Author Notes:
So this OBOM chapter comes out earlier than expected, even though I just released an Early Access chapter last night, goes to say that I have had one productive day, huh?
Anyway, all of this you're reading? Consider it one massive foreshadowing that may or may not lead to anything big. However! If you're familiar with my other works, then you will start to see some correlations, here and there, buried in the world of OBOM. I eagerly await the moment when you all can start calling out the references I will make in the future.
Until then, do note that, as of this point, all of my Patreon tiers will now be able to read at least 9 Early Access Chapters for OBOM. Of course, I plan to expand the benefits in the future, but for now, I will keep it steady just like that so I can increase the release rate for all three stories.
To enjoy the benefits, come join the ranks of my Patrons via the link below! There's a 25% discount for newcomers!
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Grrrr
The moment I step past a fallen tree stump that is marked by sharp claws, I am immediately accosted by a pair of patrolling Horned Wolves. Ain't the first time this has happened. Ain't the last time.
[Daily Login Reward received:
Eternal Reich Military Combat Medic Aid Bag.]
Although this is not the right time, I still need to respond.
What the hell is the Eternal Reich? Some sorts of supernation in a world I don't know of?
Jokes aside, it's always beneficial to have a sufficient supply of medical supplies on hand. I hope that it comes with an instruction manual, as medical products evolve and devolve over time.
Anyway, back to the wolfie matters. One wolf remains, sitting on its hind legs as it watches me, while another barks before running back, presumably to the pack's home. Until the latter returns with the Alpha's authorization, I am left staring at the one Horned Wolf that I've come to name, give a mental name of Husky.
I know, really original of me, and you can sue me if you want. But look at this Horned Wolf with its black and white fur and those stupidly goofy eyes and tell me that ain't a Husky in disguise and that I am wrong to name it such. In fact, I think Husky is the only wolf in the pack to have such a color combination. Others are either singular in tone or have a dark grey base with white accents.
Regardless, since we're all familiar faces here, I reach into my Inventory and pick out a few pieces of jerky and dried fish. I bring a small piece up to chew in the meantime, a bit salty due to the basic seasoning I have available, and toss a bite out to Husky. The Horned Wolf, living up to its name, snaps the chunk of dried meat out of the air. And while the wolf is making its best attempt at keeping me locked down with its gaze, the beating of its fluffy tail betrays its obvious excitement at getting treats.
In case you don't understand yet, this is not the first time we've done this. It's been a while since Aurea and I agreed that we should further our rapport with the Horned Wolves to explore the North. I have been making regular trips to bribe the wolves with meat and the like, making my presence felt and all that. It was sketchy, at first, being surrounded by a patrol of wolves that thought I was intending to claim their territories. Still, with me bringing donations, the Alpha is quick to intervene, and eventually, we settle on a trade deal of sorts.
Now I don't speak the Wolven language, but I can garner from the Alpha's intent these last few days that I am only able to roam in the North with its explicit escort. Each time I come here for exploration, I will have to bring something to contribute to the welfare of the pack, hence the bribes in the form of dried fish and jerky.
Unironically, the Horned Wolves, or at least the Alpha, seem to understand that I am giving them food with a longer-than-average shelf life. More than once, I have seen it drag the dried consumables to store in a cool, somewhat clean corner of the pack's den. And from what I can see from the few times I am escorted close to the den, only female Horned Wolves and their pups are allowed to munch on the dried stuff. I suspect that the grub I give them is used as emergency rations to supply enough nutrients to the more vulnerable members of the pack. Needless to say, that is very smart of the Alpha. Perhaps a bit too smart, even... Food for thought.
Anyway, while waiting for the Alpha to arrive, I meander with Husky. The two of us pick a breezy spot to rest our legs and enjoy some morning munches. Reaching into my Inventory, I pull out a previously prepared bottle of coffee. It's made from a pack of instant coffee powder, one of the rarer commodities that come with a few MRE combos that I got from System login rewards. The glass bottle that holds the coffee came from a six-pack of premium mineral water bottles.
Uncapping the coffee bottle, I bring it up to my lips to enjoy the truly worthwhile rarity of modern-day convenience. Although the taste is nothing to write home about, the coffee is thankfully concentrated enough that it provides a healthy kick to my palate.
"Ehm..." I can feel Aurea's shaky mental gaze directed at the dark brown liquid, chilling in the glass in my hand.
Unfortunately, Aurea doesn't share the same passion I have for a good gulp of coffee. She is more of a tea and milk girl, and that is totally fine.
To kill time while sunbathing with Husky, who is enjoying yet another bite from a jerky I throw at it, Aurea and I review the GAD Module and the construction of the White Pearl. Currently, we have around a month before the boat finishes construction. During that time, I should be able to create a simple map of the lands slightly beyond the Horned Wolves' den. The den, situated on a rocky elevation, does provide a good vantage point for me to scout. Already, in the opportunity I have to visit the wolves' lair, I have been able to determine that the Northern biome is more bountiful in both green pastures, a river system, plus valleys and forests dotting here and there. It's basically a river delta teeming with life.
Now, why do the Alpha and its pack stick around in this less-than-abundant hilly region with nothing but me and some mountain goats as neighbors? Clearly, the stretch of green deeper inland in the North is a much nicer hunting ground.
Once, the Alpha and I managed to spot an untamed herd of mustangs in one of the Northern plain areas. Yet, contrary to my expectation, the Alpha only let out a complex growl before actively pulling me elsewhere.
As I said, I may not be a wolf whisperer, but there's clearly something keeping these Horned Wolves from going further North to hunt. Worst case scenario, the areas beyond here are the territory of something more dangerous than these oversized wolves I have to be familiar with. An Apex Predator, of sorts, to keep the ecosystem in the North balanced. This realization further reinforces the point that Aurea and I are only able to explore over there when we have the White Pearl. One can never have too much firepower in the face of the unknown.
Speaking of firepower... Aurea and I have spent our free time in the last few days messing around with the GAD Module. We try designing all kinds of ships that we're familiar with and even mesh some of the designs together in a cocktail of stupendous engineering, trying to see if there's anything that clicks. Of course, we don't think we will ever build any of the Frankenstein naval contraptions that are direct results of our active tomfoolery, but it's a good way to relax productively. You know, deepening our knowledge of the GAD Module and all that.
Of course, it's not like we haven't been able to learn anything from playing around. For once, the concept of an Amphibious Landing Ship equipped with Knights instead of aircraft has fascinated Aurea to no end. Additionally, the magically seamless cockpit design of a Knight inspires me to think of future redesigns to aircraft cockpits and the likes... These are things for the far future, however. In the short term, Aurea and I also cooperate and plan for possible future upgrades to the White Pearl and perhaps her future sister vessels. We even divide the upgrade packages into aptly named BLOCK I, II, III... And so on. Each later upgrade is tactically superior to the previous one, or at least that's the plan.
There's no telling if the White Pearl and the Mark VI-class as a whole will remain viable down the line. But a girl, or girls, can be sentimental and dream.
I am, however, interrupted by a bark nearby.
Husky the Horned Wolf and I turn around, only to see the domineering size of the Alpha calmly looking at us. While Husky acts sheepish, being caught lazing with a jerky between his teeth, I fear nothing and instead wave my hand in greeting. The Alpha spares an admonishing glance at its bashful subordinate before, very humanely, huffs in my direction before gesturing with its head for me to follow.
Once again, these Wolves, or at least the Alpha, are way smarter than they should be. The matter is approaching the uncanny valley so swiftly that it constantly leaves Aurea questioning whether or not we are actually interacting with sapience Horned Wolves or not. Stray thoughts aside, let's not keep the Alpha waiting.
Recapping and throwing my half-finished coffee bottle back into the Inventory, I then proceed to trek just slightly behind the Alpha as it leads me not toward the den, but elsewhere. I note how it is guiding me off the beaten path here, which may or may not raise an alarm if someone else is in my shoes. I then notice how Husky is trotting parallel to me with its goofy head held high, and that assuages most of my caution.
If the Alpha wanted me dead, then Husky should have at least walked behind me, not a fair distance to my side. The Alpha would have called for more Horned Wolves on this trip as well to completely encircle me. Thus, it may hopefully overwhelm me with numbers before I can do too much damage. Seeing no indication of that sort, however, I keep my cool and patiently follow behind the Alpha.
Along the way, we regularly run into what seems to be old craters, long overtaken by Mother Nature, that burrow deep into the side of the rocky incline. It takes a conscious effort on my part to keep my body stable on this terrain of loose soil and rocks. Just to be safe, I have to deposit my rifle into the Inventory so that my center of gravity is not thrown out of whack in clearly hazardous terrain. In times like this, I envy Husky for its sheer gall in playing hippity-hoppity over the jagged rocks with no issue whatsoever.
Still, with Aurea cheering for me in my mind, my effort in keeping up the pace with Alpha finally pays off. After climbing up one last bit of vertical incline, I come to a stop next to Alpha and lay my eyes on something truly marvelous in all of my time on this island.
A bipedal combat platform, or a Knight, according to this world's naming sense, in its final rest with all of its aged splendor. More than half of its massive body has sunken beneath the ground of a moderately deep crater, with only a portion of the upper half exposed to the rest of the environment. However, from what I can see from up here, this bronze-looking Knight had seen some valiant combat before coming to a stop here. The bronze rust and moss can never quite hide the scorched marks and indentations of high-intensity battles on what remains of the Knight's barely intact armor plating scheme. Even from up here, one can see the exposed internal mechanism on many parts of the torso and the singular arm that is raised toward heaven.
It's as if the Knight is reaching for the stars above for one last time before closing its eyes for a well-deserved peace.
The solemn image is further reinforced by the fact that the flora overtake most of the crater, with small flowers swaying in the winds, and a small rainwater pond is located in a corner of the thought-provoking hybrid art piece.
"So this is where the Alpha got the parts from. Gotta thank it for trusting us with the location of the source, huh?" I say, not forgetting to bring out some compensations for the Alpha's trouble. "Well, Aurea, care to learn some lost history?"
"Y-Yes!" Aurea is understandably excited. "I-I don't recognize the model or making of this Knight! I-It could be because it's broken down so badly, which is why I don't have an idea as to which culture is responsible for designing it. Hopefully, we can uncover its history and maybe something useful! L-Like a map of the entire island!"
"That will be a nice harvest and a half then. Come on, let's get down there and see if we can't get something good before the night settles in." I say to Aurea before hopping down to the crater after giving the Alpha a nod.
What neither Aurea nor I know at this time is that this won't be the last Knight to be uncovered in this battle-scarred area near the Horned Wolves' Den.
We're gonna have our work cut out for us, that's for sure.