The girls walked up to our gem pile, and each grabbed their four gems. Tama and Mikota both came with me to join Sasha, Maxine, and Kyrina had left to go off and get things ready, I assumed. I watched the girls in their similar MAS units start to absorb their crystals at the same pace, but something happened when they drank in the last pure gems.
Both their suit started to unfold, and building turrets around them. What the hell? Tilly was now sitting in a rotation surface to anywhere missile platform with twelve different rocket tubes. I turned to see Iona seated behind a massive laser cannon, with a wicked grin on her face.
Both of them changed back into their standard forms. It was mind-boggling to watch the entire turret platforms fold back into their bodies. Iona and Tilly reached down and grabbed their last red gem each. When they stood back up, Iona looked at us, but I think more at Tama.
//Alright, you can keep my nurse costume, but that means Dave has to get me one where we get back! -Iona.
Chapter 115: Midnight Black
The red gems glowed in Tilly and Iona's hand as we watched them press them to their chests. Alta was ready this time, and the red glow dimmed with the help of my HUD. Tilly had become a constantly shift station of missile ports the were steadily moving, making her black MAS unit look alive. I turned to Iona, and the dimmer went off; Iona's suit was pure white, except for the spinning core in her chest. The MAS Unit streamlined with her body, showing off all her curves.
/I don't know where you're keeping all the rocket in there, Tilly, but the suit looks good on you. The two of you are like yin and yang now!
//I think they got the colors wrong, hehe -Mikota
Iona whipped around and pointed both her cannons at Mikota, but there we already too many to count. I smacked the real Mikota on the head who was beside me and then pointed at Iona and shook my head. I heard Tilly's gentle laughter come through my speakers and couldn't help myself but smile.
/Alright, just you and me left Sasha, Ready?
Sasha took my hand in response, and we walked into the middle, picking up our gems; all that was left was three pure, one chaos, and the two Purple Monstrosity Gem. I pick up my four, but Sasha handed me the two Purple ones with the ones I had. I looked at her with a puzzled expression, but then she explains that I would need both of them to upgrade.
/What will happen when I absorb the purple ones?
//We will have to go outside for that, It all depends, but you are going to get bigger, but I don't know how much more considerable you will grow. Your body and ability to 'hear' Diamond diamond will change as well -Sasha.
/To hear Diamond? You mean he isn't just a robot?
//He is, but he is more like Alta and as are all the suits, but only you can hear them. I can't go into detail right now about it, but know, the more power you give it, the more coherent it becomes -Sasha.
/Is it bad if he gets smarter?
As I said that, I got a disappointed feeling from Diamond; it almost felt like a sigh.
//No! It is good for them to learn! The smarter the suit, the more likely you are to survive, so it's a good thing -Mikota.
I nodded but then motioned for Sasha to go first in her black and white boom box suit. She pressed the crystals into her chest, one by one, and soon, the speaker on her shoulder got more elaborate. Okay, sure, that would all be good for fights, but it just looked awkward.
Sasha grabbed the last gem, pushed it up to her breasts, and started to glow red. After the light faded, I looked at Sasha, and she was covered in tiny holes. The MAS was still the same color and shape, but the small holes gave her a mesh-like appearance.
/Look good now that those giant speakers are gone!
//That's good; I felt like a walking boom box before! Well, now it's your turn -Sasha.
I picked up my first there crystals and started to press the first one into my chest, but nothing happened. Abruptly, I was ejected out of Diamond, and I stumbled forward, somehow still holding the crystal. I looked at my suit and watched it slowly bring empty had to its chest with one hand and then pointed to me with the other.
Did it want me to put it to my own chest? Maybe, but... I raised the crystal up to my chest and pressed it down. I felt it break apart and merge with my body, making my lines flare bright but then die back down. I did that two more times, and my body was feeling weird at that point.
I moved to get back into Diamond, but the MAS took a step back and pointed at the glowing gems between us. I sighed and picked up the last three, and pushed them into my chest. Luckily I didn't transform with bursts of light, but after I took the last purple gem into me, Diamond opened back to me again.
Oh, so now that I have sucked up all the good stuff, you want to get it from me, do you? Well, let's see what happens next, I thought to myself as I turned and backed into my suit. Once the plate had slid closed, my suit burst with light, and I could feel my new power mixing with Diamond.
When the light cleared, I was looking down at everyone, but not from too high up. I took a step forward and guessed I was about just over three meters tall but noticed my new paint job. Diamond was now solid black, but so black that it ate the light from the room, and it was even hard for me to look at; I wonder what Sasha thought about it?
I looked up, and I was standing behind Sasha. She and the others were trying to figure out where I disappeared to since I was in front of them before. I cleared my throat to get their attention, and Sasha nearly jumped out of her MAS unit. She stared wide-eyed at me in disbelief as I towered over her and the rest of them.
//How did you get behind up so fast and without us noticing? One minute you were right in front of us, and then you were gone! Your so big, too! -Tama.
I willed myself to change back into my standard form, but I was still midnight black, and I tried to dash to Tama by thinking of her, but I was just there. I stood behind Tama, looking like I was about to start running. Tama squealed in fright into the speakers at first, but they started laughing at my running position.
Chapter 116: The Least Amount Of Force
I relaxed my body and let go of my sprinter's pose as the girls giggled at me, so I started to blink around the room to give them something to giggle about! The girl each began to squeal as I started to appearing behind them and grabbing just above their hips. The girls tried to attack me, but I was gone before they could turn around.
Finally, getting each of the girls on the ground almost to tears laughing, I exited my suit and stretched. When I did, I noticed I had changed colors, or at least the thick lines that ran down my limbs and body had to a magenta purple. The lines still glowed, so I was sure my eye probably did as well, I glad I didn't have to start at the Chaos Gem level, or I would have a glowing red look.
That would be pretty scary to see in a fight, but it would also be disconcerting for the girls to look at, even if I wasn't charged up. Now though, the purple felt epic as I could see the lines even glow through my UW suits. I felt stronger and faster now, even standing without my suit, but I felt him coming.
I felt the energy build inside of me, and I turned, stepping back, swinging my hand up to meet Dresnal's.
*CRACK!*
The air broke as our hands connected and a shock-wave ripped between us. The air around us crackled with blue and purple static as I held my hand to pressed against Dresnal's hand, holding him back. Dresnal made a move to swing with his other hand, but I was just playing before.
Instantly I twisted and slid under his other hand and got behind Drensal with a raised hand. The slap made Dresnal grunt and step forward and then coughed up a bit of water. I jump back as Dresnal turned on me, but he had a large smile on his face as he slurped the water back in.
"Well, about time, you learned to play the game! Now I don't have to go easy on you anymore! HAHA!"
This guy was crazy; just how strong was he? I am pretty sure I could have slapped a hole out of the cave wall with that force! Dresnal waved the girls over, and everyone crowded aroun
d.
"You have all improved probably more than enough to have a fighting chance in this race, so this is where I leave you. I need to get back to Xeno to help deal with things there until you guys get there, and you will get there, I have faith. Dave, keep my little girl safe while im gone, you hear me?"
"Yes, Sir! I'll watch over Sasha and all of my girls!"
"Yeah, son, I know you will. It's just something that a father has to say, you know? Heh heh!"
We all had a good laugh and started to walk to the tunnel that led to the exit, where the Mega-Buggy was still parked. Iona, Tilly, Sasha, and Maxine were going to drop the rest of us at the city edge and head to stash our ride. There were no rules against doing, so accord to the locals and the few return racer Sasha and Maxine had talked to during their search to find out information for us.
"You guys kick some ass out there and bring home the bog prize, okay?" Dresnal said while extending his hand to me.
I was wearing my suit again, but it was not thanks to myself. I would have left the suit in my distraction, but as I heedlessly walked by, it grabbed me and then pulled itself onto me! I had been wretch off my feet and had been eaten by my MAS. I was with no better descriptive words or thoughts to explain what happened.
I reached my hand out and shook Dresnal's hand, but then a warning went off in my head from Diamond. Time slowed for everything and one around me; I felt the grip begin to tighten around my hand, but I slipped out of Dresnal's grasp, and then I was beside him before he could crush my hand. I raised my arm to backhand Dresnals shoulder, but as I swung, a system message flashed, oh no!
//SYSTEM [email protected]$1241$%@...DO YOU WANT TO KILL HIM?
No!
//NON-LETHAL FORCE IT IS
*CRACK, SMACK*
When the back of my midnight black hand connected with Dresnal's shoulder, he was catapulted off his feet and into the wall. I watch in shock/awe/horror as Dresnal's body smashed into the wall and burst water everywhere. I heard Sasha cry out over the mic; all they would have seen was me striking him.
Sasha ran to her father, but he put a hand up cough out water. Sasha still rushed to her father's side and helped him up as he coughed out water, but still letting out rough laughs between fits. When Dresnal finally was able to stand up straight, he came over to where I stood with hands up.
Dresnal looked worse than the day he fought Irellia and Kyrin, and I was starting to feel bad. I went over to Dresnal and Sasha, but he broke away from his daughter and gave me a light smack on the shoulder.
"Well, I deserved that; I don't think I could stop you now, even if I tried! Wow, you really hit like a hand full of a mountain in that thing! I feel bad for the SOB's that have to tangle with you and Kyrina in the race! Now git!"
Dresnal turned and kissed her watery cheek and then turned to head back into the cave, still coughing up water. Sasha turned around to me, and I half expected to see an angry face staring me down, but she was smiling. She came over to join me and took my hand, leading me to the Mega-Buggy.
//That was really impressive, you know? I've never seen anyone cause my father that much damage in a single fight, or, at least in my memories, there are no moments close to what you did with a single hit! -Sasha.
/That was the least amount of force I could use
Chapter 117: MAS, Or Not
We all loaded up, and I noticed that the inside had been modified and not there were eight seats. Tilly would sit in the front with Iona, but I asked her if I could instead. Tilly agreed and gave me a knowing smile; the inside was sealed up, and we had no reason to have our faceplate glass down.
Once everyone was inside, Iona backed us out of the cave, speed up near the exit. I grabbed for the holy-shit handle just as we speed out of the cave in reverse. Suddenly, Iona hit the brake and cranked the steering wheel, sending us in a hundred and eighty-degree angle, bring us facing forward and moving again.
As we spun, some of the girls let out screams, but most were fine. I had only now noticed my seat belt straps when I looked back to see if everyone was alright. After strapping myself in, I turned to a grinning Iona.
"So, are you ready for this? I'm not really sure how it's going to go, but we will get it figured out."
"Do you think we should spit up like we originally planned?"
"No, not the way we are now and knowing how many people there will be at the starting line. I think we need to take it slow; this is going to be a blood bath; just wait. The one we will see outside the city will be waiting with us. Let's go over a couple of things before we get there that I have been thinking about."
I got Alta to turn the mic on so everyone could hear me. Once everyone confirmed that they could hear me, I continued.
/We are a team, only us; this isn't a rescue mission. Saving someone here is just going to delay the inevitable. Our lives matter; everyone is here at their own risk fighting for the same thing. Don't let your guard down; this will have traps of every type all along the way. Next, no one can use their alt forms or large inside the city, instantly getting us marked
//Does that mean I can't transform? -Kyrina.
/Yeah, but it will be okay since your, my partner, Ill carry you
//Wah? What about me? -Mikota.
//I thought you were going to make and an army of you's to make us a comfy place for us to sit in and then run us back to the buggy! -Tama.
/What? Are you serious?
//Not all of us have tigers or elemental sand friends. Im taking Iona and Tilly, so it's the right thing to do with the boost I got -Mikota.
Fair point. I was excited to get past all the meat grind of the maze. Hopefully, Alta will help with the maze, but we would still have to watch out. Our plan now was to get dropped off outside the city, and our cab friend would pick us up. Iona and Maxine would stash the Mega-Buggy since Maxine could carry one person across the sand faster than the buggy but had to avoid monsters.
Sylica could move through sand like when I was in the cave pools, but Sasha's MAS had air filtration to move together in the sand. The issue was that Sylica had no armor and couldn't wear anything. Like when Sasha swan, she became one with the water, but still, her form existed. So, losing sand in this form would be like losing a chunk of flesh, or worse. Both Iona and Sasha could more than protect Maxine, so I knew they would do their best, but this was Maxine.
Each of the girls was special, and I hated that they all had to be here. Many things could go wrong with so many unknowns, but the buggy stopping jarred me from my worrying. I looked up to see the city with a sand storm raging between us; we were here final, and I could just make out the bubble taxi waiting for us.
I took my seat belt off, standing up and leaning in to kiss Iona. She didn't fight me. Instead, she put her arms around me and kissed me deeply. We finally pulled apart, and I smiled down at her and then kissed her forehead.
"See you when you get back, okay?"
"Yeah."
I had willed the mic off before speaking; I wanted a bit of privacy. I had been worried about Iona and Irellia since I first heard about the betrayal, and now I wanted to make sure she knew how I felt. I still remembered the time we shared in the last life and wanted to have more time with her, maybe in the next life it would be different, but for now, I had to deal with the hand dealt.
"I'll be waiting for you with a surprise, I know I said we would wait, but I was going to do some lace shopping before you get back. Maybe later you can tell me what you think of the purchases?"
Iona smiled brightly and reached up, pulling my done into another passionate kiss before separating and put my glass down. The inside was already getting filled with swirling sand, so I moved back and hugged Maxine, bring my glass up quickly to give her a short kiss. I hopped out to join the girls, but they were already walking to the cab.
I waved to Iona and Maxine and turned back to catch up with the girls. Something was eating at me as I ran, but I couldn't put the finger on it, almost like a bad feeling pushi
ng at the bottom of my stomach. I pushed the feeling to the back of my mind as I caught up.
Everyone was getting inside, and I followed in after them. As I got inside, the same wispy driver from before waved me to the back with a smile when I tried to pay. I just assumed he knew where he was going. It wasn't like he would listen to me even if I had given directions.
I crawled into the back and wished we weren't all suited up. The five girls were lying on the bed-like area. Five smiling faces waited for me with a space in the middle left. I would still enjoy the ride regardless, MAS or not.
Chapter 118: Red-Soaked Sand
The ride was rocky at first, but soon it smoothed out; we still couldn't see out of the dome, so we decided just to lay back and relax. There would be more than enough excitement tomorrow. Even Mikota was silent as we wait to get to our destination.
Harem Reborn c1-297 Page 54