The Gamer Chapter 1703 – Serpent’s Graveyard 5 – Dancing with Edges [Beatrice POV] (Patreon)

“Uhm, do you feel that?”

Beatrice considered responding with dry sarcasm, but the situation felt like it did not allow that. The weirdness was distant and familiar, unnerving in a way only a comfortable horror movie could be. “Affirmative. Nia is active here.”

“Should we… go to her?” Gnome asked.

Beatrice analysed their situation. Behind them was a long tunnel. They had spent the past several hours breaking through seal after seal. The ants obviously wanted to protect whatever was at the end of this, to put this many barriers in their way and to reinforce them to the point that it took even Gnome this long to break through.

Before them were yet more of such barriers.

“Opinion: we should advance,” she stated when she had finished computing the input. “Reasoning: Nia can be trusted to find the most effective solution to her predicament. We should be-“ The passive maid stopped and aimed Perfect down the corridor. “The decision has been taken from us.”

At the end of the long corridor stood Karia. The fair-skinned bluenette stared down the gentle slope of the hallway. Without taking her eyes off the duo, the arcane elemental turned her head to the left and shouted something in an ancient tongue.

Liakan materialized a moment later next to her. The sudden appearance gave the white dragon maid pause. Among the spell arsenal of the daughter of Tiamat, teleportation had been notably absent during her fight with Metra. ‘They split Orkos apart,’ the grave voice of her Master reached her mind. ‘Nia just wrote me that she saw traces of the old genius in Singed’s arms. Presumably they integrated him into each member of the Azure Tribe. Neutralize the drawback of dementia and elevate everyone else.’

‘A sound but cruel decision,’ Undine weighed in.

‘He almost certainly agreed during one of his lucid moments.’

‘Irrelevant,’ Beatrice stated. ‘Current predicament takes priority to speculation on motive. What are my orders?’

‘Talk to them – and please be diplomatic about it.’

‘Affirmative.’ Beatrice suddenly relaxed her combat stance. The end of her spear tapped on the ground with an audible tock. “Salutations. I have been tasked by my Master to engage in diplomacy. What is your purpose in these lands?”

Liakan took another step forward. The spindly demigoddess projected herself, partly because of her alien appearance, over the mostly human woman next to her. “You should tell us the answer to the same question first.”

“Retrieving permission… permission granted. We are here on invitation of one Nahua-xoco-atl-xolotl to eliminate an invading ant force.”

“That puts us at odds. Mengele’s notes tell us of a potential ally in charge of these ants.”

“Relay: my Master demands the name of this potential ally.”

“H-he requests!” Gnome intervened. “Respectfully!”

Beatrice averted her gaze for a carefully calculated couple of seconds to maximize the annoyance she could relay with that simple, expressionless gesture. John Newman did not have to request anything. What her Master wanted was his for the taking, provided the appropriate steps were followed in assuring that he appeared reasonable in the process.

The thunder of several dozen boots filled the hallway. Soldiers of the stereotypical, World War era appearance lined up behind Liakan and Karia. “We do not know.”

“Disbelief: are you that desperate?”

“Yes,” Liakan stated bluntly. “We need power to present to the Father of Arcane. The struggle over the resources of the Purest Front is ongoing and neither you nor I want Laurence to emerge as the main aide of Arkan.”

‘Memory: Laurence, purist, follower of Mengele’s teachings, defeated by Nia, extraordinarily hateful of pariahs – Possible connection with Arkan following their shared loss against the same opponent? Outcome: undesired. Master?’

‘Present two questions for me before I get to an outcome.’

“Must you aid Arkan? Could there be peace between us while Nia exists?”

“Yes… no,” Liakan answered.

“…There goes hope…” Gnome mumbled.

“Your honesty is appreciated. Relay: my Master has designated you as enemy combatants. I hope you understand.”

“It was never going to end another way. I have a request, however: try to spare these men. They’re good even by your standards. You would deprive me of a valuable resource in the civil war were you to kill them.”

Beatrice felt the rapid flow of back and forth information while her Master discussed not only with the elementals but the own sub-pockets of his own ego. In the end, the answer was simple. “It is advised they step aside.”

A soft shake of Liakan’s head denied that idea. “I’m afraid I’ll need them to distract you.”

“Relay: my Master informs you that those who live by the sword die by the sword… but Gnome insists on being the one to fight them.”

“I-I’ll be gentle?” the season elemental said.

“Appreciated.” One word, followed by a barked order in that ancient tongue, and Karia appeared in front of Beatrice.

Time froze. Beatrice had spent all of her Reverse on Chronoshift. Since she hadn’t moved from her current spot since the conversation began, that meant she remained there despite the use of the Skill. A deliberate decision that allowed her to take stock of the situation.

Karia was about to swing a knife at her. Easily dealt with. Gnome was starting to crouch down to meet the soldiers in the upper segment of the tunnel. Considering the confidence of the enemy that they would suffice in distracting her, they most likely had an average level 100 to 150 or had their Stats boosted via some variety of augmentations. Gnome would be able to deal with that.

Liakan was interesting. The draconic arcane elemental had teleported once, half the distance that Karia had, and had her eyes on the sealed barrier behind them. She had passage from the ants, so would the wall open up for her?

Time unfroze. Karia’s knives swung at Beatrice’s midriff. Accepting the hit, the passive maid retaliated by stabbing at the assassin with her tail. One of the two prongs of the stinger pierced Karia’s forearm. Electricity crackled, as trace amounts of a liquid were released.

Karia pulled her arm back and teleported just before the claws of the electric dragon maid could grasp her. Even Unsteady Limb had not been quite fast enough.

Beatrice looked over her shoulder for a moment, just to confirm the wall they had been working on destroying opened up like a biological vault door. Reinforced chitin split, then slammed back shut as soon as Liakan had passed through. “Not even going to try and stop her?” Karia wondered.

“Response: I have no such luxury nor mission.” Dropping into a battle-ready stance, Beatrice began to calculate her chance at victory. ‘Neutral: Karia is a mobility expert. Karia is a teleportation expert. Karia has battle experience. Negatives: Karia has been empowered. Karia previously fought on equal footing with Jane. Karia has more mobility than me. Artificial Ascension is inactive. Positives: Karia does not have my regenerative factor. I have extensive experience battling teleportation. She does not have known ranged options. I can fly. Speculation: Karia likely has acquired ranged options. Karia may have acquired flight. I likely have more battle experience than Karia… Path to victory determined. Low-likelihood of success.’

“I didn’t know you could smile,” Karia commented.

“Confession: I relish a challenge!”

Beatrice surged forwards, leaving arcs of electricity in her wake. Inhaling deeply, she charged up her Lightning Breath, then released it alongside the Volt Storm at the moment of impact. The double pulse of lightning interwove into a cascade of crackling energy.

Karia dodged via teleportation. Three daggers were thrown, two of unassuming design, the third stronger and more tangible. The last one went wide, missing the passive maid by a massive margin. It was next to this dagger that she manifested next. Arcane walls appeared mid-air, allowing Karia to launch herself from the vertical platforms and plunge a long sword into Beatrice’s neck.

There was static in Beatrice’s mind. The connection between herself and her Master thinned. Her spinal cord was severed for a split second. Pain shot through her. It failed to compromise her calm.

Beatrice grabbed Karia by the previously stung arm and slammed her to the ground. Instantly, Karia’s priorities shifted. “I am the spine of the azure sword. Where we are pointed, revelation falls. End the burdensome and ascend the worthy to true arcane dominion!”

The Babel Phrase was pushed at desperate speed. A blinding flash of arcane might broke Beatrice’s grip. Beating her wings, she used the blowback as a chance to create distance. A short lull gave her the opportunity to rip out the blade in her neck. Up the tunnel, Gnome was swinging fists at the surrounding soldiers. Cracked masks revealed scarred faces.

Beatrice’s attention snapped back when a flurry of daggers flew towards her. Deflecting three, ignoring four, she whirled around when Karia manifested by one of the weapons and targeted her back. ‘Chances of victory diminished tremendously,’ Beatrice thought. John’s distant voice tried to comment, but the static was too much. ‘Remain greater than zero, however. Starting the iterative process.’

Karia plunged at Beatrice, who twisted out of the way. The sudden dodge seemed to catch the assassin off-guard, but that wasn’t enough to allow Beatrice to secure a grip.

Decreasing her elevation, Beatrice created a deliberate vulnerability.

Karia plunged at Beatrice, who twisted out of the way. Prepared for the dodge, the assassin immediately followed up by creating a platform of mana. A mana blade stretched from knee to foot, when she went for a kick. The kick ended when Beatrice stabbed in return.

Karia plunged at Beatrice, using one of the knives that had become embedded in the ceiling. Beatrice turned into lightning. Prepared for the dodge, the assassin teleported to another knife that she had manifested and dropped at some point. Beatrice activated Chronoshift and teleported back to a position further up.

Beatrice went on the offensive. Carefully calculated attacks that were as precise as they were futile kept Karia moving. Constant teleportation gave the arcane elemental the element of surprise. Her Agility nullified the advantage that Beatrice had from her natural flight. After Unleashing, their speed difference was notable. Only true surprise could overcome it.

Karia plunged at Beatrice, after manoeuvring herself into the superior position. Beatrice could not dodge. Her HP diminished by more than she had anticipated. The inside of her head pounded with static and still her mind remained calm. A pulse of the Volt Storm forced Karia back until…

Karia plunged at Beatrice. She executed a feint in anticipation of the dodge. Beatrice dodged. Karia sliced at Beatrice’s throat. The gash knit itself closed. Suddenly, Karia was gone. Beatrice found her on the floor of the tunnel.

Beatrice dived at Karia, wreathing herself in a Lightning Breath as she descended faster than the spewed electricity could travel. The impact was harsh. Crackling energy seared the raw stone and hive material. Three throwing daggers sunk into the passive maid’s chest. Her HP was down to half.

Karia plunged at Beatrice. Dodge. Counterattack. Beatrice feinted. Karia dodged to the left. HP regenerated.

Karia plunged at Beatrice. Dodge. Counterattack. Beatrice resolved to take the attack. Karia stabbed into the passive maid’s shoulder, then teleported to the left. HP was lost.

Beatrice advanced. A short skirmish to break the rhythm. HP was lost.

Karia plunged at Beatrice.

Beatrice stood her ground.

Karia teleported to the left.

The Unsteady Limb moved before the spell had even finished.

Beatrice caught Karia by the neck. The eyes of the assassin went wide. Two daggers stabbed into the passive maid’s stomach, but that did not matter. HP was down to a fifth, but that did not matter. Lightning surged through her intangible claws, poured through her lungs, and in that short moment that even the arcane elemental was paralyzed, Beatrice slammed her onto the ground.

This was all she had needed.

Pinned by the neck, Karia could not teleport. The number of teleportation spells that worked while there was prolonged physical contact with an unwilling participant was miniscule. Spear held right under the tip, the passive maid stabbed at Karia’s stomach. It was the quickest, most reliable way to deal damage.

One stab became dozens. Needle Assault activated. Stopped for an instant, then activated again when the rapid regeneration of Swing enabled her to trigger the Skill again and again. Karia’s blue eyes widened in panic while the midsection of her body was obliterated piece by piece by hundreds of individual impacts, accompanied by dozens of releases of Perfect’s Crescendo. Electricity kept on pulsing into Karia, slowing her, making control of her limbs slow and-

In an instant, Beatrice lost half of her vision. A dagger was embedded in her skull. The static reached a high-whistling pitch. Her stabbing stopped for a moment. Karia pried the maid’s hand off her neck in that instant.

Both of them moved again at once. Karia, however, was faster. Her legs curled up. Mana blades attached to her soles slammed into Beatrice’s midriff, cutting straight through what lowered Health Points could no longer keep together.

The mana blade stretching over her shin sliced through half of Beatrice’s midsection, then caught on her reinforced spine and sent her flying. Gracelessly, the passive maid slammed against the wall. Instincts drove her to try to stand, but her midriff was gone. She collapsed back down, while her HP regeneration gradually knit the deep trench between ribs and hips back together.

Across the divide, Karia was in a similar state. The repeated Needle Assault had obliterated most of her torso and the enchantments on Perfect kept the deepest wounds from closing swiftly. The blue bodysuit that her Unleash had created covered up the damage somewhat, but even the leather-like material failed to hide the pits and gashes.

The two of them just stared at each other, neither of them capable of standing up without snapping their spines. Karia was visibly annoyed with herself, while Beatrice showed a sassily content smirk as soon as the connection interference had diminished enough to allow her to do so. Achieving a draw was a victory for her.

“I hate the way you fight,” Karia barked ultimately. “Which I assume you hear a lot.”

“Affirmative,” Beatrice stated.

The smug superiority in her tone made the assassin click her tongue.

And Beatrice continued to gloat.