Fated to Die to the Player, I'll Live Freely with My SSS-Class Ship!-Chapter 55: Manual Exploration

Unlike what science fiction dictates, Parallel Worlds don’t diverge too much from the main universe. The more a universe differs from the original, the greater the energy required to break the fabric of spacetime and reach, or observe it.

Judging from the fact that we ended up here so easily, there should only be up to one or two major differences—no more than that.

Currently, this parallel universe lacks Dark Energy, but without a doubt, something else has taken its place. Just for clarity, let’s call it "White Energy."

Dark and White Energy serve the same function, filling the void of space like some infinitely expanding foam. But their fundamental composition is completely different.

Thus, when Dark Energy was replaced, our generators failed—unable to process the new energy source, just like how a diesel engine would break down if you tried to run it on gasoline.

"But this much of a difference is absurd..."

We managed to convert the backup generator into a fusion engine, allowing the Range Falcon to reboot its systems. However, the ship’s high-fidelity power banks—which relied on Dark Energy for long-term storage—were now rendered completely useless.

But that’s not even the biggest problem.

Currently, the Range Falcon is… stuck inside a massive cavern. We only realized this after turning on the Falcon’s headlights and seeing the results from the scans.

The entire "cage" is made of a mysterious metal that refuses to budge—even after a direct blast from the Brionac. In short, breaking out is not an option.

Without a doubt, this place is the Parallel World equivalent of the Kariki Star System. But unfortunately, we landed in the worst possible spot. We can’t go anywhere—at least, not with the Range Falcon.

"Do we need to explore in powered suits instead…?"

I still have drones at the ready, so I can conduct preliminary scouting before heading out. But this is a Parallel World—there’s no telling how much things have changed or what dangers are waiting for us.

"What do you two think?" I turned to the others for their opinions.

Eva clicked her tongue, her irritation evident. "We can’t stay here forever, can we? We should explore this place and find a way back."

I understood her frustration.

Her mother was still in the real world, relying on expensive treatments to survive. If Eva disappeared, things could spiral out of control fast.

"..."

Cassandra, on the other hand, was completely lost in thought. She didn’t even seem to hear my question.

I tapped her shoulder, causing her to flinch in surprise before turning to face me.

Visit freewebnoveℓ.com for the best novel reading exp𝒆rience.

"A-Ah, what is it, dear?" she stammered.

Hearing her reflexive response, I sighed. "I told you not to call me that. Are you getting senile?"

As expected, even though she had sworn subservience to me, I couldn’t be sure if it could neutralize her ability. As such, I try to avoid answering her questions directly as much as possible.

What? I already failed and "submitted" to her before?

That… I’m not so sure about it.

Things have been chaotic these past few days, so maybe...

I quickly shook off the thought, refusing to dwell on it, and got back to the point.

"Anyway, what were you thinking about so deeply that you didn’t even hear us?"

Cassandra’s expression shifted—her eyes flickering with hesitation and worry. But after a moment, she sighed and finally spoke.

"Actually... something strange has been happening ever since we entered this system."

I crossed my arms and leaned against my seat’s armrest, motioning for her to continue. Even Eva, despite her frustration, was now fully focused, her lips twisting into a deep scowl.

"At first, it was faint—just an echo at the back of my mind. But now..." Cassandra gulped, her expression growing serious. "I can hear it clearly. Something has been calling to me for as long as I can remember."

After hearing her confession, I leaned back in my chair, processing her words.

Meyers Royal Family.

Mysterious purple rifts.

Parallel Universe.

And now… a voice?

"Don’t tell me..." I muttered, half in doubt—but also half convinced. "Our situation… could it be because of you, Cassandra?"

She might be eccentric, but she wasn’t delusional. If something was calling to her, even if neither Eva nor I could hear it, it had to be real.

In the game, the Meyers Royal Family had deep connections to Parallel Universes. The pieces were starting to fit together. But still, one major question remained.

’Why did this trigger inside the Kariki Star System? What does Kariki have to do with the Meyers?’

I didn’t know.

But one thing was clear—our next destination.

"Cassandra... Lead us to where the voice is guiding you."

---

In TSO, you’re not always fighting out in space.

Sure, 90% of the story revolves around space battles—it is a space combat game, after all. But that doesn’t mean there’s no other content for players to enjoy.

One such feature is "Space Dungeon Delving."

Just like how the Kariki Star System was designed, the game has maze-like regions scattered across space, including planetary ruins and derelict stations.

Some players find these thrilling, donning nothing but powered suits to embark on high-risk explorations of the unknown.

I’ve done my fair share of dungeon diving, but I always preferred ones where my ship could fit all the way through.

I hate any dungeon that forces me to walk through it in person.

"I hate horror games the most, after all..."

But right now, it’s not about likes or dislikes.

We need to explore this mysterious dungeon and find out what exactly has been calling out to Cassandra—without the Range Falcon.

I took a deep breath before double-checking my gear.

"Plasma lasers, check. Extra cartridge, check. Railguns, check. Extra batteries, check. Food and water, check..."

If we’re going in, we need to be prepared for anything—that’s Adventuring 101.

In addition to weapons and supplies, I deployed all 1,766 remaining drones and 2 million OB Nexus 1000 Stealth Nanobots as scouts.

That way, we wouldn’t get ambushed by some random alien, monster, or ghost.

What? No, I’m not scared. I’m just making sure we survive—it’s the logical thing to do!

"... Are you seriously bringing all this crap?" Eva’s voice, filled with exasperation, cut through my thoughts. "We’re going exploring, not waging war against an army."

I turned to her, scoffing. "And what if the enemy does have an army? Better safe than sorry!"

This is just common sense!

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, scaredy cat." Eva waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, are you ready? Cassandra and I are good to go."

I scanned my list one last time before giving a firm nod.

"Yeah, I think I’ve got everything I need."

I pulled my visor down, sealing my powered suit tight.

"Percy, switch to power-saving mode until we return. Open the cargo bay shutters!"

[Command received. Switching to power-saving mode. All systems running at minimum capacity.]

"Good."

I took one last glance at Eva and Cassandra.

They were already suited up, fully prepared for whatever dangers awaited us.

"Alright then—let’s move out!"

Dragging a large supply box behind me, I stepped forward.

The next moment, the three of us floated into the void, heading toward whatever was beckoning Cassandra to come closer.

---

In the real universe, aboard the Eclipse Sovereign, the tension in the air was palpable—more severe than ever before.

Not because they had failed to capture a single battlecruiser. No. It was because of what happened next.

"T-They went for the Kariki Star System, Your Highness! I’m certain of it—that was the last recorded destination in the logs, and what they told me before leaving!"

The trembling voice belonged to Operator Kobo, the overseer of the Meyers Variable Wormhole.

His limbs shook as he slammed his head into the metallic floor, kowtowing so hard it seemed like he wanted to merge with it.

Half of his eight eyes flickered toward the side—where a figure lay sprawled on the ground. A gaping hole had been blown into his forehead, still releasing fresh steam.

It was none other than the Head Guard, Alban—who, until just moments ago, had worn an air of unshakable arrogance.

Kobo swallowed hard.

His entire body shrank in fear, knowing full well that the slightest shift in that man’s mood could mean his own life would be snuffed out just as easily.

"Kariki Star System…"

The man before him muttered, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. Kobo could tell that he was thinking whether they were being misdirected, or were told the true destination. His golden eyes narrowed into razor-sharp slits, displeasure radiating off him in waves.

The bridge fell into a suffocating silence.

The mere weight of his dissatisfaction was enough to make everyone feel as though invisible hands were gripping their throats—strangling them.

"Did she figure it out?" He spoke again, his voice laced with confusion. "But that woman shouldn’t be privy to the throne’s secrets yet…"

The pressure in the air thickened, forcing the crew to gasp for breath. No one dared to move. No one dared to even blink.

Then, the man sighed, his mood shifting as he reined himself in. The suffocating aura vanished, allowing everyone to breathe again.

"Whether she knows about the key or not… doesn’t matter."

He stood, stepping away from his "throne."

"If she manages to retrieve the treasure from that place, then…" A slow, ominous smile tugged at his lips. "That just means my job becomes much easier."

Operator Kobo shivered, feeling as helpless as a stray puppy left out in the middle of a winter storm. As the golden-eyed man strode past him, as if ignoring his existence, he let out a silent sigh of relief.

"... Huh?"

But then, something felt off.

Why…

Why could he see his entire body?

That was the last thought Kobo had before his consciousness was severed.

His head and body lay apart, at least a foot of distance between them.

No one saw how it happened. But they didn’t need to. They knew it was his doing—the golden-eyed man.

He didn’t spare the corpse a single glance.

"Set our course for the Kariki Star System." His voice cut through the tense silence like a blade. "Deploy a blockade. This time, they will not escape."

His words sent a ripple of urgency through the bridge.

One by one, the crew resumed their tasks, too accustomed to death to react to a couple of fresh corpses.

Meanwhile, far away, an unseen noose tightened around Arthur and his crew’s necks. Danger was once again approaching, whether they were aware of it or not.