am-books Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Chapter 58 “Bilge”
Duncan had always wondered what was so unique and dangerous about the gothic doll that made sailors fear her very name.
It’s true that a self-moving, sane puppet was very freaky in itself, and the scene of her occasionally running around with her head off was shocking. However, in Duncan’s view, this level of freakiness wouldn’t be enough to get her a spot in the upper rank of the Anomaly list.
According to Nina’s own words:
Anomaly 196 – Blood, a dangerous anomaly contained and sealed in the underground sanctuary of the Church of Pland. Its body is the equivalent to the blood volume of an adult male’s whole body. It has the characteristics of flowing on its own and will actively try to replace the blood of any nearby eligible “host” for occupation. The way to prevent its escape is to store it within twenty-two blood tanks and maintain a freezing temperature. However, if someone bleeds within ten meters of the storage site, the seal will immediately fail with the person promptly attached by Anomaly 196.
Important notice – this anomaly ignores any countermeasures by a Saint and will kill its hosts as a result.
As one of the most dangerous anomalies managed by the Pland city-state, information about Anomaly 196-Blood is always open to the public. This ensures that once the anomaly leaks into the urban area, authorities can quickly locate it and take action to deal with it.
Duncan didn’t know what the concept of a so-called “saint” was, but by the naming, it was supposed to correspond to some sort of fairly powerful level of a transcendent being. Perhaps that inquisitor Vanna who had appeared in the newspapers was a saint and wielded some kind of power as a transcendent being—and how many Saints like her could possibly stand up to the Anomaly 196 in these city-states?
This was just an anomaly at the further end of the hundreds, nearly hitting the two hundred mark. The fact that Alice was ranked 099 meant she’s far more dangerous than what Blood could do.
Although according to Nina, there was some uncertainty between the numbering of anomalies and visions, and different anomalies and visions are not always able to be compared and contrasted in terms of weakness and strength. Nevertheless, the top anomalies and visions usually had a higher risk in general or stranger and uncontrollable “characteristics”. In many cases, they’ve caused enough damage to contribute to a special historical event, thus firmly earning themselves a spot in the high rankers.
In any case, one only needs to know that the number within a hundred rank represented danger or some kind of extremely tricky characteristic. But this cursed doll named Alice though....
Duncan subconsciously glanced back at Alice, who was honestly following behind him and smiling innocently back at the attention.
Duncan grew hesitant but picked up the lantern and proceeded anyways since he didn’t like unknown variables lurking in the shadow.
Alice hesitated even more at this freaky discovery, but in the end, she too had followed suit from the rear. In her view, compared to standing alone in the darkness at the top of the last staircase, she’s better off following the captain and owner of this ghost ship.
Soon they were now standing before this mysterious door. Raising his lantern to illuminate the surroundings, Duncan quickly took notice of the words atop of the doorframe: “The Last Door of the Bilge.”
“What does this mean?” Alice read the words with confusion and curiosity. “The last door of the bilge... Under normal circumstances, shouldn’t the name around the doorframe indicate its function instead?’
“Apparently a reminder,” Duncan thoughtfully withdrew his gaze from the doorframe and rested a hand on the doorknob, “If you go in and find that there is another door, don’t touch them.”
Alice nodded nervously, then saw Duncan take the final step in pushing open the “last door of the bilge.”
A strange pale shimmer greeted them as they stepped through into an open space.
“This... This...” Alice’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief at what she saw. “Ca-Captain! The bottom of the ship is broken! It’s broken!”
She shouted loudly, only to be ignored by Duncan who were equally as shocked and stunned by the scene.
The deepest layer of the Vanished was fragmented!
As far as the eye could see, huge cracks of were carved into the fabric of reality, causing the room to appear fragmented and chaotic. But beyond this, Duncan could still clearly see the “scenery” beyond the bilge.
It was not the deep and dark vast sea he had imagined, but a pale and obscure nothingness mixed in with numerous lights and shadows flickering through the void.