"I suppose this is the place." It took but a few minutes longer for us to reach our destination. A large room, with stacked cargo containers on the sides. Loading machines stood silently on the sides and at the center, a circular platform shone dimly with azure light.
"Yes, my lord. I will now proceed to reroute it." Iris commented while pointing at a terminal at the far end of the room beside one of the loading apparatuses. "Do you have a preference for your destination?"
"I am completely unfamiliar with this star. I leave the choice to you." I commented, arms crossed as I observed the room. My eyes found the rails of what I assumed was a cargo lift of some kind, with panels sealing openings on the ceiling and floor. "As far as feasible from the reach of whoever runs this place will do."
"Acknowledged.” She nodded and made her way to the control panel. “Calculating coordinates." Her eyes flashed with an artificial glint for a seconds before her fingers sped on the touchscreen of the consol, calibrating the machine in seconds. From light blue, the platform changed its shine to green. "Done. The teleporter has been routed as per your instructions."
"Swift and precise. You're an excellent support unit, Iris.” I complimented her, causing her to smile faintly, looking my way. “Whoever crafted you did an excellent job."
"Thank you, my lord. Still, I've so far only performed in a controlled environment." She replied and then returned her attention to the terminal. "I hope to still be worthy of your praise in our new-"
"Hah-HA! Found you! And I even got eyes on you, this time...” Only for a familiar, annoying voice to echo through the room’s speakers. I sighed in annoyance. “Damn, specimen, you've got one ugly mug! I thought the nose was because of your injuries!"
"The good doctor... So good of you to see us off.” I commented, irritation mounting. “Your manners as a host have left much to be desired, otherwise."
"I'd say.” Iris chimed in, the same emotion clear in her tone. “Lord Jusso has a perfectly acceptable mug." ...wait, what?
"Acceptable...?” My eyes widened and I turned to her, aghast. Not so much at the comment but the source of it. “The blazes do you mean acceptab-" Then I stopped. What was I doing? Why was I even entertaining that mummer's farce?! ‘This entire conversation is pointless!’ I groaned and shook my head. "Just... Finish what you’re doing and let’s leave."
"Just as I've got a new playmate for you?! I don't think so!" A siren started echoing in the room. The previously mentioned panels in the ceiling slid open and a platform started sliding down the rails. "Now you'll see! Wreck them, my boy! Rip and tear them both!” Upon it a large creature stood on hind legs twice as tall as me. Vaguely lupin in body, it nonetheless sported a number of cybernetic implants, like the launching platform sticking out of its back, or the reinforced metallic covers for its claws. “I will just put them back together afterwards!" Once the platform reached the floor, the siren stopped...
The techno-beast's mechanical eye shone with red malice and then let out a guttural howl, crunched through metallic distortion.
BOSS BATTLE START - JUSSO'S PARTY VS ASSAULT WULFEN
INITIATIVE (DEX+INS)
ASSAULT WULFEN = 10
IRIS [ASSIST] = (3+10) = 13 / SUCCESS!
JUSSO [LEADER] = (5+4)+1(IRIS ASSIST)+2(IRIS BOND)-2(ARMOR) = 10 / SUCCESS!
“Lord Jusso!” At Iris’s prompt, and hearing a familiar sound, I dashed left as the cybernetic monstrosity shot forward. Soon after, the sound of her weapons unloading followed.
IRIS Attacks! (DEX+INS)(8+6)+1=15 HIT! DAMAGE: 8+8=16
ASSAULT WULFEN is Resistant to RANGED ATTACKS… DAMAGE: 16/2=8
Most of the air bullets impacted its armored areas, glancing off it as it rushed a surprised Iris, metallic claw raised high.
ASSAULT WULFEN Attacks! (DEX+MIG)(5+4)=9 HIT! DAMAGE: 5+5=10
“Keep your distance, woman!” I ordered as I rushed the monster, bastard sword unsheathed. It had made the mistake of exposing its back to me. “This is not an enemy you can face head on!” I grasped it with two hands and aimed for its side.
JUSSO Attacks! (DEX+MIG)(8+2)+1=11 HIT! DAMAGE: 8+10=18
The creature cried out in pain, a first for the constructs that I had met so far in this place, as the blade nicked the armor, bending it and sending a fragment flying off its body. I smiled in satisfaction, this sword a much better weapon than the previous one I had been saddled with…
Then the platform off its shoulder pivoted in my direction.
ASSAULT WULFEN uses ROCKET BARRAGE! (DEX+INS)(10+5)=15 HIT! DAMAGE: 10+10=20
“Hngh!!” The group of rockets struck true, slamming into my body at almost point blank range. My body was rattled by the strength of the explosion, and I barely caught myself standing as I was blown back.
“Lord Jusso!” Iris shouted, as the flames enveloping my body…
Dissipated? I blinked as they died down almost as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving me singed but none the worse for wear. ‘How…? That felt like it should have hurt much more than-‘ As I wondered about the explanation, something on my body vibrated, enveloping the finger upon which it rested with cozy warmth.
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JUSSO is Resistant to FIRE ATTACKS… DAMAGE: 20/2=10
‘The ring’s magic protects me from flame.’ I acknowledged as I stood firmly on my feet again, filing the information for later consideration. “I am fine, Iris! Focus on our enemy!”
“Y-Yes, lord Jusso!” She startled, as my order interrupted her intended course of action, which evidently intended to heal me… She instead returned her attention to the metallic lupin, her eyes narrow. “How dare you…!” Instead of unleashing her previous barrage, I watched her hold the weapon on her right forearm with her left hand. Power build up with a high pitched wind-up sound…
IRIS Attacks! (DEX+INS)(2+10)+1=13 HIT!
The single, powered up projectile, slammed into the right knee of the monster. While no damage seemed apparent to the naked eye, the impacted area rattled and shook terribly before her target fell on one knee, growling.
IRIS Uses WARNING SHOT! ASSAULT WULFEN is Slowed!
“Well done!” I rushed the beast again, and I as I did I caught the empty shells of the rockets that had slammed into me earlier fall to the ground as they were replaced by new ones.
ASSAULT WULFEN uses ROCKET RECHARGE. -5 MP!
Of course it had more but the new knowledge of magical protection and Iris’s presence emboldened me. For the first time since I had awoken on that strange star, I was able to focus on my prey, and my prey alone…
JUSSO Attacks! (DEX+MIG)(5+10)+1=16 HIT! DAMAGE: 10+10=20
The blade struck true, this time in an unprotected part of its body, slashing upwards from its hip to its shoulder. It roared as the gash exposed further wiring underneath the skin, black oil-like blood pouring from the wound.
“What in the Void is WRONG with you?! CHAR THEM UP!” The doctor shouts from the speakers, obviously displeased at our resistance. Obeying, or just reacting to my assault, the rocket platform once again aims in my direction…
ASSAULT WULFEN uses ROCKET BARRAGE! (DEX+INS)(3+2)=5 MISS!
“Hmph.” This time, though, I was prepared. Instead of dodging away, I stepped in even more close to the beast. The projectiles went sailing harmlessly behind me as their targeting went haywire, slamming and exploding against a cargo container. “I think it’s high time we finished this… Iris.” I told her with a stern voice. “On my signal, activate the matter transponder.”
“The matter-” She repeated the word and her eyes widened but almost immediately, she nodded and rushed towards the control panel.
IRIS is working towards an OBJECTIVE… AUTOMATIC SUCCESS!
“KILL THEM! KILL THEM BOTH, ALREADY!” Spurred on by its master, the lupin swiped down at my figure. I held up my great sword with both hands, meeting the blow with the flat.
ASSAULT WULFEN Attacks! (DEX+MIG)(3+10)=13 HIT! DAMAGE: 10+5=15
“Hngh!” As the mechanical paw slammed down on my sword, the reverberations running through my body gave me a better understanding of the physical resistance of Iris’s body. It was no weak strike she had survived.
“The transponder is ready, lord Jusso!” I heard Iris shout over to me. My eyes glanced in the direction of the platform, flashing green in preparation…
JUSSO is working towards an OBJECTIVE… (DEX+MIG)(6+6)=12 CRITICAL SUCCESS!!!
“Aaaaaaaah!” With a surge of strength, I pushed up and forward, the startled mecha-lupin losing his balance as his physical strength lost to mine. “Now, Iris!” I ordered before slamming the flat of my sword with all the strength I could then muster into its face.
The construct cried out in outrage, completely lost its balance, and fell on its back…
Only its upper body inside of the circle.
“Activating!” Iris announced and with a swipe of her right hand, a pillar of green light erupted from the platform, bright enough to cause me to cover my eyes…
When it dissipated, only the bottom half of the monster remained, the open wound cauterized by the teleportation.
JUSSO's PARTY WINS!
EXP REWARD: 35
"NOOOO!" In its place, cried out the good doctor from the speakers but I ignored his lamentation. The battle was won and... It was different.
There was no joy in it. Not even a remote resemblance to the spark that the bouts with my friend did. And yet, I didn't come off it with the usual feeling of triviality. 'I don't know what this feeling is... But I am experiencing things differently.' The bet I had made was working. Walking the path of my friend was rewarding me with new experiences...
Whatever they may be. "You've suffered some injuries, my lord." Iris commented as she observed me from her station.
"You shall treat them later. Let us quit this place, already." I replied, placing my blade back in its scabbard. "Preferably in a place different from where we sent our opponent."
"Acknowledged." She nodded and her hands went to work on new coordinates for the machine. "Timer set. 90 seconds."
"I WILL TEAR OFF YOUR GLUTES! I WILL STOMP ON YOUR LIVERS! I-" I tuned out the increasingly rambling commentary from the doctor, sidestepping what remained of his minion to join Iris in the middle of the transponder circle. At the end of the countdown, we were enveloped in green light...
Then, we were gone.
-VII-
"Aaaaand they're gone." In a secluded room, a man stared at a monitor hoping it'd give him a hint that he wasn't completely boned.
Alas, none came. "I'm dead. I'M SO FUCKING DEAD!" He slammed his forehead on his desk, grasping at coarse hair with both hands. He sputtered out curses and lamentations of varying degrees and intensity...
Until, as an idea came to him, they slowly left place to silence. 'Unless... unless I present the facts in a different light?' Indeed, the man realized he could do just that. Maybe this wasn't a death sentence...
This was opportunity. "Yes... Yes, of course! Ahahahahah!" He laughed out in relief and excitement as his brain ran through the many possibilities. "Enjoy your brief stint of freedom, specimen. Ingma-Dus. You will be back on my operating table soon enough..." He stood up from the chair. He had to move fast. Report the accident himself before anyone else could, change any recordings in the system, take care of drones... "Until then: thanks for the opportunity! Hahahahahah!"
JUSSO's PARTY receives 1 Fabula Point.