Riley J. Smith and Alister Crow are still traveling.
With no food, resources, or water.
They use the least amount of energy as possible. This tactic is supported on part due to the decrease in space between each platform, rending the expedition smoother. It is comparable to walking on a set of stairs. The side effect of this is that checkpoints are no longer marked on each single platform.
After much observation, the scientist confirms something he suspected a while ago, but didn't comment on: These checkpoints, they are a poor representation of the real distance needed to reach the bottom of the pit. That is, if there's any bottom to begin with. Riley's data on the length between checkpoints is scarce. It has been at the tail end in his list of priorities for the last week spent here. If there's anything to appreciate, it's that Alister has regained his vision back. He's not thrilled at the idea of his almighty speed locked behind the possibility of blindness, but at this stage of the journey, this is the least of his concerns.
"Doc, do you see the next checkpoint nearby?"
"Not yet." Responds the scientist.
Alister has been asking that question for a few minutes at time.
Last checkpoint they've spotted was number 5 702.
It's been around 2 hours. These checkpoints are located in a sporadic fashion, only appearing when they feel like it. Riley's theory is one the assassin doesn't approve of and wish he kept to himself. The idea that somebody would have placed these checkpoints on purpose is starting to ring too much truth on this. The sooner they find this next checkpoint, the better.
And they find it, a new checkpoint on a small cliff.
Checkpoint number 5 645.
Riley places his two hands on his face. His brain is frying at the sight of this number.
"Wait...What the fuck? Did we just skip-no, that's impossible!" Shouts Alister, equally stupefied.
"I have no idea what in the world is going on, but this is turning stranger every second. Whoever laid those checkpoints should have trouble remembering by the time he gets up there, not as he's beginning..." Riley is massaging his skull with his two hands, hoping to stop the headache that this gibberish conjures.
"I'm gonna cry myself to sleep. Let's keep going before I lose anymore braincells over this mess."
As soon as they both agree to this, they hear a stomp below them.
They make out sounds of more stomps on the walls of the Bottomless Pit, sounds they have heard before. Something is returning from below to greet them, and they know exactly what's visiting.
"Let's go!" States the hunter without an ounce of hesitation.
They don't waste a single second to accelerate their pace. Whatever machine caught Urth will surely do them no favors. They must act quickly. The stomps of what they assume to be the giant death robot are getting louder, signaling its presence.
"Good evening."
The distorted threat is followed by that hellish cry, that harsh and broken noise, as if a fallen god or the devil came to disturb the very fabric of existence.
As soon as they hear one slight moment of it, Alister and Riley stops on their track and block their ears for what feels like minutes, pressing their hands on the sides of their heads as much as possible. The two are sweating profusely due to the fear of sudden death.
Then, it happens.
The scream pitches higher and higher. It's reaching notes impossible to process by the human brain, a loud buzz that can wipe them away like flies. Since they are aware of it, the screech comes their way and passes by without damaging them.
Because they had their ears firmly blocked, when they opened them after the fact, they weren't expecting absolutely nothing.
No sound. No more stomps.
Until an array of lights activates. They form this kind of circle on top of the machine's head.
With power comparable to thousands of flashlights, these artificial lights catch Riley and Alister off guard and illuminate the entirety of the underground.
the machine is ginormous, it's head already taller than Nil was after its gruesome transformation. It wears this overbearing smile. They both must look below them to see the machine standing sideways.
Now that the lights are on in the entirety of the pit, Riley can see the overwhelming distance between each side of the walls. The Bottomless Pit is indeed a vast space of death and darkness.
"I have a game for you two to play."
"I could use some translation over what the fuck it's saying! Got any gadgets that can do that, Riley!?"
When Alister looks at the scientist, his face looks appalled, which prompts the hunter to look at where the scientist is looking.
The wall on the other side.
It's slowly getting closer.
It's reaching the other side as fast as a snail, as if the Bottomless Pit is taunting them to wait right there while their predator is catching up to them.
Obstacles like spikes on the wall and platforms from above retracts back inside of their respective walls.
This robot. It can control the Bottomless Pit.
This is the game the mechanized devil wants to play.
Alister can only whisper "Holy shit", as the horror becomes more a nightmare.
The wall keeps getting closer,
and closer,
and closer,
until it stops.
The mech is now at enough distance to use both walls as a climbing device, now able to get at the right height and look down upon its toys from a satisfying angle.
"Disgusting humans like you, have no rights to step in this space."
"Disgusting humans. Right, this the reason of this madness!" Screams the doctor. "It is the process that computer in your brain runs on, and it is DEFECTIVE! By that logic, there are plenty of innocent people that came before us, who should have been able to witness this world in its glory, uncontrolled and unperturbed by a freak like you!"
"Yeah! What happened to honest people, huh!? What happened to heroes, the ones who deserved to know the truth, like Nathaniel Crow, huh!? Why did they die here!?" Follows Alister.
The machine stays silent. They then hear a buzzer and other weird noises from inside the machine, as if someone, or something, is playing with configurations.
"You mutts have me confused."
The machine sounds clearer, a lot less distorted and comprehensible to the hears.
"I am not talking about morals. You two mention good or evil, honesty, and heroes, like that's what matters. I'm talking barebones intellect. Humans of your downgraded level, no matter how much good you make, will die here. Nobody from this disgusting planet can step down here and expect to stay alive."
Both Riley and Alister are left bemused by the mech's answer.
The machine's eyes glows red. Its whole body proceeds to vibrate.
It enters attack mode.