The Stargazing Witch & The Dungeon Planet

Chapter 29: I’ve Got Places To Be

“Why you!” 

Break

“Pleas..e don’t break my arm!”

Crack

I threw another pirate to the ground, and their arm shattered in multiple places during the process. Then I raised my foot and crushed their left thigh.

“You think you can get awa–!”

I appeared next to the yelling women.

“Hi.” I tripped them, then kicked them in the stomach launching downwards into the rock below.

Snap

It was kind of funny that there were some who kept trying even after I crushed ally after ally. Maybe it was the fact they knew I wouldn’t give them any mercy even if they tried to give up. 

I did break the arms and legs of three who tried to run as my third, fourth and fifth victims. 

“Argh!” 

Crack

“Waawaw!” 

Crack

Break

Snap

Bang!!!

Clap, “And done.” I clapped my hands together, I did wish they provided slightly more of a challenge. It would’ve made at least okay exercise then.

All the pirates were neatly splattered around in a thirty-metre radius. About a third of them were knocked out, some of them were in that state because I knocked them out on purpose, and the others… apparently they just didn’t like the pain–pretty pathetic pirates. 

Anyway, with all of them on the nice freezing ground. It was time to ask some questions. 

“Now do you guys have any ships around?”

“Errr….” The one who I was standing above just groaned.

I stared at another injured pirate, “Graaarrgh…” 

Then another, “a… .a….”

“Does anyone want to give me a worthwhile answer?” I spun around, ensuring I made eye contact with every conscious pirate.

“I’ve got places to be–”

One of these intelligence pirates decided to interrupt me and gave me a good answer. “WE WON’T TELL YOU SHIT!” 

“That’s fine.” I raised my right hand and stared at a nearby green star. They were interesting, apparently stars that glowed a clear green didn’t exist thousands of years ago.

Click

I snapped my fingers, and tiny powerful controlled bolts of fire launched from my hand and darted for each of the pirates. I aimed at their oxygen suppliers.

Smash

The mana echoes of the sound of the mana technology breaking was always an interesting sound. One could ‘hear’ it, even in environments where it should be impossible for sound to travel. 

“Argh!” 

“What?!”

Confusion spread between pirates, so I gave them the answer to what I did. “Don’t worry, I just destroyed your oxygen devices.” Some had theirs inbuilt in their armour, while others wore a smaller device. But with my knowledge of the technology and [Star Mapping], it was easier to find where they were located.

“Nonononono.” Some panicked. 

“Hey help us!” Some begged.

“Our ship–” One bargained.

I interrupted, “Bored!” Causing a deafening silence to occur among the pirates.

“You had a chance, and now it's gone.” I clapped and smiled. 

I wasn’t that curious and I really just wanted to go back to my family. I was able to mostly clear my mind with this jog, and now just wanted to play some video games with Mella.

Space was such a wonderful thing. So many lovely sights, but just as many if not more dangers. 

That list of dangers is also apparently bigger than I thought it was. The memory of the ‘prank’ had quickly surfaced in my mind.

But the two most common issues were the need to breathe and just being in space.

Now having a spacesuit or being on a ship or station was the easiest solution to both those problems. 

The next best solution was being on a rock with plenty of dungeon activity. It may be more dangerous, but the Dungeons would’ve made the environment around them livable–barring the rare expectations.

However, losing the supporting items which supply oxygen would be a big loss, even for hunters. If they were in a location without any terraformation.

Still, they wouldn’t be without hope. As the mana within one’s body does protect one from the dangers of space and can be substituted for oxygen, to an extent. 

Anyone level 200 or above could survive in space for well over an hour if they had enough mana, but after that it got dangerous. The higher level an individual was and the correct Vocation and skills did help with survival as well.

My [Blazing Solar (VI | IV)] and [Starlight (V)] were honestly enough for me to not worry about the dangers of being in space, but when activated [Primal Guardian Lord] cleared up the remaining dangers.

There was still the issue of breathing, and without the use of [Primal Guardian Lord], I wouldn’t need to breathe for three hours easily. But with it, that time increased exceptionally, and adding [Unleashed Awakening] on top of that removed the need all together.  

The process of using mana to supply oxygen was an automatic response, so the unconscious pirates wouldn’t die immediately, but not being able to regulate it meant they would suffocate sooner.

There would be a chance of surviving if one's oxygen supply was destroyed if we were on a planet or moon that had Dungeons. However this moon never had any dungeons spawn on it, meaning breathability wise, it was an awful place to be without a spacesuit. Especially when so far out from any vehicles or compounds.

I smiled.

Now do I kill them?

Letting them suffocate to death was a bit too cruel. Depending on their history, maybe it would’ve been good to leave them to slowly die, but because I wasn’t interested in learning that, I only had two options. Take them to the station or just burn them away.

I knew I could get some money if I brought them to the authorities. But I really couldn’t be bothered. 

Espr you have any suggestions?

(“ No ”)

Then they went quiet again.

Sigh. Thanks for the help.

(“ You're welcome ”)

I stayed quiet, staring at the stars, debating. 

“Let’s take you lot to the station,” I said aloud. 

This caused multiple members of the pirate gang to sigh in relief, but some were still quite worried if they were going to make it. It had been over twenty minutes since I broke their oxygen supply after all, and I made sure to take my time making the discussion–I didn’t need to rush.

The reasoning for my decision was that if that had captured or killed people in the past, it would’ve been best if that information could be obtained by someone. Possibly helping some people or at least providing some closure.

“But I don’t have to make this comfortable.” 

In an instant, I moved next to every member of the pirate crew and threw them into the air.

“Argh!!!” They screamed, terrified. Some probably thought they might’ve gotten launched into the void of space.

Fire burst forth from my hand and engulfed them all in a sphere of solid fire.

I lowered the temperature so it wouldn’t burn them, but it would still hurt a little. Using starlight would’ve been better as a cage, but that would require using starlight which I still wanted to keep semi-secret.

“Now, let’s play ball!”

I jumped high into the air, and with a mighty kick, sent the ball flying over the moon's surface.

“Arghhh!” I heard a wild concert of screams from within, but they should be fine.

I dribbled the ball, booted it and even threw it a few times. Making good time. 

In a little under an hour, I had made it back to the Nermoon moon base. 

“Alright boys, we’ve arrived at your new temporary home!” 

There was a slight panic, as from the moon base’s side of things, all they had been seeing was a giant ball of fire bouncing around getting ever closer. 

The personnel had moved up to incept in case something happened, but they were now dazed and confused about what they should do.

“Their oxygen supplies broke on the way, also they're pirates, soooo. Good luck?”

I left them with the wreck of bodies and made my way back to the parking lot. It should’ve been a quick peaceful walk but…

“Wait, miss!” A voice yelled out. Unsurprisingly someone had questions, but I didn’t feel like answering them. I knew for a fact they could easily contact me once I arrived back on Nermoon for a meeting, and proper procedure stated they should wait at least an hour before contacting me. I had revised space rules and regulations during my break time when I worked years ago.

I sighed and turned around. I was a metre from my vehicle.

“May I ask what the issue is?” I asked calmly.

“Sorry, but I need you to come in for questioning.” The man stopped about half a metre away from me, “So if you could follow me, we have a space where we can have an extended talk with my supervisor–”

I answered, “Yeah, Nah. That happens later.”

“Sorry?”

“I’ve got places to be.” 

“But Miss!”

I turned around, glared then smiled. “No.” I calmly said.

I moved two steps closer to the guard, “On my walk to clear my head, I was attacked, I won, and now the crooks are here with you? Simple? Yes, it is Simple. Good? Good!” My smile had widened, and my eyes shone a gleaming golden red.

“Now, is that everything?” I tilted my head.

“...Yes…” 

“Good, thank you, have a lovely day.” I hopped in the transport vessel and made my way back to the station.

I wonder if Mum and Tyell are back yet? I thought as I contemplated what games to play.