The group settled in the workstation, the Bastians were lying around on the floor with their eyes darting about the unfamiliar environment. Simultaneously, Mentos marvelled at the tech gadgets scattered around with unspoken questions. Hao simply motioned over to a work desk where he removed Judgment Day from his back and placed it nice and easy on the counter. Next, he called over Mentos to help him unload the bone.
“Carefully set it down.”
“I got it, mate.”
With a heavy thud, Hao and Mentos, using their combined strength, lifted the bone from Maelstrom's back and gingerly placed it on the workbench. It was an intimidating sight when compared to the polished equipment surrounding it. Its rough surface appeared to shiver with a minute vibration running across it in response to the pressure. The bone had a residual echo of the great Tokyo it once was a part of. It captured Mentos and Hao’s focus for a while but not for long.
Their bodies were caked in grime and sweat from the remnants of their recent ordeals. So a much-needed shower was in order, thus they made their way towards the washroom, leaving behind the bone still subtly vibrating on the workbench.
The washroom was massive, more akin to a bathhouse. A large, radiant pool took centre stage. Already swimming inside it were Euphony and Symphony with their illuminating translucent bodies coupled with their shrimp-like legs that were propelling them through the water with ease. Their twin tails left behind a trail of bubbles as they swam, their bubbly breath also populated the space with floating liquid. Watching the water rippling with every movement was an enchanting sight to behold. The Sword Fishes continued to frolic as if putting on a show just for them.
In his usual jovial manner, Mentos stripped down, revealing his toned physique. A playful smirk stretched across his face as he tossed a handful of powder soap onto Acadian, who yelped in surprise. Laughing heartily, Mentos then grabbed a nearby hose and began spraying the beast down, the water was washing off the grime while the soap created a frothy mess around him. The entire scene was filled with playful banter; a moment of respite after the recent turmoil.
Hao was at the edge of the pool with a towel wrapped around his waist and Vibe Edge in hand. He was pacing back and forth with a dishevelled mind. The prospect of meeting his mother filled him with unease. Thus he focused on the vibrations around him, trying to calm his nerve; so far it wasn’t helping.
Mentos misread Hao's body language and called out to him, "Relax mate, we're safe now. We're in one of Portal Bay’s most elite establishments, sheltered beneath your mother's wings, nothing can happen to us." With that, he dove into the pool, creating a splash that made the Sword Fishes scatter. He emerged, shaking his mohawk free of water droplets, and invited Hao to join them. “Come on in, the water is still fresh.”
"No, you lot have fun. I'm going to check on something," Hao replied curtly then left them behind, he entered the room where the ominous bone and Judgment Day lay. The room was quiet. He placed Vibe Edge on the workbench with his hand lingering on its hilt. Sitting on a chair, his thoughts wandered back to the Conclave, at the specific moment when he used Volume Raiser to stop the big debris from the ceiling and aid his escape.
“Back there it...” Still in thought, he slowly unsheathed Vibe Edge and noticed an almost invisible crack that ran along the lower part of the blade. This was a result of its overuse. He carefully tapped it to test its durability, but he witnessed the cracked portion falling onto the desk.
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“As I thought, it’s busted.” A wave of emotions washed over Hao as he scanned the broken blade. Vibe Edge was an extension of his spirit. His heart ached in its damaged state. The cracked blade reminded him of the path he had chosen, a path that led to his separation from his mother, and the path that now led him back to her. A path with danger, but also one that brought him close to companions like Mentos and the Bastians.
His fingers traced the broken edge of the blade, the cold steel still holding the warmth of the battles fought. Each nick, each scratch, each imperfection was a story, a memory imprinted into its form. It was more than just a weapon; it was a part of his identity.
The crack that marred its otherwise flawless blade was more than a mere physical blemish; it was a debilitating flaw that drastically curtailed the sword's performance. The impairment of its function was akin to a sharp reduction in Hao's vision. He could feel how it interfered with the usual flow of vibrations, making his Vibe Sense murky and indistinct.
Beside him on the workbench was a small box-like device - a Disque Port. It was a simple, unassuming gadget, yet it held the key to the intricate world within a Blade Edge. Its small size didn’t diminish its significant function. Hao reached out for it and close his fingers around its compact form.
With a sense of resolve, he attached the Disque Port to the hilt of Vibe Edge. As the Disque Port made contact with the sword, a stream of blue light burst forth from it as it was taken apart into a holographic as well as physical display. Hao pushed away the various sword parts then moved his fingers deftly over a screen, navigating through the layers of data to open the Sword Details of Vibe Edge.
The Sword Details was a comprehensive catalogue of every attribute and ability of the sword. As Hao's fingers scrolled through the screen, a series of information flashed before him.
User: Hao Vee
Sword Type: Uncommon
Sword Spirit: Vibe Edge
Link Connection: 66%
HP: 140
Tunes: 40
Passive Skills>>
1. Blind Fury
2. Sword Mastery
3. Vibe Sense
4. Enhanced Hearing
5. Quick Reflexes
6. Acute Smell
7. Precision Strike
Abilities>>
1. Night Tamer
- Shadowstep Slash
- Twin Portal Slash
2. Quick Draw
- Drive
3. Vibe Seeker
4. Volume Raiser
5. Spin-Off
Upgrades>>
Sword Spirit Feature:
- Inner Voice
“Yeah, yeah, I’m aware of these already.” Hao's focus shifted to the Sword Spirit. Vibe Edge's Sword Spirit was a mesmerising sight. It resembled a pulsating blue star, its vibrancy was fluctuating with the rhythm of the sword's vibrations. Surrounding it was a beautiful wave frequency, each wave was resonating with the beat of Hao's heart. This was the heart of Vibe Edge, the source of its life, its essence.
Hao's attention then returned to the cracked blade. The fault line was a vexing problem. Repairing a sword without its original blueprint was a risky and arduous task, fraught with potential pitfalls. It was akin to navigating through a maze in the dark, every wrong turn led to a potential catastrophe, yet he tried his luck.
“Ok… this is worrying… it’s going to be difficult to work around this.” Despite his skills as a Blade Engineer, the intricacies of Vibe Edge's internal mechanics eluded Hao's understanding. Its complexity was not befitting of an Uncommon tier Blade Edge, which only added to his bafflement. His analysis of the sword had only led him to conclude that it could only be repaired by its original creator who still holds the blueprint—his mother.
“Tsk.” Hao became annoyed at this realization. The prospect of confronting his mother was daunting, but it was a necessary hurdle he had to cross. For his vision, for his survival, he had to brave the storm. His sight, Vibe Sense, was tethered to Vibe Edge. So without it, he was blind, and in the treacherous world he lived in, blindness was akin to a death sentence.
The decision weighed heavily on Hao. He sighed while detaching the Disque Port, returning Vibe Edge to its compact state. He had a pensive countenance, but amidst his contemplation, one thought stood firm – ‘I will get Vibe Edge fixed, no matter the cost.’