remaining: 601 Days, 02 Hours, 59 Minutes] Alex paced in front of the humming engines. “How the fuck did this happen?” he shouted. “Aren’t dungeons, like, pocket spaces? Other realms cooked up by the System?” Selka, calm despite the chaotic emotional outburst he was giving, shook her head. “No. They’re tethered to reality. Pocket spaces maybe, but they are physically anchored at the entrance gates. Its not known for certain, but current thinking is The System doesn’t create them, it only regulates them.” He paused his pacing. “So you’re saying they’re real. Like… neighboring dimensions.” “Yes. And this one has broken its leash.” “Shit,” Alex hissed. He dragged both hands through his sweat-damp hair, trying to shake away the ringing panic in his skull. “But how does this happen?” “Aether backfill.” Myrae spoke this time, her tone matter-of-fact. “When dungeons are left uncleared, energy pools until they swell enough to burst open that connection and things can start finding their way out. That’s why the Empire keeps a quarterly 'sweeping' regulation. The Empire sends in Delvers, and wipes them clean.” Alex’s teeth ground together. “Then somebody fucked up. Bad.” “No…” Myrae’s eyes flicked toward the window and the burning village far below. “I don't think this was neglect. The Empire doesn’t mess things up like that. Something else forced the breach.” “Fuck!” Doran’s growl snapped Alex's attention back. The Dwarf’s beard was unkempt and ragged looking in the dim light, his words gutteral and furious. “So wha’ now? We canna fight da Empire and d’ese cursed Chimera. We’ be torn apart in minutes.” Henry’s grim nod voiced his agreement. Aburi stood next to him, mimicking the same nod with rather eerie accuracy. Then Symon’s hysteric pitch bounced off the metal walls. Alex shot a glare onto him, dark-purple aether curling around his fists before he caught himself and forced it down. Symon only grinned back, smug, as though the chaos delighted him and the reaction was exactly what he wanted. Tom-Tom shifted uneasily on Alex’s shoulders, the weight of the little guy grounded Alex by reminding him he had people to think about. Their safety was the priority here. It reminded him why he couldn’t afford to freeze up, or rage out, even if someone was being a huge dick. He turned in a slow circle, eyes sweeping across the massive arrays of machinery. Coils, crystal conduits, arcanum pistons all thrumming with barely contained energy. He could feel all of it through his [Aether Sight], like the entire engine room was a mechanical heart, beating faster than any human chest could handle. His thoughts spun. Schematics layered over the room in his mind, a crazy plan beginning to form. He looked back to the team. “We can’t just run into that fight. We’d be caught between two enemy forces and get slaughtered.” “Then what’s your play?” Eric asked. Alex squared his shoulders and his lips pulled into a grin that they all knew well. The grin Alex got when he had an idea far too reckless for comfort. “Okay… I’ve got a wild idea,” he glanced at each of them in turn, their faces pale in the crimson alarm glow. “And you’re all probably gonna hate it.” Even Obby spoke in his mind at that, “ Oh, I see what you… oh wow… fleshsack, this will be fun.” Alex nodded once, “We won’t fight the Empire or the Chimera head-on. We will turn the whole ship into our weapon, to use against both.” The engine room almost seemed to tremble in response to Alex's declaration. With short commands, the team was spread across the chamber in positions. Most huddled near the far bulkhead with weapons at the ready. While Doran, Devon, Selka, and Alex worked over the massive engine systems. The feeling of urgency buzzed in the back of his skull like a hive of hornets. Across from him, Selka’s hands moved with surprising speed, her stylus etching and infusing glowing sigils into the brass piping. Alex’s eyes flicked to her once, st