The figure standing before Toru was an imposing sight, covered head to toe in black riot armor, the matte finish absorbing the dim light of the castle courtyard. The armor was pristine, not a scratch or blemish in sight, which suggested that the wearer was either highly skilled or had simply not yet met a worthy opponent. A voice, deep and steady, emanated from behind the visor, “To think I’d come across such an interesting opponent—one must be grateful.” There was a certain calm arrogance in the tone, as if the speaker was already assured of their victory.
The figure took a moment to survey the surroundings, noting the devastation and the strategically placed turret that had clearly been wreaking havoc. “Nice work you’ve done here,” the voice continued, almost admiringly, before shifting to a more curious note. “Yet, who might you be?”
Toru remained cautious, knowing that any misstep could be fatal. Before he could respond, the armored figure introduced themselves, “Forgive me, my name is Harigae Musabori.”
Musabori Harigae
Title: Infernal Daemon
Science: Pyrocraft (B+)
Cognition: ??? (C)
Toru’s eyes widened slightly at the name. “To come across the Infernal Daemon of Harigae, what an honor!” he exclaimed, with a mix of sarcasm and genuine concern. The Harigae family was almost as famous as the Satows, but for very different reasons. While the Satows were revered for their powerful Cognition abilities, the Harigae were known for their mastery of Science, particularly in disciplines that required intense study and could be taught outside the family. Unlike Cognition, which was passed down through bloodlines and often limited to certain families, the Sciences practiced by the Harigae could be learned by anyone with the aptitude and dedication, making them highly respected and somewhat feared in peacekeeper circles.
Pyrocraft, the Science of controlling and manipulating fire, was one of the Harigae family’s specializations, and Musabori had clearly mastered it to a high degree. Toru had already deduced that Musabori was responsible for the flames spreading through the castle; it was the only explanation for the inferno that had nearly consumed him earlier. The Harigae were known for their ruthless efficiency, and Musabori seemed to embody that trait perfectly.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” Musabori intoned, almost ritualistically, as he began to approach Toru with deliberate, measured steps. The courtyard, once a place of battle, was now eerily quiet except for the crackling of distant fires. There was no running from this confrontation, and Toru knew it. The weight of Musabori’s presence seemed to press down on him, making the air feel thick and heavy.
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Toru’s mind raced as he considered his options. The direct approach was suicide; Musabori’s armor and Pyrocraft would make short work of any straightforward attack. But Toru had one last trick up his sleeve, a desperate gambit that might just give him a fighting chance. “I have no choice but to use it…” Toru muttered to himself as he reached into his pouch and pulled out his matter reconstructor. This device was typically used to break down materials for crafting, a tool of creation rather than destruction. But Toru had no intention of using it for its intended purpose.
The true genius of Toru’s strategy lay in the way his Fieldread skill interacted with his Cognition proficiency. Fieldread did much more than just provide general information about his surroundings; it also had a powerful synergy with various Science disciplines, including Riflecraft. By channeling a minuscule amount of psychic energy through his equipment, Toru could imbue any bullet fired from his guns or turrets with the ability to record detailed information about whatever surface it eventually struck. This allowed him to map out the entire courtyard, gathering data on the structural integrity of the walls, the strength of the stone, and the potential weaknesses in the castle’s construction.
Armed with this knowledge, Toru quickly identified a section of wall that was particularly weak, a spot where the bricks had been poorly laid or had deteriorated over time. It was a small detail, something most people would overlook, but in a fight like this, it could make all the difference. With a swift movement, Toru activated the matter reconstructor, targeting the specific set of bricks that comprised the weak point in the wall. The device hummed to life, and in an instant, the selected bricks were pulled free from their position, disintegrating into dust before being hurled towards Musabori with incredible force.
The suddenness of the attack caught Musabori off guard. The wall collapsed inward, sending a cloud of debris and rubble crashing down towards him. Despite his advanced armor and Pyrocraft abilities, even Musabori couldn’t completely avoid the onslaught. He instinctively raised his arms to shield himself, and a wall of fire erupted around him as he attempted to burn away the debris before it could reach him. But Toru’s timing had been perfect; the force of the collapsing wall overwhelmed Musabori’s defenses, and the fire was unable to stop the larger chunks of rubble from slamming into him.
Toru didn’t waste a second. As the dust settled, he quickly assessed the situation. Musabori was still standing, but the impact had clearly rattled him. His armor was scuffed and dented, the once pristine black surface now marred by the dust and debris. Toru could see that his gambit had worked—Musabori’s confident approach had been halted, giving Toru a precious window of opportunity.
Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Toru dashed to a new position, rearming his turret and reconfiguring it to target Musabori relentlessly. The onslaught of bullets was enough to force Musabori to take a defensive stance.
His heart pounded in his chest as he realized that the tide was beginning to turn. He had managed to do the impossible—he had forced the feared Infernal Daemon onto the back foot. But he knew that this was only the beginning. Musabori was still a formidable opponent, and the battle was far from over. As the flames danced in the courtyard and the turret continued its relentless assault, Toru prepared himself for the next phase of the fight, knowing that he would need every ounce of his skill and cunning to survive the encounter.