We looked at each other and cringed for a moment as what we said caught up with us. As we were looking at each other, we heard a loud explosion and turned back to the Rig.
The first Caladbolg lll had slammed into the force field, causing it to flicker. A second later, another two broke the forcefield with an even louder explosion.
The remaining nine swords slammed into the Rig one after another until the last one sailed through the destroyed top half.
"That was uh ridiculous," I said, looking at my simulacrum. Looking sheepish, 4.0 spoke. "I think it's because they're all A-ranked attacks; we just saw them used against people like Heraclius and Gilgamesh."
Looking around, we agreed, that we had underestimated that EX ranking on Unlimted blade works. Snapping my fingers, I started to bark out orders.
"3.0, you're on overwatch; alert us if anybody is resisting. 4.0 I want you to search the building for any capes and disable them. 5.0, your coming with me."
Nodding, we darted off to fill our respective roles. As I flew down towards the entrance, I saw a glowing figure flying out of the flying bits, sending a blast towards 3.0.
Sending an Eldritch Blast towards the doors, I blew them open. I wanted to save my mana as that first volley had cost me almost a quarter of my mana.
Striding inside the building, I floated over to the cowering receptionist; picking him up by his shirt, I growled into his face. "Where are the holding cells?"
Whimpering, the smell of piss filled the air as he raised a shaking hand and pointed towards an elevator off in the corner.
Dropping the man, I gave him a grin as we walked toward the elevator. Unsurprisingly when we hit the button, nothing happened.
There was a high chance we had knocked out most systems when we blew a hole in the Rig, which meant we were out of luck.
Sighing, I raised my staff and blew a hole in the elevator door with Eldritch Blast. I repeated that on the floor, allowing me and 5.0 access down.
Floating down, both of us were on high alert in case somebody was down here guarding the prisoners.
As we arrived at the bottom and glided forward, I started to peek into the cells. It seemed that, true to my assumption, most of the villains had already been shipped out.
Doing a quick count, I only saw Kaiser, Krieg, Lung, and Oni Lee unconscious in their cells hooked up to some kind of IV.
As I looked around for a method to open the cells that didn't involve blasting them open, I heard a faint creaking of boots on metal.
Whirling around, I teleported out of the way of numerous bullets aimed directly at my chest. Looking at the source, I saw Miss Militia glaring at me, eyes hard.
I had already blown the top off the Rig, which would most likely require a Triumvirate response. That meant I didn't need to go full non-lethal; worst case, I killed Miss Militia and was required to make a simulacrum.
As I thought that, I froze, which was nearly my death; I was forced to teleport around, avoiding bullets as I formulated a plan.
I needed a source of energy; while humans were not the best, a human soul would still produce a fair bit of energy. If I could harness that, I would be set.
To test that, I needed subjects, and Miss Militia was offering. I could replace her as a simulacrum anyway.
Sending out an Eldritch Blast, I forced her to dart out of cover and start running. UnfortunatelyUnfortunately for her, the cells were designed to withstand tons of damage, so she had no good cover options.
As I sent out blast after blast, 5.0 teleported right in front of her. She took a step back and had her gun raised as 5.0 stared her in the eyes.
As 5.0 whispered a word, Miss Militia collapsed, and the gun dissipated into a green blur.
Grinning, I turned back to face the cells. I would just do this the old-fashioned way. Raising my staff, I conjured caladbolg ll and sent it spiraling into the glass, tearing it to shreds.
5.0 repeated after me, and soon we had the unconscious forms of the gang leaders. I needed to get them in containment circles and soon.
Picking up Kaiser and Oni Lee, I pulled on the path to my house. Following after me and carrying Kreig, Lung, and Miss Milta was 5.0.
As we turned the corner, we arrived on the path to my house. Flying quickly towards it, I started to speak to 5.0.
"I want you to get these guys into containment circles, then come out and assist us."
Nodding, we both dropped our passengers on the ground. 5.0 started conjuring words and getting dust while I flew back out.
As I arrived, I heard something new. Along the sounds of my simulacrum fighting with Dauntless was what sounded like a jumbo jet.
Flying out, I saw that 3.0 was engaged in a dogfight with Dauntless. In the air, 3.0 couldn't get a good shot off and was able to avoid getting hit through flying.
Meanwhile, 4.0 has just avoided a salvo of missiles from a Dragon craft. Turning around, he raised a hand, and another caladbolg lll appeared before shooting off towards Dragon.
Unfortunately for Dragon, she did not have the same dodging capabilities as Dauntless, and not much could withstand an A-ranked attack.
Dragon, however, was apparently one of those people. As the blade exploded, Dragon emerged from the smoke, her missiles firing.
She didn't escape unscathed as she was listing to one side and dropping as whatever she used to fly was somewhat busted.
As I started to join the fight, the Grimoire grew once again. As the energy grew, my chest seemed to empty as I paradoxically felt a hollowness that hungered.
Shaking my head, I turned to face Dauntless; 4.0 could handle Dragon. Flying towards Dauntless, I raised my staff.
Letting out a grin, I cast Wall of Force surrounding Dauntless in a sphere. He was trapped, and while we couldn't get him, he was stuck.
Checking my soul pen, I frowned. I had around quarter darkness, tucking it back next to the shard. I turned to face Dragon.
As I faced her, the fight was pretty much over. She was shooting another batch of missiles that 4.0 dodged and followed up with a caladbolg lll that blew a hole in Dragon's head.
We just had to deal with Dauntless then we were home free. As I grinned, I felt brightness from behind me. Turning around, I saw 3.0 get hit with a massive laser, and his entire bottom half exploded into dust.
Swearing, I peered into the face of Legend, one of the most powerful people on the planet and easily one of the best forces for good.
I could, with careful maneuvering, deal with Alexandria; I just needed to suffocate her. That could be done via Wall of Force, then burning the air around her.
Legend and Edolion I could not face. Eildon because of his sheer scope and Legend because unless I killed him outright, he could heal, and he was one person I was not willing to kill.
The other issue was that Legend could follow me due to his light-speed travel. In addition, Wall of Force would do jack all because his standard lasers were light, and it let light through.
Raising my staff, I sent out another salvo of Eldritch blasts followed by several dozen basic swords. Dodging around them, Legend returned fire.
The first laser I teleported out of the way. This caused the remaining to follow me, forcing me to raise a floating wall of swords which stopped the lasers.
Turning back to face him, I saw that he had gone after 4.0 and quickly dusted him. With his bottom half gone and off guard, he was easy pickings.
Looking at 4.0, I shouted, "Hold him off!" Nodding, he charged Legend; staff held high as magic and swords flew from him.
As I retreated, pulling on the path to my house, I looked behind me and saw why Legend was considered one of the most powerful heroes.
He was flashing in and out of light form, dodging most of the hits and healing what he couldn't avoid. He then returned fire with half a dozen lasers.
Half of the lasers darted around the barrier 4.0 had conjured, forcing him to teleport while the others encircled him, not forcing him to teleport but hampering his vision.
As I entered the path, I slammed it shut behind me. It was time to leave. I needed to grab Komainu and cheese it.
I wouldn't be able to talk to Taylor, but it sucks to suck. Opening the path to my apartment, I flew in.
As I entered, I heard the sounds of fighting. Slamming open the bathroom door, I saw chaos.
PRT agents were squaring off against Komainu; Lisa was against the wall, hands raised as the agents hefted the sprayers of containment foam.
As I entered, several of them turned to face me. While I could teleport out of it, that would slow me down.
Raising my staff as foam started to fly towards me, I sent a ball of fire roaring towards the agents. I teleported next to Komainu and picked her up.
Opening a path to my house, I flew in, gesturing to Lisa for her to follow. As soon as Lisa entered, I slammed the path shut, ignoring the cries of the agents as they burned.
Flying down the path with Komainu over my shoulder as Lisa ran behind me, I reflected on what had happened.
Shaking my head, I dismissed the thoughts. I could reflect once I was in the NeverNever.
Setting Komainu down next to the house, I saw that 5.0 had gotten the villains set up. He also had Oni Lee in a circle similar to the one I used to harness Skidmark's power.
Turning towards Lisa, I spoke in a rush. "I'm opening a path towards the Bay's outskirts, and you're heading out, got it."
Seeming to sense my frantic tone, she nodded and then left as she saw the end of the path turn into a grungy alleyway instead of going on forever.
Striding back towards Oni Lee, I gave a nod to 5.0. I was pretty sure the house would follow me, but better safe than sorry.
"Komainu, I want you to stay inside Castle Brunestud as we travel." She scowled and opened her mouth to refute my point.
I didn't want to waste any more time. Any moment now, Doormaker could drop Thinker: run into my house.
Tapping Komainu on the forehead, I sent her to Castle Brunestud. Speaking to 5.0, I double-checked the circle.
"I want you to keep an eye out and prevent anybody from interrupting me."
Nodding, he floated off. After finishing checking the circle, I grinned. 5.0 had done an excellent job; I only needed to chant.
Clearing my throat, I started to speak in german, my voice resonating as the words poured from my lips.
"Oni, mind of rubber body of steel. I call upon you, translocate, move, clone and ash. I call upon you to see me safely. You shall open the way, and I will follow. Oni, you will open; I will follow!"
Reality around me twisted and contorted as I chanted, and my body felt like it was slowly turned to ash.
I closed my eyes as sounds of wildlife exploded around me, loud and fae. Opening my eyes, I looked around; I was in the NeverNever.
As I stood there grinning, I felt two sensations. The first was the Grimoire growing, and while that faded after a moment, the other feeling grew.
It felt like somebody has placed a whirlpool under my feet. As my eyes darted around, I tried moving, but that did not affect the whirlpool feeling.
As I moved, the feeling grew and grew until I was suddenly elsewhere. Looking around, I saw blood everywhere.
A child was tied to a chair, shaking as he tried to get free. In front of me, drawing a circle out of blood, was a man holding a toy; it was a bear head on top of a small blanket and looked suspiciously similar to the one I had owned for over 16 years.
He looked young, around his mid-twenties, and had a head full of orangy-red hair. Looking up at me, he grinned. "Hey, are you a demon or something?"
Well, fuck me sideways.
Powers Gained
Blood of Kings
Interesting. Whether through a trick of fate or a stubborn bloodline, you're related to one of the bloodlines of Belka that existed during the Warring Ages that led to its eventual collapse.
Darkness - This isn't exactly a 'bloodline' per se, but somehow, you're connected to the original program of the Book of Darkness. Your hair becomes white and your eyes turn red, and you bear more than a passing resemblance to Reinforce Eins. You've also retained the Book's function of collecting magical knowledge through a Rare Skill called Collect and Use, letting you drain a subject of their magical energy and copy their spells with near-perfect accuracy. You can even copy other Rare Skills. You may not necessarily be able to use it depending on your own energy reserves, but you'll have a magical target's complete repertoire so long as you can absorb it.