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Update initiated!
!ERROR! REPAIR NEEDED. LV2 DEVICE REQUIRED.
Skill List:
Kanji (lv1): Aspect of Energy: Electricity, Thermal, Sound, Elastic.
{Skill points: !ERROR!}
[Full destructive power limit: Several Villages]
Skills: [1. Infuse/Absorb] [2. Energy travel] [3. Energy trail] [4. Energy bolt] [5. Energy wave] [6. Energy blade] [7. Energy shield] [8. Energy dual conduit] [9. Energy healing] [10. Umbral Cape]
[Vortex battery (Storage)]
Inventory: Geographic sphere, Mechanical soap, Spyware device, Tungsten-infused nanotech silver chain, Tech tablet (Portal) (Hide, Input, Output, Convert, Compress), Night-vision goggles, Blue headphones, Premium coffee machine.
Claire (lv1): Aspect of Creation
Skills: [1. Create (Slots: 10)] [2. Absorb (Only created and non-broken items)]
[Vortex battery: The Ninth Prince’s Order]
Inventory: Black cloak, Crossbow, Crossbow bolt (modified with rotatenium), Ammo pouch, Fanfics, Mechanical soap, A spyglass, Night-vision goggles, Medicine belt (sling bag and pockets for syringes), UV flashlight, A safari hat, An air fryer, A dumbbell, 9 Flesh syringes, 7 Healing Bandages.
David (lv1): Aspect of Form
{Skill points: !ERROR!}
[Range limit: Room]
[Vortex battery (Control)]
Skills: [1. Expand (x2)] [2. Spikefacation] [3. Delay (1-10s)] [4. Shieldfacation] [5. Trigger] [6. Transform pattern Wave] [7. Net Transform] [8. Whip transform] [9. Blend around] [10. Uno]
Inventory: Tungsten bat, AK-47, Mechanical soap, Night-vision goggles.
Amelia (lv1): Aspect of Reality
{Skill points: !ERROR!}
[Attack type: Strong illusion] [Attack range: x3 field of view]
Skills: [1. Third-person vision] [2. Blurring Mirage] [3. Double] [4. Connect] [5. Vision Swap] [6. Disguise] [7. Flash Mirage] [8. False movement] [9. False Touch] [Mentaltomisis]
[Vortex Battery (Charge)]
Inventory: Frying Pan, knife, mechanical soap.
Sarah (lv0): Aspect of Fiction
[Skill access: 1 skill for each item] [Conjured item 1]
Inventory: Mechanical soap, Nezha’s leopard bag (Nezha’s ring).
Noah (lv1): Aspect of Emotion
Skills: [Emotion infusion] (Emotional requirement: Medium)
[Vortex Battery (Fall Resistant)]
Inventory: Mechanical soap, sharpening stone, Anger stone, Tungsten ax.
Diana (lv0): Aspect of Law
{Laws unlocked: Law of Friction} {Limit: Only manipulate small values}
Inventory: Mechanical soap, A pickaxe, Night-vision goggles.
Adrian (lv0): Aspect of Knowledge.
{Connected Minds} {Info Extraction} [Limit: half of basic info}]
Inventory: Mechanical soap, Rope, Handbook (recorded events).
Azan (lv1): Aspect of Change.
[Vortex Battery: Greater Flight]
{Limitation: 1. Follow under the concept “change” only. 2. Changes under other aspects require hand-holding.}
Change slot: 2
Inventory: Metal suitcase, Mechanical soap, Miniature fan, Blue boxing gloves.
Mina (lv0): Aspect of Time
{Limitations: 4 skills (Currently)}
Skills (!ERROR!) (Auto Input Activated): |1. Aging| |2. Time Exchange|
Inventory: A machete, Mechanical soap, Yellow boxing gloves.
Gwen (lv0): Aspect of Destruction
{Limitation: Gas only}
Inventory: Mechanical soap, Izzybot, P.T.A, Codex Seraphinianus, Spherical terrarium (containing a black widow).
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?? "You can't be FUCKING SERIOUS! Right?! This blue-haired bastard! What is he up to?! SLEEPING AT A TIME LIKE THIS! IS HE MOCKING ME?! No... it has to be a trap. Yes, for a moment there... I almost fell for your deception! STUPID HUMAN! YOU CAN'T OUTSMART ME, THE GREAT GENERAL-
Startled by the abrupt commotion, he is unseated by dual thunderous echoes. As he regains his footing, he finds himself under the watch of two certain visages. The General grinds his teeth and squares his shoulders.
?? "You fuckers! Why did you enter through the vents?! This better be important! Otherwise! I'll have both of you punished!"
M115 "Um-Er-I... I-I'm sincerely sorry for the sudden intrusion my lord but some "things" have happened. Some are good and some are... let's just say inconvenient. Please forgive us!"
Karnat climbs back to his seat, facing the newcomers. His face is a puzzle of agitation and concern.
With a brief glance at his subordinates, then he turns, back to the targets. With a profound sigh, he gathers himself...
KARNAT '"Fine... just tell me the bad news. Tell me every last detail."
M124 "Yes, my lord. Remember the opposing cultists that ambushed our group... Well, they've gone even further than that. They... exposed us... to the governments and authorities all over the world. Her Majesty was NOT happy and she ordered the 13 other cultists to return to Earth in an effort to suppress the amount of info being leaked to the public. So far, it is slowly working."
KARNAT "Wait, that means that tall bastard can't hoard them all! HAHAHAHA! Serves him right! Okay, give me the good news!"
M124 "Yes, Her Majesty assumed that one of our targets is possibly the leader of these cultists. So Her Highness decided that my lord can choose one out of 13 majors to help with killing the wielders."
KARNAT "So... I can choose anyone I want. Right? Then, I choose this guy!"
With a flick of his wrist, Karnat activates his watch, casting an ethereal projection into the room— a profile. M124 furrows her brow, looking at the image. There, in the recesses of her memory, a revelation begins to stir...
M124 "Wait... this is M113. I remember him from that one time we raided Area 51 for stocks of plutonium. He was... a bit of an oddball. His power on the other hand was very interesting. However, my lord, why him? I thought you were going to pick majors that can counter those bastards."
KARNAT "Yeah about that... I have no clue in countering that shit! I mean you saw what they did yesterday! Those bastards can fly and shit now! I bet they have even more shit! Just thinking about countering them hurts my fucking head! So there will be a change of plan. We will come up with a dangerous combination of powers to give them one hell of a ride!"
M115 "Aw, brilliant my lord. You researched the power we Majors possess beforehand and came up with an ingenious plan of attack. I say your wisdom knows no bound!"
KARNAT "Er... yeah- Yeah something like that! I want you two to bring him to me. Oh... also bring that yellow guy. Those two will very important for this operation."
A crisp salute seals their departure. Alone, Karnat's mind becomes a swirling maelstrom of hope, a repeating montage of triumphant outcomes. So engrossed in his daydream, he's oblivious to the trail of drool at the corner of his mouth. Then, an unexpected ripple disturbs his reverie— an odd, electrifying sound? He turns, only to find an empty room where his targets once stood.
KARNAT "What?! WHERE DID THEY GO?!"
Frustration unleashed, his fists descend with brutal force. The controls shatter under the onslaught, their fragments raining down like technological confetti. Abruptly, his visual feed also dissolves into darkness.
KARNAT "MOTHER FUCKINSHITFUCK!!!..."
He ravages the command deck, leaving in his wake a convoluted jumble of circuits, cables, and metallic debris. The General descends the spiral staircase from the crippled control center, heading towards a minor deck once populated by his soldiers. However, days ago, they were reassigned to a different sector, part of the General's quest for privacy. Karnat settles in, prepared to...
Suddenly, the doors slide open.
M114 "Hello, me lord. I brought the guy you were- Oh sweet mother of god! What happened here?!"
KARNAT "Silence! You little brat! But, I am glad you're both here. Hmmm... this is surprising. Do you wear that suit everywhere you go, M113? Let me guess... it's a drawback of using your powers."
M113 "My lord. You know about... my powers. I... wear this... because I am used to it. Also because of... the things I used with powers."
KARNAT "That makes sense! Thanks for answering. Now, for this plan to work, I want you to cooperate with this guy. Can you do that?"
M113 "He seems... alright. I'll try... my best. What must I... do?"
KARNAT "Well, you just do what you usually do. The important part goes to him."
M114 "Wait, me! Ummm... Okay... what do I need to do?"
KARNAT "Just answer these questions. How much control do you have over those cockroaches? Can they attack people? And I'm still confused about how your regeneration works. Are there downsides to your power?"
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
M114 "The cockroaches... before, they worked on simple commands like come here, go there, or throw this at that. They used to not listen half of the time. That is until I got this wound on me eye, I can give them more specific orders now. Sadly, they still can't attack. Sorry, me lord. As for me regeneration, it works like a threshold using me overall strength as a value. I can be reborn from any of me cockroaches but the new body must determine a percentage of me strength like ten percent. Depending on how high it is, there will be downsides that are applied to me cockroaches. 50 percent or higher will cost them to move as fast as snails. 80 percent or higher they would just stop in place."
KARNAT "So that's why you were easily sliced yesterday. Very clever use of your skill. Is that all to your side effects?"
M114 "No, here is the worst part. Before 24 hours after splitting, I have to gather the cockroaches back into me body otherwise they will just die off. The cells that constructed them will disappear as well. For instance, if I can't get the cockroaches that were made of me heart cells, I would die."
M113 "Wait... doesn't that apply to... when you destroy those cockroaches."
M114 "No, actually killing them would be good for me since it doesn't affect me cells. When I gather the cockroaches back up, other least important cells replace those destroyed cells, especially if they are for vital organs."
M113 "Gonna say... your power is impressive."
KARNAT "I agree. A part of me is boiling with jealousy. But you are my underling, so it doesn't matter. HAHAHA! Now, listen carefully. Here is the plan....."
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Kanji's eyes flicker open, beholding the riotous aftermath. The turntable, festooned with remnants of a chocolate frosty and confetti, declares the night's revelry. Cake splashes, abstract art on the wall above the karaoke and turntables.
Rising, he navigates the space, the floor littered with colorful wrappings.
A fog of perplexity creeps into his mind.
Dave and Amelia, sprawled across the far bed, are oblivious to his gaze. His nose catches a tantalizing whiff. Ae search under Dave's bed reveals a treasure trove— countless pizza boxes nestled in away from sight.
Kanji "God dammit, Dave. Do I really need to clean this up for you?"
Grabbing the pizza boxes, Kanji casts them to the mercy of the wind. He thrusts his palms forward, launching twin infernos that reduce the boxes to a fine ash. Attempting to rouse Dave, he reaches out, but—
His hand phases through him.
Kanji "What?... Oh. I remember now! This was a cautionary plan I made. I'm guessing the real Dave and the others are inside the subspace. Since I'm awake now, these projections are no longer needed... Wait, how do I turn it off? Did Amelia do this?"
Retrieving a tablet-like device, Kanji weaves a shimmering portal into existence. Stepping into the passage, he finds a scene of unconscious bodies, save for one British girl.
Amelia "Kanji! You're awake! Gosh, I was so worried! I thought someone might attack you at any moment and there was no way to help you!"
Kanji "Wait, can't you just like exit this space at any time? Do you know how?"
Amelia "No, sadly. And since you're here. I presume that you want to remove the bloody illusions."
Kanji "Yes, and by the way. You can leave just by saying "Exit" really loud. Also, have you been keeping the illusions up all night long?"
Amelia "No, just about one hour earlier in real-time when everyone was knocked out by alcohol from a drinking contest. I won of course but man... I didn't know how tough of a lad Noah was. He was the real bloody MVP."
Kanji "Oh yeah. I remember now. Thanks for keeping us safe. What about you take some rest? It will be four more hours in here before you guys will be ejected."
Activating a nod, Amelia draws lies asleep near Dave. Exiting the subspace, Kanji's attention is caught by two intriguing objects near the entrance. The first is a luxurious, top-tier coffee maker, boasting an astounding repertoire of 800 coffee variations, whipped up in less than a second. Each brew self-replenishes via Amazon's teleportation technology. The other item is a humble yet reliable air fryer.
Kanji "I think Claire wanted me to put this in her room. Might as well do it since I got some time to spare."
Swiftly assimilating both devices into his inventory, Kanji's gaze falls upon the power outlet that fuels Dave's PC. With a decisive action, he unplugs the cord and makes contact with the electrical grid. His corporeal form transmutes into a pulsating surge of energy, nimbly traversing the intricate cable network within the RV. Arriving at Claire's quarters, he places the air fryer down.
On the way to his own room, he positions the coffee machine near her kitchen desk.
Kanji "Ummm, maybe a bit of coffee wouldn't hurt. Espresso will do."
The coffee machine produces a sumptuous bounty of 11 cups of coffee, each finding its place within Kanji's inventory. Returning to Dave's floor, he arranges the cups in front of each seat around the circular table.
Savoring a sip himself, he patiently awaits... an hour slowly elapses.
In a sudden flurry, a portal emerges, expelling his comrades. Stirring from their slumber, they settle into their seats.
Dave "Wazzup! Last night was a sick-ass party, dudes! Wait... is that espresso? Nice. I love that shit!"
Taking his place, Dave nonchalantly props up both feet on the table, indulging in the beverage before him. Diana strides over, launching a punch with intent. Dave sways his head to the left, narrowly evading the blow. His gaze now fixated on her face, curiosity etched across his face.
Dave "MUAHAHAHA! Holy shit, dudes! Look! It's a clown!"
Diana "Shut the fuck up! You drew this! Didn't you?! I'll break your neck! You son of a-
Kanji "I suggest everyone take a seat. It's early to be fighting among ourselves. Diana... use the soap and clean yourself."
A surge of anger courses through Diana, her hands trembling with fury, though it quickly subsides. Crossing her arms, she leans against the wall, her mechanical soap, rattling in sync with her simmering emotions.
Her hands shake in anger but the sensation was short-winded. Diana crosses her arm and leans against the wall. She shakes her mechanical soap.
Gwen "Was it just me or did you show a sign of unequal treatment? I say I thought you would be more supportive of Diana."
Kanji "That's not it. Dave has done his shenanigans to all of us. But unlike us, Diana can't tolerate him even after these years. I'm hoping that she would learn to endure it if I keep her from attacking Dave."
From within the ethereal confines of the floating bubble, muffled murmurs escape.
The group remains oblivious, basking in the calm joy of the moment, punctuated by the harmonious symphony of sips and savoring.
Kanji observes Claire and Gwen subtly swapping places, inching closer to his side, yet he offers no objection. Sarah shows Noah videos on her phone. Mina and Azan momentarily abandon their seats, approaching Diana with a gift of chocolates. Though Diana initially declines, she acknowledges their kind gesture.
Engrossed in conversation, Dave and Amelia delve into the realm of new shades designs, exchanging ideas. Intrigued, Amelia employs her power, conjuring a preview of Dave's envisioned creations onto the table's surface.
Dave "Ah sick! That one right there! The zebra and tiger stripes are the fucking shit, man! They gonna sell for millions! No, billions!"
Amelia "Are you going to make this? Or are you just bloody playing with me, Dave?"
Dave "Nah, bro. I'm just gonna take a picture and show this on Twitter. Some production bro will yoink this shit up and make it faster than MNM's next album. Then I'll copyright them and yoink 99 percent of their fucking share."
Dave captures a photograph with his phone, his fingers dancing across the screen.
His motion halts, and a sour expression clouds his face.
Dave takes a picture with his phone and begins typing away. His fingers pause and Amelia sees his face grows sour.
Amelia "Ummm... is there something wrong, love? Did it work? Wait, does my illusion not work through the net?"
Dave "No, that's not it. Amber. My ass just got instantly kicked to Planet Ban Wagon by the mentally ill cancellation rocket! Dem fuckers still be jealous because of my rich drip! Also, where's Azbro?"
Amelia "I didn't understand any of that but yeah... where is Adrian?"
Suddenly, the door to the floor violently swings open, revealing Adrian, drenched in perspiration.
His eyes bear a clouded haze, and his trembling form exudes an aura of sheer terror, as though he has narrowly eluded the clutches of death itself.
Adrian "Guys! Run! They are here! Watch out for the clouds!"
Kanji "Woah, calm down. Tell us... what happened? Are we being attacked by more cultists?"
Noticing a weird motion on the side of Adrian's neck, Kanji's body ignites with an aura of electrical energy.
His chain writhes around him, reminiscent of a sinuous serpent, before striking out, grazing Adrian's neck with precision.
Noah "Woah... that was awesome! Is that your new technique?!"
Kanji "Yeah, I got the idea from that time I was controlling my cape. I thought the same principle would apply if I coat my entire body and my chain with energy since energy itself like to stick to each other. Now then..."
Drawing nearer to the singed creature, Kanji discerns a flicker of familiarity within the charred exterior— a glimmer of a yellow carapace, all too recognizable.
Kanji "Shit! That cockroach bastard is back! It seems he has an ally. Adrian tells us more."
Adrian "Okay. Whatever you do, don't go closer to any kind of floating clouds."
Dave "Floating clouds. Yo, bro. That's looooow-key terrifying."
Adrian "I'm serious!-
Adrian and his companions fix their gazes upon the window, their attention captivated by an unsettling sight. A cluster of cockroaches coalesces into a ball formation, only to disperse, unveiling a compact, dark grey cloud decorated with a shimmering layer of deep blue glow.
The ethereal mass manages to slip through the crevices of the windows.
Azan "Adrian! What does your power tell us about it?! How do we stop it?!"
Adrian "It just says that someone is controlling it and it rains objects! I have no idea how to stop it!"
Kanji "That's good! Now we know that someone nearby is manipulating them. Everyone let's leave the RV-
The cloud hovers above Kanji's head, evoking a fast response from his chain as it slashes through the mist, cleaving it in two.
However, the divided portions seamlessly reunite, descending to release bottles containing a noxious purple gas.
Kanji "Shit. This smell! It's hydrogen cyanide! Thank god, we're immune to it!"
Reacting swiftly, Kanji pulls a tile from the floor and strikes the entire cloud— it disperses into thin air. the group begins their descent down the stairs.
Meanwhile, concealed behind a colossal oak tree...
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M114 "Wow! That confirms that they are immune to gas and poison. Should we test if they are immune to toxins?
M113 "Yes... we should. Here are some clouds... they contain needles... laced with... puffer fish toxin."
M114 "You know you and I make a perfect team! The fact that we can be so far yet deal with a lot of trouble is astonishing!"
M113 "Just focus on the mission... we'll talk later."
M114 "Okay. Sure."
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Gwen "So what's the plan, Kanji? Should we split up and search for this cowardly rodent?"
Kanji "Yes, but I need to make sure that each one of us has a way to counter this new guy's ability. Looks like the clouds act similar to normal clouds. As you saw, blowing the entire thing made it dispersed. So weapons or skills with a wide surface of attack can work for them. Or something that can blow away the clouds can also work. Does everyone have their own way?"
Feeling worried, Kanji walks up to each of them, gently tapping their feet with his own.
Kanji "Just in case. Trust me. Now let's go! Find this guy as soon as possible!"
The wielders disperse, heading off in their respective directions. Those blessed with wings take flight, traversing great distances. Amidst the flurry of movement, M114, beset by nervousness, casts a glance toward his teammate.
M113 "Don't worry... they won't find us. Now let's test our theory."
As Claire gracefully soars through the open plain, she catches sight of a cloud rapidly closing in on her. It streaks past a herd of sheep, positioning itself directly above her. Deciding to halt her flight, she transforms one of her badges into a colossal mechanical fan. Directing it towards the cloud, a powerful stream of air obliterates its structure. Overjoyed, she raises her right hand in celebration before resuming her search.
Meanwhile, Adrian cautiously crosses the fence, hoping to find the assailant beyond the sheep pen. To his surprise, he is confronted by twin clouds. Momentary hesitation grips him, driven by his pacifistic nature. However, a realization dawns upon him– these are mere objects, not living beings. With a flicker of newfound courage, he summons the strength to swing his broad hands, successfully eliminating one of the clouds.
The remaining cloud manages to position itself above him, unleashing a torrent of mustard-colored spikes.
Adrian "Huh... are these puffer fish spikes? Nice try, but I'm immune! I know you're out there! God, I just hope there won't be any more. Dealing with two clouds is already dangerous enough. Wait a minute, two clouds... Hold on! I got an idea! Amelia!..."
The two cultists remain undeterred by the intimidation, their expressions morphing into smirks of satisfaction. A valuable piece of information has been acquired. M113 retrieves a tightly sealed large fuel tank and a sizable water jug.
M114 "Ummm, what's happening? What are you doing?"
M113 "We can safely confirm that... all their immunities are known. Time to take... things more seriously. Prepare your... cockroaches."
M114 watches in awe as M113 swipes his hand through the air, conjuring newborn clouds within the cup of his hand.
The mesmerizing display continues as he produces several more clouds, eventually merging them into a colossal unified mass. Holding the sealed tank with quivering hands, M113 exhales and gradually opens the lid— immediately pouring half of its contents into the awaiting cloud before securely sealing it shut.
His hands are shaking even more.
M114 "Jesus, you look nervous! What the hell is in that tank?!"
M113 "You don't... want to know. Just get your cockroaches... ready. Here comes... wave number two."
M114 executes a powerful karate chop, cleaving the massive cloud into ten distinct pieces. M113's legion of loyal cockroaches mobilizes, picking up the divided cloud fragments, and begins their march across the grassy field.
Three of the clouds approach Sarah, only to be met with an unexpected sight – there are three identical Sarahs.
M114 "What the fuck?! Shit! They can do that!"
M113 "Do... what?"
M114 "They can make illusions! I don't know which one I should shoot the clouds at."
M113 "Just shoot... them all! Don't worry about it. Because these clouds are a bit more special... than the last batch."
M114 nods, issuing commands to the cockroach troops. Responding swiftly, they unleash their clouds toward the trio of Sarahs.
Each Sarah draws forth their respective rings and swings them wildly through the air, conjuring gusts of wind in their wake. However, the nimble clouds skillfully evade the wind waves, maneuvering themselves above the Sarahs.
Descending upon them, the clouds release a colorless, yet potent liquid. The liquid effortlessly passes through the illusions, melting the grass beneath them.
M114 "What?!... They were all illusions!... Impossible!"
M114 spurs on his diligent cockroaches, urging them to quicken their pace as they traverse the field, efficiently passing the remaining clouds from one group to another. In his quest, he discovers seven unaccompanied wielders, devoid of any signs of illusion.
M114 "Whew! For a minute there, I thought that they could make more illusions. I was worried for nothing. Now, throw!"
Each group of cockroaches hurls the clouds toward their designated targets. However, to the surprise of M114 and the cockroaches, the wielders don't attempt to retaliate against the clouds. Instead, they accelerate their movements, racing to evade the impending downpour. Yet, their efforts prove pointless, as the clouds position themselves directly above each wielder. Once again, they release a cascading rainfall— these targets too turn out to be mere illusions!
M114 "NO! WHAT THE HELL?! SHIT! WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY?!"
M114 brings his hands together, focusing his thoughts.
With his consciousness traversing through the trillions of perspectives from his legion of cockroaches, he searches for a specific point of view. Eventually, he locates it— a perspective that is fixated on himself.
M114 glances to his right.
Adrian "Aha! You just got outsmarted by this bookworm. Guys!! They are over here!!!"
In the distance, Amelia disables the illusion of a small hill. Acting on her feet, she and the rest of the group sprint toward M114's location.
M113 turns to face Adrian... He removes the headpiece of his hazmat suit, revealing a horrifying sight that sends a shiver down Adrian's spine— an exposed skull with a large portion of flesh still intact, along with a functioning eye. M113's neck is adorned with a collar constructed from the clouds, devoid of the usual highlights and bearing a darker tone.
M113 "Haha... HAHAHAHAHA...AHHAHAHHAHAHA! How bold.... of you?! YOU JUST CAME HERE... TO DIE!!!"
Adrian "Ummm... why do you talk like that?... Never mind, bring it on. I'm not afraid." "I'm totally afraid! Guys! Hurry! Get here, please!"
Kanji "Hang in there! We are on our way! Dammit, dirt isn't a very good conductor and he traveled too far! I can't transform there! Guys, we need a new plan!"
(To be continued)