TtOW! - Chapter 159 - Monstrous Blessings (Patreon)

Ateia wrapped her arms around 00B’s neck, rubbing her cheek against a spot of exposed fur. 00B exhaled a deep breath and grunted.

“I know we’re supposed to be training, this is part of it! I need to have a clear image of you to focus on, you know?”

00B narrowed his eyes and grunted again.

“No, I haven’t felt your fur enough! And I didn’t need to do this to Seero because she and I are both human.”

00B sighed.

Eventually, Ateia let him go and took a step back. She closed her eyes and focused once more.

00B felt as the Blessing infused him with power. The edges of his mouth curled up.

Well, he supposed the New Little Sister wasn’t all bad.

***

Ateia stood facing 01R. She tilted her head.

“So…your name is…01R? Um, how do you feel about that name?”

01R stood on his hind legs, crossing his arms as he held his head high. He smiled.

“A great and glorious moniker bestowed-gifted to me by the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen. I will strive-fight my entire life to live up to the expectations she placed upon me with this name.”

Ateia blinked. She opened her mouth…and then paused. She closed it and slowly nodded.

“…yes, that’s right. Well, let’s get started then?”

01R nodded.

“Yes yes, show-display your might as the newest servant of the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen!”

Ateia closed her eyes, and her blessing infused 01R. He smiled as he felt the mana surge within him.

Now…now he could be like the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen!

He selected one of the stored spells. A magic circle formed in the air, the Blessing vastly increasing the density of his mana.

And then, a Light Blade formed in 01R’s paws. He took a few experimental swings with it, then turned to a rock on the beach. He crouched down and deployed his thrusters, then shot into the air and flew towards the rock. He spun around, slashing with the blade as he passed the rock by. He let out a breath and then turned.

The rock was cut in twain, its halves still glowing red from where the blade had struck.

01R began to grin.

“This…this has great potential, yes yes. Come, New Little Sister! We shall train-drill long today, yes yes!”

A long while later, Ateia collapsed on the ground, and 01R had many new levels in the Light Blade spell…

***

After recovering, Ateia walked up to the next participant. A spider monster, lying flat on the ground.

“Oh, hi Ateia. Let’s, like, get this over with.”

Ateia blinked, and tilted her head.

“Do we know each other?”

“You don’t. I’m Lilussees, or whatever. I’ve been with the Boss Lady since, like, before you were. So I, like, learned your name. I, like, couldn’t have avoided it if I wanted to, with how much the Boss Lady worries about you.”

Ateia flushed lightly.

“Wait, Seero worries about me?”

Lilussees chittered.

“It’s, like, really annoying, and cuts into my sleep. Well, I, like, hate being awake, so let’s get this over with, or something.”

“Um, ok.”

Ateia held out her hand with her eyes open. Her eyes began to glow and her Blessing infused Lilussees.

Lilussees sighed as her mana pool expanded and the fatigue faded from her body. Great. Just great. How was she supposed to drain her mana now? Her mana reserves were already growing with all this magic practice and making it harder and harder to drain, and now she had an Aesdes making it even bigger?!

She was starting to get annoyed at this human. Or Aesdes, or whatever.

So, Lilussees began connecting to the drones in the area. The boss described the link between the cybernetic components as a ‘web’ at one point, so Lilussees tried to spin a mental web between them all, taking control of their processors. She then used them all to cast a spell she couldn’t be bothered with figuring out herself, one that would drain even her expanded mana and hopefully tire both her and the annoying human out.

She sighed again. It wasn’t working. There was some interference from the drones’ mana. Lilussees still didn’t want to cast the spell on her own, so she set about tweaking her connection with the drone. Luckily, the Boss Lady had already done this, so Lilussees could just instruct her cybernetic components to replicate those efforts.

Suddenly, her mana linked to that of the drones. A large magic circle formed in the air and began to rain fire upon the water of the cove.

[You have learned the strategic spell Rain of Fire!]

[You have learned the skill Strategic Magic!]

[You have learned the skill Ritual Magic!]

Lilussees nodded to herself. There, that should take care of…

Her mana regenerated. The Holy Mana from the blessing still flowed into her. She glanced back.

Ateia tilted her head, her eyes still glowing.

“Yes?”

Lilussees began to tremble.

“Ugh, she’s, like, gotten stronger, hasn’t she? That stupid rat and his overzealous training!”

And Lilussees’s plight had only begun. For NSLICE-00P had dropped what she was doing and focused on the spider, her robotic eye flickering rapidly.

“Analysis: Efficient means of Ritual Magic casting identified. Mana reserves and mana density notably higher than other units. Designating NSLICE-Lilussees as a major combat asset, and primary Ritual Magic focus for joint-network spells.”

***

Colleöne rubbed her chin as she watched Ateia practice Blessing with each of NSLICE-00P’s monsters. At the moment, they had all gathered as a group. Ateia was Blessing the former spider dungeon master as the latter prepared a Ritual Magic formation, muttering complaints the entire time. They still could not match NSLICE-00P’s mystical prowess, but they could cast strategic magic with reasonable effectiveness. And Ateia was holding her own…in fact some of her support was starting to affect the other monsters in the formation as well.

Colleöne nodded to herself. It was time for the next step.

***

NSLICE-00P and Ateia gathered together on Colleöne’s request. The Aesdes nodded at NSLICE-00P.

“I think it is time we take a look at your new world, NSLICE-00P. We’ve done our best to integrate it into your Dungeon records, but as this is ultimately a Material Plane there will be some differences. And for you, Ateia, the power of the Aesdes wasn’t originally meant for battle or even blessing. We are intended to be stewards and custodians of the world, preparing and maintaining the land so that its inhabitants may thrive. It is now time for you to learn this aspect of our power, in the world you are connected to.”

“Affirmative.”

Ateia nodded silently. Colleöne held out her hand.

“Good, then could you please open the entrance to your new world, NSLICE-00P? And show me what Ateia sees?”

“Affirmative.”

The vortex swirled into being. Ateia stepped into it alone. NSLICE-00P could monitor the new world from wherever she was, and needed to remain here to keep the entrance open. Colleöne remained outside to avoid impacting the young world with her presence. NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye lit up and displayed a holographic stream of Ateia’s vision, while also sending Colleöne’s words to Ateia.

Colleöne nodded as she watched Ateia step into the center of the rock platform.

“Good, now connect to the power of that world, as you have done over here.”

Ateia nodded. She closed her eyes and crouched down on the ground, placing a hand upon it. Her eyes shot open and she blinked.

“This…is way easier?”

Colleöne nodded.

“It is the world you are connected to. We also made it into something of a dungeon that NSLICE-00P is responsible for, and you are Contracted to her, so her mana would also link you both. And finally…that world is incomparably smaller than Aelea at the moment, so it is likely far less overwhelming to  you.”

Ateia nodded and Colleöne continued.

“Now, reach into the power of the world, and try to form it into something. A rock, a flower, a blade of grass, start small. And do not try to shape it directly, do not try to bend the power to your will. Connect with the power and imagine what it could become, gently guide it and allow it to flow as it wills.”

Ateia nodded and closed her eyes, focusing on the task. A patch of the ground began to glow with golden and silver light. The glowing ground slowly rose, twisting and condensing down. The glow slowly began to fade as the ground took shape…

And when it was done, a small flower appeared in the dirt. Its stem and bud were silvery-gray, as if made of metal, though its leaves were green and its petals white.

NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye began to flicker rapidly.

“Report: This unit has detected a new addition to the NSLICE network.”

Colleöne blinked and then rubbed her chin.

“Well, that makes sense, actually. Cyborg is your primary dungeon affinity, is it not?”

“Affirmative.”

Colleöne nodded.

“Since we set up the new world to be part of your dungeon, your dungeon’s mana flows through it as well. It is likely that your primary affinity will impact the world as it takes shape. In fact…”

Colleöne glanced over at the feed. A small patch of rock around the flower had also converted to metal. Colleöne sighed and shook her head.

“Well, this is a new experience for all of us, but it shouldn’t be anything harmful. In any case, this is your role now, Ateia. The New World is both Dungeon and Material Plane. NSLICE-00P will lead its development as a dungeon. You will care for it as a world, and fill in the gaps between a dungeon and a world. As the world and your connection to it grows, it itself will tell you what it needs.”

Colleöne then made a wry smile.

“Though, it will need to grow first, and that is where you come in, NSLICE-00P. We have adjusted the Rooms part of your records to allow you to expand the new world. And, well, I think an example will be the best way to show you both how and why. We have…a gift for you, shall we call it, as well as a request. Please check the Rooms records, if you will. The section for adding new rooms, to be precise.”

“Affirmative.”

NSLICE-00P opened the menu. And then all of her processors, organic and cybernetic, paused at what she saw.

[World Menu -> Create World Features]

• [Cyborg Processing Center: A facility for upgrading compatible beings with cybernetic components. Beings in question must be Contracted to the dungeon master, and willing to undergo the process with a reasonable understanding of what it entails. World Mana Upkeep: 100. Cost: Free for the first instance.]

Author’s Note:

Melion is freaking out right about now. I’m sure this is a great idea, Colleöne, that will definitely not have any massive consequences for the world!

Though, given it's the Aesdes doing it this time, perhaps they’ve accounted for that? It wouldn’t be the first time Colleöne did something that ended up having massive consequences for the world!

Although, that time forced Anualë to make new rules for the Aesdes. And is why Colleöne gets most of the scrutiny despite Shialnor cutting every corner she can. So, um, Colleöne’s definitely good at predicting the consequences of her actions?

Anyways!

Why is Colleöne giving NSLICE-00P a Processing Center? What sort of consequences will result? Is Anualë going to have to make new rules for the Aesdes yet again? Tune in next time, to find out!