1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 85: The Quantum Tomb

While he sought more of a concrete answer, the elf’s consciousness was lost, leaving the wounded man slumping over against him. He could sense a heartbeat, confirming that at the very least, Lamore wasn’t dead, even if he was inching closer to that fate.

"Alright, rest up," Noah said, carefully setting the man.

As he turned to face the proclaimed "Marquis", he received a playful wave from the unusually patient madman.

"Hello, hello," Descartes greeted. "Are you finished now?"

"So, you can summon trains? What’s your deal?" Noah called out, readying his axe.

The question sparked the Marquis of Curiosity, whose complexion lit up with complete fascination, "Oh, you’re familiar with the concept? Interesting...Interesting!"

’Shit, I let that slip, didn’t I? Wait, how is this guy even familiar with these things in the first place? These concepts are completely foreign to this world...Could he be like me? Somebody from Earth?’ Noah considered.

When looking at the face so pale it looked powdered in makeup, paired with a maddened grin, he questioned the notion of at all being akin to the Marquis.

"You’re curious, aren’t you?" Descartes asked, matching his gaze intently as if trying to peer right into his head.

"--"

"You want to see the truth of this world, just like me," Descartes continued, raising his arms as if presenting the sealed door behind them. "You needn’t do anything but watch, my friend! Once these chains are broken, a world of endless possibilities will spring forth!"

The offer was completely rejected as Noah pushed the idea away with a breath, "Sorry, but whatever it is you’re planning, it’s shady as hell."

"Perhaps I’ll have to get a bit rough then," the Marquis of Curiosity grabbed the front of his black, scarlet-threaded robes in a slight bow. "--Minigrun!"

’Minigrun–?!’ Noah repeated in his mind

Confirming the irrational thought, a five-barreled behemoth of a weapon welcomed itself into existence. It hummed, the barrels starting to spin while emitting smoke–

[The Snake’s Eye]

As he entered the world of altered perception, he found a spray of dozens of bullets already soaring his way. If he dodged, both the unconscious elf and goblin would be left in the path of the minigun’s spit.

[Tintri] [Minor Barrier]

Superspeed was needed to intercept each of the wild bullets, pushing the shield out to deflect every projectile. He carefully navigated across the stone tiles, stretching his arm out to guide the shield in front of the unaware adventurers.

A part of him debated on attacking the cultist directly, though he was unsure if he’d be able to move fast enough to do so without the bullets striking Lamore and Ogatrina. He hoped the ammunition would run out before his stamina did, but soon learned there was simply no end to it.

’Is he even aiming for me–? He’s forcing me to defend these two, isn’t he?’ Noah considered, holding his barrier in front of the wounded goblin’s body.

The backlash of [The Snake’s Eye] snapped him out of his heightened sight, forcing him to best estimate the trajectory of the bullets. He coordinated the barrier in the most efficiency way possible, though the result led multiple bullets making contact–

[Iron Body] [Enhance]

–Hardening his skin and the muscles beneath, the steel projectiles left superficial wounds, though it was a miracle only that much was done.

’I knew it. He’s using mana to reinforce the bullets...That’s certainly an unfair ability in this world,’ he thought, feeling blood sliding down his leg.

Descartes clapped his hands together in a patronizing fashion, "Bravo, bravo! You’re cut from a different cloth than the rest of these so-called "adventurers." Really, I have to wonder–how are these people defending the populace from catastrophes?"

"Hraaaah–!"

Leaping up and past Noah, the warcry came from a battered swordswoman. He looked up, not even having to do so to know it was Sylvan, rushing back into the fray without a second thought.

To make a point, the Marquis of Curiosity boredly waved his hand, "Bullet Train."

The chamber rumbled, quaking beneath the sudden emergence of a silver transport moving as a blur before ramming straight into the airborne swordswoman. A resounding "crack" blended in with the rumbling of the train as it passed through yet another hole barged through the ceiling this time.

"See what I mean?" Descartes smiled. "Dissapointing."

In preparation for whatever the unconventional cultist had up his sleeve, Noah quickly chanted, "Ten Souls: Open."

["Ninth Soul: Guardian Spirit of The Eternal Boundaries of Heaven and Earth, Atlas Prime"]

Descartes’ expression lit up, "Interesting! A summoner of your caliber is a marvelous thing to witness!"

Standing over Noah, a statuesque giant clad in bronze carried four, massive shields made of differing metals:

Copper, Iron, Gold, and Celestion.

’I didn’t plan on using this much mana, but desperate times,’ he thought.

As bullets rained in, the four-armed statue moved its pale, iron shield forward. None of the projectiles came within proximity, instead being stopped entirely in the air.

"Oh, fascinating! How intriguing!" Descartes laughed as his assault was halted. "Does that one manipulate spatial coordinates? Or is it a conceptual barrier?"

"--" Noah remained silent, not conceding any information if he could help it.

"Listen, I’d like to continue this dance, but I have business to attend to–with this seal."

"I won’t–" Noah attempted to interrupt.

"Does the word "Nuke" mean anything to you?" Descartes suddenly asked with a knowing smile, holding up a single finger.

It froze him in his tracks. Was it a bluff? He considered the idea, though looking at that mad smile, paired with what he’d already seen–one option far outweighed the other.

An ability that specialized in the creation of human inventions, from times that had not yet come; he came to the conclusion that the Marquis’ power was derived from that.

"Nuclear bombs, yes, you heard me correctly–plural," Descartes clarified, pointing towards the ceiling. "At the snap of my fingers, I can create enough nuclear bombs to flatten the region above us."

"--" Noah withheld from talking or making any move that would be registered as a threat.

It was the ultimate condition; an all-or-nothing prevention that placed the lives of thousands on his shoulders.

Descartes seemed satisfied by the restraint, "Good. Very good–you’re reasonable, unlike the others. They’d resist to no avail and end up getting the precious people they fight to protect reduced to dust laid on the barren soil."

The threat was heard loud and clear, though Noah continued to survey the situation, tracking each tick and breath of the Marquis. If the opportunity unveiled itself, he hoped to take the madman’s head before any such "snap" could be performed.

Alas, the Marquis of Curiosity made no such opening; as careless and free as he presented himself, an unshattering aura surrounded him.

Descartes shrugged, spinning himself around with flare, tapping his heels against the ground as he looked towards the chains. "Be honored that you are present for this fantastic moment."

With his back turned, the Marquis left no hope of a sneak attack, summoning an arsenal of heavy artillery from missiles to launchers aimed and ready to fire.

"The Chains of Yole are said to require the handiwork of a Saint to be broken, or so they say," Descartes recalled with a smile. "--However, all these years right beneath the colosseum...Decades of combat, of enrichened mana–they’ve eroded the chains greatly. All they need now...is a push."

With but an outstretched hand, the Marquis’ made the old chains quiver. The ancient steel rattled; from the colossal doors, a groan of dormant time emitted.

"Everything," Descartes spoke with utter awe. "Everything is about to change."

All at once, each of the ancient chains snapped; the brittle metal collapsed into dust cascading onto the floor. The colossal gateway croaked, finally unbound as it slowly but surely began to open.

From the other side, an anomalous shine cast itself out, veiling the true nature of what was sealed, and what was now free. All Noah could do was watch, unable to process just what was transpiring before his eyes.

"The Quantum Tomb has been opened," Descartes declared, holding his hand up before the unsealed entrance. "I am not so greedy as to share in this miraculous moment alone. Come, do you not wish to satiate your own curiosity?"

A hand was extended towards the watchful adventurer; Noah could sense innately that the Marquis’ offer wasn’t underlined with malice, but a genuine strive towards the unknown. In the hope of finding out what the followers of GOETIA were after, he cautiously accepted the invitation.

["I can’t explain it...The curiosity inside me took over. I didn’t choose to move my legs, they brought me to the Tomb on their own."]

The Marquis waited at the enigmatic entrance with a welcoming smile, gesturing for the young man to come with him. He stepped into the unknown, crossing the threshold as all curiosity ached to be answered–

["Cosmic" Proficiency: +1] [1/10]

[New Skill(s) Acquired: "Rewind"]

Phenomena of the universe; the unfolding beauty of creation; the crossways of possibilities. A scenery far too complex to be understood in mere words, but through feelings, he understood–

Tears naturally strolled down his cheeks as he tried to comprehend the immeasurable beauty.