Author Corner: finally got some ideas for what to do to finish this chapter. Had to think and talk a lot and reread a bit of what Jeopardy did during the beta to think of what will happen soon. Remember Jeopardy character building will become more extensive and that includes all her crew members. If you all have any ideas for me to use or creative critisim i would be happy to get them
Enjoy
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The chief of the merfolk and siren and the Constructs looked at each other and began talking and we waited quietly without interrupting them. Finally they look back.
“May we speak directly to your leader?” The chief asked.
Jasmine looked at me and I nod and a nudge on the monitor in front of me it flipped around.
”I am all ears, what is your offer?” I said through the text.
“We don’t have much really, we have information of what few usable and non poisonous plants we have found. We don’t have much food.” The merfolk chief.
“If you want something in specific you can ask.” The construct leader said.
”Then are you willing to teach me the construction method for Constructs. In exchange I will trade you 4 elemental of each type and after raising them to competency so they can aid your town.” I replied.
His brows knit slightly when he frowns. Constructs even though they aren’t as advanced as our own clockworks, they can do some basic facial movements.
The reason I want the construction method is because I can then find out the placement of the silver wires in the body of the constructs and even clockwork to make my own synthoids.
“That… what use would the elementals have?” He asked.
“Sir…” The construct behind him called out. She opened her chest plate and showed a small water elemental core wrapped in the silver wires.
“If a construct wraps an elemental core in the wires the cores act as a method to recharge mana without us needing to meditate.” She explained.
I raised a brow, this was really useful news. This is a major flaw in a constructs design and elementals are a major fix for them.
“It also gives the construct the access to the magic system of the core they possess.” She continued before closing the plate.
”So do we have a deal?” I asked after knocking on the table to draw their eyes to the screen.
“Yes, we do!” He said excited.
“Sir, our people don’t have anything of great value to trade.” The merfolk chief said.
”You both are in a harmonious relationship correct?” I asked and they nod. ”Then if you construct are willing to pass me the industrial processing method to industrialize silver wire, I will trade it for 10 water elemental cores and I can have the elves in my city go around all the cities of the merfolk and revitalize the land bringing back life to the land.” I told them.
The construct was shaken by the request but the merman chief stared at him expectantly. It brought huge benefits for his people because he knew really well that the water elementals were beings that purified the water they lived in and they also multiplied over time so 10 elementals will eventually become hundreds and slowly they will spread out across the land and slowly purify the land through the water.
“This…” The construct leader said. It was probably hard since this is his race’s specific technology. I don’t know what merfolk have as a technology but right now I need that silver production method. The reason, though I can make very pure silver, its slow. I can't industrialize synthoids with just me and the other 3 processing the silver sinces it's very tedious and slow work.
“Sir, I think its best!” The angel said.
“What!” He shouted.
“Come on sir, it’s not like we lose the method, it will simply spread. What is a silver refining method for the chance of revitalizing the land and getting access to magic for not only your people but the merfolk and siren as well.” One of the halflings said.
“... You're right, for my friends I will trade the refining method. But the elementals have to be high ranking and can aid the merfolk if they need it.” He said.
I nod and looked at Marina and she nodded back saying it can be done.
”Alright, the exchange is done, the elemental we promised will be trained for a few days so they won’t be simple minded fools and you will pass us the construction method for constructs and refining method for silver wire.” I told them.
I hear a sigh from behind. “Good we can get something to help.” She said.
Again this woman’s voice is irritatingly familiar.
Because of this without warning I make Asura walk forward and bend over. Everyone was shocked and walked back but when I cornered the construct and bent over face to face she tried to shrink back.
The look of all clockwork and constructs are also based on the model and customizations the maker put so I don’t know who she is but I read that constructs can’t alter their voice because their system runs on magic so the magic transmits their real life voice unlike constructs that can alter it if we make a program to do that which I have done.
Asura has a much deeper voice made to intimidate and as a result I ask her a very simple question in a loud and clear voice.
“Who are you!”
“Eh?” She muttered confused.
“Hey what’s this about?!” The angel asked.
“Shut up!” I told the angel without looking away from the construct as my frown grows deeper.
“I asked! Who! Are! You!” I said each word slowly one by one.
“J-jeopardy! My name is Jeopardy!” She said scared.
“Your real name!” I muttered.
“Hey you can’t ask that!” The angel said as she pulled her spear and pointed at me.
“Miss angel, I suggest you put the weapon away, it’s unwise since our leader is level 192 and both ships are filled with people that surpass level 100 already.” Jasmine casually suggested while making a threat.
The angel pales and puts her weapon away reluctantly while glaring at us.
“Still you can’t ask for the real name!” She shouted.
“Real name?” The two leaders said.
“What I mean is the name we use in the world we Awakened came from.” The angel said. This woman is stupid saying it like that but since she probably caused a big dent in her familiarity with the NPC I will drop the matter for now.
I call Asura back.
“You should keep your watch dogs in check!” The angel shouted.
”Don’t have any, these blue and red clockwork are both my bodies. Actually they are just robot's and aren’t the main body.” I casually threw in some info so they know their place. ”Our transaction is complete, you can leave. We will gather the traded goods when we hand over the elementals. I tell them.
I look at Jasmine and she nods and starts to guide the “guests” out.
I can hear the unsatisfied yells of the angel and the voice of the others.
After their voices faded a smile finally spread on my face as I lean back on the chair I was sitting on.
“Such an easy win.” I said and the others who were in the room began to laugh.
“Still Techno, what was that with the girl?” Brock asked.
“Her voice sounded familiar and very irritating.” I said.
“Could you have mistaken her for someone you knew?” Marina asked.
“Probably.” I reply.
At that moment Nova in her sniper body walked in.
“Hi bro! Who were those people I just saw?” She asked.
I explain what they were here to do.
“He~! That doll girl sounded familiar though… hmm.” Nova said as she put her index finger on her forehead as she tilted her head and supported her right arm on her left hand.
(similar to these https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Mv8hQm081mU/maxresdefault.jpg
http://s96.photobucket.com/user/FullyAlive2/media/VN%20stuff/pose09.png.html)
“Don’t overthink it, let’s go there is lots of stuff to take care of.” I tell her and she looks at me and makes a wide smile.
“Kay~!” She says and runs out.
We follow behind.
I then sit down on the ground as I watch what was gonna happen.
When I said these four elementals were the leading figures of the elementals I wasn’t lying.
They are all the ones that can teach the new born elementals the best.
Marina lifts her hand and a huge bubble of water at least 10 meters in diameter appears and then it splits into four separate bubbles. Then she randomly takes any elemental core in the small box she had and tossed them into the water and filled each bubble with mana that was absorbed into the cores and they began to awaken.
They took control of the water that was absorbed into the core and then expelled out as it formed into the bodies of the Undine.
These four were for the construct town.
She then goes and makes ten, five meter in diameter, bubbles and awaken those as well. Depending on the quantity of water and purity it births a different grade of elemental. So the first 4 were probably around 75% purity making them strong leaders. The other 10 were probably done with 85% water purity so they can purify the water better and make strong elementals.
All four of the leaders do the same but the other three only needed to make 4 of each and brock only made four human shape normal golems and not something unique.
It was still interesting to see, like elemental gods making their creations. Especially Gust who has to make a mini tornado from his hand to purify the air enough to make the elemental.
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It was really entertaining to watch but with that done I was left to my own devices and that wasn’t many.
I had expected lots of adventure and stuff from a ruined world in a VR game but surprisingly it’s boring. Maybe because this has become my daily life it’s just not fun anymore.
It’s already been 2 years and … almost two months since I was put in this game with Nova. In real life that will equal a bit more than 157 days.
Making technology, fighting, doing some request, making a few items and so one it got rather monotone. It’s only because of Nova that the world isn’t still black and white. Nah I guess that's a lie now, I have friends in my crew and some in the town that I am at least close enough to talk with.
I look up at the huge floating whale and see the movement of the stratos unit.
Looking around I spot Nova on her strato flying around.
Being tossed from her hands down into the scraps was a small sphere. These were new model spider drones. They are very resilient and can survive the fall easily and once they do they open up and start scouting the surroundings automatically. They are all connected to a main computer on Brock and all the ships we have possess antenna to increase the range this connection can reach.
Considering how easily we can scout and do most things I really am bored.
Might as well call the elves down and explore the merfolk towns. Since elemental training is done on the field, I'm sure the others have already taken their "offspring" someplace to train. Marina probably went to the merfolk town to get a look.
Lets check around after the elves come down and maybe even acquire some scrap to experiment on.
Jeopardy PoV
"Arg! That stuck up bastard! How dare he act so conceited!" The angel said.
"Calm down Gloria! I...I didn't take offense." Jeopardy said.
At once Gloria spun around and looked at her.
"No offense? No Offense! After what he did, you actually have the face to tell me you weren't offended!" Gloria shouted.
Jeopardy couldn't look her in the eyes but only muttered in a super low voice no one could here, "He was offended worst by me."
"What was that?" Gloria asked.
"Nothing." Jeopardy said shaking her head and walking forward.
I turn to the clockie secretary.
"So how long will it take for the elementals to be fully trained?" I asked to get off this topic.
"Well each one has their own methods but I believe the one you're most interested in is the water elementals. I'm pretty sure Marina will take them to the nearest source of water be it the merfolk city or a nearby spring. I’m sure it will be set up as city first then springs, Undine are naturally drawn to living at the location of springs because that place carries the purest water. If they purify the spring a chain reaction happens downstream." She said.
"Want to go watch?" I asked the others.
They all shrug and we walk out of the scrapyard and look towards the city.
Before we could even react we saw fourteen streams of water that looked like tentacles outside of the water over the merfolk town.
They were wiggling and each time they look like it would fall it would suddenly whip back and a black gooey ball of something shoots out over onto a stone basin where golems were standing.
We were stunned before we ran over and saw the two leaders shouting.
"Work the water like you do your body. Don't force it, dance within it, you are a being of water so feel the foreign water and gather its impurities." Marina shouted.
The golem on the other hand was shouting at some of the golems that were taking a large basin away.
"Heave ho, heave ho, those impurities contain a fuck load of materials. Once we can separate water, metals and oil we can gain some materials for our homeland." He said making the golems shout.
"Whats going on here?" I muttered.
The undine notices our presence and looks over.
"So you came, what do you think?" She asked.
"Whats happening?" Nene the female halfling asked.
"This is a training exercise as well as a method to rapidly clean water to the purity of the undine. This will give them sufficient skill to live in this environment and multiply before spreading." She said.
"You don't seem against leaving them behind?" Gloria said.
"Why would I be against it. Undine live in the world as beings tied directly to nature's balance. A sane undine will work tirelessly to purify a pond to make some friends as they grow in number they spread and eventually they clean land. Golems, Sylph and Will-o-wisps are the same.we each have a natural environment that needs us to maintain its balance. That whale up there..." she pointed up. "It's an elemental titan and a being elementals naturally converge to. The world can be destroyed but the land on that can always remain pure. Besides elementals, nature spirits and fae also naturally love that being because it is naturally rich in mana around it." She said.
Hearing Nature spirits made me think of the dryad and treant that were killed when they attacked me. If they hadn't attacked, I wonder if they would have been an evil race unlike the kind race it probably should be.
"Are your personalities affected by your purity?" I asked.
"Undine and Sylph yes. If we are made of water that is only ranked 50% pure we are born neutral, neither good or bad. Below 50% they are born evil Undine while above is normal undine." She said.
"Dryad and treant are the same?" I asked.
"Sorry but I can't say for sure. I haven't met them but they should be born around naturally high mana dense areas and forests. We expect some to be born on Brock's back someday." She said.
"Brock?" I mutter.
"That black golem, he is the main body of the whale." She explained.
We were shocked to find that this was actually a golem. To have a floating huge whale in his control must mean he is the strongest in the crew.
"Oh looks like the elves are already here. Even Techno came, my, that man has been bored lately. Must have lost lots of motivations recently." She muttered and we see a group of elves coming over while chatting and leading them was that same pair of robots.
"How is it?" He asked Marina without even looking our way.
"Two to three days and we can have all the bad impurities from the entire underground water system cleaned. It will also affect a huge region that passess over the network and most springs may purify by a degree of 20-30% after we are done." Marina said in a business tone.
He nods and then turns to the elves before gesturing with one hand making a circle in the air.
All the elves spread out and after a while they used a magic that made a glowing green ball appear. They always work in groups of no less than five and at max twenty.
The green ball invades the ground as green waves of, what I think is nature mana, spreads several meters and they move one.
The normally blackish dirt starts gaining a brownish tone of color.
The withered grass and bushes almost instantly gain life as they greedily suck that energy.
It was amazing to see that black rotting trees move around and nun twist themselves from that disgusting shape back to a straight tree and slowly buds appear followed by green leaves.
Very quickly the elves tire themselves out but they then take several fist sized crystals and put it to their chest. It starts to glow and they soon get back to work.
Everyone that wasn't a part of Techno's crew was in shock as magic of dozens of types was used to rapidly bring life to the little bit of land around the merfolk town.
By the end of they day, Marina tested the water saying it had reached 65% purity. At this level merfolk can use water magic to an intermediate degree. Once the level reaches 85% they can easily master water magic and use it to its max.
As for Techno himself he just watched as the undine cleaned up after instructing what will be done with the waste and left.
Gloria very much hates him for his attitude but I can't blame him for his coldness. Still I was extremely scared he would recognize me by my voice.
If I could change it I would have already.
I wonder if I can do nature magic if I get all four elemental cores. Maybe I can revive the treants and dryads. That sounds interesting.
As I think this I tell the others I’ll be back in a bit and head to the elves and talk to then about it. Nature magic is the combination between water and earth magic so it is those cores I need. I'll get it eventually and then go revive the nature spirits and maybe even make nice ones.
With a happy though me and my crew get back to Waterfront city to expand the pond more.
It’s still our job so we must do that.
In merfolk scrapyard town.
The elves worked until a bit after noon and returned after eating. When the sun was beginning to set they gathered and as a group of nearly sixty they made one finally massive green ball that rushed into the ground and spread over the entire area.
After they leave at the center of where the glow was, a small sprouts appeared. It quickly began to grow and absorb the pure clean earth and water mana left behind making a healthy bud that grew to the size of a child. Eventually a bud appeared and bloomed into a bright red rose that absorbed the bright moonlight for half the night before it withered and turned into a fruit they grew rapidly to the size of an infant.
As it reached that state, it stopped and remained like this all night until morning when it was spotted by the elves.