The Stargazing Witch & The Dungeon Planet
Chapter 91: And More Explosions

Chapter 91: And More Explosions

(“ You have been stealing a lot today, are you sure you’re not the pirate in this situation? ”)

And there Espr goes again! You were supportive for a solid minute. And if I must say, there is nothing wrong with granting a new purpose to ownerless goods. 

(“ I say it was longer than a minute ”)

It hadn’t been long since I left the destroyed room where I politely picked up an ownerless item, and exited the underground. On the way out, I saw the state of the tunnels, all the underground hallways I walked through earlier and those beyond were a disaster. Holes and torn-up metal littered the walls and floors. The more reinforced wall segments were simply left with minor surface damage, which was good as the area around the bunker was made of even sturdier material, but it was still concerning how close the bombs were. It was likely people within it were certainly shaken up now–if they weren’t already.

I could feel the weird pressure emitted from the marble I hid in my armour–which I now refer to as the portal marble–fading away after a minute of placing it in there. I wasn’t sure of the reason, which could honestly be anything from a cooldown of the portal or Espr doing something to it. Either way, I was happy with the outcome; if I could sense it with my soul pressure, then anyone with a weak ability to sense souls–which while extremely rare, those of the highest levels did tend to have a natural ability to feel souls at least.

Besides it being a potential magnet to my location, I had a few thoughts about what to do with the portal marble. Being a one-way trip made sure it wasn’t particularly great as a getaway device, but I could use it as a trap to throw people into, and I could learn a few tricks with my soul pressure by practicing with it. There was also the very important fact, thanks to Espr's revelation, that it led to the other side of existence. Of course, I had no idea what that exactly meant, but I had theories and more importantly, it may be a solution to a future problem of mine… I wasn’t sure how, but still, it was something I would rather possess than let it be in Dominous Hood’s sight.

To get to the surface, I had to claw through a large amount of rubble, which was because of some simple damage to the tunnels.

However, when I made it back to the surface, I was somehow met with even more destruction than what was there when I left. The oval I entered earlier had now completely collapsed, and that 'simple damage’, but far from an accurate statement.

How did this happen in such a short time?

On a simple level, more buildings were destroyed. On a more accurate level, it looked like a shockwave bomb went off and caused the current mess, with everything being flung all over the segment. 

That building was over where I landed… and now it’s bloody nearby.

With the damage, I’m surprised I didn’t hear it even if I was underground.

What surprised me most was the space combat, it was already intense but it could’ve only decreased over time. There were only a limited number of ships after all, but apparently, my thoughts were wrong in multiple ways.

Somehow the ship and mech count had doubled, on seemingly both sides, and the quality seemed to have also increased. 

Multiple ships were doing extremely skilful pinpoint manoeuvres around missiles and elemental bombs. These ships flew around the first segment but even dropped down to zip through the streets. 

One ship hurdled through the street after it did a rapid drop-down to evade large crimson mana missiles. A tornado of lightning spiralled around the ship as it tore the metal around the city street it flew through before it took a seventy-five-degree jump back into space.

Some of the ground forces couldn’t get out of the way, and they were shredded by the ship’s forcefield. Their armour was torn apart by the ship’s seemingly magnetic effect that pulled apart any metal structure that got neared, and lightning stabbed into their bodies while they couldn’t move.

(“ I would say that is your answer  ”)

They would be part of the answer, but looking at the damage… I have a feeling some of that was made by people on the ground. 

My only assumption was that the stronger fighters on both sides had begun to move in. 

Then in the distance.

Boom!

Another fight started.

Boom!

Boom!

Large explosions of fire burst into existence in the far distance. One individual with a golden ring of fire behind them flew in the air while they fought a silver figure of light. 

Beams of silver light and fire spheres exploded like fireworks. I had no way to tell who was on what side, and it was probably for the best if I didn’t intervene. My talents and effort were required elsewhere.

Espr, I’m going into the tower.

(“ Oh, that is surprising. Honestly, no matter what you said, I’d assume you just stay outside to maximise your safety ”)

I… have thought about doing that. 

Staying outside and just picking off goons was probably worth it, and it was originally, at some point, my plan… But I knew that if I didn’t try harder, at least there was a good chance the station might not keep existing until the end of the day. I felt that it was proven that there was no limit to the damage they were willing to inflict on Jelannax station.

But I need to do some cleanup, or otherwise, I am just going to be stuck floating in space again.

(“ Whatever you say, I know you won’t die anyway, so at least try to steal some useful items this time. The marble is great and all, but you can’t really use it, and the puny gun ran out of usages quickly after you acquired it  ”)

Sigh, you know what, sure.

(“ Excellent! I’ll let you know if I see anything I like ”)

At least say anything useful instead of ‘anything I like’.

(“ But that would be lying ”)