Chapter 248

Full Karen (Part I)

You ever have one of those moments where, you go, you assemble a perfect fighting force to repel an overwhelmingly superior force. Then you realize that the force you assembled might be a too big enthusiastic about enacting your plans. So much so that you are tempted to leave a third of the force behind so they don’t compromise the integrity of the operation.

Then just before you give the command to do just that, the enemy in their brilliance, darts in, causing you to either go full impact, or suffer losses.

For a moment, I get a severe Babes in Toyland premonition, where I somehow play the role of both Drew Barrymore and Mr. Miyagi, all in order to cause a robot rebellion to ultimately help Keanu Reeves find true love. The fact that I might help Keanu Reeves find true love with someone other than me is tragic, but fortunately that is not a thing here. As far as I am aware Keanu went to the Cyberpunk universe and is as amazing as always there.

Ratta-tatta-tat

The sound of automatic munitions fire coming to life pulls me from my whimsical thoughts of Keanu.

For before I even had a chance to act, almost in unison all four staging bunkers were breached by a singular mechanoid unit.

Seeing the advancing hostile force, my unit of sentient and seemingly self-aware mechanoid warriors surged to life and performed their primary objective, protect the kids.

In hindsight, maybe putting the recently Resurrected kids inside of the recently made self-aware engines of destruction was a bad idea. Also, there is a clear fact that the mechanoid units, much like the different skill books I recently crafted, all have a weird way of communicating on an empathic level with one another.

This means that, shortly after the mage-only mechanoid units became alive and active for each group, they were able to share their past torments with the much more powerful hybrid models.

Again, at the time, I thought this was a good thing, as the mage-only versions seemed to share knowledge of the attack patterns of the different groups. How the mages would assist the mechanoid units, and where their standard retreating locations were. All things that should be known by an invading force, despite having a lack of numerical superiority.

That said, it is clear that part of my over protection for children, along with the seeming personal conviction of the different mechanoid units to hate anyone who would butcher and abuse children to get more production out of people, was the overwhelming number one priority of these mechanoid units.

A fact that was made exceedingly prevalent by the way the machines went full Terminator mode upon seeing the different Legrand soldiers.

Ratta-tatta-tat

Ratta-tatta-tat

Worse, the units that had been in cluster of six, broke off into perfectly aligned three automaton teams. Two larger hybrids always joined with a mage-only mechanoid suit. The odd thing was that the mage-only mechanoid suits were the leaders of the groups. Often because they were ones that either didn’t have children in their cockpits, thereby making them seemingly expendable to the team, or their knowledge of the terrain made them perfect leaders.

Regardless of the reason, the grouping of four six mechanoid teams split off into eight three mechanoid teams.

It was all I could do to run around trying to cast Healing spells on the innocent miners. Though I could feel instant ire from my mental connection to the various mechanoid units.

Pausing for a second, I realized the true issue.

The mechanoids wanted me to save the children first, then everyone.

“Okay, I’ll prioritize.” I state, feeling slightly flustered, as I dash about.

Of course, while on my way, I easily spot a few mages and target them instantly with Core Shattering Death Ray.

Rays of golden light burst out from me as I shatter mage after mage. I especially target the mages within the four remaining mechanoid units.

Core Shattering Death Ray.

Speed of light, too fast to dodge, and too fast to even notice the threat before it is too late.

Still, I take out the immediate threats, making it so I can get to the kids.

Poof.

I appear in the exact center, right over head of three mages. Disgustingly enough, the three mages have arranged the kids as human shields before them. Each mage has seven of the children I am meant to protect arranged before them. The idea is simple, anyone comes in, sees the mages and hesitates, while they act.

Core Shattering Death Ray

Core Shattering Death Ray

Core Shattering Death Ray

Before any resonance of my entry can filter down to the three mages, I strike.

“AHH!” the three mages cry out in pain. A pain that echoes throughout the camp.

For a moment every humanoid creature pauses, hearing the intense cry of pain from someone of the same species.

Unfortunately for them, the Terminators, for that is what they are now, Terminators don’t hesitate in the slightest. In fact, each one uses that exact moment to strike down an otherwise distracted target.

Inwardly I cringe as I see life forms flicker out from my Angel’s Sight, only faint traces of lingering energy and spiritual residue remain.

Momentarily I struggle with the idea that I could heal them. I could heal them all. I could cover their dying bodies with my new twenty-four-hour protective bubble that promises to heal them. Part of me even wonders if this would heal their shattered cores. Odd, as I remember wondering just that very thought not an hour ago. Yet, here we are, in a position where I could use it.

Then I remember that these were the people that tortured children to make parents work harder. If they are regressors, well I hope they choose to do better with their next lives, or else I will present them with the same fate, for this I promise.

Chime.

I hear another chime go off in my mind, and instantly I see two things happen simultaneously. First a faint glowing light shoots out from me and seems to attach itself to the souls of ten mages that are dead or dying.

One is to a mage that is right before me, letting me know that they are a regressor, someone who traded away their times in the real world to come here for their retirement. But unlike living out the second dream as so many people would, this one chose to exploit children who they likely saw as nothing more than fictitious coding.

Rage.

I honestly don’t know what happened next.

All I remember, truly remember was mentally reaching down and grabbing the three former mages with an irresistible Telekinetic grip.

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Then I likely infused a bit of silver spirit mana into a concentrated microburst of Healing energy. The idea was simple, have two opposing elements and energy types racing about and destroying everything that was a meridian for the mages.

This way, even if they somehow survived this, even if they managed to get their magical cores back, they would still have to worry about burning their own bodies apart from the inside due to the strain of loosely flowing mana in their bodies.

It wasn’t enough to kill, though their screams and cries to the contrary seemed to prove otherwise.

Crying children.

I was about to do more to the mages, when I was pulled from my rage, by the cries of twenty-one children. Twenty-one innocent children left to be chained and beaten to force their parents and family members to try harder.

Thud.

Hearing the cries of the children, I let go of my rage. At least I tried to, though I did Telekinetically throw the withering mages into a wall, hard.

I wasn’t going to kill them.

No, it wasn’t for me, a relative outsider here, to judge them.

Instead, I would let the sentient mechanoid units handle them.

Though I was currently sharing my thoughts on these three with the mechanoid units.

“Hello, kids. Sorry it took so long to get here,” I say, as I wave my hands and spread waves of Ethereal Healing all over the children, fixing their wounds in a matter of seconds.

Instantly the kids, who looked weak and malnourished suddenly began to sit up straighter as the pains they had been dealing with for so long was suddenly abated.

Then once they were all healed, I then proceed to Cleanse them off.

I know my auras also have a clear and direct effect on their overall health, but better safe than sorry.

Looking around, I try to find the two or three voices that called out to me, and thus began this whole operation.

It takes a minute, but then I see the cords of fate that now tie me to all twenty-one children, but three of whom are especially thick.

“Just so we are all clear, my name is Grandma Cass. If you have any questions on how this is done, just ask these three, as they know how to get my attention.” I say, then I flutter down and proceed to give a slight tap to the forehead of the very same three that called me.

There is a bit of my golden life Qi, and a linked spiritual component that helps me tag each of these children with a blatant mark right on their soul. Unlike the mages, I make sure to separate the two so they go in different locations almost immediately. This all but ensures that these three will both have healthy bodies, but a higher than average chance of becoming exceptional mages. This is due to the fact that I have touched them directly means that at the very least they will awaken with a Tier II universal magical affinity. Thus, my marking is just a little extra encouragement.

“You three did good. Come see me before your fourteenth birthday.” I tell them.

Then just like that, I both feel a karmic bond that was paid to me by the great Turtle tower repaid thrice fold.

I also see and then instantly dismiss the quest provided to the three children.

Magical Awakening Quest (Unlocked): Garnering the Attention of a Mythical Being: Whether by choice or fate, you have come into contact with a mythical being who has told you to visit them before you turn fourteen. Conditions meet with Dr. Cassiopeia Spiritlight up to a week before your fourteenth birthday. Rewards: Experience, Deeper Magical Awakening, variable.

Note: There are no punishments for not completing this quest.

Seeing the quest notification that I awarded the children, I inwardly smile, realizing that I have rewarded what I felt was a good deed by giving a quest that could and will likely change the fate of these three children. Just as my own fate was changed by following through with the quest, despite having to wait years to do so.

Then almost as if reading my own mind, I get a linking quest notification of my own.

Hidden Quest Conditions Met: Paying it Forward Thrice (Repeatable): You were blessed by a chance encounter in your youth, that set you out on the journey that you are currently on. Now you have paid forward the same chance encounter with three relative strangers. If and when these children reach you, and you perform as you have promised, you will be rewarded. Rewards: Experience, variable.

Thinking back on the great turtle, I smile as I realize that is how I got Zero, and how I truly began my path as a mage.

Who knows, I might be able to awaken an individual class specific for each of these three children. Honestly, I am curious as to how they will change thanks to this, whether they will thrive to achieve more, or if they will let these moments haunt them for the rest of their lives.

Honestly, I hope they learn from these moments and only get stronger from their troubles, but that is up for them to decide. I can only be here and encourage them, while also making it so they never have to settle for anything like this again.

Just as I am thinking this, the mechanoid suits come forward.

The mage-only ones are clearly the most damaged, as each apparently acted as the meat shield to protect the larger, more robust, and twice as durable hybrid models.

Seeing them, the children instantly backed up, and swarmed behind me.

“Don’t worry, these are the friendly mechanoids.” I say.

Then right on cue, the hybrid models who had been holding children protectively in their cockpits drop to a knee, then open up, letting the kids jump down to safety.

At which point the children, all of whom were recently Resurrected run forward and hug their friends.

“Jeremy? Is that you?” One of the three marked children asks, her voice full of confusion as she asks with a trembling voice.

“Yes, Renya, I was so worried for you.” The boy, Jeremy states.

“But, but how? You died?” The star marked Renya asks.

“She saved us.” Jeremy cries out and points to me.

“What?” Twenty-one voices all cry out in near unison.

“It’s true, I was lost in a dream, and then she grabbed me and pulled me back.” An older girl added, walking forward and eliciting a few more gasps from the gathered children.

“Elysiwara?” The children cried out, upon seeing her a few of the younger children instantly ran out to embrace her, apparently seeing her as a leader of sorts.

Seeing as she was older, and clearly a caring sort, this was to be expected.

“How, I saw you die?”

“They killed you?”

The kids all cried out, running up and embracing Elysiwara.

Elysiwara for her part just ducked low and grabbed all the kids in a hugging embrace. Then instantly looked up to see me still floating high overhead.

“She’s the one we should thank. She saved me.” Elysiwara stated.

Tears.

Not going to lie, at that comment I teared up a little. Letting brightly glowing specks of highly concentrated pixie extract fall to the ground.

Where the tears dropped, flowering plants instantly began to grow, as if suddenly being allowed life after being forced to slowly wither and die for so long.

“That’s not true, I did nothing. I would have done nothing, had it not been for these three.” I say, once again pointing out the three individuals that summoned me here.

Clamor.

With that the kids all began talking to each other.

Only afterwards did I realize that all of that was caught on the speakers and projected out to the entire mining facility.

Ultimately it didn’t change anything as everyone here was just the miners, my 32 awakened mechanoid suits, and of course the kids.

Pausing for a moment, I take a second to look at my quest and feel sort of relieved.

New Questline Identified: Purging the Desecrators (Repeatable): You have come across a scene of absolute destruction. Magical and Mechanical Parasites have set up a dig site stripping the land of magical resources, which have in turn begun to poison the ecosystem. Eliminate the threat to the local area and become a protector of the world. Current status Grand Mages purged (3 / 3), Mage foreman (6 / 6), Mage Leaders (10 / 10), Mechanoid Operators (25 / 25), Mechanoid Apparatuses (32 / 75), excavators (115 / 115), children to rescue (53 / 21). Rewards: Experience, Skills, Badges, variables.

By and large, I am mostly done with the quest.

All the mages, the foremen and even the operators had all been destroyed or otherwise eliminated.

However, there was just one problem, I was still missing more than half of the mechanoid apparatuses. It was good to note that by bringing the mechanoid suits back to life, I inadvertently made it so they were no longer part of the enemy faction. This is good, as it would have been terrible to have to kill each of these mechanoid units, after they had all effectively earned their freedom. I know I couldn’t finish this quest if that was what was expected of me, so fortunately it wasn’t required.

“Please let us through,” the voice of a haggard man called out.

Upon hearing the voice, the mechanoid units who had been holding a near impenetrable perimeter stood up and let the first of many miners through.

Seeing them in the state they were in, I once again let out a stream of Ethereal Healing energy, before casting a round of Cleansing on each miner.

“Renya!” A desperate female voice called out, charging through the males and then sidestepping a few children turned and finally found her.

There was a brief pause, as they both stared at each other, then the moment recognition filled their face, they began to run towards each other in a tight embrace.

After that the entire procession of 115 miners all slowly began making their way up the different ramps, all to come here to this staging area.

“Okay, who is ready to get out of here?” I ask loudly.

With that, there is a moment of silence, before I focus with my Simulacrum who is at World’s End. It is not ideal, as we already have a slight refugee problem from earlier, but I can’t exactly send everyone to the Arcanarus Tower now can I?

Positional Teleportation.

With that, I create a direct link to my one Simulacrum in World’s End, and begin directing everyone through.

“Go through there, make sure to ask for my Secretary Charlaine, she is fully aware of this operation and will help with logistics.” I state, wondering if Charlaine has even had a chance to get out of the few traps I set for her in my office.

I know I told her to inform Mallory before I left. This was of course, while she was trying to invade my office to either steal a book, or try to return my corrupted pamphlet. However, after talking with Mallory, I am fairly certain that this message was never parlayed from Charlaine to Mallory, making it so I am definitely going to go through Charlaine with announcements like this in the future.

“Oh wait, I need someone who knows where a second trove of mechanoid suits are to stay behind.” I call out.

Hearing that, the male who went to hug the second star touched child, spoke up.

“I can show you.” The guy began.

“Show me?” I ask, wondering if it was close.

“Yes, it is just below us.” He said, “though the entrance is relatively well hidden.”

At that, I reached out with my senses, only to feel a massive influx of highly concentrated mana around us.

For a moment I am taken aback by how much highly concentrated mana is down below. But then realize this is likely why this area was chosen to be a mining facility in the first place.

As the rich mineral veins around me, make it almost impossible to see too deeply into the ground. Which is why I missed the giant bunker down below. One filled with dozens of parts and half assembled robots.

“Get in the mech, and I will follow you, once everyone is safely out of here.” I tell the person.

The man looks shocked for a moment, but then seems to nod. As he then goes and whispers goodbye to his daughter.

His daughter instantly cries, but I can tell the father promises that he will come back.

At that the daughter cries even harder and pounds her little fist against her father’s chest.

Seeing this, I see it is time for me to step in.

Flying over, I go to the girl.

“Hello, Zarlina, right?” I ask.

At that the girl nods.

“I need your dad for a few minutes, so we can stop the people who did this to you from ever being able to do this again. For that, I need him to show me where more of the bad robots are, so I can turn them into good ones.” I say, and point to the hybrid mechanoid suit that is waiting to carry the father.

“Can you let me borrow your father for a few minutes?” I ask, “I promise I will return him.”

Chime.

There is that faint ringing sound, and I realize that this is me saying words that have somehow become binding.

Though if this is the case, then why did I get a binding word from asking about John Connor, earlier? I think to myself, but then remember the utter devastation caused by these mechanoid units and realize that they were in fact Terminator units.

“Okay, if you promise.” She says, then holds up her pinky finger.

Seeing the gesture for what it is, I reach out my own pinky finger and shake, sealing it down as an official promise.

I can even see the quest notification flash before my eyes.

But I instantly dismiss it, as distracting from my current objective.

Honestly, it surprises me how quickly close to two hundred people can march through a portal to an unknown destination, all because a floating glowing pixie told them to.

That said, I am glad this time was a lot easier than last time.

Once it was just the father, me, and the sentient mechanoid suits left, the father just nodded and said, “follow me.”

With that, he somehow managed to direct the mechanoid suit expertly to a small door that only opened up large enough for a singular person to get out.

“This is the main entrance, I’m not certain how they actually get the fully assembled mechanoid units out.” The father said.

“Thank you, do you want to go back now?” I ask, offering the out.

“Yes, though before I go, could you please answer one question?” The man asked.

“Okay?” I ask.

“What do you intend to do with all of these mechanoid units?” He asks, gesturing to the sentient mechanoid unit he rode on, and then at the warehouse that now that I am closer, I can feel the various devices in different states of completion.

“First, I’m going to wake up the mechanoid units, then I’m going to go full Karen.” I reply.

“Full Karen?”

“Yeah, you know cause a complete ruckus, ask for a manager, the works.” I state.

“Uh-huh.” The man replied.

Seeing that his question was answered, I went ahead and opened up Positional Teleportation, again.

As the man began to enter the portal, I asked a question.

“What exactly is your name?”

“Mine?” He asked somewhat confusedly, then replied “I’m John, John Conn…” he began but his voice was cut off as I apparently closed the Positional Teleportation too soon, not expecting him to have a last name.

Hearing the name, I pause, wondering if it was the last name that I thought it was, then quickly thought better of it.

“There’s no way that's him, besides that’s copyrighted.” I reply.