Yggdrasil Fallen, LitRPG Series
Book 1, Part 1 Obsidian
Chapter 25: Simulation
The deafening whirr of helicopter blades buzzed overhead as Silderson and the Architect blitzed over the mountainous landscape. Grasped tightly in his hands, Silderson held a large flask full of bright green liquid. Speaking into the microphone mounted to his headset he mused to the man sitting opposite him.
“At least that kid was worth something in the end. It’s a shame we’ll have to sacrifice such a resplendent item to the cause.”
“Let’s just hope she knows what to do with it and doesn’t take us out in the process.” The architect replied.
Chuckling, Silderson thumbed the top of the bottle before continuing.
“I don’t believe we have anything to worry about, the R and D team has been working on something that will be of tremendous use here.”
“Oh? And what pray tell would that be?”
“Just you wait and see, the Beastmaster should be coming into sight shortly.”
A few short minutes later they could make her massive serpentine body out, its overlarge shiny black scaly form glittering in the sunlight of the plant bare mountainside. She was surrounded by a small hill of the planetoid worm creatures, as well as too many Terran Shadow Hunters to count. From the looks of it she had set up a makeshift camp of flattened plants and earth alike and was basking in the warm afternoon sun.
“Prepare the dispersion cannon and bring us down to 100 feet.” Silderson commanded through the headset to the pilot. The helicopter shook slightly as they felt the weapon lowered beneath its fuselage. Silderson turned a knob on the wall near him and a small console with a view screen folded out from the wall, coming to rest in front across his lap. To either side of the viewscreen were joysticks, with a long clear rubber tube protruding just above the right joystick. The screen buzzed to life, a down scope view overlooking the steel tank cannon barrel with a series of crosshairs overlapping each other. Pulling the stopper out of the flask, Silderson inserted the rubber tube into the green liquid, which with a whirring of the console began rapidly draining. The machine dinged as the last drops were sucked up the tube, with a “READY TO FIRE” alert lighting up on the main screen. Tossing the now empty flask into the trash, Silderson spoke calmly into the headset:
“Bring us around to the backside of the camp and give me a sweeping pass, I want as good a shot as I can get at her.” In a smooth response to the request, the aircraft skirted around the edge of the camp as Silderson lined up the shot. The copter dove in, Silderson pressing the “Fire” button at the bottom of the arc causing a thick mist of the neon liquid to spray out, saturating the Beastmaster’s relaxing form, causing her to instantly rearing back in rage.
“Get us out of here.” He growled into the headset.
The Beastmaster had pulled her whip back, readying a wicked strike but had paused, curiously looking herself over. From a distance both Silderson and the Architect watched as the surface of her shoulder blanched, the scaly surface losing its sickly rotting appearance as the flesh around the wound began to roil, frothing like boiling soap. With a bloodcurdling shriek, a newly formed arm burst out of the socket, chunky green slime splattering to the ground around her. She looked between the aircraft and the slimy, glistening new appendage, flexing it carefully; then grasping her whip with it, cracked the whip loudly over the head of her gathered beasts, who reared in the direction of the helicopter. It was far too late though, the Dispersion cannon stored, Silderson and the Architect were rocketing back over the landscape, at an altitude far above where she and her beasts could reach.
“I would say that was quite successful indeed.” Silderson grinned to himself.
“My compliments to your engineering department. That was quite the flawless execution.”
“With that problem resolved, let us move onto the next stage of this plan. “Kingsman” is getting impatient with our progress.”
“Have we located the next dungeon?”
“Not yet, but the process is underway.”
******************************************
Andre stirred, the faintest hints of morning light streaming through a large window he had failed to notice in the prior evening’s fatigue. Bleary eyed, he sat up taking in the comfortable surroundings of the room he had claimed. The pile of goodies he’d purchased sat on a nearby steel legged table. The room itself was shockingly bare of any luxuries, just simple polished steel framed wooden chairs, capped with riveted leather, the walls rimmed with the same lamps he had seen in the last dungeon; and a large floor to skylight window that stood about 6 feet wide.
“Good morning.” ALIAS chirped.
“You have successfully absorbed “Tome of Glowstone Artifices”. Though, due to the aspected nature of the abilities included, you are currently unable to access the abilities for use, or their description lists. You will need to obtain the marks of the correlated sisters to unseal what you have gained from this skill book.”
“Well good morning to you too. That’s… just great… kind of seems like I wasted that coupon on a fucking whim.” Andre grumbled to himself as he climbed out of bed and staggered to the table, grabbing a bottle of water. Twisting the cap off and taking a deep swig of the ice cold, refreshing water he assessed the food he’d picked up from the lowest level of the depot. Deciding on a meal that looked suspiciously like a burrito, he broke the packaging open; wisps of hot vapor spiraling out and took a large bite of the tender tortilla. Succulent beef, sweet onion and earthy bell pepper filled his mouth with a lightly sweet, yet spicy/savory cream sauce. Chewing thoughtfully, he wandered over to the large window looking out at the desolate city as the massive sun broke the horizon, its blinding rays casting long shadows as its beams struck the rotted city. He stood in silence eating the rest of the shockingly fresh, delicious fajita beef burrito.
Turning back to the pile of gear he’d left piled on the floor he strode over and began redressing himself in the tunic, pants and new boots. Picking up the sword belt he strapped it around his waist, over top the elongated tunic.
“I’m looking a bit like Link’s evil twin here.” He mused to himself, pulling the leather strap tight, and sliding the machete into place. The revolver and its holster belt he had left on the table next to the other goodies he’d picked up in his blind haste the night before. Still unsure about its “Loyalty” He picked up the simplistic hook latch designed belt and looked over it carefully. The belt itself was etched in a language he could not understand, which seemed to shimmer in a kaleidoscope of colors.
“How the hell can a weapon choose to not work for someone… it’s not exactly like they’re sentient.” He mumbled, picking up the weapon, still holstered in its belt. There was what appeared to be a strap of riveted leather sinched over the grip, securing it in the holster despite their being no evidence of a button, buckle latch or any other mechanism to release it. Thumbing the ornate carvings on the dusky wooden grip of the revolver thoughtfully, He looked closer at the holster, trying to figure out how to release it when a new grating, gravelly almost vaguely British voice shouted in his mind:
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“If you’re gonna stare while fingering me like this, I expect at least one stiff drink first, ya ruddy fuck!”
“What in the… did you… just TALK to me?!”
“More like in you, but who’s counting... not that it’s a “shot” I would be proud to count. Now could ya pull your foul onion belchin breath outta my space, ya making my leather crack.”
Staring at the packaging from his breakfast he was beginning to wonder if there hadn’t been some fun mushrooms diced into that burrito along with the peppers and onions.
“Naw man, ya aint hallucinatin. I am actually talkin to yar worthless arse.”
“Great, another fucking voice in my head. My shrinks gonna have an absolutely fan-fuckin-tastic time with this one.” Andre grumbled to himself as he stared at the weapon. He sat in a simple framed cushioned wood chair, holding the weapon and its holster in his hand.
“Can… can you hear men?” He thought, stuttering even in his own mind.
“Fuckin course I can, think im some null eared bitch?” The new voice growled back.
“Uh… Andre, it seems you’ve discovered an artefact of significant portents. While I cannot determine its origins, I strongly suggest you do your best to… well do your best to not be you. This sapience could prove a formidable ally.” ALIAS almost squeaked.
“Aye, listen to your alter ego boy. While I was forged in a circumstance of extreme tragedy, believe me… not gonna talk about it, you aren’t qualified to deal with the trauma. The process left me with a “soul” of my own. I had a bonded partner once, but he got is’ arse ripped apart by some beast of unimaginable strength. Since then, ave’ been passed round like an opium pipe in an ouse’ of ill repute.” The voice growl, an edge of a laugh to its words.
“Ok, Mr. Revolver man, do you have a name?” Andre asked, taken aback by the shocking deluge of information from something he’d only moments before perceived as a metal and wood projectile launcher.
“Not fer you, Mr. Pansy-assed Ascended bitch.”
“Jeez! Do you have no filter?” Andre was taken aback by the foul voice barking in his head.
“course’ not, I’m a fucking revolver, idiot.”
“Ok, cool your jets man. Does your talking to me mean you’ve accepted me to… uh… use you?”
“Finger me trigger just right and see if ye can get me ta blast fer ya. Can’t partner with someone who doesn’t fill me up just right… ya know?” The voice responded in with an almost disturbing growling barking laugh.
“Uh, What about this strap…?”
“It’s my kink. But we can’t have our fun here, well need to put in some time in the training facility.”
Andre shook his head, setting the holstered revolver back onto the table:
“Man, not sure I like this thing, regardless of how powerful it is, its… ugh.” Staring at the 6-shooter sitting on the table:
“I guess, since I wasted my only weapon coupon on it, may as well see if it will even work for me.” Fifteen minutes later Andre had left his room, having donned the jewelry accoutrement to his attire and was standing in front of the door leading into the room marked “Training Facility”. A computer set into the wall to his right booted up when he reached out to grab the handle of the door, dinging insistently at him.
“Select Training protocol: Introductory Training. Course 1. Course 2. Course 3. Basic Beasts. Moderate Beasts. Advanced Beasts. Alpha Aspected Beasts. Supreme Alpha Beasts. Endless Swarms.” The screen reminded Andre of a vintage touch pad, the options poorly spaced with the back light just barely bright enough to read the options.
“Well, I already have a fair amount of combat experience… I think? Lets Try “Basic Beasts”.” He thought, pressing his pointer finger against the option.
“Basic Beasts Trial selected. Please wait.”
Andre heard a metallic grating behind the door, then a faint hum as a light at the floor seam seemed to flash several times. He heard another insistent chiming from the touchpad.
“Training room is Ready, Please press “ENTER” when you have readied yourself. Combat will initiate upon entry.” Reaching out, Andre once again pressed his index finger against the pad, this time into the large “ENTER” box that had appeared in the middle of the screen. The tablet chimed confirmation before turning off as the door swung open. Walking into the well-lit room he looked around. It was filled with a combination of plant life including bushes, trees, tall grass and flowers. As well as man-made refuse: dumpsters, cardboard boxes, rusting cars and one rotting lean-to. At first, he didn’t see anything. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a bright red-orange creature race from one of the bushes to behind the rusted-out car.
Thumbing the strap securing the revolver into its holster a voice shouted in his head:
“Now that’s the stuff! Let’s see what you’re made of!” The strap fell loose, Andre’s palm finding the grip, he drew its surprisingly light form; attempting to look down the iron sights, only to find there were none.
“Just two aspects?!? Is that all you’ve really got for me to play with?” The revolver growled.
“Sorry man, I’m new to all this!” Andre shot back.
“Yaaaaaaaay, I get to play with a pretty lil virgin.” The sarcasm dripping heavily from every word.
“Pfffft, I’m hardly a virgin buddy.”
“Bet I’ve blasted more ass than you could ever dream of slappin round inna southside brothel.” The voice growled, almost laughing at him.
“Good lord, do you have to be so foul?!” Andre thought angrily at the weapon held in his hand.
“Hahahahaha, all the proof ah need to know I’m much better at it than you. Now, fill me with your Aqua energy, and let’s see if we can’t blow a hole in that demon fox before it tears you a new arse hole and calls ya its wife.”
Andre focused, feeling the cool energy flow from his core, across his shoulder, down his arm and into the weapon.
“Ohhhh yeah, now that’s the good stuff! Now, take aim and see if you can’t hit that beast.”
The red-orange streak Andre had witnessed earlier had now exposed itself to him, a snarling, mouth frothing hound sized fox advanced slowly towards him, its hackles on high. Andre pointed the weapon in its general direction pulling the trigger only, much to his dismay finding nothing happening.
“Uh, what’s going on?”
“Dunno, give it another go.”
Andre pulled the trigger again, only for nothing to happen. He squeezed again and again, the Demon Fox rapidly getting closer. Finally, on his tenth pull of the trigger a bright blue flash wrapped out of the end of the barrel, silky spirals launching themselves towards the creature just feet away. Striking the fox, the strands of energy wrapped themselves around it, lifting it off the ground engulfing it in a watery sphere that began compressing in on it. A loud “POP” rang through the room as the ball exploded outwards, shredding the monster trapped within it.
“Well… that was unexpected.” Andre wheezed, completely stunned by what had just happened.
“Hooooooo boy! You sure have some tasty energy!” The voice sang in his head with utter delight.
“So, does this mean you’ll work with me?”
“I spose, for now it wouldn’t be such a bad deal, so long as you keep fillin me with that amazin power.” It responded.
Nodding to himself a bit relieved the weapon had at least seemed to calm itself a bit, Andre turned looked around the room again searching for more enemies to practice on.
Before he knew it, Andre realized that his time in the training room had consumed the entire day, working with his new “ally” to discover the nuances of wielding an aspect fueled gun. A full 10 hours after his initial venture into the training facility a freshly fed and showered Andre stood in front of the lightly fogged bathroom mirror, carefully examining his now foreign face. His eyes had grown sharp, his features lean and somewhat refined: he had convinced himself his stat allocations had an impact on his physical form.
Before he first entered the training facility he’d taken note of the fact he had 15 stat points to allocate, and after a full day of training that number had risen to a shocking 30. While he had gotten a bunch of practice with the revolver, he found it quickly exhausted his respective mana energy pools, he realized he would have to figure out a way to increase his maximum reservoir if he wanted to be effective with both his abilities and his newfound ally. The rest of the time he had practiced his swordplay, upping the challenge of the training facility to moderate after his mid-day meal break. He was exhausted, the moderate beasts had been significantly tougher than the basic and while he knew for sure he was getting stronger, his skills, abilities, gifts and over all aspect levels showing a gradual improvement, he wasn’t sure just how much more training he’d need to become a formidable force in the grand scheme of his new reality.
His eyes traced the new scar on the right side of his face, left by the Beastmaster’s whip, mercifully sparing his eye; it traced from the middle of his forehead through his right cheek all the way to his jawline. Andre left the bathroom heading straight to the bed calling his name after the rough day, barely glancing at the gun holster hanging over the foot of it. He climbed in and began practicing the meditative breathing ALIAS had taught him what seemed like ages ago. As he felt himself drifting off ALIAS chimed in:
“Beginning Realm Transfer.”