Weapons of Mass Destruction-Chapter 543: Waves

Tess sits across from me with her legs crossed while I work on the logic core connected to Fracture. We’re sitting on top of the hill near the Champion’s heart, which still hasn’t been moved, while the rest of the group goes about their own tasks somewhere in the valley.

Myrra is probably annoying everyone she can now that she has some freedom, while Lissandra is… somewhere.

My knowledge of the logic core has increased a lot, and Sophie’s helped with that as well by performing her own experiments with some help from Blackie, and shared what she learned. Still, even though I’m sure I could do something pretty impressive right now, I’m not in a hurry.

I think the logic core can help a lot, hell, it could make a lot of things easier. But at the same time, it’s just an item, a crutch. I would even call it a shortcut, so I’m cautious about applying or using it. Overrelying on it could slow my skill growth and stunt mastery over my abilities. There’s a place for it, yes, but it needs to be used with care.

My ultimate goal is to build something similar to the logic core within my mind. The arrays and structures I’m storing in my head, ready to deploy, are the first step. If I can make them automatically react to stimuli after I deploy them, that would be perfect.

There’s also the possibility of using mana threads to form inscriptions in the air and activating them that way, almost like some kind of rune magic. Ever since that creepy eye thing used it, I’ve been trying to figure out how to apply it quickly and expand on it. Right now I’m focused on activating that anti flight inscription faster and I’m eager to test out some theories later.

“How many Champions do you think the lumorans have?” Tess asks out of nowhere.

Separating part of my mind for conversation, I answer, “I always thought the planet would have around ten to twenty Champions, possibly more if it went through a few pairings or turned out to be on the older end of the scale.”

“Or possibly fewer if some Champions died during pairing,” Tess notes.

“That’s true,” I agree. “But for the lumorans? I’d say probably around ten, though I don’t think they’ll tell us. The Mimics probably have more, but a lot of those are Elder Mimics without a host, so they should be weaker than the average lumoran Champion.”

“I have a similar estimate,” Tess says, “and I also have a theory about the waves. Want to hear it?”

“Tess, you know me. Of course, I do.”

She smiles briefly and moves her blonde hair out of her face. “A Progenitor Mimic somehow got to the planet. It started building the portal without the lumoran Absolute noticing. It summoned a few Mimics, trying not to use too much mana, then sent them off to cause chaos. After that, it grew bolder, summoned a bigger wave, and the war began. Since the planet it destroyed last time served as its base or prison if you prefer, and for the moment it’s holding back from the front, each activation consumes a significant amount of mana or energy and requires a recharge afterward. That’s what the waves are: each one signifies more Mimics entering this planet.”

“Lissandra basically told me as much, but you?”

“You got information from her and didn’t tell me?”

“Look… I forgot. She gave me the heart and then I had to take some time to play with it.”

“Terrible,” she says, though she still has a smile still quirking at the corner of her lips. “Unlike you, I actually have to spend my time gathering information, after all, I don’t have The Ancient Monster feeding it to me.”

“You can ask her if you want. I’m sure she’ll answer ALL your questions. So, do you think that the waves will stop when we go to the tournament? Surviving them is the main objective of the floor.”

“Yes. Once we all leave, the system will probably just pause the floor.” Tess says, experimentally launching a small burst of red and white lightning at the heart, but even though it touches, nothing happens.

Warning! The 6th wave is now in progress.

“There goes another one,” Tess says, pulling her legs closer and covering her mouth as she yawns. “And here we are, sitting in this beautiful valley in a bubble of safety while the war rages all around us.”

“Just enjoy it, prepare for the tournament, and try to annoy Lissandra. If you’re ever training in front of her, make some mistakes. She’ll know what you’re trying to do but still get annoyed and give you a pointer or two.”

Hearing that, Tess nods and stands up in one smooth motion. Saying she promised to spar with Min-Jae she waves and jumps off the cliff, lightning trailing behind her as she decides to jump and run instead of simply flying.

Left to my own devices, I go back to working on the logic core and preparing the Fracture for the fixes we plan to implement in the coming days.

Some time ago, I thought I could use the logic core to help me control Fracture more easily.

But I’ve changed my mind.

I think I can use it to increase the sword’s output. The difficulty of handling will increase, and so will the damage I take. But if you get hurt just holding your own weapon, imagine what it could do to anyone on the opposing side.

The following day, I find myself once again sitting next to the heart all on my own, when Lissandra appears at my side. She grabs the heart, examines a few of the small changes I made, then chucks it back into the dirt.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

I know it’s the heart of a Champion, and even though he’s long dead, the heart is still beating, so it has to be extremely durable. But I can’t help twitching each time I see that.

“Which Empyrean skill have you acquired?” she asks.

Of course, she noticed. I wonder what kind of senses she’s using to learn all this.

I look up from the Fracture. “[Empyrean Lance].”

She nods. “Try leveling it as much as possible and keep observing how it affects other skills and mana. Don’t over-rely on it.”

“As always.”

“Good. Empyrean skills can be very useful in some situations, but there are others where they’re almost useless because of their nature.”

“Same as black mana,” I say.

“...Do you really still call it black mana?”

“No one ever bothered to tell me its real name. I think you promised to once, but then forgot.”

“It’s not that important anyway.”

“Sure it’s not… You just like to annoy me. So what are you doing these days? We barely see you.”

"I spent more than six months with that little kitten. I believe I've earned a measure of rest."

“Oh, so we’re part of your nursery now? It seems like she got to you as well. But I can understand that.”

“You cannot.”

“Oh, the sheer horror. Do you know who Greed is?”

She tilts her head slightly. “Little pup, I’ve been aware of her identity since the moment you fled from me on the third floor, tail tucked between your legs.”

“The good old days, when we could still push you around and maybe beat your ass if we really tried.”

“Do not kid yourself, little pup.”

“But I’m curious. How do you feel about Greed being her?”

She doesn’t answer, just watches me with an impenetrable expression.

With no other choice, I turn back to the Fracture. Another part of me continues working on the construct, occasionally examining the heart and adapting my plans.

“Have you heard of the Parallax Eyes?” I ask instead after a while.

“A little, yes. I believe its Warden was some ancient velnar on the verge of death, if I remember correctly someone from his bloodline will inherit them. Of course, that likely occurred thousands of years ago. As you know, my information isn’t exactly up to date.”

“Yeah, do you have any idea what it does? I went on a Beyond quest and met a guy who has them, Kyralon.”

“It’s a thrice strengthened high-grade trait, further evolved as it was passed down through the bloodline. As for its function—layered perception taken to its absolute peak, likely paired with the ability to observe things across vast distances. Little pup, don’t trouble yourself with such trivialities. Traits, passives, classes, in the grand scheme, none of it truly matters.”

“I know, and I agree, but I’m curious. I have Mana Wavelength Iris and Mana Physique. Are they good traits?”

“Enough to make you a target ripe for kidnapping and use as a stud slave, should someone desire. After multiple strengthenings, even your eyes or lifeless body could become a prized asset for experimentation.”

“I would have thought people at that level could simply create constructs to mimic those traits.”

Lissandra, seemingly bored, creates another orb, one I can’t even stand to look at, and replies, “Traits can be inherited; constructs, almost never. While the system manages traits, adjusting them to your body as you grow stronger and acquire strengthenings or passives, constructs demand manual effort. Without a specialized skill set to ease the process, it’s rarely worth the effort. There are also many risks involved in doing so.”

I activate my eyes for a moment and look at one of her orbs.

The world reels in reverse, and I barely manage to raise my hand in front of me before I slam into the ground. Everything is spinning, and I notice bleeding in my brain before I activate one of Lily’s healing marks.

It takes five minutes before I find myself in a state where I can move again, and I sit back up. Lissandra is still across from me, observing the entire time.

“Overall, would you say traits are stronger than your man-made constructs?” I ask.

She answers calmly, her voice carrying the weight of experience. "It depends on the strength of your trait. Tampering with your own constructs invites errors, with a very real risk of upsetting the balance of your traits and other workings of the system. In the end, you may find yourself with a lesser trait, jeopardizing your future growth in exchange. Sometimes, the consequences are even more severe.”

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“I see.”

I brace myself, activate my eyes to a lower degree, and glance at that orb again.

The same thing happens, but this time it takes ten minutes for me to recover because I looked at it for longer.

When I look back up, she’s gone, leaving the orb behind. I can tell it’s a modified version that won’t knock me out the moment I look at it, close, but not immediately.

It seems like the evil orb got its 2.0 upgrade. Let’s see if I can take it further and apply it to my pyramids.

The next day, our contact appears: a lumoran woman I quickly identify as a potential Champion. Unlike most Lumorans, she doesn’t have many crystalline features growing from her black skin, just a diamond-shaped white crystal in the middle of her forehead. However, her right arm and a large part of her shoulder are entirely made of the same crystal that most lumorans usually spread out. Purple mana swirls inside, bouncing and pausing as if it were a living thing.

I emerge from the manor just in time to hear Myrra listing off requests.

“So, as I said, shampoo and conditioner that a lynthari could use. I don’t want any of that stuff for animals. My tail and ears are all itchy from using it. Also, some clothes suitable for my height. Everything I have right now is baggy and small, and don’t forget to have them modified for my tail. And some decent food. Do you have fish or fish monsters? Not some year-old normal animals, their meat tastes like paste. Oh, and for the clothes, I prefer pale or pastel colors. No jewelry. And I need a bed, a taller one. A bathtub too. And…”

She continues for a while. The lumoran Champion, surprisingly, takes it all in stride, writing everything down and occasionally confirming details with Myrra.

I would have expected they’d send someone of a lower level, but it also makes sense to send a Champion, if only because of The Ancient Cockroach lurking somewhere in our midst.

I shamelessly ask for some materials too, figuring I can probably push my luck due to the Cockroach’s presence. And everyone else puts in their own requests, so she gets quite the barrage.

Before leaving, the lumoran Champion smiles at us gently. “Please, pass this along to Lady Lissandra. There are no expectations tied to it, it’s just a show of our goodwill.”

She pulls a simple wooden box out of her bag and carefully hands it to Tess, who accepts it and promises to pass it on to Lissandra. After that, the lumoran departs, assuring us she’ll return in a few days with the items we’ve requested.