Contractor, Misa scrolled through the list of currently known Company allies. The newly listed Thief King Mist was added all the way on the bottom of the compiled database, sticking out amongst the sophisticated names like a sore thumb. She had no idea which of those names was his surname. Why is a distress signal occurring for a contractor? Misa closed in on the location swiftly past carts and over fallen leaves. Auditory signs of opposing disturbances detected. Faint holograms in combat revealed themselves through stone walls. She stopped under blossoming trees, finally glancing at where she was. This area seemed to be a suburb or something equivalent. A tall palace looked over her. Not a single modern thing in the area.
As she traversed the stone streets, these things were quite beautiful to her. Or rather they appealed to her Human Host’s tastes. The sky was also clear and blue. Perhaps, she also felt happy for the first time since this world did not have the Iris Corporation’s Space Elevator blocking most of the sky. She realized that irritation was an illogical emotion birthed from her Great Chain’s human side. That Space Elevator was a blatant arrogant sign of dominance over Black Wolf Company. She despised it and the accompanying annoyance feeling. Several suns? Or rather, she noticed there were multiple planetary bodies in the sky, resembling stars but not entirely. The moons and suns seemed entirely absent from the sky. The satellite views must be wonderful to look at, except her drones were destroyed by odd illogical factors that she had to analyze later. Clashing of swords sounded in another alleyway, alerting her that the Contractor Mist was nearby and was in trouble.
No, she stopped before the scene. It was a one man army defeating his foes.
“Ha!” The King of Thieves, Mist, had taken his cloak off and delivered an impressive punch to one of the attackers. The man staggered back, dropping his weapon while Mist released another swift kick to another. Karma energy swirled within his fists and well defined muscles. Unfortunately for him, it would take a lot more of it in order to crack the meat suit that demon was currently in. Another spear clattered on the ground and Misa felt his gaze on her.
“What, Princess?” He grinned. “Care to join me in this joyous time or are you waiting to fight me?”
“Experiencing joy during combat is illogical,” Misa scoffed. “Experiencing joy during work hours is discouraged. If you have time to fight on Corporate time, Contractor, then you have time to work.”
“Oh? I’ve been meaning to ask, boss,” Mist rammed a tree-sized trunk fist into a demon’s chest. The blow was a lot more powerful, causing the meat suit to crumble. That demon gurgled out clear blood which slowly turned blue, with something writhing inside his chest. Misa crossed her arms because he seemed too relaxed even in the middle of this scuffle. “What is a Corporate Contractor?”
“Focus,” Misa reprimanded him. By now, the group of Demons finally noticed her. One pointed at her and spoke in a different language, but by now Misa had already translated it during her time in the market eating that pill.
“That’s a Princess, right? The one she sent for?”
“Get her!” The biggest demon immediately lunged at Misa.
— UNAUTHORIZED HOSTILITY DIRECTED TOWARDS BLACK WOLF COMPANY PROPERTY DETECTED —
A blur of red skin curled into a fist rolled towards her like a train. Misa instantly rose her arms in a block. The impact caused her to skid back, with pain simulating up and down her Nanite enhanced bone’s circuitry shortly afterward. A crack in her System’s machines? Demons are no joke. Lifespan and energy stability reduction before completing the mission’s phases is unauthorized, her static-heavy alert scolded her.
“Got it,” Misa spoke in the Demon’s language. As the dust kicked up from the bandit’s explosive punch cleared, the group had an expression of shock on their face. “You all must know that the Company has specific policies when violence is necessary.”
The demons backed away from her. Why? Light glinted around her arms and around her hands as she prepared her ballistic platforms. Misa glanced quickly at her wrists. They were glowing and they must have seen it.
“She speaks our language?” The leader still seemed to be in a daze.
“Oi, I’m still here!” Mist slugged one and just before the brawl burst out, the entire group collapsed on the ground. Blue blood leaked out of their skulls. The thief had his glowing sword out but after he noticed they were dead, he sheathed it with a satisfying hum. Disappointment filled his eyes, but he grinned when she cocked her head at him in confusion. “That magic, huh, boss?”
“As expected,” Misa’s ballistic systems also seemed to emit a faint white and green fog around them. The energy inside of her was stabilizing her condition somewhat efficiently, however, the visual cue glowing from the new and powerful MK1 Nanites were definitely a problem. Those bullets that struck the Demons down easily tore them apart. “As the risk analysts at my old shop said, some negotiations can be solved with armor piercing rounds.”
“You’re quite macabre, boss,” Mist folded his arms. “Where to next?”
“You’re still expecting work?” Misa picked off two Heirloom graded knives off the bodies. Her body’s lifespan had dropped to 26% again, but thanks to that pill constantly spawning energy inside of her it will rise back to 50% eventually. “My drones have picked up a site for me to investigate in the south several days away from here. That is where we are headed.”
“No supplies and heading all alone into the Demon’s territory?” Mist sounded like her System sweep’s scolding. “Do you have a death wish?”
Misa stopped for a moment. It is true that the site was extremely faraway, but if there was anything dangerous besides her she probably wouldn’t go. There were also more key sites of elevated Wagner levels dotted along the path to the underground site she seeked.
“I am leaving, but you don’t have to follow,” she said finally. “Contract breaks always happen, most conditions are swept under the table.”
She clicked her tongue. With more and more of her Swarm developing inside of her, some of her Neural Imprints must have transferred to her. The latest update just happened to contain some unprofessional replicated personality traits. Mist was still shadowing her, indicating that he was not intending to leave her alone.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“So are you truly not the real Seventh Princess?” Mist asked. “That magic again… I’ve heard the Qi Stealing Seal of your Family Sect has been ruthless, though you simply… fallen down, haven’t you?”
“It isn’t magic,” Misa told him flatly. “Inquiry: What is ‘fallen down?’ Define it.”
The mention of Qi made her ponder something. There were random novels uploaded into the Human database archives backed up in her Swarm’s Systems, probably put in there by some worker who was slacking off while on the clock. She would have to scan and process some of them for certain concepts regarding this so-called Qi energy. Mist looked at her strangely before answering.
“Legends have it, the Great Ones above in the Upper Realms send their wayward offspring into the Lower Realms. Those ones who have fallen down bring great destruction upon the land and have Artifact, Treasured and even weapons with greater spiritual energy than that. From the looks of it, you seem to have fallen from quite a higher Realm, boss.”
“Noted,” Misa added his rambling to the list of illogical factors. “Does that explain the lack of a sun?”
“Sun? Boss, you’ve lost me,” Mist spoke nonchalantly, but she could detect faint traces of confused emotions in his voice.
“Noted,” she repeated herself, before falling back into silence.
He walked with a relaxed stance, with every one of his muscles on display. How odd. Misa nudged the strange Heirloom knives she procured from the assassins. They were to be studied and dismantled for later use. Systems sweep informed her that the shoddy knives were not viable weapons that her hands could use. The difference in her own “spiritual energy” or Wagner Energy was far greater than the knives and therefore would crumble upon initial use. A shame, she thought sarcastically. Localization is not difficult for her machine side, but the human side of her was unable to regulate the churning karma energy boiling within her.
Perhaps with the mention of higher graded objects in this world, she could increase her Swarm’s efficiency with those trinkets.
Cobblestone under sandals, his somewhat huffs and her uniform yet delicate marching carried along the alleyways. Misa scanned for any holograms, not detecting anything. Light security, who eyed her oddly but allowed her to pass through the gate. There was no threats, though the stone steps have transitioned into sand and dirt with some green matter on it. She could detect Wagner energy all around her now, but they were faint. Nameless, the lowest tier of spiritual objects in this world. Thus, the new classification she spun a name generator for in her Swarm’s Logistic platforms successfully.
It was after marching only 26 kilometers past a secluded patch of alien shrubbery that Misa stopped. Not because she was slacking off since breaks were not allowed, but because a large amount of energy was closing in on her location. A storm?
— WAGNER ENERGY REACHING CRITICAL LEVELS —
“You feel it too, boss?” Mist spoke quietly. “She’s coming. Any bright ideas?”
“Get out of here,” Misa sensed unauthorized hostility outpacing them by a long shot.
Before she could react, her Swarm detected the sky parting and an immediate aerial bombardment of Wagner energy dropped directly on her caused her Systems to glitch. The blast’s wave sent a shadow flinging into the distance, presumably the thief’s body. Misa’s world crashed, folding in and out into as she twisted into a collapsed cloud of smoke and aurora-like karma particles. She was still able to land on her feet, readying all remaining systems. A red hologram was approaching through the storm. Mist was nowhere to be seen. Another one was trailing behind her.
“Ah, Lin,” the stranger spoke. “I heard from my dear Yue that you defeated her. How dare you. Who taught you to treat your Elders like that?”
Rockets? The larger weapons would cost too much Nanites to produce, Misa debated. This stranger was extremely dangerous yet an obstacle to the Company’s mission, she had to think of something immediately. Of all her calculations, a new emotion had finally awoken inside of her machine-swarm’s Great Chain as she watched the dangerous aura approach her: Fear. A red haired beauty emerged through, her expression showing a hint of amusement like she was watching her prey squirm within her grip.
A certain simulation here would work, Misa’s systems chimed in. They could not read the stranger’s overwhelming Wagner levels as usual. However, they could read the human’s emotional state. If the target is arrogant, they would not take a deal so easily. They would let the prey run away with their tail between their legs. The easy target (MISA) would lead her to another Company asset to recuperate losses and that’s where this red haired beauty would squeeze out every penny. Who would be the hostage to trade, then? Misa finally noticed the second stranger behind her. That Imperial Guard…!
“Father told me everything, you know. Saying you’ve fallen down,” she laughed. “I almost believed him. Those little toys of yours won’t do a thing to me, isn’t that right? Genxing.”
Through the shadows, the large frame of Genxing approached with a smug grin on his face. If only she could set her Life Support’s system up sooner; Misa was too late on this shrinking deadline. The stranger suddenly dashed without a trace of karma energy being used, seizing her by the neck and lifting her in the air. Misa finally realized who this hostile stranger was. This must be the Second or First Sister of her Host.
“How laughable! I just want to crush the life out of you!” Her Sister’s red eyes narrowed on her. “I’m glad Genxing helped me in meeting up with you, you bastard. He’s so cute, always doting on my dear little Sister. A fine tool, aren't you? Then you! You made him mad for hurting her, you made me mad. Now, you’re going to…”
Her Sister finally noticed what Misa was actually looking at even in her grip, despite the disappointment filling her eyes since the machine did not show fear anymore. Genxing’s eyes rolled back, mouthing for forgiveness as he fell over dead. Armor piercing rounds worked on him as well apparently. A slight grin marked Misa’s lips, showing her Sister that she could fight back. The Swarm’s algorithms were adapting even more to this strange Sister’s profile.
“Oh? So you do know how to fight! How utterly interesting,” she laughed with a squeal. “But, you are not even strong enough to chip a fingernail, hmph! I will teach you a lesson, bastard sister!”
It was true. Her system displayed that a large amount of her ammuniton has been used on both of them, but only Genxing was harmed while the Sister inspected her hand with an infuriating smirk. A huge blow struck Misa’s systems as she was sent flying into the sands. Her Swarm furiously clouded her vision with alerts as she set her smart movements to land on her feet again and again as she crashed.
— UNAUTHORIZED DESTRUCTION OF BLACK WOLF PROPERTY HAS OCCURRED. INFRACTIONS ARE PROHIBITED —
Alert: Lifespan has been reduced to critical levels (Below 10%).
Alert: Integral biomechanical parts have been severed. Recommend immediate recovery &/or replacement.
Alert: Necessary Black Wolf Company Asset replacement has been filed and sent. Replacement for current MISA unit in the field is coming in %ERROR% days.
Misa's gambit worked, trading Genxing's life for her own was valuable in stirring interest in the arrogant party. Unfortunately, that costed her an arm which would take time to rebuild. She raised it up mechanically, intending to deplete more of her ballistic Nanites into the hostiles. Instead of her wrist coming into view, only the ballistic system buoyed up to her flickering eye's display instead. System sweep informed her that there was no longer any sign of the Sister VIP or the Imperial Guard. Misa finally noticed that her arm was missing, before her Great Chain vomited blood and collapsed.
“You hurt my Sister’s arm,” she heard the Sister’s laughter through the whipped up sand’s darkness, but her presence was concealed. “Now, I am taking yours. Now run along and get fatter in strength. When the time comes, do not disappoint me. Haha!”