CHAPTER XIII – TOWARD THE SURFACE

In this cramped underground environment, time passed like an arrow traveling toward infinity.

Most underground cities had unique characteristics, distinctive shapes that set them apart from one another.

It all depended on the entity that had invested in their design and construction.

Quite often, two cities could have almost nothing in common.

The city where Adonis had taken 'fraudulent' refuge, if it were to be classified, would be considered among the most ordinary. One of the simplest, at least before the creation of the two extensions, Quadras and Quintis.

And yet, this place possessed a drill.

A rare and extremely valuable material, hardly found even in the highest-grade underground cities.

If the outside world knew about it, they would surely be envious.

A drill meant the ability to build one's own underground city, expand an existing one, and open up a multitude of possibilities.

In this new world, ever since the first great cataclysm, underground stations and cities had become the new towns, even metropolises, where people gathered.

They were indispensable.

Despite that, regardless of the nature or structure of a city, it was nearly impossible to replicate the sensations of the surface.

Devices had been created, such as those on the upper floors, capable of simulating a sunny day or a starry night, attempting to recreate the experience of the surface.

Yet, they were mere imitations—artificial copies, void of substance and lacking true depth.

One could simulate day and night, but not the impression and the physical impact these states had on the body.

To the observer, a magnificent sunrise or a soothing sunset could unfold before their eyes.

But one could not feel the passage of the seasons.

There was no wind. No snow. Leaves did not fall in autumn, the air did not grow warmer in summer, fog did not form in winter, and there were no birds singing in the spring.

In fact, days had passed, even weeks, yet Adonis hadn't even noticed.

The monotony of this station had become his daily life.

During this time, things continued to move forward.

Adonis was neither alarmed nor informed of any significant events.

Since the last time he had reported the incidents at Solis to Raphael, the two had not been in contact.

Amanise had visited from time to time, but never for long.

Still, Adonis had managed to question her a little about the nature of the world and this underground city.

The answers he received were both shocking and invigorating.

Shocking, because he realized that his goal was even more improbable than he had imagined.

Invigorating, because some of the stories she shared awakened in him a sense of adventure he never thought he possessed.

In short, he still had much to learn about this world—or rather, this planet, as he now called it.

In the meantime, he continued to train, strengthening his body between sleep cycles.

Time flew by for him. Much less so for others.

…

In this confined space, where the sun's sharp rays could not penetrate, the only indicators of time passing were the mechanical orbs illuminating the sky, shifting in intensity between day and night.

The body itself also became a unit of measurement.

Day and night became personal rather than universal concepts.

For one person, 'day' was the moment their alarm rang, signaling the start of another work shift.

'Night' arrived when the body, exhausted enough, reminded the individual to rest—these same alarms marking the rotation of shifts as an accompaniment.

It was extremely difficult to imagine a world without natural celestial bodies to guide everyone.

Like sand slipping through an hourglass, two months passed.

Stepping out of the shower, a young man with a lean yet glistening physique wandered through the halls of the large house.

His hair was a light brown. At some point, it had grown long enough to reach his neck.

The moisture in his hair gave it a sleek, refined look.

His eyes, emerald green, formed a striking combination.

It was Adonis.

He was currently alone in the residence, having just finished what he liked to call his 'physical reinforcement' session.

The ice-cold bath that followed had been nothing short of invigorating.

At that moment, he was completely unclothed.

Personally, it didn't bother him in the slightest.

After all, there was no one else around.

Besides, as far as he could remember, he had always preferred minimal clothing, sometimes even opting for Amanise's garments because he found them more comfortable for movement.

However, they had become far too small and tight for him—especially now.

On his bare body, several scars of varying lengths were visible.

Some seemed ancient, while others were much more recent.

He only knew the origin of a few of them.

Over the past few weeks, his physical form had gained confidence; he felt revitalized.

"I should get ready," he thought.

Heading to his room, he emerged moments later, dressed in an outfit he was quite proud of.

These past few days, he hadn't been busy with much, dedicating himself instead to strength training.

Amanise had set aside an athletic outfit for him, obtained from who knew where.

Now, the time had come to return to exploration. While he didn't have much to do on his end, that wasn't the case for the others.

Had the three of them set out on this exploration much earlier, for various reasons, reality had played against them. Raphael was the most enterprising of the group, responsible not only for crafting the tools needed for their expeditions but also for processing the information he gathered and repairing installations that, for one reason or another, kept failing more often than they should.

In short, he had a lot on his plate.

His elder, Amanise, was certainly not left out either. The deep flu gave her a splitting headache. On top of that, as the person in charge of the medical zone, she had more than just that to handle.

If Raphael's work involved physical effort, strengthening him in a way through application, Amanise's work was mental.

Distress, anxiety, accidents—she had a lot to deal with.

In fact, Adonis had a rather peaceful life. Little to no responsibilities. The only thing he had to worry about was a slight discomfort due to his situation.

Time passed, and the moment had finally arrived to head outside.

His happiness was real.

"Hey, idiot, get over here!" Raphael arrived at some point.

For one reason or another, Raphael, usually stoic and detached from everything and everyone, became particularly irritable when it came to Adonis.

"Oh! Isn't that my best buddy over there?!" Adonis joined him, a grin on his face.

"I see you've learned sarcasm."

"You could say that. And I feel like it'll be the best language to use when dealing with you. So, isn't she coming with you?" Not seeing Amanise arrive, Adonis wondered.

"She should be here soon. With all her commitments these past months, she hasn't been able to meet the old man. She's heading there now," Raphael explained calmly.

He handed Adonis the accessory he had crafted for their expedition. It was supposed to help them endure the sun's sharp rays for longer.

Initially reluctant, Adonis eventually tried it on.

"I was wondering about something," he said, his head tangled in his clothes. He hadn't even finished his sentence before his companion had already graced him with a reply.

"So, you do think sometimes… What a surprise!"

Adonis paused for a moment, then, pretending to ignore the remark, continued. He had learned that from Amanise.

"Those people you asked me to follow last time—who are they, and how did you know they'd be there?"

By now, he was fully dressed in a complete suit. It covered his entire body, not even leaving his toes exposed. The whole outfit blended seamlessly with his skin, almost like a second layer.

The sensation was light but firm. Its appearance mimicked the skin almost perfectly, emitting an opaque feeling.

In Adonis's case, the result was an even darker shade than his already raven-black complexion.

Truth be told, he didn't feel comfortable in the attire at all. It felt as though his breathing was being regulated unnaturally.

Yet, the siblings deemed it necessary, so he always went along with it. This time was no different.

"And why do you think I would tell you?" Raphael retorted disdainfully.

"I'll be honest with you while we're at it.

"I don't trust you in the slightest. Don't fool yourself for even a second.

"You're useful to us, and I trust my sister's judgment, but you're still a stranger.

"Someone who appeared out of nowhere, conveniently claiming memory loss. Whether it's the scars covering your body or your unnatural physical strength, those are rare and suspicious traits—even in a rotten world like ours. The people you've encountered so far are proof of that."

At some point, Adonis started choking, his throat tightening as he struggled to remove the overlayer of clothing he was wearing.

His eyes turned red, bloodshot. He attempted to lunge at Raphael, who was close by and seemed to be manipulating an unknown device.

He didn't even take a step before collapsing, his legs refusing to move.

"I don't believe your memory loss story. It's far too convenient as an excuse to gain access to another city.

"Besides, I know you haven't told us everything. You're using us for a reason I can't yet understand."

Shortly after, Adonis, still writhing on the ground, slowly regained mobility. He let out a deep breath, drawing in as much air as his lungs could hold.

It didn't take long for him to recover. He stood up, locking eyes with the other intensely.

"I was testing a new feature I recently added to the suit. I hope you like it… So far, my control range seems to extend across all five layers of this city," Raphael said as he sat down, scrolling through the screen in his hand.

"It seems to be working perfectly… We're even now. Next time you try that trick on me…" Adonis replied, a half-smile on his face.

These two always clashed whenever Amanise wasn't around to temper their impulses. Similar situations had occurred before.

"Finally! To answer your question, I'd say, first of all, it's something we shouldn't meddle in. At least, not as long as they don't interfere with our activities.

"This city, and cities in general, are filled with mysteries and secrets best left undiscovered.

"Just like I don't care about your secrets as long as they don't put me or her in danger. Keep that in mind."

A few months ago, Raphael had sent Adonis to spy on a small group he deemed likely to act against his interests in the near future. An incident occurred during this "mission," and an individual died—completely unrelated to the matter that concerned them on a larger scale.

The event had rekindled certain memories in Adonis' mind, which greatly unsettled him. But as with every misfortune, there lay an opportunity—he was able to reconnect with that fragment of memory and extract a clue about his past, possibly tied to the land that had once sheltered him before he ended up here.

Of course, Raphael was unaware of this part of the events, but that hardly mattered.

From his own perspective, the gathered information had also allowed him to make some progress in his suspicions—though he naturally did not share them with Adonis.

A certain threat loomed over this station, originating from that strange group. Rather than alerting anyone, he chose to patiently observe how events unfolded.

As long as things did not go against his plans, he had no intention of interfering.

Deep down, he too believed that the decision-makers in place lacked the discernment needed to handle the ongoing crisis.

The world was no longer governed by democracy or any decision-making system that might have existed in the past. Nowadays, it took much more to be followed and listened to.

And those people up there lacked just that. It was only natural that someone would try to remove them.

"The main issue here is that I suspect one of these individuals to be like you—that is, an outsider."

Adonis furrowed his brows upon hearing that.

Raphael continued his explanation:

"At first, we were completely unaware of the existence of the tunnel leading to the surface. And for reasons you must have understood by now, we are still avoiding disclosing its existence publicly."

"However, the way we discovered it leads me to believe that we were not the first to use it. More than that, it seems that people haven't just escaped through it but have also infiltrated."

"That possibility is extremely concerning, as I explained to you from the start. Hacking into another city was a common practice a few years ago, before the last major catastrophe."

"It took me months to finally track down the one I suspect to be the intruder. In the meantime, it seems he hasn't been idle either, judging by what you witnessed last time. All of this forces me to be extremely cautious about the coming periods."

"Nevertheless, our priority remains your surface exploration. The benefits we could gain from it far outweigh the risks we face down here. Over the past few months, you've wandered around—you've surely seen the living conditions in different sectors. If we don't act now, the consequences will be unpredictable."

At first, Adonis had only a narrow understanding of what life was like in this station, but the past two months had given him the opportunity to expand his perspective—not only during his encounters with Amanise but also during his travels through the various layers of the city.

He had even made a few friends.

Deep down, he was starting to appreciate this place.

Thus, his involvement took root in something deeper than the superficiality that had characterized him at first.

Even though Raphael hadn't met him during that time, he understood this just by observing him earlier.

"Despite all of that, you still haven't announced that it's now possible to reach the surface... Why?"

Adonis had a serious expression as he asked the question.

This fact genuinely confused him.

His curiosity about it had evolved into genuine bewilderment.

Now that he felt even slightly involved in what was happening, he found it all the more strange that such a crucial discovery was being kept secret from a population on the brink of collapse.

The ultimate goal of this exploration, of the various operations he had witnessed, even of the small conspiracies he had been privy to—all revolved around the surface.

A path existed.

He had taken it multiple times. He had even settled here thanks to it.

And yet, these two claimed they were preparing for everyone's return to the surface while keeping such a monumental discovery hidden.

Raphael could understand his reaction.

In fact, it reassured him about what he had already suspected about Adonis.

He let out an audible sigh, turning to face him before asking,

"Why exactly are you living here?"

Adonis was caught off guard by the question.

He remained silent for a moment.

"I mean, physically, you're quite well-built. Based on the information my sister and you have brought back, you could likely manage on the surface."

"So what's the logic behind someone as well-prepared as you not returning there immediately to face whatever's out there?"

"The answer is that you're not ready."

"Now, second question."

"If I told you that I had found clues about your memories—that there was a land far to the west where a merchant believed he had seen your family—what would you do?"

"Would you stay here, continuing to prepare as you do, waiting until you were at your peak?"

Adonis, who was starting to grasp where this reasoning was leading, furrowed his brows.

"No, I'd rush at the first opportunity to find out for myself!"

"Even knowing how dangerous the outside world would be, even for you?" Raphael pressed.

"Even fully aware of the risks I'd be facing by doing so," Adonis admitted, feeling dejected.

He now more or less understood what was truly at stake.

Due to an incident that occurred years ago, access to the exit was, in a way, sealed. Communications with the outside world were also paralyzed. The conditions of the external world were unknown to them.

In truth, Adonis was the first tangible person from the outside with whom they had established contact.

Announcing to everyone that there was now a way to reach the outside would undoubtedly cause a huge commotion. The current population would not remain passive; they would react violently, even at the cost of forgetting the most basic precautions. The wait had been too long, the environment too harsh, life too difficult.

They would almost forget the dangers of the outside world after having lived in such conditions for nearly four years.

It was no longer just a matter of announcing that people could leave—it was about ensuring that this newfound hope did not turn into a fatal sentence for the entire station.

"Keep in mind your abilities. During your walks, did you get the impression that many others had similar skills? No, let's even say that they could come close?"

"It's not just about allowing anyone to leave but doing so in a way that prevents the entire structure from collapsing. There are so many things about this world that you seem unaware of that I'm starting to truly believe your story about memory loss."

As the two continued their exchange, Adonis learned more about the underlying structure of what lay before his eyes.

Thanks to this brief conversation with Raphael, his understanding of the mechanics of this place seemed to rise to a new level.

The door opened silently.

Amanise entered with a light step.

Her expression was far from pleasant. She looked exhausted; non-existent wrinkles on the smooth surface of her face were beginning to appear. The past few weeks had been particularly rough for her.

The number of flu cases had skyrocketed. Living conditions deteriorated as cases increased, which in turn led to even more infections.

There had even been a few deaths. The situation had become critical.

"You really don't look well, dear sister. Do you think now is truly the right time to leave again?" Adonis inquired, glancing at his sister.

"The timing is far from ideal, and you know that all too well. But if we don't do this now, I have a feeling we won't have the opportunity later," she explained as she sank into one of the chairs. She looked at Adonis, seemingly scrutinizing his outfit. "Is this all we'll need?" she asked suspiciously.

"You don't need to worry. I made sure they are as resistant as possible. I even added a few small features that your 'test subject' has already witnessed—very interesting, that was." His lips curled into a barely concealed smile.

Adonis controlled himself strongly to avoid reacting to this barely veiled provocation.

Observing this little domestic scene, she refrained from any reaction—she was no stranger to the nature of these two.

After a few minutes, having practiced some breathing exercises that left Adonis skeptical, Amanise stood up and donned the protective outfit that had been prepared for her.

"As a reminder, the objectives for this expedition are, first and foremost, the broadcast relay antenna located fifteen kilometers northeast from the tree that stands at the center of the formation above us. I have installed compasses and other navigation tools into this suit for you."

Using a holographic projection from the device he had been holding since his arrival, he displayed an image that caught the attention of the other two. "Here is what the antenna we are interested in looks like."

"Around this area, there are several of them, so be careful to find the right one. It should be a peak of bluish-violet color, as you can see in the image."

"But I must specify that this archive dates back to the installation of the antenna, more than four years ago. We have no information on its current state, so you will have to manage once you reach the area."

"Once you are certain of the correct antenna, Amanise, your suit contains a capsule of my personal reconstruction nanomachines, which I have specifically reprogrammed to attach to the antenna and repair any potentially damaged parts."

"Once that is done, you can leave the antenna and focus on our second objective: analyzing the area above us, within a few kilometers. As large a radius as possible within the given time frame."

"The goal is to assess the safety level of the area for a potential return to the surface."

"The cavities around are a rather concerning issue that I would really like you to examine closely."

"However, based on the data you gathered during your last exploration, I can confirm that there is something strange about the creatures out there that still eludes us. Be extremely vigilant, even towards animals that would normally be harmless. At this point, I am unable to determine the nature of each of them."

"The outside world is extremely dangerous—we know that well," Amanise proclaimed, cutting off the speaker who had been talking for a while now.

"This is really a lot of tasks; we won't be able to complete them all at night, otherwise, it would take us weeks. So, I hope your suit will fully fulfill its primary function," she concluded with a smile.

She said that, but deep down, she had no doubt about her younger brother's abilities.

These two had relied only on each other since they had been abandoned by their parents long ago. They had built a bond of trust that would make many envious.

In this dilapidated world, they were a duo whose worth should never be underestimated. They had, in a way, taken control of this underground city without anyone seeing it coming, each controlling a vital area of the station.

Their individual talents already commanded respect. But once combined, they could not be disregarded.

"Rest assured, old hag, if your skin gets any stiffer, it certainly won't be due to the inefficacy of my work—aging and all that, you know."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sound echoed through the room.

He rubbed the back of his neck as a natural redness spread there.

"Huh… huh… anyway, you'll have three days. I'd prefer it if you were back within that time frame. Based on what we've gathered lately, it's clear that something is brewing in Solis. We need to resolve the communication issue if we want to prepare for any eventualities."

"A lot of strange things are looming on the horizon, so make sure to move as quickly as possible," he finished, still rubbing his neck.

The plan was clear, and everyone knew their role.

Now, it was time to act.

Adonis was not venturing outside for the first time; in fact, he had come from the outer lands, those further north. Yet, in this particular operation, he felt a certain apprehension, a certain fear.

He had taken the time to get to know some of the people in this station, interacting with them almost daily over the past few weeks. And so, even though he remained fundamentally the same and his personal goals unchanged, he had developed a certain attachment to these people.

He could no longer claim to be as indifferent as before.

The trio descended the level elevator to the fourth floor.

After a short while, they arrived at Quadra, where their paths diverged.

Amanise and her assistant had a mission to accomplish, so they slipped into the tunnel leading to the surface, away from any prying eyes.

But what they didn't know was that while they were embarking on an external exploration, the city they were fighting for would face a major challenge in their absence.