As the two entered the room, they were momentarily taken aback by the chaos before them.
The cot had been destroyed, the sheets were strewn across the floor, and Finnian sat next to a succulent, looking as if he were about to take a bite out of his own hand. However, after the initial shock wore off, the two exchanged knowing glances and adopted an unfazed demeanour.
After all, they had more important matters to attend to.
Father Fionnlagh had the book that Edna had given him in his hand, it's black cover adorned with beautiful golden filigree. The book looked like it belonged to a royal family, as if it were an heirloom, passed down by generations.
What they planned to do with the book was fairly straightforward. After all, the book did not contain any spells or an intricate story. In fact, the book contained barely any words whatsoever.
As this book was populated mostly by pictures.
"Ok, Finnian," the old man said, placing the book before the baby's feet. "Now we want you to flip through this book and try to explain to us who you are, and where you came from."
The large book was truly remarkable. As Finnian flipped through its pages, he encountered what appeared to be images of everything one could possibly imagine. However, the sheer abundance of visuals was also overwhelming.
"How do you expect him to be able to make a coherent sentence from all of this?" Kerian questioned.
"Ahh, I see you are scared of being proven wrong. Well, I can understand the feeling."
"You know that's not it, old timer. All that I'm saying is there are way too many pictures in there for the baby to form any coherent sente—"
Kerian was interrupted by the baby's groan, calling them to pay attention.
"What the hell am I supposed to do with this book?"
As the book was placed before the boy, the first feeling that came to him was confusion. However, as he opened the pages of the book, to find that all that was currently before him were merely countless random pictures, his confusion only increased.
"What, is this some kind of fancy picture book or something?"
"Well, now that these two are here I guess I will have to hold off on the self-transformation. After all, I don't want to reveal my trump card to everyone just yet."
Finnian continued to scour through the pages of the book, looking for anything that might be of assistance to him, anything that would get these two off his back so he could test out his new powers.
However, within the pages of that book, the boy found something even more interesting.
A memory.
As the boy turned the pages of the book, he stopped on a page with a picture of a knife, reminiscing about when he thought the Kerian was about to attack him.
However, as he looked up at the top of the page, he saw a word that seemed strangely familiar.
'Farlig.'
"Farlig... How do I know that word?" Finnian thought to himself
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he looked up to a familiar sight.
"Haha, this day just keeps getting better and better."
The ceiling above the boy began to break apart, sending cracks and fissures snaking across the surface. The dust and debris fell slowly, coating the room in a thick haze. This time, however, it wasn't a city that descended, but a single room—his room, or the room of his former self.
However, in this vast expanse of the room, one thing was missing: his past self.
"Hey, hey, we're missing the main character here."
"What is this supposed to be, a memory just of my room and nothing else? How the hell did that word even trigger th—"
The boy was interrupted by a faint noise, coming not from under the bed, nor under the duvet, but under the mattress.
"What the hell?"
The weight of my mattress let me dream of what it would feel like to be caught under the thighs of a bigger woman; where I felt most at peace. But soon that tranquilly became a stifling pressure, and I had to flee to the top of my bedsheets. Now in a more or less uncomfortable posture, I reached for my phone and tapped one of the several vivid, multi-coloured icons.
The time on my phone was 2:13 AM. Though I knew I ought to be asleep, my fingers moved naturally over the menu that I was all too familiar with.
The opening screen of Girl Zords hit me with a blast of neon and metallic colours. As the game loaded, a techno song played in the background, and the main screen showed my assembled squad of Girl Zords, each with their own design and customised mechs, arranged in a beautiful grid.
The dev's created each character uniquely, combining anime-style beauty with cybernetic armour.
Girl Zords exceeded mere gacha game entertainment value.
The fundamental idea was to compile an always expanding roster of strong heroines, each matched with their own fighting mech, thereby combining strategy with collecting.
But the game's real beauty was the MegaMech system.
Every female had a formidable mech, but when some were merged, they produced a MegaMech, a massive battle machine with capabilities much beyond those of its individual components. While a poorly matched set could produce an unworkable, useless mess, the proper mix could lead to a unique synergy.
Unlocking a new MegaMech combination was unlike anything before since every fusion revealed a whole new unit with unique design, voice lines, and unique attacks.
Of course, the gacha system was the heart of the experience. Pulling for fresh Girl Zords was always a risk; SSR pilots were the rarest and most sought-after. The exhilaration of watching the rainbow-coloured summoning animation—signifying an ultra-rare pull—was addictive; the expectation grew as the reveal animation played out and resulted in the view of a brand-new fighter ready to be dispatched.
Some were exclusive for limited-time events, which meant that players had to work hard to get resources or risk missing out on the best troops. The game thrived on this cycle of anticipation and reward, keeping me and countless others hooked.
I stopped for a moment while scrolling through the match menu before picking the AI opponent. Usually, I stayed away from challenging them; beating a dumb script did not bring any meaningful challenge or gratification. But at this hour, I didn't feel like dealing with some salty player flaming me in chat when I inevitably wiped the floor with them. AI it was.
The match loaded in as the screen blazed.
Map: Neon Abyss
Skyscrapers stretched endlessly into the heavens, their neon-lit frontages shimmering against the darkness. The cityscape was constantly, rhythmically, drenched in the ever-present rain falling in thick sheets. On the cracked tarmac, puddles developed reflecting the brilliant commercials all around the buildings. The terrible mood was enhanced when steam hissed from sewage grates. I had battled here many times before. Though it wasn't the worst map, it lacked the dynamic features that made other maps more interesting.
As my opponent loaded in, a chat bubble sprang forth on my screen.
AI*Unit*47: Opponent detected. Combat engagement sequence initiated.
Me: Try not to short-circuit when I destroy you.
AI*Unit*47: Confidence levels exceeding projected parameters. Adjusting difficulty.
I gave a little grin. Although it was rare to have any real dialogue out of an artificial intelligence opponent, the developers had at least provided some pre-programmed answers. Though it wasn't much, it was better than nothing.
The camera panned out, revealing both of our MegaMechs as they took their positions on opposite sides of the battlefield.
Humanoid in design, with a balanced frame like something straight out of a military handbook, the AI's MegaMech was as standard as they came. With strengthened plating covering its arms and legs, its colour scheme was dreary, metallic greys and dark blues. A standard-issue energy blade buzzed in its right hand as a twin-barrelled cannon sat on its shoulder.
And then there was mine.
My MegaMech was something quite distinct from the conventional model of the AI's. Most pilots developed their fusions around a balanced frame, but I had taken a somewhat different approach. My basic mech, functioning as the torso, arms, and head, was sleek and humanoid with polished black and gold design. She had a royal red glow in her eyes.
The major difference, though, was the legs, or rather, the fact that I had two enormous legs composed of four specialised mechs. Each of them contributed in a unique way, specialising in various forms of power distribution and movement. The front half of the legs focused on speed and agility, while the back half provided stability and crushing force.
While my unit moved, the strengthened legs supporting the rain-slick terrain, the AI's MegaMech adopted a defensive posture. Glistening under the neon lights, the deluge slid down their armoured frames.
The arena erupted at the voice of the announcer.
"Combatants, get ready for battle!"
My grip tightened on my phone.
"Three... Two... One... Begin!"
The battle field sprang to life the instant the announcer's voice cut off.
HP Display:
AI*Unit*47 MegaMech
Total HP: 18,000
Core Zord HP: 9,000
Left Arm Zord HP: 3,000
Right Arm Zord HP: 3,000
Left Leg Zord HP: 1,500
Right Leg Zord HP: 1,500
My MegaMech
Total HP: 20,500
Core Zord (Body & Arms) HP: 7,500
Left Leg 1 Zord HP: 3,250
Left Leg 2 Zord HP: 3,250
Right Leg 1 Zord HP: 3,250
Right Leg 2 Zord HP: 3,250
Rain pounded against us as we moved. My MegaMech swung easily into an aggressive posture while my fingers danced over the controls. Already moving, the AI's standard-issue machine was examining the ground and modifying its battle strategy.
AI*Unit*47: Starting tactical participation. Determining the ideal attack path.
Across my screen, a red aiming reticule flicked. The AI's MegaMech raised its right arm, energy thrummed through the blade mounted there before it lunged forward, slashing in a wide, sweeping motion. Standard opening gambit. Predictable.
I turned my controls. With its improved legs, each made of two distinct Zords, my MegaMech rocketed sideways with an inhuman smoothness. The rain-slick ground did nothing to slow my machine's momentum, and in a split second, I was behind the AI.
I quickly inputted a command. Right Leg 2, a Zord with powerful thrusters built into its design, ignited its boosters. At the moment of ignition my MegaMech pivoted mid-air to provide a lethal aerial kick squarely into the AI's side.
A loud crash thundered over the battle field, sending the torrent of rain back, even if just for a moment.
The aftermath rocked the battlefield. As sparks burst forth from the AI's plating, the MegaMech lurched, its equilibrium knocked off.
AI*Unit*47 MegaMech HP: 15,400 (-2,600)
The chat flickered at the corner of my vision.
Artificial Intelligence Unit 47: compromise of structural integrity. Changing fighting algorithms.
Twin guns primed on its shoulders shot out a torrent of bullets in my direction. A barrage of energy shots tore through the rain-heavy air. This once again, however was just another one of the AI's many predictable moves. My MegaMech crouched low—a feat most normal MegaMechs couldn't even manage due to issues with weight distribution—before launching forward, dodging through the incoming fire.
With a flick of my fingers, my MegaMech's arms surged towards the AI, energy coursing through its reinforced fists, causing them to glow brighter than the neon signs. The AI tried to bring its own weapon up in defence, but I was already too close. The strike connected, sparks and shrapnel exploding outward.
AI*Unit*47 Right Arm HP: 1,000 (-2,000)
The arm was barely hanging on, the servos within malfunctioning. A clean strike.
Still, the artificial intelligence moved with determination. Its left arm reared back despite the injuries to deliver a forceful, desperate punch. It resonated somewhat with the core of my MegaMech.
My MegaMech Core HP: 7,100 (-400)
Pathetic damage.
The damage was barely even noticeable, nothing more than a pin prick. Taking a small step back, my MegaMech flexed its enormous legs as the rain slid over its shining armour.
My MegaMech shot ahead with exact, quick motions. I jumped high above the battlefield with a strong push from both legs, the rain splitting as the shadow of my MegaMech loomed over the shattered vehicle.
The thrusters started once more as we dropped, both legs working in perfect harmony. My MegaMech spun in midair, gathering momentum before delivering a devastating double kick, both reinforced legs slamming straight into the AI's core.
Another loud crash shook the surrounding area.
The MegaMech of the artificial intelligence crumbled, the power of the impact sending it skidding over the rain-slick ground and slamming into one of the tall buildings. Its systems tried to stand, then collapsed into a defeated heap, sparks flickering lifelessly.
AI*Unit*47 MegaMech HP: 0 (-15,400)
SYSTEM MESSAGE: VICTORY!
The rain continued to pour as my MegaMech stood tall, undamaged for the most part. The neon lights reflected off its polished armor, my squad of Zords reveling in their well-earned triumph.
I smirked, stretching my fingers. Another win. Another flawless battle.
The match results flashed across the screen. I barely paid attention to the stats.
Nonetheless, something else caught my eye.
A new banner announcement has just gone online. The vivid promotional screen throbbed with an appealing golden tone, drawing my attention like a moth to a flame. I suddenly noticed her.
She led the advertisement, surrounded by spectacular light and intricate mechanical parts. However, none of this was particularly significant, not to me anyway. One object alone attracted my attention.
Her thighs.
Something so plain and clear. Still, it spoke to me in ways that no other banner had done before. A black cloth wrapped over her thighs accentuating every beautiful feature before cutting off to reveal the bare skin above. Perfection.
I needed her.
I quickly navigated to the summon menu, having already decided to spend everything I had. My pulse quickened with anticipation, and my fingers hung over the pull button.
And then, I saw it.
Limited Edition: Only available to the top-ranked player at the end of the season.
I froze. My enthusiasm transformed into something else entirely.
Determination.
I wasn't going to roll for her right here. No, I intended to make her proud. I was going to take my rightful place at the top of the rankings.
I was going to be the one that sat at the summit.
That thigh-high-clad goddess was going to be mine.