Kellin had made it to the other side of the rock clearing with time to spare. The Swarmlings, while fast, weren't that much quicker than he was when this young. Sporadic uses of [Cloak] were also more than enough to throw them off the scent every so often as well, making the trip relatively painless.
Well, in the sense that they made it, at least. The extreme taxing of their [Energy] resource left him a little nervous in the event they'd need to rush home, since they were at least a ten-minute all-out sprint away from their front door at this point. But for just fighting ten Swarmlings, they had plenty.
[Marine Condition:
Integrity: 87/100
Health: 78/80
Energy: 42/110
Mana: 36/56
Stamina: 26/110]
Unfortunately, the run and crafting had used up pretty much all of his [Stamina]. The extremely high waste ratio when utilizing mainly [Stamina] to run coupled with sprinting uphill and Gypsy producing five bullets for their [Pistols] had him nearly dry heaving on the other side of the clearing as they waited a few seconds for the Swarmlings to crash through the brush and charge.
All this combined meant Kellin currently found himself on his hands and knees, doing his best to catch his breath and not throw up from the over-exertion. He'd taken a bit of [Health] damage as well, but he blamed Gypsy for that.
"You could... have been smoother... about that," he complained, hands a bit cut and already feeling his sore knees getting ready to bruise.
-AI also loses stability due to strenuous activity,- she replied, ethereal voice coming from somewhere behind him a few feet.
"How... does that even make sense?" he choked out, fumbling around so he was at least facing the other end of the clearing.
Gypsy was gone, or at least he couldn't perceive her. Even while knowing exactly where she should be, the [Cloak] managed to hide her existence superbly. He wasn't even sure he'd be able to ever find her if she wanted to stay hidden, if not for their unique connection that always gave him a general idea of where she was.
As for why it was her fault he was in pain? She had practically ejected him, as if he was toast being sent out of a sideways set toaster, onto the rocks below them about a minute prior. Once he'd gotten them three-quarters of the way across the rock shelf, he'd [Unequipped], planning on resting for a second while turning around and setting up, only to be launched into the ground face-first like a dirty rag being thrown in the wash.
It hurt.
-Unsure. Phenomenon is gone now that Captain Finnel is removed. Decision making once again optimal. AI still advocates against this-
"We got this," he gasped out, standing up and checking the rounds chambered in his [Pistol] again. "Seven left... It'll be fine. Just don't miss."
A few seconds later, the noise the creatures were making increased in volume followed by three Swarmlings leaping out of some low brush onto the rocks, one slipping on a loose stone and falling down. His brothers behind him trampled the unfortunate creature, ten more following the initial three in a convoluted line. It was more than Kellin had initially assumed, making him both relieved and nervous.
On one hand, it meant they might be younger and weaker. On the other, more important hand, there were more, and he only had 7 bullets.
"Really, don't miss," he said again, as much to Gypsy as himself as he set himself in a forward stance, lining his .50 cal up with the leader who happened to be the largest.
Taking a deep breath, he held it in for the second it took him to aim properly and pull the trigger. The clearing exploded in sound as the crack from the shot echoed all around them, startling the Swarmlings and himself into innaction for a brief moment. Two more tripped and fell, but quickly clamored back onto their feet and continued forward.
[Swarmling Health: 47/60
Bleeding, Maimed]
Kellin smiled as he watched the leading creature hit the ground around fifty feet to his front, the others running over the top of it a moment later as a second shot rang out, followed by the three in the magazine. Each bullet tore through a limb or shoulder of the approaching Swarmlings, slowing or entirely stopping the lead for enough time for the rest to catch up again. It would be impossible for him alone to stop all of them in this manner, though, even if he had enough ammo. They were still gaining ground and in a few seconds, at least twelve of them would be alive and rip through him.
But he wasn't aiming for killing them.
[Swarmling Health(1): 42/60
Bleeding, Maimed]
[Swarmling Health(2): 26/45
Bleeding, Maimed]
[Swarmling Health(3): 47/50
Bleeding]
[Swarmling Health(4): 35/45
Bleeding, Maimed]
[Swarmling Health(5): 32/40
Bleeding, Maimed]
[Swarmling Health(6): 22/35
Bleeding, Maimed]
...
Every single one was lit up in his vision as injured, showing that the bullets had torn through some of the leading creatures and hit those behind them, adding themselves to his HUD. At the same time, the [System] took into account the effect his firing had on the group, counting the resulting injuries to some that hadn't been hit with a piercing shot but gotten shoved or tripped up by the others.
When he had one bullet left, he chambered it with practiced ease as the .50 cal went into its holster and the [Wave Pistol] took its place in his hands. Taking aim at the approaching group of thirteen that was a scant twenty five or so feet to his front, he waited. When they hit 15 feet to his front, nearly close enough to reach him in a single jump, a cold sweat developed on his back as he idly wondered whether or not he had been imagining Gypsy's existence this entire time.
Luckily, that wasn't the case.
[Credits earned for the defeat of Juvanile Swarmling Class Individual: 2.5, p*]
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: 1, p*]
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: 1, p*]
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: 2, p*]
Without any warning or indication, the first four in the line Swarmlings were separated at their midsections, their blood splattering onto a shimmering form directly in front of them while also revealing a massive, red stained outline of a sword. The following group stumbled, a new threat rising in front of them as their simple minds directed them to tear into that instead.
With a backswing of the Combat Blade that shouldn't have been possible, another three met their demise, the six remaining finding their way underneath the swords reach with the leading two hitting the somewhat visible suit in its midsection. Not having much momentum, they only really latched onto the suddenly visible metal before the Combat suit blinked out of existence entirely once again, causing mounting confusion in the pack as the remaining four slammed into... air, staring around with fervant hunger until they felt a change in the air.
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: 2, p*]
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: 1, p*]
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: .5, p*]
Turning their heads, the group shrieked in fury as their original target came into view, charging at him with abandon. The two that had actually latched into Gypsy seemed hesitant to leave from what should have been the enemy's body, but floating on nothing with every instinct in them telling them that there truly was nothing there caused them to follow the group.
Kellin smiled in relief, [Wave Pistol] held firm, idly noticing the patterns on its sides slowly filling up with a blue light as the gun charged. After the 1.5 seconds it took for the monsters to recognize him, turn, and get practically within range of his fists, he pulled the trigger.
Contrary to the loud blast that followed firing his [Pistol], Kellin felt a heavy vibration travel through his body as his surroundings rocked. The gun he'd been holding firm with both hands almost managed to rip out of his firm grasp as his body was forced to its knees and back a foot, feeling like he'd just gotten punched in the chest, shoulders, head, and every point of his arms as he coughed out. The dirt and small rocks around him lept upward from the impact as the strange wave of shimmering blue energy exploded outward from the barrel, meeting the leaping Swarmlings before him.
The energy made it seem like they'd all met a massive boot all at the same time, small bodies sent in an arc backward and over Gypsy's once again visible Combat Suit which struggled to right itself against the dissipating energy of the blast, still powerful enough to cause her large form issues from fifteen feet away.
The six Swarmlings hit the ground, a bit scattered some five to ten feet on the other side of her from Kellin. One slowly writhed across the ground while the other five remained unmoving.
Kellin looked on in shock and pain.
[Credits earned for the defeat of Juvenile Swarmling Class Individual: 3, p*]
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: 1.5, p*]
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: 1, p*]
[Swarmling Health(1): 8/60
Unconscious, Heavily Bleeding, Maimed]
[Swarmling Health(5): 2/40
Unconscious, Heavily Bleeding, Maimed]
[Swarmling Health(12): 15/50
Stunned, Bleeding]
The only Swarmling capable of movement was one of the two that had attacked Gypsy, near the back of the pack. It didn't appear to have taken any shots from his gun, yet it was rapidly losing health to a bleed he couldn't see. The pistol fell from his aching hands as he bent forward and promptly threw up, his chest and stomach both feeling miserable.
Originally, the plan had been that Kellin would rush to Gypsy after shooting off the [Wave], giving them time to [Equip] before the pack of monsters got up to attack again, but every movement felt like hell, despite the lack of serious [Health] loss.
[Marine Condition:
Stunned, Maimed / Normal
Integrity: 82/100
Health: 74/80
Energy: 30/110
Mana: 11/56
Stamina: 24/110]
One, then a second and third notification came into his vision as he slowly regained movement of his body, informing him of Gypsy's dispatching of the remaining creatures, or them just bleeding out on their own. Lifting his head, he was greeted by the terrifying sight of a metal combat suit spider-crawling it's way over to him. If he hadn't already seen it, he'd probably have screamed... if he could breathe.
[Credits earned for the defeat of Juvenile Swarmling Class Individual: 5, p*]
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: .5, p*]
[Credits earned for the defeat of Infantile Swarmling Class Individual below your Threat Level: 1.5, p*]
Instead, he was a bit relieved as it slowly picked him up into the suit, feeling his chest normalize a bit as his wrists and arms lost some of their ache as well.
"Captain Finnel's condition alarming," came the obvious and very welcome words from his companion. "Wrists both fractured."
He'd chuckle if he could, but he still had yet to be able to inhale.
-I guess there is a massive difference in recoil between a bit below one second and a bit above one and a half,- he replied.
"Lack of Combat Suit buffer and sufficient plan likely the bigger influence," she pointed out, causing him to nod slightly in acceptance.
-To think that recoil would do this. That might be more dangerous than the actual mana it sends out.-
"Results prove otherwise," came a quick, and accurate rebuttle. "Weapon likely attempts to displace any nearby particles, not just those in area. Dangerous. Use underwater fatal to most biological life forms in vicinity, including user," she responded verbally again, making him smile at the irony of their swapped communication methods.
He nodded, thinking about the implications of the damn gun in his hand. It was practically an explosion, not a wave that moved things around. Like suddenly unleashing a massive amount of compressed air all at once while standing right next to it.
-Must be why you're not allowed to use its mana ability without me,- he mused. -Can you get us back?-
Two beeps of affirmation sounded out as Kellin sighed in relief, having the [System] pull up a consolidated battle report while he waited.
[Battle Report - 1 Hour:
Hostiles defeated: 15
Damage dealt: 656*
Damage received: 15, *Note: 7 self inflicted
Credits earned: 25
Profession Credits earned: 2.5]
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Kellin woke, finding himself laying on the Med Table, wrists set and bandaged up already by the Hutch's AI and internal injuries practically healed within moments of being injected with a restoritive compound. His [Stamina] had dropped again due to its use, but he had enough to throw his legs over the edge of the table with just enough energy to get him up and stumbled into bed.
Gypsy was in the Repair Bay, [Integrity] already topped off thanks to their use of Repair throughout the day, although [Energy] still had a ways to go, if they were to stay inside. The ability [Novice Recharge] had been working in overdrive and brought their new lower end up to 78. Eight or so hours since he'd last checked followed by an extra couple in the sun had the cap up fifteen from where it had been.
Looking back over the day, Kellin found he was a bit disappointed in himself overall. Bad decisions were made left and right, yet he found himself trying not to beat himself up over it, still. There was not much he could do with the huge lack of any information towards whatever this [Class] and [Race] wanted from him.
Still, he knew the decision to fight had been a poor one, even if they were just Swarmlings. One mis-step and they'd have been covered in a blender of claws and teeth. The decision to practice movement near Savul territory had been a poor one as well. He knew they lacked information, and still he made those calls. Why he was insisting on being so... aggressive in his actions and decision making baffled him a small amount, though he sort of understood it. Despite how many years he'd been forced to be in charge of keeping his men alive, when alone, he still defaulted to his old habits.
Thoughts of doing better tomorrow, being more cautious, and wondering why they'd seen no indication of other Savul variants around yet passed through his mind as he drifted off to a deep sleep.