Julian, Omen, and the others stood outside the front doors of the Artino Industries Research Tower. Glass shards littered the ground, and crumpled, twisted metal lay in heaps across the parking lot. The thrum of energy filled the air from the erupting energy overhead.
Matilda and Corona were both back in their capsules, recovering from the trip to the tower.
Dorffi, Andre’s new bear, had shrunk down to where he was riding on Andre’s back, much to Andre’s delight.
The front doors were busted out, lost in the shower of glass on the ground. As Julian and his party stepped forward, the crunch of glass echoed into the building before them. Omen slipped into the shadows inside, taking point.
As they arrived in the lobby, small cat-like Eidos had their heads perked up behind counters, their tufted ears twisting towards the noise of their entry. Upon seeing the intruders, they pounced off, running for cover.
“That’s a first,” Maria observed, watching them flee.
“Remember, most of the Eidos we have encountered have been more predatory in nature, but that won’t stop them from lashing out if cornered.” Andre stepped through the lobby, more familiar with the space. “Plus, the energy is seeding within the area. The biological data that makes up their forms will soon take over. If they are prey species, we should see more behavior of that kind, but the same can be said for more predatory species as well.”
Maria and Kiyoka followed behind, with Julian bringing up the rear.
He looked over the stats for his newest Eidos.
[EIDOS INFORMATION:]
[Eidos: No Name]
[Type: Popillia]
[Size: Tiny]
[Affinity: Nature / Mental]
[Level: 3]
[Elemental Affinity:]
[Primary: Nature]
[Secondary: Mental]
He was going to have to think of a name, but for now, he checked out its abilities.
[EIDOS INFORMATION:]
[Eidos: No Name]
[Abilities:]
Neural Network - Can create telepathic connections. Some limits apply. [Exclusive]
[Techniques:]
1. Telekinesis (Mental/ Elemental) [Rare]
2. Nettles (Nature/ Enhancement) [Uncommon]
3. Camouflage (Nature / Enhancement [Uncommon]
4. Entangling Vines (Nature / Control) [Uncommon]
Gear:
1: [Empty]
Upgrades:
1: [Empty]
Julian stopped, his jaw dropping in surprise. He clicked on [Neural Network].
[Neural Network: Exclusive]
Can create telepathic connections. Some limits apply.
Creates a telepathic network between the Eidos and others.
Limited Number of Connections = 32x Cunning stat.
Total Distance = 32x Cunning stat.
“Julian? You okay?” Maria called back to him.
Julian raised his head. “Yeah. Just checking out this beetle.”
“That good, huh?” Andre smirked at him.
Julian nodded, swallowing hard. “A bit.”
A crashing sound grabbed everyone’s attention, putting them on guard.
Julian reached out through his bond with Omen.
Omen suddenly appeared from the shadows with one of the larger cat-like creatures in his jaws. Orange particles were pouring out from puncture wounds.
“Dude, I didn’t say attack,” Julian scolded.
Omen growled, dropping the large cat at his feet.
Julian’s bracer went off.
[Eidos Identified.]
[Lynx: Level 2]
[Affinity: Fire]
Julian felt a wave of pride come through his bond with Omen, along with a hint of ingratitude.
Omen slipped back into the shadows. At the other end of the lobby, lynx Eidos scattered from their hiding places.
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“Oh,” Julian said, feeling bad about scolding his wolf.
Kiyoka was kneeling by the lynx, stroking its fur. Orange particles dissipated from her touch as the lynx struggled to breathe.
“It’s so warm,” she whispered. She tapped her bracer, and the orange particles coalesced into her bracer.
“Kiyoka, you don’t have to,” Andre started.
“I want to,” Kiyoka said, smiling at the others. “Besides, I need to catch up with you all if I’m to keep doing my part.” The last of the particles disappeared into her bracer as an orange glowing capsule ejected. She grabbed the capsule, replaced it with Corona’s, and tucked the lynx away to rest.
Omen returned through the shadows, his face smug as he panted for breath.
“Sorry, buddy. Thank you for looking out for us.” Julian reached out and scratched Omen’s head, causing Omen’s tail to wag.
“Looks like the way is clear,” Maria said, stepping forward with Andre.
The rest of the walk went by uneventfully as the party arrived at the main stairwell.
“This is going to be a horrible climb,” Julian complained, bracing his hands on his knees.
“The elevators don’t work. Besides, imagine being trapped in the elevator as an Eidos attacked. No, thank you,” Maria said, stepping forward and climbing the steps.
The others followed her in silence.
On floor 5, the sounds of gunfire echoed from somewhere on the floor.
“Damnit, we aren’t the first ones here,” Andre cursed, rushing up the stairs.
The others joined him, taking off up the stairs behind him.
They made it to floor 7 before the door burst open, gunshots echoing through the stairwell as Artino guards fired upon what looked to be large insect-like legs trying to climb into the stairs after them.
Andre motioned his hand forward, waving them out of the stairwell onto floor 8.
Everyone’s bracer vibrated.
[Eidos detected.]
[Running Identification protocol.]
Looking around the floor, nobody could see anything but office furniture.
Maria and Kiyoka quickly summoned Matilda and Corona, as Dorffi dropped to the ground off Andre’s back, growing to about the size of Omen.
“Where are they?” Julian asked, his nerves getting the better of him.
Overhead, a soft hissing noise filled the air, along with the chatter of chitin.
Looking up, everyone saw a large spider clawing its way across the ceiling.
Julian shivered as his bracer went off.
[Eidos identified.]
[Theraphosa: Level 4]
[Affinity: Toxic]
[Warning: Air Type Den Leader Detected]
“Run!” Andre roared.
The large spider pounced, but Omen sprung from the shadows, howling as ice coated the underbelly of the spider.
Dorffi joined him by releasing a deluge of water. The force was enough to knock the spider back across the room to the edge of the shattered windows.
Corona released a bolt of light directly into the spider's face, sending it over the edge and falling from the building.
Kiyoka and Andre’s bracers vibrated.
“The things are weak to light.”
“Water, too.”
The door to the 8th floor opened, revealing flashlights lighting their way.
“Securing floor,” a guard said.
Andre and the others took off around a corner, hiding.
“How many stairwells are there in this place?” Julian whispered.
“Four, why?” Andre asked.
“And we just had to pick the one the guards did as well?” Julian glared at him.
“One in four odds, dude,” Andre smarted back.
“Shh!” Kiyoka hushed them.
The guards walked around the room, checking every corner as they swept the floor clear.
“We've got to move,” Maria whispered.
“But where? We’re trapped,” Kiyoka whispered back, her eyes filled with panic.
“Hold on,” Julian whispered. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the green and purple capsule holding his new beetle. He loaded it into his bracer and pressed [Summon]. He placed his hand over the edge of the bracer, trying to collect the particles as his beetle materialized.
It diminished the scattering effect, but the light caught the guards' attention.
“Over there!” The guard called, easing over to their corner.
He placed the beetle on his shoulder. “Camouflage,” Julian whispered. He grabbed onto Andre and Maria’s shoulder, with Maria grabbing onto Kiyoka’s.
Their form shifted, light refracting as they took on the tone that matched the light paint of the walls and earth-tone floors.
The guards rounded the corner, their flashlights falling on an empty corner.
Julian and the others held their breath, turning their gaze from the flashlights and gun muzzles.
A beat of silence followed.
“All clear,” the guard shouted, turning away from the corner and heading back to the stairwell.
As the 8th-floor door shut, Julian and the others exhaled and the beetle dropped camouflage.
“That was so close,” Andre said, falling back onto the floor.
“That was awesome! The little guy tricked them!” Maria cooed, reaching over to Julian and rubbing the carapace of the beetle. “He is a looker, too! So pretty!”
Kiyoka had a hand on her chest, trying to slow her heart rate. “If you hadn’t captured that bug…” She shivered.
“Well done, dude,” Julian said out loud.
Umm, thanks?
Julian stopped. Did this bug just speak?
Hello? Julian thought to himself.
Sup?
Julian’s eyes grew wide as he removed the bug from his shoulder, trying to get a closer look.
Maria chuckled, “Mental type, right? Told you they could speak.”
“This is wild,” Julian said, shaking his head.
Tell me about it. One moment I’m surrounded by beautiful, green lovelies, and the next I’m being attacked! Then, I take a nap, and now I’m here with you. Those were dangerous people, man. Gotta be more careful.
Julian rubbed his temple. “He’s a bit chatty.”
Maria smiled. “You’ll get used to it.” She stood from the floor as Kiyoka and the others gave them some space.
Okay, Julian thought, looks like we are in this together now. Seriously, though, thank you for that. We would all be in trouble if it weren’t for you, umm…
You’re telling me! That was intense!
What do I call you? Do you have a name?
The beetle scurried from his hand and down his arm before jumping across and landing back on his shoulders.
No name, boss. May I call you, boss?
Julian shook his head. We will figure it out as we go.
Okay, boss.
Julian stepped out from the corner, joining the others. “Where to now?”
Andre and Maria were looking over a wall-mounted map detailing a fire escape plan.
“The other stairwells are at each cardinal point of the tower. We can go across this floor and arrive at another one pretty quickly.”
“What all is on this floor?” Kiyoka asked.
“This was mostly office cubicles. Artino ran many things out of the towers,” Maria said.
“Come on, we’re wasting time. Those guards are ahead of us now,” Andre said, walking forward and across the floor.
Dorffi lumbered behind him.
The others followed silently, rushing as much as possible.
No other spiders appeared on the floor, and soon they arrived at the eastern stairwell.
“Hopefully, this one works out much better!” Andre cheered, opening the door.
On the other side was a thick collection of spider webs. Hissing sounds filled the stairwell.
Andre shut the door. He turned to face the party, his face pale. “Never mind.”
A large spider slammed into the door, trying to break it down.
“Forget this,” Kiyoka grumbled. She grabbed the orange capsule out of her pocket and loaded it into her bracer. She pressed [Summon].
The lynx materialized in a flair of orange particles, pouncing at the door.
“Open the door,” Kiyoka commanded. "Immolate."
A large flare of fire started forming in the cat’s mouth.
Andre shrieked, opening the door as the lynx poured a column of fire into the face of a large spider.
The spider shrieked in response, jumping away from the door.
“After it!” Kiyoka roared, sending the lynx into the stairwell, clearing out the webs, and burning everything in its path.
After a beat, smoke rolled onto the 8th floor. As everyone waved the smoke out of their face, their bracers vibrated.
[Den Leader defeated.]
[Den Raid: 2 of 4 complete.]
Andre had his hands on his knees, trying to compose himself as he gagged.
“Di-did we just kill it with fire?” Julian asked.
“Sure did,” Kiyoka responded, as a soot-covered lynx pounced back into the room and up into the arms of a waiting Kiyoka.
“Well done, Ember,” she whispered to the lynx.
The fire cat purred in response.
I want a name, boss.
Julian jumped, forgetting about his beetle.
He had been so quiet until now.
“Does anyone have a name for the bug? I'm stumped."
“Oh! He’s pretty! Like a fairy!” Maria said, bouncing on her feet. “How about Oberon?”
“I don’t think so,” Julian responded.
I like it, boss.
Julian’s bracer vibrated.
[Oberon Accepted]
Julian sighed. “Fine, can I at least call you Obi?”
The beetle thought for a moment.
I like it, too, boss.