Chapter Text
"Congratulations everyone" a familiar voice- the managers assistant spoke out, "The meltdown of sephirot Gebura has been completed with minimal casualty." Minimal my ass, she tore through most of welfare and control. Hell, the shredded corpse of opera is laying on the wall across from me, didn't think that Da Capo could be used like that, learn something new every day I guess. "Everyone is permitted to head to their assigned rooms for the day." Ah day must be over, well I outta head back, the cleaning crew can handle her corpse- feel bad tho.
The walk back to my quarters was sad, disciplinary has always been a little red do to the flowing magma but this seems worse. Ah just passed a bisected clerk, I'm close to the elevators-glad the welfare sephirot positioned to have these lead back to the quarters back up, makes getting there more convenient. Had to stop the elevator twice now, picked up Tongdong 'n Wilson- good lads both of em, though Wilson a little too soft for this gig. ding Ah we made it to the top, great rooms not to far yet it feels like hours pass when I finally make it- may be a side effect of usin Mimicry too much, i'll talk to that therapist lass in the morning just wanna sleep right now. Why is there a book on my bed? Did that blue haired lass put it there? Ah hell no point in dwellin on it now, should read a page or two for I pass out 'four cardinal heroes' huh, what an odd title for a book in the city seems pretty good tho- specially the sword hero, got a nice ring to it- sad the blasted things unfinished. Wait whats with that blasted light.
"Yes the summoning was a success!" what?
"Oh Brave heroes! we beg of you, please save our world!" the voice- male, old, full of faith- speaks out.
it hits me after a second passes 'heroes?'
"What's that supposed to mean." a voice to my right- male, young, dull- almost as if he's forcing it.
It hits me that another voice rang out as I realize that my eyes are closed leading to me opening them.
"You four have been summoned to save us from the calamity brought from the world." The old voice- a look tells me that he's a priest, the church of gears didn't get me did they- he prostrates in a prayer position as he finishes telling us this knowledge- Ok not the church of gears, good to know.
"Summoned?" the spear holder to my left- he has a color of blond, reminds me of a more confident Wilson- ask out, a seeming hopeful confusion grazes his face.
"I don't think so."
"Yeah not interested."
"You can send us back to our world right? We can talk about your problems after that."
Wow, I get that everyone wouldn't like to complete task from a wing but these guys have some arrogance- maybe that's a perk of being a feather huh?
"Have you no shame in calling people from another world to deal with your problems?" the dull voiced kid- a sword bearer, he has too much arrogance for those of the 7, Cinq maybe? would make sense if so, never knew they could use such broad swords though. I always imagined a rapier is all they could use.
"Yeah!" a smaller kid this time- blond too but his bravado reminds me of the times I could hear Ms Bongbong say stuff, only difference is that I don't have to decode a unique speech pattern. "Even if we do save your world, you’ll just send us back to ours with nothing, right? Sounds like a hassle to me.” yeah I don't think I'll like this guy much, hopefully he's a lot better than I think- although he seems to be using a bow, must be a new shi member, must be impressive if he managed to get to the east section 3.
"Have you even thought of what our feelings are on being tasked to help you guys out,” the spear holder spoke out- yeah he really reminds me of a more confident wilson. “I wonder if you could even make it worth our while. I hope you have a good answer, otherwise you may find us to be enemies of this world.” never mind a more confident Wilson if he were drunk, I might get along with him.
“Please, brave heroes, if you would just speak with our king in the throne room, I’m sure you will find that he would be most generous.”
We were led down a hallway with open windows that let in a fresh breeze that carried the scent of the ocean, we're at U-corp then. The sunlight wasn't as bad as the light from earlier but soon my eyes had to adjust. Once they did I got to see a sprawling city outside, built of stone and timber....... I don't think I'm in the city anymore.
We soon entered an imposing vaulted chamber that held perhaps a dozen or so people sparsely standing in twos and threes on the sides as we approached the opposite end that held a throne occupied by a old man, going by the city laws he must be the district owner- can't assume though.
He looks at us with a smile on his face- pleasantries most likely “So you four boys are the legendary cardinal heroes. I am King Aultcray Melromarc the Thirty-Second, ruler of these lands. Heroes, show me your faces.”
The four of us approached the raised throne so the king could study us at length. When he looked me in the eyes, I could see a dismissive sneer in his eyes. To be fair, I don't really blame him; if I appeared as like I thought I did, he probably saw me as some guy wearing a black colored suit with bandages wrapped around it and carrying an amalgamation of eyes, flesh, and metal in an imitation of a sword.
“No doubt you wish to understand why you are here,” he finally said. “For centuries, this country, no, this world has been on the brink of destruction brought on by the waves of calamity.”
The king’s speech in general was this: once there was a great prophecy about the impending doom of the world, yada yada, four heroes would be summoned to halt the plague, yada yada, you’re our only hope—you get the picture.
“All right,” the false Wilson spoke out, “I think I see where you’re coming from but it sounds like to me you’re just commanding us to save you.”
“Exactly,” add the bow wielder, “Sounds all great...for you.”
“I agree,” said the sword holder, “why should it matter to us if your world falls to destruction? What’s in it for us?”
And that’s why I was so sure at first that all of this wasn't a dream. Sure, I had my doubts that any of this was real but listening to my three companions, it really felt like they were just saying what they wanted, the same attitude most feathers have when they step out their wings. They even grinned at one another as if they were in on a joke.
“Hmmm, of course there will be some sort of compensation for your efforts,” King Aultcray responded. “Naturally I have made arrangements to support you financially as well as provide what ever you may require to help assist you in defending the world.”
This guy expected the four of us to defend an entire world? this must most definitely be a joke, the other three look like they haven't swung anything heavier than a stick before
The others pumped their fist like they had won a major concession.
“Well, if there’s money involved, I don’t think there will be a problem.”
“But don’t think you just bought us off. We still may change our minds later.”
“Same here.”
I merely shrugged as I watched the drama unfold.
King Aultcray nodded. “Very well, heroes, I accept your conditions. Tell me, what are your names?”
The sword holder stepped up first "My name is Ren Amaki. I’m sixteen years old and a high school student." a-a scholar? this is looking bad already.
“All right, I'll go next. I’m Motoyasu Kitamura, I’m twenty-one and a college student.” ah great, false Wilson is also a scholar this can't be good.
“My turn. I’m Itsuki Kawasumi. I’m seventeen and also in high school.” oh this cant be any worse, am I the only one with any combat experience?
I suppose I should introduce myself. I stepped forward and opened my mouth but before I could utter a word, the king interrupted me.
“Well then, Ren, Motoyasu, and Itsuki, correct?”
King Aultcray pointedly ignored me as he addressed the others. Strange, could've sworn he saw me step forward.
“Well met. Now then, heroes, please confirm your status and give yourselves an objective evaluation.”
“What?” Itsuki asked.
Ren sighed. “Are you telling me you haven’t figured that out yet? You didn’t see it the moment you arrived here?”
I wasn’t sure what he was referring to but neither did Motoyasu or Itsuki so I didn’t feel too bad.
“You didn’t notice the icons in the periphery of your vision? Just focus on the obvious one.”
When he said that, I noticed a tiny white eye appear in the lower right of my peripheral vision. When I looked at it, I heard a soft beep and a graphic overlay popped over my field of vision.
- Name: Edward
- Class: Shield Hero, Tier 5 Agent
- Level:1
- Equipment: Small Shield-(legendary relic), Abnormal Clothing, Abnormal Weapon
- Skills: Foresight*, Abnormal attack-(locked until level 15), Change form-(locked until level 5)
- Magic: N/A
- Passives: Abnormal defense-(take 15% less damage against physical, mental, and soul attacks), Abnormal offense-(deal 10% more physical damage and attack 15% faster)
- Gifts: Mimicry-(+10 attack, +10 defense, +5 Mattack, +5 Mdefense, +15 Agility, -40 Mana)
A further look told me my stats, they seem less impressive than the ones back home
- Attack-20
- Defense-60
- Magic Attack-10
- Magic Defense-30
- Agility-50
- Mana-50/50
- SP-60/60
- Resistances-Soul damage(endured), Physical damage(endured), Mental damage(normal)
well that's new, though it's not really counting Mimicry as a weapon. Weird.
“Level One? We’re starting at the beginning?” Motoyasu exclaimed.
“Yeah, these numbers are awfully low if you expect us to fight these waves you mentioned,” Ituski added.
“It is because you are expected to take your Hero’s Journey in order to grow both yourself and the legendary weapons you possess,” King Aultcray answered.
“What?” Motoyasu protested. “Why can’t we just start out with our weapons at full strength?”
“Because we haven’t learned how to use the weapons to the best of their abilities,” Ren answered with a look of scorn on his face. “It’s more to strengthen us than the weapon. I would have thought that to be obvious.”
huh seems like Mr dark and cold is smarter than I gave him credit for.
“So we’re to form a party and go out adventuring then,” Motoyasu said. “Okay, I’m willing to do that for now.”
“A moment young heroes,” the king said, “The four of you should set out individually with only companions you recruit as you go.”
I frowned at this comment and spoke for the first time. “Why?”
King Aultcray once again did not acknowledge my presence, and instead addressed the question to the others. “Based on the tales of the past, the legendary weapons interfere with one another if the four heroes decide to travel together. For that reason, it is best for you to be apart.”
I caught a tiny flash of light out of the corner of my eye and saw a blinking exclamation point. When I turned my attention to it, the icon vanished only to be replaced with a message
Help Menu
- Warning: The legendary weapons and their guardians will experience adverse effects if combined into one group. Such effects may be, but not limited to, loss of experience, loss of skills, loss of life.
- Caution: It is recommended that the heroes travel separately while training.
“I guess that rules out having the four of us running around as a party then,” Motoyasu said.
“I will arrange for travel companions for you all,” the king stated, “Alas, the sun has set and evening approaches. Heroes, I suggest you rest for the night so that you may be ready in the morrow.”
And with that, the audience was over and we were escorted to a lavishly furnished room with a feast already prepared for us.