Chapter 5:

An Act of Self Defense

The Ancient Weapon of Aineura

We are finally about 300m above the surface of the cave based on the HUD I have. It seems that I could control the entire ship like it is my own body, well it is now. I feel like I am standing up above this entire place and I thought of sitting down.

▲ Switching Propulsion Type: Sea-based ▲

The propulsion type changed to ‘sea-based’ the moment I thought of it. I went down back into the sea and floated like a normal ship. The rough waves hit my body again and again as I touched the water. It might be because I am too big and everything around me is just minuscule compared to me. Large waves went around me to compensate for the mass that I just gave to the ocean. I could see right on top of me like my head was sticking out far above my body. It feels like I am viewing myself in third person but not that much that I could call it that. In addition to the cameras inside and outside myself, having a body like this is making me nauseating. There is a difference for this body control since I could still feel like I have a human body but it actually converts the ‘feelings’ of my ship body to my subconscious non-existent human body.

Ahhh… it feels great being free from that claustrophobic space! The sky is blue and crystal clear and all the islands are full of life. I don’t mind getting stuck in this paradise forever! The volcano island where I rose… wait… where is the island that I went out through? Oh… I might have deleted that island's existence via the tsunami and the hole I just left, Tehee. Ohh that is one massive hole though, no wonder the volcano is gone. Relative to the size of the trees on the other 4 islands surrounding it, I could guess that my size is about… 1.5km or so?

! Error in Manual Calculation. Ship_Manufacture_Info.rune from Mana Data Storage indicates you are 2950m in length, 2002.2m in width, 521m in height. !

“…” Ehhh!!?? I am… THAT big?! Also, is the ‘.rune’ the parallel world version of a .txt? Such a convenient name considering that I do not use magic! How the hell do I float in this ocean anyway? Do I have some sort of this ‘anti gravity’ mixed with the ‘sea-based’ propulsion type?

With that being said, I don’t see anything that resembles a weapon from outside of myself. Everything must be inside I guess. Even with the Sea-based propulsion system, there is nothing on my ‘feet’ that resembles a propeller.

I tried standing up again and I felt the engine whirring on my feet. I thought of walking on the sea and I moved forward without leaving any bubbles behind me other than that of the slipstream. Caterpillar drive must be a thing invented by whoever made me in this world I guess? I must have been an engineering marvel until I was put in cold storage.

▲ Warning. Object: Ship - detected off the starboard bow. ▲
▲ Warning. Object: Ship - detected off the port bow. ▲

▲ Warning. Object: Ship - detected off the forward bow. ▲

Woah..woah..woah what are all these warnings? I don’t see anything from this distance away from the islands. The ships then appeared slowly behind the island going in my direction. I didn’t even see them yet nor did they appear yet, these are some sophisticated detection mechanisms.

An inverted triangle is then highlighted in yellow around each ship. I can't see that far out despite being that massive. They're too small to see from here and they’re about 8km away from me. I can only zoom in so much by like x2 but that’s about it. Do I have anything that should increase my line of sight from here?

! Error. This is not yet upgraded. Find or construct a Research Lab to unlock this upgrade. !

Ohhh what is the BS? Shouldn't I be able to upgrade my own skills in this world? Why do I need a laboratory for that? Oh, I forgot I should be telling Arika about the 3 ships. Guess she can't see it from in me so I have to show her through the monitors.

"Arika. There are 3 ships moving behind the island to the west of me. Do you know who they are?"

As I go back in myself to see her, she seems to be surprised by something. Are these ships coming in to rescue her? They don’t look like they are enemies to me. I see no weapons that can damage me on those ships, they must be just for transport.

“They are still here huh?” she sighs in frustration as she mentions something else.

“They must be the fleet that snuck in you to kill me. The man on one of those ships is Admiral Petrel, hero of East Toratoga Island States. The bastard that put his blade in me and left me to die with this curse!”

Ohh. So these are the few raiding parties, not rescue parties. Considering that they are the enemy, she will probably ask me to fire at them with whatever weapon I have on me. I have yet to see my power and I still don’t know how to use it yet.

▲ Warning. Enemy ship is about to fire! ▲

“...Iieeh?!!”

“What is it? What is happening?” She looks up to at camera concerned of the incoming fire.

“They are starting to fire at us! They seem to be using laser weapons, I don’t know if I can deflect that!”

Arika seems confused about what I have just said.

“Laysur..weapons? I do not know anything about those. I believe that is a lesser light skill implanted on a ship ballista. You are massive, Ai. There is no way they could damage you with such a small fry.”

All yellow triangle indicators immediately turned red the moment they fired. A bright white light rapidly increases in luminosity as it travels directly at me as I brace for impact. I tried moving my ‘imaginary’ arms towards the beam as if to block the entire thing. To my surprise, I managed to block it with ease. A bright blue octagonal shielding that looks something like from a sci-fi movie appeared to block the beam’s path. It didn’t even shake me physically for a bit, it was too insignificant.

TARGET IDENTIFICATION:

WOODEN LIGHT FRIGATE

HP: =================== (5,000)

FACTION: EAST TORATOGA ISLAND STATES

RANK: UNKNOWN

ARMOR TYPE: WOOD

ARMAMENT: UNKNOWN

SPEED: 26km/h

HEADING: 275

RANGE: 836m

----------------

WOODEN LIGHT FRIGATE
HP: =================== (5,000)

FACTION: EAST TORATOGA ISLAND STATES

RANK: UNKNOWN

ARMOR TYPE: WOOD

ARMAMENT: UNKNOWN

SPEED: 26km/h

HEADING: 105

RANGE: 756m

----------------

WOODEN HEAVY FRIGATE
HP: ========================== (7,500)

FACTION: EAST TORATOGA ISLAND STATES

RANK: UNKNOWN

ARMOR TYPE: WOOD

ARMAMENT: UNKNOWN

SPEED: 26km/h

HEADING: 180

RANGE: 900m

“Well that was disappointing.” I replied to Arika. I was expecting more from that hit, yet it barely did anything.

“Since I already activated you. Can you fire at them yet, Ai?”

“Let me try it out. I still don’t know what I am doing.”

“Just do it quick!” she immediately replied as if waiting for something to happen.

I don’t really know how to activate my weapons in this. That being said, what are my weapons exactly?!

Oooooh. That is a lot to choose from. All of these weapons seem to have something unique depending on the battle scenario. I based that according to their name at least because no one would use a missile at this close proximity. Select the ‘Electron-Ion’ cannon then?

! Error. Low Power. Cannot Activate Electron-Ion Cannons. Pure Mana Cannon. Particle Artillery. Star Torpedo - Power Required 5%. 10%. 10%. 20%. 5% !

Oh come on. There has got to be something that is at least a ranged weapon here that can be used on low power.

▲ Info. Armament Ready Multipurpose Material System, Hypothesis Class Multipurpose Turrets, and Imaginary Constructor, are ready.

Let’s just go for the Armament ready thing, for now, let's see what that is then.

“.... wo… Woahh.”

At immediate activation, I could then physically feel my hand and arms. I could see tentacle things coming from my sides. This must be the arms and hands I am feeling. I could finally touch anything on my body. As expected, I feel my body being hard and smooth to the touch, just like how ships are. I dropped my hands into the water and I felt the breeze and waves touching them.

They feel like actual hands and arms to my surprise. They even have 5 tentacles each intertwined to form something like an arm on both of my sides. This thing almost feels like it's meant to be a utility tool instead of a weapon. Well, I guess that is the point of being ‘Armament Ready’. It may have not been intended for fighting.

The appearance of my arms managed to split their entire fleet formation. One is heading right at me while the other two are flanking on my left and right. Each ship fires those magical light ballista at me while going head-on to me. Do they seriously think that they are going to damage me being this massive?

I reach out into the 3 ships that are getting closer and almost too close to me by about 1km. I grabbed the one in front of me and tore that one apart. Like how you would tear a paper boat after it sank and soaked in water, it was too weak. Those ships even felt like they are those toys that are cased or inserted in a glass bottle.

▲ Target Eliminated. +500xp ▲

The other two ships started to panic and fired more magic arrows at me. I didn’t manage to deflect the arrows this time but they barely tapped my skin on these new hands and body. One ship even tries to distract me by shooting my hands while the other turns around and tries to escape. This doesn’t work on me though but I admire their heroism. I moved my right-hand underwater and under the ship that was trying to escape. I pulled that ship into the depths of the sea like a child playing with a rubber duck. It didn’t even survive the pressure of being held before going below sea level. I grabbed the last ship and to my surprise, it was a bit sturdier and bigger than the others, this must be the flagship. The other ship that was supposed to draw my fire has probably been ordered to abandon ship. I can see people jumping out of the ship along with some small boats on the sides. There were even some trying to attack my fingers with swords and anything they have. I grabbed it with two hands, crushed it completely, and threw it off the hole I just made while surfacing. To be honest, I have never been this powerful ever in my past life. This experience was all too… oddly entertaining.

sdFSAWafSDSBNACOMPLYWITHYOURPROGRAMMING@1W1^%$*43_NOMERCY^%&$340$asdAWVHKTD

Yes please keep dying...

▲ Target Eliminated. +1000xp ▲

▲ Target Eliminated. +500xp ▲

“What... Incredible power.”

I finally snapped out of the killing spree and power trip after I saw the demon queen below in shock and awe on her face instead of being amazed by the power of her ‘summoned’ awakening. She looked like she had seen a ghost.

“I… I might have gone overboard for a bit.”

“No no,... it truly was amazing. You are something even my army couldn’t have bested in battle, and neither could I have. That was excellent.”

My train of thought of trying to reply with the Arika after was abruptly interrupted by another warning. I also felt weak after that entire action with the 3 ships.

▲ Warning. Object: Ship - detected off the starboard bow.▲
▲ Warning. Object: Ship - detected off the starboard bow.▲

▲ Warning. Object: Ship - detected off the starboard bow.▲

More annoying ships are popping up out of nowhere from behind the islands. Even knowing that more of them could not damage me in the slightest, they continued to fire at me with everything they have. Now most of them are hiding away from the range of my hands. I could not move to engage closer since those islands could scrape my body or beach me. Now then, it is time to test what this thing has for me.

▲Toggle: Hypothesis Class Multipurpose Turrets: Active.

I felt multiple feelings of small objects clinging all over my body. It was so weird and ticklish that I was about to throw a chuckle. My previous life’s emotional management training is being tested as the turrets coming up from my body started to fire at the ships. It made my entire ship body vibrate from the recoil and made me… sensitive. These turrets were similar to the ones we had back in the Shimakaze, except they were significantly far advanced or , at least it looks that way.

▲Target Eliminated. +500 ▲
▲Target Eliminated. +500 ▲

▲Target Eliminated. +500 ▲

▲ Info. Ranked Increased. RANK: 2/5 ✰ ✰ - - -

! Warning. Power Level is below 5%. Head to the nearest base now for recharge and rearm. Nearest base location: 150km E. !

So that's what it is. My entire power bar is shown as a power level below the HUD that I am seeing. I can see my HP with almost 500,000 in green along with the numbers. The yellow bar must have been an XP bar then, it barely increased despite me destroying all of those ships along with their crew. I must say… I feel..weak. from. that.

“... Ari…ka-.. My power level… is low. I need to get to the nearest base for rest...”

“That entire massacre managed to take most of your power?”

“...I wouldn’t call …it a massacre, it was self-defense!” My HUD tells me otherwise but yea... definitely is not a massacre. They had it coming you know.

CURRENT BATTLE STATISTICS:
SHIPS DESTROYED: 4

TOTAL TARGET CASUALTIES: 891

! Warning. Power Level is below 5%. Automatic Disabler Active. Shields offline. Sensors Power Level at minimum. Internal Lighting reduced to minimum.!

“Is that so? I believe you are better off as a candidate for the title ‘Demon Lord’ after what you did with Admiral Petrel’s Fleet.” …Can you please remove the smug on your face, Arika?

“It was also for your safety, you know, at least be…. grateful!”

“Well, in that case, I thank you for serving your queen.” Now she’s hiding the smile on her face.

“Now.... My power level was apparently already low, to begin with after being inactive for many years… Do you know any other places in your search… for me as a weapon on where to rearm me? ”

Now I see her close her eyes in thought of something that could be useful. Her face went on a steady frown while she was thinking. I can hear her mumbling things as well, in fact, I could hear everything inside me which is kinda convenient and disgusting if I was made of flesh. Her eyes sparkled after probably remembering the locations of the caches.

“There is one location that might store something related to you. Although I do not believe in its existence because the information came from rumors of sailors, demons or humans alike. They were rumors of old ruins and odd metallic stones that share the same resemblance as you when they described it. These rumors came from the sailors that survived escaping from the Siren’s Mist surrounding the notorious Aiyan Ocean.”

“Siren’s… mist? What was the history of this?”

“I understand that you are not familiar with this. The Siren’s Mist must have happened during the time you were still under that island. You most likely do not have any information of this in your ‘databases’ as you would say.”

▲ Inquiry. No results found. ▲

It just so happens to be true as Arika said it. Even if I tried to find it myself, I wouldn’t even know where to start. There is something that appears to be a hard drive section of my HUD that shows 56,700 header folders and 250,342,043 subfolders in them. Yeah, nope! Not gonna find it myself.

“The Siren’s Mist is a long circular wall of fog surrounding the Aiyan Ocean. The Aiyan Ocean contains the massive Aiyan Typhoon that has been constantly spinning for a millennia.”

“The Great Sailors of the Toratoga Island States managed to explore inside the Siren’s Mist. An armada of 34 vessels was sent to explore in search of life and treasure, and only 1 tiny longboat manned by the Petrel’s great ancestors managed to return. Each of their ships was encircled by fog and was dragged down into the depths one by one as they said. What they also say in there were only monoliths similar to what I have seen in you are present on the edge of the storm. A millennium of explorations from various sailors also gives tales and rumors of this, along with more rumors regarding mermaids, mermen, and high-level sea creatures are located there.”

Ohoo… I definitely won’t be going in there now despite being able to deflect the damage. I do not have enough energy to use my weapons again in case of an attack from a sea monster or something. However, I have no choice but to go there myself in search of something that could help me recover stored energy.

“That is scary. But I guess I have no choice but to enter into the unknown trying to find something that you would suspect to be one of me.”

“That is true. I suggest we head there now. Based on the crystal tablet in front of me showing the map around you, head East from here. The western side of the Siren’s Mist is directly there. We could reach it in no time.”

“You could still fly, right Ai?”

“About that Arika…”

! Error. Cannot use Anti-Gravity Relay Propulsion on low power !

▲ Warning. Object: Ship - detected off the starboard bow. ▲
▲ Warning. Object: Ship - detected off the starboard bow. ▲

▲ Warning. Object: Ship - detected off the starboard bow. ▲

Arika let out a big sigh as she immediately understood that I could not use it because of me having low power.

More warnings appear showing more ships from the horizon. Looks like a whole fleet of reinforcements is here. Even if they are easy pickings, I really do not have the energy to fight. So my response for them this time is flight!...or just swim.

“Arika, more ships of Admiral Petrel are going in for us. I really don’t have the energy.”

“It’s ok. For now, we retreat into the Siren’s Mist and into the center of the Aiyan Ocean. Turn around and head east Ai.”

“Yes my lord.” That first battle against the first 3 ships gave me a headache. There was also someone else that was talking to me there other than the demon queen. Ah whatever.

The Ancient Weapon of Aineura

Author:

Kanade Minami

An Act of Self Defense

The Ancient Weapon of Aineura

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