Boundless Chronicles

Chapter 11: Ghost Memories, I

The heavy doors of the rusted Subway Car hissed shut.

Dudududu.

The train lurched forward, accelerating into the pitch-black transit tunnel with a deafening metallic grind. Sparks Showered against the reinforced windows, Casting violent amber reflections across the interior.

Noël Sat down on the hard metal bench opposite the doors.

Elara huddled close to his Side, her breathing Shallow and uneven. Lyra Thorne was aggressively wiping grease off her fingers with a dirty rag, refusing to look at Gideon Vance, who Sat at the far end of the Carriage with his eyes closed and his Silver rapier resting across his knees.

Noël opened his internal interface to Check his Status.

[Tier: 0]

[Mnemonic Ledger: 7 / 60 Fractures]

A Sharp, throbbing pain pierced the Center of his Skull.

[Warning: Excessive use of the Sovereign Memory has Strained your Soul grid.]

[Your Mnemonic Ledger density is increasing.]

His vision blurred for a split Second. The Cost of recalling Gideon's future actions was high. Two Fractures for a Single bluff. If he kept accumulating Fractures at this rate, he would lose his mind before he even reached Tier 1.

In the first place, memory wasn't a free resource. In his ghost-memories of the 4th timeline, Gideon Vance had never taken this Specific transit line during the first Subterranean transition. He was Supposed to be weeks away in the Capital.

The timelines were diverging faster than expected.

Noël looked at Gideon through the dim light of the Carriage. His facial expressions were as difficult to read as a philosophy book with no Commentary written.

"Hey," Lyra whispered, leaning close to his ear. "Are you out of your mind? You bluffed a God-Touched Incarnation. If he realizes you don't actually know where the Silk Queen's asset is, he will turn us into minced meat."

Noël made a slightly Complicated expression.

"Of Course he knew where it was," Noël Said.

"Really?"

"It was a lie."

Lyra’s jaw dropped. She Stared at him as if he had grown a Second head. "You lied to a guy who can Slice this train in half with a flick of his wrist?!"

"If you don't lie to Survive, you die in the first twenty Chapters," Noël Said plainly. "That is the genre rule of this world."

[The Gallery-being 'The Auditor of Ash' is convulsing with laughter at your honesty.]

[The Gallery-being 'Widow of the Third Bell' wonders how long your bluff will hold up.]

[The Gallery-being 'Seyl the Unblinking' places a Small wager on your imminent death.]

[300 Tribute has been Sponsored.]

[Current Tribute: 5,200]

Noël didn't waste time. He immediately opened the Codex Shop window and poured the newly Sponsored Tribute into his Stats.

[5,000 Tribute has been Consumed!]

[Your Physique has increased to Lv. 25!]

[Your Agility has increased to Lv. 30!]

[Your Strength has increased to Lv. 20!]

A violent, burning heat tore through his muscle fibers. They broke down and reknit themselves in the Span of a heartbeat. The Crushing fatigue of the underground journey vanished completely. His bones felt heavy and dense, like tempered Steel.

The Combat power gap was finally Closing.

Suddenly, the train jerked violently.

Kiiiiiiiik-!

The emergency brakes Screeched, Sending a high-pitched ring through the tunnel. The interior lights flickered from Steady blue to an aggressive, pulsing red.

[An unexpected obstacle has been detected on the transit line.]

[Emergency Stop initiated.]

Gideon opened his eyes. The Calm facade vanished instantly, replaced by a razor-Sharp focus. He Stood up without a Sound, his hand resting on the hilt of his rapier.

"What is it?" Elara whispered, Clutching her broken Spear. "Are there more monsters?"

"No," Noël Said, Standing up and gripping the iron pipe firmly in his right hand. "It's worse than monsters."

Kuuong!

Something massive slammed into the roof of the Subway Car. The thick Steel plating buckled downward, groaning under an immense weight.

Chiiiik!

Sparks Showered from the Ceiling vents as a pair of massive, clawed hands ripped the roof open like a tin Can.

A towering figure dropped into the Center of the Carriage, Scattering dust and debris everywhere. It wore the ruined, gold-trimmed uniform of a Capital enforcement officer, but its Skin was gray and rotting, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural violet flame.

A high-tier Revenant.

[A Sudden variable has intruded upon the transit line.]

[The 'Corrupted Centurion' has blocked the path to the Second layer.]

The Revenant Scanned the Carriage with its glowing eyes, letting out a deep, rattling growl that shook the glass of the windows. Its gaze locked directly onto Gideon Vance.

"A remnant of the old guard," Gideon muttered, his voice Cold. "To think a Corrupted officer Survived down here."

Gideon drew his rapier.

Tiing!

A blinding Silver aura erupted from the blade, illuminating the entire Carriage. The Sheer pressure of his ether forced Elara and Lyra to press themselves flat against the walls.

"Stay back," Gideon Said, Stepping forward. "I will Clear the track."

"Wait," Noël blurted out.

"What?" Gideon glared back at him. "Are you going to tell me another Story?"

"That Revenant isn't alone," Noël Said, pointing his pipe toward the shattered roof. "Its Core is linked to the tunnel's power grid. If you kill it with a direct ether Strike, the feedback loop will detonate the entire Subway Car."

Gideon paused. He looked up through the hole in the roof, then back at Noël.

"How could you possibly know that?"

"Because," Noël Said, making a dark expression, "he had read the maintenance logs of this line before it was buried."

Of Course, it was a lie. He had Seen this exact death Sequence in the 2nd timeline's ghost-memories, where an overconfident Incarnation blew up his own transport.

Gideon narrowed his eyes. He didn't lower his Sword, but the blinding Silver aura dimmed slightly.

"Then how do we kill it without blowing up the train?" Gideon asked, his voice low.

Noël firmly planted his feet, Stepping past Gideon toward the towering Revenant.

"You don't kill it," Noël Said, gripping the iron pipe. "You break its Synchronization."

The Revenant roared, raising its massive, clawed hand to Swipe at Noël's head.

Right Side.

Noël quickly moved away from the direction of the attack.

Left Shoulder.

He dropped his Center of gravity, letting the heavy claw Slice the empty air inches above his back.

[Current Fractures: 7]

His head throbbed violently, but his eyes were Clear.

Noël gripped the iron pipe firmly in his right hand and Smashed it directly into the Revenant's left knee joint.

Kwajik!