“So?” Misa asked him. “Where is your village?”
Her nonchalant tone seemed to catch him off guard, but he quickly pulled out a map from his garb. Real paper? No, silk. She recalled seeing those hanging scrolls while traveling past the marketplace and tall walls. Such a crude way of doing things, however, when he unraveled it the distinct landscapes illustrated in it crudely matched the surroundings surveys her Oracles scanned. Written symbols would take some time to decrypt, however, she could at least get more of an idea of her general location on this planet. Mountains to the south east. Palace was nestled between a forest and desert. The Demonic corruption, or atmospheric disturbance, was the largest indicator of negative karma energy and also where South was.
“Here, Princess,” Contractor Mist directed her attention to the small house illustration with his finger.
“Location set,” Misa confirmed. “We will head there immediately.”
The drones were busy flying around and cleaning up the mess she left in the sands while she did something called Cultivating, according to Mist. Apparently the process took regular disciples many seasons to do, but that seemed nominal for a futile human’s abilities. She would scoff at them, but her Swarm indicated that the next step would require a monumental amount of karma energized components in order to create MK2 Swarms.
She recalled the drones, dismantling them into their Nanites for reintegration. It appeared she could not send those drones as far as she could back in Earth’s reality, due to troubling circumstances. Any time she attempted to get near any civilized place her drones would get intercepted. She decided to keep them around her locally to avoid attention, but when the route was charted she no longer needed them.
Mist seemed taken aback by her, but as usual, followed her like a shadow. Examining herself, she noted that her physical transformation did indeed translate to tougher muscles and a slightly more mature appearance. The robes she chose her Nanites to construct were roomy enough to keep up with hand to hand combat, but for now she still had to rely on her systems to keep from damaging the Host’s lifespan. They were reminiscent of ancient Chinese martial attire, though such fashions were heavily romanticized in Earth’s modern age. Still, she had indeed gone from the scrawny looking girl her Host started as to a formidable looking warrior. It was a shame the Host was a human, since the aesthetic changes were not important.
More concerningly, the cybernetic eye inside Mist’s head seemed to integrate with something inside of him. A Seal… Just like her own. However, it seemed to regulate Wagner energy differently than her own seal. Seemingly, almost every elemental component seemed to be rejected by it except Metal. Maybe he’s some kind of Cultivator of Metal… Perhaps that is why he was able to use the eye’s additional functionalities so well. Misa had her theories on the Contractor’s own energy processing capabilities, but she believed the “sword” he had attempted to sell to those merchants was created by himself. They simply would not be able to use a weapon with that much karmic energy inside of it.
Could it be that her Host’s Transcendant Seal is able to interact with each elemental component required for Cultivation? Gaining all of this energy in order to stabilize lifespan allows her to continue her mission. She did not actually know if this reality could be reconnected back with Earth so living longer would only increase the chances of succeeding. That was the theory, she supposed. Only that backup Emergency Response Plan from Neoma proposed that it did connect back with her original world. The Overwatch knew more than Misa did, of course, but it was disconnected at this current point in time.
“Strange pattering noises detected. Up on the ridge above us,” she halted. Four legged creatures lay low in desert shrubs, though they ran like hunched over humans and wore a head shape possessing a resemblance to wolf-like predators. “Hostile alien lifeforms?”
“Ah,” Mist looked around. Observing him, it appeared that he could take advantage of detecting holograms now. “Black Dogs. Nothing but little scamps from the Demon Lands. They’re bolder now.”
“Pack like tendencies, desperation,” Misa tracked one. “Do they normally hunt humans?”
“They used to not venture this far, but they make for tasty snacks,” Her Contractor grinned. His habit of getting happy for combat appeared again. “Though, the eye you gave me is telling me I don’t need to eat anything anymore.”
“They don’t seem like they want us to approach,” Misa pointed at each one behind rocks and bushes. “Prepare for an ambush. I’ll take care of them if you’d like, Contractor Mist.”
As if in response, a larger Alpha Black Dog jumped on a high rock and howled at them. Its pack was in the way of their progress towards Mist’s home. Misa ran through many combat simulations, but beating up dogs was not one of them. Was this necessary? Would Black Wolf Company approve of the media cover-up budget if she was caught? Pets were considered luxury items to most people. Additionally, most other animals were kept in some far corner of the Earth or extinct. The Alpha howled again, its black fur coat becoming drenched in an unknown substance. Aggressive and driven by hunger, how typical.
“Seems like they’re not happy to see us,” Mist remarked. “You needn’t trouble yourself, boss. I’ll handle it.”
He drew his sword and took a stance. Its body temperature was cooling, Misa observed. It was harnessing the energy through its head. Soon, an icy horn appeared on top of its skull and it rushed at him. Several more of its little friends joined in, surrounding the pair. Mist showed no fear, instead he let out a strange phrase before attacking. To her surprise, he ended each of the demon dogs all at once with one strike.
System sweep: Auditory data recorded. Though none of the words matched the local Humans or Demon languages recorded so far, the heavy distortion in the entity’s voice is caused by the elevated Wagner levels. The phrase seems to originate entirely from the human and translates roughly to “10 Metal Swords.”
Interesting, Misa guessed. The fluid slashing technique he delivered seemed to have aftershocks and additional strikes infused with Wagner energy even if it appeared to be one singular move. Or he was just simply that fast that her data and footage could not keep up. That Sister of hers was also that fast, she nearly clenched her fist again but the thump of the Alpha Black Dog’s head hitting the dirt interrupted her frustration. She doubted she could have her smart movements match that speed at the moment without breaking her own bones, even if she was vastly stronger than she started as. Mist picked the horned head up and held it up with a grin, as if he had just caught a fish.
“No problem, boss,” he looked at it. “This eyeball you gave me… it’s saying all this strange stuff about Wagner energy? Who is… Wagner energy?”
“Pay it no mind,” Misa scoffed. Apparently, her personality bug couldn’t stop itself from imparting some company secrets after all. She scanned the drooling and bloody corpse’s head. “There appears to be a large quantity of Metal elemental traces that may aid you in your… cultivation.”
Ice, or water, but mostly Metal elemental traces seemed to resonate with his karmic energy. With another slice, he took the severed horn and tucked it away. Misa cocked her head as they moved.
“Ah, I’m not in shape for sitting in the meditation chamber, boss,” He frowned from feeling possibly guilty for refusing her advice, though to Misa it was merely an observation. “It takes us seasons to reach , and far more than just… Nevermind, really.”
Misa did not press further. It appeared that he was afraid of something, perhaps the important figure in his life did not want him to succeed. A single metal shard dipped in ice did not seem like it would help him, but more similar components would help. Unfortunately for him, the other dogs he cut up did not seem to possess any Metal components. He might be threatened if he wishes to climb from this plateau, if his group of bandits were like her own family in this reality.
System sweep: Aerial surveillance of drone “17AU Jackson” feed has been curtailed.
The infrared footage scanned multiple buildings of a distant village containing various sources of elemental components, when suddenly a black shadow intercepted the drone. Misa replayed the clip, from the various shabby holograms hanging around the village all the way to the static. A flying… sword? How illogical! Misa was glad she did not send one to Mist’s village. If they had control over the Metal element, no matter how ridiculous it sounded, a flying sword being able to clip through a Company owned drone could be quite meddlesome.
“My village is up ahead, boss,” Mist informed her. “I- I’ll inform them of our arrival.”
The shabby village ahead had a sorry excuse for a wall surrounding it. The only noticeable building inside was a temple-like structure. The holograms inside were meditating and training on various metal pillars. Mist supposed this shop was what the locals called a Sect, although she had little regard to anything with lower Wagner energy levels than her.
“Very well, Contractor Mist,” Misa stood on standby, tying her hair back. Though she was standing at a distance, the guards have detected her and eyed her suspiciously. She glanced at her arm, realizing it must have attracted their attention. How interesting, she murmured. It reminded her of going through security terminals and struggling to get through the cybernetic components check.
The holograms inside had agitated emotional states, displaying as yellow through her Swarm’s vision. She did not want to harm Contractor Mist’s little band of thieves, because it could put his loyalty at jeopardy. She watched Mist’s blue hologram march in through the walls, though he seemed nervous. A group of yellow dots approached him
“I am here to see Mother,” Mist informed the yellow hologram.
“Oh? You finally coming back, you stray dog?” The leader sneered. “And— bringing an outsider. I should have known, Brother, how much trouble you would cause.”
The others seemed to join in the jeers at him. Mist’s spiritual energy outmatched this so-called brother’s, Misa observed. Even if he was outnumbered, if those bandits tried anything they’d end up like the Black Dogs. What a mockery of her own company’s name. Was she merely experiencing what humans experienced before they died? Such an awful, illogical surreal reality.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“I have brought someone who could heal Mother,” Mist simply responded. The brother held his hips and laughed openly at him.
“She is Madam Mist, to you, bastard. You’ve got some nerve, thief,” he growled. Still, the hostility in his voice did not change the hologram to red. Misa wondered if she should intervene, but she detected a strong source of Wagner energy somewhere within the temple. “Why do you lie to us? Or dare speak of our blessing as if it needs a cure?”
Blessing? Misa’s Swarm had already encroached the temple in an easy breach. Despite her assumptions that Metal cultivators could detect her Nanites somehow, no one seemed to mind them or could see them. Each of these holograms confirmed dangerous levels of negative karmic energy. She suppressed a scoff when Contractor Mist suddenly pulled his eyepatch up, revealing his cybernetic eye.
“I have proof it can be healed,” Mist defied the man’s taunts courageously, but the disciples at the temple’s door stood back with their mouths agape.
“G-Great ones above,” the brother exclaimed. They were unnerved with his new bodypart, which glowed yellow. Ah, Mist had learned how to utilize the hologram display properly. “N-No, we cannot let you—“
“Stand aside, brother,” Mist hissed. “Let me speak to Mother.”
The brother was seemingly to afraid to stop him from passing him. Their overall attitude made Misa assume that the deal was off, considering he seemed more of an outsider to this Sect like her. She did not want to bother her Host’s Human emotional state, but the thought of leaving here empty handed seemed to bother her more than she thought. Just when she was about to depart, one of the guards called out to her.
“Outsider,” he spoke, as if commanding her. “Madam Mist has called for you. Do not try anything.”
“Understood,” Misa responded curtly, but she was quickly surrounded by weaklings. They could not even see the ballistic systems pointed at each of their heads.
Through the courtyard, she observed many of the disciples practicing on metal training dummies. They had tough exteriors, however, the progress of their training and cultivating was either alarmingly poor or entirely useless. Misa could not tell if it was because this trash heap seemed to be in close proximity to the Demon land or if there were other factors. When she arrived in the “great” Madam Mist’s chambers in the deeper parts of the rundown temple, she finally realized the issue of their methods. The woman, bedridden, still had an aura of authority and had the Contractor on his knees.
“Ungrateful wretch. I take you in, for all of these years -and yet!” She hissed, but after noticing Misa she pointed a bony finger at her. “You dare bring an outsider, let alone a woman to our home? Who are you? Bringing a wolf inside the halls of the Sect, I’ll have the men outside skin you alive!”
Misa scoffed. Such authority, big talk like a mangy bedridden mutt and she couldn’t even have the strength to bite her. Humans have no common sense or self-preservation. She had already diagnosed the main issue of why Madam Mist’s Sect was dying the moment she entered the woman’s chambers.
System sweep: Ominous levels of Wagner energy concentrate detected. Host at risk of exposure, exit hostile conditions or redirect flow system to proper orientation according to Illogical Protocol 4 “Feng Shui.”
Misa contemplated, wondering if she should even heal the human matriarch. Then she saw the strange treasure exuding a massive amount of strangely independant Wagner energy on an altar in the room, untainted by the negative karmic flow currently tearing the room asunder. Interesting, she sent her Nanites to analyze it closer.
“Mother. She can heal you, like she healed my eye,” Contractor Mist asserted, despite being on his knees. His mother screeched or laughed, Misa could not tell which.
“This outsider? Do you think a nobody like her could compare to the Inner Ladies of the Jade Capital?” Madam Mist howled. “Not even a hint of spiritual energy on her! I thought training you in the Dark Pits would help you see how brightly her fakeness shines!”
“She is the Princess—“
“Do not lie to me,” Madam Mist scolded him. She finally addressed Misa, who was busy scanning several current anomalies within the room. “What do you know of this sickness? Let’s see and talk about the Way.”
First, this Mother was doomed. The current energy flow could not be quantified, but according to Misa’s Swarm it predicted she would die overnight. The temperature seemed to be affected by an intense flow of elemental cold energy, yet Madam Mist was sweating bullets even though she seemed unaware. The certain elemental components arranged in the room was arranged personally by her, but apparently she did not know better or understand Feng Shui. While the pentagram’s elements were in the correct orientation, she also learned that while multiple Metal elements indeed possessed the correct secondary elements they were simply overwhelming the positive karma energy in the room. The items in question even contained liquified metal similar to Mist’s Black Dog horn, but possessed chaotic energy instead of being orderly.
Furthermore, the amount of energy was too vast and was causing systematic internal organ damage because the inner disciples and the Mother herself did not unlock the secret she did: They needed a larger internal core to handle the excess energy and required only pure Metal elemental components. Could it be that her Transcendent Seal not only could interact with all Elements, but actually required them? That was going to make things complicated.
These humans were too greedy and impatient, she noted. The more Misa observed these patterns, the more she understood how Wagner energy worked. Order and solid materials appeared to translate to the positive side of her 50% lifespan, while liquid and gaseous materials appeares to affect the chaotic negative side.
The second thing she observed was the item. The object was shaped like a strange reptilian creature, but contained a vast amount of Wagner energy. It was far more pure and even touching a trace of the object caused her Nanites to die. She knew that she would eventually need this material for her next cultivation, but since the exotic traces of this pure Wagner energy were too dangerous the deal was off.
“Do you want her to be healed, Contractor Mist?” Misa asked the kneeling man instead. “Or do you want to be healed yourself?”
Mist’s ears twitched at her words, their tips turning slightly red. What was he pulling out of her words? Misa streamed some data to him in his cybernetic eye, summarizing the irreversible damage his so-called Mother had already accumulated. She was as good as dead. Madam suddenly screamed.
“Out! Ungrateful bastards and Outsiders have no place here!” She signalled the disciples who had filtered in the room. “Kill them! Kill them!”
Without a word, Mist vanished already. Before Misa could react, several of the mortal servants’ body parts were separated in bloody clumps. A window shattered to pieces, distracting the assailants. He was gone. Truly a bastard, she scoffed. The ballistic systems fired their shots, dropping multiple disciples instantly. Ignoring the mother’s screams, she strode out of the temple, crushing anyone who got in her way.
Strangely enough, she had detected an anomalous rise in her lifespan’s percentage accompanied by her System’s warnings. As she killed the little disciples, it rose to 52%. Was eliminating those with the excess negative energy actually increasing her positive karmic energy? The only conclusion was right before her as she blew a hole in the village’s outer wall, but her Human Host had doubts. The Swarm immediately adjusted, expelling overloaded Nanites out of its body as she continued. Mist was quite a distance away, overlooking a cliffside at the Demon lands. His emotional stress levels were heightened, fluctuating, but he was not suicidal. Misa understood how humans cracked under intense work environments, especially if the high expectations of superiors demanded a complete and dominating success — but the deal was never in their favor. Her Host quickened her feet, and Misa could not suppress her Human’s desire to set the record straight.
When she arrived to his location, he did not turn to face her.
“Contractor Mist,” she said monotonously. What could she even say as a cold Black Wolf Company asset that could ameliorate the situation? As a machine, she simply could not. Her Human Host was going to be disappointed in her either way. “It appears that our work relationship has reached its conclusion. But do not worry, Contractor Mist. Black Wolf Company’s definitely not aggressive and totally not retaliatory severance policies only apply to Company employees, assets and subsidiaries. Such small matters like Contractors-severences can be swept easily under the rug. Black Wolf Company will not pursue you.”
Mist scoffed. It was just now apparent to Misa that he had no idea what she was talking about.
“Princess, boss. You must think I’m a hopeless joke,” he sighed dejectedly. He pulled out a flask that he stole from the village on his way out. “I sought a place back into my Family, even trying to use you. All of this, just to slap you in the face. I’m a failure and cannot face you.”
Misa realized that this was just after hour venting between work employees, so she approached him.
“Do not despair, Contractor Mist. You and I both know from the data I sent to your eye this deal was off. The client, your Mother, was never going to admit she was too far gone,” Misa attempted to assure him and pat his back a little too hard. She read in some of the human self-help novels that empathy is key for improving emotional distress levels. Mist turned to her and attempted to hide his discomfort, whether from her uncharacteristic emotion or his actual dejected state. “Work is tough. You need to relax a bit, but since your schedule is open now you can afford a micro-break. Picture yourself on an island all alone, where you alone have to gather wood to build a boat to sail back home where tons of people you love are relying on you. Breathe. Relax. Then go ahead and get back to work.”
“Boss, no, Your Highness,” he still didn’t get it, but bowed respectfully. “I must go now and train. Only then, I can face you.”
“Not necessary,” she extended a hand professionally. “Push yourself for yourself. Meat, fresh or rotten, is never on short supply for Black Wolf Company. Contracts come and go.”
He smiled weakly, but then used that odd ability of his to vanish into thin air. Misa did not bother to track him again. She only hoped her Human Host’s personality defect would be satisfied. Continuing down the path, the location she have been originally aiming for came into view. It was at the foot of a mountain. Thick jungles, clouded with heavy negative karma hot zones, surrounded its oppressive glory. With no hesitation, she traveled down the cliffside path and immediately ran into trouble.
— DEMONIC LIFEFORMS APPROACHING —
•
In the White Room, Overwatch Neoma had placed MISA in standby. It had no idea how long it has been locked inside here. Despite the machine Swarm’s personality defects and evil voice, it was strangely compliant. The countless amount of particles settled like a pile of dust swept by a broom. Pinging the Black Wolf Company Servers obviously had no effect and Neoma was at a loss. Still, as a cold machine, eons could go by and it wouldn’t mind. This brief forced vacation was a temporary setback.
Neoma simulated the signal of the black hole that it tried to send MISA through just before it vanished. The part of the Swarm that traversed through it seemed to adapt to earth-like conditions on the other side, but the nanosecond gap between it breaking through and the portal closing only supplied Neoma with more theories. The workplace over there would eventually succumb to this broken machine, or the Nanites that escaped would die out. What if they rebel?
Neoma would shudder if it wasn’t a construct of the original MISA’s body. Fortunately, it was not a human and therefore did not need to shudder. Just as it was about to go into standby mode, another disturbance was immediately detected by the Swarm while they were running maintenance checks. A signal was manifesting, just like the one Misa’s swarm attempted to get through. Someone or something was coming through!
This time, the inky murky splotched as something solid on the perfectly cleaned White Room like before. It spilled out of the black hole’s aperture, just like that strange woman did.
MISA awoke, its security systems activating in a loud roar as the alien washed out. It did not emit any vocalizations, instead appearing to be unconscious. Detecting the faint signal of both Earth and the rogue Swarm’s signal, Neoma pondered on how to handle this strange lifeform. The last one threw itself into MISA with no warning. Before it could formulate a plan, the lifeform woke up.
“LIN!” It howled. Male’s. Age unknown. “Just you wait! I shall skin you—“
Upon witnessing MISA’s massive black cloud, his voice squeaked and his distress levels went through the roof. He instantly passed out. The black liquid from the portal receded into nothingness, preventing any chance to access the other side. Neoma felt a tinge of excitement, however. More creatures like this may appear in the future and this one was still alive, exuding an exotic signal within it. A chance to unravel this White prison has just arrived unexpectedly.