NOVEL NEXT Chapter 50: Artefact
Artefacts—one of the most sought-after things inside a Fissure.
Primers who manage to obtain such items experience exponential growth. Artefacts come in many forms. Those who acquire one gain strength they've never felt before. Some gain raw power instantly, some awaken new abilities or Skills, and others acquire strange and unusual powers.
These Artefacts—or as some call them, treasures—can achieve feats that help Primers in countless ways. However, they are rare and usually only appear in Yellow-rated Fissures and above.
Artefacts appearing in Blue or Grey Fissures are considered miracles.
Not many Primers possess an Artefact. Only those with exceptional luck or the strength to claim one for themselves do. Artefacts are a symbol of strength. That's why many Primers risk everything to find one, though most won't gamble their lives diving into Grey or Blue Fissures on just a hope.
As Kael and Milan descended into the basement, the scent of flowers filled their noses.
"Oh," Kael sniffed a few times, surprised to find the fragrance pleasant.
Milan stepped to the side and flicked on the lights—what greeted them was a basement full of flowers.
"As you can see, my mother loved flowers," Milan said with a soft smile.
"Hmm," Kael nodded as he walked slowly, observing the room.
Unlike the basements he was used to—usually cramped, dusty, and used as storage—this one felt like an underground garden. There was a wide table along the wall, bookshelves, cabinets, and a circular table in the middle surrounded by chairs. Butterflies flitted about, adding a surreal and peaceful atmosphere to the space.
"What's her name?" Kael asked, turning to Milan.
"Mira," Milan replied as she walked toward the table, picking up a picture frame.
"Mira… that's a beautiful name," Kael said, glancing at the photo she held. "Fitting for such a beautiful face."
Mira appeared to be a middle-aged woman with brown hair that fell to her shoulders, and eyes that seemed to shine even through the stillness of a photo. Her smile radiated warmth, transcending age. In the picture, she wore a simple yet elegant dress that highlighted her natural beauty.
"Haha, right?" Milan chuckled, placing the picture back carefully. "Anyway, this is what I wanted to show you."
Kael took a seat on one of the chairs around the circular table as Milan retrieved a small rectangular device with an orb embedded in its center.
The White Prime still needed to visit the mine where the miner had first found him, but for now, he decided to set that matter aside. Curiosity about Milan's mother took priority.
Milan placed the black box on the table and tapped the orb in the middle. The device vibrated softly, then projected a light that expanded into a holographic screen.
The screen flickered with countless lights—a sign she had entered a Fissure.
Milan sat beside Kael, and the two silently watched the feed.
It began with routine footage, so Milan reached out and fast-forwarded the recording by sliding her hand across the holographic interface.
"This is where it starts," Milan said as the scene on the screen changed.
It was body cam footage, and only Mira's teammates could be seen. They stood in front of a giant cave, its entrance like the gaping mouth of a beast ready to devour them.
"What are we doing here?" one of Mira's teammates asked.
"Reno said he found something strange," Mira's voice came from the black box.
"Oh? But we need to go to the Catalyst before they close this Fissure," another teammate added.
"Hey guys, follow me!" someone shouted from inside the cave, and Mira, along with her team, followed the voice.
Milan fast-forwarded the video again. Now, Mira and her teammates were standing before a Primer holding something in his arms.
"What are you holding?" Mira asked curiously.
"I think this is an Artefact!" Reno, a brown-skinned man who looked to be in his twenties, held out a bug-like creature—akin to a beetle—in his hands. Though of average build, the Exoskeleton Suit he wore made him appear bulkier. "I can feel my strength increasing just by holding this!"
"That's impossible," one of Mira's teammates said. "Even though this Fissure is almost Yellow, it's still Blue. There's no way an Artefact would appear here."
"It doesn't look special," another teammate added. "It's just a small Behemech, and it looks dead."
"Hey! I'm telling the truth! Let's look at my stats then!" Reno tapped the Status Band on his wrist, and a holographic screen appeared, displaying his stats for everyone to see.
When the numbers confirmed Reno's claim, the team gasped in amazement.
"It's real," Mira muttered, her voice soon replaced by excitement. "There's really an Artefact in this place. You're so lucky, Reno—you're the first in our group to have one."
As Mira's voice echoed from the black box, Kael glanced at Milan beside him and saw her close her eyes.
I guess this is the moment when everything goes out of control, Kael thought as he kept watching. And sure enough, what happened next proved him right.
After Mira spoke, silence fell.
"I don't like your stares," Reno said to the people surrounding Mira. His gaze—through the lens—seemed to pierce through, as if staring directly at Kael and Milan.
"Reno… you're still young, and having an Artefact is a huge responsibility… Why not give it to us?" one of Mira's teammates asked gently.
"But I found it on my own," Reno replied, frowning as he took a couple of steps back.
"So? This isn't something you get to decide. The Artefact will choose its owner—and clearly, you're not it. You may be able to use a bit of its abilities, but in your hands, it'll be wasted. Listen to your elders… right, Mira?" The man turned toward Milan's mother.
Mira stayed silent for a moment before stepping forward, positioning herself between Reno and the three teammates.
"I see what's happening. You three want the Artefact Reno found on his own. We've been hunting Fissures together for years now… How come I've never seen this side of you before?"
"Mira, we've been stuck! We can't enter Yellow! This Artefact can help us become stronger! Don't tell me you don't want that?"
"An Artefact is meant for one user. After you take it from Reno, the three of you will end up fighting over it. I think it's best for Reno to have it. He has more potential than us," Mira's voice echoed as the camera captured the three individuals.
"Mira, don't be stubborn. Step aside or you'll face the three of us!" one of her teammates shouted.
"Then you'll have to go through me first!" Mira said, lowering her stance as she turned to look at the young man behind her. "Reno, run!"
"B-but…" Reno looked at his teammates, wide-eyed, and Mira's words seemed to snap him back to reality. "What about you, Mira?"
"Don't worry. I can handle them!"
Though the holographic screen didn't show Mira's face, Kael and Milan could feel she was smiling.
"I'll fight with you!" Reno said, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"I said run! Don't make me repeat myself! And once you get out of here, force the Artefact to Assimilate with you!" Mira shouted.
Reno glanced at her, and in Kael and Milan's eyes, it felt like they were looking directly at each other.
He gritted his teeth, then nodded. "You better come out alive!"
"Go after him!" Mira's captain shouted, and one of their teammates ran after Reno.
But then, the holographic screen flashed—and in the next moment, the teammate who had chased Reno was suddenly back in front of the screen.
Kael and Milan watched as the battle began.
"I don't want to watch this," Milan muttered, swiping her finger on the screen to fast-forward the scene.
It changed again, now showing a body lying on the ground, covered in blood. One of his hands was severed from his torso. A few feet away, the severed hand was still clutching the 'beetle.'
"Reno!" Mira's crying voice echoed from the speaker. The camera then revealed the three Primers surrounding her.
"Give it up. He's dead, and there's nothing you can do," the captain said.
"You killed him! He had a bright future ahead of him!" Mira screamed.
"What about our future?!" the captain shouted back.
"F*ck your future!" Mira cursed, and the scene blurred. In the next moment, she was holding the Artefact—and as her hands clutched it, the 'beetle' let out a light before it entered her body, covering the BattleLog Module in the process.
"Sh*t! The Artefact chose her! We have to kill her before she fully assimilates!"
Another fight broke out. Bullets flew. Weapons clashed. The scene turned chaotic. The ground was upturned, explosions echoed—and for a few seconds, the destruction was clear. They'd basically razed a small mountain to the ground.
The battle lasted several minutes before Mira finally managed to escape using the Return Cube. Even with her enhanced stats, she couldn't take on all of them. She left the captain alive.
As she stepped through the portal summoned by the Return Cube, the holographic screen went black.
"Interesting," Kael muttered as the screen disappeared.