Chapter 57: Man vs Highroad

Chapter 57: Man vs Highroad

Ah Basil, always reliable. Walter Tye stared at the neurotowers wreckage with great interest. Though I would have preferred the sample to be in a better shape. This one has seen better days.

Send me the bill, Basil replied. Major Elissalde stood at the servers side clad in a military uniform. She kept a straight face even as her gaze darted from one corner of Walters shop to another. Hagen faked being a lifeless statue, before waving a hand and spooking her. It's in the best condition that I could get.

Unfortunate, but acceptable. Walter raised a hand at the server. Black miasma surrounded his hand as he cast a spell. Restore Item.

The miasma spread to the neurotower and swiftly covered the damaged parts of its structure. A second later, the mist dissipated to reveal a pristine black tower of a server.

Quest: Forever Serpents Errand II completed! Your party earned 60,000 Bonus EXP (10,000 for you).

Nice. Basil checked his status and smirked. He was only four thousand experience points away from leveling up and completing the Tamer class.

Thank you for your delivery, Basil. Walter turned to Major Elissalde next. I see you brought a friend too. Neria Elissalde, is that it?

If Neria was unsettled by the fact he already knew her name, she didnt show it. Walter Tye, I presume? She gave him a military salute. I am Major Neria Elissalde of the French Armed Forces. Ill be your contact with our organization.

A pleasure to make your acquaintance, the shopkeeper replied with a polite nod. I will grant you a device to teleport to my shop anytime. Im always happy to find more respectful customers.

I must make a few things clear first. The major cleared her throat and, if Basil wasnt mistaken, her hand briefly brushed against the handgun around her belt. She feared the shopkeeper as much as he did. This device is French army property. We are lending it to you for now, but we may requisition it back at any time. Additionally, we ask that you share the results of your investigation with us without holding anything back.

Walter gave her a bemused smile. But of course.

You wont find any better rule-abiding citizens than us, Hagen said with a hand on his chest. We love the law.

The lie was blatant, but since Neria lacked any other option, she pretended to believe it. The army was scraping the bottom of the barrel for answers.

Im wounded by the comparison, Basil, Walter mused with a thin smirk. The bottom of the barrel, truly?

Says the guy reading minds uninvited, Basil replied with a snort. Neria winced at his words. She must have realized that she couldnt keep any secret from the shopkeeper.

I am a man of my word, Major, Walter told Elissalde, blatantly ignoring Basils remark. I accept your terms. Im also willing to trade magical items for samples of your worlds technology. Im something of an expert at pest extermination.

Or extermination in general, Hagen said with a thumbs up. Corpse disposal included in the package.

I I will take your proposal to my superiors. Major Elissalde frowned at the shopkeeper. But I doubt they will give you anything sensitive.

Who do you take me for, some closet conqueror eager to stab you in the back later? Walter shrugged. I have no interest in your world, and far better things to do than managing people.

Like holding the counter, Hagen joked. He doesnt trust anyone with the duty.

I suppose you wont take interns then? Basil mused.

Only those we kill ourselves, Hagen said with a laugh. Neria winced at his words, which seemed to delight the dullahan. By now, Basil was certain that Hagen simply relished the feeling of schadenfreude.

I will need time to analyze the device fully. Walter put a hand on the server. Come back to me in a week or so. I should have preliminary results to present by then.

Oh, I know that face, Hagen commented. Youre going to be working overtime on the case.

Basil didnt notice any change in Walters facial expression, but then again he was always creepily unexpressive. The Tamer still wasnt used to the shopkeepers utter inability to blink.

Are we done? Basil asked.

One last thing before you go, Walter replied. Ive noticed a trend about the portals which I believe you should be informed of.

Neria Elissalde exchanged a worried glance with Basil. The same thought had crossed both of their minds. Do you have information on the next Incursion? the Major asked Walter. Anything would help.

Walter nodded sharply and raised a hand in the air. A holographic representation of a network materialized above his open palm. A red sphere at the center connected to four others through crimson links.

Basil, Ive told you once that Systems usually connect to others to create bridges between worlds, Walter said. Basil nodded in confirmation; he remembered very well. What I forgot to mention is that this is usually a limited phenomenon. A world rarely connects to more than four or five others at once.

Usually? Basil didnt like the sound of that. Thats not the case for ours?

Im afraid not. More links appeared in the network at Walters urging and the central nod became the center of an enormous web. Your Trimurti System actively tries to create as many portals as it can in a short amount of time. It is currently connecting to dozens of universes across the cosmos, inviting demons and warriors to use your planet as a battleground.

Why? Major Elissalde asked with a confused frown. I mean, why summon more competition? There can only be one Overgod, or so the System says.

My hypothesis is that the people who created the neurotower network were trying to speed up the leveling process as much as possible, Walter replied calmly before dissipating his hologram. By comparison, it took Hagen and I years to reach level thirty in my world, yet our common friend here has achieved the same in the span of months. By constantly applying pressure, your System enforces quick level growth.

Basil snickered. Theyre trying to speedrun their way to godhood?

I do not know the term speedrun, but yes, I suppose the designers intend to select an Overgod as quickly as possible. If previous competitions were indeed terminated early for one reason or another, it makes sense to hasten the process no matter the bloodshed required to do so.

Neria Elissalde gulped. What difference will it make compared to the first Incursion?

The number of portals and invaders, Walter replied calmly. He didnt sound too bothered about the fact Earth would become an even worse battleground than it already was. The first Incursion connected to a limited number of worlds. The second one will connect to an exponential amount with higher level locals, and the thirdI assume there will be a thirdshould multiply that amount furthermore.

Basil and Neria digested the news in silence. Both had expected the worst, but to hear an outside expert confirm it made it feel all the worse.

The person responsible for this mess said he was only interested in opening a gate to another world, Basil said, thinking of Maxwell. Do you think thats the Systems real goal? Opening a specific pathway?

To Basils surprise, Walter shook his head. It may be an anticipated side-effect, but no, I dont think so. Your Trimurti Systems purpose is to select an Overgod first and foremost. Perhaps your enemies created the neurotowers to build a bridge to a high-level world they couldnt reach otherwise, but the System will not stop functioning after accessing this world. It will keep creating monsters until someone reaches level 100.

Or until someone managed to slay Kalki and summon Shiva. Basil feared to learn which option was the most likely.

That, and if my suspicions are correct Walter marked a short pause, as if carefully picking his words. Your Trimurti System must continuously keep summoning creatures to your planet to function. It requires constant conflict to grease the wheel, so to say.

Basil scowled as he remembered Tamuras words. How Quests encouraged destruction and where experience came from Walter

I know you already have your hypothesis about how the Trimurti System works, Basil, Walter interrupted him. As always, the shopkeeper must have read his mind. But do not be too hasty in assuming the worst. When magic is concerned, nuances can matter a great deal.

Basil chuckled darkly. Are you saying this to cheer me up?

In a way. For once, Walter Tyes thin smile seemed genuine. A clouded mind cannot think rationally. Let me analyze this server first, and then we can discuss facts rather than assumptions.

It didnt help Basil feel better, but at least he had found a good way to cope with all the terrible truths thrown at his face lately: by not thinking about them. He would cross that bridge once they reached it.

DiablotinLevel 13 [Demon]

Its natural selection, Bugsy. Basil grinned. All the idiots died early trying to take on tougher foes. Now only the cowardly, the crafty and the strong remain.

So you think we will reach Paris without a fight?

No. Platos voice echoed behind them. He says most marauders will avoid us and the few who dare attack us will present an actual challenge.

Basil looked over his shoulder. His cat emerged from the Steamobile, ran through the rain as quickly as he could, and swiftly took refuge under Bugsys umbrella.

The centimagma blinked in confusion. Mr. Plato? What are you doing here?

Youre walking in the rain? Basil taunted him. Have you burned your cushion? Or did you grow waterproof fur in your sleep?

Aha, weve got a comedian here. To punish Basils taunts, Plato took over his lap and wouldnt move from it. Im bored. Vasi spends her time playing that holomachine game and Shellgirl does nothing but rub her face against our new rifles. She makes the same noise you often do in the toilet.

What noise? Rosemarine asked navely.

Nothing. Basils cheeks reddened a bit, but he swiftly changed the subject. Theres a portable TV if you want to kill time.

Its boring to watch alone. I need an audience to criticize every show I disagree with. Plato looked at Basils map. Are we in Paris yet?

No, Basil replied.

Are we in Orlans yet?

No.

Are we in Limoges yet?

Tomorrow at the earliest, Basil said absentmindedly. Well make a stop in the Prigord Limousin natural park for the night. We can watch Major Chicken then, if we arent attacked on the way.

Plato looked up at Basil with an annoyed look.

Basil sighed upon realizing his mistake. I jinxed it, didnt I?

Yes you did, you madman, Plato replied before touching Basils nose with his tail. When will you learn? What will it take?

Boss? Bugsy squinted at the horizon. Are those normal clouds?

Cursing his tongue for tempting fate, Basil glanced west. The white rain clouds were slowly pushed aside by a familiar aurora. This one was dark blue and filled with countless points of light. The sight reminded Basil of a clear night sky, except this one showed up in the middle of the afternoon.

He would have mistaken the phenomenon for the telltale sign of a local dungeon, if it wasnt spreading across the horizon.

Boss Bugsy trailed off.

Yeah, its moving closer. Basil frowned. Rosemarine, pause. Bugsy, recon.

Rosemarine stopped in the middle of the road. Basil stored his map in the inventory as Bugsy leaped off Rosemarine to apply his antennae to the ground. Deprived of protection from the rain, Plato shrieked and hid under Rosemarine.

Warn me next time! Plato complained. His fur was already wet. Im like sugar, I can melt from this!

Oh, poor thing, Basil teased him. Plato hissed in response.

The rain didnt last long anyway. The aurora dissipated the clouds as it floated above their heads. Yet the following notification warned Basil of greater danger ahead.

Artemis-Apollos [God-Field: Orion Belt] changed the field to [Huntress Dream].[Fire], [Water], [Frost], [Light], and [Mythic] elements are strengthened.[Corrosion], [Earth], and [Darkness] elements are weakened.Healing and Regen effects are doubled.Weather effects are canceled.Players and Monsters with a Strong [Light] affinity have their Magic buffed.

Basil blinked upon seeing the Artemis-Apollo name, and Plato said out loud what they were all thinking. No way, them again?

Metal Olympus. Of course. Tamura didnt represent all their forces in the region.

Hey, why did we stop? Shellgirl shouted from inside the Steamobile. She hopped out of it with an AK-47 in each hand, both covered in slime. Basil wisely didnt ask questions about it. Whats up in the skies?

Gee, what do you think? Plato deadpanned. Trouble! The answer is always trouble!

Boss, I sense wheeled vehicles approaching from the east, Bugsy warned. His antennae trembled as they gathered information from vibrations in the ground. They make the same sound as our old car.

Cars meant human drivers. Basil clenched his fists. Monsters he could deal with, but humans with classes presented a far greater danger.

Shit. Basil cursed under his breath. How many, Bugsy? And how far are they?

I sense a dozen, maybe two. Bugsy squinted as he tried to pick up subtle vibrations. Theyre two hours away, maybe three.

Wait, are they moving towards us or simply traveling west? Shellgirl asked. She didnt sound eager for another fight. Maybe theyre moving to Bordeaux for a shopping trip.

Basil doubted they would be that lucky, and Bugsy swiftly confirmed his suspicions. I think theyre after us. They turned in our direction when we entered the field.

Then its not a raid, but a hit job. Basil summoned his halberd. Looks like they didnt appreciate us killing their golf buddy.

But how do they know were here with the boonies? Plato asked. Its not like we advertised which road we would take.

Maybe they can detect us from afar? Shellgirl suggested wisely.

Basils eyes widened as he quickly found an explanation. He turned in Rosemarines direction, who stared back at him in incomprehension.

The Dionysus essence, Basil whispered. They must be able to sense it.

Im sorry, Mister, Rosemarine apologized. Maybe I can digest it?

If Zachariel couldnt remove it, I doubt you can. Basil grinned ear to ear. Looks like well have no choice but to fight.

Plato squinted at his owner. Why are you happy about it?

In response, Basil glanced up at the Steamobiles new howitzer. Shellgirl looked at her AK-47 with a blank look and Rosemarine licked her fangs in anticipation.

Bugsy. Basil laughed with bloodthirsty glee. Go fetch me the rocket launcher.

Angels wielded swords of fire, but a bazooka of justice would suit Basil just fine.