CHAPTER 24 – SHOCKING REVELATIONS

The three of them left the tent as they headed for the prototype. Johnny stumbled a few more times from trying to walk. Qin decided she had enough, sighing with annoyance. Picked up Johnny and carried him over to the prototype. Julia was caught by surprise, by the act. She tried to fuss at the dragoniod to put Johnny down.

“We are just wasting time if he keeps falling over. Besides I know he is more interested in knowing what went on as well as we do.” Qin set Johnny in the driver’s seat.

He thanked her and she returned with a nod.

Albert manifested right beside Johnny as he was put into the prototype. He went to work by turning on the terminal. He went searching in the prototype’s history log. He narrowed log history to the last two days. The information he got back was surprising and baffling.

As Johnny reviewed the logs. He was getting more questions than answers. He showed Qin and Julia what he had found causing them to have confused looks on their faces trying to explain things.

The first thing Johnny pulled up was video from Alberts perspective of the fight in the logs. It showed them all piled in the prototype as random beams of light could be seen flying by. Along with explosions from the blasts near and far, making the ground shake. Johnny saw the sheer desperation in Lisa, Cleo, Margaret, and Julia as Qin was blasting everything around them. They all winced every time she fired.

“So that is what I look like when I go berserk.” Quoted Qin with awe in her voice.

“You were a bit scared when you were firing at everything.” Replied Julia as she shivered. “Although, it was bad ass, watching you obliterate every rift eater on site. Still, we can’t really do much when you hit that level of fatigue.” Julia said with a grin.

They then watched Qin use her ultimate spell. Judgement Day. “I still can’t figure out how to cast that. I can only cast that when going berserk, which rarely happens. That only happens when my energy is all but almost used up.” She sighed.

“I’ll see if I can find out anyway for you to gain that spell. I promise.” Julia replied with a sincere tone.

The video then switched to Julia ordering them out of the prototype as it was still moving to save Qin. They all watched one by one as they were overtaken by rift eaters. Not before the core of the prototype exploded in a bright white light. Leaving no signal after that on the video.

“So much for seeing what happened after that.” Johnny sighed.

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Johnny next pulled up a chart that showed the core's power level from the fight where Qin started to go berserk. The core level went from 90% at the start of her going berserk to 100% in a few seconds. Then it went to 110,120,130, soon a warning message was displayed. By this point Qin was almost halfway from being spent in berserk. By this point the attacks had become more violent and lethal. The core shot up to 200, 300. 400, ….1000, 2000, 3000… When she had cast Judgement Day the core hit over 10,000%. The core was at a critical overload, releasing a massive amount of excess energy to not explode. It also caused Albert to go offline until the core was stable enough.

The data from the log shocked Johnny. He quickly went to check the power level on the core which was sitting at 1000%. He was sure how the core could handle so much. He asked Albert if that was dangerous. Albert replied to him that the core could handle more than 100%. In early testing with Banzai Bangers Albert explained they managed to have the core to hold over 5000%. 100% they thought was the number for a warning. After the test, a failsafe was put in place to release excess energy at around 3000%. The excess energy that could be contained was stored in a hidden smaller second core. It was there to siphon off most of the energy.

Johnny was shocked to find there was a second smaller core hidden away. Apparently someone had forgotten to mention that to him. He decided later he would see if he could somehow harness that energy for the core fragment embedded in his head.

They continued to review the logs finding out even more confusing issues. One that made Johnny scratch his head after reading a prompt for an action. Either the driver or AI would need to release anything excessive over 5,000% manually. The issue was it had hit 10,000% with no one in control.

“One thing I don’t get is how the core could handle 10,000% with no one to control it.” Johnny spoke to the others as he touched the terminal. Just then the prototype rumbled with a noise that made them all jump. On the prototype’s terminal was the mystic rift eater that had fused with the core. The terminal started spelling out words as the beast tried to communicate…

“I ca… te…. …ou wh…t ha………d.” The beast tried to communicate with them. The words at first were a jumbled mess before becoming more legible. The beast informed Johnny and the others it had released the essence at hitting 10,000%. It had to override the fail safe because too much energy was being built up. It unleashed a supernova of radiant light completely decimating the void realm.

“Well, at least we know what happened. I need to figure out what other features the prototype has so I can prepare more. After learning there is a second core hidden on the prototype.” Johnny said while shrugging his shoulders.

“Speaking of training. You need to practice improving your swordsmanship with Qin. Since your wounds are better, I will have you working now. First, I'll have you doing exercises to gain you mobility back.” Julia interrupted Johnny as she looked at him and Qin. “In the meantime, I am going to check on Lisa and Cleo. I plan to leave them written orders if they aren’t awake. I am going to be busy doing more paperwork.” Julia sighed as she got up to leave, but a message on the terminal caught all of the attention before leaving.

It read I am Julia’s brother Kurt. I briefly remember what happened, but most of the past is fuzzy. Thanks to you Johnny I had been freed somewhat of my fate. I will do my best to help you with this prototype, along with my sister.

Everyone stood there in shock. Julia looked at the others and said. “Do not tell no one this just happened.” Julia was lost in thought as she was bewildered as she walked away.

Johnny just stared at Qin as she asked. “So shall we have at it.” Qin said as she flashed Johnny a smirk. Johnny just sighed as he got out of the prototype. He followed Qin to do some simple mobility training. After a half a day of not stumbling he began sword practice with Qin.