READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 30 - "Please Hold My Fingertips"
In the afternoon, the theater was not crowded. When the four friends entered the ticket hall, they could see massive posters rolling across the giant display screens.
Approaching the automated ticket machines, they queued to make payments. Each person placed their wrist against the scanning area to register. A brief beep from the machine signaled the completion of the process.
In the current era, all Federation citizens had microchips implanted in their wrist bones, enabling seamless registration and handling of various transactions.
[“Please Hold My Fingertips”; Ticket Price: 325 Federation Credits; Please Pay.]
[Payment Complete.]
[Logging Information…]
[Verified. Welcome.]
After the beep, Hestia looked up at the group ahead of her and hurried to catch up.
Through a dimly lit tunnel, the four entered a modestly sized room with twelve reclining pods, each glowing with a soft blue hue. In the dark ambiance, these pods were particularly striking.
Hestia approached one of the pods and placed her wrist on the scanning platform. Data quickly flashed by as the pod door slowly lifted, releasing a faint, cool mist.
“I’m going in first,” said one of her companions, climbing into a pod.
Hestia carefully stepped onto the pod’s auxiliary platform and lay down as well. The transparent metal-glass lid descended gradually, enveloping her as countless tiny lights danced before her eyes.
[Time: 2:42 PM. “Please Hold My Fingertips.”]
[Preparing film. Please relax. If you feel unwell, press the emergency button to your right.]
[Ethereal mist releases. Neural connection initiating.]
As she reclined inside the pod, Hestia’s vision filled with blue-purple mist. Gradually, faint illusions began to appear, accompanied by indistinct music in her ears. Knowing this was the preliminary immersion of the film, she made an effort to relax, suppressing the transcendent core within her that could otherwise reject such interference.
[The immersive film provides a vivid, first-person experience through T4-level three-dimensional illusions. These are transmitted directly to your sensory organs as weak signals, while the viewing pod simulates airflow, temperature changes, vibrations, and thrusts in sync with the film.]
[Certified as safe under T4 standards by the Federation’s Safety Audit Authority, Ethics Committee, and Supreme Court.]
[If you feel discomfort or detect illusion signals exceeding T3 levels, activate your transcendent core using the Sisca formula to disperse the illusions and regain consciousness.]
[Enjoy the film.]
…
Seagulls soared across a crystal-clear sky, their cries echoing over the water’s surface.
The endless expanse of azure sea stretched to the horizon, its breeze carrying a faint salty tang. Spray from the waves kissed the air, making the scene vividly lifelike.
The perspective followed the seagulls as they dove from the sky, swooping through the atmosphere in a graceful arc.
As they approached the surface, the scene revealed a thousand-meter-long iron leviathan roaring across the waves. The massive train’s beast-like head, perched atop a trembling track, vented powerful jets of steam from its side pipes. Its armor-plated body shimmered under the sunlight, displaying golden and silver hues.
This was the Forge Train, a masterpiece by the industrial giant “Prison Bull Heavy Industries,” first introduced in Federation Year 583 for interstellar transport.
Inside the luxurious train carriages, well-dressed passengers raised glasses and engaged in lively conversations. Despite the turbulent seas outside, the interiors remained tranquil and stable.
“This journey signifies Wind Whale Sector’s willingness to embrace peace and negotiate with us,” declared a man in a white suit trimmed with gold as he raised his wine glass to his companions.
With an air of confidence and charm, he was none other than the Federation’s senior councilor and diplomatic envoy for this negotiation.
“Long live the Federation’s Eternal Rose! May the Twelve Charters shine forever!” the guests cheered in unison.
By the window, a woman in an aquamarine gown leaned against her arm, idly swirling her glass. She gazed out at the sea, lost in thought.
“My dear sister, Laisha, what’s on your mind?” the golden-haired man asked as he sat beside her.
“Nothing much. It’s just that this peace talk feels sudden,” she replied, turning to face him.
“Haha, indeed. Many people are surprised,” he said with a sly smile.
“But given the intelligence we’ve gathered, it’s quite reasonable.”
Since the Federation initiated reforms fifty years ago, internal conflicts had erupted frequently. These reforms disrupted entrenched interests, which the conservative factions couldn’t accept. Yet without reform, the Federation’s growing issues would remain unresolved—a true dilemma.
The deadlock eventually escalated into a civil war that had persisted ever since.
As the siblings discussed the war’s trajectory, Laisha suddenly shifted her gaze toward the sea.
“They’re here?”
“Who’s here?” The man followed her line of sight.
In the distance, black leviathans breached the water’s surface, spraying enormous plumes that soared tens of meters high. More emerged soon after, exuding an ominous energy that suggested these were at least Sequence-5-grade deranged beasts.
Moments later, an announcement blared through the train’s intercom.
“Sea beasts approaching the train. All passengers, please return to your seats and prepare for impact.”
Under the azure sky, the beast-headed train roared as white plumes jetted out from its exhaust. A long, piercing whistle echoed across the ocean.
The black leviathans, their dorsal fins and tentacles slicing through the waves, charged toward the speeding iron dragon.
Inside the furnace at the train’s head, a colossal sixteen-cylinder engine pounded rhythmically. As golden-red particles of Dragon Sequence energy were compressed and ignited, they surged into the massive central core. The core channeled the energy through intricate conduits, propelling it to the carriages behind.
The energy coursed through the conduits, illuminating the train’s armored plating with golden veins. Gradually, the armor took on a radiant hue, signaling its readiness to withstand the impending assault.
On top of the carriages, panels lifted amidst the roaring winds, revealing dual black barrels beneath the plated armor. Guided by fire-control radar, the cannons adjusted their aim toward the incoming mutated sea beasts.
Two narrow screens on the gun barrels flickered with lines of text:
[Aijeka particles charging…]
[Pipeline preheating, mode selected: Brilliant Art Beta Level]
The turret’s base began to gather golden-red particles, which then spread along the barrels as the internal coil arrays gradually illuminated.
[Sextant aiming initiated, distributing targets…]
[Targets distributed, beginning alignment…]
The barrels moved slowly, guided by the base’s rotational dials and adjustments, gradually locking onto the oncoming black sea beasts.
[Target locked, fire!]
A golden-red particle beam streaked across the sea, dazzling even in daylight. The highly compressed energy obliterated the surface, sending up massive splashes and white mist. The black sea beasts charging the train now bore several charred holes, instantly killing them.
Slowing down due to inertia, the dying beasts slid forward before sinking into the azure depths. The remaining few, spared from the turret’s reach, paused, emitting low groans as they retreated to the horizon.
“Report status.”
In the enormous cockpit of the train’s engine, the conductor frowned at the segmented screens in front of him, loudly asking over the intercom.
“Radar and sextant scans complete. Of the 47 sea beasts approaching, 41 were eliminated. The remaining 6 escaped due to being outside the turret’s range. These six are retreating, with their transcendent core energy waves diminishing.”
“Very good.”
The conductor nodded slightly, hung up the terminal, and sat down.
Noticing his stern expression, the deputy beside him leaned in cautiously.
“Is something wrong, sir?”
“I’m not surprised by the result of the attack—this Forge Train from Prison Bull Heavy Industries was designed for such situations. What shames me is that the sea beasts were detected only 1,000 meters from the train.”
“If we hadn’t handled this well today, our records at the company would be tarnished. Hmph!”
“This train carries negotiators! The northern and southern hemispheres are still locked in conflict with millions of autonomous units, and three orbital fleets loom above us. If something went wrong, you and I would be sent straight to the military court.”
“Well, sir, high-speed travel inevitably causes observation delays and distortions. It’s unavoidable…” the deputy stammered, wiping sweat from his brow.
“Hah! Still defending Golden Star Workshops after pocketing their kickbacks?” the conductor sneered.
“Their observation scanners are generally reliable. Maybe the train’s vibrations interfered, or the Dragon Sequence particles disrupted the delicate instruments…” the deputy explained nervously.
“Enough. I don’t want to hear it,” the conductor dismissed him.
“Call them. Replace the scanner at the next station. If it meets standards next time, I’ll let it slide.”
The man stood, firmly patting the deputy’s shoulder—almost causing him to lose balance. The deputy dared not resist, watching the conductor walk away.
The deputy hurried out of the cockpit, while the remaining crew quietly gossiped.
“Hah, serves him right. I’ve disliked him for ages.”
“Of course! The conductor’s an ex-military man. Few can handle the pressure of Dragon Sequence 6 particles, except him, haha.”
“Enough joking. That guy’s no ordinary employee. Rumor has it his uncle’s a corporate exec. Otherwise, how’d he get equipment replacement authority?”
…
Even amidst war, greed and corruption thrived in the Federation. The reformists were no less tainted than the conservatives. This disparity fueled distrust among star regions, some even uprising for independence. To them, the Federation’s disintegration seemed preferable.
It was a decayed era, devoid of inspiring declarations. Only hedonism dulled the void within.
…
The narrative transitioned. Laisha, the female protagonist, accompanied her brother to enemy territory. Along the way, she witnessed the ugliness and schemes of both sides, growing disillusioned with the war. During this turmoil, she met a painter from the opposing faction.
The artist had been commissioned by the wealthy to paint the frontlines. Despite the ongoing war, the affluent sought to capture its grandeur—the blend of fire, blood, and steel—through his eyes.
“Why not just take photos?” Leisha asked him.
“Photos record reality, but paintings exist between the real and the unreal. They convey emotions embedded within scenes, showcasing beauty in its purest form,” he explained.
“Oh? If they love it so much, why don’t they come here themselves?” she remarked, sitting beside him as he painted. Explosions and light beams punctuated the distant battlefield.
“They value their lives more,” he said with a wry smile, glancing at the beautiful, innocent woman beside him.
“Doesn’t your life matter?” Laisha lifted her hand, brushing his stubbled chin, her gaze shimmering.
“I’m just a painter. This is how I make a living.”
He averted his eyes, afraid of being ensnared by her mesmerizing stare.
“You could chase another dream—like taking me away from this troubled world. Marry me, and I’ll let you paint me endlessly…” she teased, her voice enchanting.
The painter hesitated, swayed.
“Just kidding,” Laisha laughed, standing to view the distant battlefield.
“Tomorrow, I’m leaving. The negotiations failed. My brother, as an ambassador, will return home. I’ll go with him.”
“So, what will you do?” she asked, her back to him, fingers dancing behind her waist.
“I want…” the painter finally resolved.
“I want to hold your fingertips and journey to a distant world…”
…
The film concluded as the two escaped the war-torn sector aboard a small spacecraft, heading toward the unknown.