CHAPTER 13

"Sam the Wanderer," Matrix began, breaking the silence that had descended upon the group. Even Livid Scarlet, her expression subtly betraying interest, leaned forward to listen. "From what little I know, he was simply another soul who believed he knew better than the gods, better than any being that had ever existed."

A pause, and Matrix continued. "He possessed an insatiable resolve to acquire knowledge and secrets, taking from those willing to give and stealing from those who weren't. Admittedly, he was remarkably adept, escaping unscathed most of the time. The more he learned, the easier it became, as he could trade with other like-minded individuals. But unlike them, who stopped when they believed they knew enough, Sam always craved more. He wanted to be the most knowledgeable being in all the realms."

"Didn't the gods, or any race, attempt to stop him?" Debyr asked, breaking his speech. "Surely, one individual possessing so much information is...concerning."

"See, Debyr," Matrix replied, "no being is so quick to stop another from plunging headfirst into self-destruction. Wisdom and knowledge are two sides of the same fragile coin. Sam sought knowledge, neglecting wisdom entirely."

"So, how did he ultimately end up...losing his head?" YS inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Matrix cleared his throat. "You see, in time, the knowledge confined within his mind sought release. He began experiencing severe headaches, hallucinations, and waking visions. He was slowly succumbing to insanity. One would think that would have been enough to deter him, but he pressed on. At that point, his resolve had devolved into pure, unadulterated lust. Until one day, some strange entity literally stole his head and all his accumulated knowledge."

"How?" YS asked incredulously.

"His head was severed and hidden somewhere, but his body still wanders, endlessly searching for it. It's been frequenting these ruins for a while now, which is why we're here. There's a probability it's close by. That said, we'll also have competitors."

Matrix paused abruptly. Se'mudara, who had been unusually silent, seized the opportunity to voice her concerns.

"Your movements have been too purposeful for someone who supposedly doesn't know where we're going, World King."

"Indeed," Matrix replied, "and the reason is right ahead of you."

Before them, an energy signature lay imprinted on the ground.

Se'mudara tilted her head, curiosity etched on her face. "It's quite peculiar for a divine being to simply leave their energy mark lying about. Perhaps it's just an inexperienced being who doesn't know any better?" she added, musing.

"No," Matrix countered. "Any being powerful enough to construct a flawless portal would certainly know how to cleanse the residue it creates. I, for example, have made energy cleansing an instinct over the years. I barely think about it while doing it."

Matrix sensed the space around him, detecting adrift energy particles. They hadn't spread far, indicating the energy release was recent and that the releaser made no attempts to cleanse it away.

"My Liege," ever paranoid, one of his general asked through their mind connection. "what if this is a trap?"

"If it were, the perfect moment for the enemy to strike would have been five seconds ago, when we were still disoriented. Since nothing has happened, I doubt it. Nevertheless, both of you, be on your guard."

But Matrix was actually responding to the oracle's question physically.

"I think it might be some attempt to claim dominion over this territory," she offered.

Matrix's thoughts drifted back to the land surrounding the dome. It seemed his father had engaged in a brutal conflict with someone or something on that land, a conflict so fierce that even the moon bore scars. And after the battle, he allowed his energy signature to roam free both on the land and in the air, proclaiming his dominion.

"But that little patch of energy on the ground, and the floating particles in the air, hardly looked intimidating."

Well, Matrix wasn't banking on brilliant insights; he merely wanted to hear everyone's thoughts. It was another step in forging interpersonal bonds within the cohort. Their lives might well depend on having each other's backs. The effort seemed promising, save for Scarlet, who remained livid, and Dejebi, who was far too withdrawn. He needed to work on those two. Frenzy, on the other hand, was simply silent because he genuinely had nothing to say; the cerebral realm wasn't his forte.

That said, it was finally time to take action.

"I appreciate your ideas, but I think if we want real answers, we'll have to ask him."

"Who?" they echoed.

Suddenly, Matrix's figure rippled, and he zoomed into the distance, appearing beside a nearby tree. He grabbed at the air, and a figure materialized in his grasp, shivering wildly. It was a teenage-looking guy, with an incredulous expression plastered on his face; it seemed he never expected to be caught in his wildest dreams. From the situation, Matrix surmised he was a spectre, capable of turning invisible; their stealth skills rivaled those of shapeshifters.

Matrix threw the spectre a cursory glance and found him lacking. He immediately recognized the need to attack his mind while he was still rattled. Asking questions would be a waste of time.

Matrix grasped the spectre's head in an iron grip as obsidian tendrils sprouted from his hands, piercing both of the spectre's ears. The ensuing wail was ear-splitting.

Owing to the fact that the spectre's mind was in disarray when Matrix infiltrated it, he was able to read his most prominent memories like an open book, and what he found was quite surprising.