TtOW! - Chapter 6: First Steps (Patreon)

NSLICE-00P stood still for quite a while as she conducted her calculations.  Rattingtale had gone to sleep, in fact.  Finally, after a long while, NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye stopped flickering.  She had come to a decision.

There were simply too many variables and not enough data at the moment to determine an efficient path through the system.  Even at this early stage, there were too many options on how to spend her perks.  She could spend them on base attributes, improving the fundamental characteristics of her body.  She could spend them on new skills, unlocking new capabilities and knowledge.  She could use them to upgrade the skills she already had, maximizing her current advantages at the cost of flexibility.  She could upgrade her implants, her mana pool, or unlock new dungeon capabilities.  Or, she could save them for a later day, as she already saw that additional perk choices could be unlocked based on her achievements.

But she did have something she could use.

The data from her fight with the Ursanus was most informative.  Her prosthetics had been entirely outmatched by a biological creature and her conventional weapons failed to make any appreciable impact against it.

However, the Equalizer had managed to make a dent, if a small one.

That, in NSLICE-00P’s analysis, signified where her comparative advantage lay.  In fact, the foreign system itself couldn’t fully identify the Equalizer, implying it possessed a quality that did not exist within said system.  So if she could optimize and boost the capabilities of the Equalizer, she would have a unique edge.

And how could she boost the effectiveness of the Equalizer?

Her analysis indicated she required a deeper understanding of mana.

She did not fully understand the mechanics of the mana in this place.  It existed everywhere, acted more ubiquitously and in far more diverse ways than she had previously encountered.  All of this was interfering with the Equalizer’s effectiveness.

So the more she understood the mana here, the better she could adapt the Equalizer’s output to neutralize it.

In addition…

The mana had already begun to interface with her systems.  Her conventional weaponry had been fully integrated into the dungeon management system and her laser weapon had managed to generate a skill for her.  Even now, both mana and electricity ran through her circuits.

So it stood to reason it could do the same for the Equalizer.

However, as mentioned before, the system itself was having trouble fully analyzing the Equalizer.  So it was probable the system would not have built in applications for boosting the Equalizer’s effectiveness.

Which meant if NSLICE-00P wanted to Equalizer to grow any more powerful, she would need to do so herself.

And so the more she understood mana on a fundamental level, the more likely it was she could come up with applications that would synergize with the Equalizer.

And so she determined a focus with which to invest her perk points.

She decided to start with the Personal Status perk points as those were more limited in application. So she opened the perk screen menu for Personal Status.

[Available Perk Categories]

• [Boost Physical Attributes (overwritten attributes cannot be boosted)]
• [Boost Magical Attributes]
• [Skills]
  • [Active Skills]
  • [Passive Skills]
    • [Schools of Magic]
      • [Learn Arcane Magic (Level 1) - 1 Point]
      • [Learn Fire Magic (Level 1) - 1 Point]
      • [Learn Lightning Magic (Level 1) - 1 Point]
      • [Learn Summoning Magic (Level 1) - 1 Point]
      • [Learn Air Magic (Level 1) - 2 Points]
      • [Learn Earth Magic (Level 1) - 2 Points]
      • [Learn Metal Magic (Level 1) - 3 Point]
      • [Learn Recovery Magic (Level 1) - 3 Points]
      • [Learn Water Magic (Level 1) - 5 Points]
      • (continued…)
  • [Special Skills]

NSLICE-00P found what she was looking for, a menu of available magic.  This particular group of skills involved an information transfer on the direct manipulation of mana, rather than a built in application or physical upgrade.  A bit of a waste in that the information hypothetically could be learned manually, but NSLICE-00P simply required more data, and so considered the expenditure a necessary one.

In addition, the expenditure was fairly low.  Or rather, the menu seemed to take personal aptitude and prior feats into account, displaying the available skills in order of suitability.  And it seemed the amount of perk points a given skill’s cost could be reduced if she did some of the work of learning that skill herself.  For example, regarding the skill she was considering:

[Arcane Magic: The school of magic governing the manipulation of unattributed mana.  A solid foundation for students of the mystic arts, though somewhat less mana-efficient than the more specialized schools.]

This school seemed to contain the basic knowledge on mana that she was looking for.  And likewise, as she had already manipulated mana when unlocking the Mana Beam skill, the system considered her halfway to learning the skill already.

She selected the perk.

[You have learned the skill Arcane Magic!]

[You have learned the spell Magic Missile!]

The moment she did, new information flowed into her organic half.  Methods for identifying and manipulating her internal mana, as well as a formalized structure to achieve a desired effect, which the system described as a magic circle.

What NSLICE-00P didn’t know is that the vast majority of magic instructors recommend against selecting Arcane Magic as an initial perk.  Yes, hypothetically the skill provides all the knowledge required to manipulate mana and manually cast spells, but there is a huge difference between theory and practice.  Following the instructions given by the spell is much harder than one might assume.

To learn magic, a student must first become consciously aware of their own mana.  Then, they must learn to consciously manipulate said mana, draw it out of their body, and carefully form it into the desired pattern before activating the spell.  For a brand new mage who just acquired a spell via a skill, this is practically impossible.  They would have to focus hard on the mana, focus hard to move the mana, and then focus hard on drawing the magic circle, all at the same time.  So, most instructors break this process down and have their students drill and study each step into it is fully ingrained, utilizing aids such as physical movements and chants to help their students focus.  They then have the student study the magic missile spell in depth, until the student can draw it perfectly with their eyes closed, before they even attempt to cast it.

As a result, most mage students will acquire the Arcane Magic skill automatically, having long since studied every aspect of its first level.  Anyone who bought the skill outright would find their growth stymied, unable to cast the spell unless they relied on the assistance of the system, which would grant no assistance in truly learning the fundamentals of magic.

A magic circle formed in the air in front of NSLICE-00P.  It flashed once as it completed, launching a small ball of mana at a nearby tree.

[Spell Magic Missile is now Level 2!]

[Spell Magic Missile is now Level 3!]

[Skill Arcane Magic is now Level 2!]

[Skill Arcane Magic is now Level 3!]

[Learned Spell Magic Barrier (Minor)!]

That is, unless one happens to be a cyborg bonded to both an AI and a dungeon core.

NSLICE-00P’s sensors had detected her internal mana from her first day in this place.  She already had electrical circuits to move energy about inside her.  And her bonded AI could easily complete multiple tasks simultaneously and with precision.

Likewise, as she had a dungeon core built into her, she had a natural ability to generate and manipulate mana, as it was constantly flowing through every part of her.

So…

NSLICE-00P simply needed the basic instructions to manually cast any particular spell.  And her sensors were of course, recording as much data as they could about how the mana flowed as she did.

Just then Rattingtale yawned and stirred awake.  NSLICE-00P glanced at him, her robotic eye flickering.

She walked over to him.

“Hm, what is it, boss-queen?”

A blade extended from her wrist.

Rattingtale jumped.

“Wait wait!  Don’t be hasty-reckless!  P-Please don’t kill-slay me!”

She swung the blade.

And cut through the wires wrapped around the rat.

“Analysis: This unit has been strictly following past protocols, including protocols on apprehending non-standards.  However, this unit has determined past protocols to be obsolete under current conditions, and therefore all decisions should be evaluated based solely on achieving the current mission.  As this unit has no processing facility to deliver non-standards to, related protocols have been deemed obsolete.  This unit has calculated that maintaining custody of prisoner His Royal Majesty, Excellion Formantus Rattingtale the Third does not improve probability of mission success.”

Rattingtale froze.  He lifted his hands, staring at them, then looked back up at the cyborg, his eyes widening.

“You’re…releasing-freeing me?”

“Affirmative.”

“You’re…not kill-slaying me?”

“Negative.  Explanation: This unit has calculated no benefit to doing so.”

“What about the experience?”

“Acknowledgement: This unit did not consider that variable.  Rerunning cost-benefit analysis of terminating prisoner.”

Rattingtale quickly waved his palms about.

“No-no!  That was wrong-bad!  Forget that, yes yes!  It’s much better to spare-save me, yes yes!”

“Acknowledged.”

Rattingtale watched the cyborg warily, but she ignored him, instead forming another magic circle in the air.  He slowly began to back away, creeping towards the nearest bush.  Still she did not respond.

He reached the bush.

He exhaled a huge sigh.

It seems she really was letting him go.

He smiled.

What an idiot!

What kind of dungeon master just lets a subordinate leave?  If she had no further use for him, she should have just disposed of him for the experience!  But now…now he was free.  He could come up with a new plan, start to take back what was rightfully his as the Great-High King of all the…

Just then, he heard a wolf howl.  He ducked to the ground, his ears flat against his head.

Right.

He, um, hadn’t invested any perks into his personal status as dungeon master.  After all, he was the Great-High King!  He could not be expected to patrol the borders as a mere guard, nor muck it up in the dirt like a common soldier.

So…now that he had lost said realm and said soldiers…he was…a low level rat…

Rattingtale stepped back out of the bush and crawled over to NSLICE-00P.

“So, you see, boss-queen lady, y-you’re already my boss-queen, yes yes?  So, um, i-it’s only natural I stay to serve-aid you, yes yes?”

NSLICE-00P turned to the rat.

“Analyzing…complete.  His Royal Majesty, Excellion Formantus Rattingtale the Third is currently listed as a subordinate unit by foreign system, and has voluntarily acknowledged this designation.  Designating His Royal Majesty, Excellion Formantus Rattingtale the Third as a friendly unit reporting to unit NSLICE-00P.”

“Um, yes yes?  H-Happy to serve-assist, yes yes.  A-As long as it’s not dangerous-risky!”

Perhaps…he could stay around this weird man-thing just a little longer…

NSLICE-00P New Personal Status:

[Personal Status]

[General Information]

• [Name: NSLICE-00P]
• [Species: Human/Dungeon Core/Automata Hybrid]
• [Level: 5]
• [XP: 15/100]
• [Available Perk Points: 11]
• [HP: 125/170]
• [MP: 100/100]

[Physical Attributes]

• [STR: 100*]
• [DEX: 1000*]
• [SPD: 50*]
• [DEF: 100*]
• [RES: 50*]

* Overwritten by Implants

[Magical Attributes]

• [Mana Density: 100]
• [Mana Control: 100]

[Active Skills]

• [Mana Beam (Level 1): Focus mana into a channeled energy attack]
• [Sneak (Level 1): Move quietly to avoid notice, makes it harder for others to notice the user.  Effectiveness highly dependent on environment.]

[Passive Skills]

• [Dungeon Combat (Level 1): Dungeon traps and skills count as personal weapons and skills]
• [HP Regen (Level 2): Automatically recover HP pool, increased regeneration speed for damaged body parts]
• [MP Regen (Level 2): Automatically recover MP pool]
• [Presence Detection (Level 1): Detect living entities around the user.  Range and scope of detection increases with level.]
• [Trap Detection (Level 1): Detect traps.  Range and scope of detection increases with level.]
• (NEW) [Arcane Magic (Level 3): The school of magic governing the manipulation of unattributed mana.  A solid foundation for students of the mystic arts, though somewhat less mana-efficient than the more specialized schools.]

[Feats]

• [Against the Odds: Unlocked by winning a fight when outnumbered by equal or higher levels opponents.  Grants +1 perk points]
• [Dungeon Conqueror (Rat Cave): Unlocked by conquering the Rat Cave Dungeon.  Grants +1 perk point, grants +1 level in Sneak skill]
• [Solo Conquest! Unlocked by conquering a dungeon alone.  Grants +1 level in HP Regen skill, grants +1 level in MP Regen skill, grants +1 level in Presence Detection skill, grants +1 level in Trap Detection skill]

(NEW)[Spells]

• [Magic Missile (Level 3): Form and launch mana into a small projectile.  One of the most basic offensive applications of magic.]
• [Magic Barrier (Minor) (Level 1): Form mana into a barrier to block attacks.  One of the most basic defensive applications of magic.]

Author’s Note:

And so NSLICE-00P has been fully infected by the malware.  Oh no!

So I think I’m just going to post her status when there are changes, to avoid spamming it out.

Anyways!

Will NSLICE-00P become a master of the arcane arts?  Is taking in Rattingtale as a subordinate a wise decision?  Tune in next time, to find out!