Endless days before the timer I set finally goes off. Weeks, maybe months within the unchanging world of the Administrative Center before Mikito contacts me, letting me know its time. The chaos we created in the outer world has died down and the vote is finally going to go through. No longer can I hide. No longer can we wait.
I clean myself up using Cleanse, setting the System to wash away the grime and the clues of my residence within the Center. I have the System help me with that, cleansing log and data sets. Then I change, dressing in my armor, my weapons.
As I leave, I glance at my Status Screen, grinning maniacally at what I see there. Because there have been a few changes, some of which I’m sure the System and the other Administrators would be less than impressed with.
Status Screen
Name
John Lee
Class
Junior System Admin (Grand Paladin)
Race
Human (Male)
Level
16 (12)
Titles
Monster’s Bane, Redeemer of the Dead, Duelist, Explorer, Apprentice Questor, Galactic Silver Bounty Hunter, Corrupt Questor, (Living Repository), (Class Lock)
Health
6300
Stamina
6300
Mana
6350
Mana Regeneration
479 (+5) / minute
Attributes
Strength
448
Agility
521
Constitution
630
Perception
435
Intelligence
635
Willpower
574
Charisma
225
Luck
296
Class Skills
Mana Imbue
5*
Blade Strike*
5
Thousand Steps
1
Altered Space
2
Two are One
1
The Body’s Resolve
3
Greater Detection
1
A Thousand Blades*
4
Soul Shield*
8
Blink Step
2
Portal*
5
Army of One
4
Sanctum
2
Penetration
9e
Aura of Chivalry
1
Eyes of Insight
2
Beacon of the Angels
2
Eye of the Storm
1
Vanguard of the Apocalypse
2
Society’s Web
1
Shackles of Eternity*
4
Immovable Object / Unstoppable Force*
1
Domain
1
Judgment of All
6
(Grand Cross)
(2)
(Extra Hands)
(3)
System Edit
4
External Class Skills
Instantaneous Inventory
1
Frenzy
1
Cleave
2
Tech Link
2
Elemental Strike
1 (Ice)
Shrunken Footsteps
1
Analyze
2
Harden
2
Quantum Lock
3
Elastic Skin
3
Disengage Safeties
2
Temporary Forced Link
1
Hyperspace Nitro Boost
1
On the Edge
1
Fates Thread
2
Combat Spells
Improved Minor Healing (IV)
Greater Regeneration (II)
Greater Healing (II)
Mana Drip (II)
Improved Mana Missile (IV)
Enhanced Lightning Strike (III)
Firestorm
Polar Zone
Freezing Blade
Improved Inferno Strike (II)
Elemental Walls (Fire, Ice, Earth, etc.)
Ice Blast
Icestorm
Improved Invisibility
Improved Mana Cage
Improved Flight
Haste
Enhanced Particle Ray
Variable Gravitic Sphere
Zone of Denial
But that’s their problem.
***
To my surprise, I don’t find Mikito waiting for me outside. Only Ali stands there, arms crossed, foot tapping on the floor, rotund belly pushing against his orange jumpsuit. I idly note that it seems to have shifted slightly, looking more like a onesie than a jumpsuit. Seeing my attention, Ali growls and wills it back to its normal configuration.
“Miss me?” I say, walking forward. That he stands at his full height, dwarfing me, makes me kind of amused.
“Who’d miss a Goblin-loving, toad-warming Mana-crystal waste like you?” Ali says. He waits for me to pass by before he floats, shrinking as he does so such that he finds his place at my shoulder once more.
“Perhaps a socially inept Spirit?” I say. “Did you get what I asked for done?”
“I contacted them. Still waiting to hear back from the Dragon Lord, but the other arrangements, well…” A flash of uncertainty crosses his bearded face. “You sure?”
“I am.” Whatever doubts I have, I’ve let them die. It’s the best solution I can find, even if it’s one that no one will be happy with. Not even me.
We make our way out of the building and see the sky filled with puffy pink-shaded clouds for the first time in ages. I spot Mikito, standing at ease out there.
“The arrangements?” I ask.
“Completed,” Mikito says. “If you want this to work though, you’re going to need to start producing your Hands. We lost all of them days ago.”
I nod, calling forth my Skill. Mana pulses through me, rippling outward to touch the space beside me. What pops out is a replica of myself. A few short words, and he’s off to keep an eye on our next guests while I turn to Mikito.
“Thank you. Did you have fun out here?” I say, gesturing around.
In the distance, I see the mounds of flies, the shifting corpses of monsters that Mikito has killed. Small—and not so small—scavengers tear at the corpses, eating their fill. Thankfully, the System wipes the smell well before it reaches us.
“It was productive,” she says.
I grin, eyeing her Status.
Mikito Sato, Spear of Humanity, Blood Warden, Junior Arena Champion of Irvina, Arena Champion—Orion IV, Xumis,…; Time Slipped, True Bound Honor (Upper Samurai Level 42) (M)
HP: 4818/4818*
MP: 3657/3657*
Conditions: Isoide, Jin, Rei, Meiyo, Ishiki, Ryoyo, Feudal Bond, Blitzed, Future Projections
Galactic Reputation: 84
Galactic Fame: 38,983
“So it seems.” A pair of Levels might not seem much, but at the amount of XP she needs to Level, it’s considerable.
“Oh, the second Level was when you walked out.” Mikito’s eyes glint with amusement. “I think there’s a bug between the Bond and your dual Classes.”
That would make sense. I could even check and fix it. But in this case, I’m just going to leave well enough alone. We need every advantage we can get, and her leeching experience from both of my Classes whenever I get experience works. I just have to hope no one fixes the issue.
I could take the ticket and mark it as being worked upon. But considering I’m persona non grata to the rest of the Administrators, that might make the issue even more obvious and highlight it for others. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
“John?” Mikito draws my attention back. “Are you sure about this?”
I meet her concerned gaze and consider what I told her. What she now knows and what I haven’t mentioned. In the end, I can’t help but nod.
“Yes. I have to do this,” I say softy. “And we’ll need all their help. Just… make sure they’re ready to run.”
My words are punctuated by the whine of an engine and the gusts of blowing wind as a plane, with giant rotating motors encased within oval shields, arrives. Four swirling propellers on each corner, on top of a sleek vehicle and jet engines at the back land the plane straight down, landing struts deploying just before they touch the ground. A door rolls open and a familiar trio waves to us from within the vehicle. Other unfamiliar faces peer from behind, all of them looking to spot their idol.
“Then it’s best we get going,” Mikito says, walking over and waving back to her fan club, closely followed by myself. My doppelganger is already in the vehicle, scanning for trouble, mask down to hide his features. “We’ve got a friend to rescue. And a vote to gatecrash.”