“I CAST FIREBALL!” I shout.

A slightly larger than pea sized object rockets out of the wand, faster than I can track it. The bead misses the model three by more than a foot, looks like I need some practice. However, it reaches the range trigger and detonates. Again, Merlin undersold the wand. A quick flash of the bead separating and releasing the element to flash boil into the Oxygen. The resulting fireball is intense, the explosion rocks the hallway incinerating the model threes, the paint, light fixtures, doors, uhm everything.

Shit.

The hallway is on fire, like everything in a thirty-foot area. I did not account for the narrow hallway expanding out the blast radius.

You have obtained seventy points Morigana, and it appears the model threes have not only been incinerated but all biomaterial has been destroyed. I will update the software in the wand to account for narrow areas of deployment for a more accurate depiction for the area of effect.

“It worked out well enough I think Merlin, no need to apologize! I’m unhurt and they are toast so win-win.”

Actually, Morigana your eyebrows and lashes have been flash burned off. I will have the remaining nano bots replace them momentarily. On a side note, you have also obtained one token and three hundred and fifty-seven points for defending the bunker, with over one hundred occupants. Your point total is Four hundred and Twenty-Seven Congratulations!

“Hecken yeah Merlin, I’m not sure what to use a token on at the moment but I am excited to go shopping! The next thing I need though is a way to close the bunker so I can move on and try to destroy the pod out on the field.”

Of course, Morigana that is a wise decision. I can unlock Class I drones, it would have a simple drone with strength enough to manually close the bunker. However, it would have little other purpose and would be somewhat pricey for a throw away. Alternatively, you could unlock Class I Nano Machine technology and then buy some nanites to repair the door's electronics and close it normally. This would be cheaper and open up a catalog with a diverse range of utility.

“How much would option two cost, and expand on the uses of what else is in there please.”

The catalog is fifty points, and the nanite spray with the raw repair materials would cost twenty points. In the Nano tech catalog, you can assemble and build a multitude of objects and complex systems that can adapt to situations as needed. They do tend to be weaker than say a traditional comparable object, but again they are adaptable by your own need and imagination.

“I see, so I could have self-repairing armor, or have it change shape or have a melee weapon that can adapt from a sword to a spear or hammer?”

Precisely, would you like to proceed?

“Please, unlock and purchase the new toy Merlin.”

Class I Nanite Machine Technology unlocked!

Points reduced to: 377

New Purchase: Electronic Repair Nanites:

Points reduced to: 357

A small box plops into existence at my feet, with a neat bow on top. I tug off the bow and flip the lid to find a small ten-ounce spray bottle.

I check my mini-map for danger, no Antithesis appear to be in the stairwells so I should have time to run back and repair the doors before anything else shows up.

I walk back down to the bunker; I still don’t actually feel up to running just yet.

The students and faculty are in a proper panic now and are shouting and crying, it’s hard to single out anyone particular but I think the general worry is from the explosion they just heard.

“It’s okay everyone. There was a group of model threes that made it down but they have been taken care of. I’ve recently been made into a new Samurai and have come back with repairs for the bunker so please calm down.”

I hear a few murmurs. “Morigana became a Samurai?”

“How, she seemed just a nerd, why did they pick her?”

“Her clothes are all torn, you can see her undies.” Followed by some giggles, from the children.

“The sub, great we are doomed.” Someone else scoffed.

Trying to ignore the comments, I shifted my skirt to cover myself better.

I will highlight on your augs where to spray.

“Thank you, Merlin.”

A zone of red appeared on my augs on each door behind the hinges, I aimed the little bottle and sprayed down the areas shown. A few moments later the bottle is empty, I stood back and waited.

“How long is this going to take Merlin?

By the time I complete this statement about it being almost repaired they should be done. Ah they are done, and you may close the bunker at any time.

I check the school network and sure enough I see the command and status as green.

“Okay everyone.” I shout.

“I am going to close the bunker and go topside and see if I can aid in the removal of the remaining Antithesis. Please calm down and wait here.”

Rousing speech Morigana.

“Hush you.” I initiate the closing sequence for the doors.

The massive bunker doors slowly swing shut and lock into place.

I check my mini-map and start tracing the best way to reach the fields where the pod landed. If I can clear it out, I should get a decent number of points and maybe move on to other areas and see if I can help.

After setting a route I start following it on my mini-map.

I head up the flight of stairs, opposite from the ones I blasted with my wand, the area is still somewhat on fire.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Your current route selection will take you through the cafeteria. It appears to have become a gathering point for a significantly large group of Antithesis. Allow me to show you.

A small window opens in my vision. I can see the masses gathering around the food warmers. All the Antithesis seem to be consuming the food, my guess to carry back to the pod to start a hive. From what I can see I count fifty or so model threes, and they look like they are escorting about twenty model Eights giant armored centipedes used to gather biomass to grow hives. They are all contained in a room roughly a hundred feet across in both directions. Prime targets for fireballing!

“That looks promising Merlin, keep an eye out and let me know if anything changes before, I get there.”

Naturally I will. Please be cautious there are still other Antithesis wandering around and I am only able to use the school’s network to search.

I slowly make my way through the school, checking corners and hallways before I move through. I have Merlin keep checking the network around me to make sure I don’t miss anything.

Approaching the final doors to the cafeteria I get a feeling of unease. This is a very large congregation of baddies, and all I have is a wand. No armor, or back up weapon I suddenly feel very vulnerable.

“Merlin, assure me this will go well please, and this is the right thing to do.”

As much as I would like to do that I won’t, you were selected because your profile suggested you were capable of handling situations like this. Use that above average human brain of yours and THINK. If you are feeling uneasy it is for good reason, use your instincts yes, but then apply your brain to figure out why.

“That was oddly helpful in a back-handed kind of way… thanks?”

Now, let’s clean this mess out.

I peek up through the cafeteria’s door windows to get a better grip on the situation.

I notice a flock of model ones, little bird creatures used for scouting, that were missed on the feeds, they may have flown in while I was moving. That makes me think, what route are they using to get here when there are only two hallways. The one I’m standing in and one on the far-right side of the cafeteria.

So, they are using the other hall to move around otherwise I should see more activity here.

“Merlin.” I whisper. “Check the activity in that other hall please, if I’m right there could be more Antithesis moving back and forth.”

You are correct, there appears to be a steady stream of threes, eights, ones, and I also see a model six. The good news is the wand's destructive power should be capable of taking out a model six.

Model sixes were like giant grizzly bear sized aliens, with heavy armor plating, six legs and could organize and command other Antithesis. In all a scary combination.

“Great, then I guess I go in wand blazing? Please refill the wand as points allow and as needed. Last thing I need is to run out of ammo.”

Naturally I will do so.

I take a calming deep breath and slip into the cafeteria; nothing seems to have spotted me just yet.

I aim my wand at the group, they all seem to be gathered around the food. Most humans complain about the quality of cafeteria food, evidently Antithesis have no such qualms. Lunch ladies should feel proud.

I move the wand around until I get the maximum area of effect, but it won’t cover all of them. I access the settings and increase the casting by one gram. The explosive radius increases by two and a half feet.

That makes sense - doubling the amount does not equate to double the size it would take four times to see that expansion. Still, it’s enough to cover the area I need.

“I cast Fireball!” I whisper out.

The even bigger pea zips out of the wand impacting directly on a model three.

Stars be! The explosion rocks the cafeteria sending molten trays and shrapnel everywhere. Thankfully none of it makes it to me, the tables and chairs block most of it and the active sprinklers dampen the fire's spread.

You have gained six hundred and seventy points.

I take aim at the other hallway doors expecting a response.

Sure, enough a new hoard of threes, a model six and two model fours come barreling out of the hall. I hesitate a moment, the model six is insanely huge like a bear combined with bug, massive limbs, and thick armor plating. The fours are like shambling mounds of tentacles covered in spikes of which I know can be used as projectiles, and a hallucinogen type gas that it can disperse.

Without changing my wand's settings, I use another charge.

I use the aug mental command this time to activate the wand.

The pea lands at the foot of the six, the explosion fills the room sending out shockwaves, and I can feel the temperature raise by a good amount, the air also seems rather thin.

You have gained one hundred and five points.

“This is working exceedingly well! From what my research has shown other than the model six who I was not sure on. This wand should be able to kill any of them up to at least model tens.”

You are correct, however should anything get closer than the minimum safe distance you will be without defense or weapon. If you ran into a model Four ambush for example, you would be without protection. Now that you have more points, we should spend them.

“You are right, let’s get some protective gear and a close-range weapon. Something that is light and maybe adds some fire protection? Weapon wise, something that does not require a lot of strength or skill for now.”

Good ideas, for fifty points we can open Class I personal body armor. However, another group of beings with a similarly scientific mind and preferred using the natural elements as weapons and armor, they were a bit nutty and eccentric, but they were no less intelligent and exceptionally lethal. Combining them with Nano tech we could build something unique to you.

“Oh? And who are these people?”

The catalog is called “Class I Warcaster Technologies”. It would cost two hundred points, and I would recommend unlocking Class II as well for five hundred points and a token. These two catalogs alone could handle offense and defensive equipment.

“Yes, but that would leave me low on points, would that be enough to get anything useful?”

Yes, there is a set of gloves called Hydro-Cryogenic displacement gloves. They cost Seventy points. You can use them to freeze anything on touch or at a short range roughly ten feet, that contains a liquid, making them extraordinarily brittle and unable to move. The freezing effect also rapidly spreads through the afflicted subject even after contact is over. The gloves themselves are resistant to Antithesis melee attacks.

“That does sound beneficial, but I don’t know if it’s what I need right now. I think something more defensive would be better. Like armor or maybe shielding?

In that same category in the Class II catalog is a personal shielding unit that provides complete coverage. It is strong enough to ward off your fireball wand, or high tier Antithesis weapons. However, the cost for the gear is twelve hundred points. Alternatively using the Class I Warcaster and Class I Nano Tech I can create a personalized armor set for Two hundred and Fifty points. It would protect from your fire and physical threats. It comes with a localized energy shield for your head, it also filters out toxins and would provide one hour of air but is not as strong as the Class II.

“I think that is the best route for now, purchase that please Merlin.”

Class I Warcaster Technologies unlocked!

Points reduced to: 932

New Purchase: Nanite Enhanced Mk I Armor of the Witch:

Points reduced to: 682

A shoe box drops onto the cafeteria table next to me.

Hurriedly I toss the lid and look inside, love me some new clothes! I can’t wait to see my very own Vanguard armor!

I am disappointed.

It’s a bottle, like a 2-liter bottle and it’s a boring black color.

“Merlin, what is this?” I say in disbelief!

Calm Morigana, it looks that way because it is combined with nanotech and is in a relaxed form. Please open the container's lid and place a finger in the entrance. I will handle the rest.

Trusting Merlin, I pick up and open the bottle, it’s surprisingly light, then looking inside I see a dark liquid.

I place my finger gingerly into the opening, I can feel the liquid inside it kind of feels like sand mixed with water.

It latches onto my finger suddenly; I jerk my hand back and drop the bottle.

“What the heck.”

Please wait, while I configure the nanites into the armor's active form.

The goo rapidly spreads across my body. Hardened plates form over my chest and back, it spreads down across my arms forming light gloves, down my legs into plating, and boots for my feet.

“Merlin, can we make this more aesthetically pleasing?”

This is only me initiating the active form, you may use your augs to adjust fit, color, and aesthetics to your desire.

“Thank you Merlin, I can’t fight evil looking like a medieval knight.”

Opening the menu in my augs a replica of myself is shown with the armor overlaying my body. With some mental tweaks I adjust the armor to a more feminized appealing way. A girl has to look good while fighting evil, you know?

I slim down the design, making sections appear transparent over my upper chest to give some cleavage, and down my legs ending in thigh high boots. I dye the armor an alternating stylized black and deep purple.

L.O.V.E it!

If you are quite done being a diva, a situation has developed in the gym.