Chapter 436: Everyone with their own ambition [1]
Southwestern Coast, Kai Herbart Port Archipelago.
Located at the Southwestern Coast of Neo-Tokara, Kai Herbart Port Archipelago is one of the biggest seaports in the world.
After a long time of hearing about it, Brick finally got to see the infamous Town for himself. The seaport was named after the legendary Colonel Kai.
This was one of the main logistical hubs of the entire Freegrid Collective and was heavily armed with soldiers. Not just mundane soldiers, some of the strongest soldiers of the Freegrid Collective were stationed here.
The leader of the seaport was a D Rank Ascended, a Cyber Gladiator.
If Daren was here, he would have probably agitated to meet the Major in charge of the Town, but not Brick.
He came for something else and he was now standing right in front of it.
Beyond where he stood was the endless expanse of water that was called the Endless Ocean. The sea water was mostly dark blue with churning waves in the distance that rose high into the sky like tentacles.
The ocean was not just the most iconic part of Neo-Tokara, it was also by far the most dangerous and largest part of the world.
The Endless Ocean was rumored to be just as deadly as the Abyssal Scar was, if not even more deadly. The reason why no one had the answer to which of the 2 locations was deadlier was because no one was yet to explore it all.
The Endless Ocean and the Abyssal Scar were by far the 2 most unfathomable depths of the world.
But unlike the Abyssal Scar, the ruling factions of the world have adapted to if not explore but at least harness the power and resources hidden in the ocean.
The ocean hid history and lore connected to the era before Genesis.
The ocean hid vast ruins of ancient cities that were now buried in its depths.
The ocean hid a lot of resources and islands that were connected to the past, resources that were mostly already extinct in the limited mass of land now called Neo-Tokara.
By exploring the numerous islands scattered in the ocean is how a lot of technology came to limelight again as they were reverse-engineered.
Rumors even say the Omnicore Federation got the Class Knowledge for Quantum Shapers from an island hidden within the depths of the Endless Ocean.
All these benefits is why despite the dangers associated with the Ocean, all the major powers of the world still forces and bases that were dedicated to exploring and harvesting resources from the ocean.
For the Freegrid Collective, their biggest base of operation connected to the Endless Ocean is Kai Herbart Port Archipelago.
All these benefits is also why apart from the major factions of the world, there are other smaller factions scattered about who base their operations at sea.
Most of them were pirate groups, some mercenary groups, but due to dedicating all of their time to the Endless Ocean, some of them had fleets that were formidable enough to challenge the major factions in the ocean.
Brick was not here to join a pirate group or a mercenary group though. He already retired, and the life of combat was already behind him.
Instead, he came here to travel and explore the rest of the world as a psionic network influencer.
Being a vlog influencer have always been a secret ambition of his, and the moment he suffered the injury 5 months ago, he already made up his mind to pick it up when the time was right.
And now, he did and his first destination was the Endless Ocean.
Unlike the limited landmass of Neo-Tokara where they were confined it, a much bigger part of Neo-Tokara was hidden out there in the ocean.
And after living all his life confined on land, now, Brick wanted to explore with his camera and his followers.
Well, that’s if he gets followers.
But he would, why not? ’Positive thoughts only’. He thought as a smile split his gray mechanical face.
Finally, he raised his head and stared at it.
In front of him was a large ship that loomed over the harbor like a steel leviathan, heavily armored and equipped with a seafaring crew.
This was one of the larger seafaring vessels of the Freegrid Collective, and for his first voyage to see, Brick intended to join it.
The ship’s colossal hull was forged from matte-black alloy that was reinforced with carbon-titanium plating, scarred by years of battles against storms, pirates, and the merciless oceans of the world.
It was hundreds of meters long, bigger than the biggest air warship that Leon had ever seen.
The vessel resembled a floating fortress more than a ship.
Rows of reinforced floodlights lined its sides, casting pale white reflections across the restless waves below.
Massive stabilizer fins protruded from beneath the waterline, designed to keep the vessel steady even when crossing the infamous Tempest Belt- a stretch of ocean feared by sailors across the globe.
Near the bow sat a battery of automated defense turrets hidden beneath armored hatches.
Brick knew that these were not the true defense of the ship though, the true defense were the dozens of Ascended manning it with racial traits that were long attuned to surviving and thriving at sea.
Apart from the defense turrets, radar towers, communication arrays, and weather scanners rose from the upper decks like a metallic forest, constantly sweeping the horizon.
Painted across the side of the vessel in bold silver lettering was its name:
[The Horizon Wanderer.]
Brick smiled again. ’My first voyage is going to be on The Horizon Wanderer, what a fitting name’.
Brick would have preferred a mercenary exploration ship, but for his first voyage to the ocean, he didn’t want to take too many risks.
His daredevil era was over.
The harbor bustled with activity as cargo drones buzzed through the air carrying supplies. Sailors shouted orders while hydraulic cranes swung overhead.
Among the crowd stood Brick.
He looked like any mundane Synth with a worn leather jacket hung over his lightweight armored vest, with utility straps crossing his chest, carrying tools, batteries, emergency supplies, and navigation gear.
His heavy explorer boots clanked against the metal dock as he waited, while a weathered backpack rested on his shoulders.
He looked like a man going on a mission, or an adventure.
Brick’s gray eyes gleamed with ambition.
For now, no one knew him yet.
His name wasn’t famous yet, but he intended to change that soon.
As for the way he intended to do that, it was on his hand. Clutched in his hands was a sleek black camera unlike any commercially available model, every component had been custom-built.
It had enhanced low-light lenses, satellite uplink capabilities, AI-assisted stabilization, and waterproofing rated for the deepest storms.
A compact holographic display floated beside it, showing recording metrics and signal strength.
After Operation Killing Joe, the haul from the operation made Brick rich. That was one of his biggest motivations to just retire.
Now, this was his greatest possession after spending millions on it.
The camera was powerful enough to be functional in any terrain no matter the amount of interference.
This was his ticket to a new life.
HISSS!
The clamor around was suddenly dwarfed by a louder sound as the gangway lowered with a metallic hiss. Immediately passengers began boarding.
Brick adjusted his backpack and looked up at the giant vessel with a smile.
Beyond that ship lay endless oceans, forgotten islands, ancient city ruins that were swallowed by rising seas, storms large enough to consume fleets, and numerous mysteries that were yet to be documented.
For years, he had watched other people explore the world through a screen. Now it was his turn.
A grin spread across his face and he stepped onto the gangway.
One step, then another, and another.
Each footfall carried him farther away from his old life, closer to adventure, freedom, and closer to the unknown.
...
Hours later, the Horizon Wanderer departed the harbor.
HUM!
Its high-caliber engines thundered to life as massive propulsion turbines churned the sea into white foam.
The port skyline slowly shrank behind them as the vessel pushed toward the endless blue horizon.
Brick stood near the bow where the wind whipped against his bald head.
The smell of salt filled the air.
As for his camera, it was now hovering before him on a stabilizing drone mount and the recording light was blinking red.
[LIVE.]
For a moment, he simply stared at the lens.
Then he laughed nervously.
"Alright," he rubbed the back of his neck. "Guess this is really happening".
With the ocean stretching endlessly around him and the ship’s engines rumbling beneath his feet, he took a deep breath and started.
"Hey everyone".
He paused, then chuckled again. "Actually, there’s probably nobody watching".
The viewer count displayed: [0].
"Still," his smile widened. "My name is Jakor Demet but my friends call me Brick. Today, I’m boarding the Horizon Wanderer".
"I’m going to travel across the world".
He looked outside and his gray eyes twinkled. "Across every ocean, every floating city, every island, every dangerous place people say I shouldn’t go".
He grinned. "And I’m bringing you with me".
DING!
A notification suddenly appeared.
[NEW VIEWER JOINED!]
The counter changed. [0 → 1]
Brick blinked. "Huh?"
He looked at the screen again.
One viewer, just one, but one was enough.
His grin became impossible to hide.
He waved at the camera. "Well..."
"Looks like we’re not alone after all".
Brick smiled as the Horizon Wanderer surged forward into the open, ahead lay an entire world waiting to be explored.
And somewhere beyond the horizon, the greatest adventure of his life had just begun.
