Chapter 17: Basement

Chapter 17: Basement

As I stood in front of the shelters interior doors opening, Ji-woo walked up next to me. She gave me a quick smile, eyes flicking over me.

Are you sure you dont need anything else? she asked, and I gave a shake of my head as I adjusted my backpack straps, the ice axe poking out the top.

After Id put the healing salve on and changed my clothes, Id invited the officers in. Thankfully, neither of the officers had commented on my hoodie, though Ji-woo had turned to face away from me for a moment, her shoulder shaking suspiciously.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Getting them to show me how to refill my magazines was helpful too. It wasnt complicated or anything, but they had some tips on how to do it quickly. I also got to see the bullets closely for the first time in decent lighting. The actual bullet was a bright silver color, but the casings were all colored in a shiny, metallic black. Well, except for the silver crescent moon and bunny head emblem that Selene had decided to put on all of them.

While we worked, I noticed Sergeant OMalley seemed to be acting differently towards me. Not in a bad way, but Id noticed he seemed more distant and only referred to me as miss. When I asked Selene, she said that was the standard honorific for Magical Girls, while male Guardians just used sir.

After we finished, things progressed quickly. Wed developed the plan for my cover story which involved placing officers around the civilian wing of the shelter and preventing them from coming close to the security wing or entrance. Sergeant OMalley had suggested not telling the other officers about me, instead saying that he was the one heading out. While revealing myself to the other officers shouldnt have posed a problem, he and Selene seemed to think it didnt hurt to be extra careful.

So, as far as anyone else in the shelter knew, Sergeant OMalley was the one sneaking out, and Ji-woo was in the command center while the remaining three officers worked to keep people quarantined to their wing and away from the entrance. In reality, Sergeant OMalley and Ji-woo would both be waiting in the command center, monitoring the situation and waiting for my return.

After that was decided, the last thing that had happened was Sergeant OMalley loaning me his gun belt. It hadnt fit, of course, but some creative knots and knife work had more or less fixed it. Wed removed the pistol holster, instead attaching as many of the officers magazine holsters as possible. All together, I ended up with six magazine holsters strapped across the front of my waist. The other two loose magazines Id stuck into my hoodies pockets, discovering that there was mesh netting inside that formed a tight pouch I could tuck the end of each magazine into. They werent the most secure things, but they were definitely better than nothing.

Speaking of the clothes, theyd proven to be impossibly perfect. The sweatshirt was slightly baggy, but in a loose, comfortable way. It was also lined with something impossibly soft on the inside, some kind of fluffy wool-esque material. Meanwhile, the jeans were tight, but hadnt required a ridiculous amount of shimmying to get into. Weirdly, the jeans still let me move easily, somehow staying tight without restricting my movements. The combat boots were the most normal item, simply fitting around my feet in a snug embrace.

In all, I was pleasantly surprised. I was used to wearing clothes that didnt quite fit, and Id asked Selene how the Gate seemed to know exactly what was needed. Shed explained that because she was connected to me, she naturally knew all my physical vitals which included my measurements. Just like whenever I summoned anything else, she was able to put in the correct information and make sure I got exactly what I needed including any customizations that were decided on.

I sighed, adjusting the hood slightly around my head as the shelter doors finished opening. In the end, Id never gotten a good answer from Selene on why she thought the bunny ears were a good idea. It wasnt that big of a deal or anything, and so I gave up, simply making a mental note to carefully explain what I wanted to summon from now on. Besides, the hoodie did look cute it just wasnt something I would wear in a million years.

Well, I guess this is where we part ways, Ji-woo murmured as the doors finished opening.

I looked at the woman, feeling uncomfortable. I wasnt sure why she seemed so worried about me, not when the alternative would be one of them going out there. Still, it felt wrong to just leave her without saying anything.

Ill be careful, I said, causing her to blink before she looked at me and gave a strained smile.

I know this is your job, she said. But at the first sign of trouble, the kind that you might not be able to handle just remember you can always turn back, okay? Saving those people is important, but taking a risk and getting yourself hurt isnt going to help them either.

A flutter of warmth tingled through me along with another emotion I couldnt quite identify. It was a little thing, but potent, as if it was condensed into a small, burning ball of something. It made my throat tight, and so I simply gave Ji-woo a nod before I stepped forward into the airlock, Selene hopping by my side.

Even without the doors opening completely, it still took a small eternity for the interior doors to close and the exterior doors to open. I took the time to shove my emotions down and refocus on my mission. As the outer doors finished opening, my eyes were drawn to my health bar, and I frowned.

Selene, why is my health only at 84%? I thought to her, aiming the gun down the empty hallway as I stepped out.

[The damage from your first Anathema encounter was not fully repaired,] Selene responded. [While the Greater Regenerative Gum was able to heal your immediate wounds, it didnt truly restore your intestines to full functionality. The fix is functional but will not hold up in the long term. As such, your maximum health is effectively reduced. Do not be alarmed, as getting proper treatment after the Usurpation will be relatively easy.]

I shivered at the memories, pushing myself to keep moving to the stairwell doorway while aiming at the stairs leading to the first floor. Thankfully, no Anathema came down, and we were able to slip into the stairwell without incident.

The stairs only went down one level, and we reached the bottom of the stairs quickly. Without hesitating, I reached out to the door, opening it wide enough for Selene to slip through before I carefully shut it. Then, I waited, flicking my eyes to my minimap.

Selene informed me that my minimap also filled out as she went through places, something I hadnt noticed happening before. Even as I watched, the shape of corridors and rooms began to fill out at a quick pace. I tried to ignore my nerves as I waited in the silence, but my hands started to get sweaty around the grip of my gun.

Trying to distract myself, I focused on what the map was actually showing me. From the shape I could see so far, the basement really was a maze of long, narrow hallways, and I briefly wondered what the architect was thinking. Maybe it had to do something with them trying to cram as many of the malls utility and non-commercial rooms off the main floors as possible, but it seemed rather haphazard.

The blue dot marking Selene seemed to finish scouting after five minutes or so, as it turned back and started heading back to me. When the dot showed itself right outside the stairwell, I opened the door, letting Selene hop through.

How does it look? I whispered.

[Only a few Anathema are patrolling the hallways, and most are types you have already faced. A few of the bigger office rooms contain larger groups, but those appear to be remaining stationary. We have a relatively clear route directly to the generator room, though I wasnt able to scout the room itself. The door there remains intact, which is not usually a problem, but this one is built from material that can contain any ambient mana that leaks from the generator.]

Wait, what do you mean normal doors arent a problem?

[I can phase through most solid objects so long as they remain relatively still and are not too thick. It destabilizes my physical form, however, reducing the time I can remain manifested unless I am given more mana.]

Oh I shifted from one foot to the other as I mentally changed tracks. Did you find any signs of the group they sent before?

[I found bullet casings and blood both Anathema and human. While there were no bodies, the amount of blood in certain places does not suggest a positive outcome.]

But if there were no bodies I trailed off, giving Selene a questioning look.

[Ah There were no bodies because the Anathema feed on mana, and while humans are unable to use mana, they still generate small amounts. Their bodies would have been devoured as a source of strength. That, or taken to a nest where their biomass can be converted more directly, though that seems unlikely as I have seen no signs of a nest.]

I paled, forcing myself to give Selene a nod as I tried not to dwell on the images her explanation conjured.

Okay. Do you have a suggested route then?

[Indeed. We should be able to arrive there with relatively few encounters.]

I paused at that. That was ideal, but at the same time

What about taking out some of the Anathema patrols as we go? I gave her a nervous glance. I mean, just the ones that are alone. With the narrow hallways, Id have the advantage, and getting some more points and experience seems

[An excellent idea,] Selenes tails swished excitedly. [Getting easy points when possible is always a wise course of action. I also believe that the layout of this floor will make the sound of your firearm quite difficult to directly pinpoint from a distance.]

Alright, lets do that then.

I reached for the door, placing my hand on the handle. Before I opened it, I gave myself a moment to steady myself, steeling my resolve. Only once the fear and anxiety prickling beneath my skin was smothered to a manageable level did I throw open the door, following Selene as she began hopping down a path.

The halls of the basement were dark, bathed in the dim scarlet light of the emergency lighting. The pale white walls and bleached tiles would have normally given the hallway a sterile, almost hospital-like appearance. With the red light reflecting off the floor, it instead seemed ominous and slightly eerie. The fact that we passed through some doorways with their doors broken down didnt help either. That, and the narrow hallways were only wide enough for two people to walk down if they were willing to walk uncomfortably close together, adding a claustrophobic feel to the atmosphere.

I did my best to ignore the foreboding impression the basement gave off as Selene began navigating me through the maze, and it wasnt long before she stopped me at a corner.

[A hound is about twenty meters ahead, facing away.]

Selene, can you scout out the path one more time and tell me what to expect while I refill?

[Of course.]

She took off, and I hurried about my task. With the sixteen loose bullets in the box, I was able to refill both magazines Id used so far back to almost full, falling one bullet short. Though, counting the bullet still chambered in my Umbra, I was technically sitting at nine magazines of fifteen bullets.

It ended up taking me longer than I wanted, the dim red lighting making me fumble a few times. Selene returned before I finished, though she let me work in silent concentration. When I was done, I put my backpack on and looked at Selene.

Anything?

[The way remains clear. Once we reach the door, open it slightly and leave it that way while I scout the room.]

Nodding, I followed her as she hopped off. It took us a while to twist through the maze, but we reached our destination without incident. The door itself was made of a silvery metal with an odd gloss that looked vaguely familiar. It came to me a second later as I realized it looked exactly like the material my silverbane bullets were made of. Silverite, was it?

Next to the door was a handprint and keycard scanner. Placing my hand on the scanner, there was a low humming sound before it let out a beep, the screen turning green as a loud click came from the door. Reaching out to the door handle, I pushed the door open a crack, letting Selene squeeze through.

I wasnt sure what to expect from the room inside, but my minimap informed me it actually opened up into a fairly large room. Interestingly, there were also what looked like pillars lining either side, though I wasnt sure what purpose those would-

Selene blurred back through the opening, skidding to a frantic stop.

[Close it now! Quietly!] her voice came to me in a forceful whisper.

My muscles tightened all at once at the seriousness in her voice, and it was all I could do to stop myself from slamming the door closed on reflex. Carefully, I followed her instructions, pushing the door closed and gently releasing the handle until the lock clicked shut once again.

Whats wrong? I turned to her worriedly. What is it?

Selene sat on the ground, her tails flicking around in agitation. For a moment, she didnt respond, which only sent my heart pounding faster.

[There is an Anathema in there,] Selene finally answered. [It must have come directly through a rift into the room, as it is too big to fit through the door even if it broke it open. Though the knowledge I was given on Anathema types is hardly all-encompassing, I know this particular Anathema is strong. Very strong. It must have been drawn by the ambient mana in the room from when the generator shutdown.]

Okay, I swallowed. So what do we do?

Selene turned to me, her tails curling downward.

[I do not think you understand,] Selene said gently. [There is a general rule regarding Anathema when comparing strengths: If they are within five levels of you, the difference is negligible. If they are six to ten levels higher than you, they will be a tough opponent to be faced with caution. Eleven to fifteen levels and you are facing a challenging opponent who you must prepare extensively for. Sixteen to twenty levels and you are essentially facing a boss monster, a deadly serious fight you should not attempt alone. Anything more than twenty levels above you will most likely have such a significant disadvantage that attempting to defeat it is impossible. This rule is based on, of course, Magical Girls who are utilizing their Astral Shift and the stats it provides.]

Alright I nodded slowly. How high of a level is this Anathema?

[Without a kill notification, it is impossible to tell exactly. However, based on my limited database, it is most likely in its twenties, though I would suspect the lower end. Even so, this means it could be anywhere from sixteen to twenty-five levels above you.]

A chill went down me as the implications hit me fully. Even if I had my Astral Shift, it would still be in the near impossible range. As it was

[Besides, I think you are all too familiar with how dangerous this particular Anathema can be.]

I blinked, giving Selene a confused look.

[Do you remember your conversation with Lily about how far she was in Magical Girls Sunset: Rebellion? About the boss she was stuck on?]

I frowned in thought, then felt my eyes involuntarily widen. She was still on the third dungeon, which meant

The Arachnomantis I whispered in growing dread, and Selene dipped her head in acknowledgment.

I stood there, my mind racing at the implications. There was an actual boss monster in there, in the room that held the only hope of saving hundreds of people. More than that, it was a tough boss, and the first time Id beaten it, it had been a close fight even with other players helping me. Sure, Id gone back to train on it alone after Id gotten a bunch of levels, but even though Id managed to solo it multiple times

Something clicked in my head, and I felt my breath catch for a moment. Slowly, my heartbeat began to calm down into something manageable, and I found myself looking at Selene.

Selene, you told me earlier low level Anathema tend to stick to patterns like video game enemies. Would the Arachnomantis use the same moves and attacks as the one in Rebellion?

[Mostly,] she hedged. [Still, this is the real world, and all Anathema are capable of improvising in what are colloquially called common sense attacks. Something like a quick, close range attack such as a bite or punch is always on the table. With how complicated a creature the Arachnomantis is, I suspect it might be fairly limited to its observed behaviors, but it would still outclass you far too much to-]

Selene , I cut her off. How many times did I fight the Arachnomantis in Magical Girls Sunset: Rebellion? How many times did I fight it alone and win?

Selene shifted from one foot to the other, hesitating.

[Six times,] Selene admitted. [The last two you managed it without taking any damage.]

And the only reason I stopped going after it was because it wasnt giving good enough rewards anymore. Selene, I literally know all twelve attacks it uses down to their names. Even if it can improvise, it hardly matters when I wont be staying in range.

[You still dont have the combat experience or stats to do this. You also wont be dodging with the simple press of a button but with your physical body. One hit, one simple mistake could prove catastrophic. Even if you dodge, you will tire, especially without your stat bonuses. Even if you were transformed and benefitting fully from your stats, this still would be nearly impossible. You would be facing an Anathema of a higher caliber completely alone in face-to-face combat.]

Yes, I would be, I paused, taking a deep breath. And I know this isnt a game. Thats exactly why I have to do this. If I dont, hundreds die.

Selenes tails drooped down, her head lowering.

[Mai this is too dangerous to do alone. Please, reconsider.]

I crouched down in front of Selene. Even though I could feel the fear inside me making my heart skip the occasional beat, it felt like a distant, unimportant thing. I gave Selene the most reassuring smile I could.

I know youre worried about me, but this is something I have to do. And I think I have a plan, one that, if it works, will make it so at least half the fight isnt even a challenge.

She seemed to perk up at that, raising her eyes to meet mine.

Besides, I whispered aloud, giving her a soft smile. Im not doing this alone.

At that, Selene went motionless for a moment. Then, her tails raised, and she gave me a deep nod.

[I cant exactly argue with that, I suppose,] Selene sighed, her tails giving a flick. [Very well, then. Lets figure out how to defeat a boss.]