MM - Chapter 158 - APOCALYPTIC PORTENTS

Sandstone City

- Coalition of Masters Headquarters -

“I found him!” The aide who burst into Grandmaster Vought’s study waved an outdated sheaf of paper in front of him as he hurried across the tidy room.

Vought quirked a brow but did not otherwise make note of the young man’s flamboyant entrance. The boy was a genius in his field and had all the quirkiness that came with his brilliance. Minor breaches in decorum were acceptable for one who outperformed a dozen of their peers combined.

“I thought you said Jedidiah’s murderer didn’t exist. That he never existed.”

Now holding the papers tight to his chest, the young man lifted his chin, striking a pose. “He didn’t-doesn’t! The name and biometrics don't match any living or expired individual.” The grandmaster displayed thinning patience with a dead stare, prompting the aide to get to the point. “Since the biometric patterning pulled nothing, we assumed he had extensive cybernetics. While the others chased that trail, I poured over every frame of the vodcast. His bruising patterns were too consistent, natural even. I couldn’t let that detail go.”

Vought sighed, wondering how long this would take. He spun a finger through the air. The aide paled, sweat sprouting on his brow. A grandmaster’s finger was not the same as an ordinary person's. Through the lightest touch, they could transmit enough external force to turn even a trained, hardened master like Jedidiah into a cloud of pink mist.

The aide gulped yet still couldn’t help but explain his success in detail. Such dedication to grandstanding was barely admirable enough to not punish the child. “I dug up every scrap I could find about the members of his guild in ZionLine. The clues were right there the whole time. Raine KongRu is exactly who he said he is.”

That got Vought’s attention. If there was no Raine KongRu, then how was he who he claimed to be?

“Whoever covered KongRu’s tracks did it in a way that's still beyond my comprehension. If I tried to face their efforts front on, I would still be just as useless as the rest of the crew. For, uhh, personal reasons, I developed a habit of copying the databases of Hypernet and IS sites that get axed. History shouldn’t be deleted just because some ol—” 

Vought’s eye twitched, and a sliver of killing intent lanced into the nape of the aide’s neck. The young man froze, unable to so much as blink. The effects vanished as quickly as they came.

Realizing he’d crossed the line this time, the aide was quick to wrap up his explanation. “I found this still-frame image on my personal copy of BlisterGaze, an old social media platform that got a little too radical. Retinal came back as a 100% match!” A blown-up image of an overweight slob was delicately placed on the grandmaster’s desk.

Grandmaster Vought saw the similarities right away. There was no mistaking the cheekbones and angle of his jaw. Despite being fat, slovenly, and visibly depressed, the young man in the image was definitely Raine KongRu. Vought’s attention was drawn to the caption of the original post just below the picture. “Can you believe it? Big bro’s birthday and he doesn’t even smile! Don’t care won’t care! Richtor and Raine, the KongRu Krushers, back together again. Living it up in Central Park” - 2481 May 15th.

Vought’s gaze was fixated on the last few words, his gut churning as complicated emotions stormed within. “Is this date correct?”

The aide nodded vehemently, “Yes. I triple-checked everything once I found the match.”

“How… How did someone who looks like this become strong enough to best Jedidiah in two years? A young man finding fitness is hardly noteworthy, but KongRu’s skills are real. They can not come from the man in this picture after so short a time. Who in their right mind would train such a failure? This is not right.” Vought shook his head, unable to accept what he was seeing.

The aide hesitated, even glancing over his shoulder conspiratorially as though the head grandmaster of the entire Coalition of Masters didn’t have a dozen layers of jamming protecting his office. “I… I have a theory. But you're not going to like it.”

Vought’s palm came down on top of the picture with enough force to cause his desk to jump. “Speak!”

The aide jumped much higher. By the time he landed, he was a gibbering mess. “I-It’s related to ZionLine! While digging, I found rumors that some of Astra Infernum's members were beta testers for the game. With how challenging the combat is supposed to be, it's possible KongRu gained a significant amount of combat experience in the beta.”

Vought’s earlier trepidation returned full blast. The aide had been right. This was the last news he wanted to hear. Vought barely recognized his own voice as one implication after another came crashing down on his shoulders. “You’re telling me a game trained an unfit young man into a martial capable of killing one of my direct disciples. And did it in only a few years?”

“T-to be fair. Master Jedidiah’s techniques were sealed. He would not have lost in a real match!”

Vought wanted to blast his desk to dust and scream about how the aide’s point didn’t matter in the slightest. Instead, he breathed out slowly through clenched teeth. The boy before him had so much promise, but he was unrefined, undisciplined. The wise teacher Vought had been for nearly eighty years refused to allow such an excellent learning opportunity to pass.

“Don’t you see what this means, how it connects with the mystery of the Phoenix Clan’s movements?” Vought sat back in his chair, fingers steepled. While losing Jedidiah broke his heart, and what ZionLine had done to Raine KongRu could be called nothing short of genuine horror, at least it was all starting to make sense.

The Phoenix Clan learned of ZionLine’s potential and moved early. They took it seriously enough to spend billions of credits mass migrating personnel, abandoned multiple megastructures that were under construction, and so much more, all to dive into a game that much of the world was still on the fence over. Vought had known from the beginning that they wouldn’t have gone so far for profit. The Phoenix were behaving as though their financial empire was on the brink of collapse and forced into a desperate defensive position.

With Raine KongRu’s victory over Jedidiah, the truth was finally clear. If ZionLine—a game accessible by anyone with a few thousand credits—could train a martial to such high combat standards in such a short time, then the peace and prosperity of the last century would shortly become a footnote in history.

In almost every country around the globe, there was no national guard, no air force, no standard army to quell unrest. Such forces had been subverted and used against humanity in the AI wars—a primary reason for the adoption of duels to settle domestic and foreign disputes. That did not mean governments were unarmed, far from it. Each country had its own version of the Coalition of Masters. Usually, a pair of masters was more than capable of settling an entire city gone rogue. For ordinary people, even when armed, masters were an unstoppable force.

However, if the populace at large became as powerful as KongRu, there would be no force in the world that could stop them all. Anarchy would reign supreme. Governments would fall. Hundreds of thousands would die before any semblance of order could even be considered, let alone implemented.

The aide’s eyes narrowed in thought for a brief second before they sprang wide. Then his jaw dropped, and he stopped breathing entirely as the potential sequence of events played out in his head. When he could speak again, his arms were shaking uncontrollably. “Dear God. We have to stop it. We can’t allow… no… if the Phoenix knew, they would have tried to stop it already. They did the opposite. They went all in. They’re preparing for war... Does that mean it can’t be stopped?” Tears welled in the young man’s eyes as he envisioned an apocalyptic future that may very well come to pass.

Vought was disgusted by his words before they left his mouth. Yet, he had lived long enough to know that some evils were necessary, even if they damned his soul for eternity. “Oh, we’re going to stop it. Even if it means killing every single citizen who puts on one of those accursed headsets. But first. I need answers from someone who actually knows what the fuck is going on inside that game.” With a few clicks of his antiquated keyboard, Grandmaster Vought scheduled his private jet for an immediate departure to Carter City—a city quickly becoming the center of a gathering tornado.

Vought moved with purpose, preparing what he would need. Plans and contingencies whirled through his head at an inhuman pace. As the minutes stretched on, he struggled, and failed, to find a way out for his country other than murdering its own people. All the while, in the back of his skull, a hundred thousand Raine KongRus laughed triumphantly as they danced on the corpses of his people.

Raine KongRu

- Carter City -

In a rare moment of tolerance, Raine succumbed to exhaustion and collapsed into the soft couch situated amidst a living room crammed with vegetation. The right side of his body was a mess. The only thing keeping his arm and leg from sloughing away were the hard casts holding the broken bits together. Every movement was agony, and though pain was an old friend, Raine wouldn’t wish his current state on anyone.

He hadn’t wanted to know how many bones he broke fighting Jedidiah—the Coalition of Master’s representative who came to ruin Astra Infernum’s recruitment drive. Raine’s refusal of proper treatment had put the doctors into a state of furious meltdown. He didn't want, nor did he need their help. Whatever drugs they planned on flooding his system with would only hinder ReGen’s ability to do what it did best. 

Unfortunately, Raine couldn't take the miracle elixir yet as he still hadn’t heard back from Dr. Pamalaiha regarding any unforeseen side effects from the first dose. Additionally, he had only half a dose left, and making more required the procurement of vital nutrients, which were rarer than he previously understood. Growing his own supply was well underway. However, the endeavor had yet to yield noticeable results.

Bloodlust slithered through the room, caressing the many plants. Some he infiltrated entirely, soaking their stalks and roots with killing intent; others were left alone, all based on the handy color-coding system Morty devised to optimize their research. Thanks to Pamalaiha, Raine knew mental energy was needed to transform regular nutrients into their vital counterparts; what precise steps were required was a complete mystery. Two of Morty’s drones flitted through the room, tending to the vegetation’s base needs while recording data in the hopes of discovering any unusual changes.

Ugh. I have no idea what I’m doing. Too bad there isn’t a quick-n-easy guidebook on cultivating vital nutrients, or the body for that matter. Masters and their damn secrets. Then again, it's more obvious than ever why the ruling clans guard these secrets so zealously: Jedidiah’s strength and speed were… beyond expectations. Here I thought beating anyone below peak master would be easy. 

Raine’s gaze drifted to his ruined arm, lips tightening in frustration. The only silver lining to his current state was not having to worry about the Coalition of Masters anymore. Even if the duel hadn’t been sanctioned by a grandmaster, its results were considered as justice served; Grandmaster Meroit’s presence only furthered that legitimacy. Astra Infernum’s sharing of martial techniques could never again be questioned, and there was nothing the coalition could do about it without severely violating long-held laws.

Even if it turned out fine in the end, that fight was a wake-up call. If I don’t discover the secret of quenching and tempering soon, well, there won’t be a later. I’ve made too many enemies, and as of right now, I’ve no way to close the gap on their superiority.

Mental abilities are the key to everything: Vital nutrients, reinforcing the body, and empowering my guild. It doesn’t matter what advantages I give my people. An army without mental abilities at its head will crumble into chaos at the first sign of a Noble, let alone a Hierarch. And again, I have more questions than answers when it comes to the nurturing of mental abilities.

Raine released a heavy sigh. It came out as a groan when the movement reminded his nervous system that he was in no condition to be moving about. He tried calling Pamiliha again, and once more, she didn’t respond.

“Any sign of her yet?”

It was Morty’s turn to sigh, the living room filling with the clicking of his grinding gears, “I already informed you that I would report the moment she left the jamming zone, Master.”

“Excuse my impatience…” Raine drolled.

“Before you ask, I’ve no intention of sacrificing another drone flying in there for zero results. The area is completely surrounded. We will know when she emerges.”

CronGate’s lackeys had orchestrated their escape well, setting up several zones that would make tailing them a challenge. Raine knew the strategy well; it was, after all, one of Vaneese’s, and she did like to brag. The reminder of his past was a sour one. The day CronGate, Vaneese, and Master Torune ceased to pollute this new timeline couldn’t come soon enough.

Raine rewatched the brief vodcast Morty took of Pamalaiha’s fight with Vaneese. They were atop one of the skyscrapers ringing Carter City’s central plaza. Mel was there, doing a damn fine job holding her own against a trio of class three martial adepts. In the past, Raine seldom had a chance to see Vaneese get serious. The many times they ‘trained’ together, she easily trounced him. It was clear why, even before they originally met, she was nearing the peak of class four expert.

Pamalaiha quickly dispatched two of her three opponents but failed to land so much as a scratch on the whipcord-thin, razor-fast Vaneese. The girl was a terror, thin lips pressed together tightly as she produced one knife after another from hidden compartments of her suit. Pamalaiha was no different, always responding with another throwing weapon to meet her opponent’s assault. After only a few seconds, two dozen blades littered the ground around them.

The tides turned when Mel finished her fight. Vaneese immediately retreated, leaping from the building to fly away in what was clearly their exit strategy from the very beginning. When the ninja-attired doctor dove to give chase, Raine frowned. Pamalaiha should have let Vaneese go; they could have dealt with her later.

As the developer of ReGen, the doctor was invaluable to Raine’s future plans. Additionally, she had the knowledge of the Noroji Clan housed within her freckle-coated head. Her safety was of paramount importance.

After his moment of contemplation, Raine responded to Morty, “Thirty minutes. Then send in another drone.”

The nearby drones paused to stare at Raine for several seconds before Morty’s voice came through the speakers, “Fine.”

Raine changed the subject, “How are the plants?”

“There are a few irregularities. They could be the result of relocation, variations in the sun lamp lumens, alterations from their previous environment, nutrition, or your fleshy inadequacies. More data is required. Please continue your ministrations for another fourteen minutes and seventeen seconds.”

“Right. Can do.” Raine’s eyes closed as he focused on varying the killing intent released through the room.

Morty let him know when to stop. Getting up from the couch was bad enough that Raine almost decided to stay. The hoverchair he bought from the hospital at least delivered him to the bedroom without further jostling. As the door slid open, long, sensuous curves beneath the bedsheets reminded Raine that he wasn’t alone. 

Celeste had yet to awaken after taking her half-dose of ReGen. She snored peacefully, wearing a serene expression that fit her features so well Raine’s heart momentarily lurched in his chest. This soft version of Celeste was nothing like the young woman he knew: Fierce, determined, conniving, and vicious toward her enemies. Raine’s mouth went dry as he briefly envisioned how complicated his life might be if she were like this from the beginning.

With a mental shake, the spell was broken and Raine’s thoughts snapped back to reality. Even if Mel wasn't enough for him, Celeste's mentality was still immature to the point that any form of intimacy would only poison her martial path.

She’s about to go on the martial stage herself, and she’s nowhere near ready. I’ve got to keep pushing her, and I know just the thing. Yeah, that’s perfect. Will keep her too occupied to dread what’s coming, and take some of the pressure off me.

Let’s see, it’s just after 2, she's been asleep going on twenty hours, even longer than Mel was after ReGen. Makes sense.

Unlike Mel, Celeste had skipped waking up and fell straight into Genesis. Subtle killing intent radiated from her, saturating the room with a dangerous air that had Raine grinning like an idiot. He recognized the mental ability well; it was the same as Vaneese’s and one that would be a welcome addition to Astra Infernum’s growing repertoire: Sireech, or the siren’s screech, was like having a banshee wailing in your ear with the volume cranked to a hundred and fifty. Fighting at your usual capacity under the effects of even a low-powered sireech required years of practice.

Raine relieved himself with agonizing care, then climbed into bed next to Celeste. He was above the sheet, the thin layer of fabric doing a poor job of separating them. A dark chuckle squeezed through his tightened diaphragm.

She’s certainly in for a surprise when she wakes up. 

Not wanting to be beaten in her shock was but one of many reasons why Raine didn’t plan on entering ZionLine for the entire night. Bright and early, just over thirty thousand new recruits would be reporting at Belehorn Tower for their first day of 'adventure' in Astra Infernum's ranks. Meaning that Raine’s schedule was about to be crammed with the innumerable responsibilities of a full-time guild leader. The next chance for a real night’s sleep might not come until ZionLine forced him to do so. Better to get it now, in his last blissful hours of irresponsibility.

Strapping on the thetadrive headset with one hand was a bother, though not as bad as lowering himself to the toilet. All too soon, Raine fell down a tunnel of starry light, appearing in the gargantuan forest known as the Ruptured Chaparral.