These days, I had the constant thought that nothing here could give me a challenge anymore. Nothing here left for me to really do anymore. It was boredom, probably . I was spoiled rotten, or maybe I lived for the thrill of victory. I still often think of the Electric Raven, The Rakasha, and The Horde.
Finally, at last, I was summoned to the "Board of directors" of the guild. A nice, black, luxury flying vehicle took me on a slow ride to the skyscraper that stood above all the rest. I sipped champagne as I admired the neon city some more. Even now, it was a beautiful place, and the year or so I spent here had changed me completely.
The vehicle landed on the top floor, I was escorted into a large, spacious room. White columns, ceramic floor tiles. A long table with only three sitting on the opposite side. An old man, who was balding. A large, thin and very tall man who may as well be a giant. Then a normal woman with a black bob cut.
"You have done the guild a number of great services." said the old man in a calm tone.
"You have the right to advance to the highest rank." spoke the giant in a deep voice.
"You are now ranked 7, officially titled: The Metal Chimera." stated the woman in a soft manner.
It was all very intimidating. The length of the room, the whiteness, the voice thing. I'm sure they were doing it on purpose. It was pretty cool, to be honest.
"Who are the other 6?" I asked the most straightforward question, in a straightforward manner.
"6th, The Iron Wall"
"5th, The Gunslinger"
"4th, The Blind Monk"
"3rd, Plasma Reactor"
"2nd, The Light Blade"
"1st, Sky Mage."
Well, these names meant nothing to me, except The Light Blade, but it was good to note. But, I had a problem with these rankings. First, they were wrong - I was supposed to be first.
"If you are so inclined, you may formally challenge the Warrior the rank above you. A set location and date will be made by us." sounded the voice of the old man.
"Good, good." I nodded. "I will fight this "Iron Wall."
"And the rest, too." I added.
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Quickly came the fight with the Iron Wall. Surprisingly, a woman with a massive stature. Think of a sumo wrestler cyborg. Almost her entire massive frame was coated in a thick layer of metal.
She even Raised her Right leg high, before slamming it down, Following was her left leg being raised, and smashed into the ground. Au-ha told me this was a Shiko or something. She really was a sumo wrestler.
"If you can knock me down, you win." She had a deep and manly voice, and just stood in place.
This was a very strange method of fighting. I've heard 'defense is the best offense' before but its not actually true if you don't ever attack.
"Feeble warriors, I tell ye." Big Star was complaining. I couldn't help but agree.
I analyzed multiple methods, with Au-ha's computational abilities. There were a few hundred ways to knock her down.
I ran up in a burst of lightning, Grabbed her legs firmly, while pulling back on them, my tail striking her chest as it shaped in a mace.
She fell hard. She rolled around and struggled to get up. In a real fight she would be killed ten times over by now. I helped her up, and told her maybe she should attack.
"I don't like hurting others." was her response.
Well, maybe not so feeble.
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Next came the challenge with the gunslinger. I was looking forward to this one, just based on the name, this person would definitely be cool as all hell.
I waited for him. And waited. And waited. Finally it was night time, almost 12 hours after the start. He flew by in a luxury air vehicle and walked out with a large group of women. He was a tall, lean man with a black duster, pistols on his hip, rifle on his back, and augmented arms that likely also shot something.
I guess he lived up to his reputation.
"Hey, kid. I'll give you one chance at calling it off." He twirled a gun, casually around his finger.
He was annoying. I shot out a bolt of red-lightning from my third eye. One of the women jumped in front of the blast at the last moment, exploding into pieces of metal. A robot.
"CINNNNDYYY!" he cried out, actual tears forming.
He got serious upon the death of this robot girl. Pulling out two revolvers, two more mechanical arms shot out his back, and wielded a sniper rifle that shot plasma. The rest of the women also took out machine guns and started shooting.
In less than a second, an actual lake of bullets began flying toward me. All I could do was crouch and turtle up with my wings. These bullets stung, as they all exploded into smaller shards. I could only inch forward slowly, taking the barrage. The metal coating on my wings even began to chip off, the plasma rifle melted holes straight through my wings. I continued shooting blasts of lightning in the times of brief respite.
A few more robot women died. He screamed some more random names. I felt bad.
Finally it seemed he ran out of ammo, when he dropped his revolvers. His wrists opened up and began firing heavy artillery at me. The first one sent me back around a dozen feet, rolling on the ground. My wings were torn into pieces. I shot the remaining robot dead with my third eye. And took small leaps and side steps to dodge the heavy shots being fired from his wrist.
Within striking range, he pulled out a shotgun, blasting it off. I barely ducked it, swiping my tail, knocking him off his feet. I pinned him to the ground with my next step.
He was crying "you monster…just kill me."
"Can't you just get some more?" I asked.
"Well, yeah," he sniffled "but they cost a lot of money, I can't believe you destroyed them all…"
I offered to pay for half of them, and that was settled. A strange man, but not unlikable. His fighting style was a gimmick, though. In a second round he would be crushed instantly.
"You should be nicer to inorganic life forms in the future." pouted Au-ha.
"I'm sorry…"
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The blind monk was there waiting for me when I got there. He was wearing a blindfold. He bowed to me, and did not speak a word as he began the fight.
He used no weapons, merely the strength of his own body and fists. Not a hint of metal was to be found on him. I assumed he was a classic Strength cultivator. In a gesture of respect, I did not use my wings, tail, or third eye.
He moved in flowing, circular motions with his legs. Striking out in open palms. I dodged and weaved the palm strikes, while hopping the circular sweeps. My punches were cleanly deflected with open palms and side steps,yet my kicks proved unpredictable, I got in a good strike.
Another sweep, and I performed an aerial roundhouse to his chin, striking a devastating blow. He flew through the air, before landing on the ground limply. His blindfold slipped off slowly, revealing to me eyes with flaming pupils. He quickly stood up, and unleashed bits of fire in each attack.
Explosive power. His punches could only be dodged, but the shockwave still sent me back. His sweeps now ranging from low to high, leaving streaks of fire in their wake. He was more unpredictable, fierce, and more violent than before.
I assumed my stance, and sharpened my form against his. When he punched, I sidestepped, leaning into the blasts to provide fierce counter attacks. The strength of his attacks were slightly stronger than mine, but my defense far outclassed his. Within my veins still ran a stream of lightning, which grew in power every day, every time I would eat a simple beast. This was my greatest trump card.
It was not necessary to reveal it yet, though. My defense was too strong, and my regeneration allowed me to pummel him more and more each encounter. Finally, he spit up a mouthful of blood, kneeling on the ground.
I helped him up and asked for the warrior's name. He replied in sign language.
"Names are unnecessary, I only speak through my fists."
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At the 3rd spot. Was a Massive armored man who called himself "Plasma reactor". It was obviously because he had a plasma reactor in his chest, his whole body made of this planet's most advanced materials. He wore a full suit of stylish metal, colored in blue.
His voice was robotic as he spoke.
"I have analyzed you for a long time, Metal Chimera, you came to this earth over a year ago. There are no records of you existing here previously. You are not using the technology of this planet. I can only assume you are a Mage."
He then brought out a sword coated in plasma.
"But why a mage would hide himself for so long, there is no explanation."
He struck out with the sword, I countered it with my own sword fingers, coated in red lightning. We engaged in a few simple blows, and it was clear his raw power was stronger. I dodged his attacks with ape-like agility, and wildly struck blows on his armor, denting and scratching it up. His body then projected a magnetic repulsive force, and I was flung back.
I needed to work on my sword skills, I realized.
He brought out a massive plasma cannon on his left arm, shooting a large blob of plasma out. I rushed forward, using the lightning in my veins. Lightning coating my metal skin, I rushed underneath the plasma blob, I swung down with as much force as I could muster, and cut deep into the metal giants shoulder.
"I have come up with a few theories," calmly spoke the robotic man, as a smaller suit of armor emerged from its outer shell, this armor much sleeker, and like my own skin, plasma danced on the edges.
He shot forward with his sword in hand. I would use this one to polish my skills too. My sword came up, and in a contest of strength, I pushed him backwards.
"A. You discovered an incredible power recently, and have grown exponentially."
He slashed down, left and right, in diagonals, and in thrusts. His sword style was as simple as they come, but also effective. I barely kept up, only on the defensive. My tail struck out at sudden moments, and dented his armor in a few spots.
He sprouted wings of plasma, and took to the sky. I followed after him with lightning speed, knocking him quickly back down to the floor.
"B. You are a new type of Beast, gained sentience. Like those birds you found."
His shoulders expanded to reveal a massive missile artillery unit, around 25 incredibly powerful, heat-seeking, plasma missiles were fired at once. I flapped my wings and went far, far into the sky. The missiles must have chased me a few hundred feet up, when I quickly reversed, dropping down through them with the heaviness of metal and speed of lighting.
I was still forced to tank a few, and felt the force of a mini nuclear explosion on my body. The radiation melting bits of metal on my skin. A painful burning sensation lasting long after the wounds began healing
I landed back on the ground with my legs straight upon the chest of the Plasma Reactor. His shell cracked completely, revealing an old and frail man underneath it all.
"C." he spoke weakly, with a raspy and withered voice. "You come from a different world."
I smiled at him.
"Correct answer, D. All of the Above."