Chapter 7: Welcome
In the final duel, Athor seemed to have taken a decisive lead. But Namarus and his lack of scruples had reversed the trend.
The young Ecleray learned he was only considered as a weapon for the Olkirs' cause. Kirimi took the opportunity to strike the fatal blow, and Athor disappeared in an explosion of light.
A few minutes later, it was Kirimi's turn to disappear.
When she opened her eyes, Kirimi was no longer in the arena.
She was in a strange room, cold but reassuring at the same time.
The whiteness of the walls and the light were blinding her.
She blinked several times to force her eyes to adjust.
The total absence of noise appeared to her as a reassuring break.
If she could still hear the sounds of the arena, the weapons, the audience, and Namarus' voice, it was only in her head.
As her eyes adjusted to the new environment, she noticed a strange shape in front of her. A robot.
It was floating, motionless.
Its angular head, without eyes or mouth, gave it a stoic look.
The “head", was not connected to its body but seemed to float above its bust thanks to a force that she guessed was electromagnetic.
A skirt made of large metal blades completed this lifeless being who, unlike Kirimi, had no legs.
She turned to the right to see that the side walls were transparent.
Next to her, a Midasi was facing the same robot.
She looked sleepy and peaceful. Her hands, clasped at her belly, held a strange artifact.
A small metal pyramid floated and rotated, giving off a fascinating blue and purple light.
She leaned forward to see that next to the Midasi, dozens, perhaps hundreds of people were in the same state.
She looked to her left.
She couldn't believe it.
Right next to her, Athor was also asleep.
She didn't really understand what was going on.
Then a cold and emotionless voice called her.
"Hello, Kirimi, daughter of Oloma."
Where did this voice come from? How did it know her?
"I've seen everything you've done, everything you've fought for," the voice continued.
"Your brothers and sisters in the cult of Anza and Yta must be proud of you."
She ventured the question.
"Wait, well, I don't know who you are. Now you first tell me where I am and what the fuck am I doing here?"
“Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?"
“You’re telling me I became a Vanguard?" asked Kirimi.
"Not yet. You have one more choice to make."
"Which one?"
"The one to commit your life." replied the voice that sounded like it came from the robot.
She recoiled.
"To become a Vanguard, you must agree to digitize your consciousness within me.
Activate this Vinago and join me, or refuse and return to the Nodus."
"You’re telling me people already refused?" she said, smiling to relieve the pressure.
She didn't get an answer.
"Of course I accept; I'll show them what a real Vanguard is!"
The robot silently moved towards her.
It joined its hands together to conjure the same pyramid artifact.
Kirimi reached out her hand towards it.
When her bark made contact with the object, she thought her head would explode.
All her memories flashed before her eyes at a crazy speed.
She was a spectator of her past, of her life.
Her youth in the jungle, her arrival at the cult, her first prayers, the laughter of her companions, and her training. All her life passed by until she touched the object.
Then she opened her eyes.
She was in a vast circular room.
The light reflected lightly off the marble walls.
Golden lines were embedded in the stone.
Kirimi recognized the same patterns present in the Nodus.
About ten people were present.
Some Vanguards were discussing while others were resting.
Portals with shapes ranging from perfect circles to the most irregular polygons were located all around.
Vanguards were going in and out of them.
Kirimi had a moment of doubt but quickly came to her senses.
It was Athor who was in front of her.
"So your strategy finally paid off," he said.
Kirimi nodded.
"What about you?" she answered.
"I thought that video would destroy me, and it did at first. But it made me realize that I will never rely on others to be happy again."
"It's for me and me alone that I will fight. I don't care about winning crystals; I just want to be the best!"
"To each his own values," she judged dismissively.
"But I think you have a lot of work to do before you get to the level you claim."
"And who's going to stop me? You?"
"For starters, yes."
A voice interrupted him.
"Well, it sounds like we're going to have a lot of fun."
The two Eclerays couldn't believe their eyes; he was in front of them.
"Come on, get yourself an energy weapon and follow me. You still have a lot to learn." laughed Tak'Oba at them.
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