Upgrade

After spending the night resting in the town in, Chella's group continues on with their journey as they say goodbye to the locals. On this very day Chella wants to sleep in a little more so Nova will be sitting on the front seat. She thinks to herself that she should invent something on today. Bit reminds her that she needs to find necessary materials for whatever idea is about to pop inside her very mind.

"Trust on this, Bit. My talent in inventing would surprise even an emotionless being like you."

"If I were to reply that in your way of speech it would be: No offense taken, we're cool."

"Damn! You're cool!"

"But I sincerely advise you not to make it into a disaster which would trouble us a lot."

"I agree with the A.I on this one."

"Grandpa! Couldn't you just tell me that you trust my skills."

"No, knowing you. It is nothing weird to feel doubtful."

"Grrr..."

Nova notices something on the path, it's a small robot wandering in the middle of nowhere. Which is also where the group is at. Such an odd sight however fuel Nova with curiosity because she knows that if there's a robot, there's technology nearby. Thus she turns the vehicle to chase after the robot.

And then, she reaches a town full of machinery called Metaltown. She along with Gilbert enters said town and see engineers everywhere. Someone wearing a black iron head approaches them with a genuine smile.

"Welcome to the humble town of metal and electricity. What can I have you travelers with?"

"I'd like to find some turbines but I'd like to look around first."

"A right decision that you've just made there young lass. You seem to be one of our people, the type to worship machines since birth."

"Well, to your clarification. She did touch a lot of machines as a toddler."

"I see. You 2 are welcome to take a look. Is that an Artificial Intelligence I see there?"

"Hello, I am B.I.T as in Battle-ready Intelligence Tech."

"Marvelous! An it looks real old too. Wait...this must be centuries old. If you would like an upgrade, you could come over that house at the far north. Anyways, happy day to you."

The man waves the group goodbye as he goes back to work. Nova and Gilbert walk around and see all kinds of inventions. There's even a pair of shoes allowing their wearers to walk on walls and a panel that absorbs heat turning it to cold and then there's a small device looking like a communicator.

"Hello there, what does this device do?"

"Oh, I built it with a function that can differentiate the matters from this planet from those that aren't which means it could identify things like dust particles."

"Really? That would mean it could identify an Apex."

"Apex? I don't know what you're talking about. I just made it out of boredom. It's not like dust particles actually existed right? How about this: you give me something I've never seen before and I'll give you my device."

"Alright, you just got yourself a deal."

Then, Nova goes back to Omega-Driller while Gilbert decides to stay and look around more. She gets in the vehicle and takes away a comic book from Chella's stash then walks all the way back to where she made the deal with a young inventor. However, the device is nowhere to be seen.

"Uh sorry. Someone with long limbs snatched it away. So...can I have what you're holding there?"

"No, I need the deal to be precisely fulfilled."

"Noelle, did you see the infamous Limb Looter passing here just now?"

"Where?"

"Up there! He's on a spaceship."

"Oh no you won't. Bit, help us chase that spaceship."

"Roger."

Nova and Gilbert get on the vehicle and a chasing sequence starts. She borrows his rifle and climbs on top. She attempts several shots but all miss. On the spaceship is a slim guy with bushy hair wearing a blue shirt and black jeans, he looks at what he just stole earlier giggling.

"With this I could find any female Apex easier, I'll be rewarded with hot ladies as he promised. Wait, there are 2 signals on screen. They're behind me? My chaser is an Apex. Alright then here I com-"

"Oh, it's in range now. Die you freaking monke!"

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh Shiiiiieeeeettt!"

The spaceship gets severely damaged due to its pilot being a complete beta simp. Nova wins without having to fight head on with an idiot, lucky. If he doesn't die whomever he works for will fire him soon. So he uses the last bit of intellect to accept dying rather than being punished.

Nova retrieves the dust particles detector successful. The only she has yet to do today is to actually invent something. Thus she goes back to Metaltown and borrowed spare parts from the locals and spend the entire evening in her passion.

At night, Chella is eating snack while Nova is announcing an upgrade she has installed into the vehicle which supposedly allows it to traverse on the air. She also suggests to aim for a day when the Omega-Driller can morph into a mecha. The others show their impression on her dedication to inventing.

"Good that we have a genius like on on board with us. Being special together isn't so bad."

"Thank you for your kind words, Chella. Only you understand my spirit."

"I on the other hand don't want to understand it ever."

"Geez grandpa~ Since when had you become such a party pooper."

"I'm just being serious is all. Don't even remind me of the times that you used the wrong blueprint due to being blinded by excitement."

"Stop it grandpa!"

"If you don't mind, I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight you 2."

"I guess he just cares so much about you."

"But sometimes it gets annoying too. It's not like it always becomes a disaster."

"There's nothing wrong with a grandfather being overprotective for his granddaughter."

"What? Now you sound like a mother."

"Am I worth comparing with your mother?"

"Don't know. But your voice is as soothing as hers if I remember correctly. If you had a sibling, they should consider themselves lucky to have you."

"Thanks..."

"Okay, I'm going to bed too. Goodnight Chella."

Nova goes to sleep, leaving Chella alone with her thoughts. She think about how there will be more dangers on her journey from now on. One day, this dark green haired girl will find the answer to everything, about why she exists and why are there Apexes among the surviving humans.

Chella then goes to sleep as well, ending another day in piece. Morning arrives and Chella gets waken up by the sound of engine boosting. The Omega-Driller sudden goes 3 times it's usual speed. It has become a fast and furious start of another day. Turns out a certain someone built the turbines in the wrong way, causing the usual speed to be increased instead. Another consequence of that is their faces kissing the monitor. Gilbert might have gotten used to this kind of disaster.

As the Omega-Driller goes with an uncontrolled speed, they accidentally enter a huge cave and fall in a big hole underneath. The 3 humans are hanging tight on their seat while Bis tries to deactivate the boost engines.

"Seriously, what did I tell you about it becoming a disaster?"

"I didn't mean to. I was just too excited."

"That was the point!"

"Is this hole bottomless. Bit, how deep are we falling?"

"Approximately...500 meters."

"""WHAT!?"""

The hole they'll falling seems to be leading them to the very depth of the Earth's memories. They just keep falling and falling. If someone doesn't do something, they'll be crushed the moment they reach the bottom. Nova has an ideal, she turns the engines downward and activates a portion of their full capacity in order to slowdown the fall. Now that they've avoided the worst outcome, they try to observe the surrounding environment.

"Rocks, rocks everywhere. Nova, Gramps, see anything?"

"Me either, not to mention the surrounding is devoid of light."

"Impressive, I wonder if this hole naturally manifested itself as time passed or...manmade."

"I would consider your hypothesis if we didn't count that this place is too dim in case of it being excavated."

There isn't anything much to see with such amount of darkness. The group prepare some flashlights for the upcoming long exploration of the unknown. Soon the vehicle reaches the bottom of the hole.

They decide to leave the vehicle here and go on foot for a clearer view of the surrounding. With flashlights in hands, they ready themselves to venture into the Underworld. They all wonder what kind of secrets has this world buried deep within.