“You really think this’ll work?”
Walter plowed ahead of Charles, the gemstone in his powersuit humming a neon yellow as he crashed through branch and shrub alike.
“If Isaac says it’ll work, it’ll work!” Charles replied with boundless optimism, ducking to avoid a branch Walter had pushed aside as it snapped back elastically. “’Sides, it’s not like you’re the one that’s gotta risk your life on split-second timing. You’ve got that fancy-pants suit to keep you safe, so lighten up.”
In contrast to the momentum-fueled Inertist, Charles was having a hard time plowing through the oppressively tight-knit underbrush, and he frequently found himself using his sword to hack away an inconveniently located branch.
“That other guy already explained it, it’s not like I’m invincible with this thing on," Walter shot back. "It just works on the principle of Newton’s First Law. As long as I stay moving, it’s almost impossible to stop me. As long as I stay still, almost nothing can move me.”
“You forgot to mention it dampens all forces against you, so you can just plow through things with — OOF! — abandon,” Charles countered a little jealously, a leafy bough finding his face. “I sure could use some force-dampening right about now.”
“It just redirects most of the energy into my suit’s Inertia Core,” Walter explained. “I can still get hurt. And besides there’s a limit to how much it can take before it implodes and takes me with it.”
“And me too, probably,” Charles chuckled nervously. “Please try not to let that happen, ‘kay?”
“Hey, weren’t you the one confident that everything’d work out?” Walter shot back. “Anyway, we’re here.”
“Here” turned out to be an empty field at the end of the tree line, stretching far off into the distance. At the edge of his vision, Charles could see a few mountains tinted indigo and fading in and out of the night skyline, but for the most part, the grassy plain was empty save for the two.
“Okay, so… I just gotta stand here, right?” Charles turned back towards the tree line. “I’m kinda putting my life in your hands, so if there’s anything I can do to make your job easier, I’m all for it.”
“Try and line yourself up with the path we took to get here,” Walter offered, rereading the instructions Isaac had texted him. “I’ll start running thattaway” — he gestured further off into the distance — “to get my Inertia Core revved up, then I’ll circle around and pick you up. Make sure you jump before I hit you.”
“You got it!” Charles gave him a thumbs up. “Just remember, if you hit a bump and it groans, it means I probably missed my timing.” He laughed loudly.
“Thanks, I totally needed the extra pressure.” Walter sighed. “Alright, I’ll see you in a few. Please remember to jump.” Jogging in place for a minute to warm up, the young teen ventured off into the darkness at a brisk trot.
Suddenly very aware of the stillness around him, Charles turned back from the forest and looked out across the once-more empty field. Walter’s silhouette had completely vanished, and the only thing breaking the diorama-like stillness was the tall grass swaying to an errant breeze. Whistling a tune to himself to break the quiet, Charles’s focus was then caught by a rush of motion at the edge of his vision.
As the object grew larger, nearing him at an alarming place, Charles' stomach sank. He knew exactly what was coming.
“This had better damn well work, Isaac,” Charles grinned weakly, planting his legs akimbo and crouching down ever so slightly, as he equipped his shield and sword into place.
A split second before the speeding object collided with him, Charles leaped on the spot, the breath still knocked from his lungs as his armour groaned from the impact. Realizing he had inadvertently closed his eyes, Charles willed them open again, raising his head to look around.
“Nice… jump,” Walter gasped, his arms out in front of him, palms against Charles’ armour as he carried the Knight with him. More accurately, he was pushing Charles along at an incredible pace, but the momentum alone ensured Charles’s feet never touched the ground.
Wincing, Charles slowly rotated his body so that he was facing forward. Even after their trek through the forest, there were still plenty of branches left in the way, and at their speed, every glancing blow was painful.
“How much more?” Charles grunted, holding his shield up in front of his face as a particularly large branch glanced off it
“No… way to… know,” Walter huffed back, looking out from under Charles’ armpit at the forest that was flying past them. “I’m… just about… outta breath.”
Charles angled his shield a little, glancing at the path before them. Before he knew it, the trees suddenly thinned and they were in the open again, heading right towards the cliff that separated them from the castle.
“LEFT!” Charles screamed, as Walter adjusted his path and sent them towards the bridge a split second before they went off the steep embankment. The moment Charles heard the rattle of stones beneath them, he knew it was time.
“ENDURE!” he yelled at the top of his lungs, holding his shield in front of him.
And then everything went black.
*******
“Alright, guess I’ll split,” Jason offered a fist to Isaac. “Good luck rescuing your girlfriend.”
“You're just jealous ‘cause you don’t know any girls,” Isaac chuckled, bumping his fist against his friend’s. “Try not to get yourself killed out there.”
“We both know I can’t promise that.”
“Sorry to interrupt this touching bromance, but what’s our plan?” Marie asked, as Jason slipped off into the shadows.
“We get climbing,” Isaac suggested, handing her a grappling iron swaddled in rags. “Of course, there’re probably armed guards on each one, so get ready to fight if it comes down to it.”
“I think I can hold my own, but what about you?” Marie asked, looking Isaac over.
“I got a plan of my own.” He grinned. “I put a point into my Minioneer’s class skill, so now whenever I activate a skill, instead of using it as-is, I can summon a minion under my control that’ll repeat that skill on command. But first…”
Isaac drew his revolver and equipped the belt. “COMMAND!” he intoned, as a little globe of light emerged from his pouch, quickly changing into a humanoid form, then solidifying. The result was a thigh-high munchkin-like creature with a cartoonish design and comically large head. Swaying side to side, it tottered forward a couple paces, as if learning to walk for the first time. Turning to look up at Marie, it uttered an unintelligible sound in a high-pitched voice. “Huawuawua!”
“Cute.” Marie smirked, hands on hips. “That’s your masterplan?”
“She’s my backup.” Isaac grinned. “COMMAND is a unique skill in that it doesn’t take up a slot in my max number of minions. Plus, she gets replicas of all my gear, and I can take manual control of her, or command and summon other minions through her.”
“Miiiiiii!” the minion exclaimed, drawing a miniature replica of its creator’s weapon.
“I think I’ll call her Twitch,” Isaac decided, turning in the direction of the fortress gate. “I’ll send Jace and the rest some backup too. COVERING FIRE!”
In response to the command, a pair of minions of a similar design popped into being at Isaac’s feet. The first one carried a machine gun much larger than itself across its back, and the other held a large crate of ammo above its head, while a tripod dangled from around its neck. “You’ll be Grim,” Isaac declared, pointing at the gun-toting minion. “And you’ll be Fletcher,” he continued, pointing to the other.
“I’m totally judging you on your naming sense,” Marie admitted. “Are you ready yet?”
Isaac closed his eyes for a second as if concentrating, then opened them again. In response, Grim and Fletcher clacked their heels together in salute and dashed off towards the castle's gate.
“I am now!” Isaac declared.
*******
Melvin opened his eyes, wincing as he rubbed at them with skinned wrists. Staggering to his feet, he took in the terrible scene.
Behind him lay the battered remnants of what used to be their main gate, supported by the armoured form of Rampardner, who was using his body to brace it, shielding those behind him. Apparently, he had single-handedly prevented it from flying any further. However, the limp body of Ifrit dangling over a corner of the door told Melvin that it had already done plenty of damage.
Coughing at the cloud that arose from the collision, Melvin noted that there was also a large quantity of smoke mingling with the errant dust. Patting his pockets down, he further noted that his smoke grenades had vanished, most likely when he had fallen. Sighing, he made a mental note to increase the strength of the casings on his next batch so they wouldn’t rupture on impact.
Looking around, he noticed Gr3g emerging from behind Rampardner’s impromptu shield, a bewildered look on his face. A large puddle of water by his feet convinced Melvin that Deep6 had also escaped the attack in her own way. Looking to his left, he saw Trance gripping his gunblade tensely, as he watched the empty gateway. However, that wasn’t what was forefront in Melvin’s mind.
“Where’s MC?” he asked aloud, stumbling towards the smoke. “He was right next to me…” He paused, remembering the feeling of being pushed from behind. “No… oh hell no… MC!” he yelled out, rushing into the smoke.
“Melvin, wait!” Trance called out, dashing after him.
“That idiot…” Gr3g started, moving to follow. Then he glimpsed something through the dissipating smoke. Something glowing.
“Damn… this… burns…” a pained voice rumbled in an amplified, echoing tone from beyond the cloud, as the deep red glow grew larger, lengthening and sharpening into a long, sword-like shape.
“What the hell?” Gr3g muttered, squinting into the clearing smoke.
Then Charles walked into view.
Armour dented and breaking, shield folded, body broken and bruised, but very much alive.
And very much angry.
His sword dragged along behind him, only it appeared almost four times as large as usual, glowing with an angry flaming red aura like molten fury, as ENDURE pumped it full of the damage he blocked. Stopping in the gateway a few paces from the running Melvin, Charles gripped the sword tightly in one hand, and swung.
“FRIIIIIIIICK!” Gr3g yelled, making a triangle with his fingers and crossing them, as his swords danced to form a shield.
The image of his swords splitting in half was the last thing he saw.
*******
“I think I got a couple of them!” Charles grinned crookedly, stumbling over to Walter and collapsing on the ground. “Sorry, gotta pop a healing potion or three, cover me.” So saying, he chugged a pale green vial and crept back behind the castle wall on his hands and knees.
“Easy for you to say,” Walter muttered, rapidly tapping buttons on his game menu as he invested his skill points. In response, his Inertia Core glowed a brilliant hue, and began spitting out pieces of metal plating and wiring. Slipping out of countless nooks and crannies, miniature arms sprouted from his mech suit, carrying and welding the pieces into place. By the time he had finished learning his new skills and equipping his S&W magnum, his armour had already finished its upgrade.
His chest plate was now more pronounced. Whereas before it had been little more than a holder for his Inertia Core held in by wires and faith, it now spread from his shoulders to just above his belly. His arms had likewise gained a little more protection, but his legs had by far undergone that largest change.
Whereas earlier he had nothing more than a few wires connecting some sole attachments to the rest of his suit, his lower legs were now garbed in thick, rectangular armour which stretched out on all sides of his legs almost as far as his feet did. Stumbling a little as he took an experimental step, he noticed that there were now massive piston-looking attachments on the back of his calves.
Striding boldly into the center of the demolished gateway and trying to avoid looking at the bodies strewn across the cobblestones, Walter faced the armoured player behind the fallen door and planted his feet squarely where he stood, aiming his pistol.
“All right, let’s do this!” he muttered to himself, as his Inertia Core hummed slower and slower, turning from a vivid orange into a deep red.
ns3.135.224.139da2
and then Add to home screen.