Lost In Time (Druig)

Chapter 45: Perverse Instantiation

(A type of malignant AI failure mode involving the satisfaction of an AI's goals in ways contrary to the intentions of those who programmed it)

I teleported myself and Sersi towards a surface close to the core of the volcano, not knowing where we end up exactly.

Although, I thought it was a flat surface at first, but soon enough my body isn't feeling the same anymore, as it's even worse up here than we were with Druig and Sprite.

We are standing on a rocky surface close to the center of the volcano, as Sersi and I are both observing our surroundings frantically, while my heart is almost beating into my throat because of this situation.

However, I know I need to set my mind on our goal, instead of thinking about multiple consequences. Sersi and I, are the only ones right now, who can still save this planet.

But in a matter of time, it started to get worse, while I am trying to keep Sersi and I steady on the ground, holding her hand still.

The ground was already shaking when we teleported towards this place, but this time, something big needs to reveal itself, which makes my breathing increase heavily.

The big dark cloud is still flying above the island, where lightning and energy are created for the Celestial to be born.

The lava splashes around us between the gaps of the ground, like water whenever you are swimming in a river, but then it would be another story.

It's almost looking like Pompeii, but from a closer look, and it's also sounding like that!

Suddenly Sersi started to stumble because of the shaking ground, still with her hand on her stomach because of the stabbing wound, and I'll have to be honest, I also have a hard time to stand up straight, let alone Sersi I want to help.

We are almost standing in the middle of an earthquake, and that sounds about right when I observed my surroundings again, just like Sersi.

I hear the waves from the ocean crashing against the volcano, as suddenly big golden rocks are showing themselves around the island.

I can't look at them properly, because Sersi and I are standing so far up high on the island, but there's no doubt the rocks are coming from underneath the ground in the middle of the ocean, from the core where Arishem planted Tiamut's seed.

Because of that, my eyes are wide open in disbelief, as I suddenly got a slight flashback from Centuri-Six, knowing the same thing happened there, but I have never been in this position before.

Nonetheless, in total there are five golden rocks, stained with the symbols of the World Forge, and by that means, the Emergence is beginning.

"It's Tiamut Chloe." Sersi said frantically, as she's still holding my hand, looking towards the Celestial coming from the core in disbelief.

"Yeah." Is the only thing I said, because of the position I am in. Sersi doesn't remember this because of her memories being wiped clean, so I get it's a shock for her, standing this close to a Celestial's birth.

Still, this isn't enough to continue our back-up plan, as Sersi's probably aware of this. We both know Tiamut need to show himself even more to control him whole.

But suddenly, without using Druig's mind control, our prayers are heard.

The ground underneath us began to shake even more, and we couldn't help ourselves but to fall, but luckily forwards.

I tried to grab Sersi from falling as we both screeched a little, making us land on our knees with our hands on the ground.

But the earthquake isn't the only thing that made us fall, because the rocky surface that was once underneath us, moved itself away, almost like a guss of wind caused it.