Author's Note:
Character Map:
"X" = Loid Orcus (protagonist)
"(X)" = Loid Orcus (strong inner thought)
°X° = Makina
•X• = Soul Goddess Aksa
^X^ = Sebastian (AI Assistant)
X>X = Chat Window/Panel in the Livestream
*X* = God and Goddess
#X# = Deities
Others:
[X] = Status Board/What is written on it/ Status Window (New)
--- = POV Change
|||| = Time Skip
(X) = Explanation/author/ A.U.T.H.O.R.
([X]) = Sound effect
{X} = Buttons, or something that may cause an certain action
---
The immense vibrations rippled in all directions, shaking me. The deafening sound that followed made it clear what had just occurred above the surface.
It was a moment before I could gather my bearings, and when I did, the chat window was already alight with reactions.
X>Well, damn it! Are the knights okay?
X>It might be too late for them...
X>No way! These are Mystician Knights! They can't possibly be defeated! Believe in the knighthood!
X>That's right! Knight-sama banzai!
X>Banzai!
X>Banzai 2!
X>Banzai etc.
"...These guys,)"
I muttered under my breath
"(They're really serious about switching teams...)"
But I couldn't deny the impact of the railgun. It wasn't just a massive weapon—it was a massive wand. By merging modern technology with mystical enhancements, Makina had turned spellcasting into something far more efficient and destructive.
The chat continued to buzz, but I focused on the results before me.
"(What do you think about it, Goddess?)"
I asked, addressing Aksa internally.
•What can I say? As expected of my devoted follower, I was wrong in choosing you as my apostle.•
"(Hey, for the record, I don't even want to be your apostle! But if I had to pick, I'd much rather deal with you than having Makina Boss by you around!)"
•(Though I want to deny it outright, I must admit—even I am a bit overwhelmed by Makina's capabilities. She is truly formidable, and that's saying something, coming from me—a goddess.)•
"(As expected of Makina... I've still got a long way to go.)"
•(Catch up? I doubt you ever could. But enough idle talk. It's your turn now. The next move is yours. Do not delay.)•
"(...Fine. This time, I'll follow your lead. Now then...)"
Steeling myself, I activate Shapeshift and open the ground above me, exposing myself to the outside world once more.
As the light shines down on me, I immediately leap out of the trench and back to the surface. I pull a cloak from my stored items and drape it over my head.
"Okay, you're not the only one with equipment to boost around here."
^Divine Skill Ascertainment has been activated^
^[Status Board]^
[Name: #### | Second Name: Loid Orcus]
[Rank: F | Level: 1]
[Exp: 1132 (Exp can be used to allot stats and increase skill levels)]
[Category: N/A | Race: Mimic | Species: Primordial Mimic]
[Class: N/A | Job: N/A]
[Stats Board]
[HP: 1^100^ (Additional Stats)]
[MP: 1^100^ (Due to Buffs)]
[STR: 1^100^ (√ = Debuff)]
[DEF: 1^100^]
[AGI: 1^100^]
[DEX: 1^100^]
[INT: 1^100^]
[WIS: 1^100^]
[Abilities Board]
[Unique: Shapeshift]
[Divine: Soulsphere]
[Shapeshift: (Shapeshifted Abilities)]
[Soulsphere: Oracle (Soulsphered Abilities)]
[Mimic: (Mimicked Abilities)]
[Skill Board]
[Unique: Mimicry]
[Mimic: (Mimicked Skills)]
[List of Mimic Skills: Stunt Resistance]
[Divine: Ascertainment]
[Soulsphere: Oracle (Soulsphered Skills)]
[Shapeshift: (Shapeshifted Skills)]
[Equipment Board]
[Divine: Cloak of Mystery]
[Status Condition]
Blessing of the Soul Goddess
^Divine Skill Ascertainment activates 'Equipment Appraisal'^
^[Equipment Board]^
[Divine: Cloak of Wonder]
[Soul Bound - Once equipped, grants the ability to store objects and subjects in God's Embrace.]
[-Note: Cannot be used without divine assistance.]
"I pray to Goddess Aksa, Goddess of Souls, lend me thy aid."
•Very well, my servant.•
At that moment, the goddess—who until now had only been visible to me—manifested in the physical world, her presence lighting up the stream.
Brilliant light radiated behind her divine figure, her embrace wrapping around me like a shield of warmth.
A small, glowing portal materialized beside me, its light shimmering in ethereal brilliance. However, what emerged from the portal was far from godly—a collection of long gun barrels and mechanical shafts devoid of divine ambience. The stark contrast between the divine goddess and the cold armaments was bizarre, yet captivating.
I directed my attention to the legion of chivalrous knights, many of whom stood unscathed due to the Last Guard skill, while others, shattered by Makina's strikes, were regenerating at a steady pace due the blessing they possess.
"Mimicry Skill, activate."
^Activating Skill: Mimicry^
I focused on the swirling essences around me, scanning for a specific one that could end this battle. After a moment, I locked onto my target.
^Essence 64: Life Resonating Fragment Essence detected.^
"Found it. Sebastian! Align the arms and trajectories to match the coordinates I'm sending."
^Proceeding as you command.^
The barrels and shafts repositioned themselves with precision, their trajectories converging perfectly on the designated coordinates.
^Sebastain, at my command, Fire!^
^Acknowledged. Commencing fire.^
([BOOM])(Explosive Discharges)
The synchronized roar of the weapons firing echoed across the battlefield, drowning out every other sound. A dazzling array of projectiles erupted from the barrels, a blend of physical munitions and magically enhanced bursts that tore through the air like shooting stars.
X>Whoa, look at that light show!
X>This is wild—knights vs. railguns and now this?
X>I hate to admit it, but this is insane in the best way possible.
X>Switching team for real this time, there no way those knights will survive with our cold armaments, no regrets.
X>Knight-sama, survive this! Please!
X>Let's go, Earth team!
The projectiles raced toward their target with unerring accuracy. The air seemed to warp around them, their sheer power distorting the very air on their trajectory making an amazing sight.
And then they struck.
([EXPLOSION])
A blinding explosion of energy erupted at the point of impact. The force was so overwhelming that the ground quaked violently, fissures forming and spreading outward. The shockwave swept through the battlefield, throwing debris high into the air and causing even the most stalwart of knights to falter.
When the dust began to settle, a single knight emerged from the smoke, his armor dented and cracked but his will unbroken.
X>He's still standing?!
X>This is why I love knights!
X>Impossible! What's this guy made of?!
X>Knight-sama for president!
X>The chat has spoken. Mysticians forever!
Dumbfounded, I narrowed my eyes, and regained my bearings as I asked for analysis on the scene.
"Sebastian, give me a status update. Did we neutralize the Essence of Resonance?"
^Negative. The Essence remains active, though its influence has weakened by approximately 73%.^
"Why's that?"
^Based on my simulation, the outcome is likely due to the Render ability at play.^
"How so?"
^The Render Ability appears to have bestowed the Life Resonating Fragment with a combination of skills, namely Damage Reduction, Fortify, and Last Guard, which significantly enhances durability.
^This allows the remaining fragments to withstand our attack despite the intensity.^
"Hmm... That probably explains it. I never thought Render could work this way. I assumed it only enchanted individual knights—though I'm still uncertain if they qualify as truly living. I didn't expect it could also apply to fragments, which are essentially objects."
^Correct. The adaptive nature of Render makes it versatile in application. It treats the fragments as extensions of its wielders, enabling reinforcement of otherwise inanimate components.^
"...Interesting. That means we'll need a different approach. If conventional force doesn't fully neutralize the fragments, we might have to destroy them all at once or dismantle the enchantments directly."
^Acknowledged. Should I rerun the simulations for potential strategies?^
"Yes. And while you're at it, analyze if there's a way to counter Render without relying solely on brute force. If we can bypass those buffs, this fight becomes easier."
^Understood. Commencing simulations now.^
"How is it?"
^Simulation ended, unfortunately, with our current capability, I found none ^
"Then brute force it is, don't worry about it, the fight just remains it is, there no loss on it"
As I finish my talk with Sebastian, I look back at the lone knight with careful observation, starting from head to below, I observe its appearance starting with its dent helmet probably dented by flying fragment that collide at it helmet due to explosion and to its armor who also certainly follow the same fate as the helmet
I look further below then I notice, below at it feet, something is gathering, there a root that connected to fallen knights and as if like a root sipping the water, absorbing the fallen knights
And as it say it finish, the fallen knights fully absorb in the roots and the roots retract where it come from
^Change of Mana measurement Detected^
^There been noticable increase of Mana at the lone knight that remain, I advice caution^
With that, the roots fully retract and then the atmosphere changes, and the next change followed is the knight begun to distort, I thought that it was just showing it gained power just like in GOGO (JOJO) but as I retract me sight, I notice
Covering the knight whole is a big knight similar in silhouette of the knight inside of it and shade in colorless but despite that, it visible to naked eyes as if to resemble the knight power gained
"I watch many anime like Maruto (Naruto) who have similar what is that, I know that you become strong, you don't have to be humble knight"
"I also play many games that I thought that it really cliche what you are doing, in here on out, they will be a change right?"
Following the philosophy when fighting bosses, I without doubt, believing my gaming instinct that home since I'm just a child, I believe I shave enough of it health to have this knight do it
" A Boss Pattern Change it seems"
With that, the aura intensified, radiating a palpable pressure that made it clear—this was no ordinary chivalrous knight anymore.