Wearing Power Armor to a Magic School (91/?) (Patreon)

“Error: Unrecognized Command. Please specify—”

“Disable FROM-1 presets, EVI.” I interjected, my eyes narrowing towards the track in front of me, and the unrendered obstacles that stood in the way between here… and well… here. 

“Acknowledged. Alert! FROM-1 [FREE RANGE OF MOTION PRESET 1] disabled!”

“Reset default configs.”

“Resetting default configuration.”

[Alert! HP-MM Mode Default Presets restored.]

[Specify performance parameters.]

“Preset values? Smart Auto-Adjustment? Or manual value settings?” The EVI chimed in flawlessly, mirroring the system prep for the first marathon.

The considerations of the past competition were now completely out the window. 

This time there was no longer a need to pit muscle against muscle. 

And fairness would have to be tested in a completely different playing field.

It was the whimsical power of magic against the indomitable power of technology now. 

A test of the divergent fundamentals that forged two vastly different civilizations. 

“The training wheels are coming off.” I began, as the collapsible menu expanded into a whole slew of specialized activity-profiles visualized as a series of nodes floating in three-dimensional space, each of which branched out into a spider-web of options representing even more niche specializations. This was complemented by a series of virtual sliders mimicking a vehicle’s control panel, one that allowed an operator to finely-tune the exoskeleton to within a razor’s edge of optimized performance, giving a breadth and depth of customization that would make even the most seasoned HPUV enthusiast blush. “We’re going with preset value D-5e.” I continued, as the EVI highlighted that particular node and its sub-category in three-dimensional space.

“Acknowledged, engaging D-5e.” 

Not a second later, I felt a massive weight being lifted off my shoulders…

And my arms.

And my legs.

And most definitely my back as well.

As the exoskeleton frame that encased the fleshy human within finally started to pull its own weight, beyond just compensating for the weight of the armor.

Everything felt fluid again, for lack of a better word.

With every movement, every action, from fine to gross motor, overcompensated and back to high-spec.

It felt like I was piloting the armor again, rather than just exerting my own strength with it.

Not to mention against it, like the night of the warehouse explosion.

I couldn’t help but to ‘limber up’, as both training and force-of-habit began taking over. 

This was in spite of the exoskeleton-systems checklist being marked [Optional] rather than [Critical] this time around.

From gauging fine-motor control through finger-to-palm tests, to static-run tests and what most would see as ‘jumping-jacks’ to gauge both gross-motor and multi-axial accelero-gyrometer systems respectively, I ran through all of them with eagerness and excitement.  

Though more than out of habit, it was a necessity to just get my brain re-attuned to pilot-mode. After two solid hours of moving with the suit at my own strength, getting back in the groove was both necessary and satisfying. 

I could’ve just not done it.

But these protocols and ‘re-attunement safety procedures’ (RSPs) existed for a reason. 

Just relying on EVI to fill in my stumbles while I got back in the groove was possible. But using it as a crutch was something I wasn’t about to do if I could help it.

If you’re going to be a power-armored specialist, a pilot, or an operator of any sort of vehicle or machine, you better make sure it's you who’s at the helm, Emma. If not, then why bother having a pilot at all? Why not just send a fleet of S-AMCPs?

I would not, and could not, just let the words of the most renowned power-armored specialist of the century go unheeded.

And so, I continued, in spite of the awkward stares from the few students who even bothered looking at me.

=====

The Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts. The Hall of Champions. Local Time: 1100

Thacea

There were… many, many questions to be had with regards to Emma’s physical capabilities.

Many of which had far-reaching implications that beckoned a lingering question that I wished to pose, but had yet to, out of a mix of respect and a lack of instigating forces…

Exactly what sort of being was lurking beneath the plates of steel?

The answer couldn’t have been too monstrous. That much was a given, especially considering the constraints of the suit.

The morphology in question also could not have been too far-off the standard-faire of most other beings.

But whilst the answer could be estimated through logical deduction, that didn’t stop curiosity from taking hold, and my imagination from going into avenues that—

“ANY FINAL ADDITIONS TO THIS GENTLEMANLY WAGER?!” The Vunerian announced with a deafening shrill, through a voice amplification spell that was as disruptive as it was infuriating.

I had tried my best to ignore his antics up to this point.

“NO?! THEN THE POOL STANDS AT A GRAND TOTAL OF TEN-THOUSAND TWO-HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN SOVEREIGNS!” 

However, it was becoming clear that such a feat would be impossible. 

I took note of the Vunerian’s antics in full now, eyeing him as he took hold of the impromptu purse from Etholin, and began returning to his little picnic table.

With a few well-placed steps, I quickly found myself sitting across from the Vunerian, who seemed to take my presence with an otherwise nonplussed expression. “Is there anything I can help you with, princess?”

A quick deployment of a privacy screen followed, as the crowd was quickly consumed by the participant’s warmups, and the professor’s preparations. 

“Pray tell, Lord Rularia, when exactly did you choose the path of an opportunist bookkeeper?” I inquired in no uncertain terms, prompting the Vunerian to shift his expression to one that was decidedly more measured.

“You deride both me and my honor with such sentiments, princess.”

“Well you seem to consistently resist the agreed trajectory of this peer group.” I snapped back.

“You know, as well as I, that this isn’t about the money. This sum is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. This—” He shook the bag, taking great effort to do so. “—is about making a statement. Social games can only do so well when you only have the air you breathe to back up your words. It is only when people feel the consequences of their words, preferably in the cold and heavy article of minted gold, will they finally understand it intrinsically. In short, words are cheap, princess. And I wish to remind those that may stand against us, that there is a tangible price to pay for petty verbal attacks on our group.” 

“Amidst a desire to reinforce our status as a competitive force, I presume?” 

“Exactly.”

I took a breath, palming my beak. “This is a dangerous game you’re playing, Lord Rularia. We are already in the spotlight as it is.”

“We will always be in the spotlight as a result of our circumstances. It’s best that we choose to embrace it, so that we may at least control the course of its narrative.”

“By choosing a path that will surely instigate more animosity?” 

“Such a fate is inevitable.” The Vunerian shrugged. “It’s best that we are able to direct what form that animosity takes, and what benefits we can gain from it, than allow another party to dictate it for us. I understand your… reluctance, princess. Seeing as you have been playing a game of survival whereby embracing passivity is a cornerstone of your strategies, if not an end goal. But the war we find ourselves in necessitates spontaneity, and active decision making.” 

“You think too much like a Nexian, Lord Rularia.” I countered bluntly, taking that particular conversational tool from Emma’s propensity for brevity, making sure never to break from his gaze. “And while your tactics may hold water when you fight on your lonesome, you forget the composition of the vast majority of this peer group’s constituents. So while you may have the Nexian advantage for your case, the same cannot be said for the peer group at large.” 

The Vunerian finally went silent at that, coinciding with Professor Chiska’s loud clap that brought all eyes back towards the field. 

=====

The Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts. The Hall of Champions. Local Time: 1100

Emma

“And will that be all the students participating in today’s final exercise?” Chiska inquired loudly, bringing all other accessory conversations to a close with a wide and fangy grin. 

Silence was, once again, her answer. 

An answer which clearly brought her a great deal of frustration, as her eyes skimmed across the half-filled track, consisting of just over half of the year group.

“Alright then.” She breathed in deeply, somehow finding it in her to maintain that excitable demeanor. “This next challenge will not be as simple as the last.” The professor began, as she lowered her tone to one teetering between threatening and playful. “Both the difficulty and complexity of these next trials have been scaled up in fairness and in respect to your magical abilities. You will not find discrete challenges this time around. Or at least, not in the regimented manner in which the unaugmented trials were conducted. For what awaits you is a gauntlet, a series of challenges connected by an overarching challenge, tied together in a cohesive narrative representative of the theater of life.” 

I flinched for a moment upon hearing that line, as I turned back towards the stands, and saw Ilunor shooting me an unfettered grin and a cheeky wink. 

“Princes and princesses, Lords and Ladies… Cadet…” The professor paused awkwardly at that, before moving on swiftly after. “... it is my honor to present to you, the Encabulator’s Gauntlet!” The professor gestured at the former marathon track, or more specifically, at the various ‘unrendered’ sections that began stretching, elongating, and growing, causing the EVI to have another mini panic attack. 

It was around this time that the tarp covering the mysterious device sitting in the middle of the field was finally removed. Though upon closer inspection, it was clear this wasn’t by intention. As the artifice underneath it had simply outgrown it, the tarp falling to the wayside as whatever was underneath grew into a literal castle.

Or, at least, a miniature one; like someone had scaled down a castle into a large two-story home.

Mana radiation spikes assaulted my senses, until finally, the whole stadium eventually settled into its final form.

“Behold!” Chiska announced, leaping up towards the castle, perching upon its three-story high towers. “The work of the mythic encabulator! Courtesy of Professor Pliska, our dear armorer, with a little bit of help from yours truly!” She ‘winked’, taking a few seconds to emphasize that point. 

In front of us… was a gauntlet alright.

The marathon track was still there, albeit elongated and punctuated by what seemed to be different ‘stations’. Each of these were vastly different, some even resembling segments and tracts of levels pulled straight out of a videogame.

The whole scene looked like it’d been pulled out of some kit-bashed VR world, and it was only after we truly soaked it all in, did Chiska finally explain what all of this was.

“In front of you, is a combined endurance and strength challenge! The distances between each station will be a challenge of endurance in and of itself! Whilst the stations themselves are designed with strength-based challenges in mind! You will encounter specific challenges which you must overcome in order to pass through each station. What they are, and what they entail, I will not spoil. What I will say however is that they are to be accomplished in whichever way you see fit, under the overarching rules of physical education, which I will remind you of now.” The professor paused, before projecting yet another blackboard in front of us. One that, similar to Articord’s class, had floating chalk that dictated everything she spoke.

“Rule number one — the use of magic is allowed only through the augmentation of one’s own body as a physical medium. In other words, the use of magic to directly modify one’s environment is strictly prohibited. This is a fundamental principle of physical education. This is the only class in which magic is used through a physical corporeal medium… that being you. Enhance your strength, endurance, agility, and more, but keep traditional magic out of physical education, please.” The professor practically pleaded, as it was clear that this was probably one of those rules that always fell on deaf ears.

“Rule number two — the use of one’s manafields to anticipate obstacles or attacks, magical or otherwise, is not only allowed but encouraged. This is obvious, but due to past events, it must be stated for the record.” Chiska practically muttered that last line out, before moving on just as quickly.

“Rule number three — the use of natural latent gifts is strictly prohibited. This includes such things as flight, flame-breath, and unconventional swimming, amidst other self-evident gifts that none of you seem to possess so I shall move on. But, oh! Just because I can’t help myself, we will be having a special class for natural latent gifts, so watch out for that!” She winked, making eye contact with Thacea, Ladona, Airit, and the few other more obvious winged members of the class. 

Thoughts of the flight pack module being useful in flight sports slammed into me like a sack of bricks, intruding into my otherwise focused mind, just before the professor rounded out her announcements.

“And rule number four — no astral projections, please!” 

With a deep breath, and quite literally sending the blackboard back to the shadowrealm, she leaped down from the castle and back towards us. “There will be a total of five stations. For students not part of any competition, should you fail one station, you may choose to yield and move on to the next station. For students who are part of a competition—” The professor eyed both me and Auris. “—you must complete all five stations. But do not worry, for there are many ways in which you can complete a station. Some of which may be more obvious than others.” She snickered and winked. “Should both of you finish all five stations, the deciding factor will come down to time. The one who takes the least amount of time, shall be the uncontested winner.” 

The professor began tracing the track, noting how it’d changed drastically. It seemed as if it was no longer a track, but rather, a well-defined path that had a definitive end — the castle. The EVI guestimated that the whole track was now at least a solid ten or so kilometers. Though, worryingly, it provided a little caveat in the form of a warning I’d yet to see before. 

[This estimate is accurate as per current sensor data. Actual distance required may vary depending on () anomalies.]

With a few more words of encouragement, and an assurance that any mishaps will be intercepted before grievous injury, we found ourselves poised at the starting line.

About a click ahead of us was what seemed to be a town gate, a quick zoom-in by the EVI showed what looked to be a single bear-folk guard in full gear waiting at each of our respective gates. 

No other indication of what this challenge was could be made out from a distance.

As a result, I took a moment to compose myself, craning my head over to my competitor only once, and incidentally locking eyes with him through my opaque lenses.

A look of cocksure confidence and a renewed sense of vitality was all I saw. 

It was as if the man had forgotten all about the unaugmented challenges, hedging all of his bets on magic.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, EVI.” I muttered out loud.

“This system is designed to assist with any and all tasks. I will provide pertinent advice as the situation develops, and suggest motor-overrides if necessary.” 

“Noted, thanks.” I responded.

“Are we all ready, students?!” Chiska came in, interrupting that little pep talk.

“Yes, professor!” They all spoke in unison, led by Qiv, and then interrupted by Ladona.

“Ready as we’ll ever be, to set the record straight, and to put the insolent in their place!” She ‘beamed’ out a cheerleader’s smile, to the tune and cadence of a cheer captain’s musically inclined voice.

The professor ignored this, and made sure to curtail any and all claps, snickers, and uproarious cheers from the competitors.

Though this didn’t mean the crowd in the stands weren’t riled by her words, especially with Ilunor’s whole betting gambit making them even more invested than before.

Ignoring this, and focusing on the task at hand, I shifted my posture; poised to just book it.

“On your marks!” Chiska shouted, raising her hand high.

“Get set!” 

Her fingers contorted, poised for a snap.

“Go!” 

ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 200% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS

A loud thunderous snap echoed throughout the enlarged stadium. 

And just like the first time, all hell broke loose.

Though this time, it came first in the form of the sheer glut of mana radiation warnings that the EVI thankfully kept nestled into its little folder.

The real chaos however was soon to follow, as despite so much being different right off the bat, so too did so much remain the same.

As student after student began blazing forwards, absolutely smoking my already-speedy start that would’ve put even the most competitive of olympic athletes to shame by leagues and bounds.

I found myself left in the literal dust this time around.

At least, for a few seconds that is.

As about half of the fifty or so participants quite literally tumbled forwards, and about half of those found themselves on shaky feet and wobbling on unbalanced gaits.

They all looked and acted in a way that was eerily familiar.

They all looked like they were newbies in power armor, having gone for high-performance maneuverability mode, without any prior training — the infamous hazing ritual.

They looked like me when I first put on the suit.

And just like my first day of training… they all fell flat on their faces moments after hitting speeds that their bodies either weren’t used to or built for.

THUD!

THUMP! 

THOOMPF!

A good quarter of the class found themselves lying face-first atop either a pile of down-feather pillows, or a solid memory-foam like mattress; all courtesy of Chiska.

The organic body, no matter how magical, just wasn’t designed to handle speeds like that without training.

And it was clear that the first few seconds of the competition more or less weeded out those that had some prior physical training to push above and beyond the limits of normal biomechanics, and those that simply knew how to enhance their bodies to that speed.

Unsurprisingly, none of the recently-fallen got up to continue the race.

This left the rest of us to close in on the distance between the starting line and the town gate.

About half the distance was covered in just under a minute, as I turned to see the ‘top percentile’ — Qiv, Thalmin, Ping, and Gumigo — in the lead alongside me. Each of them seemed to have their own unique methods in how they handled what biomechanical scientists called — the normofunctional limits. Though each of the techniques on display were fundamentally different from how I handled it. Which made sense, considering the slight size differential between my own body and the power armor, which whilst slight was still significant enough that I adopted what power armor specialist referred to as the ‘glide’ motion, that would’ve just not worked outside of power armor at typical human speeds.

Thalmin took long, springy strides with his digitigrade legs.

Qiv did the opposite, but still kept up reasonably well.

I couldn’t even begin to describe how Gumigo was doing it… only that it reminded me of those surprisingly fast alligator waddles.

Ping? He looked almost as if he was galloping, and it was clear that he was giving it his all, as we found ourselves once more locking eyes, prompting the both of us to leave our competition in the dust.

Meter by meter, we left the ‘top percentile’ behind. 

Booted hooves and metallic feet competed in a league of their own as the sounds resembling a horse’s gallop and a construction site dominated the front of the race. 

CLOP-CLOP-CLOP

KA-THUNK KA-THUNK KA-THUNK

You could practically hear the pneumatics, if it wasn’t drowned out by the sheer heft that came with the territory of heavy metal coming into contact with solid ground, over and over and over again at blistering speeds.

This neck-to-neck sprint culminated in our arrival at our respective gates, as we were quickly addressed by the bear-like guard, who addressed us almost exactly at the same time.

And in the same voice too.

“Ah! Adventurer! The town gate is stuck in place! Please! If you wish to continue, you must lift the gates open by your own strength!” 

I hesitated, turning to the professor in order to address the… copy-pasted NPC guard. 

But before I could even manage to address it, Ping was already going to town with the gate, lifting it using his bare hands, gripping its lower lattices with both of his bare hands, managing to pull it up about waist-height and making certain to show off as he did so. 

It was clear he was barely even exerting himself this time around, even if what he was lifting was clearly a solid wrought-iron gate that looked like it weighed a literal metric ton… or several.

So, without addressing the NPC, I quickly jumped at the gate, crouched down, and began lifting what the EVI was noting to be a solid chunk of metal that clocked in at about the same weight as a classic motorcycle.

Yet the more and more I lifted it, the more the gate seemed to increase in weight, going from motorcycle, to compact car, and ending up weighing about as much as a mid-sized sedan by the point I’d managed to lift it up and above my head.

An audible — CA-CLANK! — confirmed that it’d latched into place.

“Amazing work, adventurer! You may now proceed—”

I was already booking it by the time the NPC had registered what’d happened, as I managed to catch up to the bull who’d opened up the gate just seconds earlier. 

Though seconds was what this whole competition seemed to be boiling down to now, considering the speeds and strengths which we were working with.

The next station was another few clicks ahead of us, the EVI zooming in to reveal what looked to be a troll positioned on each of our lanes; each of them holding solid-looking clubs.

In spite of that, there seemed to be a distinct lack of any obstacles. 

At least, that seemed to be the case, until we reached about halfway towards the NPCs.

“HALT! Or you shall meet your doom in ash and cinder!” The troll guards shouted in unison, with my guard shouting just a little bit earlier owing to the small edge I had on Ping’s speed.

Whilst I could’ve gone above and beyond, completely smoking him in the process, there were three main reasons why I kept at relative parity for now. 

One, the practical — going ultra turbo mode would’ve just revealed my max settings, and the ultimate cap of my capabilities, completely revealing the cap of my capabilities, which may prove to be a concern for future PE classes, and more concerningly, for those planning on doing harm.

Two, the situational — the repairs I made to the lower portion of the suit were solid… but I didn’t want to tempt fate just yet.

Three, the contextual — it was clear that these little stations were triggered by our presence, and each of them held surprises. It was better to have Ping either trigger them first or alongside me, at least, for the less obvious ones.

And it was clear my concerns for point three were justified, as several mana radiation warnings and a few stern slams of the troll’s clubs caused the track to elongate yet again. Except this time, what emerged behind them was a massive chasm of what looked to be lava, but on closer inspection, was just water heated to the same temperatures as a hot spring. 

Several platforms made of stone emerged from the lava, as it became clear just what our challenge was for this round.

Or at least, that’s what I thought. 

As four other shapes emerged seemingly from the dirt itself, shaped from clay, and given life through some unknown means.

These four shapes… consisted of a family of bears. With two fully grown adults and two bear cubs.

“Please help us! These horrible beasts are preventing us from reaching the castle!” All four of them spoke in unison, more or less confirming their status in this whole challenge as just an extra layer of both immersion in this ‘overarching narrative’.

Ping tried his hand at this first, attempting to usher the family forwards, but finding it absolutely grueling with the father bear slowing down his pace to a crawl.

“Oh! Nonono! The heat is far too intense for me!” 

“It’s not even real lava, just get across you insolent little worm!” He seethed.

But instead of a proper response, all he received back was yet the same rehashed line.

“Oh! Nonono! The heat is far too intense for me!” 

“AARRHGHHHHH!” Ping yelled loudly, practically spitting on the NPC’s face, garnering naught a reaction but a thousand yard blank stare. 

“You may find it easier to help the family by lifting them above the heat of the lava, Lord Ping!” Chiska chimed in from the castle, her voice reaching us through some weird magical PA system.

The fact that they were bears made all the more sense now.

This was basically an endurance strength challenge, combined with some agility as well.

However, it was around this point that I figured out something.

As Chiska’s earlier comments hit me like a sack of bricks.

“Professor?” 

“Yes, Cadet Booker?”

“The only condition for their safe crossing is to avoid them from either falling or being singed by the ‘lava’, correct?”

“That is correct!” 

A devious plan started forming, as I turned inwards once again.

“EVI?” 

“Yes, Cadet Booker?”

“Calculate the weight and dimensions of these four targets, and predict an optimal trajectory across the chasm.” 

“Calculations complete. All four targets are capable of being launched successfully.”

“Good.” I muttered out, as I began by grabbing the mother bear, lifting her up, and holding her in the same way I’d hold an oversized mega-football

Ping, and indeed, the rest of the class stared on in abject confusion, as I took a few steps back… and began running.

A few course corrections and speed adjustments were done courtesy of the EVI, as I felt the moment we skidded to a halt, and the exact point in which the bear left my arms.

The NPC didn’t even flinch at this, remaining taut and aerodynamic — as much as a bear could  at least — until she landed on the other side face-first, skidding to a halt on the dirt outside the track.

“Thank you, adventurer!” I heard a muffled voice responding from beneath an inch of dirt, prompting me to move on to the papa bear, as he’d take a bit more of a running start than the mother bear.

It was around this point that Auris, taking note of my idea, started copying it; lifting up the mother bear without a second thought.

The running start this time around consisted of the both of us running at full speed towards the banks of the lava chasm, before lobbing the large bear forward at a decent enough speed that he just barely made it across. 

“Thank you, adventurer!” 

His larger mass and scale made it just possible, if only just.

However, despite that, due to some weird limitation in the NPC’s… ‘programming’... he began slipping into the lava. 

At which point, his feet started to become singed.

“Oh! Nonono! The heat is far too intense for me!” He spoke up again, causing him to crawl out, unlike the mother bear that remained lodged in the dirt a few feet in front of him. 

With the parents done, I turned to my last two subjects with what probably looked like sinister intent given the unfeeling visage of the helmet.

The young cubs. 

This left me with two radically different choices.

I took each of them underneath my arms, carrying them like I would camping or workout gear, before making my way towards the stone platforms as I began hopping my way across the lava. 

“Ow, ow, ow! Too hot! Too hot! Too hot!” They both exclaimed, prompting me to quickly change tactics, plonking them instead atop of my shoulders, as they both piggy-backed their way across the lava-lake.

Auris, however, decided to lob both of his cubs in the same way we did their ‘parents’. However, he was able to do this with greater speed and efficiency when compared to the adults due to their size, as he was able to give them a bit of a spin as well, in the same way you’d spin a football across a field.

The man would’ve made a great football player if things had been different.

However, as it stood, we were both back in the race, as I plonked down the two bears next to their parents, and as Auris simply ran past his family which were all in varying degrees buried beneath the dirt. 

“Thank you for saving our family, adventurer!” They all collectively spoke just out of earshot, my rear view camera showing them waving back in an uncanny unison.

We moved forward at breakneck pace, booted hooves and industrial clunks once more dominating the background noise of the track.

It was around this point that I began playing with Ping, increasing then decreasing my speed. Yet it was clear that with each increase of speed, the bull was able to match it with seemingly little effort.

This back and forth eventually landed us just short of the third station now, as what appeared to be a sheer-faced wall now awaited us.

Little outcroppings, the same ones you’d see at a rock climbing setup, made it clear what this challenge was.

However, that wasn’t the most surprising part about this whole setup.

A brief analysis of the wall, courtesy of the EVI, revealed an anomalous surge of mana radiating throughout it.

I paid no mind, and neither did Ping, as he began climbing it without hesitation.

Following the bull in hot pursuit, I reached for one of the outcroppings, pulling my weight up— only to feel the rock crumbling in my hands.

I fell backwards, but thankfully, landed on my feet.

Trying again, I continued, gripping each and every little greeble, but finding that each and every one of them crumbled on-contact.

“Can they just not support my weight or something—?” I inquired, prompting the EVI to respond almost immediately.

“Preliminary analysis indicates that the composition of the walls themselves are mana-based, Cadet Booker. This property may be interfering with your ability to interface with otherwise solid material, or may perhaps be hindering its strength.”

I took a few steps back from the wall, watching as Ping had already climbed to the top, and was now performing some pretty serious feats of parkour along the rest of the long stretch of walls and towers.

The rest of the ‘top percentile’ caught up around this point, as I saw Gumigo and Qiv giving Thalmin a run for his money, the mercenary prince turning towards me with a level of concern which I shook off, gesturing for him to continue on without me.

A few seconds of introspective thought later, and I got it.

“Chiska said that we could go through these challenges in whatever way we see fit…” I murmured to myself, as I palmed the wall roughly. 

A moment of hesitation came over me, but just as quickly dissipated as I decided to go through with my idea.

CRUNCH!

My fist went straight through the wall. 

“Heh.” I cocked my head. “Well what do you know? I guess we’ll be taking a shortcut, EVI.”

“Acknowledged.”