Chapter Forty-Four_Orphan [LitRPG Adventure]

It took roughly five minutes and several analogies, before Alarion felt confident that Alex understood his explanation of the System.

Understood. Not accepted.

The old Ashadi idiom only further irritated the emulated man. Judging by his low muttering.

The white haired youth said nothing, for there was nothing to say.

This box was slightly smaller than the last two, its lid emblazoned with the slightly less than heroic depiction of Alarion smashing a bunch of electronics. A much more impressive victory, according to the System, if somewhat lacking in visual flair.

Its lid came away with a thought, carefully stowed in Alarion’s pack before he took stock of the items inside.

The first was a bracer. At least, that was what Alarion eventually determined after a short bout of trial and error. Unlike the supple leather of the one he currently wore, this one was grey and black cloth wrapped around a blackstone core. It fit neatly over his left arm, his thumb hooked through a hole in its side, a thin metal brace down his inner arm for support when lifting heavy objects. Given how hard he knew the stone to be, it would have been an improvement over his non-magical gear, even without the curious benefits it displayed upon inspection:

> B̷̯̘̀l̴̦̎̈́ȁ̸̯͛c̸͉̀́ǩ̸̼̪̎s̷̟̓ͅt̴͓̭̓̈́ǒ̵͍ͅn̶͎̾͒e̶̮̐ Bracer [Uncommon](Rank Nil)

> Description: A system created facsimile of e̴̼͈̓̑ŕ̵͖ṟ̷̆o̵̊͊ͅͅr̵̪͑́ ̴̰͊̇c̵͔͂o̵̩͒͝d̸͚̱̔̿e̴̢̥͊ ̷̺̺̄͘1̷̯͑̈́8̶͈̣͌̒2̸̡̯̀̽8̵͇̀͛1̶̙͇̋.

> Requirements: None

> Attunement Cost: None

> Type: Bracer

> Enchantment: None

> Additional Effect: Produce a UCL equivalent particle shield at moderate effect at a minor per second stamina cost.

> Ability Bonuses: +54 Vit. (Scales with highest rank class level).

That was a lot to take in.

For the first time, Alarion felt the distinct lack of advice. Qualified advice, anyway. The item seemed… abnormal. Not just from the obvious glitches, but from its very structure. +54 was considerably more than what his sandals gave him, but with a sample size of three he wasn’t sure if his existing items were very bad, or this one was very good. The fact that it took no attunement was certainly promising.

So was the effect.

There was no command word, just a thought. One moment the bracer was still, the next it vibrated against his skin as a small translucent shield shimmered into existence over his left arm. It was identical in concept to the shields the sentries hand deployed against him, only writ small. While theirs were effectively tower shields, his extended only slightly past the edges of his arm. Closer to a buckler. It was something that had to be actively interposed, not simply hidden behind.

The stamina cost was also higher than he’d like, enough of a drain that leaving the shield active would deplete the whole of his stamina in a little under two minutes. There was no cost to turn it on or off, but as with his greatsword there was a cooldown of roughly a second in each direction. Rapidly cycling the shield on and off without warning was out of the question, even if he had the mental capacity to devote to such a gambit mid-fight.

The second and final item in the box was a diamond shaped crest. Violet backed with a sigil lovingly rendered in green, Alarion recognized it instantly for what it was and slotted the crest into the open space on his greatsword:

> Dual-Shifting Imperial Greatsword [Exceptional](Incomplete 2/3)

> Description: A miniature Imperial Greatsword created to match the aesthetic tastes of Alarion, Ward of the House of Hunger. This item is semi-complete.

> Requirements: None

> Type: Weapon

> Enchantment: On mental command, this weapon can shift between a miniature state and that of an Imperial Greatsword ideally sized to the user’s current height and strength scores. On mental command, this weapon can shift its bonded user to its current location. This costs a variable amount of MP depending on distance traveled. The effect is instantaneous.

Alarion stared at the text on his screen, reading those bottom two paragraphs over and over again as he tried to make sense of them. It could shift him?

Alex asked after Alarion’s frown had deepened too far to ignore.

Alarion’s answer came in waves. First there was the non-committal grunt. Next he abruptly stabbed his blade into the tile work and concrete. Then he walked a short distance and stared at the weapon, considering it.

Alarion said.

Bssht

One moment they had been standing by the central server racks. The next they were fifteen feet away, Alarion’s right hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword.

Alarion’s explanation was incredibly unhelpful, but Alex had no time to ponder it as reality skipped again.

Bssht

They were two feet to the left, Alarion’s hand still on that hilt. The effect for them was instantaneous, but there was a sound that came with it. A mix between static and tearing paper, along with the slight pop of rapidly displaced air.

Alex said abruptly, before Alarion could try again.

Alex instructed.

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Alarion considered the words briefly, but with no reason to refuse he peeled away the bracelet and set it on one of the destroyed server racks. Then he teleported again.

From outside the effect was somehow even more uncanny. There was no lag time, no delay, no puff of smoke and reappearance. One instant he was here, the next instant he was there. A perfectly seamless transition, punctuated by sound.

Actual magic.

If Alarion noticed Alex’s awe, he said nothing. Instead he continued to flicker every few seconds, each time under a different circumstance. Testing some new facet of his ability. He appeared upside down in mid-air, hand wrapped tight around the hilt as he fell to the ground in a heap. He took a running start and vanished, appearing mid stride with all of his momentum. He threw the dagger into the air, and caught it an instant later twenty feet off the ground. That time he stuck the landing.

Over and over the boy experimented. Until something went wrong.

Alarion shouted in sudden alarm. His sword clattered to the ground as he clutched at the side of his head.

The youth winced, hands clenching and unclenching unable to say more for several long breaths until the pain abated.

Alarion said with a frown as a realization struck him. Sierra had burned through most of her mana in her abruptly overpowered spell some days earlier. She’d been clutching her head as well. Had she actually fought while dealing with that level of pain?

Alarion nodded.

A wireframe projection sprung into being from the nearby bracelet. Colored in stylized green and black, it hovered in the air in a manner similar to ZEKE’s [Display Status] spell, though the individual rays of light refracted on what little gas still remained in the air.

Alex explained. A helpful dot appeared on his map, blinking slightly for attention as a dotted line emerged from it and began to navigate the three dimensional map.

Small red dots began to populate the map. First individually, then in twos and threes. The projection made counting a total number difficult, but if Alarion had to guess, it would be at least forty.

Alex replied honestly.

Alarion asked. He’d obviously stand a better chance with the more experienced Vitrian at his side.

Alarion had explained his situation to Alex amidst his discussion of the System and there was clear sympathy in the Emulation’s voice as he spoke.

Alarion observed.

Alex’s retort was positively dripping with scorn.

Alarion raised an eyebrow.

Alex said, snatching the segue as it presented itself. Another dot appeared on the map, toward the very peak of the spire. A blinking, angry red dot.

Alarion could practically hear Alex shrug from within his digital confines. Instead of pressing the issue, he changed topics.

Alarion studied the map more closely, keeping in mind that it might be less than accurate, or that certain spaces might be harder to navigate than they appeared. Then he tapped the air in three places

Alarion corrected.

The two discussed the plan in detail for a few minutes longer, plotting their route, revising and restructuring. When that was done only one thing remained.

He’d waited long enough.

> Steel Wall [Common]

> Description: Your violent experiences have taught you the value of having something else take the hit for you. This has revealed the truism of blocking. Sometimes defen-

No.

He hadn’t taken it as his first level skill, and Alarion saw no reason to take it now. Maybe if the other skills were somehow even worse, but he had an actual shield now anyways.

> Intercepting Parry [Uncommon]

> Description: If knowing when to-

No. Were they all going to be like this?

> Unyielding Defiance [Exceptional]

> Description: The mere fact that an opponent is overwhelmingly powerful is no reason to back down from a fight. You have bested such opponents in the past, and with the help of this skill, you may do so again.