Binary Soul

> Kelly PoV <

“Kraaaaa!” (Shull)

*Clang*

“Ooof!” (Kelly)

Shull snatches me of the air with a violent jolt. Oh thank goodness! I completely forgot they were around and almost resigned myself to getting splattered against the ground!

“You alright in there Kelly?” (Brand)

“Argh! It hurts like a cunt! But I’ll live!” (Kelly)

The heat from over-charging the [Star Sword] is seeping into my right hand. To melt even Scrappy’s impregnable hide, just what kind of ridiculous thing did we make?

“What of the spider? I can’t see!” (Kelly)

No part of Scrappy will move. Not even the helmet. I need to channel some of my own mana into it, but that’ll take time. Right now I’m stuck staring at the ground.

“Well. You sliced it in half. It’s still clinging to the ceiling though.” (Brand)

“Oh… is it still moving?” (Kelly)

“Not that I can see! Hang on we’re coming in for a landing!” (Brand)

The gryphon approach the ground and drops me with a bit of a thud, landing me on my face. Well, it's awkward but as long as I can concentrate...

“---------- [Create Metal Golem] ---- [Golem Link]” (Kelly)

I regain control of Scrappy. My own mana reserves are pretty small compared to that Magic Stone, but it should be enough for basic movement or emergency combat.

My hands are still fused together though, so that last thing won’t happen. I stand up and look upwards. The two halves of the spider are indeed still clinging to the ceiling. I can even see a red line of molten rock where the [Star Sword] cut into the mountain itself.

“I have to go check on the legions. I’m leaving you here so don’t do anything stupid!” (Brand)

Brand spouts some scolding words and flies off to manage the army. I’m more worried about the faint distant groan that’s still coming from Umph’s direction. He’s still not done, huh? I can clearly see him shining like a diamond under the Sunstone.

*SHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII*

Another loud sound comes from the remains of the spider… Remains? Figments don’t leave remains! It’s still alive! I stare upwards in horror.

The two halves are moving. The legs, which are currently dangling each piece from the ceiling like a tasteless chandelier, are flexing and making the Figment’s parts swing left and right. Looking at it from below, I see a still-red outline where the metal shell was cut. And inside is a writhing black mass. Seems like it's healthier than I thought.

So… it’s like that after all, huh? What is it with this trend of my worst fears coming to life? What’s next? They glue themselves back together and wreck the Sunsto-

“Nope. Nope. I did not just think that.” (Kelly)

*SLAM*

“The two half-spiders colliding and fusing back together? Not actually happening!” (Kelly)

That’s right! It’s one of those things, huh? The Calling was within me all along! I just had to defeat it by conquering my fears, right? Yeah, that sounds like some stupid trial those worthless titans would think up!

*SHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII*

“AAAAAAAH! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE SHITTING MEEEEEE!” (Kelly)

This is bad! This is the worst! What do I do? What do I DOOOOO!? If only that peeper or Red were here they’d-

Wait, that’s it! What is it Nano said about huge problems?

Deconstruct the huge problem into smaller problems! Fix those one by one and you’ll arrive at the solution!

Okay! Alright! First problem! That spider is repairing itself. No idea how long it will take, but it doesn’t look like it’s instantaneous. Nothing I can do there! Moving on!

Second problem! It’s too far up. This one is easy, Brand can bring me back up there!

Third problem! Scrappy is out of fuel. Unlike the Fifth, the Sixth generation is too heavy for me to fight under my own mana. I can move around and walk, but that’s it. I need a charged Mana Stone. I should have a few of those stashed at that forward base!

Fourth problem! I have no idea where I am! Wait, I just need to get Brand to carry me anyway, right? Let’s go with that.

Okay, so Brand grabs me, brings me back to the base, I swap over Scrappy’s mana source and then he can bring me back up there! Shouldn’t take too long!

Fifth problem! My hands are fused together with molten metal and I have no weapons I can use! Aaaah it’s hopeless! It’s already fused itself back together! It’s starting to walk towards the Sunstone again!

“All Legions! We are about to drop the enemy from the ceiling! Do not get crushed and get ready to retaliate!” (Brand)

Huh?

> Krom PoV <

“You sure about this, Major?!” (Krom)

“Not in the slightest! How many arrows do you have left?” (Brand)

“All of them! 120 in all!” (Krom)

The Figments of Draglael disappeared almost immediately after he restocked me, so I have plenty. I’m not convinced this plan will work though. I mean it’s simple if you think about it:

1. Ride the gryphon up to the spider Figment

2. Hit its legs with the special arrows

3. Those relatively thin legs will disappear

4. The spider falls to the ground

Like that, the Sunstone is safe and the Legions can wear the spider down. Simple. Except that:

1. It’s my first time riding a gryphon

2. I have no confidence I’ll actually hit anything

3. Those legs are actually as thick as towers

4. See 1 through 3

“Major! This isn’t going to happen!” (Krom)

“We have to try, damn it! If we lose that Sunstone we likely lose any chance of waking the Steelmother!” (Brand)

“... Yeah.” (Krom)

Ultimately I just have to focus on hitting the legs repeatedly. A moving target from a mounted position.

It’s okay Krom. You got this. Just imagine you’re shooting an unsuspecting animal in the forest! The fact this animal happens to be a giant fucking spider is completely irrelevant!

I nock an arrow and concentrate on my aim.

> Kelly PoV <

“Brand you glorious blastard!” (Kelly)

I pump my fist into the air involuntarily! I decided to climb out of Scrappy for the moment. I’m unable to use any weapons inside it anyway. Right now I’m just watching someone else do the heavy lifting for once!

That’s brilliant! Somehow I completely forgot about Krom and his outstanding marksmanship. He likes to put himself down, but that guy is really good with a bow! It looks like he’s consistently nailing that thing with [Impact Pellet] tipped-arrows!

It’s only been a minute or two at most, and they’ve already severed three of its legs! Ohh there goes a fourth one! Along with a painful scream that’s somehow music to my ears! With that all four of the legs on the front half of it are gone! Looks like the Figment is struggling to keep its grip and stopped completely!

With a sitting duck like that-

*SCCCRIIEIAIEAIIEAEAI*

Yep, there goes a fifth leg! It’s dangling pathetically from the mountain’s underside!

*SQUEEEEEEE*

And then it peels off the ceiling completely, flailing and screaming pointlessly as it falls.

*DOGOOOOON*

With a crash and a cloud of dust it falls down to the ground! Way to go Krom! I am buying that guy all the ale he can drink for a lifetime!

“All Legions! Form a perimeter around the titan! Do not leave the sunlight! There are still-UGEH!” (Brand)

NOOO! Brand! A giant black tentacle just swatted Shull out of the sky! It appeared out of the dust cloud with no chance of dodging it! I can’t see them! Where are they!? That fucking spider!

“-is this ACK! Ah! The Major is down! *Cough cough* We need a medic! We crashed on the north-east of the *Guh* of the titan! *Cough*” (Krom)

Krom’s unsteady voice echoes through the battlefield! Looks like they're alive! At least Krom is...

*SHRIIIIIIIIIII*

The spider which had barely made it halfway to the Sunstone is coming out of the dust cloud. It’s… completely regenerated. And going back towards the wall.

I climb back into Scrappy and-

…

…

“There’s nothing left…” (Kelly)

We. Are. Fucked. We are 100%, assuredly, completely and unequivocally F! U! C! K! FUCKED!

That gryphon was the only hope we had. That Figment is so high up that regular spells will never reach it. I can't do a [Catapult] by myself, either...

“Maybe Umph can finish in time? No, he said three-to-four days. It’s still the first half of the third day…” (Kelly)

There really is nothing left. I can’t even run because I’m [Chained]! I’m screaming at my body to abandon everything, but it won’t budge! I have no way out!

Maybe… it’s just how it’s meant to be.

“Hah. Hahahahaha! It’s all worthless! Every last bit of it!” (Kelly)

I let out a dry laugh at this ridiculous world! I’m stuck down here in the dark, doing a job I never wanted, away from the people I really care about. Well, I can’t run, but I can still give up, right? Not like I can possibly do anything at this point!

I climb out of Scrappy and take my lucky hip flask out of the inner compartment. I sit down on Scrappy's shoulders and open the container. I have front row seats to the fall of Ecebis. If that doesn't deserve a drink, I don't know what does!

“First up! To the strictest, greediest and meanest boss lady in the land!” (Kelly)

I raise the container to make a toast to the people who got me this far. There's a lot of them, so this is going to take a while.

“To Kiressara! May you split this bloody mountain in two when you finally come looking for me!” (Kelly)

*GLUG GLUG GLU-*

{“Great idea, Kelly!”}

*-PFFFUUUU*

“Hack! Hack! Koff! What? Huh?” (Kelly)

…

I look around and strain my ears, but there’s only silence around. I thought I heard Red’s voice just now! I even spit out the whiskey in my mouth! Ahhhh what a waste! Okay, let's be more careful.

Right! Moving on. I close my eyes and focus on the next person.

*Crack*

“To the fastest, strongest and- *RRRUMBLE* - shakiest? No no no, that’s not right.” (Kelly)

Stupid spider should at least stop rampaging when I'm being all dramatic over here!

“The fastest, strongest and cheeriest psycho-” (Kelly)

*CRRRACK*

“Oh for the love of booze what in… the… “ (Kelly)

I open my eyes while protesting to nobody in particular. That’s when I saw the sky. The actual sky. A gigantic gash was spreading across the mountain above me, splitting it open like an egg. Blue sky with a few fluffy clouds could be seen through it.

Actual sunlight shined down onto the Dwarven Republic of Ecebis.

{Good work Kelly! We’ll take it from here!}

“Nano? You… what in the-” (Kelly)

{Come now, Kelly. I put so much effort into making Scrappy alongside you. Did you honestly think I’d leave it unattended?}

I stare blankly at Scrappy's head between my legs. Now that I think about it, the voice is coming from inside the helmet, isn't it?

“You… hid something? You’ve been listening… the entire time?” (Kelly)

{Oh yes. Watching, too, actually. We only arrived yesterday, but you seemed to have everything under control.}

“...” (Kelly)

{Until just now, that is. We were really troubled on how to get inside. That idea of yours really saved us! Hahahaha!}

“...” (Kelly)

{Oh right. Two special people wanted to say something to you.}

{“Hey Aunty Kelly!”} (Sophie)

{“We came to pick you up since you were running late!”} (Lara)

“...” (Kelly)

That’s when I noticed a giant shadow interrupt the first real sunlight this place has ever seen. I look up with a movement so stiff, it felt like my neck was creaking.

It takes a long time to gather the mana and then activate the spell so it’s useless in an emergency. (Kira)

Couple of extra Flight Badges and a few of those city-scale magic stones. (Kira)

Technically, you haven’t been very trustworthy as of late. (Kira)

Red’s words flash across my mind. I see. She had been planning this for a while. And she kept her promise of staying home.

Right now, descending through the formerly sealed mountain of Ecebis was a flying slab of rock, with a scrap-metal-looking wall around the edges and an all too familiar tower sticking out of the middle. It was steadily approaching the stupefied Figment.

And standing on top of that tower were two of the craziest people to ever grace this world.

““----- [High Beam]”” (Kirellie)

Having cut off the spider’s only route to the Sunstone, they then proceeded to cut off all of its legs. It fell down on the ground and into the natural sunlight.

““--------------------- [Grand Solar Flare]”” (Kirellie)

An enormous pillar of bright yellow light struck down the spider, turning into a smouldering pile of screeching noise. As if all that took place a little while ago was some sick joke.

I don’t have enough alcohol on hand to deal with this. I’m still going to try though!

*GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG*

“Haaah. Yep. Not enough. Hey Nano?”  (Kelly)

{Yes, Kelly?}

“Thanks.” (Kelly)

{You’re very welcome.}

Shout out to this post for a jolly good guess!