Chapter 49: Preparations
The trio, Morden and Darlus especially, didn’t show any form of excitement at all when they heard what Mona just said.
To them they have no good memories of the Omnisphere, which means they have no reason to be excited about returning there; if anything, Morden probably doesn’t want to go back.
Watching the trio’s reaction, Mona couldn’t help but put on a dangerous smile.
"I guess the problem was the fact that I approached this with another stance, trying to make you all feel less sulky."
"But it seems I will have to ignore all of these facades and speak to you like adults that you all are."
"Getting stronger isn’t a choice; it’s a must," she said in a strangely lower and dark tone.
"Do you think the organization is one good place that keeps three slaves and sends them on only slightly dangerous tasks?"
"I am sorry to break it to you all, but it isn’t; it’s taking everything in some people’s power to keep you three alive, so you can’t just be useless. You need to play your part and do more missions."
"What other way to do that than getting stronger?"
"If it weren’t for Lisa, you two would have died against that Bellowing Hugeman; that’s to show you how weak and insignificant you are."
All while Mona spoke, Morden had remained silent, his mind even focused on what she was saying, but the last statement she made brought up some thoughts.
’Wait? She knew about our battle against the monster and even what happened. How?’
’Could she have planted that monster too as some sort of test?’
"Hey Morden, don’t zone out when Miss Mona is speaking." He suddenly felt Darlus tap him on the side, snapping him out of his mind.
"The only one that’s a little is Lisa, and that’s because she has quite a bit of experience in the Omnisphere," Mona said while turning to look at Lisa.
"So I will say one final time, you three need to grow stronger as soon as possible, for your goal and your survival."
With that, Mona turned around and left the room. Leaving the three dumbfounded.
"You two heard her right?" Lisa said with a serious face.
"I have been wondering since we met; you two don’t seem to have that much combat experience. That raises an important question."
"Why haven’t you both returned to the Omnisphere since you concluded your first trial?" she asked.
Morden and Darlus turned to look at each other, the two of them waiting for the first one to speak first, but neither of the two seemed ready to speak until Morden finally stepped up.
"Uhmmm, I haven’t returned because I just recently concluded my trial and I have been busy with other things and also because I don’t know how to," he said with an awkward smile.
Hearing Morden speak up first, Darlus immediately knew that it was already his turn and it was a must.
"Do I really have to say it?" Darlus asked while he looked at the other two, and their silence was enough response for him.
"Fine then, it’s because I don’t know how to," Darlus said with a strange face, but they just stared at him with a strange face; obviously, they didn’t believe him.
"Alright then, since the major problem is that you both don’t know how to, then why don’t I explain it to you?" Lisa said with a straight face.
Morden didn’t have anything against what she said, so he just nodded curtly, but Darlus still showed some reluctance; in the end, he still nodded in approval.
"Since we are all on the same page, let’s begin with a quick question."
"You guys know the actual Omnisphere isn’t like your trials, right?"
"Yes, I have heard something like that once," Morden said while
nodding.
"The actual Omnisphere isn’t anything like your trial; it’s an actual world with cities occupied entirely by Bearers, and each city is surrounded by a specific terrain of wilderness."
"That wilderness itself is the actual place for progression. Bearers go into that place to hunt genetic beasts, absorb vital energy, and grow the genetic tree."
"For Bearers, it’s home away from home," Lisa said.
Morden listened to Lisa’s explanation with glistening eyes, though he had heard of something like that before; it was still a fun and exciting revelation.
"Since we have gotten that out of the way, are you two ready to head over to the Omnisphere right now? I will guide us on how to do it."
’I actually need to get stronger truly, not only for my survival but so I can truly get to the bottom of my family situation.’
’It won’t be nice to end up actually getting actual clues but being too weak to pursue it.’
’I have to go,’ Morden decided.
"Yes, I am ready," he said out loud for the other two to hear.
And now again it was left to Darlus to finally decide.
"What’s your answer?" The two of them looked at Darlus and asked at the same time.
Noticing the two piercing gazes on himself, Darlus felt a strange pressure descend and forced him to respond immediately.
"Why are you two looking at me like that? My student is ready to go, so why won’t I be?" Darlus said with a broad smile.
"Are there any preparations we need to make before we actually start?" Morden asked.
"The only thing to make sure to do is select the Evergreen City as your spawn city, and when you arrive, try to find your way to the city square," Lisa instructed.
"Alright," the two of them answered at the same time.
"To enter the Omnisphere, you need to try to use your mind to the tattoo on your body."
"Feel it and try to establish a connection."
Morden followed Lisa’s instructions and tried his best to use his mind to connect to the tattoo. His mind was stretched towards his left hand, where his tattoos were.
The instant they made contact, Morden felt something happen. Something was changing.
His mind was connecting to a higher layer, somewhere far beyond his reach.
[Connection to the Omnisphere Established]
[Analysis confirmed: First Entrance Detected]
[Choose your spawn city.]
’Evergreen,’