Taog took a deep breath, rubbing his chin. Ateia had spoken to him on the nature of her cybernetic implants once she understood it herself, so Taog was at least partially aware of what a cyborg was.
“You mean…get the same kind of armor you and Ateia have? And…replace my arms and legs and stuff? And hook into my mind somehow?”
“Clarification: Friendly Taog is mostly correct, however Colleöne has claimed the new processing facility will not remove limbs as part of the process. This unit has not tested the procedure on a humanoid subject and so cannot fully verify those claims at this time, but predicts the claim is likely accurate.”
“That’s…”
Taog rubbed his chin. Ateia frowned, and fidgeted to his side.
“Taog…”
Taog turned to look at her, and took a deep breath.
“I know what you want to say. It wasn’t very pleasant for you at first, right? And you’re worried I would do this just because I said I wanted to follow after you?”
Ateia stayed silent for a bit, but slowly nodded. Taog grinned at her.
“Well…I’m not excited for the painful aspect but…I’m not going to do this just because. It’s more than just armor right? It connects you to Seero somehow, let’s you understand her, right?”
Ateia slowly nodded. Taog nodded back then turned to face NSLICE-00P.
“I’ve decided to follow Seero. So…I want to understand her, and be as helpful to her as I can. So, Seero, if you want me to, I’ll do that upgrade thing.”
“Acknowledged. Affirmative Statement: This unit highly recommends cybernetic upgrades to improve efficiency and enable integration into the NSLICE network.”
Taog nodded.
“Then let’s do it.”
“Affirmative.”
NSLICE-00P opened up an entrance to the New World. Ateia had a complicated look on her face, but led Taog inside.
A short while later…Taog exited the processing facility. Metal armor covered his torso and half his head. A metal exoskeleton covered the outer half of his arms, leading to metal gauntlets over his elbows and the top of his hands. A metal exoskeleton supported his legs as well. His organic eye was open wide.
“Whoa…”
Panels opened and closed all over his armor as his new cybernetic half ran diagnostics. Armor extended out from his limb exoskeletons, fully encasing his organic limbs before receding back. A helmet engaged and disengaged, and his vision lit up with illusions that resembled the records from the Aesdes.
And then a message passed before his eyes.
“Connection established. Linking to nearby NSLICE units.”
Suddenly, he could feel his thoughts expand beyond himself. Like sparks traveling from his mind into the metal parts in his head, then out into the air…and into the metal parts of someone else.
“Ateia?”
Ateia made a complicated smile. She didn’t say anything out loud. Instead, another message passed before Taog’s eyes.
“Hi Taog.”
Taog grinned. He held up his hand, turning it to glance at the metal armor around it, and then clenched it into a fist.
“Let’s pull some Seeros.”
Taog and Ateia exited the new world and found the rest of NSLICE-00P’s subordinates waiting. 01R crossed his arms.
“Hmmm…you have been most suspicious-disrespectful towards the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen, yes yes. But…if she has deigned-decided in her unfathomable grace and kindness to accept you anyways, then so shall we. Welcome, New Little Brother, to the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen’s army! May you fight-strive always to honor her name.”
“Um, I’ll do my best?”
And so CELIU Taog joined the network.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
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Taog held his blade as he stood on the beach. He took a deep breath…and then activated his new skill.
Active Skills Name Level Description Dark Shroud 1 Unique Hero Skill for Taog Sutharlan. Wraps user in a fusion of Dark and Holy mana at double user’s normal mana density, providing defense and concealment. May use to empower physical attacks or cast Dark and Holy spells. Dark Shroud cycles with the user's mana and so costs no additional mana to maintain, though mana must be spent to replenish it after defending from attacks or using offensively.
His mana began to form a stream around him, converting into Dark mana but with an occasional silver glow. He focused on concealment and he shimmered and vanished from view.
Interestingly, he also felt his connection to the NSLICE network fade. It appeared his cybernetic components were restricting the external signals they were sending out in response to his desire for stealth.
He focused on defense and reappeared. The Dark Shroud instead turned an even darker black, glowing with a silver undertone. He then took a deep breath and lifted his sword. The Dark Shroud responded to his will and coated his sword, forming a Dark Blade over top of it.
He grinned and swung his blade, activating the Spellstrike skill and the Dark Bolt spell. The mana responded with ease, forming into a bolt-sized arc of Dark mana that flew off into the water of the cove. Taog grinned.
It seemed he would not need to throw his swords from now on.
Ateia watched, holding her chin as she watched the Dark magic fly from Taog’s blade.
“Was that some kind of skill?”
Taog turned to her and shook his head.
“I got some sort of ‘Spellstrike’ skill, it lets me cast magic with my sword.”
As Taog spoke, his cybernetic components linked to Ateia’s, and sent her data on the skill and his most recent activation of it. She blinked as the information streamed into her mind.
“Hm, I wonder…”
Taog tilted his head as Ateia walked off. She quickly returned, holding her bow in hand. She nocked and drew an arrow, her cybernetic arm now able to hold the bow drawn for as long as she pleased. So she was free to take her time and focus.
She reached into the NSLICE spell database and selected Light Bolt, as the attribute she was most naturally suited for. She formed the magic circle in the air…and then tried to move the mana towards her arrow like Taog did with his sword. Her robotic eye began flickering and her cybernetic half moved to support the effort, comparing the spell activation from the magic circle to Taog’s to adjust the movements of the mana.
And her Aesdes half focused, and her Holy mana moved along those patterns, reinforcing the effort.
The spell circle activated, but no bolt appeared. Instead, her arrow began to glow.
She let it loose.
It struck an incoming wave…and then a bolt of Light Mana shot from the tip of the arrow into the wave. Ateia blinked, and then slowly smiled.
“It worked…”
Taog blinked, and then crossed his arms.
“…that’s not fair, Ateia.”
She turned and smirked at him. She stepped forward and poked his side before realizing his torso was coated in metal, then poked his exposed cheek instead.
“You have access to that database too, you know? And Seero can apparently convert ALL of her spells into any attribute she knows.”
Taog tilted his head.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Ateia’s grin grew.
“So…your cybernetic half can show you how to cast a Dark Attribute version of any spell Seero has ever cast.”
Taog’s eye went as wide as it could.
“…that’s Seero for you. Um, could you show me how?”
Ateia placed a finger on her chin.
“Well…I could, but that might not be fair you know?”
Taog groaned and slapped his face.
“Ugh, I’m sorry.”
Ateia giggled and then linked her cybernetic half to Taog’s, showing him the NSLICE protocol database. She smiled at him.
“We’re all in this together, you know? I know you’re excited to become strong, and you’ve always wanted to protect me, right? But how about this instead, let’s become strong together, and protect each other?”
Taog flushed, but slowly nodded.
“That…doesn’t sound too bad.”
Ateia smiled wider and then opened the database to the spell section.
“Well let’s take a look then. Seero shares all of her skills and spells with the entire network, you know? She, as you might say, wants us all to pull a Seero if we can.”
Taog flushed even deeper at that as Ateia laughed at him. But his embarrassment faded as the list of spells passed before his eyes. As Ateia had stated, NSLICE-00P had shared her entire magical arsenal with them. Still, just having access to a spell circle was only the beginning, it would still take a lot of time and effort to learn even just one of them. It’s not like he could just select one of these and instantly cast…
“Dark Beam protocol downloaded. Executing command.”
His robotic eye flickered. A magic circle formed in the air, his Dark Shroud moving to fill it. A black beam with a silver glow shot into the cove.
You have learned the spell Dark Beam!
Taog stood completely still as he stared out at where the beam had struck. His mind went completely blank. Ateia made a huge grin.
“How’s that for ‘not fair?’ ”
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Colleöne smiled as she watched the two teens from a distance. She then turned away and began rubbing her chin. Eventually, she heaved a sigh.
“She formed her power into a skill she had never used before. She’s really come into her own, huh? Even faster than I thought.”
Colleöne glanced back at Ateia and took a deep breath.
“I guess…that’s just about it, then.”
Colleöne lingered for a while longer, and then took a step forward…