Chapter 6: Diagnostics and Reflections

The group snaps out of their awe-struckedness pretty quickly as their curiosity takes over. Even Rina can't help but be drawn to me in the armor as she examines it closely, lifting my arms to get a closer look. Father Gordon is much more reverent in his approach. His hands hover just above the metal plating as if he’s afraid to leave his fingerprints on it. They study every inch of me. I try to be as still as possible because I’m still not fully sure what this suit is capable of even with a low battery. Kizzik seems more interested in observing from a distance, I think for safety reasons.

They called it a Dawn Relic, but honestly, it reminds me of the mech suits I’ve seen in video games and sci-fi shows. Plus, Minerva talks like an AI, not some magical spirit. I flex my muscles, feeling the actuators respond and adjust. Gordon and Rina give me a list of simple maneuvers to do. Raise my arms, jog in place, crouch down, lay prone. Everything feels easy enough. My body is very light and moves almost instantly as if my reflexes are sharper. My mechanical curiosity piques as the suit performs. I’ve kind of always wanted to take apart something like this to study it. Not sure if I'd be able to get this one back together though.

“It's incredibly flexible! He appears to have full range of motion. Very unlike typical Platemail. The coverage also appears to be complete! I can't find any gaps or weak points!” Father Gordon marvels at the design. “I’d love to see its offensive capabilities!”

In a matter of moments, there are several wooden targets (spare firewood) set up for me all around the large courtyard. Some of them float in the air high above me, suspended by a spell that Rina cast on them.

“Alright Kenji! Try to destroy all of the targets as quickly as possible!” Gordon calls from a good 10 meters away.

I examine the layout of the targets. My visor highlights each one with a red overlay. Calculations snap into place in my head as the suit feeds me information. It’s letting me know the most efficient route to take out every target. I’m about to start but I’m shocked to see the hunks of wood all start moving around. They dance and fly around me with blinding speed. I look over to Rina who has both hands outstretched.

“You didn't think it’d be that easy did you?”

I take a deep breath and refocus. I got this, no problem! The suit feeds me new calculations that shift and alter based on the positioning of the targets.

[Pattern recognized. Targets locked.]

I dash forward in a blinding blur. The suit enhances my vision so I can actually see what I’m doing and it helps me keep track of where I am as I zip around the courtyard. I lash out with punches and kicks that instantly turn the logs into wood chips. As soon as I think ‘jump’ I’m already in the air. I jump off one floating log to reach a higher one. I snatch it out of the air and throw it like a missile into another one. They both explode on impact. Spin kick, chop, back hand! The wood chips rain down on my spectators below. After just a couple seconds, all the targets are destroyed.

Kizzik and Gordon clap and cheer. “Whoooo! Savos’s Bells! Now that was something!”

“I must agree with Kizzik! Quite the display young man!”

I’m glad they can’t see me grinning like an idiot under the helmet.

“I did some Judo and Taekwondo in college, guess it’s just muscle memory kicking in.”

They both look at me quizzically. Right, they probably don't have those martial arts here.

Rina seems a bit more skeptical. “Maybe we should test out its defense as well.”

She points her staff at me and a fireball forms directly over my head.

That doesn't sound like a great idea to me. I put my hands up to protest. “I-I don't know about that, w-we saw how well it worked with those goblins so there’s really no need!”

Rina just stares at me coldly. “Those monsters had simple weapons. Sticks mostly. We need to see what your magical resistance looks like.”

“Why do we need to do that?”

Rina kisses her teeth in annoyance. “If we’re going to use this weapon against Rojan and his army, we need to know its full capabilities. I thought that would’ve been obvious."

“Not so obvious to me I guess, but I’ll tell you what! If you guys can help me get back home, you can have this thing as payment! I’ll even let one of you try it on! Kizzik? You want to run some of those defense tests with Rina?”

The priest looks like he’s about to say something when Minerva speaks up.

[This exo armor is keyed to void walker’s DNA signature. Transfer is not possible]

You’ve got to be kidding me! I cover my hands with my face, my screams are muffled slightly by the helmet.

“What's wrong?!” Gordon sounds genuinely concerned.

“This stupid thing says only I can use it.”

“Ah, yes well I was just about to say. Typically, Dawn Relics are soul bound to their wielders. We would need you as much as the armor itself if we want to use this weapon against the Demon King.”

I feel a rush of panic wash over me. That's not a commitment I’m willing to make! I don't know the first thing about fighting a war, much less fighting a demon king! Who knows how long it could take. Months? Years? That’s assuming I’m not brutally murdered! There’s gotta be a way out.

Minerva! Can this suit take me back where I came from?

[This exo armor would be a suitable vessel to return you to your native plane.]

Native plane? I’m guessing she means home… Hopefully.

[However, mana reserves need to be raised to HyperCharge levels. Additionally, Navigation systems need to be updated with Astral Telemetry.]

Great! I have no idea what half of that means.

This is like trying to pilot a freakin spaceship! I don’t know how anything works! My one ticket home, but I’m stuck because it's too advanced?! Its just my luck. The other three are discussing something to the side in hushed voices. As I focus on them, the suit automatically amplifies their voices.

That's a neat trick.

“-crushed them easily! You saw!”

“Goblins are the lowest minions on the pecking order! We would’ve handled them ourselves if not for the ambush!”

“You both make good points but it's ultimately useless if we can't convince the wielder to help us.”

Rina whispers the next part even more quietly. “You really think we can trust him though? Who’s to say he’s not an enemy? A spy?”

“My child, you are in pain and I grieve your loss as well, but you cannot let your anger outweigh sound judgement! Without his help, we will surely perish!”

Rina says something to Gordon in a language I’ve never heard but it sounds very harsh. Their conversation devolves into whispered shouts as they continue to argue. Yikes. Just me being here seems to have really upset this group’s dynamic. They’re fighting amongst each other and it's my fault. Like everything else since I got here. All the more reason for me to make a quick exit.

Ok Minerva, just give it to me straight. What is my quickest route to get back to my native plane?

[Calculating….]

[Database shows sufficient mana can be quickly attained by absorbing pure mana spheres. Three Spheres would be sufficient to reach HyperCharge.]

Ok three of these sphere things. I’m not entirely sure where to find those but I’m sure I can figure something out.

[There seems to be one astral almanac currently in this plane. This will be required to chart a safe and efficient course to your native plane.]

This part seems more hopeless. I don't even know what this almanac thing would look like, and there's only one in the whole world! The frustration boils inside me. Why is everything so damn difficult?! Mari's face appears in my mind. She’s probably long gone by now, moved on with her life. I just wanted to see her one last time. Would I have been able to convince her to stay this time I wonder?

A lump forms in my throat. Probably not and maybe that would be for the best. Mari always wanted more than I could give her and deep down I know she deserves that much. It’s a miracle we lasted as long as we did. The heartache creeps over me as the truth hits me. Mari broke up with me. I try to imagine that world without Mari by my side and it makes me sick. She was my only reason for even getting up in the morning. What exactly am I trying to return to? No, in this moment, I don't think I’d have a purpose there anymore. not without her. 

There are people here that say they need me though. I could be something to someone if I stayed. Is it possible to start fresh, and if so, is that something I really deserve? Can I find my purpose again in a place like this?

“Excuse me! Guys! Listen, please don’t argue because of me.” I shout.

The three of them look towards me.

“You can hear us?” Kizzik looks thoroughly surprised.

“Listen, I think maybe I can help with-“

[Warning! Incoming threat! Demonic entity detected! Extreme Danger imminent!]

At that moment, I feel an overwhelming sense of dread wash over me. Everyone around me feels it too. It's like it's pushing us down into the ground. Rina and Kizzik fall to their knees suddenly under the oppressive aura. Gordon’s head slams against the stone, knocking him unconscious. All of the alarms in my visor are blaring. Warning messages flood my screen.

It takes all my strength but I’m able to look up above us. My muscles strain as I see him floating above the church. A dark figure. He looks like a man, but he also looks like a nightmare. My pulse quickens. My breaths become shallow. Pure dread fills my veins. His hooded robes swallow the light as shadows dance around him, forming terrible fanged mouths and claws. Where his face should be, there is only a void. We all feel our stomachs twist as he speaks. It's an overlapping of many voices that blend together unnaturally. It echoes in my ears, amplifying my fear.

“Enemies of Rojan. Your doom has arrived.”