Day 3.2

The decommissioning process was fatal? August reread the summary of the [Analysis] window again just to make sure.

“You were created in a lab, forced to work for them and then killed off?” August said, baffled.

“The life of a Voithos wasn’t a kind one,” Rittan admitted, “I have had the time needed to come to terms with it.”

The moral and ethical values of whatever society had made this guy were all types of fucked up.

“Listen,” August said, pushing past it. “I’m in a dire situation right now, and you are not at all what I was expecting to summon.”

“A dire situation? If I may, have you called the Molionidai?” Rittan said, concerned. “If you wish to avoid involving them, I would offer my own assistance.”

More unfamiliar words and more questions; August had no idea how to handle this now, he couldn’t kill the guy—strange appearance, or otherwise, he was still a person. His overall pleasantness was offputting given the situation Rittan was in, but it was better than outright anger.

“I have no idea what that is, but I definitely need assistance,” August said honestly. “Rittan, do you know anything about Devil’s Nest?”

Rittan’s face brightened as his name was used and then scrunched his face up in thought.

“I’m afraid I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Rittan admitted, “Although, depending on how much time has passed since I was alive, that might not mean very much.”

Not exactly the answer he was hoping for, but it could have been worse—August hesitated before asking the question he was most worried about.

“What do you eat?” August said, keeping his voice light.

“A curious question! Fruits, vegetables, fish and meat, are all acceptable forms of nutrients,” Rittan said happily. “But I am particularly fond of fish.”

August was glad ‘people’ wasn’t on the list, but that would have fallen under ‘meat’, wouldn’t it? He’d have to risk it either way; he couldn’t kill the guy, and he was clearly only staying in the Pit because he’d been told to—Rittan was easily tall enough to climb out on his own.

“I’m going to let you out,” August decided. “Ladybug, don’t attack him unless he attacks first, okay?”

Ladybug trilled in response to its name and not the request, but Rittan wouldn’t know that, and she would likely attack if he did anything aggressive anyway due to her ‘Guarding’ assignment, so it was something of a moot point.

“Thank you!” Rittan said. “Ladybug? Is there another here?”

August lowered the spear but kept it in his left hand before leaning down and grabbing the branch closest to Rittan’s head. He lifted up one end because of the weight, rotating around the [Pit] and dropping it, and then turned around to grab the next one.

“It’s a very dangerous monster despite what it looks like,” August warned, “It’s currently protecting me, so don’t do anything to provoke it.”

Rittan lifted one of the thicker logs up with three of its arms and then moved it aside like it was a walking stick—the muscles weren’t just for show.

“You have nothing to fear from me!” Rittan said brightly before he pulled himself up and out of the [Pit] like he was climbing out of a pool.

Rittan was massive, towering over August even from several meters away and his spear once again felt far too fragile in his hands. Six arms, three on both sides of his torso, each attached to a separate shoulder.

His skin was smooth but pulled tight against his body, revealing the movements of every muscle and ensuring that August felt nothing but embarrassment about his own naked form in comparison—the fact that the guy’s cock was in plain view didn’t help.

“Thank you, August,” Rittan said, looking around the area with something approaching confusion. “I do not recognize this area, but I suppose that isn’t too surprising—such a curious creature, is this the ‘Ladybug’ you spoke of?”

Ladybug trilled at the familiar word, and August checked to make sure that she wasn’t about to do anything strange. Once he’d established that the monster was still calm, he planted the spear on the ground.

“Yes, this is Ladybug,” August said before moving on to the main subject. “The summarised version is that I woke up on this island three days ago with no idea how I arrived.”

“Judging by your current state of dress,” Rittan asked, watching the lake. “Would I be correct in assuming that you do not have your PDI with you?”

“I don’t even know what PDI means; I was naked when I woke up with nothing on me.” August explained, “Kind of like how you arrived now that I think of it.”

August frowned at the similarities, wondering if he hadn’t been summoned here in the same manner as Rittan had. He was also starting to get the impression that Rittan wasn’t going to be much help when it came to finding help.

“I see—perhaps they renamed the device in my absence,” Rittan said hesitantly, now studying the [Lean-to] and [Basic Campfire]. “A dire situation indeed; how long has it been since you last ate?”

“An hour,” August admitted, “There’s fruit-bearing trees in the forest—Rittan, do you have any idea how I can get help?”

“Without your PDI and any other means to contact the Molionidai, then I am afraid the options left to us are slim,” Rittan admitted, “You said this place was called Devil’s Nest? How did you come to know that?”

“Whoever put me here messed with my head—I have some kind of HUD going on that tells me details about the things I’m looking at,” August explained, waving his hand at the [Lean-to] “It taught me how to make those as well, and how to [Tame] Ladybug.”

“Fascinating,” Ritta said, cupping his chin. “Am I right in assuming that is the reason you were able to—what was the word you used—summon me from Limbo?”

“Yes,” August said, frowning again. “What is this Limbo place you keep mentioning? Is it the afterlife?”

Rittan looked a bit concerned at his lack of knowledge, and August had to push through the feeling of ignorance that had sprung up inside him.

“I—There is no afterlife, only Limbo, the Filter and finally Rebirth; For my own kind there is only Limbo,” Rittan said gently. “Limbo itself is a place of stillness, darkness and where time works strangely—it is where one waits to pass through the Filter.”

“So you were just stuck there waiting?” August said hesitantly, “How long were you there?”

“It was a very long time,” Rittan admitted, “I do not know the date, so any guess I made would be speculation.”

“Every time you say something, I have more questions,” August groaned, “Fuck me—okay, I didn’t mean to, but it appears I’ve dragged you into my mess, so welcome to Devil’s Nest.”

“Thank you for receiving me,” Rittan said, pressing his hands together.

“Don’t thank me,” August sighed. “This place is filled with monsters, Rittan—Giant teethy ones that want to eat us, and the only things we possess are the tools we make.”

“Ladybug is one such monster?” Rittan asked.

“Yeah, there are others, though—see that boulder over the other side of the lake?” August said, pointing to the [Mitikos] that still hadn’t moved from its place. “That thing is a monster as well; it appeared on the shore this morning and hasn’t moved since.”

“Oh dear,” Rittan said, concerned.

“The forest behind us is filled with [Efkini]—that’s the species that Ladybug belongs to,” August said, directing the Voithos’s attention to the treetops. “They hide up in the trees and out of sight, but I’ve seen a few of them on the forest floor.”

August opened his [Menu] and checked [Faction].

Population – 0

Assigned – 0

Unassigned – 0

Settlements

Lakeside Hovel

It hadn’t changed for some reason, and for a moment, he was baffled. Was this stupid system broken—he had a flash of insight; flipping back into the skill listings and finding the one he was looking for, he read the summary.

Recruit

Recruit a willing participant to your Faction from the world around you.

“I’m pretty sure I can invite you into this system thing I have going on,” August said, studying the Voithos. “It does a bunch of things, like help keep you healthy—do you want in on it?”

“If you think that is best,” Rittan said pleasantly, offloading the responsibility back onto August. “I will follow your guidance, August.”

Ugh.

“[Recruit],” August said.