Chapter 21: Home ground

Libby spends some time making her first constructs within the spirit shell. Adam’s first offensive abilities, other than swearing that is, to try out. Now hardcoded and ready to execute.

In a blue box appeared a message:

Libby Skills Added Shadow Bolt Level 1, Shadow field Level 1

A message to say I’ve got a skill available. Neat.

Adam laboriously pulls himself up using the wire he had been hanging from and the metal track on the side of the shaft. He slows as he gets near the lip, listening hard for any sounds. Either they have gone or they’d already heard him. Was there a graceful way of getting the rest of the way? Nope.

He was surprised as a sphere of shadow appeared around him. Then remembered the notification. Shadow field. He wouldn’t have noticed only for the fact that he had stopped just below the lip of the shaft and was looking up out into the daylight.

Next a mana and health display appears. Thanks Huba and Libby thought Adam. That’s a whole lot better than a screen of data, obscuring my vision. Surely there is some way I can do that with the system. Presumably life-forms in the rest of the mult-verse, learn this stuff when they are kids.

HP

45/45

MP

12000/12000

I finally crept to my feet there was no sign of life. I then remembered I was supposed to be live testing, isn’t that what they had called it, I joked to himself. I traipsed off in a random direction, trying to keep low. Then thought to hell with it, maybe I could just blow stuff up and get someone’s attention.

As soon as I thought it a darker ring appeared above my head, in the sphere.

Libby Skill Updated Skill Shadow Bolt upgraded to: Shadow Crown – 10 Shadow Bolts held in crown at Level 1

Within this ring I could make out many darker blobs. Shadow bolts? Hell, yes.

I spotted some vents close by spewing out grey plumes of smoke. Was about to target it them. When I heard a twang as a bullet almost took my ear off. I fell to the ground. Congratulating myself, that I was playing safe. Head shots are a thing you know, remind myself.

I rolled across the ground. That’s what you’re supposed to do isn’t it? I have no experience of shooting. Well not something that’s moving, and trying to shoot at me. If it was a tin can, I’m your man but it wasn’t. I had some martial arts competency as you know but that doesn’t do much at 100 meters away.

I swung my head in the direction I last saw the guys, only to see one guy pointing his weapon straight at me and another to his left, doing the same. Two mana bolts wizzed off in their direction. As soon as I mentally pulled the trigger. Shame they didn’t travel at the speed of light, like in the simulation. Or maybe they were just further away. Yeah, probably that but it still surprised the hell out of the guys.

The first one who shot at me managed to dodge and the other started yelling something, So I ran straight at them figuring I better get in range. As I ran a barrage of bolts flew from over my head. They may have been slower than bullets but surprise was on my side still and they were peppered with them. I stopped as I got close looking for anyone else. I couldn’t see how badly they were injured but they were twitching on the ground. So that bit worked.

Libby Skill Updated Skill Shadow field upgraded to: Shadow Shield – Level 1 Shadow density 5.0

This time a hail of bullets came my way from in the distance as a vehicle carrying more, people? With rifles of some type, I conjecture. Came swinging round the side of the main mining area I had originally arrived from. The first few bullets made “thwurrr” noises.

Libby Skill Updated Skill Shadow field upgraded to: Shadow Shield – Level 5 Shadow density now 25.0

But then start bouncing around on the ground. I noticed the sphere around me that was completely translucent, has now become clearly darker, on the side, facing my attackers. A shield. Nice.

I target the truck itself causing the driver to stop as the soldiers pile out. There look to be about eight combatants. I sneak a look at the first two, I downed, no movement. I’m curious to know how many bolts can be thrown out and how fast.

HP

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45/45

MP

6450/12000

Libby Skill Updated Shadow Crown upgraded to: Level 3 ,30 Shadow Bolts now held

I focus on the soldiers and a hydrant of black shoots at them. They mostly manage to roll out of the way but can’t help but get hit by the sheer volume of strikes. Ok. I try sending waves in a snaking pattern. Ok that worked they seem to be incapacitated, at the moment. I check my mana and health bars. Mana is down to around 7,000 and my health is still practically full. I figure I must have used almost 100 bolts. Ok, that’s a lot. I walk over to the two nearest. They are quite badly burnt up. I then wonder whether to investigate the others or make back for the pit and call this it for the ‘live testing’ as I’m sure more enemies will be along soon.

“Is that enough of a live test for now?” I think to no one in particular.

Libby Skill Updated Skill Shadow field upgraded to: Shadow Shield – Level 10 Shadow density now 50.0

At this moment I’m hit by a searing pain and feel myself falling to the ground. I try to turn in the direction I was hit. To see my attackers. I land in a heap. There is a strong burning sensation in my lower body. I put out my hand to cradle my head as I hit the ground. I know something is very wrong. As I can’t feel my legs at all. I spot someone near the truck.

HP

14/45

MP

6110/12000

Libby Skill Updated Shadow Crown upgraded to: Level 10 100 Shadow Bolts now held

I send a hail of bolts at him. With all the mana I have left. Like a storm of deathly crows, the crackling energy descends upon him, devouring him whole. It must be 100 bolts. An explosion, follows. I wonder if Huba can replay this after? I have more pressing matters. Like the fact that I no longer have any legs. This could be bad, I’m a sitting duck. I try to look to see what other damage I’ve taken. I should have blacked out but with Acclimatization, evidently it takes being knocked on the side of the head to do that. I get a flash back of the naturists fight from before. Energy beam. I see the tell-tale signs. My middle is just charred remains. What now?

It must have been the driver of the truck that had some kind of energy weapon and it just punched straight through my shadow shield and a whole heap of me. Shame I liked that shadow shield. I try to drag myself towards the pit. Where ever that is.

“Hang in there soldier. We would have let you black out but we need you all eyes still. ”, Bones says.

I try to keep myself upright so I can scan in the direction of the truck. I can’t breathe evidently an important part of me is missing and I just can’t take a breath.

HP

5/45

MP

35/12000

Libby is working in overdrive, even for her. She is sick with worry not that Adam will die from his wounds, they are no biggie but the fact that he will be trapped, in his incapacitated state, and blown to bits, is. With Echo’s help she has tried out something she had wanted to before. Shadow phase. She has read about people using this to traverse physical distances quickly. A sort of very slow teleportation or more practically a way to phase through physical objects. Only problem is Adam has no legs, well he has but not attached as yet.

In the shadow realm, there is a trackless space, filled with Who knows what? She would like to have a poke around but Adam first.

Libby Skill Added Shadow Phase Level 1

With the shadow energy fully encompassing Adam’s body parts, she phases him into the shadow realm. She then moves the shadow energy with him inside it effectively, teleporting him several meters away. Checking his status she sees it has worked. No dead Adam. She and the others do metaphorical fist bumps. Another one of her theories tested and vindicated. Who needs dangerous teleportation devices?

The shadow sphere that surrounded me shrinks then I’m somewhere else. I’m still near the shaft but a few meters away, hard to say I’m so disorientated.

Bones thought Libby should have the title Dr Libby now. It was only fair. One mad scientist giving due respect to another. She had taken Echo’s theories on teleportation and applied them to shadow energies. It did help that the shadow realm was nothing but shadow energy. Kind of a cheat but still. At this rate their names would be known across the multi-verse or they would be very dead, very soon. Nobody likes a smart arse unless they’re on their side.

Libby with Echo’s help phased Adam back, next to the two corpses then used these materials to fuel a new ability Shadow enhance?. It uses Acclimatization and Absorb turned up to max. Another, first for Libby and the team! Save the celebrations until we’ve seen if it actually works thinks Libby, getting a bit ahead of herself.

Libby Skill Added Shadow Enhance Level 1

To Adam even with his senses incredibly dulled. It still felt incredibly weird to have his body turn into some kind of fluid as it moved in all kinds of directions, inside and outside. But he had to say it was a very quick service. And he gratefully took in a sharp intake of breath, as his lungs were back in one piece again. Sweet fresh air. Thank you, Thank you. Mad scientist everywhere

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Slait was torn between getting the hell out of there and watching the guy who’d just been torn in half, now sitting up, right as rain. And that was, after he’d seemingly teleported. He wished he had the same medical insurance company as this guy. He himself had barely managed to not be turned into Mr crispy, as the truck bloomed into a fireball after being hit by Mr Hell-spawns’ cloud of death.

He wondered just what the hell was he? And what he would tell his superiors if and when he got to them. He only hedged telling the truth as he knew their protocol. More than likely they’d send him back after the guy again with another group, once they patched him up. He had the most info on the guy. So if he was going to face this guy again better they know the full details before heading out.

Fortunately his mate, Sanderson, would vouch for him. Otherwise they might think he was shell shocked when he told them that this was not his first encounter with the guy. That they had riddled him with bullets the first time. And seen him drop down a thousand meter pit shaft. Only for him to return to them, an avenging dark angel, bigger and badder but still strangely naked.

He looked just like that guy but then why didn’t he use that energy shield before. Maybe they just got the jump on him. Boy, Sanderson will laugh at how lucky he was to get out of there alive, first time round.