by L. M. Kerr
"What… Do… You… KNOW… about my sister?!" Sophia's voice was ragged as she spoke, her breath drawn out.
"I know many things, Miss Morgan. I know that you lost your little sister in the First Wave. I know that you have the Limited Fairy Eyes Ability, allowing you to create illusions so real the mind cannot perceive them as fake." He took several steps forward, moving away from the edge of the roof.
"And most importantly…" Micheal continued,
"I know the best way to help you look for your sister."
Micheal felt the world around him shiver, cold air drifting across his face.
The Fairy Eye Ability that Sophia had picked out cost well more than 100,000 Points. Encountering anyone with it on the First Layer was extremely rare, with the power it possessed matching its rarity.
Just opening his eyes risked trapping himself in a world of illusions, ones that would invade his mind and lodge themselves there, becoming incredibly difficult to shrug off. With his very average Soul stat, he didn't want to risk anything of the sort.
Thus, he went with the tried and tested counter to this Ability. Simply shutting his eyes.
"…"
"Who are you? How do you know all of this?" Despite her shock, Sophia's voice was collected as she questioned Micheal.
Micheal smiled, ever so slightly. Her calm response and adaptability, able to recover from her shock after just a few moments, truly lived up to the name of the legendary S Ranked Demon Fairy.
"My name is Micheal, but I know what I know because I have a rather unique power." He began, his voice confident,
"I am a Seer."
.
Chapter 36: Seer
"I am a Seer."
What was a convenient way to sometimes act as if he had future foresight, but not give away his secret entirely?
To Micheal, the choice was clear….
Just pretend he had seen a vague vision of the future, like he told Shin. It was close enough to the truth that it didn't matter, and it would help avoid being constantly questioned about what might happen.
While he'd only told Shin the white lie to save time due to their imminent separation, he had no plans of revealing the full truth of his situation to anyone else. There was far too much risk to something like that.
Thus, he decided to establish a persona for himself, to make his sometimes otherworldly future knowledge more believable when he used it to his advantage.
"What do you know about my sister?! How do you know me?!" Sophia's voice echoed out loud, throbbing with tightly controlled anger.
"I already told you. I am a Seer. I had a vision of the future, and that vision ended up leading me here to you." His voice came off genuine. After all, he did technically, in a way, have a vision of the future, his memories of the original timeline. It wasn't really a lie.
"That said, would you care to bring Fairy Eyes back in? I'm not here to fight." He casually waved his hand, as if he wasn't the slightest bit bothered.
Gradually the world around him returned to normal, the cool air vanishing. He opened his eyes, blinking slightly.
Sophia was currently staring at him, her hand clenched onto a handgun of some sort. Her body language was tense, her eyes wide.
Micheal's eyes flicked to the left for a brief moment, glancing at a skyscraper that was three bridges over, with a slight frown. The building was on the opposite side of where he had arrived. He then looked back at Sophia with a warm smile.
"Would you mind if we went inside? We're terribly exposed out here." He nodded, waving around at the other skyscrapers. A well placed bullet could take out either of them. Well, it could take out Micheal, at least temporarily. Sophia had her forcefield Artifact to protect her.
Sophia seemed to consider his request for a moment before nodding, walking over to the door that descended into the skyscraper. She kept her eyes warily on him the whole time, never letting him out of her sight.
"Fine. But you WILL tell me everything you know about my little sister." Her eyes hardened.
"That's why I'm here, Miss Morgan."
.. .. .. .. .. ..
"She's agreed to meet with someone after all? Where did that man even come from?" Around 100 meters away, a man could be seen, lying prone atop a skyscraper. His body was practically invisible, magically blending in with the grey rooftop of the skyscraper. If one looked closely, one would see a blanket of some sort wrapped around him, one that camouflaged the man perfectly.
A pair of enhanced binoculars were just barely peeking over the edge, staring at the skyscraper that Micheal had just arrived upon. As the man watched Sophia disappear with Micheal, he sighed.
"I don't even know what team he is a part of… How did he convince her to talk?" Brano Wiles, a B Ranked human and mid-to-high-ranking member of the Tobagin Party sighed for a second time.
"The Tobagin Party would've taken you in, Sophia. Even if the Black Flag Pirates tried to attack you after your repeated refusals, I was here to jump to the rescue." He shook his head sadly, his long brown hair waving out from the almost magical Camouflage Blanket he was under.
"I'll keep watch a little longer… but if you go off with him, that is it for you." Newbies were heavily recruited in the initial days that they arrived, but after that, joining a large group was extremely difficult.
Betrayal was a fact of life in the First Layer, and groups like the Black Flag Pirates were more than willing to take in anyone that would betray the other forces. Once someone was with another group, unless that entire group could prove themselves worthy to ally with a major force… it was a rare occurrence for any individual to be able to join.
Trust was a scarce commodity in this world.
.. .. .. .. .. ..
"With my future sight, I discovered something about the First Layer. A secret, something no one else seems to be aware of. However..." He spoke clearly, cutting right to the chase.
"You were also a part of that future. If I want to access the secret I've discovered, I will need your help."
He and Sophia were currently standing in a meeting room, two floors down from the roof. Micheal hadn't sensed anyone on this floor as Sophia led him to the room. He didn't see any traps or anything of the sort, but kept his guard up. The room had a long wooden table with several plush chairs located around it.
Sophia was standing on one side of the table while Micheal sat comfortably on the other.
She watched everything passively, making no comment either way. Her strength of will was admirable for someone that was only on Day 3 of her survival here.
"Okay. But what does that have to do with my little sister?" Sophia's voice was cool, but her eyes blazed with passion. Finding her vanished little sister was her entire goal and drive for being here, Micheal was well aware.
"It's simple. What do you need if you want to find anyone here?" He motioned with his left hand to the side, towards the window.
"Power." He clenched his fist hard.
"Who will bother listening to you if you can, at best, be someone's lieutenant, serving the whims of this or that organization?" His words held a certain logic within them, convincing in their own way.
"The secret I discovered can help you find the power you need to search for your little sister. After all, the person you can trust most is, ultimately, yourself." He finished talking, looking her straight in the eyes. His every fiber of being was screaming that he was being honest, and, indeed, he was. He really believed what he was saying.
Sophia's face gave away nothing as she replied,
"And what is the cost? Why would you want to help me? There is no free lunch in this world." Her voice was cutting.
Micheal nodded, as if he had expected that question. He tapped on his forehead,
"I'm a Seer, remember? I have my reasons for helping you. Besides, I'm not doing this for nothing. The method I have to get the power you desire will also enhance my own strength quite a bit." He shrugged.
Sophia seemed to think it over. M
icheal's bearing and words had impressed her, as had his uncanny knowledge of things she had told no one yet. Sophia held no trust for the people around her. When she had arrived, she had firsthand witnessed a member of one of the smaller teams brutally murder a newbie.
Even if she was desperate to find her sister, she couldn't bring herself to tell others about it, fearing the worst. She knew her fear was somewhat irrational, but that didn't get rid of it.
"How do I know I can trust you? How do I know that you aren't just using me? Or that this isn't a trap?"
"How do you know you can trust me?" His eyes were deadly serious as he repeated her question,
"How about I prove it." He smiled.
"Prove what?" Sophia stared at him.
"My method for helping you gain great power." He replied.
"Right now?" She blinked, looking startled.
"Right now. We can get you more than 10,000 Points in less than an hour if we work together using the secret I found." His eyes flashed,
"If, after I prove my method, you feel that you can trust me, I'd like to propose a partnership between you and I. A way for us both to grow stronger. You get the strength you need to find your sister, while I get to grow strong enough to pursue my own goals." He nodded sharply, finishing,
"We both win."
Sophia bit her lip, her eyes wavering briefly as she wrestled with her thoughts. After a moment, she spoke again,
"…How?"
Micheal smiled, knowing he'd hooked her in.
"It's simple. All we need is your Fairy Eyes and for you to do what I say." He stood up,
"Follow me."
.
Chapter 37: Preparations
Captain Bola sat with his trusted Lieutenant Anju, waiting patiently in a large meeting room. A long black plastic table lay at the center of the room, surrounded by a plethora of plush, swivel chairs. A few windows let in the noon light, while the comforting hum of the air conditioning lumbered onward in the background.
This room was located in a skyscraper within the southern range of the Stardust Cluster, deep within the territory of the Saru Group. Atop the roof of this Skyscraper, twenty men armed with rifles and other weapons could be seen, standing guard at the point where each bridge connected to the skyscraper. These men wore a mixture of clothes, from military fatigues to loose white shirts and khaki pants.
No Morenkai or man could approach this skyscraper easily and remain undetected.
Occasionally, a Morenkai would shamble across one of the four connecting bridges, all solid metal or wooden ones, its ominous movements intimidating.
When this occurred, some of the men guarding the skyscraper would walk onto the bridge and whip out a gun with a silencer attached, a pricey addition from the Shop. They would then use the weapon to knock the Morenkai off, preventing it from crossing and killing it, while drawing little to no attention. No deviations from this method seemed allowed.
The steady defense team looked experienced and almost bored as they stood watching, killing the dangerous Morenkai as if it was routine. If an Abnormal showed up, things might become a bit more frantic… but this was far from the central area of the Cluster. Abnormal sightings here were quite rare.
Back in the depths of the skyscraper, two warriors looked cheerful as they sat there, talking merrily with one another. Lieutenant Anju had his arm wrapped up in a bandage, but otherwise looked fine. Captain Bola was all smiles.
They didn't have to wait long. They'd only been resting there for a few minutes when a new figure entered the room.
"Captain, Lieutenant." A red haired man wearing a professional looking suit walked in and greeted the duo, his green eyes gleaming. His face was thin, but the strength and bearing he carried himself with was impossible to miss.
Behind the red haired man, a trio of muscular looking subordinates could be seen, all dressed in military fatigues.
"General Raymen!" Both Anju and Bola stood respectfully, giving a salute.
General Raymen was the leader of the Saru Group, and one of the only 5 A Rank Chosen in this Cluster. Their respect for him was heartfelt.
"At ease." Despite his civilian clothes, the General had the bearing of a military man. His voice was authoritative, his movements confident and precise.
"Let's cut to the chase. I've read and heard everything we know about this new Irregular, the one that broke your arm, Lieutenant." Raymen nodded at Anju,
"I want to know your opinions, the both of you. You two have directly seen or made contact with the Irregular. What is his personality, what is he like?" Raymen sat down at the table, motioning for Anju and Bola to both sit. He folded his hands together, his eyes calm.
His three subordinates all walked and stood steadily behind him, unmoving. They weren't exactly guards, given that Raymen was one of the three most powerful people in the Cluster, but they served to handle minor matters that might crop up before him.
"I personally have only seen him from afar." Captain Bola shook his head, his voice booming out fearlessly.
"Anju has had the most direct contact." He patted his friend carefully on the back.
"He… he has a unique personality. He didn't seem that powerful at first when I met him, but if he had wanted, he easily could've killed me. Yet he chose not to, and instead spared words of caution." Anju's voice was earnest as he explained,
"It almost felt like he didn't see me as an enemy at all, but merely a child messing about."
"…I see." Raymen spoke quietly.
They talked for a few more minutes as the General asked for more details. Anju and Bola explained all they had seen, leaving nothing out.
"How interesting. How very intriguing…" General Raymen smiled as he stood up, thanking the duo. As he stood, his entire body began to morph. A pair of gorgeous, golden wings sprouted from his back, quickly pulled in. His skin took on a golden luster, his eyes flashing with light.
The Winged Warrior Type Ability, 95,000 Points in the Shop.
"I think I'll need to go meet this fellow myself."
.. .. .. .. .. ..
On the opposite side of the Stardust Cluster, the A Rank Pirate Lord Brandon of the Black Flag Pirates frowned. He tugged at the overalls he wore, adjusting them so they didn't pull in the white undershirt beneath. He rubbed his large square beard, his blue eyes cold.
He was currently standing on the roof of a skyscraper, one empty of anyone except for him and one other. The Black Flag Pirates hid most of their bases, a different strategy than most of the other major forces that established heavily fortified positions. Lord Brandon was especially renowned for going off on his own, as opposed to Lord Byron who only moved in groups.
"She rejected us again, Howard?" His voice rumbled out.
"Yes, Lord Brandon. However, this time something unusual happened." If Micheal had been here, he would've recognized the speaker as the same one that had been trying to recruit Sophia earlier.
The speaker, Howard, was wearing a set of loose brown pants and a white shirt, his brown hair waving in the air as he talked in an animated fashion.
"I stayed behind to observe her with the man you set to follow her movements, briefly, when another man climbed up over the side of the skyscraper onto the roof." Howard continued,
"This man greeted the Irregular Sophia and they talked briefly before retiring inside. I later saw them exit the skyscraper and make their way towards the central area of the cluster together, apparently as allies." The man's report was expansive.
Brandon's frown deepened.
"That bitch." His eyes were cruel as he made a short, crude remark.
"If you aren't with us, you are inevitably against us. To think she would flaunt her refusal and join with another right after my generous offer." He shook his head, clearly annoyed.
'We can't leave a wildcard like her lying around, joining up with other forces. Not when we are preparing to act against the Godfather Organization… The fact that there is a second Irregular this Wave
is already bad enough…' Lord Brandon sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Should I inform the headquarters you wish to send out a hit squad, Lord Brandon? She may be an Irregular, but she is still weak." Howard asked, his eyes showing a hint of bloodlust.
"No, I've dealt with these types before. Sending out squads that gradually increase in power over time will only serve to help train your enemy."
Brandon tapped on a Spatial Ring he had on his finger. Immediately, a large, gleaming black metal axe appeared in his hand, one he leaned on his shoulder.
"You must crush this type of threat at the root, instead of allowing it to sprout." Brandon's skin began to take on a black luster. Gradually, plates of black armor formed, covering up his skin. This armor glowed with a type of dark light, an ominous aura rising off it.
The Black Knight Type Ability, 99,000 Points in the Shop.
"I will handle her myself."
.. .. .. .. .. .. ..
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Sophia's voice was full of doubt as she stared at Micheal.
They were currently standing in the stairwell of a random skyscraper at the center of the Stardust Cluster. Micheal had taken great pains to help get them there without running into any other teams, avoiding unnecessary encounters. Staying in Sophia's skyscraper would've just been asking for trouble.
"Absolutely!" Micheal smiled back, opened the metal door in front of him without hesitation.
A large, empty room was revealed, devoid of chairs or tables, or really anything at all. Several sets of windows lined the walls, letting in light.
The ground floor of a skyscraper.
Micheal scanned to the left and right, seeing nothing. No Morenkai happened to be in this area at the time. He waved Sophia in behind him.
She followed nervously, eyeing Micheal. Her hand rested on a handgun she had tucked into her jeans, not letting her guard down even the slightest.
Micheal's eyes narrowed as he saw the shambling figures of several Morenkai move by outside, through some of the clear windows.