[Log 3.16_v2.3]

[The Tower (Reversed) Part 3]

“We have incoming, Zephyro. I'm counting at least six rats, and one hyena that's made out of some sort of fog,”

I felt Zephyro shift behind me, ready to jump into action.

Tense seconds crept by… and the Ferals stayed where they were. Were they afraid of us? Of me?

“Are they coming, Sultana?”

“No… It looks like they’re… talking?”

“Ah. They are preparing. If I might be so bold as to lay advice at your feet: So should we.”

“I think the strategy we had so far worked out well? I mark them, you kill them?”

“This is true, Sultana, but you see: while the ungodly beasts have been feasting on my people, growing fat and slow, they also grew increasingly powerful. What we are seeing now is but a vanguard. There are more coming, and they will pose a significant challenge, bloated and grotesque as they are, after gorging themselves on your Blessing.”

“Can you please make sense?” I asked, exasperation growing.

“The beasts we have seen so far were weak, but the later they arrive, the stronger they will be.”

“Yeah I get that, but what do you want me to do? Get better weapons?”

“And armor, Sultana. You need to be able to survive attacks, should I not be fast enough to defend you.”

I tilted my head in reluctant acknowledgment. While Zephyro had the tendency to talk around his point, he hadn’t let me down yet. With his strength, It was hard to imagine anything stopping him once I marked an enemy.

Alright then, how much would it cost me to upgrade Pharus?

{[Pharus, Wrath of the Torchbearer] v.06 - Electronic Warfare Suite: REQUIRES 60 LB}

And how much for Arx?

{[Arx, Saint’s Embrace] v. 0.3.5 - Network Security System}: REQUIRES 30 LB}

That wasn't so bad. But still… A part of me loathed just wasting a resource as important as my Wish. I was still not fully convinced the Wish and Logic were the same, but maybe once I stored enough of it, it would regenerate like it used to. Having to be so frugal with it was starting to get annoying as hell, but maybe that was another point in favor of stockpiling more of it. Ardor had cost 300 LB to advance, and with Chris still building that turret control software, it might be a good idea to keep as much Logic as possible on hand to implement new tech in case of an emergency.

Yeah, I should probably save it. I just had to keep cool. Stay back, dart forward, flare Pharus, lightly tap enemies… All I needed to do was to avoid putting too much energy into my strikes. Those expensive attacks with Pharus cost a lot of CPU, while they did little to no damage. If I limited my attacks, I would keep my CPU cooler. That way, Arx would remain online for longer, and keep me safe while Zephyro would do the heavy lifting. Simple.

And yet… I had learned that reality was never simple. I looked at the Ferals gathering on the edge of the Plaza, still conversing in warped sounds barely audible over the vast distance. Something inside me just itched to bring the fight to them. Secure the kill. It was in this moment I realized that despite my best intentions, there was a strong possibility my anger would get the better of me.

For a moment of panic-inducing clarity, thoughts I had suppressed since the Shackled had mowed down the civilians shifted into terrible transparency.

A sliver of pure ice ran down my spine.

You are a good fighter, Sam.

“No, I am not.”

Hahaha! True! But you could be! You just have to use your anger instead of letting it use you. Then you will be unstoppable…

Blue eyes, a ballroom, graceful feet moving in rhythm. A trail of red silk, out the door where no one can see us.

Flashes of fire and the hiss of steel against steel. My pulse throbbing in my fingertips, my jaw clenched so hard it hurts... I failed. Another volley. Arrows and fireballs splash impotently against my back, but a few sneak past, sink deep into that stupidly fragile body I am trying to shield with mine. There’s a pained grunt. No more energy to scream. I can’t do anything, just lower my head in shame, and hear a whisper—

…who is the wielder, and who is the tool, Sam?

There was that feeling again, filling my lungs like winter rain, drowning me until my breath came in short bursts.

My denial broke like a wet origami flower.

I could no longer rely on my judgment.

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Yes, the anger would keep me going, but it would never stop, would keep me going, going past what I would usually accept as reasonable, past what anyone would consider safe or sane.

Go ahead, Sam. Get angry, see where it gets you. I’m out.

But I had nothing else! The anger was the only thing that kept me going! If If I didn’t push myself, if I stopped, I would fall into that dark void again, leave everyone, leaderless, and then they would die. They all died.

The thought woke more images of burning cities and contemptuous looks. I hadn’t wanted that, and I couldn’t be made responsible for it. I couldn’t! How could they all put this on me? I hadn’t… I didn’t… it was so goddamn unfair.

Warmth spread into my arms and legs, and my breath quickened. No. I wouldn’t fall again. I would do what needed to be done. I just needed to make sure I was prepared for that inevitable moment.

I inhaled sharply.

I tensed.

“No, Sultana, wait!”

I released my Logic.

{CONSUMED LOGIC - 60 LB}

{AVAILABLE LOGIC - 245 LB}

{[Pharus, Wrath of the Torchbearer] v.03

IS NOW

[Pharus, Wrath of the Torchbearer] v.06}

{[Pharus, Wrath of the Torchbearer] v.06 - Electronic Warfare Suite

A simple Electronic Warfare Suite designed to breach targeted computer systems. The strength of the attack determines CPU load, with more frequent or sophisticated attacks requiring more computing power. Updating this program adds a larger library of electronic warfare routines, increasing attack potency.

Required CPU load: Varies, min. 8% at current CPU quality.

Required RAM: 8 LKB

>>Features:

.03 - Leaves a traceable signature inside the target user that allows other users to track programs run by the target user. This is true for all users connected to the current system.}

{Memory: 23/40 LKB RAM}

As expected, the tolling of a bell rippled from my chest, mixing with the chaotic sounds all over the Plaza. I immediately held my breath, hoping no one had noticed. But though the bell hadn’t as loud as it had been before (I had no idea why) it still was loud enough to garner unwanted attention. From the corners of my eyes, I could see people around me perking up, inspecting me as I struggled to keep another wish-fueled breath down. I imagined I could feel its power waning, I just had to hold it in long enough…

Logic rippled over my weapon, distorting its features as the pressure in my lungs intensified. Pharus thrummed with power, the cyan glow concentrating on its fiery tip, turning the flame from teal to a brighter blue. It was still a few shades darker than the noble glow of Logic, but definitely bright enough to blind me when I stared at it for too long.

I groaned, blinking the spots from my eyes, and a whisper of cyan escaped my lips, pushed by the intense pressure crushing my chest from the inside.

{CONSUMED LOGIC - 30 LB}

{AVAILABLE LOGIC - 215 LB}

{[Arx, Saint’s Embrace] v. 0.1

IS NOW

[Arx, Saint’s Embrace] v. 0.3.5}

The bell struck again, its ring overlapping with the first, mingling, amplifying each other like performers in an orchestra. They reverberated with enough force that I could feel it in my stomach.

My armor glowed, first a gentle azure, then a bright blue. It was so blinding, I had to close my eyes, lips pressed together in a desperate attempt to control myself. I could feel the gloves and boots lengthening, hugging my forearms and shin as they added to their protection.

{[Arx, Saint’s Embrace] v. 0.3.5 - Network Security System}

{A simple Network Security System automatically monitoring incoming requests for access. Repeated requests or advanced methods of forcing system access cause a [HIGH] increase in CPU load. Sufficiently sophisticated attacks will bypass this program entirely. Automatic shutoff at [80 °C] core temperature.

Required CPU load: Varies, min. 9% at current CPU quality.

Required RAM: 5 LKB}

{Memory: 26/40 LKB RAM}

The Ferals, who until this point had still been sniffing around each other at the edges of the plaza, perked up. Their heads snapped toward me like I had just opened a can of pet food. I had just enough time to breathe a silent “Fuck!”, then the menagerie broke into a mad dash straight towards the idiot who had just publicly spent Logic like it was candy.

“They're coming,” I said, my fingers tensing around my torch’s handle. The leather creaked under the strain of my frustration. I didn’t look over, didn't check if Zephyro was there. A part of me thought it was a given, another was terrified at that level of trust. Thankfully, the Ferals did not give me enough time to think about it.

In that ethereal moment, with a mass of fur and electronics and gas rushing to tear my Wish from my soul, a lot of things made way more sense. But the one predominantly on my mind was that I was an absolute idiot, and one who constantly announced her presence to boot.