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--- readable:db.jarilo-vi:tale.winterlands [2025/10/27 14:47] – [Chapter 6: Lava Kingdom (I)] anadmin
+++ readable:db.jarilo-vi:tale.winterlands [2025/10/27 15:46] (current) – [Final Chapter: Satelleden (I)] anadmin
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 "How incredible..."
+As the journey continued, Dalmir and Barbicane's conversation about the Lava Kingdom grew more interesting.
+According to Dalmir, half of the adventurers in the Lava Kingdom loved building cannons, while the other half loved adventures. Barbicane is the president of the Lava Kingdom Cannon Development Committee, a fine example of how obsessed they are with cannon technology. The only thing they could boast about was the size of the cannon or its firing range.
+"In our committee, people respect you based on the might of your cannon. Dalmir is only interested in making flintlocks. We're not interested in that, hahaha!"
+"Hey! I'm a professional adventurer! Hahahaha!"
+President Barbicane's boorish laugh gave everyone around him a sense of kinship. He was missing an eye, and one of his hands and one leg were replaced by metal prosthetics. It wasn't until he turned to talk to Dalmir that Artem noticed part of his skull was also made from some kind of silicon.
+"What happened to my skull? I lost a chunk of it when the cannon blew up! But it didn't turn me into a slow thinker, haha!"
+As Artem got used to the bumpy ride, he finally had time to enjoy the sights. There were many volcanoes of varying sizes all looking like they were about to burst. Lava and magma were everywhere, and Artem felt scorching hot just looking at them. Any normal human would think the environment was just too harsh. It wouldn't be completely inaccurate to say this place was hell on earth. The black volcanoes, smoke-filled skies, red lava spewing everywhere... Who would have imagined there'd be a country here focused on the scientific research of cannons?
+"It's been a long time since any adventurers returned. I've asked our cook to prepare a celebration feast tonight!"
+Artem was excited that there would be a celebration. Only Anna, who had been watching the volcano in the distance, seemed to be preoccupied with something.
+...
+The banquet hall was full of people from the Cannon Development Committee and the Explorer's Guild. President Barbicane's passionate introduction of the three of them was met with thunderous applause. Artem noticed something: Everyone was missing a body part, whether it be an arm or a leg. Some of them even had a rubber chin or a platinum nose.
+From Artem's perspective, it was a miracle that Dalmir's body was completely intact.
+"For years now, our Cannon Committee has been planning the greatest cannon event, one that's worthy of our ancestors! Everyone is aware that the greatest volcanic activity in history is coming!"
+"Viva the volcanoes!" The banquet all filled up with loud cheers once more.
+"We will bravely shoot ourselves into outer space, risking our lives for the greatest adventure the world has ever known!"
+"Viva the outer space!" The whole banquet hall shook as if it would collapse at any moment.
+"Positional observations from Dalmir's journey have allowed us to track the Satelleden. I am pleased to announce that we can now reach it with complete certainty using cannon!"
+Many people were shocked at that announcement, evident by the sudden silence in the hall. Then, it was followed by cheering and applause that couldn't be suppressed, even if all the cannons in the banquet were fired at once.
+Artem sneaked away from the crowd of people in the banquet hall. He saw Anna looking out of the window at the quiet volcano in the distance. Beside her was the sparkling wine they had brought from the Spring Weald.
+"Anna..."
+"Artem, don't say anything. Can you come here for a moment?"
+During their adventures, Artem had witnessed Anna's extraordinary tenacity a thousand times. But now, her voice sounded like a distress signal, pleading to him for help. Her soft breaths seemed to be conveying a desire to make him stay. It made Artem want to embrace her from behind.
+"What's wrong?"
+"If you go to outer space, will you ever come back again...?"
+"Perhaps, there probably won't be volcano cannons in the Satelleden."
+"Artem..." Anna turned around and her face was flushed as if she had cried. At that moment, the sounds from the banquet hall faded away and the whole world fell silent.
+"I miss home. Will you come home with me?"
+(To Be Continued)
 ----
 ==== Chapter 6: Lava Kingdom (II) ====
+//Continuation: Artem and his friends arrived in the Lava Kingdom on the back of a molten insect. They were greeted with great warmth. After hearing the kind speech of the president of the Lava Kingdom Cannon Development Committee, Barbicane, they realized that their arduous journey was nearing its end, but Anna wanted to quit and wished Artem could stay as well...//
-----
+...
+Dalmir was confused, but he didn't dare ask any questions.
+There was a delicate feeling in the air between Artem and Anna by the second day of the celebration.
+Dalmir speculated that Artem saw the uplifted feelings of the festival as an opportunity and confessed his love for Anna, but was ultimately turned down. He had always believed the two would end up together, but reality has shown him now naive he was. If he had been launched from the cannons and seen more of the world, maybe he would've seen it coming.
+"Umm... I brought you guys to the launching grounds here today to show you our pride, the volcano cannon."
+Dalmir was aware that the two were not in a good mood, but he thought that it would be best not to ask.
+"As I've said before, the energy of the volcano is the energy of the planet itself."
+"The core of the planet is always pushing towards the opposite direction of gravity and not sitting at the center of this planet. This enormous outward compression force shoots out the lava and other gases from beneath the ground. This is the power of the volcano..."
+Artem and Anna looked upon the distant lava in the main volcano through the thick glass.
+Its characteristics were similar to ocean waves, rising and falling. On the other hand, it was like boiling water, with gases constantly pushing out of the magma and forming bubbles that soon burst. The scorching temperatures heated the air unevenly and caused heat hazes to appear. Anyone could see that such an unstable, burning, and bright liquid could not be suppressed for much longer.
+Without realizing it, Artem was sweating all over.
+"Instability, unpredictability, and too much power were all reasons that humans in the past could not harness this energy. However, our ancestors changed their mind during the Ice Age."
+"Don't try to control it. Set it free!"
+"You're right, Artem! We should just set this immense energy free, like..."
+They said in unison, "Like one big fart!"
+The two of them laughed. Dalmir had told many cheesy jokes like this during their journey.
+It wasn't until they were staring at the ready-to-erupt volcano that the foolish explanations came to life. It is unbelievable that they were standing so close to such outlandish descriptions. Artem feels like he's still in a dream.
+Anna laughed lightly as she walked behind them.
+"The energy container at the top, and the volcanic accelerators over there... They're expensive to make, but they're all disposable..."
+Dalmir suddenly stopped. He wasn't pleased with that expression.
+"They've prepared their whole lives for the one battle, but it only takes one battle to prove everything. They aren't disposables! They're the ultimate romanticists!"
+"... Romanticists...?"
+Artem felt as if something was stirring inside his chest like restless magma. As Dalmir's voice grew quieter, he could feel the vibrations of the mantle, all that immense energy to realize the once-in-a-lifetime romance.
+"Look over here! This is the cannonball we'll be riding in!"
+It was a spherical cockpit about seven meters in diameter, with wide windows in front. There were countless precise instruments, levers, and buttons inside. On the outside, there were a pair of thin wings that could open out...
+It didn't look like anything from the Lava Kingdom.
+"Could it be..."
+"That's right. It was a cannonball created by the people from the Old World. This is the only one in the whole world!"
+The outside was covered with material that could withstand temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Celsius. Telemetry communications, energy, temperature control, and other precision equipment lined the walls of the interior. Artem had unearthed many Old World relics to know immediately that this was the pinnacle of Old World technology, something that could take people to outer space for real.
+"This cannonball is also a romanticist, flying into outer space with no return. It will complete its mission during the journey, then float through the universe as a permanent fixture..."
+Once again, Artem felt he was no longer on the ground. He was among the brilliant stars that filled the night sky.
+Anna looked at the man standing before her, knowing that his mind had already left this planet.
+She understood completely. Artem's heart had reached the heights of the firmament that she couldn't reach, no matter how hard she tried. It was far, far beyond Satelleden, far beyond the end of the universe. And so, she decided to leave quietly before dawn. Perhaps it would make him less miserable.
+...
+But she still couldn't do it.
+"Thank you, Anna."
+On the path before sunrise, she saw a clear silhouette — It was Artem, waiting for her. She couldn't leave quietly after all.
+"I have been deeply in love with you ever since you saved my life. I have never seen such a tenacious, independent, and gentle woman like you. There were plenty of chances for me to tell you: I like you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
+"But I cannot stay with you. If there's one thing that I must do in life, it is to go on adventures, continuous adventures. I'm sorry..."
+"I think I'm also a romanticist. I'm willing to risk everything I have for the sake of adventure. I'm sorry..."
+With tears in her eyes, Anna knew.
+She knew the moment she embarked on this journey. It was the kind of man she fell in love with.
+Before her tears could fall, a warm hand wiped them away. It was Artem's hand, which she knew too well.
+"I don't want you to shed so many tears for me. But I've already decided..."
+"I understand. I understand completely..."
+"I can only give you three things."
+Artem took out his journal, which carefully recorded all his adventures and memories with Anna.
+"The first is my past. Everything we experienced together was real."
+Artem placed the sword that the Frozen City Queen had given him in Anna's hands.
+"The second is my future. This is my promise to the queen. I wish to protect you forever."
+"And the last is my present. I love you, Anna."
+He kissed her.
+They were so affectionate as if time had stopped at this moment and the future would not come.
+(To Be Continued)
+----
 ==== Final Chapter: Satelleden (I) ====
+//Continuation: In this chapter, armed with a conviction of never returning, Artem and Dalmir will ride a "cannonball" of the Old World into the sky.//
+...
+The impact factor of the volcano cannon was not included in the original designs.
+The "cannonball" instantly reached a shocking speed upon firing, leaving everyone at the launch site speechless. Is this really going to be okay? From the inside, Artem and Dalmir had to withstand 10 G's of crushing force. They were almost smashed by the power.
+Artem lost consciousness the split-second upon launch and the memories of the dangers on the Snow Plains appeared in his mind. His lulled state did not last long as he woke himself up with impressive conviction and mental discipline. After experiencing the near-death moment, Artem immediately noticed the importance of the shock-reduction capacitor in the flying pod. Without it, he'd already be dead.
+Dalmir on the other hand was having a much harder time. His eyes were rolled back and white foam was coming out of his slightly opened mouth. Is he passed out? Or is he... gone? Artem called for him over the radio several times, but Dalmir did not respond.
+Not only could the approaching space be seen in the porthole of the "cannonball," but so could the distancing ground from beneath.
+The spectacular view unfolds rapidly in front of Artem's eyes. The familiar sights quickly shrink till it becomes unfamiliar. The numbers on the instruments continue to climb, with no signs of slowing down whatsoever.
+Artem was still unaware of what was happening even though everything pointed towards the same conclusion — They were leaving the planet at shocking speeds.
+— They were 5,000 meters off the ground.
+Artem could still see the buildings of the Lava Kingdom, especially the main cannon that fired the "cannonball."
+The launch caused a massive landslide, reducing the main volcano to a billowing cloud of smoke. At this height, the large molten insects were impossible to see and the lava on the ridges looked like a spider silk web. The bright colors that scorched the eyes had softened considerably.
+The volcanic ash in the air sped by quickly, as the ground slowly became a blur.
+— 10,000 meters off the ground.
+Artem could see the Spring Weald.
+At the height of tens of thousands of meters, Artem could barely see the back of the beast. Even so, he had not seen the monster's entire body! Such a giant beast! It was an indescribable feeling to have a panoramic view of the roads he had taken during his long adventures.
+Artem traced the route he had once taken, saw through the snowy mountains, and looked at the blizzard. The Frozen City was within the quickly passing clouds and snow, and he could barely see its outline.
+Anna once said she would go fishing with her father to relax at the end of long adventures. How would she relax this time...
+Thin clouds began to obstruct his view and thoughts of escaping came back. How long has the "cannonball" been flying...
+— They flew higher until they reached the darkness.
+Belobog loomed over the dark land.
+Thousands of lit houses were only the size of a coin, but Artem knew that it was Belobog. The urban heat island effect stood out against the surrounding chill, which was more evident when looking down from the clouds. It was this warmth that had sustained Belobog for a hundred years, but it also prevented its people from going outside.
+Compared to the size of the planet, Belobog was but a speck of dirt. Artem once thought that Belobog and its surroundings was the entire world. Thinking back now, it was just the unwillingness to admit his narrow perspective.
+At this height, anyone would agree that such a narrow perspective was laughable.
+— 100,000 meters off the ground.
+Artem could clearly see the curvature of the planet.
+The great auroras started appearing. The brilliant ribbons gently covered the surface of the planet. Back in Belobog, Artem had gazed up at these dreamlike veils fluttering in the night sky. Now, they were below him.
+It was at this moment that static came through the communication device...
+"... A—Artem! We! Ahhhh! Are in the sky! Ahhhhh... Ahhh..."
+It was Dalmir's screaming from earlier.
+Artem really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
+...
+— 400,000 meters off the ground. Artem could see the Satelleden.
+It was a large cylindrical object, rotating slowly. Artem had heard of science fantasies that the effects of gravity could be simulated through rotating centrifugal force. He brushed it off as mere fantasy until witnessing the miracle before his eyes. The excitement was overwhelming.
+I wonder how people from the Old World will react when they see this "cannonball." Fear? Surprise? Will they be treated like invaders and face retaliation?
+Soft music began playing in the "cannonball." It was a mix of drums and guitars that make you feel warm and cozy, like a gift at the end of their journey:
+//"Distant cosmic radio is calling."//
+//"Distant cosmic radio is calling."//
+...
+As the "cannonball" got closer, Artem could make out more details of the Satelleden.
+If the interior was spread out, "Satelleden" would be a large rectangular area. The opposite sides of the area would join to form the cylinder. Anywhere you stood, you could raise your head and see the streets hanging above.
+In the streets, many buildings violated physics. The mechanical giants appeared to be connecting the building blocks by combining various modules. Neatly planned streets kept adjusting their positions. To Artem, the whole "city" was breathing and pulsing like a living organism and rotating as a Rubik's Cube. It was constantly evolving, showing ultimate rationality. As an immaculate work of art that had long been abandoned, "Satelleden" was floating alone in the universe, awaiting the gaze of human admiration.
+As if sensing the "cannonball," the large object extended a docking port of the same astonishing proportions, like a giant extending its hand at a flying insect. Artem's heart clenched out of fear that the last moments of his journey would end in a fiery collision.
+But the disaster he imagined didn't happen. The docking port gently held the "cannonball" and guided it to the landing pad in Satelleden.
+The music was still playing gently on their communication devices...
+...
+//"I climb the ladder to the stars."//
+//" And walk in the gallery of outer space."//
+//"Insomnia awaits the Cosmos tonight."//
+...