The elevator doors slid open with a small jolt, and we stepped out into the Outpost. It felt like we were stepping into some forsaken ghost town. The cavern stretched before us, a hollowed expanse with half-finished buildings casting long shadows under industrial lights that buzzed and flickered. The ceiling is covered with a low-resolution projection of a simulated sky, a lackluster attempt compared to the Ark state of the Ark live simulation hologram sky.
Anis released a theatrical sigh as she looked around, clearly unimpressed by the Outpost's miserable condition. "Great. Just great. They've dumped us into the middle of nowhere. No hot water, no decent food, barely even a sky." She hefted her bag higher, muttering to herself. "Why are we even here? Are we here to suffer? Is it because I have made a great mistake in my past life?"
Neon looked at her, wide-eyed and completely sincere. "Well… it's because we didn't complete our last mission, right?" She tilted her head thoughtfully. "So they sent us here to learn from our mistakes? Wait, is that even a mistake compared to our achievement in defeating a tyrant?" She wondered out loud.
"Perfect." Anis shook her head. "A field trip to the land of punishment. That's truly inspirational." She remarks sarcastically.
I caught Rapi's expression. She was trying her best to come up with something positive, which was easier said than done in a place like this. "Think of this as an opportunity." she managed to start, looking desperately at our surroundings for something to compliment. "To test our resilience. And… our resourcefulness?" Her voice trailed off as she finally realized that there wasn't much here that could help her make the Outpost sound appealing.
A loud bang echoed through the cavern as Neon fired her shotgun into the air, grinning with satisfaction when no one came rushing over to reprimand her. She fired it again several times before letting out a satisfied sigh. "Sweet! Anis, did you see that! Look!" She fired her gun again, much to Anis's growing dismay." I can fire my gun as much as I want and nobody cares!"
Anis rolled her eyes in response. "Ugh. Really? That's your takeaway, Neon?" She crossed her arms, looking at our bags full of rations and necessities we'd managed to scrape together on a tight budget. Said budget comes from selling salvageable Gravedigger's part to Elysion, then split equally to D and K. After that, we still have the matter of the spent mission budget, so we have to pay that fee too. It makes me feel annoyed remembering how much money we need to return for a mission already planned to fail. Andersen should have told me that at the beginning. Then again, I can't blame him for being cautious when our common enemy is the legitimate government body. "Enough fooling around. Where are we even supposed to sleep? And if you say anything about camping out here, I swear…"
I pointed toward the one tall structure at the far end of the Outpost, the only completed building with its lights still flickering faintly in the distance. It is a tower painted in greenish blue. "Over there. That's the Command Center, where the Dormitory is located. It's not luxurious, but it's got beds and maybe some hot water, hopefully."
As we trudged toward it, Anis kept looking around disapprovingly. "Why do I feel like this is some sad, twisted camping trip?"
Neon glanced at her, blinking as if Anis were overreacting. "What's wrong with roughing it? Think of it as an adventure! And we've got Raptures walking in constantly, so we'll be plenty busy."
Anis narrowed her eyes on her. "Adventure? You mean like getting ambushed by Raptures when I'd rather be lazing around?"
Neon's eyes lit up, completely unfazed. "Exactly! It keeps things interesting." She patted her gun proudly. "We can practice here as much as we want, and no one's here to yell at us for using up rounds."
Anis groaned. "That's because we're on the edge of civilization, Neon! If things go south, it'll be hours before backup can even make it here."
Neon gave a bright nod. "Exactly! So, we should prepare extra by doing all the target practice."
"Right. Great plan," Anis deadpanned, though I could see the faintest smirk tugging at her lips. "Maybe you can start by practicing not shooting when no one asks you to."
"I am just being thorough." Neon shrugged as if she were doing us all a favor.
Rapi cleared her throat, her usual no-nonsense expression softening with the faintest hint of a smirk. "Can we focus on settling in first? We'll have plenty of time for activity later."
Anis sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But I'm calling dibs on the bed furthest from Neon and her 'adventures.'"
I chuckled under my breath as we walked towards the Command Center, our bags heavy with supplies and a strange mix of reluctance and camaraderie. I figured maybe it wasn't all bad. We had each other, and, if nothing else, I'd learn to survive Neon's trigger-happy habits and Anis's snarky grumbling.
Putting my bags down to the corner, I sat on the couch and leaned on my back, utterly drained from today's heavy activity. I was about to fall asleep when Celestial Forge decided to pick up its hammer and sent me a new perk, thus making me slip into Strategy Trance. This perk is just as heavy as [Change the World]. Its name is [Technomancy].
[Technomancy] is a perk that comes from the crafting domain. It did not have any memory attached to it, just instructions and an explanation of what exactly this perk entails. Technomancy is a branch of magic that can create, control, scan, and even assimilate any technology. [Technomancy], as the perk, gives me monstrous talent in that branch. With this kind of talent, I can command machines to do whatever I want with just a single thought, examine devices with my magic to discover their purposes and potential flaws, or take them apart and rebuild them with envious ease.
When I familiarize myself with this magic, I can create my own technology entirely through magical means, as long as I have the materials. This means I can create anything I want as long as I understand how to make it since with [Alchemy], I can extract and synthesize any required materials.
That is not even the best part of this perk. If my talent in basic Technomancy can be called monstrous, then my talent to replicate implants and other technological marvels function within my own, or others, body is on another level. It basically allows me to copy Aura of any technology no matter their complexity and then paste-adjust it to my own organs without the risk of overloading my biological bodies.
Aura is the magical blueprint/record of how something works. So if I copy the camera's Aura, and then adjust it slightly to fit into my eyes, I can replicate the camera's function with my eyes, such as zooming in and out, switching to night vision mode, and recording with it. That is just from a camera. Imagine what I can do with a supercomputer!
Actually, I think there is one thing that this perk can do right now, and that is to do proper maintenance to this building. I just need some time and magical energy to basically reshape and repair any broken items.
I step out of Strategy Trance, shrugging off my exhaustion by taking out an energy drink from my bag and then drinking it. Just then, Neon opened the door to my room roughly.
"Mentor! It is an emergency! The water! The water doesn't work!" She yelled loudly to the high heavens. Anis is walking behind me, following Neon to my room.
"Yeah, what's up with that?!" Anis turns to complain. "Can you please do your thing to fix it? Also, this is a nice room." She noted. "Would you mind if we bunk here together for a night?"
"Sure, I don't mind." I said to her, which made her smile lit up like a lamp. Rapi suddenly comes and delivers a light chop to Anis's head, making the latter mutter 'ouch.' cutely.
"Don't take advantage of Commander Sam's kindness, Anis." Rapi reminded softly with a disapproving frown.
I hadn't noticed it earlier, but gathering together in my room seemed to amplify the unpleasant smell that had been lingering around them ever since crawling inside that drainpipe. It is not to the point I have to flee away, but it is enough to cause my nose to wrinkle reflexively. Sadly, it did not escape Rapi's observation. She silently turns to look at Neon, then Anis, then at herself, before shooting an exasperated smile at me.
"Commander Sam, you should have told us that we smelled bad." She chided me while folding her arms, to which I shrugged back in response.
"It's not like something I haven't smelled before." I voiced out.
"Wait, seriously?" Anis sniffed her shoulder, her expression quickly shifting to a grimace. "Ugh, I forgot my olfactory sensor was off. Guess that's why I didn't notice."
Neon's face went red, and she immediately hid it in her hands. "This is so embarrassing." she mumbled.
"It's alright." I said, gesturing toward the bathroom. "You can use my shower if you want. I'll see what I can do about fixing the water supply for our Command Center."
"Thanks, Commander Sam." Anis said. She then nudged Neon to stop her from hiding behind her hands. "Go ahead, you can take the first shower."
Neon perked up instantly. "Alright!" She said, dashing into the bathroom to make a getaway.
I begin to walk to the main water room to check its condition and start troubleshooting. "Commander Sam, Wait, please! Let me help with the repairs." Rap requested as she started following me.
"Sure! It should be done faster with more hands." I said happily.
Rapi fell in step beside me. We walked toward the Outpost's main water system in silence. Along the way, I can feel her eyes staring at me. For what, I don't know.
"Commander Sam, can I ask you something?" She asked, finally breaking the silence between us.
I gave her a nod, signaling she had my attention.
"How do you see us? Nikkes, I mean." She cleared her throat as if the words were hard to find. "What are we to you?"
I tilted my head, not quite sure where the question was coming from, but I answered without hesitation. "I see you as human." I said, honestly. "Why does it matter?"
Her expression softened, yet a faint frown crossed her face. "That is kind of you, Commander Sam." She shakes her head as if clearing her mind and bracing herself. "But it's misguided. We are built to be weapons, Commander Sam. We are formidable, unkillable weapons meant to annihilate the Raptures, mankind's sworn enemy. We are not human. So treating us like we are…" Her gaze dropped momentarily before returning to mine. "It'll only hurt you in the end."
I frowned at her statement. If there is something my mind, my heart, and all perks I have deeply agreed with, is that what she just told me is complete and utter bullshit. Does she think being only a brain, piloting metal body makes you less than human?
I use [Technomancy] fueled by magic power to look at her Aura. As I had expected, even if some part of her Aura feels like a jagged mish-mash of 3D circuit diagrams, a telltale of machines Aura, some of it also feels like smooth twists and turns, a property shared with animals and plants alike. More importantly, I can see the part of Aura that [Technomancy] defined as soul, a proof of her status as a 'living being.'.
On a completely unrelated note, I wonder why her Aura looks like it hosts two souls, with one of them being slightly unresponsive like it is sleeping.
Anyway, the point is that as long as you have a soul, you are human enough for me.
I took a breath, grounding myself beside her. "Rapi." I said gently, though my voice held firm. "That's my choice, isn't it? I choose to treat you as human because, to me, you are."
She opened her mouth to reply, but I continued before she could argue. "I know you want to protect me from heartache, but I won't stop myself from caring. I won't pretend you're something less just to make it easier for my heart." I said with a soft tone reinforced by steel will. "It's as simple as that, Rapi. You're human, and I will always stand by that choice."
She just stared at me for a moment, a mix of frustration, and perhaps a reluctant understanding, crossing her face.
"Now, enough with this sappy feeling. We still have a water system to repair." I said cheerfully, infecting Rapi with my positive energy.
It works, to an extent. Turning her frown upside down. "Yes, Commander Sam." She responded, now with a genuine smile on her face.
It has been two days since I lost my memories. Since I made a deal that gave me perks from the Celestial Forge, I haven't gained any new perks ever since that time Neon barged into my room. Perhaps it scales with how 'interesting' my life is?
Yesterday was a busy day. First, I had revealed my connection with the Celestial Forge to Neon. Her response is something along the lines of-
"CAN YOU TEACH ME, MENTOR?! CAN YOU TEACH ME HOW TO INCREASE MORE FIREPOWER!"
…Yeah. Perhaps telling her I could upgrade guns to do more damage and explosion was a wrong move.
After that, I did some quick maintenance on other systems in the command center.
Then I checked up with Mary and Pepper. As expected, Pepper isn't impressed by the amount of stress I undergo. She is also not impressed that my blood tension is pretty low, thanks to abusing blood bullets during the last mission. Thankfully, it is not that low, so it can be fixed relatively easily by consuming some supplements.
It was Mary who scared me more, however. She looked at my wrist and immediately recognized the self-inflicted scar wound that I used to bleed myself for creating blood bullets. She directly stared at my eyes and asked me politely, with a chilling tone that could freeze water, if I had been suicidal. I shook my head and told her it wasn't like that. Thankfully, she believed me. However, not before threatening me that if she found similar wounds anywhere else, she would have to report it to a mental health facility.
In my defense, I forgot to make myself a healing potion, not that I had the necessary ingredient at the time. Besides, I did not think my scar was important enough to make a healing potion.
Afterward, I do maintenance to my squad gears, including their weapons. I wanted to modify their weapons into trick weapons with [Workshop Artisan], but they all said that they aren't used to melee weapons, so I put that idea into the backseat for now. As I did not have any Rapture Cores left, I can't turn them into items of power with [Alchemy]. I only upgraded them slightly to be more stable and robust with my [Technomancy] and [Change the World]. Of course, thanks to them plus [Science], I know all their weapons' inner workings and principal design, which would help me recreate and upgrade them in the future.
Neon is the only one in our squad who did not have any gear. This is where my [Technomancy] comes in handy. I studied both Rapi and Anis's gears to understand them more. I have an idea of how to make them for now, though I lack the most important materials, aka Goddessium.
My last mission taught me to always have an escape plan ready at any time, so that is what I spent most of the time yesterday. Using materials synthesized with [Alchemy], [Portal Creation] base knowledge on how to create a stable portal to my room from wherever I am, boosted understanding from [Science], [Workshop Assistant] experience on forging hunter's tool that can be fueled with special bullets to boost its performance, [Change the world] intellectual might, [Strategy Trance] to simulate creating it as a practice, and [Technomancy] to actually create it with magic power, I manage to create an emergency escape portal creator in a shape of briefcase. Of course, it drained me of all my magical power reserve to create it.
Once the combined might of technology and magic knowledge I currently possess in the shape of a briefcase is activated, it will create a flying portal the size of a regular car a few meters in the direction the front briefcase faces.
The portal can last up to two minutes and can be closed whenever during that time. It also doesn't have any cooldowns, except that it can only open one portal at a time. The portals will always lead to my room and if opened in my room, can lead to the last place I opened it. It can be powered by my magic, or one of the special bullets, either silver or blood.
As a safety measure, it will not close if something is currently in between the portal, but I can override it easily enough, which results in anything inside the portal being cut cleanly by dimensional pressure. But doing so will wear it down, so I will only use that feature in an emergency.
After that episode of making stuff, we had a dinner of rations and Splendamin together before we went to bed.
I don't have anything to do today, as I intended to do some relaxation today and perhaps visit a library while at it.
"Commander Sam, may I come in?" Rapi asked me from behind my room's door.
"Give me a second, I am not decent." I called back, glancing down at my current attire: a simple t-shirt and boxer shorts. It provides the most comfort for bedtime, but it is sleepwear.
I quickly put on my uniform, straightening my collar and then adjusting my hair. "Alright, you can come in now." I gave her permission to enter.
"Excuse me." Rapi said as she opened the door and entered quickly.
Seeing her action, I cannot help but let my curiosity speak. "Why are you in such a hurry, Rapi?"
"We have important guests waiting in the lobby." She informed me.
"Guests?" I tilted my head and raised my eyebrow at her. "Who are they?"
"It's Syuen, the CEO of Missilis." Rapi answered with a tone laced with worry. "And two other Nikkes, most likely also from Missilis." She added.
Missilis Industry, or Missilis for short, is one of the big three companies/manufacturers in the Ark. Once upon a time, it was the biggest manufacturer in the Ark, with reach and influence that could shape the lives of anyone inside the Ark. But ever since Syuen, their newest CEO, took over, their growth had been noticeably slower. Missilis is under increasing pressure from the rising power of Elysion and Tetra, who are expanding due to their own innovations. Against that kind of challenge, Syuen has resorted to various desperate measures to raise its value and safeguard her position.
Why would one of the big three CEOs want to meet me? Andersen said that my achievements and missions would be hidden underneath the incompetent lucky commander persona, so it is strange that she would visit me in this remote Outpost.
I get a feeling that this wasn't just a casual encounter. If Syuen had shown up here, in person, it had to be something big. It might even be something connected to the darker side of her company's pursuits.
"Commander Sam, are you there?" Rapi pulled me out of the [Strategy Trance] as she shook my shoulder. Dammit, I hadn't even realized I had slipped into it.
"Yes, thanks, Rapi." I cleared my throat, centering myself. I really need to get a better grip on my own emotions. "Let's go, then."
We began to head downstairs to meet Syuen. During our walk, I try to keep myself from slipping into [Strategy Trance] again. Yes, there is an advantage to having more time to think about how to solve your problem. However, after a certain point, you will end up thinking about more problems than the answer.
The moment I entered the lobby, I could already tell which of them was Syuen. She is the young short woman in the middle of what I can politely describe as a lesbian S&M power couple. She radiates sheer loathing and contempt towards anything in her surroundings.
Her violet eyes glanced at me for a second before she began to look down on me. Her short black hair styled in bod with a purple streak in the middle, running down to her forehead. Two long ribbons tied on her hair, giving an impression of a twin-tail despite her short hair. She is lightly dressed in white, with some purple shades of purple all over the clothes. She wears a loose lavender coat and a see-through larger coat she uses like a cape. A miniskirt adorned her waist and a, you guessed it, purple blocky tattoo stamped on her right thigh. She also wears a white solid-looking high heels, to compensate for how short she is.
"You sure know how to keep people waiting, you brainless monkey." She sarcastically remarks and insults in a single breath. How efficient of her at hurting others just by talking. "Next time, come faster if they call you. Do I look like someone who has a lot of free time with nothing better to do?!"
I am very tempted to answer with yes. After all, it's six in the morning. Why else would you visit someone at that time if not because you are bored and have so much time? This literally could be done through short messaging. For a CEO of a technological company, she sure is old-fashioned.
"You already know who I am, don't you?" She smugly declared, with her hand on her hips and straightened her back. She appears to be trying and failing to look taller than me, or at least that is the impression I get.
"Well, duh. You are Syuen, CEO of Missilis." I simply said as a matter of fact.
"...You." It seems that she did not appreciate the tone I used. "You are taking me lightly, don't you?!" Yes, I do, not that she can hear what I said in my mind.
It seems my silence is taken by her as an agreement because she turned in anger to the pink-haired girl holding a leash to the black-haired girl I am sure is a masochist and a riding crop on the other hand.
"Yuni, make him kneel!"
"Yes!"
A flash of light, and suddenly I lose the feeling of anything below my waist. I instantly stepped into [Strategy Trance] with a relieved heart. Thankfully, the nature of what happened is non-lethal, otherwise [Strategy Trance] would not activate.
Think calmly, Sam. Analyze what had happened. Gather info about this phenomenon and start thinking of countermeasures. Observe your surroundings. Start building up a plan to solve it. Simulate scenarios with every piece of information you manage to compile.
…Okay, what the hell, Syuen?!
I step out of the [Strategy Trance] just before my face can kiss the floor. With trained movement, I use my hand to stop my face from meeting the floor. I could hear my squad shouting at me in worry, but my mind was preoccupied with the thought of getting a payback.
I raise my head to stare at Syuen, who is approaching me arrogantly. I know for sure that she would have stomped me on my head for perceived disrespect. If that is her solution to it then she is a fool. The only thing increasing is my contempt for her.
"This is what you get from not knowing your place!"
Just as I had predicted, she had lifted her leg and was about to stomp me. Her high heels start to fall, as I had simulated, and I begin to smile.
"Those are bold words for someone in a punching range." I cheerfully said as I drew back my right hand and used my left hand and my spine to dodge her high heels by leaning my body to my left. As a result, her foot missed my head and she instead stomped the floor.
"Huh?" Her smug expression shifted to a confused expression. Not giving her time to react, I clenched my right fist and poured some of my magical energy into it. This will give my punch an extra oomph that will hurt her.
I may be kneeling on the floor, but she is short and I am tall, thus my right hand can definitely reach her. I directed it to my target just as I had simulated, so my right fist easily landed directly on her crotch, giving her the most painful experience she had ever received.
The moment my magically filled punch landed on her crotch, her face started contorting in pain. Her eyes shot wide open as she began to scream in pain. Contrary to popular belief, getting punched in the crotch hurts both men and women. So it is not strange for her to stumble backward, doubling over slightly as she clutched her throbbing crotch. The air seemed to hang heavy with shock as she tried to regain her composure, her pride taking a hit as bruising as the pain.
"How...dare you!" she choked out between gasps, glaring at me as if that could restore her footing. Behind her are the two Nikkes she brought; Yuni, the pink-haired sadist, and Mihara, the black-haired masochist, tensed up, their attention fixed on me. But they didn't step forward, perhaps uncertain or awaiting Syuen's command.
"Dare?" I said back. Now that both of my arms are free, I can use them to push me back from prostrating to somewhat improvised seiza, aka, sitting on my heels. Though I still can't feel anything below my waist. "I'm not some subordinate to trample on at your whim, Syuen. If you want to be respected then don't act like a brat! Though I'm guessing you're not used to that."
"Mentor!" "Commander Sam, are you alright?" Counters immediately come to my side. Neon and Anis help me by fixing my sitting position. Meanwhile, Rapi is about to point her weapon at Syuen. This could be bad, Nikkes who raised their weapon at humans will definitely get punished, even if NIMPH prevents her from actually shooting. "Rapi, aim at Yuni or Mihara!" I instructed, just in time for her to avoid pointing at Syuen.
Syuen's glare only intensified, and her usual smugness quickly returned, though her stance remained wary. "You're just some fresh commander in a remote outpost, and I can end you with a single command." She spat.
She begins to stand up, ignoring her pain, a glint of hatred flickering in her gaze. "Mihara! Switch with them! All of them!"
Mihara hesitated. "But…the commander is human."
"I said switch!" Syuen shouted louder. Her expression twisted with anger as she stared at Mihara, searching for any sign of disobedience.
"...Yes ma'am." Resigning at her order, Mihara begins to work. She raised her hand, and then a faint blue laser emitted from her, connecting to each of us.
"Switch completed."
For a moment, nothing happened, just the eerie, charged silence hanging in the air. Then a chill ran down my spine, the sensation of an invisible tether forming between Mihara and us. Mihara wordlessly takes out a gun and offers it to Syuen. That action made me realize that I may have simulated this event, that I may have calculated all the risks involved, but an unknown ability could turn all that simulation into just a useless time waster.
Syuen suddenly grabs the gun. Without hesitation, she immediately shot Mihara's stomach several times. Pain suddenly assaulted me. My stomach felt like it had just been pierced repeatedly by something, yet when I looked down, I found no blood, no sign of injury. The only thing I found was the throbbing, phantom agony radiating from somewhere in my stomach.
I tried to step into [Strategy Trance] to get my head clear, but the moment I entered, the pain I felt intensified dozens of times and I reflexively slipped out of it. It seems that I can't use [Strategy Trance] during her ability usage because of bad power interaction. It doesn't appear to be a magical power either. I can feel the tether that connects us to Mihara, but I cannot influence it with my magic.
I could hear the gasps from my squad, each of them doubled over in the same pain. Their pained voice makes my blood boil. I turned my head and glared at the cause of it. Syuen's sick grin widened as she blew the smoking pistol in her hand like a freaking cowboy, taunting me with my helplessness.
"Mihara's ability lets her switch her senses with any targets I choose." Syuen explained with a mockingly sweet smile plastered on her face. "You and your little squad feel her pain in her place, without a single scratch on you for evidence. Convenient, don't you think?"
Rapi clenched her jaw, eyes blazing as she looked to me for direction, but I could see her struggle with the pain as well. Neon and Anis gritted their teeth, clearly rattled yet holding firm by my side, their eyes full of defiance despite the situation. Syuen had turned our senses into weapons against us, and she seemed all too eager to pull the trigger again.
"Let's see if a fresh shot will make you reconsider your place. AS IN BENEATH ME, YOU LOWLIFE!!!" She screamed angrily as she began to empty her bullets into Mihara's stomach. The Nikke in leather gear doesn't appear to be affected by each shot. If anything, she looks more disappointed by each bullet buried inside of her.
It was the gasp and whimper of my squad that transformed my already-boiling blood into molten magma. "Syuen!" I shouted, drawing her attention.
"Tell me, Syuen." I continued, forcing myself to keep my tone level despite the throbbing in my gut. "What was it you actually did to earn that CEO position? Missilis used to be the most powerful company in the Ark. From what I hear, Missilis is on a steady decline while under your watch." I sneered, hoping my words would dig under her skin. I don't think that is enough, so I continue to pour my insults into her ears. "Maybe they should hire a new CEO who knows what they're doing." I said. Here's hoping it will work.
Her smug expression wavered and her gaze sharpened into something more venomous as she turned her full attention to me. As I had planned.
"Watch your mouth, you fresh-faced nobody!" she spits, raising her pistol, her anger eclipsing any shred of composure. "I'll show you exactly what I can accomplish."
"Mihara, stop spreading your ability! Switch with him!" Just like that, I get her.
"...Yes ma'am." Said the masochist resignedly. She raised her hand again, and another faint blue laser waved from her. I can feel now that it is only connected to me. Syuen did not waste any time and began to fire again. How the hell did it still have any bullets left?
This time, the pain was so intense it stole my breath, driving out any attempt to think. My vision blurred at the edges, and the room tilted as though I might black out any second. I could hear faint cries from the squad, but I knew the worst of Mihara's power was directed at me alone now.
My only consolation prize was the fact that the rest of the squad wasn't affected by Mihara's strange ability anymore. That had been the goal, after all. I clung to that thought, even as the agonizing pain threatened to drown out everything else.
Celestial Forge seemed to think that I should be rewarded for this because it picked up its hammer and sent me a new perk. This time, it's a two-in-one perk, called [Pandora's child, the World's Maker], or [World's Maker] for short. Seriously, it is a game-breaking perk.
What would you do if you suddenly gained power from slaying a god?
That is exactly what happened to me. One moment, my vision was hazy from the amount of pain I endured, and then the next, it was as if all the pain I suffered had just disappeared. Suddenly, I can feel myself slipping into [Strategy Trance] to properly assess just what kind of perk I had gained.
My perk is gained from slaying a god, because somehow I had done so. Or at least another me in the vast multiverse did. Through slaying god, rituals of usurpation, and Celestial Forge's vast reach, I had become something beyond mortal—a Campione, a godslayer, a Devil King. Because of this, I had gained a stronger body, a natural talent to understand any language, an increase in mana that would make even the most untalented into a rival for a Paladin, and a natural Magic Resistance that rivals the Gods themselves, making all mortal magic basically useless against you and greatly diminishing the magical attacks from Gods or other Campione.
It somehow means that Yuni's and Mihara's strange powers don't work on me now, even if their ability is not exactly magic. Why? Because godslayer resistance in general is just that good. Anything less than divine might could be resisted easily, which is why their power over my senses faltered.
I also have an Authority from slaying a god, and the second part of the perk. It is where the [World's Maker] part comes from. This Authority, bound to my soul, granted me three distinct effects whenever I called upon it. Firstly, my creativity would surge to an artist's pinnacle, a place where every detail in my vision came alive, enabling me to design whatever I could imagine. Secondly, a perfect set of tools would appear, tailored to the task, their presence almost a gift from the god whose power I had taken. Thirdly, I gained the temporary knowledge to enchant, bless, or curse my creations as I had envisioned them, letting me shape them with a power that bordered on the divine.
There were also downsides to using it though. I had to gather materials myself, and once I started, I couldn't take on a new project until the first was done, no matter how long it would take. So it is not all sunshine and rainbows with [Pandora's child, the World's Maker].
Anyway, thanks to the [World's Maker], I can now start thinking about how to deal with this irritating bratty young woman, without exposing CF's existence. Which sadly means that I can't just simply smite her out of existence, yet.
I step out of [Strategy Trance] with a bare-bones plan, because I just can't stand redoing it again and again in my mind. Talking with Syuen is just that tiring to me.
Syuen's voice cuts through my thoughts, taunting me from across the void of her ignorance. "I think you're finally starting to see your place." Her finger twitches toward the trigger, ready to pull it again.
I glared at her and began to stand up. My action drew a gasp from Yuni, since to her, I should not be able to do that. Her power should have cut my sense for everything below the waist, but my godslayer body laughs at such weak power.
I glared at Syuen, right at her eyes, and looked down on her, since I am taller. I project an air of confidence, of someone who is about to turn the tables. "Go on, then." I taunt. "Let's see if you're ready to go against someone who's just a 'fresh-faced nobody' in a remote outpost.'"
Syuen's lip curled in disdain as she pulled the trigger and shot Mihara in her stomach again, but this time, I didn't flinch. After all, her power doesn't work on me anymore. Instead of me, it was Mihara herself who cried out, her back arching as she clutched her stomach, her face a strange mixture of pain and—was that enjoyment? The sound that escapes Mihara's mouth is unsettling for me.
"What…?" Syuen stares at Mihara, who is most likely enjoying herself.
"What's the matter, Syuen?" I say calmly. "Does it look like I'm feeling anything?" Her brow furrows, and I let a smile creep onto my face, every word deliberately mocking. "I think you should have understood the basics by now. Mihara's power doesn't work on me, not anymore."
Syuen's glare hardens, her jaw clenching as her mind races, and she glances between Mihara and me, realizations hit her like a truck. "What the? How did you-!"
I get closer to her before she can finish, effectively cutting her off from thinking a way out. "Maybe it's time you learned a lesson about underestimating your opponents." I channel my might as a godslayer, causing the atmosphere around me to shift. "By that I mean you just don't." I let my oppressive magical presence wash over her, pressing her down with it.
Her legs started buckling, and sweat formed on her face. "Y-you don't scare me!" she stutters, though her voice quivers beneath the weight of my presence.
"Really?" I questioned sharply. "Then why do I see your hands trembling? Why do I hear your breath quicken when I step closer?" My oppressive aura presses down on her, and I can almost taste the fear in the air, a sweet victory that invigorates me further.
She glances at Mihara once more, who is still preoccupied with indulging in her tendencies. "You might be the CEO of Missilis, but your influence means nothing here. You might want to rethink your approach."
She stands there, caught in the storm of my power, her confidence cracked, though a faint glimmer of defiance still sparks in her gaze.
"Do you really think I'll just bow down to your intimidation?" She shoots back, her tone defiant, but the quiver in her voice betrays her true emotion. She is scared of me, of what I might do to her.
"Intimidation?" I scoff. "No, Syuen. I'm giving you a choice. Either leave while you still can, or face the consequences." I said as a matter of fact, like saying that the weather is nice.
Syuen narrowed her eyes. I can see that she is weighing her options. She forces a twisted smile, but her fear is obvious. "Fine." She spits out. "But don't think this is over, Commander. You'll regret crossing me." She points a finger, trembling just slightly as if it's meant to be a warning. "You and your little squad will regret this."
She gives Yuni a curt nod, motioning toward Mihara. Yuni hurries over, gently taking Mihara's arm to help her up. Mihara lets out a small sigh, still dazed by her own twisted reaction to the pain, but she leans on Yuni for support, allowing herself to be guided out.
As they turn to leave, I reach down, picking up a bullet casing. With a flick of my wrist, I hurl it. The casing whistles through the air, flashing right past Syuen's face and embedding itself into the wall just behind her. She freezes with wide eyes. From my position, I can see her face twitch, barely containing a scream. Without another word, she spins on her heel and bolts, heels clacking hurriedly against the floor.
I watch the door swing shut behind Syuen with satisfaction. A few seconds later, the counters are waking up, one by one. I turn to where they're resting, noticing Rapi's eyes blinking open first, her gaze sharpening as she scans the room.
Rapi looks around the room, noticing the faint indentation on the wall where the bullet casing struck. She turned her eyes to me. "Commander Sam… what just happened?" She inquired.
"It's a long story, Rapi," I say, exhaling a tired breath. "One I will explain when everyone is up." She studies my expression for a moment, perhaps noticing the tension lingering on my face before she nods back in understanding as if saying she could wait.
[SPOILER="Chapter 1"]
[SPOILER="Sixth roll"]
•266. -Technomancy (World Seed) (600CP) (Crafting)
• Often hailed as the most innovative magic, users of Technomancy are capable of creating, controlling, scanning, and even assimilating technology with magic. And now you are one of them. But not just a normal one, oh no. Your talent with Technomancy can rightfully be said to be quite monstrous. Whether it is commanding machines to do your bidding with just a thought, probing devices with your magic to discover their functions and any possible flaws, or disassembling and reassembling them, you can do it all with contemptuous ease.
• If you trained a bit, you could of course also create your own technology to use, entirely through magic, as long as you have any necessary materials before you. Another interesting ability of Technomancy is its function to let you interface with technology and use yourself as a medium for information to be displayed. So if you, for example, wrote a program to let something pass through your Aura, such as the hologram function of your companion bracelet, you could simply use Technomancy to establish a connection with the bracelet and yourself.
• But your biggest talent lies in the replication of implants and other technological marvels within yourself and others. You could for example quite easily copy the aura of a camera and adapt your eye to mirror it, or do the same to the auras of memory banks and computers to enhance your brain. With your skill, you don't even have to worry about overloading your puny biological body by using technology that is too advanced.
• Beyond that, what you can do is up to you. After all, the potential of magic is only limited by its users ability, creativity, and skill. Though I'm sure that with your potential, you'll manage to go quite far in the rat race of life. Concerning technology at least, social skills are not included in this package.
Points Left: 700
[/SPOILER]
Unchosen Perks
[SPOILER="Sixth roll"]
89. Pioneer (The Games We Play) (200CP)
206. -Robot Master Builder (Mega Man Classic) (600CP)
[/SPOILER]
[SPOILER="Seventh roll"]
31. -World's Maker | Pandora's Child (Campione) (600CP)(Crafting)
World's Maker (0CP)
Chant: My inspiration is unending. My creations are peerless. My tools are unrivaled. My hands shall give birth to perfection only. For of all makers I reign as supreme
Effect: Three effects come into play when this Authority is called forth. First, the user's creativity will be elevated to top even the greatest of artists, for the purpose of designing what he chooses to create. Second, a set of tools shall appear, perfect for whatever creation the user wanted to make. Third, the user shall gain temporary knowledge of magic to enchant, curse or bless his creation as he had envisioned. Be it buildings, songs, weapons, armor or the likes, even with the worst materials something that borders the divine can be made.
Downsides: The user must have something he wants to make before calling the Authority. The materials are not provided for this. Depending on the creation, the time spent making it will vary. Once a project has been started, the Authority won't let another start until the first is done.
Pandora's Child (600CP)
Ah, the Campione, the unrivaled humans that managed the impossible: to slay a deity by themselves. They are Pandora's adopted children and the owners of a few advantages. Now, you're one of them too. As a Campione, you gain an allaround stronger body, grant you a natural talent to understand any language, an increase in mana that would make even the most untalented into a rival for a Paladin and a natural Magic Resistance that rivals the Gods themselves, making all mortal magic basically useless against you and greatly diminishing the magical attacks from Gods or other Campione. Also, your body will become near ageless, also having an accelerated healing and gaining magic senses if you didn't have them before. All in all, you could say that it improves everything about your body, not to mention that you also gain [Authorities] from any God you slay. Don't get too lazy because of this, I must warn you, many Campiones have fell after relying too much on their natural advantages, since there are ways to go around them.
Points Left: 600
[/SPOILER]
Unchosen Perks
[SPOILER="Seventh roll"]
2. -Craftsman (Generic Builder) (100CP) (crafting)
68. -Industry Support (My Hero Academia) (600CP) (Skill)
[/SPOILER]
[/SPOILER]