Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 617: The Fixer

Chapter 617: The Fixer

"What happened?"

"I think you tried to remember something you shouldn’t have," Ana said, causing Alex to nod or at least try to, considering he couldn’t even move his neck.

"How long have I been like this?"

"Roughly a month."

Silence followed before Alex spoke up. "I see."

Then, he asked. "Where are we?"

"Cinerath. We’ve been floating in subspace ever since Khanna imbibed the drop of water from the Fountain and fell into a deep slumber."

"You really shouldn’t be saying her name so casually."

"It’s not like she can hear us."

"Still..."

"I don’t want to hear it, Ulysses, so give it a rest."

Letting out a sigh, Alex remarked. "So then, how do we get back?"

"The Goddess gave us a way out. A ship that can survive subspace long enough for us to get back to Eventide. Unfortunately, once it enters Eventide, it can’t return to subspace so we had to wait for you to recover before leaving."

"I see," Alex muttered and again tried to move, only to pause as he couldn’t. "Someone please get me out of this."

"A minute."

***

Perhaps because he’d been tied up for quite a while, Alex needed help walking with Ana and Ulysses, helping him out of the room and into the streets of Cinerath, only to be met with an appalling sight.

Once upon a time, the City of Tomorrow looked like a fever dream straight out of a fantasy work.

Yet now, it appeared as a nightmare that few would wish to stay in.

Its once glowing brass creations now appeared dull, seemingly eroded by time, while the busy streets now stood eerily empty, with broken devices replacing the once active automation.

"What happened?" Alex asked with a frown, taking the time to look around at what could only be described as a tragedy.

Ulysses replied. "It’s been like this since the Goddess fell into a deep slumber."

"What about the Automatons?"

"Most returned to their pods to rest. Very few are still active." Ana intoned with Ulysses remarking.

"Speaking of active Automatons, there is one we should meet before we leave Cinerath."

"Who is that and why?"

"An Automaton that calls himself the Fixer. According to what we found out, he is one of the oldest Automatons transmogrified by the Goddess."

"Transmogrified?" Alex raised a brow.

"Indeed. The Automatons are humans that pledged allegiance to the Goddess and got transmogrified as a result, attaining immortality at the cost of becoming eternally bound to her existence."

"I see," Alex muttered. "So why are we visiting this Fixer and why isn’t he asleep like the others?"

"For the first question, it’s because he is helping me build a device that can be used to protect my eyes, ears, and mind when I venture into the Abyss to carry out my 3rd Trial," Ulysses replied and Ana followed up.

"And as for the second, he claims that if everyone goes to sleep, Cinerath would no longer be able to function. It’s like a large machine that needs to be taken care of. Since the Goddess can no longer do that, then her servants need to step up."

Alex nodded in understanding before going along with them as they visited the Fixer.

The Fixer was holed up in the only clocktower still active in Cinerath, making sure it remained active.

He appeared as a weird old man with an afro and a beard filled with gray hair.

Donning goggles as well as oil-stained suspenders that added to the weird aesthetic, he didn’t even bother looking in their direction as he went about his work.

"Old man, is it done?" Ulysses inquired in Kantoj as he took a step forward.

The Fixer didn’t move from his position as he pointed at his desk where a rather odd device was kept.

It appeared like a helmet with a pair of goggles and ear mufflers, causing Ulysses to wonder if this was truly a device that could help him navigate the Abyss unharmed.

Alex and Ana were of a similar disposition as they glanced at the device and then at the Fixer.

The latter spoke a moment after. "Put it on."

Ulysses furrowed his brows but ultimately did as instructed, as he walked over to the desk and picked up the device.

Glancing at Alex and Ana for support, he took a deep breath and donned the helmet.

A moment later, his vision changed.

The world filled with colors was immediately replaced by one filled with only black and white.

Currently, the area he was in was completely white, leaving him rather perplexed.

"Eventide is a land forged from the concept of yin Yang, black and white. The device allows you to see the world in its purest state."

"I can only see white right now." Ulysses intoned with the Fixer replying.

"Because the Goddess is born of Yang, so all things connected to her would only have Yang."

"I asked for a device that allows me to navigate the Abyss, not one that helps me see the true nature of the world."

"And that device would help you. But did you consider how to get to the Abyss in the first place?"

"That..."

"According to what I know, most Abyss Wheel Mystics perform rituals to create a gateway, and mind you, those rituals are usually insane. Unless you wish to let go of your morals, I don’t advise doing them."

"So..."

"Those goggles would allow you to detect areas in Eventide that are overlapping with the Abyss. They would appear as gray areas. It would also allow you to access the gray areas, immediately entering the Abyss."

"I see," Ulysses muttered. "Thank you."

"You’re welcome. You helped to save the Goddess, it’s only right that I help you."

"How durable is the helmet once in the Abyss?"

"Enough to last two weeks, so you’d best be careful while using it."

"I will."

"Since your friend is better now, I’m guessing you plan on leaving."

"That is correct."

"Pay homage to the Goddess before you leave. Also, you should be careful while in subspace. Eklir is still after us."

"Who?"

"The God of Slaughter, the Goddess’s brother."

"I see. We’ll be careful." Alex remarked with the Fixer nodding in satisfaction.

As the trio turned to leave, the Fixer gave them one final warning.

"Lest I forget, Henos is in chaos right now. The Goddess’s allies are being hunted down while the Swindler continues to wax stronger. If you can, run while you still can, or else you may be forced to witness the ascendance of a Demon God."

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