"All knowledge known. To fill an endless tome. A journey far from home. It's best to do it alone."
________________________________________________________________________________________
Skill List:
Kanji (lv0): Aspect of Energy: Electricity, Thermal.
{Skill points: 3}
[Full destructive power limit: Village]
Skills: [1. Infuse/Absorb] [2. Energy travel] [3. Energy trail] [4. Energy bolt] [5. Energy wave]
Inventory: Geographic sphere, mechanical soap, spyware device, tungsten-infused nanotech silver chain, tech tablet (Portal) (Hide, Input, Output, Convert, Compress).
Claire (lv0): Aspect of Creation
Skills: [1. Create (Slots: 5)]
Inventory: Black cloak, crossbow, crossbow bolt (modified with rotatenium), ammo pouch, Fanfics, mechanical soap.
David (lv0): Aspect of Form
{Skill points: 1}
[Range limit: Self]
Skills: [1. Expand (x2)] [2. Spikefacation] [3. Delay (1-10s)] [4. Shieldfacation] [5. Trigger] [6. Transform pattern Wave] [7. Net Transform]
Inventory: Iron bat, AK-47, mechanical soap.
Amelia (lv0): Aspect of Reality
{Skill points: 1}
[Attack type: 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]
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 (lv0): Aspect of Emotion
Skills: [Emotion infusion] (Emotional requirement: High)
Inventory: Gilded ax, mechanical soap.
Diana (lv0): Aspect of Law
{Laws unlocked: Law of Friction} {Limit: Only manipulate small values}
Inventory: None
________________________________________________________________________________________
Conflict's curtain falls... the general, unfazed, stands poised knowing progress will be made.
A sudden hiss, metal scrapes — he turns, eyes alert.
KARNAT "AH! HELLO, my guests."
"Sorry, we were a bit late. Here are eight powerful warriors."
KARNAT "I HEARD THEY ARE SPECIAL. KINDA LIKE A CRUDE REPLICA OF MY SUB-GENERALS. But fear not, I'm not mad, I'M GLAD THAT THEY STEPPED UP TO TAKE THE HITS INSTEAD."
Striding towards the warriors, the general surveyed their stalwart frames. Stability, a stark contrast to The Feeble Minor Cultist. Karnat grins, voicing a final query to the guide.
KARNAT "THESE WARRIORS aren't "Warriors"... are they? STABLE BODIES, MORE VICIOUS INSECT PARTS. AND THIS VILE SCENT. THEY ARE FORMICIDAE MAJORS! AREN'T THEY?!"
The guide crumbles, retreating under Karnat's slow, looming approach.
"Please!! Sir forgive my mistake! I didn't mean t-
Karnat swipes, unmasking the guide's left mantis arm - a fake.
KARNAT "NO WONDER YOU FELT DIFFERENT! YOU SNEAKING LITTLE RAT! ALRIGHT..."
He pivots, his finger singling out the warriors.
KARNAT "... ANYONE OF YOU MAJORS CAN GIVE THIS GUY THE MOST PAINFUL DEATH POSSIBLE. STEP THE FUCK UP!"
?? "I will do it."
A cloaked Major slithers forward, voice and movement mirroring a serpent's rhythm.
His abdomen erupts.
"NO!! PLEASE! NOT THA-
A stinger pierces the guide's chest mid-plea. Dizzying visions of the Major's monstrous scorpion tail blur as his body convulses, racing heart imploding, staining the floor with life's aftermath.
Karnat, spotting a familiar badge under the coat, recoils, anger clouding his thoughts. Yet he tames his fury, resuming his seat. The Eight majors stand, awaiting his command.
KARNAT "OK FOR "SOME REASON" OUR SEARCH DEVICES ARE DOWN. SO ANYONE OF YOU HAVE AN IDEA."
All eyes shift to the rear, where a feminine figure emerges. She steps forward, greeting the general.
M116 "Major number 116 or M116 is at your service, my lord. My ability will be most useful that is if my lord insists on a small amount of physical contact."
Karnat hesitates, then acknowledges his lack of choice.
KARNAT "OK! FINE!"
Her hands hover near his absent left arm. Bizarre, mouth-shaped red projections appear, whispering secrets into her ears. Rising, she approaches Earth's map, her finger grazing over the southernmost region of Greece — Crete.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Books, books.... books everywhere. What is this place? A Library?
Nevertheless, this vast structure seems to be a labyrinth teeming with passages and rooms.
At its zenith, a chaotic pile of books stirs. A form slowly rises, books scattering like autumn leaves.
?? "Good morning."
Surveying its surroundings, all appears normal until it spots a shattered robot companion. Teardrops trickle down, but another sensation halts the sorrow.
Footsteps echo, and scratches resonate from the lower floors.
?? "Who's there?!!!"
As the sounds dwindle, it dismisses them as figments of imagination. Shaking off the eerie feeling, it ambles towards the front door, aware of imminent guests.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Dave "Yo dudes! Why are we out here again?!"
Claire "Kaney said he got to work on some stuff inside the portal or something. Oh, I hope it's a surprise!"
Sarah "It's probably something to help us you know."
Diana "True, just like a true leader."
Noah "True, maybe..." "Please let this be not some crazy do-or-die type plan or thing. I know he is a smart guy but still shit is scary!"
Amelia "As I recalled, he requested me in aiding him with gathering everyone's bags. Perhaps he needed them for something."
Dave "Wait really! Fuck! I was looking at that shit all morning, man!"
Positioning himself before the sealed portal, the air crackles and dances, blue sparks of chaos shimmering outward.
Dave "Just fucking hope he gives us something cool, dudes."
________________________________________________________________________________________
Kanji "..."
Kanji eyes the metallic marvel he's crafted. A lever flip triggers engines and gears into a choreographed ballet, assembling crossbow bolts that journey through an inner orange sub-portal.
Post-production, Kanji uncouples a hefty syringe from his tablet's back. Inside the barrel, twelve microchips sit in orderly alignment.
In a fluid movement, he selects one, bathing it in the sub-portal's orange sparks. He promptly tags the chip with a marker, etching a single word - "Claire".
Kanji "... that's the last one! Now let's move to the next subject."
Kanji scans his dimensional space, now a mere half of its original expanse.
Snapping back, his gaze locks onto the materials before him — his chain and the residual pebbles of rotatenium.
AN "Whoa! Umm hi, Kanji. I somehow can talk to you in your portal now. I guess maybe the device is now powerful enough to introduce interdimensional communication."
Kanji "Wow! Please don't shout as your first choice of action then suddenly spew an entire tower of information. Okay."
AN "Sorry. Anyway, what are you up to?"
Kanji "Well before I show you, there are a few things I like to talk about."
AN gulps, beads of sweat tracing a nervous journey down their antenna.
AN "Are you mad?"
Kanji "No, I just want simple and clear answers... What did you do yesterday?"
AN "Well after Diana awakened her powers, our connection was severed. Apparently, the device underwent a kind of rebooting and upgrading process. The once void floor in the room I'm residing in was replaced with white mechanical flooring, its pattern is similar to those of abandoned spaceships. But you want to know the actual meat of what I did... the device gave me an option."
Kanji "Oh, go on..."
AN "It said |Will you exchange skill enhancement for sleep healing|. I'm guessing instead of buffing one skill per day, I can now instead heal everyone a substantial amount."
Kanji "... and puts us to sleep. A large price to pay for quite a useful asset... Man, you know I always thought of you as an all-knowing alien with more knowledge about the aspect users and that device than us humans. But I guess you were just as lost as we are."
AN: "Hey! I could say the same thing to you! I thought you are a man of science but instead, you gave into these impossible facts and reality, almost enjoying it even!"
Kanji "Oh, AN. My dear ignorant, AN. Have you heard of the concept of undiscovered science?"
AN "That concept doesn't ring a bell. Is it a human-only one?"
Kanji "Well sorta, you see gravity existed WAY before the word "gravity" was created and given to it. It is stated that certain possibilities or ideas or concepts that can explain or link to what we already know or are familiar with, can be considered as parts of science. And the same can be said of the aspects and the ancient relic you have."
AN "Oh, but how so?"
Kanji "We can link it back to the Big Bang aka the birth of the universe. Scientists today still don't know how or what created it exactly. And right now, seeing with my own two eyes, I can conclude that this relic might have to power to cause such an event whether through the relic's creation or possibly when the relic was transported into our reality. In turn, created the different laws and "Aspects" that exist in logic like "Time" for example."
AN "Ah, I see. You didn't have to shoot me back, Kanji."
Kanji "Oh, I'm sorry. Let's just get back to the subject at hand."
Kanji directs toward twelve colored portals. Curiosity flickers in AN's eyes.
AN "What do they do?"
Kanji "They are like storage or inventories which are accessed through these microchips here."
AN "Wait, actual portable inventories!! How?! For decades, my species has never come close to such technologies! Are you sure you're human?!"
Kanji "Maybe it isn't a difference in intellect, but a difference in purpose. I created this technology through mindless wondering and you have your current technology perhaps for the sake of survival or conquest. At least, that is what I concluded hearing from your history."
AN "Yeah, that... actually makes sense. Well, should we just meet back with the others?... Or is there something else to accomplish?"
Kanji "I can't go yet... I know that this might be risky but it is for the better."
Kanji positions the chains on the floor, placing the residual null rotatenium atop. A sudden stillness seizes hundreds of nanomachines as null rotatenium contacts the chain. He lifts the rotatenium, relaying the words...
Kanji "... |Access protocol 589086| Disperse and avoid all contact with all foreign dark objects #00000 until next command."
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
As Kanji places the null rotatenium, thousands of nanomachines retreat in a choreographed exodus.
Kanji "Whew! Now let's begin! |Access protocol 589086| Begin molecular disassembling of foreign white objects #FFFFF. |Attach protocol 589086| repeat the same command with foreign dark objects #00000 afterward using white objects #FFFFF as the coating."
AN "Wow that's amazing! And it can understand all of that! Really?!"
Kanji "These machines are coded to understand the entirety of the English language as long as you know certain protocol commands and color codes. The sad thing is that these are the only available nanobots at hand while the others...well let's just say without them this entire space won't be functioning."
AN "Wait... no fucking way! Oops! Sorry, was that a bit too informal? And also isn't it a bit dangerous without your weapon?!"
Kanji "No problem, I haven't practiced fighting with my bare hands for quite a while now so this might be good practice for when I somehow lose my weapon in the future. But don't worry about that... you know now that I think about it you sound more like a maid... seeing how you address people since we first."
AN "Yeah... I... don't want to talk about that. Let's just go back."
Despite unease at AN's words, Kanji nods and steps through the portal, leaving further queries unvoiced. The portal stands unguarded. He scans, double checks — nothing. Then, the distant echo of laughter arrests his attention.
Kanji "What the?"
Stealthily navigating the nearby undergrowth, he discovers his friends gathered around a bonfire's warm glow.
Dave "...So basically he yelled at me "You fat-headed ra-
Turning slowly, they flash guilty grins, reminiscent of children caught in mischief.
Kanji "Guys. I thought I told you to guard the portal. What happened?!"
Diana "Sorry boss! It was all Dav-
Dave "Nah! What she means is this calls for a minor flashback."
(A couple of moments earlier)
Dave "Yo dudes, I'm bored!! Let's go do shit like jump into that lake over there."
Diana "No. Boss told us to stay here and guard. And stay we will! Don't try anything funny, Icarus!"
Dave retreats, surrendering himself to the embrace of the damp grass.
Dave "Fucking party pooper!"
Surveying the scene, all but Diana mirror his mood. An idea sparks!
Dave "Hey bros! What about we all share how we met each other like a fresher type shit man."
Sarah "What... you seriously forget?... actually I can't blame you. That was a long time ago."
Noah "Same" "I too agree."
Claire "That's a great idea, Dave. It will help kindle our friendship."
Amelia "And relive great memories. All thanks to Kanji."
Dave "Fuck yeah bros! You heard them! And besides are doubting that "Boss" can't defend himself. Zakovov."
Gazing at the group, Diana's resolve crumbles, and she vents her frustration with a kick to the ground.
Diana "Fine! But only because it will help with team bonding. I will also mostly watch the portal."
Dave "Ok fine by me! Any of you bros know how to start a campfire."
Noah "I do." "Fuck yes! It's my time to shine!"
Venturing through the bushes, the group stumbles upon a pristine clearing devoid of grass.
Noah's excitement trembles within him, his body radiating a yellow glow that enhances his movements. With fervor, he wields his ax, swiftly felling a nearby tree. Wasting no time, he starts chopping the trunks into logs.
The outcome is awe-inspiring— A majestic 5-foot-tall bonfire towers over them, illuminating the entire clearing with its fiery aura.
Dave "Task failed successfully omega lul."
|His chat type Omegaluls|
Claire "Ok me first! I met Kanji on Final Fiction 14 during an alliance raid. He asked everyone to be on a voice call for better gameplay, and when I first heard his voice I fell in- I mean I knew we were destined to be great friends!"
Amelia "That's wonderful, Claire! I guess I'm next. Our first meeting was quite strange actually, he was wearing a mask and looking for someone to teach him cooking online when you know... THAT VIRUS happened."
Dave "HISS!!! No, don't mention that cursed event!"
|His chat spams monkaMask and monkaOMEGA|
Amelia "Sorry... I forgot it was quite a troublesome time. Moving on, he didn't learn much and instead liked my personality. So he asked me to join the friend group. I am fully glad I accepted it because if I didn't accept his offer..."
Amelia reaches out, her hand finding comfort in Dave's hand.
Amelia "I wouldn't be here with you and everyone here."
Dave tries to conceal any traces of embarrassment, struggling to maintain his composure.
Noah "That's neat. But not edgy and cool like how me and Sarah met Kanji." "You could say that."
Sarah "True. It was quite a coincidence that all three of us joined an emo-only discord. Oh, how I remembered where rock and heavy metal music played 24/7. It was fucking sick! And I think Kanji was there cause he was bored or whatever. Eventually, he took an interest in us and asked us to join the group. We of course joined because...we didn't have any friends."
|Dave's chat types Sadge true|
Noah nods, acknowledging the agreement. His gaze then falls upon Diana as she approaches from her lookout.
Diana "Okay, let's get this over with! I met the boss on the same basis as Amelia as he was looking for ways to build his form. Seeing him now, I am super proud!... anyhow I'm going back to the lookout."
Dave steps forward, barring Diana's path with a bat firmly in hand.
Diana "Icarus get the fuck out of the way!"
Dave "You said you wanted team bonding. That's barely any at all Miss Musclehead! Where's the spirit?! Where's the passion?! At least listened to my story and stay like all the good bros here."
Diana "Hmph! Fine!"
She settles between Sarah and Noah, but the force of her descent rattles the log beneath, causing it to shake violently. The edgy pair feels a surge of anxiety and is somewhat threatened.
Dave "Ok, me and my dude Kanbro met up in a heated fight in some fps game. I don't remember its name but I remember it being kinda shit. But that was not the good part, it was when we lost and started flaming each other. It was funny and lit as fuck! I still remember the first words he said to me. So basically he yelled at me "You fat-headed ra-
(Resume present conversation)
Kanji "Ah never mind! I'll let this slide! Let's just go meet Adrian Ariti. At least that is what I recalled his last name was."
Diana "Correct boss! Just hope he isn't a wimp in real life like he was online."
Claire "Hey! Leaving the poor guy alone! He probably just has some problems in his life."
Kanji "Guys, let's just go."
Following Kanji's lead, the group traverses the vast stretch of Crete, eventually arriving at its eastern shores. From atop a cliff, they gaze upon a desolate scene, devoid of life or modern structures. There are beaches strewn with garbage and ocean debris.
Yet, amidst the desolation, their attention is captivated by a solitary lighthouse perched precariously on a minuscule limestone outcrop. It stands defiantly, just a hair's breadth away from deep waters. Its exterior boasts polished concrete, adorned with lush and unfamiliar flora. A collective realization dawns upon Kanji and his friends— This is the place!
Dave "Ayo! What the heck?! That guy lives on a goddamn fancy lighthouse in the goddamn ocean! The hell is he always whining about!"
|His chat types Madge|
Kanji "Well, we just have to find out now do we."
Descending the cliff, the group reaches the shoreline.
Kanji activates his tablet, summoning a buoyant raft that swiftly inflates, finding its place on the ocean's surface. Boarding the raft, they propel themselves forward, using their bare hands as paddles.
After a brief sailing journey, they disembark from the raft, confronting the front door of the lighthouse with unwavering determination.
Kanji's knocks reverberate against the door.
The group is soon met by heavy footsteps closing in from within. The door flings open, revealing a colossal figure with a physique reminiscent of the Frankenstein monsters of the 1800s. The gentleman before them sports a plain white button-down shirt, brown trousers, glasses, and a red bow tie adorning his neck. Clean brown hair crowns his head, and an enigmatic medieval pouch hangs from his left side. What's in it? No one will ever know.
Kanji "Umm... We are looking for Adrian Ariti... Sir."
?? "Oh greetings, my friends. My name is Adrian Ariti."
A stunned silence envelops the group, rendering them speechless. Then—
Dave "Wow! Just fucking wow, man! First of all, why are you talking like that bro?"
Adrian "Isn't that how people greet each other physically."
All "No."
Adrian "Ah. I see that I have been pranked. That old mechanical goose, even in passing he managed to get one off on me... anyway I didn't know that there were eight of you guys already here."
Sarah "E-Eight?"
Before they can react, their vision is engulfed by a vast expanse of wings, blotting out the sky above.
In an instant, everyone vanishes, leaving only Adrian to face a mysterious lady draped in a crimson robe. The air grows tense...
Adrian "Where are my friends?!"
She retreats cautiously, her fear heightened by the absence of an impending tackle. Her gaze falls upon the towering figure, who now sits silently. She awaits his next move.
Adrian "Damn damn damn! I'm a pacifist! I can't fight! How can I help my friends... That's it!" "AN!!!"
M116: "Who?"
AN: "Wait. How did you- oh, you are a passive dreamer like Claire, right?"
Adrian "Yeah but my dreams were about yesterday's conflict which is quite unfortunate. If I would have been with guys, everyone wouldn't be so much in a pickle at that time. But to far greater peril, where are the others? Are they safe?"
AN "They are all separated into different sealed rooms within your home in a one-on-one match. And for some reason, I can't talk to them."
Adrian "Damn if only I could communicate with them, they could escape those rooms. I guess we have only one thing left to do."
AN "Yep! On it!"
AN swiftly spins the relic, the symbol aligning with an open book emitting a murky brown aura.
Seizing the moment, AN slams the relic with all their might.
A surge of potent energy courses through Adrian, transforming his waist into a mass of blank papers and scripts. The panel adjacent to Diana's illuminates, revealing a view of Adrian's altered form.
Adrian "This is very.... very uncomfortable."
AN "Really? That's a first. But never mind that, do you want to know what your powers do?"
Adrian "Of course but first..."
Adrian turns, fixing the female cultist with an intimidating glare. The sheer force of his gaze causes her to freeze in place, paralyzed by his reformed presence.
Adrian "You stay there!!!"
M116 "Dammit. Why did they leave me with this monster? Why is he telling me to stay here if he could just finish me?...wait. I see. He is being cautious and thinks I have his friends as hostages. Great! I'll just stall and hope the others are done. Then they'll make mincemeat out of this oaf."
The cultist remains utterly motionless. A sense of satisfaction washes over him, pleased with her choice to stand still.
Adrian "Ok, you can tell me now."
AN "You are (The aspect of Knowledge). You have been chosen this aspect due to a life of taking knowledge through a literature medium and your desire to write your own story."
Adrian "Actually about the writing part, I haven't written anything yet. I hoped for this day for a long time, so I can write a true story experience through my very eyes. Also, it will be in a poem style because I admire the love bards who spread stories during the medieval ages."
AN "Although that was great to hear, everyone else is in deep trouble!"
Adrian "Oh...sorry. Carry on."
AN "Your aspect allows you to access two abilities (Info Extraction) (Connected Minds). (Connected Minds) allows you to quickly share any information to the allies instantly through your mind, but you can't get information back from them unless they are speaking said info. As for (Info Extraction), You can get information from anything and everything within your peripheral vision. I'm sending you how your scaling works through your skill window right now."
lv0: Only able to extract half of the basic information.
lv1: Full basic information extraction.
lv2: Reveal all secrets and basic information.
lv3: Reveal secrets, weaknesses, and more information.
lv4: Complete and utter knowledge of everything in the universe unless its powers transcend to a godlike status.
Adrian "Wow. All of these are pretty underwhelming when compared to the others except the last one of course. However, this kind of power...."
Adrian tilts his glasses ever so slightly.
Adrian "... absolutely suits a pacifist like me. Activate Connected Minds!!"
It clicks.
He hears a female voice, it's Amelia!
Adrian "Amelia are you okay?!"
Amelia "Wait, Adrian?... I'm... er.... a bit... busy... right now!"
Amelia swiftly evades with nimble agility, employing her doubles and creating blurring mirages to aid her escape. Ten homing daggers home in on her, but she deftly evades their deadly trajectory, dancing through the air with grace.
?? "Ahahaha! Keep running little princess! Soon your corpse will fall under the name M117."
Amelia "A pretty stupid name for a fackin dumb midget."
M117 "What did you say you bitch?!!!"
The daggers divide into two groups, hurtling toward Amelia from opposite sides. She finds herself with limited options but with quick thinking, she executes a graceful backflip.
Amelia "Argh!!"
A pair of menacing blades sliced through her left foot, and she crashes to the ground, wounding her backside. Stranded and defenseless, she finds herself immobilized.
With a devilish grin, the sinister cultist advances at a leisurely pace, each step exuding malic. Floating above her head, the blades gather one after another.
Adrian "Amelia! I can help! Please tell me where you are!"
Amelia "I don't know!... thi-this room has a lot of empty shelves. I'm backed against the left blank wall."
Adrian "Amelia! Quickly! Press the wall as much as possible!"
Summoning every ounce of her stamina, Amelia exerts herself against the unyielding wall. To her astonishment, it budges, inching backward, setting off an unexpected ticking sound.
M117 "What are yo- What is that sound?!"
The ceiling shakes and unfurls, unleashing a deluge of sturdy books that crush, suffocate, and trap the cultist beneath their weight.
Amelia "Whew! that's over. Dammit, I'm bleeding like bloody crazy."
Fixing her focus on a protruding red cloth amidst the book pile, she crawls painstakingly towards it. She extends her right hand—
A large stinger emerges, piercing into her hand.
However, to her relief, nothing happens— the poison fails to take effect. Grateful for her immunity, she tears off a substantial piece of the cloth without concern. Summoning the last vestiges of her energy, she removes the stinger and delicately wraps the cloth around her injured foot.
Exhausted in body and mind, Amelia succumbs to sleep.
Adrian " Amelia. Amelia! Damn, she's asleep, isn't she? I can't reach anyone else out from here."
Adrian struggles to open the front door, but it remains stubbornly locked. Frustrated, he turns his attention to the trembling-robed lady, gradually closing the distance between them. With each step, her breathing quickens, overwhelmed by fear. Defeated by her emotions, she passes out.
Adrian "Oh my god. How can I get in now?!"
Gazing at her, Adrian observes her features, which hold a certain childlike innocence.
Adrian "She must be a pacifist too. Poor thing."
Retrieving a length of rope from his pouch, Adrian secures the lady's arms and legs. Worry fills his heart as he fervently prays for the safety of his companions.
In a separate room near the pinnacle of the lighthouse, Claire confronts a formidable adversary capable of manipulating space itself.
?? "Before we start, I would like to introduce myself. My name is M118. My power is teleporting objects or creatures within the space beneath with my wings to places where my wings have touched."
Claire "Oh hi! My name is Claire, novice Aspect of Creation. Umm... why did you tell me all about your power?"
M118 "Because from the data we learned you specialized in crossbows, knowing this and you are going against me. YOU ARE SCREWED. S. C. R. E. W. E. D."
Claire unleashes a rapid barrage of crossbow bolts, only to witness the cultist swiftly intercepting them with her ethereal wings, causing the projectiles to vanish into thin air.
Claire "Where did they go?!"
"AAARGH!"
Suddenly, the vanished bolts reemerge from behind Claire, piercing deeply into her back. Fortunately, none of them manage to fracture her spine, ribcage, or target any vital organs, sparing her.
M118 "Want to go again, sister?"
Claire grunts in frustration but doesn't relent, firing another series of volleys at the cultist. Once again, the projectiles vanish into thin air. The bolts unexpectedly soar out from all directions, converging on Claire. Displaying remarkable agility, she deftly dances her way out of harm's reach, skillfully evading the incoming barrage.
M118 "Bravo, sister. That was an excellent performance. But you already know by now. IT IS POINTLESS! I have touched everything in this room!"
Claire "Alright! You win!......... at one thing that is."
M118 "Wha-
Claire charges forward, causing the panicked cultist to instinctively retreat. Closing in swiftly, she delivers a powerful uppercut, fracturing the cultist's fragile jaw. Without pausing, she follows up with a devastating spin kick to the chest, shattering the cultist's spine.
She levels her crossbolt directly at her head.
Claire "Any last words?"
M118 "Well..." she coughs "...fucking played."
Ack—
Point blank. Clean hit.
Claire advances towards a locked wooden door and channels her strength into a mighty kick, splintering the door into pieces.
Claire "Huh, maybe I should do more melee."
Meanwhile, Kanji confronts his adversary in an empty room located directly beneath Claire's position.
He unleashes a rapid flurry of punches and kicks, aiming to overwhelm his opponent. However, his strikes are deftly parried by the towering and muscular cultist.
Kanji "Wow, your skills are pretty good. Although, for some reason, my electricity isn't working on you. Let me guess, electrical immunity."
?? "Yes, but don't be cocky to think that is what makes me strong. I have been living longer than you. Young people these days have no respect, I'll teach you what a true fighter is like."
He retrieves a cigarette and lights it, allowing the smoke to drift around him. The cultist begins to unbutton his robe, revealing a pair of razor-sharp mantis claws in place of his forearms.
Kanji "Wait. But how did you-
?? "You get it now. I was just only using my left foot to parry your attacks. Before you die, might as well tell you my name. I'm M120. I'll be your doom."
Kanji "Sorry to tell you this. But you have made a terrible mistake."
As Kanji's left hand radiates a frosty white hue and his right hand emanates a fiery red glow, the cultist instinctively raises his claws in a defensive stance. Kanji charges forward, unleashing a torrent of punches that sear and freeze the very exoskeleton of the claws. Despite the excruciating agony, the cultist's resolve wavers, forcing him to evade the right.
Crack.
In a cataclysmic rupture, the left claw shatters, releasing a gushing torrent of green and red fluids in a frenzied cascade. With eyes ablaze with fury, the cultist transforms into a primal force, charging toward Kanji.
But then—
Claire "Oh no! You don't!"
With deadly precision, she unleashes a flurry of bolts, striking the back of the cultist's head and piercing his left shoulder, severing his remaining claw. As his life dwindles away, the cultist utters no words, leaving behind only an unsettling smile.
Claire sprints towards Kanji, enveloping him in a tight hug. Observing her closely, he notices that she is swathed from head to toe in curative bandages.
Kanji "Are you okay?"
Claire "I'm okay as long as you are."
Returning the embrace, Kanji and Claire hastily make their way toward the others. As they descend to the bottom of the building, they discover the rest of their companions unharmed and accounted for.
Something feels off.
Kanji scans the room, his gaze shifting from one face to another, only to sense a collective burden of remorse in their eyes. His eye narrows further, focusing on someone sprawled motionless on the floor.
Kanji "Guys what happened?! Amelia... Is she dead?!"
Diana "Chill, boss. She is just sleeping."
Kanji "Then why does everyone seem so....down."
Diana "This was all a setup."
Kanji "What do you mean?"
Diana "I assume that you, Claire, and Amelia were the ones who went head to head with the enemy. The rest of us however face opponents that didn't even put up a fight! They just dodge and observe. They were just gathering information, boss!"
Dave "But the good news is that none of us used our remaining skill points dude. Otherwise, we would be exposed, bro."
Diana "Although I dislike this prick. He does make a good point. But now, we know for certain that the general you guys were talking about has a grasp of all of our abilities."
Kanji "That bastard! He's learning! Dammit!"
Adrian steps forward, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.
Adrian "To lighten up the mood. We do have one thing that will help."
Adrian drags an unconscious M116 forward.
Kanji "A hostage! This is perfect!"
Kanji grabs his tablet and zaps her up.
Noah "What do we do now?"
Kanji "I would say we rest. It is been a long day for everyone...and oh I almost forgot. I heard from AN that Adrian you already knew about everything. So what do you say? Are you in?"
Adrian "Heck yes! I'm in!"
Kanji "Great! Now before we go into sleep healing. AN, our next destination is in Africa."
Claire "Wait! I have to give you guys something first. Adrian. Diana. Here have this."
She offers two mechanical soaps to Adrian, who accepts them with a grateful smile. However, Diana raises a skeptical eyebrow, unable to discern the purpose behind such objects.
Claire "Ok! Good to go AN!"
AN "Got it! Now initiating sleep healing in 1. 2. 3..."
The group's weary eyes gradually close. Their wounds miraculously start to mend. AN, assuming control of the panels, purposefully navigates and selects Africa.