Forbidden Zone, page 17
The shift is so noticeable, I have to stop the blade form I’m practicing. Notifications pour out of thin air, clogging up my view. A part of me notes the way the System prioritizes some notifications like the Level Ups, while others are sent back further in the stack for delivery when possible. I sort them, discarding the unimportant—long held in abeyance damage and kill notifications, minor experience gain indicators from the System, reputation alterations and changes—and focus on the important. The dark blue System Administrator alerts.
Global System Administrator Alert!
Planet RR07-987890-12 has reached maximum unaspected Mana interference threshold. System failure imminent!
Re-routing System Mana as per Mana Overrun Protocols 004-6
Minimal System Connections Sustained
Collection of System Mana Begun
Mana Overrun Protocols Completed. Increased Mana Overflow Channels by 5284%
Emergency Administrator Protocols Implemented
Interesting. I read over the information quickly, pausing on the Mana Overrun Protocols and the number associated with it. It seems that the Overrun Protocols were one of the first things the System implemented. Not the first thing, but one of the first. Almost as if it expected that it would need them.
A clue, though I’m not sure what it points to. I even get a small—a fraction of a percentage—increase in my System Quest completion rate.
Quest Received: Restore System Functionality
Restore System Functionality to planet RR07-987890-12.
Requirements:
● Reduce ambient Mana in atmosphere (% decrease varies rewards. System currently functioning at 24.3% of full operating capacity)
● Complete tickets 002-13MSO
Rewards: Provided at 5%, 10%, 25%, 40%, 50%, 75%, 90% and 100% functionality restoration.
“Not a lot of details there,” I grumble. When Mikito raises an inquiring eyebrow, I shoot the Quest to her.
“Don’t we get something similar when we arrive on all Forbidden Zone planets?” Mikito says, frowning.
I nod. “It’s worded differently and gives direct experience multipliers. Obviously, there’s a public and Administrator Quest.” It is, after all, not our first time on a Forbidden Planet. “But there are no percentage rewards, nor any indication of them.”
“I wonder why?”
“Probably because your regular visitor isn’t expected to do enough damage to give the System functionality back? Never mind the tickets, which are probably specific issues that only Administrators can handle.” I rub my chin. I try to pull up more data on the tickets, but of course, since I’m not in an Administrative Center, I get nothing. On the other hand, the System is quite helpfully providing me a couple of glowing dots indicating where I can go. “Huh.”
“What?” Mikito says impatiently.
“There are Administrative Centers down there.”
“That’s surprising?” she says.
I have to admit, it really isn’t when you think about it. I wonder what they look like. I even say that thought out loud.
“John…” A warning tone.
“It can’t hurt to look, can it?” I say, gesturing toward the planet. “We did want to grind after all. Maybe completing this Quest and grinding at the same time will be more efficient. In either case, we need more Levels before we dare meet our enemies again.”
Mikito makes a face, but she nods. After having our asses handed to us so badly on Irvina, we both know that rushing to our destination is a bad idea. As much as we want to finish this, we need Levels. We need to take up some side quests if you will, because otherwise, we’ll get squashed by the final boss.
After all, there’s no doubt there are Galactic Council members and Administrators waiting for us on Xylargh.
“You know you aren’t going to just look, right, boy-o?” Ali says, lips curled up in a smirk. “You’re going to want to help, then you’re going to want to hit that 25% rate and the next one after that…”
“I’m not that bad.”
“You really are,” Ali says.
“Twenty-five,” Mikito says firmly.
“And if it’s a lot of work?” I ask.
She shrugs, and I get it. We’ll abandon the quest if things are too hard, but she is putting down a firm limit of 25% being the maximum we’d work towards. Truth be told, with my multiple Hands in play, I’m curious how long it would take. We used to take months to clear out a Restricted Zone planet, but Forbidden Zones are on another level entirely. We also had help, and while I don’t expect the Systemers to just watch—after all, this is a good leveling opportunity for them too—it’s not the same as the Erethran Empire backing us up.
“All right. Think Harry will want to come along?” I ask.
Mikito is flicking her fingers along a planetary map, then she swings the view around and stops on a couple of glowing points. She zooms in on those glowing points, widening the window so that the three of us can view what she is seeing.
Cities. Fortresses more like, but still extant civilized locations. Somehow, these bastions of society have held out. There are no images of people, not on the map we’re using, but the pulse of Mana, the shift and regulated flow from a working Settlement Core is more than sufficient evidence that someone lives down there.
“I think he’d prefer to be dropped off there,” Mikito says.
“Yeah, I bet.” I look at her meaningfully, and she sighs.
“Fine. I’ll send it to him.” Her eyes narrow. “You guys should talk to one another at some point. Resolve your issues.”
“Not sure the issues can be resolved,” I say, opening my hands wide. “I betrayed Earth, made him help with it, got him tortured, and dragged him into a fight we can’t win. Pretty sure being pissed at me is the correct, mature response.”
“He could have said no, baka,” Mikito replies. “Talk to him.”
“Yes, ma’am. Promise.”
Mikito stares as if she doesn’t believe me. Which, I have to admit, is smart of her. It’s not as if I’m very good at these interpersonal relationship things. Or, you know, have a history of leaving the planet rather than dealing with the complexities of emotion confrontations.
***
I watch as the Extra Hands leave on interstellar assault shuttles that burn through the stratosphere to drop off at various portions on the Forbidden Planet. We’re in the same hangar we arrived in, the Nothing’s Heartbreak a short distance away and being rebuilt, interstellar shuttles all around. The four Hands, each of them with my Class Skills, can do a ton of damage, especially when they’re flying high above. Of course, we’re not just going for quantity but quality too in our monster genocide programs.
“You sure you want to do this alone?” I say to Mikito.
She is standing beside me, waiting for the team that is meant to accompany her to finish up their equipment check. The Church has offered to guard her, and she’s accepted. With certain caveats, but there are more than enough monsters for her to indulge herself without the others stealing her kills or experience.
I have a little bit of worry about splitting the party, but everything my Skills have told me has indicated we’re safe among the Church members. For definitions of safe at least.
“Yes. Fighting next to you will not be to my benefit.” Mikito’s eyes twinkle a little as she adds, “I get your experience anyway.”
I snort, but I admit, the Feudal Bond Skill is a cheat. The fact that she gets experience both for my work as a System Administrator and while I’m doing more “normal” things is definitely a bug. One that I’m supposed to fix, but which I, of course, have not. I’m sure that Administrator Prime—when I find him—will smack my hand, but for now, it’s to our benefit.
“Fine. Just take care of yourself, eh?”
“What, no words of safety and assurance for me?” Harry says, needling.
I turn toward the Reporter, watching as he tugs on new clothing. It’s an assault jumpsuit provided by the Church, the kind of stuff that the Church’s Advanced Classers are wearing as they depart to do battle and gain Levels. It looks good on him, the dark blue and red edging blending with his complexion.
“You’re going to their fort. Pretty sure you’ll be safe,” I say, nodding to the group behind him. Mostly Administrators and Merchants, various Artisans and the like who will be searching for materials and selling their work. Or, like Harry, tapping into the Shop to sell his recordings and acquire more information and equipment. Mikito and I will deal with that later, but right now, we’ve got work to do.
“And your estimation of safe has always been good,” Harry drawls.
I don’t rise to the bait. “Keep safe. And shout if you need help.”
He snorts and walks off to his shuttle. Mikito gives me a look and I shrug, avoiding her eyes. At some point, I’ll need to deal with that. For now though, I’m going to blast apart some monsters and worry about Harry and Dornalor later. Because Dorn’s more politic, but still showing signs of stress and annoyance. As the shouting from the Heartbreak attests.
I wave goodbye to Mikito, heading for an assault drop pod. It’s the fastest way down, and where I’m going, a shuttle will just be a liability. Since I’m not particularly desiring company—nor would they be useful—the single-person assault pod is perfect. Of course, I do regard the assault pod they offer with some trepidation.
“Don’t you have something less… slimy?” I say as I stand before the creature generating the assault pod. Lots of vines, lots of little slimy extrusions, its main body the size of a minibus.
The plant pulses, going green and yellow as if it’s angry with me. My language pack doesn’t have a translation, but I get the feeling it’s upset.
“You wanted down fast. This is fast,” Ali says. “Now quit complaining and get in.”
“Fine…”
I walk into the open cylinder that is the start of the pod. It closes itself around my legs then lifts me up before even more slime pumps out of the plant’s tendrils into the now fully enclosed seed. Within seconds, I’m encapsulated in a Star Seed, which is how the plant, an interplanetary sentient terror, manages to spread itself. Star Seeds normally float through space, growing their seeds and launching them through space. When they come across a suitable planet, they go into overdrive and spray the planet below.
The majority of the seeds will not make it as monsters and sapient residents deal with the growing plant. However, enough generally survive to Level and finally, ascend the atmosphere before they repeat the process. Of course, in between, the plants grow without end and devastate local monster and sapient population if they aren’t killed off.
In this case, the Star Seeder has been neutered, a Monster Horticulturist having tamed it. The majority of its body is trapped, technology and Skills ensuring its docility. In the meantime, it’s forced to create these assault pods—these seeds—for the Church whenever they need it.
All that passes through my mind just before the damn thing pokes its vine out of the shield. It sucks in my seed, the assault pod accelerated through the creature’s body, before I’m launched at the planet below. There’s quite a bit of pain involved, the G forces ticking away at my health. My face presses up against the top of the pod, slime hardening under pressure to feel like pre-System concrete to me.
The world blurs past me in flame and green ichor as I fall, down, down, down. I make it through the upper atmosphere before the monsters that guard the sky decide to interrupt my fall. No surprise, since I’m aimed at the densest Mana cluster on the planet.
Talons tear, the seed bursts, and I’m free, tumbling through open air.
I get to work.
***
The monster was beautiful the way a falcon diving through the sky is beautiful. All sharp lines, where it is solid. Where it isn’t, ghostly outlines. Eyes all across its wings and body, a pair of talons below green-blue feathers. A giant prey bird, its body half-disappearing into the sky it is silhouetted against as I fall. My eyes track over it, taking in its information.
Bladewraith (Level 218)
HP: 21861/21864
MP: 3432/3982
Conditions: Ethereal, Gaze of the Predator, Domain of the Sky
Predator eyes track me, a pair locking on and blasting me with energy. Another pair attempt a psychic assault, only to be rebuffed by my resistances and my status as an Administrator. Another conjures darts of ice that fill the air. The damage piles on my Soul Shield even as the Bladewraith shifts direction. Catching wind on a different plane, swooping at me with its claws.
No more playing. Penetration’s Evolved Skill is triggered, even as I call forth Grand Cross. The spell strikes the Bladewraith from above, crushing it as I center the attack and end the cross mere feet from my own floating body. The Bladewraith tanks the damage, its body forced off course.
For all that, my Skill does not kill it. Other creatures far below die, but the Bladewraith only receives a portion of the initial damage, its ethereal nature offering protection.
As it passes by, swinging round wide and struggling to rise against my Skill, I spot the drip from its talons. A poison of some kind, but not physical—spiritual perhaps. Either way, that would hurt if it hit.
Even as the bird falls and struggles to rise, it’s not done with me. Eyes on the top of its body track me and launch their attacks. Beams of energy crisscross my form, burning at my Evolved Penetration Shield. I twist in mid-air, casting a spell as I call forth a sword and return the favor by using Blade Strike. The attack barely dents the monster’s health, even as Grand Cross continues to tick.
Then the spell is done, and I twist in mid-air, aiming myself. Down, down, down, I use the higher gravity of the planet and the new Flight spell to thrust me into the creature’s body. My sword leads the way, biting into an eye in the middle of its body, bursting it open.
I tear through weakened flesh and razor-sharp feathers and eyes, falling inward before momentum is arrested. Blood, poison, acid—it assaults me as I bob within its half-ethereal body. Caught as I am in the space between, I am surprised to find the Bladewraith even has eyes inside.
Blades from its eyes, conjured from its blood form. They spin and cut, tearing at my shield, even as I return the favor. My sword is blocked, my sword cuts. It doesn’t matter, it has me and I can sense that I’m on the losing end of this exchange.
A microsecond of consideration before I try something different. Rather than use the System, a System and Skills that are blunted by the unaspected Mana in the atmosphere, I tap into my Elemental Affinity. It’s half-bound to this realm, a creature of multiple dimensions. Its body is more of a suggestion than a solid rebuke. I make it even more so.
The forces of attraction between its physical molecules come apart. I release them within, and at the same time, I reach outward to the world, to the atmosphere outside, and strengthen the attraction that way. The Bladewraith and its blades come apart, torn asunder by its very nature and my manipulation of reality.
It dies, screaming, blades spinning away into oblivion in an explosion of gore and pain. Leaving me to float in the middle of an empty battlefield.
For all of about two minutes, before the next contender for ruler of the skies finds me.
I greet it with blade and lightning and a grin on my face.
Out here, on the edge of oblivion, blood dripping from my sword, from my shield, I feel alive. There’s a savage joy as I meet the next contender—a bulbous, tentacled creature that would never dare fight the Bladewraith but somehow thinks I’m easier—in battle. Out here, I feel something more than the emptiness of my day-to-day existence, the anger that coats everything if I let it. I let the anger out to play all too often, just so that I can feel something, anything.
It’s not enough. It’ll never be enough. But for each monster I kill, each time I call forth a Beacon of the Angels or lay down Judgment of All on the swarms that do battle beneath me, I feel the thrill of experience gain, of Mana released, of violence culminated. I get a little of myself back from a System, a world that has taken and taken without care or an iota of mercy.
And if the feeling I reach for in that emptiness of my existence is savage joy or adrenaline, if it is anger and rage, then so be it. Better to feel something, anything, than to exist in a void where a wrong step, a too sharp turn brings reminders of an unbearable past.
Let those who have hearth and home, love and friendship find healing.
The rest of us have got a job to do.
***
Four days later, I get a ping. It comes at a bad time, when I’m in the midst of grappling for dominance with a six-legged and four-armed creature the size of a two-story apartment building. Its plastic-like outer layer makes gripping it difficult. All except around its arms, which are formed like suction cups, two of which I’m holding away from my body while the other two whale upon my body. Cracked armor, noxious blood, and a truly offensive smell permeates the air, powerful enough that it gets through the environmental seals on the damaged Hod.
My Penetration shield flickers, even as the Beacon of the Angels I called forth on its hindpart burns away at its defense. Pain shoots through me constantly, my movements slowed as its monstrous Skills penetrate my defense to do damage and wear me down. My mind is a little foggy, bloodlust and days of continual battle making a simple thing like a message a distraction.
It crumples me to the ground, the earth pancaking beneath my knees.
“What?” I snarl.
Next thing I know, the light of the world disappears as the damn creature sticks me in its mouth. That’s what I’ve been trying to hold off, but it relaxes then pulls me forward as I overcompensate. Once I’m in its mouth, acidic saliva breaks down my Soul Shield, the blue non-glow of System notifications lighting up my sigh.
“John, we’re done. My team is about to fall over, and I want to hit the Shop,” Mikito says. “You should come in too.”
