Chapter 15 Sneak Peek! - Stormweaver II (Patreon)

Going to try to get you guys something this afternoon (EST), but may be tomorrow! Some important stuff happening despite this being a quick-paced chapters, and want to make sure I nail the ending right!

***********

Working the smart-glass wasn’t complicated. There were a number of functions hidden behind biometric security—obviously to limit access to the hospital feeds, patient information, and the like—but finding the “Display” settings only took a few taps after the initial menu popped up on the wall at Rei’s first touch. He scrolled through, not for the first time marveling at the incredible nature of the technology—which allowed everything from a full-screen monitor to a livestream of the school Arena’s now-empty main floor—until he found a “Reflective” option. Tapping it, he selected the first choice that popped up, and as desired the wall changed in a rippled of light, the opaque white giving way to a metal-like array that worked as a perfect, massive mirror.

Rei stepped away from the wall, pleased with himself, and excitement building in his chest. He took a breath, shaking his arms out and taking himself in in the reflection. He really had changed, hadn’t he? He was over 5’7”, now, and while he was stil wiry compared to most—all, actually—of his classmates, not one had called him “skinny” in a good long while. His hair was getting long, too, and Rei had to shake away a chuckle thinking on the number times he’d overheard Aria and Viv both muttering that he needed to get it cut. It wasn’t the moment.

Instead, Rie set his feet shoulder-width apart and turned his palms towards the mirrored wall to give himself the best view. Only then did he considered, just for a second, if he should wait, if he should hold off until Aria, Viv, and Catcher were with him. Aside from his last evolution, at least one of them had almost always been there, and it felt a little strange standing there in front of the mirror all by himself.

Then again, the last time he’d hesitated they’d all ended up giving him an earful, so instead Rei just grinned as he spoke the word.

“Call.”

Shido responded in a rush, and inside of a heartbeat the Device’s black and white armor had whirled into place, blue vysetrium shining between the steel plating and along the edges of his Brawler-Type claws. Rei had to stop himself from whooping, too, because while the change wasn’t huge, it was obvious, and definitely a solid upgrade.

In the center of his chest, hiding most of the red griffin of Galens from view for the first time, was a narrow strip of metal that was widest at the top and narrowing before growing again towards the bottom, fitting perfectly—as always—against the swell of chest muscles. It was all black—except for a sizable wedge of vysetrium set in the thickest part of the metal, between his colar bones—and provided a healthy line of protection for vitals that had otherwise been largely exposed until then. Shido had prioritized mobility and combat over almost everything, so far, and while that had come with great benefits it had also left Rei’s torso wholly open to direct assault. Now, though, even if it wasn’t a huge change, opponents would have to be more careful with their attacks, or risk their body-shots getting caught by the new plate of carbonized steel.

“Nice!” Rei barely managed to keep his voice under control, pumping the air victoriously with a clawed fist.

And realizing, at the same time, that what he saw wasn’t all that had changed.

Something felt… different. Something was off, particularly when he moved. At first confused, Rei lowered his arm and started slowly twisting this way and that as he watched the mirror, trying to deduce what was going on, but seeing nothing else different. It took him a second, but eventually he realized it was his back that felt odd, and with a surge of anticipation Rei whirled, craning his head around to look at his shoulders and neck.

He didn’t manage to keep his excitement down, this time.

“Oh hell yeah!”