Chapter 18 Trio Metaphysic
After Domini had fallen into a horrible, miserable state that night, the city was swallowed by terror. Many fled into the woods, desperate for a hiding place—anything that promised a sliver of safety.
The AIs, who were supposed to maintain order, showed no hesitation in killing anyone who “threatened” the city’s infrastructure. Even chopping tree branches or shooting at birds could mean instant death.
People who still managed to gather in groups camped in the parks, trying to survive together, though “together” meant nothing in a city where humanity was decaying. Marauders roamed like predators between the buildings—human marauders, crueler than the machines. In the Cirque arena, even victors barely survived long enough to step outside; greed consumed what remained of their lives. They were robbed of their weapons, their eire, and often, their breath.
Blood soaked the streets. The metallic stench lingered in the air like a permanent fog. In the end, After Domini had become a city of slaughter.
On the guidance screen, Red watched silently as the survivor count plummeted over the last three days. From the thousands that once walked Ohm, only around 2,807 people remained. Most didn’t die by AI judgment—no. They died at the hands of other humans.
Kit sighed, her expression tight with fear. She stared at Red and Call with concern, carving deep lines in her face.
“How long will this go on?” she rasped. “Aren’t the AIs supposed to deal with this? Why can’t they stop any of it?”
Three days passed before they dared leave the wilderness and set foot back into the city. They expected improvement, a calmer atmosphere—something that resembled civilization. But what welcomed them was chaos even worse than before.
Screams. Gunshots. Fire. The sound of metal clashing against metal.
They tried to assess the situation from the guidance screen, but everything was out of control.
The AIs were focused only on protecting property—never people. They guarded buildings, roads, fences, fountains, and vehicles with a precision that bordered on cruelty. Humans were not a priority for them.
“Let’s get out of here. Anywhere. I don’t want any more trouble,” Call muttered weakly. “I’ve seen enough death. Too much.”
They were trapped between death by humans and death by machines.
“Back to the forest?” Red asked.
Call nodded.
“That settles it,” Kit agreed. “We go.”
They returned the way they came, through the hills and into the forest’s skeletal embrace. They hoped to find something—anything edible, drinkable—as long as the AIs didn’t judge it as destruction.
Above them, the sky shimmered. At a glance, it looked like a star-filled night. The AIs had turned the sky into a sphere—daylight came from a single artificial sun, massive as a moon, and night was the cosmos.
Even with the cold gnawing at Red’s bones, even with hunger twisting her stomach, the sight filled her heart. Everyone around her fought for survival, for breath, for existence. Yet she stood there, finding beauty in the dark.
“Who came up with such a barbaric method to collect eire?” Kit murmured, breaking the stillness.
“It’s the bracelets,” Call answered. “They’re too easy to take. Too easy to exchange. Like what Red did with Lein back on Earth.”
Kit exhaled shakily. “But to hurt someone? To kill?”
“Survival instinct,” Red replied. “In a place like this… that’s the only answer.”
Time blurred as they walked. Strange sounds rustled between the trees. Creatures moved in the dark—none they recognized. Red remained alert, primarily for Ursula’s sake. One wrong step, one broken branch, and the AI could judge it as destruction. Ursula could die simply for miscalculating her strength.
Red guided the robot carefully, weaving left, ducking under vines, pushing past bushes.
Then, a sound. Flowing water.
“Is that… water?” Call’s voice cracked with disbelief.
“I think so,” Red answered.
They ran. Crashing through leaves, leaping over roots. The sound grew louder. Then they saw it.
A lake. Steam rose from its surface. A small waterfall glimmered at the edge. Kit rushed forward in excitement.
Red’s heart jumped. “Kit, wait!”
But Kit didn’t stop. Red sprinted after her, scanning the water. Her left eye interface glowed—green.
“It’s safe,” she confirmed breathlessly. “The water’s safe.”
Kit brightened, her voice trembling with relief. “Call! Look! Hot water! Can you believe it?”
“Yeah,” Call muttered, unimpressed. “A lake.”
Kit ignored him. “Can we swim? Warm up? Just for a moment—”
The ground moved, like something living. The earth snapped up Kit’s backpack, flinging her into the air. Kit screamed. She hit a tree hard, tumbling down with a sickening thud.
Footsteps echoed from behind the steam. Then figures emerged, three of them.
The first woman stepped forward with confidence that bordered on arrogance. Her flowing hair, the sensual curve of her body, the commanding expression—unmistakable.
“Y–Yasmin?” Call whispered.
Red’s blood went cold. Kit coughed, breath trembling. Red rushed to her, terrified—Kit had a chronic illness. Injuries could kill her.
“Kit? Talk to me. Are you hurt?”
“I’m… fine,” Kit forced out, voice thin.
Yasmin stood at the edge of the lake like she owned the land itself. A young woman and a tall boy flanked her.
“You heard her,” the younger girl said, surprisingly gentle. “Leave.”
She was small—barely five feet—with sharp eyes and a calm presence. She looked at Red. “Is your friend okay?”
“Yes,” Red replied, though her voice shook. “She will be.”
“Yas,” the girl warned, “don’t be rude.”
“I don’t like being interrupted,” Yasmin hissed. “Don’t lecture me.”
“I’m not lecturing. I’m reminding.”
Yasmin scoffed. “Spare me. You’re just Viz’s favorite little doll.”
The young woman said nothing, only letting her gaze drift to Ursula. Call froze like prey spotting a predator.
“Oh my…” the girl whispered, fascinated. “That robot… who does it belong to?”
“Me,” Red answered carefully.
“That’s the robot that caused trouble when we arrived in Ohm,” the girl murmured.
“I didn’t mean to cause anything,” Red said. “We’ll leave. As soon as Kit can stand, we’ll go. Please.”
“You should,” the girl replied kindly. “Yasmin’s already killed several people. Flame cremated them over there.”
Red, Call, and Kit stared—horror hollowing them out.
“But you don’t need to see. The robots will clean it up later,” she added with a smile too calm for such a sentence.
The tall boy stepped forward. His right arm was mechanical, fingers sparking with electrical current. His hair looked like metallic thorns.
“I need repairs,” he muttered. “Assassins tried to tear my system apart in the Cirque.”
Kit swallowed. “I’m… a Support Weapon.”
Yasmin sneered. “Support Weapon is for crafting. Not fixing. We’re Metaphysic—our bodies are weapons.”
Kit lowered her bag and opened it. “Tools. Not for fighting. For repairing.”
The young girl’s expression brightened. “See, Flame? You’re in luck.”
Red stiffened.
“Can you help us?” the girl asked Kit.
“If I can… I will,” Kit answered.
“Good!” The girl clapped. “At least someone here is useful.”