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Chapter 042: Movements

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The Rewloola Retrofit Parts were almost complete while the first BM-Puppet versions —[Maxima] and [Tai Long]— along with the rest of his original 20 BM-Puppets, were already finished with all of their adjustments and fine tuning.

[Boss, the first "Maxima" is complete and ready for programming. Should we proceed?]

'Not yet. We don't have a proper [soul] for that yet.'

Siva knew Cortana was just asking for procedure, to remind him of the matter.

[What about Tai Long?]

'Haven't we been designing its AI logic-algorithm before we even got down here?'

[I'm only 48% more before completely mastering Maki's overall logical-blueprint. By then, I'd be able to design its AI according to your specifications. As for now, the development for the Tai Long AI was just 25% at best.]

'Why is it taking so long?'

[Boss, it's already a blessing that I'm this fast. You should know that what I am using is the run-engine of RPG: Terroa as a Battle-AI and it's already very advanced compared to my original hardware. If this Maki's overall AI logic-blueprint is published in the real-world, he will be a phenomenal breakthrough in humans' pursuit to perfect their robotic-science.]

Siva almost forgot. Maki, in all aspects, is already a [person] in this world. To be able to map out one person's thought-logic is already a large feat itself.

Back then when Cortana 'scanned' him, what she scanned was his actual Master Code —Maki's very own DNA, the blueprint of him being a 'person' of this world in all aspects.

Meaning... if the [truth] Siva had feared Janus was trying to protect in this world being the same, then it means that his fear of Terroa's frightening secret was actually well-founded.

He'd long had this notion but if what he's thinking now is true, then all the more he felt afraid of it.

This world is capable of birthing real intelligent life!

........meaning, mankind had already successfully challenged God in this aspect, albeit it being only a little half done.

Yet, that in itself was the frightening concept——

—this technology's purpose and origins!

Thinking about it, wasn't he using this [truth] and [secret] to his own gains as well? Using Cortana to develop his own version of Battle-AI, based on the 'Intelligent Life Blueprint' they took from Maki.

—with this, I am no different than them, it seems...

Siva thought of this bitterly, forcefully going back to his original concern of the current matters in regards to the first [Tai Long Puppet].

'Can't we temporarily program Tai Long using our prototype Mechromancer Settings? Even with that fixed response settings, the situation right now is still not applicable for freeing control of it. It might just work... right?'

This question was delivered not thru their thought-link but in an actual voice he asked her in his mind.

Siva glanced over to Cortana and saw her carefree look, stroking her purring cat as she replied with a nod while meeting his gaze.

[It can be done sir. But there is a risk of not having a flexible sense of judgement, with the resulting AI only being able to follow orders down to the word.]

Siva went back to thought-link conversation mode.

'It's okay. Do it. I'll handle the Mini Realm part. With the situation now, Tai Long's inflexible encoding is going to be a key help in not being affected by any outside influence.'

[Then I'll be on it. Give me fifteen minutes.]

'Fine. While we're at it, let's collect materials. But before that... let's use some Alien and Fire Dragon Materials to build some equipment first.'

Since Siva collected so much Alien Metals from the attack in Jeremiah, outside of the Mobile Suits and the Mobile Armors he plundered in the attack, with all those fire-attribute demon resources, as well as many Fire Dragon materials here, Siva decided to create fire-resistant equipments for usage.

—a fire-resistant inner equipment with the same expandable flexibility as BlackTech...

——and a new weapon that can be paired with the new concept befitting the savage properties of the new materials...

Ever since he recovered his [memories], Siva had been plagued by two lives' worth of pursuit for an all-powering and flexible strength that can contend against almost anything.

As such, his imagination kicked in and he began to think of different combinations of materials and all types of conceptual designs as logical and practical blueprints began to form in front of him thru these pale green holo panels from Cortana's output. With [The Record] he received from Pistareen and also the things he learned from Gaia through her Magic Lessons sent by Lily through the Net... blueprints were designed and conceptualized, rendered, and then simulated, until finally he settled into one final design he simply called...... Dragonator.

'Begin production.'

[How many should we make?]

'Four.'

[Okay~]

Siva picked out his materials and started to work for suitable combinations among them.

He has so many materials in his inventory that even though he'd already saved a fixed sum of them for his Dragon Revitalization Project in Asgard, he still has many surplus of his materials taken away from the alien mothership in Jeremiah.

A few minutes later, Siva already collected his 5th Fire Dragon carcass when he started production of equipment for himself and Tai Long.

In addition, since he saw a room for improvement after his bout against Cardinal Hossain, he also did not hold back in improving his main fighting style.

In the end, he used a few of the stolen AlienTech and Alien Metals then added Dragon Resource to create an augmentation-expansion unit to enhance the flexible usability of his BMA.

He called it [Neo].

Current Processes:

1) SS-Generator 1000pcs: (50.97%)

2) 4th Dáinsleif: (88.14%)

3) Dáinsleif Ammunition: 42 (next: 92%)

4) Rewloola (retrofit part number 22 of 23): 21.9%

5) Rewloola (retrofit part number 23 of 23): 18.5%

6) Cortana [Nano Body] modifications: 89.67%

7) Fire Lord Helmet (x4): 0.23%

8) Fire Lord Armor (x4): 0.23%

9) Fire Lord Gauntlets (x4): 0.23%

10) Fire Lord Vambraces (x4): 0.23%

11) Fire Lord Tasset (x4): 0.23%

12) Fire Lord Shin Guards (x4): 0.23%

13) Fire Lord Battle Boots (x4): 0.23%

14) Fire Lord Spandex (x4): 0.23%

15) Dragonator (x4): 0.05%

16) Master Armament (NEO): 0.02%

17) Lightning Flash Bomb: 8 (next: 5.33%)

18) ------

19) ------

20) ------

21) PNF (LV6) Synchronization: 36.31%

22) PNF (LV6) Synchronization: 36.31%

23) PNF (LV6) Synchronization: 36.31%

24) PNF (LV6) Synchronization: 36.31%

25) PNF (LV6) Synchronization: 36.31%

The [Lightning Flash Bomb] is an improve version of the Friable Bomb that only contained compacted Plasma Smoke. By creating a grenade that was a combination of the Plasma Smoke Screen and a Spark Grenade, in addition to it being capable of remote triggering, the [Lightning Flash Bomb] can be said to be just fit with Siva's trademark volatile and suddenly-unpredictable fighting style.

Its only downside is that unlike the Friable Bomb which he can create by only altering a NanoCube, the [Lightning Flash Bomb] is an Invention.

Meaning, it needed to be 'created' using the PNF.

(AN: remember that in Volume 6, even with only a PNF, Siva can already 'reprogram' a NanoCube into any form and color as long as you have enough NanoCube... even use it to hack into any electronic systems as long as you can crack into the firewall and being physically present to do it in the first place. In Volume 5, Siva used it in Warjillis when he hid the [Godhammer Mjolnir] to a golden throne, creating a magnificent display of a throne turning into a weapon; he also used it to hack into a hangar door in Alexandria then loot its contents; and in regards to how Cortana was able to hack into the alien mothership back in Volume 6, remember that the Absolute Domain is simply an immensely large amount of NanoTech spread like a giant skin. Anything not [magical] cannot escape its scans; 'tis also how Cortana was able to find out that Julia is a girl and not a man, as opposed to how Terroa knew of the info-broker Julia —and this is all the way back when Julia first saw Siva in Jeremiah in Volume 6)

The [Dragonator] is a weapon made up of materials combined from Fire Dragon, few alien and monster resources, and of course, the metals he collected from Baal's Mothership. Its main drive for creation is to be an amplifying component to be paired with the new equipment set.

And as for the [Master Armament (NEO)], it was of course the improved version of the BMA with all of its 'metal' aspects combined with Baal's chamber metal materials... and of course, Fire Dragon, alien, and Monster Resources.

Siva expected its Rarity and Classification to be as impressive as a special ranked "SS" like the BMA.

It was a lot heavier but its expected defense is also a lot stronger. It's still the same BMA of the original purpose and functionalities with almost nothing on its functionalities changing, aside perhaps from the fact that it incorporated an even daring prospect on its new metal materials from Baal's Mothership that had a semi-natural sort of effect to nullify gravity to a certain extent when its composition volume was condensed into a certain amount.

Siva also designed this NEO-BMA to visually look more of his traditionalized 'formal casual attire' get up to incorporate his own aesthetic taste to it. After all, everyone has their own vanities.

Then finally... the [Fire Lord Set] that used almost all kinds of fire-related materials he has in store. It can nullify and even absorb fire-element particles in the air and is also expected to have anti-cold properties in it that is the perfect gear for the cold climates, in addition to its nullifying fire-attributed defensive properties.

*****

Halfway into collecting the 9th Fire Dragon, it was here that the changes he'd been expecting in the underground cave happened.

It has already been more than 40 minutes or so after the battle has been concluded.

At first, there was the slight sound of the humming of dry wind... but eventually, it became a noise as loud and as strong like a rampaging hurricane that came from all direction as if a beast was waking up from a deep sleep.

Thrrruuummmmm~

Like a giant breathing through his nose respiring it loudly and forcefully to his mouth, it cracked every loosely hanging rock from above them, it shattered the walls, letting its presence known.

The magma floor seethed and roiled with an angry snarl, like those of the retreated Fire Dragons, only bigger and more frightening in scale and might.

"What is happening?" Electra was startled and she stopped her 'charging' job and looked around her only to see the lava floor boiling beneath her feet, slowly rising as the sound continued to grow.

Siva didn't dare to linger on any longer as he gave the order for her to retreat.

She flashed at her fastest speed and in no time at all had she reached the cave opening.

"Go! Don't stop. Go!!"

But Siva was already there and he yelled at her as she stopped to look behind her to check and look.

Electra was startled. She recalled that Siva could jump through a space as long as he left one Mini Realm in that area.

She flashed up and entered the ceiling entrance.

With a longing look, Siva felt the pangs of regret on the still uncollected 'materials' of the Vajras and the Fire Dragon in the battlefield.

He clicked his tongue and disappeared, leaving a few hundred Lightning Flash Bombs and Plasma Smoke Bombs on the walls of the cave as he 'warped' his way through 150m or so every second in three separate blinks.

With the help of BMA's 10km domain, after Siva reached the surface, he detonated all grenades he left along the way and hoped that the 5km or so collapsed tunnel would be enough to stop the rising magma underneath them.

There was the slight sensation of an earthquake but it soon vanished and disappeared.

"What happened?" Mohindra was already there to wait for him. When she saw Electra fly out of there followed by Siva and a muffled explosion and the rocking of the ground a few minutes later, she knew that something might have happened below.

"A subterranean volcanic eruption." Siva told her with trepidation, "The fight with the Fire Dragons was intense and I myself might have done a lot of damage with the bedrock while fighting the Priests thus igniting this reaction from the molten mantle underneath this city. Let's just hope that my actions would do the trick and block it until it cools down."

Regretfully, Siva had just let 100,000+ Plasma Smoke Screen Grenades there to serve as coolant when he detonated the cave entrance.

Although his [Scan] can only cover 5km when trying to scan with Absolute Domain underground, he still thought that the 3km slack gap he left with a few hundred meters of gap with the coolant would be enough to stop the magma from rising.

From Horbe's surface, 3km of solid rock, and then 200m of coolants, then detonated bedrock... and then magma. Even now, he could feel the tremor of the ground below them through the vibrations felt by the Absolute Domain.

It left Siva with the lingering sense of fear. Nature is still the strongest monster no matter what world.

Mohindra understood the gist of things and knew that 100 Fire Dragons against a few of their Vajra units was an unfair fight.

If he hadn't given them a hint to work as a single unit back there, Horbe would have been burning now with those surfacing Fire Dragons.

"At least for now, Horbe is safe. But not for long."

The purpose of them going there was to buy them time to complete the evacuation which they only just finished a few minutes ago. It was a more than enough time to destroy Horbe if they hadn't come to stop Cardinal Hossain.

The Matriarch could only shudder at the thought of the fate of her people if Siva hadn't informed them in time of the Bloody Church's operation.

And just as she was preparing to reinforce their numbers, she heard the report of their victory with the Guard Captain jumping out of the underground cave entrance with a crucial report to her.

There was no time. Right now, they were still in the middle of preparing for retaliation from the Bloody Church.

After all, they just killed five of their High Elders.

Siva turned to her, "The surface right now is in the state of chaos I have to go and meet the Terrans and warn them of the danger."

Mohindra nodded, "At this time, the agent I sent is at least four hours away from the Terran Territory."

Siva thought...

Considering that the Vajras' travel speed of 500m per second, the agent being four hours away was still a considerably huge distance from the borders of the Terran Alliance's Territorial Cities.

And the order he gave Mohindra was to make the agent deploy the Mini Realm infused Liberty Drone an hour away from the Terrans.

Calculating correctly, Siva would have three hours of blinking thru if he wanted to get to the Terran Territories at his fastest speed.

"Then we have no more time to waste." Siva said and he sent a message for Amanda and the rest of the gang regarding the current state of Terroa.

"And here, we've just sent he warning to inform the Terran Alliance about the Bloody Church spies they have within their midst..."

During his fight against Hossain, he also sent this information to Amanda tot el Gaia about it. But who would have thought that the Bloody Church would actually launch an attack today?

—was it part of their plan to align it with the attack in Horbe or...

Siva murmured in a voice that only those nearest to him could hear it, "I couldn't be sure but there's a big possibility this isn't the revenge we're guessing the Blood Church would throw at us. If this attack in Horbe was the main attack and that the attacks all over Terroa were nothing but just the covers..."

Mohindra caught on, "...then it could mean that their main goal was actually Horbe —to sacrifice my people to their Blood Dragon God?"

Siva looked at her and nodded, causing Mohindra to gnash her teeth and Electra to gasp in surprise.

Even Siva only realized this fact when he fought the Cardinal in the underground cavern.

"If it is indeed the case, then we can also assume the reason why the Bloody Church is focusing in the eradication of Horbe is because of the Vajras' military power. Or I could be wrong. But that's what I am very positive of... if nothing else."

The mother and daughter nodded.

It was true. The Vajras may be few in numbers but in terms of pure military power, the Vajras were the strongest even amongst the other Dragon Clans.

Siva thought of another thing, "I'm assuming that if Horbe was gone in the equation then the Bloody Church won't only get Horbe, but they can also get a solid foothold in this four sided battlefield. Being a neutral party in these current times may not be the best option at the moment, Mohindra. War had just knocked on your door. The Bloody Church fears your participation in this battle."

"But why....?" she put a fist to cover her mouth, "I and my husband, even my father and grandfather, we've never vied for power and only preserved our neutrality all these time. Why? Why us?"

Siva thought for a moment and asked, "I couldn't be sure but there must be something in Horbe that doesn't exist everywhere else in Terroa. After all, this place is an almost —ah! Wait a moment."

At this point, Siva looked up to the sky. The clouds of the night were drifting freely, the starry skies of the light crystals in sleep mode glittered through the white cotton canopy.

Just then, a thought flashed in his mind.

"I don't know if it is exactly what it is, but aside for your military power, I think I know what other goal the Bloody Church had when they attacked you."

Mohindra and Electra blinked. "What is it?"

Siva pointed at the sky above Horbe. The mother and daughter followed where he was pointing at.

In the sky above Horbe, a fair distance away, it may not be visible for normal people but Siva had his Liberty Drones' Hyperspectral Cameras to guide his vision, and he had left one Liberty Drone near entrance —or the exit—connected to the Anazon Forest when he first came here as well as anchor for this wild thought.

56 years ago, Siva came here to wreck death and havoc, and he came directly falling to Horbe back then.

"You mean..." Mohindra guessed in surprise.

In the direction Siva pointed, was a hole. It's a tiny hole 20 or so meters wide that couldn't be seen in this distance for it was too small and too far away.

But Siva and they knew what was in that direction.

It was the hole that Siva blasted 56 years ago when he came here and killed the Vajras' Elder Dragon.