Action terminated. Magic Points exhausted.
Endurance Points exhausted.
Psionic skill increased to level thirty-one!
Psionic skill increased to level thirty-two!
Mental Fortitude skill increased to level twenty-one!
You have reached level fifty-nine!
You have received three skill points!
I quickly came to my senses and thanked the bushy-tailed Miyelonian Translator. I straightened up, led the back side of my hand under my nose and saw blood. Just what I needed! I guess using magic doesn’t always end well. Apparently, you can overstrain and lose consciousness if you accidentally spend all your Magic and Endurance Points...
Minn-O was least surprised by what happened. I suspected that, in her magic-saturated world, such things were business as usual. The captive extended me a towel in silence to clean up my still-bleeding nose. I had already accepted the towel and thanked her when I suddenly made up my mind to take the “Hand of Gerd Gnat” on a metal chain from my inventory:
“Minn-O, I’ve thought about the wayedda and am willing to accept you as a travelling mistress, but only after this upcoming battle is over. My people often promise a girl their hand and their heart. Well, I’ll give you my hand as an advance, and you can have my heart after Thumor-Anhu La-Fin gives me what I want. I imagine cancelling the ransom on me and returning the traitor Tyulenev would be an entirely acceptable price to save your honor as a Princess and keep up the ancient La-Fin dynasty.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight. New Neighbors
WHEN I CAME BACK onto the surface from the prison complex, I was awaited by a small test of my nerves. The elevator doors had just opened when a nine-foot-high robot came out from them and dashed in my direction. In surprise, I stumbled back, squatting down and grabbing my Annihilator.
“Gnat, what was that?! Scared?” The power armor suit’s visor slid up, and I saw Space Commando Eduard Boyko’s face smiling from ear to ear. “There you are. I wanted to find you, say thanks and show off my new getup! Lefty, the best Mechanic in our faction plodded along all night refitting the armor. He says he got two level-ups before he managed to set and calibrate everything.”
“Lefty?” I asked, intrigued to make the new acquaintance. “Could you tell me where to find him?”
As it turned out, he was close at hand, in the neighboring workshop. I turned where he pointed and saw a dark-haired disheveled guy in a smock heading for the canteen.
Lefty. Human. H3 Faction. Level-81 Mechanic
I called out to Lefty and hurried to catch up. The Mechanic had a fairly tepid reaction to my greeting, although he did raise his hand and wave. But it was clear he was trying to hide an unfriendly opinion. I don’t know for sure what caused such a strong negative opinion and in large part didn’t care. I just wanted a specialist to do a job. I pulled out the Small Control Bracelet, and Lefty twirled it in his hands for some time, then asked in annoyance:
“What does this have to do with me? Bring it to a Jeweler or something.”
I had to explain that the value of the old bronze bracelet was not in the metal and read off all the stats of the Relict artifact, because Lefty didn’t have the Intelligence to determine its properties.
“Well... I could try to remove the racial limitation,” Lefty said, looking closer at the ancient Small Control Bracelet. He turned it over a few times, then squeezed out: “Five thousand crystals!”
What a damn ask! Seemingly, the craftsman had judged by my swanky Listener suit and Annihilator, so he figured I must have money coming out of my ears. Yes, I had enough, but it was in crypto, which were useless here, so I had to negotiate. But first, I dumbfounded the Mechanic with an alternate viewpoint:
“Five thousand? Do you even have that kind of money?”
“What?” Lefty clearly didn’t understand, so I had to chew it over for the surly worker:
“Any artisan in the Universe would give their right arm... or tentacle... or whatever appendage... for the ability to work with ancient items! After all, it gives unique experience, which means guaranteed growth in skill and level! Eventually, most craftsmen hit a levelling ceiling, and this is the only way to keep moving forward. Now I am giving you the rare chance to gain experience. So, let’s forget about your accidental offer. I want to hear a clear answer. Will you take the job, or should I take it to the Second Legion’s Mechanic?”
Lefty clipped a monocle-like device over his eye, spent a long time playing with the settings, turning little wheels, then muttered thoughtfully:
“Yurik from the Second Legion couldn’t handle this... it is a really hard job... It’ll be two long hard days at least... and there will be expenses for materials...”
“Will three hundred crystals be enough?” I asked, pouring out a handful of red sparkling gems.
Our best Mechanic removed the monocle, looked at the wealth on the table and gave a short nod. We shook hands, cementing the deal.
Mental Fortitude skill increased to level twenty-two!
Mental Fortitude? Not Psionic?! That was very unusual and even made me think. Did that mean I didn’t make the craftsman agree by psionic suggestion, but overcame someone else’s magical block? Seemed like it!
The craftsman was in such a hurry to eat I didn’t even have time to say goodbye. Then, Ivan Lozovsky walked up with Tini, who had finally turned up. The Diplomat handed the kitten off to me and asked me to not leave the Miyelonian teen unsupervised again, because Tini couldn’t speak Russian or Geckho and immediately got completely and totally lost.
At the same time, taking advantage of the opportunity, Lozovsky commented on my negotiations with the captive Princess:
“I have to admit, Gnat, I’m struck! It was so easy for you to get Minn-O to open up and tell you everything! As for your unexpected move with the ‘junior wife,’ I will not try to guess how our faction and especially the outside curators will take it. But if the Dark Faction Leng really does give us back the traitor, they won’t be able to object! And think what a crushing psychological blow that will be for those who were going to follow Tyulenev and betray us to the Dark Faction. It will completely undermine their peace of mind. At any moment, they could be traded and sent back!”
Authority increased to 21!
“It’s too early to speak about that,” I said, interrupting the overly optimistic Diplomat, who was getting ahead of himself. “After all, we don’t know the Dark Faction Leng’s answer yet.”
“No matter, we’ll find out soon! Later today, right after discussing this at the directors’ council, I will call the Dark Faction on a diplomatic channel and give Thumor-Anhu our official response. I have spoken with the great mage before and have some concept his value system, so I’m sure that, between saving the traitor Tyulenev, who is despised by all, and improving the fate of his beloved granddaughter, the Coruler will choose the latter.”
“Oh! I now little-bit understand you language!” the Miyelonian Translator mewed in satisfaction, which clearly embarrassed Lozovsky, who’d just broached a fairly confidential topic in her presence.
The Diplomat apologized to both Miyelonians and Eduard Boyko, who was also there. He took me further away and lowered his voice to a whisper:
“I got an interesting question from Gerd Ustinov’s laboratory, where they are now intensively studying the diagram of the Tiopeo-Myhh II. They found a strange marker in the digital model, a level-279 Morphian. Gnat... is that what I think it is? The same Morphian you told Kosta Dykhsh about?”
My heart ran off on its heels. How could I have forgotten??? After all, I had seen it before. It was how I had been able to tell Ayni was actually the Morphian in the first place! Although... what choice did I have, even if I had remembered? I had no way of deleting just the marker, and the diagram of the advanced alien interceptor had too high a value to humanity as a whole to keep it from our scientists.
“You don’t have to answer. I can read it on your face...” the Diplomat chuckled in dismay and turned to Ayn
i, who was talking sweetly with the kitten. “Hrmph, now here’s a problem... Clearly, we don’t want that information to spread, because people might react skittishly. And we definitely cannot allow the Geckho to find out. So, I’ll tell the science guys that our guests have an item that fudges data, giving a random race and level. And we can pretend we don’t know any better.”
“It won’t work. The Morphian can sense the emotional background of anyone nearby and detect any changes in it. Fear, worry, desire to hide something. It probably already knows that you also know its secret. The best move is to just put it all out there and be honest.”
I called Ayni over, and the short orange cat walked over eagerly, smiling good-heartedly, wagging her tail and looking inoffensive. Not hiding anything, I spoke to her in Geckho, which all three of us knew. Fox’s reaction was surprisingly calm.
“I have to admit, I thought you told everyone right away. But now that it’s happened, all the better. Well, Diplomat, I’ll repeat what I told Gnat: I cannot copy people believably, I am not planning to sit around on the edge of the galaxy forever and, no matter what, I will leave you in a few days. I will cause no harm and could be very helpful. I’ll pay very generously for my stay with information about the nature of the game that bends reality, and my abilities. All my skills are incredibly high-level, perfect for a fitness instructor. In just one session, I can raise Strength, Agility and Constitution by a point in characters who have not yet grown them. And that’s saying nothing about my Fast Jump, Survival, Dodge, Parry, Blades, Melee, and all kinds of armor skills. I can improve those a lot for anyone who wishes.”
“Can you help us in two days in the battle?” Ivan Lozovsky asked, wanting to clear up the most important part.
Ayni considered it for second. While thinking, the orange lady’s pupils turned into vertical slits, just like a normal cat’s. Her fur bristled, and her claws extended. Finally, a carefully calibrated answer followed:
“I have already concluded that the balance of forces in that battle must be disastrous because your soldiers do not believe victory is possible. And no, no one told me that,” Ayni hurried to reassure us after the Diplomat’s ears perked up, “it’s just the general emotional background is very poor: anxiety, despondency and resignation. I cannot do anything about that, but I can cause chaos in the ranks of your enemies or get rid of their leaders. And I don’t care one bit whether they are mages or soldiers, or if they try to hide in underground bunkers or wherever else. Nothing can save them. I can do that two times during the battle, maybe three. But I will not serve as a common soldier to kill hundreds and thousands of your foes. You must achieve victory on your own! I am only backup, not a trump card.”
“Our faction is more than happy with that!” the Diplomat bowed in respect to the fearsome Morphian, after which he turned to me. “Gnat, for one day or maybe even two I would like to have Ayni level up our science geeks. And I’d like you to go on patrol next shift to the Antique Beach. The centauress Phylira asked for you again. She has become the elder mare and is very respected by the herd. Talk with her and try to sow the right seeds. It would be great to hire them for construction work, and hopefully even the upcoming battle.”
Authority increased to 22!
* * *
WE WERE RIDING a Peresvet, not the old beat up little bus. Other than that, the trip was very reminiscent of my first and only patrol so far. The newbie trainer Kisly was in the car too, along with Imran and Anya. Even the Driver was the same, the motormouth San-Sanych. But their opinion of me was different. Back then, I was totally green. I didn’t understand anything about the game and everything surprised me. But now, my allies were hanging on my every word.
And how! I was a high-profile player with never-before-seen armor, a unique weapon and experience in space. Plus, I was acquainted with famous aliens. I was considered an example to be imitated and damn near a benchmark of proper gameplay. So, when we reached the top of the pass through the Yellow mountains, and I asked San-Sanych to stop for five minutes so I could go up a nearby cliff and get a good view of the area, the driver didn’t even think of saying no.
Last time, we were in thick fog, I couldn’t see more than fifteen feet, and I didn’t set foot outside the little bus. But now, I could see the winding path perfectly and managed to get a great view. This area was full of natural beauty, and the sentry tower could not have been in a better location. I also had a wonderful view of the piercingly blue sea to the west where, at the very horizon, I could see the outline of the opposite bay. Most likely, that was the node with the Geckho space port. I could also see a Geckho ferry making quickly for the south, probably to collect tribute from whoever lived there.
Cartography skill increased to level forty-eight!
Eagle Eye skill increased to level fifty-five!
Eagle Eye skill increased to level fifty-six!
All I could see to the south though, behind the somewhat lower mountain peaks, was an ocean of green that extended to the very horizon. Those impenetrable swampy jungles were inhabited primarily by dryads, minotaurs and centaurs. That area was of particular interest to me because south was apparently the only direction my faction could expand. If of course, we weren’t seriously considering the utopian Project Exodus proposed by Radugin, to build a base on the opposite shore of the gulf and resettle there, leaving all our current lands to escape the constant Dark Faction pressure.
“I used to think Swimming was one of the most useless skills in the game,” Tini’s said with delight. He was my only companion who had the spunk to follow me up. “I always figured: how much water can there really be? Can’t you always just walk around it? Why waste the slot? But look how much there is here...”
“Sometimes, there is even more water. Whole open oceans that take dozens of days to cross by ship,” I assured the kitten, who was staring with acute fascination. Then I sharply changed topic. “Tini, do you still have the tail of Priestess Amiru U-Mayaoo?”
It would probably be hard to scare the Miyelonian teen more than I just accidentally had. The kitten’s ears instantly pressed down, and his eyes squinted. Tini started shivering rapidly and crouched down, putting his tail between his legs and covering his head with his front paws. If he even pissed himself in fear, I wouldn’t have been surprised...
“Come on, look how scared you are!” I said calmly and even peacefully, trying to reassure my underaged companion before he accidentally died of a heart attack. “Practically the whole Universe knows that Ayni had the tail. And I remember you digging in her things on the spaceship. So I’m asking because I know I wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation of a unique trophy. I just couldn’t ask earlier, because Ayni was always nearby.”
Tini stood and lowered his front paws, although he was still not confident.
“Yes, Master Gnat. Here it is,” said the kitten, handing me the icy white fluffy tail, tied in a double knot. “Other than the plastic capsule where I found this, Ayni had nothing of value. The whole box was filled with some sticky gel. I think it was some special filler, so the scanners couldn’t detect the organic matter.”
“Probably...” I answered distractedly, because all my attention was now wrapped up in the invaluable trophy.
Tail of Leng Amiru U-Mayaoo, Level-260 Priestess (trophy)
“It’s so beautiful! Tini, do you know what this is?” I asked with a quavering voice, not strong enough to hold back my anxiety.
“Uhh... a tail?” the level-35 Thief suggested boldly, but I just laughed in reply.
“No, Tini. This is my own starship!!! And despite your young age, I promise you can have your very own bunk once I get it! Now, I just need to find the right buyer. And Priestess Amiru seems like the best candidate!”
I spent two minutes staring into the lustrous fur, smiling stupidly and forming plans for the future. After that, I stored the trophy in my inventory and told Tini to get back to the Peresvet.
* * *
THE ELDER CENTAUR mare ha
d been warned I was coming and was stamping her four shod hooves impatiently on the sand next to a fallen post of the barbed wire fence, not wanting to cross the border.
Phylira. Centaur. Antiquity Faction. Level-112 Matriarch.
What?! I remembered Phylira being a young flirtatious filly of level... I couldn’t remember, but I was sure it was nothing too noteworthy. But now, that young creature was all gone except the coat: white with black zebra-like stripes. Phylira herself was twice as large, much taller and more imposing. Thick leather armor covered her voluptuous feminine body and human arms, smoothly flowing into a horse body behind. The centauress was also wearing a classical high-ridged bronze helmet on her head. But most importantly, her level was over 100... I had heard that NPC’s progressed an order of magnitude faster than living players but seeing it with my own eyes was still a shock.
Apparently, the Centaur Matriarch also had a hard time recognizing me in the dark Listener suit.
“Gnat, I can’t even recognize you. Level fifty-five! And you’re a Gerd! You’re growing very fast for a person. I still remember back when you were asking about pearls. Well here you go, a gift from me to you!”
Phylira neighed, giving an order to a group of Centaurs in the distance. A young level-twenty stallion instantly bounded over and, with a deep bow, handed me a large black pearl the size of a walnut. Woah! Without the Trading skill, I wouldn’t even come close to estimating the value of such a gift. Two hundred crystals? Maybe a thousand? Or ten thousand? In any case, the elder mare was showing me great respect with this treasure. I suspected it was the most valuable thing she owned.
But how could I answer such a show of respect? What could I give Phylira of even remotely equivalent value? The sparking Miyelonian blade I’d given Imran would have served me well here. Or maybe the +1 Agility tantalum earring with emerald inset? Great thought! Although... I was reminded that my faction had found magic rings on dead centaur before. So, a ring with +1 Agility probably wouldn’t impress the mare much. My gift would have to get its value somewhere else.
External Threat (Reality Benders Book #2) LitRPG Series Page 30
