COI C147
Tabitha was shocked for the first time in her life. She is been waiting for them to have what she wanted, and never would’ve expect a week to be done. There is no way they could get people on the list, but here it is on her device transmitting to her UI. She spoke softly with a baffling face
“Thousands . . . Did they all survive from the east coast incident?”
Archivist never shared the same expression of her, and only let his mask express surprised instead, but his voice is out of place with his expression mask.
“Like you people would say ‘I expect nothing less about the best people who have overpowered abilities’”
Tabitha tilted for a moment, she never realized staying here for weeks made him acting this way to make jokes. The mix of his expression and voice made her feel like a tone of a gentleman letting lose a swear word. He is actually acting like a real cartoon character.
“Ok, I start missing your hood making expression”
“You should’ve said that before we left. I am amazed how much these expressions made others act friendly, even the children. What will the elder lady’s grandchildren react to me on this”
While waiting for the Dexter Guild giving her more as they agreed. The two continue their conversation with the what if scenario. Then she hits her. “Oh yeah, what about our friends? When will they finish their work and planning to visit here? East mountain is close from here”
“Planning their route to visit here is a great idea, they can experience it with your around. Hardly if they could finish their work after the next moon cycle”
“Yeah, the east mountain filled with demons and their minions. Juela told me that place should be long gone without us entering this world”
“I can imagine, and Haw and the others who are drafted along just to visit your city”
“Oh yeah, those members. They were drafted because there are rare numbers of Enders who are willing to go. I visited Enders Bridge for the first time and it was very unwelcoming”
“That is for sure, but you didn’t know the people you have befriended with are not originally Raker Mawn members”
“You mean, they are from a different guild before”
“The people you meet, who are tolerate enough to act themselves genuinely”
Tabitha thought about who they are; Juela, Kiege, Yui, then the last one stuck her head. She ignores her curiosity with the girls but for one evasive person. She didn’t even know his name but profession.
“Spokesman, that’s right . . .”
The Dexter Guild member appeared to them as they are readying their machine.
“Here is the equipment to help him understand your enemies’ abilities”
Tabitha stands up and follow her to the room. Then both of them stop where there is the same guild member who was with them in the canteen from Taiyou Industries.
“Oh, it’s you. The guy who sat with us because you are having trouble”
“And now I am here and still away since the beginning. I see you are the one who is requesting us for help. You have already done your trade with them. While you let your partner getting boosted up, it would be my turn to help you”
Archivist is being suited up to use the equipment. Wires and straps are being wrapped around his body, they didn’t bother remove his mask and wears the visor. Another time for her to wait, and she accepts his help.
“Alright, do you know the situation we are in?”
The guild member didn’t say anything, but gives her a schedule. He leaves without a word. Tabitha thought he supposed to help her but the schedule made her think twice. A schedule about the Fuku adventurers will be doing and out from the city. She sees this as an opportunity to go inside without being eyed on.
“Hey wait!” As she turns around, he is already gone.
The woman is there sees him left and said to her “There goes his break time. I never know he had some debts to you. Well, you won’t going to see him again since they are now being reassigned”
“Reassign? To where exactly?”
“To the undergrown or most people called it east mountain. I heard they are now breaching through inside. Or maybe they need more manpower. I can’t put my head straight since his position is codex or was it a mechanic? We should better be done here since this facility is going to move”
“Where are you bringing this cargo. Thing. Base?”
“You were able to find this place with a special tool. It is better not let you get involved. Since we able to do what we needed to be done”
“Even though I’m curious, but I am not that dying to see why you made this place a secret”
After the boost being installed on his head, he looks like he doesn’t change much at all. Archivist pulls out the wires off him and the straps removed with only one hand. The woman escorted them out.
“Well, it’s nice to have done business with you. Let’s hope no one will find out about what we have did today. Especially you, Sir. Please adapt your body to the best of your abilities. Because your body will might force to react without even your head in muscle memory. You may know, but you don’t have the experience”
The two left the hideout and out to the valley. Tabitha was already planned to meet with Haw and his friends. As they about to leave, her senses on the hideout mysteriously vanished. Outside of the cargo, they turn around and the cargo starts to get lifted up. There’s a heavy machinery lifting it up as there is a train waiting for it from the other side. The levitating train is waiting for the cargo put one of the empty slots. The cargo is placed and the machinery climbs on top it. It transforms to blend into the cargo’s exterior. The train moves as it levitated back to the train rails.
The passenger cargo is empty and no Isekai citizens are inside except for some Enders. Tabitha watches them sitting inside as the train moves on its way. Archivist pulls her hand
“We should go. Haw might know something about his former guild taken action”
Whereas the train loses sight from the dense dusty light blue fog, she response through the bind then walks away. Tabitha has everything completed. Yet, she needs to be patient a bit longer. In her private chat, a message about the technical difficulty and they will send their messages personally to make sure it is fixed.
Something is going on inside Fuku City. The feeling of impatience grew inside her doubts. The worries creep in, and the only people she knew is the old man watching over the community. There is also one man in disguise, like any other defectors, and he is in the mix of people she knew are troubled. The worse comes to mind is with Archivist’s probability of the ‘villains’ are getting stronger. Their lack of improvement will someday overpass from controlling their captives. Then there is one suspicion that she had feared. There is a chance that they are gaining their powers too.
2 more months left for her to stay here and the experience she had is shocking. The city is definitely improving, except for the two districts, Chojima and South Shore Bay. It is because they never planned to transition to the use of magic in their households. All the tech is not fully replaced yet as they use only the basic magic to maintain the quality of their appliances. It was not yet closely in a year of being here, but felt like they are adapting behind their backs. Why shouldn’t they separate themselves either stay or leave?
Archivist said to her before ‘A city without its people will be nothing but slow developing town. They need people to maintain and developed it. The modernization with robotics won’t be viable for a fruitful environment. They know what race they are and how to deal with their needs. Replaced anything artificial led to imprisonment, same fate as the demon living their miserable lives. That’s why you will see the demon’s obsession to act upon your people. They thought they have something new to play with’
That explanation puts her head open and frighten at the same time. He didn’t make his answer simple, but leading to the obvious end. The demons won’t let them go. Enders Bridge had their own history from Agatheus City. The inner realm was their home, then they set forth to Rune Isles. Not because of need to restore their old civilization, but the thrive to break away from something. Sadly, she didn’t finish studying about Agatheus City. Her concern for now is the reality she is in with the Enders.
Haw sees her with her partner. He is not with Maser nor Ironno. Alone, no. She sees a group of people from the distance. Her empty slot deck is being filled and the symbol resemblance against high grade magic. It was not long to figure it out as the dusty fog moves away like the wind, still raining down in snowy frozen mana like sands as it touches the wind magic. The adventurers from the city guild and the guild from Agatheus City. Gathering around him for any intel he might hold about the cooperation with the Dexter Guild.
Haw listens to their concerns that is not about the guild itself. They wanted to know if he has the information about the hidden threat. Other demons and monsters, there are a certain tribe that is not belonged in this region. They handed over the item and the Agatheans tell him.
“This is a ritual carved in stones, you clearly see it is sandstone. During your time in these ruins, have you ever found something ritual related?”
“I’ve been through this. The reason why there is a trace of rebellion sighting because of the presence of powerful magic”
Among the crowd, there is Illtended and Altair are listening to their conversation, hoping they could get something out from it. Silfa and the rest of her team are not going to stay here and listen to this search quest. It is clearly enough of their high ranks to focus and clear hidden monsters somewhere in the city. Altair takes a sit on the rubbles
“The Dexter Guild is busy on rebuilding the factories, the people from Stranding Island are going elsewhere, and our newly formed co-guilds are low ranks”
“Yeah, why are the other high ranks from different cities wanted go here? The pay is good”
“You already know about it, and added to that is the east mountain”
Haw gives them the notes about the spirits. It wasn’t enough since the powers of the rituals rely on the idols and the goblins who brought them here. As they are not as strong with the citizens. They did their best to find specific locations for them to check.
“I know this is little, Haw. I’m sure we can figure this out on our own”
They left with haste. Altair and Illtended’s turn to face him, then stopped and see there are two Enders coming by. Illtended recognized them.
“Oh, it’s Tabitha and Archivist”
Archivist responds “I see you are from the city guild. I don’t know who are you two are”
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Haw answers for them “That’s Altair and Illtended. Yes, they are from the city guild. Did you know there is a change of plan here?”
“What plan?”
Altair explains to him “Guilds were supposed to survey all over the ruins. Suddenly, Fuku City adventurers decided to ceased their operation and head back to the city. They said it was urgent, then there was a scandal about the building inside Fuku City. It made a one large noise causing a panic to the people around it. Now they have a week off because of it”
Illtended is a bit suspicious as well “Adventurers returning back like there is something dangerous inside. Would it be because something dangerous happened in there? It doesn’t matter how they go. They separate themselves from the public. I couldn’t care less unless they made a big event in there”
As they keep talking, Tabitha talks to Haw “I’m finished with my training and businesses”
“Right, then let’s see how you can do with these locations so far”
“Come on, Archivist. You heard them. We can’t let ourselves slowing down by sudden change of events. I want to see how they give you your abilities”
Altair watches them leave. He keeps looking until the dusty fog vanishes them through its thick light bluish mist.
“What are they doing exactly?”
“Their own business. I am clearly to see that she was intended to go to Fuku City. Then decided to go through her training here. You can join her if you want. I’m continue to survey the ruins again after this. The spirits they talk about might be finally formed. It’s been days now. This is not how goblin spirits behave so slowly”
Meanwhile, the ruins already being cursed by the spirits. Many can’t see them due to their not interfering their lives. However, they are interfering themselves. Since the day of the adventurers entering the realms built indirectly by the demons themselves. They also grew after them. The rat realm was gone, and probably be returning someday. For now, it is the spirits. The one who step into the bizarre creation of the realms. It is alone, and randomly walked out to the surface. It stretches itself with its little yellow body with its complexion of its big beak and eyes. The words echo with only one word.
Tabitha hears it again. “Du-u-u-ck” Both freaky and annoying, the voice continues on since that day. A day they never remember because of its randomly heard through the time after her first night in the ruins. She keeps it to herself. A card on hand as she always readies and plays it again to find where the noise is coming from. Through her UI she sees, and once again it is another place she could not reach. The ‘duck’ speaking phenomenon is randomly everywhere. To a place that there are no wraiths but remains of rubbles and debris.
It was cleaned before, then suddenly turned messy to where the phenomenon shouted its word. The debris, however, had many signs of rituals coming from it. Carvings, paints, and presence of spirits emit to it are the things that show signs of goblin tribe presence. Made it look so that the goblin who are in the city are making fun out of it. That wasn’t a case here, this is beyond what the goblins can do. The city guild wasn’t sure what are they doing in such a dangerous place, but when it comes the use of the spirits. This is what they show their honest answers.
They made it to one of the locations. The guild, an Agathean guild translated as Victory Rooks, and its members materializing the monsters away from the effects of the bomb and removing the dust to fully recovered its body and mana it has. Carefully so as it has the demon’s mana, they turn around and spot them.
“Are you here to fight too?”
Archivist responds “No, we found something more here. We just wait for you guys to finish and be on our way”
The citizens and the Agatheans look at them anxiously that they are going to get more than they have already caught. It is difficult to get one specific monster at a time. They were lucky that this week of nick picking the mobs for easy loots. The Fuku City adventurers are taken their time inside the city, giving them the chance. Hearing someone who is getting more than they have in mind made them wanting to see them do. The magic circle is starting and they ready themselves to face it.
The magic circle activated to imprison the monster they freed. The front lines already surrounding them and the damage dealers are in the edges of the circle. Wide enough for them to have a safe distance and the environment outside is cleared from any dust interference. The monster breaks free alongside with the random leftovers that surrounded it. It looks like a boss fight, but they are little more than normal mobs. Those monsters are possessing loots they want.
Rooted monsters return withs dusts and magic inside of it. The spell already casts on its root tendrils as it is being absorbed. The roots follow the magic flow as it begins to grow, forming into a barrier as it chases the magic. The rooted monsters tangled themselves by its own growing roots. A thread like walls as it turned into a terrain. The monster they after breaks through the rooted environment as the dust breaks open inside of them. The frontline, wearing their rune protective gears, hold them off.
All of the rooted monsters become walls and platforms as it barely moves. The magic was the first being drained, and its inner circle is already gone and only its outer perimeter is left holding its escape. The Agatheans are barely holding on and their mana stones are reaching its limits. The citizens have to finish this off before they exhaust the Agatheans’ mana. Time is running out as the citizens brought out their finisher weapons, rune weapons, to quickly take it out the big ones. One of its cores pushes out and one of them tried to seal it with his rune bags. He missed it and the core explodes by their runic weapons.
The magic circle disappears and the tools materializing the monsters have cut off. It reverted back to the effects of the bomb and dispersed from its existence. The remnant of the brown red cloud almost appeared. The light tint of the air remains its color. The guild receives their loots and at the same time feeling down to lose one of the rare loots they could get. The citizen who failed to caught it shown his disappointment. The Agathean pats him on the back
“Don’t worry about the loss. We still have more elsewhere”
The man nods and they went back inside the ruined building where there is a saferoom made by Ironno.
Not a single word coming from Agathean’s reaction, yet the citizens are talking about it while they are getting inside the saferoom.
“Damn, that was close. I hope the loot it has magic gems like the rest of them”
“The core is a compacted gem too, Sigh* They still don’t believe we are capable to catch it”
“Stretching* The core is a little tricky. It is like a sun to them when it gets close. We have the resistance with our stats and only the people who could catch it”
“We still get the bits and pieces. I hope anyone could made something out it so I can make a profit”
They have been doing this to collect gems secretly hidden through the demon’s creation. The rooted monsters are minions with no value. The creation though possessed gems inside originated from Circoston region. A desert biome is surely had a vein of gems and crystals. The monster possessed it just to maintain the demon’s power. It is hardly being portray as jewelry, but strangely to be the better components in this city, if made correctly, it can produce a strong grade magic item or appliances.
Tabitha sees them approaching and said, “It’s done, I hope you guys do it sooner while we rest. Those citizens have those objects to entertain themselves. We could sure watch you guys while we rest”
The man leaves showing his badge as an Agathean. Taking a break after what they saw looks crucial. Archivist is already stepping into the area and setting up the magic circle. He begins his survey as she readies her deck. The dust around them is really a mess after that fight. The magic circle prevents the dust to come in, to make it sure it’s cleaned. Now the dust compiled there so densely and hard to see.
Altair and Illtended see her preparing as the two picks out their bottles to wash and drink off the dusts around them. The exposure around here is troublesome, however the clean water able to remove the dust effectively. As soon as the water dries up, the dust will return to their body again. Thankfully, they are wearing special cloth to hold the water on them. The clean water doesn’t need magic just it stays wet for the dust not taken affects. Illtended wants to approach to her thinking about cooperating, Altair didn’t object as he wants to see what the two can do.
They both get on with it “Tabitha, would you mind joining you in this fight?”
Tabitha stood there takes his breath through the dust. The exposure inside of her gets into her head, then exhales with a powerful blow. The dust coming out from her mouth as she uses her cards. The dust gathered around her. It compacted, densely formed together, and turned into a ball in the air. The card continues to play as it collected hard floating dust orbs. She turns around
“Oh, sorry, what did you say again?”
Altair looks at the dust orb, fully solidify like stone and the magic is definitely gone but the dust didn’t affect the floating spell. Their surroundings are gone from its dusty fog. Illtended proceeds
“We want to join you. I know we don’t know each other’s roles. However, we are interested how you progress . . .”
Tabitha keeps quiet as she looks at them, she uses her bind with Archivist while she kept to herself. Illtended gives up and tells the truth
“. . .We heard so many details about you from Haw. The equipment you used are allowed even though is fully made Enders’ materials”
That was fast, Altair makes it brief “You’re the girl who had known by other adventurers who travel to Enders Bridge. Then news about people who joined Enders are possessing unique powers. There is also news about the kid using Dexter Guild’s equipment. We know we are being nosy at your private business. But we are interested to accommodate the craftmanship”
Archivist explains to her through the bind “It means they are interested on your personal items. They didn’t know it was Yui who designed it, while for the boy has improvement but no mastery”
“OH! I get it, you can join. But remember you are not synergized with my own abilities here. I’m using magic items beside my own spells. So, when the fight starts, I hope you coordinate with him”
Illtended looks at Altair and gives him the thumps up “You see that, it was easy from the start, hehe”
Altair smiles from his absurdity. They have come to see what Haw said to them is true. Tabitha is the only person to be a citizen and used Enders personal made items powerfully. Even she was noticed thanks of her training through here.
The confidence on Illtended’s as he joins Archivist at the front. Archivist is reviving the brown red cloud. The dust cleared in a certain distance. Illtended turns around to Altair. They are reviving the brown red cloud as monsters are materializing from within, while Altair sees why they let them do their job first instead joining along. The silhouette of monsters from the clouds is familiar to his eyes. Altair pulled Illtended’s arm, then grabs it instead.
“They are waking up the demon’s puppets”
“That size?! Why are we didn’t even see it during the siege?”
“This is not about what you see then, it is what the demon’s actual puppets should appear. TABITHA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!”
A loud shout coming from him to reach her ears. She was a bit hesitant at first. Kiege kept messaging for days through the bind. Got caught for the moment to this, even Haw never questioned he had to search for it. The guild sees it outside. They were in state of surprise to see the size of that monster. The monster has the familiar shape of the large bug like creature.
Yet, alone that fits the radius where she cleared off the dust. No signs of other monsters joint along with its presence. Archivist with his coin bent the extra monsters away and picking the fragments to rematerialize the monster hidden in the brown red cloud. The body is reemerging, its glow in demonic runes as the cards on her hands able to resist its presence. Only by their naked eyes witness such creature. No sounds and no spirits able to detect its presence. The monster took its first reflex in motion.
Its horns appeared, more than one, long spear head to its forehead and two more to each side of its lower jaws. Moving the spear heads like needles to the lower jaw and the top tips glow in runes. Beetle like body and its six legs thickened like a spider than an actual beetle legs. The carapace runed with words. With its forearms of a praying mantis, this abomination of the demon’s puppet is a combination of the strong hardened insectoid predator. The first strike on its horns as it charges Archivist.
Tabitha plays her cards and buff everyone. Illtended and Altair receive the buff and remain hesitant. They only watch Archivist face it alone. They continue to step back
“Altair, I think we are not ready to face that kind of demon”
“That thing is covered in runes. Our magic is useless here”
They turn around and see her cards flying over them as the spells been cast down on the monster and Archivist. Its agile reflexes continue to push through as its spell used its carapace to explode chunks of magic from its rune words. The blast forces him back and Tabitha cards are buffing with stats, protective field and obstacles.
The runic beetle tries to pierced through the magic environment. It phases through its physical body but its runes are being damaged as it goes through. The beetle moves sideways and slowly setting up its horns. Its fast vise grips keep flailing around as its head move still. Archivist never feel so alive evading its attacks with Tabitha’s cards buffing him. The enhancement of his body made him agile. Dodging everything he could where the magic inside of him is enduring the rune effects. The beetle hidden beneath its legs where the thick spider like legs raise up and pincer him as it drew closer. Nearing to his mistake, his sash reached out to one of the magic platforms and pulled him to safety.
Tabitha carefully follows the bind as the beetle’s spear head timed it right as he was pulled away. She plays her cards and cast a weak shield on him. The shield blocks its attack and slightly moved then miss to its other two spear head horns to its lower jaws. Archivist, uses the coin, moves closer where the shattered shield block as his stepping stone. He climbs himself up and the sash pulls him closer to it. Its reflex legs reacted it raises up from its massive body. The sash lashes to a different direction as he pulled up above it.
Where he stands on the carapace. He pulls out his bag and bring out the dust in crystallize stone. He slams it down on its body as the dust shatters, wipes it down on its whole back, and slide down behind it. It’s back legs pincer as he drops down. The sash reacts again and grab both of the legs and both hit each other, almost hitting him as he lands down on his feet. The beetle turns around swinging its horns, rune magic releases as it slashes and releases a magic wave to his direction. He ducks down and its forearms quickly grabs him.
Tabitha timed it right as she kept in her hand with the floating dust orbs around her. The moment he got caught, it is close enough to its head about to bite him. She plays it and teleported the orbs above it. The dust orbs appeared and rain down on its carapace. The shattering remains of the dust scratches the dust orb as it pierced the smaller pieces inside of its body. The dust orbs eventually pierced through its protective shell and sink into the demonic magic inside. The beetle’s vise grip loses it strength. Archivist breaks free and climbs on one of its long spear head horns.
Running on it as the shattered dust orbs hits its head. He uses his bending to collect the shards as he guided it to his hands. Where he pulls together into a weapon and thrusts forward. Forming it into a spear, Archivist’s hands crystallized as his grip positioned well to go in straight with a merciless stance. It hits its head and deep within its body. The dust is been injected and reaching to its core. The beetle fell down as the fight is over. The core opens from its body as it is been punctured. He pulls it out and quickly seal it into his bag. The presence of the orb nearly burns him, but was protected by Tabitha’s cards.
Tabitha did it, her immense training had pull through with her powerful decks. They watch her able to take down the demon’s puppet earlier than they have expected. The presence of the brown red cloud is dying. As it disperses so suddenly, the beetle’s body also disappeared. This always happened if the cloud is gone, without the demon’s presence. Its power returned to nothingness. Altair and Illtended confronted her
“You were able to beat an S rank monster. How?!”
“It wasn’t an S rank, it’s a monster possessing powerful magic. It is like a creature giving it powerful weapon that it can’t utilize with”
The guild members watch something they couldn’t believe, and the citizens didn’t notice it while they are too busy watching on their devices. They blocked the noise and only can be seen with their naked eyes. Tired from the previous attempt and more so watching them fight. They have the core, a demonic incarnated core. There will be more monsters like that, stronger and numerous in the future. As this week is the final week to go against its minion, then next week at the second month of the 3rd moon cycle means its packs. Finally, the last month will be the one those people had face since the siege. They must take them out soon before they don’t have enough man power against the horde again.