Exhaustion gnawed at Zephyr, yet an urgent task propelled him forward. He strode into the Legion Union, his gaze fixed on Sebastian behind the counter.
"I need access to the prison," Zephyr declared with his firm voice.
Sebastian, initially sporting a welcoming smile, now exuded a distinct coldness. His weathered eyes narrowed, and his posture stiffened. "The prison is off-limits to the general public, even Legion members," he stated curtly, the weight of his authority evident.
A flicker of frustration crossed Zephyr's face. He often found the inconsistency of NPC behavior in Apex World frustrating. At times, they appeared like generic AI entities, their interactions robotic and predictable. But on occasion, their responses mirrored human-like complexity and sophistication.
Sebastian's refusal, however, was within his parameters. Granting access to the prison required special regional authorization, a privilege bestowed upon war heroes who achieved rank one through completing Main Quests. Neither of those conditions applied to Zephyr given the recent completion of the Pre-Main Quest.
Undeterred, Zephyr devised a way of approaching things from the past. "2,000 Shards," he offered, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. He knew through past experiences in Central Apex that hidden negotiations with NPCs through discreet chats were sometimes possible. He was gambling on the same being accurate within the Fortress of the Divine Light.
Unlike standard chat commands, these hidden interactions unfolded discreetly, devoid of intrusive window screens on the NPCs. The experience felt strikingly natural, akin to conversing with another human rather than a mere AI.
Sebastian paused for a fleeting moment before a coy smile spread across his face. "Alright," he agreed, scribbling a number on a piece of paper and sliding it towards Zephyr.
Zephyr stifled a scoff at the uncanny resemblance to corrupt human officials abusing their authority. He understood, however, that such interactions were simply facets of the game, his actual focus remaining on survival within the unforgiving world of Apex.
The promised exchange occurred outside the standard channels, and Zephyr soon found himself escorted towards a restricted area, hidden from public view.
Located far from the bustling Hall Square, the location was isolated, not even connected to District 15, the most underdeveloped residential sector of the city. A small, two-meter square building stood amidst a patch of verdant grass, seemingly an unassuming structure.
A closer inspection, however, revealed an arsenal of automatic weapons discreetly concealed beneath the foliage, serving as a silent testament to the hidden prison's security.
The initial skepticism regarding the prison's size dissolved the moment Zephyr, accompanied by the Exo-skeleton-clad Legion guard, stepped inside. It wasn't a building at all but rather a spacious elevator descending deep into the ground. It was leading to the correct prison facility beneath the Fortress of the Divine Light.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing a sight that defied Zephyr's expectations. The prison wasn't the squalid, oppressive environment he'd envisioned. Instead, an air of sterile cleanliness and order permeated the space, the bright lights casting an almost clinical glow. While seemingly comfortable, he harbored no illusions. He knew confinement within any shelter, no matter how well-maintained, equated to a slow death.
Escape, it seemed, wasn't an option. The cells remained resolutely sealed, their release contingent upon fulfilled sentences. Any attempt at forceful entry would be met with the prison's self-repair mechanism, exceeding any other structure in the city except perhaps the Legion Union itself.
A chilling realization dawned upon him. Should the Legion Union fall or its NPCs cease to function, the prison would become a tomb. Even for those who served their time, freedom would remain just out of reach, the elevator forever dormant without the activation sequence only the NPCs possessed.
This, Zephyr understood, was the terrifying paradox of the NPC prison. Its eerie emptiness was a stark reminder of the chaos that erupted when the Frontliners filled the void left by the vanished NPCs in Central Apex.
"Five minutes," the Legion NPC grunted before departing, leaving Zephyr alone before a cell.
Young-Jae's face, etched with bewilderment, contorted in shock at the sight of Zephyr. "Mr. Quinn! How...?" His voice choked with emotion, tears welling in his eyes. "Help me! I did nothing wrong!" he pleaded desperately.
Zephyr, his expression unreadable, felt a flicker of relief seeing Young-Jae's spirit unbroken. He urged the boy to explain the situation succinctly, time being limited.
"Just stay strong," Zephyr instructed, his voice devoid of warmth. "Reflect on your actions. When you're released, a far greater test awaits." He turned to leave, offering a curt wave goodbye.
Young-Jae, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions, dissolved into tears, unable to decipher the cryptic message.
Zephyr walked away, leaving the boy behind without revealing his detention period. He knew Young-Jae's sentence, based on Sebastian's earlier information, was a mere seven days. He had bigger concerns. Namely, the metaphorical cockroaches he needed to deal with.
In District 2, in one of the houses, the door creaks open, revealing the silhouette of the Zephyr against the fading light. Jae-Ya waited inside, her usual indifference momentarily eclipsed by a spark of anticipation in her eyes.
"Mr. Quinn," she began, her voice barely a whisper. "Perhaps with your extensive knowledge of Apex World, wouldn't it be more efficient for me to learn directly from you?"
Zephyr, his expression unreadable, bypassed her and reached for a drink in the refrigerator. The cool silence stretched between them as he took a long swallow.
"Don't be ridiculous," he finally muttered, his voice flat and emotionless.
Jae-Ya's facade faltered, a flicker of cynicism crossing her features despite her attempt at appearing cute. Her curiosity about this new post-apocalyptic world, veiled beneath a playful exterior, was undeniable.
A faint shadow seemed to cloud her eyes, a glimpse of a past she desperately tried to suppress. The memories of her siblings, locked away in a vault of grief, fueled her singular desire – to be strong.
The flicker of determination in Jae-Ya's eyes mirrored the impulsive spirit that had once led Young-Jae to blindly follow Zephyr. A pang of sympathy lanced through him.
"Expressing your emotions is crucial, Jae-Ya," he said gently, his voice softened by a hint of understanding. "It's part of your development, even fear. Those who disregard it become reckless, inviting death sooner."
His words washed over Jae-Ya, leaving her brow furrowed in confusion. The cryptic message failed to resonate.
Zephyr, sensing her bewilderment, let out a weary sigh. "Just ask," he conceded. "No need for roundabout approaches." He struggled to comprehend Jae-Ya's peculiar state. While she displayed a flicker of emotional expression, her silence regarding Young-Jae's fate spoke volumes.
He recognized her unhealed grief, a burden too heavy to lift in a single night. 'One step at a time,' he reminded himself, a touch of empathy softening his usual stoicism.
"Anyone with an Exo-suit could have done that?" Jae-Ya pressed, her brow furrowed. "But how could a simple move damage such advanced technology?"
Zephyr ran a hand through his hair, his gaze distant. "It's the energy," he finally said. "As long as a device relies on Aether batteries, it's vulnerable.
He leaned straight, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Aether, you see, is purified energy. It's created by refining raw Core energy, which we call Aessence. Powerful, chaotic stuff. The source of power for the wild beasts, and the reason humans get sick without the right vaccinations."
A flicker of understanding crossed Jae-Ya's face. "So, when you used that move, it forced the Aether back into its raw form, corrupting the technology?"
Zephyr nodded curtly. "Exactly. Aessence disrupts the delicate balance within the device, causing permanent damage. It is also the cause of the Sentinels' paralysis and demise," He concluded.
As Jae-Ya digested the information, Zephyr, his mind racing, discreetly opened his System interface with a thought.
-----------------------------------------
[ Status Window ]
Name: Zephyr Quinn
Vitality: 70/110
Status: Normal
Legacy: Human/Unrefined
Credits: 1130
Sync: (Inactive) (Expand)
[ Abilities ] (Expand)
[ System In-store: ] (Activation costs 1000 Credits)
[ Inventory: (1/6) ] (Expand)
-----------------------------------------
A jolt of surprise surged through him. The number displayed under the 'Credits' tab was far greater than he anticipated, exceeding the wealth of even the most esteemed Legionaries when converted to Shards.
Mentally calculating, Zephyr arrived at a staggering sum – 565,000 Shards. An unexpected windfall indeed!
The revelation triggered a domino effect. Not only was his credit balance far higher than expected but the previously inaccessible 'System In-store' tab was now illuminated, albeit with activation costs listed.
Oblivious to the storm brewing within Zephyr, Jae-Ya continued, her voice laced with curiosity, "Do you recognize anyone on the global rankings? Maybe even from Apex Online?"
Her repeated inquiries went unanswered. Zephyr stood frozen, his eyes wide with a mixture of astonishment and trepidation, like a man who'd stumbled upon a life-altering secret.
Finally, he snapped out of his daze. "Ehm?! What? Ah, no. I wouldn't know them,"
I apologize for being late in publishing. There is no reason that can justify that. So once again, I'm sorry.
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Like it ? Add to library!