Chương 10: Yap Master
Mark stared at the machine, watching as it stepped closer to them. The roaring chainsaw was a clear warning that it's not to be messed with.
"It's one of Svarog's lapdogs, alright? Be careful, we can take it down."
Just as everyone prepared their weapons, Seele lunged forward, using her scythe to cut away at the chainsaw, cleaving easily through it. From behind, Dan Heng followed in, running his spear through it with ease, only for March to send off an arrow in its head. The thing was down in seconds, and all Mark could do was stand back and watch.
"Damn... how is everyone so crazy strong? To cut through metal like that without any issues... oh boy, I'm more useless than I thought."
The thoughts came down upon him once more, weighing down what little joy had reignited in him. With a rushed headshake, he tried to rid himself of the feelings, burying them down. He began walking anew.
"Good work, all of you. Let's keep going now."
He took the lead, more as a way to hide his face away from the others as the thoughts swirled through his mind like rabid beasts looking for prey. Once again, it was him against his mind—the same old battle that kept repeating itself.
"Damn it... I need to shut them up. No matter what, I gotta keep going."
They went along the way, which was eerily silent, even for Mark, who enjoyed how lifeless the world seemed at night. A cave's silence, however, was something entirely different. It was like a sleeping person who wasn't breathing.
At some point, his eyes were graced by a dim, gentle light—a tower of shiny spikes that threatened to pierce the very rock that held it up. It was the Geomarrow vein. Mark nearly let out a whistle, yet he held back since it was likely to alert the wrong people—or robots.
"Damn... this shit is massive. Like damn..."
Bronya nodded while Seele spoke up, marveling at the sight.
"I doubt the Underworld will ever see it fully excavated."
With that, they moved along the path, only to come to a halt at some point. The road below was filled with robots, and yet they all remained stationary, even as the group approached.
Mark's eyes looked up and down a machine far taller than the one they had fought, looking much more imposing, like a pillar that could hold up the underground on its own. It was none other than Svarog, with the tiny girl named Clara at his side. She was nothing out of the ordinary, just a little girl who walked around barefooted, her white hair a stark contrast to her rosy eyes that seemed to shine in the dim light. Just as they had gotten closer, Svarog turned to face them.
Without hesitation, Seele stepped forward, ready to battle.
"Svarog, we haven't settled our final score."
Just as the robot was about to start a dispute, Mark stepped in, moving between the two, his eyes searching Svarog's visual scanner as if he could find any hint of emotion in it.
"Wait, pause. Svarog, I'm not here to ask for battle... I'm here to talk."
He looked both at him and Clara, who nearly seemed to hide behind him. Mark gave her a tiny smile, hoping to at least get a hint of help from her. Svarog simply spoke, the voice that came out mechanical in itself, a sound fabricated by inorganic means.
"Calculations complete. This human doesn't abide by the ways of others. No conflict started. Preparing for battle should the need arise."
The machines all turned on around them, and everyone behind him readied their weapons, yet Mark shouted.
"At ease! Everyone, put your weapons down this very instant."
They seemed hesitant, and Seele outright disobeyed, not even concerned about what he was trying to do.
"Are you blind or stupid or both? Can't you see that the robots are ready to battle?"
Mark snapped back, not taking no for an answer.
"Hell no, they aren't. They take exact orders; they're not like us. If Svarog only told them to prepare, they're only preparing. They WON'T try to attack us. Just shut up and let me handle this."
His mind was racing around for answers that he couldn't find along the way. What was he supposed to say? What should he do? Clara looked at him with her innocent eyes, holding on to Svarog's arm. Mark took a deep breath and spoke, trying to not choke on the fear that he swallowed as the robots remained ready for battle all around.
"Look, Svarog, the thing is as follows. I'll outright give you the entire truth, without hesitation. You should have the info in your database. We are travelers from afar, from outside this world. Sure, look it up as I'm speaking; I know you can. However, don't fret much. We're here to try and help."
Svarog analyzed what he had said, calculating once more what chance they would have.
"Affirmative. I have such information in my records. However, the interference of new variables holds an impact of just 1.3%."
Mark chuckled, hoping to drag it out in an interesting way.
"Good, you obey logic, so you know that humans have a tendency of screwing up logic, numbers, and whatnot. You're much aware of how humanity can do a lot of great things, things that transcend whatever your main computer could handle. So, going by that logic, try to take a human that's as random as a zero. That's me, the one human without a specific value, a normal human that has nothing special about him other than information."
Svarog followed along; however, Mark's reasoning didn't hold much ground.
"Zero is just a redundant value."
Mark nodded, somehow not even understanding what his own words held as logic; however, he kept going, hoping to trick the machine with just an inflated sense of power, trust in his comrades who had pulled it off in the future he knows, and pure guts.
"Yes, that's right. Now... divide something by zero."
He smirked, proud of where he was going with his argument, futile as it seemed. Behind him, the others were a bit baffled. March tried to do the actual calculation in her mind, asking Stelle for help, while Dan Heng let out a sigh.
"Negative. Division by zero is not defined."
Mark nodded.
"Yes, my robot friend. I'm that zero that will divide this entire situation, the one variable that doesn't abide by the laws that you understand, the one variable that can take out a specific result out of an equation only by using limits that reach closer and closer to that zero."
Svarog analyzed for a moment the processor that it used as a brain running at full power to try and make sense of his arguments, to find a counter.
"How can you prove that you will solve the crisis for the world?"
Mark took a deep sigh, looking over at Clara, who was listening intently to his words, trying to make sense of them on her own.
"How, you ask? We know what the issue is, something that no one else did... the issue as to why the Underworld as the world above had been sealed off... the issue lies in Cocolia, the Supreme Guardian of Belobog."
He let the words linger, not that Svarog would need much time to figure out all there was to learn about her title and what was available about her.
"You see, Svarog, she's not entirely in her right mind. Plus, we have her daughter here, Bronya, who's willing to lend a hand. So, here I go. I did something completely irrational that no human would normally do: I revealed my cards to you, my hand, my magnum opus. We have her; we have information on the real root of the issue, yet we need your help."
Svarog simply faced him, saying nothing for now. Deep down, Mark was proud that he made a highly advanced computer need time to think—then he recalled all the times he had made his desktop freeze and how complex that was too, and he just let the hype die out.
"The point that you make lacks credibility. You did act outside of the parameters of my computation prowess, yet humans do that all the time. How would my assistance solve the crisis? What do you plan to do once you learn that bit of information?"
Mark sighed, knowing that this very question could make it all crumble down. He looked back to the others, silently signaling to their weapons in case hell breaks loose. Dan Heng caught on to the hint, slightly tensing his grip on his polearm.
"The threat that's affecting the Supreme Guardian is the same threat that is killing the world slowly and steadily... the Stellaron."
Mark nearly took a step back as he waited for the robots to attack at once, yet it didn't come. Clara looked at him silently, a confused look on her face.
"Searching database... Stellaron... access denied... Discussing 'Stellaron' with unauthorized targets: Prohibited."
Mark sighed.
"Ah, damn the old parameters from when those scientists or whatever had helped in making you. Heck, I'm pretty much aware that you can go over those parameters and discuss this topic, dangerous as it is."
Svarog's sensor lit up, glowing an ominous red.
"Threat index raised. I demand that you reveal your true intentions."
The robots around didn't budge—for now.
"Oh, I told you. We want to help this world just like those people who came here a few hundred years ago. Yes, we're not looking to do anything dangerous with it, and don't even bother to ask for my true intentions if you're not even going to believe me. Got that much, mister logic?"
The last line sort of left him without much thinking, and Clara let out a tiny, childish laugh that made Mark break character and smile a bit.
"Attempts at interacting with the Stellaron have been made in the past, all of them fueled by human greed—attempts to secure the article for a selfish end. As instructed by the Architects: any attempt to engage with the Stellaron will result in grave consequences. Target threat index critical."
Behind Mark, the others were slowly worrying, seeing that talking didn't go as expected. Mark himself had thought that Svarog would listen to such logic, and yet he failed to remember something—a tiny bit of information that was ancored in the future known by him—Svarog didn't listen then either when the talk about a variable had been brought up. Even his point of the variable being a zero that would render division null, a number that makes as much logic as it doesn't, failed to get through to him.
"Ok, listen here. I'll say this one last time. I'm holding on to this: we're here to help. If you don't wish to listen due to whatever reason you might have, past examples or whatnot, then so be it, but don't think that we'll just change sides for no reason. I'm a man of my word as much as I can be; no use in saying I'm perfect, but I can assure you that I mean it with all my heart."
He threw any ounce of logic out the window and chose to solely focus on the weight that his words carried. He was one to enjoy giving some deep speeches sometimes, yet he had never done so in public. His words carried weight, and yet he failed to put that weight out as something tangible, be it just words that were mainly felt with one's heart.
How would a machine react to it? He had no idea, and yet he knew that Svarog was no normal robot, nothing that he was used to. It did take care of Clara, a human child, so at least an ounce of empathy would linger within.
"We're here to lend a hand and help, so you can either try and keep your head stuck between your legs and live some sort of 'safe, calculated' life with Clara, or you could genuinely help her achieve something way better above. The world needs sunlight, which it doesn't get due to the Stellaron. For Clara to grow up the proper way, she'd need to experience that."
He failed to realize it, yet his words held a tangent with his very life. Always, as he grew up, to the current point, he had tried to play it safe, to go with the best choice. It was about time that he discarded something like fear out as much as possible and acted like a certain lady he knew, a lady he was supposed to meet as time went on—a lady that didn't know fear.
"Screw a safe life; what is life without its challenges that force people to grow and adapt? You're not doing anything good for her other than keeping her alive and safe. You're limiting her to your damned parameters, Svarog!"
He grabbed his metal pipe, which didn't leave his side—it always rested against his neck, with one side touching the ground—and stepped forward until he had gotten up and personal with Svarog. The robot simply looked down at him, following closely with its sole visual sensor. Mark lightly tapped it on the head, a simple, metallic CLANK echoing through the cave.
"You want my answer, Svarog? My utterly honest reasoning? Fine, I'll be honest with it. I'm selfish, ok? I want this world to enjoy the sun despite their wishes. The sun is an annoying thing sometimes, too hot to enjoy, and yet... it's beautiful. This world deserves to see it too, in all its splendor. I couldn't care less about trivial things like power that can't help the weak. Let the world... let Clara enjoy all the wonders of a normal world. Ok?"
Svarog's mechanical eye, which was glowing brightly in a red so vivid that it made Mark's body shake with fear, slowly dimmed down.
"Analysis complete. Calling for temporary truce. I shall give you a chance to prove yourselves, humans. Make sure that your words are true, just as you claimed, human."
Mark could finally feel his heart up in his throat, pumping blood like crazy, the veins on his arms inflated more than usual. Deep down, he was scared shitless, so scared that his body nearly refused to obey, and yet he acted. It was no hit in the literal sense, yet he had tapped on Svarog's head with the pipe, a weapon, makeshift as it was.
His lungs deflated, a breath so heavy leaving that he felt his body lighten. His head nodded without his approval, knowing already that he would comply.
"Yes, Svarog. Also," he reached out for a handshake. "Call me Mark. That's my name. Just a random human with no abilities other than idiocy taken to the extreme. The ones who will handle the Stellaron are behind me. They're the real deal when it comes to lending a hand. I just... try."
Dan Heng took a step forward, staring straight at Svarog.
"If possible, could you tell us about the whereabouts of the Stellaron?"
"Negative. While Mark did prove himself, you are still under analysis. I require further data to make my final assessment. We shall take our leave. I expect you, humans, to deal with your crisis without using violence other than as a means of self-defense."
He turned to face Mark, speaking in the same monotonous voice that was so iconic to him.
"I expect you to hold on to your words, just as you have said. My calculations tell me against trusting you, but just as you said, a zero renders division useless."
With that, he took Clara, and they walked away, the swarm of robots following. In that moment, as they disappeared, Mark simply fell on his ass, tired, sweating bullets, and feeling more alive than ever.
"Heh, I guess... I guess that we still have some work to do. Sorry, I couldn't do more."
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Meritas
Meritas EDIT: It's 1.43 a.m. here, finished drinking a champaigne with my family. I GOT INTO UNIVERSITY YALL! I M GOIN ABROAD! THANK GOD AND YEEEHAAAW (I m sleep deprived, but very happy like fr fr. If yall are reading this, thank you for being real ones and sticking through this journey, both the one in the novel and the irl one :))
Here I am, not dead -yet. At like 1 a.m. tonight, I should recieve my results on my admission to university. I'm scared and waiting. I shall drop an update here if possible and let you know in this very section of 'author thoughts' (if I can edit it, sure). Until then, I'm praying and hoping it all goes well. Enjoy a slightly longer chapter, and please let me know if my dialogue was somewhat entertaining at least (I genuinely need feedback in order to improve). So, enjoy, have fun, peace out, and Deus vult, I'm hoping for the best.
Chương 11: A Simple Wish
Everyone gathered round, looking down at him with excited looks, bafflement painting subtle lines among their feelings. Stelle helped him up to his feet, grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, Mister Zero, it seems like you have something going on here. I didn't take you for the brainy type who could put out his feelings like that. Division by zero, what a thing."
Mark chuckled, trying to slowly regain strength in his legs.
"Yeah, remind me to be more careful next time... wait, screw it, I just recalled my entire speech. Remind me to be more bashful next time."
March laughed, playfully punching his shoulder.
"Well, your little speech nearly got us into trouble, but you managed to fix the situation, so let's say that we forgive you."
She looked at him, thinking about how she should word her request. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, afraid that the others might hear.
"You might have to explain that division by zero thing to me, please. I don't want Dan Heng looking at me like I'm dumb."
Mark nodded, leaving that as an answer. He didn't speak up, making a note for himself that he should explain it to March when they have a moment.
"Well, that sure was one heartfelt speech; that much I can say for sure."
They all looked to the side, meeting the gaze of an old man with white hair and a rugged beard of the same nuance. Mark knew at once who it was, even if he had a more humane feel to him than in the game.
"Damn, the NPCs here don't look like NPC's. Talk about things taking an interesting turn."
The man turned to face Seele, talking about their situation in the mine.
"Nice work, Seele. We were attacked by robots on both sides. We thought we'd be in it for the long haul."
He let out a vigorous laugh, one that could wake up the dead. Seele was worried about them, yet Oleg simply played everything off as something they're used to. Soon, Mark found his gaze searching them up and down, a tinge of understandable confusion visible in his subtle actions.
"Who are your friends here?"
Seele looked them over, letting out a soft sigh.
"They're outsiders that Sampo brought in from who knows where. They need a favor from Wildfire, so I brought them here. It's better if they explain it themselves."
Mark took a step back, allowing Stelle to take the lead in the discussion. It all went well, until a point about Cocolia was brought up. Oleg was quick to drop any sort of farce, speaking his mind, outright calling her a liar who doesn't care about the Underworld. Bronya instantly felt her nerves yell out under the direct jab his words delivered.
"Stop right there. I won't let you insult Madam Cocolia."
Mark sighed loudly, something he did on purpose to draw attention to him, even if for a minute. His gaze met that of Bronya.
"He's not lying, Bronya. He's saying the truth. But then again, the thing that the people don't know is that she's not in her right mind. They're right to feel that way, after all."
Oleg silently asked for more information on the subject by tilting his head slightly, waiting patiently.
"She's under the influence of the Stellaron, the thing that we seek to find and contain. It's got quite the effects that tend to defy your everyday encounters. So, please, as an outsider, I ask that you keep this in mind when talking about Cocolia. It's not entirely her who's pulling the strings."
Oleg took a moment to let the information sink in his mind, slowly adjusting to it. The others who were following him murmured among themselves, and yet the verdict came out. Bronya simply stared at Mark with a saddened gaze, one that respected him silently.
"Fine, I guess that you are to be trusted. Since we don't know much about the entire situation, we'll take your word on it, at the very least until we're proven otherwise."
Mark bowed slightly, giving his thanks in a silent, respectful manner.
"Moving back to the topic at hand. The name I had in mind is Svarog. He's the one who should know about the Stellaron."
Stelle nodded, crossing her arms.
"I see. We've confirmed that much already, thanks to our friend here who gave his heartfelt speech earlier. Somehow, he managed to appeal to a robot's empathy, which I'm not even sure it has."
Mark smirked silently, glad that he could be of at least some assistance in this entire matter. Sure, he had no powers, which still bugged him out because hands-on approaches are the thing he's most familiar with. In his eyes, being strong enough to fight any foe and protect others means a lot more than what his words can do.
"Oh, I see. You managed to even ask about what you needed? Interesting. He sees Wildfire as a threat, so we had no way of communicating properly with him."
Mark spoke up, trying to prematurely tie up the loose ends that the plot originally fixed down the line.
"You see, the whole issue lies in the violent approaches. Since you and the vagrants are at odds, he's merely thinking of you as some unstable groups that could try and run rampant at any point. My sole fix, the not-so-quick and not-so-easy but best choice, is to try and fix the relationship with the vagrants. It takes time, it's difficult to do, but armed conflict will only lead to more armed conflict, and so on. Simply put, negotiate. I'm sure you can handle it."
Oleg sighed, bringing his palm up to his head, mulling it over and over, trying to pry out an answer.
"I see... I'll see what we can do. Meanwhile, how about you guys go back to town and rest? I'll arrange it, so just go back and let loose for a bit. Meanwhile," his eyes fell on Bronya. "Could we have a talk in private? There are some things we should discuss."
Before anyone would even think of asking him for more chatter, Mark tried to make himself small and unseen, a talent that he had despite his height. He'd just become dead quiet; even his breath stilled, and his movements were minimal. The last thing he wanted was to talk more about it.
"I'm starting to get really wary of any 'arranged rest' in this world," complained March, pouting once more. They chose to simply play along and head back. As they walked, Mark fell back in line with March, allowing Dan Heng and Stelle to walk ahead and discuss whatever issues they had.
"So, you asked me for an explanation on that 'division by zero' thing?"
March looked up at him, her cheeks a bit flushed. She felt like an idiot sometimes, even if she didn't show it much.
"Yes, it's just, I can't seem to figure those things out. I guess it might have to do with my memory."
Mark nodded, not pressing more on the matter. He was aware of her issue, and a few droplets of blood fell down from his nose, but he quietly wiped them away before she could notice. Memories came to him of different possibilities and theories, but no concrete answer was in sight, nothing except a dim memory of a Memokeeper.
"I see. Well, don't worry, I'll try my best to explain whatever you need help with anytime, as long as I know it and I can put it into words, ok?"
She nodded, smiling softly, eagerness visible in her eyes.
"So, in the way that I know and understand it, zero has no value. In a practical case, if you divide, for example, four by two, you'd get two. It's like having four objects and giving two people an equal number of those things."
She nodded, trying to picture his words, imagining how someone was handing her and Stelle some sweets, sharing them in equal numbers.
"Good. So, dividing by zero, you'd have to give no one what you have. This is where things get interesting. You could have it as just the number of objects you have, the number you're dividing, or reach as high as infinity. This is where other complex concepts come into play, concepts that help people figure out what the possible answer for a specific scenario would be."
She looked up at him, somewhat understanding where he was coming from and where his ideas headed.
"Oh, so it's like... guessing?"
Mark smiled and nodded.
"In the way that I understand it, yes. So, going by that logic, Svarog would understand that a variable such as the number zero could lead to unexpected results. In a way, I just told him 'watch this' before pulling off some complex trick."
She giggled, the sound soft and filled with a genuine, childlike joy.
"I guess you do have a way with words. You sure seem smarter than you let on."
He sighed, putting his hands in his pockets, once again reminded that he had his phone and wallet on his person, part of the few things from his world that he had carried over. His mind was fogged up once more, but he quickly snatched it away from the bad thoughts.
"Meh, I have my moments. This whole thing I just told you might be wrong, but who knows? I'm no genius; I just try to understand things. Knowing things is fun."
She remained silent for a moment, all of them slowly making it out the mine.
"Mark... you're not from this world, are you?"
The question took him aback, mainly because it was sudden. He didn't expect it to be asked in that moment, and from March nonetheless.
"No use in lying, since it's pretty visible. No, I'm not from this planet. I'm aware of many things, some of them weirder than the others, but then again, I got my reasons. Also, as far as I know, the Astral Express doesn't pry much into the past of its members... maybe I'll join you if I'm allowed to. Not like I got a place to call home either way."
Her gaze softened, not expecting that much sincerity. Sure, he held back a lot of information, and his words were cryptic, but they held no malice. It was just a simple request from someone like her, without a place to call home, to join them. She offered a soft smile, gently tugging at his sleeve.
"I think everyone would love that."
The words were enough to momentarily ease his worries and lighten his heart. Time passed, the group finally making it back to the promised lodging. As his head fell on the soft fabric of the pillow, he instantly fell asleep, his body limp.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO
Meritas
Meritas
I managed to crack in a quick chapter early in the morning (let's ignore that it's noon now, I've been writing for a while) and yeah, enjoy. Also, once again, THANK GOD I GOT INTO UNI!!! Heh, your boy is on his way to being a software engineer (heck, I'd so love to also learn how to make games on the side and release my little silly things for yall to enjoy) but until then, I gotta figure my way out in a new country. I'll keep yall updated. Peace out, and Deus vult.
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