Ch 180.
Zara frowned as she gazed out at the tempest swirling before her after what felt like an eternity of relentless running. Thankfully, Earth remained frozen at the poles, and she had finally reached a point far enough north that the scattered sheets of ice had coalesced into one expansive slab. Unfortunately, she could not shake the feeling that this icy expanse resembled a giant donut when she looked toward what could only be the North Pole. Between her and a small island—an unexpected emergence where the ice sheets once lay—swirled a fierce hurricane, its winds howling like a pack of wolves. From the leadership chat, she recalled that Matt had faced a similar predicament, but unlike him, Zara found herself without a raft to navigate the treacherous waters.
Moreover, she lacked the audacity to pull off even a fraction of the daring feats that Matt was known for, not to mention the strength required to fend off the monsters lurking in the storm's wake. Yet, this very challenge ignited a spark of determination within her, making her smile; it felt like the perfect opportunity to prove to Matt that she could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. After all, she had a colossal ice raft right beneath her feet—the only puzzle left to solve was how to utilize it effectively. With that thought swirling in her mind, she plunged into deep contemplation for the better part of a day, sifting through everything she had learned in hopes of crafting a plan.
The ice was barely twelve feet thick, and while it would float, it lacked the strength she needed for her plan. The frigid water beneath it was sure to freeze her to the bone if given a chance, but that didn’t guarantee the ice wouldn’t begin to melt in it if she didn’t cross it quickly or utilized enough of it. More than anything, Zara understood that she had to find a way to propel this makeshift raft forward at a speed that could outpace the storm’s fury.
As she pondered her options, various ideas flitted through her mind. She considered attempting to cut out a large section of the ice, hoping to push it forward like a bridge, but skepticism nagged at her—was such a feat even feasible? The alternative ideas that surfaced were hardly better; she thought about crafting an ice kickboard to hold in front of her for floating support or simply hacking off chunks of ice to see what might happen. With determination igniting her resolve, Zara began to experiment, wielding her blade against the ice to discover the potential of each fragment she removed.
Emily beamed as her feet touched solid ground once more. The voyage across the churning sea had dragged on frustratingly slow, but with the steady stream of updates from the leadership chat and the comforting presence of those she trusted beside her, it had turned out to be easier than she had anticipated. The only hiccup had come when they encountered a large shark, its sleek form gliding menacingly through the water, though it was still too small to pose a real threat to their makeshift vessel. Constructed from salvaged building materials hastily nailed together, the craft stretched several hundred feet long and was half as wide, providing a sturdy, if not entirely graceful, means of transportation. While it hadn’t made for the smoothest journey, it had felt secure enough—until now, when she was preparing to abandon it.
After all, this vessel had successfully traversed over 1,000 miles, but the wear and tear from the relentless waves were beginning to show. More than one spot bore the scars of a monster's attack, where its powerful body had rammed through the layers of wood and metal. Ahead lay the daunting task of crossing over 6,000 miles to reach the island where Matt was currently waiting for them. She couldn’t shake the hope that Yumiko had made as much progress as the updates had indicated. The pressing question in Emily’s mind was how she could enhance the chances of survival for the organization’s members. Already, she had witnessed over 100 members either die or leave Scattered Stars, not even counting those who had perished left that were from the world they had just escaped.
Emily felt a knot in her stomach as she considered the potential fallout from the mass departures within their organization. The weight of those losses threatened to cripple Scattered Stars, yet the system had only stripped away the renown they had accrued from those who had left, as they had never truly utilized it. There were still several pressing matters that Matt seemed to overlook, particularly the urgent need to transfer the vice leader role from her to Eleanor. However, addressing Eleanor was another dilemma for Emily, as the woman had seemingly withdrawn from her responsibilities, no longer acting like a core member of Scattered Stars. True, Eleanor was diligently focused on constructing a port town, a venture that could prove vital for the long-term survival of their group, especially if more dungeon entrances failed to materialize. Still, Emily sensed that Eleanor had no intention of advancing her skills any further until absolutely necessary. This uncertainty was why Emily had refrained from confronting her about the vice leader position, opting instead to maintain her role until a more suitable replacement emerged.
Meanwhile, Yumiko frowned as she surveyed the outcome of over a month’s worth of collective effort to create a ship capable of safely crossing the turbulent sea. Part of her felt a sense of relief that the system had rendered all modern ships equipped with engines and their accompanying weaponry as little more than floating relics. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that having those ships would have been advantageous, and she struggled to grasp why they no longer functioned as intended. Oil and its derivatives still ignited as they always had, but combustion engines had inexplicably ceased to operate. It was one thing to understand that newer models required advanced technology, but even the older vessels, which once thrived even without computers, now sat idle, failing to respond as they should.
This limitation, more than anything, had severely restricted their options, as it meant they would have to rely primarily on wind and manpower to propel the vessel. Consequently, the design required a lightweight yet durable construction, and it was only through salvaging a handful of books from a college library that they had managed to piece together what they had. As Yumiko stood before the unfinished craft, a nagging doubt crept into her mind—half of her was convinced it was destined to sink. Before her loomed a drydocked ship measuring just over 500 feet in length and 100 feet in width. In truth, it resembled a small metal container ship that had been stripped down to its bare essentials, with only the bottom part of the hull remaining intact. Fortunately, the stats provided by the system were not solely beneficial for combat; several hundred individuals above level 20 possessed remarkable abilities that could contribute to the ship's construction. Once they had the hull prepared, the next critical step would be a complete redesign of the rest of the vessel to enhance its functionality and ensure its seaworthiness.
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They had meticulously lined the hull with sturdy wood and a waterproof resin, which they had confirmed through a series of tests could keep the ship's interior dry for several days, even when submerged in seawater, thus preventing early rusting. This crucial step also included the installation of five tall masts, ready to support their sails, and the initial framing of what would become the ship's interior rooms. Progress surged forward as they quickly completed the top deck, which was now their primary focus.
Currently, they faced challenges in designing a functional rudder to steer the vessel and sourcing enough suitable material for the sails. Although they had salvaged sails from several recreational sailboats, these were far from ideal. While the fabric itself was of good quality, the sails were smaller and improperly shaped for their needs, and stitching them together risked creating weak points that could compromise their performance. Layering the sails was also ill-advised, yet that was the plan they would follow once they determined the correct dimensions, having failed to devise a better solution.
As she pored over the designs and contemplated their next steps, word arrived that Emily had reached the site. This news brought a mix of relief and anxiety to Yumiko; she was glad to welcome another leader from Scattered Stars, yet apprehensive about the potential for power struggles that might arise. Adjusting to her role had been challenging, as she had never intended to lead anyone but found herself in that position nonetheless. To some extent, she felt more like a figurehead, responsible for disseminating information for others to act upon. In truth, it was her grandfather who had been steering their direction most effectively. Now, with Emily's arrival, she couldn't shake her concerns about how this would impact their leadership dynamic.
“You know, it’s not the best to be lost in thought,” commented Emily as she stood next to Yumiko.
“I would have thought you would come running when you heard I was here,” Emily said, a teasing lilt in her voice.
“If only things were that simple,” Yumiko replied, glancing at Emily with a frown that deepened as she took in her friend’s disheveled appearance. “You look like crap.”
“Yeah, well, try crossing the ocean in the junk raft I did and then walking a few hundred miles in just a couple of days, and see how you look,” Emily shot back, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Did you not stop to bathe even once?” Yumiko asked, incredulous.
“No, I wanted to get here as soon as possible. Besides, where would you suggest I bathe when I know nothing about this area and made a point of avoiding populated places?” Emily shrugged, her eyes darting around as if searching for a hidden oasis.
“Fair enough. I’ll make sure your group has a chance to wash up,” Yumiko stated with a sigh, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders. “Any chance you'll leave the shipbuilding and port town management to me and my grandfather?”
“If you’re talking about constructing the ship and establishing the port town, that’s exactly what I expected,” Emily replied, a smile breaking through her fatigue. “It’s once we’re out to sea that I start to worry.”
“About that, are we going to head straight to Matt, or are we still planning to settle a few islands along the way?” Yumiko asked, her brow furrowing.
“We need to set up a few islands, if possible, but Matt has been less consistent with his updates. I wish he would send more than one message a day; he can manage five if he wants,” Emily said, frustration creeping into her tone.
“I’m just relieved he finally started using it,” Yumiko remarked, a hint of melancholy entering her voice. “Do you think there’s any chance he’ll give me a chance to be with him?”
“Not if you keep acting like this,” Emily answered, sighing as she looked away, her gaze distant. “Honestly, I think we should all just give up on him. He’s going to be devastated once everything with Rose is settled completely.”
“What do you mean?” Yumiko asked, her heart racing.
“She didn’t escape and is currently being forced to bring that Spencer guy to Matt. Matt knows, and he’s allowing them to come to him, hoping they’ll make it before any of us can,” Emily explained, her expression grim.
“And will they?” Yumiko's voice trembled slightly.
“Who knows,” Emily replied, a frown knitting her brows. “They might just end up heading to the dungeon in Antarctica or whatever lies at the South Pole now. From the messages directing them, it seems they need to go south before heading north for the safest route to where Matt is.”
Elsewhere, wrapped in thick furs, Rose struggled to keep her footing as she and Spencer dragged their raft across the icy expanse of the southernmost continent. The biting cold gnawed at their skin, but they were fortunate; the supplies they had loaded onto the raft, combined with what they could trade through the guild merit exchange, provided enough food to sustain them. Yet, the relentless chill made every movement feel like a monumental effort. Before them loomed a scene reminiscent of what Zara was witnessing, dominated by a massive lake shrouded in a swirling typhoon.
“What is this about?” Spencer asked, his brow furrowed as he turned to Rose, seeking answers.
“I don’t know,” Rose replied, her voice tinged with anxiety. “But it could be the dungeon here; each one should be surrounded by a storm like this.”
“I see, and Matt is currently growing stronger in one right now,” Spencer observed, glancing back at the tempest.
“Yes, if we manage to quell the dungeon from raging, the storm should subside, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to navigate around it.”
“Nonsense! The two of us are going to take a break and fight here for at least a few months. After all, I can’t let Matt be the only one to gain power. Besides, maybe these dungeons are connected deep beneath the ground, and it will be easier to reach him this way.”
Rose bit her lip, knowing very well what Matt had said about the dungeon he was currently leveling in; she heavily suspected that Spencer's theory about them connecting wasn’t true. As they paused to gather their strength before facing the storm, she whispered a quiet prayer, hoping that the dungeon would claim Spencer’s life.
