Chapter Text
I awoke, to the hissing sound of pressurization. Another day has dawned, though the passage of time matters little to the denizens of the underground lab. The various wires and tubes which supplied my body with its essential nutrients and energy during my time in stasis have all retreated back into their alcoves. I flex my arms, starting to work out the stiffness in my limbs that always follows awakening in my stasis pod. Since the pod is only tilted back slightly, it’s difficult to not end up with at least stiff legs after waking up.
The hissing sound coming from the edges of the pod’s hatch grows louder for a moment, before the hatch finally opens, the bottom swinging upward to reveal the world beyond.
“M-07, please report to Combat Center Beta. ” Comes a feminine, robotic voice from a small speaker in the side of my pod. I take a tentative step out, and after a couple of unsteady steps, find myself standing in Containment Lab Gamma, the location of my assigned stasis pod. The room is also occupied by a large, liquid-filled chamber marked with “T-06”. Tubes and wires run from the top of the chamber down to the creature which I recognize from my previous education sessions as a human female, though instead of thin, fleshy arms ending in 5-fingered hands, the creature suspended in the liquid has long, fleshy tentacles, like some sort of sea creature. Such a sight would certainly be strange to any normal person, but here, deep within one of the angels’ many underground research labs, such oddities are par for the course, perhaps even tame compared to what else lies within.
Turning my gaze away from the vat, I head to the door and out into the halls, on my way to Combat Center Beta. Beta is where I’ve had most of my combat sessions so far, so it’s a trivial matter to find my way there.
As I walk through the halls, I pass by numerous angels in lab coats, other subjects en-route to their respective training or testing areas, and human prisoners, most with fear and confusion evident on their faces. I feel pity for the poor creatures.
Granted, standing at about 7 feet tall, while not the tallest among monsters, the wide-eyed looks I receive from those I pass speak volumes about my imposing presence. As a dragonkin, a good half of my body is covered in hardened scales, black as pitch, stretching from my feet all the way up to my stomach, and up my back as well, sprouting a pair of leathery grey wings and a thin black-scaled tail. My arms up to my shoulders are similarly armored, sporting well-honed claws ready to spring out of my fingers at a moment’s notice.
The rest of my body, however, fades from the tough scales and dragonhide to quite a pale complexion, to the point where I might look sickly were I a human. My head is a combination of human and reptilian features. My eyes are a light blue, and my ears are large, with finlike webbing connecting them down the side of my head. The top of my head is capped off by a mop of short, blonde hair with a pair of short horns jutting out toward the back. Finally, my appearance is completed by a light blue tattoo running up my right arm, from my wrist to my cheek. The tattoo is composed of intricate lines, curves, and spirals snaking their way upwards, eventually being capped off at the apex by the shape of two leathery wings framing a dragon head on my right cheek. It’s clear to see that my appearance does nothing to alleviate the terror in those poor humans’ eyes, though it’s not something any of them will have to worry about for much longer, their fates already sealed the moment they were brought into the complex.
After navigating through the twisting hallways of the facility, I arrive at my destination: Combat Center Beta. The metallic door slides open with a hiss, and I step inside the small room separating the hallway from the grander combat arena.
“M-07, today’s combat scenario consists of a Selection against P-04. As per Selection protocol, the loser of this bout will be retired for decommissioning. You will find your equipment on the table to your right. Please acknowledge your understanding. ” I hear a feminine robotic voice say to me through a ceiling speaker.
“I understand, Lana.” I respond. Lana is the A.I. responsible for running this facility. Part caretaker, part director, she is responsible for ensuring the proper upkeep of all parts of the facility, as well as the efficiency of the work done within.
“Confirmed, acquire your gear, and enter the combat zone when ready, M-07. ” She says, leaving me to prepare for the coming battle. No doubt she’ll be watching from any number of the cameras strewn about the arena. The entire facility is absolutely covered in surveillance cameras, allowing the A.I. to be aware of any disturbances, no matter where in the facility they occur. It certainly has kept the occupants of this place in line so far.
She won’t be the only one watching either, I figure. I surmise that a number of angel researchers will be closely watching this Selection from the observation booth, looking out over the arena from high up on one of the walls. Not that it matters much when I’m fighting for my own survival.
I walk over to the table with my gear. For offense, there are a pair of longswords reinforced with holy magic, their scabbards attached to an X-harness which fits neatly around my wing bases. The enchanted blades are unnaturally durable and never lose their edge, useful for long days spent honing my skills and technique. For defense, a light set of dark leather armor around my torso, with holes in the back for my wings. Not the most protective, but my style focuses on agility and relies more on reflexes to avoid any serious damage. And besides, my scales pretty much cover everything the armor doesn't, and those can take a beating on their own.
Donning the armor and harness, I contemplate what might be waiting for me in the arena. Considering the designation, it’s likely a plant-based chimeric beast, or chimera for short, though that could mean a multitude of things, from a hard-barked tree, to some sort of fungus, to some sort of vine-sprouting aberration. Chimeras may arguably be one of Promestein, the head angel researcher’s greatest creations, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t revolting to see firsthand. In any case, I’ll need to keep on my toes once the fight begins.
Drawing my blades, I stand in front of the door into the arena, which hisses as it slides open. As I step into the arena, I get my first good look at what I’m up against. As expected, it’s a plantlike chimera. A feminine human body sits atop a green bulb, legs disappearing inside, while a mass of tentacle-like vines below it lash and writhe at my presence. Like most other chimeras I’ve come up against, its face is devoid of emotion, and without someone to control it, acts on basic animal instinct.
Closing the considerable distance between us, it isn’t long before those vines start to come after me. I barely slow down as tendril after tendril is lopped off in a whirlwind of steel. The chimera screeches in distress, a guttural, animalistic noise. More vines desperately attempt to lash at me, a couple managing to land strikes on my arms, leaving a few nasty scratches, before they too are severed from the beast.
Finally able to strike at the main body, I leap up, spinning in the air to attack with a [Heavenly Blade Dance], carving some deep gashes into its arms, and slicing off yet more tendrils. Landing on the other side of the chimera, I carry my momentum into a roll to turn me back toward the beast.
It seems I underestimated it, however, as a tendril wraps itself around my left wrist. I wince as it painfully constricts and causes my weapon to clatter to the floor. The shock is only momentary, though, before I free my hand with a quick slash, retrieve my weapon, and hop backwards to dodge another vine coming after me.
The chimera shrieks again, an ear-piercing sound being this close to it, but I shrug it off quickly. It’s time to end this fight. Leaping at the chimera, its vines are too slow to react due to its previous injuries. Turning my blades around into a reverse grip for a [Celestial Arrow] attack, they sink straight into its chest, at long last dealing the killing blow.
Unfortunately, there was only one way this bout could end. Even if my opponent had survived, it wouldn’t be long before they’d be “decommissioned.” Ending the chimera here was likely more merciful than what would have happened otherwise.
“Congratulations, M-07, please return to the preparation room for evaluation. ” Lana’s voice echoes out of the speakers in the room as I sheathe my blades and breathe a sigh of relief. Another Selection passed. Glancing back at the limp form of the chimera behind me, I’m reminded of how many of these battles I’ve gone through. I’ve lost count of the number of foes I’ve slain, usually chimeras, to keep myself alive in this place.
This has been my whole life so far, training my combat skills and learning about the outside world, though never being able to experience it myself.
Recently, however, there’s been a stirring around the facility that hasn’t gone unnoticed. Something big looms on the horizon, perhaps a chance for me to finally venture out into the world. After spending so long honing my body and mind day after day, a chance to finally see the world is exactly what I've been both waiting and hoping for.
Honestly, that's what's kept me going for so long. I have no interest in being a pawn in the goddess’s game, so all I need is one chance to escape and then I’ll be free to choose my own path, and live my life how I decide.
Soon, I’ll be in charge of my own destiny...