Chapter 45: Chap. 37 : Cancelling an Apocalypse

As she looked at the book, Zoemie was reminded of something, and she jolted up. "Hold on. Just a sec.", Zoemie said. "If it's radioactive...That means we can kill it. Right ?" The old man's eyes widened.

"How so ?", he asked, something within his voice. Surprise, maybe ? He definitely sounded a bit off-balance, but he had been this way since the meeting began, so Zoemie couldn't say with confidence.

"Radioactive stuff blows up. That's how nukes works. Neth once told me that.", Zoemie explained. "Normally, we'd risk blowing up the dungeon with that kinda stunt... but I can just make a separate room deeper in the mountain, reinforce the walls, shove it in and blow it up from range by causing a chain reaction."

"Hmm... We need to confirm it first, then.", the old man said. "We'd need a method to measure radioactivity levels in the areas around where it is sealed.", he continued, before Xajymzia's heavy footsteps interrupted their conversation.

She looked at both of them. Zoemie wasn't sure what she was thinking, but she smiled slightly. "I will build a device to handle that part.", she said and both of them nodded. Well, that makes things easy.

"We'll need to dispose of it safely, however, especially if it gets contaminated.", the old man said. Wouldn't have thought of that. Zoemie thought for a bit. But he's right. We can't just leave it there, people might get curious.

Oh ! I know ! "Just shove it in the room where we'll blow it up.", Zoemie said. "It's gonna be a irradiated mess after that Apocalypse gets blown up either way, and that way we're not gonna get curious travellers. None of us will ever enter that room either way, so..."

"Let us begin, then", Yuulvan said. "I remember where 2-7-4 is sealed, so I'll use my magic to scout the area from here and find a safe warping spot for the device. I understand you'd want to keep this under wraps.", he continued, Zoemie nodding before he teleported to his quarters and Xajymzia left for her lab.

Thanks, old man, for staying quiet about this. She didn't mind dealing with some country-ruining abomination... as long as her involvement was unknown. Means less trouble. Zoemie closed her eyes.feeling the dungeon, its areas and limits, and she dug deeper.

Then, deep within the mountain, she opened a cubic chamber separated from her dungeon, and turned the walls into hard, heat-resistant materials before reinforcing them heavily, and adding an extra layer of reinforced air slightly in front of each wall, like at her entrance. Don't know what degree of explosive power to expect, but can't have too little defence. We're dealing with a nuke, after all.

Zoemie quickly got the feeling that she herself couldn't enter physically enter that room. But that's fine since I was never planning on it. "So, Neth told me that nuclear power plants needs water as coolant to prevent things from going boom. That smoke out of the towers is steam, not carbon gas.", she remembered.

"So, if we want the reverse, that is, nuclear things to go boom, we need heat.", she deduced. She changed the layout of the room, adding a platform in the middle. Let's go with the fire-and-brimstone approach, Zoemie decided as she added a lava lake around the platform, and made the platform heatproof by reinforcing it and changing it to a heatproof type of stone. "That should mean plenty of heat.", she said.

Now, how are we going to see what's in there... Zoemie pondered for a bit before teleporting to the living room. She looked at the TV, the black mirror looking at her. "Let's see... can I use magic to... Okay, first things first." She closed her eyes and returned her attention to the underground chamber, before looking through her various traps and devices. "Do I have something here that'll work as a camer... here we go."

Zoemie opened her eyes, and used more magic to link the device to her TV. There was a click, and the TV instantly showed her the lava lake, slightly distorted by a heat mirage. "Damn." She then pivoted the device slightly upwards, so that the screen showed the dark red platform jutting in the middle.

It definitely looked as hellish as Zoemie wanted it too, the combination of the dark gray, charred walls, lava lake and platform of dark red stone making it, while not exactly picturesque, but definitely not an usual sight either. Zoemie pulled out her phone and took a photo of it.

Then, she smiled, and let herself fall on the couch.

---

Xajymzia entered her laboratory. She had to make a device capable of measuring radiation levels around itself, and had no expectations of it being very difficult. Such devices existed on Zoemie's home, after all.

Strictly speaking, she had no reason to get herself involved in this. She had no record of that 2-7-4 ever killing any Umdoranz, and therefore had no beef with it, although it might in fact have killed Umdoranz and she didn't know about it.

A part of her was confident that Yuulvan and Zoemie could have dealt with the various problems to take it down that would come up themselves. But if any of her people were to perish from the curse, and she could have prevented it, she would never forgive herself. So it was best to deal with the problem before it became an actual problem.

She quickly got a basic idea for the design. It would be a large sphere made of a alloy of light metals, further lightened with antigravity enchantments and equipped with rotors for flight. A silencing enchantment on the rotors would allow it to move around stealthily, as it would be ideal if none of the locals laid eyes on it.

calculateOddsOfItHelping(device, flight, stealth) < 0.4. Strictly speaking unnecessary. However, better safe than sorry. The device would hold a system that would allow it to scan an area around itself and measure the radioactivity levels in the air, and the ability to pierce a few centimeters within the ground as well.

After some conjuring and shaping, she quickly finished her first prototype of the device, and she couldn't help but look at it for a bit longer, feeling strange about it.

It was in a sense her first true combination of her past knowledge and Zoemie-brought Earth tech, wrapped coils that held runes and enchantment, but instead of mana-reinforced clay ceramics, carved stone or monster materials, it was infused metal, technical ceramics and plastic.

That is true of my upgraded body as well, Xajymzia considered. The same was true of the upgraded Potion Generator... but it didn't feel to her the same. Earth technology is very potent in certain aspects.

She shook her head, putting herself out of her reverie and looking at the device. She then connected the data output, before teleporting out of the mountain and into the forest, and activating the device for a test run.

Holding her palms open, a bit of magic created an light sphere around the size of a soccer ball, the color of the orb changing according to radiation levels. Xajymzia smiled as she saw tht it was mostly green. Ambiant levels of radiation. Nothing unusual to report.

She smiled. Success. All she needed to do was wait for Zoemie and Yuulvan to be done, and she could sense the former was mostly done as well.

---

Yuulvan closed his eyes as he channeled the complex spell. Directly teleporting to 2-7-4 was off the table. It was far too risky and he knew not to mess with it, especially since he didn't have an anti-radiation shield. I'll create that spell later. Instead, he was creating a simplistic construct of pure mana close-ish to 2-7-4's seals.

The spell he was using was very, very old, created by a forgotten mage that Yuulvan once called his equal, even if the man fell into darkness after his husband went missing, before disappearing as well and never being seen or heard from ever again. Yuulvan liked to think they had found each other.

The construct could not speak or really do anything other than scan and map out its surroundings, including detecting people... but for Yuulvan, that was perfect, as stealth and safety were of the essence. The Warden wanted peace and quiet, after all, and radiation was no joke.

He finished the spell, taking control of the construct. He knew for having it used before that the construct took the form for a white, floating sphere for outside watchers, and he controlled it, extending the scanning range fairly large and getting an idea of the surroundings and its current position.

He wasn't quite next to the outcropping of rock that composed the entrance of 2-7-4's seal, but he was around a few dozens of meters away from it. He confirmed the topology of the surroundings, a plain at the edge of a forest, quickly finding a thickly underbrushed area that would be perfect for this.

He vaguely remembered the forest having been an hunting reserve for a noble before the man died of the cu... radiation poisoning. Being able to actually name it for what it is makes me feel a lot better, Yuulvan thought to himself. It makes it much more precise. Leads us more precisely towards the solution.

He turned the construct into a beacon at the edge of his consciousness, before returning to himself in the dungeon. He then teleported to the living room, where the Warden was seated. She nodded to him, and less than a minute later Xajymzia entered the room, holding a large object in her arms. "This is the device, I take it ?", Yuulvan asked as he looked it over with his magic.

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Huh. He realized something was off about the device. It's primarily built to work in dungeons. That was a problem because 2-7-4's seal wasn't in a dungeon. Hmm... I have a... Yes, this spell should work.

"Kinda cute.", the Warden said, looking at the device. He couldn't say he shared the Warden's opinion on the aesthetics... but this comment only reminded him more of that hexer and her children. Maybe I should bring her up at some point.

"One thing I am noticing is that... It's primarily built for working in dungeons." Yuulvan explained "This would be a problem, but I have a spell that will circumvent the issue.", he continued, getting a nod from Xajymzia.

"I'll remember this for next time... but I am not sure what power source I would have access out of the dungeon.", she said. A problem he knew all too well. She wasn't the first to have to deal with that issue. "Anyhow... let us hear the plan, and proceed."

"I will teleport the device to a magical construct of mine close to 2-7-4, in an area where no human signatures have been detected in a wide radius. If the device confirms the true nature of its curse to be radiation, we'll proceed to part 2.", he started, both of the women nodding.

"Afterwards, I will teleport the entire seal in the chamber we are seeing, and unwind it, to prevent 2-7-4 from escaping and avoid irradiating the area further, or worse, injure unsuspecting travellers. From there, we will detonate the radioactive materials on the Apocalypse from within the safety of this room."

"Let us begin, then.", Xajymzia declared, putting the device on the table, a large sphere forming in her hands afterwards as Yuulvan teleported the machine to the construct. He then channeled the spell to the construct.

It was a spell he created that created a small bubble around the target, that contained mana close enough to dungeon mana, to ensure it would function. It was inefficient, and wouldn't fool an Umdoranz, but for this purpose it would do.

While Yuulvan could not truly see through the construct, he could still get some degree of visual feedback, and so he raised an eyebrow as the device lifted itself and started scanning around it. He returned to himself in the dungeon, and looked at Xajymzia, or the magical sphere between her hands, that was colored red and orange.

"So, what does that tell us ?", the Warden asked, seemingly confused.

"What it tells us is that ambient radiation levels in the area are dangerously high. It appears Yuulvan was most likely correct.", Xajymzia answered, looking at Yuulvan while she said that. This made him feel strange... but he decided to focus on it later. For now, dealing with 2-7-4 was the more pressing issue. "It would be optimal to confirm by moving the device closer, however."

"No problem.", he answered, refocusing on the construct and moving both it and the device closer to 2-7-4's dwelling. He returned to himself, and he saw the red sphere turn progressively darker, even black in parts.

"The levels of radiation in the area have increased further.", Xajymzia noted. "I believe this is proof enough." Yuulvan nodded, a shiver in his back. So I was right. "Let us proceed to step two.", she continued, and he nodded. I will have to thank her for her assistance. Her presence was doing a lot to keep him focused on his task.

This part wasn't very hard, overall. He approached the dwelling further, an outcropping of rock, surrounded by a complex magic seal, that led into a cave. Is 2-7-4's radioactivity the reason it breaks out so easily ? Maybe it damages the anchors. It would be very possible.

Then, he located his target area within the dungeon, and smiled. There was a swoop of his hand as he spent quite a lot more mana than he expected, but he opened his eyes, and it was right there, sitting on the dark red platform deep in the dungeon. He teleported the device next to the beast's dwelling, and dismissed the construct.

---

Damn. This thing's hideout is bigger than I thought, Zoemie thought. "You okay, old man ?", she asked, as he seemed to be swaying a little.

"Spent a bit more mana than I anticipated. Nothing to worry about, unwinding its seals should be easy. They are quite degraded. It might be due to the radiation damaging those.", he said as he turned his wrist, and... something washed over Zoemie.

It wasn't really a noise, but it was the best way Zoemie could describe it anyway, and a sudden pressure, a feeling of menace came from the cave within the room. This would be the moment the boss music starts. Heavy steps shook the platform as... an abomination started to come out of it. "Yikes, that's one ugly motherfucker.", Zoemie said as she looked at the Apocalypse.

Its face was unambiguously insectoid, if larger than a man, and from its jaw cyan fluid dropped to the ground with an ominous sizzle. It opened its massive jaw, and roared, a deep, metallic screech that didn't really unsettle any of them. Still creepy, though.

It had six legs, each of them thick and pillar-like, in dark shades of grey, that it rested upon like a quadrupedal mammal. Its hairy thorax oozed with glimmering grey drops, and it was crested with a pair of large, dark gray wings with green smoke emanating from it, and dark green lines at their edges.

Then, the beast turned its head and stared right through the screen, directly at Yuulvan. "Hmm.", Yuulvan emitted, mildly nonplussed but not intimidated. "Can it sense me from here ? Does it even remember me ? Either way, I am most certain 2-7-4 could fly, so I am surprised it's still gounded."

"You were correct about its nature, Yuulvan. I recognize a few of these materials – and I can tell these are indeed radioactive metals.", Xajymzia said, before turning to him. "Actually, I believe the reason it cannot fly anymore is due to weighing itself down with heavy, dense, radioactive metals."

"Guess that makes sense.", Zoemie said. "Invested too much in radioactivity and screwed itself over..." Overspecialization. Classic mistake. "Then again it's not exactly surprising, since until now no one had any real defence against it.", she said to herself. She decided to pull her phone and take a photo of the monster. Just in case someone asks me to see it.

Zoemie shook her head afterwards, and refocused. "Alright. How do we do this, now ? All we gotta do is find some exposed radioactive materials, trigger a chain reaction that goes boom, and we win ?", Zoemie said, looking for confirmation as she looked at Yuulvan and Xajymzia.

"Essentially, yes.", Xajymzia said. "Those drops oozing from its jaws do qualify... but scanning it over a second time, I believe the optimal target point would be the dark green edges of its wings.", she continued.

"Okay. How to do this, then ? Throw neutrons at it to cause a chain reaction and hope it works ? I think it was neutrons, right ?", Zoemie asked, uncertain, to which Xajymzia nodded. Zoemie took in a deep breath, and turned to face the abomination, whose glare was still locked on the old man from behind the screen.

Zoemie started to conjure a small amount of neutrons and throw them at the dark green area of its wings, but at first nothing happened. At least those are really easy to summon... but I guess it makes sense since these are ridiculously small.

After a bit, Zoemei started feeling anxious as nothing happened, the other two watching her.Am I doing this right ? Do they need to be faster or have more energy or I need more of them ?, Zoemie doubted. Then a small bit of light appeared on the beast's wings.

"There we go.", Xajymzia said, and the next second the screen showed nothing but dulled white. There was a flash, and a deep, rumbling, muted noise as Apocalypse 2-7-4 exploded. The ground beneath rattled from the sheer force of the detonation, Zoemie feeling it in her dungeon, not really a physical thing. However, the floor in the living area didn't move at all.

The chamber's walls buckled under the contained blast wave, bouncing it back and forth as it lost power, but the reinforcements on the air and walls held. The mountain didn't move, nor did its side shatters. Its peak was not torn open or damaged. No one out of the radius of the dungeon would notice anything.

The screen went black, the device destroyed in the explosion as the rattling calmed down little by little. The force decayed, the chamber held firm, the mountain stayed in place as the ground settled again, not a single tree of the surroundings uprooted.

The old man let out a breath he was holding. A strange feeling washed over Zoemie's entire body, as if cooling her skin. "We did it.", he said, his voice hoarse and barely above a whisper. "Apocalypse 2-7-4... is no more."

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