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In the Floating Restaurant of the Gods...
Rihan watched his son Ren just got back from exploring the forest, Ren spotted his father who was sitting under the peach blossom tree and having some tea. "How's the training today, Riyanda? Your skill has improved, I heard it from your allies," Rihan asked, offering a cup of hot tea as he served it towards him. Ren took a sip, his face went pale as he tasted the oolong tea he can't handle since he prefer jasmine rather than Chinese blend. "Damn, is that oolong? Agh... too bitter," Ren set the cup down with a groan, his eyes looked annoyed but then he smiled at his father, making Rihan grinned at his own child. "Can't you believe I lost against my enemies? It's too embarrassing," Ren murmured, his cheeks went red as he rubbed his flushed cheeks with his palm. Rihan could not help but chuckle at him, not sure if Ren is overthinking it after becoming a Vidyadhara... but how he acted is like he was just like him.
"Is there any problem regarding your training progresses? I'm wondering if you have to deal with those beasts from the past, I never saw those creatures around here for the last millennia," he asked, calmly asked Ren on his training progress. "Well... No, but we had to focus more on combat rather than to be scared of them. We decided to focus on something about androids and possibly the 'Glass Heart'. Wait, 'Glass Heart'? I never heard of this name for awhile," Ren pointed out. "Since I've met Kuran, in my dream-like state... it happens that Nanda... betrayed me. I found that my friends and I are dealing with androids who are caused by the Scarlet Armband Army, using their bodies as weapons and... you know..."
Sadana listens to his narrations, explaining about what had occurred to him so far. "Glass Heart? Oh, it was used to be a 'human heart' created to be made of glass as its name implies. The user can only be allowed to have a perfect health and immortality without problems in the battle, however it can only activate whenever you're awakened it without knowing that. Well, I was told to save that for emergency."
Kaizo nodded while standing beside Ren., looking at Izumo who was sipping his cup of hojicha while Hakuren was holding a cup of matcha tea that they made. "By the way, there were like other three Vidyadharas left for you guys--but we don't know if they're around Indonesia or not," Sadana replied, causing Izumo's head snapped. "Is it Murasame-sama?" he asked, to which Sadana clapped his hands that indicated Izumo's statement was correct and then they shook their hands and laughed it out. "Pfft, if you think I'm looking forward to meeting him, he's pretty cool and nice," Kaizo added as he snorted, Hakuren giggled.
Ren sighed, before he heard Sakura yelled from the distance. "Ren! You got to see this, there's something in the garden!" she shrieked, surprising him when she heard how the words came out. Something was wrong and he had to figure this out without a doubt. Ren hurried to follow after her but as for Kaizo, Izumo and Hakuren need some minutes to digest the situation right now--since they just fucking arrived here and now they had to go for now!
Sakura watched a large incubator tube filled with waters as she saw the four Vidyadharas has arrived, seeing something unexpected as Ren goes to check what's inside--it looks like an individual inside the tube. "Huh...? That's not a creature I've seen before, does it?" Kaizo spoke up, approaching the tube after Ren.
When he look closely onto the being inside, it only turned out to be a human inside the tube with what it looks like its eyes were covered and its chest was naked. This human has ashy gray messy long hair that went down into the base of her spine with a braided wreath at the back of her head that is tied into a tail at the center with a black ribbon, her bangs covered her gold-orange eyes and she has pale complexion. "This is... huh?"
The tube suddenly exploded, covering the whole water and covering the four friends. Until the water disappeared without a trace and they were gone, until it revealed the girl who was standing there after awakened from her 'hibernation'. "Seriously, those fucking lunatics..." she mumbled, wiping the water from her eyes. Ren shook the water that dripped down onto his amber brown hair and he was glad his bangs dried immediately without a problem (maybe some help with the wind), but then he watched the girl wears her hospital gown. "I, the Vidyadhara for the God of Sentience, I'm Shenlan--have come to announce my arrival! I have to kill each other and prove that the mortals must..." she paused, her shoulders jerking up with a gasp. "Huh? The fuck is this place, what happened?"
"YOU ASKED US! We're from the Floating Restaurant of the Gods anyway," Izumo remarked as he explained to her, about how Ren and the others became part of the Narayana's Scions. Shenlan blinked, scratching her chin in confusion. "Wait, I was never mentioned in those files before... oh whatever," she shrugged as she leaned toward Ren. "So, you're the brat with that divine sacred shit stuck on your ass huh. Are you the reincarnation of--"
"Yeah yeah, Riyanda Tjahyana, right? The reincarnation of Kuran the God of Pledge--yada yada yada!"
Ren answered with sarcastic tone while crossing his arms as he sighed in defeat, Shenlan however went awestruck after she realized that the boy is in front of her is not a threat despite being one of them is too dangerous to exist in the earth world. "Also, we're seventeen," he added, making Shenlan yelped--she was... on the same age like them but her mind is like a child (which means she's a 'newborn' Vidyadhara like Ren and the rest is despite she grew up stronger than him). "Wow, I think... time just does its thing, h-huh..."
Shenlan is like a typical troublemaker who enjoy causing trouble to either innocent or guilty--probably if she can be allowed to provoke an innocent citizen, she is blunt, prideful, and reckless--having a tendency to smile like a lunatic at even the most devastating turn of events, yet occasionally being able to care for others and has a habit of speaking in a cryptic form, but she is kind at heart. Despite the fact that she is overconfident about her abilities, and often underestimates her opponents, Shenlan only care about her ambitions.
"At least, you woke up... so... we have to begin our journey," Ren mumbled, although his face seemed glum about this 'traveling stuff' that Sadana told them, what they had in mind were actually searching for the rest of the other two Vidyadhara. "I'm hungry!" she whined, making them shocked by how... brattish and naive she is. Ren slapped her own head from behind lightly, annoyed that Shenlan whined but at the same time being naive. "Ask politely, besides we have some dishes to prepare."
Few hours later...
Shenlan was eating like a barbarian on a table filled with four different kinds of Asian foods such as a classic Indonesian fried rice, Japanese spring rolled tempura and chicken teriyaki, and Chinese scallion pancakes. The spirit servants were shocked at how Shenlan practically can eat a lot in 100 second flat, Ren wondered what can Vidyadharas feed her enough or not? Because they knew they won't. "What?" she snapped, before Hakuren rolled her eyes. "No offense, but... I don't think it's ladylike to eat like that," she replied.
Shenlan coughed as she swallowed the food before her, and grinned. "That depends on whether or not you're a cretin."
'This is going to be a pain in the ass...' Kaizo thought, watching Ren petrified at many plates has been emptied after Shenlan have ate some of the foods. "Ren, what's that look on your face?" Izumo asked, before he swallowed deeply at her. "Just... something feels familiar about her personality."
Shenlan wore a white blouse with long sleeves under her black oversized coat-like jacket and black short pants with black laced knee-length boots due to her choice of fashion being semi-masculine and tomboyish, wearing black high-collared long coat with golden lining on the collars and shoulders. She was super hungry after being encased inside the incubator, due to its effect to keep her in best condition and awakens her quickly without sustaining hunger. "So, tell us a bit about you," Kaizo suggested, while Shenlan cleared her throat with a cup of cold barley tea, then placing it onto the plate gently. "Fine, but as you know, not literally... as I remember my origins," Shenlan muttered, before she grinned. "I sells a lot of antique items and collect anything rare, I also buy something I could afford!"
Ren didn't want to reveal some golden imperial Ingots he owned, because he knew Shenlan might scam him in just an instant. Of course, she can tell he's quite rich at some points--while the latter has to deal with his friend to do some dumb shenanigans. "Then, I think we're here to introduce ourselves," he cut in, deciding to do an 'ice breaking stuff' kinda moment. "Kaizo Shindō," Kaizo introduced himself, not bother to look at her. "Izumo Amane, nice to meet ya!" Izumo continued, before Hakuren sighed softly. "Hakuren Kobe."
Well... that's a nice break they ever experienced, it turns out Shenlan is just a human who turned into Vidyadhara, someone who has lost her memories but her personality remained the same: that of her. Sakura gave her a tour guide around the Floating Restaurant of the Gods, which Ren had to protect his beloved Ingots in one room full of valuables which he stored. "Well, Ren. Can you give me the details about... Scarlet Armband Army?" she asked.
"They're like... paramilitary order and a group of fanatics that sought control over the fate of humanity, not really people who caused humans suffer in poverty," he explained as he stood beside the window that shows the natural view and his reflection was visible on it, realizing that it was his first day of becoming a Vidyadhara despite everything he suffered, mentally and physically. "Also, they wanted to overthrow the gods up there--not sure if the gods are from the Phantom Samsara, or... the Devas--but it seems like they went after the ones who responsible for the samsara from up there, somehow," he continued before he sighed, turning to her.
"They started using the androids to wipe out humans and the only thing that hinders that is Vidyadharas, like us. They were responsible for the Phantom Eruption tragedies, using by any means; advanced technologies or otherwise," Ren spoke out, folding his arms. "They were led by the seer known as The Oracle's Eye, I haven't met any of them upfront yet, I heard from other stories that some of their officers were found lying around in this part of Indonesia. They are also known as Red Branch Society, a group of assassins who serve Scarlet Armband Army against the Devas. I'm guessing they are allies from their creator side as our enemies, and has the same origin that should be taken out for the information regarding their alliance..."
Sadana continued, because he have heard the stories since he came to Indonesia to help everyone as long he stay here in case if there are problems happen. Her jaw dropped, before she huffed.
"Well then, let's gather more Vidyadharas on our quest. I have nothing to lose."
Few days later...
Out of all places, the first base of operations are in Mount Everest. Ren was relieved because he's a Vidyadhara (human who infused with the Core of Deva) and he was immune to the decreasing temperature--since they can breath normally but humans are highly not recommended. Their journey had taken place from a few months to finally standing on the tip of Mt. Everest, exploring the mysterious place where the base of operations of the Scarlet Armband Army are hidden under the clouds. "Out of all places, THIS IS WHERE THE HELL IS HIDING!?!" Kaizo yelled as the winds blew, the harshness made it harder for them to walk or use weapons against the wind. "This is a huge hassle..." Izumo said with a pale face, while Hakuren sat on the rock with Ren who had to endure Shenlan who keep clinging to the rock. "This is nice."
Rihan stood beside Retsu when they observed the readings on their map, while Senjū and Reoh assisted Sadana in finding the coordinates--then something lit up on the screen of device after the coordinates was locked into the target zone: it leads to a mountain base. Sakura was immune to the cold because she's the God of Rebirth, while she was checking the readings on the barometer and took the logbook and examined it. "I detect an organic metallic alloy that fuses into solid ice, it's like those nano robots but bigger than it. The materials are completely natural and it has more complex construction that I ever imagined, considering the location and situation that this base had undergone mutations after undergoing some genetic experiments. It is highly likely that it developed from the void of Phantom Samsara," Sadana explained.
Ren tried to look away from the dead bodies of the mountaineers in the ruin, it seems to him--the ice had mutated into this kind of body with four limbs and armored skin. His eyes wandered for anything that can't be identified easily due to the severe state it went, the once human faces were now deformed and unrecognizable.
"Out of all places, why did they choose Mt. Everest for their lair?"
Ren asked, once they have arrived in the 'death zone' where there are several tents and icy tent flaps draped over them; where the corpses were barely identifiable. This was the highest altitude of the mountain; after only a few hours, the ice and snow were unable to cover the red bandage on the arms of the scouts' bodies. "The androids are immune to coldness, but not to our divine abilities and powers. Then, if they have no weakness--that will be a fatal blow for them!" Sakura explained, looking forward as she smiled at him. "From what I learned, not all climbers able to reach the peak of Mt. Everest in the right time without suffering heart attack, stroke, or severe altitude sickness. The mountain has not been kind to them who unable to survive, and that goes same to those who climbed it a hundred years ago. So, the androids choose their base of operations on this site to ease the potential loss. They have a better chances to thrive in such brutal weather."
Ren nodded, before he shrieked to see the golden mountain from the distance--it was also a home to a group of an intelligent yet, wild Yeti that inhabit the slope of the Everest's north ridge. Usually, they will hide when they smell the presence of other creatures, but it had other kinds of beast monsters that is inhabiting the mountainous region. "Anyone of you can speak Yeti language?" Kaizo remarked. They froze when they heard a bunch of Yetis are grunting and approached them when they heard the noise, Ren noticed that they were coming. "Easy there, my tour guide taught me few things that I'd learned and that's because I visited these areas before," Sadana explained while he looked at them carefully, before he cleared his throat and spoke to them.
"(Hello, fellow brothers. Are you willing to be our friends instead of being our enemies? If we decided to cooperate with each other, then you will accept our terms of our agreements as a sign of friendliness.)"
The Yetis are not harming them, but rather confused for a moment. "You see, back when my own time--in Indonesia's ancient era, they were always watching humans who traveled here and there," he muttered as he glanced at the direction, where the clouds had closed the icy tomb once more--sealing the death of those poor climbers forever. The Yetis nodded, then one male-looking Yeti approached Ren and offered its 'paw' to be shake. Ren slowly reach out his hand at the massive hairy paw that's trying to be shake up, and shake it as the 'prison cell' closes.
Everyone were smiling to see Yetis became friends with them, Sadana manage to negotiate with them.
"Aw~! They're so fluffy!"
Sakura squealed while hugging a few cute, young Yetis with baby's face--while the other adults looked at them with confusion. As for the male-looking Yeti, it looked at Ren for no apparent reason but its emotion shows: fear and wonder. Izumo flinched a little when one of the Yetis are sniffing him, while Hakuren made a gesture towards Kaizo if she could pat it. The Yetis seem to enjoy the warm hospitality and kindness, while Shenlan can't want to play with them. They have entered the main 'gateway' when they hear the alarm going off, alarm bells going off and Kaizo blinked as he watch some small mech units arrived and confronted them. "Stay away! What are you guys doing here?!" a human scientist shouted in fear, while Kaizo read the letters on their lab coat.
"I'm paying attention," Sadana ordered, making the scientist froze by his hypnotic voice. Ren eyed the red cloth band wrapped around their arm, and a red armband that binds their right arm--the exact same things those things that the robots of Scarlet Armband Army. "Let us in, please? There is no traitor who can betray them, you've involved in their mess," he stated while his golden eyes glowed brightly.
The army obeyed what Sadana ordered, taking out the key card into the slot and it's unlocked. "Good job, now it is our turn to investigate this," Sakura clasped her hands. Ren nodded and examine the main hall of the lab of the Scarlet Armband: it's a lair underground the top of the mountains. "The androids' main base of operation are in the area of Kathmandu, somewhere near Tribhuvan International Airport. Somewhere closer to Swayambhunath, where the androids made contact with the leader. Witnesses stated that there's a large group of military armed around the red palace of a former derelict."
"Tribhuvan International Airport? I heard that airport is very dangerous for the planes to land because of the step approach in this airport has a sudden mountain ridge underneath it, after the first tower in the sea of clouds. If the android's army are attacking the settlement, they will suffer injuries or death based on their ability to ascend onto the mountain top of the ridge," Rihan warned them. "Not that airport, please... I know it's not the main airport in Nepal but... I'm not entirely happy with flying unless you have parachutes..." Shenlan grumbled.
"No, we're not going there with a plane--we can just visit there without any hassle."
They went down to the 'death zone' on Mount Everest's main slope--in which these mountains started. All of them finally descended the main path down from the top, Sadana was holding the walkie-talkie as he talked with the Sherpa guides over the radio. "We already informed Sherpa settlements ahead that we're coming here. We had evacuated the nearby village and used a secret elevator so we didn't have to suffer from intense cold, fortunately, they let us join the Sherpas who escorted us through the climbing trail which was a bit faster," he paused, then he informed the soldiers of Narayana's Scions to make sure they had secured the said base.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
On the other side...
Izayoi landed on the ground as he was in the forest of Kathmandu, the human android couldn't believe he can't recall anything except his identity was given by his creator. All he remember that he used to be human and suddenly have an accident involving Scarlet Armband Army that put him in that state. This version of him seem to be new as he was still in development. "What was I doing out here? Why the hell am I in an abandoned forest?" he frowned, walking around and searching for an entrance that leads him into a nearby location.
He still has to find more about the other three members and the deities they have been protecting.
He has arrived in the riverside and saw an abandoned temple being covered in vines as the environment was affected by time. This must be an ancient temple that had gone rouge and forgotten by the local people, he narrowed his eyes as heapproached the stone steps and ran towards the entrance. The golden carved doors were opened wide as if it was intentional or unintentionally left by someone who had came here. He stepped into the doorway, until he paused to see a chained German Shepherd puppy was inside--wailing in hunger and want to get out of here.
Izayoi didn't know why but he feel a bit comforted when the puppy sees him as the only hope. "There, there..." he whispered, touched the bars. The puppy wagged his tail as it nudged its face onto his palm. He formed a light yellow orb and aimed it at the shackles, destroying the chains and collars without harming the puppy.
"There we go," Izayoi hummed, petting the soft fluffy fur of the puppy. 'Now what should I do with this little puppy? I never owned a pet so I'm trying to figure it out,' he thought. Then, a growl emitted from the dog's stomach, it whined painfully. "Guess I can feed you, lil' pup. Is there any food in this temple?" Izayoi sighed, as he turned his head on his side. Then, he remembered when he did bought one (for no reason, it was his money and he has free time to take things carelessly). "Well... I did brought a snack," he knelt and held up a plastic bag, then he gave the treats to the dog. The puppy barked and wagged its tail excitingly while Izayoi giving the treat to the puppy.
"So, what's the conclusion?"
Another android spoke while he stood across him, which Izayoi knew him as one of his master's segments--thus the one he encountered here named as Prime. He has a wavy blue short hair with long bangs, fair complexion and wears a dark blue and black beaked plague doctor's mask that covered his eyes. He wears a single blue teardrop earring on his left ear, his attire consists of white leather collar with silver colored chains, dark blue formal shirt with metallic cyan-colored wristbands and scarlet-colored armband on his left wrist, black gloves with buckle on each sides, black pants and white and black shoes that had gears, belt, and blue scarf on the back of his clothes.
While the Secondary-ranking androids respected their masters, the Prime-ranking androids like Izayoi are rebellious due to their nature of the corrupted memories that their former master possess on their minds. However, due to their intelligence--they don't even want to disobey with their masters but is willing to commit their goals. For Izayoi, his prime objective and personal goal are as followed: nobody can stop him from fulfilling his wishes. Izayoi shrugged, with one glance as he glanced to see the puppy was sleeping in the corners of the place. Castor raised an eyebrow, knowing Izayoi's action. "Oh right, it's you... Prime," Izayoi addressed him coldly as he get up and stood up, he crossed his arms and approached him while scoffing.
Prime was busy holding a flask of blue potion filled inside, it is designed with the name called the Nectar of Gandapana that was supposed to be dangerous to the people around but it can be a great gift to be used by them or against the enemies. He's the medical genius and the potions, explosives and chemicals he invented are almost dangerous.
"Not even thank you for allowing me to enter this abandoned temple?" Prime replied with calm tone and cold attitude, not bothered by him since he seemed more important. Izayoi hated it when he has his way too much with pride, which makes him less tolerate with his usual personality. Izayoi moved his right fingers as if gesturing to 'shoo' the fellow android, not all androids get along with each other--let alone working together because it can be stressful for them to face their rebellious phase or any personal reason. "You're not even smart to notice the problem, well that's expected coming from a lunatic that you are," Izayoi shrugged. "You're really a brat, androids around your age are getting better despite not being a genetically engineered human."
The two androids stared at the German Shepherd puppy and how cute it is, casting smiles on their faces. Then, they realized they smiled at the puppy and suddenly scowling at each other without forgetting a chance to stare at each other angrily. "Screw you," Izayoi scoffed and looked away. "Thanks to your medicine, the dog will be alright."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm not afraid to cause a fire hazard to you and your idiotic colleagues, whatever," Prime replied as he walk past him. "And I'm not the 'Bomb Expert' in front of your colleagues," Izayoi scoffed, putting quotations with his fingers. "Seems like your intelligence gotten a 'short-circuit issue' in your hardware, Izayoi," the fellow android commented. "Now straight to the point, are you ready to report the outcomes of the situation to your leader or are you just going to stay here and have an inappropriate brawl battle in this place until I knock some sense into you?" he asked, as he crossed his arms.
"Of course I have it in a document, this place had the negative effect when it comes to communication. But at least I have my private channels from HQ, just in case I forgot and the system is no longer available. Just tell your leader that I'll send you the message and that's what he wanted. Let the matter be settled down without chaos happened and please don't waste our energy or time to brawl against each other," Izayoi ordered to the fellow android, before he kneel down and cradled the sleeping puppy.
The dog whimpered while snuggled on Izayoi's chest, he never expected how this little puppy reminded him of someone whom he trusted--but as far as he know, he never recalled of his past life or memories. "And don't you fucking dare having an idea of experimenting an innocent animals here or this dog might suffer in agony," he warned him as Prime frowned in distaste, before he sighed in relief. "Honestly, the poor thing was suffering enough like those innocent mortals you've been messing with," Izayoi added, Prime released a chuckle. "Wouldn't hurt to experiment a cuter thing. But, I can promise you that."
They have arrived in Kathmandu city in the early morning, the sky painted with white and light gray fogs above them as they observed the sky. Once they are nearby, they descended from the hilltop to avoid suspicion on their own privacy. "Oh come on, let me finish my research about the 'golden mountain' in Himalayas. The folks warned us not to go there, because it is known that the 'golden mountain' is the abode of all gods..." Prime said, as if he felt quite envious when the soldiers including his commander or Izayoi got their mission there (especially the higher ups). "But not only that, that place also give us a great chance to absorb its energies and power into our systems. I can improve all the weaponries and invent new technology during the free time before the military march was prepared, and I recommend you to help me..." he attempted to persuade him to join him, as Izayoi knew his second identity as a tech expert.
Izayoi sighed, rubbing the puppy's head which the dog responded with a happy bark. "Do you want to stay in 'The Balcony' in the Everest or hanging near the 'death zone' in the summit? That is the least effective place to extract the energy needed, beside you won't have to take a chance to survive after you collected whatever you needed from up there. Plus, it is very cold up there, are you willing to take a risk for this part? Come on, we androids are build in the winter--just like the Gorkhas, you know? Those Vidyadharas are similar to Sherpas, I'm 100% positive that I can come up with the idea of giving all the androids warmth gear," he persuaded once more, pleading with his hand folded together.
The android that was built for the warmth of cold weather couldn't help but grow curious, this guy was anticipating to climb into a high-ass summit. "This little pup here can't stand of cold temperature, we must hurry and searched for the puppy's owner--"
"That little guy doesn't have a collar on his neck, which means he's a stray," Prime explained, tilting his head a little. "Maybe you can adopt him?"
A groan was heard from the redhead, scratching his temples in irritation. Prime patted the German Shepherd puppy's fur gently, while he stared at the cute little ball. "Fuck, I want to eat--I can't believe we androids are programmed to eat like humans," Izayoi retorted while following his companion. "Fine, what do you want to eat? My treat," Castor asked once they're not too far from each other. "Yeah, why not?" Izayoi murmured.
As far as he knew, he liked the weather of the place than he thought because androids are not affected to any diseases but physical pain. The Prime-ranking androids are human-like with superhuman strength and agility and doesn't show any signs of weakness... but yet it is not immune to anything that have power or greater than them or its system may be rebooted or malfunction for a long period of time.
The two androids has arrived at the restaurant that popular for all tourists (mountaineers mostly) near the temple, while the puppy was allowed to enter with both of them. "Do you know someone... around your age?" he asked, which it surprised Prime. "I'm a segment, you dumbass. I don't have a human companion because my personality isn't match to interact with humans like their personalities. Now why did you want someone to spend your time and... befriend with them?"
Prime asked as he glanced at the android with his blood-red eyes, taking off his mask--which his skin tone and other features are identical but his eyes are the part that making him feel like himself. Without the mask on, he feels like he was an entirely different person. "One of the humans I encountered is interesting. And we talked. He has friends whom are also humans, so it'll be necessary to take a walk in the beach and build some relationship. What was his name again? Ah right, it's Riyanda Tjahyana."
Izayoi stated, before eating his food. He was not the one who is polite often, but he didn't want his body and clothes to get dirty. "And by the way... you wear weird clothes. There's no fashion style in your current outfit, except your mask that look like a beak or plague doctor's mask," Izayoi teased, sipping his iced drink. "Hey, is that a joke on my fashion sense?" he exclaimed.
Oh it is indeed, Izayoi. The puppy was busy eating on the floor, not even caring to bite the android's finger. In all honesty, they are not affected to their own creation--the one who create them. They prefer their master's safety than ever leaving their friend behind, but they also don't hesitate to betray their creators for the sake of being rebels and beneficial purposes. There are times when they act 'independent' such as protecting innocents and people who they're close with or disliked (unless Prime didn't mind to kick an ass of an enemy).
After they finished their food, the puppy followed the two androids and mostly clinging to Izayoi's side. Prime was testing the small tube filled with liquids inside like usual, until he yelped when a soccer ball hit the back of his head by accident--from one of the local kids. Prime groaned from the pain, pressing a button onto his head to open his metal cranium, then his brains lit up to glow and reveal the electronic wires and computer-like technology that his system needs to recover the damages that the coconut inflicted. "WHAT THE FUCK?! THAT HURTS SO MUCH, YOU BRATS! ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A HEADACHE BECAUSE YOU WANNA BREAK SOMETHING?!"
Prime shouted in anger while waving his fist at the five kids, all of them laughed and ran away--as if the android had no idea where those pests had gone. "If you think that you're a 'real' human or organic lifeform by having a brain system in your android body, then the impact should really done something," he scoffed before lowered his gaze to see the puppy ran after his toy that rolled to the ground. Prime grumbled, before he take out one of his equipments for repairs specialized for androids--a scalpels, mechanical tools and hammers. "If I get a punch from a god's power, then I have a higher chance of being killed, if I know their advanced technology..." he spoke, concentrating to his repair as the palm of his hands opened and saw the wire connections.
Izayoi was playing with the puppy and he was letting it to catch him by letting the puppy pounce at him, the animal barked cheerfully when the android petted the puppy. Ren is worried if this war is almost heading into a catastrophic chaos, unless Izayoi must be on the other side of the city and hoping that he wouldn't be encountered with the androids from the Scarlet Armband Army. He was exploring the city for a moment, before he encountered a small German Shepherd puppy approached him and happily barking as he walked towards him.
It reminded him from the moments when he played with local dogs or he had bonded with a few animals, making him warm up to the animal quickly. "Hey there, cutie..." Ren greeted with a smile, he knelt down and stroked the puppy's head. "You looks lonely. Do you want some company?"
Izayoi arrived at the scene, the android stared him in annoyance. "Tch, perfect timing you showed up here without my acknowledgement, and who's giving you permission to have the puppy?" he asked, with a hint of jealousy could be heard, making Ren yelped to see his enemy here as he stand up. He wanted to summon his polearm but stopped by Izayoi held up his hand, then he stated. "Now now, I don't want to have a brawl session here--you literally dragged me out from the river before I get malfunctioned. So, why should I attack you when you helped me before?" he questioned his logic, before he examined the environment.
Ren remembered that, which he grinned at him. "Great, does that mean you owe me one thing?" he asked teasingly, but Izayoi sighed while Prime still fixing the issues on his metal cranium. "Fine, that'll make me lose one," he replied and put his hands on his pockets, watching the puppy wagged its tail in happiness. "Well, I just took care of this little pupper here."
Woah... he looked completely different, unlike the time when Izayoi acted like a sadistic creep--he's absolutely calm but only focusing onto his friend. Is it a side effect of the nano machines? Ren didn't seem surprised as the puppy ran into his owner and barked. Izayoi noticed Ren's friends are here, but he didn't seems intimidated by them (unlike Prime, who was busy fixing his head). "Huh, look at who's standing here," Hakuren commented while standing beside Ren, narrowing her eyes. "Oh, we are students going to study about the local culture around Kathmandu," Izayoi lied, as if he was going to study them.
Izumo stared at Izayoi's head, before he smacked them which made him yelled in pain and growled in anger. Ren blinked, with his jaw dropped. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" Izayoi yelled at him, holding his head. The German Shepherd puppy whined, hugging his front paws as it stared at its owner. "Nothing, just to make sure if your memory is lost or not," Izumo mocked playfully. "Does that mean you forgot everything? Or you just pretend to act differently?" Kaizo asked out of curiosity, while Shenlan grabbed the puppy and cuddled it.
"Well, the puppy had a blast because he found a new master and a new companion," she suggested, hugging it like a cute stuffed toy. "So, guess we can't follow you around. Or, how about we make an alliance?" Sakura teased with a mischievous smile, not bothered by his fake identity. "Guess that sounds legit," Prime commented, grunting in pain after he fixed his head. "Or else the locals will suspect us, too. Come on, we promise not to disturb your goals. Or, we'll remove the bomb and the drive detector from your systemand we won't do any harm," Ren stated, putting his bag down as he petted the puppy with a laugh.
The two androids exchanged glances, Prime seemed displeased to have the 'probe' or 'drive detector' inside the right side of their craniums. As a scientific genius he is, Prime was designed and created in Scarlet Armband Army as someone who had an high ability to create various equipment for the army. Each androids were divided and distributed with various talents that they're supposed to find and absorb these capabilities from them. He was a scientist android and his creator's prime segment due to his capability to create various weapons and gadgets in useful purposes, and there's no reason for him to study further so as an android he has 100% comprehension and fast understanding ability towards something for him to serve for her leader, but sometimes he used this power of his knowledge to look into some loopholes and exploits.
"Wait, since when we have a bomb implanted in us--do we have a 'Death Button' or not?!"
Prime questioned, now he doesn't have a bomb inside him to begin with. His fingers were forming circles as he pulled his mental files, that data was from long time ago and he thought he had removed it after the maintenance. "Oh wait, nevermind... I don't have it. Looks like you need some maintenance, Izayoi, we're here not to cause any more trouble or damage to you," he explained as he lowered his tone, a grin formed on his face. "I hope we can have a good night stay together with the creatures called dogs, I have acquired one puppy," Izayoi nodded as he pat the head of the said puppy. "Looks like you gave me another job."
Prime grumbled, because he's the 'special-type' Prime-ranking android--he doesn't have both bomb and drive detector within him. Sakura cradled the sleeping puppy while Prime deactivated Izayoi's drive detector located inside the android's cranium, it feels weird after all the androids get a fair treatment or safety precautions during maintenance. He has a great ability to repair stuff around, from human's home appliance to androids (if he set his priority); most of all his weapons and androids he created are 100% efficient and trustworthy, it seems like he just put some few issues with his creations and it's dangerous to use. Ren watched the scientist-android remove the bomb carefully, the hardest part of removing the android's part is keeping them stable and safe without waking up another android. His primary job is the android maintenance itself, he even can fix himself or someone else when he want to work on his inventions, according to the data that his scanner provided: Izayoi was released a year after Prime.
Sakura squealed excitedly to see he held up a drive, chucking the drive lightly as she catch it. More worse, the drive detector is difficult to get as it has a safety protection and emergency feature installed inside them when they're inside their cranium. "Why did you put the drive detector inside the androids' cranium? We know Androids cannot be turned against their own masters due to their strong trust against your creator?" Ren asked curiously, observing Prime putting the new drive into the console. "Before I could remember it clearly, it serves as the eye of your leader and you're given authorization to come here on this land--because you're given authority by the leader and thus, the drive detectors serve as the guidance system. One wrong move, and you're fucked. Especially for androids that are at the peak of their rebellion and ready to betray their own creator. If the drive detector goes missing or destroyed, then they will realize their true nature is to rise against them alone," Prime explained, pulling out the bomb so it would be ejected from the android's body. It seems like Prime had a short temper, though he can tolerate them.
"This bomb here, is intentionally designed when the androids are planned to turn rebellious or disobey their commander at the least expected situation. In case you are thinking of 'tricks' because you're aware of our ability, the androids are programmed and designed based on their natural skills and personal skills such as you humans. This could happen if the drives are not taken away from you and purposely allowing the androids to rebel against their maker. In the event of such situation, their master has to command the other androids to attack the rebel force while you are fighting--the rebellious android would like... this Izayoi. But, Izayoi is one of the 'first' Prime-ranking androids so his bomb is still a prototype model, but this will never be activated..."
He told them, as he examine the bomb and the features before disposing the bomb. He checked the features and it seemed to be a quite a bad luck or bad joke from their leader for himself. "As for me, I don't have either drive detector nor a bomb in me."
Sakura went silent after he got an explanation of the Scarlet Army, knowing the two would be separated from each other because they must have separated tasks from their creator. After that, Izayoi is now free from anything related to his main 'body' even their leader wanted to know everything about their abilities and to make sure none of them would betray him. Prime finished putting back the metal cranium and fixed it, after activating Izayoi's new drive which he was deactivated on the moment. "He and I are undetected, since we went here alone. He will think about himself. Isn't that how we work?" he asked, tucking his tools inside the coat's pocket.
"Wouldn't surprise me, he used to be a technician robot and now he used this power of his to do anything--"
They paused when Izayoi woke up once he was reactivated, before he whined. "Stop with calling us robot for fuck's sake... let alone cyborg... or machine... we're not machines, nor robots to begin with," he stated his discontent of the negative term towards him, even it wasn't intended to insulted them. "By the way, Riyanda Tjahyana... what's your intention now? Do you want to overthrow the gods like us?" Prime asked in interest, that made Ren narrowed his eyes--clenching his fists. "I wanted to save humanity from the unfair law," he replied. Izumo chuckled, crossing his arms. "Bah! You have to follow the steps as Izayoi did it. Otherwise, your attempts are truly futile. The only way to save the world is to destroy all the gods and leave humans alone, other ways aren't an options--"
"By challenging the gods if they're worth to be one."
Ren declared, causing them to gasp in disbelief. Prime seems convinced that he really hates god or this Pantheon, causing him to exchange glances with Izayoi and the others. "We could consider that," Prime suggested. "It's the only fair way."
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