Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

Chapter 139 : Reality Crossing

"You promise?" Charlotte asked.

"I promise," he reassured her.

Even though that was the agreement, he found himself practically being escorted by both Jasper and Charlotte as they kept a hold on either of his arms while he walked.

"I'm not a baby, I can walk on my own–" He protested.

Jasper responded, "Hey, mate. I just watched you stumble like an ankle biter taking his first steps, so I'm not so sure."

"Just let us help you," Charlotte softly said.

"Alright, alright," Finn accepted, letting himself be guided.

With their help, he reached the otherside, led into what looked to be a worn, dusty library with shelves that were all but crumbled.

Finn sat down on the ground, seeing as the seats were far too tall, "I didn't think I'd be too tiny for two different places in such a short timespan." He mumbled.

"What was that, mate?" Jasper asked.

"Nothing," Finn brushed off, letting out a sigh as he let his mind set for the time being.

The weathered library was explored by the others while he rested, leaving him to watch while Nova attempted to retrieve one of the massive books, only for it to crumble to dust at the touch.

"Gah–" the bard let out, jumping back at the sudden dissolvement of the old book.

It earned a small chuckle from him as he looked at the young woman who sat across from him, keeping a watchful eye on him as though he might seize up at any moment.

"Listen, I'm fine–well, just a little not fine, but you don't have to worry," Finn told her.

"I know you feel that way, but honestly, Finn, you're too used to pushing yourself. Sometimes just let us help," Charlotte said.

"I am. Thanks though—I guess I do have a problem with that sort of thing sometimes," he admitted.

Sitting there amidst the weathered library that smelled of musty paper and clammy stone, he decided to stand up.

"Finn—" Charlotte said, getting up with him.

"I'm alright, see?" Finn said, presenting himself standing naturally as if it was a grand feat.

"I suppose so…" Charlotte begrudgingly accepted.

He looked over at one of the massive shelves, getting a closer look at the books that sat on them. At least, what used to be books—at this point, they were melded together by age, turned to nothing more than dust.

Jasper was standing by a shelf near him, poking at a pile of old books that crumbled at the touch, "How long does it even take for them to get to this point?"

"Hundreds of years, at least," Finn answered.

"This place has been left at least that long then," Charlotte said, brushing her hand across a cracked pillar in the center of the library.

If there was any history of the nebulous ruins, all of it has turned to dust, it seemed. That realization brought Finn to consider it as he looked around at the fallen library, recalling the purpose Sirius had spoken of.

'Protecting memories, huh,' he wondered, looking at the aged shelves.

"Look! Here!" Nova called out, waving them over.

He almost expected something to be attacking from the sudden yell, though instead discovered that the singer had found an intact boom sat atop a small table.

"It looks pristine," Charlotte said. "Like it's not aged a day."

"The table it's on…It's normal sized. So is the book," Finn observed.

"Maybe it wasn't only giants that lived here. Think humans were cozying up with them?" Jasper presumed.

"Could've been," Finn said, carefully turning the pages.

As he touched the book, they all looked on, finding that there were two languages written: one archaic and unknown, the other being English.

["I am but a humble explorer, not an envoy of humanity. Yet, I feel I must speak on behalf of the Giants to my kin. For too long have our people fought one another. Humanity sees giants as mindless destroyers, and giants see us as invaders to their land. However, it couldn't be farther from the truth. The King of the giants is a benevolent man; a scholar who is open to the teachings of mankind as well.

Everybody here worships him not out of fear nor bloodline, but pure admiration and respect."]

"So, this guy was friends with the giants?" Nova wondered, leaning on the table. "That's kind of cute."

["…They've welcomed me with open arms, even teaching me their language. They're far from barbarians—I've met many scholars here. Magic isn't something they rely on—everything they've built is with their own hands."]

As the next page was turned, Finn quickly read what was written, though it was noticeably sloppier with ink.

"I wouldn't call any of this cute—read this," Finn pointed out.

The next passage written seemed in complete contrast to what was previously inscribed:

["…The city they helped build for those fleeing the Stormlands, it had been coming along wonderfully. The giants are subterranean folk, yet they chose to come to the surface to build a home for my kin.

I must question why, then…Why were we struck down by the unjust hand of god? Thunderbolts rained down on the region, smiting it down. I've imbued this journal with the rest of my mana—let it be preserved so the kindness of the giants is not forgotten."]

"Everything here was brought down by lightning? How's that possible?—" Charlotte questioned.

"A thunderstorm isn't that bad…Maybe a few burnt trees, but not total extermination," Jasper considered.

"Scary—" Nova said.

Finn looked away from the preserved book, "It was Sirius—well, it had to be."

"Didn't you say that guy was peaceful and all pacifist when he talked to you?" Jasper asked.

"Yeah, it doesn't seem like something he'd do, but he's the Storm King—not like it gets any more red-handed than that," Finn admitted.

It placed a perplexing clash of views he had of the Storm King, looking around at the ruins in a different light. While it didn't look scarred itself, all of its inhabitants were gone.

"We should keep going," Finn suggested. "I'm good to go now."

"I really don't want to linger around in a creepy place like this any longer than I have to, so I agree!" Nova enthusiastically added.

A corridor led through the other side of the old library, delving through a hallway of decimated antiques. What awaited was a room, oddly enough kept lit with meager, white torches that sat on the walls.

"This place…" Charlotte muttered in disbelief.

Placed on massive chairs like dormant statues were the bodies of giants, sitting watchfully from the sides of the chamber. It took a moment to realize the unmoving beings were not carvings, but lifeless corpses sat up.

"What kind of freaky display is this? Who would do this? It's totally creepy!" Nova asked, covering her mouth in disgust.

"Think the Storm King was up to this?" Jasper glanced over at the assassin.

"I doubt it. Somebody or something is still living here—I'm sure of that," Finn guessed.

None of it looked accidental; the way the large bodies were propped onto the seats were intentionally placed, like statues watching over the chamber.

Each of the seats were decorated with golden strips and jewels, with the giants' bodies dressed in pale robes.

Finn glanced back, finding that Nova was holding onto Charlotte's sleeve like a cowering puppy. It was hard to blame the eccentric bard, seeing as he felt his own anxiousness, feeling watched by the lifeless colossuses sitting on their eternal seats.

"Kind of feels like the big guys might just wake up at any moment, doesn't it?" Jasper asked.

"Don't say that–!" Nova hissed, giving the knight a slug to the arm.

"Hey–just kidding, sheesh," Jasper said, holding his arm.

Listening to the antics of his friends just a few steps behind him, he continued walking while gazing at the peculiarity of the long chamber. The high-positioned chairs of robed giants came to stop, leaving him only walking through the dimly-lit temple.

Oddly enough, he noticed the walls of old stone blended into a blackened material, almost as though it was leading into a different interior altogether.

'What's–' He began to consider.

As he questioned the sudden change in the walls, he came to a realization as he stopped moving. There was no longer any chatter from behind, nor the echo of his companions' footsteps. It was utterly quiet; a dead silence that spurned a sickening feeling within.

He didn't want to turn around, already knowing what he would discover, not wanting to confirm it, yet he had to–

There was nobody behind him, only a stretch of darkness the other way, only seeming to lead nowhere but the lightless beyond.

'What's going on? Is it the same phenomena as inside the cavern before?--No, I don't think so,' he quickly thought.

As he turned every direction in a panic, a familiar voice met his ears as if spoken right by his shoulder–

"I'd start running if I were you, kid. I'm not going to stick anymore than to give you a warning, since you've lured in something nasty."

It was that voice with the new yorker accent, always monotone and without much joy or eagerness; the Evanescent–he recalled. Only, he couldn't find the grayscale figure anywhere to be seen.