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Chapter 308: Master Armament

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Siva was in the arena in Sword-God Island and all around him were panting men and women… the core members of The Company…. being beaten black and blue by the successors of [Erebus].

There was a large familiar burnt tree in the west side of the 150m large arena but on its roots was an unconscious Heller, sprawled up with his face to the sky, an empty avatar.

He was forcefully logged out. One could even see the wide look of disbelief in his face.

Anyone could only guess just what kind of torture this fear-inducing guy of Battle City suffered in the arena.

Not too far away, the sounds of a continued fight were still on going. Spells and metallic clashing sounds could be heard now and then.

There were the shouts of Coralline trying to ask for the large muscle body of D’Catch to shield her so that she could cast her magic. There were also Otus’s and Hawkeye’s shouts when they yelled at Fuma to bear the brunt on the shield so they can launch their arrows.

One of the enemies was a [Gunslinger] but it was so fast that even a speed-specialist like Diyers whose skill relied mainly on quick attacks because of his style, an Assassin, could only match the opponent’ speed despite it having to face him and five others.

It was a chaotic battlefield and while there are so many of them, they… were only against five.

There were the occasional shouts and cries of the defeated and in this kind of fight, Agatha’s healing magic couldn’t make a difference so she was only left to stand at the side along with Cassiopeia and Scion.

Aside from her and Kathleen Brew, Volt’s Crew, Thorn’s members, and even the four escorts of Eleanor were all going against Siva and his team.

Yep. Team.

Or to put it correctly, it’s just like soccer where the goal is Siva who’s standing in the middle of the arena while the rest of them were around the stage, trying to get past his four keepers and land just a single attack for the past half hour.

At the far back beside Kathleen Brew, Cassiopeia was laughing her soul out while a slightly worried Scion was in a praying gesture with both hands in front of her chest.

“This is cheating!!!” Growled FlowerLord. “You’re a god damned lousy cheater!!!”

While she was yelling that it was cheating she still never delayed a moment to continue to attack Siva and bring in a pressure to give an opening for the others to connect an attack.

Ten spears jet black spheres were launched in midair as they made slashing noises in the wind and went straight towards Siva.

Yet before the Black Spears could even get close to him, the seemingly inconspicuous dark blue-themed metallic ‘case’ that rested beside Siva was launched to meet the attacking spears head on.

TAK! TAK!! TAK!!!

A series of clattering sounds resounded as the blue metallic ‘case’ changed forms like a minimalist transformer, becoming a shield that sprawled in midair in but a blink of an eye.

BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!!——

Ten ear-splitting explosions rung like thunders in the sky as the shield and the spears met with the floating shield only getting knocked back a few centimeters before it switched forms again into a drill in but another blink of an eye; and spun in its pace to shred the spears into pieces of motes of black lights.

“God damn it…!! Fight like a man!” FlowerLord is really fuming at this moment. This was already the eighteenth time her hard-earned, and I do mean HARD-EARNED opportunity to attack have been deflected like they were nothing. “Shit! SHIT!!!”

FlowerLord could only back off and drink a Blue Potion as her pausing where she stood would be an opportunity for the keepers to attack her.

“This is cheating!!” She cursed as she dodged a bullet fired by [Gunslinger] keeper; the yellowish gold streak of light wasn’t easy to dodge as it was a bullet shot out from the Hand of Midas.

Siva remained silent as he focused himself on the fights. With a flick of his finger, a green-coloured metal ring on his right hand flashed a faint light as the [Drill] transformed in under a blink of an eye into its original form… a seemingly harmless dark blue-colored metallic ‘case’.

Around the arena, moving at great speeds, were four armored people, fully dressed on his four personas: Destroyer, Volume Hunter, Red-eyed Skull Mage, and Siva…

But, well, the ‘Siva’ was different.

The Destroyer ‘guy’ wore his tattered grey cloak, the red-black edgy mask, and two very large and heavy-looking sharp sword; with one of them a purple-themed copycat of the Ice-Metal Sword.

The Volume Hunter wore the white mask and his white cloak dress-up. On its right hand was the [Hand of Midas] and on the left was a six-barreled Magnum-looking revolver.

The Red-eyed Skull Mage was a little bit special. It wasn’t controlled by him alone. It was controlled by Cortana with him.

In fact, all of these puppets were controlled by Cortana with him… it was one of the features of a high-grade Battle-AI.

The Skull Mage’s body was clad in black Magician Robe but instead of magic though, it was controlling five large-ass cannons; two of which is the same type of Samara’s Morrigan Cannons and three being the same assault-type cannon as the curvy-bodied Cassiopeia’s [Rambo Gun].

It was a monster of harassment. Instead of solid rounds, it was launching an endless barrage of suppressive energy-type bullets that, different from Cassiopeia’s limited energy-type emissions, had larger sized bullets and endless juice since the five cannons were made from warship-grade armor plating material [Black Ironwood Alloy].

The Red-eyed Skull Mage was a fortress by itself!

And then there was the ‘Siva’ of the four…guys. It was 2m high, a lot taller than Siva himself, and its body build was literally made for ramming tanks and for contending in a power against power contest against 20m large monsters.

One look was enough to confirm that it had the same body type and size as Hagrid and Cramer. It was wearing a thick-looking bulky metallic armor set that covered it from head to toe.

What’s frightening about this large ‘guy’ is that it’s not slow, contrary to its heavy-armored presence; it was actually capable of moving at instantaneous acceleration-deceleration-stop movements within a 100m radius around Siva —that’s a 200m circle!

As such, in a 150m wide arena, there was nothing else the opponents could do but defend.

These four… is Black Master.

«Black Master Armament»

Type: Equipment

Rarity: SS

Weight Units: 1200 we

Inventory Slots: 376 slots

Durability: 100/100%

Materials: *Assorted* Monster Bones, Blood, Bone Powders, Marrow Extract, Shell, Carapace, Scale, wing, fang; Black Ironwood Alloy, Nano Focus, Elemental Beast’s Heart

Manufacturer: Siva

Weapon Description:

Perhaps the greatest pure Weapon Invention in the history of Terroa as of date since the stated alliance of two worlds’ contrasting histories. The records show no other potential fakes of such a magnificent creation as this was an Invention that represents the creativity and imagination of the maker, concentrated into one body in the form of an omni-transformative basic form as well as exploitation and utility on the limits of what the NanoTech Weaponry can do. Maybe the last of its kind in this generation, it was then given a unique rarity rank that separates it from a Dragon-grade weapon, a Rune, and even the highest graded Weapon Invention.

Mechanical Function:

*Generator

*Omni Forms

Special Function:

*Absolute Domain

If one would look carefully, underneath the first three cloaks are additional sets of armors —and of course, they’re Inventions— but all S-Ranked Equipments, and underneath that armor is in fact a body made up of BlackTech.

But Black Master doesn’t end there… underneath that BlackTech body is the muscle and bones that is a bit more high-grade than what made Erebus, and is in fact the key as to how these ‘guys’ can move in a 200m wide area without hindrance.

Aside from the occasional sparks of electricity that is its source of power, a magnified look will reveal hundreds of octillions of NanoTech particles that took the shape of a person —much like how The Orb once functioned.

On a side note, The Orb had served its purpose; or rather, [Erebus] had served his worth.

“The Prototype had completed its mission. It was time to develop the real weapon… and so this.”

In a macro scale, you could say that Siva had just upgraded his [Orb] weapon and applied it in a grander and larger manner.

Beside him was a rectangular case, a component of the entire “Black Master” Weaponry.

In a single glance it was an “attaché case” and on a second look, it was DMC4’s “Pandora”, for the ones informed. (A/N: seriously, please google it)

—only bigger.

Lines that looked like The Grid trailed off its dark blue surface, pulsing with light, creating an illusion that gives the impression of a multi-system type of equipment.

There have been many players in Terroa who had used the idea of an ‘ever-changing’ and ‘adapting’ equipment that will at least cater to majority of the player’s needs and wants.

And it was this reason why Engineers are the one fighting style that is hard to deal with during a PVP clash.

While there are those stereotype specialists that use swords, spears, bows, or magic, or any of the possible combinations of them, there are the ones who exploited the “freedom” concept that’s been given in this game.

The former-types have been used often and were classed as COMMON fighting styles; while those so called [Engineers] uses a fighting style that is better called “annoying” than strong.

Engineers exploit the NanoTech feature of the game and they use a wide variety of expensive items and high profile equipments in exchange for better chances at survival; emphasizing more on the player’s use of their planning and strategic ability rather than their own overall athletic combat strength.

In that regard, it was every Engineer’s dream to create an equipment that could cater to almost and all of their wants and needs.

This wish came true in exchange for an entire mega-crate of Black Ironwood Alloy, [The Heart] that he took from Little Blacky’s twin monster, ten boxes of materials from the ones he looted from Alexandria, a few crates from the ones that he received from Janus, and a hundred thousand NanoCubes for the finishing.

Such is an example of extravagant spending that’s brought forth to the most extreme of heights!

“It was high-cost, but worth it.”

“You’re a one day millionaire.”

“…”

All of those materials, just to make this single piece of equipment might be overspending since all of it combined could have given 200+ S-Rank Hunters high-grade S-Ranked Equipments… most especially a whole Mega-Crate of Black Ironwood Alloy that’s only used for warship building.

“How will you understand? A man’s romance lay on how beautiful the weapon is when he uses it.”

“Boss, aren’t your thoughts really evil right now? I perfectly think you’re being cruel to your friends.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m shutting up.”

“…”

Seeing the struggling core members of his group against his [puppets], he was really glad that he’d chosen to play the evil card and looted Alexandria of its treasures.

“I knew it. You’re an evil boss.”

“Since when did you learn to differentiate an evil boss from what is a good and kindhearted boss?”

“From the moment I was born.”

“How?”

“Through the network. I read 10,000 plus novel stories and saw a few hundred thousand movies bout different kinds of them… including art films.”

“You’re seriously learning the wrong things.”

Siva could feel his left face twitching. He couldn’t dismiss the thought forcefully so he put it under the drawer labeled “the power of 500 Yottabytes processing ability” in his mind.

“Anyways, all the data gathered in the Erebus had indeed proven effective in developing this very equipment itself and my fight against Kladis also taught me a great lesson that I wouldn’t forget.”

“Based on your thoughts, I really deduced that the win you’ve received against him was indeed just a stroke of luck. If you’ve been a few seconds late, you wouldn’t be able to summon Erebus and deal with Kladis’ attacks, much less win against him.”

“Stop rubbing it.”

Siva felt annoyed by that memory. Kladis’s grand domain ability disabled the opponent’s capacity to use their Mana and at the time, he relied on Erebus to win against Kladis.

If he hadn’t been able to use Erebus, he would’ve really lost that fight. It was the biggest lesson he’d gained in his trip in Alexandria.

POOV!!

The sound of the pulse caught Siva’s attention.

He looked down on his right side and saw that the last pulse of electricity from the [core] of the dark blue case created another rippling surge of bluish white electrical light that pulsed in every patterned detail on the surface of its body.

“This thing’s only weakness is that it’s too heavy.”

“Isn’t that the reason why you created the [Orbiter Bracelet], so that you could use this weight, sir? I read your thoughts and concurred in that perhaps only someone on the level of Sefirah will be able to deal damage on your current strongest peak state… ah no, just now, you thought of your pet and also that Dragon in Hagonoy. True, they can also win against you… albeit on a dragged fight.”

“Please stop talking about depressing subjects.”

“Sometimes, knowing is better than innocence.”

“Naturally you’re perfectly aware that I already am mindful of it since you can read my mind.” Of course, aside from his fight against Kladis, his encounter with a Devil General like Sefirah was one of the greatest and maddening defeats of his careers. “They are just too strong.”

Remembering how he was reduced to shredded meat after just one hit from Sefirah always makes him depressed beyond comprehension.

One of the reasons why he wanted to buy time from AG is because he wanted to prepare himself on his next encounter with the Devil Generals.

He knew that on their next bout, only one of them will have to live and survive. The question is: will he be ready until then?

“That’s why I need to lift this curse ASAP. I need to be able to use magic… or establish that plan in my mind that I’ve wanted to experiment on for a while now… I need strength. A strength that can fight all other kinds of strength.”

“Well, boss, I’ve kept on noticing that you’re very curious about how Runes work. I’ve searched any available information on the Net and there is no definite information on how to even find them, how much more on actually making them…”

Siva’s hand gripped on the edge of the ‘case’ on his side, “I have my own guesses on how to make them.”

“Based on your thoughts and the overall data that I’ve gathered regarding the [Invention] features of this game alongside [Magic], I think it’s possible.”

“Before, I thought that the meeting with the Elder Mage, Pistareen, of the Enchantment Temple is nothing but a troublesome event, but now that I have you here, I can’t help but think that all of the troublesome things I know of have become mere dust particles now. In fact, the creation of this box and its abilities did come from an inspiration I got from your existence.”

“You have a weird way of expressing emotions, sir. But don’t you worry; my very existence is at your every beck and command.”

“I will rely on you then.”

“Of course! My primary function is to serve you.”

Siva looked down on the heart of his Black Master Armament. At the center of the equipment was a bluish core like that of Ironman’s only that it was as small as half a grown man’s palm size.

In one word, this thing’s main feature is a power generator! He doesn’t have to feed it one stun E-Grenade every ten minutes.

And although he still had to do it, it was only once every one hour and the Mechanical Functions installed inside it will be the ones responsible to feeding the necessary power the puppets needs.

“Besides, the secret to this thing is what makes this thing a scary weapon.”

“That’s why you’re an evil boss.”

“Shut up.”

“Shutting.”

Every pulse it did sent a rippling electrical current on its surface that used ‘the grid’ as a guide to highlight the lines that made up the design of its exterior; with the best part of it being that every grid lines divides a part that makes up the equipment as a whole.

This is an Invention and this is the ‘core’ of what makes up the Black Master a versatile weapon of destruction.

“You’ve just thought of some bald puncher.”

“It definitely has nothing to do with baldness.”

“And you do know I can read your mind, right?”

“Grrr… just when did you start to become like a nagging girlfriend? I thought you were on my side on everything else I do!”

“I am, sir. But I’m also programmed to prevent you from becoming obsessively evil on your actions or prevent you from coming into trouble because of your excessively evil thoughts.”

“…”

“……and I do that by reminding you the things you are forgetting. Your thought processes gave me a standard on your personality. And based from your thought patterns, my analysis shows a concurrent change that occurred to you big time during this journey of yours.”

Siva’s eyes went wide for just a tiny bit of moment as he thought of what Cortana said.

Right… since when did he become soft in this entire journey? Was he corrupted by his need of a friend and companion and become soft?

Isn’t this entire journey for Baron?

Since when had it become all about him?

Realizing this fact, he also understood that he was not only too weak and not strong enough, he was also still too soft that he allowed distractions.

Cursed?

Alone?

Weak?

These were all just excuses. And the more excuses he told himself, the more he recognized all of his faults.

“I see…”

And he recalled what Sefirah said; that the Siva in front of her was so weak that she lost all will to lift a finger and eat him. He became unworthy of her time and attention.

In his [memories], there were a lot of things about him being feared across the Terran Universe. No matter what direction he took, worlds would bow their heads in fear and reverence; no world, corrupted or not, will dare raise their heads to go have a single glance at him.

Only his enemies and those he treated his allies had the right to look him in the eyes.

It was all in the [memories].

He chose to trust it so he knew they’re real; and according to it, he had become indeed weak.

But… how did he become strong, anyways?

In the end, as he gazed and felt the rough and solid feeling of the Black Master Armament to his touch, he could only grit hi teeth as he landed on a decision: he just wasn’t cold enough.

“Well, you do have a point in me forgetting my own place… and my goals, drowning myself in my needs and lackings. I should only be moving forward… even if it’s just one tiny step at a time. I thank you for making me recall my goals and reinforcing my convictions.”

“You’re welcome, sir.”

“But I hate how you do it.”

“…”

The Black Master Armament was a little over to his waist’s height, three hands sizes in width, and 3m in maximum length.

At one glance, it looks like a fat pillar and it would even pass as a slab of metal as well.

It was a ‘case’ in its entire purpose for it houses a wide array of uses because of its peculiar innate Mechanical Function: Omni Forms.

This ability gave it a frightening might.

But to the members of The Company, including the poor Heller who had tasted its sinister might… it was a mistake to take this thing lightly.

From the previous order, it was more apt to say that the fourth ‘guy’ was more suited to be called “Destroyer” than the first one.

If not for the fact that, with the help of Cortana and a few online videos of movies and animes, including novels and other articles that pertained to the things called ‘sword arts’, the first [Master Puppet] wouldn’t have come to light.

“In the end, you really are my angel, whether I like it or not. I initially planned to use the Black Master Puppets one at a time or at least two at the same time since the mental stress acquired to operate this thing is really massive. But with you, I actually had to change a few things on my original plans and readjust the development of the entire Black Master Armament.”

.

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Almost ready….

But still too far away.

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