CHAPTER 419: DIVING.

One thing Dante soon came to learn was that, even though he looked like a fish, he had no idea how to move. The problem was easy to understand, but the solution wasn’t something he could get right away.

Diving into the Data Ocean might look and feel like diving into a real one, but it was an entirely different ordeal. One does not simply push through the waters with physical motion. A level of understanding is required, one that can only be obtained through analyzing the surroundings.

When he attempted to do it, Dante was hit with a level of confusion he hadn’t experienced since he peeked inside his advanced mathematics textbook after entering high school. Turns out his 40 points in computing power didn’t translate to actual intelligence.

In the end, he had to rely on Volcan leading the way and pulling him along. Preferably, he would have sat this one out and let his resident AI deal with it, but since their direct connection point, the MLP, is connected to his brain, there was no avoiding him being dragged into it.

Dante tried to stay still as Volcan did his thing. Something about it seemed a bit odd, drawing his focus until he figured it out. This was the first time the AI felt truly separated from him, as if they didn’t inhabit the same body.

After getting the white androids, the intention was to have one of them be Volcan’s physical body. That was when they ran into one particular problem. Volcan was the AI operator of VOLCAN, the hyper-adaptive tactical defense system that has integrated with Dante, though it would be more accurate to call him an assistant. Either way, he was a part of the relic, which was a part of Dante now, meaning he couldn’t have a separate body like Jake.

In the end, he was stuck remote controlling the androids. Dante thought he had felt disappointment from the AI when they discussed the matter, but it might have been his imagination. After all, Volcan already knew the truth from the start.

Volcan was moving around like a fish in water, which was a lot more impressive than it looked when one becomes aware of how difficult that actually was. They followed one of the currents and soon arrived at a rather colorful coral formation.

"Is that... a barrier?" Dante asked, having noticed the translucent red dome surrounding the formation.

"Yes," Volcan replied. "That is what humans call a firewall."

"A firewall... how are we going to get through it?"

"There is nothing to be concerned about."

As he said that much, a translucent red shell manifested around Volcan, and the same happened to Dante’s fish-like avatar, though he only realized that happened after they slipped through the dome. He didn’t get to dwell on the matter for long as he saw something approaching them from the direction of the corral.

Monsters. Hideous aquatic creatures that embodied the reasons why people fear the dark depths. Dante felt a shiver wash over his skin. It only got worse as they continued to advance, and with Volcan pulling him along, he couldn’t really stand still or retreat.

It didn’t help at all when the monsters suddenly grew excited and accelerated, clearly about to attack. Dante was about to yell at his AI companion when suddenly the enemies came to a halt, looking like they were a part of a frozen frame. A moment later, they snapped into a completely different position and swam away.

"W-what was that?"

"Security AIs," Volcan replied. "No need to worry. I have altered them so they would ignore our presence."

"I... don’t like it here..."

It was obvious from the start, so when he arrived at the conclusion that Diving wasn’t for him. Even if he attempted to learn how to move in the waters on his own and got a little used to it, he doubted that it would grow on him. It was always better to leave this part to someone who knew what they were doing and how to do it better than most people.

The Dive continued with Volcan leading the path through the corral. Whenever another abomination appeared in front of them, he would freeze and redirect it, allowing them to advance deeper and deeper. Their destination soon came into sight.

At the center of the corral formation was the palace housing the main AI lording over the network they had been diving through. This one didn’t fold to Volcan’s overwhelming powers right away.

The main AI, the form of which was as undiscernible to Dante a the water around them, gave Volcan a good fight. In the end, it took them about three hours to gain control over it, which meant they now had access to the security systems of Red Garden. Volcan swam back to the surface soon after, and they were finally back to the real world.

"And here I thought I was a good swimmer," Dante said.

[Diving can be a rather complex procedure. It is something few people can handle, let alone master.]

The first phase was now over, so Dante moved on to the next. This one required as much mental preparation as the one before it, but for a completely different reason. Taking a deep breath, Dante braced himself and gave the mental command. Threads of light erupted from his chest, and a second later, he was clad in a massive dark shell.

[

Name: Dante

Species: Human

Threat Level: 2

Baseline Retention: Advanced (75%)

Stats:

Strength: 8 (+75)

Durability: 32 (+90)

Agility: 28 (+50)

Dexterity: 32 (+35)

Computing Power: 40 (+120)

Energy: 0 (+1200/1200)

Implants:

Neural Interface Module (C)

Optic Augmentation Module (C)

Diamond Fist (D)

Kinetic Absorption Protective Sub-Layer Generation 15 (C)

RespiraCore Series V (D)

NephroCore Series X (D)

Overmind Cortical Interface Module (A)

Overmind Neural Response Enhancer (A)

Armor: Type 8-5

Abilities:

Spatial Awareness

Spatial lock

Spatial Distortion

Spatial severing

Rift creation

Spatial Pocket

Void Lance

Teleportation

Spatial Implosion

]

Instantly, Dante’s entire body was struck by a bolt of excruciating pain. He recognized it as the strain he was getting used to at this point, only this one was many times worse.

If the last two times he had worn a Level 5 armor had taught him something, it would be that humans truly weren’t meant to use the relic or the armor it provided. As he felt his entire body coming undone, Dante did his best to give the right mental commands, activating Spatial Awareness.

In just a few seconds, Dante created a 3D model of the entire gated neighborhood. 8-5’s senses could have allowed him to scan the entire city if he wanted, but that wasn’t his goal at the moment. Activating Spatial Pocket next, Dante selected Red Garden on the 3d model and proceeded to create a pocket dimension out of it. The second part was done, and with that being the case, Dante opened a portal and dropped through it, giving the command to remove the armor at the same time.

~[ ]~

Thursday, 7th of February 2099

21:00

A car appeared at the northern gate of Red Garden. It was another luxury vehicle, one on the same level as the other models that usually visit the wealthy neighborhood. The guards were clearly familiar with its owner and his chauffeur, so the checkup went smoothly, and the gate was opened soon enough.

The luxurious car drove through one of the paths, ignoring any turns it came across. Its destination turned out to be the largest mansion in the back, the one surrounded by its own fenced garden. Passing through another gate, it soon stopped at the mansion’s door.

The driver came out, and though the car’s doors could open by themselves just fine, he went and did it manually. That act was clearly something the passenger preferred, and with the driver bowing for him a he came out, the purpose couldn’t be clearer.

The man looked to be around his forties. He was of an average height, but he made up for it in width. The suit he wore barely hid his muscly build, but a few details stood out about the exposed parts.

His face was divided with silver lines, and his hands were covered in metal plating. Those were clear signs of bionic implants, ones the man chose to show the world. Anyone who saw them would realize that there was more hidden away, and though that struck fear in the hearts of a lot of people, many saw it as just a desperate attempt at intimidation.

"Mr. Starmer." Someone called out. "I see you have finally arrived."

A man walked out of the mansion’s front gate, followed by four young maids. He was tall and lanky, but smartly dressed. His most distinct feature was the tattoo on his face, however. It matched its bony structure and covered his bald head in its entirety, making it look like he was a skeleton that had been dipped into a pool of ink. If not for the blue glint in his eyes, one wouldn’t be faulted for thinking he was a well-dressed charred corpse.