“Oh.” As we left the room where I woke her up, Iris stopped the moment she laid eyes on the darkened environment. “The basement levels are in lockdown?”
“Indeed.” I acknowledged, and decided to also add another tidbit of information. “I awoke here as a captive, and apparently they didn't care much for my escape attempt."
“I see…” She frowned, in thought. She grasped her chin with one of her hands. “Unfortunately, this complicates matters as my credentials only work in non-emergency situations." About nothing but the task at hand. The fact that I was a captive would-be specimen for the people who created her didn’t faze her in the slightest. "We'll need to access an accreditation station so I can download the appropriate ones."
"Fair enough.” I nodded. “Where's the closest one?"
"To the south. Also, lord Jusso, I would lead the way from now on.” She said and then stepped forward and in front of me, left arm stretched out to her side. “I see that they’ve also activated electrical pressure plate deterrents. Please try and only step where I walk."
“Hm. Traps, then?” I looked at the darkened floor ahead of us and I could notice no tangible difference between any of the panels making it up. “I can’t seem to distinguish them… So, please, Iris.”
“With pleasure, lord Jusso. Shall I detail the workings of the Arcano-Tactical Vision as we proceed?” She started walking slowly and methodically, more for my convenience than for carefulness. I felt that if she hadn’t been leading me, she could’ve virtually glided over the path. “The Arcano-Tactical vision is described in academic literature as ‘the rationalization of battle power’. The people of Battallia-”
“Battallia?” I interrupted her, and I could swear I saw something on her face twitch. “I should mention that I have no familiarity whatsoever with this place, whatever landmass it may be on and even the star itself.” I explained, feeling a tinge of amusement.
“Oh.” And that surprised her, the realization that her master knew very little and should be treated as a kid. Maybe even a particularly dingy mutt. I could read the struggle in her eyes. “…Battallia is the name of this… Star.” She hesitated, as if the word she would have chosen was not the one she heard me use. “Its people, over the millennia of exposure to its ambient magicks and the power of individuals and monsters, have developed… An ability to contextualize these experiences.”
“Reducing the intangible to numbers and… Guidelines.” I nodded and I silently wondered what kind of history could have lead to such an evolutionary step. “So you mean to say that everyone on this Star possesses this ability?”
“Yes, lord Jusso. But not everyone receives the same information from it.” She continued, while we approached the corner turning right sharply, returning us to the corridor where the elevator I took to this level laid. “It depends mostly on one’s individual power and growth, but certain abilities one depend on the blood. Either you are born with it or they are more often than not beyond acquisition.”
“Like your ability to see traps?” She nodded and then went to turn the corner only to halt in her tracks.
“I see four…” She flickered her eyes to me before settling her gaze on what laid beyond again. “Drones patrolling the space ahead.” She paused. “Two dismantled, two others investigating the accident. I assume this was your handiwork, my lord?”
“They seem quite content in throwing themselves at my blade.” I commented, before remembering the empty scabbard of my get-up. “They’ve managed to chip away at it, at least.”
“Please await here, lord Jusso.” Her voice suddenly acquired a different tone to it, a steel that wasn’t there but a second ago. “I would dispatch this threat.” I couldn’t help but frown.
“I am weaponless, not helpless.” I retorted, my arms crossed. Subservience was one thing, but I wouldn’t be coddled.
“My apologies. I would never presume to consider you as such, my lord. Still, they won’t recognize me as a threat, and I understand haste would be of the utmost importance at this point in time.” She explained, the edge in her voice disappearing as she addressed me.
She had a point, I mulled. If she had a tactical advantage and could dispatch them easily, it would be foolish not to take it. Particularly if they laid between me and proper equipment. “…very well, then.” It would also allow me to observe her in combat.
“With your permission, then.” The edge again. And a slight hum, which I could identify coming from the metallic contraptions cast around her forearms.
I watched her turn the corner and, true to her word, walk up to the two melee oriented drones unhindered. They registered her as just another one of the creations of this facility. She stopped quite close to them, her gaze following them mechanically. And with it, her head.
The moment they turned their backs on her, she raised her arms.
IRIS uses BARRAGE! (DEX+MIG)(8+1)+5+1=14 HIT! DAMAGE: 8+8=16
SNEAK ATTACK! DAMAGE: 16x2=32!!! RIOT DRONE is Vulnerable to RANGED ATTACKS! DAMAGE: 32x2=64!!! RIOT DRONE is Vulnerable to RANGED ATTACKS! DAMAGE: 32x2=64!!!
A deluge of bullets, made not of metal but of the very air, superheated and shot at a tremendous speed, pelted the two unaware drones until they were little more than dismantled pieces strewn around the floor in front of her. Once done, she slowly lowered her arms again, steam silently fuming off her weapons.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
‘…a magnificent specimen.’ I mentally observed and felt something old and familiar tugging at my core. The thrill of the hunt. The realization that a worthwhile opponent had maybe shown itself…
I squashed it. Not only would it be counter to the role I had taken upon myself right now, and counterproductive to the current task at hand and future ones, but I doubt she would raise a hand to defend herself even if she could potentially very well end me, in my current state.
And lastly… It wasn’t just the challenge that made those moments special. Right, my friend?
JUSSO's PARTY WINS! EXP REWARD: 10
“The coast is clear, lord Jusso.” Edge gone and acting like she hadn’t just turned two humanoids to their base components, she pointed at a door I had in vain tried to open earlier. “This is the outfitting warehouse I mentioned. We shall find adequate equipment for you in here.”
“Marvellously done, Iris.” I commended her as I approached her. I could see the faint shadow of a smile on her lips. “Amazing display of firepower.”
“Thank you, lord Jusso. If it pleases, I am also adept in the arts of healing.”
“Very much so… Now.” I turned my attention to the door. “Shall we go in?”
“…actually.” The edge again. A hum. “Allow me to check if anyone is currently being fitted.”
-V-
JUSSO's PARTY WINS! EXP REWARD: 10
-V-
‘Quite the eclectic collection of garments.’ Once Iris had secured the room, and locked the door from the inside for good measure, I found myself browsing through a selection of armor and weapons that seemed to fit the more disparate body types and shapes. Even if only a few were usable, as my… Arcano-Tactical Vision. ‘Quite the mouthful. I shall call it AT Vision.’ As my newly gifted augmentation, which should have been exclusive to the natives of this star, had informed me.
You receive 1 Overseer Armor!
You receive 1 Bastard Sword!
I had in the ended settled for a full body getup in dark leather, covered by patches of metallic armor and sporting a long cloak. Not too dissimilar from my previous outfit even if the colours of this one didn’t suit me at all. Also, a long and heavy blade. Unlike the one I had destroyed earlier, this one would resist a thousand battles, Iris assured me.
Speaking of which. “I am done, Iris.” I turned my attention to her, as she operated a terminal in a corner of the room. “What about you?”
“Negative.” She answered, her eyes darting through the data being processed on the screen. “Please wait but a handful of minutes, my lord."
“Hmm.” I crossed my arms, closing my eyes and leaning against a nearby wall…
"...lasted thing...! Hello?!” When suddenly, a conspicuous speaker crackled to life from a corner of the room. “Hello, is this thing on?!"
“Security certificates downloaded.” Iris seemed to be completely unfazed by the sudden development. “Do you wish to craft the password yourself, my lord?"
“…not really.” I figured from her reaction it was of no consequence, and reacted accordingly. “Choose what you will."
"Hey! Don't ignore me! I hear voices, I know you're there! How DARE YOU!" That was, until the voice started making itself quite obnoxious. The voice’s volume causing the sound to be aggravatingly distorted.
"Yes, I hear you...” I replied, my eyes glancing towards the speaker, half an idea of destroying it surfacing in my mind. “And you are successfully grating on my nerves."
“Would you want me to destroy the speakers, lord Jusso?" And in Iris’s, too, apparently. I chuckled.
“Not worth the effort… ust focus on the terminal, I can endure a few seconds of this nuisance."
"You little-who are you?! How did you get down there?!"
“If you are currently employed in this facility, you'd probably know that better than me.” I sighed. “I awoke floating in green goo."
"Green...!!!” A loud gasp crackled through the speaker. A hint of recognition. “You... You can't be...!"
“Ooooh?” It was starting to get a little more amusing. “Do I assume I'm talking to the good doctor who oversaw my recovery?"
"This... this is impossible! How are you alive?! And COHERENT?!” He screeched through the digital ether, foregoing clarity for emotion. “I saw your brain damage! I fixed it!"
“Done.” Alas, our business in that room was done. “Security accreditations have been created and downloaded."
“Wonderful." I said, turning to Iris as she approached me.
"And who’s that other voice? What have you been up to-! Wait, the notification from earlier...!!!” The vocalization of his shock, though, briefly made me wish I could see his face. “Ingma-Dus! Is that you?!"
“I now answer to the name Iris." She retorted, frowning as if offended by the dead-naming.
"YOU WHAT?!"
“Don't bother further with this person.” Quite the entertainment we had been provided, but it was time to move on. “Let's just proceed."
“Yes, lord Jusso." She followed me and we quickly left the room. Now, to find the exit.
"WAIT! COME BACK HERE! Ingma-Dus, go back to your enclosure! Specimen, go back to your goo, specimen! RIGHT NOW!”
…
“HELLO?!"
…
"AAAAAARGH! Damn it, there's low level guards and work-mules, down there! Who's the closest guy on the ground floor...?!"
…
"Ugh, it's only Overseer level...! I hope it's enough!"