Interlude: Snow White
Commander Sam. That was the name Snow White had overheard from the Nikke in black and red. In her opinion, he is like a puzzle–something she wants to piece together. There is something about him that thrives in the chaos of the battlefield. He has displayed strength, reflexes, and durability far above normal humans.
But what truly impresses her is his demeanor. He humbly thanked her for scolding him right in front of his squad despite finding out something that shocked him. Most commanders she had saved would curse her or step back in fear if she did it to them.
Even so, her action didn't buy her any goodwill. Her eyes didn't miss the glare from the strawberry-blonde Nikke at his side—irritation radiated from her like a smoldering cinder. She clearly disapproved of the way Snow White had handled her commander.
Before Storm Bringer could attack, Sam stepped forward wearily. He approached Snow white and politely addressed her, "Miss Pilgrim, can I act as your commander for this fight?" His request caused the same Nikke beside him to appear conflicted, flickering her gaze between him and Snow White, but she paid it no mind.
She quietly mulls over it in her mind. In truth, she's not confident she could take down Storm Bringer alone right now—at least not without significant expenses. Its flight altitude means even standardized Nikke-grade firearms will have a hard time delivering lethal damage unless hitting vulnerable parts, even then having air superiority means it didn't lack mobility either.
She had configured the First Seven Dwarves for a heavily armored earthbound rapture, not a swift predator dancing in the sky. She would have to redeploy her Fifth and Sixth Dwarves and burn through all her leftover stockpiled ammo. It is something she is hesitant to do since running out of ammo is a death sentence on the surface—unless they are a katana-wielding Nikke named Scarlet.
Her gaze shifted to the recently arrived Nikke standing near the male commander, holding her headgear in her arms. Her posture looked relaxed despite the looming danger, just like the black and red Nikke, who had discarded her irritation and glared at the airborne Rapture. It was an unusual sight, especially given the circumstances. For Nikke to act this way in the face of a Tyrant right after meeting a Heretic, they had to trust him implicitly. So, she logically concluded that he was trustworthy.
"Sure." She answered, "It has been a while since I used my name, but you can call me Snow White, commander." Snow White added, giving him a curt nod and preparing herself.
He smiles at her and says "Thank you very much for putting your trust in me, Snow White. I promise to lead you to victory."
He adjusts his stance, standing straight as if his exhaustion had vanished in a moment. Even when the winds from the bird-like Rapture started blowing, he didn't falter. He opened his mouth and started issuing commands calmly, confident that he would win this.
In the back of her mind–a fragment of self that persists even after her second Mind Switches–the memory of her sunglasses-wearing commander stirred. Unconsciously, something inside her core that had burned out a long time ago started flickering alive once more.
Sam POV.
Syuen wanted us to capture Chatterbox, who turned out to be a Tyrant-class Rapture. In my opinion, she greatly underestimated it, assuming it to be a Lord-class Rapture at most. Why else would she only send two squads to do so? It's not like she is setting herself up to fail. So she shouldn't complain much if I give her a Storm Bringer instead. A captured Tyrant is better than nothing after all.
Subduing Storm Bringer was easier than fighting against Chatterbox. One reason is that it can't heal as well as the talkative Rapture. Another reason is that it couldn't strategize half as well as Chatterbox could even when under the influence of Mihara's power. It is so predictable that surviving its assaults is just a matter of redirecting its thunder strikes with several makeshift lightning rods created on the spot, focused assault on its missile pods before it could bombard us into oblivion, and taking cover when its feathers suddenly detached and started spinning like turbines, creating a mini-hurricane that shredded metals.
In the middle of all this, Counters (except Neon) plus one worked like clockwork. Anis took up the role of shielder, generating barriers to absorb the bullets Storm Bringer spat out in bursts. Rapi focused on limiting its movement and breaking down its shields and weapons with her assault rifle. Meanwhile, Snow White is reconfiguring her anti-ship sniper rifle to be more effective for the flying rapture by hastening its charging time, causing its damaging potential to decrease. A necessary compromise to be sure, but unlike landbound raptures, mobile flying raptures tend to have lower armor defense.
The encounter ended when Snow White fired her recalibrated First Dwarves. The attack landed on its chest, creating a devastating hole where the device responsible for controlling Storm Bringer's electricity is located. Without it, the bird-like Rapture could not maintain its magnetic field, causing it to lose control over its own feathers and, consequently, its flight system. The airborne Rapture fails to support its weight, making it plummet to the ground with an earth-shaking thud.
When the dust settled, I half-forced myself to stand up from cover, using my sword as a crutch as I surveyed the wreckage. My magic energy is already back at full, so I cast a sight enhancement [Technomancy]'s spell. From what I can see, its core is still glowing red, which indicates that it's alive, thankfully. I don't think it could escape considering how damaged its electromagnetic control unit is. I doubt it can even put its wings back together. All that is left is to secure it and contact Syuen for extraction.
"Thanks for assisting us, Snow White," I said, looking at her face. She had been essential to its defeat, especially when she could've just left us. I need to be more prepared in the future, as air superiority is not something my squad can win against right now. "We couldn't have pulled this operation off smoothly without your help," I added with a smile, something that she didn't return. After all, her sight is focused elsewhere.
The vibrant red rapture core is all that was reflected in her loathing-filled eyes. In a calmer situation, I could have asked what makes her so angry, but it is obvious that she hates all Raptures. "Don't thank me yet. The enemy may be defeated, but it's not dead." Still looking at the core, Snow White bluntly remarked. She then slowly turns to look at me, her eyes meeting mine as if she is asking for permission, "Shouldn't we kill it now?"
I sighed, the weight of failing to capture Chatterboxand Marian's survivalpressing me down. "Believe me, I'd love to," I admitted, scratching the back of my neck. Syuen's smug face suddenly came to mind, and with it, the agreement of taking care of a certain amnesiac young girl. "But I can't let it die yet. I must capture a rapture alive with a value similar to Chatterbox. It's the only way, that I know of, to have enough pieces to renegotiate with Missilis' CEO."
Snow White frowned at that, her disapproval clear. It wasn't the kind of expression you could easily mistake. But she didn't argue. "Very well," she said, her voice neutral, though her body language screamed frustration. "I hope you know what you're doing, Commander Sam." Without waiting for a response, she turned and began packing her weapons, the sound of mechanical components folding into place, filling the silence between us. The boxed turrets followed, neatly collapsing into their stowed configuration.
"I hope so too…" I muttered under my breath, watching her reconfiguring her Anti-ship Sniper in longing. I am so tempted to spend my mana to remotely scan her arsenal, but I held it back. As a crafter, I feel like doing so is akin to using magic to see your ally naked, which is undoubtedly rude. My enemies are fair game, however.
Turning my attention to Anis and Rapi, who had been waiting patiently until I finished my talk with Snow White, I couldn't help but feel a weight pressing down on my chest. Anis stood with her hands on her hips, her shoulders slumped slightly. Meanwhile, Rapi stood with her arms crossed, her face showing the barest hint of weariness.
"Sorry for making you wait for Anis, Rapi," I said, my tone softening as I approached them. "Are you two holding up okay?"
Rapi spoke first, her voice trying to remain steady. "I am fine, Commander Sam." She lies through her teeth, most likely intending to spare me from worrying about her. Not only that, but I can also see how her eyes linger on my legs and the sword I used as a crutch, which had been returned back to its sheath. Damnit Rapi, you are even more wounded than I am. Stop worrying about me.
With one look at my face, Anis immediately jumped into the conversation. She is looking at Rapi rather intensely. "Yeah no, sorry Rapi but that wouldn't work against Commander Sam." She said, gesturing over Rapi's teared-up clothing, and several burned cuts on her body that would expose the circuity beneath otherwise. "Not to mention the fact that apparently, you have a super mode you can turn on at will. Have you checked your own body, girl?"
Rapi had the decency to look the other way, cheeks redding in response.
Cute.
Shaking my head, I turn my attention toward our shielder standing next to Rapi. "How about you Anis? How are you and Neon? I am sorry for making you block its attack for our sake." I said, wearing my heart on my sleeves. I feel my chest constricted at remembering what I asked her to do.
Walking to me, I could see she looked up and down at my body with an unreadable expression, despite all my perks, "We are fine. It's not us who get in melee range with Chatterbox, after all." She said, pushing her index to my heart. "That was a stupid decision, by the way. We are your Nikkes, we should be the ones risking ourselves for your sorry ass!" She half-yelled.
Meeting her gaze, my thought process halted. I was greeted by orange eyes glistening with unshed tears, causing me to lose my breath. My body reacted in instinct, arms pulling her into a hug. I held her tighter, putting her head below my chin, and my other hand caressed her blonde hair carefully. "Forgive me," I began, whispering next to her left ear. "It was my fault for making you worry."
"T-totally," she muttered, her voice muffled against my chest.
Unfocusing from Anis for a moment, I saw Rapi looking at us with a blank face, but I caught the way her eyes twitched for a second. I gestured to the empty spot on my left with my left arm beside Anis. She stood frozen for a second, before mechanically approaching us with stiff steps. Not wasting any time, I captured her in a hug.
There we stood, two battle-worn Nikkes leaning into my arms, one sniffling softly on my right, the other resting her head on my left. For a brief moment, there was peace in this place.
Of course, that is when Celestial Forge once again sent me a perk that turned my whole world upside down, changing me down to my soul. I slipped into [Strategy Trance] right in time before the hammer could hit the anvil, allowing me to be prepared for this perk, named [Item Construction EX].
In the process of settling in with this new perk, I feel like my consciousness has been stretched out to more than three directions, and then carved with countless information from the original universe of [Item Construction EX]. Blueprints of various magical devices called mystic codes appear in my mind. Everything from weapons, accessories, vehicles, formations, or even potions is available to me. I can create items so magically advanced and complex that they can become Noble Phantasms—well, as long as they meet the materials requirement. Solidifying a concept is not cheap, after all.
I suddenly found myself standing on top of an endless archipelago. Above me is a vast blue sky filled sparsely with clouds, accompanied by a single sun casting its light across the realm. Threads of fate extended from me like a shimmering web, linking me to countless figures scattered across the islands floating on a sea that disappeared into the horizon.
Most of them are just humanoid shadows standing on an empty island, but I can see several with more unique characteristics. There is someone who looks like medieval-age nobility holding a book, an unpaid intern researcher wearing a white lab coat, a librarian who somehow looks more put together despite also wearing a lab coat, another lab coat wearing eccentric but with clothing that seems to represent various civilizations age, a blacksmith drenched in too much blood to be healthy, a crafter wearing beautifully crafted fantasy armor while wielding tools that seem to shift each time I blink, a cyberpunk-ish wizard with a silly big hat, a tailor wearing multiple jackets, a noble that dabble in alchemist, an engineer wearing a cheap mass-produced space suit, and much more.
One figure stands out from the rest, as he is the only one whose connection is currently being made by the Forge. He looks like a white-haired old man wearing a black suit that is adorned with various functional magical accessories and tools. Pink and blue girlish (as in, for a little girl) wands twirled around him, somehow acted more alive than the old man. Behind him, a liquid golem made of mercury served him tea while dressed in a maid outfit.
Noticing my gaze, all magical trinkets froze in place. The old man raised his head from his book, meeting my eyes with a grin on his surprisingly youthful face. A face that looks just like mine if I am two or three decades older.
He put his hand over his chest, reaching out inside him and then pulling a ball of light where his heart was supposed to be. The light sphere in his hand is reconstructed into an ancient-looking leather-bound book with a pocket watch on one of its covers. Wordlessly, he threw the book right into my chest, burying itself inside my soul.
Yes, I know this doesn't make much sense, but that is the only way I can describe my experience after suddenly ascending to a higher state of existence and being aware of every connection to my soul constructed by Celestial Forge, even if it only lasts for a moment. It's not like I planned for something like this to happen, y'know.
Anyway, to make it sound simpler, I can make anything that can be made from the universe where [Item Construction EX] comes from, as long as it doesn't need unique one-off material (like True Ether, Planet approval, or True Magics) since I can't make those.
As a bonus, I also gained a Noble Phantasm,Silver Watch: The Forger's Timekeeper (E).It is a silver pocket watch engraved with various properties that work for one simple purpose, telling me how much time is needed to complete a task. The accuracy depends on how close the task is related to crafting, modifying, altering, and repairing something. Of course, as an E-ranked NP, I need to specify what kind of task I do. I can't just say something vague like 'how long it would take to take back the surface' and expect anything but error 404 not found.
Enough pondering my newly gained perk and its side bonus, I need to start thinking of the present. Mainly, how to secure Storm Bringer, request extraction, and then deal with Syuen.
There are two things I need to do before that. First, make sure the two Nikkes in my hug have recovered. Second, I need to talk with Snow White. I can see from the corner of my eyes that she is almost done storing her arsenal.
Stepping out of [Strategy Trance] I was greeted by two pairs of eyes. "Another new perk?" Anis asked her tone somewhere between exasperated and amused.
I loosened my grip, took a deep breath, and centered myself. The lingering warmth faded as they stepped back. Anis looked up at me with a crooked smile, trying to mask the concern still etched on her expression, while Rapi showed a more neutral smile if tinged with a hint of contentment.
"Yeah. It's something that could help us in the long term." I admitted, my voice carrying a mix of weariness and forced levity. "For now, could you two please secure Storm Bringer? I'm sorry to trouble you both again." I said while scratching the back of my head.
"Understood," Rapi answered with a sharp nod. She began approaching the mangled yet still alive Rapture.
Anis stayed for a moment, her gaze lingering on my face. Turning back to me, she absentmindedly spoke while twirling her hair, "...Could you do me a favor and forget what just happened, Commander?"
Even if she couldn't see it, I gave her a helpless gentle smile, "Sure. If that is what you want, Anis."
"Good…" she mumbled, her head dipping slightly. She glanced back at me quickly, before turning away again. "Bye, Commander," she called over her shoulder as she ran to join Rapi.
A faint sigh escaped me as I watched them go. Taking a deep breath, I once again start centering myself. Determined, I walk toward Snow White, unclasp the escape briefcase from my back, and grip it with my hand. I don't know when I will have a chance to meet her again, so giving her the means to contact me is something I can't let go of.
"Snow White," I called softly, stopping a few steps away.
Her back was to me, but I could tell she had heard me. However, she didn't stop packing up. "What?" She replied with a growl in her voice.
"Before you leave, I want you to have this." I hold out the briefcase, offering it to her.
She glances back at me, her gaze flicking to the thing in my hand "A briefcase?" She asked with a flat tone, staring at it blankly.
I smirk and put my thumb on the portal button, directing my magical energy into it. I made sure not to press it until enough energy was poured. "Not just any briefcase," I say, clicking it. I point it toward the empty space beside me, and a glowing circle begins to spin, slowly expanding, showing us a familiar interior.
Snow White looks at the portal with stars in her eyes. "You are letting me have this many Rapture parts?" Scratch that. She was actually staring at the pile of scavenged material stacked over the top in my room.
"Well, you could take them," I said, holding back the urge to greet my face with my left hand. What is she, a hoarding raccoon? Taking a deep breath, I continue my explanation. "But I actually mean you can have this briefcase, which opens a portal to my room back at the Outpost."
Tearing her sight away from piles of loot, she looked at me with her brows furrowing. "Portal? Is the Ark already advanced that much?"
"I don't know what your benchmark for advanced is, but probably not," I answered with a shrug. "This is something I recently made based on some obscure theory, so I doubt they can create something like this," I said, gesturing to the device that if known would be heavily desired by all important figures in the Ark.
Her head tilted slightly, a frown creasing her brow. "You made it?"
Shaking her head, Snow White sharpened her gaze. "What's your angle here, 'commander'?" She asked with a whisper, her hand positioned in such a way that she only needed a second to draw her weapon and shoot me.
"I want a reliable way to contact you, or any Nikkes like you." I looked into her eyes and spoke honestly with an easy-going smile. "As for why I want that, it is because I want to fund you all with several supplies from the Ark. Something like Ammo, gun parts, even some food like-"
"-You had me at 'food'." Snow White interrupted, her hostile gaze replaced with something much more feral. Her lips parted slightly, revealing a ravenous grin. "How soon are you going to do it?" she asked, her eyes gleaming as a bit of drool escaped her mouth.
"Uhhh, soon-ish? Most likely five to six hours from now, depending on how soon Missilis can pick up the Storm Bringer." Watching her eyes staring at me with anticipation, I think I know how to ease her into accepting the portal maker.
"Wait here for a minute," I said, putting the briefcase on the floor. I start walking through the portal back into my room. Quickly, I picked up a box of canned 'Splendamin' ration I stored on my shelf. Returning back to the surface the same way, I was greeted by Snow White's intense gaze.
"Take this." The box practically flew from my hands into hers, and for the first time, I saw her expression shift into a softer, happier grin.
Snow White hugged the box like it was a long-lost treasure. "This will do for now," she muttered, eyeing the cans like they were made of pure gold. As soon as she realized what she had done, Snow White froze like a statue. "You did not see that." She whispered, eyes dead set on my pairs.
"I did not see that," I repeated back to her, giving her a gentle nod.
Her glare lingered for a moment before she turned her attention back to the rations. Seemingly pacified by it, I picked up the portal maker. I turned it off and closed the portal. "So anyway, here is the briefcase. We can discuss other things later." I said, holding the briefcase out toward her.
Snow White said nothing. The wind rustled through the clearing, carrying the faint scent of gunpowder and smoke. Slowly, she extended one hand and took the briefcase from me.
"You sure trusted me a lot despite us being strangers at best, Commander." She said, her tone cautious but not unfriendly. "Sure, I will keep it for now."
"That's all I'm asking." I stepped back, giving her some space. "Just please try not to take everything in my room. Especially the furniture. They aren't Nikke-proof just yet."
Her lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "No promises," she said, turning back to her belongings and stowing the briefcase carefully in her pack. Hoisting her gear, she gave me one last look.
I took that as my cue. "See you later, Snow White! Don't forget to use it 8 hours from now!" I reminded her. " Please be careful on your journey!" I said with a smile and double thumbs of approval.
Her eyes lingered on me for a moment longer. "Sure," she nodded, "see you later… Commander."
And with that, she was off, running into the distance with the speed and grace only a Nikke could manage. I watched her go, her figure growing smaller against the barren city.
I turned and started walking away, but not without stealing one last glance over my shoulder. Hopefully, we can talk again to hash out a more detailed plan later. Still, it's not like distance really matters when she can get supplied with a simple press of a button.
Storm Bringer is still alive, but it wouldn't be for much longer if I did nothing. Each second passed, its core glows slightly dimmer than before. I have to find a way to stop that somehow.
Unlike the Wardress squad, who can capture an unwounded Rapture alive with their unique powers used in conjunction, Storm Bringer is already halfway to greet death by the time we manage to secure it. At best, it would still be 'alive' for 2 more hours, which is not long enough. That caused me to delve deep into my mind, searching for something I could do to resolve this issue.
I found a possible solution to that, but I would have to do something first.
Summoning my Silver Watch NP, I used a hundredth of my magical energy reserve to ask how much time was needed to cut off Storm Bringer's core from the rest of Rapture networks without being noticed if I used my current capability right now. The watch answered by moving its big hand from 3 to 4, and nothing else. Confident with its prediction, I grab the core and start working.
I use my Aura Sight to observe its aura. Despite also being a Tyrant, Storm Bringer's aura is simpler than Chatterbox, with fewer redundancies and safety measures. Even the part that stretched out to the distant horizon is far smaller than Chatterbox's own, about a twentieth of Chatty's.
{Listen to me.}I began my instruction using [Technomancy, forcing it to follow my instruction. I watch with trepidation how the connection would react to that. Confirming its inaction, I continue.
{You want to Obey me.}I reinforce my previous commands, once again seeing no reaction from the connection.
{Play dead.}I watched as the threads connecting it to the Rapture network weakened, their hold loosening. Coincidentally, It also prolongs its life for a few more minutes.
{Slowly isolate yourself from the rest of the network.}Bit by bit, the aura complied, withdrawing its tendrils from the distant horizon. The process was painstakingly slow but steady. I held my breath, monitoring every fluctuation, every twitch of aura, ready to react if the network detected my action.
It didn't.
Finally, the connection broke. Its core is now isolated from the network. To them, this Storm Bringer is already dead. I exhaled, feeling relief flooding my heart. I look at the Silver Watch and see that five minutes have passed since I started. I still have about 9/10 of magical energy remaining in my reserve.
With the hacking part done, now it is time to make it survive long enough to not be my problem. I needed to find a way to sustain it without allowing Storm Bringer to recover fully. My eyes scanned its massive form, landing on one of its electricity-controlling devices located just above its core. Perfect.
I look at the Silver Watch, asking how long it will take me to create something that can power it up if I use my Authority and my current capability, including [To Do Today, of course.
One hour and a half.
The grin on my face couldn't possibly get any wider.
"My inspiration is unending." I start chanting with a low voice to activate [World's Maker, using a tenth of my reserve to power it.
"My creations are peerless." The air started vibrating in excitement. Magical energy started manifesting with a blue glow, twirling around me. My aura enveloped my whole body, further enhancing it.
"My tools are unrivaled. "The magical energy slowly gains more definition, shaping itself into various tools I might need.
Through the magical light show, I caught sight of Rapi and Anis. They hadn't stepped back as I had ordered, standing resolutely at my side despite the pressure my body emits as a Campione. A warm feeling spread through my chest, threatening to break my concentration. They'd made their choice. Stopping now would dishonor their trust.
"My hands shall give birth to perfection only. For of all makers I reign supreme."The chant finally reached its crescendo, and all tools fully materialized, hanging in the air like an extension of my will. My mind expanded, increasing alternative designs stored in my mind and giving birth to even more creative shortcuts and possible solutions. I suddenly gained the knowledge on how to enhance, curse, and bless my creation to get where I want it to be. This will circumvent several steps that need rare materials that are impossible to get even with [Compounding Alchemy]. Now I can just bless the base item and use [Compounding Alchemy] to raise whatever properties are needed.
Now, to make sure [To Do Today] will be activated.
"Red eyes, Gun smoke, and Tears…. Can we stay in the Holy Land?"
[SPOILER="Chapter 6"]
[SPOILER="11 rolls"]
•214 -Item Construction EX (Fate Servant Supplement) (600CP)
• The Skill to manufacture magical items, from implements of war to items for daily use. The EX Rank represents something that falls outside of the numerical ranking scale, a value that cannot be quantified under the normal system because it is in a league of its own, powerful to the extent of rendering comparisons meaningless. (Descriptions taken from the Type-Moon wiki.) You have the knowledge and skill to build things rivaling anything seen in the Fate franchise.
•EX: Able to make healing potions that grant true immortality, craft Kaleidosticks and other world altering artifacts. Basically, anything on the level of Noble Phantasm, with caveat that they are only limited by what they know of.
• A: Capable of making healing potions that grant limited immortality.
• B: Production of devices that carry magic power.
Noble Phantasm:
Silver Watch: The Forger's Timekeeper (E)
A silver Pocket watches made in 18th century in another universe/multiverse/worldline. Originally made by what might be the Second's most successful apprentice. This is the first Mystic Code he made with a simple function; To tell how much time needed to complete any task related to forging. If only it is ranked above B, then it can even correctly predict the time it would take for disaster to unfold—or for salvation to arrive. (for example, it can correctly predict that humanity would be annihilated by the year of 2012 at 19th century)
Points Left: 200
/SPOILER]
Unchosen Perks
[SPOILER="11 roll"]
22 -Arsenal Of Destruction (Galactic Civilisations II) (400CP) (Time)
43. Tinkerer (God Catching Alchemy Meister) (100CP) (Skill)
178. That Undefinable Thing (Tales of Symphonia) (300CP)