Chapter 3

Dungeons are obviously reported as quickly as they are discovered and leak preventive measures were put into place. With the announcement worldwide of these dungeons, protocols changed a bit. But the essentials were still being followed. They had instruments to measure the gate's overall strength. They would assign a team to handle it. Then, once they entered, which they had a minute to do so after the first person passed through, it was up to that team. If they win, great. If they lose, monsters would spill out a week later.

That bit of information made things difficult for me. If I entered a dungeon without proper clearance, as many heroes did in the beginning, the minute timer would lock out anyone from entering afterward. Then, whether they succeeded or failed, there would be a mass contingency of heroes strong enough to thwart any kind of dungeon break or apprehend the rogue hero. The rogue hero would get a slap on the wrist and then reevaluated for their rank compared to the dungeon they conquered, but things would change eventually to prevent this at all costs. The resources found within were just that valuable. It became common practice to defeat everything but the boss, to allow the gathering of resources and artifacts first before the boss was defeated and the gate to close soon after.

So, while I could snag a gate from under the Association's nose if I responded fast enough, I was sure to be greeted by cameras, Metas, and Police, along with who knows how many Royal or governmental authorities. This meant that I needed yet a third identity to ensure I could get into a dungeon. I had spells plenty for that; however, faking an actual Meta signature would be harder. Plus, I needed to fake a high-level Meta, or I wouldn't be able to enter the real challenging dungeons. This also posed many problems. One, I can't just be a random new S-rank Meta. I needed a full background history. Technically, the passing of the comet started this whole thing, but it wasn't the continued passing of the comet that granted new powers. The theory introduced the changes in genetics that created the first Metas. However, the Meta gene could be transferred to offspring, and random new people might awaken the Meta gene randomly as if it was dormant for a while and something triggered its activation. I had to be one of those people, but I needed a new identification. So, I would turn to my main man, the Flower. I know, it's a terrible name for a cyber hacker. But he was the one to establish my identity and history in this world.

~~~

"This is the first official meeting of Team Cosmic Pantheon," Radiant Jack stated. "While none of us expected to be merged like this, I fully expect professionalism on all levels." He pointedly stared at a few members of his original team.

Titan stood up and spoke. "That is correct. I don't care about past grudges. We are together now, and we have a mission aside from keeping this city safe. There are now these gates opening up around the world. We will be pulled into handling those soon as well. But we also have a primary objective, and that is to find the man in black. He seems to embrace the persona of a vampire, but we all know that is bullocks. Our mission is to determine his identity and to what goal he is seeking. Just because he helped put down a threat of our own making doesn't mean he is trustworthy. He did cause more deaths and destruction than was necessary."

Captain Cosmo stood next. "I know the three of us have been more than assholes to you and the hero community at large. For that, I'm truly sorry. I know you all don't have reasons to trust us, but I want to make one thing clear. The power I witnessed that day has humbled me and my mates. We will recognize Titan as the team leader of this newly formed team and will humbly submit to his authority. Please use us in any way you deem fit," he said while bowing deeply to everyone. There were a few gasps, but mostly, the rest of the team remained skeptical. Only time would tell if the trio were genuine.

"Alright, let's get down to business. First on our docket is the Huntsman is now officially attached to the TPD as both a suspect and an investigator to clear his name. For the time being, he is off all official cases. To make things fully transparent, he also has a secret agenda…"

~~~

Darci was wiping the counter when a fight broke out. Two bouncers went to break them up when the Meta detector went off, and one of the combatants started to glow blue. She hit the button for the closest Meta dampener and smiled when the glow faded, and the person dropped to their knees from the sudden loss of their powers. The bouncer approached the person and struck him across the jaw, knocking him out, and Darci disabled the dampener.

She tsk'd and was about to go back to cleaning the bar when Comet Rush appeared a hair before the alert went off again. "Are you licensed for that tech? Don't lie now because I already know the answer."

She frowned and put her hands on her hips. "This tech? What's illegal about it?"

"Meta tech is closely monitored and controlled. Black market tech is highly illegal."

"But these aren't powered by fragments. Mr. Korleven himself develops this tech."

"You're telling me that, aside from owning a club and dealing out favors with the rich and powerful, he's also a genius tech guru? I have a hard time believing that."

"He's also a vampire with an unbelievable charm that's seduced half the city," she replied seriously but with a sarcastic tone, knowing Jacik's propensity to make grandiose statements. The look on Comet Rush's face was not what she was expecting to see.

"Oh? Tell me more."

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~~~

"So, yeah, this Jacik Korleven guy apparently tells people he's a vampire and is working for the police as a consultant," Comet Rush stated.

"And he's developed his own versions of Meta tech? Were you able to confirm that?" Radiant Jack asked.

He vanished for a second and reappeared, then dropped a sensor that resembled a hockey puck. "I took this when they weren't looking. It was hard to spot."

Nebula walked over and examined the device. "I don't detect any comet essence in this. Likely, he found a way to emit the same frequency somehow. Although it's strange, there are weird symbols etched into it."

Radiant Jack looked over it. "Could it be… magic?"

"Anyhow," Titan steered the conversation back to the main point. "This is the image of the club owner and the man in black. They have distinctive differences; mainly, one looks younger, has no beard, and short brown hair. And while the club owner actually looks like a vampire, it was the other one that had a flash of red in his eyes and we could barely make out fangs when he spoke. They could be two different people, but we can't rule out magic or unknown Meta powers. We also know he hangs around that detective who wears active Meta detecting equipment. However, it stands to reason that if he can mimic the detection equipment, then he can likely disguise himself from them as well." There were nods and mumbles about the room at that statement. "Let's wait and see what the Huntsman digs up."

~~~

Radiant Jack couldn't ignore the artifact that simulated a limited technology through what he was sure was some form of magic. Back in his lab, he had tried to get a full analysis of the artifact with the enhanced scanner for his supercomputer, but he wasn't finding answers. So, against his better judgment, he decided to try a spell for identification. When becoming a Meta with magic-based abilities, he was granted knowledge. This knowledge was downloaded into his head and required either incantations to use or prewritten scripts that he could merely channel magic into. These runes looked similar to his prewritten scripts, however, his would burn up upon use. These didn't look like the kind that would disintegrate.

His magical powers were based on Magical Forms, which of the five none of them were for Identification. However, the knowledge he received could allow for other spells but would take time to cast. Something his forms had no need of. This meant he actually had more options at his disposal, but in battle, he was still limited. For this reason, he barely utilized his other capabilities and was only now regretting that decision. To his knowledge, all Metas with magic based powers were of the same system. They all had easy-to-use forms but far too complicated additional spells they could use, which included script magic. Some of the lesser-rated mages did delve into scripts since it allowed them to create magic-based technology they could profit from, but anyone of his caliber usually forgoes that path since the development of their primary forms was far more valuable. Now, Jack was seeing the benefits of a path he had once forsaken.

When the identification spell was activated, the artifact suddenly turned red and crumbled to dust right before his eyes. The spell came back with a partial analysis:

Identification:

Enchantment Magic Detected:

Enchantments: Error

List: Unavailable

Status: Blocked

'Who the hell is this guy?' Radiant Jack thought to himself.

~~~

Travis blurred at speeds he never thought humans capable of as he dashed across the rocky terrain. The team's prey was a particularly nasty beast that had been stalking the surrounding woods of one of Jushen's logging towns. The beast was called a Trogolite. It was as tall as a giant but hunched over and ran like a gorilla. Yet, it was more akin to a golem with its flesh being made of stone. There was soft tissue beneath the surface, but even magic weapons proved difficult to pierce.

Talip'etatu was a strange world, and the team loved it. Jessica's magically enhanced whips were doing wonders at restraining the beast's movements, but even with her monstrous strength as a half-vampire, she was still straining to hold the creature in place. Kenji coming out as an actual Oni was startling news, but with that revelation, he stopped holding back and unleashed his powers at full strength. This meant powerful blows from all angles at blinding speeds through a series of rapid teleportations. His fists caused cracks and fissures to open up on the creature, which would then allow for his blades to slip in and cause severe wounds.

Sophia, still the overpowered sniper, was now so physically enhanced that her hand-to-eye coordination could now fully keep up with her intensely focused mind. Her bullets almost seemed to bend as they found all the critical points Kenji opened up. Any normal Adventuring team would struggle with this kind of monster. But they were taking it down with practiced ease. Only beings like the Hero or the famed and hopefully extinct Jecani could do better. The Knights were indeed powerful. But they were built for battles against other humanoid species. Sure, they could also defeat monsters if need be, but their efficiency wouldn't match what Travis's team has been able to accomplish in such a short time in this world.

He was proud of how far they had come, and Travis had hoped to one day rise to the level of Jacik. Though, it was a hopeless dream. Jessica loved the place as well but really missed Jacik, as did Oden, their lovable giant dog. "Oden, go see if you can rip off a chunk of that stone armor on the chest, please. I'll keep the arms restrained for as long as I can."

"Ruff, okay."

"You don't have to say the word ruff. You're a dog, just bark…"

"But it's funny."

"Only to you, buddy, now go."

Oden took off like a missile with a tank's body. When he came within range, he leaped up and used his powerful claws to grip a section of stone that had been damaged, then used his hind legs to push backward, using his formidable strength and weight to rip the stone off. The creature howled with pain and, with a dose of adrenaline, moved its powerful arms forward, snapping the whip and holding both its hands. Right before the beast slammed its giant fists into Oden, the dog hardened his skin and fur, creating a protective shield, and took the blow.

Oden hit the ground hard on his side and bounced a few times before coming to a stop. He was dazed and bruised but otherwise, okay, plus he'd heal quickly. In less than a second, six armor-piercing explosive rounds punched into the chest and detonated.

"Good job, everyone, and good boy," Travis said in the voice used for all dogs. Although Oden could speak, he was still a dog and loved every minute of the extra attention as he bound up to Travis for some head scratches.

Later that day, after the harvesting was complete. Jessica sat on a hill watching the sunset with Oden. "You want to go see Jacik for a bit?"

Oden's tail wagged at supersonic speeds. "Ooh yes, can we, can we?"

She chuckled. "Yeah, I think we should. It'll be entertaining to see what shenanigans he's gotten into this time."