Questing for Titles by Tao Wong

Author:Tao Wong [Wong, Tao]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Starlit Publishing
Published: 2021-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

***

Two days later, the group stared down at the blasted remains of the city of Malacca. The coastal city that had been colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British before returning to the Malay people – and the various other cultures that had assimilated into the city over its six centuries of occupation – had once again been conquered by another invading force.

Long known for its ability to assimilate new immigrants, the local population was still struggling to handle their new conquerors. It did not help that the invaders had a close resemblance to local legends of south east Asian vampires – the pengallan – with their floating heads and exposed lungs and intestines. That the aliens were a jellyfish-like flying creatures, whose internal organs were thus exposed to sight but not free hanging did little to appease the locals. Especially since the shape-shifting jellyfish-aliens had sought to integrate by changing their faces to look like the local humans.

“Wearer of the Indigo Sash Chogfal Barellyz, it is a pleasure to have you here!” the Junior Administrator said as it floated up. It bobbed low, the boneless body flopping forward, lungs and intestines squishing together and then uncompressing. That Xi Ping could see partly into the lungs and the intestines, where the aliens partially digested food lay made her turn green.

“Administrator,” Chogfal said. “I understand my requests have been approved?” Arms crossed, he glowered at the man.

“Yes, completely. We’ve even blocked a pair of additional requests for the same matter,” the Administrator bobbed again. “We were surprised since the dungeon itself is so low-level. We had the local sapients running it for food.”

Xi Ping made a face at the mention. The local surroundings were quite high Level due to its proximity to various nautical dungeons and a few plantations, forcing the human populace to find alternate forms of food. If they destroyed it, it would compress the options for cheap food.

Then again, it was five years in. And while there were still children growing up and assimilating into the System, most survivors should have Leveled by now. Or had chosen not to. And to those, Xi Ping could only look upon with disdain.

“I see.” Chogfal glowered, making the poor Administrator compress its body in fear. A few more murmured words and the entire group followed the gloop-sweating alien down the streets. As they walked, Xi Ping could not help but look around.

Malacca itself had changed significantly. The colonial era buildings that had lined the streets in downtown Malacca now stood beside towering, alien edifices. A crystal spiral, a lump-sized hillock with numerous doors of stone, a twisting trio of trees that connected over the street via wooden walkways, were the most uncommon. Skyscrapers of metal and glass, twisting high into the sky in defiance of physics beside stone, yellow-washed peranakan houses were a painful contrast. One that, Xi Ping noted, was being protested against by a small but determined trio of old ladies of Chinese and Malay descent, each holding signs and walking up and down the streets.

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