We are plundering a kitchen for magical appliances. It takes only a short time and we may not come back.
L: I have counted 14 ordinary ones and the big one.
P: Concur.
Z: Concur
P: Ok, so I think we need to keep the plan simple. We now have enough free venom to kill them all. I cannot kill them all at once. That opens up the possibilty that they’ll try to eliminate the hostage.
L: Don’t fear. I am not going to forget about my barrier power twice.
P: It is also possible that they break and run. In that case we’ll follow the group that runs toward the hotel. If none do so, we follow the largest group.
Z: Understood. And I approve.
L: Understood.
P: Good. I am going to hit the big one first. If that attack fails, we abort the attack.
Z: Understood.
L: Understood.
This is getting better. But we still desperately need training.
The first three eyes go in together approaching low over the ground. I score an explosive hit.
The needles in the victim vanish. The guard run around in confusion. I explode three more. They start throwing balls of lightning at random. One eye of the next salvo is actually hit. Two explosions are left. The next salvo is spotted earlier, but they are bad at aiming. Two more explosions. Fully half of them are down without any action on their part.
Right before the next salvo arrives the sacrificial victim uses the fact that the chains and the cross he was bound to have been crumbling since the first explosion. He breaks free and races at a speed that has to be boosted away from the town square towards the next copse. The enemy is too surprised for an immediate reaction.
Three more explode. The rest takes of after him.
P: Out of the window!
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Four of them are not a serious threat as they are too shocked to disperse in order to circumvent Lidija’s barrier. They charged instead; right towards a dragon’s weapon.
The loot is absolutely satisfactory.
Their former prisoner has stopped and lifted his hands. I reciprocate the gesture. You have to make allowances for our appearance. But if he can boost his speed, why does he not sense our auras? I project as much as I can.
L: Watch out behind us!
She has watched our backs. I am ashamed of myself and proud of her.
A fairly rhinoshaped abomination dripping some form of … syrup is scrambling out of the pit. This is a sight that is bad for digestion.
Pacifists have a point. Violence is not the answer. Violence is the question.
An answer is [Hyperkinetic Cannon]. That is, once every 24 hours. May the gods bless Lidija for using her barrier ability in time.
--
I am leaving the talking to Zora. This man is GDN. We really need to be careful what to share with him. And she has a form a ritualist ought to be familiar with.
Z: Let me first ask whether you are alone, to be sure nobody is missing, and why you are here.
J: If you mean where the rest of the people of this village, there is a mass grave this way. I am the last they went to sacrifice. As to why I am here, we got a very unusual massing of glitches hence.
Z: Shit. Are you sure they are all dead?
J: No. They might have run out of the town. My aura senses don’t work. Do your essence abilities work?
Z: Yes, they do. But you are not a member of a team then?
She is not going to deny the obvious.
J: No, we do not exactly have men to spare on dubious research. Look, I can tell that you are not with the Network. I don’t want to know. I am not going to do any useful measurements here. It has become a matter of survival. So let me state it very clearly: Thank you!
Z: Very well, the hotel you and we are staying has so far survived. For now we have no vehicle, so we’ll have to walk.
The man has introduced himself as Jan Chotek. I have to ask.
P: Chotek as in Sarajevo 1914?
J: Yes. She was a relative.
P: How much the network validates the conspiracy trolls is among its greater sins.
He chooses to remain silent
--
We are sitting together after dinner, which was excellent.
L: I am afraid we need a break.
Z: Not claiming this area, whatever that is supposed to mean, is supposed to be lethal. There may or may not be a time limit.
M: Yes
L: If we need to hunt all anomalies, this will take a long time.
P: But do you know an alternative?
L: We could try to leave.
M: That means staying transformed. And if it were so easy our employers would have given us a reason to stay.
Z: Have things developed as they planned?
M: You’d have to ask them.
Z: We cannot … People, these devices have keyboards. Have we tried asking?