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 substance inside the soiled earth, for a long time.

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

However, the time to wake-up is soon to come. Since "It" is already in Mature Form, living by consuming polluted substance is possible. But its offspring is different. Since larvae form is intolerant to polluted substance, they can't digest it. That's why they need unpolluted nutrient.

The time for sleeping is over, in order to thrive. With the cracking sound of the earth, the signal to awaken is ringing.

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The sounds of grinding pipes is screeching all over the place. The violent shaking of the footing cause Nina to lose her balance, but Layfon caught her arm.

For a moment, there was a sparkle on her face. Feeling that he just did something which should not be done, Layfon thought of letting go of her arm. However after reconsidering it, he only bend over.(!)

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

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

"It's a Cityquake (!)

Layfon also raises his voice.

"This is... Cityquake?"

Looks like it's the first time Nina experiences such a thing, as she looks at her surrounding with confused face.

"At first it was shaking vertically, maybe the city took a wrong step into a ravine...."

Layfon carefully confirmed the sensation of the shaking. At first it was shaking vertically, and then it is shaking diagonally. The bucket and brush which was placed near their feet is now sliding freely along the floor. It took a wrong step, maybe it is sliding into some kind of hole? If so then things have developed into the worst situation. A city which cannot move is a perfect prey for filth monsters.

Nina who was momentarily overwhelmed by the shaking, is now quickly regain herself and shout, "There should be emergency call! We must go back quickly!"

"As you see the footing is unstable. We can't move around yet"

"Even so we still have to go back!"

Nina shook off Layfon's hand and standing up, Kei is running through her body. Using internal-type Kei to enhance body movement, Nina runs through between the gap of the pipes as if weaving them.

"Ah the hell with it"

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

In front of him, Nina is running through the passageway which is suspended in the middle of the 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 like 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-off from the passage.

There isn't even the time to use the stairs. Layfon is moving while kicking the pipes here and there.