Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume1 Chapter6

Chapter 6: On the polluted earth

"It" has been living inside the earth for a long time. Without moving, only ingesting polluted substances from within the soiled earth, for a long time.

Maybe "It" doesn't even have a sense of time, living beneath the surface without ever feeling discomfort, moving slightly between sleeping and waking to eat soil. Time is wasted away in slumber.

However, the time to awaken is approaching. Since "It" is already a Mature Form, living by consuming polluted substances is possible. But It's offspring are different. Since the larvae form are intolerant of pollution, they can't digest it. That's why they need unpolluted nutrition.

In order to thrive, it can no longer sleep. With the cracking of the earth, the signal to awaken begins ringing.

◇

The sounds of grinding pipes screeching echoes all over the place. The violent shaking of the floor causes Nina to lose her balance, but Layfon catches her by the arm.

For a moment, there was a sparkle on her face. Feeling that he just did something which shouldn't be done, Layfon thought of letting go of her arm. However after reconsidering it, he only stood up.(!)

"What...is this...?"

To overcome the sound of metallic screeching all over the place, Nina raises her voice. Otherwise, her voice won't be heard by Layfon, who is standing next to her.

"It's a Cityquake." (!)

Layfon also raises his voice.

"This is... a Cityquake?"

(Looks like this is the first time Nina has experienced such a thing.)Layfon thinks, as she looks at her surrounding with confused face.

"At first it was shaking up and down; maybe the city took a misstep into a ravine..."

Layfon carefully checked the pattern of the shaking. At first it was shaking vertically, and then it was shaking diagonally. The bucket and brushes that were near their feet are now sliding freely along the floor.

(If it took a bad step, maybe it's sliding into some kind of hole?) If so, then this was the worst possible situation. A city which cannot move is perfect prey for filth monsters.

Nina, who was momentarily overwhelmed by the shaking, has quickly recovered herself and shouts, "There should be an emergency call! We have to return, quickly!"

"But the floor is unstable! We can't move around yet!"

"Even so, we still have to go back!"

Nina shook off Layfon's hand and stood up, Kei running through her body. Using Internal-type Kei to enhance body movement, Nina runs between the gaps of the pipes, as if weaving them together like a needle.

"Ah, the hell with it!"

Also using Internal-type Kei, Layfon chases after Nina. Even faster then Nina, Layfon quickly moves forward, as if he is half-flying.

In front of him, Nina is running through a passageway suspended in mid-air.

"She's too reckless."

Although that is the shortest route to go to the surface, it is a risky action. At the moment, the passage is swinging left and right, as if saying it could collapse at any moment. As such, it wouldn't be strange if Nina, who is running with all her strength, suddenly gets thrown out from the passage.

There isn't even the time to use the stairs. Layfon is moving while kicking off the various pipes.